Book picks similar to
The Beast by Alice L. Bartels


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canadian
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picture-books

The White Cat and the Monk: A Retelling of the Poem “Pangur Bán”


Jo Ellen Bogart - 2016
    He studies his books late into the evening and searches for truth in their pages. His cat, Pangur, leads a simple life, too, chasing prey in the darkness. As night turns to dawn, Pangur leads his companion to the truth he has been seeking.The White Cat and the Monk is a retelling of the classic Old Irish poem “Pangur Bán.” With Jo Ellen Bogart’s simple and elegant narration and Sydney Smith’s classically inspired images, this contemplative story pays tribute to the wisdom of animals and the wonders of the natural world.

Mary, Who Wrote Frankenstein


Linda Bailey - 2018
    Mary is one such dreamer, a little girl who learns to read by tracing the letters on her mother's tombstone and whose only escape from her strict father and overbearing stepmother is through the stories she reads and imagines. Unhappy at home, she seeks independence, and at the age of seventeen runs away with poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, another dreamer. She travels to Europe and surrounds herself with more poets and writers, including Lord Byron and John Polidori. On a stormy summer evening, Byron suggests a contest to see who can create the best ghost story. After nine months of daydreaming, 21-year-old Mary Shelley's terrifying tale is published, a novel that goes on to become a very well-known monster story.

Hamlet. Based on the Play by William Shakespeare


Louie Stowell - 2009
    This book is a retelling of Shakespeare's classic tragedy, 'Hamlet'.

The Do-Over Day: a children's book about surviving the worst day ever


Julia Inserro - 2019
    But some days are the worst! Sometimes everything just goes wrong: your little sister presses the elevator button first your favorite socks are missing you're not allowed to wear your mermaid costume to the dentist you can't wear your snorkel in the bathtub But how great would it be if we could learn how to have a good do-over day? Think of all the moaning and groaning and fussing and grumping we could avoid.The Do-Over Day is a great book for kids ages 3-9 and can teach us all how to handle the occasional worst day ever. It even comes with practice cards, so you can begin to have better do-over days, too.

That's Disgusting!


Francesco Pittau - 2001
    Adorable artwork on every spread accompanies simple text. Swallowing a worm, smelling a sock, playing in the cat litter . . . That's Disgusting! Not for the faint of heart, this kid approved book focuses on a love of all things icky and gross. Firmly focused on fun, That's Disgusting! is the perfect distraction to help your young gross out expert learn to read.

Mr. Frank


Irene Luxbacher - 2014
    Frank is sewing the most wonderful outfit of his long career. Who could it be for?In all his years working as a tailor, Mr. Frank has made all kinds of clothes. From the practical uniforms of the 1940s to the wild and weird designs of the 1960s and 1970s, he has seen (and sewn) just about everything. But today’s project is especially close to Mr. Frank’s heart.With its use of textiles and sensitive period detail, Irene Luxbacher’s artwork is the perfect complement to her understated text. The result is a story that children and grandparents can share with equal delight.

I Wish I Were a Seahorse


Dan Jackson - 2014
    Bross is a Horse. He is 7 years old.But Bross doesn't want to be a Horse. He would prefer to be a SEAHORSE.He wants to have all the advantages that SeaHorses have. So, let’s join him on his dream. I’m sure that you already know that seahorses live in the water, but do you know that they are a type of fish? And that the male seahorse is the only male creature that can be pregnant? Come and join the fun while we learn some more interesting facts about seahorses in this great kids’ book.

I Want My Hat Back


Jon Klassen - 2011
    Patiently and politely, he asks the animals he comes across, one by one, whether they have seen it. Each animal says no, some more elaborately than others. But just as the bear begins to despond, a deer comes by and asks a simple question that sparks the bear’s memory and renews his search with a vengeance. Told completely in dialogue, this delicious take on the classic repetitive tale plays out in sly illustrations laced with visual humor—and winks at the reader with a wry irreverence that will have kids of all ages thrilled to be in on the joke.

Snow Bear


Jean Craighead George - 1999
    Snow Bear and Bessie are instant friends, but Bessie's brother and Snow Bear's mother are worried. The grown-ups wait and watch the little ones play until something happens that will break up the happy pair. With simple text and lavish illustrations, this Arctic picture book will warm readers' hearts.

The Boy & The Bindi


Vivek Shraya - 2016
    Rather than chastise her son, she teaches him about its cultural significance and doesn’t flinch when he asks for one himself. Wearing it allows him to joyfully explore and express his difference.

Finklehopper Frog


Irene Livingston - 2003
    But Finklehopper learns that it’s best to be himself and do what he loves--because that’s the perfect way for him!Book Details: Format: Paperback Publication Date: 3/1/2008 Pages: 32 Reading Level: Age 3 and Up

006 and a Half


Kes Gray - 2006
    The special friendship shared by a mother and daughter shines through this new Daisy tale, as does the fun. Childrens Book of the Month Club selection

The Not-So-Faraway Adventure


Andrew Larsen - 2016
    He had been everywhere. He kept an old trunk packed with the pictures, postcards, maps and menus that he had collected on his adventures. Someday, Theo wants to be an explorer, too. For now, it's Poppa's birthday, and Theo has planned a special trip to the beach with him to celebrate. They plot out their course on a map they've drawn and then take the streetcar to the local beach, where they stroll in the sand, hunt for stones and slurp gazpacho at the beachside restaurant. It's a perfect day, and Theo is so happy to have given Poppa just the right gift. But best of all, Theo has also had her first lesson in being an explorer: you don't have to travel far from home to have an adventure! In this heartwarming picture book, popular author Andrew Larsen has created a rich story that captures the magic of turning an ordinary day into an adventure. The closeness between Theo and Poppa is touching, and offers a terrific opportunity for classroom discussions about family relationships. The emphasis on discovering the world right outside your door is a wonderful springboard for projects in which children can do the same in their own communities. With subtle and imaginative details in the cityscape, the beach and Poppa's home, Irene Luxbacher's fresh and expressive illustrations add depth to the story. The endearing Poppa and Theo also star in The Imaginary Garden, written and illustrated by the same creators.

Wheedle on the Needle


Stephen Cosgrove - 1974
    Will they be able to cooperate and find a solution? Full-color illustrations.

Chicken Soup, Boots


Maira Kalman - 1993
    A dazzling series of linked portraits deftly draws us into a colorful, fantastical world full of people engaged in assorted occupations. Full-color illustrations.