Rainbow Fish and the Big Blue Whale


Marcus Pfister - 1998
    When a big blue whale comes to live near their reef, there is a misunderstanding between him and Rainbow Fish and his friends that leaves everyone very unhappy and hungry.

Anansi and the Talking Melon


Eric A. Kimmel - 1994
    A spider tricks other animals into thinking a melon can talk.

Strega Nona


Tomie dePaola - 1975
    When Strega Nona leaves him alone with her magic pasta pot, Big Anthony is determined to show the townspeople how it works.

The Gingerbread Man


Karen Lee Schmidt - 1980
    The gingerbread man outruns everybody, until he meets the quick-witted fox.

The Little Red Fort


Brenda Maier - 2018
    She invites her brothers to help, but they just laugh and tell her she doesn't know how to build."Then I'll learn," she says.And she does!When she creates a dazzling fort that they all want to play in, it is Ruby who has the last laugh.With sprightly text and winsome pictures, this modern spin on the timeless favorite The Little Red Hen celebrates the pluck and ingenuity of young creators everywhere!

Federico and the Wolf


Rebecca J. Gomez - 2020
    But on the way, he meets a hungry wolf. And now his grandfather bears a striking resemblance to el lobo. Fortunately, Federico is quick and clever—and just happens to be carrying a spicy surprise! Federico drives the wolf away, and he and Abuelo celebrate with a special salsa. Recipe included.

The Three Billy Goats Fluff


Rachael Mortimer - 2010
    Troll supposed to sleep when the three Billy Goats Fluff keep trip-trapping over his bridge? Twice a day, they loudly cross it to eat the lush green grass in the field by Mr. Troll's home. (The grass makes their fleeces extra fluffy, important for Mother Goat's knitting business.) But when Mr. Troll threatens to eat them, Mother Goat has a fluffy plan to keep everyone happy in this funny twist on a classic fairy tale!

Five Little Ducks


Pamela Paparone - 1995
    Mother duck said, "Quack, quack, quack, quack." But only four little ducks came backPamela Paparone has transformed this traditional rhyme into a cozy, charming counting book for very young children. One by one, the five little ducks disappear, while mother duck is busy raking leaves, washing the winter quilts, picking apples, and baking a pie. In addition to the dwindling duck family, there are lots of other creatures for children to identify and count in the bucolic early-autumn landscape. And there is a cause for celebration when finally all five errant little ducks come back.

Once a Mouse...


Marcia Brown - 1961
    But the proud tiger must suffer the consequences when he becomes ungrateful and forgets his humble origins. Marcia Brown’s magical woodcuts bring this Indian fable to life with the mastery that won her a second Caldecott Medal.

Goldilocks and Just the One Bear


Leigh Hodgkinson - 2012
    One day, Little Bear wanders out of the woods and finds himself lost in the Big City. Will he find the city too noisy? Too quiet? Or just right? And what are the chances of him bumping in to someone who remembers exactly how he likes his porridge?

One Grain of Rice: A Mathematical Folktale


Demi - 1997
    A reward of one grain of rice doubles day by day into millions of grains of rice when a selfish raja is outwitted by a clever village girl.

Fat Cat


Margaret Read MacDonald - 2001
    He is always hungry, and living with culinary-inclined Mouse, who makes thirty-five pies in one day, just makes it worse. Fat Cat swallows everything in sight, including the washlady and her washtub, a troop of soldiers and their swords, even a king and his elephant! But when Cat swallows Mouse and her sewing basket, that's the last straw. Tiny Mouse cuts to the heart of ....

The Icky Sticky Frog


Dawn Bentley - 1999
    The Icky Sticky Frog

Tops & Bottoms


Janet Stevens - 1995
    With roots in American slave tales, Tops & Bottoms celebrates the trickster tradition of using one’s wits to overcome hardship. “As usual, Stevens’ animal characters, bold and colorful, are delightful. . . . It’s all wonderful fun, and the book opens, fittingly, from top to bottom instead of from side to side, making it perfect for story-time sharing.”--BooklistThis title has been selected as a Common Core Text Exemplar (Grades 2-3, Stories)

Say Hello!


Rachel Isadora - 2010
    There are people from so many different cultures! They all like to say hello too, so now Carmelita can say hello in Spanish, English, French, Japanese, and many other languages. And her dog, Manny? Well, he seems to understand everyone, and gives a happy "Woof!" wherever he goes. Emphasizing the rich diversity of America's neighborhoods, this simple portrait of a child's day provides a great introduction to the joy of language.