The Forever Tree


Tereasa Surratt - 2018
    It grew from love.The animals and humans always knew their tree was special. The trunk was the best place to host championship bingo tournaments, and the branches were perfect for swinging in the shade!But when the tree gets sick, neighbors new and old will have to join forces if they have any chance of saving their treetop home.A touching tale based on the true story of one special tree, and the community that brought it back to life.

Plume


Isabelle Simler - 2017
    But lurking in the background of every page is a cat, who also seems very interested in the birds. With its funny illustrations and engaging concepts, this clever counting book will invite readers to linger over every page.

Rosie the Raven


Helga Bansch - 2015
    Loving raven parents take their little Rosie just the way she is.In the beginning, Rosie tries to do everything her siblings do. She opens her mouth to receive worms from her parents, tries to caw until she is hoarse, and wildly flaps her arms in an attempt to fly. The neighbors offer encouragement. “Rub it with birch leaves. That will make its feathers grow!”Rosie finally realizes she is different. Maybe she can’t caw or fly, but a world of discovery awaits her nonetheless.Helga Bansch’s exquisite artwork of collages and colored images, including comic-style panels, bring humor, mood, and emotion to Rosie’s story. The reader is drawn to Rosie from the instant she pushes herself from the egg, smiling and happy to greet her family, oblivious to her differences.

Elevator Bird


Sarah Williamson - 2020
    He helps the staff get where they need to go, and always has an encouraging word. Elevator Bird makes everyone's day brighter.So when he confesses to his friend Mousie that he's always longed for a room with a view, Mousie springs into action. All his friends at the Hotel hatch a marvelous plan to make sure Elevator Bird has the nest he deserves.Sarah Williamson spins a charming tale of friends working together to make a dream come true.

The Rough Patch


Brian Lies - 2018
    One day the unthinkable happens: Evan’s dog dies. Heartbroken, Evan destroys the garden and everything in it. The ground becomes overgrown with prickles and thorns, and Evan embraces the chaos.But beauty grows in the darkest of places, and when a twisting vine turns into an immense pumpkin, Evan is drawn out of his misery and back to the county fair, where friendships—old and new—await.

Mr. Crum's Potato Predicament


Anne Renaud - 2017
    Horsefeathers walks into George Crum's restaurant, he tells the waitress, 'I have a hankering for a heaping helping of potatoes.' Fine cook that he is, George prepares a serving of his most scrumptious, succulent and sublime potato wedges, only to have Filbert send them back. 'Too thick,' he says. So, George makes thinner wedges. But his picky customer sends them back again. And again. Feeling a bit mischievous, George decides to use his sharpest knife to cut paper-thin potato slices, which he fries until they are crackling and then showers with salt. At last, Filbert is satisfied, proclaiming, 'Perfection!' Which they are. Because, quite by accident, George Crum has invented potato chips! This fictional picture book tale by Anne Renaud is based on a real man named George Crum, a cook in Saratoga Springs, New York, in the 1850s, who is purported to have created the first potato chip in response to a demanding customer. Included at the back of the book is a historical note with a list of sources describing the legend and the remarkable and inspiring story of Crum, a trapper of mixed Native American and African American descent, who supplied restaurants with fresh game, then became a chef and successful restauranteur himself. Felicita Sala's gorgeous illustrations accurately portray the historical period but with a lighthearted touch. They work beautifully with Renaud's playful language and quirky characters for a lively and deliciously fun read-aloud. This book is an excellent choice for lessons on inventions and inventors, history, or why we eat the foods we do.

Little Mouse on the Prairie


Stephen Cosgrove - 1978
    But Tweezle and her friends help one another-she shows them the value of hard work while they teach her that laughter can make work more fun!

A Walk in the Forest


Maria Dek - 2015
    Build a shelter and play hide-and-seek. Pretend the woods are a jungle, or shout out loud to stir up the birds! The forest comes alive in all its mysterious glory in Maria Dek's charming watercolor images and poetic text.

Zinnia's Flower Garden


Monica Wellington - 2005
    Sunflowers, sweet peas, and (of course) zinnias bloom in the sunshine. Customers come to pick their own bunches of flowers. Bouquet-bright artwork shows all Zinnia's tasks, from planting the seeds to cutting the beautiful blooms. The perfect tie-in to elementary biology units about plant growth-and school gardens-this book will be especially welcomed by teachers. It is a splendid addition to Monica Wellington's nonfiction for the very young and a true spring delight that's good in any season.

A Place for Pluto


Stef Wade - 2018
    His planet status was stripped away, leaving him lost and confused. Poor Pluto! On his quest to find a place where he belongs, he talks to comets, asteroids, and meteoroids. He doesn't fit it anywhere! But when Pluto is about to give up, he runs into a dwarf planet and finally finds his place in the solar system. This feel-good picture book combines a popular science topic with character education themes of self discovery, acceptance, and friendship. It has bonus material in the back matter to support curriculum.

The Bad Seed


Jory John - 2017
    A baaaaaaaaaad seed. How bad? Do you really want to know? He has a bad temper, bad manners, and a bad attitude. He’s been bad since he can remember! This seed cuts in line every time, stares at everybody and never listens. But what happens when one mischievous little seed changes his mind about himself, and decides that he wants to be—happy?With Jory John’s charming and endearing text and bold expressive illustrations by Pete Oswald, here is The Bad Seed: a funny yet touching tale that reminds us of the remarkably transformative power of will, acceptance, and just being you. Perfect for readers young and old, The Bad Seed proves that positive change is possible for each and every one of us.

The Foodie Flamingo


Vanessa Howl - 2021
    So Frankie decides to expand her palate by trying exciting new foods—with some colorful consequences! But as Frankie's food world expands, her friends can't quite seem to understand what's gotten into her. Until they spy on Frankie cooking up something special and decide that they, too, might want to go on a food adventure of their own.Learn all about becoming a foodie with Frankie in this delightful story about being brave and trying new foods.

The Messy Book


Maudie Powell-Tuck - 2016
    Messy-Book

The (Not) Sleepy Shark (Xist Children's Books)


Tamia Sheldon - 2015
    In this fun bedtime book, a silly shark explores the way other sea animals get ready for bed until she's finally ready to say goodnight. From the author and illustrator of The Hungry Shark.