Taking a Bath with the Dog and Other Things that Make Me Happy


Scott Menchin - 2007
    What would make you happy?"What do you do when it seems as if nothing will make you happy? For one little girl, it’s a good time to take a survey, from subjects including a quick little rabbit (running around in a wheel), a balding gent (counting rings on a tree), a snazzy centipede (shoes, lots of shoes), and other sundry characters. Enlivened by his whimsical characters, Scott Menchin’s amusing story shows us that just doing what we love to do best can bring the biggest smiles of all.Book Details: Format: Hardcover Publication Date: 6/12/2007 Pages: 40 Reading Level: Age 4 and Up

If You Take a Mouse to School


Laura Joffe Numeroff - 2002
    Thankfully, the bestselling duo of author Laura Numeroff and illustrator Felicia Bond -- creators of If You Take a Mouse to the Movies and If You Give a Mouse a Cookie -- have teamed up to show us the hijinks a whiskered school guest could cause.Starting with asking for your lunchbox, this critter is set for mischief. The feisty mouse asks for a snack for later (cookies of course), a notebook, and pencils, and wants "to share your backpack, too." After he arrives at school, the pushy classmate tries his hand (make that paw) at math and writing on the blackboard, afterward whipping up a messy, pink science experiment and building a "little mouse house" from blocks. The schooltime antics don't stop there, but a busy mouse tends to get hungry after so much playtime. Naturally his snack is in the lunchbox, which is stored "in a safe place" with his new picture book inside.Following the whimsical style of their previous books, Numeroff and Bond have done it again. Their high-adrenaline mouse will have readers cheering while their eyes comb the illustrations for extra nibbles of fun. Although the book's main human character looks positively exhausted at the end, we can only holler for more of the little guy with the huge school spirit. Matt Warner

Grandparents


Chema Heras - 2002
    He asks Grandmother to join him, but she has many reasons to delay their outing: she needs to put eyeliner around her eyes—which are as sad as a moonless night—and color in her hair—which is as gray as an autumn cloud. Grandfather counters with loving arguments of his own: her sad eyes look like stars and her hair is as perfect and white as a summer cloud.Playful illustrations complement this touching banter, which culminates in a trip to the dance where Grandmother tells Grandfather, “You are as pretty as the moon.”

Pass It On


Sophy Henn - 2016
    A joyful and uplifting picture book about finding happiness in the smallest of things, from picture book star Sophy Henn - World Book Day illustrator and shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize.

Happy


Mies van Hout - 2011
    Each double page spread is devoted to one fish, showing a particular emotion with its name in lettering that expresses the same feeling.  Swim into Happy where the dazzling fish sparkle against the dark background and let the images spark laughter and empathy.

Straw


Amy Krouse Rosenthal - 2020
    But when his speedy streak gets the best of him, it takes a friend to show Straw how to drink in the amazing world around him.A companion to Spoon and Chopsticks, this delightful story celebrates the joys of taking it slow.

Animals


Ingela P. Arrhenius - 2015
    Every oversized page highlights a different specimen, from an adorable sheep to an elegant flamingo, from an endearing hippo to a silly-looking snake. Each animal’s name appears in a different eye-catching type treatment, making for an attractive graphic keepsake sure to find a prominent place in nurseries and bookshelves everywhere.

Mia Moves Out


Miranda Paul - 2018
    . . until she had to share it with her new brother. With Brandon's toys, books, and even underwear taking up space, Mia has finally had it. I'm moving out! There are lots of new and interesting spaces she could settle into--the bathroom, the basement, even a pillow fort. But something is always missing. What could it be? Tackling the oh-so-relatable topic of finding a space of one's own, Mia will inspire siblings everywhere to work together as a team. Because sometimes the best place of all is a shared one.

The Silence Slips in


Alison Hughes - 2019
    A warm, comforting presence, the Silence curls up in a sun-beam like a cuddly cat and helps you read, think and be still. The Silence is friends with the Dark. Together they soothe the jagged edges left when the Noise has rolled on and gently launch the boats of your dreams into the night. When the day becomes overwhelming or other feelings become too big, the Silence slips in.With soft illustrations and soothing text, this is a quiet story about learning to find calm in the busy world around you.

Little Bear Lost


Jane Hissey - 1989
    And after everyone else cannot find him, it is up to Old Bear tocome to the rescue. Full-color illustrations.

Art & Max


David Wiesner - 2010
    Arthur is an accomplished painter; Max is a beginner. Max’s first attempt at using a paintbrush sends the two friends on a whirlwind trip through various artistic media, which turn out to have unexpected pitfalls. Although Max is inexperienced, he’s courageous—and a quick learner. His energy and enthusiasm bring the adventure to its triumphant conclusion. Beginners everywhere will take heart.

Herman and Rosie


Gus Gordon - 2012
    This is a tale about a big city.It's a tale of hotdogs and music and the summertime subway breeze.It's a tale of singing on rooftops and toffees that stick to your teeth.But most of all, it's the tale of Herman and Rosie.'Quirky, soulful and alive . . . a book to treasure, like a favourite song.' Markus Zusak

The Raft


Jim LaMarche - 2000
    He's not too thrilled about all the chores either—especially fishing. Before long, though, a raft appears in the nearby river, and it changes everything. As Nicky explores, the raft works a subtle magic on the obstinate young boy, opening up the wonders all around him: the animals of river and woods, his grandmother's humor and wisdom, and his own special talent as an artist.This is a serene story about a summer in the woods, appreciating things—and people—in a whole new light, and discovering one's own talents. School Library Journal proclaimed, "this dazzling picture book is an artistic triumph." A note from the author describes the similarities between LaMarche's and Nicky's life.Supports the Common Core State Standards

Ask Mr. Bear


Marjorie Flack - 1932
    The hen offers eggs, the goose feathers, and the sheep wool. But mother already has those things. Then the cow suggests that Danny go ask Mr. Bear. It’s from him that Danny gets a special and unique gift for his mother.

Elmer and the Whales


David McKee - 2013
    But their journey becomes far more of an adventure then they expected, when they find themselves lost at sea. Can the whales help them back to shore?