Mostly Monsterly


Tammi Sauer - 2010
    And pet kittens. And bake. When the time comes for Bernadette to go to Monster Academy, she's just a teensy bit nervous. Her classmates just don't understand her. They'd rather uproot trees than sing friendship songs. And they prefer fried snail goo to Bernadette's homemade cupcakes with sprinkles. Can Bernadette find a way to make friends at school and still be herself?

How to Get Your Teacher Ready


Jean Reagan - 2017
    . . your favorite teacher! This humorous new book in the beloved HOW TO . . . series takes readers through a fun and busy school year. Written in tongue-in-cheek instructional style, a class of adorable students gives tips and tricks for getting a teacher ready for the first day of school, and all the events and milestones that will follow (picture day, holiday concert, the 100th day of school, field day!). And along the way, children will see that getting their teacher ready is really getting themselves ready. Filled with charming role-reversal humor, this is a playful and heartwarming celebration of teachers and students, and the perfect gift for back-to-school readiness or graduation. Praise for the HOW TO . . . books: A new hit this year is How to Catch Santa. . . . The picture book offers lighthearted tips on how kids can steal a glimpse of Mr. Elusive, aka Santa. USA Today (How to Catch Santa) Belongs on the shelf of every kid who loves a grandparent. The Salt Lake Tribune (How to Babysit a Grandpa) The charm of its premise and the clear bond between the generations will have kids and grandparents giggling together. School Library Journal (How to Babysit a Grandma)"

Freddie and the Fairy


Julia Donaldson - 2010
    Freddie is desperate for a pet, so when he rescues Bessie-Belle and she offers to grant his wishes, he knows just what to ask for. The only problem is that Bessie-Belle can't hear very well, and Freddie tends to mumble, and Freddie is given a net. So they keep trying. Luckily, the Fairy Queen is on hand to explain. This is a delightful tale full of Julia Donaldson's trademark rhyme and wit, with a subtle message about hearing impairments.

The Cow Loves Cookies


Karma Wilson - 2010
    As the farmer makes his rounds each day, most of the animals chew on the foods a young reader would expect. But when it’s time to feed the cow, she feasts on a special treat! Wilson's signature style and Marcellus Hall’s spirited watercolors will delight children on and off the farm—because when it comes down to it, who doesn’t love milk and cookies?

George and Martha Encore


James Marshall - 1973
    More stories about the two great chums: "The Dance Recital," "The French Lesson," "The Disguise," "The Beach," "The Garden."

My Teacher for President


Kay Winters - 2004
    Look at her qualifications! She loves white houses, she's used to being followed everywhere, she attends lots of meetings, she finds jobs for people, and she believes in peace. Oliver's teacher is depicted during a typical school day contrasted with scenes of his heroine carrying out presidential duties. The apt correlation between these two very important jobs makes the book both useful and amusing.

Plankton Is Pushy


Jonathan Fenske - 2017
    Plankton tries everything to get quiet Mussel to talk. In fact, Plankton gets VERY pushy about it! Will Mussel ever open his mouth? Kids will relate to Plankton's frustration with Mussel, and they will be anxious to see what happens when Mussel finally does open his mouth... Geisel Award Honoree Jonathan Fenske delivers a laugh-out-loud ocean story, and this is the perfect follow-up to Barnacle is Bored.

Spaghetti With the Yeti


Adam Guillain - 2013
    I’ve been looking so hard for the Yeti.…The monster looked down with a horrible howl …“Are you bonkers? My name is Netty!…Join George, a young and courageous explorer with all the pluck of a little Indiana Jones, on a quest to track down the elusive Yeti against all the odds.With only a map, a woolly hat and a tin of spaghetti in his rucksack, George sets off on his journey up the steep mountain path … and spots the Yeti immediately! But wait … just look at that lipstick! Can it really be the Yeti?Spaghetti with the Yeti is a funny rhyming romp, the perfect read-aloud adventure book for boy and girl monster lovers! Ideal for fans of Aliens Love Underpants and Supertato, Spaghetti with the Yeti was shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize and Highly Commended at the Sheffield Children's Book Award. Perfect for kids aged 3+.Have you collected all of George's Amazing Adventures:Spaghetti with the Yeti,Marshmallows for Martians,Doughnuts for a Dragon,Pizza for Pirates,Socks for SantaTreats for T. rexAdam Guillain is a children’s writer, musician and a co-founder of Storytelling Schools. Charlotte Guillain taught English to air traffic controllers and nurses before deciding a career in publishing would endanger fewer lives. They have written several picture books together including Supermarket Gremlins, School for Dads and the George's Amazing Adventures series.Lee Wildish lives in Lancashire and has been illustrating from a very young age. His titles include The Spooky Spooky House which was the winner of the Red House Children's Book Award 2013, and the New York Times bestselling How to Babysit a Grandpa.

Long Way Back


Brendan Halpin - 2007
    It’s firmly rooted in familial embarrassment (the Kellys’ house is “decorated like the inside of somebody’s hut in Guatemala”), reinforced by an abiding love of Dee Dee Ramone and other (lesser) gods of the rock pantheon, and cemented by the secret of a remarkable religious epiphany Francis experiences at the age of twelve.Clare and Francis become happy adults with rewarding careers and loving spouses. But when tragedy strikes, Francis finds his faith shattered and his life horribly transformed, and Clare doesn’t know how to help the brother she loves but has never fully understood.Nearly flattened by sadness, Francis turns to the angry, propulsive music that sustained him through adolescence and finds that you’re never too old to be punk rock. With the help of a bass guitar and the support of Clare and some unlikely new friends, Francis gradually finds his way back from the depths of despair to a life that feels worth living.Told in Clare’s wry, compassionate voice, Long Way Back is an original, moving novel about grief, guitars, and grace. It shows that the Velvet Underground didn’t lie: Your life really can be saved by rock and roll.From the Hardcover edition.

Writing Radar: Using Your Journal to Snoop Out and Craft Great Stories


Jack Gantos - 2017
    Incorporating his own misadventures as a developing writer, Gantos inspires readers to build confidence and establish good writing habits as they create, revise, and perfect their stories. Pop-out text boxes highlight key tips, alongside Gantos's own illustrations, sample stories, and snippets from his childhood journals. More than just a how-to guide, Writing Radar is a celebration of the power of storytelling and an ode to the characters who--many unwittingly--inspired Gantos's own writing career.

The Day Louis Got Eaten


John Fardell - 2011
    But rescuing a boy from a Gulper's tummy isn't so simple - especially when other strange and scary creatures are looking for their dinner too. . .

Dojo Daytrip


Chris Tougas - 2015
    From the moment the ninja boys and ninja girls step off their minibus, mayhem ensues.Farm activities like feeding a pig, milking a cow, and plowing a field dissolve into chaos as the master slips into the slop trough, is chased by a bull, and then is dragged through the hay. YIKES! YEE-OW! It’s a barnyard disaster. Meanwhile, the mischievous ninjas run rampant, setting chicks free and splitting fences, until they remember to shape up and honor their creed: Always help someone in need.Chris Tougas’ digitally rendered ninjas pop off the page once again in this laugh-out-loud story. Told in rhyming verse with a playful rhythm, accompanied by hilarious illustrations and big sound effects, Dojo Daytrip makes for a riotous read-aloud with a kindhearted message.

Underwear!


Jenn Harney - 2019
    Underwear makes great hair. It can even turn one into a superber, or a goggle-wearing swimming bear. But beware of a big scare! Rhymes, homonyms, and conjunctions abound in this book that could be used to teach reading, but its primary purpose is to make bedtime fun.

How to Ruin Your Financial Life


Ben Stein - 2004
    This book is a laugh-out-loud way to educate yourself, your children, and your friends about how money really works...and a way to smile while you're straightening out that mess you call your financial life.

Happiness and How It Happens: Finding Contentment Through Mindfulness


Happy Buddha - 2011
    Author Suryacitta, aka The Happy Buddha, explores what happiness actually is and how we all can achieve it through the transformational practice of mindfulness meditation. This simple act of meditation is as unintimidating as it is effective. Even those completely new to meditation will feel the effects of mindfulness meditation immediately, and have their inner happiness flourish.