Oscar's Half Birthday


Bob Graham - 2005
    So there's nothing else for Mom and Dad to do but pack some sandwiches, park Oscar in his stroller, and take older sister Millie — handmade fairy wings attached — to the "half country" of their urban park for a half-birthday party. As always in the warm, quirky world of Bob Graham, the joy is in the details — a stop in a graffitied tunnel as the train rushes overhead; the expressions on Oscar's face as he watches a single leaf fall; the little half candle on his cake; and the impromptu gathering of admiring park visitors who join, one by one, in the hearty birthday song. With his jaunty watercolors full of charming surprises and a gently humorous text, Bob Graham creates an endearing, unconventional family readers will be happy to meet, and they'll be tickled to join in their celebration.

The Wonderful Fluffy Little Squishy


Beatrice Alemagna - 2015
    At the age of eight, she decided that whatever the cost she would become a "painter and writer of novels" when she grew up.

The Quiet Place


Sarah Stewart - 2012
    Even better, Papa and her brother Chavo help her turn a big box into her own quiet place, where she keeps her books and toys and writes letters to Aunt Lupita. As she decorates and adds more and more on to her quiet place, it is here that Isabel feels the most at home in her new country while she learns to adjust to the changes in her life.Set in the 1950s and told through Isabel’s letters to her aunt, Sarah Stewart and Caldecott Medalist David Small have created a charming and unforgettable young heroine who will win the hearts of readers in this story of immigration and assimilation.The Quiet Place is a Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Book of 2012

It Was Supposed to Be Sunny


Samantha Cotterill - 2021
    Then, just as she starts feeling okay with moving her party indoors, an accident with her cake makes her want to call the whole thing off. But with the help of her mom and a little alone time with her service dog, she knows she can handle this.Changes in routine can be hard for any kid, but especially for kids on the autism spectrum. Samantha Cotterill's fourth book in the Little Senses series provides gentle guidance along with adorable illustrations to help every kid navigate schedule changes and overwhelming social situations.

The Best Bike Ride Ever


James Proimos - 2012
    . . a bike! Then: Oh boy! Oh boy! Before she knows it, Bonnie is off on a wobbly course around the backyard that becomes an adventure of epic proportions. She bikes over mountains, under giraffes, up the Statue of Liberty, through the Grand Canyon, and past the Giant Cheese. There's only one thing Bonnie can't do on her bike . . . STOP!!! But after a tumble and an important lesson from Mom and Dad, Bonnie is back in the saddle. This celebration of a timeless rite of passage will have kids clamoring to read it, read it again, and then strike out on their own bike-riding adventures.

A Tree for Emmy


Mary Ann Rodman - 2009
    A delightful, multigenerational story, ideal for Arbor Day and Earth Day!"A spunky and independent heroine, a satisfying story and a gentle environmental message combine nicely here in an arboreal celebration that will delight many a young reader." ―Kirkus ReviewsEmmy loves trees. She loves oak trees with acorns. She loves pine trees with cones, and willow trees with swishy branches. But best of all, Emmy loves the mimosa tree that grows in her grandmother's pasture.So when Emmy decides she wants a mimosa tree of her own for her birthday, she is dismayed to find that many garden stores only sell ornamental trees like plum or pear or tulip trees. Emmy is crushed―until she discovers that the answer to her problem is growing right before her eyes!Mary Ann Rodman's joyful story--packed with environmental, independence, and problem-solving themes--will appeal to nature- and tree-lovers as well as those seeking great spring, Arbor Day, and Earth Day read-alouds. Illustrator Tatjana Mai-Wyss's whimsical watercolor and collage artwork captures Emmy's exuberant personality and the story's hopeful ending.

Nurse Clementine


Simon James - 2013
    Nurse Clementine sets to work, bandaging Mom, Dad--even the family dog! If only her accident-prone brother would let her work on him, too. She's a nurse--she needs people to help!Then, suddenly, there's a real emergency. Is Nurse Clementine up to the challenge?

McIntyre Security Bodyguard Series - Box Set 3


April Wilson - 2019
    They're married and expecting their first child. They've never been happier. A weekend getaway puts Beth in the wrong place at the wrong time, and all hell breaks loose, putting both Beth's life and her baby's life in mortal danger. When the unexpected happens, can Shane save his family? Can this alpha protector pull his wife back from the edge before it's too late? Hostage is book 7 in the McIntyre Security Bodyguard Series. It's a full-length novel (70,000 words) that ends in a wonderful HEA. Redeemed Annie Ten years ago, I made the biggest mistake of my life And I’ve paid the price every day since then, both in body and spirit Now I’m desperate, and the only man who can save me is the one I betrayed so long ago. I don’t deserve his forgiveness. He doesn’t owe me a thing. But like the hero he is, that won’t stop him from risking his life to save me…. even when I don’t deserve it. Jake My life ended the day Annie broke our engagement and married another man. I’ve been going through the motions ever since, unable to forget her. Unable to move on. I gave her my heart, and I don’t do give-backs, so she’s stuck with it, whether she wants it or not. When I find out she’s in danger, I’ll move Heaven and Earth to protect her, regardless of what it costs me. She doesn’t owe me a thing, but damn, I’ll go to my knees for her. For just one look, one touch, one word. Marry Me Lia McIntyre Lia's been with Jonah for nearly two years now. She loves her rock star boyfriend with a heart of gold. But deep down, she struggles with insecurity. She knows Jonah wants more with her, but she's afraid she can't live up to his expectations. And she thinks it's only a matter of time before he figures that out for himself. Jonah Locke Ever since leaving L.A. and his lucrative recording contract, Jonah Locke is thriving as an independent singer/songwriter. He's more popular than ever. He's living his dream, except for one small part. He wants to marry Lia. But every time he asks, she changes the subject. What's it going to take to get her to realize he's for real? Snowbound Fans of the McIntyre Security Bodyguard Series will love this new novella featuring Beth and Shane, as well as other favorites, including Luke, Sam, Cooper, Erin and Mack. This suspenseful Christmas novella will best be enjoyed as part of the series.

I Wish I Had a Dinosaur


V. Moua - 2016
    Once again, the little red bird has another great idea. This time, he absolutely knows what would make a great pet—a dinosaur! The bird also does a great job at convincing the reader why a particular dinosaur would make the perfect pet. So read along as you and your child will enjoy the adventures and wild imagination of this quirky bird! I Wish I Had a Dinosaur is a book that any child will love, especially at bedtime. Read this children's book FREE as part of your PRIME or Kindle Unlimited membership

Two Speckled Eggs


Jennifer K. Mann - 2014
    Lyla isn’t like the other girls: she smells like old leaves, doesn’t talk much, and once brought a tarantula to school for show-and-tell. On the day of the party, Lyla is much earlier than everyone else. But even after the others arrive, Ginger’s party doesn’t go quite the way she’d hoped: some of the girls change the rules to the games, and no one likes her silver and gold birthday cake — except Lyla. By the time Lyla gives Ginger her present — a tiny homemade nest with two delicious malted-milk eggs — Ginger begins to wonder: is being different really such a bad thing?

Grandpa Cacao: A Tale of Chocolate, from Farm to Family


Elizabeth Zunon - 2019
    In a land where elephants roam and the air is hot and damp, Grandpa Cacao worked in his village to harvest cacao, the most important ingredient in chocolate. "Chocolate is a gift to you from Grandpa Cacao," Daddy says. "We can only enjoy chocolate treats thanks to farmers like him." Once the cake is baked, it's ready to eat, but this isn't her only birthday present. There's a special surprise waiting at the front door . . .

College Boy


Omar Tyree - 2003
    This is Troy Potter's story. He is an African American young man from inner-city Philadelphia. He grew up with dreams of becoming a basketball player but now that he's eighteen he must learn the rules to a whole new game: college. How will Troy survive at a predominantly white school? Will he be afforded the same quality of education as his fellow students? How will he learn to become a successful black man in a white world? This penetrating novel takes a close look at the world of academia from a youthful African American perspective.

On the Day You Were Born


Debra Frasier - 1991
    Accompanied by a detailed glossary explaining such natural phenomena as gravity, tides, and migration, this is an unforgettable book. “A book filled with reverence for the natural order of the world and the place of the individual in it.”--School Library Journal

Night Noises


Mem Fox - 1989
    Finally awakened by Butch Aggie’s growls and barks, Lily finds a lovely surprise waiting for her. “The language, pacing, tension, and sparks of excitement are absolutely at one with the artwork.”--The Horn Book

Corduroy Lost and Found


B.G. Hennessy - 2006
    He spies what he thinks is a yellow balloon up in the sky, thinking that would be perfect for her.But when the sun rises, the balloon (really the full moon) disappears. And now Corduroy is lost. Lisa finds him, but not before Corduroy succeeds in getting just the right gift - a lollipop as yellow and round as the moon.This brand-new Corduroy picture book is written in the whimsical style of Don Freeman and illustrated in the exact scratchboard technique he used to create Corduroy and A Pocket for Corduroy.