Book picks similar to
The Secret Garden by Calista Brill


picture-books
children
classics
childrens

The Best Place in the World


Petr Horáček - 2019
    His friends all say it is. The rabbits love to run and play together in the fields, the birds love to sing to Hare from high up in the trees, and Bear loves the bees and the honey they share with everyone. But Hare still isn’t certain, so he sets off to explore the world and find out for himself. He discovers green fields, gushing rivers, and starlit deserts. His friends would surely love these places, too, but they’re all back in the meadow without him . . . which leads Hare to realize something important. In a gorgeously written and illustrated story, Petr Horácek masters a tender new tone and delivers a thoughtful meditation on what makes a home.

Red Wagon


Renata Liwska - 2011
    But her mother has other plans for her-and the wagon. Lucy must go to the market and buy vegetables for dinner. Lucy doesn't want to do chores! But she sets off for the market nonetheless, hauling her red wagon with her. Before long, her ordinary trip becomes a high-seas adventure, a ride through outer space, and a day at the circus. As long as she has her red wagon, not even chores can get in the way of Lucy's fun.New York Times bestseller Renata Liwska's most vibrant art ever takes center stage in this imaginative book for the youngest of readers.

The Best-Loved Doll


Rebecca Caudill - 1962
    For a doll contest at a party, a little girl chooses to enter a doll that seems least likely to win a prize.

Pop the Bubble!


Mary Eakin - 2016
    Children will love creating a bubble, playing with it and of course they’ll want to pop the bubble! Encouraging imagination with exciting interactive elements will make this a wonderful read-aloud experience.

Cat Knit


Jacob Grant - 2016
    They have so much fun playing together, the two are inseparable.Until the day Girl takes Yarn away.When Yarn Returns, he is completely changed, no longer Cat's bright and rolly friend. Cat is mad!Soon, Cat begins to miss his best friend, and he just might realize that a little change isn't so bad after all.

Madeline and the Gypsies


Ludwig Bemelmans - 1958
    Join Madeline in another adventure when she and Pepito run off to join the carnival with a band of traveling gypsies! At first they're having the time of their lives—they don't have to go to school, brush their teeth, or ever go to sleep. But soon Madeline and Pepito start to feel homesick. Leave it to clever Miss Clavel to find Madeline and Pepito and bring them home.

Spring Story


Jill Barklem - 1980
    Apple takes advantage of an idyllic spring day to plan a surprise birthday party for a cranky little mouse who fears he's been forgotten.These gentle, sweetly mischievous books will enchant anyone who's ever been charmed by the world of Beatrix Potter.

The Boy and the Bear


Tracey Corderoy - 2018
    If only he knew how to play games properly! But when Bear starts to build a treehouse, the boy is intrigued and a magical summer begins. As autumn passes and the first winter snowflakes start to fall, the boy is left alone, and only then does he truly realise what he has lost . . . Until at last spring comes again and the friends are joyfully reunited with a very special hug!

Brave Irene


William Steig - 1986
    Her mother, Mrs. Bobbin, isn't feeling so well and can't possibly deliver the beautiful ball gown she's made for the duchess to wear that very evening. So plucky Irene volunteers to get the gown to the palace on time, in spite of the fierce snowstorm that's brewing-- quite an errand for a little girl. But where there's a will, there's a way, as Irene proves in the danger-fraught adventure that follows. She must defy the wiles of the wicked wind, her most formidable opponent, and overcome many obstacles before she completes her mission. Surely, this winning heroine will inspire every child to cheer her on."Brave Irene" is a 1986 New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Book of the Year.

Dot.


Randi Zuckerberg - 2013
    She knows how to tap . . . to swipe . . . to share . . . and she pays little attention to anything else.Dot's tech-savvy expertise, mingled with her resourceful imagination, proves Dot knows lots and lots.But will she be able to unplug for one second to tap…swipe…and share with her real-life friends?Find out in this wonderful story about the day when Dot sets off on an interactive adventure with the world surrounding her.

Bill and Pete


Tomie dePaola - 1978
    Bill, the crocodile, and Pete, his "toothbrush" bird friend, were inspired by the Egyptian plover, which does indeed act as a crocodile toothbrush.Their adventures together along the banks of the River Nile, which include Bill's first day at crocodile school and an encounter with the Bad Guy from Cairo, are filled with the originality and offbeat humor of this favorite author-artist.

No, No, Gnome!


Ashlyn Anstee - 2016
    Gnome cannot wait to help his friends harvest the school garden! But his eagerness and excitement get him into trouble, leaving them all saying, “No, no, Gnome!”

The Little Gardener


Emily Hughes - 2015
    He worked hard, very hard, but he was just too little (or at least he felt he was).A story that teaches us just how important it is to persist and try, no matter what the odds.

The Hat


Jan Brett - 1997
    When Lisa's red-and-white woolen stocking blows off the clothesline, Hedgie finds it and sticks his nose inside, only to discover his prickles prevent him from pulling out of it. Soon all the farm animals are coming around to chuckle at silly Hedgie's stocking cap. But in the end, nimble-witted Hedgie gets the last laugh. Now young fans of this glorious Scandinavian picture book can curl up with the illustrious Hedgie, himself! This fluffy 5-inch fellow, with long, lush, decidedly unprickly fur, sports the very sock--uh, hat--that got him in trouble. A soft body and cheerful smile guarantee many friends for this huggable guy. Packaged with the only available board book version of the award-winning The Hat, this delightful book and sweet plush toy set make a perfect gift any time of year! (Ages 3 to 8) --Emilie Coulter

Sophie's Squash


Pat Zietlow Miller - 2013
    From then on, Sophie brings Bernice everywhere, despite her parents' gentle warnings that Bernice will begin to rot. As winter nears, Sophie does start to notice changes.... What's a girl to do when the squash she loves is in trouble?