Odd Duck


Cecil Castellucci - 2013
    She may swim with a teacup balanced on her head and stay north when the rest of the ducks fly south for the winter, but there's nothing so odd about that.  Chad, on the other hand, is one strange bird. Theodora quite likes him, but she can't overlook his odd habits. It's a good thing Chad has a normal friend like Theodora to set a good example for him.  But who exactly is the odd duck here? Theodora may not like the answer. Sara Varon (Robot Dreams) teams up with Cecil Castellucci (Grandma's Gloves) for a gorgeous, funny, and heartwarming examination of the perils and pleasures of friendship.

The English Roses


Madonna - 2003
    Four little girls--Nicole, Amy, Charlotte, and Grace--are eleven years old and the very best of friends. They have sleepovers, picnics and ice-skating parties that exclude Binah, a beautiful girl whose seemingly perfect life makes them "green with envy." However, when a feisty, pumpernickel-loving fairy godmother takes them on a magical journey, they learn to their great surprise that Binah's life is not nearly as enviable as it had seemed. The English Roses is an inspiring story about the importance of compassion and the rewards of friendship.

Owen and Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship


Isabella Hatkoff - 2006
    When Owen was stranded after the Dec 2004 tsunami, villagers in Kenya worked tirelessly to rescue him. Then, to everyone's amazement, the orphan hippo and the elderly tortoise adopted each other. Now they are inseparable, swimming, eating, and playing together. Adorable photos e-mailed from friend to friend quickly made them worldwide celebrities. Here is a joyous reminder that in times of trouble, friendship is stronger than the differences that too often pull us apart.

Miss Spider's Tea Party


David Kirk - 1994
    Being a florivore herself, she only wants to invite them over for cakes and tea. The ironic air wafting through Kirk's rhymed tale will not be lost on young readers, and the insects in the big, brightly colored illustrations beear comically apprehensive expressions as they hastily depart . . . At last, Miss Spider is able to convince a rain-soaked moth of her good intentions . . . A sweet tale" --School Library Journal

Behold, No Cavities! A Visit to the Dentist (SpongeBob SquarePants)


Sarah Willson - 2007
    SpongeBob is expecting another cavity-free checkup and getting his name put up on the No Cavi-Tree again when he learns some horrifying news! Will Patrick's name replace SpongeBob's name on the No Cavi-Tree? Will SpongeBob ever be cavity-free again?

How to Bicycle to the Moon to Plant Sunflowers: A Simple but Brilliant Plan in 24 Easy Steps


Mordicai Gerstein - 2013
    . . and plenty of imagination. With tongue firmly in cheek, Caldecott Medal winner Mordicai Gerstein outlines the steps needed in glorious comic book-style panels and a deadpan voice, leaving nothing out: the food you'll eat, how to deal with loneliness in space, how to water those sunflower seeds once they're planted—even how to deal with the media attention back home after a successful trip. An inspired work of whimsy, How to Bicycle to the Moon to Plant Sunflowers is a spacefaring adventure for daydreamers and a starter kit for the imagination.

The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear


Don Wood - 1984
    Little Mouse loves strawberries, but so does the bear... How will Little Mouse stop the bear from eating his freshly picked, red, ripe strawberry.

The Spiderwick Chronicles Movie : The Movie Storybook


Tracey West - 2008
    Full color.

Millions of Cats


Wanda Gág - 1928
    They decided to get a cat, but when the old man went out searching, he found not one cat, but millions and billions and trillions of cats! Unable to decide which one would be the best pet, he brought them all home. How the old couple came to have just one cat to call their own is a classic tale that has been loved for generations. Winner of a Newbery Honor, this collector's edition—featuring a heavy interior stock, spot gloss and embossing on the cover, and a thread-sewn binding—will bring this beloved tale to a whole new generation of readers.

The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story


Rudyard Kipling - 1894
    The stories tell of Mowgli's upbringing among the wolves; his lessons in the Law of the Jungle from Baloo the bear, Bagheera the black panther, and Kaa the python; his kidnapping by the Monkey People; and his clash with the evil tiger, Shere Khan. Illustrated in striking full color and exquisite detail by award-winning artist Nicola Bayley, this is a book to treasure forever.

Crêpes by Suzette‎


Monica Wellington - 2004
    Suzette, the crepe maker, sells her delicacies in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. As she goes from place to place, readers are treated to a variety of Parisian scenes and a series of customers inspired by figures in famous French paintings. Wellington's mixed-media collages, combining photographs with her signature bright and simple shapes, are dazzling. A crepe recipe is included. As delicious as Suzette's crepes, this book will captivate children--and their parents--who will want to make the trip to Paris themselves.

Islandborn


Junot Díaz - 2018
    Hers was a school of faraway places. So when Lola's teacher asks the students to draw a picture of where their families immigrated from, all the kids are excited. Except Lola. She can't remember The Island—she left when she was just a baby. But with the help of her family and friends, and their memories—joyous, fantastical, heartbreaking, and frightening—Lola's imagination takes her on an extraordinary journey back to The Island. As she draws closer to the heart of her family's story, Lola comes to understand the truth of her abuela's words: “Just because you don't remember a place doesn't mean it's not in you.”

Each Peach Pear Plum


Janet Ahlberg - 1978
    Each beautifully illustrated page encourages young children to interact with the picture to find the next fairy tale and nursery rhyme character. This board book edition is perfect for little hands. In this book "With your little eye, Take a look, And play 'I spy'". This familiar rhyme has been given the brilliant Ahlbreg treatment to which no young child can fail to respond. It's a book which will be read over and over again . . . just perfect!'"Deceptively simple. 'Each Peach Pear Plum' is a work of genius." - Elaine Moss

The Boy who Spoke to the Earth


Chris Burkard - 2015
    Join the Earth and the boy in this epic tale as you experience your own journey to happiness. You may learn together what it means to stand still for just a moment and find joy every step of the way.

Ocean: A Peek-Through Picture Book


Britta Teckentrup - 2019
    A colourful array of sea creatures is brought to life by award-winning illustrator Britta Teckentrup in this delightful, innovative picture book - with peek-through holes that reveal details of life in the ocean with each turn of the page. It's the perfect light nonfiction book for young readers curious about the world around them. And it will spark great conversations about the importance of keeping our oceans clean and protecting the amazing creatures who live there.Look for all the books in the Peek-Through Picture Book series: Tree, Bee, Moon, and The Twelve Days of Christmas.