More-Igami


Dori Kleber - 2016
    When a visiting mother of a classmate turns a plain piece of paper into a beautiful origami crane, his eyes pop. Maybe he can learn origami, too. It’s going to take practice — on his homework, the newspaper, the thirty-eight dollars in his mother’s purse . . . Enough! No more folding! But how can Joey become an origami master if he’s not allowed to practice? Is there anywhere that he can hone the skill that makes him happy — and maybe even make a new friend while he’s at it?

Wild Boars Cook


Meg Rosoff - 2008
    And if this pudding sounds horrible, the ingredients will leave you speechless!Meg Rosoff and Sophie Blackall team up again to delightful results in this companion book about the beloved disgusting wild boars. The wild boars have established themselves as forces to be reckoned with, and this second installment will not disappoint--it's laugh-out-loud funny!

Baby Penguins Everywhere!


Melissa Guion - 2012
    Even more unusual? Out of the hat pops a baby penguin. But not just one baby penguin . . . or even two. But a third, and a fourth, and on and on!At first the mama penguin is happy for the company. Until she realizes that taking care of a family is very hard, very tiring work, and what she could really use is just a moment alone. Yet as newcomer Melissa Guion reminds us in her adorable debut picture book, alone time is all well and good, but, it's together time that's best of all.Perfect for any mama penguin with a family, or classroom, full of mischievous little ones.

Banjo Granny


Sarah Martin Busse - 2006
    Granny’s heart is set to see her new grandbaby, but how can she ford a fast river, climb a steep mountain, and cross a wide desert?With a dose of determination, a well-stocked banjo case, and the charm of a simple bluegrass song—that’s how!Part tall tale, part lullaby, this rhythmic story, illustrated with warm pastoral paintings, celebrates the meeting of grandmothers and grandbabies everywhere.

The Magic Hockey Stick


Peter Maloney - 1999
    But one day Bronto gets a terrible stomachache. When the doctor takes an X ray, it shows Bronto's ribs, his stomach, some trees, and . . . . something Bronto will never forget! With hilarious illustrations and a surprise ending, here is a wacky story that gives new meaning to the phrase "Watch what you eat!"

The Invisible String


Patrice Karst - 2000
    For Adults Too!OVER 400,000 Copies Sold!

Are You Ready For Bed?


Jane Johnson - 2002
    Mrs. Rabbit tries everything she knows--from lullabies, lots of snuggles and even a warm bubble bath--but Little Bunny is not ready to sleep and he is beginning to enjoy his "alone time" with Mommy! Finally, Little Bunny wears himself out and "flop" he is fast asleep! Mrs. Rabbit thinks she can get some rest. But just as she beings to drift off... The soft padded covers, rounded corners and sturdy board pages make this title a perfect fit for preschoolers!

School for Bandits


Hannah Shaw - 2011
    But he doesn't act normal at all. He's disturbingly well behaved, clean and tidy, shockingly polite, and he even brushes his teeth!  Mr. and Mrs. Raccoon are worried—how will Ralph ever become a great raccoon bandit like Grandpa Cutlass or Uncle Whiskers?  It's time Ralph learned some bad manners . . . at Bandit School.Ralph has no chance of winning the "Best Bandit in School" competition—he's not very bandit-like at all. But sometimes good manners can be useful, and Ralph just might surprise everyone--including himself.

Big Plans


Bob Shea - 2008
    He's got plans...and have you heard? They're BIG. With the help of a mynah bird and lucky stinky hat, he'll find a quarter...boss around some muckety-mucks...become the mayor--or even the president! And while he's at it...fly to the moon! This exuberant story is perfect for any child who is ready to dream BIG. Are you in?

Red Light, Green Lion


Candace Ryan - 2019
    While he waits, a series of unexpected events occur, involving such things as lightning, a lilac, library books and lima beans. Or rather, “li-ghtning,” “li-lac,” “li-brary books,” and “li-ma beans” because the text on each spread ends with “Red light, green li-,” and the reader must turn the page to see the whole word --- and what's happened. All the while, the lion calmly and helpfully deals with whatever shows up (even loading livestock into a lifeboat!) and wryly muses about the way life can be. “Some days are not like most days,” the lion explains at the beginning. But as all children know: those days are usually the most fun!This charming, sometimes silly, philosophical picture book is inspired by the popular childhood game Red Light, Green Light. Candace Ryan's text is simple, and the repeated refrain allows for guessing what (green) surprise comes next, making for an engaging read-aloud. Jennifer Yerkes's illustrations have a fresh look, with a limited palette and spare, expressive lines. The collaboration of story and design --- using color and muted tones for the refrain --- keeps the concept easy to understand. Important life lessons are shared with simplicity, clarity and beauty: “Some days we get exactly what we need, exactly when we need it.” “And some days, nothing goes the way we thought it would.” This would make a delightful choice for character education lessons on kindness, teamwork and inclusiveness.

Snow Day for Mouse


Judy Cox - 2012
    On a snowy day, Mouse is swept outside where he plays in the snow, ice skates on a frozen puddle, and makes sure his friends the birds get something to eat.

Brady Needs a Nightlight (Fundamentales #1)


Brian Barlics - 2013
    In this book you will meet Brady, a bat who oddly has a terrible fear of the dark. This poses quite a dilemma for a creature that sleeps in a dark cave and comes out to play at night. Learn how Brady discovers a creative way to solve this problem...with a little help from some friends.

Miss Bindergarten Celebrates the Last Day of Kindergarten


Joseph Slate - 2006
    But now the school year is over, and it’s time to remember, to celebrate, and for Miss Bindergarten to say,"Goodbye, kindergarten. It’s been a special year."The bestselling Miss Bindergarten series comes to a sweet and jubilant conclusion by honoring an important passage: the last day of kindergarten. Filled with last-day classroom celebration ideas, it’s also a perfect gift to commemorate graduation and moving-up ceremonies!

Grumpy Owl


Eric Esau - 2019
    Grumpy Owl wakes up on the wrong side of the bed and, just when he thinks things can't get worse, he discovers his animal friends are making all the wrong sounds! Brown Bear says "Woof!", Tan Toad says "Gobble!", and Red Rooster says "Moo!" Grumpy Owl cannot believe his ears and frantically tries to correct his friends without much success! Come along on this silly adventure as Grumpy Owl learns a valuable lesson about treating others with kindness whether they "Woof, oink, gobble! Moo, quack or squeak!"

Sam's Pet Temper


Sangeeta Bhadra - 2014
    “He got madder and madder until he was the maddest he had ever been in his whole life.” And then, suddenly, an unusual thing appears. It runs around, shoving and tripping and pinching and stomping, until all the other children have run away. “It was hanging upside down from the monkey bars, grinning at him. Sam had never seen anything like it before, but he knew what it was. It was a Temper.” At first, having a pet Temper is fun. But before long, the Temper starts causing trouble for Sam. And eventually, Sam comes to the realization that his Temper is something he needs to learn to control. This funny but poignant title by Sangeeta Bhadra offers a perfect representation of just how frustrated and angry small children can get when circumstances in their lives make them feel helpless. Though never heavy-handed, Bhadra also manages to convey what the consequences can be when that anger takes over a child's behavior. The quirky yet stunning illustrations by Marion Arbona keep the emotional focus on the Temper, as a way to help children identify that their anger is not who they are. The emphasis on feelings makes this a terrific tie-in for character education lessons on self-discipline and taking responsibility for your actions, as well as on patience and perseverance when solving your own problems.