The Legend of the Persian Carpet


Tomie dePaola - 1993
    When King Balash's precious diamond is stolen, the grief-stricken king can no longer rule, and the country falls into chaos, until a clever young boy comes up with a scheme to bring the jewel's radiance back into the palace.

Living Sunlight: How Plants Bring the Earth to Life


Molly Bang - 2009
    We are all dancing sunlight. The book is co-authored by award-winning M.I.T. professor Penny Chisholm, a leading expert on ocean science. A perfect addition to any library!

Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales


Nelson Mandela - 2002
    Creation myths tell us how the land, its animals, and its people all came into existence under a punishing sun or against the backdrop of a spectacularly beautiful mountain landscape. Whether warning children about the dangers of disobedience or demonstrating that the underdog can, and often does, win, these stories, through their depiction of wise animals as well as evil monsters, are universal in their portrayal of humanity, beasts, and the mystical. Translated from their original languages—Karanga, Nguni, Xhosa, and many others—these folktales are a testament to the craft of storytelling and the power of myth.

Toronto: Biography of a City


Allan Levine - 2014
    Hogtown is dead. A shining metropolis lives." -- Peter C. NewmanIn the last sixty years, Toronto has been transformed from a provincial town to significant urban heavyweight. Few cities have experienced such sustained growth, and the packed streets of North America’s fourth-largest city are a far cry from the origins of the city as "Little York," which was comprised of the lieutenant-governor’s muddy tent --which he shared with his wife and many children -- and some barracks. Between then and now, fervent Orangemen have imposed strict morals on the growing provincial town, and an influx of immigrants changed the face of the city.Allan Levine delves into the character of a city that strives to balance urban development with the preservation of its distinct neighbourhoods, to maintain its status without losing its individuality. Its inhabitants have fought tooth and nail to prevent an expressway being built to the downtown core, have called in the army to clear the city of snow after a blizzard and consistently pack the Maple Leafs' arena every game, win or lose, making the hockey team the most valuable franchise in the NHL. The city can also claim one of the first Canadian politicians to stand up for gay rights, a store owner who almost single-handedly preserved theatre in Toronto, and then there’s Mayor Rob Ford...With the same eye for character, anecdote and circumstance that made Peter Ackroyd's London and Colin Jones's Paris so successful, Levine's captivating prose integrates the sights, sounds and feel of Toronto with a broad historical perspective, linking the city's present with its past through themes such as politics, transportation, public health, ethnic diversity and sports. Toronto invites readers to discover the city’s lively spirit over four centuries and to wander purposefully through the city's many unique neighbourhoods, where they can encounter the striking and peculiar characters who have inhabited them: the powerful and powerless, the entrepreneurs and the entertainers, and the moral and the corrupt, all of whom have contributed to Toronto's collective identity.

Ballet Cat: The Totally Secret Secret


Bob Shea - 2015
    Nothing that Sparkles suggests--making crafts, playing checkers, and selling lemonade--goes well with the leaping, spinning, and twirling that Ballet Cat likes to do. When Sparkles's leaps, spins, and twirls seem halfhearted, Ballet Cat asks him what's wrong. Sparkles doesn't want to say. He has a secret that Ballet Cat won't want to hear. What Sparkles doesn't know is that Ballet Cat has a secret of her own, a totally secret secret. Once their secrets are shared, will their friendship end, or be stronger than ever?

Miss Bindergarten Stays Home from Kindergarten


Joseph Slate - 2000
    Tusky (who is a wee bit rusty) will be her substitute, but it just won't be the same.  The kindergartners miss Miss Bindergarten!  They pass the time by making get-well cards and singing songs, all the while counting out the days that Miss Bindergarten is away.  What ever will they do without her?

Jimmy the Joey: The True Story of an Amazing Koala Rescue


Susan Kelly - 2013
    Readers will marvel at Jimmy's new life at Koala Hospital, being raised by loving human caregivers and interacting with other koalas healing from injury. The book also introduces young readers to the need for conservational awareness: Through Jimmy's life story readers will come to understand the many obstacles koalas and other species face today.

Everglades


Jean Craighead George - 1988
    A lyrical creation tale of the Florida Everglades with stunning landscapes by Wendell Minor.

The Woman Who Won Things


Allan Ahlberg - 2002
    Gaskitt takes a series of jobs and Mrs. Gaskitt keeps winning prizes, their nine-year-old twins, Gus and Gloria, follow a substitute teacher who seems too good to be true.

The Armadillo from Amarillo


Lynne Cherry - 1994
    An easy geography lesson.--Southern Living. Full color.

Little Oh


Laura Krauss Melmed - 1997
    From her wild river ride aboard a teacup boat to her escape from an angry dog to her flight home on the neck of a crane to her transformation into a real little girl, Little Oh is sure to capture your heart. 2000-2001 Georgia's Picture Storybook Award & Georgia's Children's Book Award Masterlist

Astonishing Animal ABC


Charles Fuge - 2011
    B is for best-selling illustrator. And C is for the award-winning Charles Fuge, whose irresistible artwork makes this one of the most charming ABC books ever. Fuge has created a delightful menagerie of creatures, from an ARTY AARDVARK and BOUNCING BEAR to a vet-visiting VULTURE and sweetly WORRIED WALRUS. Playful rhyming text and a fun final tableau will have little ones learning their letters in no time!

Sam the Minuteman


Nathaniel Benchley - 1969
    Arnold Lobel's vivid pictures give a poignant reality to the famous battle that marked the beginning of the American Revolution.This is historical fiction that pulls in young readers in first and second grade, even reluctant readers. Great for home or classroom units on and discussions about colonial America and the start of the American Revolution."Benchley's expressive words and Lobel's vivid drawings portray a realistic story," Publishers Weekly wrote.Father and son rushed to the village green. Other Minutemen were already there. Through the long night they waited and waited. Then, at dawn, the soldiers came!

The Lost (and Found) Balloon


Celeste Jenkins - 2012
    Who will answer Molly’s letter? Someone in a different state or a faraway country? Or maybe, a new friend much closer than she could ever imagine. The Lost (and Found) Balloon is the winner of the 5th annual Cheerios® New Author Contest. Selected from more than 8,000 entries by a team of editors, teachers, librarians, and General Mills staff, The Lost (and Found) Balloon will also appear in a bilingual (English/Spanish) mini-paperback edition in 1.5 million specially marked boxes of Cheerios.

Halloween Howl


Gail Herman - 2003
    Clifford and his friends are scared by a strange wailing noise coming from the new neighbor's apartment. And they begin to wonder if a monster isn't living there--especially when they find a huge tooth. Clifford finally meets the new family, and realizes that all his fears are unfounded. In the end, Clifford and the gang realize that you should get to know people before you decide what they're like.Based on the TV episode "The Monster in 3-B"