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.

    His glorious singing inspires birds of every color, and even the sun and moon, to join him in joyful celebration. Tomie dePaola's simple text and vibrant illustrations bring the spirit of Saint Francis of Assisi to life for even the youngest children. And he reminds us how sweet it is to rejoice and give thanks for life and love.

    Green beans will make you big and strong." Martha doesn't believe what her parents tell her. And nothing will ever--EVER--make her eat them.But when some beady-eyed, boot stomping beans bust into town and start causing trouble, Martha knows she has to take action against this gang of outlaws, cutthroats and desperadoes. She can think of only one was to stop the villainous veggies, and it's not pretty...or tasty.

    But . . . Sir Scallywag is only 6 years old and with an evil giant to pursue, it's nearly mission impossible! Luckily, it's a story of David and Goliath. With his trusted steed Doofus at his side, Sir Scallywag proves that even the unlikeliest hero can be the bravest knight of all.

    Handsome, yes- and hefty, because poor Charles is being fattened for Christmas dinner by the farmer next door. Will the gander of Petunia' s dreams be served up roasted, with applesauce on the side? Petunia' s determination to save Charles, even if it means posing as Santa Claus, results in " one of the simplest, funniest, and most original of Christmas stories, " wrote the Chicago Tribune when this book was originally published in 1952. A yuletide classic by a Caldecott Medal winner, Petunia' s Christmas is still making children laugh as it shows the true spirit of Christmas.

    A little girl goes to the meadow to play, but each animal she tries to catch runs away from her—until she sits still by the pond, and they all come back.

    Lovely. Suddenly Edie shakes off her cynicism, Stan gets giddy and giggly and even Mum and Dad relax once Alice is around, spinning her tales and coming up with left-field babysitting fun.

    Everything looks great for Babar and his family's trip to Paris, until his luggage gets mixed up with another passenger's at the train station, and Babar loses his crown The search is on for the mysterious Moustache Man who has carried off the crown, and Babar becomes more and more concerned as the time approaches for his evening out on the town, where he'll be mortified to show up without it.A fun mystery in which children can empathize with poor Babar, who must appear in public without everything just so.

    Yilmaz gives him a brown bulb, Tom can't believe it will flower. "That's not a daffodil!" says Tom. "Well," says the old gardener. "Let's plant it and see." Tom plays a game of imagination as the daffodil bulb given to him by his kindly neighbor grows first into a green beak, then turns into a rocket, and finally into a trumpet of gold. A satisfying tale, playful repetition, and building anticipation will make children request this story again and again.

    The circus is in town! Come join in the fun as Caldecott Medalist Peter Spier creates a circus like no other, in this exuberant celebration of the wonders of the big top.

    With stunning retro illustrations and Farley's fast-paced text, this gorgeous book will appeal to the nostalgic and adventurous alike. As the sole human survivor of a devastating shipwreck, Alec finds himself alone on a small island with a magnificent stallion, black as night and dangerous as fire. Together they each realize that the other is the key to survival. Thus begins the most famous relationship in horse fiction.

    The Runaway Mommy imagines what life would be like if she ran away. She learns flamenco dancing in Barcelona, joins a tech startup in San Francisco and hits the campaign trail interning for a presidential candidate. All the while, her little one follows with a captivating eagerness that brings the runaway mommy back where she belongs.

    Hop is a bunny who raps superfast. One afternoon they see a poster for a rap contest and become friends. On the day of the big event, rappers like LudaFish and Notorious P.I.G. take the stage. It comes down to a rap-off between Hip and Hop, but this time neither slow nor fast wins the prize.This engaging new take on the fable of the tortoise and the hare combines elements of comics with a traditional picture book. Hilarious mini-raps recited at varying speeds make for a rollicking read-aloud that kids will want to hear-and perform-over and over.

    Four events. And only one gold medal. Floor routine. Uneven bars. Vault. And balance beam. 90 seconds. 75 seconds. 7 seconds. 90 seconds.In gymnastics, your best friends are your biggest rivals. And the Bellevue Kips are feeling the pressure. Everyone wants to win best all-around gymnast at Optionals and State finals, but only one girl goes home with gold. Who will it be? Nadia: Gymnastics royalty. Beam is her event. Gold is in her DNA. But how far is she willing to go to win?Bethany: Best on floor. Worst on vault. Does Bethany’s height spell gymnastics doom? Sara: They used to call her Tree Frog. Now, she’s too scared to tumble backwards. Can she get it together in time to compete?Kelley: Gymnast. Soccer Star. And ballerina. The time has come to choose her sport. What is she willing to sacrifice to win?Jamie: The new girl and the squad’s biggest mystery. Will she crumble under pressure? Or will she give them all a run for their money? The countdown to competition has begun. Will it make them? Or break them?

    With the tenderness of a mother speaking directly to her child, Karen reminds us not to miss last days of kindergarten and last at bats in Little League amidst the whirlwind of life. Adapted from a poem in Rejoice, mothers and grandmothers everywhere will identify with the tenderhearted reflections in Let Me Hold You Longer. An ideal gift book for special occasions from baby showers to graduations. Now includes a bonus CD read by Karen!