In a hotel in Paris one evening in 1879, Mark Twain sat with his young daughters, who begged their father for a story. After the girls chose a picture from a magazine to get started, Twain began telling them the tale of Johnny, a poor boy in possession of some magical seeds. Later, Twain would jot down some rough notes about the story, but the tale was left unfinished . . . until now. Plucked from the Mark Twain archive at the University of California at Berkeley, Twain’s notes now form the foundation of a fairy tale picked up over a century later. With only Twain’s fragmentary script and a story that stops partway as his guide, author Philip Stead has written a tale that imagines what might have been if Twain had fully realized this work: Johnny, forlorn and alone except for his pet chicken, meets a kind woman who gives him seeds that change his fortune, allowing him to speak with animals and sending him on a quest to rescue a stolen prince. In the face of a bullying tyrant king, Johnny and his animal friends come to understand that generosity, empathy, and quiet courage are gifts more precious in this world than power and gold. Illuminated by Erin Stead’s graceful, humorous, and achingly poignant artwork, this is a story that reaches through time and brings us a new book from America’s most legendary writer, envisioned by two of today’s most important names in children’s literature.

    After a powerful storm, she was floating away down the river. Would her friends save her? This story may be ideal for reading to your kids at bedtime and is enjoyable for the whole family as well! It is a fun and beautifully illustrated book with a happy ending that all readers will enjoy. This is a charming children's story that is sure to become a favorite. The book is written to encourage children to discover and learn on their own!! What You’ll Discover from the Book: THE LAND OF THE DINOSAURS SPECIAL BONUS MAZE PUZZLES SOLUTIONS MAZE PUZZLES WORD SEARCH WORD SEARCH ANSWER FUN GAMES 4 FREE CHILDREN’S BOOKS and so much more! This book is downloaded by young readers who have already acquired the skill of reading for themselves and by parents who will read to the younger children who have not yet begun to read. This book is especially great for traveling, waiting rooms, and read aloud at home with friends and family. Also can use as a bedtime story. **Scroll up and grab your copy now** WHAT A GREAT DEAL! => FUN SHORT STORY, GAMES, ACTIVITIES, A COLORING BOOK INSIDE LINK AND FREE GIFT!! Fun for kids of all ages Imaginative and educational Beautiful pictures Short, concise lines help engage your child Fun games and puzzles included Free Coloring Book Downloads *** Don't forget to Get your FREE GIFT with your purchase!*** Don’t wait another minute - Scroll up and click 'Buy now with 1-click ' and start spending best time with your child!! Your children are going to love this book! Tag: bedtime stories for toddlers, books for kids, short stories for children,

    In America, Sakura misses the blossoming cherry tree where she and her grandmother would play and picnic. How will she feel at home in this new and unfamiliar place? What if she forgets the beloved grandmother she left behind? Making friends with her neighbour helps Sakura feel more settled and when springtime finally arrives, a gorgeous and fateful surprise awaits her.Sakura's Cherry Blossoms captures the beauty of the healing power of friendship through Weston's Japanese poetry-inspired text and Saburi's breathtaking illustrations.

    With Babushka's warm advice in her heart, Philomena sets out with confidence but the first thing she must do requires more than that- she must find her Aunt Liska whose married name Philomena does not know. How her fortunes fail at first as Philomena works as a servant girl, and how they become bright at last makes a sympathetic story. The author's drawings, pinpointing important scenes, are in her characteristic meticulously detailed outlines. (Kirkus)

    The characters' stories are woven together to create a tale that spans borders and nationalities and will refresh the human spirit with principles of compassion, honesty, integrity, and generosity. Children will also delight in searching for Squeakers the mouse, hidden somewhere on every page.

    In his nest in his cave in his mountain, a dragon dreams of a girl.When a lonely dragon follows a trail of princess tears, a beautiful friendship is born. They march and sing, roar and whisper, hide and seek, then settle into snug companionship at bedtime. Barbara Joosse’s fiercely protective and gently loving dragon cavorts across the pages, endearingly illustrated by Randy Cecil. At the end of the day, who can resist curling up in the embrace of a lovabye dragon?

    There's a `just right' quality to the verse that makes it a pleasure to read the words aloud. Because it appeals on so many levels, this is one poetry book that won't sit on the shelf for long."—Booklist.This New York Times Notable Book of the Year is a wonderful introduction to the pleasures of poetry and word play from a master of the genre, Jack Prelutsky.

    A young man overcomes treachery and adversity to save his father.

    "In the beginning there is light and two wide-eyed figures standing near the foot of your bed and the sound of their voices is love....A cab driver plays love softly on his radiowhile you bounce in back with the bumps of the city and everything smells new, and it smells like life."In this heartfelt celebration of love, Matt de la Peña and illustrator Loren Long depict the many ways we experience this universal bond, which carries us from the day we are born throughout the years of our childhood and beyond. With a lyrical text that's soothing and inspiring, this tender tale is a needed comfort and a new classic that will resonate with readers of every age.

    Cactuses can be quite prickly sometimes you know . . . and so can Felipe. But he'll be darned if this one pointy issue will hold him back, so one day Felipe sets off on his own to find a friend and just maybe, that long awaited hug.In her debut picture book, Simona Ciraola creates an endearing tale of friendship, beautifully illustrated with buoyant wit and the perfect story to share.

    The only problem is choosing the color. He thinks white would be nice . . . until the spider convinces him that red is better. Red looks great, but the bird thinks blue would be best. Vincent likes blue too. "Stop!" says the mouse, because the mouse prefers green. Before long, Vincent has a list of requests: the termite wants orange, the caterpillar loves yellow and the ladybug insists on purple. With a little creativity—and a lot of color—Vincent does a brilliant job!

    With illustrations that are enchanting and unexpected, Julie Vivas reveals the human side to Mary's story, beautifully imagining the Angel Gabriel delivering the news to her, the exhausting journey with Joseph to Bethlehem, and at last the deliverance of the baby Jesus.

    Sure, the brown mittens are warmer, but the red mitts make better snowballs. And the red boots aren't just for rain; they take bigger steps in any weather. And, yes, a red cup does make a difference... juice just doesn't taste as good in a green one. No doubt about it, red is best.Red is Best is the story of one toddler's obstinate color preference, an easily read aloud tale illustrated with simple child centered drawings and each page punctuated by red.

    We want young children to WANT to read! Star Wars has become a familiar part of our culture with children instantly recognizing the characters on book covers, TV and in the movies. Now they can add more Star Wars action to their collections! LEGO® Star Wars®: The Phantom Menace is DK's newest exciting entry in the bestselling series of Star Wars Readers! Follow Jar Jar Binks through the Naboo swamp and see Darth Maul on his Sith speeder bike. Young readers will be on the edge of their seats as the LEGO toys and Star Wars come together in the fun retelling of the first prequel, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.

    Join a little red, pasta-loving penguin named Pomodoro on his quest to cure boredom and find friendship.Pomodoro encounters a bully, but in the end, it is his love of all things pasta that helps him find an unlikely dinner partner!