Book picks similar to
Wake Up, Black Bear! by Dawn Bentley


children-s---readers
self-reading
storytime
animals

Adrian Simcox Does NOT Have a Horse


Marcy Campbell - 2018
    Adrian Simcox lives in a tiny house. Where would he keep a horse? He has holes in his shoes. How would he pay for a horse?The more Adrian talks about his horse, the angrier Chloe gets. But when she calls him out at school and even complains about him to her mom, Chloe doesn't get the vindication she craves. She gets something far more important.

Fabulous Frogs


Martin Jenkins - 2016
    Discover the Goliath frog, biggest in the world, and the Darwin’s frog, which has a pointy nose and holds its tadpoles in its mouth until they are big enough to care for themselves. Learn why some frogs are brightly colored, and which one can bury itself in the desert until rain comes. Curious minds will jump at the chance to explore all kinds of frogs, from the most exotic to the greenish-brown specimens in their own backyards.

Home Sweet Home


Sigal Adler - 2017
    Took off his heavy shell to go for a swim. He went down to the lake by the shortest route, He was wearing a hat and a blue bathing suit.

Construction Zoo


Jenn Marie Thorne - 2018
    Giraffe, rhino, the monkeys, and the tigers watch the new creatures and, soon, are playing with their new friends. It's party time at the Construction Zoo! But…what happens when the construction is over? Will the party be over, too? The clever rhyming text and simple, bold art will appeal to both kids and their parents.

Every Day Birds


Amy Ludwig VanDerwater - 2016
    Every Day Birds helps children identify and learn about common birds. After reading Every Day Birds, families can look out their windows with curiosity--recognizing birds and nests and celebrating the beauty of these creatures! Every Day Birds focuses on twenty North American birds, with a poem and descriptions written by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater and beautiful paper-cuttings by first-time picture book illustrator Dylan Metrano. Interesting facts about each bird are featured in the back of the book.

Little Dog Lost: The True Story of a Brave Dog Named Baltic


Monica Carnesi - 2012
    Many people tried to help, but the dog could not be reached. Finally, after two nights and seventy-five miles, the little dog was saved by a ship out in the Baltic Sea. The gallant rescue of the little dog nicknamed Baltic made international news. Mônica Carnesi's simple text and charming watercolor illustrations convey all the drama of Baltic's journey. His story, with its happy ending, will warm readers' hearts. An author's note and map are included.

Daddy Long Legs


Nadine Brun-Cosme - 2015
    “See you this afternoon,” says Daddy when he drops off Matthew at kindergarten. But Matthew says, “What if, this afternoon, the old green car doesn’t start?” Thus begins a series of what-ifs that Matthew poses to all of Daddy’s ideas about how he’ll fetch him, each one more fantastic than the last: he’ll come by teddy bear, by the wings of birds, by dragon! Finally, Daddy says he’ll use his own two long legs, the ultimate reassurance that he’ll come back for Matthew, no matter what!Author Nadine Brun-Cosme's endearing picture book offers warm comfort to young children that their parent can always be counted on. With gentle and imaginative humor, the father's increasingly wilder ideas about how he will make his way to his son prove the steady and unwavering certainty of a parent's commitment to a child. The whimsical artwork by Aurélie Guillerey plays lightly with the father's flights of fancy, keeping the tone of the book just right for a storytime read-aloud. Filled with the love between the boy and his father, this is a perfect book choice to address separation issues common to kindergartners and preschoolers who have difficulty saying goodbye to their parents.

There's a Giraffe in My Soup


Ross Burach - 2016
    What if you found a giraffe in your soup, an alligator in your entreé, an elephant on the table, or even an ostrich in your dish?In this debut picture book from author-illustrator Ross Burach, an assortment of hairy, scary animals pop out from under the lid at a restaurant!Jam-packed with adorable illustrations and an assortment of animal puns, this kid-friendly story is sure to delight fans of books by Jon Klassen and Oliver Jeffers!

My Dinosaur


Mark Alan Weatherby - 1997
    Every night a little girl waits by her window for her friend the dinosaur, and when he comes, they play in the woods all night until the sun comes up.

The Eye of the Whale: A Rescue Story


Jennifer O'Connell - 2013
    He had discovered a humpback whale tangled in hundreds of yards of crab-trap lines, struggling to stay at the surface to breathe. A team of volunteers answered the call, and four divers risked their lives to rescue the enormous animal. What followed was a rare and remarkable demonstration of animal behavior. This celebrated story, beautifully depicted in Jennifer O'Connell's mesmerizing paintings, will make you wonder about animal emotions and the unique connections we can have with animals, even whales.

Red-eyed Tree Frog


Joy Cowley - 1999
    Award-winning photographer Nic Bishop's larger-than-life, gorgeous images document the hunt, which ends happily with the frog settling down in the leaves to spend his daylight hours sleeping! Joy Cowley's simple, readable text makes the frog's story fun, interesting, and accessible to young readers. This is a nature tale like you've never seen before!

Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera


Candace Fleming - 2020
    She cleans the nursery and feeds the larvae and the queen. But is she strong enough to fly? Not yet!She builds wax comb to store honey, and transfers pollen from other bees into the storage. She defends the hive from invaders. Apis accomplishes all of this before beginning her life outdoors as an adventurer, seeking nectar to bring back to her hive.Candace Fleming and Eric Rohmann describe the life cycle of the hard-working honeybee in this poetically written, thoroughly researched picture book, similar in form and concept to the Sibert and Orbis Pictus award book Giant Squid, complete with stunning gatefold and an essay on the plight of honeybees.A Junior Library Guild Selection!

That's Not Funny!


Jeanne Willis - 2010
    When Giraffe slips, a chain of unfortunate events begins which involves all the other animals. Hyena laughs at their misfortune. But the other animals have the last laugh. Illustrations.

In Front of My House


Marianne Dubuc - 2010
    This circular story begins and ends in a tidy front yard, but in between takes the reader to mountains and mysterious caves, up to outer space, down into the ocean and beyond. It's a journey as boundless and surprising as young imaginations. Filled with inventive and delightful twists, this charming story reveals a child's fancy taking flight, showing how imaginative play can begin in a place as mundane as a front yard, reach to the stars, then return back to the same place. Children will recognize a kindred imagination in Marianne Dubuc's joyful illustrations and simple text.

Goggles: The Bear Who Dreamed of Flying


Jonathan Gunson - 2019
    Then one day, he discovers a BIG SECRET that means his dream might just come true...The perfect picture book for parents and grandparentsThis sweet book will be loved by both boys and girls, age 3 - 9. It is written to inspire children's imagination and encourage them to follow their dreams, making it a magical experience when reading it to them.Beautiful, illustrations with hidden surprises!There are bears hidden in the clouds, a mischievous mouse on every page, an amazing fantasy airplane, and an animated honey jar in the page corners: Just flip the pages, and magically, the honey jar fills up!Plus: Special history page about the famous Wright BrothersThe bears in the story are the first bears to fly, so they're called "The Wright Bears", after the famous Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur Wright, the first people to fly. There's a dedication page to the brothers, with photographs of their famous plane "The Wright Flyer."More flying bears coming soon...The series includes a teddy bear picnic, bear magic, and bear pirates. Kids will cherish the books and learn from the fun-to-read stories.