Michael Hague's warm, detailed paintings complement Kathleen Hague's happy, rhyming texts. Even the youngest of readers will treasure and learn from these two charming concept books.

    She says you can smile while doing just about anything--brushing your teeth, taking out the garbage, or eating broccoli. Okay, maybe not while eating broccoli. Even people with bad teeth (like our first president, George Washington) should show their toothy grins because there's no such thing as a bad smile. So heed Birdy's advice and practice your smile--you'll need it while reading this book!This title has Common Core connections

    Pig Pig would rather stay home and build a rocket ship model or read back issues of Daring Pig Exploits. Besides, his mother and Fluffy might miss him too much. His uncle insists that this is the opportunity of a lifetime, and soon Pig Pig is enjoying an eye-opening road trip. But he worries--what if his mother and Fluffy don't remember him when he gets back?

    It tells the story of a curious “aminal” that eats children’s dolls. A kindly man named Bobo cannot stand by and allow this to happen. He entices it to eat the concoction “jum-jills.” A happy ending is assured when the Funny Thing discovers he loves them and never eats another doll.

    But his own drawings never look the way he wants them to. So instead of making art, he decides to collect art. Over the years Oscar's room becomes filled with beautiful paintings and drawings in every style and color. His collection grows and grows and grows until a museum needs to be built to house it all.

    Life is peaceful . . . until the day two rude giants move into a nearby castle. When Gerda is snatched up by the giants, Beatrix must rescue her. This is a warm and humorous tale of friendship and cleverness that children will want to share with their best friends--or rudest neighbors.

    But when Vivienne loses her favorite necklace, she must evaluate her messy ways and do the unthinkable. Vivienne must finally clean her room!

    And as every first year teacher knows, a classroom full of second graders can be alarmingly unpredictable.The key to eventual success is the classroom post office Sarah Jane establishes. The letters the children write to Mrs. Hartwell are sympathetic ("I figured you might be a little scared, just like me"); informative ("…most kids don't eat cauliflower"); encouraging ("Yesterday was THE BEST!"); and apologetic ("I'm sorry about throwing up all over your shoes"). Even the custodian and the principal write to Sarah Jane.Teachers and children alike will identify with Mrs. Hartwell as she navigates her first year. And many classes will be inspired to write letters about their own experiences.

    And she sparks their imagination further by encouraging them to pretend to be the animal. Full color.

    Bear is putting Sam to bed, when suddenly -- HCK HCK! coughs Sam. Mrs. Bear gets some syrup. But the syrup tastes bad, and there’s too much of it on a too-big spoon, and it’s too hard to swallow. What will make Sam feel better? Acclaimed picture-book creators Amy Hest and Anita Jeram revisit Sam and Mrs. Bear as they share a quiet moment of comfort that is enough to conquer the coldest night.

    Pigglesworth, he did what any big boy would do. He set of on a chase to save his friend. Kids will love tracking Randall and the robber as they run out of the house and off to the zoo— past the alligator pool and through the bat caves— then on through the chocolate factory, the city museum, the fair, and even way up high in a hot air balloon. And they'll love yelling, along with Randall, "STOP THIEF!"

    It'll come tide, says Grandma, and it does. But these kinfolks are used to floods in the mountains, to delighted pigs swirling by the swollen creek, to the mess of mud that's always left behind. Then it's time, as Grandma says, to make friends with a shovel. And they do.

    . . FLASH! CRASH! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!What happens when too many friends start to squish in?That’s when the fun is sure to begin! Even the youngest of readers are invited to count along as each of the family pets seeks refuge from the thunder and lightning in this lively and adorable picture book about bedtime, fears, and friendship.

    "I'd like my story again, Charlotte said. The one I like best, about Moonlight and me." Once, Charlotte's mother tells her, a very small white kitten was alone and lost. But then a little girl, driving along the coast with her mother, saw two eyes shining brightly in the darkness. "I know who saw them!" says Charlotte, and together she and her mother describe a cold winter night by the sea, a lost kitten, and a brave rescue by moonlight. Martin Waddell's magical story and Christian Birmingham's luminous paintings tell a warm and evocative tale--one sure to inspire young children to chronicle some of their own family adventures.