Francis: The Poor Man of Assisi


Tomie dePaola - 1982
    The beloved saint's remarkable life is re-created through vignettes.

Is Nothing Something?: Kids' Questions and Zen Answers About Life, Death, Family, Friendship, and Everything in Between


Thich Nhat Hanh - 2014
    Illustrated with original full color artwork by Jessica McClure, "Is Nothing Something?" will help adults plant the seeds of mindfulness in the young children in their lives. Beginning with the most basic questions, "What is important in life" and "Why is my brother mean to me" and progressing through issues that we all wrestle with, such as "How do I know if I really love somebody," "How long am I going to live?" and "What does God look like?," each page presents a question with a short answer from Thich Nhat Hanh, appropriate for beginning readers to work with on their own. The back of the book has practices adults can use with their children to go deeper into the answers and the first complete children's biography of Thich Nhat Hanh, along with an appendix of In-depth explanations and further commentary for adults. Both humorous and profound, "Is Nothing Something?" is the perfect resource for kids with questions, adults looking for how to answer them, and anyone with questions of their own.

How the Dinosaur Got to the Museum


Jessie Hartland - 2011
    Acclaimed author/illustrator Jessie Hartland presents the fascinating 145-million-year journey of a dinsoaur: a Diplodocus longus, from its discovery in 1923 in Utah to its arrival in the hallowed halls of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.

Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine a Miracle


Brian Dennis - 2009
    He was the leader of a pack of wild dogs living off the land and barely surviving. But Nubs's life changed when he met Marine Major Brian Dennis.The two formed a fast friendship, made stronger by Dennis's willingness to share his meals, offer a warm place to sleep, and give Nubs the kind of care and attention he had never received before. Nubs became part of Dennis's human "pack" until duty required the Marines to relocate a full 70 miles away - without him. Nubs had no way of knowing that Marines were not allowed to have pets.So began an incredible journey that would take Nubs through a freezing desert, filled with danger tofind his friend and would lead Dennis on a mission that would touch the hearts of people all over the world.Nubs and Dennis will remind readers that friendship has the power to cross deserts, continents, and even species.

WhoBob WhatPants? (SpongeBob SquarePants)


Emily Sollinger - 2008
    Along his way, he falls and bumps his head. Suddenly he can't remember anything, not even his own name! He stumbles into New Kelp City, overthrows a ruthless gang of anti-bubble-blowing thugs, and is elected mayor!

Stories from the Billabong


James Vance Marshall - 2008
    Here readers discover how Great Mother Snake created and peopled the world with plants and creatures, what makes frogs croak, why kangaroos have pouches, and just what it is that makes platypuses so special. The illustrations are by the aboriginal artist and storyteller Francis Firebrace, whose distinctive, colorful work is known throughout Australia and beyond. He uses the four traditional colors of aboriginal art (black, white, red, and yellow), as well as his experiences as a member of the Yorta-Yorta, to make these stories live on the page. A beautiful, imaginative book to open new frontiers in children’s minds, Stories from the Billabong shows a master storyteller and distinguished artist each at the height of their powers.

Sea Otter Heroes


Patricia Newman - 2017
     In Elkhorn Slough, an inlet on the California coast, seagrass grows healthy and strong in the shallow water. This healthy seagrass baffled marine biologist Brent Hughes. The scientist expected this estuary to be overrun with algae, causing the seagrass to die. Why was the seagrass thriving? As Brent investigated, signs pointed to an unexpected player helping to keep the seagrass healthy: sea otters! What do these top predators have to do with an aquatic grass at the opposite end of the food chain? Brent's discovery gave scientists insight into the delicate balance of ecosystems. Follow science in action as Brent conducts the research that led to this major discovery.

A Rock Is Lively


Dianna Hutts Aston - 2012
    From dazzling blue lapis lazuli to volcanic snowflake obsidian, an incredible variety of rocks are showcased in all their splendor. Poetic in voice and elegant in design, this book introduces an array of facts, making it equally perfect for classroom sharing and family reading.

One Fun Day with Lewis Carroll: A Celebration of Wordplay and a Girl Named Alice


Kathleen Krull - 2018
    In this gloriously illustrated picture book, Carroll's childlike love of life is showcased alongside his brilliance at creating and adapting playful words and phrases. From brillig and uglification to frumious and chortle, the award-winning author Kathleen Krull uses many of Carroll’s own words to tell the story of a man who wanted to make children laugh and whose legacy continues to entertain and delight.

Cowboy & Octopus


Jon Scieszka - 2007
    George and Martha. Frog and Toad. Cowboy and . . . Octopus? Yes, that's right. Meet Cowboy and Octopus--the next great pair to become a household name. Cowboy likes beans'n'bacon and bacon'n'beans. Octopus eats raw seafood. Octopus prefers knock-knock jokes, but Cowboy doesn't get them. How will these two ever be friends? Illustrated in funky, vintage-style cut-outs and told in several humorous mini-stories, the famous Stinky Cheese Man duo of Scieszka and Smith have created sweet--and of course hilarious--tales of an unlikely friendship.Watch a QuickTime trailer for this book.

Our Earth


Anne Rockwell - 1998
    Dive beneath the oceans and soar above the clouds in this exploration of Earth that makes a pleasing introduction to basic earth-science concepts.

Hattie and the Wild Waves: A Story From Brooklyn


Barbara Cooney - 1990
    . . . An idyllic childhood . . . serves as a glamorous backdrop for Hattie's emerging determination to become an artist".--Bulletin for the Center for Children's Books. Full color.

The Trial of Cardigan Jones


Tim Egan - 2004
    When Mrs. Brown’s fresh apple pie goes missing, witnesses come forward to place Cardigan at the scene of the crime. Finding himself on trial, Cardigan insists to judge and jury that he didn’t take the pie — he just wanted to smell it. No one believes him. But despite his assurances, he can’t explain what happened to the pie, either . . . or can he?

Fall Walk


Virginia Brimhall Snow - 2013
    Take a stroll through the woods and learn to identify 24 different kinds of leaves by their shapes and autumn colors. At the end of the day, learn how to press the gathered leavesand how to make a leaf rubbing.Book includes:• Colorful illustrations of 24 separate leaves• How-to instructions for pressing your own leaves• How-to instructions for rubbing your own leaves• A game matching leaves to trees and names• Fun facts about the trees featured in the book

Thump, Quack, Moo: A Whacky Adventure


Doreen Cronin - 2008
     The farm is bursting with activity. Cluck Whack! The chickens build a fence around the cornfield. Moo Thwack! The cows give the barn a fresh coat of paint. Thump. Quack! Duck builds the ticket booth for the hot-air balloon ride. Everyone is excited. Well, Duck is not excited exactly. But he has a plan. As Farmer Brown designs the corn maze for the festival, Duck does some designing of his own. Guess who's in for a big surprise? The always-creative, always-hilarious, always-champions-of-corn-mazes pair who brought you Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type; Giggle, Giggle, Quack; and Duck for President have planned a terrific event. Step right up, folks.