Humphrey's Really Wheely Racing Day


Betty G. Birney - 2013
    He lives in Room 26 at Longfellow School. He has a big comfy cage with a wheel perfect for spinning and a room full of friends. But when Humphrey goes to Mandy’s house one weekend, he learns that her hamster has something Humphrey has never seen before—a hamster car! Humphrey wants one, too, but school is not usually the place for toys. Then his teacher talks about bringing in something special for a project. Is Humphrey getting a really wheely surprise? With adorable illustrations and an easy reading level, Humphrey’s Tiny Tales are just right for emergent readers.

Cherry and Olive


Benjamin Lacombe - 2006
    They make fun of her for being plump, and they are not nearly as entertaining as the adventures she reads about. Though she's shy and keeps to herself, Cherry secretly longs for a friend.When she discovers a stray dog at her father's animal shelter that is also plump and shy (and a bit wrinkly), she names her Olive and they become fast friends. Cherry finds the courage within herself to stand up for the dog and protect her—something she has not been able to do for herself.Beautifully illustrated, this touching story is sure to strike a chord with all who have ever felt a little lonely and yearned for a friend.

The Doubtful Guest


Edward Gorey - 1957
    The staid, pale, Victorian inhabitants of the mansion alternately stare and glare at the doubtful guest as it tears out whole chapters from books, peels the soles of its white canvas shoes, and broods while lying on the floor ("inconveniently close to the drawing-room door"). Strangely, or rather, typically, as this is a Gorey book, the stymied occupants never ask the guest to leave--and in 17 years it has still "shown no intention of going away."

Swatch: The Girl Who Loved Color


Julia Denos - 2016
    Her name was Swatch, and color was her passion. From brave green to in-between gray to rumble-tumble pink . . . Swatch wanted to collect them all. But colors don’t always like to be tamed. . . .This is an exuberant celebration of all the beauty and color that make up our lives.

Elmer


David McKee - 1989
    No wonder the other elephants laugh at him!If he were ordinary elephant color, the others might stop laughing. That would make Elmer feel better, wouldn't it? David McKee's comical fable about everyone’s favorite patchwork elephant teaches readers to be themselves and celebrates the power of laughter.

It Looked Like Spilt Milk


Charles G. Shaw - 1947
    Is it a rabbit, a bird, or just spilt milk? In this childhood classic, kids are kept guessing until the surprise ending and they're encouraged to improvise similar games of their own. This beloved classic picture book teaches that, with a little imagination, something ordinary could become something extraordinary.Supports the Common Core State Standards

The Dot and the Line: A Romance in Lower Mathematics


Norton Juster - 1963
    But the dot, though perfect in every way, only had eyes for a wild and unkempt squiggle. All of the line's romantic dreams were in vain, until he discovered...angles! Now, with newfound self-expression, he can be anything he wants to be--a square, a triangle, a parallelogram....And that's just the beginning!First published in 1963 and made into an Academy Award-winning animated short film, here is a supremely witty love story with a twist that reveals profound truths about relationships--both human and mathematical--sure to tickle lovers of all ages.

Drawing Lessons from a Bear


David McPhail - 2000
    Soon he's collecting paper and drawing rocks, trees, clouds, birds, and even dinosaurs as he dreams of becoming an artist. With characteristic whimsey and lively watercolors, David McPhail portrays the unusual life of an artist who just happens to have been a bear, and tells how you can be an artist, too.

Baby Polar


Yannick Murphy - 2009
    Then he wants to play! He loves catching the tasty flakes on his tongue and zigzagging across the ice. When the winds begin to gust and the snow becomes a blizzard, though, Baby Polar knows it's time to go back to his mother. But now the whole world is covered in white. Where could Mama Polar be?Award-winning author Yannick Murphy's tender, lyrical story and acclaimed artist Kristen Balouch's vibrant collage illustrations perfectly capture the excitment and wonder of a young child's first independent adventure.

Merry Christmas, Squirrels!


Nancy Rose - 2015
    Peanuts loves Christmas - but he loves it even more when he has a friend to share it with. When Cousin Squirrel invites him to spend the holidays together, Mr. Peanuts is in for a whirlwind of winter fun! Mr. Peanuts and Cousin Squirrel are the perfect holiday addition to every household. Featuring photographs of wild squirrels in handcrafted homemade miniature settings, this striking book is sure to surprise and delight young and old alike.

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale


Mo Willems - 2004
    Fortunately, KB is safe, if a little wet...

Snippets: A Story about Paper Shapes


Diane Alber - 2018
    Snippets is a fun story about paper shapes. The main character, Snippet, looks different from the perfect shapes (regular polygons), and because of that he is told he can't play. Snippet's kind heart leads him to show everyone in the paper place how to get along. In the end, the shapes realize the beauty of being unique and how they are better together than far apart.

Ballet Kitty


Bernette G. Ford - 2007
    Suddenly her leaps aren’t as lighthearted or her pirouettes as pretty. Where could they be? she mumbles and grumbles. How can she dance in her clunky old sneakers? But very quickly Kitty discovers that as long as she’s doing her most perfect plies and cutest curtsies, she’ll always be happy…right from her head to the tips of her little pointed toes!Bernette Ford’s delightful dance-loving story and Sam Williams’s charming pas de deux of pussycats will inspire every little ballerina!

The Story of Miss Moppet


Beatrix Potter - 1906
    The aim of these editions is to be as close as possible to Beatrix Potter's intentions while benefiting from modern printing and design techniques. The colors and details of the watercolors in the volumes are reproduced more accurately than ever before, and it has now been possible to disguise damage that has affected the artwork over the years. Most notably, The Tale of Peter Rabbit restores six of Potter's original illustrations. Four were sacrificed in 1903 to make space for illustrated endpapers, and two have never been used before. Of course, Beatrix Potter created many memorable children's characters, including Benjamin Bunny, Tom Kitten, Jemima Puddle-duck and Jeremy Fisher. But whatever the tale, both children and adults alike can be delighted by the artistry in Potter's illustrations, while they also enjoy a very good read. Because they have always been completely true to a child's experience, Potter's 23 books continue to endure.

Zoom at Sea


Tim Wynne-Jones - 1983
    Following destiny, he meets Maria, who transforms her dark house into a roaring ocean, complete with screeching gulls, driftwood, and--far, far off in the distance--Uncle Roy's elusive ship. Illustrated.