Book picks similar to
Gilbert the Great by Jane Clarke


picture-books
friendship
children
animals

The Mysterious Tadpole


Steven Kellogg - 1977
    But it soon becomes clear that this "tadpole" is not turning into an ordinary frog! It'll take a little help from friends and a lot of ingenuity to feed and shelter this unusual, ever-growing pet. The Mysterious Tadpole, with its giddy mix of fantasy, adventure, and high humor, is one of Steven Kellogg's most popular books. It was an ALA Notable, an IRA-CBC Children's Choice, and won the Irma Simonton Black Award. For its anniversary, Steven has reworked aspects of the story and has created entirely new artwork in the bright, bold colors that weren't reproducible twenty-five years ago. He discusses why he wanted to revise the book in a lively author's note.

How to Heal a Broken Wing


Bob Graham - 2008
    With the help of his sympathetic mother, he gently wraps the injured bird and takes it home. In classic Bob Graham style, the beauty is in the details: the careful ministrations with an eyedropper, the bedroom filled with animal memorabilia, the saving of the single feather as a good-luck charm for the bird's return to the sky. Wistful and uplifting, here is a tale of possibility -- and of the souls who never doubt its power.

Little Puppy and the Big Green Monster


Mike Wohnoutka - 2014
    Everyone is either too busy, too lazy, too mean, or too boring. Then Little Puppy spies Big Green Monster reading on a bench. "I will play with him!" he declares. Big Green Monster has no interest in playing games or being friends with Little Puppy. He escapes to the peace and quiet of his bathtub. But when Little Puppy follows him home and takes a scary tumble, Big Green Monster immediately comes to the rescue--and finds that there might just be a place for this tiny dog in his giant heart.With spare text and irresistible illustrations, Mike Wohnoutka tells the high-spirited story of an unlikely friendship that new readers, and their pals of all sizes, will love.

Hello, My Name is Octicorn


Kevin Diller - 2013
    And isn’t that everyone? This is a self-published success story from debut authors Justin Lowe and Kevin Diller. Octicorn is half octopus, half unicorn, half confused . . . which sometimes makes it hard to fit in.But maybe that’s not such a bad thing.

Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain: A Nandi Tale


Verna Aardema - 1981
    A cumulative rhyme relating how Ki-pat brought rain to the drought-stricken Kapiti Plain. Verna Aardema has brought the original story closer to the English nursery rhyme by putting in a cumulative refrain and giving the tale the rhythm of “The House That Jack Built.”

Library Lily


Gillian Shields - 2011
    She is fascinated by the stories in her books, and reads wherever she goes—through summer, autumn, winter, and spring. But one day, Lily meets a girl who hates reading. Milly invites Lily to have adventures of her own—outside the pages of a book. Together the two friends help each other discover the joy of both backyards and books—and find on the way that adventures are best with a friend along.

We're Going on a Bear Hunt


Michael Rosen - 1989
    We’re going on a bear hunt. We’re going to catch a big one.. Will you come too? For more than twenty-five years readers have been swishy swashing and splash sploshing through this award-winning favorite. Join in the fun!