Book picks similar to
The Little Golden Lamb by Ellin Greene


picture-books
picture-folktales
nonfiction
jadyn-s-books

Honk!: The Story of a Prima Swanerina


Pamela Duncan Edwards - 1998
    Edward's tongue-in-cheek text pokes gentle fun at self-absorbed prima ballerinas, while Cole's bold full-bleed paintings add a wealth of humorous detail.--Kirkus Reviews.

The Great Race


Kevin O'Malley - 2011
    He can't go anywhere or do anything without hearing about the great exploits of that pesky hare. And Lever's head has grown to match the size of his entourage. It isn't until Nate challenges Lever to a race that this hare is put in his place . . . giving new meaning to the phrase "slow and steady wins the race." Kevin O'Malley fans will cheer all the way to the finish line for this clever twist on the beloved fable.

Monkey: A Trickster Tale from India


Gerald McDermott - 2011
    Trouble is, Crocodile is hungry, too—for Monkey! Will clever Monkey come up with a way to get the mangoes and escape Crocodile's sharp teeth? Master storyteller and artist Gerald McDermott brings the vibrant colors of India to his telling of this classic trickster tale, which has plenty of cleverness and a sprinkling of mischief.

The Troll With No Heart in His Body and other Tales of Trolls, from Norway


Lise Lunge-Larsen - 1999
    Some live under bridges, others deep inside caves. They can carry their heads under their arms or hide their hearts inside wells. They can walk across oceans and fly over mountains. Trees and shrubs may grow from their heads, and their noses can be long enough to stir soup. There are troll hags, troll daughters, and elderly, shrunken trolls. Old or young, they are quarrelsome, ugly, and boastful, and they love to trick princesses and children. To defeat them, children must rely on the strengths of their humanity-persistence, kindness, pluck, and willingness to heed good advice

The Matatu


Eric Walters - 2012
    But today, for his fifth birthday, he climbs aboard one with his grandfather. As the matatu pulls away from the market, the village dogs chase after them. When Kioko asks his grandfather why the dogs always bark and chase after matatus, his grandfather tells him an entertaining tale about a dog, a goat and a sheep. Set in East Africa, The Matatu is a colorful story filled with many unexpected turns and twists along the way.

Monkey King


Ed Young - 2001
    Monkey is so arrogant, he even gets into trouble with Buddha himself.Caldecott Award-winning author-illustrator Ed Young has created colorful and lively collages and specially designed two fold-out pages to animate the story of Monkey King and his acrobatic, high-spirited adventures. This unprecedented picture-book adaptation introduces just the beginning of the classic epic Journey to the West, about the mission to bring Buddhist scriptures to China. Monkey is only one of its many characters, but he is undeniably the most beloved of them all.

The Chameleon That Saved Noah's Ark


Yael Molchadsky - 2015
    They find just the right food for every creature—except for the two chameleons. These picky eaters won’t eat anything! Noah is worried! What will tempt these two? It is not until the ark’s food supply is suddenly threatened, that Noah gets a surprising answer—and discovers that even the SMALLEST creatures have a BIG role to play in nature!

Picnic with Piggins


Jane Yolen - 1988
    “There’s plenty of humor here for children and their adult readers. . . . No one will get bored with Piggins.”--Booklist

Anansi and the Magic Stick


Eric A. Kimmel - 2001
    Warthog, Lion, and Zebra laugh so hard at his messy house that they wake him up. Anansi stomps off in a huff--right into an amazing secret! Hyena has a magic stick that follows his orders. If Anansi steals the stick, he'll never have to work again, and his home will be the neatest one in town. Is the magic stick his secret for success? Or the beginning of disasters he can't even imagine?

Dora's Eggs


Julie Sykes - 2005
    But Penny Pig is playing with her piglets and Clarissa Cow is snuggling her newborn calf. As Dora watches all the animals with their young, she can't help but think their babies are much nicer than her plain brown eggs. So, off she goes back to her hen house feeling very sad... unaware of the surprises that are about to take place!

When Cats Dream


Dav Pilkey - 1992
    Food and toys are in their places, and soft, warm laps await. But when cats go to sleep, anything can happen--and does. Their two-tone world blooms into extravagant color. The fishbowl becomes an ocean, and they can dance on the heads of sleeping dogs and never be afraid in this imaginative rhapsody. Full color.

A Friend for Einstein, the Smallest Stallion


Charlie Cantrell - 2011
    He was a miniature minature horse. Too small to run with the herd, Einstein had to look outside his world of horses to find the perfect playmate. Featuring full-color photographs of the spirited little stallion and a series of adorable creatures, this inspiring story about finding a true friend will bring joy to nature lovers of all ages.A portion of the authors' proceeds will be donated to the ASPCA's Equine Fund.

The Hand-Me-Down Doll


Steven Kroll - 1983
    Keep me and love me and give me a name, begs the doll. Finally, her luck changes when she meets a little girl who appreciates her and takes her home. Originally published in 1983, the slightly shortened text is beautifully interpreted in Dan Andreasen's nostalgic oil-painted illustrations.

Deer Dancer


Mary Lyn Ray - 2014
    This gorgeous picture book from celebrated author Mary Lyn Ray features luminous and evocative art from Lauren Stringer and will capture the hearts of young dancers everywhere.

Tasty Baby Belly Buttons


Judy Sierra - 1999
    When they raided a village it was the babies they stole. In a delightful retelling of the folktale, Judy Sierra has added a feminist twist in the person of a fearless young heroine, determined to stop them. Little Urikohme, or Melon Princess, was born inside a watermelon and has no bellybutton. She travels to the Onis' fortress island, and with the help of some animal friends, rescues the babies, leaving the Onis crying for mercy. A wonderful short tale to read aloud, children will gleefully join in the Onis' chant and cheer at the triumph of small over large. In cleverly inspired watercolors, Meilo So outfits the Melon Princess in a watermelon-designed kimono and her humorous depiction of the oversized bullies is sure to elicit giggles. An author's note discusses the origin of the tale and its place in Japanese folklore.