The storyteller in his appealing dialect tells little-known tales, among them aMothah Skunka and the night she had to move out with her kits because Sherman Curtis smelled so bad; the escapades of Big Gertie Benson, the lumberjacksa cook and a cousin of the Bunyans in the Midwest; and George Petty, who delivered the mail even during mud season by standing on the back of his horse with only his head sticking out. Interspersed throughout are comic style episodes as an unsuspecting tourist tries to get information from the alocals.a A delightful preface about living in New Hampshire for the past thirty-five years and visiting the North Country since he was a boy, explains why Tomie dePaola has perfect pitch for the dialect and a genuine appreciation for these unforgettable characters and their understated humor. Perfect for reading aloud to the family or in the classroom with a glossary to help with the pronunciations, these tales are sure to be a hit with Tomieas fans, young and old.

    Medallion Honoree * From the Midwest Book Review: "The Pajama Elves" is a delightful, creatively presented holiday tale that shares a family tradition of giving children magic pajamas secretly tailored by Santa's sewing elves, so they can sleep snug in their beds on Christmas Eve. Hayden Edwards is a special pseudonym for author/illustrator Julie Szabo, combining the names of her two sons and husband. Told in verse narrative and creatively illustrated with combination photos/prints in color, "The Pajama Elves" is all about keeping the magic of Christmas alive for young children. The author describes it as follows: "'The Pajama Elves' allows people to adopt and personalize the tradition in many ways, and it can be shared with family members who live far apart from one another." Sensitively done, "The Pajama Elves" is an ideal contemporary response to unique challenges faced by parents of young children today.

    The zoo send a series of unsuitable pets, revealed behind flaps in the form of crates and packing cases. These animals are all sent back for different reasons, except the last one, which is perfect!Dear Zoo is twenty-five years old -- and still as popular as ever! And with an updated look, this children's classic is sure to delight a new generation of readers!

    Short and fuzzy, long and scaled: no matter their size and shape, tails aren't just hanging around—they’re useful! This fun, informative book invites readers to guess the owner of nine tails, and then turn the page to see the animal and its tail in action.

    The book's ending, a moving tribute to the author's father—legendary rock star Frank Zappa—guarantees intergenerational appeal, and award-winning artist Dan Santat (The Adventures of Beekle) brings the fun and endearing scenes to life with whimsical monster characters.Because I'm your dad, I will do all of these things for you and more . . .because that's what my dad did for me.

    But the beast is not happy and escapes! A funny and charming tale about seeing both sides of the story.

    America's favorite song-singing badger is sure to entertain old and new fans as she laments the end of summer, presents a tribute to her favorite cookie, and sings her memorable ballad about the food she hates the most: eggs.

    And when morning comes, it's time for fun! Watch the snowplows sweep the streets. Shovel walkways throught he snow. Build a snowman! Sled! Ski! There are so many wonderful things to do in this magical snow-covered world!

    She can't wait to sing and dance in her newest musical, which will be her best show ever. Ladybug won't let anyone get in the way of her performance...especially her little brother, Fly. He's a pest! But Fly is determined to be part of the act, no matter what. Is the show big enough for this sibling rivalry?This sing-along, read-aloud, funny tribute to the budding Broadway star in all of us is sure to be a smash hit, and shows that working together really does pay off.

    Jack knows the perfect recipient: Great-Aunt Gertie, who gave him boring stationery. But the stationery has other uses: it's come in very handy when housebreaking Puddly, Jack's new puppy! Miss Doover sure has a lot of rules for writing a letter. Jack revises over and over, adding details until Great-Aunt Gertie knows exactly how he's used her special gift. But for some reason his teacher doesn't look too happy. Will his do-over ever impress Miss Doover?

    Courage, spunk and a lot of humor help make Isabel's adventures something you'll share over and over again. Beautiful watercolor paintings bring The Adventures of Isabel vividly to life, while the audio CD of Ogden Nash reading his classic poem will let everyone follow the amazing exploits of Isabel! As a bonus on audio CD, Ogden Nash reads The Adventures of IsabelOgden Nash was born in New York in 1902 and wrote The Adventures of Isabel in the 1930s. He published hundreds of poems, many of them for his two daughters, Linell and Isabel. They occasionally appeared as characters in his poems, as Isabel does in The Adventures of Isabel. Nash died in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1971.Bridget Starr Taylor and her husband have two sons, a daughter, and very recently twin grandchildren. She and her family live in New York and spend summers and weekends at her farm in Connecticut. Bridget rides a bike wherever she goes and plays tennis, most often in polka-dotted shorts! (20080701)

    But how do you convince six not-so-sleepy bear cubs to go to bed? Mother Bear, of course, has found a way--with a cozy rhyme for each of them. Once again, beloved author Mem Fox enchants little ones--and their parents--with a tender bedtime story, irresistibly illustrated by Kerry Argent.

    Includes a playable game!A 'growth mindset' children's picture book, The Gritty Little Lamb is a touching tale about joyful Lambie who loves playing games but has a hard time losing. His parents educate him about the value of hard work, perseverance and attitude to achieve his goal which, for right now, is beating Dad.With playful illustrations and spirited rhymes, this story teaches the value of determination and inspires every child to believe in the possibilities of their own abilities.Book details:*Beautifully illustrated in stunning detail.*An engaging and rhythmic read for adults with a story to which all kids can relate.*Several powerful and motivational quotes written in rhyme and easy to remember.*A great conversation starter to discuss attitude, patience, determination, goal setting, and losing with grace.*Includes a playable version of the same game that is seen throughout the book!*Great for bedtime, reading aloud, group discussion, and improving children's own reading skills.*Ideal for children ages 3-8.If you're looking for a heartwarming book that will teach your child important concepts while remaining fun to read, then The Gritty Little Lamb is for you. This engaging story will become a treasured part of your bookshelf which you and your kids will want to read again and again.

    Sometimes you're sad. Sometimes you're good. Sometimes you're bad. But no matter what, one special little elephant will always know his mother's love. The love shines on the foil-splashed, padded cover and all the way through this color-saturated book.

    . . hey, where?d all the sheep go?? In a place called Happy Valley, there live ten sheep. Every night, the ten sheep are counted into their beds by one Super Sheep Dog named Doug. But one day, the sheep are missing! Who could have stolen them? Might it be Wolf, who lives in the Dark Forest? And for what nefarious purpose? Does he want to knit them into a blanket? Bake them into a pie? Or maybe he wants to . . . count them?With kooky, creative illustrations and an unexpected ending that will get kids giggling, this is a lively story about the fun of counting .. . and a bedtime surprise.