But unlike other dogs, Bob cooks breakfast for himself and his family, drives the family car and digs for dinosaur bones with a paleontologist. When the girl next door challenges Bob's owner to a contest to see whose dog is best, Bob doesn't sit, fetch or speak on command. Bob loses. "I'm sorry," Bob says as the girl and her dog march off in triumph. But to make up for his deficiencies, Bob makes pizza for the family.Readers will enjoy the wry humor that is underscored by an ironic text and understated illustrations.

    He is also driving his bird companion crazy with the commotion. Bird sends him to the countryside to find something more appropriate to herd, such as a cow. but since Dog has never seen a cow, he finds all the wrong animals. After being pecked by a chicken, spattered with mud by a pig, and walloped by a donkey, Dog needs a friend. By chance a mysterious and kindly animal helps lead him back to the city, only to cause chaos there, before revealing her identity -- as a cow!

    The fish in his aquarium, the petals on flowers, the toys in his toy box?Christopher Rabbit counts them all! He loves counting so much, he tries to count everything?even the stars in the sky! And the good-night kisses his sweet mother wants to share. Valeri Gorbachev, with his enchanting illustrations, brings life and charm to this picture book that shows children the joy and adventure in counting, not only in the classroom?but everywhere!

    Belinda's going to do ballet, Tiki's planned a magic act, but Ella doesn't have a single idea. She can't sing, dance, or play an instrument -- doesn't Ella have any talent at all?Then comes the night of the big show, and Ella discovers her own special talent that shines very bright -- even when she's not in the limelight. Carmela and Steve D'Amico put friendship center stage in this third charming elephant adventure.

    Patrick's Day adventure with Pete the Cat as Pete discovers how lucky he actually is!It's St. Patrick's Day, and it's also the grand opening of Pete the Cat's leprechaun catching business. Pete gears up to trap a leprechaun for his friends! But catching a leprechaun is never easy—especially if it’s Clover, who's full of tricks.Will luck be on Pete’s side? Or will Pete learn luck is actually something earned? Pete the Cat: The Great Leprechaun Chase also comes complete with a poster, stickers, and twelve punch-out St. Patrick's Day cards.

    But big-brother penguins, just like human ones, sometimes think that little brothers are pests. Flip wants to play with a buddy his own size, someone like Hip, the polar bear. And that leaves little Flop out in the cold.How Flop finds a friend of his own -- and a game that everyone can enjoy -- makes for an endearing tale, written and illustrated with snowy sparkle.

    But why is it taking him so long to find a new owner? Join him on his adventure as he tries to find out. Perfect for bedtime reading and early readers, this delightful story introduces the incredibly cute puppy, Sammy The Sheep Dog. With beautiful illustrations by Gill Dallowe on every page, filled with fun and drama, this story will be a hit with all children who love animals.

    But with a little help from rap duo Hip and Hop, this prickly porcupine might just discover something he can say "yes" to. Straight from Oldskool County, this hilarious companion to Hip & Hop, Don't Stop!, introduces a brand-new character that kids will love! Featuring short raps read at varying speeds and comic book elements, this jacketed picture book is a rollicking read-aloud that will have kids saying "yes!"

    Equipped with his Super-Duper Treasure Seeker, Russell searches high and low, up and down, and in and out.Nothing!Finally, Russell finds an old chest! Could it be?Discover how Russell finds the most valuable treasure of all.

    But when he realizes one morning that Richard has left his lunchbox behind, Nipper sets off on a difficult journey to deliver it. Will Nipper find Richard in time? Will he survive the many dangers along the way? And what will happen when he gets there? A touching story from a new talent about the power of determination and the strength of true friendship.

    It's just that being good takes so much effort. When his owner finally has enough and sends him packing, it's silent Cat who misses him the most. Armed with a how-to book and quiet determination, Cat begins to instruct Bobo in proper dog etiquette. Shake, fetch, and roll over all go well. But can Cat really turn this incorrigible canine around? Drenched in cotton-candy colors and brimming with whimsical details, Bobo proves a fact all dog lovers know: nobody can resist a good dog, even when he's bad! Reviews Bobo, the great galumphing hound in Gail Page's How to Be a Good Dog is the canine Oscar Madison. . . .Pale and plump with a single black spot, Bobo has a Thurber-esque squishiness in Page's cartoonlike acrylics. His eyes are never more than two tiny dots, but they're endlessly expressive. How the author accomplishes this I can't say. But it seems to be an unwritten law that in the world of children's books, the larger the dog, the smaller the eyes, and vise versa. -New York Times Book Review, children's feature issue The pictures [in this book] are pleasing and, to my eye, beautiful. At the same time, they're genuinely funny. This, to me, is the best thing possible. And it's hard to do.---Daniel Pinkwater on NPR's Weekend Edition, Saturday, Feb 11th. To read more on the How to Be a Good Dog feature, click here. The quirky humor in the brief text is matched by the funny antics of the floppy canine in the illustrations as he tries to be a good dog, but always in his own way. -Kirkus Reviews This lively tale of a good-hearted canine and his kindly cat friend gets its charm from its bold and colorful illustrations...But it is the story, told in plain, simple, unembellished words that any child can understand, that grabs your heart and won't let go. -Curled Up With A Good Book The large acrylic paintings with cartoon figures and the simp

    But being a "dog gone" isn't as easy (or fun!) as it looks, and soon the pup misses his owner and home. Luckily, even though he's made a mistake, his human best friend is always waiting with open arms.Leeza Hernandez is an exciting new SCBWI award-winning author-illustrator who brings lively art to a classic friendship story, with easy-to-read verse perfect for a read-aloud or young readers just starting out.

    But work and school are keeping the family extremely busy and Chester is taking a backseat. When the family forgets to take him for his walk, again, Chester decides he's had enough. It's time to find a new home. But when Chester is turned away by a flock of forest birds and taken in by a wealthy woman who treats him more like a toy than a dog, Chester soon discovers that old homes are not so easily replaced. Ayano Imai presents a quirky tale for anyone who ever thought the grass was greener on the other side.

    Every day he tunes in to watch Super Guinea Pig save the world from evil and terrible disasters. And every day he ignores his friends--an old hound dog, a yellow bird, and a plump goldfish--to watch his hero. When they start making fun of little guinea pig and asking why his new best friend never visits him, he dresses up as Super Guinea Pig to teach his friends a lesson. Leaping and acting like his hero, little guinea pig gets himself into a bit of trouble and calls upon Super Guinea Pig for help. Will Super Guinea Pig rescue him or will his real friends save the day?

    . . and ends up with a new best friend in this silly and sweet doggy tale, perfect for fans of Officer Buckle and Gloria . Dogs make good pillows, don't they?A clever pup ends up in a cozy home, and she'll do anything to stay there. She impersonates everything the lonely homeowner needs--a pillow, a footstool, a jacket. But in the end, being herself works best. Laura Gehl's spare, humorous text and New Yorker cartoonist Christopher Weyant's expressive characters will leave young readers giggling and begging for more.