Ice Bear: In the Steps of the Polar Bear


Nicola Davies - 2005
    Powerful hunter, tireless swimmer, tender mother, gentle playmate — she is superbly adapted for surviving, even thriving, in this harsh and icy climate. Written in poetic language interspersed with fascinating facts, Nicola Davies' breathtaking tale of this massive, stark white animal is brought to life in striking paintings by Gary Blythe. Just as the Inuit people have watched and learned from this amazing creature for generations, readers are invited to witness the majesty of Ice Bear.

Little Bot and Sparrow


Jake Parker - 2016
    Fortunately, Sparrow is there to take him under her wing. Together, they explore the forest, share adventures, and learn what it means to be forever friends.

Captain No Beard: An Imaginary Tale of a Pirate's Life - A Captain No Beard Story


Carole P. Roman - 2012
    Normally a young boy named Alexander, his cousin Hallie, and three stuffed animals, once they board his bed their world is transformed into a magical vessel, sailing the seven seas on dangerous and exciting adventures!Captain No Beard - An Imaginary Tale of a Pirate's Life named to Kirkus Reviews' BEST OF 2012 for Children's Indie Books, and garnered the star of remarkable merit!"Roman charms with an imaginative, whimsical picture book that will entertain even the oldest pirates." Kirkus Review

Puffin Peter


Petr Horáček - 2011
    With the help of a big blue whale Puffin Peter set off to find him. They find all kinds of birds that match Peter's description but none of them is quite like Paul.

The Day the Crayons Quit


Drew Daywalt - 2013
    But when he opens his box of crayons, he finds only letters, all saying the same thing: We quit!Beige is tired of playing second fiddle to Brown. Blue needs a break from coloring all that water, while Pink just wants to be used. Green has no complaints, but Orange and Yellow are no longer speaking to each other. What is Duncan to do? Debut author Drew Daywalt and New York Times bestseller Oliver Jeffers create a colorful solution in this playful, imaginative story that will have children laughing and playing with their crayons in a whole new way.

The Magical Unicorn Society Official Handbook


Selwyn E. Phipps - 2018
    Discover where unicorns really live around the world, how to find them, and what they eat Learn how to look after them, what powers they have, how to tempt them, train them, and even ride them, and so much more. With breathtaking artwork from Helen Dardik and Harry and Zanna Goldhawk, this special book is the ultimate gift for true believers.

Flotsam


David Wiesner - 2006
    A young boy comes to the beach eager to collect and examine flotsam—anything floating that has been washed ashore. But nothing among his usual finds compares with the discovery of a barnacle-encrusted underwater camera with its own secrets to share . . . and to keep. Meet unexpected underseas denizens and enter fascinating worlds within worlds in this entrancing celebration of imagination, creativity, and the impulse to share that which delights and amazes us.

Diary of a Fly


Doreen Cronin - 1996
    A fly who, when she's not landing on your head or swimming in your soup, is trying to escape her 327 brothers and sisters who are driving her crazy!Even though she's little -- just like her best friends Worm and Spider -- Fly wants to be a superhero. And why not? She walks on walls, sees in all directions at once, and can already fly!Doreen Cronin and Harry Bliss, the team behind the New York Times bestsellers Diary of a Worm and Diary of a Spider, reach hilarious heights with their story of a little fly who's not afraid to dream big. Really big.

Treasury of Greek Mythology: Classic Stories of Gods, Goddesses, Heroes & Monsters


Donna Jo Napoli - 2011
    Brought to life with lyrical text by award-winning author Donna Jo Napoli and stunning artwork by award-winning illustrator Christina Balit, the tales of gods and goddesses such as Zeus, Aphrodite, Apollo, and Athena and heroes and monsters such as Helen of Troy, Perseus, and Medusa will fascinate and engage children’s imaginations.   National Geographic completes the book with embellishments of each story: sidebars for each god, goddess, hero, and monster link the myths to constellations, geography, history, and culture to help young readers connect the stories to real life events, people, and places. A family tree and a “cast of characters” profile page help make relationships between the characters clear, and a mapping feature adds to the fun and fascination. Resource notes and ample back matter directing readers to more information round out this luminous book. Sure to dazzle all those intrigued with the fantastic tales of Greek mythology and enchant new readers, this vibrant book will soon become a family keepsake.National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.

Dragon Stew


Steve Smallman - 2010
    So they thought they'd hunt dragon, and then tie it to their wagon, take it home and chop it up, and make dragon stew! But when the Vikings set off to find their dragon, they get a BIG surprise...Hilarious, rhyming story from the award-winning author, Steve Smallman. The quirky, detailed artwork by Lee Wildish, illustrator of Charlie's Superhero Underpants, will entertain children for hours. With an amusing surprise ending, this is the perfect story to read aloud to youngsters.

The Adventures of Paddy the Beaver


Thornton W. Burgess - 1914
    That means he had to stop the waters that flowed in the Laughing Brook and Smiling Pool to make a fine new pond for himself and a comfortable home of sticks and mud. But what will happen to the waterways in the Green Forest?Young readers will find out in this charming tale of woodland adventure, as the gentle, good-natured beaver wins over scolding Sammy Jay and the two work together to outsmart Old Man Coyote.This timeless story, with original illustrations by Harrison Cady, not only entertains young readers and listeners, it also imparts valuable lessons about friendship, trust, and respect for the environment.

King Kong


Anthony Browne - 1995
    The mighty beast falls for a beautiful girl, Ann Darrow, and desperate to have her he finds himself lured into captivity. He is brought to civilisation and put on show, but when he sees Ann he breaks his heavy chains and begins to wreak havoc on the streets of New York ...The enthralling story of King Kong involves battles with dinosaurs, daring rescues and incredible escapes - endless thrills lead up to one of the most famous climaxes of all time!

The Yes


Sarah Bee - 2014
    He was snug, but the Yes had a Where to go to. So he left his nest and went trundling out. But the Where was an endless place of Nos. They teemed and seethed. They picked and nipped, and snipped and snicked. The Yes yessed in all his goodness and bigness and yesness. But was he strong enough to overcome them?‘Kitamura is one of the world’s most original and stylish children’s illustrators.’ Sunday Times

Walt Disney's Alice in Wonderland


Jon Scieszka - 2008
    Here his Wonderland shines anew, viewed through the looking glasses of two incomparable artists.Mary Blair's vibrant art helped shape the look of Walt Disney's classic animated film. Collected in a picture book for the first time, her illustrations capture the essence of such memorable characters as the Queen of Hearts and the Mad Hatter with stunning immediacy. Jon Scieszka's captivating text celebrates all that is curious-and all that is nonsensical-about the world that holds Alice spellbound, from a deliciously absurd tea party to the spectacle of a kingdom of playing cards . Brimming with wit and wonder, this sparkling retelling will enchant readers from the moment Alice falls down the rabbit hole, whether or not they've made the journey before.

Beowulf


Michael Morpurgo - 2006
    Standing head and shoulders above his comrades, Beowulf single-handedly saves the land of the Danes from a merciless ogre named Grendel and then from his sea-hag mother. But it is his third terrible battle, with the death-dragon of the deep, in which he truly meets his match. Lovers of heroes, monsters, and the drama of battle will find this retelling as enthralling as it is tragic.