Book picks similar to
The Toymaker by Martin Waddell


picture-books
picturebooks
childhood-favourites
children

The Missing Piece


Shel Silverstein - 1976
    And it was not happy. What it finds on its search for the missing piece is simply and touchingly told. This inventive and heartwarming book can be read on many levels, and Silverstein’s iconic drawings and humor are sure to delight fans of all ages.So it set off in searchof its missing piece.And as it rolledit sang this song— Oh I'm lookin' for my missin' pieceI'm lookin' for my missin' pieceHi-dee-ho, here I go,Lookin' for my missin' piece.And don't miss Runny Babbit Returns, the new book from Shel Silverstein!

Forever Young


Bob Dylan - 2008
    Now award-winning artist Paul Rogers gives us a new interpretation of the lyrics. With images inspired by classic Dylan songs and pieces of his life, this is a bold and touching tribute to an anthem whose message will always stay forever young.

Framed in Fire


David Patneaude - 1999
    But Peter loves Lincoln, and Peter is the only one who knows about Lincoln's unusual dreams.And Peter's mom has been lying to him about his real dad. If his dad died, why can't he find any information about the fishing boat accident that was supposed to have killed him? With the help of Lincoln and some friends from Resthaven, Peter begins a journey that could change his life forever.

The Numberlys


William Joyce - 2014
    Morris Lessmore comes an alphabet tale extraordinaire!Once upon a time there was no alphabet, only numbersLife was fine. Orderly. Dull as gray paint. Very numberly. But our five jaunty heroes weren't willing to accept that this was all there could be. They knew there had to be more.So they broke out hard hats and welders, hammers and glue guns, and they started knocking some numbers together. Removing a piece here. Adding a piece there. At first, it was awful. But the five kept at it, and soon it was artful! One letter after another emerged, until there were twenty-six. Twenty-six letters - and they were beautiful. All colorful, shiny, and new. Exactly what our heroes didn't even know they were missing.And when the letters entered the world, something truly wondrous began to happen: Pizza! Jelly beans! Color! Books!Based on the award-winning app, this is William Joyce and Moonbot's Metropolis-inspired homage to everyone who knows there is more to life than shades of black and gray.

Charlie the Ranch Dog


Ree Drummond - 2011
    He's a ranch dog. Breakfast is his life, especially when bacon is involved. Charlie has dangly ears, floppy skin, and big fat paws. And he loves living in the country. That's because he works like a dog...fixing fences, gardening, and helping his family out on the range. A ranch dog’s work is never done!This endearing picture book for dog lovers everywhere shows readers that even though you may love bacon and naps most of all, working on the ranch is all about hard work and determination. A New York Times bestseller!

The Snatchabook


Helen Docherty - 2013
    But books are mysteriously disappearing. Eliza Brown decides to stay awake and catch the book thief. It turns out to be a little creature called the Snatchabook who has no one to read him a bedtime story. All turns out well when the books are returned and the animals take turns reading bedtime stories to the Snatchabook.

The Boy and the Moon


James Christopher Carroll - 2010
    Wide awake long past his bedtime, a young boy slips outside his house to join some special friends in a nighttime jubilation. Complete with howls and whoops, they joyously celebrate the mystery and magic of the night, basking in the glow of the moonlight. They howled at the moon, they howled at life, and they howled with all things in the night. But their revelry comes to a halt when the moon is caught in the branches of a tree. Is anyone brave enough to climb the tree and save the moon? Gorgeous atmospheric paintings lure readers of all ages into believing that anything can happen - at midnight! J. (Jim) Carroll's work has been displayed around the world, including at the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science & Technology in Milan and at the United Nations in NYC. He has been an instructor at the School of Visual Arts and at the Massachusetts Museum of Modern Art. His work has also been featured in Zoom, HOW, PRINT and Communication Arts magazines. The Boy and the Moon is his first children's book.

A Bear Called Paddington


Michael Bond - 1958
    and Mrs. Brown first met Paddington, a most endearing bear from Darkest Peru on a railway platform in London. A sign hanging around his neck said, "Please look after this bear. Thank you" So that is just what they did.From the very first night when he attempted his first bath and ended up nearly flooding the house, Paddington was seldom far from imminent disaster. Jonathan and Judy were delighted with this havoc and even Mr. and Mrs. Brown had to admit that life seemed to be more filled with adventure when there was a bear in the house.

Little Boy Lost


Eric Hobbs - 2011
    He's landed at the bottom of his school's popularity ladder, and bully Randy Stanford seems to be waiting around every corner.The troubled teen thinks he's found a way to escape his real-world problems when he stumbles upon strange doorways in Astoria's local library that seem to lead into the extraordinary worlds from all his favorite books. Oz, Neverland, Wonderland -- they're all a reality with Wesley's new discovery. Wesley teams with best friend Taylor Williams to embark on a great adventure, both ready to leave the drama of middle school behind.But the two kids quickly find themselves embroiled in a centuries-old battle for the library and the magic hiding within. Now, fighting alongside the eccentric old man who's vowed to protect the building's power, the pair must help ward off an attack by a shadowy group with a strange tie to Wesley's nemesis, forcing Wesley to face the fears he's been dodging... and one of the most terrifying bullies of all time!

Even Monsters Need Haircuts


Matthew McElligott - 2010
    Although his customers are mostly regulars, they are anything but normal-after all, even monsters need haircuts. Business is steady all night, and this barber is prepared for anything with his scissors, rotting tonic, horn polish, and stink wax. It's a tough job, but someone's got to help these creatures maintain their ghoulish good looks.Perfect for Halloween, this is a hilarious story about a boy who follows in his father's footsteps . . . in his own monstrously unique way.

The Houdini Box


Brian Selznick - 1991
    Then -- amazingly -- he actually meets his idol, and begs Houdini to explain himself. A mysterious locked box is the magician's only answer, and Victor is left to wonder: Does the box contain the secrets to the most famous magic tricks ever performed?

The Complete Lake Series


AnnaLisa Grant - 2013
    Having lost both her parents and grandparents, and with nowhere else to go, Layla is moving from Florida to a small town in North Carolina to live with the only family she has left: her estranged uncle and aunt. The last five years of Layla’s life were spent appeasing her less-than-loving grandmother, followed by being her grandfather’s caretaker. Growing old before her time, Layla lost her identity. Now she must learn how to allow herself to be the one cared for and loved. Life takes an unexpected turn when Layla meets Will Meyer. His breathtaking good looks are enough to catch her eye, but his sincerity and passion are everything she needs to find the strength and confidence she lost — and lead her into love. When tragedy once again strikes Layla’s life, her hope is all but completely crushed. Through it all, Layla learns what it means to truly love and be loved. Troubled Waters (The Lake Trilogy, Book 2) College life for Layla Weston isn’t starting the way she’d intended. She’s revisiting the plans she once had to be the reclusive girl she wanted to be at Heyward Prep, and Layla is more than confident in her ability to succeed this time. After all, she’s got a whole new bag of secrets to keep. Still reeling from Will’s disappearance, Layla is doing her best to adjust to life back in Florida. She continues to hold out hope, confident she was meant to find Will’s ring for a reason. Just as Layla is starting to accept that she must keep moving forward, secrets from the past threaten Layla and her family. As Luke and Claire join with Layla to protect their family, Layla discovers that her uncle may not be the man she thought he was – and that there’s more to Will’s disappearance than she ever could have imagined. Safe Harbor (The Lake Trilogy, Book 3) Layla Weston was supposed to be planning her wedding, not waiting for her fiancé’s father to die. As Luke prepares to defend Holly for the shooting of Gregory Meyer, Layla and her family weigh the possibility of being able to return home to North Carolina. Only Layla isn't quite sure that's what she wants. Will and Layla are faced with a new set of challenges for their future - including the status of their upcoming wedding. And when new revelations about his father come to light, Will finds himself questioning his own destiny as a man. With Layla's help, he must learn that his identity is not determined by his DNA. Now that they are on the brink of their happily-ever-after, will Layla and Will get everything they dreamed of? Or will their happiness continue to be just out of reach? Anchored: A Lake Series Novella They've been to hell and back again, but now Will and Layla are beginning the biggest adventure of their lives: parenthood! It's only been a few short months since Will and Layla welcomed their twins. And while Layla is excited for all that awaits her in motherhood, she's feeling a little disconnected from the friends who have stood by her from the moment they met. Reintegrating into her social life and balancing motherhood may be a bit of a challenge, but Layla isn't going to miss her opportunity to help her dearest friends find their Happily Ever After, too. But what would life be without a curve ball once in a while? When someone from their past surfaces and asks for help, Layla isn’t sure telling Will is the best thing to do. He spent years protecting her, now it’s her turn to protect him from further heartache. She knows she won’t be able to keep the secret from Will forever, but no matter what happens, Layla is confident they’ll walk through it together, remaining just as anchored together as they’ve always been.

The Best of Louisa May Alcott: Little Women, Good Wives, Little Men, Jo's Boys, An Old-Fashioned Girl, Eight Cousins, Rose in Bloom (Annotated) (7 great books in one)


Louisa May Alcott
    The collection includes a foreword and historical notes about each of the books. This volume is sure to delight any fan of Alcott's fiction. Included are:Little WomenGood WivesLittle Men: Life at Plumfield with Jo's BoysJo's Boys and How They Turned OutAn Old-Fashioned GirlEight CousinsRose in BloomThis material was NOT merely scanned from an ink-and-paper book, like many Kindle e-books are. All e-books offered by Di Lernia Publishers are hand-edited and checked for spelling and punctuation errors.

Terror Crane (Dawn of Mammals Book 2)


Lou Cadle - 2016
    A team of teen scientists... A desperate fight to survive.... In book 2 of Dawn of Mammals, Hannah and the kids are swept back to the Paleocene, where giant avian dinosaurs still reign as the apex predators. In a jungle world of sweltering heat, the time travelers must learn new skills to survive the swamp creatures and the dreaded Terror Crane, a half-ton bird that could snatch any one of them up with its deadly beak.

The Love Book


Fiona O'Brien - 2011
     'Not something you'll ever want to put down' Sunday Independent 'One of the smartest writers of popular fiction around' Irish Independent On an autumn day in 1981, three schoolgirls write their petitions for love at St Valentine's shrine in Whitefriar St Church, Dublin. Thirty years later, freelance journalist Vonnie unexpectedly returns home from her life in California and reunites with her two friends: Abby, now married to a plastic surgeon and Diana, a high-powered businesswoman.As the three friends examine their lives, they learn that finding love was the easy part ... it's what comes afterwards that proves complicated. If they were to do it all again, would they wish for the same things?