The Broken Ornament


Tony DiTerlizzi - 2018
    More. More. More! So, when Jack breaks a dusty old ornament, he’s not sure why his mom is so upset. They can always get more ornaments, so what’s the big deal? Turns out the ornament was an heirloom, precious for more reasons than one. And Jack has a lot to learn about the true meaning Christmas. A fairy emerges from the shattered ornament. She has the power to make the most magical Christmasy things happen. Suddenly trees are sprouting, reindeer are flying, and snowmen are snowball fighting. All of it is so perfect, or it would be if she could fix Mom’s ornament. But she can’t. So it’s up to Jack to make some Christmas magic of his own.

We Became Jaguars


Dave Eggers - 2021
    After a day of playing, running, and climbing through sumptuous landscapes, the ending will leave you wondering what's real and what's imagined.

Bah! Humbug?


Lorna Balian - 1977
    Margie writes to Santa Claus asking him for a new teddy bear since her teddy, Herold, is looking a bit shabby. Her bossy older brother Arthur believes that Santa Claus is a humbug and plans to prove it by creating a trap to catch him. Lorna's delightful illustrations show that Arthur might be wrong about Santa after all. An endearing Christmas tale that will delight both boys and girls alike.

If You Want to See a Whale


Julie Fogliano - 2013
    . .If you want to see a whale, you have to keep your eyes on the sea, and wait . . .and wait . . . and wait . . .In this quiet and beautiful picture book by Julie Fogliano and Erin E. Stead, the team that created the Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor book And Then It's Spring, a boy learns exactly what it takes to catch a glimpse of an elusive whale.

Solomon the Rusty Nail


William Steig - 1985
    Its hero, young Solomon, is an ordinary rabbit--well, ordinary in every respect but one. Whenever he scratches his nose and wiggles his toes at exactly the same time, he turns into a rusty nail. To turn back into a rabbit, all he has to do is thing: "I'm no nail, I'm a rabbit!" This unusual talent enables Solomon to play some gratifying practical jokes, but it also leads to serious trouble when he's waylaid by a one-eyed cat who plans to turn him into Hasenpfeffer. Solomon promptly becomes a rusty nail and steadfastly refuses to change back, even after Ambrose, the cat, and his wife, Clorinda, lock him up in a cage in their guest room. Sooner or later, they figure, they'll be dining no bunny stew. How can Solomon possibly find a way out of this dilemma?

Mosquitoes Can't Bite Ninjas


Jordan P. Novak - 2017
    But they can't bite . . . NINJAS! Mosquitoes might be quick, but ninjas are quicker. Mosquitoes might be sneaky, but ninjas are sneakier. And mosquitoes might be hungry, but ninjas are . . . hungrier!With tons of not-very-stealthy appeal, Jordan P. Novak's debut delivers buzzy, wacky, and hilarious story.

Lizzie and Lou Seal


Patricia Keeler - 2017
    They go shuffle shuffle across the rug, smack smack on the floor tiles, and thwap thwap down the stairs. Lizzie also loves her blow-up toy, Lou Seal. Lizzie and Lou Seal are off to the beach, but beach fun turns to beach disaster when Lizzie loses her flip-flops and Lou Seal starts losing air! It’s a sink or swim scenario. What will Lizzie do?This is a beautiful book with mixed media art and a lovely retro feel, for fans of Ladybug Girl at the Beach. Children will relate to Lizzie’s independence and creative problem solving and fall in love with Lou Seal themselves. Filled with lots of fun words and sounds, this is a perfect read aloud book for parents and children alike.

Pearl


Molly Idle - 2018
    Sometimes the tiniest light can shine the brightest! Like the other mermaids of the deep, Pearl longs to care for the endless beaches, coral reefs, and towering kelp forests of her vast ocean world. So when her mother asks her to tend to a mere grain of sand, Pearl is heartbroken. It takes all her patience and determination to discover how even the littlest mermaid can transform the world. Caldecott Honor-winning author and artist Molly Idle has masterfully crafted a modern classic in this mesmerizing tale about the immense power of small actions.

A Letter From Your Teacher: On the First Day of School


Shannon Olsen - 2021
    

Go Big or Go Gnome!


Kirsten Mayer - 2017
    Each year, Al feels left out of the Beards International Gnome-athalon, B.I.G.So Al decides to go BIG or go Gnome! It’s a close shave, but with a hidden talent and the help of his friend, Gnorm, Al learns accepting that you are different is the key to fitting in.An Imprint Book

The Patterson Puppies and the Rainy Day


Leslie Patricelli - 2009
    (Ages 2-5)It's a rainy day, and the Patterson puppies have run out of things to do. If only it were sunny and warm, they could go to the beach! But then Petra gets an idea. Indoor beach party! Buckets! A blue-carpet ocean! The surfing and undersea diving are a blast, until . . . mom and dad appear on the shore. Uh-oh! Will a mop-brigade party be as much fun? Rambunctious pups are sure to relate to this cautionary tale -- and be eager to dive right in.

Little Doctor and the Fearless Beast


Sophie Gilmore - 2019
    She treats each one with skill and kindness--even the toughest crocs with thick skins and large, powerful jaws. Little Doctor marvels at these fearless beasts, listening to their stories, while she diagnoses and cures what ails them. But when she meets Big Mean, the largest crocodile in the land with jaws clamped tightly shut, Little Doctor can't figure out what's wrong. And she might be just a little bit afraid.When one creative idea lands Little Doctor right inside Big Mean's tremendous jaws, she is sure she'll be munched or crunched--until she sees that Big Mean isn't so horrible, after all. As it turns out, the crocodile is only protecting her hatchlings, all tangled in plastic, inside her mouth.Watercolor illustrations create a richly imagined world in this awe-inspiring story about how even little kids can be fearless, and even big, mean creatures sometimes need help.

A World of Food: Discover Magical Lands Made of Things You Can Eat!


Carl Warner - 2012
    A World of Food presents 12 of his amazing pictures, each one showing young readers what the world might look like if there were only a single color. “Yellow” is a desert made of pasta palm trees, cereal sand, and swiss cheese pyramids, while “Orange” features pumpkin cottages, carrot trees, and apricot leaves. Playful verse accompanies each image, guiding viewers through the pictures and inviting them to figure out the various foods used (which are all identified at the back of the book). This is a wonderful book about colors and creativity for parents and children to look through together and discover the many different foods that make up Warner’s fantastical world. Praise for A World of Food "Children will delight in pointing at the sweet ingredients, such as meringue clouds and lollipop trees."—Wall Street Journal"Kids and adults alike will marvel at these painstakingly assembled and composed photos, eagerly identifying the foods that make up the details of the landscapes."—Kirkus Reviews AWARD: HONORS winner: 2012 National Parenting Publications Book Awards

Seriously, Just Go to Sleep


Adam Mansbach - 2012
    Go the F*** to Sleep, the picture book for adults, became a cultural sensation by striking a universal chord for parents. Now, Adam Mansbach and Ricardo Cortés do a companion volume that lets kids in on the fun.

All the Pretty Horses


Susan Jeffers - 1974
    Lulled to sleep by her mother's singing of the traditional lullaby, a little girl dreams of all sorts of horses.