How do you get people to appreciate what is right in front of them? In The Tale of the Mandarin Duck, it takes a mysterious, beautiful duck and a clear-eyed kid to point out the obvious!

    Small Pine hoped to maintain its perfect form and be selected by the Queen as her Christmas tree. But as the warm-hearted little tree gave shelter to birds, rabbits, and deer in the forest, its branches became damaged. Fortunately, the Queen had a different idea of perfection...Young readers will want to read and reread the story of how Small Pine's love and charity for its friends helps make it the most "perfect" Christmas Tree of all.This magnificently illustrated story of a warm-hearted Christmas tree will surely become one of the most beloved classics of future generations. Schneider's storytelling will enthrall children and adults alike.

    When a T-Mex threatens the pack, it's El Skippito, the great sword fighter, to the rescue. With yips and yowls, he drives the big baddie away, so all the dino-dudes can rattle their bones another day. This fourth entry in a series that "Kirkus Reviews" called ?ay caramba, mucho fun, ? will win even more fans for the Siamese cat with oversize ears and an imagination to match.

    From getting dressed, to having breakfast, to choosing ways to go, Today has a little something to delight everyone.

    . . he'd fall upon his bottomus!Calamity ensues when an elephant, a centipede, and a rhinoceros try finding a cure for hippo's colossal case of hiccups. Zenz's creativity shines through with his use of colored pencil in this off-the-wall read-aloud. HIC! HIC! HIC!

    There would be executive orders to give, babies to kiss, tuna casseroles to veto (or VETO!)…and so much more! Not to mention that recess would definitely require more security.With deadpan wit and hilarious illustrations, best-selling picture book creator Lane Smith introduces readers to an unforgettable new character.

    Step inside this natural phenomenon and see how fog is formed, how it clears away, and why it feels chilly. Young readers will love this lyrical and gorgeously photo-illustrated exploration of these clouds that come to visit.

    Their machines are ready and waiting. A busy day is about to begin. Rhythmic text and bold, graphic illustrations convey all the energy and excitement of the day.

    If you're a little cloud like Cloudette, people call you cute nicknames, and you can always find a good spot to watch the fireworks. But what about when you want to do something big, like help a giant garden grow, or make a brook babble?This charming book gets at the heart of what it means to make a difference no matter your size. Young children will find much to relate to in Cloudette as they follow her on her pursuit for greatness.

    He lives with his grandfather, Old Frank, who is also an architect and his spotted dog, Eddie. Using anything he can get his hands on; macaroni, pillows, toilet paper, shoes, Young Frank likes to build buildings that twist, chairs with zig zag legs and even entire cities. But Old Frank disapproves, saying architects only build buildings.

    Higgins and Jory John comes a humorous and splashy story from a former Disney animator, about a jellyfish with an identity crisis who learns how to be himself with a little help from friends.Edgar is a jellyfish, but he doesn't look, act, or feel very much like a fish. With a little help though from some friendly starfish, Edgar realizes that labels aren't important, and he should celebrate what makes him unique!

    When Dory encourages him to just keep swimming, Nemo learns that he can do anything he puts his mind and fin to. Can Nemo win the first-place prize in his swim meet? Find out in this Step 1, featuring characters from the hit film, Finding Nemo.

    A zombie! Could it really be? You race to class, but turn to see he’s sitting in the desk right next to you!But odds are you’ll probably be okay, because this is no ordinary zombie. This zombie doesn’t want to eat your brains—he wants to eat your books! Hide your textbooks and your fairy tales, because the little zombie is hungry and he doesn’t discriminate between genres. Will the school library be devoured, or will the children discover something the zombie likes to do with books even more than eating them?

    Based on the classic song, "The Wheels on the Bus," THE LEAVES ON THE TREES explores all types of trees making the magical transformation from the green leaves of summer to fascinating foliage of fall.

    A little boy who can’t wait for summer keeps asking his mama, “Is it summer yet?” Mama says, “Not yet, little one,” then points to the signs that spring is turning to summer—the softening of the earth, the nest-building of squirrels, the singing of birds—and encourages her son to savor the beauty of spring.Following the success of All in a Day, Nikki McClure once again uses her unique paper cutouts to showcase wonderful images of nature and the joys of family and the outdoors, creating a book that is both timeless and fresh.Printed on recycled paper!  Praise for All in a Day New York Times bestsellerPublishers Weekly bestseller [STAR] “This uplifting picture book succeeds in introducing children to the perennial promise of tomorrow through lithe language and honed imagery.” —Kirkus, starred review [STAR] “A handsome, effective piece of bookmaking that captures the glory of a day and the possibilities it holds.” —Booklist, starred review