The day is full of surprises! "Bye, Ben," says his sister as Ben's red balloon takes him up, up, up . . . past bees in a tree, a kite on the big hill, and a rainbow in the clouds. When Ben finally reaches the moon, he puts moon rocks in his pockets and comes down again. Now the rainbow, the hill, the kite, the tree, and the bees all wear happy faces. And it's his sister's turn! Colorful cut-paper-and-ink artwork holds humorous surprises for the observant reader. All objects have life and are subject to change, underscoring Ben's sense of joy and wonder. An I Like to Read(R) book. Guided Reading Level D.

    WeatherWill it be warm or cold?Should we wear shorts or pants?Shoes or boots?Read and find out why the weather is so difficult to predict.

    The wind blows in something feathery and plump -- a bird, and something wiggly and pink -- a worm, and something green, who hops and leaps -- a frog. But before it's time to go back inside, Mouse finds something that's soft and new with petals... the prettiest flower he's ever seen! Could it mean spring is finally here?

    School is for dogs, his mama tells him. It's where they go to get trained. But nothing can stop Skippy-once inside his closet, he finds himself on the playground of his imagination, surrounded by dogs of all kinds. He bays with the beagles, learns French with the poodles, and checks out a Chihuahua book from the library. And when a bully starts sending shiver-itos down the spines of the little yippers, Skippy saves the day and earns the biggest gold star.

    But when they go to the library, Tiny has to wait outside. Soon it's time to bring the books home. Tiny is a very big help! Not since Clifford has a big dog been so appealing!

    I know about pirates, because one day, when I was at the beach building a sand castle and minding my own business, a pirate ship sailed into view.So proclaims Jeremy Jacob, a boy who joins Captain Braid Beard and his crew in this witty look at the finer points of pirate life by the Caldecott Honor–winning illustrator David Shannon and the storyteller Melinda Long. Jeremy learns how to say “scurvy dog,” sing sea chanteys, and throw food . . . but he also learns that there are no books or good night kisses on board: “Pirates don’t tuck.” A swashbuckling adventure with fantastically silly, richly textured illustrations that suit the story to a T.

    They go snooping and discover a lot about themselves and…a new friend. Bestselling children’s artist Geoffrey Hayes enchants early readers with his charming and subtle storytelling. In this lively caper, the artist’s small-scale ice take on a large-scale issues with enormous comics mastery.

    Lightning McQueen, Mater, Sally, and the rest of the gang from Disney/Pixar's Cars are back! This super-simple Step 1 reader is perfect for little boys who love cars, trucks, trains, planes, and everything that goes.

    That's how I know my mama loves me! At once tender and funny, this monster bedtime story is guaranteed to generate giggles, tickles, and plenty of monster hugs.

    Or not. Nick Bruel's first picture book about Bad Kitty since the uproarious Poor Puppy in 2007 is full of rhyming mayhem... and Christmas cheer.

    Fuzz is a tall possum who likes to keep things. Fuzz finds Cork?s lost stone, and he wants to keep it. But a chipmunk runs off with it. Who will say fi nders-keepers now? The whimsical story and playful illustrations in this Easy-to-Read title will delight young readers.

    Fish wishes to be all sorts of animals because each one is special, then realizes there is something good about being a fish, too.

    He has so many colorful choices in his closet to choose from, how will he decide on one?In this hilarious I Can Read tale, Pete learns it's not what you wear, but how you wear it that makes you cool.

    Discover the joys of a wild rainstorm in this poetic picture book, illustrated by a Caldecott Medalist.Join a farming family as they experience the full range of a thrilling seaside thunderstorm—from the wild wind and the very first drops; to the pouring, pouring rain; to the wonderful messy mud after the sun returns! With gentle, rhyming text and vivid artwork from a Caldecott Medal–winning illustrator, this sublime depiction of nature’s patterns turns a storm into a celebration.

    Somehow Annie's red mitten has disappeared in all the fun. They look high and low. . . . It's not on the sledding hill, and it's not by the snow castles. Maybe an eagle carried it off to keep its baby's head warm. Or maybe a mouse is using it as a sleeping bag. When the sun goes down, Annie and Oscar have to give up their search and go inside. But when Annie looks out the window, something red catches her eye. . . .With entirely new full-color illustrations, this beautiful version of the beloved picture book The Mystery of the Missing Red Mitten retains all the charm of the original.