So everyone has to wait." First the bus, then the car, then the bike — so begins the long line of different vehicles waiting to cross the bridge. What a traffic jam! And when the bridge finally does comes down . . . nobody has to wait! Babs Bell's simple text and Rob Hefferan's joyous illustrations make this trip a fun, worthwhile read. About the Author: Babs Bell has been a teacher and school administrator for thirty years. She has taught elementary and special education classes at all levels, and served as director of special education. A frequent speaker at national conferences for teachers and parents, she and her husband live in Atlanta, Georgia.

    And here are ways it can be done. With a hug. With a shake. With a curtsy. With a cake. With a whisper. With a kiss. With a dance of happiness!With zippy, rhyming text and bold, exuberant illustrations, this book celebrates the many wonderful ways to say hello to friends, families, pets—or anyone!

    An accompanying free song is available online.

    He's particularly interested in the eating habits of other creatures found in the great outdoors, from the blue-feathere bird to a furry brown mouse. Until one day, he meets a big green animal with lots of teeth who finds wide-mouthed frogs simply delicious.

    Readers play peek-a-boo with a different animal on each page, guessing what it is, then lifting the flap to find out. Each animal has a different sound that becomes part of the peek-a-boo game: Guess who? "Peek-a-moo!" says the cow. "Peek-a-squeak!" says the mouse. The bold, funny illustrations will keep kids laughing, while the large trim size and sturdy binding will ensure many hours of lift-the-flap fun.

    Wiggle your ear! Play peekaboo! Make a face!And join dozens of friendly animals--plus one very patient older sister--as they use their best tricks to make their babies smile, laugh, coo, and grin.With a simple rhyming text by Philemon Sturges and bright, bold illustrations by Bridget Strevens-Marzo, "How Do You Make a Baby Smile?" is the perfect book for babies and all those who love them!

    And they're lovable for who they are on the inside, as they sing, play, and shout. Robin Cruise and Caldecott Honor winner Margaret Chodos-Irvine portray a diverse trio of parents and children in this lyrical celebration of a love that makes each child feel like the one and only.

    Breathe. This simply told story follows a young whale on a journey of discovery as he experiences his first day at sea on his own! He swims, explores, and makes friends in his marine habitat. After a day of independence, this little whale delights in returning home to his mother. Young readers will be drawn to Scott Magoon’s reassuring story of adventure.

    . . WHAT’S ALL THAT NOISE?The woodland creatures just won’t let Grizzle Grump get some peace and quiet! Will Grizzle Grump ever find the perfect place for his long winter snooze?In this lively read-aloud picture book, Grizzle Grump searches for the perfect spot for his long winter nap.

    It's impossible not to flip the page, and flip it again, and again, and again. A first book of motion for kids, it shows a horse in full gallop and a turtle swimming up the page. A dog runs, a cat springs, an eagle soars, and a butterfly flutters. Created by Rufus Butler Seder, an inventor, artist, and filmmaker fascinated by antique optical toys, Scanimation is a state-of-the-art six-phase animation process that combines the "persistence of vision" principle with a striped acetate overlay to give the illusion of movement. It harkens back to the old magical days of the kinetoscope, and the effect is astonishing, like a Muybridge photo series springing into action—or, in terms kids can relate to, like a video without a screen. Complementing the art is a delightful rhyming text full of simple questions and fun, nonsense replies: Can you gallop like a horse? giddyup-a-loo! Can you strut like a rooster? cock-a-doodle-doo!Every child who opens the book will be amazed—and so will every parent.

    First there's Mommy to find, with Daddy not far behind. Then Puppy comes peeking around the corner, and a favorite toy train brings the toddler to Grandma and Grandpa. Isadora's brilliant, joyful pastel illustrations capture the familiar and cozy people, toys and animals that will delight babies.Join this sweet toddler in the morning fun, sharing words your baby can repeat and pictures your baby will recognize. Then find out what this toddler sees next. It could be you!

    He thinks Old Man Winter has told him to drive a jeep, to sweep, and to leap. Big Bear just can’t seem to hear what Old Man Winter is saying. Finally, Old Man Winter finds a noisy way to get Big Bear’s attention. Cozy illustrations rendered in pencil and mixed media by Will Hillenbrand bring this bedtime story to a fitting conclusion.

    Three, four, shut the door . . . . Nine, ten, big fat hen! Now young children can enjoy a popular nursery rhyme and learn to count, too. Keith Baker's delightful illustrations filled with eggs and chicks (and bugs) are sure to tickle little ones for hours of read-aloud fun.

    . . but not ours! An adorable, interactive read-aloud for fans of Are You My Mother?In this clever introduction to prepositions, a near-sighted Papa is looking for his baby. Is Baby up in the tree? Is Baby under the log? Is Baby around the corner? Where could Baby be?Readers will delight in spotting the little fox on every page as Papa wanders the forest, encountering other animals all along the way, but never quite able to spot his own baby. Anne Hunter's delicate and lovely illustrations with their limited palette highlight the humor of this adorable hide-and-seek tale.

    It's sleepy time in Alphabet Town. But the twenty-six little letters of the alphabet all have something they need--or want--to do before BIG-letter moms and dads tuck them in. Not since the classic Chicka Chicka Boom Boom has there been such an appealing way to teach the youngest child the ABCs while providing a one-minute goodnight story. Of course, Melissa Sweet's animated watercolor, pencil, and collage illustrations may beg for a little more time to match up all the toys with the right letters, and Judy Sierra's rollicking rhymed story will want to be heard again and again. Okay, so maybe it's a three-minute story!