Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, I Know Exactly What You Are


Julia Kregenow - 2018
    Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, I Know Exactly What You Are engages the little star lovers in your life with the whimsical but real science of the stars, to a tune we all know and love. Do you know why stars twinkle? It’s time to find out!Written to the classic melody of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” by an expert in astrophysics, is the perfect primer for learning exactly what those twinkling little stars are doing way up high in the sky. Discover how stars are created, what they’re made of, and even what makes them look like they’re twinkling. Stars are not only great for wishing upon, but they are also spectacular examples of scientific magic. From atmospheric turbulence to fusing atoms, these delightful (more accurate!) lyrics will become your new favorite version of this classic tune. Instead of wondering what stars are, you will know for sure!Twinkle Twinkle Little StarI know exactly what you areOpaque ball of hot dense gas,million times our planet’s mass,looking small because you’re far,I know exactly what you are.

The Greatest Power


Demi - 2004
    "To know the greatest power in the world is to know the greatest peace," Emperor Ping announces. "Whoever knows this harmony will become the new prime minister." The children get to work right away and have many bright ideas. The greatest power must be weapons! It must be beauty! It must be money! But as a young girl named Sing reflects upon the challenge, she wonders how any of those things, which cannot last forever, could be the greatest power in the world. She is certain there is something even more powerful, and the source of this power will surprise and delight her. A companion to Demi's stunning picture book The Empty Pot, The Greatest Power continues the story of Ping now that he has become an emperor. With striking artwork and a lovely, lyrical text, this next chapter in Emperor Ping's life is sure to enrapture young readers.

I Love You! A Bushel A Peck


Frank Loesser - 2004
    This calls for hugs around the neck while reading, so be sure to share it with someone special.

Go to Bed, Monster!


Natasha Wing - 2007
    She wants to draw. But as she's working on her masterpiece, Lucy creates . . . Monster! Monster just wants to play. And play. And play some more--until even Lucy is exhausted. It's going to take some quick thinking (and drawing) to get this tireless monster to bed. . . .        Natasha Wing and Sylvie Kantorovitz have created a sweet and hilarious bedtime tale reminiscent of Harold and the Purple Crayon. It's a story about friendship, imagination, and turning the tables on those little monsters who just won't go to bed!

Eat, Leo! Eat!


Caroline Adderson - 2015
    "I'm not hungry," he insists. Not hungry? Hmm. Clever Nonna gets an idea. She'll use a story to lure Leo to her table. And since the pasta in her soup, called stelline (little stars), is woven into the story about a boy who journeys to his grandmother's at night, it works. But again on the following Sunday, Leo doesn't want to eat. So Nonna expands her story, this time adding some chiancaredde (paving stones), the name of the pasta she's serving that day, to create a path for her character to follow. Now Leo's hooked. So much that he begins to badger Nonna every Sunday to reveal more pasta-based details of the story. And week by week, as Leo's relatives crowd around listening to Nonna and teasing Leo to get him to mangia (eat), he slowly comes to realize just how happy he is to have a place at this table. In this heartwarming picture book, award-winning author Caroline Adderson beautifully captures the love and tenderness Leo feels from his grandmother and the rest of his close-knit family through lively, true-to-life dialogue. The playful, detailed artwork by Jos?e Bisaillon helps bring all of them to life. This book offers a perfect framework for lessons exploring the heritage, customs and relationships of families. The unique story-within-a-story concept, along with the idea that Nonna's tale is being told cumulatively, could easily launch a storytelling assignment. Additionally, the section on pasta and the list of Italian vocabulary words make a great introduction to foreign cultures through food and language.

Another Way to Climb a Tree


Liz Garton Scanlon - 2017
    She wonders if the trees are lonely without her. Maybe the birds are too.Without Lulu, nobody climbs the trees but the sun. . . which casts a shadow on Lulu's wall. . . for her to climb.A Neal Porter Book

Drawn from Nature


Helen Ahpornsiri - 2018
    Using nothing but pressed plants, this journey through the seasons captures the wonder and magic of the natural world between the pages of a book. This standout title with beautiful nonfiction text will take readers through an extraordinary year in the wild.

The Very Inappropriate Word


Jim Tobin - 2013
    Then one day, he picks up a new word. A bad word. An inappropriate word. At least, that’s what his friend says. But Michael kind of likes the word. He thinks he might try it out.At school.Bad idea.

I Pledge Allegiance


Bill Martin Jr. - 2002
    . . "and to the wee puppet" . . . "one nation, and a vegetable" . . . What was that again? Children in the United States of America have been reciting the Pledge of Allegiance since 1892 - and for about that long, they’ve found its big words confusing. Now, beloved children’s book author Bill Martin Jr (BROWN BEAR, BROWN BEAR, WHAT DO YOU SEE?), fellow literacy expert Michael Sampson, and Caldecott Honor-winning artist Chris Raschka give America’s children a hand, and explain this patriotic poem once and for all. Written especially for children, the Pledge of Allegiance was first recited on October 12, 1892, by 12 million children across the country and has been memorized by generations of children ever since. Isn’t it time they understood the meaning behind its words?

Rainy Day!


Patricia Lakin - 2007
    Full color.

The Little Cockroach


Susie Violet - 2020
    He loves Mexico but wants to explore the world. Amazing things happen to Pedro and his friend Enrico when they decide to leave their home in search of adventure. The Little Cockroach is a delightful bedtime story about determination, travel and adventure.

Keep a Pocket in Your Poem: Classic Poems and Playful Parodies


J. Patrick Lewis - 2017
    Patrick Lewis that honor and play off of the original poems in a range of ways. For example, “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” is paired with “Stopping by Fridge on a Hungry Evening” to hilarious effect, whereas the combination of Emily Dickinson’s “‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers” with Lewis’s “‘Grief’ is the thing with tissues” is profound, and both David McCord’s “This Is My Rock” and Lewis’s “This Is My Tree” hum with a sense of wonder. This playful introduction to classics will inspire imagination and wonder even as it tickles funny bones.

The Stars Will Still Shine


Cynthia Rylant - 2005
    Rejoicing in the goodness of daily life with unforced spirituality, Cynthia Rylant's gentle verse becomes more powerful with each reading. Matching the pure reverence of the voice, Tiphanie Beeke's luminous watercolors bring a peaceful and uplifted feeling. Like a prayer, this is soothing at bedtime and is a meaningful gift for anyone facing a crisis or starting anew.

The Cello of Mr. O


Jane Cutler - 1999
    But he finds the courage to return the next day to perform with a harmonica. Color illustrations throughout.

A Web


Isabelle Simler - 2013
    Patient and observant, she takes in all of the wonders that make up her landscape from ferns and feathers, to bugs and butterflies. Readers will linger over the luscious and intricate illustrations soaking up all of the delicate details created by author and illustrator Isabelle Simler.