Day after day those animals tease and taunt him until, finally, he decides to cook up some gumbo just like Maman used to make. But who will help him boil, catch, sprinkle, and chop? Certainly not rude Mademoiselle Possum, ornery Monsieur Otter, or sassy Madame Skunk. But when the gumbo is ready, they're more than eager to enjoy the result of Gator's hard work and as they run to get a taste - "Slurp! Slip! Plop! Them animals go into the pot." "Mmm-mmm," says Monsieur Gator. "Now, this is gumbo just like Maman used to make."Illustrated with wit and whimsy, this mischievous tale will have young readers laughing out loud.

    While our spunky heroine, Frankie, learns to ride a bike, tie her shoes, make new friends, love her first dog, borrow a book from the library, say when she's wrong, try yucky food and work with her dad, she also learns that trying new things is how she grows--and that being brave enough to do so is what growing up is all about.

    Poor Gretchen Groundhog is too shy to come out of her hole on February 2, but her great-uncle Gus, too old for the job, offers her plenty of encouragement. Full-color illustrations. (Available now)

    Ann James has had fun painting with flour, cocoa, icing and 100s and 1000s with adorable results that will inspire lots of rumbling tummies and cake making!Bright simple illustrations, card pages and rounded corners make this a perfect book for the very young.Shake, stir, mix, bake . . . . This little dinosaur just loves cake!

    J. Funnybunny in this humorous and touching Beginner Book by Marilyn Sadler and Roger Bollen. It’s Not Easy Being a Bunny tells the “tail” of P.J. and his quest to become something other than what he is. Is it more fun to be a bear, a bird, or a pig? Read along as P.J. tries to determine who he is—and where he belongs. Originally created by Dr. Seuss, Beginner Books encourage children to read all by themselves, with simple words and illustrations that give clues to their meaning."Sick of being a bunny, P. J. Funnybunny takes off to become a bear. Hibernation gets dull, so he tries being a bird. And so it goes, with beavers, pigs, possums, and skunks--till P. J. realizes that bunnyhood is for him. The short, repeating text is ideal for beginners and the bright, humorous cartoons will get immediate attention."-- School Library Journal.

    Adapted from the popular nursery rhyme, this book follows an adorable mouse as he tries in vain to escape from a delightfully determined fly

     And then, to make matters worse -- a big, scary gorilla charges out of the rainforest! Will mother mouse escape the gorilla? And where is her baby? Jeanne Willis's rhythmic text and Tony Ross's playful illustrations enliven this suspenseful chase.

    She has never missed a night, keeping the big light going. And while the people in Port Carrick are grateful to her, they worry about her lonely life at the lighthouse. But they don't know that she has her cat, Sailor Boy, for company. Because Sailor Boy is no ordinary cat. He's a ghost cat. He can make himself visible or invisible, especially when visitors come to call and he wants to be mischievous. But when a fierce storm comes and Miss Maggie needs special assistance, Sailor Boy proves his worth.

    Little Duck doesn't speak yet, but through his expressions and his actions, he shows that he has a better grasp on any situation than his older sister. Told entirely through dialogue and visual storytelling with subtle humor throughout, Little Duck ends up getting the trio out of whatever jam they are in.Moving into an exciting new paper over board reader format, Salina Yoon's early readers are perfect for fans of bestselling series like Elephant & Piggie and Ballet Cat, giving all her picture book fans a fantastic next step for reading fun.

    He's shy, he's afraid of humans, and . . . he's a vegetarian! But even more than he likes vegetables, Dagmar loves candy. And when he hears about all the treats he can get on Halloween, he knows he has to be brave and venture out into the human world. A wonderful new book from the author and illustrator of Olive, the Other Reindeer.

    He stomps and he roars and he gnashes his teeth―and he scares all the other dinosaurs right out of the forest.Only Edna, the very first chicken, is unafraid. She won't let that bully T. rex push her around! But will Edna's mighty beak and terrible flapping wings be a match for T. rex's mighty claws and terrible jaws?This hilarious tale of bravery will have readers clucking in triumph!Jed Henry's charming illustrations accompany Douglas Rees' upROARious tale.

    Includes a playable game!A 'growth mindset' children's picture book, The Gritty Little Lamb is a touching tale about joyful Lambie who loves playing games but has a hard time losing. His parents educate him about the value of hard work, perseverance and attitude to achieve his goal which, for right now, is beating Dad.With playful illustrations and spirited rhymes, this story teaches the value of determination and inspires every child to believe in the possibilities of their own abilities.Book details:*Beautifully illustrated in stunning detail.*An engaging and rhythmic read for adults with a story to which all kids can relate.*Several powerful and motivational quotes written in rhyme and easy to remember.*A great conversation starter to discuss attitude, patience, determination, goal setting, and losing with grace.*Includes a playable version of the same game that is seen throughout the book!*Great for bedtime, reading aloud, group discussion, and improving children's own reading skills.*Ideal for children ages 3-8.If you're looking for a heartwarming book that will teach your child important concepts while remaining fun to read, then The Gritty Little Lamb is for you. This engaging story will become a treasured part of your bookshelf which you and your kids will want to read again and again.

    So, with some coaxing from Beatrice, her parrot, she turns herself into a common housefly and heads over to Frimp farm to stir up trouble. Little does she know, DeWitt Frimp absolutely hates all breeds of fly, especially Musca domestica, and Wizzil narrowly escapes a life-threatening swatting. Wasting no time at all, she cooks up a nasty plan to teach DeWitt a lesson: she turns herself into a glove, which DeWitt finds and proudly wears, but which also deprives him of the ability to aim his flyswatter. Steig's playful storytelling voice is in full gear in his latest tale, and Quentin Blakes hilarious, antic pictures are a perfect match for the text.

    He makes them hoot with laughter as he drinks water from the vase, goes wild on his skateboard, and bursts all the balloons. But for some reason, his costume won't come off... Acclaimed author and illustrator Emma Dodd has crafted a hilarious new story for young readers.

    There's no peace on earth when Christmas comes to the Smurfs Village, at least not while Gargamel is lurking about! In this special collection of frosty fun and frolic, before The Smurfs can stuff their stockings and open their presents, they have to deal with dragons, talking snowmen, grumpy bears, a kidnapped Santa Claus, and a reindeer chase through the starry night sky! It's a race to save Christmas in this smurfy Holiday treasure for the whole family.