. . she's a puppy. A puppy who gets longer and longer as her piglet siblings get bigger and bigger. Penny doesn't understand why she's different--she only knows that Mama Pig loves her just the same as the rest of the litter. Penny's siblings are baffled by her peculiar behavior--like digging with her paws instead of her snout, and especially her loud, sharp oink. Good thing Penny likes all the sounds she can make, and when danger strikes and her peculiarities prove to be strengths, the piglets see that sometimes it's good to be a little different!

    Is spring around the corner? Or are we doomed to more winter? Sure, they care about his shadow, but what about him and his interests? He's had enough! Groundhog packs his bags and sets out for a much-needed vacation.Now the town is holding auditions to find someone to fill his spot. None of the animals seem right for the job, though. Not Elephant, not Ostrich, and most certainly not Puppy. No one has Groundhog's flair for the dramatic, but is it too late to woo him back into the spotlight?With a fresh take on a familiar event and bold, lively illustrations, this hilarious picture book will leave readers wishing it was Groundhog's Day year-round.

    But not Minerva Louise! To her a snowy day--like everything else--is an adventure. But this chilly, chipper hen needs something to keep her warm. What she finds--and how she finds it--will keep young readers cackling.Minerva Louise expresses a range of emotions from pleasure to curiosity. . . . A great choice for storytime.--School Library Journal, starred reviewAn ALA Notable BookA School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

    He has a room to himself, where he can line up his precious things and nobody will move them one inch. But one day everything changes. When the new small person comes along, it seems that everybody might like it a bit more than they like Elmore Green. And when the small person knocks over Elmore’s things and even licks his jelly-bean collection, Elmore’s parents say that he can’t be angry because the small person is only small. Elmore wants the small person to go back to wherever it came from. Then, one night, everything changes. . . . In her signature visual style, Lauren Child gets to the heart of a child’s evolving emotions about becoming a big brother or sister.

    He has the loudest warrior cry and the fiercest set of teeth. He loves to pillage and plunder. But there's a new kid in town--a warrior princess, who is smaller than Sven and even louder. What's a little Viking to do?"Penfold folds in fun ancient analogues to tried-and-true methods of appeasing cranky little ones, and Roxas's liberal use of a color perhaps best described as neon snot brings a punk edge to her scenes of Viking family life. Irreverent yet tender."--Publishers Weekly, Starred review"A warm tale of family togetherness."--Kirkus"A spirited tale about stopping a tantrum with a story, perfect for storytime or one-on-one sharing."--SLJ

    Can this cutie pig find someone to adopt him who means business, too?   Right from the start, everyone at the barnyard could tell Jasper wasn’t like his siblings: “I believe what we have here is a gen-u-WINE Business Pig!” No wallowing in the mud or rooting for grubs for Jasper; he’d rather help with the bookkeeping or conduct a meeting. Though everyone at the animal sanctuary loves him, Jasper longs for a forever home. But no matter how many business cards he hands out, no one wants to adopt him. Can this above-average pig find his special person to cut deals with?

    Lucky for little Chick she has a whole squad of siblings who are backing her up (even when she doesn't realize it)!

    "Why do I have such enormous feet, Grandad?" he sighed. "All hares have big feet, young Harris," said Grandad. And so begins a beautiful and remarkable story about a child's journey to independence. With help from his grandfather, Harris learns how to use his enormous feet to hop high into the sky. He climbs to the tops of mountains and runs really fast until suddenly he is on his own. Gorgeous and highly imaginative watercolors illustrate how Harris not only learns about the world around him, but also discovers the importance of finding his own feet. From the author and illustrator of Augustus and His Smile, winner of one of Child Magazine's Best Children's Book Awards.

    Help Whobert Whover, Owl Detective, keep his woods safe in this hilarious who-who-dun-it.What happened to Perry the Possum? Whobert Whover, Owl Detective, is on the case! Did Debbie the Duck whack Perry with her wicked wings? Or did Freddie the Frog soak Perry in his sickening slime? And what if the culprit is closer to home than Whobert expects?

    You don't need a new one. Little Owl isn't pleased to hear that there's a baby owl in the egg Mummy has laid. So Mummy pretends it might be a baby penguin ... or crocodile ... or elephant. In the fun of imagining different kinds of siblings, Little Owl realises that a baby owl might just be the best thing of all.A gentle, lovely story about the arrival of a new sibling, addressing fears that Mummy's love will stop. Debi Gliori is a bestselling, award-winning author – writing for the first time for another illustrator: the talented Alison Brown.

    One day, on a trip to the beach, Sam meets Thomas. Sam and Thomas play together all day and promise to do the same the next day. But when Sam gets home he realizes Jump is still at the beach! It’s too late and too dark to go find him, and Sam worries all night. What if Jump is nowhere to be found? Can Sam brave the world without his best friend? Little ones with their own cherished toys will be drawn to this reassuring story about losing something dear only to gain something even better.

    But on his way home, Little Mole encounters other woodland friends in need. Though it pains him to do so, Little Mole shares pieces of his mushroom with each friend he meets until there's not much left. Disappointed and anxious about what this means for Christmas, Little Mole wraps what's left of the mushroom. He fears Christmas is ruined, but ultimately, Little Mole discovers that his gift was bigger than he ever imagined.Little Mole's Christmas Gift is a companion to Nellist's spring-themed picture book, Little Mole Finds Hope.

    He sits in a pot in a window that faces the empty desert, which is just how he likes it. So, when all manner of creatures—from tumbleweed to lizard to owl—come to disturb his peace, Hank is annoyed.He doesn’t like noise, he doesn’t like rowdiness, and definitely does not like hugs.But the thing is, no one is offering one. Who would want to hug a plant so mean? Hank is beginning to discover that being alone can be, well, lonely.So he comes up with a plan to get the one thing he thought he would never need: a hug from a friend.

    Together, they explore different homes, but the ones they find aren't suited for tigers. Some are too wet, some are too dry, and some are just downright unwelcoming. But with their mother's help, they may be able to find one that's just right.With gentle text and stunning monochromatic illustrations, Jo Weaver reveals the wonder of nature, the excitement of discovery, and the strength of familial bonds.

    Same old, same old. There must be more to life, no? And there must be more to Warren. He leaves the farm to discover what makes him special—and with the help of an unhatched egg and a snarky, hungry rat, he just might get some answers. Filled with simple text, speech balloons, and engaging illustrations, this easy-to-follow story is a blend between a picture book and a chapter book, making it an ideal bridge for independent readers.