Things look grim until Spike foils a neighborhood catnapping plan—and saves the day!

    Little Bunny, an only child, is so lonely that he cannot sleep, so he asks his friends Squirrel, Skunk, Porcupine, Bear, and Owl if he can stay with them, only to discover that his own bed is best.

    It's about what the Bug did to the rug. It's about how the Egg fell off the wall. It's about the crazy mayhem that can occur when nursery rhymes go awry. Children and adults alike will enjoy reading this book over and over. "This one will wow even the most sophisticated." --Kirkus Reviews, pointer review "Clever, madcap text. A twisted treat in rhyme and pictures." -- Children's Book Review Service Jon Scieszka is the author of many books for children, including the Caldecott Honor Book The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!, the Time Warp Trio series, and most recently Math Curse. Daniel Adel is an illustrator whose work has appeared in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.

    But what could it be? Find out in this gentle introduction to hygiene that’s stinkin’ adorable!One morning, Elliot wakes up and smells something awful. Is it the trash? No… The dog? No… Dad? His sister? The baby? Grandma’s famous gerfartzenschanffel? No, no, no, and no! Elliot searches high and low for the something that smells, but he just can’t find it, and it’s driving him and his nostrils crazy. Almost as bad, now his mother wants him to take a bath, which means taking off his super cool skeleton costume that he’s been wearing since Halloween! The funny thing is, after Elliot finishes his bath and Mom puts his costume in the wash, something doesn’t smell anymore…

    But unlike other snails, he loves to wake up early. While his family is snoozing the morning away, he is wide awake and ready to race to the flowers, make leaf sculptures, and get piggyback rides. With the help of his bug friends,  he tries and tries to wake his family up—but nothing works. Until Caterpillar gives him an idea. Celebrating early birds and late snoozers alike, this story will ring true for the many families with little early risers. It's the perfect tale to fall asleep (or wake up!) to.

    Jackie worked at baseball. She worked hard. And before long Jackie could outplay anyone in her neighborhood—even the boys. She had one pitch—a wicked, dropping curve ball. But no seventeen-year-old girl could pitch against Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. It was unthinkable. Then on April 2, 1931, the New York Yankees stopped in Tennessee for an exhibition game against the Chattanooga Lookouts. And on that day Jackie Mitchell made baseball history. Marissa Moss tells a true story of determination and heroism, a gem of baseball history sure to inspire ballplayers of all ages. And C. F. Payne’s vibrant, glorious illustrations make the golden age of baseball come alive. Other awards include: Bill Martin Jr. Picture Book Award Nominee (KS) Black Eyed Susan Book Award Master List (MD) Capitol Choices List (DC) Chickadee Award Nominee (ME) Child Magazine's Guide to Top Books, Videos and Software of the Year Delaware Diamonds Award Program Master List Garden State Children's Book Award Nominee (NJ) Kansas State Reading Circle List Starred Primary Title Monarch Award Master List (IL) South Carolina Book Award Nominee Virginia Young Readers List WA Children’s Choice Picture Book Award Master List

    BREAD AND HONEY (A FRANK ASCH Bear Story / Parents Magazine Press 1981) Hardcover

    And if you need to be convinced, boy, do you need to read this book! It's not that the elephant is such a troublesome or unruly one, it's just that his natural exuberance combined with his rather distinctive size pose some very particular problems. Imagine an elephant sitting in a school desk, climbing rope in gym class, or playing tether ball at recess and you'll see what we mean!The team who warned you Never to Babysit the Hippopotamuses! joins forced again to create another hilarious, raucous, good-time book that will appeal to anyone who's ever spent a day at school.

    His mother wants him to buy something beautiful. His brother wants something good to eat. His sister wants something nice to wear. Benny knows his dog and cat would like something too. With the help of generous and thoughtful neighbors, Benny fulfills each request with a penny and arrives home loaded with five but simple gifts.

    Like the creator's previous picture book, My Dog Is as Smelly as Dirty Socks, this picture book encourages children to be creative and make their own object portraits. It's a fun activity for home or for the classroom. You can even check out portraits made by other readers in the "kids' gallery" of author Hanoch Piven's Web site, www.pivenworld.com—and while you're at it, send in your own!Learn how to create a funny librarian, a colorful art teacher, or your best friend by seeing how one girl does it in this simple, playful picture book that's comprised of portraits made of objects. Once the girl has talked about—and drawn—the key figures in her school, she ends with the pièce de résistance—a class portrait!From the Hardcover edition.

    Has Dirty Joe finally met his match?From Grammy Award ;winning storyteller Bill Harley and bestselling illustrator Jack E. Davis comes a zany, tongue-twisting, side-splitting tale certain to be prized by budding buccaneers!

    "What would you do if you had your druthers?" asks her daddy. Well, if Penelope had her druthers, she’d go to the zoo. Or be a cowgirl. Or a pirate captain who sails to the island of dinosaurs, or flies away on a rocket to the moon. If Penelope had her druthers, she’d go off on amazing adventures — but then again, being stuck inside may not be so bad if your daddy is along for the ride!

    But what did such writers do when they weren't writing? What did Jane Austen eat for breakfast? What could make Mark Twain throw his shirts out the window? Why would Zora Neale Hurston punch a fellow elevator passenger? Lives of the Writers tells all that and more.

    But not all of his stories are false: He was right about your aunt Mary not having teeth; and Dad agreed with him that, yes, your mom does have eyes in the back of her head! So when Ed tells you that your dessert—the piece of pie you’ve been looking forward to all meal long—is full of poison, what should you do? In this spirited, silly book, the little kid finally gets to turn the tables on the big bully. And revenge is sweet as pie!

     Like that one about the three bears or those three gruff billy goats. Where else can a dog find such playmates action fun... or a cookie? Ivan's own good story lands him just where he loves to be. In your lap.