Book picks similar to
Race of the rivers by Esther Syiem


kids
picture-books
books-from-the-ne
folk-tales

The Last Alchemist


Colin Thompson - 1999
    Gold! For as long as the castle had stood, alchemists had struggled to make gold from the simple elements of the earth. And for as long as the castle stood they had failed. Then comes the greedy, ambitious Spinifex, who promises the king riches and glory beyond his wildest dreams. Arthur, the alchemist's young apprentice, cannot see the point - after all gold cannot make you happy, heal the sick, or make people love you - and he watches in amazement as the experiments grow more elaborate and fantastic. As time ticks on Spinifex becomes a man obsessed, plundering the country for more gold to aid his experiments, even tearing the rings from people's fingers. Then, as the Millennium approaches, Spinifex constructs his last great experiment - a monstrous machine stretching up from the cellar through the castle to the roof. But the great gold-making machine only suceeds in destroying its creator, leaving just one tiny nugget of gold. However, gold of another kind floods the castle - glorious sunlight rains down on the kingdom, dispelling darkness and gloom forever. As for Arthur, he takes the tiny nugget and fashions a sunflower pendant for the king. One day the king loses it while out swimming, but he doesn't even notice, it is forgotten.

Birds of a Feather


Sita Singh - 2021
    While all the other peacocks grew bright, bold, beautiful feathers in rich greens and vibrant blues, Mo's feathers grew in a snowy white. And even though Mo's friends try to include him in their playtime, Mo doesn't like to be reminded that he's different from his friends. But when a storm threatens to ruin the group's annual celebration, Mo must learn to stand tall, strut his stuff, and shake his brilliantly glowing tail feathers--in a way only he can--to help his friends and set things right.From debut author Sita Singh, and brought to life by Stephanie Fizer Coleman, comes a story about finding strength in the things that make us different, and beauty in all its forms.

The Night the Monsters Came


Junia Wonders - 2020
    But first, they must outwit the hungry monsters that stand in their way — by harnessing the power of hygiene! This delightful picture book will keep children enthralled while teaching healthy habits like washing their hands and brushing their teeth.” –BookbubDo you want to inspire healthy habits in your little one today?Do you want to empower your little one to be brave in a joyful way? Here’s an adorable rhyming read-aloud about hygiene and overcoming fears. Washing hands, brushing teeth, and practicing healthy habits daily have never been this fun!  It is bedtime when siblings Jack and Joy receive some unexpected visitors – a bunch of not-too-spooky monsters. Come and join Jack and Joy and find out what the monsters want and, more importantly, how the brave siblings are able to outwit them. With courage, proper hygiene, and a little sprinkle of magic…anything is possible! This playful and engaging children’s picture book delivers equal amounts of shivers and giggles. And with Lisa Ciccone’s wildly imaginative and whimsical illustrations, this might just become a new snuggle time favorite.Read this book together with your little one and delight in the magic of laughter and giggles – a wonderful shared experience for you and your little one to treasure for many years to come.Get your copy of this book Now and inspire your kids to be brave, to wash their hands, brush their teeth, and practice healthy habits starting Today.The Night the Monsters Came is:• Written with expressive rhymes and dialogues to capture young listeners’ attention and imagination.• Entertaining: The book is full of funny rhymes that are sure to elicit plenty of giggles.• Charmingly illustrated with playful characters and not-too-spooky monsters, brimming with expression and humor that small children will love.• An empowering rhyming story that relies on humor, wit, and courage to help kids overcome fear.• Written to encourage and inspire little ones to start and maintain healthy habits and proper hygiene as part of their routine.

Hello, Goodbye, and a Very Little Lie


Christianne C. Jones - 2010
    Larry lies about practically everything until he meets a girl who outsmarts him.

The Sad, Sad Monster (Xist Children's Books)


Dolores Costello - 2017
    So Sad. A sad monster is sad at school. He is sad because he doesn’t have any friends. Is there someone who can make him happy? The Sad, Sad Monster is a cute book for monster-loving toddlers through beginning readers. Simple sentences make this a perfect first reader. The Sad, Sad Monster is a charming book for kids dealing with bullying, friendships, playground drama and other social situations. If your child loves monsters or just wants to make a new friend, this is a cute book for kids.

The Hungry Fox


Kitty Barry - 2014
    He is very, very hungry... He visits different places in search of food... Do you think he will find something to fill his rumbling tummy?

You're Safe With Me


Chitra Soundar - 2018
    But tonight, when the skies turn dark and the night grows stormy, the little ones can't sleep. SWISH-SWISH! CRACK-TRACK! FLASH-SNAP! goes the storm. Only Mama Elephant with her words of wisdom can reassure them, "You're safe with me."

Old MacDonald had a Farm: A Sing 'N Learn Book (Baby Genius, Sing 'n Learn)


Baby Genius - 2009
    A fun way for children to learn about farm animals and the sounds they make! Old MacDonald (played by Vinko the Bear) is having a typical day on the farm: he feeds the chickens and collects their eggs as the hens “cluck-cluck;” he milks a cow as the other cows graze in the pasture and “moo-moo;” he shears the wool off a sheep as the other sheep envy the newly shorn sheep’s haircut and “baa-baa.” The only thing that’s different about this typical day on Old MacDonald’s farm is that young readers are clucking, mooing, baaing, and oinking as they sing the familiar song and learn about life on the farm and the sounds that farm animals make.

Always Room for One More


Sorche Nic Leodhas - 1965
    In his "wee house in the heather," where he lives with his family of twelve, he welcomes to his hearth every weary traveler who passes by on a stormy night. "There's always room for one more," says Lachie, and how his grateful guests say a wonderful "Thank you" provides a delightfully warm and tender ending to this hilarious tale of kindness.

Ant and Grasshopper


Luli Gray - 2011
    But Ant finds Grasshopper's music and whimsy more catchy than he'd like, and soon he's distracted by his own rhyming and doodling! When the harsh winter hits and Ant finds Grasshopper cold and hungry in the snow, he can't help but bring him inside. Only after opening his home to Grasshopper does Ant realize that music, dancing, and laughter have their place in his life, too. Luli Gray's funny twist on this fable will have readers giggling and singing. With Giuliano Ferri's lush and whimsical illustrations, this book is both heartwarming and lovely to behold.

Sugar in Milk


Thrity Umrigar - 2020
    A young immigrant girl joins her aunt and uncle in a new country that is unfamiliar to her. She struggles with loneliness, with a fierce longing for the culture and familiarity of home, until one day, her aunt takes her on a walk. As the duo strolls through their city park, the girl's aunt begins to tell her an old myth, and a story within the story begins.A long time ago, a group of refugees arrived on a foreign shore. The local king met them, determined to refuse their request for refuge. But there was a language barrier, so the king filled a glass with milk and pointed to it as a way of saying that the land was full and couldn't accommodate the strangers. Then, the leader of the refugees dissolved sugar in the glass of milk. His message was clear: Like sugar in milk, our presence in your country will sweeten your lives. The king embraced the refugee, welcoming him and his people.

Twas the Night Before Christmas


Ellie O'Ryan - 2008
    To find the answer to their question, the Super Readers fly into the classic story Twas the Night Before Christmas?. While in the story, the Super Readers meet Santa and discover that he visits all the children because it makes both him and them happy.

Good Night, Wind


Linda Elovitz Marshall - 2019
    But no one wants to shelter so cold and blustery a Wind--not the townspeople, not the country innkeeper, not even the gnarled tree who is worried about frozen roots. Finally, Wind does what any of us do when we are overtired: Wind has a tantrum. And it is only with the help of two small children brave enough to weather the storm that Wind finally finds the perfect place to sleep. Gentle language coupled with intricate photo-illustrations of collage dioramas tell this sweet tale about empathy and friendship. The visuals in this book are striking for their vibrancy, palette, and movement.

A Werewolf Named Oliver James


Nicholas John Frith - 2018
    . . AMAZING.Suddenly, he can run super-fast, leap super-high, and lift trucks with his super-strength! But even werewolves need to be home in time for dinner and Oliver James races to make it back. There's only one problem: what on earth will his parents say when they see him?

Noddy Lends A Hand (Noddy Toyland Adventures S.)


Enid Blyton - 2006
    When Noddy decides to lend a hand it isn't long before things are going a little bit wrong! Luckily, Big-Ears is there to make sure everything is all right.