The animals have to be especially quiet so they don't wake the bear. After tiptoeing with wobbling plates and party cake, they are almost ready to begin. The last thing left to do is fill the party balloons, but a little hare gets a little too excited and fills the balloons a little too much--POP! What are the animals going to do when the bear wakes up?

    And after they are all tucked in, continue to the back of the book and find a special section with your favorite nursery rhymes.

    . . before."Jack was running like mad in the dark woods with a hen under his arm.Previously, he had stolen the hen and climbed down a beanstalk."But do you know what was Jack doing before he climbed down the beanstalk?Or what Jack and Jill were arguing about before they went up the hill? And what happened before that? Every story, every person, and every thing started somewhere, and now the inventive and whimsical Allan Ahlberg explores what all your favorite storybook characters were up to previously, aided by Bruce Ingman’s energetic illustrations.

    Full-color illustrations.

    Fox is going to the moon! Away he goes in his hot air balloon. . . . But wait! Can Elephant come too? Sure! Let's bring along some pizza. What about Giraffe? And Squirrel? Everyone is welcome in Mr. Fox's balloon, but look out—will everyone fit? In the tradition of classic cumulative tales like Mr. Gumpy's Outing, Migy's And Away We Go! is an unforgettable debut picture book from an exciting new talent.

    How really hard it is being different. And how especially hard it is being a giraffe in a school of human children.

    Rainbow, the main character in the story, is able to help the hive realize that differences can be beautiful, and should be embraced."We're all a little different; some taller, some shorter, some wider, some slimmer, some yellow and black, and some rainbow. But inside we're all the same."

    After he finds a perfect spot for sailing, the boy is joined by a frog who wants a ride on his boat. Then a turtle floats by, followed by a helpful crocodile, a pig in a swimsuit, and a very thirsty elephant. Brought to life in rich watercolor illustrations, this cheerful assortment of visitors could make a rainy day a happy adventure for any child.

    Here comes the train. And it’s rolling down the tracks in this vibrant picture book! Follow it along and count the birds that join the trip. All aboard, and all join in as the cheerful little train chugs past the seaside, the farm, the forest, the city, and into the station for a nice long rest. Along the way, a flock of noisy seagulls and blackbirds, pigeons and geese hop on for the ride. Kids will have fun looking at Emma Garcia’s colorful, collaged landscapes and counting all the honking, cooing, tweeting birds.

    He goes on to a kitten, a puppy, a lamb, a bunny, and other familiar baby animals until it is getting dark and his father picks him up and gently and lovingly puts him to bed. Just right for reading to the very young at bedtime or anytime, this long out-of-print title now reappears in a larger format, re-illustrated in beautiful colors by Tomie dePaola.

    Ten Hungry Pigs brings more piggy counting fun! One pig sets out to make a perfect peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch. Ten more pigs soon come along, adding all kinds of food -- from pancakes and peas to macaroni and cheese. But wait! There aren't eleven pigs -- are there?Ten Hungry Pigs is a fun counting book with a twist.

    Little ones will jump at the chance to join this menagerie of zany animals and children as they stomp, wiggle, roar, and spin their way through the day, as the rhyming text reinforces important concepts.

    No matter your size, shape, or pedigree--if you love each other, you are a family!Moms, dads, sisters, brothers — and even Great Aunt Sue — appear in dozens of combinations, demonstrating all kinds of nontraditional families! Silly animals are cleverly depicted in framed portraits, and offer a warm celebration of family love.

    Preschoolers will delight in these cuddly kittens as they frolic outside in the falling leaves, get their whiskers sticky while eating a just-baked apple pie, and do the washing-up under Mama Cat's watchful gaze. Caldecott Medal-winning, New York Times bestselling author/artist Jerry Pinkney brings a gloriously vivid palette, delightful details and tremendous warmth to his version of this favorite nursery rhyme.

    But never has it been presented in such gay and happy form. Feodor Rojankovsky's pictures are filled with the beauty of meadow life from morning till the end of day, and the amusing verses and simple melody will give pleasure to children and grownups whenever they gather to sing. "Over in the Meadow" is the creation of two very gifted artists, whose previous book, "Frog Went A-Courtin'," was awarded the Caldecott Medal.