Book picks similar to
Jonathan by Peter Carnavas


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library-books-borrowed-for-thomas
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What There Is Before There Is Anything There: A Scary Story


Liniers - 2007
    After this little boy's parents say good night and turn off the light, strange creatures descend from the black hole where the ceiling used to be. First comes one, then another and then more and more...Written and illustrated by world-famous cartoonist Liniers, this story is hilariously spooky. Destined to become a classic about nighttime fears, it will resonate deeply with young children who are afraid of the dark.

Jethro and the Jumbie


Susan Cooper - 1979
    Angry at his brother for not taking him deep-sea fishing, Jethro stomps off, meets a jumbie, and enlists its help in changing his brother's mind.

Ava the Monster Slayer


Lisa Maggiore - 2015
    And when her beloved Piggy is left in the dryer in the basement, Ava knows she’ll have to face the ferocious monsters lurking in the dark if she wants to rescue her favorite stuffed animal. So she puts on her brother’s superhero cape, grips his sword tight, puts on her pink rain boots and sparkly princess crown, and creeps downstairs. Not even the roar of the greenest and hairiest monster is going to stop this spunky girl. Even though she’s scared and the monsters smell terrible, Ava is determined to rescue Piggy. Ross Felten’s brisk, sketch-like illustrations help bring energy and humor to this story of bravery and loyalty. Young readers will relate to Ava’s mission and delight in her victory over the monsters. Ava the Monster Slayer is sure to appeal to children worried about monsters in their own homes and kids devoted to their own stuffed animals. Sky Pony Press, with our Good Books, Racehorse and Arcade imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of books for young readers—picture books for small children, chapter books, books for middle grade readers, and novels for young adults. Our list includes bestsellers for children who love to play Minecraft; stories told with LEGO bricks; books that teach lessons about tolerance, patience, and the environment, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

Madeline Finn and the Library Dog


Lisa Papp - 2016
    Not books. Not magazines. Not even the menu on the ice cream truck.Fortunately, Madeline Finn meets Bonnie, a library dog. Reading out loud to Bonnie isn't so bad. When Madeline Finn gets stuck, Bonnie doesn't mind. Madeline Finn can pet her until she figures the word out.As it turns out, it's fun to read when you're not afraid of making mistakes. Bonnie teaches Madeline Finn that it's okay to go slow. And to keep trying. And to get support from a friend.

If You Were the Moon


Laura Purdie Salas - 2017
    If you were the moon, what would you do? You'd spin like a twilight ballerina and play dodgeball with space rocks! And more.

Cricket in the Thicket: Poems about Bugs


Carol Murray - 2017
    Mantis, Do you pray or simply prey?Do you scout about for victims Or fold your hands all day?In addition to the playful rhyming poems, the supplementary text highlights surprising facts about bugs of all kinds--from familiar ants to exotic dragonflies, cringe-worthy ticks and magnificent fireflies. Melissa Sweet's collage-inspired mixed-media illustrations beautifully render these creatures and compliment the poems' whimsical tones. This is an enchanting and informative look at a perennial topic of interest for kids--cool bugs!A Christy Ottaviano Book

Oh No! Not Again!: (Or How I Built a Time Machine to Save History)


Mac Barnett - 2012
    The overly ambitious little girl from Oh No! is back for more. But this time, she doesn't have a humongous problem, she has an EPIC crisis on her hands: a mere A on her history test! There's only one solution: travel back in time to 33,000 B.C. to make her wrong answer right! Mac Barnett and Dan Santat's laugh-out-loud sequel to the critically acclaimed Oh No! will be sure to tickle a prehistoric funny bone for fans new and neanderthal alike.

Bear's Loose Tooth


Karma Wilson - 2011
    Oh, no! What can it be? It’s Bear’s first loose tooth!From a cave in the forest came a “MUNCH, MUNCH, CRUNCH!” as Bear and his friends all nibbled on their lunch. Bear and his friends are munching on their lunch, when all of sudden… Bear feels something wiggling and wobbling in his mouth. Oh, no! What can it be? It’s Bear’s first loose tooth! In the first Bear book in three years, Bear’s friends ease his concerns about his wiggly, wobbly tooth and help him understand losing a baby tooth is perfectly natural. This funny and reassuring story will delight anyone who’s ever had a loose tooth.

The Secret Life of Squirrels


Nancy Rose - 2014
    Peanuts is no ordinary squirrel. Instead of climbing tress, he plays the piano. ("Moonlight Sonutta" is his favorite.) Instead of scurrying through the woods, he reads books (such as A Tail of Two Cities). But everything is more fun with company, so Mr. Peanuts writes a letter to Cousin Squirrel and invites him for a visit!Featuring candid photographs of wild squirrels in handcrafted, homemade miniature settings, this irresistible book is sure to surprise and delight readers and animal lovers of every age!

The Girl Who Named Pluto: The Story of Venetia Burney


Alice B. McGinty - 2019
    She is studying the planets in school and loves Roman mythology. "It might be called Pluto," she says, thinking of the dark underworld. Grandfather loves the idea and contacts his friend at London's Royal Astronomical Society, who writes to scientists at the Lowell Observatory in Massachusetts, where Pluto was discovered. After a vote, the scientists agree unanimously: Pluto is the perfect name for the dark, cold planet. Here is a picture book perfect for STEM units and for all children--particularly girls--who have ever dreamed of becoming a scientist.

A Trapezoid Is Not a Dinosaur!


Suzanne Morris - 2019
    He's NOT a type of dinosaur!Shape up, shapes! Triangle is hosting auditions for all the best shapes to be in his play. Circle, Square, and Star each get a part. But Trapezoid just doesn't "fit in." Is he even a shape? The others think he sounds like a type of dinosaur. Determined to show off his usefulness, Trapezoid tries to act like the other shapes, to no avail. Eventually, though, Trapezoid celebrates his own distinct shape properties in order to become part of the performance.

Grow Up, David!


David Shannon - 2018
    Readers relish David's exuberance, defiance, and wildly energetic curiosity, and when there's trouble, you can bet "David did it!" Now he's taunting his older brother by eating his Halloween candy, making a bathroom mess, and following him up the tree house. "You're too little!" won't stop David's tricks in this all-time "read it again" favorite. With millions of copies in print and four sequels, No, David! hit the ground running in 1998 and was a Caldecott Honor Book, a New York Times Best Illustrated Book, and a classic for 20 years. Based on a book the author wrote and illustrated when he was five, David captures the timeless no-no's familiar to every child. Grow Up, David! is nothing short of exhilarating.

I Promise


LeBron James - 2020
    NBA champion and superstar LeBron James pens a slam-dunk picture book inspired by his foundation’s I PROMISE program that motivates children everywhere to always #StriveForGreatness.Just a kid from Akron, Ohio, who is dedicated to uplifting youth everywhere, LeBron James knows the key to a better future is to excel in school, do your best, and keep your family close.I Promise is a lively and inspiring picture book that reminds us that tomorrow’s success starts with the promises we make to ourselves and our community today.Featuring James’s upbeat, rhyming text and vibrant illustrations perfectly crafted for a diverse audience by New York Times bestselling artist Nina Mata, this book has the power to inspire all children and families to be their best.Perfect for shared reading in and out of the classroom, I Promise is also a great gift for graduation, birthdays, and other occasions.

Bad Kitty Scaredy-Cat


Nick Bruel - 2016
    She used to be brave and lionhearted and nervy. That is, until one late October day a group of terrifying monsters showed up on her doorstop and Kitty became VERY scared. Then she decided to take matters into her own paws.Bad Kitty is back in her first full-length picture book since A Bad Kitty Christmas (over 300,000 copies sold to date), just in time for another holiday! Now she's up against something scary, something creepy, something more frightening than Puppy's good moods: Halloween.

We Don't Eat Our Classmates


Ryan T. Higgins - 2018
    But it’s hard to make human friends when they’re so darn delicious! That is, until Penelope gets a taste of her own medicine and finds she may not be at the top of the food chain after all... Readers will gobble up this hilarious new story from award-winning author-illustrator Ryan T. Higgins.