Luna longs for a pet but the apartment building where she and her family live has a very strict NO PETS! policy. Not even goldfish are allowed. While her friends try to help with alternate pet suggestions, none interest Luna. Almost ready to give up, Luna spies in the trash something small, something green, something someone has discarded--a wilted plant. Perfect! Luna names her new pet Stephanie, confident she can nurse the plant back to health. When others question Stephanie's suitability as a pet, Luna's devotion is unwavering. She knows Stephanie is perfect just as she is. But will Luna's love and care be enough to bring Stephanie to full health? And what are those strange bumps growing on her? Brought to life with warm, expressive artwork, this charming story of one young girl's belief, determination, and out-of-the-box thinking is perfect for anyone who has ever wished for a pet, only to be told no. Back matter includes tips on how to grow your own "Stephanie."
Miss Mary is beloved by her students. She makes learning enjoyable and easy, and her brightly colored knitwear brings a smile to everyone's face. Walking to school on the last day before the Christmas break, Miss Mary envisions all the fun students will have at recess. They'll make snow angels, build snowmen, and play other winter games. But recess isn't fun. No one wants to play. The snow is cold and the children don't have any mittens. Not to worry, thinks Miss Mary. She will knit mittens for her students as a Christmas surprise. But the store has run out of yarn, with no more deliveries before Christmas. Oh dear, where can Miss Mary find the yarn to knit mittens for her students? The clock is ticking on this holiday surprise. Brought to life in charming colorful artwork, this uplifting and gratifying story of generosity and love reminds readers of all ages that the best gifts come straight from the heart.
Sometimes a person with epilepsy might start to twitch or fall down. Uh-oh, it’s an emergency! Prepare young learners to empathetically understand and care for a friend with an epileptic seizure. Learn what’s happening, how to be a helper, and ways to keep your friend safe. A bright design and carefully crafted text takes fear out of emergencies to make them easier to understand.
A hungry wolf disguises himself as a sheep in order to steal and eat other members of the flock. He soon becomes the largest and fattest 'sheep,' which the shepherd then catches and cooks for his own dinner. Additional features include pages defining fables and morals, an introduction to Aesop, a Think-About-It section, activities for further learning, and an introduction to both the author and illustrator.
The boastful hare thinks no creature can beat him in a race, but his overconfidence is tested in a race against a slow-moving tortoise. Additional features include pages defining fables and morals, an introduction to Aesop, a Think-About-It section, activities for further learning, and an introduction to both the author and illustrator.
When a meek mouse is spared from becoming a hungry lion's next meal, she promises to return his great kindness. The little mouse later rescues a huge cat from a hunter's trap. Additional features include pages defining fables and morals, an introduction to Aesop, a Think-About-It section, activities for further learning, and an introduction to both the author and illustrator.
Carrying her pail of milk upon her head, a milkmaid daydreams of what she will purchase once she sells the milk at market. But the milk is spilt before the maid can sell it, and thus readers learn the phrase 'don't count your chickens before they're hatched.' Additional features include pages defining fables and morals, an introduction to Aesop, a Think-About-It section, activities for further learning, and an introduction to both the author and illustrator.
Mr. Fox plays a trick on Ms. Stork--but he doesn't enjoy having the same trick played on him in return. Additional features include pages defining fables and morals, an introduction to Aesop, a Think-About-It section, activities for further learning, and an introduction to both the author and illustrator.
A hungry heron spends all day looking for the perfect meal--bypassing all sorts of perfectly fine food in the process. The heron is so choosy that the sun soon sets, and he is forced to eat only a small snail. Additional features include pages defining fables and morals, an introduction to Aesop, a Think-About-It section, activities for further learning, and an introduction to both the author and illustrator.
A vain crow has found some cheese to eat, but a hungry fox knows a secret: the crow cannot resist showing off! Flattering the crow into singing a song, the fox grabs the cheese when it falls from the crow's beak. Additional features include pages defining fables and morals, an introduction to Aesop, a Think-About-It section, activities for further learning, and an introduction to both the author and illustrator.
A hungry fox tries repeatedly to reach some grapes hanging high on a vine. After numerous attempts, the fox gives up and stalks angrily away, saying that the grapes were most likely sour anyway. Additional features include pages defining fables and morals, an introduction to Aesop, a Think-About-It section, activities for further learning, and an introduction to both the author and illustrator.
A bored shepherd entertains himself by falsely telling townspeople a wolf is stealing his sheep. When a wolf really does appear, the twice-tricked townspeople are convinced the shepherd is lying, and no one comes to his aid. Additional features include pages defining fables and morals, an introduction to Aesop, a Think-About-It section, activities for further learning, and an introduction to both the author and illustrator.
Two mice cousins decide to visit each other's surroundings to learn more about their different worlds. But the city mouse soon feels that the country life is far too simple and boring for him, and the country mouse fears the city's many dangers. Additional features include pages defining fables and morals, an introduction to Aesop, a Think-About-It section, activities for further learning, and an introduction to both the author and illustrator.
A busy ant spends all her time preparing for winter, while a lazy grasshopper enjoys the sunshine and summer warmth. When the cold winds begin to blow and food becomes scarce, the hungry grasshopper regrets his wasteful ways. Additional features include pages defining fables and morals, an introduction to Aesop, a Think-About-It section, activities for further learning, and an introduction to both the author and illustrator.
A family of mice offers ideas about how to warn themselves when their enemy--the cat--approaches. When it is suggested to tie a bell around the cat's neck, everyone agrees that the idea is a good one. But who will do the deed? Additional features include pages defining fables and morals, an introduction to Aesop, a Think-About-It section, activities for further learning, and an introduction to both the author and illustrator.
Kenyan orphans, Kitoo and Nigosi, spend their days studying, playing soccer, helping their elders with chores around the orphanage and reading from the limited selection of books in their library. When the librarian gives Kitoo a copy of Sports Around the World he becomes fascinated by an image of the Canadian national men's ice hockey team. Then one day the fates align and Kitoo finds a pair of beat up old roller blades, he teaches himself to skate and dreams of one day playing hockey like the men in his book. But you can’t play ice hockey in Kenya, can you?
When the tsunami destroyed Makio's village, Makio lost his father . . . and his voice. The entire village is silenced by grief, and the young child's anger at the ocean grows. Then one day his neighbor, Mr. Hirota, begins a mysterious project—building a phone booth in his garden. At first Makio is puzzled; the phone isn't connected to anything. It just sits there, unable to ring. But as more and more villagers are drawn to the phone booth, its purpose becomes clear to Makio: the disconnected phone is connecting people to their lost loved ones. Makio calls to the sea to return what it has taken from him and ultimately finds his voice and solace in a phone that carries words on the wind. The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota's Garden is inspired by the true story of the wind phone in Otsuchi, Japan, which was created by artist Itaru Sasaki. He built the phone booth so he could speak to his cousin who had passed, saying, "My thoughts couldn't be relayed over a regular phone line, I wanted them to be carried on the wind." The Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in 2011 destroyed the town of Otsuchi, claiming 10 percent of the population. Residents of Otsuchi and pilgrims from other affected communities have been traveling to the wind phone since the tsunami.
In this book, early fluent readers will learn how writing can help us focus, examine emotions, and increase mindfulness. Step-by-step instructions help readers write poetry, record thoughts and observations in a nature journal, and practice gratitude and mindfulness by creating a journaling habit. Social and emotional learning (SEL) concepts support growth mindset throughout, while Try This! and Grow with Goals activities at the end of the book further reinforce the content. Fun, full-color photos and carefully leveled text engage young readers as they learn more about increasing focus and practicing mindfulness through writing. Includes helpful hints, sidebars, a table of contents, glossary, index, and tips for educators and caregivers.
When ten-year-old Roosevelt Banks discovers that his two best friends are planning a bike and camping trip, he wants more than anything to go along. There’s just one problem—he doesn’t have a bike. Roosevelt’s parents agree to buy him a bike if he can manage to be good for two whole weeks. How can Roosevelt be good and be the same fun guy his friends want on the camping trip? Trying to be good leads to more trouble than expected—and to the discovery that being a good friend is more important than any bicycle.
Lily has a hole. It eats her joy, makes her angry, and--no matter what Daddy does to try to help--it just keeps growing. So Lily retreats. But a friend lets her in on a secret (he has a hole too!) and shows her the best way to repair holes: spend time on friends, family, the things you love, yourself, and kindness. Those patches don't make the hole go away, but they help. A lyrical and age-appropriate story for learning to cope with grief and loss.
When Mr. Reynolds sells his farm, he discovers that Ethel the Emu doesn't want to move. Will anyone be able to change her mind, or with Ethel convey?
When Squirrel watches the birds, he sees something he desperately wants: the ability to fly. Even though his family tells him to give up his dreams, Squirrel refuses to stay on the ground. With the help of his friend Bear, Squirrel is able to soar, but will the birds share their skies? Squirrel and Bear Take to the Air is a story about overcoming adversity and leaping for your dreams.
A crocodile named Snout assists his animal neighbors by ferrying them across a swollen river, then is repaid for his good deeds when he is in need of help.
In a world of bountiful food yet increasing food insecurity, we are called to remember that all creatures have a place—and may be fed sustainably—at the greatest, communal table offered by our planet.
A girl who responds to the song that calls to her serves as an example to those who have forgotten how to listen to their lives, how to discern music from noise, how to follow the path of mystery and adventure set before them.