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.
Otis P. Oliver is taking a stand. He is NOT taking another bath--ever. But when your opinions matter to the rest of the family about as much as the opinions of the family dog (who, it's worth mentioning, only has to bathe once a month), you have to get serious. So Otis borrows a spiffy suit from his dad and rouses a rabble of neighbor kids to stand up for what the know is right: a bathtub ban. This hilarious story about standing up for what you believe in, compromise, and family will have readers of all ages ready to hit the pavement for their cause--whatever it may be.
Join Bumpy the Frog, an accident prone young amphibian, as he learns his strengths and limitations through adventures with his friends.
Crow does not want to share his tree, until an unexpected visitor shows him what he's been missing.
Third grade is so much fun! But when Mr. Kim assigns a community service project to his class, Abby Spencer has some trouble. She searches everywhere for a place to volunteer, but all the good jobs are taken! When she offers to help Mrs. Mackenzie at Evergreen Library, she finds the best job of all. Soon all of her friends want to help at the library, too. The Book Bunch is formed just in time to save Mrs. Mackenzie's Movie Night from becoming a disaster!
Rusty's Grandma Margo is a writer. She and Rusty even write stories together. But when Rusty discovers that Margo sometimes suffers from writer's block, he worries. What can he do to help her? This unique story tackles an issue that not only affects grown-ups. Kids, too, suffer from writer's block and are often overwhelmed in their attempts to express themselves. Melissa Conroy's engaging story perfectly captures the frustrations and successes of the creative process and celebrate the relationship between grandparent and grandchild, as well as the imaginations of kids.
Bear is tired. The weather is getting cool and he's ready for a nice long nap--he's got earmuffs and a brand-new door to keep out the noise, plus a pair of fluffy slippers. Meanwhile, real estate mogul Woodpecker finds his recent homes…missing. And he follows the trail of debris right to Bear's new front door. When he "tap tap taps" to talk to Bear about it, the two engage in a feisty exchange of name-calling and gossip with the rest of their forest neighbors. Can they patch it up--literally--before Bear loses too much sleep?
Winicker Wallace's family has moved to France! But Winicker likes nothing about it. Her neighbor is irritatingly perfect. It rains too much. A mean girl in class makes her want to return to Massachusetts. But when Winicker finds herself in a scary situation she gets help from an unexpected source and finally sees silver linings in the dark Parisian clouds.
Winicker Wallace is getting a baby brother! But Winicker dreads his arrival. She can't talk to anyone about how she feels, so Winicker runs away from home. Her mother finds Winicker at the very top of the Eiffel Tower. When they are finally safe at the bottom, Winicker realizes she is actually looking forward to her brother's birth.