Paul Carrick recycles The Three Little Pigs into a humorous fractured fairy tale about being yourself. An old mother robot sends her three sons, Rod, Slick, and Dudley, out into the world to seek their fortunes. But Wolfgang the Recycler is after them for their precious parts. How will the three robots protect themselves and their factories from clever Wolfgang?
Fans of Olivia and Lilly will delight in Poppy, a little rabbit with big dreams - and an even bigger personality. More than anything, Poppy wants to be a verrrry famous writer. She's sure Mrs. Rose will pick her paper to read to the whole class! Trouble is, she has tall ambitions but is short on effort, and her jealousy takes over when her best friend's paper is chosen instead. In the end, Poppy discovers that she has to get out of her own way if her big dreams are going to come true. Rosalinde's adorable, expressive illustrations make memorable, quirky Poppy a real star!
Lola wants a cat, but Mommy says taking care of a pet is a lot of work. So Lola does her homework. At the library she finds books about cats and pet care and she and Mommy learn as much as they can. She pretends her stuffed kitty is real and practices taking care of it. When the time comes, Lola is allowed to pick out her new friend at an animal shelter. With patience and care, her kitten settles in at home. Lola is a book-loving favorite, and this delightful story is a new treasure in the series.
Brave and smart and big at heart. Kylie Bell may be the smallest one in her first-grade class, but when it comes to standing up to mean ol' bully-boy Rusty Jacks, her courage is monumental. Life isn't easy when you can't reach the water fountain, but Kylie Bell's big heart and good manners prove that sometimes it takes the most courage to do what's right. Frank Dormer's playful art extends the funny animal metaphors and appeals to both girls and boys. This book is good for your brain because: Building character, Problem solving, Bullying
A question scritches and scratches at the back of Emma's throat. Emma is a curious kid. She loves to ask questions - and she loves the silly answers that her grandmother always gives. But now Emma has a very important question, one that she is bursting to ask, one that scritches and scratches at the back of her throat. Her grandmother is sick and has to stay in the hospital. Emma wonders if Grandma will still be able to read to her kindergarten; if she will still make up funny stories over bagels on Wednesdays; if she will still be able to watch her after school. But mostly Emma wonders if Grandma is going to die. Emma's Question helps families to answer the question that all kids face at one time or another. Geared toward young children, the story uses gentle humor and simple explanations to describe what is happening to Grandma in the hospital. Funny, sweet illustrations show the depth and closeness of Emma and Grandma's relationship. Dealing With Loss, Family, Intergenerational
Everyone knows that sinking feeling in the pit of the stomach just before diving into a new situation. Sarah Jane Hartwell is scared and doesn't want to start over at a new school. She doesn't know anybody, and nobody knows her. It will be awful. She just knows it. With much prodding from Mr. Hartwell, Sarah Jane reluctantly pulls herself together and goes to school. She is quickly befriended by Mrs. Burton, who helps smooth her jittery transition. This charming and familiar story will delight readers with its surprise ending. Fun, energetic illustrations brighten page after page with the busy antics surrounding Sarah Jane. First Day Jitters is an enchanting story that is sure to be treasured by anyone who has every anticipated a first day of school.
A cowboy poet who can't rope, whip, or ride? Who ever heard of that? Slim knows he could be a real cowboy if the ranch hands would just give him a chance. Action-filled drawings capture the excitement of a cattle run to Dodge City. This book is good for your brain because: Poetry, Problem Solving, Determination.
Alice is a good witch. And Greta... well, Greta and trouble are never far apart. Alice spends her time helping others by weaving her enchanting spells. All Greta does is wreak havoc. But when a forgotten spell comes back to haunt her, Greta's stuck learning something she should have learned long ago. Vibrant, colorful, and full of whimsical detail, Cyd Moore's illustrations complete the magic of this clever tale.
It's time to color outside the lines. Max's teacher wants the class to color-in pictures for Mother's Day presents, but Max knows that his mother would not want a dumb flower picture drawn by someone else. Determined to express his creativity, Max runs off to draw his own picture. Max's drawing not only inspires the rest of the class to create their own original artwork but also enlightens the teacher. This book is good for your brain because: Early Childhood Literacy, Self-Expression
Mrs. Hartwell is preparing her class to take the Big Test. Knowing they have studied and are well-prepared, she helps the students practice how to sit quietly, fill in the bubbles, and follow the directions. She even instructs them on proper morning-of-the-test nutrition. As her students grow increasingly anxious about the Big Test, Mrs. Hartwell realizes she has to teach the most valuable test-taking skill of all: learning to relax!
Acclaimed author Kathryn Lasky explores the nature of friendship in three delightful stories for beginning readers. Creative, impulsive Poodle and loyal, dependable Hound are an unexpected pair. Together they star gaze, plant a garden and prove that two very different individuals can not only be compatible, they can complement and help one another. This book is good for your brain because: Friendship, Helpfulness, Language Arts
Books make everything better. Being a bookstore tiger is hard work. There's much patrolling, and a lot of sitting in laps at story hour, and then there's sleeping in the window display. But Raj is up to the task. He is fierce and proud, until Snowball comes along. The new cat in the bookstore informs Raj that he's just a marmalade kitty-cat. Times get tough then for the bookstore tiger. But bookstore and Raj owner Felicity, with the help of poet William Blake, knows how to fix things. In turn, with a very special book, Raj is able to fix things with Snowball. Paige Keiser's quirky, intimate illustrations invite readers to curl up and share a story, with their own tigers or a friend.
Bear dreams of becoming a comedian. His jokes are unbearably funny, and he wants nothing more than to make his friends laugh. But Bear has a problem. He has stage fright. When Emmy, the comic hummingbird, discovers Bear's jokes, Bear learns that there's more than one way to achieve your dream. Told in seven short chapters.
A trip to the vet requires bravery. They met and became best friends in Aggie and Ben. They learned to behave in Good Dog, Aggie. Now Aggie and Ben must conquer their fears in their third book for beginning readers. Aggie has to go to the vet, but it's Ben who needs to be brave as he deals with a night without his best friend. When Aggie returns home, she is unable to play. Ben must do his best to take care of her and make her feel better. Frank W. Dormer's expressive illustrations tell the story of the special bond between a boy and his loyal dog. Young readers will love the continuing adventures of Aggie and Ben.
Aggie and Ben are back with another adventure in three short chapters just right for beginning readers. Ben and Aggie are playing fetch in the park. When Ben throws too far, Aggie doesn't come back! Ben looks and looks, but he cannot find her. It is the worst day ever. Ben's sadness turns into determination as he retraces his steps, makes posters, and enlists other people to help turn Aggie from a lost pup a found one.
