Animals

The text in Caldecott medalist Peggy Rathman’s latest book tells a simple story. Father begins counting down to bedtime, and his son does his best to get ready. He takes his bath, puts on his pj’s, and brushes his teeth. But this is not a typical evening. The boy’s computer-literate hamster has created a Web site that invites virtually every hamster on the planet to come take a “bedtime tour” of the house. As more and more hamsters arrive, the boy’s nightly bedtime ritual turns into a fun-filled circus.

“Are you a snail? If you are, your life began in an egg like one of these.” This book details the life of a snail, showing how it changes from a tiny egg to a slimy adult. Soft-colored paintings, combined with playful graphics, may convince librarians to place Are You a Snail? on the picture book shelf, rather than in the science section.

When Babe arrives at the Hogget farm, Mrs. Hogget’s thoughts turn to sizzling bacon and juicy pork chops. It looks as if the little pig is destined for the dinner table-until he reveals a surprising talent for sheepherding, that is. Before long, Babe is handling Farmer Hogget’s flock better than any sheepdog ever could. Babe is so good, in fact, that the farmer enters him in the Grand Challenge Sheepdog Trials. But the crowds can’t believe this sheep-pig is for real. Will it take a miracle for Babe to win?

Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See? is the final collaboration from this bestselling author-illustrator team. Young readers will enjoy Baby Bear’s quest to find Mama, and they’ll revel in identifying each of the native North American animals that appear along the way. The central focus on the special bond between mother and child makes a fitting finale to a beloved series.
These groundbreaking picture books have been teaching children to read for over forty years, and their consistently strong sales prove their staying power and continued applicability for today’s kids.

A picture book based on the #1 New York Times bestselling memoir Marley & Me by John Grogan! In John Grogan’s memoir, Marley & Me, the world learned how one bad dog became the heart of the family that loved him. Now, in this original picture book, Mommy, Daddy, Cassie, and Baby Louie welcome the puppy Marley to the Grogan family. Marley grows and grows . . . and grows. His eagerness and energy grow with him, getting him into trouble in a great big way. And, in the end, Marley’s over-the-top energy is just what’s needed to save the day. Marley is a hit with families and dog lovers everywhere. And Richard Cowdrey’s warmly rendered illustrations bring the story of this rambunctious dog to a whole new audience.

Everybody sing alongóbecause it-s time to do-si-do in the barnyard with a high-spirited animal crew! From Boynton on Board, the bestselling series of board books, here is BARNYARD DANCE, with Sandra Boynton-s twirling pigs, fiddle-playing cows, and other unforgettable animals. Extra-big, extra-fat, and extra-fun, BARNYARD DANCE features lively rhyming text and a die-cut cover that reveals the wacky characters inside. Guaranteed to get kids and adults stomping their feet. Main selection of the Children-s Book-of-the-Month Club. Winner of the 1994 Gold Medal from the National Parenting Publications Award.

Quick, call out! Tell all you can reach the night is just perfect for bats at the beach! So pack your buckets, banjos, and blankets—don’t forget the moon-tan lotion—and wing with this bunch of fuzzy bats to where foamy sea and soft sand meet. Brian Lies’s enchanting art and cheery beachside verse will inspire bedtime imaginations again and again. Come visit a bedazzling world of moonlight, firelight, and . . . bats!

In this fresh, funny take-off on Kafka’s Metamorphosis, Gregory Samsa wakes up one morning and discovers he’s become a boy-sized beetle. Why did it happen? And why does no one, except for his best friend Michael, notice? As Gregory searches for answers, he establishes himself as a character children will long remember.