Children's Books for Parents and Teachers

Love, Splat

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:55:50 +0000

It’s Valentine’s Day and Splat has a special valentine for a certain someone in his class. Her name is Kitten, and Splat likes her even more than fish sticks and ice cream. But Kitten doesn’t seem to like him at all—she always ties his tail and pokes his belly when she sees him. And then there’s Splat’s rival, Spike, who also likes Kitten. Will Splat’s heartfelt valentine win Kitten’s paw in the end?

In this funny follow-up to Splat the Cat, Rob Scotton captures the highs and lows of a first crush with humor and understanding.

Olive, My Love

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:23:54 +0000

The beloved–but confused–pup Olive is back! But this time she’s not heading off to the North Pole to help Santa. . . . This time she’s out to return a one-of-a-kind lost object: a heart. And not just any heart, but a heart as large as Olive’s own. In her search to find its one, true owner, she makes the acquaintance of a cast of characters who show her what it truly means to give all of one’s love. Only J.otto Seibold and Vivian Walsh could have dreamed up this wacky and wittily heartwarming story in which anything can happen if you only follow your heart.

Too Many Valentines

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:14:40 +0000

Everyone at Robin Hill School is looking forward to Valentine’s Day. Everyone except Neil. He thinks valentines are silly. But on the big day, when Neil doesn’t get any valentines at school, he’s not sure they’re so silly after all!

Valentine’s Day

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:13:30 +0000

Valentine’s Day in Mrs. Madoff’s class means making special valentines to send to Michiko in Japan. As the kids decorate their unique cards with glitter glue, stickers, and candy hearts, they remember all their favorite moments with Michiko and what makes each of their friendships with her so special. With more than 200 valentines readers … Continue reading →

Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:11:51 +0000

Mr. Hatch leads a lonely life until one Valentine’s Day when the postman delivers a huge, heart-shaped box of candy with a card reading “Somebody loves you.” Knowing he has a secret admirer gives Mr. Hatch a bright new perspective on life — until it turns out there’s been a terrible mistake. But Mr. Hatch’s … Continue reading →

Happy Valentine’s Day, Mouse!

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:37:22 +0000

Any kid who’s dealt with an exasperated adult is sure to appreciate Laura Joffe Numeroff’s If You Give a… series, where children take on semi-parental roles with unexpected, demanding animal guests. Numeroff is an expert at silly situations, catchy verses and stories that absorb and engage.

Clifford’s First Valentine’s Day

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:32:58 +0000

Clifford has always gotten into a little innocent trouble, even as a puppy. This time, he’s helping Emily Elizabeth make a special Valentine for her grandma. When it comes time to mail it, Clifford gets an unexpected behind-the-scenes tour of the Post Office!

Where Is Baby’s Valentine?: A Lift-the-Flap Book

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:56:22 +0000

Baby made a valentine for Mommy. Where could it be? Is it behind the lamp? No, those are pretty, sparkly flowers! It’s a shiny, glittering delight as you lift the sturdy flaps to help Baby find her very special valentine.

The Finding of Blue Bunny

admin — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 22:24:38 +0000

While on a trip to a nearby department store, the author got the idea for this story by watching the scene of his very young daughter choose a toy bunny from a box full of bunnies. The choice of a plain bunny over fancy bunnies gave him the idea of writing the tale from the … Continue reading →

Sunrise Over Fire Rock Field

admin — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 22:12:25 +0000

An incredibly engaging adventure, Sunrise Over Fire Rock Field is a wildly fun children’s book about a herd of dinosaurs that rally around one young whippersnapper, an iguanodon named Iggy, who comes up with a daring plan to go for the green–salad greens, that is. On the quest of his life, Iggy will learn what … Continue reading →

The Secret Life of Ms. Finkleman

admin — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 22:08:26 +0000

Ms. Finkleman is just our boring old music teacher. Or is she?

It all starts with a Special Project in Mr. Melville’s Social Studies class: Solve a mystery in your own life. For seventh grader Bethesda Fielding, one mystery is too tempting to ignore: Ms. Finkleman.

Bethesda is convinced that her mousy Music Fundamentals teacher is hiding a secret life, and she’s determined to find out what it is. But no one is prepared for what she learns. Ms. Finkleman used to be . . . a rock star? Soon the whole school goes rock crazy, and a giant concert is in the works with none other than timid Ms. Finkleman at the helm!

But the case isn’t quite closed, and the questions continue to swirl for Bethesda. Could there be even more to the secret life of Ms. Finkleman than she already revealed? With the help of her rock-obsessed classmate Tenny Boyer, Bethesda won’t stop until she solves the real mystery of Ms. Finkleman once and for all!

Wanda the Wilopent

admin — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 20:20:04 +0000

The Wilopents hide deep within the magical Toad King’s forest. Timid and peaceful, they live in constant fear of one thing: rain! For when a Wilopent gets wet, it grows from a wobbly little being into a large, lumpy, and very wild creature. One particular Wilopent, however, dreams of becoming more. Little Wanda yearns to be a beautiful fairy, flying among the flowers and sprinkling fairy dust. One night, she ventures deep into the heart of the forest in search of the Toad King, hoping he will grant her wish. When Wanda discovers the king is being held prisoner, she hatches a daring rescue plan that only a Wilopent can carry out! Wanda the Wilopent is a heartwarming tale of courage and self-discovery that’s sure to have young readers cheering.

The Book About Tony Chestnut

admin — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 20:17:29 +0000

The much-loved children’s song, Tony Chestnut, comes to life in, The Book About Tony Chestnut, an interactive, whimsically illustrated children’s picture book with accompanying CD.

Tony Chestnut is joined in this story, by a stellar children’s cast of characters including Eileen, Neil, Pat, Bob, Russell and Skip, who are all from the hit song. Join the kids on an encouraging childhood adventure in friendship and quest towards playground unity — laugh along with the hysterical antics of Tony Chestnut as he anxiously tries to resolve his little sister’s true-to-life, social dilemma. The story’s compassionate message of friendship, kindness and sympathy speaks to children in a language they can understand, and conveys just the right blend of entertaining, gentle humor with a meaningful, true-to-heart message.

The 48 page picture book is packaged with a CD featuring a soundtrack, and reading by the enchanting British storyteller, Jeanne Bowyer. Listeners are also treated to a second sharing of the story by Tony Chestnut himself, as he makes his debut, storytelling appearance. As an added bonus, included on the CD are thought-provoking questions for interactive discussion and the much-loved song, Tony Chestnut, which has sparked the making of this book.

Marisol (American Girl Today Series)

cindy — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 14:03:51 +0000

Mariso Luna is a ten year old girl who loves to dance.

Percival: Priscilla’s Baby Brother

admin — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 21:53:45 +0000

Percival: Priscilla’s Baby Brother, a book of colorful textural images, is based on the author’s observations and experience bringing a new baby into her own family. An only child herself, the author was often surprised and amused to observe the expectations vs the reality of a new sibling in the house. The child waiting at home for a new friend to move in and play is often faced with a crying, pooping demand for his mother’s time and attention. The author hopes that this book can ease the transition and prepare the child for the stages of infancy and eventual fruition of his dream for a new friend in the house.

Robert Wadlow: The Unique Life of the Boy Who Became the World’s Tallest Man

admin — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 22:03:04 +0000

Imagine being the tallest person in the world. As a child. You just keep growing and growing and growing…six feet…seven feet…eight feet up. The world is made in miniature and you must constantly endure. The crush of public attention is relentless. Some people are kind, some are mean. All are curious. This may sound like a tale from long ago, but this is the inspirational true life story of young Robert Wadlow. The victim of an overactive pituitary gland, Robert lived from 1918 to 1940. He stood just shy of 9 feet tall by the time of his death at age 22. Robert didn’t choose his situation, but his accomplishment was in how he handled it.

Big Red Lollipop

cindy — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 14:15:59 +0000

Rubina is invited to her 1st birthday party and her mother insists that she bring her younger sister along.

A Sick Day for Amos McGee

cindy — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 13:53:55 +0000

The story is about the zoo keeper who gets sick and is unable to visit his zoo friends. This book won a Caldecott medal.

Charlie and The Case of the Big Bully

admin — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 22:01:09 +0000

Charlie is bummed because all of her best friends are going somewhere for the summer, and she is stuck at home. But when a new kid moves in next door, she feels a ray of hope. Until she meets him. This “write your own story” lets you decide what happens at the end of each … Continue reading →

Stephanie’s Ponytail

admin — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 21:09:37 +0000

Stephanie likes to have her own look. So when her classmates begin copying her ponytail, she finds increasingly outrageous ways to wear her hair until she outsmarts the copycats.

Swimmy

admin — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 21:11:25 +0000

Deep in the sea there lives a happy school of little fish. Their watery world is full of wonders, but there is also danger, and the little fish are afraid to come out of hiding . . . until Swimmy comes along. Swimmy shows his friends how—with ingenuity and team work—they can overcome any danger. With its graceful text and stunning artwork, this Caldecott Honor Book deserves a place on every child’s shelf.

No, David!

admin — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 21:05:50 +0000

Named a 1999 Caldecott Medal honor book. When author and artist David Shannon was five years old, he wrote a semi-autobiographical story of a little kid who broke all his mother’s rules. He chewed with his mouth open, jumped on the furniture, and he broke his mother’s vase. As a result, all David ever heard … Continue reading →

The Dark Is Rising: The Complete Sequence

admin — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 00:40:43 +0000

Will Stanton’s ordinary life is shattered with the dreadful revelation that the Dark — the source of all evil — is rising in its last and greatest bid to control the world. He finds that he is no ordinary boy, bit the last born of the Old Ones, immortals dedicated to keeping mankind free from the Dark. Soon Will is swept up in the great battle, along with his ageless master, Merriman; the three Drew children, who are mortal but have their own vital part to play; and a strange albino boy named Bran. These six fight fear and death in a quest through time and space interwoven with the most ancient myths of the islands of Britain — until, at last, Will and Bran find the weapon that will ultimately vanquish the Dark.

One of the most celebrated fantasy sequences of all time, The Dark Is Rising is a searing, epic rendering of the eternal conflict between good and evil.

The Empty Pot

admin — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 00:48:27 +0000

When the Chinese emperor proclaims that his successor will be the child who grows the most beautiful flowers from the seeds the emperor distributes, Ping is overjoyed. Like the emperor, he loves flowers and anything he plants bursts into bloom. But the emperor’s seed will not grow, despite months of loving care, and Ping goes before the emperor carrying only his empty pot. The emperor ignores the beautiful blossoms brought by the other children and chooses Ping, revealing that the seeds he handed out had been cooked and could not grow.

The Boy Who Wouldn’t Sit Still!

Sharon Lester — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 19:41:49 +0000

A humorous look at a day in the life of a mischievous – but charming – little boy. As the day progresses his actions take a series of unexpected turns – quite literally!

Merry Christmas Mom and Dad

cindy — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 19:10:49 +0000

Mercer Mayer’s very popular character stars in a getting-ready-for-Christmas picture book. Little Critter approaches Christmas with the intention of being a good helper. When he makes a mistake, he has a logical explanation. He couldn’t wrap the Christmas package because the tape got too sticky. He couldn’t buy his parents a present because there were too many toys to look at. He couldn’t put up the tree lights because they were just too tangled. Little Critter means well, but every funny illustration shows him as tangled up as the Christmas lights.

Gingerbread Friends

admin — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 20:48:38 +0000

That popular little character is back looking for friends, in an adventure he’ll never forget. Confident and cocky, the Gingerbread Baby happens upon a bakery, where he dances and prances in front of a sugar cookie girl, trying to make friends. But she just stares and doesn’t say a word, like all the other sweet treats he tries to meet. Discouraged, the Gingerbread Baby runs home, chased by a long line of hungry creatures, where Mattie has a fantastic surprise for him-gingerbread friends that fill a giant fold-out page. Irresistible images inside the confectionery and outside in the snowy Swiss countryside will delight Jan Brett fans.

Dog Who Thought He Was Santa

admin — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 05:01:44 +0000

Don Franklin’s dog, Frank, is a bloodhound, so he can smell when something’s wrong. And a lot seems to be wrong in Don’s family. Mom and Dad are worried about money, especially with Christmas right around the corner and the threat of the mine closing. Don’s worried because he’s just discovered how dangerous Dad’s job in the mine is. And they’re all worried about getting Don’s little sister, Susan, what she wants for Christmas, when she won’t tell anyone but Santa Claus what it is. It looks as if Christmas might not be all that merry at the Franklins’ house. But Christmas is a time for miracles, whether seen from a boy’s perspective or a dog’s—and The Dog Who Thought He Was Santa looks at the Franklins’ Christmas miracle from both.

Christmas Cheer: A Collection of Holiday Tales

admin — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 20:41:08 +0000

Just in time for the holidays, this beautiful collection of Christmas tales is perfect for the whole family to share. Both original stories and reinventions of the classics, featuring everything from an under-the-weather Rudolph to a boy who can’t make up his mind when writing to Santa Claus, are brought to life with illustrations by some of the most beloved artists in children’s books. Christmas Cheer captures the warmth and excitement of the Christmas season, inviting the family to cozy up around the fire and take time to enjoy the holiday spirit.

Counting Christmas

admin — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 20:13:01 +0000

Katz has got kids’ number in this sweet counting book that taps into the air of anticipation on Christmas Eve. Three children and their parents prepare for a celebration with all the fixin’s-10 lights, nine presents, eight cookies for Santa, etc., which help add up to “one magical day for families and children to share.” A mix of collage, gouache and colored pencil creates a kaleidoscope of hues and patterns. With their large heads and minimalist features, Katz’s rosy-cheeked, smiling figures have the appealing semblance of sweet-faced baby dolls.