Only a few inches underground, an earthworm family sits down to their dinner of dirt.  All is well until their young worm exclaims and complains that there is a hair in his dirt.  The tale that follows told to him by his father is an inspiration for young earthworms everywhere! (SR) 

Leedy, Loreen.  Measuring Penny.  New York:  Holt, 1997. 

Lisa’s big homework math assignment is a measuring project.  She decides to measure her dog, Penny.  But she doesn’t just measure how tall Penny is.  Wait till you see all the ways you can measure something- you might even want to try some of them yourself! (JS) 

  Leedy, Loreen. Mission: Addition.  New York:  Holiday House, 1997. 

In her mission to teach addition to her students, Miss Prime comes up with lots of unusual lessons.  The children get to be detectives, bring all their pets to school, and even go to lunch at the Classy Cafe!  If you want to learn addition, you can count on this book to help. (JS) 

Lester, Julius.  Black Cowboy: A True Story Black Cowboy Wild Horses. New York: Dial, 1998. 

Based on true accounts by Bob Lemmons, a former slave turned cowboy, this beautifully illustrated picture book takes the reader on a rugged adventure as Lemmons tracks wild mustangs across the plains.  With his horse, Bob is able to corral the mustangs after a long, hard struggle. (LB) 

Lester, Julius. Sam and the Tigers.  New York: Dial Books, 1996. 

A new telling of an old story, "Little Black Sambo", Sam loses his fancy clothes to the tigers so they will not eat him.  As in the original story, Sam manages to outwit the tigers.  The illustrations by Jerry Pinkney and the twists in the story make it an enjoyable retelling. (JP) 

  Lionni, Leo. Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse.  New York: Pantheon, 1969. 

Alexander the mouse is always scurrying from everybody and everything until he forms a friendship with Willy, the toy mouse. Alexander, with the help of a magic lizard in the garden, gets to prove his friendship by saving Willy from an ominous fate. Alexander now has a true friend for life. (JHP) 

Lionni, Leo.  The Biggest House in the World.  New York: Pantheon, 1968. 

A little snail wants to have the biggest house in the world when he gets older.  His father explains that small things are better sometimes, but the little snail does not listen until his father tells him a story . . . a story about a little snail who wants to have the biggest house in the world.   (JD) 

Lionni, Leo.  An Extraordinary Egg.   New York: Knopf, 1994. 

Marilyn, August, and Jessica are three frogs that live together on Pebble Island.  Jessica is the wanderer and she's always bringing back the most extraordinary things.  One day she brings home an egg that she assumes is a chicken egg.   Jessica and the "chicken" wander together until they find the "chicken's " real mother. (JP) 

Lionni, Leo.  Fish is Fish.  New York:  Pantheon Books, 1970.  unp. 

Fish is sad when his friend, the minnow, changes into a frog and leaves the safe pond.  When frog returns and tells fish about the world, fish imagines what it would be like to see.  Fish decides to jump from the pond to see the world, but now he is stuck on the grass gasping for air.  Who will save him?  Fish learns an important lesson about appreciating your own surroundings. (DH) 

Lionni, Leo.  Frederick.  New York: Dragonfly Books, 1967. 

Frederick does not help his fellow mice prepare for the coming winter, so it seems.  While they gather food and supplies, he claims he is storing sunlight, gathering colors, and conserving words, but it looks like he's just being lazy.  When winter arrives, though, Frederick shares his supplies with the others through the magic of imagination. (MA) 

Lionni, Leo.  Geraldine, the Music Mouse.   New York: Pantheon, 1979. 

Leo Lionni's art work is as unique as his writing.  Geraldine is a mouse who has never heard music until one day when she discovers an enormous piece of Parmesan cheese. She nibbles at the cheese until she creates the statue of a mouse playing her tail like a flute.  At night, music magically fills the air and fills her heart, until Geraldine can play her own musical tail! (AB) 

Lionni, Leo. Matthew's Dream. New York: Knopf, 1991. 

A poor attic corner filled with crumpled newspaper, a broken lamp, and a sad doll is Matthew's home. As soon as this mouse visits an art museum with his school class, he knows that one day his life will change. (JM) 

  Lobel, Arnold. Frog and Toad are Friends.  New York: Harper, 1970. 

Spring is a difficult time for Toad to wake up.  Frog fixes the calendar.  Frog gets sick and Toad helps out.  Lost button creates problem, and a special jacket is made from the “finds.”   Toad never gets mail.  The snail delivers.  Friendship at its finest! (MR) 

Lobel, Arnold.  Frog and Toad Together.  New York: Harper & Row, 1971. 

Toad makes a list of things to do, loses it during the day, and does not know what to do without it.  Frog helps Toad grow a garden, but it is hard work.  Frog and Toad bake cookies.  They start eating them and cannot stop.  Together Frog and Toad try to find out if they are brave.  Toad cannot find Frog at the theater.  These five stories of Frog and Toad's adventures are great for beginning readers. (JD) 

Lobel, Arnold.  Prince Bertram the Bad.  New York: Harper & Row, 1963. 

Prince Bertram gets meaner every day.  He does not appreciate anything anyone does for him.  Nobody even likes him that much.  When he is playing with his slingshot, he does not hit a bird.  Instead he hits a witch, who changes Prince Bertram the Bad into a dragon.  What will everyone think of the Prince now?  (JD) 

Lobel, Arnold.  Whiskers & Rhymes.  New York: Greenwillow, 1985. 

Short sweet nursery rhymes depicting cats are the main feature of this collection. This is a humorous array of poems with cheerful illustrations of cats that is certain to delight children and entice them to read. (JHP) 

A homing pigeon carrying a very important message is released from the Italian hills and decides to take the scenic route to Rome.  She flies past ancient ruins and through outdoor cafes, avoiding collisions and danger along the way.  David Macaulay’s illustrations and humorous narrative give a bird’s-eye view of the ancient city where the past and present mingle together.  All sites are labeled and a map and history of each building complement the tour. (CG) 

Macaulay, David. Shortcut. Boston: Houghton, 1995. 

Eight separate short stories are all connected if you look closely at the pictures in this book to do a bit of detective work. When Albert and his horse, June, take a short cut on their way to the market, they set off a series of events in a chain reaction. (JM) 

MacDonald, Amy. Rachel Fister’s Blister. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, Co., 1990.

When little Rachel Fister gets a blister on her left hand little toe the entire community is summoned to find a cure. Finally, the wise Queen suggests an age old cure and Rachel’s mom puts her lips to the test. YUCK!   (DAH)

Marcellino, Fred.  I, Crocodile.  New York: Harper, 1999.

Napoleon takes home a crocodile from one of his trips to Egypt. At first, the crocodile is popular in Paris.   Later on, however, when it loses his appeal, it looks like it may become crocodile pie for the emperor.  Cute book with great pictures. (SS)

Marshall, James.  The Cut-ups at Camp Custer.  New York:  Viking, 1989.

School's out for summer vacation and Spud Jenkins and Joe Turner are out to leave their mark at Camp Custer.  The two boys are tricked by the camp counselor's nephew and get into trouble for pranks that they do not initiate.  After sneaking out of their cabins one night, the boys discover the real cause of the pranks and it is not just the counselor's nephew who is involved!  (MJ)

Marshall, James.  The Cut-Ups Cut Loose.  New York:  Viking Kestrel, 1987. 

Spud and Joe are off to school and their mothers are so delighted.  You see, they like to play practical jokes.  At school, however, the new principal thinks he will be able to put a stop to it! (DLM) 

Marshall, James.  George and Martha.  Boston: Houghton 1972.

Split pea soup sounds good, right?  Well not to George, but he cannot tell Martha.  George wants to fly, but his "flying machine" is not cooperating.  George learns never to peek in on Martha again.  Martha finds out the truth about mirrors.  George loses a tooth, but he cannot get use to it being gone.  George and Martha's friendship stories are enjoyed by all ages.   (JD) 

Marshall, James.  Swine Lake. Illustrated by Maurice Sendak.  New York: Michael Di Capua Books, 1999. 

A lean and mangy old wolf can’t believe his good fortune when he stumbles upon a theatre packed with pigs.  He plots a surprise attack during the porcine production of Swine Lake, but becomes so engrossed in the play that he misses his opportunity.  He spends every last penny on a ticket for the next show...  will he get his money’s worth this time?  (BMD) 

Martin, Jr., Bill.  Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?  Illustrated by Eric Carle. New York: Holt, 1983. 

A brown bear, a red bird, and a yellow duck are just a few of the animals that grace the pages of this book.  The brightly colored collage illustrations fairly leap off the page and make this an excellent and fun tool for practicing colors and animal names. (CG) 

McCully, Emily Arnold.  Little Kit, or The Industrious Flea Circus Girl.  New York: Putnam, 1995.

Professor Malefetta comes to town looking for a lad to help him with his novelty act.  Little Kit, an orphan who makes her living by selling flowers on the street, gets the job.  Kit has never been anywhere in a wagon.  Once Kit sees the company of artists, everything changes.   (JD) 

McCully, Emily Arnold.  Starring Mirette and Bellini.  New York: Putnam, 1997. 

Mirette is now a partner to the great Bellini.   Together, they perform daring feats on the high wire in all the great cities of Europe.  One day, they perform in the Russian city of St. Petersburg.  When Bellini speaks out for freedom, he is arrested.  In order to rescue him from prison, Mirette must perform the most difficult act of her life, the Death Walk. (CG) 

Melmed, Laura Krauss. Little Oh. Illustrated by Jim LaMarche. New York: Lothrop, 1997. 

One evening, her work finished for the day, a lonely woman folds a little doll from origami paper, then places it in a box beside her bed.  The next morning, the figure springs from the box exclaiming, "Good Morning, Mother."  Thus begins the adventures of Little Oh and her mother.  This lovely and heartwarming book explores the universal bond between mother and child. (BD) 

Meyers, Cindy.  Rolling  Along with Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House, 1999.

The classic tale of  Goldilocks with a twist!  Baby Bear has a disability, uses a wheelchair, and goes to physical thearapy.  The Bear house has ramps and even a special bed that goes up and down.  Children with disabilities will find the story appealing because Baby Bear is like them.  A good message wrapped up in a well-loved tale.  (BP)

Michelson, Richard. Grandpa’s Gamble. New York: Marshall Cavendish, 1999. 26 pgs.

Two children think they have a boring old grandfather who does nothing but pray.  One day, they find an old photograph of a distinguished man holding a baby.  Grandfather then shares his past with his grandchildren. (DR)

Mochizuki, Ken.  Baseball Saved Us.  New York: Lee & Low Books, 1993.

A young boy struggles to understand why his Japanese family is being sent to an internment camp during WWII.  While in the camp, the boy’s father helps to create a baseball field.  This is a touching and uplifting story. (HF) 

Morrissey, Dean. A Ship of Dreams. New York: Henry N. Abrams, 1994. 

Joey tries to stay awake and see the sandman, but wakes up to discover he is floating in the air in his red rocket wagon.  Then he crashes into a crescent moon and is saved in a net used to catch shooting stars.  After he is pulled from the net, Joey meets the Sandman, and discovers how he makes his special sand and the handmade stars that we all have. (JM) 

Murphy, Stuart J.  Elevator Magic.  Illustrated by J. Brian Karas.  New York: HarperCollins, 1997. 

What a fun way to practice basic subtraction facts!  On a ride down an elevator, a boy and his mom make stops at some really unusual floors.  Have you ever seen a pig in a bank?  You will, at Farm Bank and Trust.  That's 2 floors down from 10.  Do the math and enjoy the ride! (JS) 

Nolen, Jerdine. Harvey Potter’s Balloon Farm. New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shephard. 1994. 

Harvey Potter is a strange but wonderful farmer who raises an unbelievable crop of fanciful plants.  To discover his magic, a little girl hides in a sycamore tree at midnight.  But you don’t need to do that – just read this book. (LB)

Nolen, Jerdine.  In My Momma’s Kitchen. New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books. 1999. 

“Seems like everything good that happens in my house happens in my momma’s kitchen.” A young girl views her family’s kitchen as the center of activity.  Visiting relatives, making apple jelly, corn-pudding time, and nighttime serenades are a few of the pleasant memories she associates with this warm and cozy room. (LB)

Nolen, Jerdine.  Raising Dragons. Silver Whistle. 1998. 

When a dragon hatches on her pa’s farm, a young girl discovers a best friend.  At first Ma and Pa are wary of Hank, but its not long before they welcome the baby dragon into their family.  As Hank grows up it becomes obvious that he is not cut out for farm life.  Where will he go?  He leaves a parting present that no one will forget. (LB)

Numeroff, Laura Joffe.  If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.  New York: HarperCollins, 1985. 

A young boy sets off a hilarious chain of events as he gives a little mouse a cookie. After the mouse eats the cookie, he asks for some milk and gets a milk mustache. So he looks into the mirror and sees he needs a haircut. This story comes full circle with the young boy exhausted after helping the little mouse. (TD) 

O’Malley, Kevin. Leo Cockroach ... Toy Tester. New York: Walker & Co., 1999.

Mildred Splatt HATES cockroaches. This makes it very dangerous for her secret toy tester Leo, a cockroach,  to communicate which are the best toys without getting squashed. Leo gets fed up and takes his talents elsewhere only to learn that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. (DAH) 

O'Malley, Kevin. Velcome.  New York: Walker, 1997. 

No bones about it—this is the silliest horror book you have ever seen.  Filled with very bad puns, worse jokes and hilarious illustrations, this latest offering from O'Malley is sure to delight. (BD)

Olson, Mary W.  Nice Try, Tooth Fairy.  New York: Simon & Schuster, 2000.

Emma loses a tooth, and the Tooth Fairy leaves her money.  But when Grandfather wants to see the tooth, Emma writes a note asking the Tooth Fairy to return it.  But the Tooth Fairy keeps returning the wrong tooth.  (MK)

“It was big.  It was bad.  It was bedhead!”  Oliver has bedhead hair, and no one in the family can do anything with it, and it’s picture day at school.  Aghh!  (MK)

Palatini, Margie.  PiggiePie!  New York: Clarion, 1995.

When Gritch the witch woke up grouchy and very hungry, she knew her belly wanted something delicious.  Piggie pie was the answer to her growling stomach!  But when she gets to Old MacDonald’s farm and finds no pigs, she is upset.  Her problems are solved when she runs into a wolf and walks off arm in arm with the wolf envisioning a delicious wolf sandwich!  (MJ) 

Palatini, Margie.  Zak’s Lunch. New York: Clarion Books. 1998. 

When Zak’s mother serves him a boring ham and cheese sandwich for lunch, he lets his imagination run wild.  He envisions himself in his own restaurant, where he can order anything and everything he wants, like a triple decker, super-duper burger deluxe, with lots of grease, runny ketchup, fried onions, gooey yellow cheese and at least a pound of pickles. Don’t miss this mouth-watering treat, but read it on an empty stomach! (LB)

Palatini, Margie.  Zoom Broom. New York: Hyperion. 1998. (LB)

Gritch, the Witch, is back in this hilarious sequel to Piggie Pie.  When her old witch broom breaks down, Gritch decides to update to a new zoom broom, however she encounters all sorts of PROBLEMS dealing with the foxy salesman. (LB)

  Parish, Peggy.  Amelia Bedelia.  New York, 1963. 

Say exactly what you mean!  Miss Bedelia is hired to be the housekeeper for the Rogers family.  She is told to do what is on the list.  Before she completes the jobs, she bakes a lemon meringue pie.  She completes the jobs according to the exact word of the note.  Therein lies the problem.  Firing was the only response - Amelia is saved by the PIE! (MR) 

Parish, Peggy.  Amelia Bedelia Goes Camping.  New York: Greenwillow, 1985. 

This is Amelia’s first time going on a camping trip, but she’s the same old Amelia.  She packs Chocolate chip cookies—made with a whole bag of potato chips!  To catch a fish Amelia jumps in the water, catches one with her hands and then lets it go!  (SN) 

Parish, Peggy.  Good Work, Amelia Bedelia.  New York:  Greenwillow Books, 1976. 

Amelia Bedelia means well, but she just takes everyone so literally.  It all begins when Mr. Rogers asks for an egg and toast and Amelia doesn’t cook the egg because he didn’t say so.  He tells her to “go fly a kite!” and she does.  By the end, Amelia makes up for all the silly things she’s done with a wonderful surprise for Mr. Rogers. (RC) 

Parish, Peggy.  Play Ball, Amelia Bedelia.  New York: Harper & Row, 1972. 

The Grizzlies baseball team needs another player so they can play the Tornadoes.  Amelia Bedelia says she will play but she does not know the rules.  The boys try to explain them to her, but she does not help the team.  They move her to almost every position, but it does not work until . . .   (JD) 

Parish, Peggy.  Teach Us, Amelia Bedelia.  New York: Greenwillow Books, 1977. 

Amelia Bedelia substitutes for the day.  She follows the list the principal gives her or at least she thinks she's following it.  The students have music, reading, science, art, and math Amelia Bedelia style.  What a fun day!   (JD) 

Paterson, Katherine.  The King’s Equal.  New York:   HarperCollins, 1992. 

Prince Raphael is handsome, rich, and intelligent—and he knows it!  His dying father, aware of his son’s pride, tells him that he will not inherit the crown until he marries a woman who is his equal.  After a lengthy search, Rosamund is found, but to Raphael’s horror, she is more than his equal and will not be his wife.  She sends him to the mountains alone where he begins to change into a someone worthy to wear his father’s crown. (CG) 

Paterson, Katherine.  Marvin’s Best Christmas Present Ever. New York: HarperCollins, 1997. 

Marvin’s best Christmas present isn’t one that he receives; it’s one that he gives.  Marvin really wants to make a great present for his parents and, with his sister’s help, he does.  They make a beautiful wreath for their home that will outlast the holidays and serve a useful purpose. (CG) 

Paulsen, Gary.  Canoe Days.  New York: Doubleday, 1999. 

Take a canoe ride; relax and listen to the sounds of nature.  Enjoy the sweet,summer breeze as it tickles your cheeks on the canoe ride. What's that? Quiet now . . . look ahead-there's a fox, a raccoon, a monarch, and ducklings.  What a perfect day! (JW) 

Peck, Jan.  The Giant Carrot.  New York: Dial, 1998. 

Based on the Russian folktale, “The Turnip”, this version includes a family who plants a carrot seed and each member has a different plan for the mature carrot.  To the family’s amazement, the youngest child, Little Isabelle, seems to have the knack for growing and harvesting carrots.  Her carrot puddin’ recipe is featured at the end. (LB)

  Peet, Bill.  The Caboose Who Got Loose.  Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1979. 

Katy Caboose is hooked to a train that goes up and down tracks again and again.  Day after day as she's trying her best, she's sad as she has to clack east and then west.  All that our Katy Caboose wants to do, is stay in one place with nothing to do. Then one day poor Katy comes into some luck.  She breaks from the train and is hidden and stuck!   (AB) 

Peet, Bill.  Chester the Worldly Pig.  Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1956. 

What happens when an unhappy pig dreams of being a circus star? Tag along with Chester as he becomes Percival the Circus Pig with a secret that only the carnival man can answer. (JHP) 

Peet, Bill.  Farewell to Shady Glade.  New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1966. 

The animals of Shady Glade hear a rumble that turns fright into flight.  After discovering that their homeland lives is in deep peril, raccoon devises a plan to move the group to safety.  Move is putting it mildly.  The animals hop a train, but traveling is dangerous.  A natural disaster  provides the means to reach a new home. (MR) 

Peet, Bill.  The Gnats of Knotty Pine.  Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1975. 

What does the first day of hunting season mean to the animals in Knotty Pine Forest? When Nate the Top Gnat has an idea about stopping the hunters no one listens, including Bull Moose. However, Nate and his gnat friends have a “real fun game” on opening day. (JHP) 

Peet, Bill.  Hubert's Hair-Raising Adventure.  Boston: Houghton, 1959. 

Hubert burns away his mane when a stray spark from sharpening his claws catches it on fire. His elephant friend must retrieve a crocodile tear to grow the mane back, but when they apply the hair tonic, Hubert's hair grows wildly out of control.  A creative haircut becomes the only solution.(MA) 

Peet, Bill.  Huge Harold.  Boston:  Houghton, 1961. 

Poor Harold is huge—much too huge to be a rabbit.  Where can a rabbit this size live and  be safe from the hunters?  His search takes him to the forest, the cow pasture, a vegetable patch, and an abandoned mansion.  Soon he is pursued by hunters who want to bag this huge rabbit.  The rhymes and illustrations capture Harold’s sadness, alarm, and confusion, as his search for a new home takes him to a friendly farmer who helps him find his place in the world. (CG) 

Peet, Bill.  The Whingdingdilly.  Boston: Houghton, 1970. 

Scamp is tired of being a dog.  No one pays any attention to him like they do to Palomar, the horse on the farm across the road.  His best friend Orvie does not know why Scamp is so sad.  Scamp decides to runaway.  He goes into the woods and does not come back out . . . as himself.   (JD) 

Pilkey, Dav. Dog Breath- The Horrible Trouble With Hally Tosis.New York: Scholastic, 1994.

Get a clothes pin and clamp it onto your nose! Here comes Hally Tosis, and her breath is enough to  make a skunk gag!  The Tosis family loves their dog, but something has to be done about that breath!  Dave Pilkey's silly pictures will make you giggle but the story STINKS!  (AB) 

Pilkey, Dav.  The Paperboy.   New York: Orchard Books, 1996.

Through delightful drawings, the reader follows the paperboy and his dog through their morning rounds.  As the rest of the world sleeps, the paperboy and his loyal pet silently make their way through the neighborhood delivering the papers and enjoying the peace and quiet. (JP)

Pendziwol, Jean. No Dragons for Tea, Fire Safety for Kids (and Dragons). Toronto: Kids Can Press, 1999.

When a little girl invites a dragon over for tea he sneezes and catches the tablecloth on fire. When the dragon gets scared, the little girl calmly shows him how to get out safely. A fireman praises her for staying calm and following the fire safety rules so well. The pictures are child friendly and done with a sense of humor. (KG)

Pinkney, Brian.  Adventures of Sparrow Boy.   New York: Simon and Shuster, 1997.

Henry, the paperboy, thinks if his comic hero, Falconman, was around bad stuff wouldn't have to happen.  As he is delivering his papers, when a sparrow appears, Henry can suddenly fly.  As Sparrow Boy, Henry is able to save the day just like Falconman. (JP)

Pinkney, Gloria.  Back Home.  New York: Dial Books, 1992. 

Written and beautifully illustrated by an African-American husband and wife team, this is the story of Ernestine, who travels alone by train to visit her relatives in North Carolina.  There she has the privilege of seeing her birth place, her mama's girlhood bedroom and wearing her Mama's old overalls.  She enjoys her visit with Aunt Beula and Uncle June, but cousin Jack torments and teases her. She wonders if they will ever be friends. (AB) 

Pinkney, Gloria Jean.  The Sunday Outing.  New York: Dial, 1994. 

Every Sunday, Ernestine and her Aunt Odessa go to the railroad station to watch the giant trains. Her favorites are the Silver Star and the Palmetto because they go to North Carolina where she was born.  Ernestine wants to go visit her relatives in North Carolina but she does not have enough money unless she sacrifices something special.   (JD) 

Polacco, Patricia. Aunt Chip and the Great Triple Creek Dam Affair.New York: Putnam, 1996. 

Triple Creek, Michigan is in for dire consequences. Fifty years ago a TV tower was built where the library stood.   People forgot how to read.  When Eli’s Aunt Charlotte (Aunt Chip) teaches Eli and the children to read, disaster strikes.  Aunt Chip’s actions save the day. (MR) 

Polacco, Patricia. Mrs. Mack. New York: Philomel, 1998.

The story of the summer a young girl gets her first experience riding horses with the wonderful Mrs. Mack.  (SH)

Polacco, Patricia. My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1994. 

This author tells the story about life with her loving grandmother, Bubbie, and her obnoxious older brother, Richie. He could run faster, jump higher, eat more, burp louder and spit farther than his little sister. Try as she might, she could never beat him at anything. She couldn't understand why Bubbie liked them equally until one night she wishes on a falling star to out do Richie.  It just doesn't come true in quite the way she expects. (AB)

Polacco, Patricia.  Some Birthday!  New York: Simon & Schuster, 1991. 

Has everyone forgotten Patricia's birthday?  They must have because there is no cake, no singing "Happy Birthday," and no presents with big bows.  Her Dad says they're even going to go take the first picture of the Clay Pit, the scariest place ever.  Some birthday!   (JD) 

Polacco, Patricia. Thank You, Mr. Falker. New York: Philomel Books, 1998. 

This is the true story of a young girl who just happens to be Ms. Polacco! Her grandfather used to put honey on a book and tell her that to receive sweet knowledge she had to chase it through the pages of a book.  But as a young girl, Ms. Polacco struggled in school, until she met Mr. Falker, who helped her to overcome her fear of school. (SM) 

Polacco, Patricia.  Thundercake.  New York:  Philomel Books, 1990.  unp. 

Grandma helps her grandaughter overcome her fear of storms by teaching her an old recipe for Thundercake.  Can they gather all the ingredients before the storm hits?  FLAAASH!  1,2,3,4,5  BOOOOOM! (DH) 

Porte, Barbara Ann.  Harry’s Pony.  Pictures by Yossi Abolafia.  New York: Greenwillow, 1997.  56p. Grades K-2. 

When Harry wins a pony in a contest, Pop says, “A pony in this house isn’t possible.”  So Harry must come up with a plan.  Should he ride it to Oklahoma and stay with his grandparents?  Should he go into business and give pony rides?  Or should he take the bicycle (the alternate prize) instead? In the bottom right corner of each page, there is a pony and by rapidly flipping the pages, you’ll see the pony galloping.  This is the seventh book in the Harry series.  Hooray! (MK) 

Priceman, Marjorie. Emeline at the Circus. New York: Knopf, 1999. Unpaged.

Ms. Splinter takes her second grade class to the circus.  While she talks about what the children are seeing inside the circus ring, Emeline sneaks away to buy peanuts.  An elephant picks up Emeline and her peanuts, and the little girl becomes part of the show.(DR)

Hot summer nights are always magical for Cassie up on "Tar Beach."  The stars surround her, and she dreams of being free to go wherever she wants the rest of her life.  She hopes to achieve it by flying because "all you need is somewhere to go that you can't get to any other way."   (JD)

Root, Phyllis. Rosie's Fiddle. Illustrated by Kevin O'Malley. New York: Lothrop, 1997.

Folks said Rosie could fiddle the flowers out of their buds.  They said she could fiddle the stones out of the ground.  Folks said Rosie could out-fiddle the devil himself.  The devil doesn't think so, so he challenges Rosie to a duel—the winner to win a gold fiddle or keep her soul. (BD) 

Roth, Susan L.  The Biggest Frog in Australia.  New York: Simon and Schuster, 1996.

The biggest frog is thirsty.  He ends up drinking all the water in Australia!  Now none of the other plants and animals have anything to drink.  They have to come up with a way to make him spit it back out.  If they make him laugh it would flow right out.  But how can they do it? (RC) 

  Rylant, Cynthia.  An Angel for Solomon Singer.  New York: Orchard Books, 1992. 

A lonely man, Solomon Singer, lives in a boarding house for men in New York City and dreams of his rural boyhood home in Indiana. One night he wanders into “The Westway Cafe - where all your dreams come true.” The cafe reawakens the most important part of a person’s life - which is to have dreams. (JHP) 

Rylant, Cynthia.  Birthday Presents.  New York: Orchard Books, 1987. 

Parents tell their five-year old the story of the presents she received at each of her birthdays. However, it is evident that they consider her the best present of all. (JHP) 

Rylant, Cynthia.  Bunny Bungalow.  New York: Harcourt Brace, 1999. 

A cozy rhyming tale of the bunny family’s life in the home they made all their own.  You’ll love the inside, with the quilts, rockers and bedtime tea; and the outside, where they play in the squishy cherries under Father’s carrot weathervane.  (BMD) 

Rylant, Cynthia.  The Blue Hill Meadows.  New York: Harcourt Brace, 1997. 

Spend a year with the Meadow’s family in their country life in Blue Hill, Virginia.  The summer brings newborn puppies, a fishing trip in the fall, a winter blizzard, and a Mother's Day celebration in the spring.  This book highlights the love of family and the joys of a simple life. (CS) 

Rylant, Cynthia.  The Bookshop Dog.  New York: The Blue Sky Press, 1996. 

Martha Jane, a dog who lives with her owner in a bookshop, is so well loved that the bookshop is named after her; which causes some confusion at first. When the owner has to go to the hospital, a stranger comforts the bewildered dog. The happy ending includes a wedding. Cynthia Rylant’s artwork will entertain children. (JHP) 

Rylant, Cynthia.  Cat Heaven.  New York:  Blue Sky Press, 1997.

If you have been special enough to have a cat in your life, you will love this adorable story.  Much like in her book, Dog Heaven, Rylant's water color illustrations bring the story alive.  This would be a terrific story for any child who may have experienced the loss of an animal friend.  (MJ)

Rylant, Cynthia.  The Cookie Store Cat.  New York: The Blue Sky Press,  1999. 

A sweet stray cat is taken in by the baker and becomes the neighborhood’s Cookie Store Cat.  Soon he has sweet cream to drink,  pastry to eat and his own cozy bed.  There’s even a fish shop and a yarn store nearby...  now that’s living!  This book is as sweet as the recipes in the back.  (BMD) 

Rylant, Cynthia.   Dog Heaven.  New York: Blue Sky Press, 1995.

If you've ever lost a pet and wondered what happened to it after it died this book will put your mind at ease.  Dog Heaven is a place where any dog would be happy to be.  They can run and bark.  There are lots of children to play with, and God makes sure they have plenty of biscuits shaped like squirrels and kitty-cats.  Every dog is good in Dog Heaven.. (JP)

Rylant, Cynthia.  Henry and Mudge: The First Book.  New York: Simon & Schuster,  1987. 

Henry is an only child who is used to doing things alone.  When Mom and Dad keep refusing his requests for a sister or brother, he asks for a dog...  and they say yes!  At 180 pounds, Mudge is more of a dog and best friend  than any kid could ask for.  (BMD) 

Rylant, Cynthia.  Henry and Mudge and Annie’s Good Move. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1998.

Mudge and Henry help their friend Annie with an important move.  Luckily, she’s not going far.  She’s moving right next door to Henry and Mudge.  But Annie is nervous and breaks out in huge red blotches.  Will Mudge and Henry be able to help? (AT) 

Rylant, Cynthia.  Henry and Mudge and the Happy Cat.  New York: Bradbury, 1990. 

This is a good story for young readers. The story of finding a home for the lost cat named Dave and its effect on Henry and his dog Mudge is a good read. (JHP) 

Rylant, Cynthia.  Henry and Mudge Get the Cold Shivers.  New York:  Bradbury,  1989. 

An easy read for newly independent readers, this story will captivate young readers as Henry tries to help Mudge recover from a cold.  (MJ) 

Rylant, Cynthia.  Henry and Mudge Take the Big Test.  New York: Bradbury,1991. 

Henry's dog Mudge does not listen as well as the collie that walks by so Henry decides to take Mudge to school.  They buy everything Mudge needs for school including a leash, a collar, and of course, a box of liver treats.  Henry worries that Mudge may flunk dog school so he buys himself a paddle-ball.  This book is great for beginning readers and it even has chapters!   (JD) 

Rylant, Cynthia.  Miss Maggie.  New York: Dutton, 1983. 

Maggie Ziegler, based on a real person Rylant knew, lives alone in a log cabin. Maggie is a peaceful though eccentric hermit with her tobacco-spitting ways. The strength of the story comes when Nat, a young boy, can overlook their differences and accept Maggie for the person she is. (JHP) 

Rylant, Cynthia.  Mr. Griggs' Work.  New York:  Orchard, 1989. 

Working at the old post office means so much to Mr. Griggs.  So, imagine how upset Mr. Griggs becomes when he must miss a day of work and the post office must open without him.  The author effectively illustrates the love Mr. Griggs has for his job and his community.  (MJ) 

Rylant, Cynthia.   Mr. Putter and Tabby Bake the Cake.   New York: Harcourt Brace, 1994. 

Mr. Putter and Tabby have a challenge ahead of them.  Christmas is coming, and they have to get their kind-hearted neighbor, Mrs. Teaberry a present.  Mr. Potter gets a great idea and it’s so simple, but then again maybe it isn’t. (DA)

Rylant, Cynthia.  Mr. Putter and Tabby Pour the Tea.  New York: Harcourt Brace,  1994. 

Mr. Putter is old, creaky and lonely.  He wants a cat to share his time and stories with - but not just any cat - one that’s as old and creaky as he is.  Can Mr. Putter find a feline that fits this description...  and enjoys opera?  (BMD) 

Rylant, Cynthia.  Mr. Putter and Tabby Row the Boat.  San Diego: Harcourt Brace, 1997. 

It is a hot, sweaty day in summer and Mr. Putter and his cat, Tabby, can’t seem to cool down.  They pack up themselves and their neighbors, Mrs. Teaberry and her dog, Zeke, and head for the pond.  They rent a boat and head for a shady spot for lunch, relaxing until nobody’s sweaty anymore.  They head for home, but until they get there, everybody’s sweaty again!  Mrs. Teaberry finally comes up with a cool solution for their sticky situation. (CG) 

Rylant, Cynthia. Night in the Country.  New York: Bradbury Press, 1986. 

This is a story about the sounds of the night that will cause a child’s imagination to create meanings for all those strange night noises. Yet the illustrations and text provide a happy meaning to the night that will put a child’s mind to rest and cause it to create happy solutions for those things that go creak in the night. (JHP) 

Rylant, Cynthia.  The Old Woman Who Named Things.  New York: Harcourt Brace, 1996. 

What happens when you outlive all your friends and never get a letter from anyone? Well, if you are like the old woman, you can start naming objects that are going to outlast you. A puppy enters her life and, no matter how much she tries to allay her feelings of death and separation, teaches her a lesson about herself. (JHP) 

Rylant, Cynthia.  The Relatives Came.   New York: Bradbury Press, 1985.

Those relatives!  They traveled up from Virginia leaving their almost ripe grapes behind looking forward to visiting in West Virginia.  And, then it was hugging time, and oh, those hugs, they went on and on.  The relatives stayed for weeks and weeks eating and working and playing together until it was time to leave. (JP)

Rylant, Cynthia. The Whales.   New York: The Blue Sky Press, 1996. 

Poem-like descriptions of whales accompany Rylant’s illustrations made with natural sea sponges and acrylics. This is definitely a good read aloud book. (JHP) 

Rylant, Cynthia.  When I Was Young in the Mountains.  New York: Dutton, 1982.

Living in the mountains, eating corn bread and pinto beans, walking through cow pastures and splashing in a dark and muddy swimming hole is all the narrator of this story needs to be happy.  She never wishes for the ocean or the desert because life in the mountains is just perfect. (JP)

Realizing they are unhappy in a world without laughter, a jester and his sidekick make it their goal to change things.  When everything seems to have failed, they make a visit to a hospital.  Can they make the world a funnier place?  Published posthumously, an afterward by author Maurice Sendak accompanies the text. (SR) 

Saul, Carol P. Barn Cat: A Counting Book. Boston: Little, Brown, 1998. 

Barn Cat comes across crickets, swallows, puppies, peeping chicks, butterflies, and other creatures from 1 to 10, but she doesn’t seem interested.  What is she looking for? Young children will enjoy this counting book with rhyme, rhythm, and repetition illustrated with hand-colored woodcut prints by Caldecott winner Mary Azarian. (MJG) 

Say, Allen. Emma's Rug. Boston: Houghton, 1996. 

Emma was given a rug as a baby that she loves to sit and stare at.  She draws the pictures she sees in it. But whe her mother washes the rug, where will Emma now find pictures to draw? (JM) 

Say, Allen.  Tea with Milk.  Boston:  Houghton Mifflin,  1999. 

May was born and raised in America by Japanese parents.  When she graduates high school they move back to Japan where she is suddenly the foreigner.  Unable to conform, she moves to a large city where she meets Joseph and learns that home is not a matter of simple geography... it’s where the people and things that you love are (like tea with milk and sugar).  (BMD) 

  Scieszka, Jon and Lane Smith.  Math Curse.  New York: Viking, 1995. 

A day full of problems is one thing, but what if your problems are all math problems.  Everything you say and do becomes a problem.  Every subject at school becomes a math problem.  Even when it is someone's birthday, there is a problem.  Math will never be the same, unless . . .(JD) 

Scieszka, Jon.  The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs.  New York: Viking, 1989. 

The Big Bad Wolf was framed!  He had a cold and was trying to borrow a cup of sugar to finish a cake for his Grandmother.  That’s all!  His sneezes caused the death of two pigs before a third pig, brother of the two previous victims, a brick house and the cops stopped him! Fun to see the other side of the story.  (MR) 

Scieszka, Jon.  The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales.  New York: Viking, 1992. 

If a writer went completely crazy, and an illustrator lost his marbles and a publisher's printing press exploded, this is the book you'd get. Scieszka twists and combines several  fairy tales and comes up with some hilarious results!  Jack, (from the beanstalk) tries to narrate these wild tales while being pursued by a resentful giant.  He is also frequently interrupted by the Little Red Hen, who nags," Who is going to help me plant the wheat?  Who will help me tell my story?  Who will help me spell 'the wheat'?"  Who will want to read this wild book? Everyone!  (AB) 

Seuss, Dr.  My Many Colored Days.   New York: Knopf, 1996. 

Everyone has good days and bad days.  Using bright vibrant illustrations, this new version of an old verse describes all kinds of moods, using colors.  Have you ever had  "bright red days" or  "sad purple days"?  This book shows that it’s okay to sometimes be mad, loud or blue. (JP) 

Shannon, David.  A Bad Case of Stripes.  New York: The Blue Sky Press, 1998.

Camilla Cream was always worried about what everyone else thought.  She was scared to be herself.  So Camilla let it build up inside of her until one day when it just had to come out.  Then, Camilla was faced with a bad case of stripes! (DA)

Shelby, Anne.  Homeplace. Illustrated by Wendy Halperin.  New York: Orchard,  1993. 

After you read this wonderful book about a family home that grows with the generations that inhabit it, you’ll want to go back and look at every detail of the charming illustrations.  You might even be prompted to ask your parents and grandparents about your own family history.  (BMD) 

Silverstein, Shel.  A Giraffe and a Half.  New York: HarperCollins,1964. 

What do you get when you mix together a giraffe, a shoe with glue, a rose, a chair, a hat with a rat and much more? A mess! This delightful book with its fast-paced action and wacky rhymes and illustrations make it a great read-aloud for all ages. (TD) 

Simmons, Jane.  Ebb & Flo and the Greedy Gulls.  New York: Simon & Schuster, 1999.

Ebb and Flo are having a wonderful day at the beach until Ebb accuses Flo of eating all the sandwiches, but Flo didn’t do it! (MK)

Smith, Lane.  Glasses Who Needs ‘Em?  New York: Scholastic, 1991. 

Thinking his eyesight is being checked out by a loony doctor, our main character realizes just what all he’s missing without glasses on.  His whole family wears them, but you won’t believe who else wears them, too! (SR) 

Sonenklar, Carol.  Bug Boy.  New York: Bantam Doubleday Dell, 1997. 

Charlie’s nickname is “Bug Boy”, and that suits him just fine -  he’s a BUG NUT and proud of it.  He receives a junky little contraption called the Bug-A-View in the mail and thinks it’s a joke...until he suddenly finds himself with eight legs and a bug’s eye view!  Charlie has several experiences, some fun, some freaky, which make him appreciate the insect world even more.  (BMD) 

Soybel.  The Diner on the Wall.  Mount Desert, Maine: Windswept House, 1996. 

When Anna asks her dad where he learned to cook Chinese food, he comes up with a tall tale about riding his bicycle to China.  "When I was eight, my two best friends were Mitch and Nate.  We biked a lot and reached that place in the famous, Far-Fastest Bicycle Race." (MK) 

Spinelli, Eileen.  When Mama Comes Home Tonight.  New York: Simon & Schuster, 1998. 

Sometimes it feels like your Mama will never get home, and when she does, it feels like your day is just beginning.  This is a heartwarming, soothing story about a mama and her child celebrating their time together just before bedtime.  A perfect read aloud story to be shared with any mama, when she comes home tonight.  (SM) 

Stanley, Diane.  Raising Sweetness.  New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons. 1999. 

Sweetness is an orphan, who along with seven other children, is adopted by the sheriff of Possum Trot.  He is a loving parent, but cooking and housekeeping are a real challenge.  Sweetness has a plan that will save the family. (LB)

Stanley, Diane.  Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter.   New York: Morrow, 1997. 

This delightful retelling of the classic fairy tale puts quite a different "spin" on the traditional story.  Instead of marrying the king, the miller's daughter marries Rumpelstiltskin.  They have a daughter who ends up in the same predicament as her mother, having to spin straw into gold.  Only this time, the daughter, aptly named Hope, outwits the greedy king. (JP) 

Stevens, Janet and Susan Stevens Crummel.  Cook-A-Doodle-Doo! New York: Harcourt Brace,1999. 46 pgs.

Big Brown Rooster is tired of eating chicken feed every day.  When he finds his great-grandmother’s cookbook, The Joy of Cooking Alone by Little Red Hen, he decides to make strawberry shortcake.  Turtle helps by reading the recipe, Iguana gets the ingredients, and Potbellied Pig is the taste tester.  (DR) 

Stevens, Janet.  Tops and Bottoms.  New York: Harcourt Brace, 1995. 

Bear has lots of money but he is very lazy—he only wants to sleep all day.  The Hare family is hungry and desperate.  The clever Hare convinces Bear to become business partners in raising crops.  Somehow, no matter what Bear chooses, tops or bottoms, Hare always gets the better part of the crop.  How does he do it? (JP) 

Stewart, Sarah.   The Library.   New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 1995. 

Sarah Elizabeth Brown began to read practically from the time she entered the world.  She was shy and would much rather read than play with dolls or skate.  When she went to town, it wasn't for clothes or potato chips but to buy more books.  She ended up with so many books that she couldn't find the door.  And so, she finally says no more and comes up with the perfect solution. (JP)

Teague, Mark. The Lost and Found. New York: Scholastic Press, 1998. 

Where do things go when they get lost? To the lost and found of course! Three friends explore the mysterious world of the lost and found by jumping into a bin outside the principal's office.  Will they find what they are looking for, or will they be trapped (JM) 

  Van Allsburg, Chris.  Bad Day At Riverbend.  Boston:  Houghton Mifflin, 1995. 

What sort of outlaw could do this?  The town of Riverbend is being terrorized by shiny, greasy slime.  The sheriff sets out to find this outlaw, but he becomes a victim of this familiar outlaw. (JC) 

Van Allsburg, Chris.  Ben's Dream.  Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1982. 

Ben has a geography test to study for, but he falls asleep while working.  In his dream, a flood carries his house past several recognizable landmarks including the Eiffel Tower, the Sphinx, and the Great Wall of China. (MA) 

Van Allsburg, Chris.  Jumanji.  Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1981. 

Peter and Judy find a board game under a tree and discover that the dangers listed on the game spaces for "lose a turn" and "go back two spaces" start happening in real life.  They must escape lions, snakes, monkeys, and rhinoceros stampedes to finish the game. (MA) 

Van Allsburg, Chris.  Just a Dream.  Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1990. 

A little boy named Walter cares very little for the environment until he has a dream where he travels to the future and sees the total effect of millions of people who, like himself, care little for the environment. Will Walter change? Where will his next dream take him? (JHP) 

Van Allsburg, Chris.  The Mysteries of Harris Burdick.  Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1984. 

Fourteen pictures were left behind by the mysterious Harris Burdick at the publishing offices of Peter Wenders.  All that was included were a title and a caption for each.  The imagination runs wild with possibilities of what these strange stories could've been about. (MA) 

Van Allsburg, Chris.  The Polar Express.  Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1985. 

The boy travels by magical train with all of the other believers in Santa Claus to the North Pole.  He is selected to receive the first gift of Christmas from Santa himself, and he asks for a bell from Santa's sleigh.  It's a simple gift, but the bell's ringing can only be heard by those who truly believe. (MA) 

Van Allsburg, Chris.  The Sweetest Fig.  Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1993. 

Monsieur Bibot is not a nice master to his dog, Bibot, and he is a selfish person besides. When he comes into possession of two magical figs, he is told that they will make his dreams come true.  He does not believe the story until he eats the first fig and notices the effects the day after he dreams.  He trains himself to dream himself rich and saves the fig for just the right moment, but his dog, Bibot, eats the fig instead.  Guess what Bibot dreams about... (MA) 

Van Allsburg, Chris.  Two Bad Ants.  Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1988. 

Two ants discover a treasure trove of sugar crystals to take back to their hill.  But in their greediness they get put in coffee, nearly swallowed, singed by a toaster, and almost grinded by a garbage disposal.  After escaping these many dangers, they decide to take a single crystal back to the hill, where they will be properly honored for their great find. (MA) 

Van Allsburg, Chris.  The Widow's Broom.  Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1992. 

When a lonely widow acquires a witch's old broom, she discovers it has magic powers and will help with household chores. But the neighbors assume that the broom is evil, so they burn it. Soon the broom's "ghost" returns, tapping on their door. The neighbors flee and advise the widow to do the same. But the widow knows something!  (AB) 

Van Allsburg, Chris.  The Wreck of the Zephyr.  Boston: Houghton Mifflin,1983. 

A boy encounters an old man standing beside an old boat sitting on a high hill.  The boy wonders how it got there, and the man tells him of a young boy who flew the magical flying ship without the proper knowledge and crashed it here on this hill, injuring his leg.  The boy wonders what happened to the boy in later life as the old man limps away. (MA) 

Van Laan, Nancy.  Little Fish, Lost.  New York: Atheneum, 1998. 

Little fish has lost his mother and feels very sad.  He sees many different animals that are with their mothers but none are his mother.  It’s only when he slips between two rocks that he sees his mother and the whole time she’d been wondering where he was! (RC) 

Van Leeuwen, Jean. Nothing Here But Trees. New York: Dial, 1998. 

There was nothing but trees, when the pioneer family arrived in the wilderness of Ohio to make a new home. With an axe, Pa clears the land and builds a cabin. Will they be able to survive the struggles with the wilderness? This story gives readers a glimpse into the daily life of the pioneers that settled our country. (MJG)

Van Leeuwen, Jean. The Strange Adventures of Blue Dog. New York: Dial, 1999.

Blue Dog lives on a farm, sort of. One day Blue Dog visits another farm with his friend Big Billy, and when he returns he learns that his farm can be just as real. Complete with a trouble making pig. A great book for anyone ever accused of having a an active imagination or special friend. (DAH)

Ira really wants to sleep over at his friend Reggie's house.  He's never slept over before.    But his sister suggests he may not want to take his teddy bear.  Sleep without his teddy bear?  Could he do it?  Would Reggie laugh at him?  What should Ira do? (JP) 

Waber, Bernard.   A Lion Named Shirley Williamson.   Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1996. 

Who has ever heard of naming a lion, Shirley Williamson?  This delightful story tells how Shirley Williamson got her name and how it set her apart from the other lions.  As popular as Shirley was, she was not always happy.  But you’ll laugh at this comical tale by Bernard Waber. (JP) 

Waber, Bernard.  Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile.  Boston: Houghton, 1965. 

Lyle the crocodile lived with the Primm family.  He was very happy.  But Mr. Grumpscomplains about a crocodile living in the community.  Lyle tries to be friendly and polite, but Mr. Grumps does not give the crocodile a fighting chance.  Does Lyle belong in the zoo? (HF) 

Walsh, Ellen Stoll. For Pete’s Sake. New York: Harcourt Brace & Co., 1998.

Pete doesn’t look much like the other flamingos, but they never seem to notice. Pete instead is green, has four short legs, and no feathers. On day Pete meets flamingos that look just like him. Oh, for Pete’s sake! Being the same and different at the same time is confusing. (DAH) 

Weitzman, Jacqueline Preiss and Robin Preiss Glassner. You Can’t Take a Balloon Into the Metropolitan Museum.  New York: Dial, 1998.

A wordless visit to the museum turns into quite and adventure for the museum guard who promised to look out for a little girl’s balloon. As the runaway balloon is pursued through the wild and funny city scenes it mirrors the exhibits being viewed in the museum. Art may be an imitation of life, but sometime life imitates art too. (DAH) 

  Wells, Rosemary. Bunny Money.  New York: Dial, 1997. 

It's Grandma's birthday and Ruby, has saved a wallet full of money to buy Grandma the perfect present. That is until younger brother Max gets hungry and dirty and all that is left is a five-dollar bill! Can Ruby and Max find the perfect birthday present with just five dollars? (TD) 

Wells, Rosemary.  Edward Unready for School.  New York:  Dial, 1995. 

Unlike all his classmates, Edward is not ready for school.  He can not understand while all the students are busy and having fun.  At the end of the week, his teacher decides that he really needs to wait for school.  And besides, for Edward, being at home is so much more fun!  (MJ) 

Wells, Rosemary.  Lassie Come-Home.  New York: Scholastic, 1995. 

Based on Eric Knight's 1940 classic, this is the beautifully illustrated story of Joe and his Collie, Lassie. Joe's father loses his job as a Yorkshire coal miner and he must sell Lassie to a rich Duke in order to buy food. The Duke intends to win some dog shows with her, but Lassie doesn't understand.  She wants to be with Joe. Lassie must trek all the way back from Scotland where the Duke lives in order to find Joe. How will she ever find her way home? (AB) 

Wells, Rosemary.  A Lion for Lewis.  New York: Dial, 1982. 

Lewis is frustrated because he is always being told what to do when he plays with his brother and sister.  While George and Sophie are busy playing king and queen, Lewis finds a lion suit and tries it on for size.  Wait till George and Sophie see this! (HF) 

Wells, Rosemary.  Max’s Chocolate Chicken.   New York: Dial, 1989. 

Max and his sister Ruby go on an Easter egg hunt to see who will get the most eggs and win the chocolate chicken. In this easy reader see what happens when Max finds other things besides Easter eggs. Who will win the chocolate chicken? (JHP) 

Wells, Rosemary.  Max's Dragon Shirt.  New York: Dial,  1991. 

Max needs new pants.  His sister Ruby takes him to the store to buy new pants with the five dollars.  All Max wants is a dragon shirt.  Ruby finds some dresses that she would like too.  Max falls asleep while Ruby tries on dresses.  When he wakes up, Ruby is not there.  He leaves to look for her but finds a dragon shirt instead.  Where is Ruby?   (JD) 

Wells, Rosemary.  Moss Pillows.  New York: Dial, 1992. 

Poor little Robert! With his wild cousins tackling him and the ice-cold dinners, Robert has enough reasons to travel to the Bunny Planet. There he can sit quietly, sing with nature, and eat toasted tangerines. And what is more important is that Robert has this comforting place within him always and can call it up whenever he needs it. (TD) 

Wells, Rosemary.   Night Sounds, Morning Colors.  New York: Dial Books, 1994. 

Violets laughing, pumpkin cookies tasting of Halloween, smells of clean towels and soap are just a few of the images mentioned in this wonderful book.  Open your senses to the sounds of night and the colors of morning as this books moves you through season to season and morning to night. (JP) 

Weston, Martha.  Cats Are Like That.  New York: Holiday House, 1999. 

Dot gets three new fish for a pet, and she wishes that the fish would do something interesting, but her cat Fuzzy doesn't care if the fish are boring.  He just wants to eat them.  Cats are like that.  (MK) 

Wiesner, David.  Free Fall.  New York: Lothrop,1988. 

This wordless book follows the strange wonder of a boy's dream, complete with castles of chess pieces, floating maps of the world, and dinosaurs.  Upon waking, we see things surrounding the boy's bed that look oddly familiar as possible inspirations for images in the earlier dream, like a chess board, an atlas, and plastic toy dinosaurs. (MA) 

Wiesner, David. June 29, 1999. New York: Clarion, 1992. 

Holly can't wait to find out how her vegetable seedlings are doing in outerspace.  On June 29, 1999, the news reports tell about gourds the size of houses in North Carolina and peas bigger than boats sailing down the Mississippi.  Has her experiment gone haywire? (KM) 

Wiesner, David.  Tuesday.  New York: Clarion, 1991. 

On a Tuesday morning, frogs mysteriously begin to float around town on lily pads, scaring birds, disturbing hanging laundry, and chasing dogs.  The frogs seem disappointed when the ride ends at dawn, but on the following Tuesday, the gift of flight is passed on to the pigs. (MA) 

  Williams, Suzanne. Library Lil.  Illustrated by Steven Kellogg. New York: Dial, 1997. 

"I bet you think all librarians are mousy little old ladies.  Hair rolled up in a bun. Beady eyes peering out at you over the tops of the funny half-glasses.  An index finger permanently attached to lips mouthing, 'Shhh.'" Then again I'll bet you've never met Lil!  She makes readers out of a town of non-readers and a library aide out of the leader of a motorcycle gang will delight readers of all ages. (BD) 

Wilson, April. Magpie Magic. New York: Dial Books, 1999.

In this wordless picture book, a new set of colored pencils inspires a child to create a magpie bird. Follow the mischievous antics of the bird as it becomes real and tries to outwit its creator with a creative streak. This wordless story will make you laugh when both feathers and tempers fly. (DAH) 

Wisniewski, David. The Secret Knowledge of Grown-Ups Revealed. New York: Lothrop, 1998. 

Shh! Any adults around? No? Great, then you too can enjoy The Secrets of Grown-Ups revealed by our friend and spy David Wisniewski. Did you know that you shouldn't blow bubbles in your milk? Not just because your mom says not to, but because it can create a powerful vacuum which may suck you into your glass! (SM)

Wood, Audrey.  The Bunyans.  New York: Blue Sky Press, 1996. 

Everyone knows the story of Paul Bunyan, or do we?  It was not always just Paul and his great blue ox, Babe.  Paul had a gigantic wife, and two beautifully enormous children.  Together in this story, the family does some ordinary family things which result in the formation of many of our natural monuments.  As Wood presents her story in a humorous light, David Shannon’s illustrations captivate the beautiful landscapes of North America.  (MJ) 

Wood, Audrey. Sweet Dream Pie. New York: Blue Sky Press, 1998. 

Ma Brindle’s sweet dream pie is chock-full of everything sweet that you can imagine—jelly beans, cookies, gumdrops, licorice sticks, and more. A little slice will give you sweet dreams; but, oh my, what four or five slices will do!  Ma Brindle warns everyone, but they just can’t resist! This tall tale and Mark Teague’s marvelous illustrations combine for a delicious adventure! (MJG) 

Wood, Douglas.  What Dads Can’t Do.  Pictures by Doug Cushman. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2000.

Dinosaur Dads can push, but they can’t swing.  When dads play hide-and-seek, they always get found, but they have a hard time finding you.  Simple text about a young boy and his dad.  (MK)

Wood, Douglas. What Moms Can’t Do.  Pictures by Doug Cushman.  New York: Simon & Schuster, 2001.

In this dinosaur family, “there are lots of things that regular people can do but moms can’t….they can’t make the bed without lots of help,…and they have trouble keeping things cleaned up.  (MK)

Woodruff, Elvira. The Memory Coat. New York: Scholastic Press, 1999.

A bittersweet picture book story of immigration to America and a look at Ellis Island. Like all immigrants each brought with them special stories, memories and traditions. Rachel and cousin Grisha have brought theirs as well. A look into why many people left their homelands for the hope America promised. The author’s note at the end is very touching. (DAH)

Wyeth, Sharon Dennis.  Always My Dad.  New York: Knopf, Inc., 1995. 

A young girl is sad when she never gets to see her father.  The one summer the two of them spend together at her grandparents is magical.  And when the young girl goes back home to the city, she still remembers her summer with her dad where the two shared soda pop at the general store and played games under the evening sky.  Wyeth writes an inspiring story about the love a father shares with his daughter.  (MJ) 

Wyeth, Sharon Dennis.  Something Beautiful. New York: Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing, 1998. 

Examples of beauty are hard to find in a young girl’s run-down city neighborhood, where trash, graffiti, and homelessness abound.  On her search for something beautiful she discovers that she can create her own beauty by cleaning up the mess. (LB)

Wyllie, Stephen.  A Flea in the Ear.  New York:  Dutton, 1995. 

Oh, the poor spotted dog!  He seems to have a bad case of the fleas.  But, he should not worry, the fox will help.  Well, the fox seems to have a funny way of helping because he tricks the dog, tells him a made-up cure for his flea dilemma, and runs off with the dog’s hens.  How will the spotted dog ever be able to get the sly fox back?  (MJ) 

Yolen, Jane. King Long Shanks. Illustrated by Victoria Chess. San Diego:   Harcourt 1998. 

Crafty frog tailors trick King Long Shanks into believing the invisible clothes they are making are just the thing for showing off his fine long legs.  How right they are! (JM) 

Yolen, Jane. Raising Yoder's Barn. Boston: Little, Brown & Co., 1998. 

"A farm is not a farm without its barn." So says the Amish community when the Yoder family barn burns. Young Matthew waits in eager anticipation to be assigned his part in the barn raising. The beautiful illustrations by Bernie Fuchs capture the family’s loss as well as the Christian commitment to neighbor helping neighbor. (MJG) 

Zimmer, Dirk.   The Trick or Treat Trap.  New York: Harper & Row, 1982. 

The  Narrator, Peggy Pig, and Bug-Eyed Monster just want to go trick or treating at the creepy old house because they suspect they'll get some terrific candy there. But, when they ring the doorbell, a trap door opens beneath their feet and they go plunging into another dimension where anything spooky can happen—and does! (AB) 

Zolotow, Charlotte.  I Like To Be Little.  New York:  Harper Collins,  1987. 

If you’ve ever said to yourself, “I CAN’T WAIT TO BE A GROWN-UP!!”, this book may change your mind.  As a little girl lists the many reasons that she likes being little, even adults reading this will wish they could skip, hide, color and play like children again!  (BMD)