A SAMPLING OF FAVORITE PICTURE
BOOKS
Click on the picture book subjects that interest you:
animal stories / poetry and verse / vehicles or machines / concept
books /
gardening and plants / folk and fairy tales
including myths / foods /
relationships with family and friends multicultural stories / science
and nature / holidays or special events..
NOTE ABOUT PRICES
Publishers can change their prices at anytime, and we can't always predict it.
When publishers raise their prices, so do we, so prices on this page can change at any
time. Our price will always be 10% off the current list price, unless the item is at a
special sale price.
ANIMAL STORIES
CAPYBOPPY, written and illustrated by Bill Pete: The true story
of how Bill Pete's college-age son Bill, who loved exotic animals, bought a pet capybara,
to be raised and cared for by the Peet family. For the uninitiated, the capybara is the
world's largest rodent, and can grow into something resembling a 200-pound guinea pig. In
his humorous style and personality-packed black-and-white drawings, Bill Pete brings the
antics and interactions of the rapidly-growing rodent with the family and its three
bewildered cats vividly to life. This book will be enjoyed by anyone over 7, and a
9-year-old can probably handle the reading alone. However, it's a great book for the
family to enjoy aloud together. It is 62 pages long, paperback, and is now out of print.
Check TomFolio.com.
I have a copy there for $10.00 -- at least until it's sold. It should be available by
4/12/02. If mine isn't there, someone else there may have a copy. The link is to my
listings. We also carry Bill Peet's other wonderful picture books including: THE
CABOOSE WHO GOT LOOSE, 6.95; CHESTER THE WORDLY PIG,
5.95; COWARDLY CLYDE, 5.95; CYRUS THE UNSINKABLE SEA
SERPENT, 5.95; ELI, 5.95; ELLA,
5.95; FAREWELL TO SHADY GLADE, 6.95; KERMIT THE
HERMIT, 5.95; PAMELA CAMEL, 5.95; RANDY'S
DANDY LIONS, 5.95; and SMOKEY, 5.95. If you'd like
to know more about the life of this remarkable children's author, who did the artwork for
Disney's movie version of JUNGLE BOOK, he wrote a marvelous autobiography your family will
enjoy called (what else but) BILL PEET: AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY, 12.00 in paper.
If your preschool children like ducks, some of the most appealing ones have been drawn by
Nancy Tafuri in a brightly colored book entitled HAVE YOU SEEN MY DUCKLING? The story,
whose few words are in giant print, is told mostly by the large, bold pictures of the
affectionate mother duck trying to find the one of her eight ducklings who has wandered
away from the nest. Your child will be able to spot the missing duckling in every picture,
and will also be introduced to the other creatures who live in the pond. The story ends
happily with all eight ducklings falling asleep in their nest as dusk falls. In paper,
this book is a real bargain at only 3.95. We also carry Robert McCloskey's Caldecott award
book MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS.
In it a pair of ducks searches Boston for just the right place to raise a family of
ducklings. Children enjoy this book now just as much as I did when I was a child. It is
4.99 in paper. THE STORY ABOUT PING,
about a Chinese duck who learns the value of obedience, is written by Marjorie Flack
and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. It is 4.99 in paper These last two books are for children
3-8..
If your children like HORSES better than ducks, try FRITZ AND THE BEAUTIFUL HORSES,
by Jan Brett. Ugly horses were not allowed inside the walled city, famous for its
beautiful horses. Fritz, a not-so-good-looking gentle and hard-working pony, was one of
those who was excluded. More than anything he wanted to be ridden by a child. One day the
bridge into the walled city breaks, and Fritz gets to realize his dream and become a hero
all at once. 4.95, paper. For ages 4-8.
COUNTING ON CALICO, written and illustrated by Phyllis Tildes.
As a child counts the spots on Calico the cat, the ears on her seven kittens, etc., he or
she will learn much about cats and will delight, with cat lovers of all ages, in the
adorable illustrations. In a sequel, CALICO
PICKS A PUPPY, young readers watch Calico search among over 30 breeds of
dogs to find a perfect puppy companion. 6.95 each in paper.
CAPS FOR SALE, written and
illustrated by Esphyr Slobodkina. A hat peddler learns the hard way not to sleep with a
headful of caps under a tree full of monkeys. Your children will delight in watching him
try to retrieve his caps from his mischievious imitators. Paper, 4.95. Also available in
Spanish for 5.95.
PINKERTON, BEHAVE! Pinkerton the
dog doesn't do very well in obedience school, but his young owner understands his
disobedience well enough to get around it when it's time to foil a burglar. Steven Kellogg
once again brings humor to an unlikely story with his zany illustrations. paper, 5.99.
ROSIE'S WALK. With only 32 giant
print words, Pat Hutchins humorously portrays a hen, unaware of the fox who follows her,
foiling his attempts to catch her because of the obstacle course she's chosen for her
walk. A good book for teaching prepositions. 4.95, paper.
THY FRIEND, OBADIAH, by B.
Turkle. The story of a young Quaker boy who is befriended by a sea gull. Ages 4-8, paper,
5.99.
Click on the picture book subjects that interest you:
poetry and verse / vehicles or
machines / concept books / gardening
and plants / folk and fairy tales including myths / foods / relationships with family and
friends / multicultural stories / science and nature / holidays or
special events
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PICTURE BOOKS THAT FOCUS ON VEHICLES AND MACHINES
If your preschool or primary child is fascinated by truck, trains, or planes, you must not
miss Diane Siebert's poems. TRUCK SONG, 6.95,
illustrated by Bryon Barton, captures the mood of a trucker driving his rig across our
sprawiling country. The poetic language makes one hear the rhythm of the wheels and feel
the power of being behind the wheel. A related book is SAM GOES TRUCKING,
6.95, by Henry Horenstein. Sam's father is a trucker. In this story, young Sam joins his
father in his Mack R-600 truck for a typical day's work. Trust me. If you've got a little
boy who loves big rigs, he'll eat this book up. Almost every page is a full-color photo of
trucks and trucking activities, with Sam right in the middle of the action. This is also a
great book for those studying transportation.
. I like to sell these two books together, because they will both appeal to young children
who like trucks, but one evokes a mood, and the other tells a story about the life of a
trucker.
TRAIN people will enjoy TRAIN SONG,
6.95, by Diane Siebert, illustrated by Mike Wimmer, which revels in the sights, sounds,
and movements of trains in a bygone era. Like Siebert's other transportion poems, this one
will give the reader the feel of the subject and convey the excitement train riders feel
as the wheels race along the rails.
PLANE SONG, 6.95, illustrated by Vincent Nasa, is a lyrical
tribute to all kinds of planes. It captures the feel of flying over the earth in a jumbo
jet, a bomber, a fire-fighting plane, sky-writer, and many others. The bold pictures will
appeal to children of all ages. Reading Siebert's books aloud is a wonderful way to
introduce poetry not only to a preschool child, but also to older boys who think they
don't like poetry.
COUNTRY CROSSING, by Jim Aylesworth. The setting is a country
railroad crossing on a peaceful, summer, moon-lit night. A man and a boy in an old jalopy
disturb the quiet mood with the motor sounds as they approach. Then the crossing bell
begins to ring and the red warning lights flash as the car stops and the freight train
rumbles through out of the darkness, totally changing the mood. As the train passes and
slips back into the night, and the car crosses and fades away, the country crossing
regains its peace as the crickets chirp and the owls hoot again. Children will love the
repetition of the car and train sounds, and Ted Rand's illustrations enhance the overall
mood of the book. For children 3-8. 4.95, paper.
FLIGHT by Robert Burleigh. Come along with
Charles Lindbergh on his historic first flight across the Atlantic Ocean in his famous
"Spirit of St. Louis." Mike Wimmer's beautiful color illustrations of the little
plane in the ground and in the sky combine with the text to let us see and feel a little
of what Lindbergh must have experienced. For ages 5 and up. 5.95 in paper.
EMERGENCY! Gail Gibbons uses her
bright, bold illustrations to show how emergency vehicles and personnel respond and what
they do when they are called upon. Paper, 6.95.
THE AIRPLANE ALPHABET BOOK, by
Jerry Pallotta and Fred Stillwell, illustrated by Rob Bolster. This hot-off-the-press
hardcover book features planes ranging from the sleek Invader to the Piper Cub. This book
aimed at those 3-8 traces the history of flight from the first flight of the Wright Flyer
in 1903 to the age of jets. The stunning illustrations will make readers feel they are
soaring through the sky with the pilots.. 15.95.
LAUNCH DAY, by Peter Campbell. Gives children ages 6-10 a
close-up look at the preparations for an actual shuttle launch and lets them ride along as
NASA astronauts rocket into orbit. Striking illustrations and clear, simple text explain
every step in the launch sequence.Paper, 7.95.
THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD.
This is the original classic hardcover edition of the book about the little locomotive who
succeeded in pulling the circus train up a big hill because he "thought he
could" and kept trying. For all ages. 6.95.
Click on the picture book subjects that interest you:
animal stories / poetry and verse concept books / gardening and plants
folk and fairy tales; including myths / foods / relationships with family and friends multicultural
stories / science and nature
holidays or special events
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FOLK AND FAIRY TALES AND MYTHS
CHANTICLEER AND THE FOX,
by Chaucer, illustrated by B. Clooney: A fable of the vain crow and the shrewd fox. The
language is rich and the pictures sparkle with color and the details of medieval life.
5.95, paper.
CHICKEN LITTLE, retold and
illustrated by Steven Kellogg.
'Poultry coming,' announced Foxy Loxy, as he spotted Chicken Little skipping down the
road. 'That little featherhead will make a tasty chicken-salad sandwich,' he
chuckled." Thus begins this modernized version of the old story that has Foxy Loxy
driving a poultry truck and Henny Penny wanting to call the police when a piece of the sky
falls on her head. After he is tried, Foxy Loxy is sentenced to prison on a diet of
green-bean gruel and weed juice for his attempt to kidnap and eat the six birds he had
tricked into his truck by impersonating a police officer. Kellogg's zany illustrations add
to the humor. 4.95, paper.
THE COWBOY AND THE BLACK-EYED PEA,
by Tony Johnston, illustrated by Warren Ludwig. In this parody of "The Princess and
the Pea", the beautiful but determined Farethee Well wants to be sure that the man
she marries is a real cowboy -- not some pretender who just wants her ranch. So she tests
each suitor by slipping a black-eyed pea under his saddle. You can guess the rest. Though
this book is intended for children from 4-8, the young-at-heart of all ages will enjoy it.
Paper, 4.95.
JOURNEY CAKE, HO! Johnny, a
bound-out boy to a poor old couple on a ramshackle farm, is sent away, in spite of hard
work, when hard times come and the couple can't afford to feed him anymore. He leaves with
only his few personal belongings and a journey cake the sad old woman has baked for him.
In this crazy tale reminiscent of "The Gingerbread Boy," it is the journey cake
which saves the situation for everyone and reunites the makeshift "family."
Robert McCloskey's pictures add just the right touch of humor to Ruth Sawyer's highly
unlikely tale. Paper, 4.99. Ages 3-8.
THE KING'S EQUAL, by Katherine Paterson.
The king's wisest counselors are challenged to find a princess who is the king's equal in
comeliness, intelligence, and wealth. Written like a fairy tale. Paper, 6.95
THE SABBATH LION. This Jewish
folktale by Howard Schwartz and Barbara Rush is beautifully illustrated by Stephen Fieser.
Young Yosef must make a long journey to claim an inheritance for his family. His mother
arranges for him to travel with a caravan -- on the condition that the caravan leader stop
for the Sabbath. But once out in the desert, the cruel-hearted leader breaks his promise.
Yosef fears that he will die if he leaves the caravan, but his devotion prevents him from
going on with the group So he stays alone and prays. And then something wonderful
happens.... 4.95, paper.
TIKKI TIKKI TEMBO, witten by A.
Mosel and illustrated by B. Lent. An old Chinese folktale of what happens when a Chinese
boy with a very long name falls into a well and his younger brother attempts to get help.
The trouble is that he must always pronounce his firstborn brother's name completely and
reverently, and this presents a problem when time is short. Paper, 5.95.
Click on the picture book subjects that interest you:
animal stories / poetry and verse / vehicles or machines / concept
books
gardening and plants / folk and fairy tales
including myths / foods
relationships with family and friends / multicultural stories / science
and nature holidays or special events..
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PICTURE BOOKS THAT FOCUS ON FOODS
EVERYBODY COOKS RICE, written
by Norah Dooley and illustrated by Peter Thornton. Carrie searches her neighborhood for
her brother, who is late for dinner. She discovers that although each family is from a
different country, everyone is making a rice dish at dinnertime. Recipes are included. In EVERYBODY
BAKES BREAD, a sequel to EVERYBODY COOKS RICE,
young Carrie's mother sends her to search the neighborhood for a three-handled rolling
pin. This time while on her quest, Carrie discovers that her neighbors are each making a
unique bread. Recipes are included in case you'd like to try the breads yourself. Books
are 6.95 each, paper.
GROWING VEGETABLE SOUP, by Lois Ehlert. This book's giant print,
bright, bold, colorful illustrations, and simple sentences make it the perfect
introduction to gardening for a young child. Every noun from shovel to squash blossom to
sun is labeled to help increase vocabulary. The orderly progression of actions from
getting the tools laid out to eating the soup lays the foundations for sequencing
exercises. The recipe for the soup is on the back cover for Mom. Great tie-in with units
on where foods come from. Paper, 4.95, ages 3-8.
PANCAKES FOR BREAKFAST
by Tomie DePaola. This wordless picture book follows a woman from the moment she gets out
of bed hungry for pancakes until she finally eats them at a neighbor's house, after her
efforts to cook them from scratch are foiled by her "helpful" pets. We watch her
put on her apron, begin mixing ingredients, gather eggs, milk the cow, churn the butter,
go out and buy syrup, walk home with dreams of mixing and cooking and eating the pancakes,
and arrive home to find her cat and dog have spilled the milk and broken the eggs. As she
imagines the pancakes she dreamed of flying way from the platter, she smells her neighbor
cooking some and decides to visit the neighbor.Have your child "read" you this
story if he's not a reader yet, or write the story to go with the pictures if he's
learning to put his thoughts on paper. Paper. $6.00
Click on the picture book subjects that interest you:
animal stories / poetry and verse / vehicles or machines / concept
books
gardening and plants / folk and fairy tales
including myths / foods
relationships with family and friends multicultural stories / science
and nature holidays or special events..
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PICTURE BOOKS THAT FOCUS ON RELATIONSHIPS
WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS
ADOPTION IS FOR ALWAYS by
Linda W. Girard. Trade paper, Albert Whitman. Although Celia had always been told she was
adopted, she one day suddenly comprehends adoption's meaning -- somewhere she had another
mommy and daddy. She struggles with many emotions -- betrayal, fear, anger, depression and
more -- until she is able to finally work through (with a little help) her fear of being
returned to her birthmother or rejected by her adoptive family . This sensitive treatment
of what it means to be chosen and loved by adoptive parents is a wonderful resource for
those who have or expect to have adopted children. It is suitable for primary children.
$5.36-D.
THE GROUCHY LADYBUG,
by Eric Carle. Progressing through a series of brilliantly colored die-cut pages, a
bad-tempered braggart becomes a nicer, happier, better-behaved bug. Paper,$6.95.
I LIKE TO BE LITTLE. This is
my favorite by Charlotte Zolotow! A little girl describes all the things she can enjoy
that grown-ups don't do anymore -- skip when they're glad, sit under the dining room table
and make it a house, go barefoot in the summertime, etc. Unlike many of today's
generation, this little girl is in no hurry to grow up. Illustrated in full color by Erik
Blegvad. Paper, 4.95
I'LL ALWAYS LOVE YOU, by H.
Wilhelm. In this first person narrative, a little boy tells the story of his friendship
with his dog Elfie, who has just died. He is comforted by the fact that he had told Elfie
every night that he loved her. Paper, 5.99. Ages 3-8.
IRA SLEEPS OVER, by Bernard Waber. The
biggest issue for Ira when packing for his first sleep-over at a friend's house is whether
to take his teddy bear. paper, 5.95.
THE LISTENING WALK,
by Paul Showers. A father and a child take a walk together and listen to the sounds
around them. Illustrated in full color by Aliki. Paper, 5.95.
MANNERS CAN BE FUN, by Munro Leaf. Black-and -white stick
figures illustrate this classic book on manners for young children. Paper, 4.95.Out of
Print
THE MEMORY BOX by Mary Bahr. Trade
paper, Albert Whitman. Zach loves the three weeks he spends with his grandparents every
summer, fishing Gramp's lake and eating Gram's good cooking. Fishing is so good the first
day that Gramp calls it a "Memory Box" day. But when Gramps tells the story that
explains the "Memory Box," Zach isn't quite ready for it. It's a box to keep
written memories forever, so that they cannot be forgotten. Gramps tells Zach he
needs it because he has Alzheimer's Disease, and won't be able to remember some special
things he's shared with family members without the box.The rest of the vacation is spent
filling the box with memories, and the three who love each other give each other support
as they confront the changes in Gramps, who sometimes can't find his way back home from
the lake, or forgets his shoes when he walks outside. This sensitively written book may
move you to tears as you contemplate the cruelty of this tragic disease. But it is just
the book to explain it to a child with an afflicted loved one. $5.36-D
MR. RABBIT AND
THE LOVELY PRESENT, by Charlotte Zolotow. Mr. Rabbit helps a little girl
find a lovely present for her mother's birthday. Paper, 5.95.
NANA UPSTAIRS, NANA DOWNSTAIRS, by
Tomie dePaola. A touching story about the warm relationship a young boy has with his
grandmother and feeble 94-year-old great grandmother. During his boyhood, but years apart,
he has to deal with the death of each. Paper, 5.99.
OLD BEAR, by Jane Hissey. The friends of Old Bear, a loveable
stuffed Teddy, decide he needs to be rescued from the attic where he's been put for
storage. Paper, 5.95.
THE OXCART MAN, by D. Hall. A man
and his family work together all year to grow and process flax and wool into clothing, and
to make candles and maple syrup for market. Then the father loads up the cart he has made,
and hitches up the ox he has raised, and travels a long distance to Portsmouth Market,
where he sells everything, buys the few things his family needs to prepare for another
year, and the cycle repeats. Barbara Cooney's folk art paintings add just the right touch
to this tale of the continuity of farm life. Paper, 5.99.
THE QUILT STORY, by Tomi de Paola.
Abigail loved the quilt her mother made for her. She wrapped herself in it, played with
it, and slept under it. When her pioneering family moves west, only the quilt remains
familiar. When the quilt has become very old, very loved, it is put in the attic where it
is loved by many creatures before a little girl finds it and brings it down for her mother
to repair to be loved by another generation. A heart-warming story. 5.95 in paper.
SAM, BANGS, AND MOONSHINE,
by E. Ness. When Sam, a fisherman's daughter who daydreams a lot, interacts with people,
she's not too fussy about whether what she tells them is real or make-believe. One day Sam
sends her devoted little friend Thomas to Blue Rock, far out in the harbor, and a sudden
storm brings near disaster to Thomas and Sam's cat Bangs. It is only then that Sam
repentantly recognizes that it's important to draw a line between fantasy and reality. For
ages 3-8. 5.36-D, paper.
THE SCAREBIRD, written by Sid
Fleischman and illustrated by Peter Sis. Lonesome John lives on a farm deep in the
country. He is so lonesome that he grows attached to his scarecrow -- his only company.
Then a homeless, young farmhand comes and asks for a job, and soon the farmer has a real
friend. Paper, 4.46-D.
THE THINGUMAJIG BOOK OF MANNERS, by I. Keller. People either
love this picture book for preschoolers and primaries or hate it. Thingumajigs are
slovenly in looks, dress, habits and manners. They are horrible examples. It is the small
boy and girl at the bottom of each page who instruct young readers in the contrasting
right manners for each occasion. Paper, 4.95. Out of Stock
WHAT YOU KNOW FIRST, by
Patricai MacLachlan. The author of SARAH, PLAIN AND TALL teams with illustrator Barry
Moser to create a remarkable picture book full of wisdom about what's important: family,
history, a sense of place and self. The story is complemented by stunning engravings,
printed over an array of carefully chosen colors representing the shades of the prairie.
Hardcover, 14.95. Now only 9.73-S
WILL THERE BE A LAP FOR ME? by
Dorothy Corey. Kyle, a young African-American boy, loves to sit in his mother's lap. The
only problem is that it is getting smaller because a new baby is growing inside Mother.
And finally, there is no lap left. After his baby brother is born, little Matt seems to be
in Mother's lap all the time. And then one day, while Matt slept, Mother called to Kyle to
come sit on her lap and watch the birds eat from the new feeder -- just the
two of them -- and he knows there is still a place from him, too. $5.36-D
THE YOUNG ARTIST, by Thomas Locker. Adrian, a
talented young man apprenticed to an artist, hates doing portraits for people because he
has been taught to paint the truth, and people don't want the truth in a portrait -- they
want to look better than they are. Imagine his horror when commanded to come to the king's
palace to paint a large portrait that included all 27 members of the court! He is saved
from the wrath of the vain nobles by the beautiful pictures he has painted of his one
friend at court -- the king's beloved daughter. Locker's paintings that illustrate this
book are an art gallery in themselves. For children 4-8, paper, 5.99. Publisher out of
stock.
Click on the picture book subjects that interest you:
animal stories / poetry and verse / vehicles or machines / concept
books
gardening and plants / folk and fairy tales
including myths
foods / relationships with family and
friends / multicultural stories
science and nature / holidays or
special events..
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MULTICULTURAL PICTURE BOOKS
MRS. KATZ AND TUSH, written and
illustrated in color by Patricia Polacco: Larner, an African-American boy, asks his
neighbor, an elderly Jewish widow, to adopt an abandoned kitten (Tush). Mrs Katz agrees to
do it only if Larner will agree to help care for Tush. As the two spend time together, Mrs
Katz tells Larner stories about coming to America from Poland. As the warm relationship
between the two grows, Larner learns that both the black and Jewish heritage share a
history of suffering and triumph. 6.99 , paper.For ages 4-8.
A CHRISTMAS SURPRISE FOR CHABELITA, written by A. Palacios and
illustrated by L. Lohstoeter. This story of Chabelita is set in Panama. Chabelita's mother
has to go away and teach in a big city, and Chabelita stays reluctantly behind with her
grandparents. She visits the marketplace (gorgeously illustrated) every day and then
starts school. She is given an important role as the youngest participant in the school's
Christmas program, and that leads to her happy surprise. A wonderful Panamanian tale of
family love. 3.95, paper. OS
COUNT YOUR WAY THROUGH SERIES, by J. Haskins. Each book in this series
for primary children counts to ten in a different country's language and relates the
number to something significant in the culture. Exanple: "Troika (TROY-kuh) is a
Russian word meaning a group of three. A Russian sleigh drawn by three horses is called a
troika." The illustrations further explain the text and give the reader the flavor of
the country's atmosphere. These books are great for introducing a country about to be
studied or for comparing various foreign languages. At 5.95 each, these paperback books
are available about Africa, Canada, China, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea,
Mexico, Russia, France, Ireland, Brazil, and Greece. Titles are COUNT YOUR WAY
THROUGH JAPAN, etc. (Some of these are no longer available.)
THE COW WHO FELL IN THE CANAL, written by Krasilovsky and
illustrated by Peter Spier. Hendrika the cow was bored living on Mr. Hofstra's farm in
Holland, eating grass and giving milk. She wanted to see the city Pieter the horse had
told her about. One day she fell in the canal and got her wish. Peter Spier's detailed
illustrations will allow you to see with Hendrika sights on the shore along the canal as
she floats by, and you'll pick up the flavor of Holland. 5.95, paper. No longer available.
GALIMOTO, written by Karen Williams and
illustrated by Catherine Stock. Set in an African village, this story focuses on the
ingenuity and persistance of a young boy who is dertermined to build a galimoto -- a toy
vehicle made of wires. Though his brother laughs at him, Kondi spends all day gathering
needed materials, and by nightfall his galimoto is the talk of the village children who
all want to play with it. 4.95, paper.
GRANDFATHER'S JOURNEY written
and illustrated by Alan Say. Grandfather was a Japanese immigrant who's always homesick
for Japan when in America, and homesick for America when in Japan. Alan Say's pictures are
worth the price of this beautiful hardcover book. Ages 4-8, 16.95.
THE GREAT MIGRATION: AN AMERICAN
STORY. Jacob Lawrence tells the story of African Americans who left
their homes in the South around WWI and traveled in search of better lives in the northern
industrial cities. Illustrated with full color paintings by the author. For children in
grades 4-6. 8.95, paper.
 HOW A SHIRT GREW
IN THE FIELD, by K. Ushinsky. One day in the spring, Vasya asked his father
why he was throwing seeds in the field. "'I am sowing flax seeds , so that shirts
will grow for you and baby Anya,' said his father." Vasya couldn't imagine how a
shirt could grow in the field, but he waited and watched every day as the seasons came and
went, as the flax was harvested and processed. And, yes, one day he did have a shirt. This
simple, poetic story of life in the Ukranian countryside was originally published over 100
years ago, when linen cloth was still made by hand. Hardcover. Ages 4-8.Out of
print One available at $30.00*
HOW MY PARENTS LEARNED TO EAT,
by Ina Friedman, illustrated by Allen Say. A sailor stationed in Japan falls in love with
a Japanese school girl, but he's afraid to ask her out for dinner because he doesn't know
how to use chopsticks. She, on the other hand, is afraid of what will happen if she tries
to use a fork. So they continue to walk and talk and never eat together until the sailor
discovers his ship will leave soon and he has got to ask his girl to dinner so he can
propose. When she accepts his invitation, they both try in secret to learn the other's way
of eating before their dinner date. (And yes, it ends happily, and the author is their
child.) Paper, 5.95. Ages 5-8.
JUST PLAIN FANCY by Patricia
Polacco. Amish Naomi looks after her family's chickens with the help of her little sister,
Ruth. One day the girls find an abandoned egg in the tall grass near the road. This egg
seems almost fancy. Naomi takes it home to hatch, and when it does, it's no ordinary
chick. As it grows and becomes more beautiful (for it's a peacock) Naomi is afraid it (and
she) will be shunned for being too fancy. Then when all the elders were present for a
frolic, the peacock spreads its tail and Naomi is sure her fears will be realized. When
she expresses them, she is reassured that God made the peacock fancy, and it was O.K.
6.99, paper.
THE SABBATH LION. This Jewish folktale by Howard Schwartz and
Barbara Rush is beautifully illustrated by Stephen Fieser. Young Yosef must make a long
journey to claim an inheritance for his family. His mother arranges for him to travel with
a caravan -- on the condition that the caravan leader stop for the Sabbath. But once out
in the desert, the cruel-hearted leader breaks his promise. Yosef fears that he will die
if he leaves the caravan, but his devotion prevents him from going on with the group So he
stays alone and prays. And then something wonderful happens.... 7.95, paper.OP
SWEET CLARA AND THE FREEDOM QUILT.
Clara, a slave and seamstress on Home Plantation, knows that the Underground Railroad can
lead her to freedom. The only problem is, how to find it? By piecing together scraps of
cloth with scraps of information gathered from the other slaves, she fashions a map so
secret that even the master won't suspect. Paper, 6.99.
TALL BOY'S JOURNEY,
by J. Kraus. A Korean-born boy is adopted by a family in the United States, and everyone
must learn to adjust. For primary age children. paper, 5.95.
Click on the picture book subjects that interest you:
animal stories / poetry and verse / vehicles or machines / concept
books
gardening and plants / folk and fairy tales
including myths / foods
relationships with family and friends / multicultural stories / science
and nature holidays or special events..
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PICTURE BOOKS FEATURING HOLIDAYS AND SPECIAL
EVENTS
A CHRISTMAS SURPRISE FOR CHABELITA, written by
A. Palacios and illustrated by L. Lohstoeter. This story of Chabelita is set in Panama.
Chabelita's mother has to go away and teach in a big city, and Chabelita stays reluctantly
behind with her grandparents. She visits the marketplace (gorgeously illustrated) every
day and then starts school. She is given an important role as the youngest participant in
the school's Christmas program, and that leads to her happy surprise. A wonderful
Panamanian tale of family love. 3.95, paper. OS
CHRISTMAS TREE MEMORIES, written and illustrated
by Aliki. On Christmas Eve, a family of four gathers around their tree to admire its
beauty and reminisce about how and when each special ornament was made. Paper, 5.95 OS
THE COUNTRY BUNNY AND THE
LITTLE GOLD SHOES, written and illustrated by Marjorie Flack. I grew up
on this old Easter tale of the good, kind, efficient mother rabbit, with well-trained
children, who aspires to being an Easter bunny. Paper, 4.95.
THE FOURTH OF JULY STORY. Alice
Dalgliesh takes readers back to revolutionary times, to the colonists' desire for freedom
and the creation of the Declaration of Independence. The simple text captures the
excitement of the era, telling how the news of Independence traveled up and down the
thirteen colonies, touching everyone in the land. Paper, 4.95. For children 4-8.
RECHENKA'S EGGS, by Patricia
Polacco. Babushka is preparing her eggs for the Easter festival when she takes in
Rechenka, an injured goose who shows her that miracles really can happen. 5.95 in paper.
Click on the picture book subjects that interest you:
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books
gardening and plants / folk and fairy tales
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BOOKS THAT EXPLORE SCIENCE AND NATURE
If you like foxes, Eve Bunting's RED FOX RUNNING
qualifies as a family treasure to pass from generation to generation. Wendall Minor's
spectacular paintings of the fox hunting food for her family dramatize Bunting's poetic
narrative. An excerpt: "Red fox, hungry fox, Listening to hear The scrabble scrabble
scrabble Of a white-tailed deer, The rustle of the cranes As they lift into the sky. The
sad, lonely echo Of a last loon's cry." (This is, of course, copywrited material,
Clarion, 1993.) We have a couple of hardcover editions with slightly torn jackets on sale
for 13.95, and the paperback edition is 5.95.
Another beautifully illustrated book on foxes written by Tessa Potter and illustrated by
Ken Lilly, is FANG: THE STORY OF A FOX IN WINTER. It portrays a
young fox searching for food who is challenged by a fierce and strong old fox. The bold,
colorful pictures vividly portray the wintry world of the fox. The story is preceded by a
two-page labeled drawing of the fox's territory. After the story are two pages containing
close-up pictures of various animals and plants that appeared in story illustrations,
described briefly, with instructions to look back in the story and find them. These are
followed by two pages of activities related to identifying and feeding birds during the
winter. There is a bibliography at the end to help young readers research foxes more. This
book is part of a series. Each book illustrates the wildlife details of a different season
for children 4-8. Other books in the series are SARN: THE STORY OF AN OTTER IN
SPRING; GRAYFUR: THE STORY OF A RABBIT IN SUMMER; and DIGGER:
THE STORY OF A MOLE IN THE FALL. Each paperback book is 5.95.
COME OUT MUSKRATS, written and illustrated by Jim Arnosky. As
the sun begins to set, the muskrats begin their day. Arnosky's sketches let us watch as
they feed, swim, and play on into the night. Words are large and few for easy reading.
Great for preschoolers and beginning readers. 10.00, paper. OP
EVERY AUTUMN COMES THE BEAR.
Jim Arnosky sketches the forest in autumn, focusing his attentiion on the habits of the
bear until he finally goes into hibernation. Very few words. Very large print. A perfect
book to introduce bears to your preschool child. Paper, 5.95.
FAMILIES OF THE DEEP BLUE SEA, written by Kenneth Mallory and
illustrated by Marshall Peck III. This lavishly illustrated book uses second person
narrative and close-up paintings to impart fascinating facts about the family lives of 14
undersea creatures to children 3-8. 6.95, paper.
CAN WE BE FRIENDS? written by Alexandra Wright and illustrated
by Marshall Peck III. Though this book on nature's partners is intended for those 3-8, the
fascinating facts about and illustrations of unlikely members of the animal kingdom who
help each other out will interest almost anyone of any age. A good explanation of
symbiosis, and a good example of how God designed all of creation to work together, though
this isn't pointed out in the book. 6.95, paper.
CREEPY CREATURES, Written by Sneed Collard III and illustrated
by Kristen Kest.. This is just the book for people of all ages who love the
"gross" creatures, the ones that look a little like monsters. Guilty of only
looking scarey, these 22 often misunderstood animals are perfectly suited for their
habitats. This is a very popular book at book fairs where children select their own books.
6.95, paper.
FROGS. Illustrates and explains the life-cycle and habits of
frogs as only Gail Gibbons, with her bold, simple, bright pictures, can do it. 6.95,
paper. For preschoolers and early primary ages.
HOW TO DIG A HOLE TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
WORLD, written by Faith McNulty and illustrated by Marc Simont. Hasn't every
child wondered what he would find if he just dug deep enough? Can you really dig your way
to China? This book about a boy's imaginary 8,000 mile journey through the earth to
discover what's inside will painlessly teach facts about the earth's composition. For ages
3-8, paper, 5.95.
HOW TO HIDE A BUTTERFLY. One of series written and illustrated
by Ruth Heller to show the various ways living creatures camouflage themselves. This one
deals with insects Other books in the series include HOW TO HIDE A CROCODILE
AND OTHER REPTILES; HOW TO HIDE A POLAR BEAR AND OTHER MAMMALS; HOW TO HIDE A MEADOW FROG
AND OTHER AMPHIBIANS; HOW TO HIDE A PARAKEET AND OTHER BIRDS and
HOW TO HIDE AN OCTOPUS AND OTHER SEA CREATURES. These are some of my most
popular books, and they are only 2.95 each in paper. Some may be unavailable and out of
print.
Jerry Pallotta's NATURE ALPHABET SERIES.
These beautifully illustrated nature books enhance nature study while introducing many new
vocabulary words. Younger children will enjoy hearing you read the big words, and you and
the older children will learn a few new things yourselves. The author also manages to
inject a bit of humor into what could be a dry subject. These are no ordinary alphabet
books, and should not be limited to very young children. Titles available include THE
FRESHWATER ALPHABET BOOK; THE BIRD ALPHABET BOOK; THE VEGETABLE ALPHABET BOOK; THE
UNDERWATER ALPHABET BOOK; THE FURRY ANIMAL ALPHABET BOOK; THE BUTTERFLY ALPHABET BOOK; THE
DESERT ALPHABET BOOK; THE DINOSAUR ALPHABET BOOK; THE YUCKY REPTILE ALPHABET BOOK; THE
ICKY BUG ALPHABET BOOK; THE FROG ALPHABET BOOK; THE SPICE ALPHABET BOOK; THE FLOWER
ALPHABET BOOK; and THE OCEAN ALPHABET BOOK. These
are 6.95 each in paper, or 15.95 each in hardcover.
HURRICANE. Author and illustrator David
Wisener helps us understand a little of how a family feels as it prepares for and watches
the progress of a passing hurricane. Your primary child will share the apprehension and
excitement as the lights go out. Paper, 5.95.
THE REASON FOR THE SEASONS. Gail Gibbons' bold, brightly colored
pictures illustrate her easy-to-understand explanation for why we have seasons. 6.95,
paper.
SHARKS Take a deep dive into shark-infested waters with Seymour
Simon. His spine-tingling photographs and a text that explores what makes these remarkable
and often misunderstood creatures so fascinating will delight a true shark lover in grades
K-4. 6.95, paper.
SNAKES. Seymour Simon's stunning photographs will fascinate both
snake lovers and haters and his text will let readers in grades K-4 learn all the most
important things they want to know about these awesome reptiles. Paper, 6.95
STORMS In a clear concise text and spectacular full-color
photographs, noted science writer Seymour Simon examines thunderstorms, tornadoes, and
hurricanes, explaining how they form and why they die out. Paper, 5.95.
WONDERFUL WORMS, by Linda Glaser. All a young child might want
to know about how earthworms live and what they do for us, beautifully illustrated in full
color. In the back of the book is a special section for parents that answers common
questions children ask about these creatures. Paper, 9.95.
Click on the picture book subjects that interest you:
animal stories / poetry and verse / vehicles or machines / concept
books
gardening and plants / folk and fairy tales
including myths / foods
relationships with family and friends / multicultural stories / science
and nature holidays or special events..
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POETRY AND VERSE IN PICTURE BOOK FORMAT
CASEY AT THE BAT, written by
Ernest Thayer. Patricia Polacco's vivid illustrations of the "cool" young Casey
at bat add even more humor to this much loved baseball poem. Paper, 5.95.
THE DAY THE GOOSE GOT LOOSE. Steven Kellogg and Reeve Lindbergh
team up for a delightful bit of nonsense as they imagine the riot an escaping goose could
cause on a farm and in the town. Lindbergh sets the stage with his rhymes, and Kellogg
embellishes the words and takes them to humorous extremes in his very detailed,
action-packed pictures. Paper, 4.99. Out of Print, not available.
JOHNNY APPLESEED Reeve
Lindbergh's poem about Johnny Appleseed, beautifully illustrated in a folk art style by
Kathy Jakobsen, is sure to become a favorite read-aloud for parents and chlidren alike. It
is a feast for the eyes and ears, and allows us to see the spiritual dimension of John
Chapman's life. It deserves a place in every family or elementary school library. For ages
3-8, paper, 5.95.
YANKEE DOODLE. The
"Yanks'" favorite song illustrated with the kind of intricately detailed color
pictures you would expect of Steven Kellogg. The lyrics of the song are included with an
afterward explaining the patriotic tune's historical background. Paper, 5.99.
Copyright © 1997 by Barbara Radisavljevic, all rights reserved
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