This seek-and-find book uses repetition, color, pattern, and size to engage readers on a hunt for animals big and small.  Directions for each search is provided in a large spot of a contrasting color. The majority of the pages require deciphering and comprehending the language as the reader must search and spot animals that are swimming upstream, climbing, quiet., or don’t belong in this forest.

Created by Swedish artist Laura Ljungkvist.  This book is a fun alternative for fans of seek-and-find books.

In this emotionally rich story, a little girl and her family live happily in Paris until Nazi soldiers arrive during World War II. She and her family must flee or risk being sent to a concentration camp, so they run into the woods, where they meet resistance fighters. But they’re still not safe. They must cross tall mountains and sail in a rickety boat to England. Yet the whole time they’re struggling to survive, the little girl thinks of the stone angel near their apartment in Paris and imagines it watching over her family.
Filled with sorrow, hope, comfort, and triumph, this gorgeously illustrated book is a perfect vehicle with which to share a difficult subject with school-aged children.

In a charming and accessible introduction to the beloved holiday classic, Bea and her ballet school classmates perform a simplified interpretation of The Nutcracker. The group of dancers, who appear to be only 3 or 4 years old, includes adorably costumed children of different ethnicities, indicated by hairstyles and facial features rather than skin tone, as the children are outlined against white backgrounds. The ballet’s plot is skillfully summarized, including integral elements such as the Nutcracker/Prince, the battle between the mice and the soldiers, and the visit to the Land of Sweets. The text, set in attractive silvery type, is just one sentence per page plus some speech balloons, reduced to the simplest terms that even young preschoolers will easily comprehend. Isadora conveys the magical aspects of the beloved holiday ballet in an easy, straightforward way that will prepare first-time attendees for a holiday performance.

Little readers will learn all about what mail carriers do, where they work, and why they are important in our communities. The very simple text combined with correlating and colorful images will both inform and strengthen reading skills.

The animals in this silly story try to convince the reader not to close the book and trap them inside in the dark.  As the book progresses and the animals’ anxiety over the approach of the last page increases, calmer reasons escalate to begging.   The combination of simple text and pictures work together on a black background to build an argument for leaving the book open.

This book follows the book In Warning: Do Not Open This Book! where the authors’ entreat the readers not to let the animals escape.  Used together, these books can be used to support young writers as they explore point of view in persuasive arguments.

Adapted from the bestselling book of the same title for adults (2011), this abridged version presents the true story of a friendship between an impoverished African-American boy and a young white woman who becomes his mentor.

The boy, Maurice, narrates this relatively lengthy story of his budding friendship with Laura, a professional woman working in an unnamed big city. He first meets Laura when he asks her for spare change and she buys him dinner. Maurice explains that he doesn’t have enough to eat at home. This leads to regular weekly dinners with Laura, visits to her apartment, and a Christmas visit to Laura’s extended family. Maurice enjoys the big family’s holiday celebration, and he receives all the presents on his Christmas list. He hopes that someday he will have his own big family like Laura’s. In a sentimental conclusion, Maurice gives Laura his white teddy bear, the only Christmas present he had ever previously received. Illustrations in pencil and watercolor bring the holiday celebrations to life with a wide variety of perspectives and illustration sizes. The final pages include two author’s notes and one from the real Maurice.

The ballerina mouse and her friends take their show on the road.

Angelina and her fellow ballet students board a little blue bus to present the Cinderella Dance Tour in towns all over Mouseland. Angelina is happy to be featured in the starring role, but some of her fellow student performers are not in such good spirits. There are mishaps on stage, lost props, upset stomachs, uncomfortable beds, and a good dose of homesickness. On the way to their final destination, their bus becomes mired in the mud after a rainstorm, and the scenery is ruined. Not to worry. Their hostess, Countess Von Whiskers, suggests a visit to her castle gardens, where Angelina is inspired by Cinderella’s magical pumpkin. She and the other mouselings gather flowers and vines to re-create everything they will need to dance under the stars for their grand finale. Angelina’s fans will enjoy this different take on the ballet world that is not so much a retelling of the classic fairy tale as a gentle glimpse into the travails of a traveling troupe. Craig’s signature watercolors are the ideal medium for the pretty scenery, flowers, and dancing mice.

Max and Marla (pet owl) are best friends.  They are also “Real-life, honest to goodness, cross your heart, Winter-Olympics Olympians.”  They make a number of attempts to sled down the big hill by their house.  Regardless of the setbacks, they don’t give up because “True Olympians never give up.”  This heart-warming story about snowy day fun will delight young readers.

Yetis love winter.  They love waking up on snowy quiet mornings, drinking hot chocolate, sliding down hills on their bottoms, and building snow castles.  But sometimes, Yetis miss summer.  They miss looking for little sea creatures, having sea monster beauty contests, and building sand castles.  So on the coldest, wettest, windiest winter days, Yetis know how to make the warmest, coziest summer day right at home.  This is a beautifully illustrated book that encourages the young reader to find the cup half full and find ways to be happy wherever they are!

It is a day at Grandma’s for little Yujin. It is an ordinary day, nothing special is happening. Since nothing special is happening at Grandma’s, this book is nothing special either, as far as the story line goes. It is good for talking about the passage of time with little ones though, which is the goal of this TanTan Math Story.

As little pre-school Yusin spends the day at Grandma’s both Mother, at home, and Yujin reminisce about what would be happening if they were together. This gave me a sad, lonely feeling.

Dawn, morning, almost noon, noon, afternoon, dusk, evening, and night are each given an activity assigned to it to acquaint and  familiarize the young reader with the concept of the passage of time.  There are no shadows at noon and lunch is eaten then. During the afternoon, you take a nap. “It is evening. I see the lights turn on, one by one, along the street.” Daddy finally comes to pick Yujin up and take her home for the night. ”   ‘Even though we were apart for just one day, I missed you so much, ‘ I say. ‘Tonight I want to fall asleep with you right by my side. And when I open my eyes tomorrow morning, you are the first person I want to see, Mommy!’   “

Two adult pages with suggestions for further use with children follow the story. The second one contains a game. Two more pages, for the young child, review the parts of the day with the sky /sun. Followed by 2 pages of activities a child takes part in during the day.