Books by Theme
Summer Outdoors
July is Parks & Recreation Month — a month devoted to the benefits and fun of nature, being outdoors, games and sports. This year's theme, "Get Wild" about recreation encourages enjoyment of parks and play, outdoor activities and celebrations!
Good News, Bad News
Good news: rabbit has a picnic to share with his friend mouse; bad news: it starts to rain. So it goes — good and bad events — until mouse is overwhelmed by the bad news, hurting rabbit's feelings. The duo reconciles, which is "very good news." Understated text and simple illustrations enliven the series of improbable events for a comical picnic.
Hide & Seek
Animals at the "edge of the vast rain forest" play hide and seek. As Elephant slowly counts to 10, others hide. Elephant finds all of his friends easily — except Chameleon. Children will share the thrill of finding the right hiding place and being found right along with the colorful, stylized animals of the rain forest.
I Know a Wee Piggy
A wee piggy escapes his boy at the fair for a very colorful adventure around the fair. The naughty pig "wallowed in white to go with the red…" but "It's not polite to wallow in white…" The boy catches up just in time to see his pig win a blue ribbon. Funny, animated illustrations accompany the rhyming tale inspired by "I Know an Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly."
In the Ocean
Colorful sea creatures — from a sea snail and a sea horse, to coral and seaweed — are presented in this small, sturdy book. Single words accompany dark-lined, boldly colored illustrations with glittery paper cleverly incorporated with die-cuts.
One Two That's My Shoe
The charming child and hound first introduced in Apple Pie ABC are back. This time the girl chases her mischievous black-eared dog to reclaim her shoe through the gate to a hen house counting all the while in the cadence of a familiar nursery rhyme. Illustrations are open and appealing, adding story to the counting book.
Red, White, and Boom!
From one end of the United States to the other, the 4th of July is celebrated: on beaches, with parades, picnics, and of course fireworks. Cut paper collage combine with appealing, rhyming, short poetry to re-create the heat and rhythm of summer and the pleasure in its goings-on.
Seed Magic
Children tease "crazy old Birdman" who feeds the pigeons in the park. That is, until he helps Rose discover beauty in the city and the color of flowers from simple seeds on her windowsill. Suddenly Rose finds a "singing garden" to brighten the gray city. Luminous illustrations swirl across the page to enliven the staccato free verse.
Summer Days and Nights
A girl and her family enjoy the pleasures of a summer day, capturing its colors, sounds, and tastes. The girl and her parents have a picnic in the park before night falls with its own special sights and sounds. Soft illustrations and rhyming text combine for the satisfying story until [I] "Turn off the light…/And dream of summer day…and nights."
The Best Bike Ride Ever
Bonnie O'Boy's first bike ride is a humdinger, taking her (and readers) on an animated, imaginative jaunt through her backyard. It lasts until Bonnie bumps into reality again. Child-like illustrations and lively language combine for an unforgettable ride.
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