Book Finder

A child imagines being like the wind: playing with hats and leaves, zooming and racing throughout the country and city until she becomes a gentle breeze. Evocative language combines with suggestive illustrations in this breezy book.

What is “…a quiet crib, …a bobbing boat, …breakfast, lunch and dinner”? An egg, of course. Many types of eggs from insects, reptiles, and even mammals, in various environments are introduced in crisp text and clear illustration in this handsome, informative book.

A small chick finds his true voice with the help of Bow-Wow, a small, expressive terrier. Strong lines in simple illustrations convey humor and movement — for both child and adult — in this short tale.

Three leprechauns can’t help but create a bit of mischief on their way to place their pot of gold at the bottom of the rainbow; that’s what leprechauns do! This spritely original tale, accompanied by energetic illustrations evokes the magic and mayhem often attributed to the Little Folk of Irish lore.

Narrator Frannie keenly observes the changing dynamics in her classroom when a new white student arrives. Frannie also frets about her family — her deaf brother isolated from the hearing world and her pregnant mother prone to miscarriages.

Most boys look forward to birthdays, but not Palmer. Once he turns 10-years old, he’s expected to assume the role of “wringer” in the town’s annual pigeon shoot. He doesn’t want to strangle wounded birds any more than he wants to be bullied. His dilemma is compounded by the secret he keeps in his room.

Larger than life Maniac Magee is a modern folk hero, particularly in the small town of Two Mills, Pennsylvania where he brings together people from opposite sides of the track. Unforgettable characters deal poignantly, often humorously, with race, poverty, and more in this contemporary tall tale.

The Newbery Medal winning author has vivid recollections of growing up in Norristown, PA, in the 1950s. His recollections are vivid, funny, and episodic and allow fans of Spinelli’s novels to glimpse where stories might begin.

Un Día de Nieve es un cuento simple y entrañable sobre un niño que al despertar descubre que ha nevado durante la noche. El niño celebra la nevada disfrutando de un día de aventuras en su bello y nevado vecindario. Querido por generaciones de lectores, este clásico galardonado con el premio Caldecott es considerado uno de los más grandes libros infantiles publicados.

Some of us learn things in a different way from those around us — do you too? One frog might need a bit of help with counting; another might not know how to behave around other frogs. Other young frogs in this book are easily distracted and get themselves into trouble. But help is at hand: if we think differently about things that we find difficult, we can find our own ways to get better at doing them.

To gain wisdom, Zomo, the small black rabbit, successfully accomplishes a series of impossible tasks assigned by the Sky God in this traditional Nigerian tale. Richly colored, stylized illustrations accompany the simple text — ideal for sharing aloud.

Wiley and his mama live near the swamp; together, they trick the scary ol’ hairy man three times, getting rid of him forever. A traditional southern tale has been retold for newly independent readers but loses nothing of the original’s energy and suspense.

Coyote howls at the moon because of a small, smart, and very tricky rabbit. This lively retelling of an Oaxacan (Mexico) tale has familiar elements like rabbit becoming stuck on a farmer made of sticky beeswax. The energetic tale is complemented by illustrations reminiscent of folk art.

Why does Mister Bear think that the pumpkins he’s sitting on will hatch? Because Miz Goose convinces him so! And she’s only one of the funny tricksters whose tales are told in this engaging collection, sure to tickle listeners or readers.

A collection of trickster stories — from the Brer Rabbit found in the American South to East Africa’s Anansi — are presented from a master storyteller. Watercolor illustrations add humor and verve to each of these outrageous and often funny characters.

Sungura, a resourceful hare, and grouchy Leopard decide to build their homes in the same spot. How Sungura outwits Leopard to get him out is told in lively language with boldly lined illustrations that suggest the place in which the animals live and work.

Malese, a clever lazybones, sets out to get new shoes and he briefly winds up in jail — that is, until he convinces his jailers that it’s more trouble than it’s worth to hold him there. Bold illustrations evoke the Haitian setting and the humor of one trickster.

Brer Rabbit is the quintessential American trickster. Early versions, first collected by Joel Chandler Harris, are retold here without dialect — ideal for reading aloud — and illustrated by lively watercolors to make a timeless trickster accessible to contemporary children.

Bruh Rabbit outwits farmer Bruh Wolf again — even after the shrewd hare is stuck fast to the pretty baby girl made of tar. Told in the cadence of the Gullah with full-color illustrations, this version is sure to delight readers and listeners of all ages.

Anansi is a known charlatan, so he gets little sympathy when Turtle eats all of the fish that Anansi has learned to catch. But the reader knows that the trickster has not really learned a lesson! Sly humor abounds in both text and image in this lively retelling.