Book Finder

Feathered friends Goose, Duck, and Thistle become a super hero, a ghost, and a swamp monster for trick or treating. Though each enjoys Halloween, they must muster up the courage to confront their fears in this gentle, relatable, and ultimately satisfying story.

Jasper Rabbit (first introduced in Creepy Carrots) chooses the neon green underwear rather than the plain white ones. At night, the creepy pair of underwear glows eerily and is downright difficult to discard. But once they’re gone, Jasper decides that he was too hasty. This humorous tale puts a funny spin on what frightens people. 

In this introduction to Halloween for the young, a child and parents choose a pumpkin, carve it, make a costume and then go trick or treating. Patricelli’s signature child is initially fearful of the costumed creatures gathering treats but comes to appreciate it by the end. Humorous illustrations and brief text are ideal to share with first time trick or treaters.

Join these silly rabbits for a little monkey business at the zoo. The Dumb Bunnies may make a mess (or many) in this 4th book in the series. Filled with word play, intentional misspellings, allusions galore, funny signs, and slapstick humor.

Gargoyles can be cold and frightening looking to many. In this richly illustrated picture book, angels befriend a group of gargoyles and bring them to life — revealing the warm and loving nature of these creatures.

Imagine a force that can toss boats around like toys, wash away bridges, and create waves as high as eighteen feet. With fierce winds and torrential rains, hurricanes can do all of these things. Young readers will learn how hurricanes are formed, how they are named and classified, and what to do if a dangerous storm is on the way. 

Ut has come to America, but her mother remains in Vietnam. Ut’s struggle to adjust to her new life and her classmates don’t accept her because she is different. Then she makes a new friend who presents Ut with a wonderful gift

With lively illustrations and bilingual English and Vietnamese text, this colorful ABC book introduces Vietnam’s culture to young readers.

Van, a young Vietnamese boy, is given a brass-tipped teak walking stick made by his uncle (a monk), who says that now the Buddha “will watch over you no matter where you go, and bring you safely home.” Van carries the stick with him always, even when he and his family flee their war-torn country and cross the ocean. On long walks years later, he tells his granddaughter stories of his homeland. She travels to Vietnam and leaves the stick as an offering at the foot of a Buddha.

In 1975 TJ’s mother was only a chid when she escaped war-torn Vietnam and came to America. Almost 20 years later, she took her eldest son back to meet the family he had never known and to experence firsthand the country and the culture she left behind. A true-life story told in full-color photographs.

This vibrant counting book introduces children to the rich traditions of the Vietnamese New Year. A playful village of mice lead young readers through the joyful celebration, as embroidered illustrations recreate ten scenes of preparation, gift giving, feasting, and firework displays.

In wartime Vietnam, a young girl helps her grandfather who is an herbalist. She and her younger brother gather and dry herbs under his supervision and while he is away. One day, the elderly man returns, announcing that the war is coming to their village. Grandfather ministers to its victims and yet he dies himself. The siblings and their mother flee by boat and the girl vows to return to honor her beloved relative. [School Library Journal review]

When she is forced to leave Vietnam, a young girl brings a lotus seed with her to America in remembrance of her homeland.

The Vietnam war is over, and Grandfather and young Nam dream that the new dikes will restore the wetlands, bringing home the beautiful cranes that once filled the winter sky. But other villagers think that growing rice is a more practical use for the land.

Peanut Butter and Jellyfish are best of friends and swim up, down, around, and through their ocean home. Crabby is their neighbor. He is not their best friend. But when Crabby gets in trouble, will Peanut Butter and Jellyfish come to the rescue? You bet they will!

An 8-year-old girl decides to make a list of all the things she likes and dislikes about dealing with her autistic brother, and in doing so realizes that she has created A Manual for Marco.

What’s in a book? For one bespectacled mouse, this book is dull, dull, dull. That is, until the mouse meets a “Word-Eating, Flying Whale” that brings a “Glow-in-the-Dark Kung Fu Worm” into the picture. Dry wit and outrageous scenes remind readers of the pleasure in a tall tale told (or read!).

The narrator and his friend Tyler will soon start 2nd grade. Will his new teacher and the more advanced grade be as bad as the boys’ older sister warn? Happily, the younger siblings catch on to the teasing when they acknowledge that they are no longer as gullible as first graders! The funny narration is accompanied by jaunty, expressive ink and wash illustrations.

In school, Little Plane practices his writing but he finds the loopity loops really tough. He doesn’t give up though and continues to try — until at last, he completes his words! Children will see themselves in the tenacious, child-like airplane with expressive eyes. Brightly colored, digitally created illustrations add to the simple text.

Getting your teacher ready for school means starting out with a big smile, then being able to show her how to find iguana books during library time and reminding her where the bathroom is if she doesn’t know. The gentle humor in this turnaround tale is sure to remind children of typical school routines and that everyone may have worries.

Zara’s dog, Moose, loves hellos but not goodbyes. In spite of all efforts, he continues to follow Zara to school until the day Moose graduates from Therapy School. Now every day is a “hello” as Moose accompanies Zara, to her delight and that of her classmates. Soft lines and gentle colors depict the faithful pet and his loyal girl.

Bloo and Redd (blue and red critters) argue over a green book. When a bookworm takes it, the pair collaborates to make a book with the same named parts (including letters that gather together to form words). Conversation bubbles humorously placed on white space above the characters complement the comic illustrations — all the way to a satisfying conclusion.

Time to get up, get dressed, brush teeth, and more, all in preparation to open the door and go! Young children will recognize the broad forms of everyday clothing and objects as they feel their varied textures. The sturdy format holds up to rough little hands as they touch and look and begin the day.

As seasons change, fall becomes time for school. In a rhyming text a girl reminds her reluctant brother of all the fun and learning that it will bring. From history to mystery, arithmetic to astronomy, the pair heads to school.Swirling, bolding colored illustrations fill the pages with autumn images and what the children will see and study.