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Happy puppies,/scrappy puppies … each one needs a name … and ideal names from A to Z are presented in 26 descriptive poems. Aspen is the color of leaves in fall, Melody likes to sing, and Zipper loves to run, zipping everywhere. These poems are wonderful to read aloud to one child or a whole group.

When a runt pig named Pink was pushed out by his litter mates, he was placed with a mother dog who was caring for puppies of her own. The story of Tink, the patient dachshund mom, and her pup’s acceptance of Pink is documented in easy text and full color photographs. It is based on one family’s experience on their West Virginia farm.

A brown dog in colorful checkered pants is highly competitive, claiming to be the best and that he can do things better than his friends. Eventually, his friends prove him wrong but assure the deflated dog that he’s still the best at having lovely fluffy ears. Child-like illustrations exude the joy and difficulty of friendship in which readers will likely recognize themselves.

A junkyard bulldog helps a small hamster build his racer to compete in a hot rod happening. The small rodent is asked to choose from a range of components as the car comes together — and ultimately takes the prize. Snappy language and repetition combine with engaging illustrations as the smallest critter wins the race to become the Hot Rod Hamster.

Mr. Mutt responds to canine concerns, writing practical advice letters. He shares his Dogwood home with The Queen, a tiara-wearing cat who adds her distinctly feline advice on her own embossed stationery. The result is wildly different perspectives, lots of laughs, and action suggested by the correspondences and extended by realistic, outrageous, and very funny illustrations.

A dog with no name and no home meets a boy with a ball but no dog. Boy and dog play in the park every day until one day the little dog — a small fleabag — helps the boy and finds a home. Loose lines and bright colors convey city activities and the affectionate relationship between child and hound and ultimately, a warm family.

A comic hen wants only to make jokes but is misunderstood by the farmer and so she strikes out on her own. Before long she meets other humor-loving but underappreciated animals: a dog, a cat, and a cow. Like the familiar Bremen Town musicians, this quartet foils a group of robbers and opens their own comedy club. Bad puns and silly jokes are sure to cause groans and laughter in this silly parody.

In his foreword to this rich compilation, Nelson Mandela writes, “This collection offers a handful of beloved stories, morsels rich with the gritty essence of Africa, but in many instances universal in their portrayal of humanity, beasts, and the mystical.” Colorful vignettes add an extra dimension to the creation myths, trickster tales, and magical stories that Mandela has chosen.

When the people of Johannesburg go to bed, the animals of Kruger National Park begin to stir. Simple text and evocative watercolors bring the city and the national reserve to life and will inspire young children to think about what is happening in the natural world while they are sleeping.

A child and her grandfather place a wooden box high in a tree near where they have seen owl pellets. As they watch from below, child and adult observe a white barn owl fly into the nest box, call for its mate, and ultimately raise its young. The engaging story is richly illustrated, enhanced by additional information provided in a different typeface.

The author has long observed birds and recorded her findings in journals. This handsome book provides a glimpse into those observations combined with a variety of poems about her feathered subjects. Notes about her writing and additional resources are sure to inspire similar activities by young scientists.

Planning a visit to the mountains of the American West this summer? If you’re sharp-eyed, you may see a well-camouflaged pika. These 6-8 inch animals are related to hares and rabbits (although in the crisp, expressive pictures they resemble large hamsters!). Color photographs and snappy text provide a fascinating look into pikas’ habitat, behaviors, and predators. Additional information is included at the end of the book.

Meet a family of howler monkeys (who get their name from the loud calls they make “Woo-hoo-hoo! AH-UH-OH!”). An engaging, rhyming text that introduces their habits and where they live combines with soft-lined, richly colored illustrations. Additional factual material is presented on each double-page in a different typeface. A map and greater detail conclude this informative, appealing book.

A Code Blue alarm sounds as a young (monkey) astronaut snoozes in the Astroblast Snack Shack. Other crew members — Apollo, Halley, Sputnik, and Jet — return to address the issue: welcome snacks must be made for their visitors! Readers will enjoy finding things hidden in the colorful illustrations (noted at the bottom of each spread) and just may be inspired to learn more about the origins of the animal crew members’ names.

An elephant finds an intriguing red thingamabob but neither he nor his friends can figure out what it does — until it begins to rain. Children will recognize the red thing immediately and are sure to delight in the animals’ process of discovery and invention. Textured illustration with gentle lines brings this engaging, imaginative tale alive.

A cub is bored, claiming there’s nothing to do. Together with an adult bear, they are awakened by a jumping cub, go on a walk, find a stick, and share an imaginative adventure until they return home for a cozy welcome. Spare text and simple line drawings on creamy paper make this fresh jaunt, and a book to be shared more than once.

How many kinds of quiet are there? More than you might think beginning with the “First one awake quiet” to “Sound asleep quiet”. Readers will recognize the different situations (brought to life by expressively illustrated animals) and may even come up with their own brand of quiet.

When is a brown box not a box? When it’s being used by a small rabbit as a racecar, a mountain, or a burning building being rescued by the fire fighter, of course! Straightforward illustrations and minimal language convey the power of imagination and play in this contemporary classic.

A boy’s imaginary friend — a large gray elephant — messes up his grandfather’s flowers and neat indoor hall when no one else will play with the child. The next day, when the boy awakens refreshed, all is forgotten when granddad offers to play ball. Child-like illustrations add to this appealing tale of a child’s need for friends and friendship.

A small ant asks a bird how long a long string can be. Many varied uses are explored as the bird unwinds the string in answer until the ant decides that a “string’s just as long/as I need it to be.” The white string leads readers across textured pastel pages until we see the ant on its own small string tree swing.

On his adventures, Dominique, a singular canine, meets many mysterious creatures. His reputation builds and so do his stories which make this an ideal book to hear expertly read.

K-10 no longer trusts humans but he’s still a special kind of dog just as his mother told him. K-10’s unique voice as well as that of the other canines come alive in this spirited narration.

Did you know that slugs have “3,000 teeth and 4 noses” or that in “elephants sometimes make purr-like sounds when content”? These and other factoids are presented in a highly designed format just right to amaze and to pique curiosity. An index allows easy access to the brief information.

Meet a sea anemone, sea urchin, a sculpin and other inhabitants of a tide pool through poems (in each creature’s voice) and an informative paragraph (in a different typeface). Cartoon-like illustrations complete the engaging animal introductions while additional information is provided.