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The Prince and the Porker
by Peter Bently
When Pignatius sees fresh pastries cooling on the windowsill of the palace kitchen, he’s tempted to try them. Surely, the cook won’t miss just one. But Pignatius’s greed gets the better of him, and he eats all the buns before sneaking into the palace in search of more treats. Before long, he finds himself in the prince’s room trying on a wig and some clothes, and the servants mistake him for the real prince! When the actual prince returns, Pignatius fears the worst, but the prince saves Pignatius’s bacon instead. It turns out that the prince has always wanted a double to deal with a particularly frightening problem—his aunt Alice!
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| I Got a New Friend by Karl Newsom EdwardsThe curly-haired girl and the floppy-eared puppy are both a little skittish when they first meet, but once they get used to each other, they become fast friends. Soon, they're doing everything together: eating, sleeping, playing, keeping clean, and (of course) hugging. The sweet straightforwardness of their friendship is echoed in the easy-to-read text and boldly outlined cartoon illustrations -- the only twist is an ambiguous ending that may send readers back to the beginning to figure out who is narrating. This winsome read is sure to be a hit in households that have recently welcomed a new pet. |
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Dill & Bizzy : Opposite Day
by Nora Ericson
Bizzy the strange bird has decided: Today is Opposite Day! Time to eat dinner for breakfast, have a loud dance party instead of a quiet rest, and say good morning at bedtime. But Bizzy’s best friend, Dill the odd duck, would prefer to have a normal day, with no opposites. So Dill says, “No, no, stop!” to Opposite Day, while Bizzy says, “Yes, yes, go!” Will Opposite Day turn best friends into worst enemies?
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| Go Sleep in Your Own Bed! by Candace Fleming; illustrated by Lori NicholsPreschoolers will eagerly pick up the animal sounds and repetition in this playful bedtime book. Pig is ready to snuggle down in his sty, only when he plops down…"Moooo! Who do you think he found?" Pig sends Cow to her stall, calling "Go sleep in your own bed!", a phrase which Cow, Hen, Horse, Sheep, and Dog have cause to repeat as each finds an interloper in their sleeping spot. Plentiful onomatopoeia, goofy wordplay ("Oh, baaah-ther!" exclaims Sheep), and a backdrop of soothing colors combine to make Go Sleep in Your Own Bed "a standout for drowsy bedtime reading" (School Library Journal). |
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Our Very Own Dog
by Amanda McCardie
There’s nothing more exciting than getting a dog! Join Sophie’s new human family as they prepare their home for her and introduce her to life as a beloved pet. Follow along as they learn about bedding and bowls, treats and training, walks and washing—and even an unexpected dog show! Factual notes run alongside the simple story, offering tips that will help turn tentative dog adopters into doting experts.
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| The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Jerry PinkneyWith his distinctively lush paintings, celebrated storyteller and illustrator Jerry Pinkney takes on another well-known folktale. Three goats long to visit the pasture across the river, but a fearsome, sharp-tusked troll guards the bridge. With the traditional "trip, trap!" the first two goats venture across, each fending off the troll with the promise of larger prey to follow. When the third goat approaches…well, we won't spoil the conclusion, except to say that you might find it funnier and more open-ended than you expect. Fans of this adaptation will also adore Pinkney's earlier fables, such as The Lion & the Mouse or The Grasshopper & the Ants. |
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Bob, Not Bob! : To Be Read As Though You Have the Worst Cold Ever
by Audrey Vernick
Little Louie is stuck in bed with a bad cold. His nose is clogged, his ears are crackling, and his brain feels full. All he wants is his mom to take care of him, but whenever he calls out for her, his stuffed-up nose summons slobbery dog Bob instead!As Louie tries and tries to make himself understood in this funny picturebook, kids will love calling out with him, "Bob, not Bob!"
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| What Can a Crane Pick Up? by Rebecca Kai Dotlich; illustrated by Mike LoweryLittle ones may well wonder what a crane CAN'T pick up by the time they reach the end of this peppy book, which shows smiling cartoon cranes lifting all kinds of things -- from trucks and train cars to a polar bear, cartons and cartons of underwear, and even other cranes. With its cheerily simple illustrations and silly, rhythmic rhymes, this fun book will have kids wondering about the limits of all kinds of big machines. For more great picture books that show just what different construction vehicles can do, try William Low's Machines Go to Work, Sally Sutton's Roadwork, or Nathan Clement's Job Site. |
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| Bulldozer's Big Day by Candace Fleming; illustrated by Eric RohmannFollowing his first outing in Bulldozer Helps Out, perky yellow Bulldozer is eager to celebrate his birthday. Zipping around the construction site, he asks his friends to "guess what day today is!" only to be disappointed when Digger, Dump Truck, Cement Mixer and others seem to be too busy working to pay him any attention. Have his friends truly forgotten his special day? Heavy-lined, primary-colored block prints lend a satisfying heft to the denizens of the construction site, all of whom gather after work for a surprise birthday party, complete with enormous cake. |
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| Busy Builders, Busy Week! by Jean Reidy; illustrated by Leo TimmersExclamation points pepper the rhymes in this exuberant picture book about an animal construction crew. They've got one week to complete a mysterious project (though sharp-eyed readers will clue in before the big reveal), and they'll only succeed by working together. From planning and digging to building and painting, each day brings a fresh wave of cartoony, wide-eyed animal workers to get the job done. Fanciful details -- such as a roller-skating giraffe or a relocated family of worms -- will draw in young readers and encourage repeat readings of this sweetly upbeat story. |
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| Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker; illustrated by Tom LichtenheldLots of big-truck books are rowdy, but this popular read is just right for bedtime. Opening at sunset, it shows Crane Truck, Cement Mixer, and other personified construction vehicles finishing up the day's work and getting themselves ready for a good night's rest. Simple rhymes describe the trucks' bedtime routines as well as what they've been up to all day (lifting, digging, dumping, etc.), while crayon-textured cartoon illustrations show the machines happily settling in to sleep; may your truck-loving toddler be inspired to follow suit! |
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| The Mixed-Up Truck by Stephen SavageIt's his first day of work, and the red-striped cement mixer is eager to please. When the experienced trucks on the construction site tell him to "mix up some powdery white cement," he rushes off to collect some white powder, adds water, and…"presto! A CAKE!" Oops -- it was flour, not cement! Though readers are clued in by the pictures, it takes a few tries for the cement mixer to get it right, with each comical mistake revealed after a repeated refrain. Kids who want more of the crisp artwork and can-do spirit in The Mixed-Up Truck will want to check out author Stephen Savage's earlier book, Supertruck. |
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