"Well-behaved women seldom make history." ~ Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, American historian and author
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Free music and audio with Freegal
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Download three free MP3 music tracks a week with Freegal. Includes plenty of music for kids.
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New and Recently Released!
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Aotearoa to Zespri: The New Zealand ABC Bookby Kelly WinneyAotearoa to Zespri is a uniquely Kiwi alphabet book. Rhyming verses from letters A to Z - experience New Zealand in 26 letters. Recall familiar brands and the sights of your favourite flora, wildlife and Kiwi way of life. Illustrated by Angie Dennis.
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Yikes, Stinkysaurus!by Pamela ButchartStinkysaurus is the smelliest dinosaur in the whole wide world, and don't the other dinosaurs know it! The dinos rushed for cover, When Stinkysaurus was about! He smelled so bad that just one whiff, Could knock a T-Rex out! He never ever brushed his teeth, So his breath was super-grotty. And, poo! You won't believe the smells, That parped out from his botty! Yikes, Stinkysaurus! Finally, however, the other dinosaurs decide that the time has come for Stinkysaurus to take a bath. But will Stinkysaurus agree? Find out in this pong-fest of a picture book.
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What's your Favourite Animal?by Eric CarleWho would have thought? Lucy Cousins. favourite animal is a leopard! Not a mouse! And Eric Carle? He loves cats! Suitable for any picture book lover, this is a collection of illustrations from luminaries such as Jon Klassen, Lucy Cousins, and Eric Carle. It may motivate children to draw and tell a story about their own favourite animal.
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Snap!
by Janet A. Holmes
But snapping and snarling don't always work. This sensitive and perceptive story about the fear of the new is written by Janet A. Holmes, with pictures by Daniella Germain.
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| Dream Dog by Lou Berger; illustrated by David CatrowDad's allergies aren't necessarily a deal-breaker when it comes to Harry's longing for a pet dog -- all Harry needs to do is put on his X-35 Infra-Rocket Imagination Helmet, and his dream dog appears. No one but Harry can see Waffle (who appears to be made from giant, fluffy clouds), but that doesn't stop boy and dog from forging a close friendship. Yet when Harry's dad (whose allergies have improved) brings home a real dog, Harry's loyalty is challenged. Whimsical, "distinctively idiosyncratic" (Booklist) artwork heightens the joyous tone of this imaginative picture book. Readers who are themselves allergic to dogs might enjoy Linda Joy Singleton's Snow Dog, Sand Dog. |
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What's in there? : all about you before you were bornby Robie H. HarrisA latest entry in the series that includes It's NOT the Stork! follows the adventures of young Gus and Nellie, who watch their mother's pregnancy and anticipate the arrival of a new sibling while learning engaging facts about how unborn babies develop.
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| It Wasn't Me by Oliver JeffersAfter embracing sartorial individuality in The New Sweater, the round, nearly-identical Hueys are back, and they're not getting along very well. A simple discussion about a buzzing fly escalates into a highly visual argument: the faces of the fighting Hueys become increasingly distressed, their speech bubbles growing chaotic and scribbly, until a Huey named Gillespie approaches and innocently asks them WHY they're fighting. Chagrined, the Hueys stand in silence -- they can't remember. As it turns out, the problem that started the argument has resolved itself: "Want to see a dead fly?" asks Gillespie with morbid, childlike glee. The Hueys all respond enthusiastically, and harmony is restored.
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| Little Poems for Tiny Earsby Lin Oliver; illustrated by Tomie dePaolaTailored specifically for the developing minds of babies and toddlers, this "tenderly crafted collection" (Kirkus Reviews) features a diverse cast of cheerful, round-faced tots (illustrated in Tomie dePaola's signature warm and homey style) narrating short poems about their experiences. Familiar occurrences like counting, sneezing, making a mess in a kitchen drawer, being sniffed by a dog, or purposefully dropping food from a high chair all become entertaining through Lin Oliver's simple, charming verse. If your little one can't get enough poetry, you might also enjoy Jane Yolen's Wee Rhymes: Baby's First Poetry Book and Mem Fox's Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes. |
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| EIEIO: How Old MacDonald Got His Farm With a Little Help from a Hen by Judy Sierra; illustrated by Matthew MyersIn this lighthearted mash-up of two familiar children's stories, Old MacDonald isn't a farmer -- he's just a guy who's tired of mowing his lawn. When a goat fails to keep the grass cropped, MacDonald buys a chicken…but not just any chicken. Nope, this is the Little Red Hen, "the smartest hen in history," and she's got big plans for turning Old MacDonald's yard into a sustainable suburban farm. But will the neighbors put up with a muddy, noisy, stinky farm next door? Check out this visually exaggerated but slyly funny read-aloud to find out. |
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March is Women's History Month in the United States, and the picture book biographies on this list will introduce young children to the fascinating stories of real-life women who dared to challenge the status quo.
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| Women Daredevils: Thrills, Chills, and Frills by Julie Cummins; illustrated by Cheryl HarnessFans of extreme sports may be surprised to learn that flirting with disaster isn't a new pastime, and that many of the thrill-seekers of the late-18th and early-19th centuries were women. Imagine yourself inside a circus tent, gasping in awe as you watch 16-year-old bareback rider May Wirth do a backward somersault from the back of one galloping horse to another. Or imagine barely being able to watch as Mademoiselle d'Zizi jumps her bicycle off a ramp and over six elephants! These short, true stories about 13 fearless women will make you feel as if you are witnessing their derring-do firsthand. |
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| Mama Miti: Wangari Maathai and the Trees of Kenya by Donna Jo Napoli; illustrated by Kadir NelsonSimilar in structure and cadence to a folktale, this introduction to environmental activist Wangari Muta Maathai -- winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize -- gives its audience an inkling of Maathai's importance to her Kenyan homeland. In this much-simplified version of her life story, women from all over Kenya come to ask "the wise Wangari" for advice, and Wangari (who founded Kenya's Green Belt Movement) tells them what sorts of trees to plant to solve each particular problem. "Vibrant collage artwork" (Booklist), created using oil paints and printed fabrics, depicts Kenya's people and landscapes with colorful grandeur. For a look at a very different woman who left an equally green legacy, try The Tree Lady by H. Joseph Hopkins. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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