"Easy does it, that's the way. Then my friends will let me play." ~ from Bruce Hale's Clark the Shark
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New and Recently Released!
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Boom, Baby, boom, boom!by Margaret MahyIt's lunchtime for baby! Leaving the baby to feed herself, Mum starts playing the drums, boom-boom-boom. However she doesn't know that the animals are listening at the window, and they are much hungrier than baby. While Mum bangs on her drums, boom-biddy-boom-biddy-boom-boom-boom, the yellow cat, the brown dog, the red rooster, the black-faced sheep and the brown-and-white cow each eats a titbit thrown on the floor by baby.
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Esau the Paw by Chris GurneyEsau the Paw's fur has grown long and tangled. It's time for a trim! Esau the Paw didn't realise the vet would remove all of his fur. But one hot summer's day, Esau the Paw realises that his short little coat is as cool as can be ... and his friends all look at him with envy.
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| Mogie: The Heart of the House by Kathi Appelt; illustrated by Marc RosenthalMogie the labradoodle is a "ball-chasing, tail-wagging, moon-howling pup." He's full of energy, but he doesn't have what it takes to be a show dog, a service dog, or a search-and-rescue dog. Mogie doesn't find his true calling until he visits a special house for sick children and meets Gage, a little boy who's lost his "mojo." With Mogie's support, Gage gets better and goes home, but Mogie stays to share his loving encouragement with other kids. Light, cheery illustrations and cozy rhymes create a feeling of comfort in this "gently told and optimistic tale" (Booklist), which was inspired by a true story. |
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A pet for Fly Guy
by Tedd Arnold
A first Fly Guy picture book finds Buzz helping Fly Guy select just the right pet, evaluating such candidates as a licking dog, a chasing frog and a jumpy cricket before settling on a choice. By the Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor-winning creator of the Huggly series.
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Can You Say It, Too? Growl! Growl!by Sebastien BraunFive lavishly illustrated spreads, big, recessed flaps and a host of farm animals to spot, name and mimic combine in this delightful little board book for the very young. Extract: Who's that among the reeds? It's happy hippo! Snort! Snort!
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| My Teacher Is a Monster! (No, I Am Not.)by Peter BrownBobby and his teacher, Ms. Kirby, don't get along -- after all, Ms. Kirby is a mean, green, sharp-toothed monster! True, Bobby's behaviour isn't perfect, but are a few paper airplanes really a good reason for Ms. Kirby to stomp and roar and take away recess? Bobby doesn't think so. A chance encounter at the park, however, leads teacher and student to see each other differently. As they discover that paper airplanes are more fun outside the classroom, Ms. Kirby starts to look a lot less green and toothy. Fans of Mr. Tiger Goes Wild will welcome the return of Peter Brown's blocky, expressive art and pitch-perfect humor. |
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| The Midnight Libraryby Kazuno KoharaThe librarian at the Midnight Library (evening hours only) might be a little girl in pigtails, but she knows just what each animal in the library needs. She's got an activity room for the noisy band of squirrels, comforting words for a sad wolf, a library card for a slow-reading tortoise, and even a goodnight story for her drowsy owl assistants. Contrasting the cool blues and blacks of nighttime with a deep, warm yellow, The Midnight Library's illustrations are whimsical, inviting, and perfect for bedtime. For another minimally coloured nocturnal tale, pick up The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson. |
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Edda : a little Valkyrie's first day of school
by Adam Auerbach
Edda, the littlest Valkyrie, leaves the magical land of Asgard to attend school in the hope of making a friend her own age but feels like an outcast until she discovers her courage and learns that being different makes her special.
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| I Got the Rhythm by Connie Schofield-Morrison; illustrated by Frank MorrisonIt's a sunny day in the city, and as one little girl walks to the park with her mum, she feels rhythm all around her…and she's not afraid to let it show: "I shook a rhythm with my hips. SHAKE SHAKE. I felt the rhythm with my knees. KNOCK KNOCK." Her exuberance is infectious, and soon the park is transformed into an impromptu dance party, complete with marching band. Joy radiates from the vivid, exaggerated illustrations, while the rousing words (just right for reading aloud) encourage kids to do some stomping, bopping, and hopping of their own. |
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Chicken Clickingby Jeanne Willis One night Chick hops onto the farmer's house and has a browse on his computer - click - soon she's shopping online for the whole farm! But when she arranges to meet up with a friend she's made online, she discovers all is not as it seems...Little Red Riding Hood for the iPad generation, this is the perfect book for teaching children how to stay safe online.
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| Hooray for Hat! by Brian WonIn this playful, upbeat debut, friendship (and some jaunty accessories) offer the cure for a common complaint: grumpiness. After Elephant wakes up on the wrong side of the bed, he opens his door to discover a gift box containing a stack of crazy, colourful hats. Donning the entire pile makes his bad mood vanish, so Elephant eagerly distributes the funky headgear to Zebra, Turtle, and various other grouchy friends. With each visit, a grumbled "go away! I'm grumpy!" quickly turns to a gleeful cheer of "hooray for hat!" Young readers will want to cheer right along. |
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| Never Take a Shark to the Dentist (and Other Things Not to Do) by Judi Barrett; illustrated by John NickleLike Abbot and Costello, the text and illustrations of this seriously absurd book of advice are a perfect comedy duo. Plainspoken text sets up the joke on one page -- "Never go shopping for shoes with a centipede," for instance -- and the scrupulously detailed picture on the opposite page brings home the laugh. Kids who loved the similar humour of Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing (also by Judi Barrett) will be highly amused, even if they already know that they should "never take goats to the library." |
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| Shark vs. Train by Chris Barton; illustrated by Tom LichtenheldJust before the title page of this hilarious book, two boys are shown scrambling in a toy box for their favourite playthings. One pulls out a shark, the other chooses a train, and the contest is on: which of the two toys will win in a head-to-head competition? Of course, the answer depends on the type of competition (Shark aces the high-dive, but Train has the upper hand...er, smokestack...in roasting marshmallows) and the terrain on which it's held (Train doesn't function so well in the ocean). Bubbling over with bravado and wacky, over-the-top scenarios, Shark vs. Train will delight fans of funny, action-packed reads such as Mini Grey's Traction Man Meets Turbo Dog or Lisa Wheeler's Dino-Hockey. |
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| The Shark King by R. Kikuo JohnsonWith a winning combination of sharks, magic, and superpowers, this graphic novel version of a traditional Hawaiian folktale is sure to hook beginning readers. The story focuses on Nanaue, son of the shape-shifting shark god Kamohoalii. Raised by his human mother and marked with a shark's mouth growing out of his back, Nanaue has an endless appetite for both food and mischief. But he can't stop wondering where he belongs: on the land, or in the sea? Bold, energetic artwork and a vivid Hawaiian setting bring this engaging tale to life. Complex enough for strong beginning readers, The Shark King may also tempt hesitant readers who want to try something new. |
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| I'm a Shark by Bob SheaNothing can scare Shark! Faced with squid, scary movies, getting shots at the doctor, or even the dark ("The dark is afraid of me! Dark heard I was coming and ran!") his courage is unwavering. "Aren't I awesome?" he boasts. But his friends, Fish and Crab, are skeptical. Everyone is afraid of something…right? Bob Shea's distinctively clever dialogue and sketchy, giggle-inducing illustrations ensure that readers are clued in to Shark's secret fear long before his friends are. Looking for another undersea tale of comic overconfidence? Check out I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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