Wild Rose's Weaving

by Ginger Churchill

When Wild Rose's grandmother tries to teach her how to weave, Rose figures out that she too can weave beautiful things like rainbows into her work.

E CHU

White Water

by Michael S. Bandy and Eric Stein

"Inspired by a true story"

Michael lives in a world where he must stand up if a white family wants a seat at the bus stop, must climb on the bus and pay and then get off to reenter again by the back door. when he gets hot and thirsty from his trip with his grandma, he goes to the "Colored" fountain to take a drink, only to find that the water tastes dark, muddy, and dirty. He sees his schoolmate drinking long and freely from the "White" fountain, and Michael begins to imagine what that water must taste like. He becomes obsessed about knowing what the difference is, and finally sneaks off to get a forbidden taste. Imagine his surprise when he learns that the water tastes the same, both fountains coming from the same rusty pipe. Michael learns a lesson that changes his life forever.

This story is simplistic enough that it will raise just the right questions with any age child. The illustrations are beautiful, and careful attention should be paid to the final page where we see the images that can inspire Michael's future. This is a must read.

Olivia Cooks Up A Surprise

by Emily Sollinger

Olivia is planning a special surprise dinner for her Mom's birthday. What's on the menu? Alll red food, of course! Fun to read and maybe plan your own color-coordinated meal.

E RES

Papa's Pastries

by Charles Toscano
Miguel accompanies his Papa on a walk through the village but soon finds out that the villagers cannot afford his pastries. Still, Papa returns emptyhanded as he has given all his wares away. A great moral to the story as Papa learns his kindnesses will be repaid.

Llama Llama Holiday Drama

by Anna Dewdney
Llama is impatient for the holidays to get here, but Mama comes through with stories and crafts to keep him busy. Busy parents will love this story and children will ask for it over and over. Probably the best illustrations of any Llama Llama yet!

Dragon Stew

by Steve Smallman

Five bored vikings are bored and looking for an adventure, so they decide to go on a dragon hunt. What they haven't bargained for is a very stubborn dragon!

Noodle's Knitting

by Sheryl Webster

Noodle has always wanted to knit, so when she finds a big ball of yarn she just keeps working at it. Soon, she knits herself into a big bunch of purple trouble.

This book has soft-to-touch wool yarn pictures on every page.

Who Stole Mona Lisa?

by Ruthie Knapp

A unique (and true) story about how the famous painting was stolen. This book is told by Mona Lisa herself! A great way to teach about art, and a refreshing change from the typical storybook.

How Rocket Learned to Read

by Tad Hills
Rocket the Dod is ready for a nice nap time, he has been running and jumping and playing all day. But a little yellow bird has a different idea. Can the little yellow bird teach Rocket to read --one letter at a time?

Pecan Pie Baby

by Jacqueline Woodson
Gia's Mom is having a baby and Gia is not very happy about it. When Gia finally gets super frustrated on Thanksgiving, her Mom explains to her that she will miss some of the things that just the two of them share together.

Little Rabbit and the Meanest Mother on Earth

by Kate Klise

Little Rabbit runs off to the circus because his mother is making him clean his room. When he is asked about his claim to fame he says he has the "Meanest Mother on Earth" and proceeds to sell tickets to a show about her. This is a very funny story as Little Rabbit claims that his mother has two heads and green teeth -- but it gets even funnier when Mom turns up at the show and gently turns the table on Little Rabbit. In the end, Mother says she is the "luckiest Mother" on Earth.

Chicks and Salsa

By Aaron Reynolds

A rollicking story about a rooster that is a little smarter than the average barnyard animal. Farmer Nuthatcher's chickens are tired of their regular feed, and it just so happens that the rooster has been watching cooking shows over the farmer's wife's shoulder. He has some ideas, beginning with chips and salsa. Soon the ducks are inspired and give up fish for guacamole, and the pigs go for beans and chiles. With all of this southwestern cuisine, it's time for a fiesta. It turns out, though, that Mrs. Nuthatcher is making tamales, and all of the ingredients the animals need are gone, so it's time for a new cuisine–from a French cookbook.

E Rey

Rhyming Dust Bunnies

by Jan Thomas
Three dust bunnies, Ed, Ned, and Ted, rhyme all the time. They say that far, jar, and tar rhyme with car, but a fourth dust bunny, Bob, just does not seem to get it; he says, “Look!” When they try and teach him that rug, hug, and mug rhyme with bug, he says, “Look out!” Of course, the smug majority is wrong. Bob’s warnings come true and when a broom and then a vacuum cleaner prove him right, the rhyming trio ask Bob what rhymes with “How do we get out?”
E THO

If I Built A Car

By Chris Van Dusen
A young boy decides to design a better car than the old family station wagon. Driven by a robot, his sleek, supercharged vehicle can drive underwater and fly, and the interior includes a snack bar and swimming pool. The story is told in jaunty rhyming couplets, but the fun really comes from the illustrations, which perfectly parody 1950s' visions of the future, as depicted in such magazines as Popular Mechanics.

E VAN

Looking Like ME

By Walter Dean Myers
"When you look in a mirror, who do you see? A boy? A girl?A son? A daughter?A runner? A dancer?Whoever and whatever you see–just put out your fist and give yourself an "I am" BAM! This jumping, jazzy, joyful picture book by the award-winning team of Walter Dean and Christoper Myers celebrates every child, and every thing that child can be."
E MYE

Back of the Bus

By Aaron Reynolds
It seems like any other winter day in Montgomery, Alabama. Mama and child are riding where they’re supposed to—way in the back of the bus. The boy passes the time by watching his marble roll up and down the aisle with the motion of the bus, until from way up front a big commotion breaks out. He can’t see what’s going on, but he can see the policeman arrive outside and he can see Mama’s chin grow strong. “There you go, Rosa Parks,” she says, “stirrin’ up a nest of hornets. Tomorrow all this’ll be forgot.” But they both know differently.
E REY

Mice and Beans

By Pam Munoz Ryan

"When there's room in the heart, there's room in the house, except for a mouse." Those are the words that Rosa María remembers (an old saying from her mother) as she's preparing for the birthday of Little Catalina, her soon-to-be 7-year-old granddaughter. She's hoping to squeeze the entire family into her tiny casita for a fiesta with enchiladas, rice and beans ("no dinner was complete without rice and beans!"), birthday cake, a brand-new swing set, and even a piñata packed with candy.
But in the week before the party, there's so much to keep track of ("I am so busy that I'm forgetting to remember!") that she's just not sure she'll have everything ready. And to top it off, she keeps forgetting to set mousetraps for all the ratones scurrying around her home... or does she? She might not know it yet, but Rosa María lives with some pretty clever mice.

E RYA

Fiesta Fiasco

By Ann Whitford Paul
It's Culebra the snake's birthday, and friends Conejo (rabbit), Tortuga (tortoise) and Iguana are gift shopping for his party. But finding perfect regalos causes some contention. Self-described "gift expert" Conejo convinces the other two he knows best, despite their doubts about giving a snake a hat, shirt, and pants.
E PAU

Fancy Nancy: Heart to Heart

By Jane O'Connor

Almost everything about Valentine's Day is fancy . . . especially with Fancy Nancy!
Mystery is in the air when Nancy receives a valentine from a secret someone. Join Nancy as she follows the clues to find out who it is—all in her trademark fabulous style, of course. Gorgeous stickers included!

E OCO

Duck Duck Moose

by Dave Horowitz
In a hilarious take on family vacations, two ducks convince a reluctant New Hampshire moose to join them on their migratory car trip to Florida for the winter. A poor sport on the journey, Moose finds the warm, fun-filled sunshine state to be more exciting than he could possibly have imagined. When it's time to return home, a crying Moose is loathe to leave (to the disgust of his duck buddies) but then finds he can create a bit of Florida up north.
E HOR