Chester

Melanie Watt is one of my favorite picture book authors.  I love her sense of humor and Chester does not disappoint!  Chester does not like the story Melanie has written for him, and he makes sure she knows it!

Pirates! - Ellery & Max

Max and Ellery discover the Pirates in their library books do not want stay in the pages!

Crispin the Pig Who had it All

Crispin: The Pig Who had it All by Ted Dewan, is just that, a pig who has it all.  Everything he wants is given to him, but he doesn't take care of his things and they all break.  One year for Christmas, Crispin receives an empty box and finds that using his imagination is the greatest gift of all.

Puff the Magic Dragon - Jackie

Puff the Magic Dragon is the wonderful visual imagining of the song.  I especially like the end, when the lonely Puff, finds a new friend.

Don't Mention Pirates

Scarlet's family, although descendants of pirates, would rather forget their roots.  Until, that is, they find a hunk of gold and realize they are indeed pirates.
Don't Mention Pirates by Sarah McConnell

Chewy Louie

Chewy Louie by Howie Schneider is the classic story of a puppy who just won't stop chewing up everything in his family's home.

Sophie's Masterpiece

Sophie is a spider and an artist.  She wants to create a beautiful piece, but all of her attempts are thwarted by people who don't like spiders.  Finally, Sophie is able to create her masterpiece: a blanket for a new baby.

Danny and the Dinosaur

Danny and the Dinosaur by Syd Hoff is the classic story of a boy who spends the day with a dinosaur.  Fun situations arise as the dinosaur and Danny explore town, the zoo, and play games.

Bridget's Beret

Bridget loves to create works of art.  She gathers her supplies: pencils, paints, brushes, paper, and most importantly her beret.  Without it, she would be lost, which is exactly what happens when her beret is blown away by a strong gust of wind.  But as it turns out, Bridget's artistic ability is brilliant even without her beret.

Bridget's Beret by Tom Lichtenheld

Pete's a Pizza

Pete is having a bad day, so his dad decides to make him into a [pretend] pizza. 

Pete's a Pizza by William Steig

Small Florence: Piggy Pop Star

Small Florence has big dreams about becoming a pop star.  Even with lots of encouragement from her friends, she still feels nervous after her sisters make fun of her, but not to worry, in the end Small Florence: Piggy Pop Star, is able to show her stuff!

My Name is Yoon

My Name is Yoon by Helen Recorvits is the story of a little girl making the transition from Korea to America.  She is conflicted about writing her name in English, as the Korean way looks so poetic.  Through the help of her father, teacher, and new classmates she learns to embrace her new name.

Busy Lizzie

Lizzie is a busy toddler doing all sorts of toddler things using various body parts in the rhyming Busy Lizzie by Holly Berry.

A Weekend with Wendell

A Weekend with Wendell by Kevin Henkes is the story of troublemaker Wendell visiting cousin Sophie's house.  The family can't wait until he leaves, but find they miss him when he's gone.

St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day by Anne Rockwell is a great explanatory story of St. Patrick's Day as experienced by children in a classroom.  They act out plays, make crafts, and have fun!

I'm Not a Baby!

Leo Leotardi constantly declares, "I'm not a baby!" but his family doesn't seem to notice and continues to dress him in his baby romper and frilly bonnet, well into adulthood.

Scareltte Beane

Scarlett Beane by Karen Wallace was born to something great!  In this magical story she grows the most incredible garden imaginable.

The Secret Science Project That Almost Ate The School

The Secret Science Project...by Judy Sierra is a humorous cautionary tale about doing your own homework and not counting on strange orders from the internet.

Deputy Harvey and the Ant Cow Caper

Deputy Harvey and the Ant Cow Caper by Brad Sneed is a fun wild west story, only with ants instead of people.  Great illustrations and a lot of fun for older children.

Clara and Asha

Clara and Asha by Eric Rohmann is the story of a little girl Asha and her imaginary fish friend, Asha.

BedHead - Oliver

On picture day Oliver has the worst, most uncontrollable case of Bedhead! He thinks it's under control, but at the last minute...SPROING!

Not Norman

Not Norman by Kelly Bennett is the story of a little boy who wants a pet, but not a goldfish, not Norman. When he brings Norman to show and tell, he realizes that Norman is the perfect pet for him.

Bark, George

Bark, George by Jules Feiffer is one of my favorite books.  George, the dog will not bark.  He will meow, quack, oink, and moo, but not bark.  The vet discovers the problem as he pulls out a cat, duck, pig, and cow from George's stomach!  Simple, but comical, illustrations and text make for a delightful story not only for children, but adults too.

Louise, the Adventures of a Chicken

Louise, The Adventures of a Chicken by Kate DiCamillo & Harry Bliss lives up to it's title.  Louise decides to see the world and is captured by pirates, joins the circus, has her fortune told, helps other chickens escape certain death, and finally finds that home is always warm and safe.

No Ordinary Olive

Of course, Olive's parents think she's wonderful, but the school principle, Mr. Weepole does not think so, until Olive uses her artistic talent to do something for him in No Ordinary Olive by Roberta Baker.

When the Pigs Took Over - Alonzo, Don Carlos

Don Carlos wants to add "mas" to his restaurant menu and decides to serve snails.  The snails eat all the vegetation so the town decides to bring in birds.  To get rid of the birds they bring in pigs.  The people of the village play music to get rid of the pigs in When the Pigs took Over by ARthur Dorros.

A Pig Named Perrier

When you're a potbellied big owned by a famous movie star, life is good, unless you discover the allure of mud.  A Pig Named Perrier by Elizabeth Spurr.

Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs

Flinn believes his just getting markers from the supply closet, but what he finds is a pirate captain that leads him to an epic battle between pirates and pirate dinosaurs in Captain Flinn and the Pirate Dinosaurs by Giles Andreae and Russell Ayto.

Oce Upon a Tide

Two children build a boat, take a picnic, meet a whale, and get chased by pirates in the rhyming Once Upon a Tide by Tony Mitton and Selina Young.

Abigale the Happy Whale

Abigale the Happy Whale by Peter Farrelly is the story of a menagerie of sea animals that decide to show people just how much junk they've been throwing in the ocean.

While Mama had a Quick Little Chat - Rose

While Mama had a Quick Little Chat by Amy Reichert is the story of Rose and the adventure that occurs while her mother talks on the phone.  Great for K-2.