Children's Books for Early Readers

PAINTING THE WIND: A Story of Vincent van Gogh
by Michelle Dionetti. Wonderful color illustrations by Kevin Hawkes. Condition: Gently pre-read, if at all, 1996 Little, Brown hardcover (pictorial boards - no DJ), first printing. Content: Claudine, the daughter of Vincent van Gogh's charwoman, is the only person in Arles who finds the artist and his work exciting rather than threatening. She dreams of becoming an artist herself, and, as represented by Hawkes's vibrant settings, she begins to see through her hero's eyes: "the trees no longer looked green to her, but gold and purple and orange and blue, and their branches danced like flames." Claudine notes van Gogh's compulsive work habits and volatility, and also witnesses Gauguin's tumultuous visit and the artist's depression following the ear-mutilation episode. But Claudine remains enchanted by his gifts and overcomes her meekness to defend Arles's bete noire, praising his work in full view of the hostile townspeople. Van Gogh, however, remains a shadowy, distant figure, and the story is not likely to carry much weight with those not already familiar with van Gogh. Hawkes demonstrates great versatility: his lush, charismatic oil illustrations evoke by turns the intensity of van Gogh's paintings, the relative tranquility of a more conventional vision and the dark period of van Gogh's depression. While Claudine's love of art and righteous loyalty can seem emotionally airbrushed, Dionetti and Hawkes successfully demonstrate the power of art to transform vision. Ages 6-10. [1 copy available]
$ 4.89 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

PASCUAL AND THE KITCHEN ANGELS
text and color illustrations by Tomie dePaola. Condition: NEW 2006 Puffin soft cover, first printing. Content: DePaola brews up a delightful retelling of the life of the patron saint of cooks and the kitchen. On the day of Pascual's birth, angels sing in the trees, and his father realizes that "God must surely love him." Acrylic illustrations with soft pastel backgrounds show Pascual as a little boy, frolicking joyfully with animals and hanging garlands of flowers around the necks of sheep. The winsome paintings capture his serene spirituality as he and the creatures lift their voices toward heaven. Simple, well-chosen words reflect the youngster's sincere love for God and all of His creatures. When Pascual is older, he goes to the monastery of Saint Francis, hoping to become a friar and help the hungry. However, the friars ask him to make their meals. Knowing nothing about cooking, Pascual bows his head and prays. Suddenly, apron-wearing angelic visitors "swoosh in the air above him" and then descend to concoct a feast. Curious about the delicious meals coming from the kitchen, the friars spy on the dinner preparations and learn the truth. Realizing how much God values him, they decide to take a joyful Pascual with them to feed the hungry. Framed by light peach watercolors splashed with rainbow-colored droplets, the illustrations beautifully complement the celestial mood. An author's note provides some background about this humble man. Grades 1 - 4. [2 copies available]
$ 4.19 + $ 3.09 media shipping.

PASCUAL AND THE KITCHEN ANGELS (Hard Cover)
text and color illustrations by Tomie DePaola. Condition: UNREAD 2004 Putnam's hard cover (pictorial boards) & DJ (in mylar jacket), first impression, first printing. Content: DePaola brews up a delightful retelling of the life of the patron saint of cooks and the kitchen. On the day of Pascual's birth, angels sing in the trees, and his father realizes that "God must surely love him." Acrylic illustrations with soft pastel backgrounds show Pascual as a little boy, frolicking joyfully with animals and hanging garlands of flowers around the necks of sheep. The winsome paintings capture his serene spirituality as he and the creatures lift their voices toward heaven. Simple, well-chosen words reflect the youngster's sincere love for God and all of His creatures. When Pascual is older, he goes to the monastery of Saint Francis, hoping to become a friar and help the hungry. However, the friars ask him to make their meals. Knowing nothing about cooking, Pascual bows his head and prays. Suddenly, apron-wearing angelic visitors "swoosh in the air above him" and then descend to concoct a feast. Curious about the delicious meals coming from the kitchen, the friars spy on the dinner preparations and learn the truth. Realizing how much God values him, they decide to take a joyful Pascual with them to feed the hungry. Framed by light peach watercolors splashed with rainbow-colored droplets, the illustrations beautifully complement the celestial mood. An author's note provides some background about this humble man. Grades 1 - 4. [2 copies available]
$ 11.39 + $ 3.29 media shipping.

PEACE ON EARTH; A Book of Prayes From Around the World
collected and color illustrations by Bijou Le Tord. Adorable simple illustrations. Condition: UNREAD, but not perfect, 1992 Doubleday hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. Light shelf wear to bottom boards edges. Content: Simplicity and dignity characterize this perceptively edited anthology of prayers. Gathering hymns and songs of praise from the Inuit, the Baha'i, Breton fishermen, Pakistani children and diverse other groups, Le Tord gracefully suggests the universality of religious experience without drawing attention to particular denominations or creeds. Prayers are arranged according to natural phenomena ("Morning and Sun," "Plants and Harvesting," "Animals," etc.), with holiday offerings grouped together under the rubric "Songs and Celebrations." The artist's apparently effortless, delicately hued watercolors blend an appreciation of the everyday world with an intimation of the mystical--here, spirituality is both lightly worn and spontaneous. Some of the authors: Megan Boyd, Marc Chagall, Scot Chaskey, e.e. cummings, Aileen Fisher, Gerard Manley Hopkins (my personal favorite), Langston Hughes, Issa, Madeleine L'Engle, Ilos Orleans, Rumi, St. Francis, Leslie Marmon Silko, Shuntaro Tanikawa, et al. All ages. [1 copy available]
$ 11.19 + $ 3.29 media shipping.

PETROSINELLA: A Neapolitan Rapunzel
retold & illustrated by Diane Stanley. Soft, lovely color illustrations. Condition: NEW 1997 Dial Books hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), second printing. Tiny edge wear top DJ spine with light shelf wear to DJ in the form of pale "wrinkle." Interior perfect. With blank bookplate. Content: Stanley offers a Neapolitan version of Rapunzel that predates the Grimms by 200 years. Petrosinella ("parsley" in Italian) is similar in many ways to the more familiar Grimm tale, but here the women play a more active part in the plot. It is Petrosinella's pregnant mother (not her father) who steals the parsley from the ogress - the event that leads to the girl's imprisonment. Likewise, it is the girl who discovers the secret to her release (three hidden acorns) and who implements the steps that cause the destruction of the enchantress. Stanley's watercolors and colored inks are rendered in royal blues and verdant greens - a fitting backdrop for the young woman and the prince with whom she falls in love, and an effective contrast to the ugly hag. Visual parallels, however, abound; note the folds in the cliffs, the ogress's face, and the bulldog's jowls in the scene with the first acorn. The illustrations have been published before but now Stanley's own narrative spin replaces John Edward Taylor's 1847 translation, used in the book's 1981 publication. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 12.59 + $ 3.29 media shipping.

PRINCESS ABIGAIL AND THE WONDERFUL HAT
by Steven Kroll. Beautiful color illustrations by Patience Brewster. Condition: UNREAD 1991 Holiday House/Weekly Reader hardcover (pictorial boards - no DJ issued), first edition. Name top loose end page. Otherwise, perfect. Content: A story about a princess who runs away rather than be married to flabby, ugly, and horrible Prince Grindstone. Her vain father, who loves hats, has offered his daughter's hand in exchange for a new idea in hat design and Grindstone has won. When Abigail leaves, she shows little more resourcefulness than her father, since she wears her nightgown. Fortunately, as she sobs in the forest, she meets a kindly giant lizard who creates a hat from nature, the most beautiful the princess has ever seen, and he sends her home with it. In the morning, the king, delighted with this creation, declares he has made a mistake. The lizard's hat is superior, and the princess must marry him. The princess's tear trickles onto his head, he becomes a handsome prince, and they marry. Ages K - 2. [1 copy available]
$ 3.49 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

THE QUANGLE WANGLE'S HAT
by Edward Lear. Adorable color illustrations by Louise Voce. Condition: Gently pre-read, IF at all, but perused on the shelf, 2003 Candlewick hardcover (pictorial boards) & DJ (in mylar jacket), second printing. Content: Lear's nonsense verse lends itself beautifully to a visual treatment. The Quangle Wangle, a seemingly friendly large mammal, doesn't reveal his face because of his enormous hat, "…a hundred and two feet wide,/With ribbons and bibbons on every side." He's lonely up in his tree, but one day, as bright morning fades into afternoon, he is joined by a procession of fanciful creatures, from a "Fimble Fowl, with a Corkscrew leg" to "the Dong with a luminous nose." The poem closes in the starry night as the animals sing and dance under the "Mulberry moon." Voce's watercolors, with bright soft colors and supple lines, have a light comic touch that children will enjoy almost as much as Lear's classic wordplay and silliness. This book might also lend itself to classroom use, with kids making up their own animals. Preschool - Grade 2. Questions welcome. [1 copy available.]
$ 11.00 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

THE QUILT STORY (Soft cover book only)
text by Tony Johnston with color illustrations by Tomie dePaola. Condition: UNREAD 1990 Scholastic soft cover edition, 24th printing. Content: This is the story of a quilt that was loved and moved across country by two generations of little girls. Reviewer: "In essence, this story is about the constancy of motherly love, even when everything else in the world seems to change. The quilt, crafted by a mother's loving hands, wraps the child in love both physically and metaphorically. The story follows the quilt from it's creation in pioneer days, through to its restoration in modern times. It also follows two girls through the experience of moving, one in a wagon, one in a moving van. We see that ours is not the only generation that has had to cope with changes and transitions, and we see that mothers have always comforted their children by rocking them. Sweet. Ages K - 4. [1 copy available]
$ 2.69 + $ 3.09 media shipping.

RATS ON THE ROOF AND OTHER STORIES
by James Marshall. Adorable, comic B&W illustrations and cover art by the Author. Condition: Gently pre-read, IF at all, 1992 Dial Books For Young Readers hard cover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. DJ price-clipped. It "feels" unread. Content: In seven illustrated stories of varying size and levels of sophistication, this Caldecott Honor artist introduces an array of lively anthropomorphized animals in amusing predicaments. Otis and Sophie Dog cannot sleep because of the cavorting rats that dance on the roof of their house. When the couple advertises for a cat to oust the intruders, a pompous, nattily dressed tomcat with some outrageous demands applies for the job. Other tales deal with a wolf who goes to great lengths to ensnare two unsuspecting sheep; a conniving cat tossed out on his ear after crashing a mouse wedding; and a vain frog who abruptly ceases to brag about his "magnificent legs" when he reads a recipe that calls for sauteed frogs' legs. As always, Marshall charges his text and pictures with a zany humor that will bewitch adults and children alike. Grades 3 - 5. [1 copy available]
$ 4.00 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

A REDWALL WINTER'S TALE
by Brian Jacques. Adorable, bight and detailed color illustrations by Christopher Denise. Condition: NEW 2001 Philomel hardcover (pictorial boards) & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. Content: autumn, the Redwallers are preparing for some special guests: a troupe of traveling players who promise an evening of entertainment in exchange for a grand feast. The merriment continues far into the evening, until it's time for sleepy Dibbuns to be tucked in their beds with a story: the tale of Snow Badger, Lord of Wintertide, who comes on the first night of winter, bringing snow across the land. As they did in The Great Redwall Feast, Christopher Denise's warm pastel illustrations and Brian Jacques' magical words take young readers straight to the heart of Redwall. Fans, young and old, will be enchanted by this delightful winter's tale, spun by a master storyteller. Ages 8+, IMHO. Questions welcome [1 copy left]
$ 7.49 + $ 3.40 media shipping. Priority shipping available.

RING OF EARTH: A Child's Book of Seasons
by Jane Yolen. Beautiful, detailed color illustrations by John Wallner. Condition: NEW 1986 Harcourt Brace large hardcover (pictorial boards - no DJ issued), school supplemental reading book. Content: "This ring of earth, this world, this sphere, enclosed within the circled year." Each season introduces the story of animals of that season accompanied by wonderful illustrations. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 6.50 + $ 3.40 media shipping.

THE ROLLING STONE & OTHER READ ALOUD STORIES
presente by Eric Kimmel & Friends. Wonderful color illustrations by various artists (including Beatrice Baldwin) and short stories by various authors. Condition: NEW 2000 Providence hardcover (pictorial boards) & DJ (in mylar jacket), second printing. Content: These are great stories ranging from Native America to the Far East. Most are 1 page long (perfect for bedtime reading). Contents: The Rolling Stone; Pepperdine's Pen; The Girl & the Frog; Prince Adam; Snake Story; Elephants in Disguise; Very Busy Bee; If A Carrot and a Lettuce Raced. . .; Big Wheel Cookies - 2 For a Penny; Escape from Cambodia; Balancing The Moon; and Weeping Willow. There is a B&W photo section of the authors and artists, how you can contact them about school visits. Neat! [1 copy available]
$ 3.89 + $ 3.29 media shipping.

THE ROYAL RAVEN
text & color illustrations by Hans Wilhelm. Condition: Gently pre-read 1996 Scholastic hardcover (pictorial boards) & price-clipped DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. No major problems, just pre-read. Content: From the minute he pops out of the egg, Crawford wants to be special. The raven finally gets his wish when an old woman transforms him into a spectacular creature with dazzling feathers. He has a brief spell of glory as the chained fancy of a princess, but all too soon is relegated to a golden cage in an obscure part of the garden. He then pines only for freedom, which he achieves by plucking out his shiny feathers so that the princess, horrified by his ugliness, banishes him. He returns to his friends a wiser bird. The wildly colored watercolor cartoon illustrations have a freewheeling look that is sometimes humorous and sometimes unsettlingly busy. [The illustrations are certainly "vivid" but will capture the attention of early readers K - 2. And the message, IMHO, "be careful what you wish for."] [1 copy available]
$ 3.75 + $ 3.29 media shipping.

SCHOOL BUGS: An Elementary Pop-up Book
by David A. Carter. Bright clever illustrations (and paper engineering?) by the Author. Condition: NEW 2009-10 Little Simon hardcover (pictorial boards - no DJ issued), first edition, first printing. Content: " We're ready for school. We're on our way. We can't wait to see what we'll learn today!" Who’s heading to school? The Bugs, of course! From the Spelling Bees and the Counting Bugs to the Sandwich Bug with a big bug surprise in the lunch box, David Carter’s wacky, giggly world of bugs pop and pull throughout this funny, buggy tribute to school days! Paper-over-board book has cardstock pages with pop-ups on each spread. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 6.49 + $ 3.09 media shipping.

THE SILVER PONY: A Story in Pictures
B&W illustrations by Lynd Ward. Condition: Gently pre-read 1973 Houghton Mifflin hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), no printing given. Problems: DJ is price-clipped and a name has been cut off at the top of the title page. Light edge wear to DJ. Interior clean & tight. Content: Reviewer: "The right reader has a read-to-me kid and shares a vivid imagination with that child. The 80+ illustrations tell a wordless story of a small boy and his magical winged horse. Because it's wordless, the readers have to come up with a lot of the story for themselves - the characters' names, details of why and how, and much more. The pictorial narrative gives plenty of chance for embellishment: exciting rescues of flooded families and lost sheep, some friendly moments with innocent romantic potential, and a potentially frightening scene near the end, a nightmare from the cold war era. Because the story exists only with the reader's help, you control how much you will explore each of the book's themes. Although the images are a black&white and a little dated, they will give you and an imaginative child a lot to work with." Ages 3 - 5+. [1 copy available]
$ 6.50 + $ 3.09 media shipping.

SLEEPING BEAUTY (The Magic of the Ballet series)
text by Adele Geras. Beautiful, soft color illustrations by Emma Chichester Clark. Condition: NEW 2000 David & Charles (London) hardcover (pictorial boards - no DJ), first impression. Content: When wicked fairy, Carabosse, isn't invited to Princess Aurora's christening, she is so angry she bestows an evil gift - on her sixteenth birthday, the Princess will prick her finger and die! Can beautiful Princess Aurora be saved from this terrible fate? These attractive books from The Magic of Ballet series tell the stories of major ballets. Each volume features fairly large type, decorative borders, and Emma Chichester Clark's richly atmospheric paintings. An appendix in each book traces the ballet's history, music, choreography, and related matters such as dance notations. Swan Lake is a difficult undertaking with its darker, adult story and tragic ending. Geras makes the ballet more understandable to those who aren't familiar with it. Grades 3 - 5. [1 copy available]
$ 4.79 + $ 3.19 media shipping. Priority shipping available.

Paul Gallico's THE SMALL MIRACLE
retold by Bob Barton. Lovely soft color illustrations by Carolyn Croll. Condition: NEW 2003 Henry Holt hardcover (pictorial boards - no DJ), first printing. Content: Retold in simple sentences, this is the story of a young Italian orphan whose faith is rewarded. When Pepino's beloved donkey falls ill, the boy must travel from his home in Assisi to Rome in order to ask the Pope for special permission to bring the animal into the crypt of Saint Francis, with the hope that she will be cured. The original tale has more detailed, descriptive language and a more deeply layered plot. Still, this abridged version succeeds in a quiet way since the journey of faith remains. Done in watercolors and colored pencils, Croll's illustrations nicely convey the emotions of the characters and the events they experience. The colors are soft and details well chosen. Some pictures are full page, while others are sectioned into four panels, making for effective visual variety. Ages 6+. [1 copy available]
$ 3.79 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

Mary Englebreit's THE SNOW QUEEN
by Hans Christian Anderson. Mary Engelbreit color illustrations. Decorated end pages. Condition: NEW 1993 Workman Publishing hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first edition, first printing. DJ shows very light shelf wear. Content: Engelbreit presents her first children's book, an illustrated retelling of the Hans Christian Andersen classic The Snow Queen. This beautiful full-color gift booktells of a feisty heroine and the t triumph of love and innocence over wickedness. Ages 4-8. [1 copy available]
$ 8.49 + $ 3.29 media shipping.

SWEET DREAMS
by L.C. Falken. Beautiful, adorable and bright color illustraitons by Lisa McCue. Condition: UNREAD, but not perfect, 2001 Reader's Digest Children's Books paperback, second printing. Unread, but lightly perused on shelf. Content: Just as the fireflies come out to play, Mama Bunny calls Rosy, Posy and dozy inside for the evening. First she serves them a delicious dinner. Next is a warm bath, with time left over for a snuggle and a story. Finally, it's off to bed. "May you have sweet dreams all through the night," whispers Mama Bunny as she turns off the light. The pleasures of ordinary life at the end of a long summer's day are all here, rendered in loving detail by best-selling artist Lisa McCue. Filled with paintings that glow with the warmth of a night-light, this book is exactly what children need to send them off to dreamland. Baby read-aloud and readers, ages 6+. [1 copy available]
$ 3.59 + $ 3.09 media shipping.

STOPPING BY WOODS ON A SNOWY EVENING
written by Robert Frost. Starkly beautiful B&W (with one dash of color) pen & ink illustrations by Susan Jeffers. Condition: UNREAD c. 1978 Dutton Childrens Books hard cover (pictorial boards), no printing given. If this book had a DJ, it doesn't now. Content: Robert Frost's well-known poem takes on new life in its first picture-book adaptation. The poem--deceptively simple & long appreciated for its strong rhythm and evocative images--leaves readers wondering, "Where was the man going on the darkest night of the year?" and "Why on earth did he stop by the woods in a snowstorm?" Artist Jeffers answers these questions visually--the kindly older gentleman who narrates the poem stops his sleigh to feed the forest birds and creatures. He stops once more to visit his daughter and grandchildren, then is off again through a blizzard, with many miles to go before he can sleep. The silent beauty of a snowy night shines through Jeffers's artwork; the man's clothing and blanket are the only bright touches of color in the white and wintry world of the woods. This quiet yet powerful book has a magic all its own. (Ages 4 to 7) Wonderful! [1 copy available}
$ 5.00 + $ 3.19 media shipping. Priority shipping available.

THE TAMARINDO PUPPY And Other Poems [Reading Rainbow Book] (Bilingual, sort of)
written by Charlotte Pomerantz. Adorable comic illustrations by Byron Barton. Condition: UNREAD 1980 Mulberry Books soft cover, first printing. Tiny edge wear. Content: This book speaks two languages. The 13 joyous poems slip effortlessly back and forth between English and Spanish, much the way many people talk. Each poem describes something familiar--a puppy, a mirror, and a cat, for example--with zippy, natural humor and bouncy, lively rhythm. "Welcome!" Ages 4-8. [1 copy available}
$ 4.19 + $ 3.09 media shipping. International shipping available - please use the drop down menu.

THAT'S WHEN I'M HAPPY
by Beth Shoshan. Very sweet, adorable (awwww-type) color illustrations by Jacqueline East color illustrations. Condition: NEW 2013 Parragon (UK) hardcover (pictorial boards - no DJ issued), no printing given. Content: Easily a read-aloud for pre-K and easily a beginner reader book. This classic picture book tells the story of a little bear and his family and the heartwarming adventures they have together. Little readers will love this gentle story with charming pictures, soothing text, and imaginative plot, and parents will love reading along with their children. Ideal for children just learning to read. Baby - Early Readers. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 3.49 + $ 2.94 media shipping.

THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED A TROUT!
by Teri Sloat. Wonderful, vivid color illustrations by Reynold Ruffins. Condition: UNREAD 1999 Scholastic soft cover, second printing. Content: Reviewer: "The Pacific Northwest does wonders for this old rhyme! I'm not a big fan of the song/rhyme "There Was an Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly", but I do like this quirky book. The old woman is now an old lady, and she no longer swallows flies, cats, and dogs. Instead, she swallows, trout, salmon, otters, and other animals indigenous to the Pacific Northwest. She no longer dies, either--although she does become dangerously large after swallowing the ocean. This book is a lot of fun. The change of venue does wonders for the old rhyme, and Reynold Ruffins' colorful, folk-artsy illustrations are a pleasure. Sure, it's a cross-cultural gimmick, but it works. Questions welcome [1 copy available]
$ 2.09 + $ 3.09 media shipping.

THROUGH THE TEMPESTS DARK AND WILD: A Story of Mary Shelley, Creator of Frankenstein
by Sharon Darrow. Beautiful color illustrations by Angela Barrett. Condition: NEW 2003 Candlewick Press hardcover (pictorial boards) & DJ (in mylar jacket), first edition, first printing. Content: This fictionalized picture-book biography offers an intriguing and haunting glimpse into the early life of the author. Narrowly focusing on the years she spent with the Baxter family in Scotland, Darrow provides a probable scenario of the troubled, lonely, but creative young woman struggling to find her place in the world. Sent away by her philosopher father when he remarried, Mary found friendship and inspiration to write in Scotland. When she was called home, her sorrow only continued as she coped with an unloving stepmother and a preoccupied father. In a helpful foreword, Darrow notes "some believe that Mary's famous novel took root during those two important years." Stunning watercolor illustrations give impact to this slight book. Often filling three-quarters of a spread, and glowing with soft color and period detail, the pictures draw readers into a melancholy and emotional world. Child appeal will be limited; there is only a brief mention of the famous monster story in the afterword. This beautiful book delivers a smidgen of information, some conjecture, and an emotional peek into the life of a fascinating 19th-century writer. Grades 5 - 8. Questions welcome [2 copies available]
$ 4.89 + $ 3.29 media shipping.

TICKETS TO RIDE: An Alphabetic Amusement
by Mark Rogalski. Beautiful, colorful illustrations by the Author. Condition: NEW 2006 Running Press Kids large hardcover & DJ (in mylar jackaet), first printing. Problem: tanning or dust remnent to edges of white cover - does not affect the interior pages. Content: In this fantasmagoric children's book debut, subtitled "An Alphabetic Amusement," the alphabet serves only to impose some order on Rogalski's imagination. With solid competence in computer animation techniques, he fashions 26 amusement park rides. Each stars a slick, fabricated mechanical animal, from the kiddie Bumper Bears cars to the Zebra Zeppelin. Each ride appears on a full-page plate on the right-hand page, while a small, intricately designed ticket for the ride appears on the left. The skeletal text on the tickets is slap-dash: "Though not from Yale/ Ole Woodrow Whale/ Will always pass the test." But visually, the tickets show Rogalski's fascination with throwaway paper from the 1950s and '60s; the fonts, borders and colors all mimic the printed material found at amusements and parks of the era. (The book's signal achievement is a map in the back that purports to show the whole amusement park; even its folds are carefully reproduced, and the corners convincingly chipped.) A final spread on which all the rides appear in thumbnail images instructs readers to go back through the book and find a number and the image of a duck in each picture. The first trip through the book is entertaining; the second is genuinely absorbing. Grades 1 - 4 but really for all ages. Delightful! [1 copy available]
$ 6.49 + $ 3.29 media shipping.

THE TRIP OF THE GOLDEN FISH AND OTHER BILINGUAL CHILDREN'S STORIES
by Rafael Arturo Urena. B&W illustrations - no credit given. Condition: NEW 1985 Vantage Press hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first edition. Unfortunately, the color, dye (?) for the cover is weak so we have light rubbings bottom DJ spine. Interior perfect. Content: Each of the tales in this book can stand on its own because each is so rich in tone, texture, and colloquialisms, qualities that are usually lacking ini all but the finest translations. At the same time, because the English and Spanish versions mirror each other so closely, when read together they help to reinforce the basic language skills of bilingual students. Stories: Making Figures With the Clouds; Hacienda Figuras con las Nubes; The Princess and the Magic Rosebush; La Princesa y al Rosal Magico; The Trip of the Golden Fish; and El Viaje del Pez Dorado. Perfect for homeschooling and public school teachers. Questions welcome [2 copies available]
$ 6.89 + $ 3.09 media shipping. International shipping available - please use the drop-down menu.

ULTRA-VIOLET CATASTROPHE! or The Unexpected Walk with Great-Uncle Magnur Pringle
by Margaret Mahy. Lovely soft color pictures by Brian Froud. Condition: Gently pre-read, IF at all, 1975 Parent's Magazine hardcover (pictorial boards - no DJ issued), no printing given. Content: "Ultra-Violet Catastrophe!" (a term that, within context, actually makes a lot of sense) is about Sally. Preferring to spend her days in trees as Horrible Stumper the tree pirate, Sally is forced to clean up and accompany her mother to Aunt Anne Pringle's house. The idea does not appeal to Sally, especially since Aunt Anne is very fond of all things neat and tidy, including little girls. It is fortunate, therefore, that when Sally arrives she finds that staying with Aunt Anne is none other than Great Uncle Magnus Pringle. The two are told to go for a walk, and while doing so find that they have a lot in common. Great-Uncle Magnus is a fan of burrowing into hedges, wading through muddy ponds, singing great silly songs, and building dams in streams. While out and about the two bond over the man's favorite phrases including, "Ultra-Violet Catastrophe" (a response one has to being treated like a potted plant) and "Seismological Singularity". After being chased by a mere cow (quoth Sally, "A cow with a calf isn't as mere as other cows, I don't think") and escaping over a barbed wire fence the two are, needless to say, a tad dirty/ripped to shreds/mud streaked. They are placed on some newspapers to dry off and soon the two bid one another a fond farewell. Great-Uncle Magnus invites Sally and her mother to visit him at the sea where he lives. The final shot is of the large man waving goodbye, his trousers ripped in the most embarrassing of places. There's a wonderful tone and feel to this story. Anyone looking for a lovely intergenerational tale about being yourself would do well to give this book a look-see. And Mahy has such a fabulous way of describing things. Some of the phrases that have stayed with me over the years include the sentence, "Her hair was brushed until it shone and her ears went all red and hot", and, "His voice was loud - loud but not crackly. It was rather like guns at sea". The accompanying illustrations by Brian Froud are wonderfully evocative. The first shot of Sally shows her sitting on a tree branch, ankles crossed and her big thick head of hair surrounding her as she scowls. The more you look at Sally the more sense it makes that this illustrator would later go on to create books of squashed fairies. The country in which this takes place is never named, and you can't help but love seeing the fields, trees, rocks, and streams where the two wayward travelers do their exploring. Of all the forgotten and out-of-print picture books out there, this has to be one of the greatest. A truly wonderful forgotten treasure, it deserves to be republished and brought to the attention of millions of children once more. If you find yourself lucky enough to own a copy, read it to the little ones you know every single day. It'll do you both quite a lot of good. Questions welcome [1 copy available.]
$ 11.50 + $ 3.19 media shipping. Inernational shipping available.

URSO BRUNOV AND THE WHITE EMPEROR
by Brian Jacques. Beautiful, fun color illustrtions by Alexi Natchev. Condition: NEW 2008 Philomel hardcover (pictorial boards) & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. Content: OK, if your child loves polar bears (who doesn't? ok seals.) this is the book for them. Urso Brunov, the "Little Father of All Bears," is "mighty in battle/strong as an elephant/fierce as a lion/and wise as the wisest old owl of the forests." Tiny in stature but formidable in spirit, he and his bugle are called by the Silvery Moon Lady and led by Old Uncle Wind to aid two missing polar bears, threatened by ravenous wolves. Using his instrument to separate these attackers, Brunov promises to protect the royal bear siblings by guiding them home to the Land of Rainbow Lights. Relying on his friends, the boars, the deer, and the king of the whales, the lost bears safely return to their magical ice palace. Meeting their leader, the White Emperor Balanco, Brunov is rewarded with festivities. This fanciful sequel to The Tale of Urso Brunov features watercolor illustrations enhanced by cool colors, capturing the icy setting. Descriptive language develops Brunov's character. Very cute. Ages 6+. [1 copy available]
$ 4.59 + $ 3.40 media shipping.

VISITING LANGSTON
by Willie Perdomo. Warm & colorful illustrations by Bryan Collier. Condition: NEW 2002 Henry Holt hardcover (pictorial boards) & DJ (in mylar jacket), first edition, first printing. Content: A rhythmic poem in praise of Langston Hughes and the writer's craft. The poem is presented by a young girl who is off to visit Hughes's Harlem home with her father. It begins, "Today I'm going to wear/My favorite pink blouse/I'm going with my daddy/To visit Langston's house." Readers quickly learn that, like Hughes, the girl is a writer and resident of Harlem. Powerful in its simplicity, the text explores the child's special connection to the famous man. Text and illustrations complement one another perfectly as the pages of the book come to life with energetic purpose and delight. Done with a mixture of collage and watercolor with dramatic results, Collier's artwork uses muted shades of green, purple, and brown and yet shines with brilliant bits of patterns and textures. While this is obviously an urban landscape, the girl's enthusiasm and talent have universal appeal. It is also a wonderful way to introduce youngsters to a great American poet. Grades 2 - 4. [1 copy available.]
$ 5.45 + $ 3.29 media shipping.

WE'RE BORED (Pop-Up Book)
by Pamela Hall. Color illustrations by Nicola Slater. Condition: NEW 2005 Piggy Toes Press (GA) hardcover (no DJ issued), first printing. Content: Meet the Wentworth twins - two spoiled brats who are always bored. But when they get sent to the study, they discover something that keeps them occupied for hours. That something is books. This is such a cute pop-up book that introduces kids to the joy of reading. AGes 4 and up. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 3.49 + $ 3.29 media shipping.

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU GO TO THE DOCTOR
by Heidi Murkoff. Color illustrations by Laura Rader. Condition: NEW 2000 HarperFestival hardcover (pictorial boards - no DJ issued), no printing given. Content: With the help of Angus, the lovable Answer Dog, best-selling author Heidi Murkoff extends a hand to children and parents as they tackle life's first experiences together. Everyone needs to go to the doctor for checkups. But for a child who doesn't yet understand what staying healthy means and why it's important, a visit to the doctor can be a bewildering experience. We're here to help you answer your child's questions about who doctors are, what they do, and why we go to them for checkups. [1 copy available]
$ 3.79 + $ 3.29 media shipping.

WHEN CATS WERE GREEN
by David McNeil. Wonderfully bright, vivid color illustrations by Tina Mercie. Condition: NEW 1998 Harlin Quist Book (Paris) hardcover (decorated front board) & DJ (in mylar jacket), first edition. Content: A long, long time ago when wondrous things could be seen, the earth was a vast and peaceful place and every cat was green. From spring's beginning through winter's end, all cats took special pride in sharing a colour and living nine lives side by side by side. (That was from the book text.) This is such an inventive and unusual book. The cats finally tired of being green and began to paint themselves different colors - bright purples, blues, and oranges. White cats were imprisoned. Young children will love this book for the rhyming text and bright pictures. Perfect for read-aloud. [2 copies available]
$ 4.49 + $ 3.40 media shipping.

WHEN SANTA WAS A KID (Hello Reader Chapter Book)
by Janice Leotti-Bachem. Illustrated in color by Anthony Lewis. Condition: NEW 2003 Scholastic soft cover, fourth printing. Content: This little book tells how Santa learned to give the right gifts when he was a young boy - in 4 chapters. Questions welcome. (1 copy available)
$ 1.00 + $ 2.96 media shipping.

WHEN WILLARD MET BABE RUTH
by Donald Hall. Soft, sweet color illustrations by Barry Moser. Condition: UNREAD 1996 Browndeer Press hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. Content: Hall pens a gentle tale of a time when both life and baseball were less complicated than they are today. In 1917, while 12-year-old Willard and his father are tending the sheep and geese near their New Hampshire farm, a roaring automobile slides into a ditch while trying to stop. The boy and his father use their ox team to pull out the roadster of the Boston Red Sox star pitcher Babe Ruth. Willard receives Ruth's glove as a gesture of appreciation and is forever a fan of the pitcher soon-to-turn slugger. The story follows the lives of Ruth on the ballfield and Willard as he matures into a man and raises a family. He meets the legendary star one last time in 1935 (he had a second meeting with him at Fenway Park in 1918), when he takes his daughter to Braves Field to watch the Bambino in one of his last games. Moser's graceful watercolor paintings are featured throughout the book. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 3.49 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

WHEN WINTER COMES
by Nancy Van Laan. Soft, sweet color illustrations by Susan Gaber. Condition: UNREAD 1998 Atheneum hard cover (pictorial boards - no DJ), first printing. Content: This lilting book celebrates the onset of winter: "Where oh where do the leaves all go/when winter comes and the cold winds blow?" This question is repeated for flowers, caterpillars, songbirds, field mice, deer, and fish. The rhyming answers use simple and accessible language. Gaber's exuberant acrylic paintings show a child, mother, father, and dog taking a walk through the woods during a snowfall. The use of perspective in the illustrations unifies the book, as broad landscapes appear on the question pages, while close-ups of the family and the animals and plants being discussed appear on the pages with the answers. Through both words and pictures, this book conveys a sense of joy in the changing seasons. From the title page showing the characters bundling up to go outside, to the cozy views of field mice and deer cuddling close for warmth, to the final spread where the child has been tucked into a warm bed, this simple story is the literary equivalent of a cup of hot cocoa on a cold day. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 3.00 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

WINNIE THE POOH'S EASTER
by Bruce Talkington. Color illustrations by Bill Langley and Diana Wakeman. Condition: UNREAD 1993 Disney Press hardcover (pictorial boards) & DJ (in mylar jacket), second printing. DJ shows a tiny bit of edge wear. Content: When Pooh and his friends discover an enormous egg in the Hundred-Acre Wood, it is up to Christopher Robin to open the egg and show the friends the true meaning of Easter. Young children love to have this book read to them. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 3.59 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

WINTER POEMS
selected by Barbara Rogasky. Lovely color illustrations by Trina Schart Hyman. Condition: UNREAD 1994 Scholastic soft cover, first printing. Tiny edge wear. Content: Lovely poems for children (some familiar, some not) with color illustrations. An ALA Notable Book. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 3.59 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

BEAR READING A BOOK BOOKPLATES
art by unknown artist. Condition: NEW package of 12 bookplates made by pacaritambo books. The peel-off label stock is heavier than most bookplate materials and is matte and not glossy. They are as perfect as possible, and we feel the subject matter is much different than you can get anywhere else. 3.5 wide x 3.25 high. Content: Cute little brown teddy bear reading a book - possibly to his little person.
$ 4.00 + $ 2.85 first class shipping. International shipping available.

GIRL SLEEPING ON AN ELEPHANT BOOKPLATES
by N. Kozulina. Condition: NEW package of 12 bookplates made by pacaritambo books. The peel-off label stock is heavier than most bookplate materials and is matte and not glossy. They are as perfect as possible, and we feel the subject matter is much different than you can get anywhere else. 3.0 X 4.0. Content: Little girl sleeping on a black fantasy elephant with blue clouds. Very sweet. We can personalize your bookplate (the font is Snell Blk BT) - just email us the name. Any questions, click here to email us.
$ 4.00 + $ 2.85 first class shipping. International shipping available.