BADGER'S GUIDE TO FOREST UPKEEP

Badger’s love of cleaning the forest quickly gets out of hand in Tidy. This story is a cautionary tale of how ones interest, or in Badger’s case obsession, can quickly spiral out of control. 

Badger begins innocently enough by grooming the foxes, giving the birds baths and weeding the flowers.  When that doesn’t satisfy him he moves on to picking up sticks and scrubbing rocks.  Then summer gives way to autumn and the leaves begin to fall…

Badger tries desperately to stay on top of the falling leaves, picking them up one after another after another, until he’s removed every leaf and every tree and he is faced with the complete destruction of his beloved forest. 

Lovable and misguided Badger finally realizes the error of his ways and sets about restoring the forest to its original beauty.  This light-hearted and fun story has a clear ecological message that, with the help of author-illustrator Emily Gravett’s vibrant art, even young readers will be able to see.

This book is perfect for sharing with preschool through third grade.  

DO NOT TAKE MY CHERRIES!

“I am bat.  I do not like mornings.  I like cherries.  They are my favorite of all things.” So begins this adorably fun story about a possessive, grumpy and mock ferocious bat.  Author and illustrator Morag Hood’s vibrant pictures will have readers laughing out loud as bat hilariously searches for his missing cherries. 

Simply told, I Am Bat imparts readers with a clear message about sharing and altruism.  This heartfelt book, perfect for preschool through grade 2, will make children, and adults alike, smile and warm your heart at bats adaptability. 

Now, "I will just leave my cherries here.  DO NOT touch them.  I will know if you take one…"

LOOK BEHIND YOU

Determined to prove there is life on the red planet a young astronaut lands on Mars.  He carries with him a gift, wrapped with a red ribbon, to give to the aliens he is certain he will meet.

Alone, the young astronaut wanders the barren landscape.  The cold, silent darkness seems to stretch on forever in all directions as the astronaut climbs up and down the rocky terrain. 

Author-illustrator Jon Agee makes great use of color, using primarily black, gray, brown and red to help us feel a sense of emptiness in the landscape and to allow us to see what our young astronaut misses, a large friendly red-pink alien following behind him seemingly confused by the astronaut's presence. 

As the young astronaut’s excitement and certainty fade, making way for sadness and despair, he leaves his gift behind and continues his trek, soon discovering that he is lost. 

As he walks on in search of his space craft he is amazed to discover a flower growing among the rocks and decides that his trip was not a total waste.  As he crests another hill he finds his spacecraft along with the gift he discarded earlier. 

Aboard his ship, making the long journey home to Earth, he decides he deserves a treat for his hard work and discovery.  He opens the gift he had brought with him and discovers that the chocolate cupcake had been eaten.…

Get swept away with your little one in Life on Mars, perfect for children in preschool through third grade.

ONE SPECIAL DAY

Spencer is everything you expect a young boy to be. He is strong and fast, tall and loud, funny and wild, messy and free.  Then, one special day, Spencer becomes something more.  He is quiet and gentle as, for the first time ever, Spencer is a big brother.  Told through simple words and expressive art One Special Day, written by Lola M. Schaefer and illustrated by Jessica Meserve, is an ideal story for families expecting a second sibling.

This book is perfect for children 2 – 5 years old.