WHEN YOU NEED A FRIEND

Watch out the storm is coming. What should we do? Read When You Need a Friend by Suzanne Chiew.

Rabbit, Hedgehog, Bird and Mouse hurried straight to Badger’s house.  Worried that the storm would destroy their homes, they turned to the Badger for help.  Badger, a true friend, did not let his friends down; he helped each one sturdy up their home.  When it was time for him to go he was caught in the storm, so Rabbit asked Badger to stay with them until morning. When they woke up the next morning they found the old oak tree, where Badger lived, destroyed.  So, the four friends helped Badger rebuild his home.

This is a heart-warming story about friendship, with bright and colorful illustrations by Caroline Pedler.

For Ages 4 -6

EVA'S TREETOP FESTIVAL

Hoot Hoot! Eva’s Treetop Festival is a cute and quirky early chapter book about an owl named Eva.  Eva’s adorable; she is in Owlementary and decides she wants to organize the Bloomtastic Festival in one week.  Well, what’s an owl to do with such little time? Eva turns to her classmates for help but there’s one girl she dreads asking for help, Sue Clawson (a.k.a. Meany McMeanerson). However, Eva knows she must ask everyone, including Sue for assistance in order for the festival to go on.  Find out if Sue was willing to help out and will the Spring Festival go on? 

This book is the first book in the Owl Diaries Series by Rebecca Elliot.  The book uses a diary-approach to tell a story and it is aimed at newly independent readers.  The pages are filled with easy to read text and illustrations that complement each other.  Elliot covers topics such as friendship and helpfulness.

For grades 2-3 

MAKING ANIMALS SAFE

If you ask me, a life without a pet is no life at all. But not all pets have the luxury of being a  part of someone's family, a warm place to stay, or a safe place to live. In the town where Billy lives, there are a lot of stray cats, and not everyone in town want them around. When Billy discovers Conga, a hurt starving kitten, he has to keep her a secret because he KNOWS his Dad would take her away. This small kitten leads Billy on a dangerous adventure, but it isn't long before he's teaching the town a thing or two about the importance of love for all creatures. CAT FOUND by Ingrid Lee is a story that will pull in animals lovers and captivate them with it's dangerous and exciting plot twists. Written for simpler reading level, but contains content that might be mature for some. For grades 3-7.

TALES AREN'T JUST FOR WAGGING

Some people just don't understand that when you adopt a puppy, that puppy will be with you their entire lives. Or that's how it SHOULD be anyway. But some dogs are abandoned, left all alone in the big cold world. Waggit is one of those dogs. WAGGIT'S TALE is a heart-warming story of loss, love, friendship and adventure. WAGGIT AGAIN continues Waggit's adventures when he escapes from a farm. Just when he thinks life is great, his owner leaves him all alone in a big park. It isn't long before Waggit stumbles across a band of wild dogs struggling to survive, and he joins them in all their adventures and misfortunes. WAGGIT'S TALE by Peter Howe is the story of the return to his owner and civilization. Both are great books for 4th grade and up.

Like animal stories, then check out this book list.

A HUG-- A SPECIAL THING TO GIVE

Jules the kitten has a lot of love to give. He doesn't need to buy a toy or anything sweet for those he loves, but he does have plenty of hugs to give to the world. His hugs are for different things that live and grow on Earth, such as a giraffe, a buttercup or a pudu. Hug Time by Patrick McDonnell is such a lovely story to share. The message of embracing everyone and everything is heartwarming. This is great for story time or for sharing with those YOU love! I love this book!