Early Years (ages 2-6)

Hickory Dickory Dog

“Hickory, dickory, dare, Dogs aren’t allowed in there. A sneaky peek through . . . Then a hullabaloo! Hickory, dickory, dare.” Zack and his dog, Rufus, are best friends. So when Zack goes to school, Rufus follows along. And once he’s there, Rufus joins right in with painting, lunchtime, and even garden time — which makes for one messy pup when it’s time to go home! Engaging illustrations capture the people and playthings of a child’s day, with an array of analog clocks sprinkled throughout for good measure.

Picnic

One day, Boy and Girl head down the hill with a picnic basket and meet a fancily dressed Sheep, Pig, and Duck. They all set off to find the perfect place to sit outside — until they see Bull coming! A short-lived chase segues into a gentle interactive text as the friends wend their way from an idyllic outdoor world to a welcoming house on a hill.

Little Pear Tree

Watch a tiny seed grow through the seasons into a fine pear tree with this beautifully-presented book.

A Perfect Place for Ted

Ted has lived among the dogs at the pet store for as long as he can remember. But there are so many dogs there, nobody ever chooses Ted. So he decides to go someplace else — someplace perfect. But Ted can’t fly through the air like the circus dogs, and he doesn’t have fancy pom-poms like the show dogs. Just as he loses hope, he sees a sign: Wanted: Perfect Pet. Little animal lovers will be tickled along with Ted at the unusual household that finally becomes his perfect place.

The Very Cranky Bear

On a cold, rainy day in the jungle, Moose, Lion, Zebra, and Sheep take shelter in a cave on a cold and rainy day, only to realize that a bear is there. The bear roars loudly and says that he is trying to sleep. Not understanding why the bear is so cranky, the other animals come up with ways to cheer up the bear. Moose finds antlers for him, Lion gives him a mane, and Zebra paints on stripes. Is there anything the four well-meaning friends can do to help the bear sleep?

Milo and Millie

Bath time is an adventure for Milo and Millie! As child and bear navigate their way through imagined cityscapes, spouting whales, and swirling whirlpools, they arrive at their destination just in time for bed and a cozy good night. Beautiful watercolor illustrations and a sweet, funny narrative are complemented by instructions for little listeners on how to make their own paper boat. Join Milo and his teddy bear, Millie, at bath time, where they’re about to have an exciting journey across the high seas.

The Frog Who Lost His Underpants

Hopping through the jungle, this way, that way. Frog is in a frenzy, scattering the ants. Teddy’s looking too now, this place, that place. Will they ever find those jolly underpants? Poor Frog. Someone stole his underpants! Good thing Teddy Bear, Little Chimp, and Big Gray Elephant are there to help — although they may find it hard to hide their smiles. A jungle frog in underpants? Now that is something to see.

The Runaway Hug

“Mommy,” said Lucy. “Can I have a hug before I go to bed?” When Mommy jokes that she only has one hug left, Lucy decides she must keep Mommy’s last hug safe. As Lucy shares the hug with everyone in her large and loving family, she is always careful to get it back, until the canine member of the family refuses to play along!

Yellow Is My Color Star

There are so many wonderful colors in the world! The child in this rhyming picture book loves yellow best, but he knows there are lots of other delightful colors out there too. Playful walk through a bright, bold watercolor world, filled with red roses, pink pillows, and gorgeous green grass and trees is described.