Primary (ages 6-9)

Material appropriate for primary age groups

The Ugly Duckling

An ugly duckling spends an unhappy year ostracized by the other animals before he grows into a beautiful swan.

The Adventures of Thor the Thunder God

He is the biggest and mightiest of the gods. If he tightens his belt, he doubles his strength. If he swings his hammer, lightning flashes. When he races his billy goats across the sky, their hooves kick up huge thunderclouds. And when the folks below in Middle Earth hear a boom of thunder, they always smile, for they know their loyal Thor, protector and defender of civilization, has once again brought order to the universe.

Brave Donatella and the Jasmine Thief

The jasmine plant was Duke Cosimo de Medici’s most treasured possession and he went to great pains to keep it all for himself. When the gardener Antonio clips a sprig of the forbidden jasmine for his love, he is sent to prison. Now brave Donatella, Antonio’s beloved, is his only hope for freedom. Antonio and Donatella flee the wrath of Duke Cosimo de Medici, and they use that rare plant to make a fresh start.

Gertrude is Gertrude is Gertrude is Gertrude

This picture book is about two huge supporters of modern art and literature, Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas. Gertrude is Gertrude is Gertrude is Gertrude. And Alice is Alice. And Gertrude and Alice are Gertrude and Alice. And you are welcome to join them for tea. But beware, for there you will find a bear in a chair, just barely scary. And here is a beard with a man attached to it. And then, of course, some words might appear, uninvited , but delighted in spite of their lightbulbs. But that doesn’t make any sense.

Pegasus, the Flying Horse

It is ancient Corinth. Young Ios and his father are off to buy the boy his first horse. Along the way they meet a beggar who tells them the story of a magical flying horse.

That horse, winged Pegasus, belonged to the goddess Athena. No mortal man had ever ridden him. But one man–the beggar said-desired to ride Pegasus more than anything else in the world. He was Bellerophon, a handsome young Corinthian who felt he was equal to any god.

With the story of Bellerophon’s ride goes the warning: “To fly too high is to fall too far.” And who knows this better than the beggar himself?

 

Paris in the Spring with Picasso

This book describes how some of Paris’s famous artists and writers, such as Pablo Picasso, Max Jacob, and Guillaume Appollinaire, spend their day before preparing to attend a party at Gertrude Stein’s apartment.

This Little Bunny Can Bake

In this picture book, there are eight students in Chef George’s School of Dessertology. And only one—a studious little bunny—has any interest in following the rules. While bunny is busy baking a masterpiece, everyone else is busy making a mess. And even though only bunny actually learns to bake, all the students—from Dog with his shoe-fly pie to Mouse with her Swiss cheese surprise—are happy with how their desserts turn out in the end.