Picture Book

The Robot And The Bluebird

“Let me carry you,” said the Robot.

“I’ll carry you in my heart, and shelter you from the cold and storms.”
 

High atop a pile of rubbish sits a lonely Robot with a broken heart. Then one winter’s day, a Bluebird appears, fighting against the freezing wind. When the Robot offers her a home in the empty space where his heart used to be, neither of them can predict what astonishing things will happen. Together the newfound friends set off on a memorable journey that will change them both.

 
This fable-like tale, bursting with bright, winsome illustrations, is a fresh take on the timeless themes of friendship and second chances.

A Gift

Amy receives a gift just in time for Chinese New Year, the most important holiday in the Chinese culture. At this time of year, it’s tradition to spend time with friends and family. Since Amy’s aunt and uncles live in China and are unable to make a New Year visit, they have sent their niece a special gift.

Silly Lilly and the Four Seasons

Lilly is a spunky little girl who delights in the unexpected pleasures of each season, peering inside shells in the summer and tasting different kinds of apples in the fall. In this book, Lilly learns more about the outdoors, and introduces the youngest readers to the colors, words, and shapes that arise in nature.

Sir Lofty and Sir Tubb

When two neighboring kingdoms argue over a beautiful flower it turns into war. The couples learn to share and bring peace to their lands.

Chester’s Back!

In this uproarious sequel to Chester, the battle of the picture-book makers continues. Which author-illustrator will come out on top – Chester or Melanie Watt – is anybody’s guess!This time, there’s no denying (in Chester’s mind) that he’s the star of the show. His already outsize ego has ballooned even more due to a spate of fan mail on the heels of his self-titled debut. As Chester sees it, who needs Melanie Watt when they have Chester? He’s got no shortage of his own storytelling ideas. With heavy paw and red marker, this control-freak cat does not hesitate to commit them to paper. When Chester starts acting far too Hollywood, Melanie calls an open audition to replace the high-maintenance feline. This isn’t a move that Chester will take lying down. Get ready for a seesaw comedy of dueling author-illustrators. Who will come out on top is anybody’s guess!

The Little Word Catcher

Elise wonders why her grandmother’s words keep escaping her — do they fly off to play tricks on her? Elise’s grandmother used to know many marvelous words, but now she seems to be losing them all the time. Can Elise help her by catching them, like butterflies in a net? This award-winning picture book offers a gentle exploration of the effects of Alzheimer’s on the relationships in a family, and the special bond it creates between a grandmother and her granddaughter. Eventually, Elise comes to believe that her grandmother has used up all her words and has passed them on to her, as a gift. Winner of the 2007 Governor General’s Award for Children’s Literature Illustration (French language).

Little By Little

Otto is an otter who can do many things. But there’s one thing he can’t do: swim. Little by little, and with a some help from his big sister, Otto gets the courage–and the practice– to splash and tumble in the water with his friends.

The story and illustrations will encourage kids, showing them that if they take it step-by-step, any new skill is within their reach!

The Amazing Tree

From southwest Tanzania comes this folktale of a time without rain and an amazing tree with ripe fruits that will not fall. The hungry animals decide to ask wise Tortoise how to get these fruits, and little Rabbit offers to find him. They send the big animals instead—-first Elephant and Water Buffalo, then Rhino, Giraffe, and Zebra, and finally Lion and Leopard. Tortoise tells them that they can only get the fruits if they call the tree by its name, but they all forget it. Finally the animals send Rabbit, who learns that it is called “Ntunguru meng’enye.” She returns to the other animals, who are now weak with hunger, and calls the tree by name. “And the fruits started falling like rain!” They thank Rabbit and realize that everyone is important no matter their size.