Picture Book

Peek!: A Thai Hide-and-Seek

A father and daughter play hide-and-seek in the midst of the animals near their house in Thailand.

Papa calls on all the creatures of the jungle to help find his baby in this game of hide-and-seek.”Jut-Ay, Baby, peek-a-boo,Want to play? Where are you?” Baby knows that Jut-Ay means morning has come, and it’s time to play. But where is Baby hiding? Eechy-eechy-egg! crows the red-tailed rooster. Is Baby near? Hru-hruu! Hru-hruu! whines the puppy dog. Is Baby crouching there? Jiak-jiak! Jiak-jiak! screeches a monkey in the banyan tree. Is Baby swinging there? Hornbill and snake, elephant and tiger — who can finally lead Papa to Baby’s hiding place?

What Pet to Get?

Jack’s mother says he can choose a pet but what pet to get? An elephant? (So difficult to take on vacation.) A polar bear? (It wouldn’t like the central heating.) What about a Tyrannosaurus Rex? (Unfortunately, it’s been extinct for 65 million years.) The gatefold on the last page reveals Jack’s final choice, and a big surprise.

Stories at the Door

Cleverly threaded together by verses describing the arrival of stories that enter boldly through the door and stay just long enough to have their say, these tales have been rendered anew by a master storyteller. In “Jesper and the Jackrabbits,” simple wits add up to wonderful wisdom — and rich reward. “Jacinth Wins Words” will spark hilarity, as two sisters compete with surprising and malodorous weapons. The cumulative “Cat and Mouse Tale” is nonsensical fun while “Jacinth Finds Fear” points up what is really important and worth dwelling on. “Jane Saves the Day” is one-upmanship at its best and demonstrates just how powerful underdogs can be. The stories point out our human faults and remind us not to take ourselves too seriously.

Red Land Yellow River: A Story from the Cultural Revolution

In 1966 Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution swept through China and transformed the life of Beijing teenager Ange Zhang. Ange longed to join the Red Guard with his classmates, but was denied membership after his father, a famous writer, was arrested and charged with being a counter-revolutionary. As Ange struggled to maintain his friends’ respect, he began to question the Revolution and his role in it.

Tracks of a Panda

A giant panda and her baby set off on a search for a safe, sustaining home in this informative tale about an enchanting creature. High on a mist-wrapped mountain, a mother panda cradles her newborn, pink and impossibly small. The bamboo patch they need for food is dying, and as soon as her baby is old enough, they must seek a new home, sleeping in trees and swimming across icy streams along the way.

Bee Frog

A small frog who just wants to be heard.Bee Frog is not a frog — she’s a dragon! A not-nice, very fierce dragon! But Mom and Dad Frog are too busy to notice. They don’t even pay attention when Bee Frog hops off to practice her dragon noises all by herself. Is it possible that a scary dragon like her could get lonely?

The Flying Bed

An original fairy tale about a poor baker who finds a beautiful bed for his wife in a strange new shop–for free! Perhaps his bad luck has turned? But there are more wonders in store, for the bed has magical powers. That night, the couple flies across the heavens to meet a master baker who gives them some magic yeast that will make them the best–and richest–bakery in town! But the yeast comes with a promise that will test the baker’s integrity, and will eventually teach the baker and his wife about the true riches of love and loyalty.

Junk Collector School

Junk is the world’s best free stuff. Anybody who’s part detective and part collector can put together a collection in no time. Jake really knows his junk. His house is filled with the most amazing collections of it. Andy wants a collection of his own, which is why he goes to Jake’s Junk Collector School.