Good Families Don’t is Munsch’s funniest book yet, about a risqué subject that is guaranteed to have children–and adults–rolling in the aisles.When Carmen tries to tell her parents that there is a big fart lying on her bed, they don’t believe her. “Good families like ours,” they tell her, “do not have farts.” But when they go upstairs to see, the fart attacks them–as it does the similarly disbelieving police when they arrive. Carmen is left to deal with the situation on her own, which she does with the help of a rose.
Americas
Materials from the Americas
Count Your Way Through Canada
These beautifully illustrated, interactive picture books introduce children to foreign cultures and languages.
Book Of Big Brothers
In this episodic tale that’s rich with Cary Fagan’s characteristically dry humor, a boy tells the story of his life with two older brothers. When he is only a week old, his brothers argue over who can hold him first and drop him onto the porch. But they aren’t all bad: they chase away the mean girls who call him names, and they perform a play starring the neighbor’s dog to cheer him up when he has the measles. Later on these troublesome boys set fire to neighbor’s tree, play football in the living room, and even attempt to ride their banana bikes all the way to the Rocky Mountains. Inspired by Cary Fagan’s childhood experiences, this story is a spot-on portrayal of the crazy, mishap-filled, yet undeniably fun and affectionate life in a family with three boys. Luc Melanson’s wonderfully lively and extremely funny retro-style illustrations are a perfect complement to the text.
A Circle Of Cats
One a quiet day, when the wind was still, the creek could be heard all the way up to where the old beech stood. Under its branches, cats would come to dream and be dreamed. Black cats and calicos, white cats and marmalade ones, too. But they hadn’t yet gathered the day the orphan girl fell asleep among its roots, nestling in the weeds and long grass like the gangly, tousle-haired girl she was. Her names was Lillian.
Lillian is an orphan who lives with her aunt on a homested miles from anyone, surrounded by uncharted forest. She wanders the woods, chasing after squirrels and rabbits and climbing trees like a possum. Free-spirited and independent, Lillian is kindard soul to the many wild cats who gather around the ancient beech tree. One day, while she is under the beech, Lillian is bitten by a poisonous snake. The cats refuse to let her die, and use their magic to turn her into one of their own. How she becomes a girl again is a lyrical, original folklore that begs to be read aloud. Set in the hill country outside of the author’s fictional city of Newford, A Circle of Cats is the much anticipated first picture book by longtime friends Charles de Lint and Charles Vess, whose art is as magical as the story.
Mary Margaret’s Tree
Like many children, Mary Margaret has an affinity for nature. In her efforts to plant a small tree she undergoes a transformation, and becomes a part of nature herself.
Out on the Ice in the Middle of the Bay
Out on the Ice in the Middle of the Bay is the poetic tale of a human toddler meeting a polar bear cub, peacefully alone, out on the ice. There follows a gripping confrontation between human father and animal mother, with their mutual distrust and anxiety for their young.
Rude Ramsay And The Roaring Radishes
In Rude Ramsay and the Roaring Radishes, bestselling author Margaret Atwood offers a delightfully ridiculous tale about the virtues of resisting restrictions. Rude Ramsay has reached the end of his rope! Sick of dining on rock-hard rice, rubbery ribs, wrinkled ravioli, and raw rhinoceros, Ramsay and Ralph the red- nosed rat resolve to leave their rectangular residence (and Ramsay’s revolting relatives) on a quest for more refreshing repast. Along the way they encounter the raven-haired Rillah, a romantic rectory, and a patch of roaring radishes. Together Ramsay, Ralph and Rillah reveal that sometimes the grass truly is greener on the other side of the rampart.
With renowned author Margaret Atwood’s rollicking text and Dusan Petricic’s devilish and insightful illustrations, Rude Ramsay and the Roaring Radishes is a rare and rewarding treat for readers of all ages.
Such A Prince
An opinionated, love-starved princess. Her status-conscious parents. Two muscular, but rude, hunks. Their kind, thoughtful brother. Three not-so-perfect peaches. An impossible challenge. And a whole lot of rabbits! Told from the point of view of a very untraditional fairy, this hilarious version of “The Three Peaches” shines a new light on the traditional tale and features a unique narrative voice and madcap illustrations. As in all good fairy tales, the vain, rude characters get their comeuppance, the fairy works her magic, and the princess gets her prince. So he’s a little on the skinny side–he has a big heart. (The heart is a muscle too, you know.) Everything else is fair game in this side-splitting take on the classic formula.
Taming Horrible Harry
This is a charming story about one really bad monster who learns to change his ways. Written originally in French, and illustrated with delightfully ghoulish paintings by the Québecois artist known simply as Rogé, Taming Horrible Harry is a wonderful tale about the power of stories. At the gates of a beautiful forest, Harry the monster lies in wait. One day, as monsters are wont to do, he frightens a little girl, who runs away leaving behind a peculiar object. Harry picks it up, turns it over, bites it … spits it out, and throws it down in a fury! He wonders what kind of a thing he has found. As it turns out, the object is a book … and one way or another, Harry learns to read it, and his life is changed forever. This delightful story will enchant both young readers and their parents, teachers, and librarians, as they discover together, the magic of reading.
The Adventures of Medical Man
Being sick or injured is no fun for children, but not knowing what is happening may be worse. Enter Dr. Michael Evans, who will explain to young readers everything they need to know when an illness or injury occurs. Uniquely structured around five different movie genres and one comic book, each chapter features a common illness or injury with Dr. Mike in the starring role, explaining the causes, symptoms and cures Whether it’s a nut allergy in the action-packed “They Came From Mars!,” a broken wrist in the bone-chilling “The Werewolf Who Snapped” or strep throat in the suspense-filled “Adventures of Medical Man and Wondrous Boy,” each story is packed with fascinating medical information. Other common conditions covered in the book include concussion, ear infection and asthma and are vividly explained. Complete with diagrams, sidebars and a glossary and dramatized by Gareth Williams’s stunning illustrations, this book will be a comfort to any child dealing with an injury or illness.