Social skills

Chick-O-Saurus Rex

chickLittle Chick just wants to belong, but the bullies of the barnyard—Little Donkey, Little Pig, and Little Sheep—won’t let him play in their tree house because he is a chicken, and chickens are not strong and brave. Little Chick sees their point: What have chickens done besides invent the chicken dance and cross the road? But when his father shows Little Chick the family photo album, he learns something HUGE: He is related to the gigantic and ferocious Tyrannosaurus rex!

Wonder

I won’t describe what I look like. Whatever you’re thinking, it’s probably worse. August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now. He’s about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you’ve ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie’s just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he’s just like them, despite appearances?R. J. Palacio has written a spare, warm, uplifting story that will have readers laughing one minute and wiping away tears the next. With wonderfully realistic family interactions (flawed, but loving), lively school scenes, and short chapters, Wonder is accessible to readers of all levels.

See the review at WOW Review Volume 5, Issue 4

Matilda and Hans

Matilda is a very good cat. She likes to sit quietly and read or water her flowers. Hans is very naughty. He makes too much noise and paints graffiti on the walls. When Hans goes too far and lets the animals out of the zoo, a reward is offered for information about him.

Chicken, Pig, Cow Horse Around

chickenChicken to the rescue!Chicken, Pig and Cow are very happy together in their barn, so not everyone is pleased when Horse arrives. Horse is clever and strong, but, as Chicken points out, he also takes up a lot of space.When Chicken suggests they play a game of hide-and-seek, Horse merrily trots off. But when he disappears, a frantic search ensues. Horse is nowhere to be found — until Chicken finally spots him inside the fishbowl. Feeling guilty, Chicken jumps in to save him, only to realize that Horse is actually outside the bowl. So who will save Chicken? All ends well when Pig, Cow and Horse — with the help of Dog — team up to rescue their friend.The adorable toy characters Chicken, Pig and Cow (and real-life Dog) continue to delight young children with their charming adventures and subtle messages about friendship, acceptance and working together.

The Queen’s Feet (Northern Lights Books For Children)

Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Prize (2007) nominee. Canadian Children’s Book Centre Our Choice, 2007 Queen Daisy can’t help it – It’s her feet that are misbehaving! Queen Daisy had a great deal of trouble with her feet. They had a mind of their own and did not like behaving in a royal way. Proper shoes were out of the question, and sometimes her feet did not wear shoes at all! Her feet were especially naughty when Queen Daisy forced them to dress properly. At balls her feet would kick high in the air or tap-dance on the marble palace floors. Once, when a king from a neighboring kingdom brought his mean, bullying ways to Queen Daisy’s court, her feet hauled off and kicked the king in the ankle. That’s when a meeting had to be called of all the wise women and wizards and footmen in the kingdom to find a solution to Queen Daisy’s terrible problem. And what a solution it turns out to be.Queen Daisy’s feet will dance into the hearts of restless feet everywhere. Sarah Ellis’s wonderfully whimsical tale will ring a bell with all children and adults whose feet get restless.

I’m Me!

Little Imogen doesn’t want to play princess or pirate! Why pretend? Being herself is the most fun of all! The story of a girl who knows who she is: “I’m Me!” Grown-ups! Always telling kids what to do, how to act, and who to be! Imogen is excited to spend the day with her Auntie Sara, but which dress-up game does she want to play? Who is Imogen today? Is she a frilly princess in a poufy gown? A knight in shining armor, taming a flying dragon? An astronaut blasting off into space? “No, no, no!” Imogen sings, with a shake of her pigtails. She doesn’t want to be any of those things! “Well,” Auntie Sara asks, “if you’re not a princess or a knight or an astronaut, who are you?” “I’m me!” Imogen declares. And that’s the best role of all.