Browse Items · Children's Picture Book Database at Miami University

Tags: happiness

1
2
3
4
5
Next
Last

Sort by:

Our tree named Steve

Zweibel, Alan

In a letter to his children, a father reflects upon the importance of a good friend and the value of a place to feel safe and secure. The father recalls various memories of his family as it has grown in relationship to a favorite tree that had been part of their lives since they built their home. The tree seems to help the family through many events but does not withstand a huge storm. The father uses the wood to build a tree house to continue its importance to the family.

Tags

aging, appreciation, camping, caring, change, community, conflict resolution, correspondence, critical thinking, death, decision making, dedication, destruction, dog, emotions, family, feelings, friendship, goal setting, happiness, home, jumping, loss, moving, neighbors, parents, peace, plants, rain, relationship, sadness, safety, seasons, siblings, sleep, spring, storm, storytelling, summer, swinging, tree, verbal communication, weather, winter, writing

When the wind stops

Zolotow, Charlotte

A little boy questions the beginning and end of nature, and his mother helps him to understand that there truly is no end.

Tags

assertiveness, autumn, bodies of water, conflict resolution, confusion, contentment, critical thinking, exercise, family, feelings, happiness, moon, nature, nonverbal communication, ocean, parents, play, rain, sadness, seasons, self esteem, spring, summer, sun, verbal communication, water, weather, wind, winter

Who is ben?

Zolotow, Charlotte

On a dark night, Ben contemplates where he came from and where he will go after he dies.

Tags

birth, death, faith, family, feelings, happiness, nonverbal communication, parents, peace, self esteem, verbal communication

Do you know what i'll do?

Zolotow, Charlotte

A sister tells her younger brother all the different things that she will do for him. She will bring him things that will apply to his five senses. Most of all, she brings her brother her love and attention.

Tags

african american, attention, author's note, baby, bedtime, clouds, day, dreams, emotions, family, five senses, flowers, happiness, multicultural, night, nonverbal communication, party, plants, rain, sea, self esteem, shells, siblings, snow, song, surprises, verbal communication, walking, wind

The sky was blue

Zolotow, C.

As a little girl looks through old pictures in a photo album, her mom explains to her that the sky will always be blue, the grass will always be green, and everything will be just the same when she grows up.

Tags

change, clothing, colors, dolls, family, feelings, growing up, happiness, history, memories, nature, nonverbal communication, parents, sky, traditions, verbal communication

The best single mom in the world: How I was adopted

Zisk, Mary

A girl tells the story of her single mother's decision to adopt her from overseas. She discusses their time together and their happy life as a family.

Tags

adoption, beauty, birth, caring, child care, decision making, family, feelings, friendship, garden, grandparents, happiness, love, parents, sharing, soccer, sports, storytelling, travel, work, working mother

The character in the book

Zemach, Kaethe

Although the character in this book enjoys his life immensely, he is ecstatic to receive an invitation to visit his Auntie in another book. There's just one problem: he can't figure out how to get out of his book! After many attempts, he is finally able to hop, skip, whirl, twirl, skate, scoot, and crawl his way through his book and into some new adventures in his Auntie's book.

Let's eat!

Zamorano, Ana

Every day Mama cooks a meal for the family to eat together, but usually someone can't be there. But when Mama comes home after having the baby everyone is there to celebrate, and she is happy.

Tags

baby, family, feelings, food, grandparents, happiness, language, multicultural, nonverbal communication, nutrition, parents, refusal skills, sadness, siblings, spanish, stress management, verbal communication

Beni's family treasury: Stories for the jewish holidays

Zalben, Breskin Jane

Beni is so excited because he's finally old enough to really understand his Jewish heritage and the traditions of his faith. In his quest for understanding, he encounters a number of situations, from learning the beauty of togetherness after reconciling with his feuding cousin, Max, to recreating the Pukim in a play with his friends and cousins. Through all of this, Beni truly begins to see the magical feeling of togetherness and heritage that his religion encompasses.

Turtle spring

Zagwyn, Deborah Turney

One summer, as young Clee finds herself lost in the shuffle with the arrival of a new baby brother, Uncle Fishtank Hal comes to the rescue when he asks her to care for his special southern-breed turtle. For Clee, caring for the turtle is like therapy to cope with the new changes in her life. That is until the turtle dies due to the harsh cold winter and Clee is forced to bury him out in the yard. Without the turtle, Clee spends time with her new brother and learns to enjoys his company. In spring however, the turtle springs back to like in the compost pile and Clee gains a new outlook on the changes in her life.

Tags

affection, author's note, autumn, baby, caring, change, closeness, cold, coping, disappointment, environment, excitement, family, feelings, friendship, geography, grief, guilt, happiness, hibernation, jealousy, loneliness, nonverbal communication, parents, radio, reptiles, sadness, seasons, siblings, snow, spring, stress management, summer, surprises, survival, technology, telephone, turtle, weather, wind, winter

Ugh

Yorkins, Arthur

Many, many years ago, when dinosaurs roamed the earth, there was a boy named Ugh who was looked down on and treated like a slave by his siblings. Ugh tells them he will be famous one day. After seeing a wheel, he invents the bicycle, and because of this becomes the boy king.

Tags

anger, assertiveness, bicycle, cave, change, chores, confidence, critical thinking, differences, dinosaur, family, feelings, happiness, inventions, jealousy, moon, sadness, self esteem, siblings, verbal communication, whale

The girl who loved the wind

Yolen, Jane

Danina's father does not want her to experience life's harshnesses or sorrows. She is surrounded only by beauty. Then, the wind comes and tells her of another world. She accepts it's challenge by setting out to discover the real world and broadening her sheltered life.

Tags

adventures, assertiveness, beauty, change, conflict resolution, curiosity, decision making, discovery, family, feelings, happiness, parents, refusal skills, sadness, security, verbal communication, wind

Pumpkin seeds

Yezback, Steven A.

David uses his nickles to buy a bag of pumpkin seeds. Willing to share his seeds, he offers some to everyone he meets, but only the pigeons want his pumpkin seeds.

Tags

birds, happiness, kindness, manners, nonverbal communication, pigeon, running, self esteem, verbal communication

Bears in pairs

Yektai, Niki

Several different bears are described by their activities, feelings, and different colors.

Tags

activities, animals, bear, colors, differences, feelings, happiness, party, sadness

Deep in the jungle

Yaccarino, Dan

A lion is taken to star in the circus by a man walking through the jungle. The lion must perform in the circus ring and do other typical animal activities. He just wants to be the king of the jungle and wishes to be back home. His wish does come true.

Tags

adventures, animals, circus, escape, excitement, happiness, humor, jungle, lion, performance, train, transportation

The mother's day sandwich

Wynot, Jillian

Ivy and Hackett decide to surprise their mom for Mother's Day by making her breakfast in bed. They make a real mess. When they wake up their mom, the food spills. She tells them she wants a hug (a Mother's Day Sandwich).

Tags

accidents, celebration, decision making, family, feelings, food, happiness, holidays, humor, kindness, mother's day, nutrition, parents, siblings, teamwork

Something beautiful

Wyeth, Sharon Dennis

A little girl looks out her window only to see broken glass and trash in the court yard. She remembers her mother once told her everyone should have something beautiful. She sets out to look for something beautiful in her neighborhood.

Always my dad

Wyeth, Sharon

A girl does not get to see her father often and she misses him very much. One summer at her grandparents' farm, she and her three brothers spend some very nice moments with their father. She realizes that no matter where he is, he will always be her father and loves her.

Tags

african american, coping, family, feelings, food, games, grandparents, happiness, moon, multicultural, night, nutrition, parents, sadness, siblings, stars

A sky full of dragons

Wright, Mildred Whatley

Lee Chow's grandfather shows him the wonderful items in the magic Chest of Dragons. What Lee Chow really wants is marbles and the Chest of Dragons cannot provide them. Fortunately, the Spring Festival creates good times, friends, and the beautiful marbles Lee Chow desires.

Tags

appreciation, art, celebration, chinese american, colors, conflict resolution, customs, dragons, family, friendship, games, giving, grandparents, happiness, kite, magic, manners, multicultural, park, playing, respect, verbal communication

Jumping the broom

Wright, Courtni Crump

Despite their troublesome lives, these slaves find reason to celebrate and be happy. Lettie and her family dance, sing, feast, and play games in honor of her sister's marriage.

Tags

celebration, challenges, clothing, dancing, exercise, family, feelings, food, happiness, nutrition, quilt, siblings, slavery, wedding

The other side

Woodson, Jacqueline

A fence not only divides two properties -- it segregates two families because of their different cultures. Initial fears from the parents cause them to set rules that will forbid the friendship of their young daughters. Little did they know that their daughters would break the barrier as they climbed the fence together to see the world as it should be, not as it is.

Alphabet mystery

Wood, Aubrey

Charley's alphabet becomes worried when they learn that little x is missing. They set off on an adventure to find little x and experience a problem when they do.

Sun mother wakes the world: An Australian creation story

Wolkstein, Diane

The indigenous people of Australia believe their ancestors created the world through the sun shining on all living things to wake them up, bringing them to life. Sun Mother then creates the Morning Sun and the Moon to watch over ther children living on Earth in this spiritual, emotional, and multicultural story of creation.

Tags

aborigine, amphibians, animals, australian, beetle, birds, caterpillar, cave, celebration, cricket, direction, earth, emotions, emu, fear, folktale, frog, grub, happiness, insects, kangaroo, life, love, moon, multicultural, nonverbal communication, owl, plants, platypus, reptiles, self esteem, sky, sleep, snake, stars, sun, tree, understanding, verbal communication, walkabout, wind, wombat

White wave

Wolkstein, D.

A Chinese farmer finds a shell with a moon goddess in it. She eases his loneliness, but then he becomes greedy and she must leave. He eventually learns and has a happy life.

Tags

chinese, decision making, feelings, goddess, greed, happiness, learning, loneliness, moon, multicultural, nonverbal communication, self esteem, verbal communication

A special trade

Wittman, Sally

When Nelly was a baby, Bartholomew would push her in her stroller and tell her stories. Now that he is in a wheelchair and she is older, she pushes him around.

Tags

aging, baby, change, coping, disability, friendship, growing up, handicap, happiness, helping, illness, play, self esteem, sharing, storytelling, verbal communication

Each one special

Wishinsky, Frieda

Henry, the baker, creates magnificent cakes. No two cakes are alike and his customers love the beautiful decorations. Henry's friend Ben visits Henry and watches him work each day after school. When the bakery is bought by new owners, Henry loses his job. Henry is sad when he can no longer decorate cakes, but only until Ben helps his friend find a new outlet for his creativity.

Tags

art, birthday, bowling, business, careers, celebration, collection, conflict resolution, cowboys, creativity, feelings, fishing, flowers, food, friendship, golf, happiness, missing, recreation, sadness, technology, television, uniqueness, work

My teacher for president

Winters, Kay

Oliver writes a letter to the local news station to nominate his teacher for president in the next election. He thinks she meets the requirements because she signs important papers, likes white houses, goes to meetings, acts quickly in a crisis, is used to being followed around, wants peace, cares for people and the environment, goes on trips, and deals with the media. The only downfall is he doesnﾒt want her to leave before the end of the year.

Penguin day

Winteringham, Victoria

Penguins are portrayed as being very similar to human beings. The penguins get up, play, laugh, make friends, eat, exercise, and sleep.

Tags

animals, birds, celebration, climbing, excitement, exercise, feelings, food, fun, happiness, jumping, nonverbal communication, party, penguin, play, skating, walking

Josefina

Winter, Jeanette

Josefina spends her whole life shaping soft clay into a story. She looks out at the world and makes what she sees until her story is complete.

Tags

creativity, family, feelings, flowers, fun, happiness, imagination, love, nonverbal communication, sadness, storytelling, verbal communication

Klara's new world

Winter, Jeanette

Klara's family struggled in Sweden so they moved to America. The long trip and struggles of leaving her home make her sad but with time she became very happy.

Tags

assertiveness, change, conflict resolution, coping, critical thinking, decision making, feelings, goal setting, happiness, moving, multicultural, sadness, stress management, swedish, travel, verbal communication

George hogglesberry grade school alien

Wilson, Sarah

When George begins a new school different from his old planet, he is worried he won't fit in. When the school play comes around, he thinks of a perfect costume to impress his classmates.

Tags

acting, alien, body parts, celebration, differences, encouragement, fear, happiness, moon, play, relief, school, shyness, stars, surprises, uniqueness, worry

Mr. COOL

Wilson, Jacqueline

Mr. Cool gives a fresh perspective on friendship and accepting people for who they are. There is a focus on emotional and social health which is brought to light in a positive manner. Kids will gain a better view of acceptance of their peers and helping with self esteem. Mr. Cool's band develops health skills, friendship, and confidence as they perform.

Hobnob

Wilson, Christopher

Two brothers, Hob and Nob, live next door to each other and share everything. One day they have a disagreement over material things and they stop speaking. They finally realize it is not materials that are important, so their brotherly friendship is restored.

Natalie spitzer's turtles

Willner-Pardo, Gina

Jess is afraid of losing her best friend Molly, because there is a new girl in her class. Jess becomes close with the new girl's turtles. It's not too long until Jess learns what a true friend is and that you can have more than one.

Tags

animals, fear, feelings, friendship, happiness, jealousy, play, reptiles, sadness, school, turtle

The great watermelon birthday

Williams, Vera B.

Birthday parties are always fun for children. A group of children all born on the same day have a great celebration with watermelons.

Tags

birthday, celebration, decision making, excitement, family, feelings, food, fun, goal setting, grandparents, happiness, holidays, jealousy, nutrition, parents, siblings, verbal communication

A chair for my mother

Williams, Vera B.

There is a jar that a mother saves all her change in from work. When the jar is finally full, she buys a chair that is very comfortable. This is important because all of her furniture was destroyed in a fire.

Tags

conflict resolution, family, feelings, fire, giving, grandparents, happiness, parents, problem solving, sadness, stress management

When Africa was home

Williams, Karen Lynn

A home is a place of security and happiness. Peter finds Africa to be more of a home than America. In Africa, Peter is treated with respect, politeness, and care. After learning more about the world, Peter gets to go home again.

Grandma essie's covered wagon

Williams, David

A father wants to give his family the best life in the best places. Through all their moving and adventures, they realize there's nothing as wonderful as a family and a home.

Kevin's grandma

Williams, Barbara

A young boy tells tales about visits with his grandma.

Tags

airplane, birthday, car, celebration, family, feelings, grandparents, happiness, holidays, honesty, imagination, storytelling, transportation, verbal communication

Knuffle bunny

Willems, Mo

Trixie, her daddy, and her trusty bunny companion are heading to the laundry mat. While there, Trixie helps her daddy sort the clothes. Unfortunately, Trixieﾒs bunny becomes part of the dryer pile. Trixieﾒs dad doesnﾒt realize that the bunny is in the dryer. In trying to get his attention Trixie says her first word. In the end, she and both parents run to retrieve Knuffle Bunny.

A starlit somersault downhill

Willard, Nancy

Friendship is very important to this little rabbit who wants to nap with his bear friend. Unfortunately for the rabbit, he learns he cannot rest as long and as peacefully as the bear can. He learns that he is meant to be free doing somersaults downhill in the snow.

Tags

animals, anticipation, assertiveness, bear, birds, critical thinking, decision making, feelings, friendship, happiness, nature, nonverbal communication, owl, rabbit, sadness, seasons, sleep, winter

Let the celebrations begin

Wild, Margaret//Vivas, Julie

Miram and the women of the camp make toys for children from material scraps and buttons. They plan for a celebration when the soldiers come to free them from the German camp.

Remember me?

Wild, Margaret

Ellie's grandmother doesn't remember very much anymore. For example, she forgets where her keys are, and she needs to pay the electric bill. She does remember one thing though -- Ellie growing up. Ellie and Grandma celebrate with a picnic in the park.

Tags

aging, animals, biking, conflict resolution, decision making, exercise, family, feelings, food, frustration, grandparents, happiness, memory, nutrition, picnic, rabbit, running, self esteem, verbal communication

The lemon drop jar

Widman, Christine

A little girl visits her Aunt Emma, and they enjoy lemon drop candies together. Aunt Emma tells the story about how she got a lemon drop jar when she missed the sun while away at school.

Tags

autumn, colors, family, feelings, food, happiness, nutrition, seasons, storytelling, sun, train, transportation, travel

Sammy and the dinosaurs

Whybrow, Jan

While helping his grandmother clean out the attic, Sammy uncovers a dusty, old box. He opens the lid and finds that the box is filled with dinosaurs!Sammy proceeds to care for the dinosaurs. He fixes the broken ones, washes them in the sink, and gives them all names. In reply to Sammy's care, the dinosaurs whisper back, Thank you. Sammy does not let his new friends out of his sight, until one day he left them on a train. Sammy and his grandma go down to the train station to find his dinosaurs. He calls them all by their names and Sammy's dinosaur friends come running back.

Little white duck

Whippo, Walt

A little white duck and his friends, little green frog, little black bug, and little red snake enjoy spending their time playing and swimming in the water.

Tags

amphibians, birds, bodies of water, colors, duck, feelings, frog, happiness, insects, music, nonverbal communication, playing, pond, sadness, snake, song, sounds, swimming

Wait! No paint!

Whatley, Bruce

The three little pigs move out to build their own homes. But when the big, bad wolf comes, the first two pigs escape to the brick house. Throughout the ordeal, the pigs hear a mysterious voice that turns out to be the illustrator. The illustrator runs out of paint while finishing the story and finally saves the pigs by changing them and the wolf into Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

Tags

anger, animals, art, bear, body parts, change, clowns, colors, conflict resolution, decision making, embarrassment, fable, feelings, happiness, hunger, mystery, noise, pig, refusal skills, safety, storytelling, surprises, verbal communication, wolf

Bunny money

Wells, Rosemary

Max and Ruby go shopping to get a birthday present for Grandma. They spend their money on other things however, and don't have enough for what they want to get. Grandma is happy with her present at the end anyway.

Tags

animals, birthday, critical thinking, family, feelings, frustration, grandparents, happiness, holidays, money, nonverbal communication, presents, shopping, siblings, stress management, verbal communication

McDuff comes home

Wells, Rosemary

McDuff the dog chases a rabbit and ends up far from home. With the help of Mrs. Higgins, and McDuff's good sense of smell, he is able to find his way back.

Tags

animals, critical thinking, dog, family, feelings, food, happiness, motorcycle, nonverbal communication, pets, smell, stress management, transportation, worry

The language of doves

Wells, Rosemary

On her sixth birthday Julietta is given a dove by her grandfather, and he shares a story about his doves being used for communication during World War I. Julietta is comforted by the dove after her grandfather's death.

1
2
3
4
5
Next
Last

Browse Items (628 items total)