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

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The spirit of tio fernando: A day of the dead story

Levy, Janice

Fernando, a little boy from Mexico, loses his favorite uncle. The family celebrates a holiday called Day of the Dead. Fernando must find the perfect gift to remember his uncle. What does he choose?

Tags

celebration, critical thinking, death, family, flowers, food, holidays, instruments, language, mexican, multicultural, music, parents, spanish, theatre

The marshmallow incident

Barrett, Judi

The town of Right and the town of Left do not have anything to do with one another. Someone had even painted a yellow line that nobody ever dared cross. The Order of the Ambidextrous Knights of the Dotted Yellow Line, watch over the line as well as guarding their marshmallows. In June, the town of Right has their picnic, and someone accidentally trips over the yellow line. The knights immediately grab the closest ammunition: their marshmallows, and minutes later both towns are covered with marshmallows, until they realize how silly it was. The towns hold town meetings and no one could think of reasons why they should keep the yellow line. The two towns join together to wash the yellow line and socialize for the first time.

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castle, celebration, colors, community, conflict, conflict resolution, creativity, dancing, decision making, differences, fable, food, goal setting, kite, neighbors, peace, play, poetry, puppets, royalty, teamwork, verbal communication

A castle on Viola street

Disalvo, Dyanne

Andy's family lives in a small, cramped apartment, and his parents work long hours to support the family. He never thought that they would ever live in an actual house, but one day they find a flyer saying You too can own a home. The organization buys empty houses and allows families to fix-up houses and then other people will help fix up a house for them. Andy's family is so excited as they help clean, paint, put down hard wood flooring, and pass out lemonade. At the end of the year, they find out that the next house to be built will be theirs!

Tags

author's note, celebration, change, community, construction, decision making, family, food, goal setting, hard work, home, hope, neighbors, safety, self esteem, teamwork

The twelve days of Christmas

Spirin, Gennady

The Twelve days of Christmas is sung in churches, houses, and concert halls throughout the Christmas season. It is hard to imagine a Christmas celebration without it. From the partridge in the pear tree to the five golden rings to the twelve drummers drumming, carolers enjoy taking turns singing different verses. Gennady Spirin's paintings bring new life and spectacular beauty to this classic song, making it a gift to be treasured at Christmastime. An illustrator' note addresses the song's origin and history.

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author's note, birds, celebration, christmas, dancing, dove, goose, history, holidays, illustrator's note, instruments, jewelry, love, music, numbers, presents, seasons, song, swan, tree, winter

Katy duck is a caterpillar

Capucilli, Alyssa

Katy Duck loves to dance. She especially loves dancing during springtime. When she arrives as Mr. Tutu's School of Dance, Mr. Tutu announces the dance recital will be a spring celebration. Katy Duck is so excited; however, when Mr. Tutu announces the parts, she is disappointed. Reluctantly, she practices her caterpillar moves. During the spring recital, her big entrance comes up so she slowly inches out. When she realizes new and exciting changes occur during springtime, she transforms into a beautiful butterfly!

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animals, autumn, birds, butterfly, cat, celebration, chicken, conflict resolution, critical thinking, dancing, decision making, dog, duck, exercise, insects, mouse, nonverbal communication, performance, practice, rabbit, seasons, spring, swan, turtle, verbal communication

Bartleby Speaks!

Cruise, Robin

Bartleby is a very quiet baby. He learns to crawl, walk and explore, but he still doesn't talk. His family and even the dog try to get him to talk by singing, dancing, playing instruments, but Bartleby still won't speak. On his birthday he speaks his first word: listen, and for the first time his family stops and listens.

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animals, balloon, bicycle, birthday, books, careers, celebration, dancing, dog, flowers, german, grandparents, growing up, instruments, italian, language, music, nonverbal communication, parents, toys, verbal communication

Turkey trouble

Silvano, Wendi

Turkey is in trouble. Bad trouble. The kind of trouble where it's Thanksgiving...and you're the main course! But Turkey has an idea- what if he doesn't look like a turkey? What if he looks like another animal instead? After many hilarious attempts, Turkey comes up with the perfect disguise to make this Thanksgiving the best ever!

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animals, barn, birds, celebration, cow, disguise, farm, farmer, holidays, horse, humor, pig, rooster, sheep, thanksgiving, turkey

Welcome dede!: An African naming ceremony

Onyefulu, Ifeoma

Amarlai has a new baby cousin and he can't wait for her to be given a name. A tradtional African name will tell people where she comes from and which child she is in the family.

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africa, african, baby, birth, celebration, ceremony, clothing, community, cooking, family, feelings, food, geography, giving, grandparents, happiness, hard work, language, maps, market, multicultural, parents, photograph, prayer, presents, traditions, village

Jamela's dress

Daly, Niki

Jamela's mama has just bought some beautiful fabric for a new dress. While she's watching it dry outside in the South African air, Jamela wraps it around herself and starts parading down the street. Everyone is watching her, she is so proud. When she gets home, Jamela finds her mama very upset because her fabric is ruined. With the help of a friend, Jamela buys her mama more fabric. At this South African wedding, both Jamela and her mama are beautiful in their new dresses.

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african, animals, birds, celebration, chicken, clothing, conflict resolution, critical thinking, dog, forgiveness, friendship, games, helping, language, love, market, money, multicultural, parents, photograph, pretend, sewing, shopping, verbal communication, wedding

In my momma's kitchen

Nolen, Jerdine

A young girl's fondest memories happen in her momma's kitchen. Achievements, family, stories, cooking and love are all celebrated in the kitchen. Great-Aunt Caroline, corn-pudding time and nighttime serenades are a few of the special moments in this loving family.

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accomplishment, african american, animals, bedtime, cat, celebration, cooking, dancing, easter, family, food, friendship, garden, grandparents, holidays, instruments, love, multicultural, music, parents, relationship, school, self esteem, sleep, song, walking, wedding

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.

The mud flat olympics

Stevenson, James

All the animals compete to be the best at the Mud Flat Olympics and then celebrate with ice cream.

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animals, celebration, competition, exercise, food, friendship, nutrition, running, swimming

The wonderful tree: A story of the seasons

Holl, Adelaide

A young boy's interest in nature leads his grandfather into a discussion about the seasons. Changes in the trees, celebrations, and life events are shared through the grandfather's stories.

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autumn, celebration, family, grandparents, nature, seasons, snow, spring, storm, storytelling, summer, weather, winter

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.

It's my birthday!

Hutchins, Pat

It's Billy's birthday party and all of his monster friends want to play with his new toys. Billy does not want to share, so his friends find new games to play without him. He thinks he can have more fun by himself but soon figures out that isn't the truth. When he receives a gift he can't play by himself, he asks his friends to play finally.

1,2,3 thanksgiving

Nikola-Lisa, W.

It is Thanksgiving, so this book gives a step-by-step sequence of what to prepare to eat and how to set the table. It focuses on the numbers 1-8

Tags

celebration, family, food, holidays, numbers, nutrition, parents, preparation, sequence, thanksgiving

The surprise garden

Hall, Zoe

Three children eagerly wait to discover what marvelous plants will grow from the seeds they sowed.

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animals, author's note, bee, birds, bluejay, butterfly, celebration, colors, dog, family, flowers, food, garden, health, helping, insects, ladybug, nature, nonverbal communication, nutrition, party, pets, plants, rabbit, seasons, siblings, summer, sun, surprises, teamwork, verbal communication, water

A. lincoln and me

Borden, Louise

A young boy discovers that he shares a birthday on the same day as Abraham Lincoln's. Learn how many other common characteristics a boy shares with a past president.

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appearance, appreciation, baseball, birthday, body parts, books, bus, calendar, celebration, freedom, friendship, history, individuality, learning, money, monuments, music, playground, president, reading, running, school, self confidence, self esteem, slavery, sports, teaching, transportation

Twist with a burger, jitter with a bug

Lowry, Linda

People of all different cultures, shapes, and sizes come together to exercise and dance the mamba, tap, jig, polka, twist, jitterbug, jive, boogie, hula, rumba, and waltz.

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assertiveness, celebration, dancing, exercise, fun, multicultural, music, nonverbal communication, rhythm, sizes, verbal communication

The relatives came

Rylant, Cynthia

Lots of fun and excitement occurs when Virginia's relatives come to town. They have a reunion of food, conversation, naps, and hugs.

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celebration, excitement, family, food, nonverbal communication, nutrition, party, reunion, sleep, travel, verbal communication

Tikvah means hope

Polacco, Patricia

When Justine and Duane help the Roth's build their Sukkoth, they do not realize how special it is until tragedy hits. A large fire rages over the land, saving very few things, yet a miracle does occur.

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animals, cat, celebration, feelings, fire, Jewish, miracle, multicultural, nonverbal communication, religion, spiritual, stars, stress management

Together in pinecone patch

Yezerski, Thomas

Keara and Stefan are from Ireland and Poland, respectively, and each tell the stories of their families. They meet in the United States in Pinecone Patch, PA. They overcome deep stereotypes and prejudices to be married and bring two families together.

Big red lollipop

Khan, Rukhsana

Rubina is excited to get her first invite to a birthday party! However when she asks Ami whether she can go, Ami tells her she has to take her younger sister, Sana. After Sana ruins the party, Rubina has to learn how to overcome her anger and forgive her little sister.

The miracle of the potato latkes

Penn, Malka

Tanta Golda is a Russian woman who makes the most delicious potato latkes in Russia. This year, there is only one tiny potato from the harvest. Tanta doesn't know what to do. When a beggar comes to her door, she feeds him the one potato. The beggar brings her good luck, and there are potato latkes for everyone!

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celebration, feelings, food, hanukkah, happiness, holidays, magic, multicultural, nutrition, preparation, recipe, russian, sadness

Country angel christmas

dePaola, Tomie

The country angels are given the task to prepare the Christmas celebration this year. Ari, Pip, and Kira, the youngest of the angels, want to help but no one will let them. Even though they were pushed away, the young angels end up saving the celebration.

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angel, celebration, christmas, critical thinking, helping, holidays, preparation, stars, worry

Pancake pie

Nordgvist, Sven

Festus, the farmer, wants to bake a cake for his cat's birthday. He has many obstacles to overcome to get the supplies to make the cake. Finally, he is able to make and eat the cake.

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animals, birthday, cat, celebration, food, fourth of july, holidays, nutrition, preparation

Jake baked the cake

Hennessy, B.G.

Jake bakes a cake while everyone prepares for the wedding. Everyone at the wedding eats the cake and enjoys it. Jake is proud of his work.

Tags

celebration, feelings, food, happiness, nutrition, preparation, rhyme, wedding

Christmas on an island

Gibbons, Gail

Christmas is coming so everyone is busy making preparations on the island. On Christmas Eve, everyone gathers at church for a festive celebration.

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anticipation, celebration, christmas, excitement, friendship, holidays, island, kindness, neighbors, party, preparation, seasons, traditions, verbal communication, winter

Arthur's birthday party

Hoban, Lilliam

Arthur's determination to have the best birthday party and be the best all-around gymnast causes him to be inconsiderate of the feelings of his sister and friends. When Arthur forgets to be fair and have fun at the competition, his younger sister is quick to point out that each chimpanzee has his or her own special skill to be honored with a medal at the birthday competition.

Laughing tomatoes and other spring poems

Alarcon, Francisco X.

A bilingual collection of humorous and serious poems about family, nature, and celebrations.

Tags

affection, beliefs, birds, caring, celebration, cinco de mayo, community, day, environment, excitement, feelings, food, friendship, giving, happiness, holidays, loyalty, mexican, mexican american, morning, multicultural, nature, night, peace, plants, poetry, seasons, sharing, sky, spring, sun, unselfish, woods

When I was five

Howard, Arthur

Six year-old Jeremy points out many interesting changes he has undergone since he was five years old, including playing with his favorite car and thinking about his career. However, his best friend, Mark, is still his favorite.

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baseball, birthday, car, careers, celebration, change, cowboys, dinosaur, exercise, friendship, growing up, hobby, play, secrets, self esteem, sports, swimming, verbal communication

Cakes and miracles: A purim tale

Goldin, Barbara Diamond

Hershel is a blind boy who loves to play outside and catch frogs in the river. His mother is always angry when he comes home covered with mud. One day Hershel has a dream that he can see. After that, he is able to help his mom make three-cornered fat cakes and cookies to sell at the market so they can earn money.

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amphibians, angel, author's note, blindness, bodies of water, celebration, dancing, dreams, exercise, food, frog, handicap, holidays, Jewish, multicultural, nutrition, play, poverty, recipe, river, song, traditions

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.

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

Snapshots from the wedding

Soto, Gary

A young girl, Maya, retells the events of a Mexican-American family wedding by looking back through the wedding photos. From the excitement of being a flower girl, to the ceremony itself, to the music and dancing afterwards, she recalls many happy memories.

Mr. Chu

Keating, Norma

Through Mr. Chu, the reader learns about Chinese food, music, traditions, and celebrations including the Chinese New Year.

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celebration, chinese, culture, food, holidays, multicultural, music, new year, nutrition, traditions

By the hanukkah light

Oberman, Sheldon

It's Hanukkah so Grandpa and Rachel get ready to light the menorrah. As the family gathers, Grandpa tells the story of how Hanukkah began. When the children ask for another story, Grandpa tells them about Hanukkah when he was a boy during World War II.

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celebration, family, food, grandparents, hanukkah, history, holidays, Jewish, nutrition, peer resistance, war

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.

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

The great big scary dog

Gleeson, Libby

Jen, her sister, and a friend decide to scare a dog with their dragon costume for the Chinese New Year's dance. When they roar and try to scare the dog, the dog is very friendly to the girls and allows them to pet him.

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animals, assertiveness, celebration, chinese, critical thinking, dog, dragons, family, fear, feelings, friendship, holidays, multicultural, mythical, neighbors, new year, nonverbal communication, parents, siblings

Possum's harvest moon

Hunter, Anne

Possum awakes one evening and decides to throw a party in celebration of the beautiful harvest moon. He convinces his meadow friends to take time from preparing for the winter to celebrate with him.

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animals, autumn, celebration, hibernation, moon, nature, night, opossum, party, preparation, seasons, verbal communication

The witch's garden

Postma, Lidia

Curious children try to scare a witch out of her house. The witch just laughs, and they realize that she is a harmless lady who makes wonderful pancakes. But who are the mysterious elves who live in her garden?

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assertiveness, celebration, decision making, elves, fear, feelings, food, mythical, nonverbal communication, nutrition, peer resistance, verbal communication, witches

Something special for me

Williams, Vera B.

On her birthday, Rosa gets to buy whatever she wants from the money jar. Rosa and Mom shop all day. Rosa finally decides to buy an accordian.

Tags

birthday, celebration, confusion, critical thinking, decision making, family, grandparents, instruments, music, parents, shopping

The popcorn book

dePaola, Tomie

Where does popcorn come from?This book gives the history of popcorn along with some helpful hints for storing, preparing, and popping popcorn.

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celebration, food, history, multicultural, native american, nutrition, plants, recipe

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

Happy to be nappy

Hooks, Bell

A whimsical rhythm of sweet jive jumps from watercolored illustrations on different pages to portray portraits of little girls who celebrate their African American culture. Hooray for the frizzy, fuzzy, nappy, twisty hair!Hooray for the sizzling semblance and fantastic flare that shines in every hair on every head. Beauty lies everywhere.

Tags

african american, appearance, appreciation, awareness, beauty, body parts, caring, celebration, child care, cleanliness, closeness, colors, comparisons, confidence, creativity, culture, day, differences, family, feelings, fun, happiness, health, hope, images, individuality, multicultural, parents, play, pride, rhythm, self confidence, self esteem, shapes

Tonight is carnival

Dorros, Arthur

Life for many people in the high Andes Mountains includes the preparation and anticipation of a carnival - and what happens three days before.

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anticipation, celebration, excitement, goal setting, holidays, mountains, music, nonverbal communication, verbal communication

The bakers dozen

Forest, Heather

Jan Van Amsterdam is a well known baker. People travel from all over to buy his goods. When he begins to get greedy, he starts to use less ingredients in his cookies. When a woman asks for a bakers dozen, he only gives her 12 She puts a curse on him and his baked goods. When he finally realizes that a bakers dozen is 13, the curse is broken.

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author's note, careers, celebration, christmas, community, deception, folktale, food, greed, holidays, magic, nutrition, poverty, seasons, winter

A very important day

Herold, Maggie Rugg

A snowstorm adds to the wonder and excitement of this very important day during which 219 people become U.S. citizens.

Mama don't allow

Hurd, Thacher

Miles gets a saxophone for his birthday. He loves to practice the saxophone, but his family won't let him because of the awful sounds he makes. The only ones who appreciated his music are the alligators.

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