Children's Picture Book Database at Miami University

The spirit of tio fernando: A day of the dead story | by 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?

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

The marshmallow incident | by 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…

Keywords: 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 | by 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!

Keywords: 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 | by 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.

Keywords: 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 | by 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!

Keywords: 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! | by 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.

Keywords: 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 | by 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!

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

Welcome dede!: An African naming ceremony | by 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.

Keywords: 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 | by 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.

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

In my momma's kitchen | by 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.

Keywords: 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 | by 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.

Keywords: celebration, clothing, community, conflict resolution, decision making, feelings, food, german, goal setting, grief, happiness, hunger, memory, multicultural, nonverbal communication, party, sadness, self esteem, shelter, stress management, toys, verbal communication, war

The mud flat olympics | by Stevenson, James

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

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

The wonderful tree | by 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.

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

Grandma essie's covered wagon | by 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.

Keywords: adventures, animals, assertiveness, autumn, celebration, christmas, conflict resolution, critical thinking, decision making, family, feelings, goal setting, grandparents, happiness, holidays, horse, moving, parents, pioneers, sadness, seasons, self esteem, shelter, siblings, summer, travel, verbal communication, winter

It's my birthday! | by 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.

Keywords: balloon, birthday, car, celebration, critical thinking, family, feelings, food, games, grandparents, jumping, loneliness, monsters, nonverbal communication, parents, party, playing, presents, self esteem, sharing, transportation, verbal communication

1,2,3 thanksgiving | by 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

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

The surprise garden | by Hall, Zoe

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

Keywords: 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 | by 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.

Keywords: 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 | by 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.

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

The relatives came | by 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.

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

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