Children's Picture Book Database at Miami University

Once upon an ordinary school day | by McNaughton, Colin

An ordinary boy has no idea what is in store for him one fateful, ordinary day. Everything appears to be normal until his new school teacher; Mr. Gee walks through the door. The once ordinary day turns into a whirlwind of adventures

Keywords: adventures, animals, bedtime, change, dreams, fantasy, imagination, magic, music, preparation, pretend, routine, self esteem, surprises, teaching, writing

If I had my way | by Klein, Norma

Ellie wishes that - for just one day - she could have her way. She is tired of being told what to do! Why canﾒt she have a say? In her dreams, the tables turn and Ellie finds herself in charge. Giving her parents orders and trading in her baby brothers are Ellieﾒs first orders of business. Her old life doesnﾒt seem quite so bad.

Keywords: assertiveness, baby, change, conflict resolution, discovery, dreams, fantasy, feelings, frustration, growing up, learning, love, parents, self esteem

Zathura: A space adventure | by VanAllsburg, Chris

Danny and Walter Budwing have a typical brotherly relationship. It isnﾒt until Danny finds an old game that takes the boys away to another galaxy that the brothers finally reach a new appreciation for one another.

Keywords: accidents, adventures, alien, anger, apology, challenges, change, chaos, conflict, decision making, destruction, earth, family, fear, feelings, fight, robot, sounds, stars, verbal communication

Sumi's first day of school ever | by Pak, Soyung

On Sumiﾒs first day of school, she experiences loneliness because she doesnﾒt know anyone and doesnﾒt understand the language of the other children. She also thinks school is a scary and mean place because the other children are loud and one boy even sticks his tongue out at her! Eventually, Sumiﾒs nice teacher makes her feel comfortable in her new environment. After meeting a new friend at recess, Sumi recognizes that school is not as lonely, scary, or mean as she originally thought.

Keywords: change, critical thinking, drawing, emotions, encouragement, family, feelings, friendship, helping, hope, korean, loneliness, multicultural, nonverbal communication, parents, playground, school, shyness, stress management, teaching, teasing, verbal communication

A new improved Santa | by Wolff, Patricia

Santa is determined to become a new and improved Santa. He changes his hair, loses weight, and changes his clothing style. The children are not happy with his changes; they want the old Santa back.

Boundless grace | by Hoffman, Mary

According to the stories Grace read, her family is not normal. Grace's father lives in Africa while she and her mother live in America. Grace visits her father to learn about his new family and the African culture in Gambia. Grace's visit to Africa helps her to understand that her family is normal.

Keywords: african, african american, change, comparisons, crocodile, divorce, family, grandparents, letters, love, multicultural, parents, reptiles, shopping, siblings, storytelling, travel, vacation, verbal communication

Madoulina: A girl who wanted to go to school: A story from south africa | by Bognomo, Joel Eboueme

Madoulina has dreams of becoming a doctor. She doesn't, however, go to school because her mother needs her to sell fritters in the marketplace to earn money. Madoulina meets her brother's new teacher, who convinces her mom to find a way to let her go to school.

Where's Jamela? | by Daly, Niki

A young girl named Jamela is upset when hearing the news from her mother that they will be moving to a new house. When itﾒs time to leave, everyone wonders where Jamela is and begin to search for her everywhere. Suddenly, she jumps out of a box from the back of the truck and agrees to go with her mother. On reaching her new house, she starts to like it and settles down in her room.

Keywords: african, african american, bedtime, beverage, books, cat, change, chicken, decision making, dog, emotions, future, language, love, moving, multicultural, music, nonverbal communication, refusal skills, stars, stress management, truck, verbal communication, vocabulary

Arrowville | by Boedoe, Geefwee

In the town of Arrowville disagreement and frenzy is a way of life, but a young girl named Barb wants to agree and get along. She gets in trouble for this and runs away. At the same time the Targets make a wrong turn and end up in Arrowville. The Arrows think they are invaders. It is Barb who helps the Arrows and Targets come together and understand each other.

Keywords: acceptance, beliefs, change, conflict resolution, culture, decision making, differences, diversity, feelings, friendship, goal setting, individuality, misunderstanding, peer resistance, perspective, poetry, prejudice, rhythm, uniqueness

If nathan were here | by Bahr, Mary

Nathan was a brother, a wonderful best friend, and a great classmate. Then one day, Nathan was gone. If Nathan Were Here tells a story of what it is like for a community and family to lose a loved one. This book shows us the true need and meaning for friendship.

Keywords: baseball, change, coping, death, family, feelings, friendship, happiness, loss, love, memories, nonverbal communication, sadness, school, siblings, sports, stress management

Pumpkin day! | by Wallace, Nancy Elizabeth

A rabbit goes to a farm to learn about pumpkins. The parents teach their children how they grow, how to carve them, and how to cook multiple recipes with this great vegetable.

Keywords: animals, autumn, change, critical thinking, family, farm, food, garden, learning, nutrition, parents, plants, rabbit, recipe, science, seasons, seed, self esteem, siblings, verbal communication

Amy's travels | by Starke, Kathryn

Come along with Amy on her wonderful journey to all seven continents on earth. Read about the desert in Asia, the rainforest and jungles of Africa, the mountains of South America, and the cities of Europe. Feel the bitter cold of Antarctica, go on a safari, and meet people around the world who speak different languages. Traveling to brand new places is one of the most exciting ways to learn, and it's a trip you'll never forget!

Keywords: africa, america, animals, antarctica, asian, australia, bodies of water, camel, change, culture, desert, differences, europe, exploration, geography, home, honduran, jungle, kangaroo, kenyan, koala, language, maps, mountains, moving, multicultural, rainforest, river, safari, seasons, south american, spanish, transportation, travel, united states

The golden rule | by Cooper, Ilene

A boy and his grandfather are standing on a city sidewalk when they see a billboard starting Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. The boy asks his grandpa what it says and the grandpa reads it and explains the Golden Rule. The boy is intrigued by the rule and starts asking questions. The grandpa explains that each religion has their own version of the Golden Rule. They discuss what the world would be like if everyone followed the Golden Rule. The boy starts to understand the Golden Rule and the grandpa reminds him that the Golden Rule starts with one person: You. It beings with…

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

Stellaluna: A pop-up book and mobile | by Cannon, Janell

After being separated from Mother Bat, Stellaluna falls into a nest of baby birds. The family of birds adopt Stellaluna as one of their own, while Stellaluna does her best to eat bugs without making faces, sleep during the night, and stop hanging upside down. In the end, Stellaluna rejoins her mother.

Keywords: acceptance, adventures, animals, bat, behavior, birds, challenges, change, cooperation, determination, differences, discovery, family, friendship, habitat, individuality, kindness, learning, loneliness, lost, missing, obedience, parents, peer resistance, relief, self esteem, shelter, similarities, sleep, survival, verbal communication

Mama Elizabeti | by Strure-Bodeen, Stephanie

Elizabeti has been taking care of her rock doll, Eva, and is not worried when it comes time for her to take care of Obedi, her younger brother. Throughout the day, Elizabeti quickly finds out Obedi is a handful compared to her rock doll Eva, but is rewarded with Obedi's love at the end of a difficult day.

Keywords: african, baby, change, child care, critical thinking, culture, dolls, family, helping, love, multicultural, siblings, stress management

The bus ride | by Miller, William

Sara stands up for justice on her city bus. Sara gets tired of sitting in the African American section of the bus. Sara does not undertsand why she does not have the same rights as the white Americans, so she takes a stand to change that law.

Keywords: african american, america, anger, author's note, body parts, bus, car, change, community, courage, crowd, discrimination, equality, feelings, freedom, heroism, hunger, money, newspaper, parents, pride, school, segregation, support, transportation

Lyle, lyle crocodile | by Waber, Bernard

A crocodile named Lyle has a big impact on those he meets in his community. One day, a member of his family loses his job. In the end this bad event is turned around into a job well done by everyone.

Keywords: animals, baby, car, careers, change, child care, community, coping, crocodile, dog, exercise, family, feelings, food, friendship, ghosts, halloween, happiness, holidays, loss, monsters, mythical, nonverbal communication, nutrition, refusal skills, reptiles, sadness, self esteem, stress management, teamwork, transportation, walking, witches

Breakfast with my father | by Roy, Ron

When David's mother and father are separated, David and his dad only see each other during their special Saturday morning breakfasts. All winter, David's dad comes every Saturday except for one. After sulking all morning, David goes downstairs in his house and is pleasantly surprised to see his mom and dad eating breakfast together.

Keywords: change, coping, disappointment, divorce, family, feelings, food, happiness, love, nutrition, parents, sadness, seasons, separation, siblings, surprises, winter

Moving day | by Tobias, Tobi

A young girl is involved in moving to a new house and town. She confides her feelings to her new stuffed bear, which makes her feel better.

Keywords: change, community, coping, feelings, friendship, moving, sadness, shelter, stress management, verbal communication

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