Children's Picture Book Database at Miami University

Strong | by Kearney, Rob & Rosewood, Eric

Rob dreams of becoming a champion strongman because his favorite sport was weightlifting. But there are lots of ways to be strong because he had to learn to overcome unkind words and criticisms for how he liked to dress in rainbow clothing with strong, bold colors. He trained hard and lifted huge tires, boulders, sandbags, and cars, so he could become the strongest man in the world. And one day we did just that by lifting a log over this head and was named the strongest person in North America!

Keywords: clothing, competition, differences, exercise, friendship, hard work, homosexuality, sports, weightlifting

Roy make a car | by Lyons, Mary E.

Roy Tyle is a mechanic from Florida. He can fix any car, in fact he can even build his own car. He decides to build one that will not crash. This car is fast. It can jump over cars and shrink to go under cars. He decides to build a car that can fly. He is flying up in the sky when God approaches him. Roy sells God the car for his angels.

Keywords: accomplishment, african american, ambition, author's note, car, careers, competition, creativity, god, hobby, multicultural, mystery, resolution, safety, self confidence, skills, transportation

The princess knight | by Funke, Cornelia

Princess Violetta has been raised by her father, King Wilfred, to joust, ride horses, and fight with swords. Despite her small size, Princess Violetta quickly becomes one of the best knights in her father's kingdom, ever surpassing her three older brothers. Princess Violetta learns that before her sixteenth birthday, her father will hold a tournament to win her hand in marriage. Princess Violetta is not about to let a tournament decide her future and she decides to take action.

Keywords: animals, birthday, celebration, communication, competition, courage, determination, feelings, fight, frustration, happiness, horse, parents, problem solving, royalty, siblings

Hunter bunny learns to ski | by Weaver, Alexis Rae

Hunter Bunny is eagerly awaiting for winter to arrive and is determined to take part in all the activities that come along with it. He visits his fellow animal friends who teach him to ski, skate and snowboard, but with Hunter Bunny's shorter leg, he is unable to be successful. With the help of his best friend Clark, the two find a way for Hunter to be able to ski in the animal ski race. Determined to win, Hunter Bunny practices day and night for the big competition and it pays off in the end when he brings home the first place ribbon.

Keywords: accidents, activities, animals, anticipation, challenges, cold, colors, competition, confidence, determination, disability, dreams, encouragement, excitement, exercise, family, feelings, friendship, handicap, helping, learning, parents, practice, preparation, problem solving, protection, rabbit, reading, sadness, safety, seasons, skating, skiing, sledding, sleep, snow, sports, support, surprises, teaching, teamwork, teasing, uniqueness, wind, winter, zoo

The blue ribbon day | by Couric, Katie

Ellie and Carrie are best friends in the second grade. They do everything together and this year they are trying out for the soccer team. Carrie does not make the team and feels left out. She finds a new hobby, the science fair.

Keywords: challenges, competition, confidence, feelings, friendship, goal setting, hard work, school, science, soccer, sports

The golden rain | by Mashiri, Pascal

A young child learns from his mother's stories about decision making and choices. He comes to understand that choices make some people happy and leave some disapointed. The child also realizes that help is sometimes needed for the decision making, but ultimately it is up to the individual.

The giant apple | by Scheffler, Ursel

Every year there is a festival where all the farmers bring their biggest vegetables. The same people win the prize for the biggest vegetables every year. The people of Appleville decide they will do everything possible to win. The next year they win the contest and have to eat apples all winter long because that is all they planted.

Keywords: celebration, community, competition, farm, food, nutrition, seasons, winter

My rotten redheaded older brother | by Polacco, Patricia

Patricia Polacco tells the story about her sibling rivalry with her brother. She wanted to be able to do something better than he could. Eventually, her wish comes true, but not exactly the way she had imagined.

Keywords: assertiveness, change, competition, conflict resolution, family, goal setting, grandparents, self esteem, siblings, uniqueness, verbal communication, wish

Stella and roy | by Wolff, Ashley

Stella and Roy's little brother have a race with their scooter and tricycle to the popcorn stand. Stella thinks that she is so fast that she can stop and look around at everything during the race. Who do you think wins the race?

Keywords: animals, bicycle, biking, birds, competition, crocodile, dog, exercise, fish, food, frog, goal setting, goose, horse, nutrition, plants, reptiles, running, seasons, sharing, skating, spring, transportation, turtle

Iron horses | by Kay, Verla

Building a railroad takes a lot of work. Many people must be involved from the planners and politicians in the capital, to the Irishmen and Chinese men building the track out west. When it is finally finished, the track is a wonderful form of transportation.

Keywords: author's note, celebration, ceremony, chinese, competition, construction, cooperation, fun, geography, hard work, history, immigrants, irish, mountains, multicultural, rain, rocks, snow, storm, tools, train, transportation, travel, weather

The lady with the ship on her head | by Lattimore, Deborah Nourse

When Madame Pompenstane leans over at the beach to gather shells, she does not notice that a tiny ship sails onto her head. Later at the Fancy Dress Ball, she is pleased to win the prize for the Best Headdress.

Keywords: beach, beauty, boat, clothing, competition, fantasy, party, transportation

Racing against the odds: The story of Wendell Scott, stock car racing's African-American champion | by Weatherford, Carole Boston

Wendell O. Scott made history as the only black driver to win a race in a NASCAR Grand National division. Using secondhand Fords that he fixed up in his garage, he competed in five hundred races in NASCAR'S top division. This is the story of a man who worked full time while racing on the side. A man who didn't just dust the competition, he blazed the trail.

Keywords: accidents, alcohol, body parts, car, careers, competition, food, games, history, language, mischief, school, segregation, skating, transportation, war

Runaway radish/ El rabano que escapo | by Levy, Janice

It s the Night of the Radishes and don Pedro wants to carve the best radish sculpture in town. But one radish will not cooperate. The Night of the Radishes is an annual festival held on the evening of December 23rd in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Keywords: animals, cactus, carving, celebration, competition, donkey, escape, food, instruments, language, market, Mexico, multicultural, restaurant, royalty, running away, sharing, spanish

Dancing in the wings | by Allen, Debbie

Sassy uses her unique characteristics and height to become a great ballet dancer. Sassy does not allow bullying from the other students to prevent her from trying out for a summer dance festival. Sassy learns the benefits of perseverence and self-esteem.

Keywords: challenges, competition, dancing, depression, determination, dreams, embarrassment, family, feelings, glasses, humor, imagination, individuality, instruments, jealousy, multicultural, performance, persistence, playing, self esteem, stars, theatre, travel

Hattie the bad | by Devlin, Jane

Hattie had a reputation for being bad. All her school classmates love her because she does exciting bad things, but her parents don't agree. When her friends aren't allowed to play with her anymore, she decides to be good. But just when she is about to get an award for the Best-Behaved Child ever, she does something that shocks everyone.

Keywords: assertiveness, behavior, competition, decision making, excitement, feelings, goal setting, misbehavior, mischief, nonverbal communication, peer resistance, recognition, sadness, self esteem, technology, television

Hip & Hop, don't stop! | by Czekaj, Jef

Hip, a turtle from Slowjamz Swamp, and Hop, a rabbit from Breakbeat Meadow, both love to rap. Hip raps very slowly, and Hop raps very slowly. Animals of Slowjamz Swamp and Breakbeat Meadow don't socialize until one day Hip and Hop meet each other when they see a sign for a rapping contest. In this twist of the fable Tortoise and the Hare, Hip and Hop bring the animals of the swamp and meadow together through their performance.

Keywords: animals, communication, comparisons, competition, conflict resolution, cooperation, creativity, dancing, decision making, fable, friendship, peer resistance, performance, problem solving, rabbit, reptiles, rhyme, turtle

Little bit & big byte: A day at the beach | by Feigh, C

Big Byte, Joy, and Little Bit go to the beach to be with their friends Webster and Kay Board. They all see a couple of nefarious bugs named Vi and Russ who are going surfing. Big Byte and Kay Board want to go with them but Joy and Little Bit warn them that it is too dangerous. When Big Byte and Kay Board find themselves in danger, what will happen? Will Little Bit, Joy, and Webster be able to do anything to help them in this computer age adventure?

Keywords: adventures, animals, art, beach, bodies of water, cat, community, competition, computer, dog, five senses, neighbors, ocean, rescue, school, surfing, technology, vocabulary

Recycle every day! | by Wallace, Nancy Elizabeth

Through a poster contest at school, Minna and her family discover many ways they can recycle. Many of the other contestants' posters demonstrate ways to recycle, however Minna ultimately wins the contest through her poster that reminds everyone to re-re-remember, re-re-recycle every day.

Roy makes a car: Based on a story collected by Zora Neale Hurston | by Lyons, Mary

Roy is known around town as the best mechanic in Florida. Roy makes it his mission to create a car that will be accident proof. No one in the town believes him, but Roy proves them wrong time and time again. Roy's creativity and perseverance leads to the making of the best cars in the area.

Keywords: african american, author's note, car, competition, creativity, feelings, folktale, goal setting, god, loneliness, luck, machines, money, multicultural, neighbors, persistence, prejudice, self esteem, storytelling, tools

Rockin' reptiles | by Calmenson, Stephanie//Cole, Joanna

Allie the Alligator is a typical young girl. She and her two girlfriends have lots of fun together playing games and dressing up. The three of them will do anything to be able to go to the Rockin Reptiles concert, their favorite band. There's a catch though -- only two can go.

Keywords: alligator, basketball, bias, biking, boat, challenges, competition, conflict resolution, cooking, dancing, dedication, exercise, family, friendship, fun, games, humor, jumping, moving, music, neighbors, peer resistance, play, relationship, reptiles, selfishness, song, sports, technology, telephone, verbal communication

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