Children's Picture Book Database at Miami University

Alec's primer | by Pitts-Walter, Mildred

Alec was a slave who wanted to be free. Ms. Josephine, one of his masters and three years older than him, told Alic if he wanted to be free he needed to learn to read. Ms. Josephine taught him to read and when Alec was old enough he couragously fights in the Civil War and obtained his freedom.

Keywords: accomplishment, african american, alphabet, ambition, assertiveness, author's note, biography, books, courage, critical thinking, freedom, goal setting, hard work, learning, multicultural, museum, peace, photograph, prejudice, racism, reading, self esteem, slavery, verbal communication, war

Mr. COOL | by 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.

Zen shorts | by Muth, Jon

One day, three young children meet a panda after his umbrella lands in their yard. The children become friends with the panda, whose name is Stillwater. He passes on folktales to them to help them solve problems they are having.

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.

Leo: the little st. bernard | by L'Hommediev, Dorthy K.

Leo wants to be a working dog for the monks at the Hospice. When they do not choose him, he decides to runaway to the Hospice. On his way up the mountain he encounters Angelena, a cashmere goat. Together they set out on a snowy and dangerous adventure.

Keywords: animals, bravery, climbing, conflict resolution, courage, critical thinking, decision making, dog, exercise, family, goal setting, goat, heroism, multicultural, patience, pride, relationship, running, self esteem, siblings, snow, swiss, verbal communication, wind

Why rabbit doesn't lie | by Mashiri, Pascal

While every animal of the forest is planning for next year's harvest, Rabbit decides to grow money. He lies to the chief and keeps the money for himself. Eventually the chief grows angry with Rabbit and demands the money Rabbit was supposed to grow. Rabbit deceives everyone in order to get out of his lie and he vows to never lie again.

Monster looks for a house | by Blance, Ellen // Cook, Ann

A friendly purple monster comes to a new city to look for a new place to live. Since this monster is different from others in the city, he must hunt for a house that fits him. After looking at many houses, he finally finds one that he can live in comfortably.

Keywords: buildings, change, community, comparisons, critical thinking, decision making, differences, environment, exploration, goal setting, home, monsters, moving, nonverbal communication, problem solving, sizes

Grey mouse | by de Vries, Anke

Grey Mouse is feeling lonely, so she decides to change her color in order to feel better about herself. However, all of the other animals laugh at her each time she does this. She finally realizes that she is happiest with her natural grey color when she finds other mice friends that look like her.

Keywords: acceptance, amphibians, animals, appearance, art, bee, birds, body image, boredom, change, colors, critical thinking, differences, feelings, flowers, frog, goal setting, goose, happiness, identity, images, insects, insecurity, ladybug, loneliness, mouse, nonverbal communication, racism, sadness, self confidence, self esteem, zebra

Nora's ark | by Kinsey-Warnock, Natalie

As the rain keeps coming, the flood gros larger. Everyone in town goes to Grandma's house because it sits high on a hill. Along with many animals, everyone, except Grandpa, is there. Grandma and Wren are worried about Grandpa so they head out to try and save him from the flood.

Keywords: animals, cat, chicken, cow, critical thinking, decision making, duck, family, farm, flood, goal setting, grandparents, horse, pig, rain, rescue, stress management, verbal communication, weather

A song for ba | by Yee, Paul

A young, ambitious boy spends a lot of time with his grandfather learning how to sing and follow in the footsteps of his father who travels with a Chinese opera troupe. Wei, the little boy, loves to go to the opera and watch his father perform hoping one day, he too, will be a star. Through difficult times and financial loss, a young boy comes to the rescue of both his father and his cultural background.

Hannah is my name | by Yang, Belle

Hannah and her family come to America from Taiwan to gain freedom. For them to become Americans and have their freedom, they must obtain their greencards. Hannah and her family's journey of over 2 years, encompasses many trials. Hannah and her family feel relief, excitement and prode as they finally receive their greencards and are now able to call American their home.

Lucy's quiet book | by Medearis, Angela Shelf

An annoyed Lucy decides to go the library to get away from her brothers. The librarian gives her a book to quiet her brothers down. Once Lucy begins to read to her brothers, they quiet down and Lucy learns the positive effects of books.

Big surprise in the bug tank | by Horowitz, Ruth

Leo and his brother love their two giant pet cockroaches given to them by their mother. After the two cockroaches have babies, the boys try many different solutions to try to get rid of them. They finally find a solution after they receive help from their mom and local library.

Keywords: bug, chores, community, critical thinking, decision making, family, goal setting, insects, library, math, numbers, parents, pets, responsibilities, sexuality, siblings, stress management, verbal communication

Talking | by Xaba-Mashiri, Zadwa

A man digs out a talking yam from his garden. The man is confused and asks his dog if he is talking, but the dog says it is the yam talking. The man runs to the village to tell people about the talking yam and dog. People do not believe the man until things starts talking to them.

The good luck cat | by Harjo, Joy

Woogie, the cat, is thought to have good luck. But when she goes missing, will her good luck run out or will it bring her back home before her nine lives run out?

Keywords: animals, birds, cat, conflict resolution, critical thinking, dog, family, feelings, goal setting, happiness, luck, missing, multicultural, native american, parents, sadness, verbal communication

Chicks and Salsa | by Reynolds, Aaron

The barnyard animals of Nuthatcher Farm are discontent as they grow weary of the same old slop and feed. Their worries are laid to rest when the rooster devises a plan that leads to the first ever barnyard fiesta, complete with chips and salsa, guacamole and nachos. Their celebration is halted however, when they can find no more supplies on the farm. Is someone else on the farm planning a fiesta of their own?

Keywords: animals, barn, celebration, chicken, cooking, critical thinking, dancing, duck, exercise, fair, food, nutrition, pig, smell

The table where rich people sit | by Baylor, Byrd

A young girl feels that her family is so poor that rich people wouldn't even sit at her family's table. She holds a meeting with her family to discuss the money her family has. During the meeting she discovers how rich her family really is. She also learns the important things in life such as, family is more valuable than money itself.

Keywords: assertiveness, birds, conflict resolution, critical thinking, family, greed, money, parents, perspective, pheasant, poverty, relaxation, responsibilities, rules, self esteem, sharing, wealth

Jack's garden | by Cole, Henry

Jack has a garden where he plants seeds. Plants and flowers grow in the garden. The garden attracts insects and birds.

Keywords: bee, beetle, birds, bug, butterfly, critical thinking, flowers, insects, plants, rain, seasons, seed, sequence, summer, water

Museum shapes | by The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Children will love learning about shapes through works of art from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Keywords: art, colors, concepts, creativity, critical thinking, discovery, images, museum, shapes, stars, symbols, vocabulary

Animals should definitely not wear clothing | by Barett, Judi

Wouldn't it be silly if animals wore clothing? It would probably make the lives of animals much more difficult. Enjoy exactly why clothes for animals are completely unnecessary. Would you want your new dress ruined by your porcupine quills?

Keywords: animals, birds, camel, chicken, clothing, conflict resolution, critical thinking, decision making, elephant, feelings, frustration, giraffe, goat, kangaroo, mischief, moose, mouse, nonverbal communication, opossum, pig, porcupine, refusal skills, reptiles, self esteem, sheep, snake, stress management, walrus

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