Children's Picture Book Database at Miami University

Where does the trail lead? | by Albert, Burton

A boy explores Summertime Island and observes many things. At the end of the trail, he is back with his family.

Keywords: adventures, curiosity, exploration, family, freedom, island, nature, nonverbal communication, observation

Our tree named Steve | by Zweibel, Alan

In a letter to his children, a father reflects upon the importance of a good friend and the value of a place to feel safe and secure. The father recalls various memories of his family as it has grown in relationship to a favorite tree that had been part of their lives since they built their home. The tree seems to help the family through many events but does not withstand a huge storm. The father uses the wood to build a tree house to continue its importance to the family.

Keywords: change, conflict resolution, correspondence, critical thinking, dog, family, feelings, friendship, happiness, jumping, loss, moving, neighbors, parents, peace, sadness, safety, seasons, siblings, sleep, spring, storm, storytelling, summer, swinging, tree, weather, winter

Baby sea otter | by Tatham, Betty

A baby sea otter and her mother spend their days searching for food and playing. They spend time in a raft with a group of otters and escaping predators. Soon the baby grows up and ventures out on her own. All of the life lessons she learned will be used when she becomes a mother herself.

Keywords: animals, author's note, baby, bodies of water, critical thinking, decision making, family, fear, feelings, happiness, nature, nonverbal communication, ocean, otter, parents, plants, science, self esteem

Erika's story | by Vander Zee, Ruth

After being thrown from a train as a baby during the Holocaust, Erika finds safety, love, and peace in the family that saves her.

Keywords: adoption, assertiveness, author's note, bravery, conflict resolution, courage, critical thinking, family, fear, feelings, germany, history, hope, identity, Jewish, loss, love, memories, multicultural, parents, prejudice, pride, rescue, sadness, self esteem, separation, storytelling, survival, train, transportation, verbal communication, war

Imagine a house | by Gustafson, Angela

Take a walk through 15 countries around the world and learn about different types of dwellings. A brief geographical tour is taken when you traverse the pages of real-life photographs and maps.

Hidden child | by Millman, Isaac

Over fifty years have passed, and Isaac finally tells his story. He is one of the few survivors of the Holocaust. Isaac experiences many tragedies during the war including losing both parents, friends, and being left to strangers, but finally, was adopted into a home. Although he changes his name, he is adopted in a home where people grow to love him.

Keywords: adoption, autobiography, conflict resolution, decision making, family, fear, feelings, france, friendship, germany, history, Jewish, loneliness, multicultural, nonverbal communication, parents, peer resistance, photograph, politics, prison, racism, relationship, religion, rescue, sadness, safety, self esteem, separation, survival, war

Time of wonder | by McCloskey, Robert

A family goes to a summer island house. The daughter makes friends and learns a different way of life. They all experience a hurricane.

Keywords: conflict resolution, coping, critical thinking, decision making, discovery, exploration, family, friendship, hurricane, island, seasons, self esteem, shelter, storm, stress management, summer, vacation, verbal communication, weather

The summer sands | by Garland, Sherry

When a raging storm destroys the sand dunes that several animals and plants called home, a community works together to restore the dunes in a most creative way. Includes an author's note about the ecology of the coastal sand dunes and what is being done to preserve them.

Keywords: animals, autumn, beach, birds, bodies of water, christmas, clouds, cold, colors, community, cooperation, crab, crustaceans, environment, family, five senses, flowers, fun, games, grandparents, habitat, helping, holidays, hurricane, imagination, multicultural, native american, nonverbal communication, ocean, rain, relaxation, sand, sea, seasons, sounds, storm, storytelling, summer, vacation, verbal communication, water, weather, wind, winter

Timothy Cox will not change his socks | by Kinerk, Robert

A young boy, Timothy Cox, decides to go without changing his socks for a month. As the smell from his socks begins to grow, the entire community gets involved in trying to get him to change his socks. Timothy creatively avoids getting caught for the whole month. He aviods the fire fighters with their hoses and even a scout troop! When the month has come to an end, he keeps the socks in a cabinet as a trophy in his determination to stick to his word and not change his socks.

Keywords: animals, community, cooperation, decision making, determination, doctor, dog, family, fantasy, fire engine, five senses, helicopter, month, neighbors, parents, peer resistance, rabbit, rhyme, school, skunk, sleep, smell, transportation, vocabulary

Twister | by Beard, Darleen Bailey

Lucille and her younger brother, Natt, play together and use their imagination. They run around and exercise in their yard. While they are playing, a bad storm hits. Their mother puts them in the cellar as she goes to help an elderly neighbor. The storm is a tornado. When the storm is over, the two children find the two adults, and life is back to the way it was: imaginary.

Keywords: animals, critical thinking, decision making, exercise, family, fantasy, feelings, happiness, nonverbal communication, peace, playing, pretend, rabbit, rain, royalty, running, running away, sadness, sharing, siblings, stress management, tornado, weather, wind

Hooray for fish! | by Cousins, Lucy

Come travel along with Little Fish to meet his many friends. As we count, identify colors, and look for opposites among the many examples, we learn it is okay to have friends different from you.

Keywords: acceptance, affection, colors, community, differences, family, feelings, fish, numbers, opposites, parents, rhyme

A family like yours | by Dotlich, Rebecca K.

There are so many families who do different things. Different families eat different foods, enjoy different activities, speak different languages, and live in different dwellings. There is always a family that is just right for you.

Keywords: activities, animals, baby, community, conflict resolution, cooperation, culture, customs, decision making, differences, diversity, encouragement, family, feelings, food, grandparents, habitat, home, nonverbal communication, parents, relationship, self esteem, siblings, uniqueness

Owl moon | by Yolen, Jane

A young girl goes owling with her father. She has waited a long time for this privilege, and though it is a difficult outing, she is thrilled about it.

Keywords: anticipation, assertiveness, birds, conflict resolution, critical thinking, decision making, family, goal setting, night, verbal communication

A cane in her hand | by Litchfield, Ada B.

Valerie, a young girl, has poor eyesight. She needs to use a cane to walk around. She eventually learns to use the cane and not feel bad about it.

Valentine foxes | by Watson, Clyde

It's Valentine's Day and four little foxes want to surprise their parents by making Valentines and baking a special Valentine's Day cake. They work together for a special Valentine's Day.

Keywords: animals, celebration, cooperation, decision making, family, food, fox, holidays, nutrition, parents, surprises, teamwork, valentine's day

My brother, ant | by Byars, Betsy

Anthony is a wild and creative little brother who, in the course of four different stories, tests the patience of his older brother.

Keywords: acceptance, activities, bedtime, caring, challenges, coping, correspondence, creativity, family, fear, fight, forgiveness, growing up, helping, imagination, mischief, monsters, patience, siblings, storytelling, worry, writing

Children of the northlights | by D'Aulaire, Ingri//D'Aulaire, Edgar

Lise and Lasse, two Lapp children, grow up in a loving family. They encounter many daily problems such as snowstorms and going away from home. However, they still play games and tricks and have a positive attitude about life.

Keywords: conflict resolution, decision making, family, games, multicultural, play, scandinavian, school, self esteem, siblings

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