Children's Picture Book Database at Miami University

Bimwili and the zimwi | by Aardena, Verna

Bimwili, a young Swahili girl, finds a shell at the seashore. Leaving it behind, she returns to fetch it and is captured by a shape-changing ogre. She must match wits with him in order to go home

Keywords: assertiveness, change, critical thinking, decision making, fantasy, goal setting, growing up, loneliness, self esteem, teamwork, verbal communication

Could be worse! | by Stevenson, James

Everything is always the same at Grandpa's house, even down to what he says. One morning at breakfast, Grandpa tells a fascinating and unrealistic story, breaking his normal routine.

Keywords: change, critical thinking, family, fantasy, grandparents, storytelling, verbal communication

Emily and the enchanted frog | by Griffith, Helen V.

A young girl named Emily kisses a frog and turns him into a handsome prince. The prince does not enjoy being a prince, so he wants to be turned back into a frog. The prince must first be kissed by another frog that has been turned into a beautiful princess.

Keywords: amphibians, assertiveness, change, conflict resolution, critical thinking, decision making, differences, fantasy, frog, magic, mythical, royalty, verbal communication

Cinderella's rat | by Meddaugh, Susan

Cinderella's fairy godmother turns a rat into a coachboy. The coachboy loves that he has more food to eat and less enemies (cats). But what will he do when someone wants to harm his sister (a rat)?

Keywords: animals, cat, challenges, conflict resolution, critical thinking, fantasy, godmother, humor, magic, protection, rat, siblings, stress management, surprises, verbal communication

A troll in passing | by Krensky, Stephen

Imagine growing up and being just a little different than everyone else. Morgan was never interested in troll things, even the games they played. He wanted more than troll life could give him. When he gets the job of forager, he begins a whole new life.

Keywords: adventures, careers, challenges, critical thinking, decision making, differences, fantasy, friendship, growing up, trolls, verbal communication

The king's stilts | by Seuss, Dr.

King Bistram's stilts are taken away and he becomes depressed. His kingdom, which is surrounded by the sea, is sabotaged by an awful lord. Because the king is so depressed, he neglects his duties and the city is in danger of becoming flooded, until his page boy comes to the rescue.

Keywords: assertiveness, bodies of water, chaos, critical thinking, decision making, depression, diseases, fantasy, feelings, imagination, nature, play, robbery, royalty, sea

The dragon's pearl | by Lawson, Julie

Xiao Sheng finds a magic pearl. He and his mom are robbed. To save the pearl, Xiao swallows it and becomes a dragon.

Keywords: bodies of water, chinese, dragons, fantasy, giving, multicultural, river, song, water

April wilson's magpie magic: A tale of colorful mischief | by Wilson, April

A child's drawing of a bird comes to life. The child and the bird draw with the coloring pencils to outsmart each other. (A Wordless Book).

Keywords: art, balloon, birds, body parts, colors, competition, conflict resolution, critical thinking, drawing, fantasy, fire, images, magic, magpie, nonverbal communication

Cosmic chickens | by Delaney, Ned

Three chickens from outer space help Hank save his farm from the greedy Mr. Sneezle.

Keywords: assertiveness, birds, chicken, conflict resolution, critical thinking, decision making, fantasy, farm, greed, helping, stress management, verbal communication

The egg | by Robertson, M.P.

George finds what he thinks to be a giant chicken egg. However, when it hatches, a dragon comes out. He cares for it and teaches it necessary skills but the dragon longs to be with his family. Before going to his home with the other dragons, the dragon takes George for an adventure and thanks him for his kindness and caring.

Keywords: adventures, baby, bedtime, birds, birth, caring, cave, chicken, dragons, family, fantasy, feelings, happiness, loneliness, sadness, sleep, storytelling, teaching

A frog prince | by Berenzy, Alix

This is a life lesson concerning love is in the eyes of the beholder. This story show how love turned a common frog into a prince.

Keywords: amphibians, assertiveness, beauty, body image, conflict resolution, decision making, fable, fantasy, frog, goal setting, love, nonverbal communication, peer resistance, refusal skills, self esteem, verbal communication

Victor and christabel | by Mathers, Petra

Christabel was frozen in a painting. Victor works at the museum and falls in love with Christabel. He admires the painting and then one day, she comes alive.

Keywords: art, careers, fantasy, love, museum, nonverbal communication, relationship

The magic paintbrush | by Muller, Robin

Nib is an orphan boy who dreams of being an artist. One day as a reward for a kind deed, Nib is given a magical paint set with a paint brush that brings things to life. Nib encounters a terrible king who uses Nib for his talent.

Keywords: art, assertiveness, careers, creativity, critical thinking, dreams, fantasy, greed, helping, imagination, orphan, royalty

The painter and the wild swans | by Clement, Claude

A reknowned painter leaves his home to capture the beauty of swans in a painting. He is transformed into a swan at the end.

Keywords: art, careers, change, conflict resolution, courage, fantasy

I am really a princess | by Shields, Carol Diggory

A little girl dreams of being a princess. In her imaginary world, everything seems perfect. Finally she realizes her life isn't so bad.

Keywords: appreciation, attention, dreams, escape, family, fantasy, imagination, royalty, siblings

Quack! | by Causky, Charles

Playful, humorous story in rhyme about domestic animals and the sounds they make.

Keywords: animals, critical thinking, fantasy, goat, rhyme, sounds, verbal communication

Night of the goat children | by Lewis, J. Patrick

The safety of Princess Birgitta's kingdom is threatened when a band of outlaws come to conquer it. The brave princess outsmarts the outlaws and they are scared away by immortal goats who are really children in disguise.

Keywords: animals, author's note, bravery, critical thinking, dancing, decision making, fantasy, goat, history, horse, multicultural, royalty, swedish, verbal communication, war

The gingerbread boy | by Galdone, Paul

In desire for a boy of their own, a couple bakes a gingerbread boy. The gingerbread boy comes to life, and runs for freedom while being chased by hungry people. A fox, who outsmarts the boy, ends up with a tasty snack.

Keywords: animals, assertiveness, death, decision making, family, fantasy, fear, feelings, food, fox, hunger, loss, nutrition, parents

The house gobbaleen | by Alexander, Lloyd

After a stroke of bad luck, Tooley calls up on the Friendly Folk to help him improve his luck. When Hooks comes to the door, Tooley invites him in the house despite warnings from his cat. Hooks takes advantage of Tooley and makes his luck even worse than before-until the house gobbaleen scares Hooks away.

Keywords: adventures, anger, animals, cat, change, depression, fantasy, fear, feelings, friendship, greed, mythical, nonverbal communication, peer resistance, relief, sadness, self esteem, superstition, verbal communication

The owl and the pussy-cat | by Knight, Hilary

Two children are magically transformed into an owl and a cat. They return back when their parents call them.

Keywords: animals, birds, cat, conflict resolution, decision making, family, fantasy, friendship, imagination, magic, owl, parents, self esteem, verbal communication

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