Children's Picture Book Database at Miami University

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

The cat who walked across France | by Banks, Kate

After the death of his owner, a cat is moved to another city. He has fond memories of the old woman and wishes to find his home again. The cat begins a journey across the country to find his way back to the stone house. When he arrives, he finds the door open, walks in, and finds a spot to fall asleep. He is awoken by two children who reminds him of the old woman with whom he finds home again.

Keywords: animals, bodies of water, cat, critical thinking, exercise, feelings, france, happiness, lake, memories, pond, river, sadness, sea, stress management

Hello baby! | by Rockwell, Lizzy

It is such a special time when there's a new baby on the way. This little boy has been involved in his new sister's life since the beginning. He went to the doctor with his mommy and helped unpack baby clothes. When his baby sister is born, he is the happiest boy in the world!

Keywords: baby, bath, birth, body parts, clothing, doctor, excitement, family, feelings, grandparents, happiness, memories, numbers, parents, photograph, pregnancy, rhythm, sequence, siblings, surprises

In the time of the drums | by Siegelson, K.

Raised by his grandmother Twi, a young boy named Mentu learns of the toils and tragedies of slavery and how one day he too will have to be strong in the cotton fields. As Mentu grows, Twi shares her talks of living in Africa through the use of drums. When Twi's spirit calls her home to Africa, Mentu's day to be strong arrives.

Keywords: africa, african, aging, author's note, beliefs, boat, bodies of water, customs, escape, family, fear, garden, grandparents, hard work, history, island, language, memories, mischief, music, running away, ship, slavery, spanish, storytelling, transportation, travel, verbal communication, water

Song and dance man | by Ackerman, Karen

When the children go to visit their grandpa, he takes them to the attic to show his three grandchildren what he used to do for entertainment before television was invented. He dresses up in his hat, vest, and cane, then begins to dance and sing for his grandchildren. When they go downstairs, they wonder how much he misses the good old days.

Keywords: aging, clothing, dancing, exercise, family, grandparents, imagination, memories, nonverbal communication, play, recreation, respect, self esteem, technology, television

Roxaboxen | by McLerran, Alice

Roxaboxen is a magical, little place where several friends build their own home and have their own shop on Main Street. Their children grow up but never forget Roxaboxen.

Keywords: community, critical thinking, family, friendship, growing up, imagination, memories, shelter, teamwork

One christmas | by Funakoshi, Kanna

A young man journeys home for Christmas. He remembers all the Christmas memories and that is why he is comming home.

Keywords: christmas, family, holidays, memories, shelter

Homeplace | by Shelby, Anne

A grandmother explains to her grandaughter the history of the house she lives in. She begins her story at the beginning when great-great-great-great grandpa built the house. She explains how they planted corn and cooked on a wood buring stove. The story ends with the way the house looks now.

Keywords: animals, cow, family, farm, food, grandparents, history, horse, memories, nutrition, parents, sheep, shelter, storytelling

The midnight eaters | by Hest, Amy

Samantha and her grandma share a room because her grandma is sick. One night they decide to get up and have a midnight snack. They have sundaes and look through old pictures of her grandma and grandpa.

Keywords: decision making, family, fear, feelings, food, grandparents, illness, memories, nutrition, self esteem, sharing, shelter

See you in second grade | by Cohen, Miriam

A first grade class spends their last day of school at the beach. They are afraid of going onto second grade, but the teacher assures them it will be fun. When they go home for the summer, they are excited about what the next school year may bring.

Keywords: beach, bodies of water, change, conflict resolution, cooperation, fear, growing up, memories, nonverbal communication, play, recreation, school, seasons, self esteem, summer, verbal communication

Babar comes to america | by Brunhoff, Laurent de

Babar, the elephant, visits America. Babar and other elephants visit their old friends, meet new friends, and sight see throughout America. Although Babar is sad to leave, he will always treasure the memories.

Keywords: animals, assertiveness, conflict resolution, elephant, feelings, friendship, learning, memories, nonverbal communication, sadness, travel, verbal communication

The prince and the pink blanket | by Brenner, Barbara

The prince carries an old pink blanket around with him at all times. It makes the prince feel safe, brave, and happy to carry the blanket. The king decides no kids are allowed to carry blankets. The king is shown a film of when he was a kid and that he too carried a blanket. Finally, the king allows the children to have their blankets back.

Keywords: feelings, growing up, memories, refusal skills, royalty, security, verbal communication

My dad is really something | by Osborn, Lois

Harry and his friend Ron compare their fathers. Harry becomes upset because Ron's father seems to be so much better than his father. As is turns out, Ron is making everything up because his dad had died a few years ago.

Keywords: conflict resolution, confusion, coping, death, deception, decision making, feelings, friendship, loss, memories, refusal skills, role model, self esteem, storytelling, verbal communication

Weeks and weeks | by Watts, Mabel

Mr. Hobbs is the town photographer who does well in his business until the town plans to start having activity weeks. The townspeople get so busy with each new activity that they don't pay much attention to Mr. Hobbs, until Take-A-Picture Week comes along.

Keywords: activities, business, careers, chaos, community, fun, memories, recreation, time

The quilt | by Jonas, Ann

A child receives a patchwork quilt made up of fabrics that have special meaning. One bedtime, the quilt serves as background for a nightime adventure for the child and her stuffed dog, Sally.

Keywords: adventures, animals, conflict resolution, dog, family, friendship, imagination, memories, night, quilt, self esteem, sleep

Nana | by Hoopes, Lyn Littlefield

In dealing with the recent death of her Nana, a girl escapes to nature, which brings back memories of things Nana taught her about the fern and chickadee. Through her memories she realizes that Nana will always be with her.

Keywords: birds, change, chickadee, coping, death, family, feelings, grandparents, loss, memories, memory, nature, plants, sadness

Snapshots from the wedding | by Soto, Gary

A young girl, Maya, retells the events of a Mexican-American family wedding by looking back through the wedding photos. From the excitement of being a flower girl, to the ceremony itself, to the music and dancing afterwards, she recalls many happy memories.

Keywords: celebration, ceremony, excitement, family, feelings, food, happiness, memories, mexican, multicultural, nonverbal communication, parents, photograph, self esteem, siblings, spanish, sports, stress management, verbal communication, wedding

The christmas ghost | by Buck, Pearl S.

A small boy shares the spirit of Christmas with his family and neighborhood. One of the older neighbors tells him about a ghost who walks each Christmas Eve. In turn, the boy learns about friendship, believing, and remembering.

Keywords: christmas, conflict resolution, critical thinking, faith, family, friendship, ghosts, holidays, memories, neighbors, nonverbal communication, sharing, verbal communication

The storyteller | by Weisman, Joan

Lottie moves from her Indian Pueblo village to the city. She misses her Pueblo life until she meets an old woman with whom she shares old Pueblo stories. A new friendship is made when they share their stories.

Keywords: change, coping, friendship, loneliness, loss, memories, moving, multicultural, native american, sharing, storytelling

We are best friends | by Aliki.

Two young boys must deal with the idea of one best friend moving away. Luckily, each meets a new friend. They are able to keep their friendship through letters.

Keywords: correspondence, critical thinking, feelings, friendship, games, loneliness, memories, missing, moving, nonverbal communication, playground, sadness, verbal communication

Browse Abstracts (141 total)