Browse Items · Children's Picture Book Database at Miami University

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Fox on stage

Marshall, James

Fox and his friends are bored, so they decide to put on a scary play for the neighborhood. The play goes wrong and instead of being scary it is the funniest play the neighbors have ever seen.

Tags

actor, animals, boredom, careers, fox, fun, humor, neighbors, performance, play, rain, weather

The magic moonberry jump ropes

Hru, Dakari

April and Erica love to Double Dutch, but they have no friends to Double Dutch with. When their Uncle Zambezi returns from a trip to Tanzania, he gives the girls a jump rope that will grant wishes because it is made from magic moonberries. The girls Double Dutch and wish for two new friends to arrive. Suddenly, a moving van pulls up, and a family with a boy and girl moves in across the street.

Tags

african american, author's note, bicycle, biking, colors, exercise, family, friendship, jump rope, jumping, karate, language, multicultural, neighbors, plants, play, rhyme, siblings, skating, wish

Rain

Spier, Peter

Two children play outside in the rain discovering all of the wonderful things to do. When it is dark, they come in and warm up. The next day, the sun is shining.

Tags

decision making, nature, night, nonverbal communication, play, rain, recreation, safety, sun, weather

Music, music for everyone

Williams, Vera B.

While her grandmother is sick, Rosa helps her mother with expenses by playing her accordion with her friends in a band.

Tags

assertiveness, family, friendship, goal setting, grandparents, helping, illness, music, nonverbal communication, parents, play, responsibilities, teamwork, verbal communication

The music in derrick's heart

Battle-Lavert, Gwoddolyn

Derrick, a young African American boy, learns to make music on the harmonica. Uncle Booker T., a talented musician, spends each day, one hot summer, teaching Derrick the art of playing the harmonica. Finally, after much practice and determination, Derrick discovers the secret of Uncle Booker T.'s music: it comes from the heart.

Tags

african american, arthritis, band, dancing, determination, diseases, exercise, five senses, generations, instruments, learning, multicultural, music, patience, play, playing, practice, seasons, sleep, sounds, summer

Bigmama's

Crews, Donald

Each summer, young Donald Crews takes a train ride and car ride to Bigmama's farm. He plays with the his cousins on the big porch, then explores the shed, outhouse, toolshed, stable, barn, and pond for fishing. His family gathers around a big table to eat and celebrate being together.

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african american, animals, barn, bodies of water, car, family, farm, fishing, food, horse, multicultural, nutrition, play, pond, recreation, seasons, summer, train, transportation, travel

Happy to be nappy

Hooks, Bell

A whimsical rhythm of sweet jive jumps from watercolored illustrations on different pages to portray portraits of little girls who celebrate their African American culture. Hooray for the frizzy, fuzzy, nappy, twisty hair!Hooray for the sizzling semblance and fantastic flare that shines in every hair on every head. Beauty lies everywhere.

Tags

african american, appearance, appreciation, awareness, beauty, body parts, caring, celebration, child care, cleanliness, closeness, colors, comparisons, confidence, creativity, culture, day, differences, family, feelings, fun, happiness, health, hope, images, individuality, multicultural, parents, play, pride, rhythm, self confidence, self esteem, shapes

Why did we have to move here?

Davies, Sally J.K.

A little boy is having problems adjusting to his new home. He compares his new school to his old school which makes him feel sad and frustrated. The boy decides to go ice skating with other kids even though he isn't invited. He helps to solve a problem when the ice isn't safe.

Tags

anger, art, assertiveness, author's note, change, critical thinking, feelings, friendship, happiness, hockey, ice, loneliness, loss, math, moving, nonverbal communication, play, playground, problem solving, sadness, safety, school, science, shyness, skating, sports, stress management

New shoes for silvia

Hurwitz, Johanna

One day Silvia's family receives a package of gifts from Tia Rosita. Silvia's gift is beautiful -- new red shoes!Unfortunately they are too big. Silvia uses her new shoes for many other purposes until one day they fit.

Tags

clothing, critical thinking, dolls, family, farm, grandparents, growing up, mexican, multicultural, parents, play, self esteem, verbal communication

Babylon

Walsh, J. P.

Three children walk along an old viaduct and leaving their slum neighborhoods by using their imaginations. Dulcie is sad because she's always lived in England and can't share memories with the other two.

Tags

conflict resolution, critical thinking, decision making, english, feelings, friendship, imagination, memories, multicultural, neighbors, nonverbal communication, peer resistance, play, sadness, verbal communication

Nothing to do

Hoban, Russell

Walter is bored, so his father gives him a magic stone that will make him think of fun activities when rubbed. However, after Walter loses the stone, he realizes that he is capable of entertaining himself. He gives his sister a magic stick so she will stop bothering him.

Tags

boredom, critical thinking, family, imagination, imitation, magic, parents, play, recreation, siblings

The mystery of the missing red mitten

Kellogg, Steven

While out playing in the snow, Annie has lost one of her mittens. Annie and her dog Oscar search each place Annie has been that day to try and find the red mitten. You'll never guess where they find it!

Tags

animals, clothing, critical thinking, dog, goal setting, lost, missing, play, snow, weather

The jacket i wear in the snow

Neitzel, Shirley

A girl is playing in the snow. Her zipper gets wet and becomes stuck so she goes home so her mother can help her.

Tags

assertiveness, clothing, conflict resolution, critical thinking, learning, play, problem solving, snow, verbal communication, weather

Skrallan and the pirates

Lindgren, Astrid

Skrallan loves to spend her summers on the island of Saltcrow with her family and friends. A curious two-year old, she gets into mischief as she plays with her grandfather and other children.

Tags

family, grandparents, island, multicultural, parents, pirates, play, sea, seasons, siblings, summer, swedish

Quick as a cricket

Wood, Audrey

A little boy shows how he can be as quick as a cricket, as slow as a snail, as small as an ant, and as large as a whale.

Tags

animals, differences, exercise, feelings, growing up, insects, moods, play, rhyme

Polar

Moss, Elaine

Polar decides to have fun and sled down a big hill. He is careless and breaks his leg. His friends take care of him and find ways to cheer him up.

Tags

accidents, animals, bear, friendship, injury, peer resistance, play, presents, recreation, safety, snow, winter

Boot weather

Vigna, Judith

A little girl uses her imagination while playing in the snow in her favorite boots.

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clothing, imagination, play, recreation, snow, weather

The squiggle

Schaefer, Carole Lexa

A young girl walking with her class finds a piece of string on the sidewalk. In her imagination, the string becomes a cloud, fireworks, a dragon, and more.

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assertiveness, chinese, clouds, dragons, feelings, fireworks, happiness, imagination, moon, multicultural, mythical, nonverbal communication, play, school, verbal communication

The runaway bunny

Brown, Margaret Wise

A little bunny uses his imagination when he thinks of ways to run away from home. He thinks of becoming a fish, a bird, a mountain climber, etc. His mother tells him how she will catch him and bring him back home.

Tags

adventures, animals, birds, family, feelings, imagination, parents, play, rabbit

Why, Charlie Brown, Why?A story about what happens when a friend is very ill

Schulz, Charles M.

Linus becomes friends with Janice, a young girl who is diagnosed with leukemia. Despite all of the rumors and jokes, Linus learns that friendship is a very important part of Janice's recovery. He learns how to stand up for himself as well as others.

Tags

animals, autumn, cancer, christmas, doctor, dog, friendship, holidays, hospital, illness, nonverbal communication, peer resistance, play, school, seasons, siblings, spring, stress management, verbal communication, winter

My dog rosie

Harper, Isabelle

When Isabelle's grandpa goes to work, she takes care of his dog Rosie. Isabelle does everything for Rosie -- feeds him, plays with him, and even bathes him. Isabelle loves to take care of Rosie!

Tags

animals, bath, dog, feelings, happiness, helping, hygiene, pets, play, responsibilities

Castles, caves, and honeycombs

Ashman, Linda

Animals make their homes using many different things. Some are made of twigs, others of sand, and others are in caves. Although they are all different, they also have similarities. Castles, caves, and honeycombs are a place to share, play, rest, and live.

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animals, bat, beach, bear, beaver, bee, birds, caterpillar, cave, crab, crustaceans, dog, home, insects, mouse, play, rabbit, rhyme, safety, sleep, snail, snake, spider, tree, turtle, wolf

The christmas day kitten

Herriot, James

A kitten is left on Christmas Day for Mrs. Pickering by a stray cat who dies. Buster, the kitten, changes the lifestyle of Mrs. Pickering.

Tags

animals, assertiveness, cat, change, christmas, death, decision making, holidays, peer resistance, pets, play, self esteem

Ethan's favorite teacher

Colman, Hila

A boy hates school because it is boring and the teachers never answer his questions. He would prefer to spend his time ate the zoo playing tic tac toe with an ape. Doing this, he works hard to learn how to beat the ape because he's having fun. He overcomes the doubts of his peers and teacher.

Tags

animals, ape, assertiveness, conflict resolution, critical thinking, decision making, games, goal setting, hard work, learning, peer resistance, play, recreation, refusal skills, school, self esteem, stress management, verbal communication

Reunion

Essley, Roger

Jon is spending the last day at his grandmother's cottage. Before she takes a nap, she tells Jon to look at some old photographs from 1915 To Jon, the photos are dull, gray, and gloomy. Jon hears some voices and falls into a photograph where he meets Paul. Where Paul sees colors, Jon sees gray. The two boys share some adventures as different photos come to life. Finally, Jon sees the color in the photographs, and finds out that Paul was his great-grandfather.

Tags

exercise, fantasy, farm, grandparents, lake, photograph, play, seasons, skating, summer, swimming, winter

Everybody knows that!

Pearson, Susan

Patty and Herbie are best friends, but when they start school, Herbie decides he wants to play with the boys. Herbie ends up being friends with her again, because they both realize that it is silly not to be friends.

Tags

conflict resolution, decision making, friendship, gender, play, school, verbal communication

When i am old with you

Johnson, Angela

A young boy and his granddaddy spend a lot of time doing different activities together. For example, they fish, go to the ocean, play cards, talk to people, and learn about the past.

Tags

activities, aging, bodies of water, family, fishing, food, games, goal setting, grandparents, imagination, nonverbal communication, nutrition, ocean, play, recreation, relationship, security, verbal communication

A - my name is alice

Bayer, Jane

From Alice the ape to Theresa the turkey, exotic animals unite for a unique alphabet. Look out for Winifred Wolf and Fifi Fox -- or even Zelda the Zebra from Zambia!These words can be part of a hopscotch game.

Tags

alphabet, animals, ape, bear, birds, duck, exercise, games, play, rhinoceros, tiger, turkey

Roger loses his marbles!

Gretz, Susanna

Roger's aunt comes for a birthday party and stays in his room. He cannot find his marbles and gets angry at his aunt, who later finds them. They play after everyone is asleep.

Tags

anger, birthday, conflict resolution, family, feelings, games, holidays, nonverbal communication, party, play, recreation, responsibilities, shelter

A special trade

Wittman, Sally

When Nelly was a baby, Bartholomew would push her in her stroller and tell her stories. Now that he is in a wheelchair and she is older, she pushes him around.

Tags

aging, baby, change, coping, disability, friendship, growing up, handicap, happiness, helping, illness, play, self esteem, sharing, storytelling, verbal communication

My best friend moved away

Carlson, Nancy

Two best friends do everything together from the time they are babies. When one friend moves away, the other person is sad and lonely, wondering if she will ever be happy again. All is well when a new family moves in next door.

Tags

animals, boredom, change, chicken pox, diseases, dog, feelings, fight, friendship, games, happiness, loneliness, memory, moving, neighbors, photograph, play, sadness, school, secrets, sharing, soccer, sports, stress management

Matthew and tilly

Jones, Rebecca C.

Matthew and Tilly are best friends. Sometimes they get in fights and do not play together. However, playing alone is not much fun, so they make up and are best friends again.

Tags

anger, conflict resolution, decision making, feelings, fight, friendship, loneliness, multicultural, play, verbal communication

Girls are silly

Nash, Ogden

Two boys are playing and a girl walks by. Billy says that all girls are silly, then his friend points out that his mom was once a girl.

Tags

assertiveness, decision making, friendship, gender, peer resistance, play, rhyme, verbal communication

Winter story

Barklem, Jill

During the first snow, a Brambly Hedge community of field mice have many exciting adventures. Their activities include a snowball fight and a snowman in an Ice Hall.

Tags

animals, critical thinking, friendship, fun, mouse, play, recreation, seasons, snow, winter

Enona and the black crane: An aboriginal story

Meeks, Arone Raymond

Enona is an Aborigine village person who lives in a rainforest. He is very interested in the many birds in the forest. He spends his free time climbing trees to watch the birds.

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aborigine, birds, bodies of water, conflict resolution, crane, critical thinking, decision making, food, forest, multicultural, nonverbal communication, play, river, verbal communication

The best time of day

Flournoy, Valerie

William is a bright and active child who enjoys a variety of activities throughout his day.

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activities, african american, doctor, family, food, fun, health, multicultural, nutrition, play, recreation, shopping, sleep

Pots and pans

Rockwell, Anne

A young boy and girl play in the kitchen with pots, pans, measuring cups, plastic containers, a rolling pin, and other kitchen utensils.

Tags

cooking, food, imagination, nutrition, play, shapes

Doctor shawn

Breinburg, Petronella

Mom went shopping, so Shawn and his sisters decide to play doctor. Shawn is the doctor and he bandages up patients all day long. Then mother comes home and tells them to close the hospital, because it is time for lunch.

Tags

careers, doctor, family, food, illness, imagination, nutrition, play, siblings

Snow on snow on snow

Chapman, Cheryl

Playing in the winter snow leads to a search for a missing companion.

Tags

animals, clothing, companion, dog, food, friendship, loss, missing, nutrition, play, seasons, snow, winter

Shortcut

Crews, Donald

Train tracks run right behind Big Mama's house in Cottondale, Florida. Every summer the children go to visit her. They are told time and time again to stay off the tracks. They are in a hurry one day and decide to walk along the tracks for a shortcut. When they get to a point where they can't turn back, a train appears.

Tags

critical thinking, decision making, five senses, listening, peer resistance, play, safety, sounds, stress management, train, transportation, travel, verbal communication

Beach ball

Sis, Peter

Mary and her mother visit the beach. They see numbers, opposites, letters, and shapes. There are many fun things to do at the beach.

Tags

beach, boat, bodies of water, colors, critical thinking, differences, fishing, letters, numbers, opposites, play, sequence, shapes, swimming, transportation

Digby and kate and the beautiful day

Baker, Barbara

Digby and Kate spend every day together. They play games, eat, draw pictures, take walks, and just enjoy each other's company. The only problem is that they often disagree, as a dog and cat should. Still they have fun together and continue to be best friends.

Tags

animals, anticipation, argument, art, assertiveness, cat, communication, compromise, conflict resolution, differences, dog, feelings, food, games, mouse, nutrition, photograph, play, rain, rules, sadness, sharing, weather

Best friends for frances

Hoban, Russell

Frances does not want to play with Gloria because she is young and small. Albert does not want to play with Frances because she is a girl. They all decided to play together, and each realizes how bad it feels to be left out.

Tags

bias, conflict resolution, critical thinking, decision making, feelings, friendship, play, sadness, stereotypes, verbal communication

Kite flier

Haseley, Dennis

A young man leaves home, marries, and begins to fly kites. He teaches his son the joy of kite flying, and with each changing event in their lives, a new kite is launched. When the son wants to travel, too, they make a very symbolic kite for both of them.

Tags

conflict resolution, critical thinking, death, feelings, freedom, happiness, kite, loneliness, loss, nonverbal communication, play, sadness, stress management, traditions, travel, weather, wind

Natalie spitzer's turtles

Willner-Pardo, Gina

Jess is afraid of losing her best friend Molly, because there is a new girl in her class. Jess becomes close with the new girl's turtles. It's not too long until Jess learns what a true friend is and that you can have more than one.

Tags

animals, fear, feelings, friendship, happiness, jealousy, play, reptiles, sadness, school, turtle

Spring is here

Lenski, Lois

Look at all the signs of spring and how two children enjoy these seasonal things.

Tags

feelings, happiness, play, seasons, spring

Jake and rosie

Lillie, Patricia

Jake is upset to find that his very best friend and neighbor is not at home. He worries that she will not ever return and he will not have anyone to play with. However, Rosie soon comes home and shows Jake a fun surprise.

Tags

conflict resolution, critical thinking, decision making, feelings, friendship, loneliness, neighbors, play, sadness, self esteem, stress management, worry

Dealing with feelings: I'm scared

Crary, Elizabeth

Tracy can not wait to meet her new neighbors. Her smile disappears when she sees that her new neighbors own her worst fear, a big dog!What will Tracy do?Is she going to watch from her window, sing a happy song, or ask someone to hold her hand when she meets her new neighbors?No matter what Tracy decides, she will soon overcome her fears by getting a puppy of her own!

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