Skip to main content
Here comes the mystery man
Sanders, Scott Russell
The Goodwin children wait impatiently for the arrival of Merchant Meeks. When Meeks arrives, he brings presents, prizes, and stories to the family. His stories and presents tell of far away places the Goodwins have never seen before. He makes the world look bigger.

Birthday presents
Rylant, Cynthia
The celebration of a little girl's birthday begins as soon as she is born. As each year passes, her personality, behavior, and presents change. Her parents celebrate the special moments of growing up by surrounding her with love, presents, and memories.

Miss maggie
Rylant, Cynthia
Nat is terrified to go into the house of Miss Maggie because he has heard that there is a snake inside her house. But he is so curious that he begins peeking through the windows. Even though Nat does not find a snake, he does find a good friend.

The little old man and his dreams
Ross, L
A little old man's wish before his death is to attend his granddaughter's wedding and see her happy with her new husband. His journey is plagued with troubles and his gift of pearls is stolen.

Power and glory
Rodda, Emily
For his birthday, a young boy gets a video game and keeps playing until he wins.

Come to my party
Richardson, Judith Benet
All the animals of the jungle are sleeping when a loud roar comes from a leopard who is having a birthday party. As a team, the animals of the jungle work together to create a present to bring to the party.

Don't open this box
Razzi, James
Harry finds a box at his door with Don't Open this Box written on it. Ultimately, Harry's curiousity gets the best of him and he opens the box. Inside is a boat called Don't Open this Box.

Truman's aunt farm
Rattigan, Jama Kim
Truman's Aunt Fran sends him an aunt farm for his birthday. Hundreds of aunts appear at Truman's house. He cares for them until he runs out of room. Truman puts a sign in his yard which says that the aunts are free to good homes. Girls and boys line up at Truman's house and each take an aunt home.

Aunt ceecee, aunt belle, and mama's surprise
Quattlebaum, Mary
Mama's birthday is coming soon and even though she says she doesn't want a big fuss, her daughter knows better. With her aunts' help, she plans a birthday surprise. Planning was the easy part though, actually getting the party ready on time will be difficult, especially if no one does their part. In the end, only a take-charge kind of person will be able to surprise Mama.

Mr. snow bunting's secret
Quackenbush, Robert
Mr. Snow Bunting opens a bow shop that is only open from March to November. The whole town is so curious about the way he wraps presents that they set out to find what the secret is -- especially Mr. Dog.

Auntie claus
Primavera, Elise
Sophie, a spoiled child, is very excited to get lots of presents on Christmas even though she has everything. She follows her Auntie Claus on a business trip and finds out she is Santa's sister. Sophie learns from this experience that giving is better than receiving.

The half-birthday party
Pomerantz, Charlotte
Daniel decides to give his six-month old sister one half of a birthday party. She receives half presents with whole stones. Very imaginatively, Daniel gives her the best present of all.

Izzie
Pearson, Susan
Cary gets a stuffed cat for her birthday and names her Izzie. She takes Izzie everywhere, but when Izzie gets too dirty, Cary stops carrying him around.

Five bad boys, billy que and the dustdobbin
Patron, Susan
Billy Que learns an important lesson from the dustbobbin under his bed. Billy learns to think before he speaks.

Marvin's best christmas present ever
Paterson, Katherine
It's almost Christmas and Marvin doesn't know what gift to give his parents. After he asks his older sister for some help, he ends up making a wreath. Marvin's parents love their gift and it hangs on their trailer almost all year. When they finally decide to take it down, they discover a family of birds who have been enjoying it too.

Love from uncle clyde
Parker, Nancy Winslow
Charlie receives a present from his Uncle Clyde. His uncle leaves directions, so Charlie will know how to take care of the present.

The third gift
Park, Linda Sue
A young boy learns his father's trade by observing the use and importance of resin from certain trees. One day becomes an important day for the family - and especially for the young boy - when they exchange tears with three merchants who are off to see an important baby.

Scruffy
Parish, Peggy
It is Todd's birthday and he is getting a kitten. He goes to the animal shelter and gets to pick the kitten out himself. He names his kitten Scruffy.

A seed was planted/ Sembre una semilla
Palazeti, Toulla
A wonderful cycle of giving begins when a single seed is planted and sprouts are passed along from one person to the next. An entire community is touched.

Here comes our bride
Onyefulu, Ifeoma
Ekinadose wants his Uncle Osaere to get married - then he can go to a wedding. One day, he sees people welcomed into his grandfather's house. They come to collect their bride - and Edinadose will be going, not just to one wedding ceremony, but two!

Welcome dede!: An African naming ceremony
Onyefulu, Ifeoma
Amarlai has a new baby cousin and he can't wait for her to be given a name. A tradtional African name will tell people where she comes from and which child she is in the family.

Elephant prince:  The story of Ganesh
Novesky, Amy
In this mythical story, that takes place in India, a girl grows up listening to her motherï¾’s and grandmotherï¾’s stories. As a princess, she meets her love and is married. He promises her a baby and has one within a year. When gods gather around the babyï¾’s head vanishes. Another god helps save the baby with the help of an elephant offering his life. The little boy was saved and became the elephant prince, listening to his motherï¾’s stories everyday.

The last christmas present
Novak, Matt
Irwin is the smallest of Santa's elves, and everyone is always bossing him around. After Santa leaves to deliver the Christmas presents, Irwin discovers a forgotten present. Determined to deliver the present, he goes on the journey himself. He proves to Santa and everyone that he is the head elf.

Jimmy's boa and the big splash birthday bash
Noble, Trinka Hakes
Jimmy takes his goldfish and boa constrictor to Sealand for a birthday party with his friends. Chaos occurs when the goldfish falls in the whale's tank. Jimmy's party ends up in the tank, and they have a blast with the seals and penguins.

Me and my aunts
Newton, Laura P
A little girl has a unique and special relationship with each of her aunts. She cooks, reads, sews, receives gifts, and talks with them. Her favorite aunt always remembers what to do and say.

Keeping a christmas secret
Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds
Michael slips and gives away the secret of what his father's Christmas gift is. He is very upset with himself, so he decides to surprise the whole family with a small but important present.

How big is a foot?
Myller, Rolf
The king wants to have a bed made for his wife's birthday, so he measures her by using his feet. They have a problem, because the carpenter's foot is not the same size as the king's.

Moira's birthday
Munsch, Robert
Moira's birthday wish is to have a party with all of the kids in the school from kindergarten to sixth grade. She orders 200 pizzas and 200 birthday cakes. What will her parents do?

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.

The big box
Morrison, Toni//Morrison, Slade
Patty, Mickey, and Liza Sue just can't handle their freedom. The things they do frighten the adults around them. The adults decide to put them in a big brown box because they care about the youngsters. The children will have everything they need, except their freedom. Isn't that the one thing children need?

Punky: Mouse for a day
Moreton, John
When John's uncle gives him a pet mouse for a present, John is disappointed. Then he finds out that Punky the mouse is really a mystery mouse. Punky changes everyday into a new and exciting animal.

A birthday basket for tia
Mora, Pat
A little Mexican girl and her family throw a surprise party for her tia (aunt). She makes her a special present of sentimental value. Tia opens her present and loves it.

Uno, dos, tres: One, two three
Mora, Pat
Two sisters go shopping in a Mexican market for their mother's birthday. They count the number of presents in Spanish and English as they go along, and also create a rhyme about the gifts.

The night before christmas
Moore, Clement C.
On the night before Christmas, one little boy sees Santa Claus outside his window. Later he sees him in his living room, bringing presents for all.

How Willy got his wheels
Mohler, Diana & Turner, Deborah
As a homeless and handicapped dog, Willy never finds true happiness until he is rescued from the animal hospital and given a home and family. However, Willy lacks the ability to walk on his own and his owner Deborah tries several attempts to help Willy. Finally, Willy is given a wheel chair which enables him to finally be free and live his life to its fullest.

Calvin's christmas wish
Miles, Calvin
Calvin is worried that his parents are Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus after his two friends tell him that this is true. Calvin is relieved and excited when he receives a bike for Christmas, which confirms his belief in Santa Claus.

The christmas box
Merriam, Eve
A family awoke Christmas morning expecting to find lots of presents from Santa. Instead, there was only one box under the tree. Inside the box, there were gifts for everyone.

The birthday door
Merriam, Eve
It is Helen's birthday. She wakes up and there is an envelope with a clue inside it. Her parents made several clues, each of them rhyming directions to different doors in her home. The last one leads her to a dollhouse which looks just like her home.

Saturn for my birthday
McGranaghan, John
Jeffrey wants Saturn for his birthday, and he wants the moons too- all 47 of them! But he's not selfish: he'll share the rings with some of his friends at school and with his teacher, Mrs. Cassini. Facts about Saturn are woven seamlessly throughout this funny story as Jeffrey explains just what he'll do with his present and how he'll take care of it.

The year without a santa claus
McGinley, Phyllis
Santa Claus was going to take a vacation one year because he was so tired. All the little children sent him Christmas presents for a holiday treat. Santa decided to have Christmas after all.

The crystal apple
McDermott, Beverly B.
Three sisters work in the fields all day. Their father goes to market and bring each of them a gift. Marusha receives a crystal apple, but her sisters break it. She realizes that she did not need it, because she has her imagination so she forgives her sisters.

The christmas gift
McCully, Emily Arnold
A family of mice celebrate Christmas. They go to their grandparents and open gifts. Unfortunately, one of the children break all of their toys, so Grandpa takes him up to the attic and gives him his old train set.

Beatrice's goat
McBrier, Page
Beatrice lives in Uganda and helps her mother care for her younger siblings. Money is scarce until Mugisa, a goat arrives. Mugisa provides milk, and the family is nourished by it. Mugisa's milk and babies provide enough money so Beatrice and her family can live a better life. Beatrice can afford her dream of attending school. This story has an afterwords by Hillary Rodhman Clinton.

Don't forget me, santa claus
Mayo, Virginia
Santa Claus comes to deliver presents but he forgets to give them to the youngest boy. The boy becomes very upset and follows Santa outside and gets in his sleigh. When Santa realizes he has company, he gives the boy his presents and takes him back home.

The stars in my geddoh's sky
Matze, Claire Sidhom
Alex enjoys a brief but special visit of his grandfather to the United States from the Middle East. They spend a lot of time together as Alex learns of his grandfather's homeland, customs, religion, and language.

Lottie's new beach towel
Mathers, Petra
Lottie's new beach towel certainly comes in handy during her day with Herbie. They are just going on a picnic, but they run into many adventures on the way. From using the towel as a sail, to using it as a veil, both Lottie and Herbie are ingenious when it comes to solving problems.

Miss flora mcflimsey's birthday
Mariana.
It is Miss Flora McFlimsey's birthday, but it appears that all of her friends forgot. So Miss McFlimsey went away. She then discovers that she misses home and goes back. Waiting for her are her friends, presents, and a birthday cake for her.

A birthday for blue
Lydon, Kerry Raines
It was little Blue's seventh birthday. He must celebrate while traveling west with his family on a conastoga wagon. Blue's father was unable to give him a present, so he planted seven trees along the wagon trail that would be Blue's forever.

A gift for abuelita: Celebrating the day of the dead
Luenn, Nancy
Rosita and her grandmother are very close. Rosita's grandmother teaches Rosita how to braid, garden, and make tortillas. When Rosita's grandmother dies, Rosita feels a great loss without her around and misses her terribly. Her family tells Rosita that she can make a gift to give to her grandmother on the Day of the Dead. Rosita braids a cord that is filled with love and memories for her grandmother.

The birthday swap
Lopez, Loretta
Lori wants to find her older sister the perfect gift for her birthday. At the market, Lori learns that it's not easy to find the right gift. Little does Lori know that the best gifts can come to us when we least expect them. Why is this the year of the best birthday party ever?