Children's Picture Book Database at Miami University

Arthur's birthday party | by Hoban, Lilliam

Arthur's determination to have the best birthday party and be the best all-around gymnast causes him to be inconsiderate of the feelings of his sister and friends. When Arthur forgets to be fair and have fun at the competition, his younger sister is quick to point out that each chimpanzee has his or her own special skill to be honored with a medal at the birthday competition.

Pumpkins: A story for a field | by Ray, Mary Lyn

A man is sad to see a beautiful field become a residential development, so he raises money to buy the field by growing pumpkins and selling them all over the world.

The mystery of the flying pumpkin | by Kellogg, Steven

A group of children plant a pumpkin for Halloween in a neighbor's garden. All summer they care for the pumpkin, but certain events happen which prevents them from making it into a jack-o-lantern. How will the children solve the pumpkin problem?

Keywords: autumn, critical thinking, friendship, garden, goal setting, halloween, holidays, neighbors, plants, problem solving, seasons, summer

Too many kittens | by Schenley, Ruth Stewart

When a mother says there are too many kittens, the four children in the family must find homes for them. As the children journey, they each find a good home for their kitten by trading it in for another animal. Now there are too many pets for the mother to take care of.

Keywords: animals, cat, conflict resolution, dog, family, feelings, fish, happiness, parents, pets, problem solving, rabbit, sadness, siblings

Ruby mae has something to say | by Small, David

Ruby Mae, a woman from Texas, has a fear of talking in front of people. Her nephew designs a device to put on her head which she thinks helps her speak more eloquently. She learns a very important lesson in the end.

Keywords: accomplishment, confidence, determination, fear, feelings, goal setting, performance, problem solving, speech, stress management

The little band and the inaugural parade | by Moore, Margaret//Moore, John Travers

A little band from the small town of Cotton Corners has a dream to play at the Inaugural Parade in Washington. After overcoming many obstacles, the little band marches in the parade and even gives a special performance for the new president.

Keywords: critical thinking, determination, music, parade, performance, politics, problem solving

I'm flying | by Wade, A.

This is a story about a boy who finds a solution for getting rid of things he doesn't like -- he ties balloons to them so they float away. He then floats away to a place where everything is peaceful and there are no problems.

Keywords: assertiveness, balloon, creativity, decision making, peace, problem solving, stress management, verbal communication

The mountain that loved a bird | by McLerran, Alice//Carle, Eric

A bird named Joy lands on a lonely mountain. They become friends, but the bird cannot stay because there is no food or water. The bird promises to visit every spring, but the mountain begins to cry and so the bird plants a seed. In time, the mountain has food and water for any animal who would like to live on it.

Keywords: assertiveness, birds, critical thinking, food, friendship, loneliness, mountains, nature, nutrition, problem solving, verbal communication, water

Lemonade for sale | by Murphy, Stuart J.

The clubhouse is falling apart, but how will the kids get the money to fix it?They decide to sell lemonade to make money. Each of the kids is given a different job, including graphing the number of cups sold. Not only do the kids learn how to cooperate, they learn a little about graphing too.

Keywords: beverage, birds, business, cooperation, friendship, goal setting, math, money, numbers, parrot, problem solving, responsibilities, teamwork

I'd really like to eat a child | by Donnio, Sylviane

One morning, Achilles the crocodile decides that he wants nothing more than to eat a child. His parents try everything to get Achilles to change his mind, but he refuses. He fails his mission and hunger winds up getting the best of him.

Keywords: animals, bodies of water, cooking, crocodile, disobedience, family, food, growing up, hunger, moon, morning, night, obedience, problem solving, reptiles, sizes, sun, teeth

The sign in mendel's window | by Phillips, Mildred

A small Jewish community is very trusting of a stranger who rents out half of Mendel's shop. But when the man returns to town with two policemen, will Mendel be charged with stealing?This closeknit community works together

Keywords: assertiveness, community, conflict resolution, critical thinking, deception, decision making, Jewish, multicultural, problem solving, trust, truth, verbal communication

The other side | by Woodson, Jacqueline

A fence not only divides two properties -- it segregates two families because of their different cultures. Initial fears from the parents cause them to set rules that will forbid the friendship of their young daughters. Little did they know that their daughters would break the barrier as they climbed the fence together to see the world as it should be, not as it is.

Why did we have to move here? | by 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.

Keywords: 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

Emma at the beach | by Stevenson, James

A friendly witch, Emma, is tormented by two mean witches, Dolores and Lavinia. Emma and her clever friends find a way to get sweet revenge.

Keywords: beach, conflict resolution, decision making, friendship, mischief, problem solving, revenge, seasons, stress management, summer, witches

Jelly beans for sale | by McMillan, Bruce

Math is fun and in this case -- delicious!As each child displays the number of jelly beans, coins are also displayed to show the correct and equal amount of money.

Keywords: author's note, body parts, change, colors, comparisons, counting, critical thinking, food, learning, math, money, nonverbal communication, numbers, photograph, president, problem solving

One grain of rice | by Demi

The raja thinks he is a kind man, but his country is going hungry. One day a very wise girl tricks the raja into giving her all of his rice through a simple math trick. When she is done and shares the rice with all of the other people, the raja learns what it means to be wise and fair.

Keywords: animals, assertiveness, camel, critical thinking, deer, elephant, food, horse, hunger, indian, math, multicultural, nutrition, problem solving, royalty, sharing, trick

Fraction action | by Leedy, Loreen

Miss Prime's class is learning about fractions. After class they all go home and practice using their new knowledge by dividing fruit and selling lemonade. The next day the class has a test, but even Miss Prime doesn't always have the right answer.

Keywords: alligator, animals, cat, chicken, critical thinking, dog, food, hippopotamus, learning, math, numbers, nutrition, practice, problem solving, rabbit, school, sharing, teaching

Harry in trouble | by Porte, Barbara Ann

Harry tells his own story about how he misplaces his library cards. He feels ashamed about not being responsible, but then learns that he is not the only one.

Keywords: assertiveness, conflict resolution, critical thinking, decision making, forgetful, forgiveness, friendship, library, lost, problem solving, responsibilities, self esteem, stress management, understanding, verbal communication

The jacket i wear in the snow | by 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.

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

Breakout at the bug lab | by Horowitz, Ruth

Two brothers have a favorite pet cockroach, Max, which lives at the bug lab where their mother works. While at a dedication ceremony for the renaming of the lab, the boys accidentally let Max escape. Now they must find him before he ruins the ceremony by scaring all the people. The boys eventually locate Max but they can't get him off the ceiling. With the help of One-Shot Lil, Max is returned to his cage.

Keywords: adventures, careers, disappearance, excitement, insects, lost, pets, presentation, problem solving, television, working mother

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