Children's Picture Book Database at Miami University

Antonia practices being a big sister before the family flies to China to get Jiang Hai, a younger sister. Antonia drew pictures of her sister while they waited for her to appear. When she did, Antonia noticed she was not walking, talking, playing, or interested in her. With time, the girls get real cats, watch movies, play board games, and music together. Within a couple years, they ask their parents for another Mei Mei.

One summer, as young Clee finds herself lost in the shuffle with the arrival of a new baby brother, Uncle Fishtank Hal comes to the rescue when he asks her to care for his special southern-breed turtle. For Clee, caring for the turtle is like therapy to cope with the new changes in her life. That is until the turtle dies due to the harsh cold winter and Clee is forced to bury him out in the yard. Without the turtle, Clee spends time with her new brother and learns to enjoys his company. In spring however, the turtle springs back to like in the compost pile and Clee gains a new outlook on the changes in her life.

Every day Mama cooks a meal for the family to eat together, but usually someone can't be there. But when Mama comes home after having the baby everyone is there to celebrate, and she is happy.

Pete's picture of a chicken doesn't make it to the classroom bulliten board. Is it really that funny?

A little boy questions the beginning and end of nature, and his mother helps him to understand that there truly is no end.

In a letter to his children, a father reflects upon the importance of a good friend and the value of a place to feel safe and secure. The father recalls various memories of his family as it has grown in relationship to a favorite tree that had been part of their lives since they built their home. The tree seems to help the family through many events but does not withstand a huge storm. The father uses the wood to build a tree house to continue its importance to the family.