Children's Picture Book Database at Miami University

Brothers of the knight | by Allen, Debbie

Twelve brothers magically disappear every night even though their door is locked. Their father hires a housekeeper to figure out the mystery of his boys. She learns to listen, which turns out to be more powerful than simply solving a mystery.

Keywords: african american, bedtime, careers, church, conflict resolution, dancing, deception, exercise, family, generations, hard work, magic, multicultural, music, mystery, parents, relationship, secrets, siblings, stress management

In the time of the drums | by Siegelson, Kim L.

Mentu and Twi tell the story of an African family newly arrived in the Americas. Twi never gives up on returning to her native Africa. Twi tells stories of cooking, planting, music and dancing from her native land.

Keywords: african, african american, bodies of water, community, creek, culture, escape, farm, feelings, five senses, folktale, freedom, generations, grandparents, history, home, instruments, island, language, magic, music, mythical, relationship, repetition, rhythm, sadness, secrets, ship, slavery, song, sounds, storytelling, transportation

Tutankhamun | by Demi

Keywords: archeology, biography, decision making, education, egypt, egyptian, god, history, hunting, language, marriage, multicultural, religion, royalty, sand, secrets, shapes, spiritual, sun

The secret Olivia told me | by Joy, N.

Olivia develops interpersonal skills by realizing how her words affect her friends. Olivia and her best friend realize the importance of honesty and trust in their friendship.

Keywords: african american, balloon, basketball, body parts, books, buildings, colors, excitement, feelings, friendship, italian, jumping, multicultural, playing, relationship, secrets, siblings, soccer, sports, telephone, truth, worry

The magician and McTree | by Coombs, Patricia

An old magician accidentally creates a potion that makes his cat, McTree, talk. Although he is supposed to keep his new talent a secret, McTree ends up a famous attraction at the palace. But when McTree loses his appeal, the King and Queen order the old magician to be kidnapped so he can make all of the castle's pets talk. McTree must use his sense to outwit the royal party and save his old companion.

Keywords: animals, birds, cat, dog, fame, fish, forest, friendship, greed, guilt, heroism, insects, kidnap, magic, medicine, moth, pig, royalty, secrets, song, speech, storytelling, trick

John Philip Duck | by Polacco, Patricia

Edward and his father work at a hotel and return home on the weekends. One weekend, Edward finds a motherless duckling near the pond. Edward is permitted by his father to take the duck to work, only if he keeps it out of the hotel managerﾒs sight. When the manager discovers the duck, Edward saves the day by showing the manager how he has trained the duck to march to music by John Philip Sousa. Edward trains many more ducks to live in the hotel fountain.

Keywords: accomplishment, african american, band, birds, conflict resolution, courage, critical thinking, decision making, duck, family, friendship, goal setting, migration, multicultural, music, parents, pets, protection, responsibilities, secrets

The monster behind the wall | by Herbert, Barbara N.

Danny moves to a new house and discovers a monster on the other side of their garden wall. The monster throws Dannyﾒs soccer ball back to him, talks, plays, and eats candy with Danny. At school the next day, Danny plays soccer and gets tripped. Both boys yell nasty names at each other. Then, Danny goes home to talk to the monster, Fred, but he wasnﾒt there. Later, a huge thunderstorm tears down the wall, and Danny sees that ﾓFredﾔ is the child that tripped him during soccer. They become fast friends, tear the wall down, and play soccer together

Keywords: accidents, activities, anger, books, bravery, conflict resolution, decision making, emotions, family, friendship, injury, monsters, nonverbal communication, parents, play, reading, secrets, soccer, sports, storytelling, verbal communication

Ice cream Larry | by Pinkwater, Daniel

Larry loves to eat ice cream. It keeps him cool and he doesn't get hungry. After eating a ton of ice cream, Larry is asked to be the spokesbear for Iceberg Ice Cream's new product. Larry is so excited! His picture is shown on posters, billboards, and fliers which advertise the new Larry Bars. Thanks to his new job, Larry has his own walk-in freezer to sleep in and 50 ice cream bars a day.

Keywords: animals, business, careers, cold, conflict resolution, food, friendship, nutrition, polar bear, secrets, travel, weather, work

First pooch: The Obamas pick a pet | by Boston Weatherford, Carole

Throughout their father's twenty-two month campaign for president, Malia and Sasha Obama beg their parents for a dog. Finally, when their father becomes the forty-fourth president of the United States, he rewards their patience and good behavior in his victory speech: Malia and Sasha will get their new puppy. What type of dog will they choose? Finally, on April 14th, 2009, a new puppy moves into the White House. It is a Portuguese water dog, and the girls name him Bo.

Keywords: allergies, american, animals, author's note, comparisons, decision making, dog, family, health, history, numbers, pets, president, secrets, sequence, siblings, success, united states

Freedom river | by Rappaort, Doreen

John Ripley shows courage and perseverence in Southern Ohio through his actions. John crosses the Ohio River into the slave state of Kentucky to help other African Americans escape to freedom. John listens to nature as he rows a slave family across the Ohio River to freedom along the Underground Railroad.

Keywords: african american, author's note, baby, boat, bodies of water, cabin, community, courage, escape, family, fear, feelings, fight, freedom, happiness, history, illustrator's note, listening, maps, money, multicultural, night, parents, prayer, quiet, relationship, rhythm, river, running, sadness, safety, secrets, slavery, transportation, underground railroad, woods, work, worry

Hush harbor: Praying in secret | by Evans, Freddi Williams

Simmy is both excited and nervous for his job as Scout during the community meeting. Simmy is excited because this means the elders trust him, but he is nervous because slaves are not supposed to gather and sing together. Simmy must be very careful and listen for the master during the meeting.

Keywords: african american, anger, anticipation, author's note, bravery, cabin, closeness, communication, cooking, creativity, creek, critical thinking, culture, dancing, death, faith, family, folktale, forest, friendship, hard work, hearing, hope, horse, listening, missing, multicultural, music, nonverbal communication, prayer, relief, religion, rhythm, river, running away, safety, secrets, slavery, song, spiritual, storytelling, woods, worry

All those secrets of the world | by Yolen, Jane

Janine's father goes off to World War II. She wonders why her mother is so upset. Janine spends the day playing with her cousin in Chesapeake Bay where she learns the secrets of near and far. Two years later her father returns and she shares her secrets with him.

Keywords: conflict resolution, family, feelings, history, parents, play, sadness, secrets, war

Amanda pig and her best friend lollipop | by Van Leeuwen, Jean

Amanda and Lollipop are best friends. Lollipop is very shy and will only speak to Amanda. The two friends share secrets, dolls, and their childhood. Amanda and Lollipop have very different personalities that compliment each other. Amanda is very vocal and excited, whereas Lollipop is very shy and quiet.

Keywords: activities, animals, baby, bedtime, caring, companion, cooperation, differences, dolls, friendship, opposites, pig, secrets, self esteem, shyness, support, verbal communication

Mr. snow bunting's secret | by 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.

Keywords: animals, assertiveness, community, conflict resolution, critical thinking, curiosity, decision making, dog, goal setting, nonverbal communication, presents, recreation, secrets

When I was five | by Howard, Arthur

Six year-old Jeremy points out many interesting changes he has undergone since he was five years old, including playing with his favorite car and thinking about his career. However, his best friend, Mark, is still his favorite.

Keywords: baseball, birthday, car, careers, celebration, change, cowboys, dinosaur, exercise, friendship, growing up, hobby, play, secrets, self esteem, sports, swimming, verbal communication

Angel's kite | by Blanco, Alberto

Young Angel is sad because the town bell is missing. One night, Young Angel builds a giant kite that mysteriously turns into the town bell. (Also in Spanish).

Keywords: animals, assertiveness, conflict resolution, critical thinking, dog, feelings, goal setting, mystery, sadness, secrets, spanish

Ralph's secret weapon | by Kellogg, Steven

During his summer vacation with his eccentric aunt, Ralph is forced to take bassoon lessons. When he succeeds at charming snakes, Aunt Georgiana sends Ralph to charm a sea serpent for the navy!The music only makes the monster angry, but Ralph saves the day with his secret weapon.

Keywords: critical thinking, learning, monsters, music, seasons, secrets, stress management, summer, vacation

Strega nona: Her story as told to Tomie dePaola | by dePaola, Tomie

A little girl name Nona is born, and her Grandma Concetta says that she will teach her the ways of a strega who gives cures and advice on many things. Nona grows up and attends the convent school and the Academy of Stregas in the city. Nona eventually returns to the country to take her Grandma's place after she retires.

Keywords: birth, decision making, grandparents, health, illness, italian, language, magic, multicultural, school, secrets, storytelling

Solomon the rusty nail | by Steig, William

A rabbit turns into a nail whenever he scratches his nose and wiggles his toes. He plays practical jokes and gets into trouble when a hungry cat figures out his secret.

Keywords: animals, cat, deception, decision making, hunger, rabbit, secrets

Your own best secret place | by Baylor, Byrd//Parnall, Peter

A young girl finds a secret hiding place that a boy found before her. She respects that it is his special place. Her friends are willing to share their hiding places with her as long as the boy finds them too.

Keywords: assertiveness, decision making, friendship, nonverbal communication, privacy, respect, secrets

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