Children's Picture Book Database at Miami University

How the moon regained her shape | by Heller, Janet Ruth

Influenced by Native American folktales, this fascinating story deals with bullying, self-confidence, and understanding the phases of the moon. After the sun insults and bullies her, the moon gets very upset and disappears - much to the chagrin of rabbits who miss their moonlight romps. With the help of her friends, the moon gains more self-confidence each day until she is back to her full size.

Keywords: animals, beauty, dancing, depression, feelings, folktale, forest, friendship, happiness, moon, multicultural, native american, night, rabbit, self esteem, song, sun

Somewhere in Africa | by Mennen, Ingrid//Daly, Niki

A boy named Ashraf lives in a city in South Africa. He compares the city to the countryside of Africa.

Keywords: africa, african, assertiveness, body parts, books, community, comparisons, critical thinking, dancing, differences, flowers, geography, imagination, instruments, library, multicultural, music, rhyme, song

Ruth and naomi | by Marzollo, Jean

After their husbands sadly pass away, Ruth moves to Bethlehem with her widowed mother-in-law Naomi. With no money and no sense of hope, the two women are unsure as to what will happen. A kind farmer known as Boaz, however shows his kindness and restores their happiness so that they can begin anew.

Keywords: anger, bravery, courage, critical thinking, faith, feelings, food, friendship, god, happiness, hard work, helping, kindness, loneliness, love, loyalty, marriage, moving, nutrition, sadness, song, spiritual, stress management, unselfish

The red piano | by Leblanc-Barroux, Andre

A young pianist is sent to a re-education camp in China. She lives for her secretive two hours of music after a long day's work. Her parents managed to send a piano to Mother Han's house and she manages to smuggle music in notebooks. One night the pianist is caught at the piano, forcing her to live through an extended-re-education while her love and talent for music are challenged.

Keywords: assertiveness, china, decision making, education, freedom, history, instruments, loss, multicultural, music, nonverbal communication, numbers, passion, politics, prison, radio, school, song, train, transportation, work

The twelve days of Christmas | by Spirin, Gennady

The Twelve days of Christmas is sung in churches, houses, and concert halls throughout the Christmas season. It is hard to imagine a Christmas celebration without it. From the partridge in the pear tree to the five golden rings to the twelve drummers drumming, carolers enjoy taking turns singing different verses. Gennady Spirin's paintings bring new life and spectacular beauty to this classic song, making it a gift to be treasured at Christmastime. An illustrator' note addresses the song's origin and history.

Keywords: author's note, birds, celebration, christmas, dancing, dove, goose, history, holidays, illustrator's note, instruments, jewelry, love, music, numbers, presents, seasons, song, swan, tree, winter

Buffalo | by Brodsky, Beverly

The buffalo was very important for the survival of Native Americans. Learn about the history and importance of the buffalo. Excerpts from Native American songs and many original paintings add an artistic dimension.

Keywords: animals, art, author's note, body parts, bones, buffalo, canyon, ceremony, clothing, conflict resolution, culture, customs, food, hunting, indian, multicultural, native american, nonverbal communication, religion, song, stress management, survival, traditions

In my momma's kitchen | by Nolen, Jerdine

A young girl's fondest memories happen in her momma's kitchen. Achievements, family, stories, cooking and love are all celebrated in the kitchen. Great-Aunt Caroline, corn-pudding time and nighttime serenades are a few of the special moments in this loving family.

Keywords: accomplishment, african american, animals, bedtime, cat, celebration, cooking, dancing, easter, family, food, friendship, garden, grandparents, holidays, instruments, love, multicultural, music, parents, relationship, school, self esteem, sleep, song, walking, wedding

Say hey: A song of Willie Mays | by Mandel, Peter

Willie Mays grows up in a time when black athletes were separate from white athletes in America. But due to Willie's baseball skills, the New York Giants recruit him. Willie breaks many baseball records because of his fast running and powerful hitting power.

Keywords: african american, america, author's note, baseball, body parts, careers, crowd, fame, feelings, friendship, future, happiness, history, jumping, moving, multicultural, photograph, relationship, rhythm, running, seasons, song, sports, teamwork

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

Rockin' reptiles | by Calmenson, Stephanie//Cole, Joanna

Allie the Alligator is a typical young girl. She and her two girlfriends have lots of fun together playing games and dressing up. The three of them will do anything to be able to go to the Rockin Reptiles concert, their favorite band. There's a catch though -- only two can go.

Keywords: alligator, basketball, bias, biking, boat, challenges, competition, conflict resolution, cooking, dancing, dedication, exercise, family, friendship, fun, games, humor, jumping, moving, music, neighbors, peer resistance, play, relationship, reptiles, selfishness, song, sports, technology, telephone, verbal communication

The face at the window | by Hanson, Regina

Catching sight of Miss Nella in her window is supposed to be very bad, Dora's friends tell her. When Dora tries to steal a mango from Miss Nella by throwing a stone, Dora is frightened by the sight of Miss Nella in her window. Dora soon discovers that Miss Nella isn't evil. She is just lonely and sick and has no one there to make it better for her.

Keywords: apology, communication, curiosity, empathy, five senses, food, language, loneliness, rain, song, storm, superstition, weather, witches, worry

Paul | by Kuskin, Karla

Using his imagination, Paul goes on a fantastic trip looking for his magical grandmother. Along the way, he sings a song that his grandmother eventually loves.

Keywords: animals, family, fantasy, grandparents, imagination, magic, song, travel

The minstrel and the dragon-pup | by Sutcliff, Rosemary

A ministrel finds a dragon-pup egg on a beach and adopts it after it hatches. The minstrel raises the dragon-pup, Lucky, until he is stolen. Due to Lucky's absence, the minstrel's songs suffer until he is once again united with Lucky.

Keywords: assertiveness, beach, conflict resolution, critical thinking, deception, decision making, dragons, friendship, goal setting, lost, missing, music, mythical, persistence, reunion, song, stress management, verbal communication, zoo

Grandpa's song | by Johnston, Tony

Grandpa is the loudest, happiest singer there is. But when he forgets the words to his favorite song, his granddaughter helps him to remember it.

Keywords: aging, conflict resolution, depression, family, feelings, grandparents, helping, memory, music, self esteem, senility, song, verbal communication

Frank and ernest play ball | by Day, Alexandra

Frank and Ernest are a bear and an elephant who need jobs. Mr. Palmer lets them manage his baseball team. They do not know very much about baseball so they are always looking up baseball terms in the baseball dictionary.

Keywords: animals, assertiveness, baseball, bear, careers, elephant, language, learning, recreation, responsibilities, song, sports, teamwork, verbal communication

I know an old lady who swallowed a fly | by Rounds, Glen

During this familiar folksong, an old lady swallows all sorts of animals. In each instance, she swallows another animal in hopes of catching the previously swallowed animal.

Keywords: animals, birds, cat, dog, five senses, fly, folktale, goat, horse, humor, sequence, song, spider, taste

Drummer hoff | by Emberley, Barbara

This story is a folk song which depicts seven soldiers building a cannon. Drummer Hoff is the one soldier who shoots the cannon.

Keywords: cooperation, song, teamwork, war

This old man the counting song | by Koontz, Robin Michal

Learning to count to ten is made easy when you sing This Old Man and rhyme each of the numbers with different words.

Keywords: counting, learning, numbers, rhyme, sequence, song

My gran | by Boon, Debbie

A little girl has a very special grandmother. When Gran visits, they make things, eat different foods, and spend fun time together.

Keywords: activities, alcohol, animals, art, beverage, cat, colors, cow, family, farm, feelings, food, french, friendship, fun, garden, goat, grandparents, happiness, language, laziness, love, market, multicultural, nonverbal communication, nutrition, pig, plants, seasons, song, summer, transportation, travel, verbal communication

Truck song | by Siebert, Diane

A rhymed text and several illustrations describe the journey of a transcontinental truck.

Keywords: critical thinking, rhyme, song, transportation, travel, truck

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