Browse Items · Children's Picture Book Database at Miami University

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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?

Tags

animals, birthday, celebration, church, dancing, decision making, dog, exercise, family, food, giving, language, market, mexican, multicultural, nutrition, party, presents, shopping, siblings, sleep, spanish, surprises, verbal communication

Bearsie bear and the surprise sleepover party

Waber, Bernard

Bearsie bear is all snuggly in his bed when Moosie moose arrives. This is when all the chaos starts. After Moosie moose arrives, Goosie goose, Foxie fox, Cowsie cow, and finally Porkie porcupine stop by for a visit. Everyone jumps out when Porkie porcupine gets into bed. In the end, they all sleep peacefully during the surprise sleepover party.

Tags

animals, bear, bedtime, birds, celebration, chaos, cold, conflict resolution, cow, feelings, fox, goose, moose, night, party, porcupine, sleep, surprises, temperature, verbal communication

We're making breakfast for mother

Neitzel, Shirley

It's Mother's Day so the kids are making breakfast. They remember everything from the silver tray to the jam for toast. On the way to Mother's room, things begin to fall apart. Mother loves her surprise anyway, and everyone enjoys going out for breakfast.

Tags

celebration, cooking, family, food, goal setting, holidays, mother's day, nutrition, parents, restaurant, surprises

Merry christmas, strega nona

dePaola, Tomie

Strega Nona has a huge Christmas feast to prepare. How will she finish with untrustworthy Big Anthony as her only helper?Big Anthony will suprise us in the end!

Tags

assertiveness, celebration, christmas, conflict resolution, critical thinking, decision making, goal setting, holidays, italian, multicultural, surprises, traditions, verbal communication

The magic dreidels: A hanukkah story

Kimmel, Eric A.

Instead of helping his family clean, Jacob plays with his new brass dreidel. Jacob's mom has had enough, so she sends Jacob to the well for a pail of water. At the well, Jacob meets a goblin who gives him two new magic dreidels.

Tags

assertiveness, celebration, cleanliness, conflict resolution, critical thinking, family, feelings, goblins, hanukkah, happiness, holidays, magic, mythical, parents, seasons, siblings, stress management, surprises, winter

Mary ann

James, Betsy

A moving of a best friend is sad for a young girl. She befriends a praying mantis and names it after her best friend. She must cope with the death of the mantis and the surprise at the end.

Tags

celebration, change, critical thinking, death, friendship, insects, loneliness, loss, moving, praying mantis, surprises, verbal communication

Hooray, a pinata!

Kleven, Elisa

It's Clara's birthday, and she wants a pinata for her party. Clara, her mom, and her friend Samson go to the pinata store and Clara chooses a cute dog. Clara grows to love the dog and will not break him open. Samson saves the day by bringing another pinata to the party!

Tags

birthday, celebration, dog, family, feelings, friendship, grandparents, happiness, hispanic, love, multicultural, nonverbal communication, parents, pets, surprises, verbal communication

Cinderella's rat

Meddaugh, Susan

Cinderella's fairy godmother turns a rat into a coachboy. The coachboy loves that he has more food to eat and less enemies (cats). But what will he do when someone wants to harm his sister (a rat)?

Tags

animals, cat, challenges, conflict resolution, critical thinking, fantasy, godmother, humor, magic, protection, rat, siblings, stress management, surprises, verbal communication

Good luck, mrs. k.!

Borden, Louise

Mrs. K teaches Ann's third grade class. In class they are explorers, scientists, poets, and astronauts. They are always learning something new. One day, Mrs. K doesn't come to school. The students learn that she is in the hospital with cancer. For the rest of the year the third grade has a substitute. On the last day of school, Mrs. K comes back to surprise her students.

Tags

animals, basketball, cancer, dancing, discovery, exercise, geography, guinea pig, hospital, illness, insects, learning, letters, listening, math, pets, practice, reading, school, science, sign language, skating, spelling, sports, surprises, teaching, travel, verbal communication, worm

Spring story

Barklem, Jill

It is Wilfred's birthday. He is so excited, he wakes up early and opens all of his presents. He is sad because everyone in town seems to have forgotten his birthday. Everyone meets at the Palace and have a picnic to surprise Wilfred.

Tags

birthday, feelings, friendship, picnic, surprises

Be ready at eight

Parish, Peggy

Miss Molly was never good at remembering. One day, she woke up with a string tied around her finger to remind her of something special. But she had forgets what it was. Miss Molly throws a party for herself, which turns out to be a surprise party.

Tags

birthday, confusion, critical thinking, decision making, forgetful, holidays, party, self esteem, surprises

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.

Tags

birthday, critical thinking, decision making, family, giving, goal setting, holidays, mexican, multicultural, party, presents, surprises

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.

Tags

birthday, critical thinking, decision making, dolls, dreams, family, holidays, nonverbal communication, parents, presents, rhyme, shelter, surprises

Mommy and me by ourselves again!

Vigna, Judith

Disappointed when her mother's ex-boyfriend forgets her birthday, Amy is comforted by her family when they give her a surprise birthday party and a special gift.

Rome antics

McCaulay, David

With the help of a pigeon, we take a journey through the city of Rome where there are many ancient buildings and sculptures. We soar over beautiful architecture and cobblestone streets as we explore the city.

Tags

architecture, art, birds, exploration, history, italian, multicultural, nonverbal communication, pigeon, restaurant, surprises, travel

Around the corner

Showalter, Jean

Jimmy's duck goes on an adventure through town and the wilderness. Jimmy follows the duck as best he can until the duck flies away. Jimmy returns home to find his duck waiting there.

Tags

birds, duck, exploration, loyalty, missing, surprises

Albert

Napoli, Donna Jo

Each day Albert reaches out the window to check on the weather for his walk. One day when he reaches his hand out the window, two cardinals build a nest. Now Albert must stand there until the eggs hatch. Days pass and Albert longs to be outside. When the family of birds fly away, Albert walks a lot.

Tags

animals, beverage, birds, cardinal, careers, caring, cat, dreams, encouragement, exercise, family, food, games, listening, morning, noise, radio, safety, surprises, walking, weather

The red racer

Wood, Audrey

Being too embarrassed to ride her old bike, a little girl schemes to get a new bike. But her family works together to fix up her old bike without having to buy the new one.

Tags

bicycle, biking, bully, compromise, cooperation, deception, dreams, embarrassment, exercise, family, mischief, parents, peer resistance, running, surprises

Do you know what i'll do?

Zolotow, Charlotte

A sister tells her younger brother all the different things that she will do for him. She will bring him things that will apply to his five senses. Most of all, she brings her brother her love and attention.

Tags

african american, attention, author's note, baby, bedtime, clouds, day, dreams, emotions, family, five senses, flowers, happiness, multicultural, night, nonverbal communication, party, plants, rain, sea, self esteem, shells, siblings, snow, song, surprises, verbal communication, walking, wind

The night worker

Banks, Kate

Alex dreams of becoming a night worker just like his dad. One night before bedtime, Alex is surprised when his dad hands him a hard hat. Now Alex can see what it is really like to be a night worker!

Tags

architecture, bedtime, careers, construction, dreams, family, hard work, machines, night, parents, sleep, surprises, teamwork, technology, transportation, truck, verbal communication, work

Snowball

Crews, Nina

Each morning the children awake and anxiously look outside to see if it has snowed. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday go by and there's still no sign of snow!Friday is the children's last hope for a day of fun in the snow.

Tags

anticipation, bedtime, celebration, clouds, cold, Days of The Week, dreams, excitement, fun, goal setting, happiness, hope, morning, night, nonverbal communication, patience, photograph, playground, playing, school, sequence, sleep, snow, surprises, verbal communication, weather, winter

Adam and the wolf

Gunthorp, Karen

Despite warnings not to go looking for strawberries because of the wolf, Adam goes anyway and finds a pleasant and unexpected friend.

Tags

animals, decision making, discovery, disobedience, food, friendship, nutrition, surprises, wolf, woods, worry

Wait! No paint!

Whatley, Bruce

The three little pigs move out to build their own homes. But when the big, bad wolf comes, the first two pigs escape to the brick house. Throughout the ordeal, the pigs hear a mysterious voice that turns out to be the illustrator. The illustrator runs out of paint while finishing the story and finally saves the pigs by changing them and the wolf into Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

Tags

anger, animals, art, bear, body parts, change, clowns, colors, conflict resolution, decision making, embarrassment, fable, feelings, happiness, hunger, mystery, noise, pig, refusal skills, safety, storytelling, surprises, verbal communication, wolf

Grunter: A pig with an attitude

Jolley, Mike

Grunter is a pig with an attitude. He thinks he rules the little green farm. All of the other animals are sick of it! On his birthday, Grunter thinks everyone forgot him but they have decided to get their revenge. Before Grunter knows what's going on, he's blasted into outer space. Where will he end up now?

Tags

anger, animals, behavior, birds, birthday, bully, cat, celebration, chicken, dog, duck, farm, feelings, manners, misbehavior, mouse, overweight, pig, sadness, sheep, surprises, trick

Five little piggies

Martin, David

Everyone knows the five little piggies- one that goes to the market, one stays home, one has roast beef, one has none, and one goes we, wee, wee all the way home. Now we will finally learn why these little piggies did all these different things!

Tags

accidents, animals, balloon, caring, chicken, chicken pox, cow, fair, family, feelings, food, health, helping, illness, love, noise, nutrition, parents, pig, playing, rhyme, sadness, self esteem, shopping, siblings, surprises, verbal communication

Mouse's first christmas

Thompson, Lauren

Upon the arrival of his first Christmas Eve, a little mouse explores his house which is full of Christmas surprises. His Christmas discoveries culminate in the appearance of the one and only Santa!

Tags

angel, animals, christmas, discovery, exploration, five senses, food, holidays, illusion, love, mouse, music, nonverbal communication, nutrition, presents, santa, surprises, traditions, tree

My many colored days

Suess, Dr.

Dr. Suess uses bright colors, fun rhymes, and active animals to discuss the different moods a person feels. Some days you feel yellow, like a buzzy bee, while other days you feel brown, low, low down. Despite all the different moods you feel, you're still you!

Tags

anger, animals, bear, bee, birds, bluebird, business, change, colors, day, differences, feelings, fish, flamingo, happiness, health, horse, insects, moods, owl, sadness, seal, self confidence, self esteem, surprises

It's me, hippo!

Thaler, Mike

This story consists of four chapters which relate the troubles that hippo has when building a house, when he is painting a landscape scene, when he is healthy while all of his friends are ill, and finally when hippo's friends throw him a surprise party.

Tags

animals, art, careers, change, conflict resolution, coping, decision making, feelings, friendship, frustration, health, hippopotamus, illness, party, peer resistance, shelter, surprises, verbal communication

Silent night

Turner, Sandy

It is Christmas Eve and Santa is delivering presents. When he arrives at a house, he finds a very noisy, active dog. Santa is still able to drop off the presents without waking the children and they all enjoy their presents the next morning. They also have a red surprise to touch -- thanks to the dog!

Tags

animals, cat, christmas, discipline, dog, excitement, family, feelings, five senses, happiness, holidays, night, noise, nonverbal communication, presents, reindeer, santa, sleep, sounds, surprises, touch

Martha and skits

Meddaugh, Susan

The whole family, including Martha, the talking dog, is excited when Skits arrives. Skits is a young and mischievious dog. As he grows, the family thinks that it is time to give him alphabet soup so he will be able to talk. However, it doesn't have the same effect on Skits as it did on Martha. At first everyone is sad, especially Skits, until they discover his other talents.

Mice twice

Low, Joseph

A cat gets hungry and askes a mouse over to eat for dinner. Mouse brings a dog with her. The mouse and the cat try to outsmart each other but the mouse wins in the end.

Tags

alligator, animals, cat, dog, friendship, mischief, mouse, reptiles, surprises

Secret birthday message

Carle, Eric

The night before Tim's birthday, he finds a message on his pillow. The message gives directions for Tim to go look for his birthday gift. On Tim's birthday, he follows the directions and finds his gift. The gift is a puppy.

Tags

animals, birthday, critical thinking, dog, excitement, goal setting, letters, nonverbal communication, presents, secrets, surprises

My farm

Lester, Alison

A young girl explains what goes on at her farm during each season. She longs for a pony and gets a wonderful surprise at Christmas.

Tags

animals, autumn, christmas, cow, farm, holidays, horse, pony, seasons, spring, summer, surprises, winter

Pigs in the pantry: Fun with math and cooking

Axelrod, Amy

Mrs. Pig isn't feeling well so Mr. Pig and the piglets decide to make her favorite chili. There's only one problem--they don't know how to cook! While Mom is taking a nap, Mr. Pig and the piglets make such a mess in the kitchen that Mrs. Pig wakes up to find the firemen cleaning up a big mess.

Tags

animals, cleanliness, cooking, family, fire, fire engine, food, goal setting, manners, nutrition, parents, pig, recipe, siblings, sleep, surprises, transportation

A summertime song

Haas, Irene

One summer evening a frog jumps into Lucy's room and invites her to a magical birthday party. Lucy goes outside and joins her animal friends in celebrating owl's birthday. While outside in the garden, Lucy discovers an old doll she recognizes as her grandmother's and returns it to the delighted woman.

Tags

animals, birds, birthday, car, cat, celebration, critical thinking, dolls, fear, feelings, frog, goal setting, happiness, mouse, owl, surprises, taxi, toys, transportation, verbal communication, worm

The trunk

Wildsmith, Brian

It looks like animals are climbing up a tree trunk. Surprise!The trunk turns into a huge elephant.

Tags

animals, cat, colors, elephant, monkey, squirrel, surprises

Chato's kitchen

Soto, Gary

Chato, the coolest low-riding cat in East L.A., feels very fortunate when he learns a family of mice accepts his invitation to dinner. Chato and his best friend, Novio Boy, prepare an extravagant meal excluding the main dish. When the two cats open the door and see a surprise guest, they realize that their plan is ruined.

Henry and mudge and the happy cat

Rylant, Cynthia

A lost cat finds a home with Henry and Mudge. After Henry and Mudge help the cat find his owner, everyone is sad when the cat finally leaves.

Tags

animals, assertiveness, cat, decision making, dog, family, feelings, happiness, lost, love, nonverbal communication, parents, sadness, surprises, sympathy, verbal communication

Mr. Putter and tabby walk the dog

Rylant, Cynthia

Mr. Putter and Tabby decide to help Mrs. Teaberry when she hurts her foot. Her dog is supposed to be a dream dog, but he turns into a nightmare everyday when Mr. Putter takes him for a walk.

Tags

animals, carnival, cat, conflict resolution, dog, exercise, helping, neighbors, surprises, verbal communication, walking, zoo

Happy Valentine's Day, Emma!

Stevenson, James

Emma is a kind-hearted witch, who makes valentines for the animals in the forest. Two mean witches play tricks on Emma but she gets sweet revenge and a surprise.

Tags

animals, caring, creativity, deception, forest, holidays, kindness, mythical, revenge, surprises, valentine's day, witches

Jennie's hat

Keats, Ezra Jack

Jennie gets a hat from her aunt but it is very plain. Jennie is upset because it isn't as pretty as other hats. She tries to find a prettier hat. Finally, as Jennie is leaving church, the birds come and decorate it.

Tags

animals, birds, church, clothing, critical thinking, decision making, envy, nonverbal communication, presents, surprises, verbal communication

Buzzy bear's winter party

Marino, Dorothy

Buzzy bear wants to see his first snow fall. He helps the little woodland creatures and birds get food and then makes a surprise for his father when he returns home.

Tags

animals, bear, birds, chipmunk, creativity, feelings, food, happiness, love, rabbit, seasons, squirrel, surprises, weather, winter

Antonia's surprise

Gunthorp, Karen

Antonia has a big surprise for the picnic, but she needs her boat to get there quickly, and it is filled with holes. Will she get there before it is too late?!

Tags

amphibians, boat, decision making, frog, hard work, patience, picnic, surprises, transportation

Just plain fancy

Polacco, Patricia

Naomi is an Amish girl whose elders have told her that it is very important to be plain and simple. Naomi becomes very scared when her egg hatches into a fancy, little bird.

Tags

amish, beauty, birds, conflict resolution, critical thinking, family, fear, feelings, multicultural, nonverbal communication, peer resistance, self esteem, surprises, verbal communication

Clever cat

Collington, Peter

Tibs, the cat, is tired of waiting for his family to feed him every morning, so he decides to start doing it himself!This encourages Tibs to embark on different adventures around town. Everyone thinks that Tibs is such a clever cat, but a turn of events makes Tibs wonder...is he really that clever?

Lucy's picture

Moon, Nicola

Lucy's blind grandpa is coming to visit today, and she wants to make him a special collage. Lucy gathers many different materials to make the collage that her grandpa can see with his hands. She uses sticks and leaves to make a tree, sand to make a path, and her own hair to make a dog with fur.

Dark night

Monfreid, Dorothee de

Felix is walking home in the dark woods when he hears a fox howling, so he climbs into a nearby tree and hides. A tiger comes along and scares the fox, but then an alligator comes along and scares the tiger, which frightens Felix even more. Felix doesn't know how to get home, but then he finds a door which leads to a rabbit's house. The rabbit offers to help him get home and they make it home safely, and end up scaring the fox, tiger and alligator themselves!

Tags

alligator, animals, critical thinking, decision making, escape, fear, feelings, fox, goal setting, numbers, rabbit, sounds, surprises, teamwork, tiger, wolf

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.

Tags

accomplishment, animals, birds, christmas, family, helping, holidays, nature, parents, presents, pride, self esteem, siblings, surprises, traditions

Don't wake up mama another five little monkeys story

Christelow, Eileen

Five little monkeys wake early to make mama a birthday cake. But the five little monkeys must be careful not to wake mama or their surprise will be ruined -- can they do it?

Tags

accidents, assertiveness, birthday, conflict resolution, decision making, monkey, morning, party, siblings, surprises

The littlest matryoshka

Bliss, Corinne Denias

Nikolai shipped his last carved matryoshka from Russia to a toy store in America. While on display, one of the six dolls gets bumped from the shelf and begins a great adventure away from her sisters. She survived the snow, the stream, a bird, and a cat before being found by the very girl who had bought her sisters, and they were all together once again.

Tags

accidents, adventures, american, animals, author's note, beauty, birds, colors, dolls, family, hobby, hope, lost, missing, multicultural, russian, seasons, shopping, snow, squirrel, surprises, survival, toys

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