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

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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

Mr. Keeene knows he has a fine school with great teachers and students. Since everyone is learning so much, he decides to have school on Saturdays, then Sundays, and then eventually all summer. Eventually, one student named Tillie tells Mr. Keene that they are not learning anything outside of school. Everyone is relieved when Mr. Keene announces the return of a normal school year.

Tags

careers, colors, Days of The Week, decision making, dog, family, happiness, holidays, learning, loneliness, play, pride, reading, repetition, school, shapes, siblings, skipping, summer, surprises, teaching, tree, worry, writing

A river dream

Say, Allen

Mark is sick in bed. He opens a box from his uncle and finds many wonderful things to prepare him for a boat trip with his uncle.

Tags

boat, family, goal setting, illness, nature, presents, recreation, 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

A sweater for Duncan (Un sueter para Duncan)

Malone, Margaret

Little Duncan penguin is proud of his fuzzy coat. He sticks out his chest as he waddles among the other penguins. He knows he is the handsomest one in the frozen south. Trouble jumps in when his fuzz flies off in clumps and floats on the wind like butterflies. His mother agrees to knit him a sweater, but will that solve the problem? The sweater is just too small. What is he to do? Finally, his mother leads him to a mirror like a piece of ice, where a happy surprise awaits. He is all grown up and is again the handsomest penguin in the frozen south.

Tags

animals, antarctica, author's note, clothing, family, identity, knitting, language, mirror, multicultural, nonverbal communication, parents, penguin, problem solving, self confidence, self esteem, sewing, spanish, surprises

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

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

Amelia bedelia and the surprise shower

Parish, Peggy

Amelia Bedelia always seems to take everything literally. This only leads to chaos as well as laughter as Amelia Bedelia helps prepare for a surprise bridal shower. From pruning the hedges by placing prunes on the hedges, to icing the fish by covering them in chocolate icing, well-intentioned Amelia causes quite a commotion. After hosing down the guest of honor as part of the shower, Amelia turns the entire party into a disaster, but at least all of the guests leave in laughter.

Tags

accidents, adventures, anger, celebration, conflict resolution, confusion, emotions, helping, humor, imagination, literal interpretation, misunderstanding, nonverbal communication, self esteem, stress management, surprises

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

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

Aunt ceecee, aunt belle, and mama's surprise

Quattlebaum, Mary

Mama's birthday is coming soon and even though she says she doesn't want a big fuss, her daughter knows better. With her aunts' help, she plans a birthday surprise. Planning was the easy part though, actually getting the party ready on time will be difficult, especially if no one does their part. In the end, only a take-charge kind of person will be able to surprise Mama.

Tags

animals, assertiveness, birthday, cat, celebration, cooperation, family, food, goal setting, nutrition, parents, party, preparation, presents, procrastination, secrets, sharing, siblings, storytelling, surprises, teamwork, telephone, verbal communication

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

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

Breakfast with my father

Roy, Ron

When David's mother and father are separated, David and his dad only see each other during their special Saturday morning breakfasts. All winter, David's dad comes every Saturday except for one. After sulking all morning, David goes downstairs in his house and is pleasantly surprised to see his mom and dad eating breakfast together.

Tags

change, coping, disappointment, divorce, family, feelings, food, happiness, love, nutrition, parents, sadness, seasons, separation, siblings, surprises, winter

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

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.

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

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?

Dance, Tanya

Gauch, Patricia Lee

Tanya, the little sister, wants to dance just like her big sister. She watches her big sister during dance class and during a performance. One day, Tonya gets to join her sister at a dance class.

Tags

anticipation, dancing, excitement, exercise, family, feelings, grandparents, observation, parents, performance, siblings, surprises

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

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

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

Dustin's big school day

Carter, Alden R.

Dustin is very excited for the guests that are visiting his school one day. Along with the rest of his students, Dustin goes through his daily school routine awaiting the arrival of Dave and Skippy. When the time finally comes, the reader learns who Dave and Skippy actually are.

Tags

activities, alliteration, bus, calendar, celebration, curiosity, differences, down syndrome, entertainment, exercise, food, friendship, fun, geography, handicap, learning, math, numbers, patience, puppets, role model, running, school, science, surprises, teaching

Englebert the elephant

Paxton, Tom

An elephant is invited to the Queen's royal ball by mistake. When he first appears at the ball, he is a shock to everyone, but soon everyone grows to love him.

Tags

acceptance, animals, change, elephant, friendship, individuality, nonverbal communication, party, royalty, surprises

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

Flower garden

Bunting, Eve

A young girl and her father buy flowers at the grocery and prepare a flower box for her mother's birthday.

Tags

african american, birthday, bus, butterfly, caring, celebration, family, food, garden, holidays, insects, ladybug, multicultural, nutrition, parents, plants, shelter, shopping, surprises, transportation

George hogglesberry grade school alien

Wilson, Sarah

When George begins a new school different from his old planet, he is worried he won't fit in. When the school play comes around, he thinks of a perfect costume to impress his classmates.

Tags

acting, alien, body parts, celebration, differences, encouragement, fear, happiness, moon, play, relief, school, shyness, stars, surprises, uniqueness, worry

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

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

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

Hello baby!

Rockwell, Lizzy

It is such a special time when there's a new baby on the way. This little boy has been involved in his new sister's life since the beginning. He went to the doctor with his mommy and helped unpack baby clothes. When his baby sister is born, he is the happiest boy in the world!

Tags

baby, bath, birth, body parts, clothing, doctor, excitement, family, feelings, grandparents, happiness, memories, numbers, parents, photograph, pregnancy, rhythm, sequence, siblings, surprises

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

Hometown hero

Aiello, Barbara//Shulman, Jeffrey

Scott Whittaker recounts the events between Thanksgiving and Christmas in his diary. He starts a karate club at school and meets Bill Walters, a homeless man who was the quarterback of the local high school football team in 1967 The book ends with questions and answers about asthma.

Tags

accomplishment, appearance, assertiveness, asthma, community, decision making, diseases, exercise, football, friendship, holidays, karate, kindness, peer resistance, school, shelter, sports, surprises

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

Hunter bunny learns to ski

Weaver, Alexis Rae

Hunter Bunny is eagerly awaiting for winter to arrive and is determined to take part in all the activities that come along with it. He visits his fellow animal friends who teach him to ski, skate and snowboard, but with Hunter Bunny's shorter leg, he is unable to be successful. With the help of his best friend Clark, the two find a way for Hunter to be able to ski in the animal ski race. Determined to win, Hunter Bunny practices day and night for the big competition and it pays off in the end when he brings home the first place ribbon.

Tags

accidents, activities, animals, anticipation, challenges, cold, colors, competition, confidence, determination, disability, dreams, encouragement, excitement, exercise, family, feelings, friendship, handicap, helping, learning, parents, practice, preparation, problem solving, protection, rabbit, reading, sadness, safety, seasons, skating, skiing, sledding, sleep, snow, sports, support, surprises, teaching, teamwork, teasing, uniqueness, wind, winter, zoo

Hunter bunny saves Easter

Weaver, Alexis Rae

Hunter Bunny, made fun of because of his limp leg, meets Clark, the duck who has trouble seeing and the two become best friends. The night before Easter, the two find the Easter bunny lying on the ground and it is now up to them to deliver the baskets around town. After successfully saving Easter, the return to the forest to find all the animals praising and cheering for them.

Tags

animals, baby, differences, disability, discrimination, duck, easter, family, feelings, friendship, glasses, handicap, happiness, helping, heroism, holidays, hope, injury, learning, loneliness, moods, parents, playing, rabbit, sadness, siblings, sight, surprises, swimming, teaching, teasing, vision

I want my hat back

Klassen, Jon

A bear almost gives up his search for his missing hat until he remembers something important.

Tags

amphibians, animals, bear, clothing, concepts, deer, fox, frog, investigation, lost, manners, memory, rabbit, snake, surprises, turtle

Imogene's antlers

Small, David

A young girl named Imogene awakes one morning to find that she has grown antlers. No one can figure out what the cause is?!The next morning, Imogene's antlers have disappeared but her family is in for another surprise!

Tags

acceptance, change, chaos, confusion, family, fantasy, investigation, mystery, 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

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

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

Keeping a christmas secret

Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds

Michael slips and gives away the secret of what his father's Christmas gift is. He is very upset with himself, so he decides to surprise the whole family with a small but important present.

Tags

assertiveness, christmas, confidence, conflict resolution, creativity, decision making, disappointment, family, goal setting, holidays, parents, presents, self esteem, surprises, verbal communication

Kenny's window

Sendak, Maurice

Kenny has a dream one night while he is sleeping. He dreams that if he answers seven questions correctly, his dream will come true. There is an unexpected ending to the story when Kenny changes his mind.

Tags

adventures, critical thinking, decision making, dreams, fantasy, garden, night, sleep, surprises, travel

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.

Mac & marie & the train toss surprise

Howard, Elizabeth Fitzgerald

Mac and Marie receive a letter from Uncle Clem which says that he will toss them a package when his train passes their house. They anxiously await the arrival of the train in the field one summer night. When the train passes, they find a package and open it to find a conch shell from Florida!

Tags

anticipation, dreams, family, night, presents, siblings, surprises, train, transportation

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.

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

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

Max's christmas

Wells, Rosemary

It is Christmas Eve, Max sneaks downstairs to see Santa Claus but falls asleep by the chimmney. When Santa arrives, he puts his hat over Max's face because nobody is supposed to see Santa Claus. Max peeks anyway and was surprised to find himself surrounded by presents.

Tags

assertiveness, christmas, clothing, goal setting, holidays, nonverbal communication, presents, refusal skills, santa, sleep, surprises, verbal communication

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

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