Children's Picture Book Database at Miami University

Sky boys: How they built the empire state building | by Hopkinson, Deborah

A boy watches in amazement as the Empire State Building is built. When the building is completed he goes to the top with his father to see all of the New York City.

Keywords: accomplishment, ambition, architecture, beliefs, buildings, careers, ceremony, construction, day, determination, excitement, family, feelings, goal setting, hope, money, night, parents, sequence, sky, tools, transportation, truck, verbal communication, wish

Iron horses | by Kay, Verla

Building a railroad takes a lot of work. Many people must be involved from the planners and politicians in the capital, to the Irishmen and Chinese men building the track out west. When it is finally finished, the track is a wonderful form of transportation.

Keywords: author's note, celebration, ceremony, chinese, competition, construction, cooperation, fun, geography, hard work, history, immigrants, irish, mountains, multicultural, rain, rocks, snow, storm, tools, train, transportation, travel, weather

We | by Schertle, Alice

Describes the emergence of humankind out of Africa, charting the course of human development from seven million years ago to today, highlighting the development of diversity among peoples and our ability to invent and discover.

Keywords: africa, art, astronomy, baseball, boat, bodies of water, buildings, construction, desert, discovery, exploration, forest, history, home, inventions, machines, moon, mountains, music, nonverbal communication, poetry, prayer, religion, rhythm, river, sea, sports, sun, technology, transportation, travel, verbal communication, war

Vacation in the village: A story from west africa | by Njeng, Pierre Yves

A boy discovers and takes pride in the customs of his people when he visits his family's village in West Africa.

Keywords: affection, africa, books, boredom, buildings, construction, customs, discovery, dreams, family, fear, feelings, fish, fishing, forest, friendship, games, grandparents, happiness, history, hunting, multicultural, parents, reptiles, school, siblings, storytelling, traditions, train, transportation, travel, turtle, vacation, village, work, worry

One big building | by Dahl, Michael

Children learn about the importance of teamwork, cooperation, and goal-setting as an entire twelve-story building is constructed from an initial simple plan. Numbers one through twelve illustrate the entire building process in a fun and strategic way.

Keywords: accomplishment, architecture, buildings, conflict resolution, construction, cooperation, counting, critical thinking, decision making, goal setting, machines, numbers, responsibilities, sequence, teamwork, work

Get to work trucks! | by Carter, Don

In the morning trucks, such as dump trucks, bulldozers, cement mixers, tow trucks, cranes, and rollers, go to work. Learn about types of machines, sizes, colors, and numbers. At night, the trucks are finished working for the day.

Keywords: assertiveness, careers, colors, concepts, construction, crane, critical thinking, decision making, hard work, height, machines, morning, moving, night, numbers, progress, reptiles, responsibilities, rocks, sizes, transportation, truck, turtle, verbal communication, work

A castle on Viola street | by Disalvo, Dyanne

Andy's family lives in a small, cramped apartment, and his parents work long hours to support the family. He never thought that they would ever live in an actual house, but one day they find a flyer saying You too can own a home. The organization buys empty houses and allows families to fix-up houses and then other people will help fix up a house for them. Andy's family is so excited as they help clean, paint, put down hard wood flooring, and pass out lemonade. At the end of the year, they find out that the next house to be built will be theirs!

Keywords: author's note, celebration, change, community, construction, decision making, family, food, goal setting, hard work, home, hope, neighbors, safety, self esteem, teamwork

Making room | by Taylor, Joanne

John William Smith dedicated his life to helping others, especially people in need by inviting them into his very own home! His dedication to family is heart-warming and his marriage is strong. Readers will find a unique meaning of home in this story.

Keywords: animals, assertiveness, baby, chicken, construction, contentment, cow, critical thinking, decision making, dedication, family, farm, feelings, goal setting, grandparents, hard work, helping, home, marriage, nonverbal communication, parents, pride, relationship, respect, responsibilities, role model, self esteem, sheep, support, teamwork, tools, verbal communication, work

Abel's moon | by Hughes, Shirley

Abel Grable returns from his work greeted by his family. When he tells them all about his adventures, his children only want to hear more. Before he sets out on his next outing for work, he writes his stories down. As he is away, his children take his writing table and create a certain machine that lets them be with their dad all the time while he's gone.

Keywords: conflict resolution, construction, creativity, critical thinking, dancing, dedication, exercise, exploration, family, feelings, happiness, imagination, love, moon, music, parents, photograph, security, storytelling, stress management, travel, verbal communication, writing

Building | by Cooper, Elisha

An empty lot is transformed by an architect, surveyors, and workers of all kinds. Big construction equipment moves earth and trucks deliver materials throughout the building process. The building stands between two other buildings not far from downtown. It stands empty now, waiting to be filled with people.

Keywords: architecture, buildings, careers, community, construction, determination, food, goal setting, hard work, sequence, sounds, tools

Reese's pieces count by fives | by Pallotta, Jerry

Counting by fives is not always an easy task, but with the help of construction vehicles and Reese's Pieces candy, the task can be accomplished. First, count to ten by ones then to one hundred by fives. Hopefully a tasty snack will await you in the end.

Keywords: comparisons, construction, cooperation, counting, food, hard work, numbers, nutrition, sequence, transportation, truck

The night worker | by 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!

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

Raising yoder's barn | by Yolen, Jane

A boy and his family lose their barn to a fire but their Amish community works together to raise the barn again.

Keywords: accidents, amish, author's note, barn, communication, community, conflict resolution, construction, cooperation, family, farm, feelings, fire, food, goal setting, helping, lightning, nutrition, prayer, pride, religion, verbal communication, weather, work

The house i'll build for the wrens | by Neitzel, Shirley

A young boy plans to build a house for the wrens in the yard. He starts with a diagram showing what the house will look like. He gets out a toolbox which holds wooden boards, a ruler, hammer, sandpaper, nails, a level, paintbrush, paint, and a scredriver. While he is constructing the birdhouse, his mother comes home. The boy and his mother hang the birdhouse from a tree in the backyard and admire his accomplishment.

Keywords: accomplishment, animals, author's note, birds, cat, cleanliness, colors, construction, dog, family, goal setting, imagination, parents, pride, rhyme, siblings, tools, wood, working mother

Imagine a house | by Gustafson, Angela

Take a walk through 15 countries around the world and learn about different types of dwellings. A brief geographical tour is taken when you traverse the pages of real-life photographs and maps.

Browse Abstracts (15 total)