Children's Picture Book Database at Miami University

Twas the day before zoo day | by Ipcizade, Catherine

A zoo prepares for Zoo Day. But things do not go according to plan. The llamas won't quit spitting; the giraffes are drooling; and the zebras aren't happy at all with their stripes! Meanwhile, the zookeepers scurry this way and that, clean up poop, ring mealtime bells, and try to get the animals bathed. Will the zookeeper end up spending the night at the zoo? Will Zoo Day go off without a hitch, or will the dancing monkeys take over? This fun story is an adaptation of the classic, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.

Keywords: alligator, animals, bath, bear, bee, birds, cleanliness, dancing, elephant, flamingo, giraffe, gorilla, insects, laziness, lion, llama, monkey, mouse, preparation, reptiles, rhinoceros, rhyme, rhythm, singing, snake, toucan, turtle, zebra, zoo

Pierre's dream | by Armstrong, Jennifer

Is it all a dream? Pierre thinks so. He is the star of the circus, daring to do things he wouldn't do if he was awake. Pierre tames a lion, walks on a high wire, and all sorts of other scary or dangerous things. As the star of the circus, Pierre proves to the people of Apt that he is not just a lazy, foolish man.

Keywords: acrobat, animals, circus, dreams, excitement, feelings, french, fun, happiness, horse, laziness, lion, multicultural, self esteem, sleep, surprises

How sitali learned a lesson | by Mashiri, Pascal

As the oldest in his family Sitali is supposed to hunt and provide for his younger sisters. He learns a lesson about self-control and hard work after being made chief and then losing it all.

Keywords: african, african american, apathy, conflict resolution, critical thinking, family, folktale, laziness, multicultural, obedience, parents, peer resistance, refusal skills, responsibilities, river, siblings, storytelling, village

Lazy lion | by Hadithi, Mwenye & Kennaway, Adrienne

Lazy lion orders everyone to build him a house, but he is not satisfied with it. When a big rain comes, all the other animals go into the house that was built for the lion to keep dry. This is why lions must roam the earth.

Keywords: aardvark, african, animals, ant, assertiveness, badger, bee, birds, conflict resolution, critical thinking, crocodile, decision making, folktale, geography, goal setting, insects, laziness, lion, rain, refusal skills, reptiles, shelter, teamwork, weather

Lazy tommy pumpkinhead | by du Bois, William Pene

Lazy Tommy Pumpkinhead was a boy that had all his belongings computerized.His bed, shower, clothes, and food were all controlled electronically and he never had to do anything for himself. When a storm knocks out the electricity, Tommy sleeps for seven days. When he awakes the machines go crazy and do seven days worth of work in one day.

Keywords: change, clothing, coping, decision making, laziness, loneliness, sleep, technology

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

Tops and bottoms | by Stevens, Janet

Hare and Bear decide to become business partners. Due to Bear's laziness, Hare tricks him three times. This is a great book because it shows children proper eating habits (with vegetables) and it provides a moral.

Keywords: animals, assertiveness, bear, discipline, fable, food, goal setting, hare, laziness, manners, nutrition, persistence, teamwork, verbal communication

The triumphs of fuzzy fogtop | by Rose, Anne

Fuzzy Fogtop has a short memory. He cannot remember anything from the night before. Fuzzy decides to visit the next town, but he falls asleep on the train and does not know where he is when he wakes up.

Keywords: forgetful, laziness, nonverbal communication, peer resistance, self esteem, stress management, train, transportation, travel

Tsugele's broom | by Carey, Valerie Scho

A young girl is pressured by her parents to get married but she wants to find a man who is as reliable as her broom. Her broom turns into the man of her dreams and she marries him.

Keywords: decision making, hard work, helping, laziness, marriage, refusal skills, self esteem

Helga's dowry: A troll love story | by dePaola, Tomie

Helga, a beautiful troll, sets out to earn her dowry to marry Lars. Her plan doesn't work out like she had hoped. Be ready for a funny ending.

Keywords: assertiveness, conflict resolution, decision making, greed, laziness, loyalty, marriage, self esteem, selfishness, stress management, trolls, verbal communication, wedding

Leprechauns never lie | by Balian, Lorna

A young lazy Irish girl, Ninny Nanny, finds it difficult to do chores around the hut she shares with Gram. She decides to catch a leprechaun and get his pot of gold to solve all their problems.

Keywords: assertiveness, decision making, family, frustration, goal setting, grandparents, honesty, laziness, multicultural, nonverbal communication, problem solving, verbal communication

Miss nelson has a field day | by Allard, Harry//Marshall, James

The Smedley football team was having a horrible season. They hadn't won a game all season. Miss Nelson comes up with a great idea to whip the team into shape by dressing up as a substitute coach. After a few practices with Coach Swamp, the team won the biggest game of the year.

Keywords: critical thinking, decision making, football, games, goal setting, laziness, mystery, practice, school, sports, teaching, teamwork

Dinorella: A prehistoric fairy tale | by Edwards, Pamela Duncan//Cole, Henry

Do you remember what happened to Cinderella?Well, Dinorella not only goes to the ball, but she defends the duke against a hungry deinonychus. The dinosaur dames, Dora and Doris, want the jewels but Dinorella has but one dazzling jewel.

Keywords: assertiveness, courage, critical thinking, decision making, dinosaur, empathy, fable, fantasy, happiness, heroism, laziness, love, nonverbal communication, party, peer resistance, selfishness

The boy of the tree-year nap | by Snyder, Dianne

The laziest boy in the village naps and daydreams instead of working. One day, a rich man and his daughter move into the town and the lazy boy begins to devise a plan to become rich without working. In the end, the boy is rich, but not the way he wanted.

Keywords: careers, community, deception, laziness, responsibilities, sleep

I am not going to get up today! | by Seuss, Dr.

A day in the life of a young kid who decides he will sleep all day long. His parents and friends try to wake him up, but the boy refuses.

Keywords: bedtime, family, friendship, laziness, parents, persistence, sleep

The hare and the tortoise: A fable from aesop | by Ward, Helen

Just like Aesop's original folktale, the hare and the tortoise are going to race. The quick but lazy hare takes his speed for granted when he challenges the tortoise. However, when the hare becomes too confident, the tortoise creeps past him to win the race.

Keywords: accidents, animals, author's note, bodies of water, caring, challenges, competition, decision making, exercise, folktale, food, garden, goal setting, hard work, intelligence, laziness, nutrition, rabbit, river, running, swimming, tortoise, walking

Walter and the lazy mouse | by Flack, Marjorie

A mouse loses his home so he searches to find a new one. When he finds a new home, he makes furniture to lie on. He only leaves to go swimming or teach school.

Keywords: animals, change, conflict resolution, critical thinking, decision making, exercise, laziness, mouse, recreation, school, swimming

Flash the dash | by Freeman, Don

A dog named Flash was lazy. He decides to get a job to impress his mate. One day, he goes back to being lazy and then receives a telegram that he has become a father.

Keywords: animals, baby, careers, conflict resolution, critical thinking, decision making, dog, family, laziness

Frederick | by Lionni, Leo

While the other mice are gathering corn, nuts, wheat and straw for the winter, Frederick gathers sun rays, colors and words. The other mice think he is lazy, but during the long winter days his words warm the other mice.

The tale of little pig robinson | by Potter, Beatrix

Robinson's trip to the market turns into a life changing experience. After a long trip to town, an adventure in the market, and a near excape on the high seas, he ends up on a tropical island paradise.

Keywords: adventures, animals, boat, bodies of water, cat, dog, escape, farm, fishing, island, laziness, lost, pig, sea, transportation

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