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

Tags: play

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Head and shoulders

Borgert-Spaniol, Megan

Use the music and the song lyrics of this active song to touch your "head, shoulders, knees and toes" over and over again. Add your "eyes and ears and knees and toes" to the song and you have learned how your body parts work together to help you move and live as a human being.

Tags

beach, bicycle, bodies of water, body parts, clothing, colors, exercise, five senses, forest, glossary, lyrics, mountains, multicultural, music, pattern, play, playground, rhyme, rhythm, shoes, song, technology, vision, writing

New old shoes

Blessing, Charlotte

A brand-new pair of shoes begin on the playful feet of an American boy then his shoes are donated and worn on the feet of African children. The shoes are worn and used in many different ways for play and work.

Tags

africa, animals, author's note, balance, biking, birds, boat, body parts, change, chicken, china, cleanliness, clothing, colors, crow, decision making, dog, italy, jumping, market, ocean, play, portugal, running, scarecrows, school, shoes, signs, soccer, taiwan, transportation, travel, truck

My best friend

Fogliano, Julie

Two girls become friends and realize that they are able to make each other smile and laugh. They both enjoy doing the same gardening and creative gardening and creative activities and, despite some of their differences, they value each other's company. They are best friends and their relationship will continue to grow for many years to come.

Tags

body parts, drawing, feelings, food, friendship, games, garden, kindness, love, plants, play, tree, writing

Blue

Seeger, Laura Vaccaro

A boy and his dog go through their lives together and experience different things associated with the color blue. Whether they are playing with blue butterflies or picking blue blueberries together, they love spending time with each other. One day, the boy’s dog passes away and, with time, he gets a new puppy to share his life with.

Tags

activities, animals, baby, balloon, beach, birds, bodies of water, books, butterfly, cardinal, colors, companion, death, dog, feelings, insects, loss, love, play, rain, reading, relationship, running, sadness, sea, sledding, sleep, snow, transportation, wagon, weather

I am every good thing

Barnes, Derrick

Illustrations and easy-to-read text pay homage to the strength, character, and worth of a child.

Tags

activities, african american, baseball, basketball, body parts, companion, creativity, diving, family, honesty, identity, instruments, leadership, love, manners, multicultural, play, respect, rhythm, siblings, skateboarding, snow, swimming, technology

A new green day

Portis, Antoinette

On one summer’s day, a girl is attentive to all the sights and sounds around her. Whether it’s the subtle noise of crickets at night or the loud boom of thunder during a storm, there are many things in the environment, big and small, that influence her experiences.

Tags

adventures, amphibians, animals, appreciation, awareness, colors, comparisons, cricket, day, earth, five senses, insects, lightning, mollusks, night, plants, play, rain, shadows, sight, snail, space, stars, stream, tadpole, walking, weather, worm

Autism and me: Sibling stories

Shapiro, Ouisie

Publisher's Abstract: "If you see a kid with autism on the street, don't yell at her if she's doing something wrong. She can't help it. Autism is really challenging," explains Christian, who tells about life with his sister, Mary Gwen, a beautiful girl who loves to swim. In these moving photo essays, Christian and many other kids tell what it's like to live with siblings who have autism. Sometimes they can't talk much. Sometimes they have tantrums. It can be tough for a family, but there are happy surprises, too. "Autism has helped us to become a better family," adds Christian. "It teaches us patience and understanding."

Tags

autism, companion, differences, patience, photograph, play, respect, siblings

Unplugged

Antony, Steve

Blip accidentally becomes unplugged and spends the day outside, traveling through the forest and sailing through a river. Blip starts to make friends with the animals and realizes they love to spend time outdoors, away from the screen. Finally, Blip returns home and leaves soon after to join their friends again.

Tags

change, computer, friendship, games, learning, music, nature, play, playing, technology

Why?

Torrey, Richard

Why do feet stink? Why can't I play with you? Why are there so many numbers? Why? Why? Why? This young boy is inquisitive and loves to wonder. That's why.

Tags

bedtime, body parts, book, critical thinking, drawing, food, jumping, love, numbers, pets, play, sleep, television

The story of noodles

Compestine, Ying Chang

The Kang family decides to switch up their usual annual cooking contest recipe from dumplings to 'noodles' with the help from their three rambunctious sons.

The day I had to play with my sister

Bonsall, Crosby

A boy has a hard time dealing with his younger sister while teaching her the rules of hide-and-seek. She just won't listen! Uggh...being a big brother can be tough!

Tags

animals, attention, autumn, behavior, challenges, communication, counting, determination, dog, family, feelings, frustration, games, individuality, learning, listening, numbers, patience, play, playing, relationship, resentment, seasons, sequence, siblings, teaching

Mr. Tanen's tie trouble

Cocca-Leffler, Maryann

The principal of Lynnhurst School, Mr. Tanen, is known for his unbelievable collection of 975 ties. He has a tie for every occasion! When the plan for the new playground falls through, everyone is shocked to see Mr. Tannen part with his beloved ties as he auctions them off so that the children at Lynnhurst School can enjoy their new playground.

Ten mice for Tet

Shea, Pegi Deitz // Weill, Cynthia

A group of mice prepare for Tet, the Vietnamese New Year. The mice plan parties and a feast to celebrate.

Tags

author's note, celebration, counting, dancing, fireworks, food, learning, market, math, mouse, multicultural, music, new year, nonverbal communication, party, play, presents, verbal communication, vietnamese

A day with daddy

Girimes, Nikki

A young African American boy living with his mother spends the day with his father. They spend time together doing a variety of activities that leave the boy satisfied with his life.

Tags

african, baseball, basketball, family, food, happiness, memories, neighbors, nutrition, parents, play, playground, relationship, role model, sleep, sports, understanding

Night house bright house

Wellington, Monica

At night all the objects awake. They run and scram all over the house from the studio to the bedroom. They break a statue and have a surprise party. After all the bumping and jumping, they begin to get tired out, and enough is enough. It's time for bed, and they're all done.

Tags

animation, birthday, celebration, environment, food, home, night, noise, play, poetry, rhyme, rhythm, running, sounds

For sure! For sure!

Andersen, Hans Christian

Did you know that chickens gossip too? Come read about one chick that plucks out her feathers, supposedly to look good and impress her rooster. After one of her feathers is plucker, an owl sees her actions and spreads the word. The story gets turned around and exaggerated especially when the newspaper prints it.

Tags

animals, bat, behavior, birds, chicken, death, differences, fable, family, feelings, fly, friendship, gossip, hearing, loss, love, newspaper, owl, peace, play, storytelling, truth

I was born to be a brother

Michels-Gualtieri, Zaydek G.

A big brother describes the duties he has when teaching his little sister. He has many responsibilities to uphold and for the most part gets along well with his baby sister. There are times, however, when siblings get in the way, but in the end a little sister is the best thing in the world. (With music CD)

Tags

anger, baby, careers, caring, child care, closeness, companion, family, feelings, food, friendship, growing up, helping, injury, learning, music, pets, play, relationship, responsibilities, role model, safety, siblings, song, teaching, technology, teeth, television, toys

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

Danny and the dinosaur

Hoff, Syd

Danny visits a museum one day and comes across a dinosaur who begins to speak with Danny. The two spend the day together playing and having fun. By the end of the day it is time for the dinosaur to go back and Danny, although sad, admits he had a wonderful day.

Tags

animals, baseball, bear, boat, bus, car, climbing, communication, dinosaur, dog, elephant, friendship, fun, giraffe, helping, hippopotamus, imagination, indian, lion, monkey, museum, neighbors, noise, play, pretend, rocks, running, sadness, seal, sports, swimming, teaching, teeth, trick, walking, water, wish, zoo

May'naise sandwiches & sunshine tea

Belton, Sandra

Big Mama shares family memories of her childhood with her grandchild about a special friendship she had with Bettie Jean. Little Miss and Big Mama share the pages of a scrapbook which tells the favorite story of May'naise sandwiches and sunshine tea.

Tags

african american, books, careers, clothing, dancing, dentist, doctor, dreams, flowers, food, friendship, garden, hunger, imagination, memories, nutrition, parents, photograph, picnic, play, rain, running, school, sun, teaching, technology, telephone, tree, water

The big cheese of third street

Anderson, Halse Laurie

Little Benny is bullied constantly for being so little. It isn't until he wins the pole challenge that everyone cheers and honors Benny.

Tags

bully, celebration, challenges, climbing, community, family, flood, games, music, neighbors, party, play, river, siblings, swimming, teasing, violence

Monster comes to the city

Blance, Ellen // Cook, Ann

An unusual, atypical monster comes to checkout a city and observes a variety of different events taking place. His excursion through the city leads him to a group of children playing and swinging in an park. The monster joins them in this activty. Since the monster had an enjoyable and pleasant experience in the city, he decides to make it his home.

Monster and the magic umbrella

Blance, Ellen // Cook, Ann

Monster enjoys a day of play with his friends and his magical umbrella. Monster and the little boy play games in the afternoon sun and make sure to follow good hygiene practices and sun safety by wearing hats and carrying a giant magical umbrella that provides protection from the sun. The monster's umbrella eventually, magically opens into a much larger umbrella filling with rain so all of the neighborhood children can play and cool off.

Tags

celebration, cleanliness, companion, critical thinking, exercise, feelings, friendship, happiness, hygiene, magic, monsters, play, rain, storm, stress management, sun, swimming, umbrella, weather

Monster buys a pet

Blance, Ellen // Cook, Ann

A friendly monster and a little boy think it is lonely in their house. They decide that if they go to the pet store and buy an animal to keep them company, it will help. After picking out two dogs and two cats, the owner of the pet store coaxes monster and the little boy to give all the pets a home.

Tags

animals, companion, critical thinking, decision making, feelings, friendship, gerbil, loneliness, monsters, peer resistance, pets, play, responsibilities, sadness, vacation, verbal communication

Dog blue

Dunbar, Polly

A young boy named Bertie loves the color blue. Bertie also loves dogs, but he does not have a blue dog. He pretends that he has a blue dog, until he actually finds a real dog! Although his new dog is black and white, Bertie loves him and decides to name him Blue.

Tags

animals, closeness, colors, conflict resolution, dreams, excitement, feelings, friendship, goal setting, happiness, humor, imagination, nonverbal communication, pets, play, pretend, relationship, verbal communication

Jack and the missing piece

Schories, Pat

Jack is a dog that loves to play but he cannot help getting into trouble. He is not the only troublemaker in the house. Someone else loves to plack tricks.

Tags

animals, cat, conflict resolution, dog, friendship, games, nonverbal communication, obedience, play, running away, stress management, teamwork, toys, trick, verbal communication

The best cat in the world

Newman, Leslea

Victor's favorite cat Charlie dies. Victor is very sad that his cat died. He ends up getting a new kitten named Shelly. Victor doesn't understand why Shelly doesn't do the same things that Charlie did. Victor soon discovers that even though Shelly is a different cat and is not like Charlie, she is unique and his new favorite pet.

Tags

animals, behavior, caring, cat, comparisons, crisis, death, family, feelings, friendship, parents, pets, play, sadness, self esteem, uniqueness, verbal communication

Robot dog

Oliver, Mark

A robot dog named Scrap wants to have an owner like all the other robot dogs. He ends up in the junk yard because he has a dent on him. Scrap becomes sad because he doesn't have an owner like his other fiends. Scrap decides to make an owner so he has someone to play with and love him.

Tags

animals, conflict resolution, critical thinking, dog, emotions, envy, excitement, family, fear, feelings, friendship, imagination, pets, play, robot, role model, sadness, self esteem

Zolo a b z: An alphabet book

Glaser, Byron // Higashi, Sandra

Learn your alphabet with a dog named Ozlo. Bright illustrations and imaginative characters form a rhythmic pattern of rhyme and fun words.

Tags

adventures, alphabet, animals, birds, bug, dog, flamingo, future, letters, nonverbal communication, play, rhyme, rhythm

If you find a rock

Christian, Peggy

Real life photos capture children doing activities with rocks of different shapes, colors, and sizes. Can you remember the feel of a special rock in your hand?

Tags

activities, colors, critical thinking, exploration, feelings, fun, geology, goal setting, imagination, investigation, memory, nature, nonverbal communication, play, rocks, science, self esteem, shapes, sizes, stress management, water, wish

Arthur's pen pal

Hoban, Lillian

Arthur longs to be his pen pal's big brother, so they can wrestle and do karate. He does not like having to jump rope with his little sister. But one day, he learns something very surprising about his pen pal.

Emma's magic winter

Little, Jean

When a new neighbor named Sally moves in, Emma learns to overcome her shyness and her fear of reading out loud to her schoolmates. Early readers can explore their friendships and activities during winter then spring.

Tags

clothing, exercise, family, food, friendship, imagination, jumping, magic, mountains, nature, neighbors, play, reading, school, seasons, self esteem, shyness, siblings, sledding, snow, spring, verbal communication, weather, winter

Happy winter

Gundersheimer, Karen

Two sisters share their snowy days together. There are fun things to do outside and inside the house.

Tags

cleanliness, clothing, day, family, food, fun, gymnastics, night, nutrition, parents, play, recipe, rhyme, seasons, siblings, snow, sports, weather, winter

Come on, rain!

Hesse, Karen

A heat wave hits Tess's town and she's sizzling like a hot potato. Mamma's plants are all dying and all Tess wishes for is a little bit of rain. As she feels the rain coming, she runs to get her friends and they all change into bathing suits. The rain comes down in big drops and the girls dance, laugh, and play in the cool raindrops.

Sleds on boston common: A story from the american revolution

Borden, Louise

It's 1774 and British troops are occupying Boston. King George closes Boston Harbor to punish people who speak out against his laws. Henry, a young boy from Boston, hopes to try out his new sled on his birthday. But when he and his brothers and sister get to the hill they find that the troops have set up camp there. After building up enough courage, Henry asks General Gage to move his troops because Boston Common is for everyone. Being a kind man of his word, General Gage agrees and the children can once again sled.

Tags

american, assertiveness, author's note, beliefs, birthday, boat, british, courage, england, exercise, family, giving, history, play, presents, royalty, school, sharing, skating, sledding, snow, transportation, verbal communication, war

The winter bear

Craft, Ruth

Three young children bundle up for a walk on a winter day. On the way home, they find a discarded cold, knitted bear. They take him home, clean him up, dress him warmly, and give him a new home.

Tags

animals, assertiveness, bear, conflict resolution, exercise, love, nonverbal communication, play, seasons, shelter, verbal communication, walking, winter

Mama & papa have a store

Carling, Amelia Lau

Mama and Papa have a store. Day to day the routine is similar. The same people come in to buy the same things. This little girl likes these routines and she shares them with us. From what Mama is cooking to Papa counting on the abacus we spend the whole day with one little girl.

Tags

author's note, business, chinese, colors, cooking, counting, culture, customs, family, fish, food, guatemalan, indian, language, market, money, multicultural, nutrition, parents, photograph, play, rain, rainbow, shopping, siblings, sounds, spanish, traditions, verbal communication, weather

Valerie and the goodnight swing

Lobe, Mira

Little Valerie doesn't like to go to bed. After her bath, she plays in her swing and with each different hat her imagination takes her off to a new place in the world.

Tags

adventures, bath, bedtime, family, imagination, parents, play, travel

Have you seen wilhelmina krumph?

Chasek, Judith

Everyday, Wilhelmina Krumph disappears when she should be washing her windows like all the other housewives. They follow her one day and discover that she rides a motorcycle along a dirt road everyday. They see what fun it is and join her.

Tags

assertiveness, careers, decision making, independence, motorcycle, peer resistance, play, recreation, responsibilities, transportation, verbal communication

Tree of hope

Littlesugar, Amy

Florrie is named after a famous African American actress of the 1920's. Florrie learns the importance of working hard. Having big dreams will help Florrie and her family achieve anything. They learn that the Tree of Hope reflects the glory days of Harlem's Lafayette Theatre- a time when a black man shines through the Great Depression.

Tags

actor, african american, art, body parts, buildings, caribbean, creativity, dancing, daydreaming, haitian, happiness, hunger, performance, play, relationship, rhythm, singing, song, theatre, tree, wish

If you were a parrot

Rawson, Katherine

Join the parrot as it goes through its daily routine of climbing, chewing, eating, bathing, and finally, snuggling down for the night after a long day of parrot fun. Did you know that a parrotﾒs special feet allow it to climb curtains, bookshelves, and plants? And it's hooked beak lets the parrot chew all kinds of great food: seeds, nuts, chair legs, popsicles, sticks, and a telephone directory!

Tags

bath, birds, feelings, food, fruit, fun, games, happiness, imagination, parrot, play, trick

When I am old with you

Johson, Angela

A grandfather and a young boy talk and participate in a variety of activites together. Grandaddy and the child play cards, go fishing, enjoy nature, eat together, and play dress up.

Tags

african american, animals, birds, boat, car, clothing, dancing, dog, family, feelings, firefly, fishing, flowers, fly, food, friendship, games, grandparents, happiness, insects, multicultural, nature, nutrition, picnic, play, relationship, tractor, tree, walking, woods

Welcome, precious

Grimes, Nikki

A young couple welcomes a new baby to the world, and introduces the baby to the wonders of nature: the rainbow, birds, grass and sunlight. The new baby is also introduced to caring relationships and love- and the pictures illustrate the miracle of it all.

Tags

african american, baby, balloon, bath, bedtime, family, fun, games, glasses, grandparents, happiness, home, love, marriage, moon, morning, multicultural, night, parents, plants, play, rainbow, rhythm, sky

Join in and play

Meiners, Cheri

Learn how to develop the skills to make friend and play with others. Includes role-playing activities, as well as games to play with your child. Practice goal setting and decision making when playing and working with others.

Tags

communication, decision making, exercise, friendship, games, goal setting, nonfiction, play, respect

A day in the salt marsh

Kurtz, Kevin

Watch the animals that have adapted to this ever-changing environment as they hunt for food or play in the sun. Learn how the marsh grass survives even though it is covered by salt water twice a day.

Tags

adaptation, animals, birds, bodies of water, crab, crustaceans, dolphin, fish, food, habitat, heron, mollusks, ocean, otter, oyster, plants, play, reptiles, river, snail, turtle

Be quiet, Marina!

DeBear, Kristen

Marina and Moira are very much alike, and yet very different. They like to play with one another, but often have conflicts. They learn to work through their differences and become the best of friends.

Tags

aggression, anger, body parts, comparisons, cooperation, coping, dancing, differences, diseases, diversity, dolls, down syndrome, emotions, fear, feelings, friendship, happiness, noise, photograph, play, playground, school, similarities

Be boy buzz

hooks, bell

bell hooks poetically describes the pleasures of being a boy. Boys are beautiful. Sometimes, they are all boy. Sometimes, they like to laugh and talk, and sometimes they like the quietness of being alone. Boys have many moods, actions, and emotions.

Tags

affection, anger, assertiveness, behavior, emotions, exercise, feelings, gender, happiness, love, moods, play, quiet, self confidence, self esteem, verbal communication

I saw your face

Dawes, Kwame

A poem and child portraits illustrate the shared beauty and heritage of African people living throughout the world.

Tags

africa, african, animals, birds, body parts, games, geography, ghana, history, identity, maps, market, multicultural, park, play, travel, tree

Baby danced the polka

Beaumont, Karen

While mom and dad are trying to do the chores, baby is supposed to be sleeping. However, baby canﾒt sleep and is dancing with the farm animals.

Tags

animals, assertiveness, chores, conflict resolution, cow, dancing, exercise, family, farm, goat, parents, pig, play, responsibilities, sheep, verbal communication

La La Rose

Ichikawa, Satomi

La La Rose and her girl, Clementine, are the best of friends. The do everything together! One day, their afternoon at the Luxembourg Gardens goes awry when La La Rose mistakenly gets left behind. She is forced to face the world alone and can only hope to be reunited with Clementine.

Tags

animals, appreciation, birds, bodies of water, caring, conflict resolution, confusion, direction, dog, duck, exercise, family, garden, language, love, maps, missing, park, pigeon, play, playground, rabbit, toys, understanding, worry

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