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

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Let's be enemies

Udry, Janice May

John is mad at his best friend James because James always wants to be the boss. John decides to tell James that they are enemies. In the end, they decide to go skating and share a pretzel.

Tags

assertiveness, bully, conflict resolution, decision making, exercise, food, friendship, nonverbal communication, peer resistance, play, refusal skills, sharing, skating, stress management, verbal communication

A tree is nice

Udry, Janice May

We can appreciate and enjoy a tree in many ways. People can play in trees whereas animals use trees for food and shelter. Would you like to learn how to plant a tree?

Tags

animals, appreciation, assertiveness, critical thinking, goal setting, nature, nonverbal communication, plants, play, recreation, stress management, verbal communication

Mary Jo never talks during share time in school. She thinks of sharing her brand new umbrella, or the grasshopper she helped her brother catch, but her classmates already had shared those things. She eventually thinks of something to share that no one has shared -- her father.

Tags

conflict resolution, creativity, decision making, family, goal setting, nonverbal communication, parents, school, self esteem, sharing, verbal communication

The mean mouse and other mean stories

Udry, Janice May

Various mean stories are told about mice, witches, tigers, a dwarf, and many others. The stories show how their meanness affects other people and how others put them in their place by tricking them.

Tags

animals, assertiveness, conflict resolution, deception, decision making, dwarfs, mouse, storytelling, verbal communication, witches

Next door to Laura Linda

Udry, Janice May

Laura Linda was not happy with anything she had. She wished she had a perfect little girl to play with in her tree house and yellow house next door. Finally, a little boy moved in next door and invited her to play in his treehouse if he could swing on her tree.

Tags

conflict resolution, feelings, friendship, moving, neighbors, plants, play, recreation, sadness, self esteem, sharing, shelter, verbal communication

The moon jumpers

Udry, Janice May

A group of children, who call themselves the moon jumpers, love to play outside at night under the moon. They dance, play tag, make a camp and pretend they are on an island. When their mother calls them in to go to sleep, they dream of tomorrow's sun.

Tags

bedtime, camping, dancing, dreams, exercise, island, jumping, moon, night, nonverbal communication, play, running, sleep, sun, verbal communication

The giraffe who was afraid of heights

Ufer, David A.

A giraffe suffers from the fear of heights. His parents worry about his safety and send him to the village doctor for treatment. Along the way he befriends a monkey who is afraid of climbing trees and a hippo who is afraid of water. A life-threatening event causes the three friends to face and overcome each of their fears.

Tags

africa, animals, assertiveness, bodies of water, critical thinking, crocodile, family, fear, feelings, fish, flowers, friendship, giraffe, happiness, hippopotamus, lion, monkey, multicultural, parents, river, safety, self esteem, teamwork, tree

Octo Annie: Home-help super star

Ullrich, Nai D.

Octo Annie, an octopus, lives in a great big glass tank at Underwater World until one day she becomes part of a real family. The Martin family of two parents, two sons, and two pets are all surprised by their new addition, Octo-Annie. With Octo-Annie's eight arms, the Martin family's move to a new house is accomplished. But something and someone is left behind...

Tags

animals, body parts, car, cat, dog, family, golf, helping, moving, numbers, octopus, sports, swimming, telephone, transportation, treasure, truck

Moon man

Ungerer, Tom

The moon man wants to know what Earth was like so he grabs the tail of the comet and falls to the surface. But because he is unknown on Earth, the police lock him up. He escapes and meets a scientist who sends him back to his home.

Tags

astronomy, conflict resolution, moon, nonverbal communication, verbal communication

The hat

Ungerer, Tom

This book is about a magic hat. The hat made a poor man rich, saved a rare bird, won a battle, and saved a baby and an archduke's cousin.

Tags

baby, birds, clothing, conflict resolution, magic, nonverbal communication, royalty, verbal communication

The beast of monsieur racine

Ungerer, Tom

Monsieur Racine catches a weird looking beast stealing his prize-winning peaches. He likes the beast, studies it, then reports this mysterious creature to experts. He even gave a presentation of the creature when it revealed its true identity.

Tags

assertiveness, conflict resolution, food, identity, monsters, nonverbal communication, nutrition, presentation

Crictor

Ungerer, Tom

Madam Bodot was given a pet snake for her birthday and she named it Crictor. She treated Crictor like her child. She fed him and took him everywhere with her. Crictor becomes the heroic snake of the town when he saves Madam Bodot.

Tags

assertiveness, birthday, community, conflict resolution, heroism, pets, presents, reptiles, responsibilities, snake

Zeralda's ogre

Ungerer, Tomi

The people in a small town, terrified by a child-eating ogre, begin to hide all of their children. One day, the hungry ogre comes across a young village girl. He gets so excited he falls and gets hurt. The young girl takes pity on him and cooks for him.

Tags

community, fear, feelings, food, helping, hunger, nutrition, ogre, verbal communication

The mellops strike oil

Ungerer, Tomi

During a picnic, the Mellops family drinks water from a spring and finds it tastes like oil. The family looks for the possibility of oil in the area. When they find that there is oil, they build a derrick. A forest fire sends the family home to take baths.

Tags

bath, beverage, camping, cleanliness, decision making, discovery, environment, family, feelings, fire, fuel, goal setting, hygiene, picnic, recreation, verbal communication, water

No kiss for mother

Ungerer, Tomi

Piper, a young cat, acts out at home and at school because he is sick of being treated like a baby. He and his mother get into a big fight because Piper's mom kisses him too much.

Tags

affection, anger, animals, apology, argument, cat, conflict resolution, family, feelings, fight, love, mischief, nonverbal communication, parents, school, verbal communication

The three robbers

Ungerer, Tomi

Three robbers terrorize a countryside until they meet a young girl named Tiffany. After meeting the girl, they change their ways. The three robbers use their loot to build an orphanage where all of the lost, unhappy, and abandoned children can live.

Tags

change, critical thinking, decision making, fear, feelings, giving, love, orphan, robbery, selfishness

Brush, brush, brush!

Unknown Author

Following a series of questions, the narrator provides a detailed description of proper oral hygiene. These recommended dental health behaviors include brushing your teeth thoroughly twice a day. If done properly, patients will maintain a healthy smile!

Tags

bedtime, behavior, body parts, cleanliness, dentist, feelings, goal setting, hygiene, learning, morning, nonverbal communication, rhyme, routine, self esteem, teaching, teeth

Dentist

Unknown Author

Children go in and out of this dentist's office for checkups! First, a little boy gets his teeth examined by the dentist, and he finds out that they are a little dirty. Then, the dentist teaches the boy about how teeth develop over time and what he should do to take care of his teeth properly. Next, a little girl visits the dentist, and they find out that she has a hole in her tooth or a cavity. Finally, the little girl gets a filling, and her mouth is good as new!

Off to the sweet shores of Africa: And other talking drum rhymes

Unobagha, Uzo

African-inspired nursery rhymes.

Tags

africa, animals, beach, birds, bodies of water, camel, cattle, celebration, chicken, community, cooking, desert, dog, donkey, eagle, elephant, fable, fish, fruit, giraffe, goat, grasshopper, instruments, lion, mice, monkey, multicultural, music, ocean, parade, play, rainbow, rhyme, rhythm, river, sand, song, tree, village, zebra

The great zoo hunt

Unwin, Pippa

This is a story about a zoo and a zookeeper who finds ten animals missing. The animals are very clever and hard to find. By looking at the detailed illustrations, the zookeeper tries to find the missing animals.

Tags

animals, careers, conflict resolution, lost, nonverbal communication, zoo

An autummn tale

Updike, David

On the eve of Halloween, Homer carves a jack-o-lantern from a pumpkin in his yard. That night, when he goes to watch the moon rise, he puts the pumpkin on his head. He is surprised to see the trees moving and talking. Homer goes on a short journey with the trees and returns home the next morning.

Tags

adventures, animals, autumn, dog, halloween, holidays, moon, plants, seasons, travel, verbal communication

A helpful alphabet of friendly objects

Updike, John

Poems are provided with various pictures of objects which begin with each letter of the alphabet such as apple, bird, jam, egg, nickel, oatmeal, toy and zero.

Tags

african american, alphabet, animals, asian, birds, bluejay, cat, clothing, colors, dog, environment, five senses, food, italian, multicultural, nutrition, pets, plants, poetry, rabbit, rhyme, self confidence, self esteem, sight, sounds, taste, touch

The witch's hand

Utton, Peter

George notices a gross, brown, crinkly thing on his father's wall and is surprised to find out it's the hand of a witch who tried to kidnap him. He is also surprised and relieved to find out it is only a story.

Tags

colors, conflict resolution, courage, curiosity, family, feelings, fight, night, parents, storytelling, surprises, verbal communication, witches

Danilo the fruitman

Valens, Amy

Danilo, the fruitman, sells oranges to all the people in town. One day he discovers a new fruit, but when he tries to sell it, people just laugh at him. When he discovers the secret of this fruit, he becomes very popular with all the people.

Tags

author's note, careers, dancing, discovery, exercise, five senses, food, island, italian, multicultural, music, nutrition

Wingfin and topple

Valens, Evans

Topple, the long-finned herring, learns that his difference is actually a blessing. He learns from another long-finned herring that he can fly, and in turn his seemingly unlucky fins save his life.

Tags

assertiveness, critical thinking, decision making, differences, fish, freedom, heroism, herring, jumping, peer resistance, sea, stress management, swimming, verbal communication

One dad, two dads, brown dads, blue dads

Valentine, Johnny

Lou and his friend are discussing their dads. Lou has two dads that are blue. Lou's two blue dads like to cook, play, laugh, and work just like his other dads. Lou and his friend discover that blue dads aren't really different from other dads.

Tags

acceptance, appearance, colors, comparisons, discovery, diversity, family, friendship, love, parents, similarities, verbal communication

The day they put a tax on rainbows

Valentine, Johnny

In a magical land far away, there is a girl who has a magic ring which leads her to discover an undersea kingdom. In this kingdom, a boy who likes to feed birds comes face-to-face with a dragon. A king decides to put a tax on rainbows because his throne is lumpy. Throughout each of these adventures, lessons are learned.

Tags

adventures, awareness, beliefs, bodies of water, bravery, challenges, community, discovery, dragons, fairy, fantasy, love, magic, mermaids, mythical, rain, rainbow, royalty, sea, weather, wedding, wish

The duke who outlawed jelly beans

Valentine, Johnny

This collection of modern fairy tales includes references to homosexuality and independence. A grand duke is left in charge of a kingdom. He makes all types of silly decrees but when they begin to affect homelife, children fight against his purpose.

Tags

assertiveness, conflict resolution, critical thinking, goal setting, homosexuality, independence, royalty, self esteem, verbal communication

The daddy machine

Valentine, Johnny

Sue and her sister do not have a dad. They want a dad, so they build a dad-making machine. The machine goes haywire, but it is really the girls' imaginations running away with them.

Tags

conflict resolution, critical thinking, family, goal setting, imagination, machines, neighbors, parents, siblings, verbal communication

Winter rescue

Valgardson, W.D.

Thor wants to stay inside and watch cartoons on T.V. One day his grandfather needs help ice fishing and Thor is volunterred to help. Thor goes with grandfather, and the two ice fish for the entire day in the bitter cold. Thor ends up saving a man who falls through the ice.

Tags

accidents, bodies of water, clothing, cold, culture, emergency, fishing, food, ice, injury, lake, neighbors, nutrition, recreation, rescue, snow, storytelling, technology, television, weather, wind, winter

The z was zapped

Van Allsburg, Chris

This is an alphabet book that takes each letter and uses a verb to make something happen to it.

Tags

alphabet, sequence

The wretched stone

Van Allsburg, Chris

A sailor keeps a journal about the journeys of his ship and crew mates. They discover an unusual island where they come upon a stone which has a beautiful glow. However, the stone brings danger to the ship until the glow turns gray.

Tags

assertiveness, boat, careers, conflict resolution, decision making, discovery, island, nonverbal communication, stress management, travel

Polar express

Van Allsburg, Chris

On Christmas Eve, one little boy who had not lost the meaning of Christmas went on a train to the North Pole to visit Santa Claus's workshop and his reindeer. The boy was given a bell from Santa's sleigh, but the only ones who could hear it ring were those who still believe in Santa. On the way home he loses it, but when he wakes up the next morning, it is under his pillow.

Tags

beliefs, christmas, decision making, holidays, individuality, lost, nonverbal communication, peer resistance, santa, self esteem, sleep, traditions

Just a dream

Van Allsburg, Chris

Walter shows little concern for the environment. One night he dreams about a future Earth that is devastated by pollution. He gains a better understanding of the environment and makes changes in his life when he wakes up.

Tags

appreciation, change, conflict resolution, critical thinking, decision making, dreams, environment, nonverbal communication, pollution, sleep, verbal communication

The widow's broom

Van Allsburg, Chris

Minna Shaw rescues a fallen witch and in return is given the witch's old broom. Neighbors think the broom is evil, but it helps the widow with her chores. The neightbors try to destroy the broom, which later comes back to haunt them.

Tags

assertiveness, conflict resolution, decision making, destruction, neighbors, nonverbal communication, rescue, responsibilities, witches

Two bad ants

Van Allsburg, Chris

The ants discover a delicious crystal and head out at dark to retrieve some more. Two ants liked these crystals so much that they stay and fall asleep. They awake to a horrible danger and are finally rescued by the returning ants.

Tags

ant, community, conflict resolution, decision making, insects, nonverbal communication, rescue, safety, sleep

The wreck of the zephyr

Van Allsburg, Chris

A young boy's dream of being the greatest sailor brings him to ruin when he misuses his ability to sail his boat above land.

Tags

assertiveness, boat, bodies of water, careers, determination, magic, mischief, peer resistance, sea, storm, transportation, verbal communication, weather

Tails

Van Fleet, Matthew

Check out these rhyming, interactive pages with texture. Colorful 3-dimensional pictures come to life with humor on every page (A Board Book).

Tags

alligator, animals, bear, counting, five senses, fox, humor, monkey, numbers, opposites, pig, raccoon, reptiles, rhyme, sequence, tiger

Whose nose is this?

Van Gelder, Richard

People and animals have noses. Can you guess which nose belongs to whom?What is that nose used for?

Tags

animals, anteater, bat, body parts, cow, dog, elephant, hippopotamus, horse, learning, monkey, nonverbal communication, pig, seal, whale

Harry hoyle's giant jumping bean

Van Horn, William

Harry has a house with seventy-two rooms filled with his many collections of things, including a dangerous giant jumping bean. In trying to make room for a new collection, the jumping bean escapes and destroys Harry's collection.

Tags

assertiveness, collection, conflict resolution, decision making, destruction, shelter

La boda: A mexican wedding celebration

Van Laan, Nancy

Little Maria learns all about La Boda, a mexican wedding, from her grandmother, in a bilingual manner. She becomes part of the celebration and is happy to learn about and be part of her first wedding.

Tags

celebration, ceremony, church, dancing, family, feelings, fireworks, food, happiness, language, mexican, multicultural, music, nutrition, party, presents, turkey, wedding

This is the hat

Van Laan, Nancy

Cumulative verses describe an old man's hat as it becomes a home for a spider, a mouse and many other creatures. The hat eventually returns to the old man.

Tags

animals, clothing, insects, mouse, shelter, spider, verbal communication

Possum-come-a-knockin'

Van Laan, Nancy

A rhyming story of a visitor coming to someone's home. The family members were each doing their own thing and stopped to answer the door but no one was there.

Tags

animals, conflict resolution, confusion, critical thinking, deception, decision making, family, nonverbal communication, opossum, rhyme, verbal communication

Little baby bobby

Van Laan, Nancy

Baby Bobby is in for a wild ride when his buggy starts to roll down the hill through town. Everyone he passes begins to chase after him, but he enjoys the ride and ends up happily in the sand at the playground.

Tags

baby, community, family, feelings, happiness, nonverbal communication, playground, rhyme, rhythm, sounds

Mama rocks, papa sings

Van Laan, Nancy

A new baby learns how to count to ten. With each experience, the baby and her parents sing in Creole. Come along to enjoy the sights and sounds of the Haitian culture.

Tags

affection, awareness, baby, beliefs, careers, carnival, celebration, creole, culture, dancing, exercise, family, five senses, food, history, language, multicultural, music, numbers, nutrition, rhythm, sounds, verbal communication

Amanda pig on her own

Van Leeuwen, Jean

A collection of four short stories tell the adventurous tales of a young pig and her family. Often having a moral or value, the pigs usually resolve their problems well.

Oliver and amanda and the big snow

Van Leeuwen, Jean

Join Amanda and Oliver in four fun-filled adventures after a big snowstorm hits their town. They enjoy playing in the snow, making a snowfort, sledding down snow-covered hills, and building a snowpig.

Tags

adventures, animals, body parts, exercise, family, feelings, fun, games, happiness, nonverbal communication, parents, pig, running, seasons, sledding, snow, verbal communication, walking, weather, winter

More tales of amanda pig

Van Leeuwen, Jean

Amanda pig and her family experience five short stories. One describes Amanda playing with her brother and another describes how she organized a birthday party for her dad.

Across the wide dark sea: The mayflower journey

Van Leeuwen, Jean

A young boy and his family leave England with many other people to search for a new life in a new land. They dream of finding a place where they can worship God in their own way. During their journey, everyone endures many hardships, but they find what they are looking for.

Tags

animals, assertiveness, author's note, autumn, birds, boat, bodies of water, cat, death, dog, english, family, fear, feelings, food, garden, goal setting, god, happiness, illness, multicultural, native american, nonverbal communication, nutrition, ocean, parents, pilgrims, religion, seasons, self esteem, siblings, snow, spring, storm, transportation, travel, verbal communication, weather, wind, winter

Oliver pig at school

Van Leeuwen, Jean

Through four short stories, Oliver pig takes us along on his exciting first day of school and how he makes friends.

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