In Kathy Tucker’s delightful update of a classic Chinese folk tale, each sister uses her talent in a surprising way to rescue baby Seventh Sister-and even Seventh Sister turns out to have an unexpected skill!

¿Estás listo?

¡Vamos!

Muévete

de la cabeza a los pies.

But wait! As they pull into the station, they notice that theirs is the only yard with snow, and there’s a shiny new pumper standing ready. There are even more surprises inside for each firefighter, and as the lieutenant finishes his paperwork, he notices that the old man has listed all the firefighters’ names and who was naughty or nice. Everyone at Firehouse One is left to wonder who that old fireman might have been.

This delightful addition to Pelican’s beloved “The Night Before Christmas Series” honors firefighters across the country for their brave service.

Meet Carl and Russell. Carl is old and lonely. Russell is young and looking for a friend. When they’re thrown together on the adventure of a lifetime, they discover that friendships are great at any age! This Little Golden Book retelling of Disney•Pixar’s newest film, Up, will appeal to adventurers of all ages.

El sol es de oro
la luna es de plata
y las estrellitas
son de hoja de lata.

The sun’s a gold medallion.
The moon’s a silver ball.
The little stars are only tin;
I love them best of all.

Here is a groundbreaking bilingual collection of traditional rhymes that celebrates childhood and Spanish and Latin American heritage. From playing dress up to making tortillas, and from rising at daybreak to falling asleep, these joyful rhymes are sure to delight young readers.

Passed down from generation to generation, the twenty-nine rhymes included have been lovingly selected by distinguished authors Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy. English adaptations by Alice Schertle capture the spirit of each rhyme and have a charm all their own. Accompanied by enchanting illustrations by Spanish artist Viví Escrivá, this collection is destined to become a beloved classic for children already familiar with the rhymes as well as those encountering them for the first time.

Amazon.com Review
On a cold windy night, an itty-bitty mouse “pitter-pat, tip-toe, creep-crawls” into a sleeping bear’s cozy lair, looking for relief from the bitter winter weather. Soon he is joined by a veritable menagerie of woodland animals, and the party begins. Popping corn, brewing tea, tweeting, and chatting, the critters enjoy themselves thoroughly while the bear slumbers through it all. Until, that is, an errant pepper flake from the simmering stew wakes him up with a giant sneeze. As the bear goes from ferocious snarls and rumbles to pitiful whimpers, his uninvited guests realize what the problem is.

You’ve snuck in my lair
and you’ve all had fun!
But me? I was sleeping
and…
I have had none!

Not to worry. Mouse knows just what to do.

First-time author Karma Wilson and artist Jane Chapman (illustrator of Phyllis Root’s One Duck Stuck) have created a charming little tale of sharing and caring that will have readers of all ages cheering at the humorous finale. (Ages 3 to 7) –Emilie Coulter

Features a shiny ball, a bumpy strawberry, a soft sunflower, and more!

Growing up is hard, but when children have to give up the things they love most–like sleeping in their parents’ bed–a perfectly good day can turn into a catastrophe! Transition Times is a concept of internationally known child psychologist and parenting expert Lawrence E. Shapiro, who has written a series of books to help children through their trying transition times, including: giving up their pacifier, sleeping in their own bed, using words to communicate, and sitting still in their own chair.

For most of today’s parents, raising young children is the central part of their lives. Bonding and attachment is rightfully a primary concern, but many parents ignore the fact that limit-setting and age-appropriate expectations are also an important part of raising happy and healthy children. Where previous generations might have simply said “no,” today’s parents are looking for less confrontational ways to guide their young children through the trials and travails of growing up.

Transition Times is designed to help parents through the difficult times when they have to deny their children some of the most primitive pleasures of childhood. Virtually every child will have difficulty with at least one transition time, and this series is intended to provide a gentle way to help children and their families through these periods.

Each picture book contains sympathetic illustrated explanations of why it is important to give up the habits of babyhood and become a big boy or girl. Each book also includes advice for parents on how they can best help their children through these poignant and sometimes harrowing times.

All four books in the series will be published simultaneously with illustrations by Hideko Takahashi.

Each book includes a colorfully illustrated story for kids and professional advice for parents on what they should do, and not do, to help their children with a difficult transitions.

of Camp Mariposa, where both animals and campers are struck by the urge to

shake, clap, jump, waggle, and eventually yawn. Melody line and chords are

provided at the end.”–Language Arts.

Little Porcupine’s mother calls him the “light of her life,” but it’s not until the night before Christmas, the very night of the Christmas play, that Little Porcupine sees the truth in her words.

On Christmas Eve Alice Jayne finds a crocodile under the tree. The Christmas Crocodile doesn’t mean to be bad, not really, but soon he is eating everything in the house, even the Christmas tree! “Send the beast to Africa,” huffs Uncle Theodore. Aunt Figgy thinks he should be put in an orphanage. “Maybe the zoo?” suggests Father. But Alice Jayne wants to give him a home. Will their Christmas survive if she does

Readers’ appetites for humor will be well satisfied by this rollicking holiday treat. Amazon.com Review
Uncle Theodore is huffing, Aunt Figgy is fretting, and Alice Jayne is tapping her foot–pretty subdued behavior considering the fact that a hungry crocodile has just appeared under the Christmas tree. This eccentric family handles the mysterious reptile remarkably well, even though the beast seems to have an appetite as fierce as its legendary bite. The Christmas Crocodile tears around the house eating everything in sight, whether edible (a roast, five golden oranges, a pineapple upside-down cake) or inedible (a shoe, ribbons, a feather boa, earmuffs, and fruitcake). The family is divided over how to best deal with this unexpected guest. Send him to an orphanage? Pack him off to the zoo? Make him into a pair of shoes? “He’s nice,” said Alice Jayne. “Maybe we could keep him.” Just when it seems the crocodile has eaten all he can stomach, the family awakens to discover that he has consumed nearly all the presents and the Christmas tree too! The one uneaten gift holds the key to this toothsome tale, as well as a surprise that will have kids smiting their foreheads in gleeful anticipation of more mayhem to come.

Author Bonny Becker has crafted a rollicking reptile romp, with an apologetic refrain–”The Christmas Crocodile didn’t mean to be bad, not really”–to which children can surely relate. David Small, creator of the Caldecott Honor-winning The Gardener, accompanies Becker’s spritely, funny text with equally amusing, expressive illustrations that will have youngsters poring over this book long after the last present has been unwrapped. (Ages 4 to –Brangien Davis

“Masterfully structured and rich in theme; the action is well crafted, well timed, suspenseful.”—The New York Times Book Review

“The characterizations of all the boys are superb.”—School Library Journal, Starred

“Compellingly immediate. . . . Readers will respect the uncompromising ending.”—Kirkus Reviews, Starred

An ALA Best Books for Young Adults

A New York Times Outstanding Books of the Year Amazon.com Review
Does Jerry Renault dare to disturb the universe? You wouldn’t think that his refusal to sell chocolates during his school’s fundraiser would create such a stir, but it does; it’s as if the whole school comes apart at the seams. To some, Jerry is a hero, but to others, he becomes a scapegoat–a target for their pent-up hatred. And Jerry? He’s just trying to stand up for what he believes, but perhaps there is no way for him to escape becoming a pawn in this game of control; students are pitted against other students, fighting for honor–or are they fighting for their lives? In 1974, author Robert Cormier dared to disturb our universe when this book was first published. And now, with a new introduction by the celebrated author, The Chocolate War stands ready to shock a new group of teen readers.

It used to be that Belly counted the days until summer, until she was back at Cousins Beach with Conrad and Jeremiah. But not this year. Not after Susannah got sick again and Conrad stopped caring. Everything that was right and good has fallen apart, leaving Belly wishing summer would never come.

But when Jeremiah calls saying Conrad has disappeared, Belly knows what she must do to make things right again. And it can only happen back at the beach house, the three of them together, the way things used to be. If this summer really and truly is the last summer, it should end the way it started–at Cousins Beach.

Sing along with Hermie and Friends as they have the silliest Christmas countdown ever! Based on the classic tune The Twelve Days of Christmas, this Hermie and Friends song perfectly captures the garden at Christmas. When the creatures of the garden gather to celebrate the Christmas season, there’s a lot of activity: flies a’buzzin’, fleas a’scratchin’, spiders spinning, snails sliming–the list goes on and on. But even in the midst of all the silliness, Hermie and his friends remember to celebrate the real reason for the season. Available in three different formats, it’s sure to be the perfect gift for that child at heart on your list!

“A painless way to get kids interested in healthy food!”
–Dr. Andrew Weil, Founder and Director, Program in Integrative Medicine, University of Arizona

“Just what the doctor ordered! Finally a fun way to get kids excited about healthy eating. They’re having so much fun, they don’t realize how much they’re learning!”
–Michael Jacobson, PhD, Executive Director, Center for Science in the Public Interest

BONUS FEATURES!
14 FUN SNACK RECIPE CARDS for nutritious snacks kids love to make and eat! Inside the book or as a free download at foodplay.com

Teacher’s Activity Guide available free at foodplay.com

The mysterious Mr. Socrates rescues Modo, a child in a traveling freak show. Modo is a hunchback with an amazing ability to transform his appearance, and Mr. Socrates raises him in isolation as an agent for the Permanent Association, a spy agency behind Brittania’s efforts to rule the empire. At 14, Modo is left on the streets of London to fend for himself. When he encounters Octavia Milkweed, another Association agent, the two uncover a plot by the Clockword Guild behind the murders of important men. Furthermore, a mad scientist is turning orphan children into automatons to further the goals of the Guild. Modo and Octavia journey deep into the tunnels under London and discover a terrifying plot against the British government. It’s up to them to save their country.