by Marjorie Flack, illustrations by Kurt Wiese (ages 4-8). A "there's no place like home" story of a little duckling who gets left behind on the shore of the Yangtze River in China. Like Dorothy, he is eventually reunited with his family - "mother, father, two sisters, three brothers, eighteen uncles and aunts, and forty-two cousins", after going through a series of adventures, almost being made a duck dinner, and finally being rescued by a boy. Beautiful text by Marjorie Flack. Kurt Wiese lived in China and his illustrations bring the story to life.Tikki Tikki Tembo
Retold by Arlene Mosel, Illustrated by Blair Lent (ages 4-8). In this book, you will meet a boy with a very long name - "Tikkitikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari runchi-pip peri pembo" - who falls down a well. His younger brother has trouble calling out his long name in time to save him, but luckily there is an Old Man with a Ladder...nice pen and ink and wash drawings - and a great read aloud! (Practice first!)
The Five Chinese Brothers (Paperstar)
Retold by Claire Huchet Bishop, illustrations by Kurt Wiese (ages 4-8). This tale is about five brothers who live with their mother by the sea, look exactly alike, but have different and extraordinary powers. They must each use their own unique power to save the first brother from being unfairly put to death. If your kids like the movie, THE INCREDIBLES, they'll love this book!
Find out what happens when Louis' Uncle McAllister brings back "a wee bit of Scotland" to him for his birthday. Hint: This tadpole GROWS! Heartwarming and hilarious story of a boy's devotion to his pet. My kids wanted this book read to them over and over and over again!![How Much Is a Million? [HOW MUCH IS A MILLION ANN]](http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B002E9U7M6&tag=wendyb1963)
Have you ever tried to explain the answer to this question to a 4-8 year old child? This book will do it for you, as David M. Schwartz's concepts and mathematical calculations are helped brilliantly by Steven Kellogg's fun, detailed illustrations. Another book we read over and over!
Pinkerton, the Great Dane, decides that a football must be an egg, after his owner, Emily, comes home from school with information about penguins and their amazing parenting skills...chaos ensues before Granny saves the day. Other Pinkerton Books: 
,
, 
, and 
. These stories were based on Mr. Kellogg's own harlequin Great Dane, named - Pinkerton, of course!
A "what happened next?" story unfolds as a mother asks her daughter how the class field trip to the farm went. Kind of boring she says, until Jimmy's boa got away...again, chaos reigns and hilarity follows. Written by Trinka Hakes Noble, with illustrations by Steven Kellogg.
on television and movies, like 
, with Betty Hutton and Howard Keel, and 
, by Joan Walsh Anglund (ages 4-8) Anglund's charming line drawings bring this little Cowboy to life! (The black line illustrations are what is happening in the boy's everyday life. The red line illustrations show what he is imagining is going on.)
(ages 4-8). Such a classic and I'm so glad it's in print! Cowboy Small and his horse, Cactus, take care of each other!
(ages 4-8) I really like Gail Gibbons' books. Her colorful watercolor illustrations make the details so interesting in all her books.
(ages 4-8). Fun retelling has Cindy Ellen going to bbq's and rodeos, instead of the ball!
(ages 8-12) Fun activities and recipes for all things Western!
(series for ages 8-12) See my post from 6/3/10 "Books That Transport Us..."
by Sid Fleischman (ages 8-12) Wild West adventure during the California Gold Rush.
by Ingri Parin D'Aulaire. (ages 8-12) Your child will meet William F. Cody in this beautiful picture book by the D'Aulaires.
, by William Steig (ages 4-8) A bit of a twist on Aesop's fable of THE LION AND THE MOUSE. Beautiful, poignant text and simple, sweet pictures of the unlikely friendship between a whale and a mouse.
, by Helme Heine (ages 4-8) The text and illustrations in this book are hilarious! It takes these three Friends to maneuver their bicycle on all kinds of adventures...Charlie Rooster steering the handlebars, and Johnny Mouse and Fat Percy on each pedal.
by Bernard Waber (ages 4-8) Ira is excited to go and sleep at his friend, Regie's house, but isn't sure he can get along without his Teddy Bear.
,by Patricia Lee Gauch. (ages 4-8) Tanya, the smallest and wiggliest girl in her dance class, makes friends with the new girl, Emily.
, by Joan Walsh Anglund (ages 4-8) Her adorable illustrations and sweet text have made her books popular for generations.
, by Kevin Henkes (ages 4-8) A story about accepting new people: Chester and his best friend, Wilson, are surprised when Lily moves into their neighborhood and has her own exuberant way of doing things..
, by Arnold Lobel (series, ages 4-8) This beginner chapter book has five stories of Frog and Toad's adventures together. A classic! 
by Joyce Lankester Brisley (ages 4-8) Around since 1928, this collection of 21 adventures (set in England), complete with original art by the author, is a “window to a simpler time,” a classic that still delights all ages.
, by E.L. Konigsburg (ages 8 and up) "They told Mrs. Olinski that they were The Souls long before they were a team, but she told them that they were a team as soon as they became The Souls."
, by Elizabeth George Speare (ages 9-12) The idea for this book came from a factual story that the author heard about: a young boy was left alone for a summer in the Maine wilderness and was befriended by a Native American and his grandson.
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN FAIRY TALES
