Special Collections

What Alvin Wanted

Alvin wanted something but neither Sam nor Libby knew what it was. And Alvin couldn’t tell them. Mama had gone out, leaving him in their care, and Sam and Libby simply couldn’t make him happy. They offered games, stories, crayons and cookies. They even called Grandma. But Alvin couldn’t tell anyone what was wrong. Then Mama returned, and knew at once what Alvin wanted. Because it was something she had forgotten to give him when she left!

Date Added: 05/25/2017

Saving Samantha

Gijsbert (Nick) and Robbyn van Frankenhuyzen have spent years rehabilitating injured and orphaned animals and restoring them back into the wild. Their adventures began with the tale of Jackson the great horned owl in Adopted by an Owl, published in 2001. In Saving Samantha they continue sharing one of many of their fascinating wildlife accounts with the recovery and release of a red fox. Upon discovering her as a pup in a rusty trap near her family den, Robbyn raced home with her to begin Samantha's healing. Sam's encounters with other animals on the farm highlight her need to return to the wild, from her friendship with the family dog, Myles, to her battles with the local bully (a rooster named Igor) and the family crow, Corvis. Through Samantha, readers will come to understand the delicate balance between healing and release, the glory of reunion, and the bittersweet sadness of letting go. Picture descriptions present.

Date Added: 05/25/2017

Sam, Bangs & Moonshine

from the book Jacket: Sam, a fisherman's daughter who dreams rich and lovely dreams—moonshine, her father says—sits in her dragon-drawn chariot and says wise things to Bangs, her cat. One day Sam sends little Thomas, her devoted friend, to Blue Rock, far out in the harbor, and a sudden storm brings near disaster to Thomas and Bangs. It is then that Sam repentantly draws a line between moonshine and reality. Young readers whose mothers are mermaids, who own fierce lions and baby kangaroos, and who can talk to their cats will find a fast friend in the heroine of this imaginative, humorous book. "Never has the artist made more striking pictures." —The Horn Book "The narrative is delightfully expressed and the charming drawings beautifully portray the island scene." —Booklist "An unusually creative story . . . presented in a realistic and sympathetic context. . . . This is an outstanding book." —School Library Journal

Date Added: 05/25/2017

Toys Go Out

Lumphy is a stuffed buffalo. StingRay is a stuffed stingray. And Plastic. . . well, Plastic isn't quite surewhatshe is. They all belong to the Little Girl who lives on the high bed with the fluffy pillows. A very nice person to belong to. But outside of the Little Girl's room things can be confusing. Like when Lumphy gets sticky with peanut butter on a picnic, why is he called "dirty"? Or when StingRay jumps into the bathtub, what will happen to her fur? And where in the house can they find the Little Girl a birthday present that she will love the most? Together is best for these three best friends. Together they look things up in the dictionary, explore the basement, and argue about the meaning of life. And together they face dogs, school, television commercials, the vastness of the sea and the terrifying bigness of the washing machine. With all the appeal of a classic, here are six linked stories form Emily Jenkins, and illustrated by Caldecott winning Paul O. Zelinsky that showcase the unforgettable adventures--and misadventures-- of three extraordinary friends.

Date Added: 05/25/2017

Mr. Popper's Penguins

Mr. Popper has penguins in his fridge, an ice rink in the basement, and a family for whom life will never be the same How many penguins in the house is too many?

Mr. Popper is a humble house painter living in Stillwater who dreams of faraway places like the South Pole. When an explorer responds to his letter by sending him a penguin named Captain Cook, Mr. Popper and his family's lives change forever. Soon one penguin becomes twelve, and the Poppers must set out on their own adventure to preserve their home.

First published in 1938, Mr. Popper's Penguins is a classic tale that has enchanted young readers for generations.

Newbery Medal Honors book

Winner of Pacific Northwest Library Association’s Young Reader’s Choice Award

Date Added: 05/25/2017

Cowgirl Kate And Cocoa

Cowgirl. Kate and her cowhorse, Cocoa, who is always hungry, count cows, share a story, and help each other fall asleep. [This text is listed as an example that meets Common Core Standards in English language arts in grades 2-3 at http://www.corestandards.org.]

Winner of the Theodore Seuss Geisel Honor

Date Added: 05/25/2017

Amazing Grace

Although classmates say that she can't play Peter Pan in the school play, because she's black and a girl, Grace discovers that she can do anything she sets her mind to do.

Date Added: 05/25/2017

Yo! Yes?

Raschka's Caldecott Honor Book which captures the street poetry between two boys is now available for the first time in a Scholastic Bookshelf paperback version. Full color.

Date Added: 05/25/2017

Young Cam Jansen and the Zoo Note Mystery

It's field trip day in Cam and Eric's class. Only where is Eric's permission slip? He had it on the bus, but now it's gone! Did someone take it? Did it blow away? After a few red herrings, Cam's click-click memory kicks in just in time for Eric to join the class on their field trip to the zoo.

Perfect for new readers, these Young Cam Jansen Easy-to-Read mysteries feature easy-to-follow storylines, brief sentences, and visual clues within the illustrations, and will introduce readers to feisty Cam, whose adventures can be followed in the Cam Jansen series for transitional readers.

Lexile Levels: 210-450

Date Added: 05/25/2017

Dolphins at Daybreak

Jack and Annie are ready for their next fantasy adventure in the bestselling middle-grade series--the Magic Tree House!

IT'S SINK OR SWIM for Jack and Annie when the Magic Tree House whisks them off to the middle of the ocean.

Luckily, they find a mini-submarine on a coral reef. Unluckily, they are about to meet a giant octopus and one very hungry shark.

Will the dolphins save the day? Or are Jack and Annie doomed to be dinner?

Date Added: 05/25/2017

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat

The story takes place in a small village in Poland probably in the middle or late 19th century, and the people are dressed in costumes of the period. This elegant picture book tells the story of Joseph's overcoat, and what he does wih it when it wears out. Along the way, children meet some Yiddish words and glimpse a bit of Jewish culture. This picture book includes picture descriptions, and this file should make an excellent embossed braille copy.

Date Added: 05/25/2017

Arthur's Tooth

Arthur is the only one in his class who hasn't yet lost a baby tooth. Will his loose tooth ever fall out?

Date Added: 05/25/2017

I Can Do It!

Mastering new skills is a part of growing up and every stage of development is marked by such learning. But sometimes a child will have a hard time with a new challenge. So here are Elmo, Big Bird, and their Sesame Street friends (including Grover, Zoe, Bert, Ernie, Rosita, and Telly) to show kids that it's terrific to learn how to do something new, and also, that if you get stuck, you can always ask for help from a parent, a teacher, a sibling, or a friend. And even asking for a hand can be a little bit hard at first! This Step 1 Step into Reading emphasizes core Sesame Street values of cooperation, friendship, and trying new things. The short rhyming text will please children who are just beginning to read on their own.From the Trade Paperback edition.

Date Added: 05/25/2017

Food Chain Frenzy

Arnold, Ms. Frizzle, and the whole Magic School Bus crew find themselves in a Food Chain Frenzy as they digest lots of fab facts on ecosystems and eating habits.

Ms. Frizzle is the weirdest teacher around, and Arnold is her most reluctant student. A field trip on the Magic School Bus can be torture for Arnold, and there is just one thing that can make it worse: his cousin Janet. With his know-it-all relative's visit combined with an all-wheel learning adventure, it is sure to be a school day Arnold won't soon forget. The Friz is always hungry for adventure, and that's just what the class gets. With so much to learn about ecosystems, even Arnold finds himself eating up all the food-chain facts.

Date Added: 05/25/2017

Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile

A cranky neighbor puts Lyle in the zoo but experiences a change of heart when the crocodile saves him from a fire.

Date Added: 05/25/2017

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Alexander knew it was going to be a terrible day when he woke up with gum in this hair. And it got worse... His best friend deserted him. There was no dessert in his lunch bag. And, on top of all that, there were lima beans for dinner and kissing on TV! Judith Viorst's classic picture book is sure to charm readers of all ages. Images and image descriptions available.

Date Added: 05/25/2017

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!

When a bus driver takes a break from his route, a very unlikely volunteer springs up to take his place-a pigeon! But you've never met one like this before. As he pleads, wheedles, and begs his way through the book, children will love being able to answer back and decide his fate. In his hilarious picture book debut, popular cartoonist Mo Willems perfectly captures a preschooler's temper tantrum. Images and image descriptions available.

Date Added: 05/25/2017

The Boy Who Drew Birds

John James Audubon was a boy who loved the out-of-doors more than the in. He was a boy who believed in studying birds in nature, not just from books. And, in the fall of 1804, he was a boy determined to learn if the small birds nesting near his Pennsylvania home really would return the following spring. This book reveals how the youthful Audubon pioneered a technique essential to our understanding of birds. Capturing the early passion of America’s greatest painter of birds, this story will leave young readers listening intently for the call of birds large and small near their own homes.

Date Added: 05/25/2017

A Bear Called Paddington

Paddington is a most endearing bear from Darkest Peru. Mr. and Mrs. Brown first met him on a railway platform in London. He was sitting on a battered suitcase, wearing a most odd looking hat and a sign hanging around his neck said, "Please look after this bear. Thank you." So that is just what they did, little knowing that home would never be the same once Paddington became a member of the family. For an earnest, gentle and well-meaning bear, poor Paddington has an absolute talent for getting into trouble. His intentions are always the best, but from the very first night when he attempted his first bath and ended up nearly flooding the house, Paddington was seldom far from imminent disaster. Of course, Jonathan and Judy were delighted with the amount of havoc that Paddington could cause and even Mr. and Mrs. Brown had to admit that life seemed to be more filled with adventure when there was a bear from Darkest Peru in the house.

Date Added: 05/25/2017

Measuring Penny

Lisa learns about the mathematics of measuring by measuring her dog Penny with all sorts of units, including pounds, inches, dog biscuits, and cotton swabs.

Date Added: 05/25/2017

Gooney Bird Greene

From the moment Gooney Bird Greene arrives at Watertower Elementary School, her fellow second-graders are intrigued by her unique sense of style and her unusual lunches. So when story time arrives, the choice is unanimous: they want to hear about Gooney Bird Greene. And that suits her just fine, because, as it turns out, Gooney Bird has quite a few interesting and "absolutely true" stories to tell.Through Gooney Bird and her tales, acclaimed author Lois Lowry introduces young readers to the concepts and elements of storytelling. By demonstrating some of the simple techniques that reveal the extraordinary in everyday events, this book will encourage the storyteller in everyone.

Date Added: 05/25/2017

Let's Do Nothing!

Meet Frankie and Sal, two boys who've done it all. They've played every board game. They've read every comic book. They've painted a zillion pictures. What's left to do? Just when it seems they will collapse from boredom, Sal gets a brilliant idea. What about doing nothing? But is it possible--can two boys do ten whole seconds of nothing? Hold your breath and get ready for this laugh-out-loud romp created by feature film animator and debut picture-book artist Tony Fucile.

Date Added: 05/25/2017

Thunder Cake

From the Book Jacket: A loud clap of thunder booms and rattles the windows of Grandma's old farmhouse."This is Thunder Cake baking weather," calls Grandma, as she and her granddaughter hurry to gather the ingredients around the farm. A real Thunder Cake must reach the oven before the storm arrives. But the list of ingredients is long and not easy to find ... and the storm is coming closer all the time! Reaching once again into her rich childhood experience, Patricia Polacco tells the memorable story of how her grandma—her Babushka—helped her overcome her fear of thunder when she was a little girl. Ms. Polacco's vivid memories of her grandmother's endearing answer to a child's fear, accompanied by her bright folk-art illustrations, turn a frightening thunderstorm into an adventure and ultimately...a celebration! Whether the first clap of thunder finds you buried under the bedcovers or happily anticipating the coming storm, Thunder Cake is a story that will bring new meaning and possibility to the excitement of a thunderstorm. Patricia Polacco, born to parents of Russian extraction, comes from a large family of storytellers. She reminisces, "My fondest memories are of sitting around a stove or open fire, eating apples and popping popcorn while listening to the old ones tell glorious stories about the past." Many of Ms. Polacco's stories are based on family history, as are Thunder Cake and the recently published Uncle Vova's Tree. Her first book for Philomel, Rechenkd's Eggs, won the 1989 International Reading Association Book Award, Younger Reader Category. Ms. Polacco has studied in both the United States and Australia, receiving both a bachelor's and master's degree in fine art and a Ph.D. in art history, specializing in Russian and Greek painting and iconographie history. Having raised a son and daughter, Patricia Polacco and her husband, Enzo, now live in Oakland, California.

Date Added: 05/25/2017

Frog and Toad Are Friends

From writing letters to going swimming, telling stories to finding lost buttons, Frog and Toad are always there for each other--just as best friends should be. Images and image descriptions available.

Date Added: 05/25/2017

Strega Nona

When Strega Nona leaves him alone with her magic pasta pot, Big Anthony is determined to show the townspeople how it works in this classic Caldecott Honor book from Tomie dePaola.

Strega Nona—"Grandma Witch"—is the source for potions, cures, magic, and comfort in her Calabrian town. Her magical everfull pasta pot is especially intriguing to hungry Big Anthony. He is supposed to look after her house and tend her garden but one day, when she goes over the mountain to visit Strega Amelia, Big Anthony recites the magic verse over the pasta pot, with disastrous results.

In this retelling of an old tale, author-illustrator Tomie dePaola combines humor in the writing and warmth in the paintings as he builds the story to its hilarious climax.

Date Added: 05/15/2019