Family

In a striking debut, Tomie dePaola finds just the right voice for his first chapter book about his adventures during the year the family built their house at 26 Fairmount Avenue. It all began when the “Big Hurricane of 1938″ roared into town…then his first day of school took an unexpected turn…so did Mr. Disney’s Snow White, the movie everyone had been waiting to see. These are only a few of the stories that will have readers racing from one episode to the next. Tomie fans, young and old, will be delighted to find favorite characters from his picture books, such as Nana Upstairs, Nana Downstairs, Tom and others. Funny, dramatic and memorable moments combined with lively illustrations throughout will make everyone wish they had grown up in the dePaola family.

He could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. He went to sleep with gum in his mouth and woke up with gum in his hair. When he got out of bed, he tripped over his skateboard and by mistake dropped his sweater in the sink while the water was running. He could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. It was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Nothing at all was right. Everything went wrong, right down to lima beans for supper and kissing on TV. What do you do on a day like that? Well, you may think about going to Australia. You may also be glad to find that some days are like that for other people too.

Ten-year-old India Opal Buloni has no idea what’s in store for her when she moves to a new town — least of all that she’ll adopt a big, ugly dog and name him after a supermarket. This young-adult novel brings a community’s integrity and diversity to life.

Maurice, too, is unique. From the time he is born, his family wonders who he will grow up to be. Will he be a baker like Papa, a writer like his mom, a taxi driver like Uncle Eddie, or a gardener like his grandmother? Children who are compared with one relative or another will identify with Maurice and have their own reasons to shout, “Bravo, Maurice!” as they turn the last pages.

What could be sweeter than adorable baby animals snuggling with their daddies? This simple board book with warm illustrations feature a variety of animals and celebrate the affection between fathers and children. Cuddles and kisses will surely abound when reading this aloud!

What could be sweeter than the relationship between a daddy and his little girl? With his signature wit and warmth, beloved radio host and writer Garrison Keillor turns ordinary daily events — from diaper-changing and eating favorite foods to a walk through the neighborhood — into celebrations. And for those times when daddy and baby just have to dance, the book includes a CD of Keillor’s live performances of the songs — plus bonus tracks.

Told from the point of view of a young child whose parents are divorced, Fred Stays with Me follows a girl and her dog, Fred, from one parent’s house to the other’s, giving her a sense of continuity and stability. With a simple text and childlike language, the story expresses and addresses a child’s concerns, highlights the friendship between child and pet, presents a common ground for the parents, and resolves conflict in a positive way. Tricia Tusa’s charming and whimsical artwork adds a light, happy feel to this poignant–but not overly sentimental–story.

Best friends, Turtle and Spottie spend all their time together. They go to the gym, plant a garden, and enjoy scary movies. But they don’t always think alike, so compromise is the solution. Divided into chapters, this storybook can be read aloud at one time or over several occasions.