Grade: K

In this retold Ojibwe tale, a little girl’s courage and determination save her village from a terrible disease and bring the delicate lady slipper flower to the forests of the Great Lakes. By listening closely to nature, the hissing snow, rumbling ice, and dancing northern lights, the little girl is able to bring healing herbs back from a neighboring village. The next spring she goes back to look for a pair of beaded ma-ki-sins she lost during her harrowing journey to retrieve the medicine. Instead, all along her route, wherever she had stepped, she finds beautiful lady slipper flowers shaped like tiny mocassins.

The little house stood in the country, with trees and fields around her, and with the birds and flowers and children for company. In the distance twinkled the lights of the big city, and the little house wondered what it would be like to live there. One day steam shovels dug a road in front of the little house, and soon she was surrounded by houses and stores. Then tall skyscrapers rose on either side of her, elevated trains roared past her, and a subway shook the ground under her foundations. She longed for a glimpse of the stars and the scent of apple blossoms, but she was caught by the big city. Then, when she was so old and shabby that nobody wanted to live in her, she had an unexpected chance to escape.

When Mr. Cohen, the baker, opens his oven, out jumps the Matzah Man. This rascal leads a cumulative chase through the neighborhood taunting everyone he meets. Mendel, a little boy, finally outwits the elusive Matzah Man when he hides him under the matzah cover on the seder table. Howland’s adaptation of “The Gingerbread Man” is teeming with Passover preparations and ends around a community table where all (especially Mendel) enjoy the best matzah they ever ate. A glossary of Passover terms is included.

Zach visits his grandparents every summer at their cottage by the lake. He is looking forward to fishing with Gramps and eating Gram’s cooking. Gramps calls their first idyllic day a “Memory Box Day.” Zach learns that this is a day for young and old to start gathering photos, stories, and souvenirs to store in a special box to remember their times together. As Zach’s time with his grandparents unfolds, he learns the true reason for the memory box; it is especially for Gramps who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. During the rest of his stay, Zach and his grandparents fill the box with wonderful memories of summers past and new memories, building something that will always keep them together.

When Nicki drops one of his new white mittens in the snow, he doesn’t even notice it’s missing. One by one, the woodland animals discover the mitten and crawl inside, each one larger than the last: a mole, a rabbit, even a big, brown bear!

Lovable, furry old Grover is distressed to learn that there’s a monster at the end of this book! He begs readers not to turn the pages, but of course kids feel they just have to see this monster for themselves. Grover is astonished—and kids are delighted—to discover who is really the monster at the end of the book!

Foy Rin Jin is a dragon. He is huge, red, and breathes water instead of fire. It’s not easy being a dragon who doesn’t fit in. Humiliated, he leaves the dragon lair to venture into the human world. This makes a great read-aloud.

“Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse”

These familiar words have never before been illustrated with such style. Magnificent paintings by American artist Richard Jesse Watson infuse traditional images with pizzazz and flair. From cozy interiors to snowy landscapes, each scene is packed with the details of Christmas. Watch for the remarkable cast of elves who populate these pages. Best of all, see Santa Claus himself as you’ve never seen him before, complete with an exclusive interview.

Spilling over with all the joy and generosity of the season, here is an edition of Clement C. Moore’s classic Christmas poem that is perfect for families of today. Ho! Ho! Ho!