Grade: K

A picture book based on the #1 New York Times bestselling memoir Marley & Me by John Grogan! In John Grogan’s memoir, Marley & Me, the world learned how one bad dog became the heart of the family that loved him. Now, in this original picture book, Mommy, Daddy, Cassie, and Baby Louie welcome the puppy Marley to the Grogan family. Marley grows and grows . . . and grows. His eagerness and energy grow with him, getting him into trouble in a great big way. And, in the end, Marley’s over-the-top energy is just what’s needed to save the day. Marley is a hit with families and dog lovers everywhere. And Richard Cowdrey’s warmly rendered illustrations bring the story of this rambunctious dog to a whole new audience.

“Bark,” instructs George’s mother, but he responds, “Meow!” The problem is, George is a dog. So his mother repeats, “Bark.” But George responds, “Quack-quack.” Finally, George has to go to the vet, where he learns to bark. (But there’s still a surprise ending.)

Everybody sing alongóbecause it-s time to do-si-do in the barnyard with a high-spirited animal crew! From Boynton on Board, the bestselling series of board books, here is BARNYARD DANCE, with Sandra Boynton-s twirling pigs, fiddle-playing cows, and other unforgettable animals. Extra-big, extra-fat, and extra-fun, BARNYARD DANCE features lively rhyming text and a die-cut cover that reveals the wacky characters inside. Guaranteed to get kids and adults stomping their feet. Main selection of the Children-s Book-of-the-Month Club. Winner of the 1994 Gold Medal from the National Parenting Publications Award.

Quick, call out! Tell all you can reach the night is just perfect for bats at the beach! So pack your buckets, banjos, and blankets—don’t forget the moon-tan lotion—and wing with this bunch of fuzzy bats to where foamy sea and soft sand meet. Brian Lies’s enchanting art and cheery beachside verse will inspire bedtime imaginations again and again. Come visit a bedazzling world of moonlight, firelight, and . . . bats!

In an exciting tale set in 17th-century China, a girl who is trained in the warrior arts of kung fu sets out to teach her fighting skills to a princess. While both girls learn to protect themselves against bullies, they also learn that the true meaning of kung fu is more than kicking and punching.

In this fresh, funny take-off on Kafka’s Metamorphosis, Gregory Samsa wakes up one morning and discovers he’s become a boy-sized beetle. Why did it happen? And why does no one, except for his best friend Michael, notice? As Gregory searches for answers, he establishes himself as a character children will long remember.

In the Australian outback, everyone waits for rain. Old Stephen says it’s on its way, but still the dogs, frogs, and Rosie’s kids have to wait, swimming in the billabong (a small, still pool) and sleeping outside. Bold colors and patterns fill each page up to the final spread: “Wonderful, cool, wet rain.”

Harkening back to 1956, this classic children’s book by Margaret Wise Brown is still in print. Her lulling cadences introduce the barnyard animals as they play one day while the children are away. The illustrations carry us from sunrise to nightfall. A perfect choice for older toddlers. The revised drawings in full color will delight kids.