Non-Fiction Books

Bats!: Creatures of the Night by Joyce Milton

CL-NF 599.4 Milton Request a copy

Did you know that bats are not blind? That the smallest bat is the size of a bee? That bats won’t really fly into your hair? Kids will learn all this and more in this exciting book about one of nature’s most misunderstood creatures.

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A House Spider’s Life by John Himmelman

CL-NF 595.4 Himmelman Request a copy

Examines the life cycle of a Nature Up-close: A House Spider’s Life

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They Call Me Woolly: What Animal Names Can Tell Us by Keith DuQuette

CL-NF 590 DuQuette Request a copy

From the woolly monkey to the woolly bear, from the blue-tongued skink to the blue marlin, there’s so much to discover in an animal’s name. An animal’s name can tell you where the animal is from, like the African elephant. Its name can also tell you what the animal eats, like the rat snake, or what it looks like, such as the walking stick, or even what it sounds like, such as the whooping crane or the howler monkey. In this celebration of the natural world, Keith DuQuette uses simple language and stunning illustrations to show us the amazing members of the animal kingdom who embody the evocative names we give them.

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Books in a Series (not all titles is a series may be level K)

Frog and Toad All Year by Arnold Lobel

CL-Early Lob Request a copy

Friends all year. In winter, spring, summer, and fall, Frog and Toad are always together. Here is a wise and wonderful story for each season of the year-and one for Christmas, too.

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Gus and Grandpa by Claudia Mills

CL-Early Mil Request a copy

Gus and Grandpa make their debut in three lively and tender stories. In the first, Gus makes a mess while trying to feed Grandpa’s dog, Skipper (Grandpa makes him clean it up). In the second, Grandpa loses his car at the mall (Gus finds it). In the third, Gus and Grandpa share a birthday party and exchange presents (Grandpa gives Gus a dog-food scoop for neater feedings, and Gus gives Grandpa a ball of yarn to help him keep track of the car).

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High Rise Private Eyes: The Case of the Missing Monkey by Cynthia Rylant

CL-Early Ryl Request a copy

Deep in the heart of the city. . . Mac’s favorite glass monkey is missing. Who would take a glass monkey? And why? This sounds like a case for the High-Rise Private Eyes–Case #001, to be exact, The Case of the Missing Monkey Because no mystery is too mysterious, no puzzle to puzzling, no crime too criminal, no trouble too troubling for ace detectives and very best friends Bunny Brown and Jack Jones.

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Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo

CL-Series Mercy Watson Request a copy

To Mr. and Mrs. Watson, Mercy is not just a pig — she’s a porcine wonder. And to the portly and good-natured Mercy, the Watsons are an excellent source of buttered toast, not to mention that buttery-toasty feeling she gets when she snuggles into bed with them. This is not, however, so good for the Watsons’ bed. BOOM! CRACK! As the bed and its occupants slowly sink through the floor, Mercy escapes in a flash — “to alert the fire department,” her owners assure themselves. But could Mercy possibly have another emergency in mind — like a sudden craving for their neighbors’ sugar cookies?

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Minnie and Moo Go to the Moon by Denys Cazet

CL-Early Caz Request a copy

Minnie and Moo are cows, best friends, and the drollest duo to come along since Frog and Toad. “We could do that,” says Moo to Minnie, as they watch the farmer quit work and hang his hat on a nail. “Do what?” Minnie asks. “Drive that tractor,” says Moo, ever the dreamer. “I have been thinking. What hoes the farmer have that we do not?” “Hands and feet,” says Minnie, ever practical. “No,” says Moo. “Boots and a hat.” And buoyed by that undeniable logic, the two set off on a drive that they believe takes them to the moon. Other farm animals are involved–all with hilarious consequences.

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Nate the Great by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat

CL-Series Nate the Great Request a copy

Neighborhood detective Nate investigates the disappearance of his friend Annie’s favorite painting. Includes fun activities inside.

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Other Picture Books and Early Readers

Boomer’s Big Day by Constance McGeorge

CL-P McG Request a copy

Boomer’s ready for his morning walk. Here’s his leash. There’s the door. But try as he might, he can’t get anyone to pay attention to him. The humans in the house don’t rush out the door after breakfast as they normally do. And, most confusing of all, strangers arrive to pack all the things in Boomer’s house into boxes. There’s definitely something unusual going on.

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The Case of the Double Cross by Crosby Bonsall

CL-Early Bon Request a copy

No Girls! Wizard’s private eyes don’t want any girls in their clubhouse. But a funny little man double – crosses the boys with a message in code. Then Marigold and her girlfriends get to show just how much the private eyes really need them.

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Epossumondas by Coleen Salley

CL-P Sal Request a copy

Who’s Epossumondas? Why, he’s his mama’s and his auntie’s sweet little patootie, that’s who. He’s also the silliest, most lovable, most muddleheaded possum south of the Mason-Dixon line!Better choose your words wisely when he’s around, ’cause otherwise you never know what you’ll get. Epossumondas just might bring you a fist full of crumbs, or a soaking wet puppy, or a scruffy wad of bread–oh, you just wouldn’t believe it!

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Giggle, Giggle, Quack by Doreen Cronin

CL-P Cro Request a copy

Farmer Brown is going on vacation. He asks his brother, Bob, to take care of the animals. “But keep an eye on Duck. He’s trouble.”Bob follows the instructions in Farmer Brown’s notes exactly. He orders pizza with anchovies for the hens, bathes the pigs with bubble bath, and lets the cows choose a movie. Is that giggling he hears? Giggle, giggle, quack, giggle, moo, giggle, oink…

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The Heart of Cool by James McEwan

CL-Fic McE Request a copy

When Bobby North comes to his new school, he discovers that some of his favorite things are not cool. What is cool is Harry Haller, a big moose of a guy who’s friendly, easygoing, and a great skateboarder. So Bobby sets out to become as cool as Harry. And then Bobby goes even further, to find for himself the very heart of cool. But can he find it again when he really needs it?

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Is This a House for Hermit Crab? by Megan McDonald

CL-P McD Request a copy

When Hermit Crab outgrows his old house, he ventures out to find a new one.

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Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans

CL-P Bem Request a copy

Set in picturesque Paris, this tale of a brave little girl’s trip to the hospital is as appealing today as it was in 1940. The combination of spirited heroine, timelessly appealing art, cheerful humor, and rhythmic text makes “Madeline” a perennial favorite with children of all ages.

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Mole Music by David McPhail

CL-P McP Request a copy

Mole has always led a simple life, but he begins to think that something is missing. When he hears a violin playing for the first time, he longs to make beautiful music. At first, Mole can only make horrible screeching noises on the new violin he gets, but he practices and practices. Finally, his patience and dedication are rewarded. Mole creates a magical gift that unbeknownst to him has the power to erase hatred from the hearts of all who hear his music.

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Night Tree by Eve Bunting

CL-Hol Christmas–Bun Request a copy

By moonlight in the quiet forest, a young boy and his family decorate their favorite tree with popcorn, apples, tangerines, and sunflower-seed balls as a gift for the animals of the woods.

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Otis by Janie Bynum

CL-P Byn Request a copy

Otis is a little pig with a big problem. He doesn’t like mud. His mama and papa are convinced he will someday love the stuff, but Otis isn’t so sure. And in the meantime, he’s lonely. It’s not easy being the only pig in the county who hates getting dirty. Will Otis ever find a friend?

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Scruffy by Peggy Parish

CL-Early Par Request a copy

This birthday Todd gets to choose his own kitten from the animal shelter. Choosing isn’t easy, though. There are cats and kittens of all kinds, but the one that catches Todd’s eye is a kitten with a crooked tail.

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