Publisher: Random House
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 03/27/2012
ISBN-13: 9780375968662
ISBN-10: 0375968660

Framed as a child's imagined adventure ("If I were a falcon..."), this "exhilarating" (Publishers Weekly) book depicts a majestic falcon soaring over lush valleys, skimming atop rolling ocean waves, gliding high above rocky cliffs, and -- in a dramatic three-page scene that's bound to elicit a gasp or two -- plummeting in a daredevil dive over a crowded city avenue. Illustrated with stunningly beautiful and realistic paintings, Falcon delivers a thrilling virtual flight.

Publisher: Scholastic Press
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 04/01/2012
ISBN-13: 9780545234979
ISBN-10: 0545234972

After a debilitating fall from a 50-foot high wire, circus performer Luciano Anastasini's days as an acrobat were over. Unwilling to leave the only life he'd ever known, Luciano dreamed up a way that he could once again entertain audiences -- and give a whole pack of supposedly bad dogs, "the ones no one wanted," a second chance at life as performers themselves. "A real showstopper" (Booklist), this vividly photo-illustrated story will warm the hearts of animal lovers and, without preaching, shows how determination and creativity can utterly transform a seemingly hopeless situation.

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 03/06/2012
ISBN-13: 9780547610832
ISBN-10: 0547610831

With aptly minimal text and realistic, evocative illustrations from Brian Lies (Bats at the Beach), More spins a parable about how much "stuff" is enough -- and how much is far too much. A forlorn-looking magpie receives a gift of a shiny marble from his mouse friend, after which he begins to acquire a wide variety of things, from keys, combs, coins, and jewelry to...well, anything he can carry. Soon enough, Magpie's overstuffed nest comes crashing down, and him with it -- but Mouse and company dig him out, lesson learned.

Publisher: Candlewick Press
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 06/09/2009
ISBN-13: 9780763642754
ISBN-10: 0763642754

Little Marie Elaine wonders where her cat wanders off to at night, and why he comes home so exhausted that he sleeps all day. One evening, she catches him all duded up and on his way out to a swanky, exclusive party, and because she promises to keep his secret, she's allowed to tag along. This surreal and whimsical adventure features "buoyant mixed-media art" (Publishers Weekly) that is simple and direct when depicting Marie's everyday home environment but vibrant and extravagantly detailed for scenes from the rooftop urban cat soirée.

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 09/14/2010
ISBN-13: 9780375958809
ISBN-10: 0375958800

When curious housecat Nini finds that her humans have left a door open, she ventures outside into the nearby garden and woods, which she finds marvelous...until night falls, and scary animals chase her. From a hiding place in a hollow tree, Nini hears her worried family's calls but is petrified. Summoning all her courage, Nini finally makes a run for it, right back to her cozy and welcoming home. With lush, richly colored artwork and "just enough tension for preschoolers" (Horn Book Guide), this follow-up to Nini Here and There offers both excitement and reassurance.

Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 12/23/2008
ISBN-13: 9781416971122
ISBN-10: 1416971122

Posy the kitten is many things: from a "spider catcher, sofa scratcher" to a "pillow sitter, hissy spitter," a "playful wrangler, knitting tangler," and much more. With charmingly scribbly illustrations that are minimalist, textured and very appealing, this artful book captures the full range of kitten-style inquisitiveness, attitude, and (most of all) cuteness. Spare text and uncluttered pictures make Posy a good choice for sharing with very young children.

Publisher: Little, Brown
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 09/01/2009
ISBN-13: 9780316013567
ISBN-10: 0316013560

Go ahead and judge this book by its cover -- its gorgeous, lushly detailed picture of a lion's stately head is a fair indication of both the beauty and the skilled visual storytelling inside. (Note where the lion is looking and flip the book over for a peek at the other star of this show.) Highly acclaimed illustrator Jerry Pinkney sets his nearly wordless retelling of this familiar Aesop's fable in the African Serengeti, and it's a perfect fit.

Publisher: Candlewick Press
Check Library Catalog Pub Date: 11/11/2008
ISBN-13: 9780763639235
ISBN-10: 0763639230

"Interactive" doesn't have to mean "high-tech," as the friendly cats in this enormously entertaining book prove. Playful kitties Tiny, Moonpie, and André introduce themselves and their favorite things (yarn, boxes, pillows, and "FISH!") to readers, literally urging them to turn each new page. There are lots of flaps to lift, which makes wee ones a part of the action -- even heroes, as when the cats' curiosity about one particular page-turn unleashes a tidal wave. Brimming with joie de vivre and cleverness, this book won an honorable mention from children's booksellers as one of the Most Innovative Books of 2008. For more no-batteries-required interactive fun (but no cats!), check out Hervé Tullet's Press Here.