About the Gryphon Awards
The Gryphon Award of $1,000 is given annually in recognition of an English language work of fiction or non-fiction for which the primary audience is children in Kindergarten through Grade 4. The title chosen best exemplifies those qualities that successfully bridge the gap in difficulty between books for reading aloud to children and books for practiced readers.
The Gryphon Award was conceived as a way to focus attention on an area of literature for youth that, despite being crucial to the successful transition of new readers to independent lifelong readers, does not get the critical recognition it deserves.
The award is sponsored by the Center for Children’s Books at the School of Information Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
**The Gryphon Award has been retired as of 2023.**
Gryphon Award Winners 2020
See the Cat: Three Stories about a Dog by Call Number: P LarSee Max. Max is not a cat--Max is a dog. But much to Max's dismay, the book keeps instructing readers to "see the cat." How can Max get through to the book that he is a DOG? In a trio of stories for beginning readers, author David LaRochelle introduces the excitable Max, who lets the book know in irresistibly emphatic dialogue that the text is not to his liking.
This Is My Fort! by Call Number: on orderMeet Monkey and Cake. They are silly and they are curious. Sometimes they agree. Sometimes they do not. But Monkey and Cake are always best friends. Monkey and Cake love building forts! When Cake decides to build his own fort, Monkey feels left out. Monkey builds his own fort that's even bigger than Cake's fort. But before long, they both discover that being alone in a fort is no fun!
Gryphon Award Honor books 2020
Being Frog by Call Number: 597.89 SayA frog is a being. It is watching. It is seeing... Frogs are amazing creatures, and this book offers young readers an up-close and revealing peek at their everyday lives. Follow them from egg to tadpole to froglet crawling up onto land for the first time. Watch them resting on a favorite log, searching for food, and leaping through the air. And see how frogs are unique, individual beings with rich lives all their own in the wild.
Donut Feed the Squirrels by Call Number: On orderNorma and Belly would really really really really really like a donut. With a burned breakfast and a cranky donut seller at the local food truck, they may be stuck with only nuts to eat . . . unless they can steal the biggest, most delicious donut of their tiny lives!
Knot Cannot by Call Number: P StoA pun-packed look at friendship, jealousy, and being yourself. Knot is a piece of rope who longs to do the same things as Snake. Snake can slither and swim and hiss. Sadly, Knot cannot! But when Snake finds herself in a pickle, Knot discovers there's one thing he can do that Snake cannot. Knot can knot--a lot!
Cat Ears on Elizabeth by Call Number: Not in CMCCat ears on your headband is not the only way to look great. But it is a very good way. Mallory has glitter folders and bright orange sneakers and a huge pink eraser. And Mallory has cat ears on her headband. Then Anna comes to school with cat ears on her headband, too. Everybody loves how they look in those cat-ear headbands. Especially Elizabeth. Elizabeth doesn't have cat ears on her anything. She doesn't even have any headband at all anymore. (They squish her head too much). Elizabeth needs a cat-ears headband! It's an emergency! Maybe a surprise I Love You present from her grandparents will fix everything. Or maybe Elizabeth doesn't need to be fixed at all.
The Very Impatient Caterpillar by Call Number: P BurHEY! What are you guys doing? We're going to metamorphosise. Meta-WHAT-now? Transform into butterflies. Right. Right. I knew that... WAIT?! You're telling me I can become a BUTTERFLY? Yes. With wings? Yes. Wait for ME!!
¡Vamos! Let's Go to the Market by Call Number: P RauFollow Little Lobo and his dog Bernabe as they deliver supplies to a variety of vendors, selling everything from sweets to sombreros, portraits to piñatas, carved masks to comic books!
Lion of the Sky by Call Number: 811.6 SalYou gasp as I roar, my mane exploding, sizzling-- lion of the sky! Haiku meet riddles in this wonderful collection from Laura Purdie Salas. The poems celebrate the seasons and describe everything from an earthworm to a baseball to an apple to snow angels, alongside full-color illustrations.
Gryphon Award Winners 2019-2010
Baby Monkey, Private Eye by Call Number: F SelWho is Baby Monkey? He is a baby. He is a monkey. He has a job. He is Baby Monkey, Private Eye! Lost jewels? Missing pizza? Stolen spaceship? Baby Monkey can help... if he can put on his pants! Baby Monkey's adventures come to life in an exciting blend of picture book, beginning reader, and graphic novel.
The Hidden Life of the Toad by Call Number: 597.87 WecIn jaw-dropping photos, Doug Wechsler captures the life cycle of the American toad from egg to tadpole to adult. To get these images, Wechsler sat in a pond wearing waders, went out night after night in search of toads, and cut his own glass to make a home aquarium. The resulting photos reveal metamorphosis in extreme close-up as readers have never seen it before. Budding naturalists will be transfixed by this unprecedented peek into the secrets of tadpole transformation. Demystifying
Weekends with Max and His Dad by Call Number: F UrbMax and his dad love their weekends together. Weekends mean pancakes, pizza, spy games, dog-walking, school projects, and surprising neighbors! Every weekend presents a small adventure as Max gets to know his dad's new neighborhood--and learns some new ways of thinking about home.
Little Robot by Call Number: GN HatWhen a little girl finds an adorable robot in the woods, she presses a button and accidentally activates him for the first time. Now, she finally has a friend. But the big, bad robots are coming to collect the little guy for nefarious purposes, and it's all up to a five-year-old armed only with a wrench and a fierce loyalty to her mechanical friend to save the day!
Skateboard Party by Call Number: F EngRichard can't wait to show off his flat-ground Ollies at a friend's birthday party at the skate park, but a note home from his teacher threatens to ruin his plans. He really meant to finish his assignment on howler monkeys, but he just got . . . distracted. If only he could focus on his schoolwork, he wouldn't get into this kind of trouble! Can Richard manage to put off getting the note signed (and facing the consequences until after the party, or will the deception make things even worse?
Battle Bunny by Call Number: P SciAlex has been given a saccharine, sappy, silly-sweet picture book about Birthday Bunny that his grandma found at a garage sale. Alex isn't interested--until he decides to make the book something he'd actually like to read. So he takes out his pencil, sharpens his creativity, and totally transforms the story! Birthday Bunny becomes Battle Bunny, and the rabbit's innocent journey through the forest morphs into a supersecret mission to unleash an evil plan--a plan that only Alex can stop.
Island by Call Number: 508.8665 ChiCharles Darwin first visited the Galápagos Islands almost 200 years ago, only to discover a land filled with plants and animals that could not be found anywhere else on earth. How did they come to inhabit the island? How long will they remain?
Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie by Call Number: F SteI had a bad August. A very bad August. As bad as pickle juice on a cookie. As bad as a spider web on your leg. As bad as the black parts on a banana. I hope your August was better. I really do. When Eleanor's beloved babysitter, Bibi, has to move away to take care of her ailing father, Eleanor must try to bear the summer without Bibi and prepare for the upcoming school year. Her new, less-than-perfect babysitter just isn't up to snuff, and she doesn't take care of things like Bibi used to. But as the school year looms, it's time for new beginnings. Eleanor soon realizes that she will always have Bibi, no matter how far away she is.
We Are in a Book! (an Elephant and Piggie Book) by Call Number: P WilGerald is careful. Piggie is not. Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can. Gerald and Piggie are best friends. In We Are in a Book! Gerald and Piggie discover the joy of being read. But what will happen when the book ends? Using vocabulary perfect for beginning readers (and vetted by an early-learning specialist), Mo Willems has crafted a mind-bending story that is even more interactive than previous Elephant & Piggie adventures. Fans of the Geisel Award-winning duo won't be able to put this book down--literally!
Adventures in Cartooning by Call Number: Not in CMCIn this action-packed cartooning adventure, you will have as much fun making comics as reading them! Once upon a time... a princess tried to make a comic. And with the help of a magical cartooning elf, she learned how - well enough to draw her way out of an encounter with a dangerous dragon, near-death by drowning, and into her very own adventure!
Gryphon Award Honor books 2019-2010
Secret Sisters of the Salty Sea by Call Number: F PerAlix and her older sister, Jools, have never been to the ocean. When their parents pack them up to spend a week by the shore, Alix is nervous about leaving home--but excited, too. At the beach, the sisters make friends, go exploring, and have adventures big and small. To Alix's surprise, as the week comes to an end, she finds she doesn't want to leave!
Dear Substitute by Call Number: P ScaWhen a substitute teacher named Miss Pelly comes to class, one student bristles at the change in routine-Miss Pelly doesn't follow the rules like Mrs. Giordano. But in time, our student learns that even though the substitute may do things a little differently, and she may be a bit silly, mixing things up might not be so bad.
Dog on a Frog? by Call Number: Not in CMCIn this hilarious sequel to Frog on a Log?, frog decides that he does not want to sit on a log, and he definitely does not want a dog to sit on a frog! So he changes the rules. Now, dogs sit on logs, and cats sit on gnats! But what will frog decide to sit on now?
King Flashypants and the Evil Emperor by Call Number: F RilEdwin isn't any ordinary boy. He is a king with a crown, his own suit of armor, a castle with secret passages and water slides--oh, and the mosthorribly evil man in the universe living next door. Emperor Nurbison is permanently up to no good. He wants Edwin's kingdom for himself, so when the Edwinland piggy bank runs out of money, he seizes his opportunity. None of this could possibly lead to a thrilling adventure with action, chocolate, and snappy crocodiles--could it?
Sam the Man and the Rutabaga Plan by Call Number: Not in CMCSam the Man is back, and he needs a NEW plan. Sam has already solved a chicken problem, but this time, he's having rutabaga issues. Rutabaga? Yes, Rutabaga.
Sam the Man and the Chicken Plan by Call Number: F DowSam the Man needs a job. His sister gets twenty bucks a pop for mowing people's lawns. But seven-year-olds aren't allowed to mow lawns, so Sam decides to ask his next door neighbor if she needs help doing other chores. It turns out she'll pay him a whole dollar each time he can convince her dad, Mr. Stockfish, to join him for a daily walk. But it turns out that getting Mr. Stockfish to leave the living room isn't easy.
Wet Cement by Call Number: 811.6 RacWho says words need to be concrete? This collection shapes poems in surprising and delightful ways. Concrete poetry is a perennially popular poetic form because they are fun to look at. But by using the arrangement of the words on the page to convey the meaning of the poem, concrete or shape poems are also easy to write!
Flutter and Hum / Aleteo y Zumbido by Call Number: 811.54 PasAll sorts of animals flutter and hum, dance and stretch, and slither and leap their way through this joyful collection of poems in English and Spanish. Julie Paschkis's poems and art sing in both languages, bringing out the beauty and playfulness of the animal world.
The Long Dog (Scholastic Reader, Level 1) by Call Number: Not in CMCThere's a dirty dog and a clean dog, a mean dog and a nice dog, and many more! Plus, there's an extremely long dog who keeps popping into the story. The long dog adds humor to the book, and kids will be anxious to turn the pages all the way to the end!
Gravity by Call Number: 531.14 ChiWhat keeps objects from floating out of your hand? What if your feet drifted away from the ground? What stops everything from floating into space? Gravity.
The Slug by Call Number: Not in CMCOne in a series of humorous books about disgusting creatures, The Slug is a look at the land slug. It covers such topics as the slug's two pairs of tentacles, one pair for seeing, one pair for smelling (it can see you're a kid and smell like broccoli), its breathing hole (on the side of its head!), and its pretty gross mucous covering (in order to find a partner, the slug can follow another slug's mucous trail. True love!).
Maddy Kettle Book 1: the Adventure of the Thimblewitch by Call Number: Not in CMCEleven-year-old Maddy loved working in her parents' bookstore... especially when joined by her pet flying toad Ralph. But that was before the mysterious Thimblewitch turned her mom & dad into kangaroo rats! Now Maddy's on the adventure of a lifetime. To save her parents, she'll need to sneak past an army of spider-goblins, scarecrow warriors, and much more... Fortunately, an assortment of new friends await, including the cloud cartographers Harry and Silvio, a bear and raccoon who explore the world in their moon-balloon. They'll help her along the way, but in the end, the fate of everyone will depend on Maddy's courage, compassion, and creativity.
Year of the Jungle by Call Number: P ColWhen young Suzy's father leaves for Vietnam, she struggles to understand what this means for her and her family. What is the jungle like? Will her father be safe? When will he return? The months slip by, marked by the passing of the familiar holidays and the postcards that her father sends. With each one he feels more and more distant, until Suzy isn't sure she'd even recognize her father anymore.
Lulu and the Dog from the Sea by Call Number: Not in CMCLulu loves animals. When Lulu goes on vacation, she finds there's a stray dog living on the beach. Everyone in the town thinks the dog is trouble. But Lulu is sure he just needs a friend. And that he's been waiting for someone just like her.
Like Bug Juice on a Burger by Call Number: F SteI hate camp. I just hate it. I wish I didn't. But I do. Being here is worse than bug juice on a burger. Or homework on Thanksgiving. Or water seeping into my shoes. In this sequel to the critically acclaimed Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie, Eleanor is off to summer camp. At first she's excited to carry on the family tradition at Camp Wallumwahpuck, but when she gets there she finds icky bugs, terrible food, and worst of all: swim class, where she just can't seem to keep up with everyone else. But as the days go on, Eleanor realizes that even the most miserable situations can be full of special surprises and that growing up is full of belly flops. Praise for Like Bug Juice on a Burger "Eleanor doesn't just survive, she grows...
Little Dog Lost by Call Number: P CarOn a cold winter day, a curious dog wandered onto a frozen river, and before he knew it he was traveling fast on a sheet of ice. Many people tried to help, but the dog could not be reached. Finally, after two nights and seventy-five miles, the little dog was saved by a ship out in the Baltic Sea.
Bink and Gollie: Two for One by Call Number: P DiCThe state fair is in town, and now Bink and Gollie -- utter opposites and best friends extraordinaire -- must use teamwork and their gray matter while navigating its many wonders. Will the energetic Bink win the world's largest donut in the Whack-a-Duck game? Will the artistic Gollie wow the crowd in the talent show? As the undaunted duo steps into the mysterious tent of fortune-teller Madame Prunely, one prediction is crystal clear: this unlikely pair will always be the closest of pals.
The No. 1 Car Spotter by Call Number: Not in CMCOluwalase Babatunde Benson is No. 1. He's the No. 1 car spotter in his village. The No. 1 car spotter in the world!
Dear Hot Dog by Call Number: Not in CMCDear Hot Dog follows three friends from the time they wake up and brush their teeth to when they snuggle up for bed with their favorite stuffed animal. In between playing outside, making crafts, eating their favorite treats, and reading, together they delight in the adventure and magic that each day brings.
Waiting for the Magic by Call Number: F MacPeople may drift apart But love can hold them together. Sometimes we find that love through magic - Sometimes that magic is all around us. This is a story about all of these things. But it's also a story about how four dogs and one cat help one boy and his sister save their family.
Bink and Gollie by Call Number: P DiCMeet Bink and Gollie, two precocious little girls -- one tiny, one tall, and both utterly irrepressible. Setting out from their super-deluxe tree house and powered by plenty of peanut butter (for Bink) and pancakes (for Gollie), they share three comical adventures involving painfully bright socks, an impromptu trek to the Andes, and a most unlikely marvelous companion. No matter where their roller skates take them, at the end of the day they will always be the very best of friends.
Princess Posey and the First Grade Parade by Call Number: Not in CMCPosey is very nervous about starting first grade and walking into school all by herself. Worst of all, she has to do it without the one thing that always makes her feel brave and special: the tutu that turns her into the Pink Princess. How will Posey face the first day of school without it?
The Dancing Pancake by Call Number: Not in CMCThe grand opening of the Dancing Pancake isn't the only new thing in Bindi's life: new friends, a new apartment, maybe even a cute new crush? But there are other changes, like her dad's move to a new city, that have left Bindi confused and wondering: What will happen to my family? Will this new life ever feel normal? Among the unlikely bunch of regulars who form a makeshift community at the diner, Bindi will try to figure out how to be a new version of herself, one pancake and one silly elephant joke (her uncle's specialty) at a time.
Birthday Blues by Call Number: Not in CMCDeja's birthday is coming up, and she's been talking about it for weeks. But just before the big day, Auntie Dee gets called away on a business trip and Deja must stay with an elderly neighbor . . . who cooks turnips for dinner and doesn't even have a color TV! Worse, the machinations of spoiled Antonia, Deja's new nemesis, threaten to ruin Deja's birthday party plans.
Alvin Ho: Allergic to Camping, Hiking, and Other Natural Disasters by Call Number: Not in CMCAlvin Ho is back and his worst fear has come true- he has to go camping. What will he do exposed in the wilderness with bears and darkness and . . . pit toilets? Luckily, he's got his night-vision goggles and water purifying tablets and super-duper heavy-duty flashlight to keep him safe. And he's got his dad, too.
Kit Feeny by Call Number: Not in CMCWhen plucky Kit Feeny moves to a new town, he immediately makes an enemy of the sadistic school bully and must struggle to find friends who share his interests.
Gryphon Award Winners 2009-2004
Frogs by Call Number: Not in CMCNic Bishop's signature up-close, stop-action photographs show frogs larger than life. For the first- to third-grade set, frogs are an endless source of fascination, especially when looked at VERY close up. See tiny poison dart frogs and mammoth bullfrogs, as Nic Bishop's amazing images show the beauty and diversity of frogs from around the globe. And simple, engaging text conveys basic information about frogs -- as well as cool and quirky facts. Nic Bishop Frogs is a fun and informative tour through an exciting amphibian world.
Billy Tartle in Say Cheese! by Call Number: Not in CMCHow can Billy Tartle make his class picture super-cool? How about a cool haircut a Mohawk with big spikes! And it must be bright-bright yellow, no pink, no green well some kinda cool color! Billy's mom just wants him to get a regular old haircut, look handsome, and smile nice sooo bo-ring! Will Billy be able to outwit her and kindly Barber Ken? Of course! A familiar childhood ritual is given a fresh, nutty spin in this tale of how kids want things to be fun and parents want things to be normal. But everybody will smile when Billy Tartle gets into the picture!
The True Story of Stellina by Call Number: Not in CMCStellina was a bird: A very little bird: Cheep! cheep! So begins critically acclaimed author Matteo Pericoli's all-true story of how he and his wife, Holly, came to rescue and raise a little finch, Stellina, in the middle of New York City. When no zoo would take the abandoned bird, fallen from her nest onto a busy street, Holly took her home and gave her the best life she could. And there, in a Manhattan apartment, Stellina leaned how to eat, fly, and sing.
Stinky Stern Forever by Call Number: Not in CMCPa Lia has never liked Stinky Stern, the enemy of the second grade.He makes fun of other kids, he says mean things, and he's always causing trouble. But when Stinky is suddenly hit by a car and killed, Pa Lia and the rest of the students in Mrs.Fennessey's class face a difficult challenge: How do you deal with the death of someone nobody really liked?This moving story is certain to resonate with anyone who has ever experienced--or even just thought about--the loss of a classmate or friend.
Little Rat Rides by Call Number: Not in CMCLittle Rat can't wait to ride a horse, just like her daddy did when he was young. But when it's time for her first lesson, she almost changes her mind.No one said her horse, Pee Wee, would be so ...giant! But with a bit of encouragement from Daddy Rat--and lots of help from Pee Wee--her dream of becoming a fancy rider might just come true.
Bow Wow Meow Meow by Call Number: Not in CMCIt's rhyming cats and dogs in Douglas Florian's furrr-ocious collection of twenty-one original poems and paintings about our favorite animal friends.From barking Chihuahuas and pointing pointers to leaping leopards and purring Persians, here is a canine and feline compendium certain to have everyone barking for joy.
Gryphon Award Honor books 2009-2004
Bad Kitty Gets a Bath by Call Number: Not in CMCPet owners beware! Bad Kitty really needs a bath, and she is forced to take one in this hysterical new illustrated how-to for young readers. The following are some items you will need for Kitty's bath: one bathtub, plenty of water, dry towels, a suit of armor, a letter to your loved ones, clean underwear (because stressful situations can cause "accidents"), an ambulance in your driveway with the engine running, and, oh, yeah, you'll also need Kitty . . . but good luck with that! Kitty is at her worst in this riotous how-to guide filled with bad smells, cautionary tales of horror, and hopefully by the end . . . some soap.
Traction Man Meets Turbo Dog by Call Number: P GreTHAT SQUARE-JAWED CAN-DO action toy, Traction Man, is back in another hilarious adventure. The little boy, Traction Man, and his brave pet, Scrubbing Brush, are inseparable--until the boy's father throws the unhygenic Scrubbing Brush in the trash and replaces it with a real toy, the battery-operated TurboDog. It bleeps, speaks, and squeaks--but is not very smart. So Traction Man, wearing his airtight Astro-suit and armed with a bottle of SuperStrong Germo, enters the trash bin and rescues Scrubbing Brush from the Evil Bin Things (pizza crusts, spaghetti, and potato peels with eyes and mouths that hiss Stay with us). The Battle of the Bin is not to be missed--nor is the ignominious demise of TurboDog.
Spiders by Call Number: 595.4 BisNic Bishop's signature up-close, stop-action photographs show spiders larger than life. For the first to third grade set, spiders are fascinating and suitably gruesome, especially when looked at in EXTREME close-up. Amazing images show the beauty and otherworldliness of spiders. Simple, engaging text conveys basic information about spiders as well as cool and quirky facts. One stop-action montage shows a spider leaping twenty times its body length!
Rufus the Scrub Does Not Wear a Tutu by Call Number: Not in CMCRufus finds himself involved in both the football team and a ballet class. Despite the teasing from his friends, the ballet lessons may just save the football season.
Sea Horse by Call Number: Not in CMCPresents an introduction to the seahorse, in simple text with illustrations, describing their physical characteristics, habitat, life cycle, and behavior.
Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything by Call Number: Not in CMCWhen Ruby's cousin Flying Duck emigrates from China to live with her, Ruby decides the best thing about Flying Duck is that she is a great new friend. BUT the worst thing about Flying Duck is that now, no one speaks English at home. Plus, there's strange food on the table every night and only chopsticks to eat it with. And Flying Duck is deaf, and Ruby doesn't know any Chinese Sign Language. As if that weren't enough, this summer proves to be even more perilous as Ruby faces the dangers of swimming lessons, the joys of summer school, the difficulty of staying with a twelve-step program, the miracle needed to keep a beautiful stray dog that wanders into her life, and much more. Is it all too much for anyone -- even the Empress of Everything -- to handle?
Good Boy, Fergus! by Call Number: P ShaFollow Fergus as he experiences the perfect doggy day--well, except for his bath, of course! From chasing cats and motorcycles to being scratched on his favorite "tickle spot," David Shannon's newest sweet and silly character will inspire young readers to laugh out loud at his mischievous antics.
Queen of the World! by Call Number: Not in CMCMeet Babymouse--Her dreams are big! Her imagination is wild! Her whiskers are ALWAYS a mess! In her mind, she's Queen of the World! In real life...she's not even Queen of the lunch table.
Chameleon Chameleon by Call Number: Not in CMCThis companion to award-winning RED-EYED TREE FROG gives young readers an amazing close-up view of the colorful, quirky chameleon. Experience close-up the many moods (and colors) of chameleons. One brave chameleon ventures from the safety of his tree in search of a new home. On his journey, he meets other rain forest animals, not all of them friendly! Alas, the new tree he chooses is already home to another chameleon. She dons her aggressive coloring until she's sure that the visitor is friend, not foe. Then they welcome each other with brilliant, happy colors.
Jigsaw Pony by Call Number: Not in CMCThe only thing twins Fran and Kiera have ever agreed on is thatit would be wonderful to own a pony -- a pony they could gallop and leap over jumps. One day their father brings them Jigsaw, a Shetland pony who needs a new family. Jigsaw is the perfect pony. He can do anything -- even fit himself into Dad's station wagon for the ride home. But with Jigsaw comes trouble. The more Fran and Kiera like something, the harder it is for them to share. And they love Jigsaw. Worse, Jigsaw won't gallop far and he won't leap more than a couple of jumps. Is something wrong with the way the twins ride? Or is something wrong with Jigsaw?
Smarter Than Squirrels by Call Number: Not in CMCTHE HILARIOUS ADVENTURES OF TWO CONFUSED CANINES Down Girl and Sit are two dogs who are "smarter than squirrels." They know how to protect their masters from all the things that can go wrong in the neighborhood: they bark at paperboys and guard the garbage cans, and keep mischievous squirrels at bay. But when Here Kitty Kitty moves in next door, their daily routines are turned topsy-turvy.
You Read to Me, I'll Read to You by Call Number: Not in CMCFrom New York Times best-selling author and Children's Poet Laureate Mary Ann Hoberman comes a new collection of fresh read-aloud takes on eight favorite fairy tales, including "The Three Bears," "Cinderella," and "Little Red Riding Hood." Designed with emerging readers in mind, each of the tales is told in short rhyming dialogues--with each character's lines indicated by a different color-to be used as a script for two voices to read separately and together.
Snowed in with Grandmother Silk by Call Number: Not in CMCRuddy's grandmother isn't much fun. She calls him Rudford, not Ruddy, and she doesn't like noise or games or television. When Ruddy's parents go on a cruise and leave him with Grandmother Silk, Ruddy knows it's going to be a loooong ten days. Then one night a snowstorm comes howling through. Ruddy and his grandmother are left without light and heat and water-and they have no one to talk to but each other. Slowly, with the help of an old chessboard, the moon, and a gorilla suit, they reach out to each other in some surprising ways. Partly a survival story, this is mostly a tale of two people who think they aren't alike at all-until they have no choice but to look for the things they have in common.
Lunch Walks among Us by Call Number: Not in CMCFranny K. Stein is not your average girl -- she's a mad scientist. She prefers poison ivy to daisies, and when Franny jumps rope, she uses her pet snake. The kids in Franny's class think she's weird, wacky, and just plain creepy. Tired of being stared at, Franny decides to attempt her most dangerous experiment yet -- she's going to fit in. but when a giant Monstrous Fiend attacks the class, everyone knows it's up to a mad scientist to save the day. But has Franny lost her creepy, crawly ways?
