Schnitzel: A Cautionary Tale for Lazy Louts
written by Stephanie Shaw
Apprenticed to a famous wizard, young Schnitzel is not known for his hard work. In fact, it's just the opposite. He's lazy and lacks motivation. So late one night, when a door-to-door salesman selling vacuum cleaners offers to help, Schnitzel sees an answer to his housecleaning woes. Little does he know, however, that this is no ordinary salesman and the vacuum is no ordinary dust-buster. In this retelling of the classic tale The Sorcerer's Apprentice, Schnitzel is about to find out why it's never a good idea to invite a cape-wearing, fang-toothed stranger in after dark. Fortunately for him, there's magical help ready to lend a hand.
"Large-scale illustrations and rhythmic text make this cautionary tale an entertaining read-aloud." - Booklist
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Halfway Wild written by Laura Freudig
Winner of the 2017 Moonbeam Award - Gold Medal, Picture Books, Ages 4 - 8
On some days, there s just not a good word for the way you feel. If your socks are sagging and your pants are wrinkled, what do you call it? Maybe you re feeling like a turtle. Maybe you re feeling halfway wild. Writer Laura Freudig describes those feelings in this poetic and playful picture book that connects children, not just to feelings and emotions, but also to animals and the quirks and patterns of the natural world. We follow a family throughout a day as they march through meadows like ants, dive to the depths like seals, play hide and seek like fireflies, and chatter like raccoons, until, at last, when the house is still and all we can hear are the soft, slow breaths of the ones we love, we re a family of bears. Illustrator Kevin Barry blends the real with the fantastic in illustrations that will make young readers marvel, dream, and lean in for a closer look.
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Kevin Barry Illustration
Ghost Cat
written by Eve Bunting
Miss Maggie McCullen has been the keeper for the Port Carrick lighthouse for many years. She has never missed a night, keeping the big light going. And while the people in Port Carrick are grateful to her, they worry about her lonely life at the lighthouse. But they don't know that she has her cat, Sailor Boy, for company. Because Sailor Boy is no ordinary cat. He's a ghost cat. He can make himself visible or invisible, especially when visitors come to call and he wants to be mischievous. But when a fierce storm comes and Miss Maggie needs special assistance, Sailor Boy proves his worth.
"Dusky plums and luminous golds flood Barry’s scratchy watercolors, through which the semitransparent Sailor Boy perches and pounces." - Booklist
"Bunting’s endearing ghost story is as cozy as they come." - Booklist
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