Books with author B. Weninger

Oliver and his mother are very poor. Oliver has never had a visit from Santa Claus. Wasn't I good? wonders Oliver. Or maybe Santa never brought him a present because Oliver never wished for anything. When his friend brings him a red balloon from the fair, Oliver decides to let the wonderful balloon fly away, hoping it will carry his letter to Santa. Poor Oliver! The balloon never reaches the North Pole. It lands in grumpy old Nicholas's garden, which leads to a surprising, deeply satisfying outcome.

""Teddy bears are meant to be loved and cared for, not kicked into corners and left out in the rain.... Poor Teddy is abused and ignored until he is left in the park and then adopted by a new, more caring child. The honey-brown bear is the focal point of each full-page illustration, and his bedraggled charm is endearing.... A lovely choice for bedtime sharing with a child and a beloved bear."" School Library Journal""Weninger sketches Ragged Bear's personality, but in the handsome oversize format, Marks's soft, fluid watercolors give this bear his lovable form. This bear is a very appealing fellow.... Deceptively simple, deeply satisfying."" Kirkus

It's bedtime, but Ben refuses to settle down for the night. Mother offers him his sweetest stuffed animals for comfort. But Ben rejects them all. He knows just what he needs and, much to Mother's surprise, opts for his scariest monster doll who will surely protect him through the night. Here's an offbeat bedtime story that captures a child's logic and humorous, if unexpected, wisdom.