Books with author Carole Lexa Schaefer

What magic can be found in a piece of string? The magic of a million incarnations--when the string is found by an imaginative little girl who spies it on the sidewalk. Slither, slish--it could be the dance of a scaly dragon. Or, push-a-pat--the top of the Great Wall of China. Unique illustrations, inspired by Asian brush-stroke paintings, transform the simple thread into fireworks, thunderclouds, and even the moon.

Ciao! A pair of cute and colorful board books from Carole Lexa Schaefer and Lauren Tobia introduce a curious, lovable tot eager to explore the world.When Baby and Nonna head to the park for the day, what will they see? There’s a squirrel — Ciao, Squirrel! — and a grasshopper — Ciao, Grasshopper! Baby scoots over to meet them and share a friendly hello. Who else might be hiding around the park? Ciao, animals! Ciao, Baby!

It takes a special kind of dress to get Lindsay to change her ways in this lyrical tale told with sprightly illustrations.Slish — the dress slid off its hanger. Lindsay read the little tag inside: "Made in Bora-Bora for you."Fabulous Aunt Fiona is throwing an end-of-the-summer, snazzy, ritzy party, and Lindsay can't wait to go. There’s just one hitch: she has to wear a dress, and Lindsay never ever ever wears a dress. She wears her baggy shorts to run on the beach. She wears her patch overalls to jump in piles of leaves. But that's before Lindsay sees a wonderful sundress shaped like a wedge of pie, with a parrot painted on front that seems to wink at her. If Lindsay goes to the party in a dress from a magical island far away, who can predict what will happen?

Monkey may scamper and Elephant galump, but they're the best of buddies as they search for shade. That is, when they're not bickering about how to get there!Monkey and Elephant are very good friends. The live in the jungle, which is sometimes very hot! So the two friends set out to find a shady spot. On the way, Monkey complains that Elephant is walking too bumpity, too ziggy and zaggy. And Elephant complains that Monkey is being too bossy and too sassy. Will these very good friends find shade before they become very bad friends? Lush with funny adjectives and action words, this fresh take on the tale of unlikely pals, brightened with playful, graphic illustrations, is pitch-perfect for newly independent readers.

Welcome to the Children’s Garden--a beautiful place to connect with nature and the food cycle! Illustrated with colorful paintings, this charming picture book features a diverse group of children connecting to food through hands-on outdoor activity. Down the road from Woodlawn Avenue, on a street called Sunnyside, there’s a garden patch grown by children who live in the neighborhood. A sign on the garden’s gate says: Children’s Garden, WELCOME! That means: Come in, please. Listen, see, smell, touch--even taste! In rich prose and lush illustrations, this charming picture book shows children as urban farmers, exploring the sights, smells, sensations, and tastes of growing their own food in a community garden. The story invites young readers to enjoy summer’s bounty and the hands-on experience of tending and harvesting it, while the colorful illustrations depict a multicultural community of children learning about and enjoying a sustainable, local food system.

Ciao! A pair of cute and colorful board books from Carole Lexa Schaefer and Lauren Tobia introduce a curious, lovable tot eager to explore the world.Baby and Mamma are going to visit Nonna today. They say good-bye to Papa — Ciao, Papa! — and head out. How will they get there? Roll, roll in the stroller. Beep, beep on the bus. Choo, choo on the train — all the way to Nonna’s. Whee! Ciao, Nonna! Ciao, Baby!

A beautiful, one-of-a-kind volume invites readers to marvel at the time, effort, and care that went into creating handmade toys, tools, and treasures of the past.Whirr, buzz, hum. Before busy machines in factories turned out most of what we need and use, people crafted these items by hand. From a globe to a pie crimper, a butter churn to a rocking horse, this unique collection highlights fourteen one-of-a-kind objects — each one drafted, stitched, painted, or engraved by hand. Author Carole Lexa Schaefer draws inspiration from real historical artifacts to create thirteen short works of fiction, imagining the hands that might have made and used each item. Several artifacts can be traced to their origin, while others remain complete mysteries, making for a fascinating patchwork of fact, guesswork, and imagination. Illustrator Becca Stadtlander breathes color and charm into this handmade history, bringing to life the different objects, people, and times. The result is a singular glimpse of everyday objects and treasures alike — back when such things were made by hand.

I jump into bed - thump, thump bumpety bump. I am all tucked in when from down the hallway I hear creak, creak, crinch! And I wonder, who's there? What child hasn't wondered the very same thing when the night makes everything sound creakier and squeakier? As a little bunny tries to get to sleep, it's sure it hears bumps and thumps from the hall. Could it be a Crusty, Dumply Ogre? Or maybe it's a Two-headed Grumbly Snoop!? The door slowly opens and . . . it's just bunny's little brother, pulling his noisy pull toy along behind him. Little bunnies everywhere will smile with sleepy relief.

From the creators of the highly-acclaimed The Squiggle, here is an imaginative introduction to the phases of the moon for young children. As the little girl in The Squiggle fancies a string to be many things, here, Selene uses her imagination to understand the moon's waxing and waning. She tells her Grandpa how she relates the different lunar phases to familiar concepts--the new moon is a Hiding Moon, the crescent moon is a Boat Moon like grandpa's dory, the half moon is a Basket Moon like mama's knitting basket. When the moon is two-thirds full, it is a Cheeky Moon, like Baby Nico's round, chubby cheeks, and the full moon is a Treasure Moon, like pieces of pirates' silver. Enhanced by Pierr Morgan's beguiling, fluid illustrations, Sometimes Moon is a terrific teaching tool on a subject of universal appeal. Includes an informational spread, clearly depicting the lunar progression.

Shh! It’s Monkey’s birthday. But that’s a secret. Can Elephant keep the big news under his party hat for one whole day?Monkey lets Elephant in on a secret — it’s Monkey’s birthday, and Monkey does not like birthdays. But Elephant also has a secret: he has trouble keeping secrets. When Elephant learns that Clever Rat has made some party hats and is inviting friends over to see them, Elephant wants to turn their gathering into a party for Monkey. But how will he do it without giving away Monkey’s secret?

I jump into bed - thump, thump bumpety bump. I am all tucked in when from down the hallway I hear creak, creak, crinch! And I wonder, who's there? What child hasn't wondered the very same thing when the night makes everything sound creakier and squeakier? As a little bunny tries to get to sleep, it's sure it hears bumps and thumps from the hall. Could it be a Crusty, Dumply Ogre? Or maybe it's a Two-headed Grumbly Snoop!? The door slowly opens and . . . it's just bunny's little brother, pulling his noisy pull toy along behind him. Little bunnies everywhere will smile with sleepy relief.

“Expressive faces, gestures, and words convey the interactions of true friends. . . . A great read-aloud.” — School Library JournalWhen Elephant starts to sneeze—achoo!—Monkey has her ideas of what will make him feel better. And when Monkey gets the sniffles, Elephant has his ideas of what will make her feel better. But Monkey is Monkey and Elephant is Elephant. They are not exactly the same. Maybe there’s more than one way to enjoy a soft pile of hay, some fresh water, and a bit of entertainment!