Books with author Diana Cain Bluthenthal

On Monday morning Bertie woke up bright and early. He remembered that it was Picture Day. He remembered that Mrs. Hughes told them to look spiffy.Bertie is determined to look his very best for his second grade school picture on Monday. In fact, he even plans to wear his red polka-dot bow tie. But before the weekend's over, Bertie loses a front tooth, gets a shiner, and receives a "terribly interesting" haircut from his little sister Eloise. Bertie and Eloise, whom young readers met in Hot Fudge Hero, are back--and as charming as ever. In their smart and playful style, Pat Brisson and Diana Cain Bluthenthal capture these endearing characters in all of their trials and triumphs.

Minnie's good friend Charles names his mealworm Minnie. So why doesn't he invite her to the party at his house this coming Saturday? Hopeful at first, Minnie, by week's end, is a wreck. "No invitation, no party, no nothing," she moans, feeling as everyone feels at one time or another: unhappily left out. Diana Cain Bluthenthal knows how to be a comfort -- to Minnie or anybody -- with a story and pictures that are funny as well as true to life. Minnie, by week's end, is a wreck. "No invitation, no party, no nothing," she moans, feeling as everyone feels at one time or another: unhappily left out.

Minnie's good friend Charles names his mealworm Minnie. So why doesn't he invite her to the party at his house this coming Saturday? Hopeful at first, Minnie, by week's end, is a wreck. "No invitation, no party, no nothing," she moans, feeling as everyone feels at one time or another: unhappily left out. Diana Cain Bluthenthal knows how to be a comfort -- to Minnie or anybody -- with a story and pictures that are funny as well as true to life. Minnie, by week's end, is a wreck. "No invitation, no party, no nothing," she moans, feeling as everyone feels at one time or another: unhappily left out.

In a rickety old hovel in a wooded swamp lives an evil old hag, who is the second-meanest creature alive. She is only the second meanest because her cat, Hisss, is even meaner than she is. And this Halloween, the hag is determined to make a creature that will be the meanest creature yet! But when she slips up and leaves out the eye of newt out of her recipe, the hag's worst fears are realized. Out of the bubbling brew comes--ugh!--the sweetest little girl she never wanted to meet, Daisy. How long will the hag be able to stand this little ray of sunshine?

Charlie is always ready for anything . . . just in case. What if it's raining very hard—so hard that rain could come into the house and make the furniture float? Charlie has a plan to keep himself dry . . . just in case. What if his parents are going out and he gets a babysitter who won't read to him or let him watch TV? Charlie has a plan for making his own fun . . . just in case. But as Charlie is about to find out, sometimes not being ready is even better.

When shy Thomas moves into a new house on a new street, he takes it into his head that the new people might not like him. But when Halloween rolls around and Thomas sets out in a tiger-rific costume, he realizes the real trick to enjoying the treat of new friends is to just be himself. This tender story from veteran children's author Charlotte Zolotow explores the trials of being the new kid on the block, and the triumphs of showing your true stripes and finding a place among friends.