Books with author Maria Ellis

Do you have a toddler who will not eat by him or herself - or has trouble eating alone because of a sensory difficulty disorder? Then you will like the story of Monkey Bandit who learns to eat with a spoon!Monkey Bandit does not know how to eat by himself, with a spoon. Yet. But he does like yummy soup. He tries to eat some with one finger, but that does not work. Next, he tries grabbing a handful of soup... that does not work. When he tries slurping the soup from the bowl, he burns himself and gets the soup all over the floor. Eating by yourself is not easy, is it... Frustrated and angry, Monkey Bandit begins to cry. With the tears, he gets a few tastes of soup in his mouth. Oh, it is so very good... so he tries just one more time: he picks up the spoon, dips it in the soup and slowly takes it to his mouth. Yeey!At last, the third time is a charm: Monkey Bandit opens his mouth widely and has his first spoonful of soup, all by himself!This colorfully illustrated, funny children's story will amuse your toddler and help him eat by himself or herself. It breaks down the steps of eating by yourself: holding the spoon, dipping it in the bowl of food, taking it to your mouth.Great children's story for toddlers or kids who are learning to eat by themselves, it is also about the fact that learning a new skill requires determination and perseverance.For children with a sensory processing disorder, this book will provide a visual guide to eating independently. Through humor and watching a little monkey eat by himself, your child will feel less pressured and more at ease with trying.

My mess… your mess… it all belongs in the potty! Do you have a toddler who is reluctant to go potty… and admit it when he is messing up? Then you will like this story of Monkey Bandit. Monkey Bandit, much like any toddler, sees nothing wrong… when he’s doing something wrong. But when others do the same “wrong”, the offense is immediately obvious! Here is a funny story about how Monkey Bandit became motivated to go potty in the potty… because he realized that to do otherwise was simply wrong. This colorfully illustrated, funny children's story will make babies and toddlers giggle at the misadventures of Monkey Bandit.

Do you have a toddler who will not easily go to bed? Then you will like the story of Monkey Bandit and the monkey in the moon! Monkey Bandit, much like pretty much any toddler, will not go to bed. He must (must!) finish his castle tower first and then draw some circles on a piece of paper. But then he hears about the monkey in the moon. Is he finally going to go to bed? This colorfully illustrated, funny children's bedtime storyfor toddlers is sure to get your child in bed - and fast. You will all have fun staring at the night sky and looking for the monkey chasing butterflies! Who says that going to bed means the fun stops?!

Kids will really enjoy these 26 brightly illustrated projects. “There’s lots of fun to be had here, and it’s refreshing to see attractive finished products that look like youngsters have actually made them.”—Booklist. “Appealing....Ellis provides clear directions, uses simple procedures, suggests inexpensive tools, and usually offers several photo examples of completed projects.”—School Library Journal.

“Don’t make me take a bath! Don’t make me!... Ooooh, that’s nice…” Do you have a toddler who will not gladly take a bath? Then you will like the story of Monkey Bandit who finally takes one! Monkey Bandit is never quite ready for taking a bath. He has so many other things to do first... playing with paints, eating strawberries and kicking a ball outside in the mud are just three examples. But when he realizes that he will not be able to jump on the bed, or hide in the armoire or do other things inside the house while he is dirty, he reconsiders taking a bath... and discovers that he even likes it! This colorfully illustrated, funny children's story will amuse your toddler and gently teach him the value of being clean.

In life, friends are important. Best friends are really, really important. But what do you do if no one wants to be friends with you? This is a kids book about friendship: it is the story of Mac, a little mouse no bigger than a walnut. He is so small that nobody wants to be friends with him. Or so he thinks. One day he decides that if he were to find golden cheese, he would become rich and everybody would love him and want to be his friend. Or so he thinks... Read this kids book to see what happens when Mac tries one silly idea after another, only to find that what he was really after was one true friend, who can accept him as he is - flaws, silliness and all. This is a kids book about friendship and about life lessons. Enjoyable for children and parents alike. It is the kind of story that sparks conversations about what is important in life, how we behave and the choices we make. It is a kids book about how two mice become best friends. Yes. In life, friends are important. And true best friends, some would say, are one of the most important things of all.

CHOUPICOS BEGINNER READER SERIES: She is a cat. He is a mouse. They are best friends: they play, they fight, they make up, they laugh, they cry... These are their stories. Mousimus wants to play with a ball. Kitty Cat wants to read. So he has to ask... nicely. But there is one more thing missing: Princess Super Kitty Cat's tiara! And it is really missing! Who took it?! And why?! In a simple, comic book style of one panel per page, this beginner book series will entertain your budding reader with friendship stories between a cat and a mouse. LEVEL: Beginner Reader (Kindergarten to Grade 2) AGES: 5 - 8

We are all different, that’s all! When Monkey Bandit meets Beau, the colorful parrot, he quickly becomes upset because he does not have as many colors. But then he realizes that, even though some of us have many colors and others only one or two, this simply means that we are all different, that’s all. This is not so much a book about colors, but a book about comparisons and self-esteem. This colorful, funny picture book will introduce your child to the idea that differences are normal and natural. As they grow, children start comparing themselves to others, especially when the adults around them offer praise (or criticism!). A healthy sense of self-esteem and self-confidence is based on the idea that yes, we are all different - and that is a good thing. It is never too early to start talking to your child about self-esteem! Pre-K / Kindergarten / Grade 1 Other books in the Monkey Bandit series will teach your child values such as creativity, cleanliness, good behavior, taking responsibility and more, woven in practical lessons about playing, eating, going potty, socializing, learning about the world and all the other regular activities in the lives of young children. Monkey Bandit and the Monkey in the Moon Monkey Bandit Goes Potty Monkey Bandit and the Naughty Ball Monkey Bandit Eats with a Spoon Monkey Bandit Takes a Bath ... and more!

When his mama and papa told Petey Boy that they were planning to move down south before the winter freeze, their young sweet son threw a tantrum. He couldn't help it. This endearing bird was so extremely upset. He realized it would be impossible to join the most popular club in town-the Flyhigh Club. Would poor young Petey Boy ever be asked to join a prominent club in his new neighborhood?Would he ever have friends again?This book is about inclusivity. Moving is a scary thing for anyone-a youngster or an adult. Many young children worry about making new friends, don't they? It's natural to want to be accepted-whether it's a party, a team sport, or a club. Petey Boy and the Flyhigh Club reveals to readers that they are not alone in worrying about being accepted. Children will realize from this fun-filled book that worrying does not help. In fact, worrying often makes things dreadfully worse!Petey Boy worried around the clock. Days turned into months. When he worried, he ate. When he ate, he gained weight. Petey Boy's worrying provoked embarrassing comical calamities. Unfortunately, he was shipped off to Camp Tubby Ahoy where this dear young bird transformed into a pesky mischievous character.This humorous story has an unexpected ending for all readers to enjoy. Petey Boy and the Flyhigh Club is an important must-have book that will become a delightful go-to story for years to come.

A thought turns into a feeling. A feeling turns into a mood. A mood turns into a life - of optimism and feeling good. Such is the destiny of a teacup! This is the story of a teacup that is so tall that the elves she lives with don’t know what to do with her. So she sits on a shelf, gathering dust, her saucer full of mold, looking down at everyone having a good time. One day, before a party, she finally has enough. She bursts into tears. That doesn’t help her much though... on the contrary: a grumpy teapot, her neighbor on the dreaded shelf, starts scolding her. But that day, something is different: the teacup takes a good look around and she just decides to... change her mood! This ageless story will bring home the message that optimism and feeling good do not depend on circumstances - but they can create good circumstances! A wonderful life lesson for all ages.

Ellis offers a clear introduction to techniques children can use to create a variety of projects. There’s lots of fun to be had here, and it’s refreshing to see attractive finished products that look like youngsters have actually made them.”—Booklist. “Appealing...Ellis provides clear directions, uses simple procedures, suggests inexpensive tools, and usually offers several photo examples of completed projects....Imaginative pieces.”—School Library Journal.Give a child a ball of clay, and hours of creative fun are sure to follow. From coiled goblets and elegant vases (with impressions of real leaves) to slab-rolled lanterns with cutout shapes, kids can make so many fantastic things. Every one of the 26 projects, shown in color how-to photographs and whimsical illustrations, is visually captivating. Help youngsters set up their own “artist’s studio” and experience the pleasure of creating fabulous ceramics from scratch. You won’t even need a kiln, because there’s advice on finding places to fire the clay—plus all the basics on tools and materials. Hand-building techniques include pinching, coiling, slab-making, and press molding; children will even learn how to shape clay around an inflated balloon. “Clay Clues” answer common trouble-shooting questions, and a gallery of ceramics by real kids offers inspiration. From the beginning stages of creation to the final firing, these projects rock.