Books with author Valerie Coulman

Ralph wants a bicycle, but as everyone tells him, cows don't ride bicycles! His father unwittingly offers a glimmer of hope when he tells Ralph he can have a bicycle "when pigs fly." But pigs don't fly, right? "Not yet," replies a determined Ralph. With vivid, charming illustrations and a can-do attitude, this award-winning picture book shows young readers that positive thinking can triumph over all the no’s in the world.

The Slightly Silly Pocket & Purse Animal Alphabet Primer is based on the animal alphabet sketches of author and artist Valerie Coulman. From a hippo in his hat and hoodie to a sweet sloth in her summer shorts, the Slightly Silly Pocket & Purse Animal Alphabet Primer provides a fun tool to help pre-readers and young readers build language skills by encouraging letter recognition and vocabulary building through simple text and a collection of slightly offbeat drawings featuring 26 uniquely different alphabetical animals.

The irrepressible Ralph learned how to fly, so why shouldn't he learn to swim? Like other animals, he, too, wants to be able to cool off easily on sweltering summer days. There's only one small problem: Ralph is a cow. And cows don't swim. At least not yet ... With the same unsinkable optimism that got him off the ground in WHEN PIGS FLY, Ralph pairs the help of friends with some summer accessories and figures out how to beat the heat and the naysayers around him. Like its award-winning picture book partner, WHEN PIGS FLY, Sink or Swim has also been recognized as an exemplary story of optimism, being shortlisted for the Ontario Library Association Blue Spruce Reading Program Award, shortlisted for the Saskatchewan Young Readers’ Choice Shining Willow Award, and named Finalist for the Independent Publisher Book Awards, Best Children’s Picture Book.

Ralph's dad tells him he can have a bicycle "when pigs fly." But cows don't ride bikes, right? With determination and a can-do attitude, Ralph sets out to see if he can get his porcine friends off the ground. This award-winning picture book with vivid, delightful illustrations shows young readers that a positive attitude can triumph over all the nos in the world. Winner of the Foreword Magazine Children's Book of the Year (2001), Ontario Library Association Blue Spruce Reading Program Award (2002),and Platinum Award, Just for Mom Foundation Mom's Choice Awards (2005); shortlisted for the Governor General’s Award for Illustration (2002).

The Slightly Silly Pocket & Purse Animal Alphabet Coloring Book is based on the drawings of author and artist Valerie Coulman. Collected in this compact volume are 26 animals, each showcasing a letter of the alphabet with whimsy and flair. Perfectly sized for a purse or backpack, the drawings are simple enough to entertain young artists or to provide quiet relaxation for the young at heart of any age. With a colorable cover and extra pages for your own doodles, The Slightly Silly Pocket & Purse Animal Alphabet Coloring Book will prompt the artist in you.

The irrepressible Ralph learned how to fly, so why shouldn't he learn to swim? Like other animals, he, too, wants to be able to cool off easily on sweltering summer days. There's only one small problem: Ralph is a cow. And cows don't swim. At least not yet ... With the same unsinkable optimism that got him off the ground in WHEN PIGS FLY, Ralph pairs the help of friends with some summer accessories and figures out how to beat the heat and the naysayers around him.Like its award-winning picture book partner, WHEN PIGS FLY, Sink or Swim has also been recognized as an exemplary story of optimism, being shortlisted for the Ontario Library Association Blue Spruce Reading Program Award, shortlisted for the Saskatchewan Young Readers’ Choice Shining Willow Award, and named Finalist for the Independent Publisher Book Awards, Best Children’s Picture Book.

Ralph wants a bicycle, but as everyone tells him, cows don'’t ride bicycles! His father unwittingly offers a glimmer of hope when he tells Ralph he can have a bicycle "when pigs fly." But cows don'’t ride bikes and pigs don'’t fly, right? "We’ll soon see about that," says a determined Ralph. This enchanting award-winning picture book with vivid, witty illustrations shows young readers that sheer willpower can triumph over all the no’s in the world.

The perfect book for budding performers, this is the endearing story of young Molly's dream to "fly through the air" like a real dancer. From her first shaky lessons to the dazzling Christmas recital, the spirited girl works tirelessly towards the day she can confidently proclaim "I am a ballerina!" Delicate chalk-pastel illustrations evoke the enchantment of darkened theaters, the magic of sparkling costumes, and the music of a dancer's world. This book is excellent for introducing young girls to ballet, a genre of dance that teaches poise, grace, confidence, and love of music. Wonderful to read aloud to the youngest of ballerinas, it also makes a great gift for an older ballerina who is starting to read on her own.

Ralph the unstoppable cow tackles the new challenge of learning to swim with the same unsinkable optimism that got him off the ground in When Pigs Fly. Ralph and his friend Morris are trying to beat the heat of a scorching hot summer's day. What better way to cool off than to go swimming? But wait, cows don't swim. Or do they? Well, not like ducks, or turtles, or frogs! Readers will laugh along with Ralph, and learn about optimism, resourcefulness, and positive thinking.

The perfect book for budding performers, this is the endearing story of young Molly's dream to "fly through the air" like a real dancer. From her first shaky lessons to the dazzling Christmas recital, the spirited girl works tirelessly towards the day she can confidently proclaim "I am a ballerina!" Delicate chalk-pastel illustrations evoke the enchantment of darkened theaters, the magic of sparkling costumes, and the music of a dancer's world. This book is excellent for introducing young girls to ballet, a genre of dance that teaches poise, grace, confidence, and love of music. Wonderful to read aloud to the youngest of ballerinas, it also makes a great gift for an older ballerina who is starting to read on her own.