Books published by publisher Scholastic Book Clubs Softcover Book and Audiocassette Tape

The four friends from Mañana, Iguana -- Conejo (a rabbit), Iguana, Culebra (a snake), and Tortuga (a tortoise) -- return for another adventure, this time to celebrate Culebra's birthday. Conejo convinces his pals to buy gifts according to his own taste, and not according to what their friend might like. Poor Tortuga ends up buying a shirt, Iguana gets a sombrero, and Conejo chooses a pair of pants. Conejo puts on each item as the snake explains that he can't use the clothes and the three friends finally figure out what the rabbit has done. They send him off without playing any party games like Pin the Tale on the Coyote and Musical Rocks. Conejo makes amends by returning with the gifts that Culebra really would like and the four reconcile. The text is peppered with Spanish words defined in a glossary in the front of the book. A fiery palette enlivens the simple cartoon artwork set in the desert. The scenes are fun to look at, such as the cacti sporting balloons as fiesta decorations and the boom box belting tunes. A welcome addition to most libraries.

Teckentrup's determinedly dirty and deliciously rendered hero looks a lot like a mucky soccer field to which paws, ears, and a snout have been added. His name is no exaggeration -- he smells so bad that flies "were the only ones that ever came close." What finally gets him to come clean? A bad itch he can't reach and a cutie named Big Fluffy Bear, who offers to scratch his back if he'll take a bath first (she makes this offer while perched in a tree, safely out of range of the stink). The two bears quibble and Big Smelly Bear acquiesces grumpily (the interplay will undoubtedly remind some readers of exchanges between parent and child) but it's clearly the beginning of a beautiful friendship. While its subject matter is grubby, this is one handsome book. Teckentrup creates strikingly graphic spreads from simple, large-scale shapes and expressionistic overlays of texture and color. The combination of the blunt text and bold pictures might even help cajole reluctant bathers to get their feet wet.

The crocodile that responds to the title question counts more than twenty ways and reasons for loving its child. Through all seasons and numerous shared activities, the parent enumerates how love stretches from the child's chocolate cheeks to muddy feet. Whether romping through waves or counting stars, the large and small crocodiles obviously enjoy one another's company. The perky reptiles exude plenty of personality, and the bouncy rhymes are reinforced by McCue's brightly colored illustrations. The page layouts, including effective spreads, facilitate group sharing. Because the numbers relate to concepts, not objects, the book doesn't offer much counting practice. However, the overriding theme of parental delight and unconditional love shines through the pages, making the book a solid choice for most collections.

A sandy, dandy, golden retriever named Tinka and the boy who owns her spend a day at the beach. The charm of the simple scenario is heightened by short, snappy rhymes and comical acrylic illustrations that energize the fun in the sun. Tinka and her boy slide side by side, play Frisbee, and have a tug-o-war over candy bars and a teddy bear. When Tinka grabs the suntan lotion, she's an "icky-sticky-licky" dog; on the way home, she's a "sprayed-by-a-skunk" dog; after a tomato juice bath, she's a "climb-up-in-a-lap" dog. The rhyme, which is never tiresome, may spark some rhyming take-off exercises at home or in a classroom. From the enticing cover showing Tinka sporting "shades" to the dog's always amusing facial expressions, kids will relish this clever, sharing and caring story.

When a nut suddenly juts out of a hole in the ground, two squirrels make such a racket arguing over which one should get to eat it that they disturb all the other animals in the area. Badger decrees that a race will decide the winner, but before the event is completed, the nut disappears. It abruptly protrudes from the ground a bit farther away, then vanishes and emerges again. All this appearing and disappearing has the group baffled and considering the possibility of "magic," until the squirrels combine efforts and pull it out of the hole. What they discover is a nutshell and a mole that was despairing of ever ridding himself of the bothersome thing stuck on his head. Everyone is dejected to find that the shell is empty, but Mole is so grateful that he shares his store with the others. Spreads in soft watercolors of browns, greens, and blues feature a community of endearing critters. An entertaining romp.

Snowy wants to show his mommy that he loves her more than anything else in the world. One day, Snowy thinks of a terrific surprise for her. However, he has trouble keeping his secret. Mommy keeps a close eye on Snowy, so he has to sneak away to work on the surprise. Finally, the secret is ready to be shared ... and Mommy loves it! Snowy and Mommy share a special bond in this wonderful snow-covered, star-filled world.

As evening settles over the jungle, baby animals stop their play and settle down for the night, snuggling close to their parents. Soft, full-spread illustrations in pastels capture the warmth and coziness of the families as night draws near. The gentle tone and rhyming couplets make this a good choice for toddler storytimes and bedtime reading aloud.

"I'm off to kindergarten now. I'd better take my bear. He likes to sit beside me, so I'll take a little chair..." On his way to his first day of kindergarten, a boy thinks about what he might need: his bear, a chair, a pillow, cookies, milk, paints -- even his swings -- until Mom explains that his teacher will have everything he needs. So he leaves his pile of stuff at home... "And all I take is -- ME!" This delightful rhyming story by beloved author Tony Johnston has lively watercolor illustrations by Melissa Sweet.

The popular Holiday Mice are back once again, and this time they're going on an egg hunt. Distracted by the beautiful spring day, the littlest mouse is the only one who doesn't find any eggs . . . until he stumbles upon a very special egg that turns out to be the best one of all. Young readers will identify with the littlest mouse's antics and delight in his eventual success as the story reaches its charming surprise ending. Filled with cheerful pastel colors, oversized eggs, and adorable mice in their Easter best, this latest book about the Holiday Mice is sure to please fans both old and new.

"I love to flip and fidget, / To dive and dart and dash. / I wiggle my bottom and jiggle my tail, / With a fidgety swish, splish, splash!" Join Fidgety Fish and all his friends as they tumble, twirl, whizz, and whirl through the ocean. Meet Smiley Shark, Clickety Crab, the Jiggly Jellyfish, and many more. A fun-filled collection of rhymes based on Ruth Galloway's popular series of underwater adventures. Welcome to the world of Fidgety Fish!

With a crew of capricious monkeys, a jaunty rhyming text, and energetic artwork, this book adds up to a good time. Hanging by his tail from a branch, a monkey clothed in bright overalls invites nine friends to play. Seven of the animals "twist and spin" from tree to tree, two of them "twirl and flip," and one "hangs by her knees in the breeze," adding up to 10 monkeys having "a tail-tangling, tree-dangling, jungle jamboree." Next, two of the monkeys "click sticks," four swing giant palm leaves "that whistle and sing," and four more "keep the beat" by slapping a log "with hands and feet," creating "a music-making, leaf-shaking, jungle jamboree." These antics continue, culminating in an encounter with a hungry yellow tiger which the clever primates manage to scare off. The rhythmic text and repeated refrain will have young listeners humming along. Done in inks and pencils, the stylized illustrations are appropriately lush, featuring shimmering shades of blue, violet, and green. Using changing perspectives, shifts between daytime and nighttime scenes, and unexpected splashes of bright color, the double-page spreads are fresh and appealing, and keep pace with the frenetic text. Children will enjoy looking closely at the pictures to locate each of the individuals performing the activities described in the verses. Youngsters who are more confident of their counting abilities will be interested in seeing how different number combinations can add up to 10. A fun, count-along romp.

On a breezy spring day, Mouse discovers various creatures. He wonders what each one is, and his mother patiently identifies a butterfly, bird, snail, frog, and worm. Each animal departs on a gust of wind, and, in the end, Mouse himself is carried away, but lands safely in his mother's loving arms. This gentle story is just right for toddlers who, like Mouse, are encountering new things every day. The brief text is full of wonderfully descriptive phrases, such as "fluttery buttery," "hidey insidey," and "squiggly squeeze." The simple, double-page illustrations are done in bright, colorful acrylics, just right for holding the attention of the youngest storytime attendee. A surefire hit in any season.