Books published by publisher Charlesbridge Publishing Feb - 2000

Elephants never forget During a drought in Tanzania, Grandma Elephant is in search of water for her herd. Little Calf follows along and mimics her grandmother at each stop on their journey. When Grandma leads them to a watering hole she recalls from years before, the elephants are overjoyed, and Little Calf splashes about with her tender leader. Grandma's persistence and powerful memory is something Little Calf will never forget. Based on true events. Sandra Markle’s acclaimed nonfiction writing takes on a more lyrical style, making this story of animal behavior accessible for younger listeners.

Join Sir Cumference and the gang for more wordplay, puns, and problem-solving in the clever math adventure that introduces listeners to the concept of fractons. Sir Cumference and Lady Di discover "Fracton numbers" while purchasing cloth and cheese at the Fracton Faire. While two-fourths may seem like the same as one-half, in truth it denotes two parts of one-half, or two quarters of the whole. But the real mystery is the fact that items at the fair keep disappearing, and Sir C, Lady Di, and the Earl of Fracton must set a numeric trap for the thief, teaching an important lesson along the way about the comparative size of fractions. Puns - both literal and visual - abound in this fun adventure story with beloved characters and a solid pedagogical foundation. "A fun little math adventure that introduces the basics of fractions to early elementary audiences." (School Library Journal)

Discover the little-known story of Beethoven's beloved masterwork. As the best pianist in Vienna, Ludwig van Beethoven had everything: talent, money, fame. But he also had a terrible secret. He was slowly going deaf. Though his hearing deserted him, the maestro never lost his music. Seeking inspiration for his compositions, Beethoven hit upon Napoleon Bonaparte, then considered a liberator and a folk hero. Soon after Beethoven completed the work, Napoleon declared himself Emperor of France; betrayed and enraged, Beethoven tore his copy of the score to pieces. But his friend Ferdinand rescued a copy, and in time, Beethoven renamed it Eroica: the Heroic Symphony, dedicated to hero in each and every one of us.

Caldecott Honor recipient Steve Jenkins shines as the author of this amusing and thorough introduction to animal homes. Turtles, birds, fish, beavers, and kangaroos are just like people - they need homes and take up residence in unusual places. A simple main text introduces similarities between human and animal homes while sidebars detail the unique qualities of each animal and its home.

Everyone knows that sinking feeling in the pit of the stomach just before diving into a new situation. Sarah Jane Hartwell is scared and doesn't want to start over at a new school. She doesn't know anybody, and nobody knows her. It will be awful. She just knows it. With much prodding from Mr. Hartwell, Sarah Jane reluctantly pulls herself together and goes to school. She is quickly befriended by Mrs. Burton, who helps smooth her jittery transition. This charming and familiar story will delight listeners with its surprise ending. First Day Jitters is an enchanting story that is sure to be treasured by anyone who has ever anticipated a first day of school.

In this early listener with five short chapters, listeners meet Pig and Goose. Pig is happy. She loves to dance. She loves to eat. But she cannot fly. And she cannot swim. Goose can fly like a bird. Goose can glide across the water beautifully. But he cannot tell stories or host a party like Pig can. Pig and Goose are very different. But what they do have in common is that they like each other. And they love springtime. Simple text guides listeners throughout the story. A lovely story to share with preschoolers and young independent readers. An excellent selection." (School Library Journal, starred review) "Approachable while giving new readers a sense of accomplishment." (Kirkus Reviews) "An ideal choice for older listeners transitioning to young readers, but the playful dialogue also lends itself to reading aloud." (Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books) "A quiet but effective reminder that an individual's appearance and skills are not the source of his or her worth." (Publishers Weekly) "The comfortable line-and-watercolor illustrations capture both the season and the spirit of the story." (Horn Book)

Join Sir Cumference and the gang for more wordplay, puns, and problem solving in the clever math adventure that introduces listeners to the concept of rounding numbers. When Steward Edmund Rounds and Sir Cumference notice that there are strangers camped nearby, Rounds II decides to investigate despite being involved with the task of learning how to make accurate counts of the castle's stores of food, supplies, and weaponry. When he reports back that an enemy is lying in wait, everyone moves quickly to defend the castle. But wait! Will Rounds II be able to figure out how many bows and arrows they have to create an appropriate battle plan? Using rounding techniques to figure out the totals more quickly, Rounds II is just in time to help stave off a potentially disastrous attack. Listeners will love making the rounds with Rounds II and the gang in this new installment of the Sir Cumference series that makes math fun and accessible for all.

For fans of the Sir Cumference series with coordinate geometry on their mind, here is the seventh installment in this fun look at math and language. While riding through the forests of Angleland, cousins Per and Radius realize they are lost and are desperate for a map to guide them home. Soon they come across a mysterious house in the hills. Inside they find a map to a treasure belonging to Xaxon Yellowbearyd, the fiercest Viking warrior of his time. Per and Radius must decode the strange numbered grid on the map, while trying to steer clear of the pack of bungling bandits who are on their tail. Will they find the treasure in time? Cindy Neuschwander delivers yet another intriguing math adventure featuring the well-known characters of Angleland. Listeners will enjoy following Per and Radius in their quest while learning how coordinate geometry relates to everyday life.

Johann Sebastian Bach created some of the most significant music in history, including A Keyboard Practice Consisting of an Aria with Thirty Variations for the Harpsichord - commonly known as the Goldberg Variations. Goldberg is Johann Gottlieb Goldberg, a young musician in the court of Count Keyserlingk, a Russian ambassador living in Dresden. It isn’t known for certain why Bach’s difficult composition was named for the young man, but Anna Harwell Celenza gives us one possible story based on extensive research.

Learn your beetles from A to Z as they crawl their way through the alphabet. Get to know the most diverse species on earth in this entertaining and informative nature ABC book. From the Dung Beetle to the Kalahari Beetle to the Zinc Metallic Beetles, the book is both fact-filled and fun for young listeners. A great introduction for the insect-enthused and lovers of all things that creep and crawl.

Who wears what to work? The clues in each lively verse can be pictured hanging from clotheslines. A mail carrier’s uniform, the artist’s brushes, and the chef’s apron all hang from the clothesline. Then, keep listening to learn which professionals wear and use the special gear in the jobs they do. Clever descriptions show the workers helping one another, and in the end, everyone joins together for a celebration that is out of this world. A perfect choice for listening aloud and encouraging kids to join in the guessing and reveal.