Books published by publisher Harcourt Childrens Books (J) (1972-06-01)

A little girl discovers the beauty in herself--and the beauty of the world around her--not by looking in the mirror, but by looking in her Nana's eyes. Glorious bright pictures by Synthia Saint James show us how to see the beauty, and the accompanying CD of Sweet Honey In The Rock singing the song lets us know how to hear it.Ysaye M. Barnwell--a member of the popular a capella quintet of African American women, Sweet Honey In The Rock--wrote the music as well as the lyrics for the song. This breathtaking hardcover picture book and CD will inspire children and adults alike.

To give Nita a vacation from magic, Nita’s parents pack her off for a month-long stay with her eccentric aunt in Ireland. But Ireland is even more steeped in magical doings than the United States, and Nita soon finds herself and a host of Irish wizards battling creatures from a nightmare Ireland--a realm where humankind is the stuff of tales and storybooks, and where the legends and monsters of the country’s mythology are a deadly reality.

Nurk is a quiet homebody of a shrew. But when a mysterious plea for help arrives in the mail, he invokes the spirit of his fearless warrior-shrew grandmother, Surka, and sets off to find the sender. It seems the prince of the dragonflies has been kidnapped, and Nurk is his last hope for rescue. Such a mission would be daunting for even the biggest, baddest, and bravest of shrews, and Nurk is neither big nor bad, and only a little brave. But he does his very best--and hopes his grandmother would be proud. Nurk is a warm, wonderful, and hilarious illustrated adventure about courage, family legacies, and friendships of a most unusual nature.

It’s Epossumondas's birthday, so Mama's whipping up his favorite biscuits. But she's plumb out of sody sallyraytus! (That's baking soda to all you Yankees.) Everybody knows you can’t make big, fluffy biscuits without sody. One by one, Baby Gator, Auntie, and Mama scoot to the store to fetch some. But when no one comes back, it’s up to Epossumondas to run out and see what’s what--until he runs smack into a great, huge, ugly Louisiana snapping turtle!

Brussels sprouts--yuck! The dentist--blech! And worst of all . . . bedtime! That can really ruin a kid’s day. You have to stop playing and brush your teeth and put on your pj’s, and you just know your parents are going to have a big party as soon as you’re asleep. Aren’t they? The feisty girl in this book is determined to find out! Katie Davis takes a fresh, funny look at an experience that is familiar to children and, of course, their sleepy parents. The surprise ending, with its playful resolution, will banish the bedtime blues and is sure to have youngsters scrambling to get to sleep!

Debra Frasier's On the Day You Were Born has been loved by more than a million families since its publication ten years ago. Now parents can extend the celebration of their child's birth with this easy-to-use photo journal inspired by that modern classic. By simply adding eight photographs, a few details--and a lot of love--they can create a wonderful book to read with their child about their first day together.

The mercury is climbing in Lumberville, and the folks are doing everything they can to keep cool. Officer McGinnis spends the day in a cold bath, Lottie Mims does her housework in her bathing suit, and Abigail and Ralphie Blue sell ice cubes. When the temperature refuses to relent, the entire community seeks solace by the river--where everyone dreams of cool relief. A cast of quirky characters and lots of playful details from two celebrated picture-book talents make this heat wave look like fun!

The close-knit residents of Hackett Island have never seen anyone quite like Lani Garver. Everything about this new kid is a mystery: Where does Lani come from? How old is Lani? And most disturbing of all, is Lani a boy or a girl?Popular Claire McKenzie isn't up to tormenting Lani with the rest of the high school elite. Instead, she decides to befriend the intriguing outcast. But within days of Lani's arrival, tragedy strikes, and Claire is left questioning herself, her friendships, and, most interesting of all, the possibility that angels may exist on earth.

A little green hummingbird is flying through a sunny garden, leaving a path for sharp eyes to follow. An artist is watching--and painting what he sees! With a playful, rhyming text and vibrant collage illustrations, Keith Baker captures all the energy and excitement of a hummingbird's flight in this engaging picture book just right for young readers and artists.

Altoona Baboona is lonely and bored on her dune-a. So off she goes in search of adventure in her hot air balloon-a. But a little lost Loon-a and a jazzy Raccoon-a help her find something even better. . . . Little ones will want to pack their bags and join Altoona Baboona for this high-flying, rip-rhyming adventure--an unforgettable trip that proves friendship is the greatest discovery of all!