Books published by publisher Scholastic Book Clubs Softcover Book and Audio CD

What a difference a new format makes! This "re-imagined" edition of the classic story, originally published as The Mystery of the Missing Red Mitten in 1974, is now in an oversize format with color illustrations, and it seems like a delightful new offering. Annie has lost five mittens this winter, and she's in trouble. She and her dog, Oscar, set out to retrace her steps, through the deep, deep snow. As Annie and Oscar return to where they went sledding and built snow castles, the day's high jinks appear inset in boxes. They follow a bird, and the boxed action becomes Annie's imaginings: the bird has used her mitten for its nest; a mouse is using it for a sleeping bag. Annie wonders if it might be easier to grow new mittens; she thinks about planting her remaining mitten so she'll have a mitten tree next summer with enough mittens to give away on holidays. But when the sun comes out, and the snowman she has made begins melting, the mitten makes its appearance as a snowman's heart. Kellogg really outdoes himself with pictures that are filled with good cheer, warm spirits, and happy daydreams. He captures the way the light looks on a winter's day, and he also shows the way a room glows at Christmas when it's lit by candlelight. A book that's upbeat and touching by turns.

"On the first day of Christmas, / my true love gave to me / a partridge in a pear tree." A straightforward beginning to a carol that grows increasingly complicated as both the list of presents and the numbers involved accumulate. Brett's lavish treatment of the song portrays various levels of meaning. She has illustrated the fantastic gifts in outrageous splendor, turned them into a border of tree decorations, included a menagerie of animals carrying banners with "Merry Christmas" in different languages, and trimmed the edges of each page with an ongoing story about a family's preparations for the big day itself. In the final frame, the decorated tree serves as the centerpiece for the family's own caroling. The artist demonstrates, once again, that she will not relinquish a project before every last glorious detail is in place. The clarity of her vision is stunning.

It is a typical autumn day, with blowing leaves and golden trees. But Bear doesn't feel well. He has a cold, and is feeling alone in his cave, snuffling and sneezing. Then all of his friends come to try and help him feel better. They light a fire, fluff his blanket, and make him some broth and tea, tending him lovingly. The rhyming text and oft-repeated refrain ("Bear feels sick") make this book irresistible when read aloud. Chapman's illustrations are warm and cozy. Bear is big and cuddly. His friends are shown doing small things to help him get better, including making drawings and singing him to sleep. The paintings glow with the light of the fire and the heat of the cave. What more could anyone ask when under the weather than a snug house and plenty of TLC?

A rhyming, rhythmic, and lyrical charmer about zoo animals going on strike. It all starts when the elephants complain, "We're paid only peanuts!" All of the animals follow suit. The monkeys demand a nice pool in their pen, the zebras want root-beer floats, and the giraffes are wearing turtleneck sweaters from their heads to the floor as camouflage. All is chaos as the zookeeper must pacify the animals, and there appears to be no end in sight until a first-time visitor bursts into tears. It is only then, in a loud hush, that it becomes apparent to the residents just how important their job really is. The pages are bursting with color, whimsical expressions abound, and loads of laughter will be shared by all.

In this sequel to Llama Llama Red Pajama, the hoofed protagonist goes shopping with his mother. Gradually the small annoyances of the Shop-O-Rama ("Yucky music,/great big feet./Ladies smelling way too sweet....Try it on and take it off./Pull and wiggle,/itch and cough") send the youngster into a tantrum: "It's no fun at Shop-O-Rama./Llama Llama/MAD at Mama!" With admirable patience and parenting skills, Mama tames the "llama drama," explaining to her son that they can make the chore fun by working together. Soon Llama Llama is helping Mama clean up the messy results of his meltdown and complete their purchases, and then they are off to pursue more pleasurable activities. Children will giggle at Dewdney's rhythmic rhymes. The inviting, oversized paintings are bold and colorful, and Llama Llama's priceless expressions carry the emotional arc of the story to its gentle conclusion. Add this amusing tale to your storytime repertoire or recommend it for one-on-one sharing.

Sherman Crunchley is Biscuit City's nicest police officer, but that's just the problem. He's too nice! Sherman comes from a long line of police chiefs, but it's hard to be a great police officer when you're the kind of guy who can't say no. Can Sherman find the courage to tell his father he doesn't want to be the next chief of police? Beautifully illustrated and filled with canine capers, this silly story barks out a serious message -- being true to oneself.

Bart the sand ant has spent his whole life moving mounds of sand from one tunnel to another in an underground nest. He and the other ants have never seen the sky or felt the rain. One day, Bart feels the outside world beckoning him, and he flees the nest without being noticed. He quickly finds out that the world is full of wonder and joy, and of danger, as he narrowly escapes becoming lunch for a frog and almost drowns in a rain puddle. Bart begins to regret his escapade and heads home. The entrance guard questions him but then reassures him that "sometimes an ant just needs to look at the sky" and looks the other way as Bart gets back to work. After listening all summer to his tales of the sun, rain, and bees, fellow sand ant Floyd decides to go exploring and Bart joins him. The richly colored illustrations of the outside world contrast sharply with the browns and tans of the nest. Deep green grass and bright yellow flowers are seen from an ant's perspective. The insects are dressed as people, complete with hard hats and safety glasses. The message -- that it's good to take time for oneself -- is not subtle or indirect. Bonny Becker has written the perfect story for our hectic, over-scheduled lives. Nina Laden's illustrations bring the bustling insect world to life with humor and verve.

Piggy is excited about his first fishing trip with his father. After donning boots, helping to make sandwiches, and digging for worms, the pair set out. All is well until the youngster tries to bait the hook. He cannot bear to hurt the little worm smiling up at him, so they use bread instead. Though his dad explains that he must be quiet and patient for a fish to bite, the antsy tyke repeatedly casts his line until both fishermen fall asleep from a mix of exhaustion and boredom. Piggy is awakened by a tug on the line and, sure enough, he catches a beauty -- only to throw it back when he imagines how sad the fish must be. Instead, he invents a new sport of "feed-the-fish fishing," in which he tosses bread balls into the water and they enjoy watching the eager creatures eat their lunch. Dad is such a good sport that the next day they return for more -- only this time father, son, and fish feast on a box of doughnuts. The pleasing watercolor-and-pencil cartoons are bright and varied, with both white and colored backgrounds. The front endpapers sport cans of smiling worms while the back ones display an array of mouthwatering doughnuts. Children will appreciate the understanding, bespectacled dad in his wild Hawaiian shirts and empathize with the sensitive little pig.

Bruce Lansky, the "King of Giggle Poetry," is at it again! Now he has created a hilarious anthology of songs that feature funny lyrics to favorite campfire songs that are just right for the summer season. The songs were tested on a panel of 500 school children and graded "hilarious." Kids can read and sing along with these hilarious songs -- all written to familiar tunes. Each page contains charming illustrations by Stephen Carpenter.

Expertly crafted cut-paper collages illustrate this simple roundup of holiday delights. Each page represents a day in December as Snowbear, a fuzzy white polar bear, prepares for the holidays and enjoys winter activities. On the first day he writes Santa; on the third day he hangs Christmas lights; and so on. There's plenty of playtime, too. On day ten he brings out his toy trains, and on day thirteen he sleds with his animal pals, who all join him on the twenty-fifth for presents and celebration. Skillfully combining textured and patterned papers, Smythe creates vivid, detailed scenes of Snowbear at work and play that capture both the joyful, energetic bustle and the deep coziness of the season, and his simple, direct words are just right for reading aloud. Merry and bright holiday fare that young children may want to return to throughout the year.