Books in Little Dipper Book series

Uncle Felix is coming over for dinner! Mommy and Daddy are very excited, but Caillou has never met him and is a little aprehensive. When Uncle Felix arrives, Mommy and Daddy seem interested only in their visitor, and Caillou feels left out and unimportant. It's hard for Caillou to understand why Uncle Felix gets all his parents'attention, but with time and a little help, he is soon as delighted as his parents with their guest. A Special Guest helps children overcome their insecurity they sometimes feel when faced with the arrival of a total stranger.

The Little Firefly is an enchanting tale about a late-blooming firefly who can't wait to be all grown up. When all the other fireflies are glowing except for the Little Firefly, she discovers that true friends will love and support her just the way she is. This charming story helps kids learn about love, friendship, and acceptance. Themes include: Shyness, Popularity, Growing Up, Maturity, Love, Acceptance, Tolerance, Friendship, Sports

The stories about the life of Jesus from the Gospels are a cornerstone of Western culture. Today, when religion is both omnipresent and strangely absent from children’s lives, this version of the Gospels is presented to readers in the proper cultural context. It is as a narrative of great interest, both for the compelling quality of the life it reveals and for the deep, resonant role it continues to play for all who live in today's world. Celia Barker Lottridge brings her award-winning gifts of storytelling to relate Jesus’s life and his teachings. The parables are so freshly told that they seem new again. Their power shines throughout the book, while Linda Wolfsgruber’s rich illustrations — influenced by her childhood in the deeply Catholic Sud Tyrol (today Alto Adige) and her acquaintance with the iconographic roots of the stories — bring historical significance to this book.

Sensitively told and true to the experience of many Mexican Americans, this bilingual picture book bridges the borders that separate all families who must live far apart from their loved ones.—Booklist"...accompanied by innovative illustrations, originally modeled with clay. Reminiscent of Mexican folk art, they fit the story especially well, conveying its warmth and poignancy."—Kirkus Reviews"A tender love story of a book...a kiss on the forehead at bedtime!"—Naomi Shihab Nye"A stylist in both poetry and prose, Sáenz has now taken his magic of flight to younger readers. This is his gift to them. Parents, snuggle up to your children at night and read this delightful tale of Dieguito."—Gary Soto"La traduccíon al español es buena y el diseño del libro es atractivo."—People en Español"The tender story in A Gift From Papá Diego / Un regalo de Papá Diego by Benjamin Alire Saenz is sprinkled with Spanish expressions throughout the English version, adding to the flavor of this bilingual tale. A glossary of the terms used is provided at the end of the book. In addition, a complete Spanish text is printed on each half page. Illustrations of wonderful clay figures painted with bright colors highlight the narrative and provide an attractive graphic border. This paperback original is a debut into the world of children's books for Mr. Saenz, and he has succeeded in writing a poignant read-aloud book for young children - at once entertaining and comforting."—Barbara Bonds ThomasBenjamin Alire Sáenz was born in his grandmother’s house in Picacho, New Mexico—a farming village 40 miles north of the border between Mexico and the United States. Ben’s parents spoke mostly Spanish at home and his grandparents spoke only Spanish, so Ben learned much of his English from his brothers and sisters, his friends, and by watching cartoons on television. When he was a little boy, he was a passionate reader of comic books—Superman, Spiderman, Batman, and all the rest of the Super Heros. Ben thought it was cool that Superman could fly. Growing up, Ben discovered that he liked to write. He liked to draw and paint, too.