Make More S'mores
A CHILDREN'S BOOK COUNCIL FAVORITE!​
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Illustrated by Ariel Landy
Published by Sleeping Bear Press
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Roscoe roasts a perfect marshmallow for his first s'more. He slides it onto a graham cracker, adds a chocolate square—when Grizzly Bear arrives. Roscoe welcomes Grizzly—and bear after bear!—to his forest feast, keeping hungry guests content by sharing s'more after s'more.
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Kirkus Reviews writes: "One of the few things better than a gooey s’more—a warm, fuzzy friendship tale (about s’mores)."
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Youth Services Book Review gives the book five stars and writes: "Perfectly metered rhyme is a dream to read aloud, and the illustrations are energetic and fun."
Sloth & Squirrel
on Vacation
COMING MAY 6, 2025!
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lllustrated by Kelly Collier
Published by Kids Can Press
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Finding a destination that best friends Sloth and Squirrel can agree on for their vacation is tough, until they learn that Paradise Park has "Something for Everyone!" Perfect! While Sloth happily lazes on the sand, Squirrel enjoys rock climbing, kayaking, paragliding, ziplining... until he starts to miss Sloth, and heads back to find him. Meanwhile, Sloth, finished with his nap, is missing Squirrel, and begins searching for him—in all the places Squirrel has just been! Will the friends ever have fun together? Young readers will appreciate how the two lovable, mismatched friends always find a way to work things out. This endearing story makes a funny and engaging read-aloud, offering lessons on caring for others and being adaptable.​
Where to Purchase:
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ISBN: 9781525312564
Sloth and Squirrel
in a Pickle
Illustrated by Kelly Collier
Published by Kids Can Press
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A speedy squirrel and a sleepy sloth try to get the job done in this funny, heartwarming tale of two lovable, but unlikely, friends. Though Sloth and Squirrel are good friends, they have different ways of doing things—and different speeds of doing them. So, when Squirrel gets them jobs as pickle packers to earn money for a new bike, things don't go according to plan. It seems that the contrasting skill sets of a fast-as-lightning squirrel and a slow-as-molasses Sloth can make for a mess of an outcome, and before long, the friends are shown the pickle factory's door, along with the 677 ½ jars of pickles they packed incorrectly! Now the pair are bicycle-less, with only pickles to show for themselves. Or so they think—until the resourceful pair come up with an ingenious plan!
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“Mealey’s entertainingly silly, original plot includes plenty of dialogue and subtle wordplay, both visual and textual. Sure to tickle more than a few ribs.”
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Kirkus Reviews
"Sloth and Squirrel have a cool knack of making the best of situations that don’t turn out as expected. Use of alliteration not only in character names but throughout the story adds to the read-aloud pleasure of this delightfully implausible tale. Add Sloth and Squirrel to the bookshelf of classic friend duos like Elephant and Piggie, Frog and Toad, George and Martha…”
Children’s Literature CLCD
“Teamwork. Perseverance. Flexibility. Problem Solving. Sloth & Squirrel in a Pickle shines a spotlight on all the qualities mentioned and models a growth mindset with character development.”
Pennsylvania School Librarians Association
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Delaware Diamonds K-2 Winner for 2022-23
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Selected for Virginia’s Reading Makes Cents program 2022-23
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Selected for 2023 Washington Children’s Choice Picture Book Award, sponsored by the Washington Library Association
Where to Purchase:
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ISBN-13: 9781525302381
When A Tree Grows
Illustrated by Kasia Nowowiejska
Published by Union Square / Sterling Publishers
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When Moose sees the inviting tree where Squirrel has built his nest, he rubs his itchy antlers against the trunk—and sets in motion a chain of comic catastrophes. The tree falls and wakes Bear, who stumbles into Moose, who causes a truck driver to swerve off the road. But then Squirrel jumps onto that truck and ends up in the city, all alone. Who will help him get home? And how will Squirrel thank them? Kids will love this adorable picture book, with its irresistible animal characters and rhythmic text that's made for reading out loud.
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“Laugh along as a story about a tree in the forest comes full circle, bringing three creatures along for a bumpy but fun ride.”
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Kirkus Reviews
“Fans of the antics of the aforementioned mouse (and that series’ moose counterpart) [If You Give A Mouse A Cookie] will delight in these forest animals’ increasingly kooky adventures.”
Bulletin of the Center
for Children’s Books
“Due to the premise and its effective technical execution, this book provides a good lesson in cause and effect, and how the tiniest of circumstances can change the outcome of events. An amusing either/or story that has a valuable message about actions and consequences.”
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School Library Journal
Where to Purchase:
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ISBN-13: 9781454921202