Bear is a rambling musician. An entertainer. A legend. One Bear Extraordinaire. Bear wakes up one morning with a song in his head, but something is missing. What’s a one-bear band to do? He travels the forest in search of his song and meets a few other musicians along the way, but even with their help, his song still feels incomplete. Will Bear find the perfect accompaniment and learn that every song sounds sweeter with friends by his side? Jayme McGowan brings Bear and his merry band to life with intricate and innovative threedimensional cut-paper art that is nothing short of extraordinary.

Climb aboard Bus Number Four as it travels along country roads and city streets, past train tracks and farm fields. Through the window, countless details rush by, just waiting to be noticed. What will you see today? In this lyrical tribute to long rides and curious minds, author Grant Snider celebrates the extraordinary found within the ordinary, the fascinating hiding within the familiar, and the world of discovery awaiting all those who watch and wonder.

It's a Christmas catastrophe! Or is it? A unique, heart-warming story about community spirit and togetherness. "Just as we were about to eat our Christmas spaghetti, the doorbell rang." Emma can't wait for Christmas - the tree, the presents, the delicious dinner! Her dad and stepmom Susan want Christmas to be perfect, but things aren't going to plan - and then their turkey disappears! Will Christmas be ruined? As Emma encourages her parents to appreciate what they have, their neighbors come knocking to share their own festive traditions and help the family have a very merry Christmas.

Little Hedgehog's friends, the baby mice, have one Christmas wish: to build snow mice. But there just isn't enough snow! Little Hedgehog and the baby mice set out to search for more snow and along the way share the extra show with their friends -- learning the true meaning of Christmas. The baby mice can't wait to build snow mice. But when they wake up on Christmas Eve, almost all of the snow has melted! So Little Hedgehog takes the friends to go look for snow, collecting it in his bobble hat. On the way home, the baby mice share the snow with Grandpa Squirrel, the beavers, and Fox. But when they are ready to build their snow mice, the last tiny snowflake is melting at the bottom of the hat! "Christmas just won't be the same," sniff the mice. But then they remember the joy brought to others by sharing the snow, and realize that spending Christmas with their friends is what makes it truly magical.

2013 Caldecott Honor Book.   From New York Times bestselling author Toni Buzzeo and Caldecott Medal winning illustrator David Small, comes a cool tale about an unlikely friendship.   On a spontaneous visit to the aquarium, straight-laced and proper Elliot discovers his dream pet: a penguin. When he asks his father if he may have one (please and thank you), his father says yes. Elliot should have realized that Dad was probably thinking of a toy penguin, not a real one… Clever illustrations and a wild surprise ending make this sly, silly tale a kid-pleaser from start to finish.

From award-winning author Liz Garton Scanlon and celebrated artist Frann Preston-Gannon comes a gorgeously illustrated, lyrical counting book that will have young readers’ imaginations taking flight. One dark bird is perched up high, with a view of the town and a taste of the sky. Then she’s joined by two more, then three, then four. Before long, there are hundreds of starlings dancing across the sky—and avoiding a hunting hawk with one of the most spectacular tricks in the animal kingdom. Then, when night comes, the starlings begin to depart, until finally there is just one dark bird perched way up high, with a view of the town and a taste of the sky.

Wilson dreams of all the ways he can help improve his friend Gigi's house so that she'll be warm, comfortable, and happy. One day, friends and neighbors from all over come to help make Wilson's plans come true. Everyone volunteers to pitch in to make Gigi's house safe, clean, and pretty. Inspired by a friend's volunteerism, author Julia Durango tells a story of community and togetherness, showing that by helping others we help ourselves. Further information about Labor of Love, United Way, and Habitat for Humanity is included at the end of the book.

"Perfect for reading aloud, this counting book not only contains bright bold illustrations but also has lots of . . . sound effects that children will love to replicate." — Booklist Down by the marsh, by the sleepy, slimy marsh, one duck gets stuck in the muck . . . Can two fish, tails going swish, help? What about three moose, munching on spruce? Bright, spirited illustrations by Jane Chapman enhance this one-of-a-kind counting tale by Phyllis Root — a feast of sounds and numbers that will have listeners scrambling to join in the slippy, sloppy fun.

A meditative picture book about the power of reading and how one child can change the world, from #1 bestselling author Andrea Beaty One girl. One spark. Faint and fading in the dark. Flicker . . . Flicker . . . Flicker . . . Glow. Tiny ember. Burning low. Inspired by the global movement to empower girls through education, this lyrical story tells of one small girl who reads a book that lights a spark. She shares what she learns with her class, and the spark grows. The girl is then moved to write her own story, which she shares with girls around the globe, and it ignites a spark in them, lighting up the whole world. This heartwarming and moving narrative shows how books and education can inspire change and how one child can make a huge difference.

Farah feels alone, even when surrounded by her classmates. She listens and nods but doesn't speak. It's hard being the new kid in school, especially when you're from another country and don't know the language. Then, on a field trip to an apple orchard, Farah discovers there are lots of things that sound the same as they did at home, from dogs crunching their food to the ripple of friendly laughter. As she helps the class make apple cider, Farah connects with the other students and begins to feel that she belongs. Ted Lewin's gorgeous sun-drenched paintings and Eve Bunting's sensitive text immediately put the reader into another child's shoes in this timely story of a young Muslim immigrant.

This heartwarming story of friendship and determination features the return of the beloved Little Hedgehog and his friends as they search the forest for their friend Fox before night falls. In this newest installment of the Little Hedgehog and Friends series, Fox is in a terrible mood. Little Hedgehog and his friends try many different things to make Fox feel better--they give him hot chocolate and cookies, and Little Hedgehog even gives him his treasured red hat. Fox begins to feel his bad mood start to fade, but when more unfortunate things happen, his bad mood returns, and he stomps off into the forest. Will Little Hedgehog and the others be able to find Fox before it gets dark? This sweet story introduces themes of friendship, determination, and gratitude.

A delightful way toshow little ones how their hands are a blessing from God that they can use todo help others. Written in rhyming text and illustrated with the charmingart of Gaby Hansen, this simple message of God's blessing of hands not onlyentertains . . . as it teaches what wonderful things our hands can do fromscratching, latching, and petting a pup to washing dishes with mommy andputting toys in a box . . . but it also conveys the important message: We canuse God's gift of hands to show our love for Him by helping others. The bookends tenderly with a prayer of thanks to God for hands and asks Him to use themagain:   One hand, two hands, Five fingers, ten. God, thanks, for myhands.  Please, use themagain.

New friends and hockey makes every Christmas bright! Owen and Holly have just moved to Nova Scotia from Saskatchewan and everything is different. There are still boxes to unpack, and playing hockey in their new driveway just isn't the same as skating around the frozen lake back home. Neighbours come around to help their mom and dad, but with Christmas only a few days away, Holly and Owen really miss the friends they left behind. Little do they know that this year, a special surprise awaits them. On Christmas Eve, their father reveals what could very well be the best gift ever - a brand new backyard ice rink, filled with a whole community of new friends! With breathtaking artwork and a poignant story filled with holiday spirit, this wondrous new picture book will warm the hearts of all who read it.