Wild About Us by Karen Beaumont

"Can't be who I'm not. I am who I am, and I've got what I've got."   Each of us a little different and that's the way it's supposed to be.  As a cat who hears occasional comments about my slightly larger stature, after reading this book, I can now confidently say, "I like my extra jiggle! It's the way I was meant to be!"

What's not to like about Pete?  Just look at him...he's a cat, he's black (well kind of) and just look at those great shoes!  And in this book a new guy moves in down the street and Pete can't wait to meet him.  A new guy means new friends and that combo equals fun, right?This new guy is kind of different...and that's what makes him so cool!

Hickory Dickory Dog by Alison Murray

Zack and his dog, Rufus, are best friends.  Rufus even follows Zack to school to join in the outdoor fun, lunchtime and painting time.  All of this makes for one messy dog who needs to go home and take a bath!

A nursery rhyme twist about the hours in a day that a dog spends with his boy. (I'm telling you a cat is waaay smarter than this...we would have stayed home!)

Dog vs. Cat by Chris Gall

Mr & Mrs. Button each bring a new pet home on the same day...Cat and Dog do NOT get along (I could have predicted that one).  The two are forced to share a room together (oh brother) and they decide to try to be "grown-ups" about the whole deal...Cat offering a "mousewarming" present, Dog giving Cat a lick greeting. They were on each other's last nerve.  And there were many other issues...the liter box, hairballs...each pet was determined to get the other one into trouble.

And then, the most terrifying creature Cat and Dog have EVER seen moves in.  Lots of humor from both the text and pictures.  A kid favorite for sure!

Sam & Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett

Sam and Dave are on a mission to dig a hole until they find something spectacular.  So they keep digging, and digging, and digging...comic tension arises as large diamonds appear in view of the readers eyes only to be narrowly missed each time as Sam & Dave decide to make a digging turn.

Pig the Winner

Aaron Blabey

Will Pig ever learn? He's an absolute cheat and quite the sore loser as well. But when Pig challenges his foot-long playmate, Trevor, to a kibble eating contest, he accidentally stuffs more than just food in his mouth. Lucky for Pig, Trevor knows what to do and saves the day!

Lumberjack's Beard

Duncan Beedie

Every day, lumberjack Jim Hickory heads into the forest with his trusty ax and chops down trees. Unfortunately, all sorts of creatures, including a bird, a porcupine, and a beaver, lose their homes in the process, so Jim gives them a home in his beard — until one day it all gets to be too much. Time for Jim to come up with a better solution! This funny story carries a green message.

Windows

Julia Denos

Before your city goes to sleep, you might head out for a walk, your dog at your side as you go out the door and into the almost-night. Anything can happen on such a walk: you might pass a cat, or a friend, or even an early raccoon. And as you go down your street and around the corner, the windows around you light up one by one until you are walking through a maze of paper lanterns, each one granting you a brief, glowing snapshot of your neighbors as families come together and folks settle in for the night.

A Different Pond

Bao Phi

. A Different Pond is an unforgettable story about a simple event - a long-ago fishing trip. As a young boy, Bao Phi awoke early, hours before his father's long workday began, to fish on the shores of a small pond in Minneapolis. Unlike many other anglers, Bao and his father fished for food, not recreation. A successful catch meant a fed family. Between hope-filled casts, Bao’s father told him about a different pond in their homeland of Vietnam.

See You in the Cosmos

Jack Cheng

Alex Petroski loves space and rockets, his mom, his brother, and his dog Carl Sagan—named for his hero, the real-life astronomer. All he wants is to launch his golden iPod into space the way Carl Sagan (the man, not the dog) launched his Golden Record on the Voyager spacecraft in 1977. From Colorado to New Mexico, Las Vegas to L.A., Alex records a journey on his iPod to show other lifeforms what life on earth, his earth, is like. But his destination keeps changing. And the funny, lost, remarkable people he meets along the way can only partially prepare him for the secrets he’ll uncover—from the truth about his long-dead dad to the fact that, for a kid with a troubled mom and a mostly not-around brother, he has way more family than he ever knew.!

The Bad Seed by Jory John

He's a baaaaad seed.  Just how bad?  Well...he never washes his hands, lies about pointless things, cuts in line (EVERY time) and glares at everybody ...to name just a few. He seems pretty lonely and looks awfully sad. (The author gives the Bad Seed a pretty sympathetic back story...helping the reader to practice empathy.)  Then one day, The Bad Seed decides he wants to change...but change doesn't happen overnight.  So it's one day at a time of making steps toward a happier seed.

A great discussion book about accepting others, understanding where someone has come from, having an open heart and taking the time to really get to know someone's story before judging. (I love a book that teaches us to accept and love others.)

Words and Your Heart by Kate Jane Neal

This book is about the power of words.

This book is about your heart (that part inside of you that makes you, you!)

The words we hear affect how we feel.  And what we say to others affects how they feel.  Makes sense, right?  So how about if we use our words to look after each other's hearts?  If someone feels sad, your words can cheer them up. If someone wants to give up, your works can help them keep going. Your words can make someone smile or even laugh out loud.

This book is a powerful reminder to us all!

7 Ate 9 by Tara Lazar

This one is clever with it's fun play on math terms in a mystery setting.

OK here's the deal… 6 has a problem. Everybody knows that 7 is after him. Word on the street is that 7 ate 9. If that's true, then 6's days are numbered. Lucky for him Private I is on the case. But the facts don't just add up. It's odd. Will Private I put 2+2 together and solve the problem ....or is 6 next in line to be subtracted?

Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev

A book with compassion...love it!

Today is Pet Club day.  There will be cats and dogs and fish, but strictly no elephants are allowed.  The Pet Club doesn't understand that pets come in all shapes and sizes, just like friends. So today is the day for a boy and his tiny pet elephant to show them what it means to be a true friend.

An imaginative and charming story about the joy of having a pet as well as the beauty of true friendship.

Splotch by Gianna Marino

This book requires the reader to pay VERY close attention to the illustrations...including the end papers.  And even then, much is left up to the interpreter.  I love it that we can all read the same book and have a different idea of "what really happened".  Great for discussion!

Told in short statements (Before school. Noon. After school.) and mostly set in one room, Splotch shows a boy’s love of his pet fish. One day the boy discovers the fishbowl is empty! The boy is sure that Splotch has been fish-napped or maybe taken by aliens. His mother knows better. Or more accurately, worse. But there’s a new Splotch in the bowl by the next day. Only the boy suddenly realizes it’s a Splotch imposter! Will the real Splotch stand up?

Fairy Tale Pets by Tracey Corderoy

Ok...this one is fun.  You will definitely want to have introduced fariy tales prior to reading this outloud.

Bob and his dog, Rex, have decided to take up a pet-sitting.  They can't wait for all the cute hamsters & bunnies to arrive.  But look out!  Here come three noisy goats, one very grumpy bear, and three little pigs who drop off their "puppy".   Mmmm...a puppy, huh?  It's fairy tale chaos!!

When Friendship Followed Me Home by  Paul Griffin

Wishtree by Katherine Applegate

You are going to love this.... absolutely love it! Katherine Applegate nailed it. This is short enough for a quick read aloud and packed with enough substance that the discussions will be priceless.

Red is an old oak tree. He's a wishing tree...which means once a year people in the community adorn him with scraps of paper, fabric yarn, and an occasional gym sock with their hopes & dreams written on them. Red loves this.

Red is a good listener, he's an optimist, he's funny and a philosopher, oh and he can talk... though as a rule he and the other animals are not supposed to talk to people.

One day a new family moves into one of the houses that Red provides shade for. Not everyone in the neighborhood is welcoming to this new family. Red's job as a "wishtree" becomes more important than ever.

His whole life Albie has been an almost...He was an almost in kindergarten when he asked if he could use markers at art time instead of crayons.  "Almost Albie," his art teacher told him. "Let's wait until your grip is a little stronger."  He was an almost in first grade when he wanted to walk Biscuit, their dog.  "Almost, Albie," his mom said. "He still tugs to hard for you."

I started cheering for Albie in chapter one.  Struggling in school, teased by bullies, some pressure from his parents and how Albie handles this all makes him an endearing and likeable character.   I love how he tries really, really hard even though everything does not come so easily for him.  Albie is in fifth grade and he is changing schools to get him more of the services that he needs for his academic struggles. And he has a new "babysitter," Calista who helps Albie discover things in life that make him happy as well as what he's good at.

Otis and the Puppy

by Loren Long

When a puppy gets lost while playing hide and seek on the farm, Otis must face his fear of the darkness in order to help his friend.  Otis fans will love this tale of friendship.

Pete the Cat Wheels on the Bus

by James Dean

Follow Pete the Cat and friends on his way to school in this twist on the classic song.