Big Momma Makes the World
illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
Candlewick Press, 2003
ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-0-7636-1132-3

When Big Momma makes the world, she doesn't mess around. "Earth," she says, "get over here." And it does.

With a little baby on her hip and laundry piling up, Big Momma asks for light and dark, sea and sky, creepers and crawlers, and lots of folks to trade stories with on the front porch. And when the work is done, Big Momma is pleased all right. "That's good," she says. "That's real good."

With infections, down-home language and warm, powerful, jubilant artwork, master picture book creators Phyllis Root and Helen Oxenbury have given us a creation myth like no other in the world.

Awards
Boston Globe Horn Book Award for Picture Books 2003

The Name Quilt
illustrated by Margot Apple
Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2003
ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-0-374-35484-8

Summer evenings at Grandma's house always end just the way Sadie likes—with Grandma tucking her in with the name quilt. As Sadie chooses from among the patchwork of hand-stitched names of generations of relatives, Grandma tells story after story—stories of hog-riding and hornets and Grandma's own wedding. Then one summer day, a fierce storm comes on too quickly to get the washing off the line, and the quilt is blown away. That night, Sadie worries that more than just the quilt has disappeared, until Grandma shows her that all her favorite names and stories are more a part of Sadie than she knows.

Phyllis Root's loving tribute to a bedtime ritual from her own childhood and Margot Apple's intricate illustrations bring the story of Sadie and the name quilt to the page with just the right touch of humor and heart.

Oliver Finds His Way
illustrated by Christopher Denise
Candlewick Press, 2002
ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-0-7636-1383-9

While Mama hangs the wash out and Papa rakes the leaves, Oliver chases a big yellow leaf ... all the way to the edge of the woods. Oliver stops. He looks around. Nothing is familiar. "Mama? Papa?" he calls. No answer. Oliver is lost!

What's That Noise?
written with Michelle Edwards
illustrated by Paul Meisel
Candlewick Press, 2002
ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-0-7636-1350-1

A sympathetic and amusing tale of two boys, alone in a dark room at night. Every child (and adult!) has experienced irrational fears in a dark room at night. What's That Noise? encapsulates perfectly the strange shadows and unearthly noises made by objects that, during the day, are perfectly innocuous. Alex and his little brother Ben are all tucked up in bed with the lights out, when "Whoosh", go the night noises, and "Aroo Aroo Aroo". Alex's little brother Ben is scared. Will Alex be brave enough to cross the cold, dark floor to comfort him?

Mouse Goes Out
illustrated by James Croft
Candlewick Press, 2002
ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-0-7636-1352-5

Meet Mouse who likes to play outside and go on adventures, just like brand new readers do. (four paperbacks in a slipcase)

Mouse Has Fun
illustrated by James Croft
Candlewick Press, 2002
ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-0-7636-1357-0

In these stories designed to help children learn to read on their own, Mouse has fun-with a few bumps along the way. (four paperbacks in a slipcase)

Soggy Saturday
illustrated by Helen Craig
Candlewick Press, 2001
ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-0-7636-0778-4

It rained so hard on Bonnie Bumble's farm it washed the blue right out of the sky! Now everyone on the farm is feeling (and looking) blue—even Bonnie herself. Can she find a way to make everything right again? Renowned author Phyllis Root brings us this delightful new Bonnie Bumble adventure, cheerily illustrated by Helen Craig. In the world of Bonnie Bumble, something is bound to go curiously and hilariously awry. Readers will delight in Bonnie's "out-of-the-blue" solution to a rather unusual problem!

Rattletrap Car
illustrated by Jill Barton
Candlewick Press, 2001
ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-0-7636-0919-1

An uproarious tale of a family's trip in a rattletrap car. The rattletrap car doesn't go fast and it doesn't go far—and when a family set off to the lake in it one hot day it soon starts to fall apart. But ... lumpety bumpety, a beach ball replaces the wheel; wappity bappity, a surfboard replaces the floor; a thermos of razzleberry dazzleberry snazzleberry fizz does for the petrol tank ... All stuck on with chocolate marshamallow fudge delight! The rattletrap car reaches the lake, and takes the family safely—if noisily—home again.

All for the Newborn Baby
illustrated by Nicola Bayley
Candlewick Press, 2000
ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-0-7636-0093-8

In the cold, dark stable, Mary sings a lullaby to her newborn baby. All about the oxen and sheep who share the stable and keep the winter cold away. She sings about little fish splashing in the river, roses blooming in the snow, the sun and moon shining together. She sings about a world waiting in joy and wonder. All for the newborn baby.

Drawing on Christmas miracle tales from around the world, this melodious and exquisitely illustrated cradle song for the baby Jesus is a lullaby for every newborn child.

Kiss the Cow
illustrated by Will Hillenbrand
Candlewick Press, 2000
ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-0-7636-0298-7

Lovely Luella
Your milk never fails.
My children are hungry
So please fill my pails.

Everyday Mama May sings to her cow, Luella, thanks her for her milk, and then kisses her right on the end of her nose.

Imagine kissing a cow! Annalisa could never do that! But she would like to milk Luella. So one day she sneaks off to the pasture. She sings Mama's song and
and thanks Luella for her milk. But does Annalisa kiss Luella? No. And will Luella give her sweet milk again? She will not. No kiss, no milk. Is there anything that will make Annalisa kiss the cow?

With pictures by Will Hillenbrand that brim with humor and character, and words that beg to be read aloud, Phyllis Root tells an irresistible tale for anyone who has ever said "absolutely not" and then thought ... "well, maybe."

Foggy Friday
illustrated by Helen Craig
Candlewick Press, 2000
ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-0-7636-0777-7

In Foggy Friday, Bonnie's rooster loses his cock-a-doodle-doo one foggy morn, and no one on the farm can get out of bed. Can Bonnie help him find his voice? Once again author Phyllis Root and illustrator Helen Craig reap giggles in a spirited story about a very funny farm.

Meow Monday
illustrated by Helen Craig
Candlewick Press, 2000
ISBN 978-0-7636-0832-3

In Meow Monday, the young farmer's pussy willows have burst into bloom, and they're raising quite a ruckus! How will Bonnie stop all the meowing?

Hey, Tabby Cat!
illustrated by Katherine McEwen
Candlewick Press, 2000
ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-0-7636-1039-5

Reading is so much fun when laughing at Tabby Cat. Part of Candlewick's Brand New Readers series.

Here Comes Tabby Cat
illustrated by Katherine McEwen
Candlewick Press, 2000
ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-0-7636-1038-8

This mischievous cat will help children read—now that's something to meow about.

Grandmother Winter
illustrated by Beth Krommes
Houghton Mifflin, 1999
ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-0-395-88399-0

All through the spring, summer and fall, Grandmother Winter tends her geese and gathers their feathers. Why? To bring snowfall, of course—snowfall as soft as feathers and bright as a winter moon. With a poetic text and distinctive scratchboard illustrations, this book reveals that there is indeed magic and charm in our coldest season. To the woodland and all of its creatures-from round mice curling up and earthworms tunneling down to black bears burrowing and children dreaming of snow angels and sleds—the arrival of winter is, quite simply, a gift.

Turnover Tuesday
illustrated by Helen Craig
Candlewick Press, 1998
ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-0-7636-0447-9

One morning Bonnie Bumble eats plum turnovers for breakfast and her whole world turns upside down—quite literally! What will she do to turn it right again? With delightful illustrations by Helen Craig, Phyllis Root's comical tale, a sequel to One Windy Wednesday, is sure to tickle the funny bones of young readers.

Copyright 2002- Children's Literature Network.