Phyllis Root

Aunt Nancy and Cousin Lazybones
illustrated by David Parkins
Candlewick Press, 1998
ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-1-56402-425-1

Family is family, so when Cousin Lazybones comes calling, Aunt Nancy opens her door and invites him in. Cousin Lazybones claims he'd be willing to help with the chores, but he's got wobbly knees, a hitch in his git-along, and a powerful need for sleep. It doesn't take Aunt Nancy long to see who'll be doing all the work around the place and who'll be doing the resting up. Now all she needs is s plan to send Cousin Lazybones on his way. In this original trickster tale, Phyllis Root and David Parkins, author and illustrator of Aunt Nancy and Old Man Trouble, have again combined their talents to marvelous effect.



					One Duck Stuck illustrated by Jane Chapman Candlewick Press, 1998 ages baby to preschool, ISBN 978-0-7636-1104-0 One duck is stuck in the muck! You can count the animals who come splishing, plunking, slooshing to the rescue in this mudlucious counting book. Spluck!



					What Baby Wants illustrated by Jill Barton Candlewick Press, 1998 ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-0-7636-1263-4 WAAAAAAAAAAH! What does Baby want? Mama’s gone to bed, so Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt and Uncle, Big Sister, and Little Brother set out to soothe Baby. Does Baby want a soft feathery goose to cuddle? No. Does he want a flock of woolly sheep to keep him warm or a tree full of birds to sing him to sleep? No. As Little Brother proves, what Baby really wants is something very simple. Jill Barton’s funny, warm illustrations are perfectly tuned to Phyllis Root’s lively characterization of a family going to great—and hilarious—lengths to lull its youngest member to sleep.



					The Hungry Monster illustrated by Sue Heap Candlewick Press, 1996 ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-0-7636-0380-9 A monster has come to planet Earth. The monster is hungry! Really, really hungry! What will the monster eat? A daisy? A rock? A little girl? YIKES!



					Aunt Nancy and Old Man Trouble illustrated by David Parkins Candlewick Press, 1996 ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-1-56402-347-6 When Old Man Trouble comes calling, the spring dries up, the fire goes out, and the door nips the cat's tail. But Old Man Trouble has never reckoned with Aunt Nancy. She keeps her wits and won't let him get the better of her. "Now ain't that a mercy," she declares as her chair breaks to bits the moment she sits down for a spell. "Just when I was wondering where I was going to get me some kindling wood." Suddenly that Old Man Trouble isn't grinning so wide anymore! Young readers will know how to send Trouble on its way, too, after reading this plucky trickster tale, made all the more marvelous by David Parkins's bold, original illustrations.



					Mrs. Potter's Pig illustrated by Russell Ayto Candlewick Press, 1996 ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-0-7636-0160-7 Mrs. Potter keeps everything—even the chickens in her yard—perfectly polished and dusted. Everything, that is, except baby Ermajean. "Ermajean," says her mother, "you're as dirty as a little pig. Someday, if you're not careful, you'll turn into one." Then one day, much to Mrs. Potter's surprise, she does! In Phyllis Root and Russell Ayto's hilarious story of a barnyard mix-up, even perfect Mrs. Potter must agree that while it's good to be clean, it's grand to be messy!



					Contrary Bear illustrated by Laura Cornell HarperCollins, 1996 ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-0-06-025085-0 A little girl blames her contrary behavior on her best friend, Bear. It's Bear who throws sand in the playground. It's Bear who wants a big piece of cake, not a small one. And it's Bear who certainly does not want to be quiet during naptime. After an entire day of naughtiness, the little girl realizes that Bear has gone too far ... and her attempts to make amends result in a grateful kiss from her beleaguered dad. But once Dad leaves the room ...



					One Windy Wednesday illustrated by Helen Craig Candlewick Press, 1996 ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-0-7636-0278-9 What happens when the wind blows and BLOWS! Well, one windy Wednesday, Bonnie Bumble found out! The wind blew so hard it blew the quack right out of the duck...and that was just the beginning!



					Rosie's Fiddle illustrated by Kevin O'Malley Lothrop Lee and Shepherd, 1997 ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-0-688-12853-1 Rosie's reputation for being able to fiddle the very flowers from their buds and the stones out of the ground causes trouble when it is said that she can out-fiddle the devil himself, and a raucous old-time hoedown ensues.



					Sam Who Was Swallowed By a Shark illustrated by Axel Scheffler Candlewick Press, 1994 ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-1-56402-955-3 Sam is a river rat who dreams of the sea. His practical neighbors remind him that his garden needs tending and his fence needs mending. And when he builds a boat, a seaworthy vessel too big for any river, they warn him of sharks and wild seaweed. As Sam sets off on his voyage, they sadly tell each other that that's the last of Sam. But as they return to their vegetable patches and their safe, certain lives, where is Sam? He's turning his tiller seaward and skimming over the wild green waves.



					Coyote and the Magic Words illustrated by Sandra Speidel Lothrop, Lee and Shepherd, 1993 ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-0-688-10309-5 When the Maker-of-all-things first spoke the world into being, all words were magic words. So everyone in the world was content—everyone, that is, but Coyote.



					The Old Red Rocking Chair illustrated by John Sandford Arcade Publishing, 1992 ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-1-55970-063-4 An old rocking chair is recycled through a neighborhood, broken down bit by bit as young and old find various uses for it, until it ends up as a tiny footstool in the hands of the original owner.



					The Listening Silence illustrated by Dennis McDermott Harper and Row, 1992 ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-0-06-025092-8 After her parent's disappearance, Kiri is brought up by a powerful healer, Mali. Kiri shares Mali's gift of healing, but she is tormented by it. She does not have Mali's strength nor the selflessness to take on someone else's pain. So, in the winter of her thirteenth year, she sets out alone over the frozen wilderness to seek a vison.



					Soup for Supper illustrated by Sue Truesdell Harper and Row, 1986 ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-0-06-025071-3 A wee small woman catches a giant taking the vegetables from her garden and finds that they can share both vegetable soup and friendship.



					Moon Tiger illustrated by Ed Young Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1985 ages 4 to 8, ISBN 978-0-8050-0803-6 After getting in trouble because of her little brother Michael, Jessica Ellen imagines a visit from a wonderful giant tiger who can take her flying through the night or eat Michael.

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