Kirjahaku

Ballet Cat and Sparkles the Pony are trying to decide what to play today. Nothing that Sparkles suggests--making crafts, playing checkers, and selling lemonade--goes well with the leaping, spinning, and twirling that Ballet Cat likes to do. When Sparkles's leaps, spins, and twirls seem halfhearted, Ballet Cat asks him what's wrong. Sparkles doesn't want to say. He has a secret that Ballet Cat won't want to hear. What Sparkles doesn't know is that Ballet Cat has a secret of her own, a totally secret secret. Once their secrets are shared, will their friendship end, or be stronger than ever?

Ballet Cat is getting her friend Butter Bear ready for her big ballet debut. "Leap, Butter Bear, leap " Ballet Cat prompts. But Butter Bear would prefer to just point her toe. When Ballet Cat keeps pushing, Butter Bear gets hungry, then thirsty, then sleepy . . . The bottom line is that Butter Bear would rather do almost anything to avoid making a big leap. Why? Because her bottom is covered in silly underpants This second entry in the Ballet Cat series will have beginning readers rolling on the floor with laughter.

What could be happier than a book with a dancing cake, a candy parade, and a hug monster? A book with all those things (and more) plus YOU Your happy, happy thoughts will make this book super happy happy But something seems off. Could it be that frowny frog? Perhaps we could shake some sense into him, or slap a Post-it over his face. No? Well then, maybe its time for that frog to SCRAM Hooray He's gone Time for a happy dance Wait, what's wrong? Now NO ONE seems happy Let's see if we can't do something to truly make this the happiest book ever. In his most interactive book yet, Bob Shea proves that happiness is more than just a piece of chocolate cake. (Though that comes pretty close )

Reader beware This is the scariest book ever Or so claims its melodramatic ghost narrator. You can go ahead and turn the page, but don't expect him to come with you. Anything might pop out of that black hole in the middle of the forest. What do you mean it's just a bunny? Well, it's probably a bunny with big fangs. Watch out, it's--picking pumpkins with its friends, you say? Actually, despite the ghost's scare-mongering, none of the animal characters in the illustrations seem scary at all. . . . What's up with that? Many delights, such as surprises after the page turn, an alarmist narrator, and punch lines to anticipate make this book a scream for both kids and parents.

Ballet Cat and her cousin Goat are preparing a show for Grandma. Each is trying to outdo the other--Ballet Cat with an elaborate dance routine (of course), and Goat with his amazing (amazingly lame, that is) magic tricks. Neither act goes off quite as planned, but it doesn't matter . . . because Grandma falls asleep during the performance Oh well, at least Ballet Cat and Goat learn how to cooperate. (But Ballet Cat cooperates better )Praise for THE TOTALLY SECRET SECRET: *"This early reader has simple, vivacious cartoon artwork done in inks with digital enhancements. Shea's signature style and bright bold colors add to the fun. Although the text is somewhat sophisticated and the dialogue is entirely in word balloons, the humor and theme of friendship and sharing will have broad appeal beyond the beginning reader set. VERDICT Move over Elephant and Piggie " --School Library Journal (starred review) *"Tapping into the same barely restrained exuberance and visual energy that characterizes much of his previous work, Shea introduces Ballet Cat, a pearl-and-tutu-wearing feline who loves to dance as much as the author's Dinosaur and Cheetah characters love winning. Like Mo Willems's Elephant and Piggie, these two are a contemporary comic duo with staying power; Shea mines Ballet Cat's dialed-up enthusiasm and Sparkle's hangdog expressions for everything they are worth. Boldly contrasting backgrounds heighten the strong emotions at play and, luckily, after Sparkles reveals his 'secret secret' about dancing, this friendship is undiminished." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)An ALA Notable Book

A hilariously deadpan look at new parenthood – from a baby’s point of view.I am not sleepy.I am not sleepy because I am a baby.Mummy is sleepy.Mummy is sleepy because I am a baby.With humour and sympathy, Bob Shea looks at the chaos of life with a baby as amiably narrated by the new arrival. Repeating the mantra (and blithe explanation) “because I am a baby,” the tiny narrator leads us through scenes of exhaustion, grumpiness, squishy nappies, spilled milk, cowering kittens and chubby overfed pups (oopsie!). Playing against the simple, matter-of-fact text are freewheeling illustrations of mess and mayhem, in which the grown-ups’ exaggerated body language is sure to send older children into fits of giggles. With its endearing, unabashedly self-pleased star, I Am a Baby will find a place at showers, in nurseries, on parents’ shelves and in the hands of appreciative big siblings, as it celebrates the changes a little one brings, at once challenging and full of love.

For anyone who has ever craved sleep – and anyone too full of energy to settle down! – a comedy from Bob Shea and Jarvis.It’s sleepy time for Lion and Penguin. Correction: it should be sleepy time for Lion and Penguin, but Lion’s eyes aren’t tired, and his ears would like a story. Penguin, however, is tired and nods off into sweet dreams … until a noise wakes him. “Oh, are you awake?” asks Lion sweetly, seated before a drum set. “Let’s have that story, then!” And so it goes, with an ever-more-disgruntled Penguin trying to nod off while an exuberant Lion innocently practices his drumming, bounces on his squeaky trampoline, and munches on his crunchy crisps… Will Penguin need to resort to extreme measures to get his friend to sleep, or has the answer been there all along?

From the creator of the mega-popular Dinosaur vs. series comes a hilariously deadpan look at new parenthood--from a baby's point of view. I am not sleepy.I am not sleepy because I am a baby.Mommy is sleepy.Mommy is sleepy because I am a baby. With humor and sympathy, Bob Shea looks at the chaos of life with a baby as amiably narrated by the new arrival. Repeating the mantra (and blithe explanation) "because I am a baby," the tiny narrator leads us through scenes of exhaustion, grumpiness, squishy diapers, spilled milk, cowering kittens, and chubby overfed pups (oopsie ). Playing against the simple, matter-of-fact text are freewheeling illustrations of mess and mayhem, in which the grown-ups' exaggerated body language is sure to send older children into fits of giggles. With its endearing, unabashedly self-pleased star, I Am a Baby will find a place at showers, in nurseries, on parents' shelves, and in the hands of appreciative big siblings, as it celebrates the changes a little one brings, at once challenging and full of love.

For anyone who has ever craved sleep--and anyone too full of energy to settle down--a comedy from Bob Shea, creator of the popular Dinosaur vs. series, and singular illustrator Jarvis. It's sleepy time for Lion and Penguin. Correction: it should be sleepy time for Lion and Penguin, but Lion's eyes aren't tired, and his ears would like a story. Penguin, however, is tired and nods off into sweet candy dreams--until a noise wakes him. "Oh, are you awake?" asks Lion sweetly, seated before a drum set. "Let's have that story, then " "Not now. It is time to close your eyes and dream dreams." And so it goes, with an ever-more-disgruntled Penguin trying to nod off while an exuberant Lion innocently practices his drumming, bounces on his squeaky trampoline, and munches on his crunchy chips. Will Penguin need to resort to extreme measures to get his friend to sleep, or has the answer been there all along? Bob Shea's signature wit, delivered only in dialogue, and Jarvis's unassuming, retro art and knack for visual humor are sure to delight young readers--and their caregivers--whether at naptime, bedtime, or anytime.

Two friends invent an imaginative new game in this laugh-out-loud story that captures the silliness of playtime, from award-winning author-illustrator Bob Shea When a bear suit–wearing turtle and his best friend are left to their own devices, the fun and games begin! Pass the ball, but be careful—the grass is hot lava! As “bearsketball” gets increasingly off-the-wall, the two friends compete to see who can find the biggest stick in the forest, roll down the hill without dropping the ball, and guess the number each one is thinking. Who will be the winner? And what are the rules to this game, anyway? From Bob Shea, author-illustrator of the popular Dinosaur vs. series and Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great, this charming and hilarious tale is an ode to the joy and freedom of childhood. With true-to-life kid dynamics, offbeat humor, and memorable characters, this picture book companion to Bearsuit Turtle Makes a Friend proves that everyone wins when you’re having fun.

In this hilarious tale of blame, compassion, and forgiveness, a very embarrassed bear is reminded that accidents can happen--but with the support of good friends, life goes on.Reuben the bear's got donuts for everyone in his scout troop but his friends are all staring at something else: there's a wet spot on Reuben's pants and it's in a specific area. "WHO WET MY PANTS?" he shouts, and a blame game starts. His buddies try to reassure him there was no crime. Just an accident. It could happen to anyone! But as all the clues begin to point in Reuben's own direction as the culprit, Reuben must come to terms with the truth.Who Wet My Pants? isn't a potty-training book. It's a witty and wise story about embarrassment and anger, empathy and acceptance and ultimately...forgiveness.