Kalli Dakos

An exuberant child celebrates being one year older, calling out body parts from head to toe that have grown since their last birthday. When you're young, every inch grown feels like a huge achievement. You're not just one year older, you're one year bigger, too. Spirited rhyming text and active illustrations highlight body parts and share the joy of celebrating a birthday. Written by veteran children's poet Kalli Dakos and illustrated by Luciana Navarro Powell's warm and expressive art, Happy Birthday, Belly Button is a delightful picture book to read with toddlers and preschoolers growing up.

I button my shirtand my coat up too,and I think of the workthat buttons do. In this adorable, brightly coloured board book, a little girl discovers the magic of buttons. From buttons at home to buttons at school, kids will see buttons in new and fun-loving ways as they learn about the world. And at the end, children will be delighted to find one very special button that all children have and love-their belly buttons!Buttons will inspire little fingers to join in all sorts of new daily activities, but watch out! Because kids love pressing buttons, no matter what the buttons do!

Recess in the Dark is a unique collection of poems that offers a new perspective on how students live in the Canadian North, complete with stunning illustrations of the natural beauty. Each poem touches on the different experiences of kids in far north, from seeing sled dogs, the Northern Lights to having recess in the complete darkness, and wearing long underwear when braving the cold weather. Every page is beautifully illustrated and most include fun facts about life in the Arctic circle.Share the magic of poetry with the growing young minds.

The Blue Frog looked at his reflection in the water and asked, "Why am I blue?" The Green Frog didn't know. Dandelion had no answer. And Fish? No idea either! Could there be an answer to this question? The Blue Frog is on a quest to find out! Eventually, he comes across a simple but profound explanation. Includes a Note to Parents and Caregivers by Gayle E. Pitman, PhD, that discusses how children experience differences throughout childhood and how adults can guide children toward an understanding and acceptance of their own as well as others' differences and similarities. Age range: 4-8.

There is the person who tells the story. This is the storyteller. And there is the person who listens to the story. This is the story friend. As a child treks across the land in search of someone to tell his sad story to, he meets a gruff mountain man who can’t stand unhappy stories, a too busy to be bothered farmer, and finally, the old woman who tells stories herself, who is willing to listen. The act of telling the story leads the child to look at the other side and make what was dark lighter and full of hope and positivity. The true potency of needing to express one’s unhappiness and the power of having someone else listen and help is a strong message for young readers. Like a favorite teacher or mentor, they may not be around forever, just for a short but meaningful time.

On the Notable Poetry Book List from the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) This empathetic collection by renowned Kalli Dakos is a unique reflection of what makes up some of the collective experiences of life. This collection of insightful and endearing poems explores what kids experience on the inside that cannot be seen from the outside. From topics that readers experience every day, like the agony of waiting for recess, to the monotony of homework, to things that aren’t easy to talk about, like death and bullying, the poems are incredibly relatable.

Put your eyes up here, put your eyes on me! Ms Roys asks for her students' attention, but she doesn't really need to. Who can ignore a teacher who wears silly hats and colorful skirts, has a graveyard for used-up pencils, believes in magic and ghosts, and has special eyeballs that let her see the things that make her students unique? In this collection of fun, lively poems by Kalli Dakos, you'll explore the world of Ms. Roys's classroom -- and you may not want to go home!

What really goes on at school Funny poems and pictures explore the secret lives of school lunches, jungle gyms, pencils, and more.