NNELS Upgrade

Whether it’s raccoons, the dark, math, or whatever lurks in the bathtub, everybody is afraid of something. Big or small, common or quirky, fears are normal — and maybe even a little less scary when brought to light (and made light of). This book introduces 16 fictional children, named in alphabetical order, along with something each fears. There’s Claire, who recoiled from legumes; Drew, who was scared of raccoons; Quinn, horrified by needles; and Will, unsettled by beetles. Darkly playful illustrations show each fear as magnified and real as a child would imagine it.

With tenderness, sensitivity, and humor, Really and Truly explores the effect that dementia has on a young boy named Charlie and his family.  Charlie is very close to his grandfather, who loves to tell fanciful stories about pirates, witches, and gnomes that amuse Charlie to no end. But lately, Charlie’s grandpa doesn’t have any new stories to tell — in fact, some days Grandpa doesn't even recognize Charlie.

When Sammy, a young Wilson's warbler, wakes up one frosty August morning near the Arctic Circle, he instinctively knows that it's time to make his first migratory journey south to Panama. But there's one problem — where's Panama?

Ever since she averted disaster in the class production of The Wizard of Oz, Oddrey has been making new friends at school. Her classmates have come to appreciate her irrepressible charm and Oddrey, in turn, encourages them to be their own unique selves. So when Oddrey's teacher introduces a new girl, Maybelline, to the class, Oddrey, ever the optimist, is sure that they'll become the best of friends. But Maybelline's elaborate storytelling habits and bossy playground personality soon force Oddrey to reconsider.

This is the story of a story that starts over again every day in the same way: as the sun rises, Mr. Warbler steps outside his cottage and walks into to the forest to wake the Big Bad Wolf. Every day, this action unleashes the same cavalcade of antics as the forest animals try to escape. But today, none of it happens — Mr. Warbler doesn’t even go outside — because it is raining. In this book, the text tells a story the reader purposely never sees play out on the page. In whimsical color, the settings are illustrated as described, but they are empty of characters and action.

Chirp and his friends Squawk and Tweet love going on adventures together. Today, they've traded in their playhouse for the Old West. They are the brave sheriffs of a deserted ghost town! But is the town deserted? Wait... did that cactus just move? Will sheriffs Chirp, Squawk, and Tweet succeed in ridding the town of the eerie ghost that haunts its streets and buildings? The Chirp books invite readers into a world of imagination where Chirp, Squawk, and Tweet work together to solve problems, using everyday objects and their limitless imaginations.

Arto has lived his whole life in the snowy, cold North, and six years is a long time. When his mom gets a new job and the family prepares to spend a year in the South, Arto is not happy at all. He decides that he's just going to act as if he never moved. In the new Southern landscape of prickly plants, strange birds and a big, hot sun, Arto stubbornly dons his winter uniform of boots, mittens, coat, and hat, day after day. It's worth the stuffy, sweaty, overheated feeling if he can pretend he's still in the North.

Chirp and his friends Squawk and Tweet love going on adventures together. Today, they've traded in their playhouse for a boat, and they're paddling down a mighty river in search of the world's biggest waterfall! When their boat springs a leak in the rushing rapids, the three explorers must find a way to plug the hole. And — KSSHHH! — what is that thundering sound they hear off in the distance? Find out if Chirp, Squawk, and Tweet go overboard in this thrilling white water ride.

Chirp and his friends Squawk and Tweet love going on adventures together. Today, they've traded in their playhouse for a race car. Driving fast like the wind, the three friends are about to win their biggest, fastest race ever until — ERRT! — they hit a giant mud puddle and lose control of their car! How will Chirp, Squawk, and Tweet get back in the race? The Chirp books invite readers into a world of imagination where Chirp, Squawk, and Tweet work together to solve problems, using everyday objects and their limitless imaginations.

The sheep in this story is a dreamer, while her friend the wolf has a more practical disposition. One day the sheep runs to the wolf with an idea. She wants to build a flying machine! But the wolf tells her it's impossible. Eventually, however, the sheep's dream gets the better of the wolf's doubts, and they begin to work on the project together. Through perseverance and the process of trial and error, the sheep and wolf manage to create a winning design, brought to life by architecturally and mathematically inspired paper collage art.