Mrs. Farmer had taken out the big pot, and that means she's making chicken soup. All the chickens must run and hide! But Little Chickie—sniff!—has a cold in her beak. Everywhere she hides, she sneezes—achoo!—and Mr. Farmer follows in his heavy boots. CLOMP, CLOMP, CLOMP!

Join Little Chickie's topsy-turvy tour around the farm in this tale of comic misunderstandings from the perfectly matched mother-and-son team of Jean Van Leeuwen and David Gavril. An instant read-aloud favorite.

"A marvel of suspense and silliness, this convoluted story begins with a misunderstanding and ends with a satisfying sneeze.... Slapstick humor abounds. . . A kid-pleasing read-aloud."
-Publishers Weekly

Amanda Pig has her very first wiggly tooth! That means she will soon have her very first visit from the Tooth Fairy. So Amanda wiggles her tooth on the playground. She wiggles it during reading. She wiggles it on the bus. But her tooth will not come out.

Amanda and her family try lots of things to make her tooth fall out. Nothing works, until Amanda decides not to think about it. Then one day, the tooth is gone. Where can it be? How will the Tooth Fairy come if Amanda's lost tooth is really lost?

"The story expresses Amanda's worries, fears, and curiosity with a certain wry humor that is reflected in the cheerful, intensely colorful artwork. Sure to be a favorite, this title from the Oliver and Amanda series details the ups and downs of a childhood rite of passage."
-ALA Booklist

It is time for first grade, and Amanda Pig is so excited. This year she won't have to take naps, she'll get to play on the big playground, and best of all, she will know how to read! But something is wrong, because when Amanda looks at her books, she recognizes the letters but not the words. Will she ever be able to read?

In this funny installment of the award-winning Oliver and Amanda series, Amanda and her best friend, Lollipop, overcome nerves to discover what makes first grade so much fun.

"Amanda and her friends glow in a series of soft colored pencil and watercolor illustrations….While intended for independent reading, the message of perseverance in the face of new experiences is one that may also be shared aloud."
-School Library Journal

Rebecca's papa has wandering feet. He is following his dream and taking the family west on the Oregon Trail, across prairies, rivers, and mountains. Along the way, Rebecca begins collecting pieces of cloth. In their new home, Mama will help her use these scraps to sew a quilt that will become a keepsake of their amazing, courageous journey.

Quilts have a wonderful way of holding history, and Jean Van Leeuwen's warmly engaging story was inspired by the "wandering foot" quilt pattern that was popular during pioneer days. With sparkling illustrations by Rebecca Bond, this is a moving account of an early American girl and her cheerful optimism as her family makes a historic journey, and finally arrives at the place they will call home.

"The smooth first-person narrative, appealing dialogue, and sunny artwork vividly capture a child's experience in the early days of the United States."
-School Library Journal

There's a little newcomer at Benny's house, and it looks as if she's here to stay. All the relatives have come to visit, and everyone oohs and ahhs about how beautiful she is.

Everyone except Benny.

What's all the big fuss about, he wonders. This new baby cries too much. She takes away from his special time with Mom and Dad. And can Baby Delilah do a tumblesault like Benny can? No, she can't. Still, Mom and Dad aren't keen on returning her to where she came from. (Benny asked).

Then one night Baby Delilah really won't stop crying. And this time, it's her big brother Benny who comes up with a silly, perfect way to make her smile. This funny, sweet tale about warming up to a new baby has just the right touch to make every sibling cheer for Benny. Turns out, it's nice having a baby sister, after all.

"Fellow new siblings will appreciate the honest yet sympathetic portrayal of Benny's—and their—experience and feel relieved that these feelings are typical. Pham keeps the illustrations bright and cheerful. A fresh addition to the genre."
-Kirkus Reviews

School Library Journal Best Books of the Year, 2006