For Little Historians & Young Explorers

Bursting with laugh-out-loud jokes and fun facts, LOL Jokes: Los Angeles combines the best of humor and history for young readers!

Inspired by all the wonderful sights, sounds, and . . . smells of the City of Angels, this local joke book delivers kid-friendly punchlines that will have readers laughing ’til they cry! Alongside hilarious jokes and puns are fascinating facts, goofy tidbits of local history, and engaging graphics that will keep readers chuckling and sharing with friends. LOL Jokes: Los Angeles is sure to deliver hours of knee-slapping entertainment.

What L.A plant fits in your hand?

A palm tree!

Fun Factoid: The iconic Los Angeles palm tree is actually a native of India or Southeast Africa.

Recommended by Autism Speaks.

Oliver is upset—very upset—and nothing his mother says makes him feel better. When she tries to give him a comforting hug, he rolls up into a tight ball like an armadillo and won’t let his mother near. She tries to coax him out of his huddle but then his claws come out. Oliver pretends to be one ferocious animal after another—none of them very good at giving hugs. But it is hard work saying no to a mother’s love. Through creativity, patience, and affection (as well as a healthy dose of humor), Oliver’s mother finds a way to get through his imaginative defenses and give him the best hug ever.

Author Kena Sosa captures the delicate dance between mother and child in this fun story about love and the power of hugs. The charming and humorous illustrations of Alexis Braud bring to life the imagination of a child and touchingly depict how hugs can soothe even the most savage beast.

Bursting with laugh-out-loud jokes and fun facts, LOL Jokes: Denver combines the best of humor and history for young readers!

Inspired by all the wonderful sights, sounds, and . . . smells of the Mile-High City, this local joke book delivers kid-friendly punchlines that will have readers laughing ’til they cry! Alongside hilarious jokes and puns are fascinating facts, goofy tidbits of local history, and engaging graphics that will keep readers chuckling and sharing with friends. LOL Jokes: Denver is sure to deliver hours of knee-slapping entertainment.

Denny: What has a head and a tail but no body?

Penny: A nickel!

Fun Factoid: The Denver Mint produces 8 billion coins a year, all of which have a D for Denver on them!

Whales and walruses! That’s not a pirate’s hat!

One day Paulina, engrossed in a book about the many types of hats, accidentally wanders onto a pirate ship only to sit on the captain’s headdress. When the captain comes up to get his now squashed topper, Paulina, newly knowledgeable about hats, sees that his headgear isn’t the right fit for a pirate ship’s captain! She leads the crew on a madcap chase around the globe from Borka Borka Island to Polly Golly Canyon to find suitable parts for a faultless topper. Fish bones and flippers! Will they ever find the right pirate chapeau for the captain?

This uplifting, silly story is satisfying for any child from the swashbuckling to the scholarly and perfect for any parent who wants a phenomenal tale on the power of knowledge to be found in books.  

When a scary situation causes a dinosaur-sized transformation, how will he adapt?

When Gregory wakes up in the body of a dinosaur on the morning of his class presentation, he’s worried. He is scheduled to talk about the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs and he has practiced all week so he won’t be scared in front of the class but he didn’t plan for this! As soon as Gregory gets out of bed, everything starts to go wrong. He spills the orange juice, forgets his diorama, and can only speak in roar. What is he going to do when his favorite teacher, Mrs. Anning, calls on him to present his project?

In this loose adaptation of the literary classic by Franz Kafka author Paul Many encourages children not to give up when things get scary. Stan Jaskiel’s humorous illustrations show Gregory adapting to his startling new reality and, once he has, everything changes!

Baku the crocodile and Taki the monkey are back in a tale that teaches lessons in trust, forgiveness, and honesty.

There is a perfect read for every person if only you search for it!

Gabe and Ellie love soccer, animals, games, and especially gum, but they hate to read! Upon telling Ms. Molly, the mysterious librarian, that “reading is boring,” Ellie falls into a deep read! Gabe tries everything to break the curse, but only a read of true love can free Ellie. Determined to have his friend back, Gabe traverses the mountain of books surrounding Ellie to find the perfect book for him. Can he read a book cover to cover and truly love it?

A masterful twist on an enchanting fairytale, this story shows children that there’s a book for everyone! The magical library illustrations and hidden Pelican books propel readers and non-readers on an unforgettable adventure sure to help them find their very own “perfect read”.

“Everybunny needs a puppy!”

In the fourth book of Steven L. Layne’s Growing with Family Series, he captures a child’s longing for a pet and introduces the realities of owning one. Ard Hoyt’s playful illustrations provide a hilarious look at Puppy’s antics page after page providing a story within the story.

Brother is excited to get his new puppy but he soon tires of the Puppy’s boundless energy. Puppy wants to play all the time! Even worse, Puppy gets into things that Brother has to clean up. Sick and tired of everyone telling him to go “play with puppy,” Brother tells Puppy to go away. What will he do when Puppy actually disappears? Find out in this colorful picture book for the very young.

A most exciting word has the whole library abuzz. What combination of letters could possibly drive a person to do such absurd things? Fascinated children look on as Miss Divine dines on a table, chomps down a chair, and savors a shelf-all to chase down a single word. Written in the style of There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly, this book reveals the only verb that could make a librarian practically purr, and that word is READ.

When Mama Witch concocts a special Halloween soup for her Little Witch, she adds eye of newt, spit of bug, and hair of slug. But Little Witch turns up her tiny nose at the culinary creation. She prefers such sticky sweets as butter toffee, caramel dandy, and cotton candy. Can these picky eaters come to a compromise? Complete with a recipe for Halloween soup, this fun read is a treat for children and parents alike.

A pesky mosquito gets his due. Mosquito is a nuisance to all the animals as he buzzes about the forest. With fun word play, including rhyme, alliteration, and onomatopoeia, each critter expresses its annoyance with him. Finally, Mosquito bothers the wrong neighbor, who ends the insect's career as resident pest. A list of mosquito facts appears at the end of this humorous children's story.

The greedy spider gets what’s coming!

Long ago, all spiders were as round as the sun—and Anansi was the roundest of all. Anansi was very clever, but he was also very lazy, and he loved to eat. One day, hungry Anansi travels from village to village to eat with them. Each village asks Anansi to help make the food, but he would rather be lazy. Anansi leaves one end of a silken string from his web with each village, ties the other end around his waist, and asks the villagers to tug the string when the food is ready. He goes to another village, and another, and another . . . What will happen when all the food is done? This lively retelling of the Ghanaian folktale will delight all readers from ages 1 to 110.

Out of a bitter storm comes a gift that saves a village.

In this adaptation of an Italian folktale, the young fisherman Gianni braves the thawing, ice-bound lagoon of Burano to catch fish to feed the starving people of his island. His fiancée, Nicoletta, prays for his safety. Gianni, swept from his fishing boat, is rescued by a mermaid who whips the water into a length of elegant lace, which she gives to Gianni for Nicoletta’s wedding veil. This gorgeously illustrated tale recounts the mythical origins of Burano lace, whose production has long been a vital part of the island’s economy and vibrant culture, ensuring the islanders would never go hungry. The lace is still famed throughout the world for its scalloped, wave-like patterns.

Watch out crows, this scarecrow won’t give up without a fight!

Every year, pesky crows throw a party in a scarecrow’s patch, gobbling up all the pumpkins in sight and leaving a horrid mess. Not this year! Jeb is determined to protect his pumpkins no matter the cost. Those crows are in for an unpleasant surprise!

Author and illustrator Jana Dillon conceived this as her first book. Originally published in 1992, the rollicking dialogue, glowing scenes of evening mischief, and a scarecrow family of unusual charm have all stood the test of time in this inventive tale full of the radiance and excitement of the Halloween season.

One fine day, a small little mouse decides that he doesn’t want cheese, or even lemonade. He wants a parade! Carrying a flag, the mouse starts down the street. He’s joined by cats, squirrels, foxes—and even a goat with a tuba! The sound of the animals playing their tambourines, clarinets, and brass follows them as they twirl and romp until every critter, big and small, jams with the beat. Author and illustrator Alexis Braud’s funny, spunky animals boogie right off the page. With enchanting illustrations and catchy rhymes, this exuberant and vibrant tale will have you and your friends marching to the beat of your own drummer in no time.

Upsie Downsie has convinced his mother he's having trouble falling asleep, so she brings in the neighborhood experts to help. They try lullabies, tedious recitations, storytelling, a massage, a warm bath, and even counting, but they all succumb to sleep, leaving Upsie to the next neighbor.

The creators of A Nantucket Nanny cross the water to Martha's Vineyard, offering smiles for all ages in this new collection of limericks.

A great big tale about peach pickin' fun. Join Tall Papa Tom, Pretty Mama May, Little Buddy Earl, and the rest of the bunch as they head to the Peach Pickin' Festival. Little Buddy Earl yodels each time they pass a field, but what's the use of that? His yodel soon comes in handy when he turns a tiny peach into the largest in the land! Complete with a recipe for peach cobbler, this tale about teamwork proves that sometimes the smallest person can be the biggest help.

Big Brother finds out that not all babies are the same. Big Brother learns that not all little siblings are the same when his parents bring home a baby girl. He thinks he learned all about babies when Little Brother was small. However, Sister is very different. Other things are different too. Big Brother is old enough now to help keep an eye on the baby when Mommy and Daddy are busy and watching after Sister is not as easy as it sounds. But despite all the trouble she causes, Sister finds her way into Brother's heart, and that is where she will stay.

Bursting with laugh-out-loud jokes and fun facts, LOL Jokes: Portland combines the best of humor and history for young readers!

Inspired by all the wonderful sights, sounds, and . . . smells of the City of Roses, this local joke book delivers kid-friendly punchlines that will have readers laughing ’til they cry! Alongside hilarious jokes and puns are fascinating facts, goofy tidbits of local history, and engaging graphics that will keep readers chuckling and sharing with friends. LOL Jokes: Portland is sure to deliver hours of knee-slapping entertainment.

What building in Portland has the most STORIES?
Powell’s Books!

Fun Factoid: In 1842, the founders of Portland disagreed on what the city should be called. One proposed “Boston, Oregon,” the other came up with “Portland, Oregon.” Amazing, but true: the name was decided by the toss of a coin! And I guess you know which one won!

Driven by love, nourished by hope, and sustained by faith, thousands of families adopt children internationally. A unique opportunity for every reader to take part in an intimate family journey and to witness the shared joy of relatives and friends upon a homecoming.

J is for jack-o'-lantern in this spooky ABC book.

In this entertaining children's tale, St. Patrick has driven the snakes out of Ireland, but one crafty, clever snake escaped. Ryan, Brian, and Tulla do not want to become tasty mouse meals for this reptile! So they gather their courage and devise a crafty, clever--and risky--plan of their own to help St. Patrick find the sneaky snake.

A crazy Italian joint makes a tasty read! Reading in the mixed-up Italian restaurant is one of Jake's favorite things to do! Whether they play with food or dig into a good book, Jake and his uncle always have an amusing and delicious time. Juggling ravioli, bowling with mozzarella balls, or playing spaghetti pick-up sticks are just a few of the fun games Jake and his uncle invent. As much as Jake enjoys these culinary amusements, he could just as easily devour a good read. When his uncle's restaurant needs a neighbor, Jake must find the perfect fit. But who is willing to work next to such a crazy joint? Filled with reading, ravioli, and resolve, this is a story for any family who plays and reads together.

This beloved fairy tale comes with a bigger glass slipper!

This punny twist on the beloved fairytale will delight readers of all ages. Children will enjoy finding similarities between Cinderella and her pachyderm equivalent as she searches for love at the ball of the zebra prince, heir to the throne. With a plethora of funny fur and hooves from across the animal kingdom, including an adorable fairy god-mouse, the lighthearted illustrations serve to highlight the imagination of this fractured fairytale.

Ghost stories from the Mile-High City have never been so creepy, fun, and full of mystery!

The haunted history of Denver comes to life—even when the main players are dead. Visit the state capitol and you may see a haunted head floating through the halls. Stop in at the Peabody-Whitehead mansion for any number of ghostly interactions. Or stroll along Market Street to see if the spirit of a young woman is again stealing people’s shoes. Dive into this spooky chapter book for suspenseful tales of bumps in the night, paranormal investigations, and the unexplained; just be sure to keep the light on.

Pumpkins, pilgrims, and Indians punctuate this quintessential American holiday ABC picture book. With an eye on history and adventure, this ABC book cheerfully illuminates the classic American holiday. Each entry includes a few sentences explaining the word�s significance in Thanksgiving�s history. Children will relate to their own holiday traditions while learning the origins of the annual fall event.

Sometimes the coolest places are right outside your front door.

Learning about Louisville's interesting and unique culture has never been so super fun!

Sometimes the coolest places are right outside your front door.

Learning about Indianapolis's interesting and unique culture has never been so super fun!

Sometimes the coolest places are right outside your front door. Learning about Atlanta’s interesting and unique culture has never been so super fun!

Did you know that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born in Atlanta? Or that Inman Park, dating back to 1890, is Atlanta’s oldest neighborhood? Did you know that Stone Mountain is actually a monadnock? From the Olympic games to the World of Coca-Cola, Super Cities!: Atlanta covers it all and is sure to engage any reader with fun facts about the history, culture, and people who make this city great. Explore Little Five Points, and join in the fun at Centennial Olympic Park, all right here. Take a peek inside to learn more about the impressive, unusual, super history of Atlanta!

Sometimes the coolest places are right outside your front door. Learning about Nashville's interesting and unique culture has never been so super fun!

Did you know Nashville is nicknamed Music City? Or that the famous musician Bob Dylan recorded an album here? Have you ever wanted to visit the Parthenon without traveling to Greece? From the Belle Mead Mansion to the Tomato Art Fest, Super Cities!: Nashville covers it all and is sure to engage any reader with fun facts about the history, culture, and people who make this place great. Attend a show at the Grand Ole Opry and catch a Nashville Predators game, all right here. Take a peek inside to learn more about the impressive, unusual, super history of the Music City!

Ghost stories from America’s Great Lakes State have never been so creepy, fun, and full of mystery!

Coastal Michigan’s haunted history and local legends come to life—even when the main players are dead. From the souls lost aboard the doomed Alpena, to the restless spirits at Nunica Cemetery, this spooky chapter book will keep readers rapt. Dive into suspenseful tales of bumps in the night, paranormal investigations, and the unexplained; just be sure to keep the light on.

Anxious about his teacher�s Great Geography Test tomorrow, Thomas has trouble sleeping. In come the sheep to the rescue!

Based on a song from author and illustrator Johnette Downing’s album Boogie Woogie Bugs, the singsong rhyming text introduces babies and youngsters to the wonderful world of bugs.

Illustrated with Johnette’s bold, bright foam and paper collages, the bugs seem to hop, skip, fly, and jump right off the board book pages and into the hearts of little listeners in this entertaining and educational counting adventure!