Children's Literature - Bibliotherapy - Indianapolis

Feeling neglected because of the family's new baby, Anna transforms herself into different animals hoping to be noticed.

From breakfast to bedtime, a young girl imagines being different women who made history, and ends the day empowered to be herself. Includes brief biographical information about the women cited.

Using her imagination, a child can have a tea party with a mouse, be a mermaid or a witch, walk in outer space, or ride on a flying carpet.

While on a school trip to the Empire State Building, a boy is taken by a friendly cloud to visit Sector 7, where he discovers how clouds are shaped and channeled throughout the country.

When an orange balloon floats over her world of green and gray, Mathilda the sheep realizes that she can be more than she is, and sets out to convince the rest of the flock that anything is possible.

When Ella visits a museum with her school group, she showsthem how to look at art in a magical way.

A young boy imagines himself as a falcon, soaring in flight over sea and city in faraway places.

"Marisol loves to paint. So when her teacher asks her to help make a mural for the school library, she can't wait to begin! But wait-how can Marisol ever make a sky without blue paint? After gazing out the bus window and watching from her porch as day turns into night, she closes her eyes and starts to dream"--

Kids everywhere dread the nightly call to go to bed. But not Livi! Her imagination takes her on a journey full of daring obstacles and exciting adventures on her way to bed. She pilots a spaceship, walks a tightrope, and climbs a mountain, all while her Mom waits with her covers turned down and bed ready. With stalling techniques as creative as this, it's a wonder she ever makes it to bed! Author Sarah Maizes and illustrative veteran, Michael Paraskevas, once again create a funny, fresh book that will be a must for every parent who wants to foster creativity while fulfilling the every day necessities.

Petunia has had just about enough of being human. All those baths, good manners, clean clothes, even combed hair! So our clever Petunia hatches a shocking and audacious plan to get away from all the haftas and instead live wild and free. It is only when Petunia is about to leave it all that she realizes there can be joys and pleasures in being a human child.

A creative companion to Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon Molly Lou Melon's grandma taught her to be happy with herself no matter what, but  that's not all she learned. Molly Lou heard all about how her grandma didn't have fancy store-bought toys when she was little. She made dolls out of twigs and flowers and created her own fun in her backyard. So Molly Lou does just that, proving that the best thing to play with is a huge imagination!

In the spirit of Goodnight Moon and The Curious Garden comes a stunning debut picture book filled with whimsy and creativity from brothers Terry and Eric Fan. One day, William discovers that the tree outside his window has been sculpted into a wise owl. In the following days, more topiaries appear, and each one is more beautiful than the last. Soon, William's gray little town is full of color and life. And though the mysterious night gardener disappears as suddenly as he appeared, William--and his town--are changed forever. With breathtaking illustrations and spare, sweet text, this masterpiece about enjoying the beauty of nature is sure to become an instant classic.

A Box Story is an illustrated picture book that invites the reader to look at things in a different way. With the use of hand drawn images, you are taken through simple thought provoking ideas about a box and how it is not just a box. Pinnacle Book Awards Winner 2012 for Children's Interest (March 2012) - From the National Association of Book Entrepreneurs Literary Classics Seal of Approval (March 2012):Young audiences will surely find enjoyment within the pages of this clever little book. Kenneth Lamug's, A Box Story, comes highly recommended, and earns the Literary Classics Seal of Approval. Winner of 2012 CLC Best First Picture Book, PreSchool 2011 Moonbeam Children's Book Awards - Silver Medalist Creating books that inspire our children to read, to learn, and to dream is an extremely important task, and these awards were conceived to reward those efforts. ForeWord Reviews (June 2012):With a nod to the fact that containers often interest kids as much as what's inside, a web designer meditates on the many uses of this most practical (and abstract) of packages: "A box can keep your secrets . . . or reveal an unexpected surprise." Lovely and inspiring. This Literary Life (March 2012):Something that I found incredibly remarkable about the illustrations is that the box stays in the same place on every single page, but becomes something new and exciting every time you flip to a new page. This gives the reader the impression that it is in fact, the same box being used for a myriad of adventures.The words are simple but thought-provoking. They help build the imagination while simultaneously challenging the reader to find a purpose for their box. A purpose all of their own. Every child will want to build a life inside a box after reading this story. Visit www.aboxstory.com for more information and bonus materials. Book Video Trailer: http://vimeo.com/34422903

Give the gift of a magical do-nothing day! This picture book with startlingly beautiful words and pictures will spur imagination and a break from boredom or screen time. Now a New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year! All I want to do on a rainy day like today is play my game. My mom says it's a waste of time, but without my game, nothing is fun! On the other hand, maybe I'm wrong about that... While reading On a Magical Do-Nothing Day, one gets the sense that the illustrator became lost in her drawings, and as a reader, you'll want to do the same. Perfect for fans of picture books by Julie Morstad, Carson Ellis, Jon Klassen, and Tomi Ungerer. "Hands down, Beatrice Alemagna is my favorite contemporary illustrator," said the Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator of Last Stop on Market Street, Christian Robinson. On a Magical Do-Nothing Day has been recognized with a Gold Medal from the Society of Illustrators. Don't miss this picture book that beautifully encourages unplugged exploration.

When a boy is left in the care of his older sister, he begs her to read him his favorite book, but she is too absorbed in her own reading to pay him any attention. She won't be distracted, even when the boy finds a ravenous tiger hiding in his soup! His sister misses all the action; only after the steamy beast is slain does she return to the table with her brother and finally agree to read to him. But is the tiger really gone?

After their father reads them a story about lions, Elena and Isaac decide to become lions too. Growling their way through breakfast, and gnawing on "bones", they soon trot off to school. But it's only when one of their teacher decides to take both of their classes outside to look for animals that Elena and Isaac can really become kings of the jungle!

Zoom meets Beautiful Oops! in this memorable picture book debut about the creative process, and the way in which "mistakes" can blossom into inspiration One eye was bigger than the other.  That was a mistake. The weird  frog-cat-cow thing? It made an excellent bush. And the inky smudges... they look as if they were always meant to be leaves floating gently across the sky. As one artist incorporates accidental splotches, spots, and misshapen things into her art, she transforms her piece in quirky and unexpected ways, taking readers on a journey through her process. Told in minimal, playful text, this story shows readers that even the biggest "mistakes" can be the source of the brightest ideas--and that, at the end of the day, we are all works in progress, too. Fans of Peter Reynolds's Ish and Patrick McDonnell's A Perfectly Messed-Up Story will love the funny, poignant, completely unique storytelling of The Book of Mistakes. And, like Oh, The Places You'll Go!, it makes the perfect graduation gift, encouraging readers to have a positive outlook as they learn to face life's obstacles.

*A 2018 Children's and Teen Choice Book Award Finalist! A mouse who acts as a careful custodian of his book tries to guarantee his reader some peace and order in spite of escalating chaos. For fans of The Book With No Pictures and This Book Just Ate My Dog! A book is no place for tomfoolery, and this mouse assures us that his book is to be no exception. Just please ignore that Word-Eating Flying Whale, and--oh, no, the lights have gone out. Wait, what is THAT?! Nothing to fear. Everything is under control. . . . Readers will delight as this charming yet uptight mouse is challenged and subverted by gloriously imaginative creatures that are like nothing you've ever seen. Will our little mouse succumb to the attractiveness of their overwhelming exuberance? Newcomer Cirocco Dunlap delivers an on-point debut picture-book text that dances outside the boundaries of its pages. Olivier Tallec breathes extra lunacy into this nutty little world with his absurdist palette and amusing forms.

"If I built a car, it'd be totally new! Here are a few of the things that I'd do. . . ." Jack has designed the ultimate fantasy car. Inspired by zeppelins and trains, Cadillacs and old planes, with brilliant colors and lots of shiny chrome, this far-out vision is ready to cruise! there's a fireplace, a pool, and even a snack bar! After a tour of the ritzy interior, robert the robot starts up the motor . . . and Jack and his dad set off on the wildest test drive ever!

It all begins with a simple question posed by a patient mother when her impatient toddler shouts, 'I'm hungry!' 'What will you say when the doorbell rings and we open the door?' asks Mom. 'Hi, Pizza Man!' replies the thoughtful child. . . .(But) what if it's a pizza woman'. . . a pizza kitty'. . . a pizza duck'. . . The book has a wonderfully satisfying roundness that comes full circle when the doorbell finally rings.--The Horn Book

A stunning picture book about the power of imagination, perfect for fans of Extra Yarn and Journey, from debut author-illustrator Joseph Kuefler. Just behind an ordinary house filled with too little fun, Ernest D. decides that today will be the day he explores the depths of his pond. Beyond the pond, he discovers a not-so-ordinary world that will change him forever.

My school will amaze you. My school will astound. By far the most fabulous school to be found! Perfectly planned and impeccably clean. On a scale, 1 to 10, it's more like 15! And learning is fun in a place that's fun, too. If Jack built a school, there would be hover desks and pop-up textbooks, skydiving wind tunnels and a trampoline basketball court in the gym, a robo-chef to serve lunch in the cafeteria, field trips to Mars, and a whole lot more. The inventive boy who described his ideal car and house in previous books is dreaming even bigger this time.

An NPR Favorite Book of 2019 A New York Times Best Children's Book of 2019 An NYPL Best Book of 2019 A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2019 A School Library Journal Best Picture Book of 2019 A BookPage Best Picture Book of 2019 A Horn Book Fanfare Selection of 2019 In his eagerly anticipated debut as author-illustrator, Caldecott and Coretta Scott King honoree Christian Robinson brings young readers on a playful, imaginative journey into another world. What if you... encountered another perspective? Discovered another world? Met another you? What might you do?

What do you do when an octopus captures Grandma? Put on your superhero cape and rescue her! Two stories in one from award-winning Afro-Latino artist Eric Velasquez. The octopus Grandma is cooking has grown to titanic proportions. "¡Tenga cuidado!" Ramsey shouts. "Be careful!" But it's too late. The octopus traps Grandma! Ramsey uses both art and intellect to free his beloved abuela. Then the story takes a surprising twist. And it can be read two ways. Open the fold-out pages to find Ramsey telling a story to his family. Keep the pages folded, and Ramsey's octopus adventure is real. This beautifully illustrated picture book, drawn from the author's childhood memories, celebrates creativity, heroism, family, grandmothers, grandsons, Puerto Rican food, Latinx culture and more. With an author's note and the Velasquez family recipe for Octopus Stew!

This lyrical text gives life and meaning to all the requisite elements of a treehouse, from time, timber, and rafters to a rope of twisted twine, so you can sprawl out on a limb and slide back down again. Higgins's text, filled with beautiful images and an incredibly readable assonant cadence, captures the universal timelessness of the treehouse and celebrates all the creativity, poignancy, and adventure inherent therein.

The team behind the Newbery Medal winner and Caldecott Honor book Last Stop on Market Street and the award-winning New York Times bestseller Carmela Full of Wishes once again delivers a poignant and timely picture book that's sure to become an instant classic. Milo is on a long subway ride with his older sister. To pass the time, he studies the faces around him and makes pictures of their lives. There's the whiskered man with the crossword puzzle; Milo imagines him playing solitaire in a cluttered apartment full of pets. There's the wedding-dressed woman with a little dog peeking out of her handbag; Milo imagines her in a grand cathedral ceremony. And then there's the boy in the suit with the bright white sneakers; Milo imagines him arriving home to a castle with a drawbridge and a butler. But when the boy in the suit gets off on the same stop as Milo--walking the same path, going to the exact same place--Milo realizes that you can't really know anyone just by looking at them.

How many things can you make in a day? A tower, a friend, a change? Rhyme, repetition, and a few seemingly straightforward questions engage young readers in a discussion about the many things we make--and the ways we can make a difference in the world. This simple, layered story celebrates creativity through beautiful rhyming verse and vibrant illustrations with a timely message. "Turning the page is an acceptance of the book creators' challenge--a decision to put passive consumption and inpatient expectancy on the shelf and instead invite your hands to do, to transform and, above all, to MAKE." --Anitra Rowe Schulte "Together the text and the illustrations create an excellent read that will empower readers to reflect on their own lives and make a change or two or three. . . . This is more than just a book about making and engineering: Make an excellent choice to add this to the shelves."--Kirkus Reviews

Meet Maxine, an inspiring young maker who knows that with enough effort and imagination (and mistakes), it's possible to invent anything. Maxine loves making new things from old things. She loves tinkering until she has solved a problem. She also loves her pet goldfish, Milton. So when it's time for her school's pet parade, she's determined to create something that will allow Milton to march with the other animals. Finally, after trying, trying, and trying again, she discovers just the right combination of recycled odds and ends to create a fun, functional--and absolutely fabulous--solution to her predicament.

If you give a child a box, who can tell what will happen next? It may become a library or a boat. It could set the scene for a fairy tale or a wild expedition. The most wonderful thing is its seemingly endless capacity for magical adventure, a feature imaginatively captured in cardboardesque art by Chris Sheban and rhythmically celebrated in this poetic tribute by renowned children's author Jane Yolen.

In her second adventure, Princess Truly's magical curls and belief in herself transport her back in time and help her reach for the stars!I love my fluffy, puffy curls.I'm so happy they are mine.When I believe in myself,They shimmer and they shine.Princess Truly is back! In the second Princess Truly adventure, Truly's magical, sparkling curls have the power to transport her to exciting new places like the Egyptian pyramids, the Jurassic period, and even into outer space. With curiosity, bravery, and her signature smarts, Princess Truly once again proves that she can do anything she sets her mind to and reminds girls everywhere to reach for the stars, believe in themselves, and dream big!

A mama's wishes for her brave Little Wonder tell a tale as old as time in a whole new world perfect for new graduates, gift-givers, and anyone who wants to share a splash of courage with a loved one. Wake up, Little Wonder! The whole wide world awaits you! A love letter from a mother to her child accompanies him on a journey of unbelievable fantasies. It's a day full of breathtaking adventures, exciting twists and turns, and unexpected friends. With an imagination stronger than the tide and a mama's love deeper than the ocean, Little Wonder can do anything he believes he can. And he will! The positive messaging of this book, its gorgeous marine setting, and the gentle, reassuring narration will resonate with parents, grandparents, and children alike, with the universal appeal of undersea adventures setting all imaginations on fire. Adults will be attracted to the book's encouragement of open-mindedness and determination in the face of uncertainty, and kids will love the lush illustrations and call to fantastical adventures. A BOOK FOR EVERY KIND OF KID: This book will appeal to young readers who love underwater worlds, fantasy and adventure. THE PERFECT GIFT FOR BABY SHOWERS AND GRADUATIONS: Like The Wonderful Things You Will Be but set at sea, this book is the perfect baby shower gift, or preschool or kindergarten graduation present! TIMELY, REASSURING MESSAGE: This sweet story offers an inspiring, reassuring message: we can choose to meet new experiences with flexibility and grit. Young readers will be encouraged to embrace new challenges. A GREAT READ-ALOUD: The positive messages, the gorgeous underwater setting, and the calm, soothing narration will spark imagination and enthrall children at story-time and read-aloud events. YOU ALREADY LOVE CLAIRE KEANE! If you loved Enchanted, Tangled, or Frozen, you've been admiring Claire Keane's work for years. Her family is full of artists--including her grandfather Bil Keane, the creator of Family Circus--and she spent many years in the animation world before becoming an illustrator. AMAZING ART FOR LOVERS OF THE SEA: The art gorgeously captures ocean-floor environments, depicts sea creatures both mythic and real, and evokes the truly unknown, unexplored nature of the sea that makes underwater settings so ripe for adventures and possibilities. Perfect for: * Parents, Caregivers, Grandparents * Educators & Librarians * Kids who love books set underwater

A buoyant, breathtaking poem from Juan Felipe Herrera -- brilliantly illustrated by Caldecott Honoree Lauren Castillo -- speaks to every dreaming heart. Have you ever imagined what you might be when you grow up? When he was very young, Juan Felipe Herrera picked chamomile flowers in windy fields and let tadpoles swim across his hands in a creek. He slept outside and learned to say good-bye to his amiguitos each time his family moved to a new town. He went to school and taught himself to read and write English and filled paper pads with rivers of ink as he walked down the street after school. And when he grew up, he became the United States Poet Laureate and read his poems aloud on the steps of the Library of Congress. If he could do all of that . . . what could you do? With this illustrated poem of endless possibility, Juan Felipe Herrera and Lauren Castillo breathe magic into the hopes and dreams of readers searching for their place in life.

Blackboard Bear helps a small boy build a spaceship for a trip to the moon, but when the boy packs so many supplies that there is no room for him , the bear goes alone.

Lola wants to buy Lotta a special birthday present and thinks up all sorts of imaginative gifts. After Charlie reminds Lola that a good present is one Lotta can actually use, Lola settles on buying a doctor's kit. Trouble is, now Lola wants the present for herself.

A little girl and her brother play with her imaginary gold-horned unicorn that can float on water, fly, and turn herself into a fairy princess.