Children's Literature - Bibliotherapy - Indianapolis

A first-grade girl who does not like to read stubbornly resists her school librarian's efforts to convince her to love books until she finds one that might change her mind.

First grader Arnie tells his mother about his tiring first day at school, while the illustrations reveal the mayhem he is leaving out of his account.

The first graders get tired of Anna Maria's bossy ways during the Thanksgiving preparations.

A classroom guinea pig finds a way to plant his own garden in this funny tale of pumpkins and patience.   After watching the first graders grow plants from seeds, Hercules, the class guinea pig, is inspired. He wants to grow things, too!   With the help of a rabbit named Daisy, Hercules plants his seeds and waits. And waits and waits. . . . He learns that growing things takes more than seeds and soil, sun and rain. It takes patience. But sometimes having to wait makes the reward even sweeter.   "Duke's story brims with humor of both the classroom and animal-buddy varieties, and her featherlight paintings capture every ounce of Herky's enthusiasm, impatience, and eventual satisfaction." --PW, starred review

Suki's favorite possession is her blue cotton kimono. A gift from her obachan, it holds special memories of her grandmother's visit last summer. And Suki is going to wear it on her first day back to school -- no matter what anyone says. When it's Suki's turn to share with her classmates what she did during the summer, she tells them about the street festival she attended with her obachan and the circle dance that they took part in. In fact, she gets so carried away reminiscing that she's soon humming the music and dancing away, much to the delight of her entire class! Filled with gentle enthusiasm and a touch of whimsy, Suki's Kimono is the joyful story of a little girl whose spirit leads her to march -- and dance -- to her own drumbeat.