Children's Literature - Genres/Indianapolis

While waiting for her mother to come home from work on Valentine's Day, Heather helps her grandmother rescue a newborn lamb and bake a special cooky.

Upset that he has forgotten a valentine for his friend Mole, Squirrel starts to make a fancy card but discovers a better gift.

Splat the cat has a special valentine for a certain someone in his class.

Celebrates the love one person has for another, whether they are dancing or strolling, on snowy days and sunny ones, no matter what.

Join Pete in New York Times bestselling author James Dean's Pete the Cat picture book series, as Pete has a Valentine's Day adventure—complete with poster, punch-out valentine cards, and stickers! Pete the Cat thinks Valentine's Day isn't cool . . . until he realizes how many special cats there are in his life! Pete works hard to make valentines for everyone, and it turns out to be the grooviest Valentine's Day ever. But what happens when he realizes he's forgotten to make a card for a very important cat? Join Pete the Cat as he discovers just how special Valentine's Day can be!

Say Happy Valentine's Day with the #1 New York Times bestselling Very Fairy Princess, in a new format with bonus stickers! Gerry makes beautiful cards for her friends at school, showcasing their special qualities. But when she forgets her folder at home, she needs to think of a new way to celebrate their inner sparkle! This celebration of friendship and creativity by the bestselling mother-daughter team is the perfect gift for any special Valentine.

A great big hug in book form, Snuggle Puppy is a year-round valentine from parent to child. It is bright, chunky, a pleasure to hold, and has a die-cut cover that reveals a glimpse of the joy inside before it's even opened. Best of all, it's packed, of course, with pure Boynton: her inimitable language, her inimitable illustrations, her inimitable sense of fun. OOO, Snuggle Puppy of mine! Everything about you is especially fine. I love what you are. I love what you do. Fuzzy little Snuggle Puppy, I love you. Featuring a sweet and cuddly doggie cast and rhyming verse, Snuggle Puppy is the perfect bedtime book to read last, because of an ending that kids will want again and again: I started with OOO. . . . Now we'll end like this: [BIG SMOOCH!] Oversized lap edition also available--perfect for reading aloud!

A Special Valentine's Day for Henry and Mudge Henry's mother and father are going to a Valentine's Day Sweetheart Dance, and Henry and Mudge are staying with Mrs. Hopper across the street. Henry's never been in Mrs. Hopper's scary, old stone house with its droopy trees and dark windows and gargoyle on the door. But inside, Henry discovers a houseful of surprises -- a grand piano, a room full of costumes, and eleven cats for Mudge to play with!

"Guess how much I love you," says Little Nutbrown Hare. Little Nutbrown Hare shows his daddy how much he loves him: as wide as he can reach and as far as he can hop. But Big Nutbrown Hare, who can reach farther and hop higher, loves him back just as much. Well then Little Nutbrown Hare loves him right up to the moon, but that's just halfway to Big Nutbrown Hare's love for him.

A heart can be hopeful, or silly, or happy. A heart can be rugged, or snappy, or lonely. A heart holds every different feeling, and debut author-artist Michael Hall captures each one with a delicate touch. For each feeling, the bold, graphic artwork creates an animal out of heart shapes, from "eager as a beaver" to "angry as a bear" to "thoughtful as an owl." An accessible and beautiful debut, My Heart Is Like a Zoo is everything a classic picture book should be: honest, sincere, and speaking directly to even the very youngest child. Ages: 0 - 5

A celebration of love, respect, peace, and unity by bestselling author and illustrator Todd Parr. Love your grin. Love your skin. Love the bees. Love the trees. Love giving a hand. Love taking a stand. LOVE YOURSELF. LOVE THE WORLD! What the world needs now is love--and who better than Todd Parr to share a message of kindness, charity, and acceptance. Touching upon themes including self-esteem, environmentalism, and respect for others, Todd uses his signature silly and accessible style to encourage readers to show love for themselves and all the people, places, and things they encounter.

Discover a lyrical ode to love from bestselling Giraffes Can't Dance!Listen to the swaying grass,and listen to the trees.To me, the sweetest music,is the branches in the breeze.Celebrate love with Giraffes Can't Dance! Featuring modified art and text from the bestselling picture book, and a fresh trim size, Love from Giraffes Can't Dance is sure to delight readers of all ages. The perfect purchase for Valentine's Day, bedtime, and all throughout the year, this lyrical book reminds readers to celebrate love, music, and dance!

WITH OVER 1 MILLION COPIES SOLD, this accessible, bestselling picture book phenomenon about the unbreakable connections between loved ones has healed a generation of readers--children and adults alike."That's impossible", said twins Jeremy & Liza after their Mom told them they're all connected by this thing called an Invisible String. "What kind of string"? They asked with a puzzled look to which Mom replied, "An Invisible String made of love." That's where the story begins. A story that teaches of the tie that really binds. The Invisible String reaches from heart to heart. Does everybody have an Invisible String? How far does it reach, anyway? Does it ever go away? Read all about it! THE INVISIBLE STRING is a very simple approach to overcoming the fear of loneliness or separation with an imaginative flair that children can easily identify with and remember. Here is a warm and delightful lesson teaching young and old that we aren't ever really alone and reminding children (and adults!) that when we are loved beyond anything we can imagine. "People who love each other are always connected by a very special String, made of love. Even though you can't see it with your eyes, you can feel it deep in your heart, and know that you are always connected to the ones you love." Thus begins this heart-warming and reassuring story that addresses the issue of "separation anxiety" (otherwise known as the sense of existential 'aloneness') to children of all ages. Specifically written to address children's fear of being apart from the ones they love, The Invisible String delivers a particularly compelling message in today's uncertain times that though we may be separated from the ones we care for, whether through anger, or distance or even death, love is the unending connection that binds us all, and, by extension, ultimately binds every person on the planet to everyone else. Parents and children everywhere who are looking for reassurance and reaffirmation of the transcendent power of love, to bind, connect and comfort us through those inevitable times when life challenges us!

This powerful and heartwarming picture book about unconditional love is the perfect book to show your loved ones how much you love them, no matter what. Small is a little fox with big feelings. When Small is feeling down, Small asks Large, "If I turned into a bug, would you still love me and give me a hug?" Large's responses to this question and those that follow are nothing but loving and affirming. With a gentle, rhyming read-aloud text paired with inviting illustrations, this is an essential addition to every little one's library.

Bloom isn't interested in playing in messy mud puddles with other pigs. She'd rather galavant among pretty flowers. Bloom LOVES flowers and other pretty things. She also likes attention. And when a beautiful butterfly, a "flying flower" wafts by, she falls head over heels in love. But she soon learns that attraction is fleeting, and friendship brings a deeper, more satisfying love.   Maria Van Lieshout deftly, gently portrays the true meaning of love and friendship in story and pictures that are perfect for readers of all ages.   Bloom! is a 2008 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

When an otter falls in love with a fish, can he dare to follow his heart? A delicious ode to nonconformity from a stellar picture-book pair.The day Otter found love, he wasn't looking for it. He was looking for dinner. But then he gazed into the round, sweet, glistening eyes of Myrtle the fish, and he knew. "Impossible," he said. "I am in love with my food source." As for Myrtle, her first desire was: Please don't eat me. But soon her heart awakened to a future she could never have imagined. The inseparable duo played hide-and-seek and told each other stories, but everyone said that was not the way of the otter. Could their love (and Myrtle) possibly survive? Aided by Chris Raschka's illustrations in a fresh faux-naïf style, James Howe tells a warm, witty tale about finding kindred spirits in the oddest of places-and having the good sense to keep them.

Mama, do you love me? Yes I do Dear One. How much? In this universal story, a child tests the limits of independence and comfortingly learns that a parent's love is unconditional and everlasting. The story is made all the more captivating by its unusual Arctic setting. The lyrical text introduces young readers to a distinctively different culture, while at the same time showing that the special love that exists between parent and child transcends all boundaries of time and place. The story is beautifully complemented by graphically stunningillustrations that are filled with such exciting animals as whales, wolves, puffins, and sled dogs, and a carefully researched glossary provides additional information on Arctic life. This tender and reassuring book is one that both parents and children will turn to again and again.

As every child knows, grandparents are special. Why? Because they love their grandchildren in their own unique way. Although the boy and girl in this story often make mistakes, their grandparents never lose patience, but help their grandchildren and cheer when they get things right. Lyrical, soothing words are paired with warm and humorous pictures in this tribute to the unconditional love every grandparent and grandchild share.

Henry is a bit of a dreamer and not much of a talker.Then there's Chloe, who says what she thinks and knows how to turn a spectacular cartwheel. This is the story of how one blueberry muffin makes all the difference.

With endearing illustrations and a simple heart-tugging text, here is a picture book ode to the ineffable bond between mother and child. From the first rays of the morning sun to the last nod of a tiny head at bedtime, a toddler and mother share a blissfully ordinary day. But there is nothing ordinary about the love between them -- a love that is as bright as flowers, as lovely as a song, and as deep as the ocean.

With more than 7 million copies sold, everybody's favorite bestselling dinosaurs are back to say: "I love you," in a VERY big way! Parents and children can never have enough ways to say "I love you"--and now, America's favorite dinosaurs are giving families a funny book, perfect for bedtime, storytime, anytime. Even when little dinosaurs are naughty, it's important to remind them that no matter what they do, they are always loved. In this book, readers will laugh aloud as parents cope with the typical antics of childhood, but in the end, hugs and kisses show your little one how much you care.

Help little ones learn to show love for the people around them, no matter how they look, sound, pray, love, or think. Beloved author of The Lesson and Will You Still Be My Daughter? Carol Lynn Pearson is known for her heartfelt, sometimes tear-jerking poetry and stories. Her newest title will enchant children with a sweet, tender poem about loving and accepting others, no matter what they look like, where they come from, or what their age and abilities are.

Based on a bedtime game that author and illustrator Lulu Delacre played with her young daughters, How Far Do You Love Me? is an 'I Love You' book with a twist. With every expression of love, readers visit one of 13 locations around the world, each a beautifully illustrated scene of adults and children in a place of natural beauty. As bedtime - or any quiet time - approaches, gather close with a special person in your life and get ready to let your imagination soar to place after place of love as you embark on a game of 'How far do you love me?'

A dog is a dog and a cat is a cat And most of the time it's as simple as that. . . . Or is it What's a dog to do when he falls in love with the cat next door Bark Chase his tail Dig up a "brass bone" and hope that the universal language of music will help him to express his feelings This humorous and heartfelt story is about the power of love and the power of music, told through the eyes of a lovelorn dog and the cat he adores.

This fun, inclusive board book celebrates the one thing that makes every family a family . . . and that's LOVE. Love is baking a special cake. Love is lending a helping hand. Love is reading one more book. In this exuberant board book, many different families are shown in happy activity, from an early-morning wake-up to a kiss before bed. Whether a child has two moms, two dads, one parent, or one of each, this simple preschool read-aloud demonstrates that what's most important in each family's life is the love the family members share.

From Newbery Medal-winning author Matt de la Pena and bestselling illustrator Loren Long comes a story about the strongest bond there is and the diverse and powerful ways it connects us all. In the beginning there is light and two wide-eyed figures standing near the foot of your bed and the sound of their voices is love . . . A cab driver plays love softly on his radio while you bounce in back with the bumps of the city and everything smells new, and it smells like life. In this heartfelt celebration of love, Newbery Medal-winning author Matt de la Pena and bestselling illustrator Loren Long depict the many ways we experience this universal bond, which carries us from the day we are born throughout the years of our childhood and beyond. With a lyrical text that's soothing and inspiring, this tender tale is a needed comfort and a new classic that will resonate with readers of every age.

A beautiful, honest portrait of loss and deep friendship told through the story of two iconic polar bears. Gus lives in a big park in the middle of an even bigger city, and he spends his days with Ida. Ida is right there. Always. Then one sad day, Gus learns that Ida is very sick, and she isn't going to get better. The friends help each other face the difficult news with whispers, sniffles, cuddles, and even laughs. Slowly Gus realizes that even after Ida is gone, she will still be with him--through the sounds of their city, and the memories that live in their favorite spots. Ida, Always is an exquisitely told story of two best friends--inspired by a real bear friendship--and a gentle, moving, needed reminder that loved ones lost will stay in our hearts, always.

A New York Times Bestseller and tie-in to Academy-Award Winning Short Film "Hair Love"   "I love that Hair Love is highlighting the relationship between a Black father and daughter. Matthew leads the ranks of new creatives who are telling unique stories of the Black experience. We need this."      - Jordan Peele, Actor & Filmmaker It's up to Daddy to give his daughter an extra-special hair style in this ode to self-confidence and the love between fathers and daughters, from Academy-Award winning director and former NFL wide receiver Matthew A. Cherry and New York Times bestselling illustrator Vashti Harrison. Zuri's hair has a mind of its own. It kinks, coils, and curls every which way. Zuri knows it's beautiful. When Daddy steps in to style it for an extra special occasion, he has a lot to learn. But he LOVES his Zuri, and he'll do anything to make her -- and her hair -- happy. Tender and empowering, Hair Love is an ode to loving your natural hair -- and a celebration of daddies and daughters everywhere. A perfect gift for special occasions including Father's Day, birthdays, baby showers, and more!

Greg Heffley is not willing to be the odd man out. A dance at Greg's middle school has everyone scrambling to find a partner, and Greg is determined not to be left by the wayside. So he concocts a desperate plan to find someone--anyone!--to go with on the big night. But Greg's schemes go hilariously awry, and his only option is to attend the dance with his best friend, Rowley Jefferson, and a female classmate as a "group of friends." But the night is long, and anything can happen along the way. Who will arrive at the dance triumphantly, and who will end up being the third wheel?

More of the Best Holiday Crafts Ever! outlines projects for various holidays.

Whether you have the luxury of teaching in your own art room or must carry your materials from classroom to classroom, <i>Hands-On Art Activities for the Elementary Classroom</i> is the resource for you.   It offers a great collection of 80 fun and simple projects, which teach basic art concepts and don t need a lot of special materials, that are appropriate for any elementary school art class. The book is divided into four major sections: Fall, Winter, Spring/Summer, and Design Activities and includes a year s supply of seasonal projects, holiday activities, and activities that teach specific art techniques. All the projects contain a designation for the appropriate grade level, directions for both teachers and students, a detailed description and illustration of the activity, a list of the materials required, an explanation of how to prepare to teach the activity, and information about how the project connects to other disciplines. 

This time-saving program planner for librarians and classroom teachers alike includes everything you need to get started- reading lists, flannelboard patterns, poems, songs, easy crafts, even take-home activities to extend the learning process. The many creative ideas packed inside include Activities keyed to popular classroom themes, with one chapter for each week of the school year Lessons that reinforce skills in key learning areas such as reading, writing, and math American Sign Language and Spanish language activities that make diversity awareness a part of children's learning Teachable concepts that can be mixed and rearranged for maximum flexibility, complementing classroom schedules Both veterans and novices will find plenty to help make kindergarten days richer, more rewarding, and more fun.

Join Martha Stewart for a celebration of handcrafted holidays all year-round! nbsp; New Year's - Valentine's Day - Easter - Mother's Day - Father's Day - Fourth of July - Halloween - Thanksgiving - Hanukkah - Christmas nbsp; Let Martha inspire your creativity with the most beautiful crafts. The 225 handmade projects include cards and greetings, decorations, gifts and gift wrapping, tabletop accents, party favors, and kids' crafts, as well as more holiday-specific activities, such as egg-dyeing, pumpkin carving, and tree trimming. Each idea is sure to make the holidays more festive--and memorable.

Features age-appropriate activities that attract and keep children's interest by using a multi-sensory approach, in order to improve children's learning and behavior. This title is suitable for preschool teachers, kindergarten teachers, primary school teachers, special educators, support personnel, early-childhood specialists, and more.