Delivers puzzles, science projects, jokes and riddles that challenge young minds, while characters in regular features like Hidden Pictures, Goofus and Gallant, Timbertoes, and the Bear Family keep children coming back like good friends should.
Fiction for Early Readers
Early readers are classified as ages 4-8, though most of these selections are appropriate "read aloud" books for any age.
The Color Wizard
Barbara Brenner
Children will love laughing along with the toe-tapping verse and magical artwork of this easy-to-read page turner as Wizard Gray paints his planet from castle door to sky in every color of the rainbow.
Hardcover: 32 pages
The Dragon and the Unicorn
Lynne Cherry
The daughter of medieval King Valerio is visited by a unicorn and dragon who plead to have the forests of the realm preserved. A lovely book about forest conservation perfect for children ages 3-7. Lavish illustrations.
Paperback: 36 pages
The Dragons Are Singing Tonight
Jack Prelutsky
Dragons aren't all the same, of course – some are amiable, some are disconsolate, and some are downright nasty. Here Prelutsky, who has written over 30 books of poetry for children, turns his considerable talents to the subject of dragons – a secret dragon, a thunder dragon, a mechanical dragon, even a lazy dragon who likes to sleep all day.
Paperback: 40 pages
The Dragon's Scales
Sarah Albee
When a hot-tempered dragon seizes the local bridge, the people of Berryville are cut off from their supply of beloved strawberries until they can correctly answer three questions related to weight. The grownups of the town are stumped, but one very smart little girl saves the day with some facts she learned in school.
Paperback: 48 pages
Good Night, Good Knight
Shelley Thomas
When the Good Knight hears a "very large, very loud roar," he sets off on his faithful steed to determine its origin. Thus begins his visits to a cave where three lonely, young dragons are delaying their bedtime. Children will immediately recognize the tactics the wide-eyed serpents use as each request prompts another visit from the Good Knight. Only when he hears them snoring does he head back to the castle for his own night's rest.
Paperback: 48 pages
The Great Redwall Feast
Brian Jacques
The mice of Redwall Abbey are preparing a surprise feast for their abbot. To get him out of the way while preparations are made, a quest is invented. Particularly enchanting for early readers with older siblings who enjoy the epic adventures of the Redwall series.
Paperback: 64 pages
How Droofus the Dragon Lost His Head
Bill Peet
Droofus the not-so-bad dragon is generally at peace with the world, and is kind to smaller animals. As a nice guy, he's not interested in laying waste to the countryside, even though some people expect him to.
Paperback: 48 pages
Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher
Bruce Coville
Jeremy Thatcher is plagued with all of the problems of a 12-year-old. He is pursued by Mary Lou Hutton, whom he detests, and is constantly put down by his teacher for reasons he doesn't understand. One day, in an effort to escape Mary Lou, Jeremy runs through alleys and side streets, finding himself in a part of town he has never seen. He enters a magic shop where he buys a strange egg. A dragon that only Jeremy and Mary Lou can see enters the picture.
Paperback: 160 pages
King Arthur and the Round Table
Hudson Talbott
As a lad of only sixteen years, Arthur pulled the sword from the stone and thus became High King of all Britain. Just as he begins to arrange his court, twelve of the country's lesser kings, jealous of Arthur's glory, declare war on him. This war is fateful in more ways than one, for not only does it secure Arthur's place among his people, it also unites his destiny with that of Lady Guinevere. Richly illustrated with primarily double-page spreads.
The King's Stilts
Dr. Seuss
The King's passion is to run around the kingdom on his red stilts, but he never does so until after putting in a full day of grueling work. Never was there a harder working King than Birtram. He even signs papers while taking a bath at five in the morning! He feels very responsible, because the kingdom is threatened by natural disaster if he lets down his guard. Dr. Seuss classic about proper balance between work and fun.
Hardcover: 56 pages
The Knight and the Dragon
Tomie dePaola
What happens when a sheepish knight and a not-so-fierce dragon fight for the very first time? It's no ordinary battle since the knight has to go to the castle library to learn about dragon-fighting and the dragon must dig through his ancestor's things to find out how to fight a knight.
Paperback: 32 pages
The Knight Who Was Afraid of the Dark
Barbara Hazen
Sir Fred takes fearsome spiders out of the castle bathtub in the daytime, but at night he sleeps with a bottle of fireflies, several candles, and a pet electric eel close by his bed. When Lady Wendylyn requests his company by the fountain at midnight, Sir Fred agonizes about going out in the dark. Yet he gallantly sets off into the night with his eel wrapped around his arm. The surprising and funny ending helps Sir Fred realize that the dark isn't so scary when you're with someone.
Paperback: 32 pages
Magic in the Mist
Margaret Mary Kimmel
Thomas, living in west Wales, studies long and hard to become a wizard, with very little success. But on one remarkable day he listens to the song of a small toad and notices the beginnings of magic.
Hardcover: 32 pages
Merlin and the Dragons
Jane Yolen
Young King Arthur, troubled by nightmares, doubts he is the rightful king of England. One rainy night, the wizard Merlin tells Arthur the story of dueling dragons and a fateful clash between good and evil, which reveals the surprising secret of the boy king's true legacy. Illustrated with dramatic oil paintings.
Paperback: 40 pages
The Paper Bag Princess
Robert N. Munsch
Elizabeth, a beautiful princess, lives in a castle and wears fancy clothes. Just when she's about to marry Prince Ronald, a dragon smashes her castle, burns her clothes, and kidnaps Ronald. Undaunted, she dons a large paper bag and sets off to find them. Once she's tracked them down, she flatters the dragon into performing all sorts of stunts that eventually exhaust him, allowing her to rescue Prince Ronald.
Paperback: 23 pages
A Redwall Winter's Tale
Brian Jacques
The saga of a lively badger, mole, squirrel, and mouse denizens of Redwall Abbey. In this cozy story, Bungo the mole-babe and his friend, Tubspike the hedgehog maid, are beside themselves with excitement as they await some very special guests on the last day of autumn. Little do they know there's another even more special guest on his way.
Paperback: 72 pages
The Reluctant Dragon
Kenneth Grahame
The boy who finds the dragon in the cave knows it is a kindly, harmless one, but how can he convince the frightened villagers and, especially, St. George the dragon killer that there is no cause for concern? By the author of The Wind in the Willows.
Paperback: 48 pages
Saint George and the Dragon
Margaret Hodges
In this adaptation of The Faerie Queen, George, the Red Cross Knight, slays the dreadful dragon that has been terrorizing the countryside for years and brings peace and joy to the land.
Paperback: 32 pages
Sir Small and the Dragonfly
Jane O'Connor
When a dragonfly swoops over the town of Pee Wee and carries Lady Teena away, brave Sir Small rides off on his trusty ant vowing to rescue her. Bright watercolor illustrations.
Paperback: 32 pages
The Sword in the Stone
Grace MacCarone
A short adaptation for young children of how King Arthur became king. Despite the boasting of grown men, only young Arthur is able to draw a sword from a stone, thereby becoming king. MacCrone's Arthur is a young boy, and he is "tricked" by Merlin into freeing the sword from the stone.
Paperback: 32 pages
The Twelve Dancing Princesses
Ruth Sanderson
This Grimm fairy tale tells the story of twelve royal sisters who are locked in their room each night. Mysteriously, by morning, all their shoes are worn out from dancing. With the help of a magic cloak, a humble, intelligent gardener solves the mystery. In the process, he wins the love of the youngest princess and the favor of the king. Richly detailed oil paintings.
Paperback: 32 pages
Where Have the Unicorns Gone?
Jane Yolen
Long ago unicorns lived in a haven of sun-dappled glades and flower-filled dells. But as civilization spread over the ages – with its fierce knights, its chugging trains, its thick smogs – unicorns had to find a new sanctuary. But where? Jane Yolen finds a magical answer in the traditional unicorn myth.
Paperback: 32 pages
The Winter Child
Wendy Froud
All the woodland creatures have gathered for the Midwinter festival, but this year something is wrong. The forest should be blanketed with snow, but the air remains warm, the leaves haven't fallen, and branches are still covered with autumn's fruit. From this mystery will come a quest, one in which a young faery named Sneezle and his friend, Twig, will confront menacing goblins and an evil sorcerer. Illustrated with photos of dolls by Wendy Froud, who has created dolls and puppets for movies and television shows, including The Muppet Movie and The Muppet Show.
Hardcover: 64 pages
The Wizard, the Fairy, and the Magic Chicken
Helen Lester
When three boastful magicians try to outdo one another, they create a problem that can be solved only when they work together.
Paperback: 32 pages
