Barbara Bottner

Some kids love reading, but you are definitely not one of them. While the other students in your first grade class are busy devouring stories, you would rather be doing just about anything else. Your school librarian, Miss Brooks, absolutely loves books and is determined to find the perfect story for every single student. No matter what Miss Brooks suggests, you stand your ground. You do not want a book about fairies, dogs, or magic. You are convinced that reading is simply not for you. But Miss Brooks is incredibly patient, and she has a special plan to help you discover the magic of a really good tale. This hilarious and relatable story captures the stubborn spirit of a reluctant reader. It is a playful celebration of libraries, school life, and the wonderful moment when you finally find the one special book that changes your mind completely.

Lulu has her mind set on one very important goal. She is completely focused on landing the perfect solo role in her upcoming ballet recital. Nothing else matters as much as dancing perfectly in the spotlight. But there is a small problem dancing right alongside her. Her younger sister, Marsha, is cast as a simple little flower in the exact same show. When Lulu gets too caught up in her own big dreams, she ends up hurting Marsha's feelings in a very real way. Suddenly, the spotlight does not seem quite as bright when her sister is feeling down. You will watch Lulu learn a tough but valuable lesson about what truly matters most. It is a gentle, realistic look at how tricky it can be to balance personal ambition with being a good older sibling. This story shows how taking a moment to care for your family can be much more rewarding than any stage performance. Will Lulu find a way to make things right before the curtain goes up?

Hearing a car pull up in the driveway is usually a happy sound, unless it means Bootsie Barker has arrived. Bootsie is the absolute worst houseguest. She pulls hair, rips books, and constantly threatens to feed her friend's pet salamander to a dinosaur. Even worse, Bootsie only ever wants to play games where she gets to act like a wild animal and bite! You will laugh out loud as one brave girl finally figures out the perfect way to stop Bootsie in her tracks. When the classic dinosaur game gets out of hand, she invents a brand new game that turns the tables completely. This funny, empowering story is a wonderful look at standing up for yourself, protecting your toys, and using your imagination to outsmart a bully.

Lulu is having a terrible, horrible, extremely frustrating week. Her younger sister, Marsha, has caught the chicken pox. Now Marsha gets to lie on the couch, watch whatever she wants on television, and get absolutely all of their mother's attention. Lulu feels completely invisible and highly annoyed that a few itchy spots have turned her sister into the queen of the house. You will completely understand Lulu's frustration as she tries every hilarious trick she can think of to get her mother to notice her again. From performing loud stunts to pretending she is also coming down with a mysterious illness, Lulu goes to extreme lengths to steal back the spotlight. It is an incredibly relatable, funny look at the challenges of sharing a parent's attention and dealing with a sick sibling. This warmhearted story captures the messy, emotional reality of family life while reminding readers that a parent's love is big enough for everyone.

Priscilla has discovered her absolute favorite thing in the entire world. After reading a book about gorillas, she decides to become one! She wears her fuzzy gorilla costume all day, dances like an ape, and loves how gorillas always seem to get their way. When her teacher, Mr. Todd, asks the class to dress up as their favorite animals, Priscilla is ready to shine. The trouble begins when Priscilla's wild chest-beating disrupts the classroom and lands her straight in the Thinking Corner. You will watch as her rebellious ape attitude slowly spreads to the rest of the class, turning the whole room into a wild jungle. This hilarious, energetic story helps you explore the tricky balance between expressing your creative passions and learning how to cooperate with your friends.

One single annoying moment is all it takes to ruin a perfectly good preschool morning. It starts when Adelaide decides to annoy Bailey. This sets off a hilarious chain reaction that sweeps through the entire classroom, letter by letter. Before the teacher can stop it, every single child in the room is upset, frustrated, and causing a massive alphabetical commotion. You will follow the chaos from A to Z as the classroom melts down in the most entertaining way possible. The trouble only stops when Zelda finally zaps Adelaide, forcing everyone to turn around and start a giant chain of apologies. This incredibly clever and funny story teaches you the alphabet while showing exactly how fast a bad mood can spread, and how a simple apology can fix everything.

Getting a new dog is supposed to be exciting, but training one is a completely different story. A little boy is trying his absolute hardest to teach his brand new puppy how to behave. He gives clear commands and expects his furry friend to listen, but this particular rambunctious dog has an agenda of his own. You will relate to the boy's massive frustration as his energetic puppy runs wild, ignores every single rule, and refuses to do anything he is told. This incredibly funny and fast-paced story captures the exhausting, chaotic reality of bringing a new pet into your home. It is a highly relatable look at patience, communication, and the silly realities of trying to communicate with an animal who just wants to play.

After a long, sunny day splashing in the waves and playing on the warm beach, it is finally time to settle down for the night. A tired child climbs into bed, ready to reflect on all the fun they had. But falling asleep takes a little bit of focus when your body is still buzzing from a busy day at the ocean. You will follow along with this calming, gentle routine as the child says goodnight to every single body part, starting from their tired toes and working all the way up. It is a wonderfully relaxing story designed to help you quiet your mind and release the energy of the day. Perfect for winding down, this soothing bedtime journey transforms the tricky process of falling asleep into a peaceful, mindful celebration of a day well spent.

Amy absolutely adores being the center of attention. Whether she is signing autographs for her stuffed animals, posing for endless photos with her parents, or collecting shiny gold stars from her teacher, she loves feeling like a true celebrity. She is the undisputed superstar of her classroom until a brand new girl arrives and instantly steals her thunder. Suddenly, Amy is forced to step out of the spotlight, and she is feeling extremely jealous of the new competition. You will watch Amy navigate these uncomfortable feelings as the two girls are forced to spend time together. It is a wonderful, relatable story about overcoming playground envy and learning how to share the stage. Ultimately, Amy discovers that having a great friend is actually much more fun and meaningful than being famous all by yourself.

Visiting your grandmother is usually fun, but things are a little different when Nana Hannah twists her ankle. Instead of their usual activities, a young boy finds himself trying to cheer her up. He decides to share his favorite thing in the whole world by teaching her all about the game of baseball. But Nana Hannah has a surprise of her own to share. As they spend quiet time indoors, she introduces him to the beautiful sounds of her piano. Soon, what started as a boring trip turns into an exciting exchange of passions. This warm and charming story celebrates the special bond between grandparents and grandchildren. It shows how sharing what you love can bring people closer together, whether that means hitting a home run or playing a beautiful melody on the keys.

Ballet class is supposed to be full of graceful twirls and quiet concentration. But that is entirely impossible when Bootsie Barker is in the room. Bootsie is loud, bossy, and completely determined to terrorize everyone in her tutu. Bernie and Lisa are tired of being pushed around while they are just trying to practice their pliés and leaps. You will cheer for Bernie and Lisa as they finally decide they have had enough of Bootsie's classroom bullying. They team up to create a clever plan to get even and take their ballet class back. This funny, satisfying story shows how teamwork and a little bit of bravery can stop even the toughest playground bully. It is a fantastic read for anyone who has ever had to deal with a bossy classmate and needs a good laugh.

Wallace the mouse relies on his trusty lists for absolutely everything. He writes lists for recipes, lists of funny words, and even lists of things that frighten him. As long as he has his schedule written down, he feels perfectly safe and happy in his quiet little life. Then he meets his brand new neighbor, Albert. Albert is loud, spontaneous, and does not use lists at all! Soon, Albert is dragging Wallace into a world of colorful painting, loud music, and thrilling outdoor adventures. You will see Wallace step right out of his comfort zone and discover that the very best parts of life happen when you throw away the schedule. It is a joyful, funny story that proves how trying new things can lead to the greatest discovery of all.

Clarissa has everything perfectly prepared for a wonderful afternoon tea party. The cups are set, the snacks are ready, but her stuffed animal guests are in a terrible mood! Elephant is furious about a dropped ice cream cone, Rabbit is soggy from the rain, and Monkey is extremely annoyed about an early bedtime. Instead of a polite gathering, Clarissa is hosting a room full of grumpy complainers. You will laugh out loud as the stuffed animals declare that Clarissa is being far too bossy. The polite tea party quickly turns into a full-blown crankypants party where everyone is airing their grievances. This hilarious, charming story explores what happens when everyone wakes up on the wrong side of the bed. Can Clarissa figure out a way to soothe her grumpy friends before the tea goes completely cold?

Pish and Posh are completely ready to become real fairies. They know that to earn their beautiful, shimmering fairy wings, they have to make one incredibly wise wish. There is just one huge problem standing in their way. Making a wise wish together is practically impossible when two best friends cannot seem to agree on anything! You get to follow these two funny friends as they argue, brainstorm, and try to figure out exactly what makes a wish truly wise. Their magical adventure tests their patience and their friendship in the most hilarious ways. It is a charming story that explores how working together and listening to each other is sometimes the most magical thing you can do. Will they finally find the perfect wish and get their wings?

Moving to a new house means sleeping in a brand new bedroom. For Rosa, this new space feels a little too big, a little too quiet, and a whole lot empty. Even when she tries piling up her favorite toys, books, and cozy blankets, the room just does not feel right. Something very important is still missing. As you turn the pages, you get to help Rosa figure out exactly what it takes to make a new house feel like a real home. It is a warm, gentle story about finding comfort in unexpected places and realizing that sometimes the best way to fill up an empty room is not with things, but with feelings and friends. Perfect for young readers experiencing their own big changes, this touching tale explores the emotional journey of settling in and making a space truly yours.

Waking up with a bright red, stuffy nose is never how you want to start your day. A young girl is stuck at home with a terrible case of the sniffles that refuses to go away. She quickly realizes that fighting off a bug requires specific tools. A cold demands a cozy bed by the window, the warmest socks you own, and a giant bowl of Grandma's chicken soup. You will feel right at home with this warmly written, quietly funny story about surviving a sick day. It shows how the best medicine often includes plenty of rest and a lot of Dad's silliest jokes. This comforting tale is the perfect read for anyone stuck under the blankets, proving that sometimes a cold just needs a little time and family love.

Pish and Posh think they are in for a perfectly normal day until they accidentally stumble into the wild world of fairy magic. The moment they start experimenting with spells and charms, their quiet routine is completely turned upside down. Suddenly, they are facing a series of wacky, unpredictable surprises that pop up exactly when they least expect them. You will laugh out loud as these two best friends try to untangle the magical messes they create around the house. From unexpected flying objects to spells that go hilariously wrong, Pish and Posh have to learn how to work together to get things back to normal. It is a lighthearted, fast-paced adventure that shows how unpredictable and funny life can be when a little bit of magic gets out of control.

Missy absolutely loves spending her mornings with her favorite librarian, Miss Brooks. The before-school story time is the best part of her day, but getting there is a total nightmare. To reach the library, she has to walk right past Billy Toomey's house. Billy is a relentless bully who constantly steals her hat and loves to yell that he is going to get her. Everything changes on a rainy morning when Miss Brooks decides to teach the children how to invent their very own tales. You will cheer for Missy as she has a brilliant flash of inspiration. She realizes she can use the power of plot, characters, and action to outsmart Billy in real life! This incredibly funny, empowering story shows you how creativity and a good imagination can help you rewrite your own real-world problems.

Archer has a very big problem hiding in a very messy room. His beloved pet turtle has completely vanished! His mother is absolutely certain the turtle is hiding somewhere among the massive piles of toys and clothes scattered across his bedroom, or maybe out in the backyard. Archer searches high and low, checking every corner of the house, but his quiet little friend is nowhere to be found. You get to join the hunt in this highly interactive, imaginative search. To find his missing pet, Archer realizes he has to stop looking like a boy and start thinking exactly like a turtle! With clever hiding spots scattered throughout the chaotic illustrations, this fun story challenges you to spot the sneaky reptile. It is a fantastic, playful adventure that also provides a very clever reason for finally cleaning up your messy bedroom.