Lloyd Alexander

The king is building a magnificent new fountain, but there is a terrible problem. To make the water flow for the palace, the entire city will be left completely dry. A poor man knows he must stop this disaster, but he feels too small and ordinary to face a powerful ruler. He searches the city for someone braver, wiser, or stronger to speak up. He asks the smartest scholars and the toughest fighters to confront the king on behalf of the people. Yet, as time runs out and the fountain nears completion, he realizes that the heroes he seeks might not be willing to help. Sometimes, courage does not come from having the most strength or the sharpest mind. Read along to find out if one quiet, ordinary person can discover the bravery inside himself to stand up for his entire city.

Mother Holly has left the house to do her chores, and she gave her cat one very simple rule: do not get into any mischief. But for a curious feline, staying out of trouble is much harder than it sounds. When a tiny accident turns into a massive disaster, the house is suddenly turned entirely upside down. Panicking, the cat races against the clock to clean up the gigantic mess before Mother Holly walks back through the front door. His frantic attempts to fix things only lead to even wilder mistakes, including a magical mishap involving a loud rumble of thunder! You will laugh out loud as this mischievous pet tries to hide his blunders. Dive into a beautifully illustrated, funny tale about listening to directions, fixing your mistakes, and the chaotic fun of a very busy cat.

Fflewddur Fflam is a brave king with a very cheerful spirit, but his greatest dream has nothing to do with ruling a country. More than anything, he wants to travel the world as a famous, wandering bard. There is just one small problem: he tends to stretch the truth to make his stories sound more exciting. When he fails his official bardic examination, the Chief Bard gives him a magical, beautiful harp. Fflewddur is thrilled, until he discovers the instrument's very embarrassing secret. Every time he exaggerates, brags, or tells a tiny fib, a harp string snaps with a loud ping! You will chuckle as this well-meaning king tries to navigate the world without breaking all his strings. Read along as Fflewddur learns that being honest, even when it is difficult, is the true mark of a noble hero and a legendary storyteller.

A restless young carpenter in the West African country of Cameroon decides he is tired of working hard for very little money. Hoping for a glimpse of a brighter future, he seeks out the wisdom of a local fortune teller. The wise man promises him a life filled with incredible riches, great respect, and a beautiful wife, but there is a hilarious catch to these predictions. Through a surprising twist of fate and a case of mistaken identity, the carpenter suddenly finds himself sitting in the fortune teller's chair. Now, he must use his own cleverness and a bit of luck to make the grand prophecies come true. This beautifully told story blends humor and clever problem solving, showing how sometimes you have to create your own destiny. It is a delightful picture book that teaches a gentle lesson about the unpredictable and funny nature of life.