Author & Reteller Profile
Beatrice Schenk De Regniers
11 Books
Beatrice Schenk de Regniers was an American children's author, poet, and editor whose books are cherished for their warmth, rhythm, and playful language. She famously wrote May I Bring a Friend?, which won the Caldecott Medal for its delightful illustrations by Beni Montresor. Her extensive contributions to children's literature include gentle picture books, imaginative verse, and thoughtful folktale retellings. Through her collaborative work with renowned illustrators, she crafted enduring stories that celebrate curiosity and friendship.
Have you ever woken up and decided you were a giant? Tommy does just that. He declares he is a giant, much taller than the trees and bigger than the houses. As a giant, he spends his day doing all sorts of enormous things, from moving mountains to reaching up into the sky. No ordinary daily task is too big for him now. But even the tallest and mightiest giants can get tired after a long day of giant-sized adventures. As the sun begins to set and the evening grows quiet, the sleepy giant realizes that sometimes being a little boy is exactly what you need to be, especially when it is time to be tucked comfortably into bed. This classic tale captures the boundless power of a child's imagination.
6-8 Years
Meet Little Sister, a cheerful girl who works hard all day while humming her favorite tunes. Even though she does all the chores around the house and yard, her wicked stepmother and stepsister are never satisfied. They are jealous of her joyful spirit. One freezing winter day, they give her an impossible demand: she must go out into the snow and bring back fresh spring violets, or she cannot return home. Wandering alone in the bitter cold, Little Sister stumbles upon a magical gathering in the forest. She meets the mysterious Month Brothers, who possess the power to change the seasons. With their help, Little Sister might just be able to complete her impossible task and turn the tables on her greedy family. This timeless Slavic folktale brings a magical twist to a classic story of kindness overcoming cruelty.
6-8 Years
48 Pages
What happens when one lonely cat turns into a house full of furry friends? Step into a home that starts with just a single pet but quickly becomes a true paradise for felines. Through lively, rhythmic verses, you will discover exactly how one family ends up with a grand total of twelve cats. Count along as each new stray, kitten, and unexpected visitor makes their way through the door and into the family's heart. From quiet sleepers to playful troublemakers, every new arrival brings a unique personality to the growing household. This cheerful counting story perfectly captures the fun, chaos, and love of living with a whole bunch of animals. It is a wonderful way to practice your counting skills while enjoying the silly antics of a dozen delightful pets.
6-8 Years
36 Pages
Joe is a big bear, and Sam is a little mouse. At first glance, these two seem like complete opposites. When they meet, they try to figure out if they can be friends, but it turns out they have very different tastes. Joe likes to do things one way, and Sam prefers to do them another. They cannot seem to agree on what to eat, where to live, or what kind of games to play. Just when it seems like they will never find anything in common, they stumble upon the one special activity they both love to do. This heartwarming and humorous story shows that you do not have to be exactly alike to get along, and true friendship can blossom in the most unexpected ways.
6-8 Years
32 Pages
Everyone needs a quiet place to call their very own. Sometimes the best houses are not made of bricks or wood, but are created entirely from your own imagination. Have you ever built a secret cave out of blankets or turned a simple cardboard box into a hidden fortress? This charming book explores all the magical, cozy spaces where you can hide away to think, dream, and play in peace. Whether it is underneath the dining room table, behind a large chair, or high up in the branches of a friendly tree, a little house of your own is waiting for you. Discover the joy and comfort of creating personal hideaways where you can enjoy a moment of perfect privacy and let your imagination soar.
6-8 Years
38 Pages
A royal invitation arrives, and one polite question changes everything: may the young guest bring a friend? In this Caldecott Medal-winning picture book, a boy visits the King and Queen again and again, each time arriving with an animal companion far more surprising than the last. Beatrice Schenk De Regniers’s rhythmic text makes the story fun to read aloud, while Beni Montresor’s jewel-like illustrations turn the palace visits into a bright, elegant comedy. The humor comes from the warm welcome each guest receives, no matter how unusual. Young readers will enjoy the repeating pattern, the royal setting, and the growing parade of zoo friends in a classic picture book about hospitality and imagination.
6-8 Years
46 Pages
Meet a funny little man who can never quite seem to settle for what he has. Always looking for something better, he decides to start swapping his belongings. He trades away his knife, then a shoe, and keeps right on trading everything in sight. He even goes so far as to trade away his own wife! With every single swap, he pauses to wonder: was it a good trade, or was it a bad trade? The more he gives away, the sillier his situation becomes. Based on a classic folk song, this highly rhythmic and delightfully goofy tale will have you chanting and rhyming along. Follow this curious trader's hilarious antics to see if he eventually ends up right back where he started.
6-8 Years
38 Pages
Retold in Verse for Boys and Girls to Read Themselves
Step into the woods for a clever and rhythmic spin on one of the most famous tales ever told. When a young girl sets off through the forest to bring a basket of treats to her grandmother, she meets a very cunning wolf who has mischievous plans of his own. Told entirely in catchy, playful verse, this classic adventure is perfectly sized for young readers to tackle on their own. The bouncing rhymes bring a fresh energy to the suspenseful journey, making the shadowy forest path and the thrilling encounter at grandmother's house feel brand new. Experience the brave little girl's quick thinking and the big, bad wolf's legendary disguise in a beautifully poetic retelling that is as fun to read aloud as it is to read alone.
6-8 Years
56 Pages
What can you do with an everyday object like a shoe? You might think it only belongs on your foot, but what if you wore it on your head, or buttered it like a piece of bread? Join a boy and a girl as they dress up in their parents' clothes and play a wildly imaginative game of questions and silly answers. Together, they dream up the most hilarious and unexpected uses for ordinary things like a hat, a cup, a broom, and a bed. Could an octopus rest inside a hat? Would a bird build a nest in it? This playful adventure is filled with catchy rhymes and boundless creativity, encouraging you to look at the world around you in a completely different way.
6-8 Years
32 Pages
Imagine being a girl no bigger than a single shiny penny. When a lonely old man and woman find tiny Penny floating down the river on a leaf, they happily welcome her into their home and raise her as their own daughter. She brings incredible joy to their quiet lives, but as she grows up, her parents decide it is time for her to marry. They set out to find the perfect, special husband for their pint-sized daughter, looking for suitors that match their own grand ideas. Penny, however, has a mind of her own. She is determined to forge her own path and find love on her own terms. Join Penny on her charming journey as she proves that even the smallest person can have the biggest, bravest heart.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
62 Pages
On a bitter, windy night at a remote farmhouse in the Dakotas, a lonely woman looks out at the heavy snowfall and wishes for just a little bit of company. She longs for music, laughter, and the fun of a real party to break up the quiet winter evening. To her absolute amazement, her wish begins to come true. As the snow piles higher and the roads become completely blocked, unexpected travelers begin knocking on her door, seeking shelter from the fierce storm. Soon, the quiet farmhouse is filled with a lively, unexpected crowd of guests. Join in the fun of this delightful winter gathering and see how a harsh blizzard brings warmth, friendship, and the perfect surprise party.
6-8 Years
36 Pages
