Showing results by narrator "John McDonough" in All Categories

A robin with poor eyesight has mistaken Freddy the pig's tail for a worm. Putting aside the poem he is writing, Freddy decides to help the poor bird solve his problem. But the solution just seems to lead to bigger problems.

Praised for their whimsical word play and gentle lessons, best-selling author Karma Wilson’s Bear books never fail to delight young fans. In Bear’s Loose Tooth, listeners are transported deep into the forest for a cozy story about Bear and his woodland friends. While munching on his lunch one day, Bear feels something wobbly in his mouth. Bear has a loose tooth, and it isn’t long before his friends hop, crawl, and fly to his aid.

Warnings had been printed in the Bean Home News and the Centerboro Guardian, but nobody paid much attention to them. An animal revolt? "Preposterous!" said the Beans and all the other humans.

But it's true - and the outrages begin: cars are stopped and overturned all over the county, farmers starting out to do their morning chores are driven back into the house, and the cows refuse to come in at milking time.

Froggy is going out to dinner with his parents for their anniversary. He's hoping for burgers and flies, but Froggy's mother tells him Chez Yum is a very fancy restaurant. Froggy puts on his best clothes. He even has to wash. At the restaurant, Froggy's mother warns him to "be neat, be quiet, and don’t put your feet on the table." It’s just too much to ask of a lively little frog. Froggy can’t help himself, he sucks on ice and sugar, he slurps spaghetti and flies and he flops and sings. When he sees Frogilina, a cute girl frog from his school, across the room, he’s so embarrassed he crawls under the table.

Recipient of a 1993 Newbery Honor, this novel is an achingly beautiful, powerfully rendered journey through childhood that is not to be missed.

In A Bully Father, historical editor Joan Paterson Kerr brings together a collection of Theodore Roosevelt's letters, spanning the years between 1898 and 1919, which convey the boundless affection he felt for his family. Although Roosevelt's responsibilities often took him far from home, he remained keenly interested in the daily lives of his four sons and two daughters. Always a prolific reader and writer, Roosevelt composed an astonishing 150,000 letters by the time he died in 1919.

When the ferocious beast with the polka-dot hide catches a piglet, he has a tough decision to make: whether to have him on whole wheat or rye bread. But the clever piglet saves his own life when he convinces the beast that the seams on his polka-dot hide are about to burst. To save his hide, the beast agrees to let the piglet fix all of his meals. “You have to eat the foods you like the least,” the piglet tells the beast. Soon, the beast is too sick to move, and the piglet sees his chance for escape.

Jonathan London has captured the imagination of children everywhere with his beloved tales starring Froggy, a precocious yet lovable frog who just can’t help landing himself in trouble. In this fun-filled escapade, Froggy decides to build a tree house - with Dad’s help, of course. The tree house promises to be the ideal place for pizza parties. But Frogilina gets hop-hop-hopping mad when Froggy says that his treehouse is for "Boys only!"

Strega Nona, the local witch, is very popular in her small Italian town. Her potions are old fashioned, but reliable. Strega Amelia, who lives on the other side of the mountain, is a modern witch. She uses the latest scientific equipment in her cures. What will happen when she moves to Strega Nona’s town? Tomie dePaola delights fans of all ages with his timeless stories of Strega Nona and her colorful friends.

Froggy is running for president - class president, that is - but so is Frogilina! Wearing a long, presidential-style tie, Froggy presents his platform, which includes 10 snack times per school day and recess all day long. But Frogilina has a platform, too: a search party for lost things, a lunch-sharing program, and a talent show to benefit the school library. Which candidate will voters choose?

Motor Mouse and friends are back for three new adventures in this irresistible second book in a series from the creators of Gooseberry Park and the Mr. Putter and Tabby books! Motor Mouse is a busy little mouse, between playing a game of croquet, riding a fancy bus, and discovering mystery stories. Come along with him on his adventures!

Motor Mouse is a busy little mouse, between driving his delivery car, eating cake, and visiting with friends. Come along with him on his adventures! In "The Friday Cake Day", Motor Mouse and his friend Telly have been looking forward all week to their Friday tradition of eating cake. But when Friday arrives, the Cake Shop is closed. This is not acceptable! In "Going for a Look-About", Motor Mouse hires a cab. In "Front Row at the Picture Show", Motor Mouse and his brother, Vincent, are going to a movie.

Young Lentil wants to learn to sing, but no matter how hard he tries he can’t sing on key. He can’t even pucker his lips to whistle! So Lentil learns to play the harmonica instead and beautifully carries his tune through the winding streets of Alto, Ohio. Lentil masters his craft just as the beloved Colonel Carter returns to town and the Alto residents decide to plan a special celebration. But Old Sneep, the grouch, doesn’t want anyone celebrating the Colonel’s homecoming. When Old Sneep stops the parade in its tracks, Lentil’s music turns out to be just what Alto needs.

Rescue thought he'd grow up to be a Seeing Eye dog - it's the family business, after all. When he gets the news that he's better suited to being a service dog, he's worried that he's not up to the task. Then he meets Jessica, a girl whose life is turning out differently than the way she'd imagined it, too. Now Jessica needs Rescue by her side to help her accomplish everyday tasks. And it turns out that Rescue can help Jessica see after all: a way forward, together, one step at a time.

Cynthia Rylant explores the beauty and tenacity of life. Life begins small, then grows. There are so many wonderful things about life, both in good times and in times of struggle. Through the eyes of the world's animals - including elephants, monkeys, whales, and more - Cynthia Rylant offers a moving meditation on finding beauty around us every day and finding strength in adversity.

A baby is found by wood nymphs in the forest of Burzee. They raise him as their own and give him the name Neclaus. When he grows up, Neclaus has to leave the forest so he makes a home for himself in the laughing valley of Hohaha, where he lives amongst humans for the first time. He discovers there that many children are very poor and neglected so, to cheer them up, he whittles wooden toys as gifts. Eventually he makes presents for all the children and so the story of Santa Claus is born.

Life is hard for 12-year-old Lucas. First Uncle Asa dies of consumption, then Lizy and Pa. Now Mama is sick. And Lucas is the only one left to take care of her and their Connecticut farm. By the time his neighbor tells him of a strange, new cure, it is too late - Mama has just died. Reeling with sorrow, Lucas wanders until he sees a "help wanted" sign for a doctor's apprentice. He feels better while he is helping to pull teeth, visit the sick, and bury the dead.

Grasshoppers, waterstriders, and fireflies light up the pages of this rib-tickling book of poetry for two voices. Written as spirited duets, the poems ring with the love songs of book lice, the serenades of moths, and a choir of cicadas. Each one is a treat, filled with busy insect life. In addition to the voices of these frisky critters, there are also fascinating tidbits about their lives and habits.

After eating 21 of Mrs. Teaberry's delicious pineapple jelly rolls, Mr. Putter tries to calm his tummy on a nighttime walk with Tabby. As they gaze up at the stars, they are surprised to find they have company. Mrs. Teaberry and her dog Zeke are also out for a walk - and Zeke has a stomachache, too.

Froggy's adventures have taken him to school, restaurants, and even soccer fields. This time around, he's headed to the baseball diamond to play T-ball with all of his pals, including his best friend, Max. But Froggy doesn't seem to be a very good ballplayer - that is until the final inning when the game is on the line!