New Releases by Rick Walton

Beautiful Games is about Big Relatable Stories, sport, genius and good practice. It''s a charged, urgent call to get us moving.

Little Tracker® is a guide thru out the story....helping Zebra to follow his tracks back to where and how he lost his stripes.

When the president of the United States has a frustrating day, he decides to go back to the place where he learned the most important lessons of all. Everyone has bad days. Even the president. So when his day starts off badly, Mr. President decides he is in need of a time--out from running the country. Disguising himself, he sneaks out of the White House, hurries down the street to the local school, and enrolls in Mrs. Appletree''s class. There Mr. President slides his fingers through globs of finger paint. He spins himself silly on the merry--go--round at recess. He practices saying "please," raising his hand, and taking turns. And he doesn''t miss a single beat when everyone does the hokey--pokey. But when he returns to the White House, he is greeted by a panicked secretary of state and two angry world leaders on the brink of war. Fortunately, Mr. President recalls what he learned in Mrs. Appletree''s class, and he comes up with just the right approach to avoid an international crisis. Children will delight in Rick Walton''s laugh--out--loud story and its over--the--top take on conflict resolution. Brad Sneed''s watercolor illustrations capture the humor of the story with their exaggerated, outsized characters and playfully distorted compositions.

Grab it. Chew it. Throw it, too. That''s what babies like to do. And pretty pictures! Look, Baby, Look! At our smart Baby''s very first . . . . . . BOOK! A baby''s first year is full of milestones, from first smiles to first steps, and this book celebrates them all! A clever and bouncy text, vibrant ink-and-collage illustrations and an impossibly cute baby make this the perfect gift book for baby showers, and it even includes a poster on the reverse of the jacket that new parents can use to record their own little ones'' spectacular achievements.

This is a laugh-out-loud funny and devilish send-up of Ludwig Bemelmans''s Madeline for little monsters everywhere. Frankenstein is the scariest of all the monsters in Miss Devel''s castle. He can frighten anything—animals, parents, even rocks. Until one night, Miss Devel wakes up and runs downstairs to find that Frankenstein has lost his head! Frankenstein by Rick Walton and illustrated by Nathan Hale is a delightful twist on a classic story that parents and kids can both enjoy together. This is the perfect funny picture book read for Halloween or the fall season. Praise for Frankenstein: “Walton twists the classic rhymes of the original with glee (''In two crooked lines, they bonked their heads / pulled out their teeth / and wet their beds'') while Hale reenacts each scene with devilish mayhem.” -Booklist “The illustrations have traded sunny yellow for pumpkin orange backgrounds and make comically sly allusions to the original title.” -Kirkus Reviews

A young boy meets a hungry aligator. Throw in mistaken identity and a pair of stinky socks, and you have all the fun and surprise of a fabulous picture book. Author Rick Walton tells an entertaining story while teaching language arts concepts to children. Jim Bradshaw''s playful and engaging illustrations make this a book you won''t want to miss.

What''s more fun than a clowder of cats, a rafter of turkeys, a swarm of bees, or a pack of dogs? Herd of Cows! Flock of Sheep!--the latest word play from the king of language arts picture books, Rick Walton. After bringing in his corn, potatoes, beans, and tomatoes before a rainstorm, Farmer Bob decides to settle down for a good night''s rest. While he snoozes away, the river rises high enough to set his bed afloat down the river.This sends his animals into a panic--a drove of pigs outlines a plan, a colony of beavers races to chew down trees, a school of fish tries to create a dam, and so forth, until finally Farmer Bob is rescued by a nest of snakes and a herd of horses. It''s a barnyard adventure that will leave bands of children begging for more.

A bunny mother explores all of the wonderful things she can do with her baby, from holding and hugging to feeding and dressing.

A boy is surprised by people''s reactions when he and six thousand rats visit a big city, in a tale that features conjunctions from "and" to "yet."

Test your wits at sleuthing against the 25 capers inside. Once you think you''ve cracked the case, flip to the back and check the answers.

A persistent fox chases a mouse all around the farm before finally catching it.

It''s time for school, and the day is packed with activities and fun! Whether these little bunnies are making sweet music, growing a plant, or sharing at show-and-tell, everyone enjoys the pleasures of learning. Rick Walton''s rhyming text and Paige Miglio''s detailed illustrations are a treat that will make any toddler eager for school to begin.

The people and objects of a town panic and flee when they see a Tyrannosaurus rex approaching, but they discover that only the bananas have anything to fear from this fruit-eating dinosaur. Full color.

Girls can go crazy for puzzles with this collection of tricky teasers, clever crosswords, silly riddles, and so much more! Puzzle Crazy will tickle girls? funny bones, while sharpening their logic and problem-solving skills.

A collection of jokes about school and education.

One morning, a few days before Halloween, Mrs. McMurphy wakes up to find a large pumpkin by her front door. "My mouth is here. I speak to you. When my teeth are here, I''ll eat you!" it says with a mischievous grin. Unafraid, Mrs. McMurphy politely places the threatening squash outside. But day after day the pumpkin returns to make good on its promise!

Perfect for beginning readers, this laugh-out-loud joke book about nifty names will put a smile on your face!

Perfect for beginning readers, this laugh-out-loud joke book about nutty nature will put a smile on your face!

Perfect for beginning readers, this laugh-out-loud joke book about silly sports will put a smile on your face!

On his trip over the mountain, a bear has a series of misadventures.

When a rabbit family goes on vacation, the reader is invited to guess what means of travel they will use next.

Bertie, a dog as small as a watch, outsmarts an overconfident robber.

A boy''s simple hopes for a normal day turn into a series of wild adventures.

Rhyming text explores the many ways one can dance--like the leader of a marching band, like a crab on a sunny day, or like a tree as it waves in the breeze. Full-color illustrations.

"Yesterday when I washed my hair, / Bees attacked from everywhere. / I told Mom. She said, ''You''re funny. / That''s what you get for washing with honey.''"Everybody jumps to conclusions, but the leaps of logic Rick Walton makes in That''s What You Get! are rarely made. This rollicking tale of consequences illustrates some of the silliest scenarios imaginable. Here is a colourful page-turner that will leave audiences of all ages begging for more.

How Many? is part of the Maths Together series, an early numeracy programme for parents and children to share. The set contains six picture books designed to introduce children, simply and enjoyably, to basic mathematical ideas. In addition, each book has its own detailed support notes.

Old Mother Rabbit''s twenty-six children, each named for a letter of the alphabet, are lovingly put to bed.

Pioneers and animals join in the dancing and the fun during a journey across the plains.

The reader counts from one to twelve while guessing the answers to questions about nursery rhymes, names of the seasons, players on a football team, and other basic information