New Releases by Barney Saltzberg

Frog and Toad meets The Little Prince in this touching picture book from Beautiful Oops! and A Delicious Story creator, Barney Saltzberg. Touching and atmospheric, this picture book about kindness and friendship introduces a determined boulder who yearns to get close enough to his cactus friend to see her flowers bloom, and the thoughtful rabbit who makes their wish come true. In a vast, open desert, Boulder is convinced that today is the day he’ll see his shy friend Cactus’s flowers bloom. “I’ve dreamt of seeing them up close,” he tells her. But Boulder is too far away, and he can’t move anyway! Nonetheless, Boulder is certain today will be different, and that today will be the day he sees those beautiful blooms! Cactus isn’t so sure, but Boulder believes. Unbeknownst to the two friends, enterprising Rabbit observes their plight and decides to help out. As Boulder and Cactus talk more about their dreams, Rabbit works harder and harder to make this wish a reality. The task is sisyphean, but with courage, determination, and a little bit of kismet, Rabbit might just move mountains.

The banana--age-old comedy gold! For silly kids who love to laugh and stretch their imaginations in creative ways, it''s the newest offering from the bestselling author of Beautiful Oops! Includes 10 lift-the-flaps! It''s just a banana...or is it? There''s nothing to see here--until you lift the flap to find that what at first looks like just a banana is actually a curious lizard, or a boat out at sea, or the horn of a unicorn, or...? The narrator is on a mission to convince the reader that what they''re looking at really is just a banana...or is it? Every page of this book features what appears to be a plain old banana--until the reader lifts the flap to reveal a delightful illustration on every page that transforms the oblong yellow fruit into something new and unexpected. With a few well-placed squiggles, dots, and lines, Saltzberg cleverly reveals a banana turned into a silly smile, a clever mouse, a crescent moon in the night sky, and more! This book allows the reader''s imagination to run wild, encouraging kids to look at objects in a whole new way, while the text hilariously insists--it''s really (pinky promise!) just a banana!

Equal parts heart-melting and stinky, The Smell of Wet Dog is a must-have illustrated poetry book for every young canine fan. The smell of wet dog is not a good smell. When a dog is wet it’s easy to tell. Imagine moose and skunk perfume. An odiferous stench, a paint-peeling plume. Beloved author and illustrator Barney Saltzberg offers up twenty-seven poems on the evergreen topic of human’s best friend. Many have all the humor of a Shel Silverstein classic. Others are unexpectedly poignant, about separation anxiety or older dogs growing less spry. All are accompanied by Saltzberg’s lively and loveable artwork. Whether you are a dog lover, love a dog lover, or are simply dog-curious, The Smell of Wet Dog is for someone in your life. One thing’s for sure: You’ll leave this book inspired to write an ode to a furry friend of your own! A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

"You ate the story?" says one mouse to the other in this funny, heartfelt read-aloud with pitch-perfect repartee and Barney Saltzberg''s signature take on the joys of creativity. Two mice—one big and one small—have a terrible problem. Little Mouse is looking for a story—they’re in a book, after all!—and Big Mouse has to admit the truth. The story is gone. And (gasp!) he ate it. That is not okay with Little Mouse, who is all ready to hear a story and will settle for nothing less. Saltzberg''s improvisational dialogue showcases both the patience required of true creativity and the dazzling on-the-spot storytelling that can happen when you get in the flow. In the end, these endearing mice work out their conflict— and make the reader realize that they’ve been delivering a story all along. Parents and children will want to take this satisfying comedic journey together again and again.

From the bestselling author of Beautiful Oops! and I Want to Be Mad for a While, Barney Saltzberg, comes a playful and heartfelt new sibling book! This sweet, lyrical read-aloud shares all the love young siblings feel as they count down the days to their new baby’s arrival! Following an adorable young elephant sibling who shares the boundless love and excitement for this soon-to-be new family member, this is a touching tribute to the most special relationship siblings have. Told with Barney Saltzberg’s vibrant, bold artwork and playfully tender text, this book is perfect for expectant families eagerly anticipating the BIG DAY.

Discover an exploration of BIG feelings that is perfect for fans of social-emotional bestsellers When Sophie Gets Angry -- Really, Really Angry and My Mouth Is a Volcano, from the bestselling author of Beautiful Oops!, Barney Saltzberg! Sometimes it helps when we talk. Sometimes there''s nothing to say. I just need a little alone time to make the mad go away. Discover a universally relatable story about one little cat who just wants to be MAD... at least for a little while! With gentle text and bold, vibrant illustrations, Barney Saltzberg encourages readers to "feel what they feel" and express their emotions, helping young ones develop key tools for social-emotional literacy. A must-have for any toddler caregiver. This book empowers children on the topic of anger, letting them know that it''s okay to feel mad sometimes. Because after you let yourself feel mad... then you can start to feel GLAD!

How creatively do you see things? She took photographs of things she loved and sent them to him. He drew pictures on her photographs of things he saw and sent them back to her. Real-life friends Barney Saltzberg and Jamie Lee Curtis share their fun, funny, and imaginative creations, encouraging readers to find their own unique perspectives lurking in puddles and noodles, fruit and flowers. This project was born out of a school visit where Jamie complimented Barney''s creativity, lamenting her own inability to draw . . . and Barney countered that everyone is creative in their own way. They joined forces to create a book that is sure to inspire kids of all ages.

We''re all in the same boat, both literally and metaphorically, in this playful look at how we can work together for the common good. The animals in this boat discover that working together gets them much further and is more fun than trying to go their separate ways. Barney Saltzberg (Enough Is Enough) brings his trademark humor to a group of animals who learn they''ll sink or swim together. Teamwork matters when we''re all in the same boat!

One of these is not like that other--and that''s great! This gently subversive picture book points out-- and celebrates!-- the differences between subjects. Barney Saltzberg''s hilarious and delightfully direct text and simple illustrations introduce children to the concept and splendor of inclusiveness, through recognizing who or what''s different on each spread and celebrating the unity as it is. For example, the reader sees three cows and an elephant accompanied by the text "One of these is not like the other," turn the page... and all four animals take part in an exuberant conga line and say "that''s just fine with us"! In a series of similar examples children are encouraged to notice both the similarities and differences between characters and celebrate both. Barney Saltzberg''s picture book is a pointed and timely tribute to the power of inclusivity and as well as a riotous read-aloud.

A funny, sweet story of unrequited friendship from the creator of Beautiful Oops! and Crazy Hair Day. Dog likes Rabbit. Rabbit likes Bunny. But Bunny ignores Rabbit. How will the friendship triangle resolve? Written in four parts, this picture book navigates the pitfalls of budding friendship and explores the rewards of patience under the sure hand of seasoned author/illustrator Barney Saltzberg.

An energetic, heartfelt, and humorous ode to book love - now in a board book format! You can spin and twirl and dance with this book. You can listen while someone else reads it. You can take your book to lunch. Just do not try to feed it. Celebrate reading with the youngest book lovers in this huggable board book reformat of the beloved hardcover picture book. Ages 1-4

For everyone everywhere who has ever felt they can''t take one more minute of hassle. Enough said!

Chengdu can do many things all by himself. He can get down from his branch, and he can look for breakfast. Chengdu can jump, he can push, and he can pull. He can climb, he can stretch, and he can swing. But sometimes even the most capable young panda could use a little help. Independent-minded toddlers will love following along as the determined Chengdu reaches for his goal of some tasty leaves. The gentle text is a delight to hear read aloud, and a variety of fold-out pages add to the fun.

Every mistake is an opportunity to make something beautiful. This is the central idea of Beautiful Oops!, Barney Saltzberg’s beloved bestseller—and now My Book of Beautiful Oops!, an interactive journal for young artists, takes that principle into unexpected new directions. A hands-on journal that’s meant to be personalized—drawn in, painted on, torn up, smudged, or otherwise artistically wrecked—My Book of Beautiful Oops! is filled with folded, crumpled, die-cut, and lift-the-flap pages that will challenge the reader’s sense of play. The friendly green alligator from the first book prompts the reader: Bend a page. Decorate a smudge. Play with splats and spills. Even complete a poem that was accidentally ripped in half. My Beautiful Book of Oops! champions imagination, play, and the courage to express oneself. It’s about self-forgiveness, about turning off that inner critic that clamors for perfection. And it’s about freedom—the freedom to be creative and follow your curiosity wherever it goes. That’s a lesson to celebrate.

Some little ones want to be princesses; others want to be dragons. The message of this book is that you can actually be both! There are lots of things you can be: a little wild, a little sweet. A little polite, a little troublesome. A little dainty, a little dragony. There''s nothing stopping you from being just what you want to be . . . so which would you rather be: a princess or a dragon? Here''s just the book to help you sort through that difficult question. You might be surprised at what you decide by its end.

Stripey cats, spotted cats, cats that count drips; climbing cats, scaredy cats, cats that do flips . . .these and a flurry of other feline friends find a place of honor in I LOVE CATS. Just waiting to be adopted, this adorable read-aloud is sure to enchant the youngest of listeners.

No matter how far apart they are, a little girl and her grandfather share a cup of tea every day at half past three.

All aboard! Blast off on a magical journey that will enrich you and your child''s creativity! My Sandwich is a Spaceship is a fun and entertaining parenting book that will enhance your child''s creativity, and help you teach your children 10 creative thinking skills essential for success, no matter what they choose to do in the future. These skills will benefit you and your child for a lifetime, and the time to develop them is now. Take a moment and watch your children play... They sing, dance, talk to imaginary friends, and use their creative minds to invent the most wonderful excuses for why they don''t have to go to bed. Creative thinking is a way of seeing the world, a way of thriving in a constantly changing environment. And most importantly, creativity is a tool for solving all kinds of problems.Creativity teachers, researchers, and moms, Cyndi Burnett and Michaelene Dawson-Globus bring two of their passions together in My Sandwich is a Spaceship: Creativity for Parents & Young Children. The authors say: "This book is about two of our favorite topics: creativity and children. We have written it because we believe it is never too soon to start teaching kids how to use their creativity." And don''t miss the new full-color graphics designed by world-renowned children''s book author, Barney Saltzberg!

Given blank books by their mother, Seymour, Fiona, and Wilbur let their imaginations fly, then put their stories, poems, and pictures together in a single, shared book.

Barney Saltzberg’s irrepressible and imaginative books—Good Egg, Beautiful Oops!, Arlo Needs Glasses, and A Little Bit of Oomph!, combine distinctive art, a lively spirit, and paper engineering to bring great joy to kids (and grown-ups, too). Now Barney is launching a new series of board books about a character named Redbird. With his long orange beak, red body, and friendly expression, Redbird calls to mind Dr. Seuss’s offbeat heroes and Boynton’s zany barnyard creatures, while embodying the author’s signature playful style. In Friends Come in Different Sizes, he introduces readers to all his delightful friends—some who are tall and some who are taller, and some who are small and some who are smaller. Friends can be SHORT. Friends can be LONG. Doesn’t matter what they look like . . . Friends all get along!

Barney Saltzberg’s irrepressible and imaginative books—Good Egg, Beautiful Oops!, Arlo Needs Glasses, and A Little Bit of Oomph!, combine distinctive art, a lively spirit, and paper engineering to bring great joy to kids (and grown-ups, too). Now Barney is launching a new series of board books about a character named Redbird. With his long orange beak, red body, and friendly expression, Redbird calls to mind Dr. Seuss’s offbeat heroes and Boynton’s zany barnyard creatures, while embodying the author’s signature playful style. In Colors, Colors, Everywhere!, Redbird tries to pick his favorite color—is it red like him, blue like the sky, or yellow like the sun? Finally, he concludes: Colors, colors, everywhere! It’s hard to really choose. . . . It’s hard to really know! And that’s the reason why I love . . . the colors of the rainbow!

High in his bamboo tree, a young panda named Chengdu lies awake while everyone around him is sleeping. No matter what he tries, he cannot fall asleep. He turns and he tosses. He scrunches and he rolls. He even hangs upside down. Finally he climbs up and up and up, until he finds the perfect spot atop his brother. Panda pile!

No matter how far apart they are, a little girl and her grandfather share a cup of tea every day at half past three.

High in the trees in the middle of the night, all of the pandas are sleeping except for Chengdu, who tries everything and still cannot fall asleep until he finds the perfect spot--top his brother Yuan.

How do you make the ordinary extraordinary? With a little bit of oomph! An utterly inspiring and playful new book on creativity from Barney Saltzberg, author of Beautiful Oops!, A Little Bit of Oomph! teaches the invaluable lesson of throwing your heart into whatever you’re doing and trying just a little bit harder— because with a little extra effort and a lot of oomph, you can make anything beautiful. With a little bit of oomph you can help a sprinkle of seeds—lift flap—become a magical, three-dimensional bouquet of flowers. With a little bit of oomph, small notions—like a goldfish in a little bowl—open out to big oceans (just look through the peephole!). Oomph can transform a dog’s tail into a funny tale (there’s a miniature book involved). Oomph changes curiosity into discovery, daydreams into playthings, your singing into others’ dancing. A triumph of imagination, vibrant, colorful art, and paper engineering, A Little Bit of Oomph! is filled with pop-ups, lift-the-flaps, spinning circles and gatefolds—and, underlying every page, Barney’s timeless message that creativity is for everyone. Just add a little bit of oomph.

Meet Andrew who loves to draw.

After visiting the eye doctor and getting fitted with glasses, Arlo the dog is able to catch the ball thrown by his owner. Includes eye chart, fold-out vision-testing machine, and four pairs of try-on glasses.

A life lesson that all parents want their children to learn: It’s OK to make a mistake. In fact, hooray for mistakes! A mistake is an adventure in creativity, a portal of discovery. A spill doesn’t ruin a drawing—not when it becomes the shape of a goofy animal. And an accidental tear in your paper? Don’t be upset about it when you can turn it into the roaring mouth of an alligator. An award winning, best-selling, one-of-a-kind interactive book, Beautiful Oops! shows young readers how every mistake is an opportunity to make something beautiful. A singular work of imagination, creativity, and paper engineering, Beautiful Oops! is filled with pop-ups, lift-the-flaps, tears, holes, overlays, bends, smudges, and even an accordion “telescope”—each demonstrating the magical transformation from blunder to wonder.

Illustrations and rhymes celebrate what makes each season special, from baby chicks in the spring through a snowman in the winter.