Most Popular Books by Barney Saltzberg

Cornelius the pig has his own style when preparing for bed, but he does not really feel ready until he gets a hug.

A touch and feel book introducing words which name textures associated with various animals such as scratchy cat, velvety cow, and rubbery fish.

It's a book that teach children that it is okay to make a mistake. Demonstrates the many ways that torn, crinkled, and smudged bits of paper can be transformed into various shapes and images.

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

"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.

Frog and Toad meets The Little Prince in this touching social emotional learning picture book by acclaimed creator Barney Saltzberg about 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. 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 their wish a reality. The task is sisyphean, but with courage, determination, and a little bit of kismet, Rabbit might just move mountains.

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.

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.

Every brother and sister has "enough is enough" moments. Saltzberg, the author of Beautiful Oops!, offers a creative solution for how to stop a fight by exploring space, time, and the pleasures of a good story read together.

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

Phoebe discovers a way to avoid her parents'' meddling in Show-and-Tell time at school.

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.

Excited about being "star of the week" at school, Stanley spends a lot of time choosing and preparing his favorite things to share, but becomes discouraged when his classmates make fun of what he likes. 20,000 first printing.

T-Bone the pup drives in his little convertible greeting birds, flowers, the moon, and a fish. Features lift-the-flap illustrations.

Meet Egg. Cuter than a button, enormously personable, and talented, too. Say "sit," and Egg sits. Good Egg! Say "roll over," and egg rolls over. What a good Egg! Of course, Egg does all of this with a toddler''s help, who lifts the flaps and pulls the tabs and operates the wiggle behind the wiggle-waggle. But that''s the most fun part: interacting with the Egg. Then comes the pay-off. "Speak," is the command, and children will crack up in delight and surprise with what happens next. Created by Barney Saltzberg, Good Egg is that rarest of rare books where utter simplicity is utterly irresistible. The Egg has neither eyes nor smile nor furrowed brow, yet exudes an adorable, eager-to-please charm. No sentence is longer than two words, yet in the eight board book pages, an engaging story is told. Add the flaps and the tabs and the pleasure of movement, and Good Egg will be read again and again.

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 (Just One More Sleep, 2024) 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.

Stanley is excited about Crazy Hair Day at his school, until he discovers that he has gotten the date wrong and it is actually Class Picture Day, but his classmates come to his rescue in a show of solidarity. Jr Lib Guild. 15,000 first printing.

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!

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!

Izzy tries to save his hot dog stand from Madame Moola Moo, who is planning to build a shopping mall on the same spot.

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.

Pull, touch, lift, squeak, and SMOOCH!

This picture book celebrates a love of books.

Some little ones want to be princesses; others want to be dragons. The message of this book is that you can actually be both.

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.

Redbird 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!"

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--atop his brother, Yuan.