Most Popular Books by Jan Brett

Jan Brett''s take on this Christmas classic is a visual masterpiece! The quintessential holiday poem tells the tale of Christmas''s most anticipated visitor, complete with dashing reindeer and gleaming presents. Jan Brett expands on the magical spirit of the classic poem in her beautiful imagining of the iconic story of Santa''s visit (spunky elves and reindeer escapades included!). Complete with her classic borders and detailed picturesque scenes, the board book edition of this holiday staple will be perfect for reading aloud in merry excitement. "Another holiday keepsake from a master." - Publishers Weekly, starred review

A walk through the Costa Rican cloud forest provides a wonderfully lush setting for Jan Brett''s beloved animal illustrations. When Carlos drops his umbrella to climb a tree for a better view of the animals, they all cram into the banana-leaf umbrella as it floats by--from the little tree frog to the baby tapir to the big jaguar and more. It gets so crowded in the umbrella that there isn''t even enough room for a little hummingbird! So over the umbrella tumbles, everyone falls out, and poor Carlos comes back wondering why he didn''t see any animals all day. In the spirit of Jan Brett''s The Mitten and The Hat, this cheerful tale of escalation will have readers poring over every illustration for the world of details Jan packs in. With its classic story, exotic jungle setting, and brilliantly colorful menagerie, The Umbrella is sure to take its place among Jan''s many family favorites.

A delightfully original companion book to Jan Brett''s bestseller The Mitten. When Lisa''s woolen stocking flies off the clothesline, Hedgie finds it and pokes his nose in. He tries to pull it out, but the stocking gets stuck on his prickles -- and the fun begins. A mother hen comes by, then a noisy goose, a talkative barn cat, a playful farm dog, a mama pig and her piglets, and a pony. They all laugh at Hedgie, especially when he pretends he''s wearing a new hat. But in the end, it is clever Hedgie who has the last laugh. And where is Lisa when all of this is going on? She''s in Jan Brett''s signature borders, getting ready for winter, until she realizes her stocking is missing and she enters the story to look for it. Luminous paintings of a Scandinavian farm and the forest around it are bathed in northern light, as the snow begins to fall and the adventure unfolds.

A New York Times Bestseller! A group of clever animals find an unusual but warm and furry home during Alaska''s long winter in Jan Brett''s newest snowy adventure. Cozy is the softest musk ox in Alaska, with the warmest fur you ever did feel. When a storm hits while he''s separated from his family, he starts to feel lonely—but not for long. As the snow piles up, animals start to notice just how warm and cozy Cozy really is! One mama lemming has a bright idea . . . maybe the best place to spend the winter is under Cozy''s fur! As more and more animals burrow in, Cozy adds to the house rules: quiet voices, gentle thumping, claws to yourself, no biting, and no pouncing. That seems easy enough . . . until the lemmings, snowshoe hare, snowy owl, arctic fox, and wolverine begin to bicker. Luckily, signs of spring soon appear, and that means Cozy can find his herd and his new friends can head to their summer homes. But not before promising to get cozy with Cozy next year! Jan Brett brings a new lovable character to life through this gorgeous tale of sharing, friendship, and living in harmony. Snuggle up with all of Jan Brett''s snowy treasures: The Mitten, The Hat, The Snowy Nap, The Three Snow Bears , and The Trouble With Trolls.

Jan Brett’s lovable bunny hero, Hoppi, and the surprising outcome of his quest to impress the Easter Rabbit with the best Easter egg of all will enchant readers. If Hoppi can make the best Easter egg, he will get to help the Easter Rabbit with his deliveries on Easter morning. But it is not so easy. Discouraged, he goes for a walk in the woods and sees a blue robin egg tumble out of its nest. Hoppi keeps it safe and warm until the baby bird hatches. And when the Easter Rabbit arrives, he has a very special way to reward Hoppi for his kindness. Spring is everywhere in gorgeous illustrations framed with pussy willows, flowering vines and flowers. Side borders feature busy rabbits making their unusual eggs and, in a border above, the robin’s family drama unfolds. A gatefold surprise reveals the Easter Rabbit in dramatic fashion.

Jan Brett''s striking illustrations and the Christmas classic The Nutcracker are a match made in picture book heaven. Jan Brett''s Christmas classic now features an invitation to access music from the ballet performed by the Boston Pops! When Marie and her brother Fritz receive a special Christmas nutcracker from their uncle, Marie immediately feels something magical. "He looks like a real boy," she mused. "A real boy with a secret, who came from far away." This feeling is only the beginning of the epic adventure she goes on with the Nutcracker—into the cabinet, through the battle with the mice, and finally to the magical land of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Jan Brett makes this classic her own by setting it in snowy Russia and adding whimsical touches to the favorite elements of the traditional ballet. Enjoying this book will be an instant Christmas tradition for families who love the ballet and those new to the story. Like Jan Brett''s classics The Mitten and The Night Before Christmas., this is sure to make the perfect gift. The book includes an invitation to watch a video with Jan''s art paired with music by Tchaikovsky from the Boston Pops performance of "A Christmas Tale: Suite from The Nutcracker."

Jan Brett''s bestselling snowy "Goldilocks" retelling is now available in this popular large, durable format. Painted in her signature style, the familiar story and depiction of playful Arctic animals and birds dressed in colorful Inuit costumes make this classic tale a perfect choice for Jan’s youngest fans.

A New York Times bestselling striking under-the-sea version of Goldilocks with bonus storytelling in the borders, as only Jan Brett could create. When Kiniro, a young mermaid, comes upon a gorgeous house made of seashells and coral, she is so curious that she goes inside. She’s thrilled to find a just-right breakfast, pretty little chair, and, best of all, a comfy bed that rocks in the current. But when the Octopus family returns home, they are not happy to find that someone has been eating their food and breaking their things. Baby has the biggest shock when she finds the mermaid asleep in her bed! Luckily, shock turns to happiness when Kiniro gives her a thoughtful gift before escaping from the twenty-four arms coming her way. Vibrant, intricate scenes of an underwater paradise transport this classic fairy tale to a magical setting inspired by the seas off the coast of Okinawa, Japan. Along with fun details that enrich the storytelling in Jan Brett''s trademark borders, this visual treat will enchant readers of all ages.

An exciting tale of adventure in prehistoric times, set against a spectacular Ice Age landscape. Kip the cave boy bounds along the trail home with a sack of warm and tasty Woolly Rhino ribs. If he could only get rid of pesky Paleowolf, who follows him, hoping for a taste of those delicious ribs! But Paleowolf’s presence turns out to be useful: His warnings save Kip from the Cave Bear, the Mighty Mammoth, and the frightening Saber-Toothed Cat. So Kip offers to share his food—if Paleowolf will use his keen nose, fine ears, and sharp eyes to keep Kip from being eaten up. With a bark and a wag of his tail, Paleowolf agrees to this bargain, and Kip christens his new friend “Dog.” In this exciting tale of adventure in prehistoric times, Jan Brett creates a spectacular Ice Age landscape populated with the massive animals of the time and bordered with images inspired by cave paintings and Ice Age artifacts. She convincingly portrays the growth of the warm bond between man and animal that must, long, long ago, have resulted in the first domesticated dog.

A warm, fun-loving Christmas picture book for families to share and love and laugh over together. A grumpy little troll runs away from home because he doesn''t want to do his chores. Rollo tries living with various woodland animals, but he finds out that there is no place like home, and returns to his family just in time for "the best Christmas ever." Among the animals who take him in are an owl family, a mother bear and two rambunctious cubs, some playful river otters, a hungry lynx and a friendly moose family. Jan Brett creates an irresistible, mischievous character that kids will recognize in themselves. Jan transports us to a glorious Scandinavian landscape where a beautiful fall turns into a magnificent snowy winter. Her signature borders depict the troll family missing Rollo, and animals as appealing as those found in The Mitten.

Badger Girl''s delighted to find the biggest turnip she''s ever seen growing in her vegetable garden, but when the time comes to harvest the giant root, she''s unable to pull it up without help from family and friends.

Jan Brett''s Gingerbread Baby is not about to get eaten in this delicious twist on a favorite Christmastime tale! It all begins when Matti opens the oven too soon and out jumps a cheeky little Gingerbread Bay. He leads Matti''s mother and father, the dog and the cat, and a whole colorful cast of characters on a rollicking chase through the village and into the forest, staying just out of reach, daring them to catch him along the way. But Matti''s not with them. He''s at home in the borders making what turns out to be a gingerbread house into which the Gingerbread Baby runs. Only Matti knows he is safely inside. And readers will too when they look under the lift-the-flap gingerbread house at the end of the story, and there he is!

Christmas is Treva''s favorite time of the year. But this year, decorations and presents are mysteriously disappearing. When Treva follows a small creature making off with the Christmas pudding, she discovers two irresistible trolls who want to have Christmas, but don''t understand it. Jan Brett''s trademark luminous paintings give readers a magical Christmas full of surprises.

Four of Jan Brett’s very best animal stories, together in one treasury. The fun includes stories of two mice couples who agree to swap homes with unexpected results; an armadillo on a rootin’-tootin’ adventure at the Curly H Rodeo; a crowd of rain-forest animals on a surprising river ride in an umbrella; and a snow bear family finding an Inuit girl asleep in their igloo. Four stories in this treasury to cherish: Town Mouse, Country Mouse Armadillo Rodeo The Umbrella The Three Snow Bears

In this bestselling modern classic, a young boy’s lost mitten leads to a charming snowy adventure. Jan Brett’s beautiful retelling makes a perfect holiday gift. When Nicki drops his white mitten in the snow, he goes on without realizing that it is missing. One by one, woodland animals find it and crawl in; first, a curious mole, then a rabbit, a badger and others, each one larger than the last. Finally, a big brown bear is followed in by a tiny brown mouse and what happens next makes for a wonderfully funny climax. As the story of the animals in the mitten unfolds, the reader can see Nicki in the borders of each page, walking through the woods unaware of what is going on. In her distinctive style, Jan Brett brings the animals to life with warmth and humor, and her illustrations are full of visual delights and details faithful to the Ukrainian tradition from which the story comes. Jan Brett is also the creator of such wintery classics as The Hat, The Snowy Nap, Three Snowy Bears, The Animal’s Santa, and The Night Before Christmas. This book is also available in Spanish, as El mitón.

Where is Taffy? Annie looks and looks, but she can''t find her marmalade cat anywhere. When Taffy doesn''t come home, Annie is lonely, so she puts a corn cake at the edge of the woods. Maybe a small furry creature will come for a nibble and become her pet. Instead, a giant moose finds the corn cake. But he''s much too big for a pet. So are the other animals - a grumpy bear, a snarling wildcat, and others - who show up to eat Annie''s cakes until there are none left. The wild animals roar for more. What will Annie do now? Exquisite snowy landscapes filled with raucous wild animals are framed in lively borders that hint at what Taffy is up to all the way through to the end, when she brings home the best surprise Annie could have hoped for. A favorite book that young readers will want to listen to and look at over and over again. Praise for Annie and the Wild Animals ''The small glimpses of the world outside Annie''s cottage move the tale forward and embellish the pages with grace and skill. ''The illustrations . . . are a veritable treasure of motifs taken from the universal tradition of folk art and crafts, including fanciful ironwork animals, a humorous mosaic cat . . . and a merry abundance of patchwork designs.'' The New York Times ''The pictures hold countless surprises. Indisputably, this is a work of wonder that deserves highest honors.'' Publishers Weekly

This lovable companion to Jan Brett''s instant New York Times bestselling winter classic, Cozy, shows that kindness and cleverness can capture a heart. After losing a test of strength to another musk ox in his herd, Cozy is convinced he’ll never impress his crush, Lofti. But while he’s sulking, he learns of a bigger concern. His friend Bella, a beluga whale, is still playing in an inlet even though it’s cold enough for ice to form and block her way out. Cozy races to the inlet and, sure enough, Bella is in trouble. Luckily, Cozy thinks of a new way to use his strong legs and tough horns that might help save Bella and win Lofti’s heart as well. Jan Brett''s newest story about this lovable character shows how helping your friends is always the right thing to do—no matter who is watching.

Trolls sure know how to make trouble, but Treva is too smart and wily to fall for their tricks! Treva''s trouble with trolls begins when she climbs Mount Baldy with her dog Tuffi. The trolls who live there long for a dog, and they try to kidnap him. But Treva is brave and quick-thinking. She outwits one troll after another until she reaches the very top of the mountain, where five trolls are waiting--and they want her dog! From underground to mountain peak, Jan Brett''s story is filled with adventure and eye-catching detail.

Jan Brett''s beloved character Hedgie stars in this charming story about a little Tomten who gets tired of porridge for breakfast and starts stealing Henny''s eggs. But Henny wants a brood of chicks and she needs her eggs. With the help of clever Hedgie, she substitutes an acorn, a strawberry, a mushroom and finally a potato in her nest. But nothing stops that Tomten until the little hedgehog hides in Henny''s nest: when the Tomten reaches in to get his morning treat, all he gets is a handful of prickles. He runs home for porridge and never comes back again! Intricate needlepoint patterns of Scandinavian designs frame the characters reacting from the borders in this beautiful picture book set in Denmark.