Most Popular Books by Kalli Dakos

In this delicious companion volume to If You’re Not Here, Please Raise Your Hand, thirty-seven poems and miniplays celebrate elementary school life and the funny, poignant, wondrous, and telling moments that can happen only in a classroom.

I button my shirt and my coat up too, and I think of the work that buttons do. In this adorable, brightly colored board book, a little girl discovers the magic of buttons. From buttons at home to buttons at school, kids will see buttons in new and fun-loving ways as they learn about the world. And at the end, children will be delighted to find one very special button that all children have and love—their belly buttons! Buttons will inspire little fingers to join in all sorts of new daily activities, but watch out! Because kids love pressing buttons, no matter what the buttons do!

This collection of insightful and endearing poems explores what kids experience on the inside that cannot be seen from the outside. From topics that readers experience every day, like the agony of waiting for recess, to the monotony of homework, to things that aren''t easy to talk about, like death and bullying, the poems are incredibly relatable. This empathetic collection by renowned children''s poet Kalli Dakos is a unique reflection of what makes up some of the collective experiences of life.

For every student who’s ever worried about spending a lifetime in the third grade and for every teacher who’s faced a class where nobody remembered to bring milk money, these thirty-eight poems capture the excitement, challenge, heartbreak, and wonder of life in elementary school. Through her fresh, lively word pictures, Dakos manages to find surprises in every corner of the school.

From "Gross" and "Flushophobic" to "There''s a Sock in the Toilet," these poems will have kids laughing all the way to "The Bathroom Dance!"

The Blue Frog looked at his reflection in the water and asked, “Why am I blue?” The Green Frog didn''t know. Dandelion had no answer. And Fish? No idea either! Being different from one’s peers can be hard. We all want to be part of a group and to be accepted and loved by others. We might struggle with whether to embrace our differences or hide them in order to fit in. In this story, the Blue Frog wonders why he is blue and not green like other frogs. He feels confused, sad, and different, and seeks to answer the question “why am I blue?” Eventually hearing a simple, but profound explanation, the Blue Frog begins to embrace his blueness and accept being different than his friends. Includes a Note to Parents and Caregivers by Gayle E. Pitman, PhD, that discusses how children experience differences throughout childhood and how adults can guide children toward an understanding and acceptance of differences and similarities they will face throughout life. From the Note to Parents and Caregivers: Some differences can be a source of positive self-esteem for children. They could have qualities that are cool, quirky, and respected by others. For example, if a child is especially talented at something, like art, music, or athletics, they might feel respected by their peers, even though their talent sets them apart to some extent. Moreover, if this quality is nurtured by family members and teachers and through extracurricular activities, these differences can enhance self-esteem in a powerful way. Differences don’t always work that way, though. Some differences involve characteristics like disability, gender identity, or race, qualities that have been used throughout history to justify inequality and mistreatment. If differences aren’t valued by the individual or by society, a few things can happen...

"GET ME OUT OF THIS BOOK!" shouts Max. Max is a scaredy-cat bookmark until he learns 3 rules for being brave--breathe deeply, make a plan, and think positive thoughts! When Max the bookmark went into a scary book, he couldn''t LOOK and he SHOOK and he SCREAMED, "GET ME OUT OF THIS BOOK!" Then he learned to (1) breathe deeply, (2) make a plan, and (3) think positive thoughts--techniques used by the Navy SEALs. Max put his new tools into practice and now he''s brave enough to face a snake, yucky bugs, and even a seven-headed monster! This humorous story packs a big punch as it introduces children to mindfulness, self-regulation, self-control, and other techniques for dealing with stress and overcoming fear. Every copy of Get Me Out of This Book! comes with its very own pull-out Max the Bookmark. He''s ready to hold your place in any book and remind you of the rules and tools--just in case things get too scary.

Recess in the Dark is a unique collection of poems that offers a new perspective on how students live in the Canadian North, where the sun doesn''t shine for a long part of winter. This anthology, inspired by kids in the Northwest Territories, comprises silly, quirky, mysterious, and reflective poems brought to life by stunning illustrations of Canada’s natural beauty.

Discover a silly, fun, and at times touching collection of school-themed poems for beginner readers. Using simple vocabulary and intuitive rhyme and rhythm, these poems address everything from writing tests to hiding in the bathroom!

In September, when the school principal promises to kiss a pig if the students read 10,000 books, a girl volunteers Hamlet, her unwilling, Shakespeare-quoting pet pig. But poor Hamlet wants nothing to do with such foolishness.

A collection of simple poems depict the activities at school from the morning welcome until the closing bell.

Ms Churn''s class makes up silly poems mixing up letters and numbers. Poetry book. 4-7 yrs.

A collection of thirty-two poems celebrating life in school.

There is the person who tells the story. This is the storyteller. And there is the person who listens to the story. This is the story friend. As a child treks across the land in search of someone to tell his sad story to, he meets a gruff mountain man who can''t stand unhappy stories, a too-busy-to-be-bothered farmer, and finally, the old woman who tells stories herself, who is willing to listen. The act of telling the story leads the child to look at the other side and make what was dark lighter and full of hope and positivity. The true potency of needing to express one''s unhappiness and the power of having someone else listen and help is a strong message for young readers. Like a favorite teacher or mentor, they may not be around forever, just for a short but meaningful time.

Our Farm in the City suit les aventures d’une jeune fille à la Ferme expérimentale d’Ottawa, au Canada. La ferme, qui est aussi le centre de recherche d’Agriculture Canada, située au milieu d’une ville animée, est l’endroit idéal pour rencontrer des animaux, découvrir des innovations agricoles et vivre la nature tout au long de l’année.

A collection of humorous and poignant poems chronicling the school year in Ms. Roy''s fourth grade class.

A collection of poems that reflect the varied, sometimes funny, sometimes serious activities and emotions of the school year.