Most Popular Books by Karla Kuskin

Children''s author Karla Kuskin describes her life, her daily activities, and her creative process, showing how all are interwoven.

A collection of poems, an ode to the author''s cat, Toots

A child describes the many layers of clothing needed to brave the winter weather.

What would you be if you were green? Or red? Or blue? Or yellow? Would you still be you?

This collection of previously unpublished poems by masterful children’s book author Karla Kuskin (1932-2009) will delight readers ages 4-8 who love animals and their distinct personalities. A Gray Cat Wanders is a charming collection of never-before-seen poems from the late Karla Kuskin, beloved author of The Philharmonic Gets Dressed and many other picture books. Here, Kuskin’s unique, witty voice weaves through each poem, creating an exquisite menagerie of verses about animals both mighty and small. Meanwhile, in the art, a gray cat wanders from page to page and can be seen, sometimes hidden, throughout the book. Here is a treasury of animal poems that, coupled with acclaimed artist Marcellus Hall’s playful illustrations, will instill in young readers a sense of wonder for the critters around us.

What''s a boy to do when his mom buys him everything he wants? Should he take his new toys everywhere?

"A Christian boy is invited to the home of his Jewish friend to participate in the first night of Hanukkah. . . . After the lighting of the candles and the recitation of the prayers, the boys hear the Hanukkah story about the Jews'' fight for religious liberty against the tyrant Antiochus and the miracle of the oil that lasted eight days".--The Washington Times.

"It is almost Friday night. Outside, the dark is getting darker," and here and there around the city ninety-two men and thirteen women are getting dressed to go to work. First they bathe and put on their underwear. Then they don special black-and-white apparel. Then when the one hundred and five people are completely ready, each takes a musical instrument and travels to midtown. There, at 8:30 tonight, they will work together: playing. In these pages Karla Kuskin and Marc Simont combine their talents to give us a delightful and unusual inside view of one way an orchestra prepares. Nominee, 1983 American Book Award Notable Children''s Books of 1983 (ALA) 1983 Fanfare Honor List (The Horn Book) Outstanding Children''s Books of 1982 (NYT) A Reading Rainbow Selection 1983 Teachers'' Choices (NCTE) Children''s Books of 1982 (Library of Congress)

A collection of poems about discovering the world.

So, what''s it like to be a cat? I''m very glad you asked me that. Are cats afraid of the dark? Where do they prefer to sleep? What time do cats eat their breakfast? And what do they really think of dogs (and people!)? The award-winning team of Karla Kuskin and Betsy Lewin explore the secret inner lives of felines in this beguiling question-and-answer interview between an intrepid child and a very clever cat.

James puts on his yellow slicker and goes out into the rain to play rainy day games with an ever-increasing number of different animals.

William''s mother knows him so well that she can distinguish him from everyone else in the world--even if he were a horse or a songbird or a mouse or a pig.

Evokes the spirit of an ancient city, recalling David, Nebuchadnezzer, Herod, Hadrian, Constantine, Saladin, Sulieman, and the many groups who came to conquer; and observes that despite 3000 years of being battered, burned, and rebuilt, Jerusaleum shines peacefully in the moonlight.

Rhyming text presents the behavior and noises of animals such as the lion, snake, and kangaroo.

A poem tells of John''s day, and the sounds he makes and hears. Alternate pages present the sounds, from the "Brrrrrrnnnnggg" of the alarm clock to the "Arf" of his dog''s greeting to his father.

The fights between a mean, old cat and a lean, young cat always end in a draw and result in a waste of energy which proves the futility of war. Reprint.

This little girl has her mother''s eyes, her father''s hair, and her Aunt Jen''s funny little toe. Or does she? In fact, she is also totally, thoroughly, wonderfully herself.

A snowman relates in a brief autobiography how he was constructed from the ground up and how the sun made soup of him.