Most Popular Books by Loren Long

Celebrating 10 years of Otis, everyone''s favorite tractor, created by the New York Times bestselling illustrator of Love by Matt de la Péna and The Little Engine that Could by Watty Piper! Otis is a special tractor. He loves his farm and farmer. He particularly loves the little calf in the next stall, whom he purrs to sleep with his soft motor. The two become great friends, romping in the fields, leaping bales of hay, and playing ring-around-the-rosy by Mud Pond. But when the big yellow tractor comes to the farm and replaces Otis, he is cast away behind the barn. . . until the little calf gets stuck in Mud Pond. Then there is only one tractor—and it’s not big or yellow—who saves the day. It’s little Otis! In the tradition of classics like Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel and The Story of Ferdinand, beloved artist Loren Long has crafted an unforgettable children''s classic—and character—celebrating the power of friendship and perseverance. And now a whole new age group will fall in love with Otis, the friendly little tractor, thanks to this board book edition. Let the cries of putt puff puttedy chuff begin!

Otis and all his farm friends are enjoying a summer''s day, but the bull has no interest in playing and stays in his pen. Suddenly the day turns frightening and stormy: it''s a tornado! Otis takes all of the animals to safety, but the bull is still locked in his pen! Quick as his tires will take him, Otis putt puff puttedy chuffs back to the farm to save the day.

Built for giggles and fun read-alouds, this classic children''s song has been adapted by #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator of Love and Otis, Loren Long! "One to visit again and again..." --Publishers Weekly There''s a log on the bottom of the lake There''s a log on the bottom of the lake There''s a log? There''s a log! There''s a log on the bottom of the lake. But it turns out there''s a a whole lot more than just a log on the bottom of this lake! A cumulative text featuring repetition and tongue-twisters combine with gorgeous illustrations from New York Times bestselling illustrator Loren Long for a book kids will clamor for at storytime. Endpapers include sheet music and lyrics for kids and parents to have their own singalong!

An Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller A #1 Indie Bestseller Get ready for back-to-school season and hop on board with The Yellow Bus, #1 New York Times bestselling Loren Long''s tender and hopeful modern classic about a forgotten school bus that finds happiness and purpose in the most unexpected places--and the journey along the way. There is a bright yellow bus who spends her days driving. She loves carrying children from one important place to another. Every morning they climb in . . . Pitter-patter, pitter-patter, giggle, giggle-patter. And they fill her with joy. As time passes, things change. The Yellow Bus gets a new driver, a new route, and new passengers, young and old. Until one day the driving stops for good, and the Yellow Bus is left on her own. And yet, no matter where she is, the Yellow Bus still finds joy and discovery in the world around her. A poignant reflection on change and the many new beginnings life has to offer, The Yellow Bus is the perfect present for the millions heading back to school, from first-time students and returning ones, to beloved teachers and the life-long learners in all of us. Praise for The Yellow Bus: A New York Times Best Book of the Year An NPR Best Book of the Year An ALSC Notable Children''s Book A New York Magazine Best Book of the Year A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year A Booklist Editors Choice Pick A Bank Street Best Book of the Year “With shades of The Giving Tree—its sweep and bittersweetness, but none of the greed—The Yellow Bus emphasizes service over self sacrifice. It functions as a sweet and speedy bedtime story, but a peek under the hood reveals a powerful engine.” —The New York Times Book Review "A profound meditation on the passage of time. When the ride is over, readers will emerge feeling wiser, kinder and, like the title character, filled with joy." —NPR "Echoes of The Giving Tree and other stories that mark the bittersweetness of accepting the change that comes with time." —New York Magazine ★ "A must-purchase, this book will leave readers looking at objects around them differently long after its covers are closed." —School Library Journal, starred review ★ "A moving contemplation on the passage of time, The Yellow Bus skillfully drives home the joys of a well-lived life of purpose." —Booklist, starred review ★ "All kids will benefit from the added introspection of the seemingly mundane in the world around them." —BCCB, starred review

For graduates, for their parents, for anyone facing change, here is a gorgeously illustrated and stunningly heartfelt ode to the challenges of growing up and letting go. A story of the seasons and stepping stones as poignant for parents as for their kids, from the creator of Otis the tractor and illustrator of Love by Matt de la Pena. "Long’s gentle but powerful story about a young tree who holds tight to his leaves, even as everyone else lets theirs drop, takes on nothing less than the pain and sorrow of growing up. . . . As in Long’s unaccountably profound books about Otis the tractor, a pure white background somehow adds to the depth."—The New York Times Book Review In the middle of a little forest, there lives a Little Tree who loves his life and the splendid leaves that keep him cool in the heat of long summer days. Life is perfect just the way it is. Autumn arrives, and with it the cool winds that ruffle Little Tree''s leaves. One by one the other trees drop their leaves, facing the cold of winter head on. But not Little Tree—he hugs his leaves as tightly as he can. Year after year Little Tree remains unchanged, despite words of encouragement from a squirrel, a fawn, and a fox, his leaves having long since turned brown and withered. As Little Tree sits in the shadow of the other trees, now grown sturdy and tall as though to touch the sun, he remembers when they were all the same size. And he knows he has an important decision to make. From #1 New York Times bestselling Loren Long comes a gorgeously-illustrated story that challenges each of us to have the courage to let go and to reach for the sun. Praise for Little Tree * "The illustrations are beautifully rendered . . . Understated and inviting, young readers will be entranced by Little Tree’s difficult but ultimately rewarding journey."—Booklist, starred review "Long’s gentle but powerful story about a young tree who holds tight to his leaves, even as everyone else lets theirs drop, takes on nothing less than the pain and sorrow of growing up. Season after season, Little Tree clings to his brown-leaved self until he can take a leap and shed his protection. He feels ‘the harsh cold of winter,’ but soon grows tall and green, and it’s not bad at all. As in Long’s unaccountably profound books about Otis the tractor, a pure white background somehow adds to the depth."—The New York Times Book Review * "[Long''s] willingness to take his time and even test the audience’s patience with his arboreal hero’s intransigence results in an ending that’s both a big relief and an authentic triumph. Long’s earnest-eloquent narrative voice and distilled, single-plane drawings, both reminiscent of an allegorical pageant, acknowledge the reality of the struggle while offering the promise of brighter days ahead."—Publishers Weekly, starred review "Long is sparing with the text, keeping it simple and beautifully descriptive. Brilliantly colored illustrations done in acrylic, ink, and pencil stand out on bright white pages, with Little Tree taking the center position in each double-page spread. Tender and gentle and altogether lovely."—Kirkus Reviews "Children will see the tree facing the scariness of change; adult readers may well feel wistful as the story underscores the need to let their babies grow toward independence. Beautiful. Grade: A"—Cleveland Plain Dealer

**Read by country music superstar Trace Adkins!** **The New York Times bestseller and companion to Otis, the official 2013 Jumpstart Read for the Record selection!** Otis and his farm friends love to play hide-and-seek. Otis especially loves to be "It," finding his friends as they hide. Yet when the newest addition to the farm—a bounding puppy who can''t sit still and has a habit of licking faces—tries to hide, he finds his attention wandering and is soon lost in the forest. Night falls and Otis, knowing his new friend is afraid of the dark, sets out to find him. There''s just one problem: Otis is also afraid of the dark. His friend is alone and in need, though, so Otis takes a deep breath, counts to ten, and sets off on a different game of hide-and-seek. From the critically-acclaimed illustrator of The Little Engine that Could, Of Thee I Sing, and Otis, the 2013 Read for the Record selection.

Otis the tractor is happy to go home and rest after a very busy day of working on the farm and playing with friends.

FROM THE #1 BESTSELLING ILLUSTRATOR OF MATT DE LA PENA''S LOVE AND WATTY PIPER''S CLASSIC THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD On the farm where Otis the tractor lives, the farmer has introduced someone new—a scarecrow to shoo away the pesky crows. But when Otis and the animals greet the scarecrow with friendly smiles, the scarecrow’s frown never leaves his face. So everyone leaves him alone. Then one day, when a cold autumn rain sets in, Otis and the animals snuggle close and play Otis’s favorite game: the quiet game. Otis knows the puppy and ducks can’t sit still for long, and soon the farm friends begin to giggle and squirm, feeling warmed by one another’s friendship . . . but on this day, Otis can''t seem to take his eyes off the lonely figure in the cornfield. A deeply resonant book about subtle acts of compassion and standing up for others, featuring everyone''s favorite tractor, Otis. Praise for OTIS AND THE SCARECROW: "Otis the tractor’s goodhearted nature continues to shine in his fifth picture book." –Publishers Weekly “Readers will enjoy this sixth tale of an admirable leader who does the right thing with quiet confidence.” –Booklist “Teachers will see the connection between the lonely scarecrow and the outsider in the classroom and will be able to find many uses for this volume in the curriculum. Fans will enjoy this more cerebral Otis and might build a little empathy along the way.” –Kirkus Reviews “Loren Long creates a perfect book for the beginning of the school year with "Otis and the Scarecrow."--Examiner.com

#1 New York Times Best Seller LOREN LONG’s illustrations have received two gold medals from the Society of Illustrators and his first picture book, Angela Johnson’s I Dream of Trains, won the Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators Golden Kite Award for Illustrations and his inspired interpretation of Walt Whitman’s When I Heard Learn’d Astronomer was a Golden Kite Honor. A much sought after editorial artist whose work has appeared in Times, Sports Illustrated, Forbes, the Wall Street Journal and Atlantic Monthly, Loren is widely known for the illustrations in Madonna’s #1 New York Times Best Seller Mr. Peabody’s Apples. And Watty Piper’s The Little Engine That Could. He lives in West Chester, Ohio, with his wife, Tracy, and two young sons, Griffith and Graham.

Griffith, Graham, and Ruby''s father passed away in the war. And now they must join their mother and their father''s wartime traveling baseball team, The Travelin'' Nine, on a tour of America to raise money. No one will tell the kids why the team needs money so badly. Their only clue is a baseball with a hole the size of an acorn in it that their Uncle Owen gave to them the night of their father''s funeral. They know very little about its significance except that their father made it with his own two hands and carried it with him throughout the war. And when all three kids hold the ball, strange things begin to happen...

The Travelin'' Nine are in trouble. No only have they missed their train to Minneapolis, but the team has lot its pitcher and no one except Ruby is happy about the replacement. Illustrations.

Featuring the New York Times bestselling character Otis! Children three and older will love this adorable book, the perfect companion to Otis and Otis and the Tornado. In this story, the beloved tractor loves to play with his friends--the calf, the cows, the horses, and of course, the ducks. Together, they jump, they play, they chase, and they march. And they always have fun--young readers will, too!

Otis the tractor sees many animal friends on the farm where he lives.

The #1 bestselling illustrator of Matt de la Pena''s Love and the creator of Otis presents an homage to firefighters everywhere—and to the many boys and girls who dream big of being heroes! On the farm where Otis the tractor lives, it hasn''t rained in a long time and farmers all over the valley have grown anxious with water in such short supply. One hot afternoon, when Otis and his friends are resting beneath the shade of the apple tree, Otis spots something moving down in the valley—an orange tabby cat headed straight for the old barn. But then Otis sees something else that causes his engine to sputter . . . a swirl of smoke coming from the same barn. A fire! As Otis races toward the fire with his friends in tow, he spots the tabby cat mewing in alarm. Otis rushes inside to discover the source of the cat''s worries--her little kittens are perched up on the hayloft, scared. Otis never hesitates. Yet even after he delivers a tractor full of kittens safely outside, their mama remains upset. Re-entering the burning barn, Otis discovers why: one tiny kitten, still too scared to move. With a friendly chuff, Otis coaxes her down and she scampers out the door. That''s when the floor collapses with a CRASH, trapping the tractor. Now Otis, the friend everyone can count on, must count on his friends. Told with a sense of play and devotion, this is a heartwarming tale that reminds readers that sometimes even those who we count on to help us need a little help themselves. From the creator of Otis, Otis and the Puppy, and the illustrator of The Little Engine That Could and Of Thee I Sing by President Barack Obama. Loren Long wrote this story as a tribute to the firefighters who, like Otis, rescue people every day with their strength and bravery. Of course, people who aren''t first responders should never go into a burning building for any reason. Reading this story to children is a great opportunity to discuss fire safety. Praise for Otis and the Kittens * "As always, perseverance, teamwork, and a heart of gold pay off for Otis and his friends. When read aloud, the text flows off the tongue with sounds and words that extend the imagery created in the attractive gouache and pencil illustrations. The compositions make great use of perspective and motion and are expertly laid out . . . There are wonderful textured details that bring the story to life. [T]he perfect lapsit read-aloud, combining the ever-popular subjects of tractors, farm animals, and firefighters."--School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW "Long''s seventh bucolic tale of an antique tractor with a smiling face and a good heart will please the little chuffer''s many fans. The dynamic, fluid illustrations with a retro-rural vibe bring to mind Norman Rockwell''s America with a Saturday comics spin. The theme of teamwork played out several times through the tale is communicated as simply as the tale itself. Keep on puffin'', Otis!"--Kirkus Reviews "Long creates a powerful sense of suspense and danger as charcoal smoke gathers in the sky and bright flames lick the beams of the barn as Otis goes to work, but bravery, loyalty, and gritty determination are the real stars of the story—traits that Otis and his animal friends have in ample supply."--Publishers Weekly

Being thankful is a year-round blessing for Otis the tractor! Giving thanks makes Otis happy. He gives thanks for the land and country he loves. Otis is thankful for time to play games like hide-and-seek and ring-around-the-rosy. He cherishes his farm friends who make life on the ranch as happy as can be. And most of all, everyone''s favorite tractor is thankful for the greatest thing in life: love. Told with a sense of warmth, heart, and above all else, gratefulness, this is an uplifting tale that speaks to the soul of Otis'' character and reminds readers that taking the time to appreciate our lives is a virtue in itself. From the creator of the Otis series, and the illustrator of The Little Engine That Could and Of Thee I Sing by President Barack Obama.

**Read by country music superstar Trace Adkins!** **The New York Times bestseller and companion to Otis, the official 2013 Jumpstart Read for the Record selection!** It''s Christmas eve on the farm where Otis and all of his friends live. The farmer has given Otis his first real Christmas present--a shiny new horn! A tree has been decorated, a big snowstorm is on its way, and all of the animals are excited. Best of all, one of the horses on the farm is about to give birth to a foal! Yet in the middle of the night the horse begins neighing in pain and when the farmer says, "We''d better get Doc Baker out here or we''ll lose ''em both," Otis knows the horse is in trouble. Snow has been falling hard for hours and the roads are unpassable. How will they got Doc? Otis to the rescue! He knows a shortcut through the woods and he arrives at the doc''s house flashing his headlights and revving his engine. When Doc fails to awake, Otis uses his new horn. Then, with Doc in tow, he races back to the farm just in time for a Christmas miracle . . . and the arrival of a new friend to play with. A warm, feel-good Christmas story featuring everyone''s favorite tractor, Otis, the friend you can always count on. From the creator of OTIS, OTIS AND THE PUPPY, and the illustrator of THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD and OF THEE I SING by President Barack Obama. Praise for Otis: “Long’s gouache and pencil artwork is stunning with a red and cream main character against a sepia-toned monochromatic background. The overall effect is nostalgic and comforting as readers bond with the determined little tractor . . . the satisfying conclusion that speaks of a place for everyone is sure to ring true to children.” —STARRED REVIEW, School Library Journal, on Otis “Hearkens to the golden age of picture books, with a style and tone that recall the work of Virginia Lee Burton and Munro Leaf.” —Booklist, on Otis and the Tornado “Children will be delighted with this story about friendship” —School Library Journal, on Otis and the Tornado “Fans of Otis will not be disappointed with the satisfying ending that results in a creative solution and a most happy reunion. Seek this out—“game on!” —Kirkus Reviews, on Otis and the Puppy

The year is 1899, and the Travelin'' Nine are crisscrossing the good ol'' U.S. of A., raising money to pay off the Payne family''s big-league debt! As the team heads into the River City, Griffith is beginning to realize that there''s more at risk than meets the eye, something beyond the need to raise money -- something involving the ball that could put his entire family in danger. Ruby is eager to help solve the mystery of the ball and plans on keeping her eyes and ears wide open and writing everything down. She knows the answer is out there. All she has to do is see the things that others don''t. And figure out what those things mean. Then there''s Graham, who usually only thinks about how to get more time on the baseball field. Even he''s beginning to notice that there are strange and shady characters at just about every turn. Finally there''s the Chancellor, one of the wealthiest and greediest businessmen in the entire world. And it looks like he''s got his eye on the ball!

In Blastin’the Blues, still fearing they are being followed and even more worried they have a traitor in their midst, the team travels to New Orleans, where the magic of their ball and the music of the city create one memorable game. But like always, trouble is right around the corner and the hits keep on coming for the Payne family and all of the Travelin’Nine! In Home of the Brave, after the rousing success in New Orleans, Griffith, Ruby, and Graham are determined to beat the Chancellor at his own game and save their family as well as the game of baseball. Pulling into their hometown of Baltimore, the Paynes are reunited with a familiar face, and the Travelin’Nine are tested on the field once again. Can they win without the help of their baseball? Prepare for fireworks in this final inning to the grand slam series, Sluggers!