New Releases by Nancy Carlson

Inspired by the true story of the students at Glen Lake Elementary in Hopkins, Minnesota, A Swing for Samara shows the power of community and compassion and highlights the right for all children to have accessible playgrounds—the right that all children have to play.

Audisee® eBooks with Audio combine professional narration and text highlighting for an engaging read aloud experience! Henry likes kindergarten. He gets to paint pictures, sing songs, and learn his letters and numbers. But there''s one thing Henry doesn''t like: show and tell! His legs get all shaky and he''s too shy to speak. Just in time, Henry''s kind teacher, Ms. Bradley, comes to the rescue with a great plan for helping him overcome his fears.

Audisee® eBooks with Audio combine professional narration and text highlighting for an engaging read aloud experience! Poor George is in trouble again. He''s been called to the principal''s office. But before the principal can tell him why he''s there...he confesses. He was late to class, didn''t finish his math assignment, spilled paint, and set a cage of mice loose. One mishap has led to another and now George is up to his ears in trouble—but it''s not his fault! George has an excuse for everything, but as his bad choices catch up with him, George runs out of others to blame.

Everybody barfs. Dogs, cats, chickens, alligators, and even you. It happens to everyone, and sometimes it even happens . . . at school. With her characteristic humor and compassion, Nancy Carlson helps young readers through what is often a scary and embarrassing rite of passage. Sometimes you barf. But it''s OK. You get better!

Feeling sad? Think happy! You can cheer yourself up in lots of ways. Try being friendly to someone in need of a friend. Do something you think is fun, like riding a bike or putting on a show. And keep thinking happy thoughts. Even when you don’t feel lovable, remember that you are loved by many people. When you think happy, anything can happen!

When facing down a bully, a trip to the dentist, or your mom''s prune oatmeal, there''s only one thing you can do—smile a lot! And you''ll pull through! In this appealing new offering from best-selling author/illustrator Nancy Carlson, a determined little frog discovers that even when you don''t want to, smiling can make any situation better.

It''s Halloween, and although sharing might be okay the rest of the year, on this day Harriet''s determined not to share her treats with her little brother, Walt. She is running out of places to hide her stash, and there''s only one thing she can do... Hariet''s hilarious—and tummy-aching—solution will delight everyone who reads this comical tale of a hard lesson learned. This 20th anniversary edition of a Halloween classic is now in a larger format.

At school, at home, on the bus, or in a restaurant—no matter how hard he tries, Patrick just can''t sit still. So what''s a kid with a lot of energy supposed to do? His teacher and the doctor may not have the answer, but Patrick''s mom has several ideas. Nancy Carlson''s lively, cheerful illustrations and her trademark sense of humor provide warm reassurance in the funny and inspirational story that will speak to squirmy kids everywhere.

Tina the beaver and her family constantly rush off in different directions, until a storm keeps them snowbound at home.

There''s something for every parent and child to enjoy in this delightfully fresh picture book that takes playful aim at the art of parenting—and all the hopeful, nail-biting expectations that go with it. What''s a parent to think when raising a child doesn''t happen quite the way it''s expected to?

Kelly can''t ice skate. To make matters worse, the neighborhood kids tease her about it. BUt when Kelly hangs a special pair of ice skates around an ordinary snowman, things suddenly start to look a little brighter. Magic and skating go hand in hand in this lively tale about a very special friendship.

After a long day at work, bunnies come home, change their clothes, eat dinner, and do the dishes. Then it''s time for bunnies and their hobbies. Young children will gleefully recognize the unlikely similarities between people and Nancy Carlson''s active bunnies in this charming book, sure to be a bedtime favorite.

George is always bragging. He says he runs the fastest, reads the thickest books, and catches the biggest fish. When Harriet invites him to join her family’s fishing trip, George is nervous. What if Harriet finds out the only fish he’s ever caught was in the pet store? Readers will delight in what happens when George’s bragging finally catches up with him.

When a new second grader begins bullying Henry and the other first graders, Henry stumbles onto a secret that just might save them.

Louanne trips and sprains her ankle as she and her friends cut through the yard of the spooky house on the top of the hill. Suddenly the witch lady appears and yells, "Scat!" Harriet, George, and Arnie run for their lives. But Louanne is caught! Does the witch lady put kids in cages to fatten them up? Or is Louanne''s imagination running wild? Readers will chuckle as Louanne discovers what the witch lady is REALLY like.

Curtains up! Harriet loves her ballet class, but when Miss Betty announces a recital, Harriet succumbs to a bad case of stage fright. She worries about falling. She''s afraid her costume will rip. And she''s positive that she''ll forget every step of her dance as soon as she steps on stage. Young readers are sure to recognize some of their own fears in this hilarious story of Harriet''s first recital.

Vinney is frustrated about being one of the smallest children at school, but when he takes his mother''s advice and thinks big for a day, he discovers that there are advantages to being small.

Harriet and her pals are playing baseball in the park near Mrs. Hoozit’s house. When George hits a fly ball, Harriet’s determined to catch it. She’s concentrating so hard, she runs right into Mrs. Hoozit’s garden of prize flowers. Harriet panics and runs away. That night Harriet feels terrible—she can’t even eat the special treat her mom makes for her. What can she do?

The first big snow of the winter has finally arrived. Harriet can''t wait to enjoy it. But her mother insists that Harriet take along her little brother, Walt. As he soon shows, Walt has a real knack for messing things up—and Harriet tells him so. But when George starts picking on him, Harriet puts her criticism aside and gives George a piece of her mind. Brothers and sisters everywhere will relate as Harriet’s protective side gets the best of her, in this delightful tale about learning to love—and live with—a younger sibling.

Ready. Set. GO! Loudmouth George has told everyone he’s going to win the big race. He’s so confident that he doesn’t even bother to train. And on the day of the race, George ends up being the big loser. He’s put his foot in his mouth once again! George never seems to learn his lesson, but readers will get the point that a little effort—and modesty—can go a long way.

Loudmouth George has just started playing the coronet and he’s awful! Awful—according to everyone but George, who thinks he’s the best coronet player ever born. George is full of hot air, but it’s hard not to admire his complete lack of self-consciousness. George is soon on to big, better, and LOUDER things

Hang on--Harriet''s on her way up! For days, George has been taunting Harriet about the roller coaster at the amusement park. "It''s so big, you can''t see the top...It goes so fast, you might fall out...You''ll be too scared to ride on it." "I am NOT scared," Harriet tells him. But that night she doesn''t sleep very well. And the next morning, when it is time to go, she feels a little sick. Children are certain to recognize Harriet''s terror and cheer her spunk. And while she conquers her fear, Harriet will conquer her readers'' hearts as well.

Hang on—Harriet''s on her way up! For days, George has been taunting Harriet about the roller coaster at the amusement park. "It''s so big, you can''t see the top...It goes so fast, you might fall out...You''ll be too scared to ride on it." "I am NOT scared," Harriet tells him. But that night she doesn''t sleep very well. And the next morning, when it''s time to go, she feels a little sick. Children are certain to recognize Harriet''s terror and cheer her spunk. And while she conquers her fear, Harriet will conquer her readers'' hearts as well.

The first day of school can be scary enough as it is without a bully stealing your lunch! And that''s just what happens to poor George when he runs into Big Mike, the sixth-grade bully, on the walk to school. Every day George is tormented—not to mention hungry—and too afraid to tell anyone, until his good friend Harriet steps in and helps George give Big Mike a taste of his own medicine.

It''s Halloween, and although sharing might be okay the rest of the year, on this day Harriet''s determined not to share her treats with her little brother, Walt. She is running out of places to hide her stash, and there''s only one thing she can do....Hariet''s hilarious--and tummy-aching--solution will delight everyone who reads this comical tale of a hard lesson learned. This 20th anniversary edition of a Halloween classic is now in a larger format.

With exuberant pictures and a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor, the author of I Like Me! takes a light-hearted look at bratty behavior that will have children laughing in recognition while learning exactly how not to behave. Colored-pencil illustrations throughout.

Able-bodied Arnie teases Philip—a new student at his school who uses a wheelchair. However, after Arnie injures himself while making fun of Philip, he begins to understand what it means to be compassionate and welcoming. "This is a triumphant ending to a purposeful story that will be welcomed for its lighthearted treatment of a common situation. Carlson''s vividly colored cartoon illustrations feature a variety of animals humorously dressed in children''s clothes." —School Library Journal

Carl''s big brother doesn''t think it would be easy to be a baby, but he also realizes Carl is lucky to have someone to play with and protect him.

Meet Nancy Carlson’s peppy pig—a character who is full of good feelings about herself. Her story will leave little ones feeling good about themselves, too! "Little ones in need of positive reinforcement will find it here. An exuberant pig proclaims "I like me!" She likes the way she looks, and all her activities....When she makes a mistake she picks herself up and tries again." --Booklist "Wonderful in its simplicity, here''s a story that will help kids feel good about themselves." -- Boston GLobe