Most Popular Books by Tony Johnston

After a move to a new home, comfort comes from a surprising place. Long ago, a young girl named Abigail put her beloved patchwork quilt in the attic. Generations later, another young girl discovers the quilt and makes it her own, relying on its warmth to help her feel secure in a new home.

Award-winning author Tony Johnston and Caldecott honor illustrator Melissa Sweet create a joyful story about the first day of kindergarten! "I''m off to kindergarten now.I''d better take my bear.He likes to sit beside me soI''ll take a little chair. . . ."So begins the long list of things Bill absolutely needs for his first day of school. Along with his pillow and some cookies, he also plans on bringing his sandbox, some digging moles, and a moving truck!A touching story of first-day jitters and hopes, Tony Johnston''s rhyming text is paired with Melissa Sweet''s delightful illustrations!

A boy wins over an abused, stray dog with persistence and love in this heartwarming story. Thoughtful care goes into a child''s efforts to help an abused dog learn to trust humans again. Stooping near the bush where the dog is hiding, offering scraps of food, and leaving an umbrella in a rainstorm all convince the dog that the child''s offering of friendship is real. When Mom insists on putting up "lost dog" signs, the boy is worried. But in the end, the dog and child find a new friend in each other.

A classic Halloween story about a pumpkin gone missing is certain to delight readers of all ages! When a 700-year-old woman and an 800-year-old man want to make pumpkin pie on Halloween, they can’t find their pumpkin. “Our pumpkin’s been snitched,” cries the woman. And off they go to find it. “A good bet for Halloween story hours.”—School Library Journal “There can never be enough Halloween stories. This one is appealing, participatory, fast-paced and a delight in the telling.”—Children’s Book Review Service

Filled with hope, love, and warmth, this novel describes a Los Angeles far different from the place of movie stars and very poor people--a place where random acts of generosity improve the lives of the community.

From award-winning author Tony Johnston and David Walker comes the perfect book for first time First Graders! Kindergarten? Done! "I''m zooming off to first grade now.I need about five friendsto play good games like hide-and-sneakand where-the-sidewalk-ends."Tony Johnston''s playful stanzas meet with David Walker''s joyful art to create a remarkable foray into first grade--with all its peaks and valleys. There''s reading and counting, sure, but also show-and-tell, singing, crafts, and of course, recess! Watch out everyone, ''cause first grade, here I come!

Standing tall above the tree line, Sequoia stretches his ancient arms and gathers clouds to him. He watches as days, seasons, years pass by. His branches are home to owls and choirs of frogs. Beneath his broad canopy, a world grows. This is his story. Through controlled verse and luscious illustration, Tony Johnston and Wendell Minor do justice to the enormous figure of the sequoia tree. A Neal Porter Book

The beauty and spirit of Christmas resounds in the melodic chimes of a church bell in this lyrical picture book by well-known author Tony Johnston with breathtaking illustrations by watercolor artist Cheng-Khee Chee. On Christmas Eve, people bundle up in the cold and follow the sounds of the bell to gather in celebration. Creatures great—children, dogs, cats, and birds—and small stop to listen as a brass band marches through town. The poetry and imagery of these verses and the classic feel of this lush artwork make for a memorable Christmas read-aloud.

A childhood visit to Sardinia haunts a composer, who returns there one Christmas to repay with his music the kindness of the island''s inhabitants.

From Caldecott Medalist Stephen Gammell and beloved writer Tony Johnston, this joyous picture book with audio celebrates the sound of a baby’s laughter. The family gathers round to hear the sweet sound of the new baby’s sweet laugh! But just because everyone has gathered doesn’t mean the baby’s ready. When the moment finally comes, the sound makes everyone else laugh too—aunts, uncles, cousins, and even great-grandma. It seems no one can resist the sound of baby’s laugh. And who would want to? With simple, endearing text, audio, and Stephen Gammell’s unmistakable art, this tribute to the joy a young child’s laughter will quickly become a family favorite.

A wandering cat brightens the lives of six lonely people--and persuades all of them to feed him until a near accident brings them all together.

Carlos tries to help his uncle, who is frustrated and angry at his inability to speak English, adjust to their new home in Los Angeles.

When the Nazis invaded Poland, a family is split apart. The parents are sent to one concentration camp, their son to another. Only his father''s gift, a harmonica, keeps the boy''s hopes alive and, miraculously, ensures his survival. Tony Johnston''s powerful story, inspired by the life of a Holocaust survivor, is enhanced by Ron Mazellan''s luminous artwork. A testament to the human spirit and the transcendent power of music.

Explore a fantastical forest in this exquisite and lyrical picture book that celebrates all trees, from maple to elm to ginkgo to magnolia to redwood—written by award-winning author Tony Johnston. Part poetry, part celebration of nature, each page of this stunning book brings readers deeper into the majestic world of trees. Old trees. Trees with shiny leaves shimmering after rain. And at night, trees holding out their limbs for the stars. Debut illustrator Tiffany Bozic created her striking artwork by painting directly on tree bark and the authenticity shines through in this meditative work.

Letters are MAGIC. When you know their secrets, like a bright bird, you take flight. Hop along with a playful rabbit emcee and see for yourself! Letters are everywhere in this delightful book that embraces the power of words and what they can do, how they can make you feel, and what they can help you say. Each letter has a name, and letters have power . . . power to make words. Words can make you hungry, make you laugh, or enchant you. And you can enchant others with magic of your own, by using them to write anything you please. Unlock the magic of letters in this colorful, imaginative book from the award-winning author/illustrator teams of Tony Johnston and Wendell Minor.

Amber''s mountain is beautiful, but it is a lonely place—until the day Anna arrives, bringing both her friendship and the will to teach Amber how to read. Suddenly, Amber''s world is filled with a new magic and new challenges. But when Anna returns to the city, will Amber be able to keep reading on her own? "Heartwarming" —Publishers Weekly, starred review Tony Johnston''s previous books include Grandpa''s Song and Yonder (both Dial and Puffin). She lives in San Marino, California. Robert Duncan is a fine artist whose paintings have been exhi-bited throughout the United States. He lives in Midway, Utah.

Two good friends, Possum and Alien, spend time together celebrating their birthdays, discovering their uniqueness, and hanging out together in a tree.

An imp, a goblin, and a scalawag get together to tell the scariest stories they can think of.

Presents forty-two poems--some funny, some poignant and philosophical--about dogs and their attributes, including their loyalty to people, their love of food and smells, and their varied appearances and personalities.

Describes a Mexican family preparing for and celebrating the Day of the Dead.

“A quiet, beautiful picture book to share.” —Booklist (starred review) “This gentle, lyrical celebration of the natural world will reward similarly observant readers.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “A touching reminder about the beauty of the natural world.” —School Library Journal (starred review) “With meditative language, Johnston offers a vivid sense of the changing seasons and of stillness. LaMarche quietly and sensitively portrays a child who’s comfortable spending hours alone, working on her own projects and observing—a young naturalist.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) Witness the changing of a season through a watchful child’s eyes in this story of nature and discovery from award-winning author Tony Johnston and New York Times Best Illustrated artist Jim La Marche. Day after day, a girl goes to her favorite place in the woods and quietly watches from her tree house as the chipmunks, the doe, the rabbits prepare for the winter. As the temperature drops, sunset comes earlier and a new season begins. Silently she observes the world around her as it reveals its secrets. It takes time and patience to see the changes as, slowly but surely, winter comes.

Poor Coyote! What’s he doing, hanging upside down in the farmer’s house, next to a pot of boiling water? How’d he wind up underneath the jicara tree, getting bonked by rock-hard fruit? Who tricked him into whacking a wasps’ nest with a stick? And why is he always howling at the moon? Because of Rabbit, that’s why! Longtime collaborators Tony Johnston and Tomie dePaola look to the folklore of Oaxaca, Mexico, for this nutty, naughty tale of trickery and hijinks. Written with sly humor and illustrated in the vibrant golds, blues, and reds of the Southwest, this is a story with a flavor as distinctive as chile peppers.

A pumpkin shimmering in the moonlight attracts the attention of an owl, a cat, crickets, a witch, and a group of boys and girls, who change it into a scary jack-o-lantern.

The plight of the environment requires the co-operation of all nations. This book looks at the problems that have to be overcome if workable agreements and solutions are to be reached.

A little goblin has a series of frightening experiences while walking through the woods to his grandmother''s house.

A child anticipates the arrival of an old man in red, smelling of pine, spreading crinkling presents late at night.

Share in the joyful, adventure-filled shenanigans of a child growing up in a small mud hut in Inner Mongolia in this charming, illustrated memoir for young middle grade readers. A KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR Growing up in Inner Mongolia, Jin Wang was rambunctious and boisterous and did not always listen to her Ma. Jin and her family were poor, but like kids everywhere, she still found a way to have fun and get into lots of mischief climbing trees, digging for mushrooms, and even looking for wolves. Paired with delightful, kid-friendly illustrations, this early middle grade memoir invites readers to join Jin and her family in the outskirts of Inner Mongolia to remind us that though we all have different customs and traditions, we are more alike than not, and that mischief lives within all of us.

A little rabbit cannot fall asleep because he finds the night dark and scary, but when he watches it with his grandfather he sees it full of stars and crickets and moon.

The great sculptor Gaston Pompicard creates a snow sculpture for his friends the children, and then later he receives a similar gift from them during the last snow of winter.

When a young girl''s beloved, exuberant grandfather becomes forgetful, she helps him by singing their favorite song.

In this book we learn about the various life cycles that result from the apple tree.

Tony Johnston''s THE BARN OWLS recalls in quiet tones the memory of a barn that has stood alone in a wheat field for one hundred years at least. The owls have nested there and have hunted in the fields and circled in the night skies as time slowly slipped by. Every night, as the moon rises, a barn owl awakens and flies out to hunt. Feathered against the endless starry night, he swoops and sails to the darkened wheat field below and catches a mouse in his nimble talons. With outstretched wings, this barn owl returns to his barn nest and his hungry family, repeating the ageless ritual his ancestors have practiced here, in this barn, for at least one hundred years. Following the life cycle of the barn owl, this gentle poem evokes a sense of warm sunshine and envelopes readers with the memory of the scent of a wheat field.

Lizzie and her mom go to the park. That''s where Lizzie meets an elderly man and his companion, Cecile, a dog about her size. But Lizzie is afraid of dogs, so she''ll have to rely on her new friend to help her take things one step at a time. Getting over your fears may seem like a small thing . . . but it sure can feel big.

In her garden in Mexico, an old lady enjoys watching the birds and warning the cat to leave them alone.

An imp, a goblin, a scalawag, and a boy tell each other scary stories.

This version of the familiar story in which a mistreated step-child finds happiness with the "man" of her dreams is set in the old-growth forest and features Bigfoot characters.

Follows the adventures of three bicyclists as they ride through the countryside.

A boy describes all the things he and his beloved teddy bear do and how some love and care can repair an old, worn bear.

Three episodes in which Odd Jobs does all sorts of jobs, the odder the better.