Recent Books

Epossumondas Saves the Day by Coleen Salley, illustrated by Janet Stevens It's Epossumondas's birthday, so Mama's whipping up his favorite biscuits. But she's plumb out of sody sallyraytus! Everyone knows you can't make big, fluffy biscuits without sody. But getting sody gets Epossumondas into trouble -- the GREAT, HUGE, UGLY LOUISANA SNAPPING TURTLE linkd of trouble. Thumpin' gizzards! Other Information: "The lovable diapered possum, Mama's sweet little patootie, stars in another charming book...The visual details create lovable characters as well as a truly frightening villain." School Library Journal "I have 7 grandchildren who all LOVE the Epossumondas books. Every single time they come to visit those are the first books they want me to read to them." Amazon Reviewer
	The Great Fuzz Frenzy by Janet Stevens and Susie Stevens Crummel It all started when My Big Dog Violet dropped a tennis ball down a prarie-dog hole one day. There those prarie dogs were, minding their own business deep underground, when a mysterious object rolled into their town. What did they think it was -- and what did they do with it? Whatever it is, there's no end of trouble when this big, round, really fuzzy thing tumbles into prarie-dog town. Who would have guessed that its arrival would cause a great fuzz frenzy? And what will happen when the fuzz is gone? Other Information: "this takes readers deep into the underground realm. A wonderful addition for storyhours." School Library Journal (starred review) "Only the Stevens sisters could create such an over-the-top tale about fuzz... This fun-filled story demands to be read aloud." Bookist "Picture books must be truly intelligent, creative and entertaining to amuse my second and third grade class. This one was the biggest winner of the year with my students!" Amazon Reviewer
Plaidypus Lost by Janet Stevens and Susie Stevens Crummel Snippity snip. Stitchity stitch. Buttons for eyes. Surprise! Grandpa's old plaid shirt is now my new Plaidypus!. Tag along with a lively young girl and her constant companion as they find adventures whereever they go-- the park, the lake, or the supermarket candy aisle! And don't forget to keep an eye on Plaidypus, as there's always a chance he'll find himself astray--stuck in the sand, high on a shelf... But no need to worry: Plaidypus lost, Plaidypus found. This story goes around and around!! Other Information: * Stevens incorporates digitally collaged elements into her energetic pencil-and-watercolor illustrations, adding texture without cluttering the clean, open compositions. Booklist * "As a youth services librarian, this is the kind of book I'd classify as the perfect storytime book." Amazon.com Review
	Why Epossumondas Has No Hair on His Tail by Coleen Salley, illustrated by Janet Stevens "Mama, why don't I have hair on my tail?" Epossumondas asks. Mama knows why-and her story's a doozy. It goes way back to Epossumondas's great-great-grandpa, Papapossum. When hungry Papapossum and his growly ol' stomach meet up with wily Hare, cranky Bear, and a persimmon tree... well, it's one hair-raisin' adventure. Renowned storyteller Coleen Salley and I teamed up for another Epossumondas tale, drawing on the Uncle Remus tradition and our wild imaginations to expose a hilarious-and important!- moment in possum history. Other Information: * Salley has a true storyteller's voice, peppering the text with colorful descriptions and amusing expressions that give the tale an authentic folktale feel. Stevens's large, brightly hued mixed-media illustrations add greatly to the fun, particularly when Papapossum is finding creative uses for his now elongated and naked tail... This will be a surefire hit when shared with a group or one-on-one. School Library Journal * They're baaaaack--that silly, diapered Epossumondas and Mama in her flowered dress and yellow hat... Stevens' signature mixed-media illustrations humorously concoct the delightful fun with such clever touches as Papapossum's persimmon-patterned shirt. This laughable stretch of the imagination, a tale about a tail by a natural-born storyteller, may be even more entertaining than the rollicking Epossumondas... Booklist
Jackalope by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel Never seen a Jackalope? Not even sure what it is? Well, you've come to the right place. You'll get the whole wild story right here. You see, the jackalope didn't start out with horns. First he was a plain old hare. You know, a jackrabbit. The horns came later, along with a corny fair godrabbit and a cranky coyote. And the trouble those horns brought - hooo-wee! It sure makes for a hare-raising tale! With a gut-busting brew of sassy storytelling and outrageous art, Janet and Susie finally give the jackalope his due. After all, he's long been part of American legend- isn't it time to tell the real story? Other Information: * The exuberant illustrations and large size make this book ideal for group read-alouds, and the puns will appeal to older audiences. This title is an excellent choice for further discussion of the origins of fractured tales, and the advisability of wishing you were someone other than who you are....School Library Journal * The American western legend of the "jackalope" reaches new heights of silliness in the hands of the Stevens sisters... The narrator, an armadillo in cowboy boots, opens the tale on the front endpaper. Armadillo inserts rhymed commentary throughout, and Stevens' watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations, with bits of photograph and collage, become wilder and more exaggerated as the story heats up. Fun! Booklist
	And the Dish Ran Away with the Spoon by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel Every night the rhyme gets read. Every night Dish and Spoon run away And every night they return - until tonight! Where can Dish and Spoon be? The rhyme can't go on without them, so Cat, Cow, and dog set out to search for their missing friends. But where To start? Should they go north? East? Northeast? They'll just have to read Fork's map, ask directons, and try not to get lost in Little Boy Blue's haystack or under Miss Muffet's tuffet or in Big Bad Wolf's kitchen- "FEE, FI, FO..." Oh no. Could that be the giant? Other Information: * Colorado Center for The Book Best Children's Book of 2002 * American Library Association Notable Book * National Council of Teachers of English Notable Book * "a New Yorker version of a nursery tale... must reading for anyone who's reached the age of reason... Horn Book
Epossumondas by Coleen Salley with illustrations by Janet Stevens Who's Epossumondas? Why, He's his mama's and his auntie's sweet little patootie, that's who. He's also the silliest, most loveable, most muddleheaded possum south of the Mason-Dixon line! Better choose your words wisely when he's around, 'cause otherwise you never know WHAT you'll get. Epossumondas might just bring you a fist full of crumbs - or a soaking wet puppy - or a scruffy wad of bread - oh, you just wouldn't believe it! Other Information: * This familiar story takes on new silliness as the improbable possum-child interacts with his human mother. And what a mother (fans of Stevens's To Market, to Market will recognize her as the same model)! Stevens, in wickedly observant pencil and watercolor illustrations, characterizes the doting matriarch and her sister as matronly, doughy-cheeked ladies in cat-eye glasses and flowery dresses circa 1952.... Publisher's Weekly * The delicately detailed pencil and watercolor drawings perfectly amplify the great humor of the story.... a treasure.... New York Times * Caldecott Honor-winner Janet Stevens has obvious fun capturing Epossumondas's ridiculous errands in watercolor and colored pencil, especially as other bayou animals look on in puzzlement. But Steven's biggest coup has to be conveying the story's subtle secret--that Epossumondas might not be as dumb as he looks....Amazon.com
	Cook-a-Doodle-Doo! by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel "Cook-a-Doodle-Doo!" crows Big Brown Rooster. "Let's get cooking!" So Rooster and his eager assistants - Turtle, Iguana, and Potbellied Pig - set out to make the most wonderful, magnificent strawberry shortcake in the whole wide world. Rooster is glad to have help, but there's one big problem - none of his friends know how to cook! The team bravely forges ahead, and with Rooster's help they learn howe to measure flour (not with a ruler) and how to beat an egg (not with a baseball bat). But will they be able to keep Pig from gobbling up all the ingredients! Take an old family recipe, add four funny friends, and mix in some cooking confusion - the result is sure to bring on belly laughs from beginning bakers and gourmet chefs alike!
My Big Dog by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel "My name is Merl, and I am a cat, a very special cat." Welcome to Merl's purr-r-r-r-fect house where everything is HIS -- his dish, his sofa, his chair, his toy mouse. It's the perfect place for a cat nap until CRASH, THUD, WOOF, a wiggly, noisy, slurpy,clumsy, puppy arrives, and the puppy is growing every day! Merl tries everything to get rid of the newcomer -- even running away from home. Will Merl find a new place to live -- or can a cat and dog finally learn to be friends?
	To Market, To Market by Anne Miranda To market, to market to buy a fat pig...and soon a simple trip to the market turns into utter chaos! What's a poor shopper to do when her groceries have a mind of their own? An American Library Association Notable Book The American Booksellers Book of the Year (ABBY) Nominee
Old Bag of Bones, A Coyote Tale Adapted by Janet Stevens Decrepit and hungry, Coyote feels as if he's nothing but an old bag of bones. He wants to be young and strong again. He knows that Young Buffalo has special powers, since he provides food, clothing, and shelter for the people. He asks Young Buffalo to change him into a young buffalo bull like himself. Buffalo obliges, but also warns Coyote, "Remember, even though most of you looks like a young buffalo on the outside, you are still a powerless coyote." Coyote offers to share his recaptured youth with some other old animals, but they aren't interested. They have discovered something that Coyote has yet to learn - age brings wisdom, respect, and a wealth of experience. But will Coyote ever learn?
	Gates of the Wind by Kathryn Lasky When old Gamma Lee decides to leave the green, peaceful valley where she's lived all of her life, her neighbors think she's crazy. "This is the best place in the world!" they always say. But how can Gamma Lee know it's the best place in the world if she's never been anywhere else? So she packs up her belongings, takes along her faithful mule, and heads up the mountains to a place she has always heard about - the Gates of the Wind. When she finally arrives, Gamma Lee is ready to build a house and settle in - until she meets the mountaintop's only inhabitant, a fierce wind that doesn't want company. It seems as though everything Gamma Lee does is undone by one gust of the meddling wind. How will she manage to make a life for herself and her mule when all the wind wants is to blow them right back down the valley?
Tops & Bottoms Adapted by Janet Stevens Bear has lots of money and lots of land - and he's lazy. Hare has nothing but a hungry family - and he's smart. Hare is sure there's a way to share Bear's wealth, so he and Mrs. Hare cook up a plan. The Hare hops down the road to Bear's place and proposes that Bear donate land, Hare handle labor, and they split the crop in half. All Bear has to do is choose the half he wants - tops or bottoms. Sleepy Bear takes tops but finds once the harvest is in that he's been tricked by clever Hare! With roots in European folktales and the slave stories of the American South, Tops & Bottoms celebrates the trickster tradition of beating hardship by using one's wits. And an acre of hilarity tops it all off! Caldecott Honor Booklist Editors' Choice '95 Parents Place Children's Literature Choice List for 1995 Sandhill Books Kid's Pick KCET Storytime Selection Nevada Young Readers' Award Nominee (1997) Colorado Book Award Gail Borden Public Library The Spoken Arts Video Disney NAPPA Book from LA Parent In a collection of gardening books from Minnesota Parent New York Public Library Summer Reading Program (1997)
	From Pictures to Words (A Book About Making a Book) by Janet Stevens Illustrator Janet Stevens walks into her studio, a cloud of imaginary characters trailing along behind her. "We think it's about time you wrote a story for us," they say. "I draw pictures! I can't write stories," she answers. "You can if you try." So, with the help of the koala, rhinoceros, and the cat that have been in her imagination the longest, Janet creates a story about three animals on a camping trip. She starts with an image, then creates a problem for the animals to solve. She sketches out her ideas before working on a text. The, once she starts writing, she revises until she's happy with the result. She sends the story to her publisher, and the animals get to see a book develop from manuscript to finished book. People approach writing in different ways. Here, they'll see how one artist goes about the creation of a story. They'll learn that for some people, it's easier to go "from pictures to words" than the other way around. They'll discover that it's exciting and rewarding to create a book. Parents Place Children's Literature Choice List for 1995 Writing Prompts