The Cranky Ballerina
The Cranky Ballerina

Author: Elise Gravel

Publisher: HarperCollins

Published: 2016-08-09

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9780062351241

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Ada hates everything about ballet class, yet she still has to go! Arabesques? Grotesque! And then one Saturday, Ada pliés right out the door and into the hallway, smacking into someone who thinks her ungraceful moves are great! In the tradition of Kevin Henkes’s Lilly books and Russell and Lillian Hoban’s Frances classics, Ada is a plucky little kid with her own way of thinking. Through Ada’s stubbornness and emotional honesty, author/illustrator Elise Gravel shows her understanding of how kids feel and why. She shows us that anger is normal and feeling our emotions leads to growth! This short, funny, energetic book—full of word bubbles that enhance visual literacy and Gravel’s signature vibrant illustrations—is a great choice for both reading aloud and reading independently for emergent readers. Children who love ballet—and definitely those who don’t—will delight in this clever, subversive tale about a kid who has to do what she doesn’t like in order to discover what she loves.

What Is a Refugee?
What Is a Refugee?

Author: Elise Gravel

Publisher: Schwartz & Wade

Published: 2019-09-24

Total Pages: 32

ISBN-13: 0593120078

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An accessible picture book that oh-so-simply and graphically introduces the term "refugee" to curious young children to help them better understand the world in which they live. Who are refugees? Why are they called that word? Why do they need to leave their country? Why are they sometimes not welcome in their new country? In this relevant picture book for the youngest children, author-illustrator Elise Gravel explores what it means to be a refugee in bold, graphic illustrations and spare text. This is the perfect tool to introduce an important and timely topic to children.

Sunny-Side Up
Sunny-Side Up

Author: Jacky Davis

Publisher: HarperCollins

Published: 2021-02-09

Total Pages: 40

ISBN-13: 0063089602

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Bestselling author Jacky Davis and award-winning illustrator Fiona Woodcock celebrate family, love, and imagination in this vibrant and expressive picture book. Father-daughter time shines in this irresistible story about creativity, solving problems, and looking on the bright side when faced with obstacles. A great read-aloud for rainy days . . . or any day you’re stuck at home! Drip, drip, drop. With breakfast finished, an energetic young girl is ready to play. But it’s raining, and Dad says that she must stay inside. So, she crafts and she builds, she draws and she bakes. What else can she do to find the sunny side of a rainy day? Keep gloominess at bay with Sunny-Side Up, a wonderful choice about resilience and the power of imagination. A perfect book to share at storytime, to celebrate Father's Day, and to encourage kids—and their parents and caregivers—to use creativity to overcome challenges.

Dancing Through It
Dancing Through It

Author: Jenifer Ringer

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2014-02-20

Total Pages: 335

ISBN-13: 069815150X

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“A glimpse into the fragile psyche of a dancer.” —The Washington Post Jenifer Ringer, a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, was thrust into the headlines after her weight was commented on by a New York Times critic, and her response ignited a public dialogue about dance and weight. Ballet aficionados and aspiring performers of all ages will want to join Ringer behind the scenes as she shares her journey from student to star and candidly discusses both her struggle with an eating disorder and the media storm that erupted after the Times review. An unusually upbeat account of life on the stage, Dancing Through It is also a coming-of-age story and an inspiring memoir of faith and of triumph over the body issues that torment all too many women and men.

Pink, Blue, and You!
Pink, Blue, and You!

Author: Elise Gravel

Publisher: Anne Schwartz Books

Published: 2022-03-08

Total Pages: 41

ISBN-13: 0593178637

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Simple, accessible, and direct, this picture book is perfect for kids and parents or teachers to read together, opening the door to conversations about gender stereotypes and everyone's right to be their true selves. Is it okay for boys to cry? Can girls be strong? Should girls and boys be given different toys to play with and different clothes to wear? Should we all feel free to love whoever we choose to love? In this incredibly kid-friendly and easy-to-grasp picture book, author-illustrator Elise Gravel and transgender collaborator Mykaell Blais raise these questions and others relating to gender roles, acceptance, and stereotyping. With its simple language, colorful illustrations, engaging backmatter that showcases how "appropriate" male and female fashion has changed through history, and even a poster kids can hang on their wall, here is the ideal tool to help in conversations about a multi-layered and important topic.

Puppy in My Head
Puppy in My Head

Author: Elise Gravel

Publisher: HarperCollins

Published: 2021-01-05

Total Pages: 35

ISBN-13: 0063089564

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Kids experience anxiety and can feel overwhelmed just like adults do, and this picture book serves as both a story and a step-by-step guide to help calm kids down. Ollie is the puppy living inside of our narrator's head, and when Ollie panics or is too energetic, the narrator feels that way, too! But she learns to handle the situation with her breath and her mindfulness, and by talking it out with an adult. In plain language and with a rare sense of understanding and compassion, Elise Gravel tackles anxiety in children head-on with bold colors and whimsical illustrations. This picture book also features a note from a pediatrician on the importance of mental health. Perfect for bedtime or the classroom, readers will walk away a little more well-equipped to handle the puppies in their own heads.

I Want a Monster!
I Want a Monster!

Author: Elise Gravel

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Published: 2016-03-15

Total Pages: 40

ISBN-13: 9780062415332

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Winnie wants a monster! Some monsters smell like pirate feet and some might read your diary, but they are so darn cute! All Winnie’s friends have one. But how much do Oogly-Wumps eat? Don’t they ever sleep? Can monsters get lonely? I Want a Monster! is a humorous, energetic celebration of the responsibility and joy of owning your dream pet, perfect for fans of Peter Brown’s Children Make Terrible Pets or anyone who’s ever longed for or loved a pet of any kind. Includes a “Would You Like to Adopt a Monster?” activity at the back of the book.

Ready to Fly: How Sylvia Townsend Became the Bookmobile Ballerina
Ready to Fly: How Sylvia Townsend Became the Bookmobile Ballerina

Author: Lea Lyon

Publisher: HarperCollins

Published: 2020-07-07

Total Pages: 45

ISBN-13: 0063068133

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Lyrical, inspiring, and affecting text paired with bright, appealing illustrations make Ready to Fly perfect for aspiring ballerinas everywhere who are ready to leap and to spread their wings! Ready to Fly is the true story of Sylvia Townsend, an African American girl who falls in love with ballet after seeing Swan Lake on TV. This nonfiction picture book is an excellent choice to share at home or in the classroom. Although there aren’t many ballet schools that will accept a girl like Sylvia in the 1950s, her local bookmobile provides another possibility. A librarian helps Sylvia find a book about ballet and the determined seven-year-old, with the help of her new books, starts teaching herself the basics of classical ballet. Soon Sylvia learns how to fly—how to dance—and how to dare to dream. Includes a foreword from Sylvia Townsend, a brief history of the bookmobile, an author’s note, and a further reading list.

Olga: Out of Control!
Olga: Out of Control!

Author: Elise Gravel

Publisher: HarperCollins

Published: 2019-09-24

Total Pages: 209

ISBN-13: 0062351346

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Join Olga, the science-loving girl in the red dress, in her most wacky adventure yet! Perfect for fans of Dear Dumb Diary and My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish. In this third installment of the series, Olga’s beloved companion, Meh, is now a mom! She has a litter of adorable babies that look like spring rolls. But the babies aren’t just adorable—they’re a handful! How can Olga stop them from covering her house in rainbow poop if she’s busy making sure they’re fed? Can Olga keep it all under control? Packing in three times the girl power, hilarious quips, and kooky science facts of the previous books, Olga: Out of Control is sure to have kids laughing!

Olga and the Smelly Thing from Nowhere
Olga and the Smelly Thing from Nowhere

Author: Elise Gravel

Publisher: HarperCollins

Published: 2017-03-14

Total Pages: 197

ISBN-13: 0062351281

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A Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Book of the Year! Meet Olga, the amazing child scientist who LOVES animals (because they are super-cute)! Brightly put this heavily illustrated don't-miss book on their "Ultimate Summer Reading List for 9- to 12-Year-Olds." Olga and the Smelly Thing from Nowhere is jam-packed with fun: vibrant illustrations, word bubbles, quirky humor, olgamus facts, and plenty of excitement for readers who love making discoveries and meeting new friends. Olga is a charming combination of independent, curious, and smart—making her the coolest girl scientist around—perfect for fans of Dork Diaries and Captain Underpants. When Olga crosses paths with a weird creature and becomes the first kid to discover the species olgamus ridiculus, she is ecstatic! What does an olgamus eat? How does it poop? Why does its burp sound like the word rubber? With her trusty observation notebook and the help of a librarian, a shopkeeper, and some friends, Olga sets out to do science—learning the facts about her smelly, almost-furry pal and searching for him when he goes missing. The scientific method is the best way to discover anything!