Paul O. Zelinsky

Climb aboard for the most exciting bus ride in town! You already know the famous song, but you have never seen it brought to life quite like this. As the bus rumbles down the street, you get to be part of the action. This is not just a story to read; it is a moving, spinning adventure. Watch the doors open and shut, see the wipers swish back and forth, and help the wheels go round and round. Packed with clever characters and colorful surprises at every stop, this classic journey is bursting with energy. Get ready to sing along loudly and bumpety-bump your way through town with a bus full of very funny passengers.

Step outside for a musical stroll where surprises are hiding behind every corner! A young boy is just taking a simple walk, but soon he is joined by some very unusual characters. Tiny old men, numbering from one all the way up to ten, keep popping up in the most unexpected places. They act out every single part of a famous counting song, tumbling and playing all around the boy as he tries to continue on his way. This lively adventure turns a favorite tune into a spectacular parade. You can follow along with the rhythm, count the tiny visitors, and enjoy the magical, musical chaos that unfolds with every step.

A little maid and her tiny mouse friend live together in a very strange home. From the outside, their house has an incredibly odd shape that does not look like a normal building at all. As the maid goes about her daily chores and the mouse scurries along beside her, they decide to make a few changes to their unusual home. But with every new room they clean and every corner they adjust, the house starts to look more and more familiar. Slowly, the mysterious shape of the house begins to resemble a giant, sneaky cat! You will love watching the visual puzzle unfold page by page. It is a clever, funny tale full of surprises, where a simple house transforms right before your eyes into something wonderfully unexpected.

Jump in! Imagine a girl with hair so long and golden, it can reach from the top of a tall, lonely tower all the way to the ground! This is Rapunzel, kept away from the world by a powerful sorceress. Day after day, Rapunzel sings beautiful songs, dreaming of freedom. What happens next? One day, a handsome prince hears Rapunzel's enchanting voice and discovers the secret of the tower. Can he find a way to rescue her from her magical prison? And what challenges will they face together? Why it pulls you in! Join Rapunzel and the brave prince on an unforgettable adventure filled with magic, daring escapes, and true love. Paul O. Zelinsky's amazing pictures bring this classic story to life, making every page a joy to behold. You won't want to miss this timeless tale!

Welcome to a world where painting is serious business! Meet two of the greatest artists around: a very proud lion and a very clever stoat. Both animals are absolutely certain that they are the best painter in the land. Because they both want to be number one, they are locked in a constant, hilarious competition. If the lion paints a stunning picture, the stoat tries to paint something even more amazing. They try to trick each other, outsmart each other, and show off their incredible skills to anyone who will watch. Get ready for a fierce and funny rivalry filled with flying paint and big egos. As you watch these two stubborn artists battle it out brushstroke by brushstroke, you will have to decide for yourself who truly deserves to wear the crown of the greatest artist.

The year is 1912 and the bustling streets of New Yorks Lower East Side are filled with the delicious smells of frying latkes. The five sisters of the All of a Kind Family are busy preparing for Hanukkah but little Gertie is heartbroken when she is told she is too young to help in the kitchen. After a big tantrum and some time alone she wonders if she will get to be part of the celebration at all. When Papa finally comes home he has a very special surprise waiting for her that proves even the smallest family member has an important role to play. You will feel the warmth of the candles and the love of a close knit immigrant family in this beautiful story about traditions and growing up. It is a perfect holiday tale that captures the joy of sharing special moments with the people you love most.

Deep in a dark and mysterious forest, a poor woodcutter's children have lost their way. Hansel and Gretel are tired, hungry, and entirely alone among the giant trees. Just when things seem hopeless, they stumble into a clearing and discover a truly magnificent sight. Right in front of them stands a beautiful house made entirely of delicious bread, sweet cakes, and sugary candy! It looks like a perfect dream come true for two hungry children. But you must be careful when things look too good to be true. The house belongs to a wicked witch with a terrible plan. Hansel and Gretel will need all their cleverness and bravery to escape her trap and find their way back home.

Meet Mrs. Lovewright. She is absolutely certain that a cozy little cat is exactly what her chilly house needs. She imagines a tiny, purring friend sitting perfectly still on her lap. But things do not go exactly as planned. Instead of a sweet little kitten, she gets a cat named Purrless. As his name suggests, he does not purr. He also does not like being told what to do. Purrless has a very strong mind of his own, and he prefers to do things his way. Get ready for a hilarious battle of wills between a stubborn lady and an even more stubborn feline. You will laugh out loud as Mrs. Lovewright tries to tame her new pet, only to discover that sometimes, the pets end up training their owners!

Do you wonder how your favorite toys came to be with you? In "Toys Come Home," you'll meet three very special friends: Lumphy the stuffed animal, StingRay the plush toy, and Plastic, a strong little toy. Join them on six wonderful adventures to discover how they all came to live in the Girl's room!

Jump in Lumphy the stuffed buffalo StingRay the plush toy and Plastic the bouncy ball are back for more secret adventures when their favorite person is away. Life as a toy is never quiet especially when there is a mysterious shark on the loose and a big dance party to plan. Why it pulls you in You will discover what happens when toys have to handle big feelings like being left out or realizing that the girl they love is starting to grow up. These six stories are full of warmth and the kind of magic that only happens in a playroom after the door is closed. Enjoy the journey Whether they are facing their fears or celebrating with a grand ball you will see how these three best friends always look out for one another. It is a charming look at friendship and imagination that proves being a toy is a very serious and very funny business.

Have you ever wondered what your toys do when you're not around? Meet Lumphy, a lovable stuffed buffalo; StingRay, a brave stuffed stingray; and Plastic, who isn't quite sure what she is, but is always up for an adventure! These three best friends belong to the Little Girl and live on her high, fluffy bed. Life outside the Little Girl's room can be a little confusing for toys. Lumphy gets sticky with peanut butter on a picnic and doesn't understand why he's called "dirty." StingRay dares to jump into the bathtub, wondering what will happen to her fur. And how can they find the perfect birthday present for the Little Girl? Join Lumphy, StingRay, and Plastic as they explore the big, wide world of the house, face mysterious dogs, navigate the chaos of school, and even brave the terrifying washing machine! Together, these extraordinary friends learn about life, friendship, and what it means to belong. Get ready for six linked stories full of curiosity and fun!

The Mountain View Inn has become far too dangerous for a thrill seeking mouse like Ralph. His rowdy cousins are constantly trying to wreck his precious motorcycle, and the hotel manager is threatening to bring in an exterminator. To escape the stress, Ralph persuades his human friend Ryan to sneak him into school. At first, Ralph loves being the center of attention in Ryan's classroom. But the excitement fades when the students decide to test his intelligence by forcing him to run through a maze. Suddenly, the confident mouse feels anxious and confused. Things get even worse when Ryan gets into a fight and Ralph's beloved motorcycle is broken. You will root for Ralph as he tries to navigate the noisy world of an elementary school, figuring out how to repair his bike and prove just how clever a small mouse can truly be.

Zebra is trying very hard to put together a perfect, orderly alphabet book. A is for Apple, B is for Ball. It all seems so simple. But Moose is terribly eager to help out. In fact, Moose cannot wait for his turn. Even though Moose is supposed to wait patiently for the letter M, he keeps jumping onto the pages where he does not belong. When Zebra finally reaches the letter M and chooses a different word, Moose behaves very, very badly. You will be giggling on every page as Moose crashes through the alphabet, causing absolute chaos. It is a wildly funny story about a ruined book, a huge tantrum, and what it truly means to be a good friend when things go wrong.

Learning about shapes is usually a very orderly activity. You have your circles, your squares, and your triangles. But a certain large animal with antlers has decided to crash the lesson! Moose absolutely loves shapes, and he cannot resist jumping right into the middle of this book. Before long, he is squishing the circles, ruining the rectangles, and turning a simple lesson into complete chaos. Once again, it is up to his best friend, Zebra, to try and restore order and save the pages from disaster. You will laugh out loud at this hilarious follow-up adventure as Moose stomps through the pages. It is a wonderful mix of funny conversations, messy mistakes, and a heartwarming look at how good friends can fix even the biggest problems together.

When the Little Girl is away the toys come out to play and today they are heading into a world of white. Lumphy the stuffed buffalo StingRay the plush ray and Plastic the ball have never seen snow before and they have a lot of questions. Is it cold? Is it edible? Together they venture outside to explore the wintry garden building snowmen and making tiny snow angels. You will join them on their quiet and magical adventure as they discover the wonders of the winter season and the warmth of their own friendship. It is a gentle cozy story that captures the awe of seeing snow for the very first time through the eyes of three beloved characters. By the time they head back inside to get warm you will feel just as magical as they do after a day of play in the frosty air.

Meet Angelica Longrider, the greatest woods-woman in all of Tennessee! People call her Swamp Angel because she can wield a tornado like a lasso, drink an entire lake dry, and snore down a whole forest. When a gigantic, hungry bear named Thundering Tarnation starts stealing the settlers' winter supplies, the folks in town need a hero. Swamp Angel steps right up to the challenge. She sets out to track down the fearsome creature and save the day when no one else can. What follows is the wildest, most epic wrestling match the mountains have ever seen! You will be amazed by Angel's incredible strength as she battles the massive bear across the landscape, tumbling over prairies and stirring up dust all the way to the starry heavens. Join this larger-than-life hero on a hilarious, rough-and-tumble adventure.

Most orphans would probably hate living at St. Morwald's Home for Children, but Earwig thinks it is absolutely perfect. From the moment she was left on the doorstep as a baby, she has cleverly managed to get everyone in the orphanage to do exactly what she wants. She has a wonderful life and absolutely no desire to be adopted by anyone. But Earwig's perfect setup is ruined the day a terrifying woman named Bella Yaga and her strange, looming companion, the Mandrake, arrive to take her away. Earwig is suddenly whisked off to a bizarre, mysterious house filled with invisible rooms, bubbling potions, and dangerous spell books. It turns out her new foster mother is a very real, very bossy witch who expects Earwig to be her hardworking servant. Most children would run away in sheer terror, but Earwig is not most children. Armed with her sharp wits and a little help from a talking magical cat, she decides to learn the secrets of magic and show this wicked witch who is actually in charge!

Imagine finding something so fascinating that you simply cannot stop looking at it, even when you are told to stay away. While visiting his grandmother, a young boy spots a magnificent, perfectly crafted miniature steamboat resting on a shelf. His grandmother warns him never to touch the fragile ship, but the boy is completely captivated. He watches the tiny vessel closely and becomes absolutely convinced that there must be little people living and working inside it. He waits for night to fall, hoping to catch a glimpse of the tiny sailors secretly moving around the decks. Driven by intense curiosity, the boy devises careful plans to capture the little fellows. This gripping story explores the immense power of a child's imagination and what happens when the urge to uncover a mystery pushes you to break the rules. Will he find the secret crew, or will his hunting lead to an entirely different kind of discovery?