David Small

In a peaceful little town perched right on the edge of the sea, lives a gentle man named Paper John. He is a true master of paper folding, spending his days crafting delicate flowers, beautiful birds, and sturdy little boats to sell at the market. His skills are so spectacular that he even lives inside an entire house constructed perfectly from folded paper. Known for his endless patience and good nature, the townsfolk claim he is so nice that he could charm the devil himself. Unfortunately, that bold claim is about to be put to the ultimate test when a wicked trickster arrives in town to stir up major trouble. Armed with only his quick wits and his incredible folding skills, John must engage in a high stakes battle of cleverness to save his village from absolute disaster.

Miss Ruby Mae Foote is a wonderful woman from Nada, Texas, with a massive dream. She desperately wants to travel to the United Nations and deliver a powerful message of universal peace to the entire world. She has the passion and the vision, but she suffers from one disastrous problem. The moment she steps in front of a crowd, she gets hopelessly tongue-tied and cannot form a single coherent sentence. Her political ambitions seem completely ruined until her clever nephew Billy Bob steps in to save the day. Using spare kitchen utensils, he invents a magnificent, hat-like contraption designed to instantly fix her speech troubles. But can this delightfully bizarre homemade gadget truly transform a nervous speaker into an eloquent political sensation? This witty and heartwarming story celebrates brilliant ideas, eccentric inventions, and the immense power of an ordinary person with an extraordinary message.

Decades after her unforgettable first adventure, Imogene is back to surprise her family all over again. You might remember the chaotic Thursday when she woke up with a massive pair of antlers. Her family was completely bewildered, and her poor mother fainted from the shock. Fortunately, the antlers vanished the very next day. But the relief did not last long, because those antlers were instantly replaced by something entirely new. Now, Imogene wakes up every single morning sporting a delightfully bizarre and wonderfully curious new feature. Some of her daily transformations are incredibly helpful, some are remarkably sweet, and others are just delightfully strange. While her proper mother completely panics at the daily chaos, our heroine takes every wacky change perfectly in stride. This charming and long-awaited sequel proves that no matter how strange things get on the outside, a brave and adaptable girl always stays true to herself.

Mr. Hoover is a delightfully clueless man who has a serious problem keeping his extremely dusty house clean. Desperate for a little tidiness, he heads out shopping and instantly falls head over heels in love with Elektra, a sleek and vivacious vacuum cleaner. Swept completely off his feet by her powerful suction and flawless shine, he decides she is the absolute perfect match for him. Soon, the two are happily pronounced man and appliance. However, true love rarely runs perfectly smoothly. During their romantic honeymoon, Elektra makes a shocking decision and unexpectedly runs off with a rugged, handsome lawn mower. Left completely bewildered by his runaway machine, Mr. Hoover must figure out how to pick up the pieces of his broken heart. This wonderfully wacky and utterly absurd story is packed with hilarious poetry that will have you laughing until you gasp.

While taking a walk through the quiet woods, a mother toad and her young daughter Eulalie stumble upon an unexpected discovery. Lying abandoned in the dirt is an old doll, and the mother toad cannot help but admire how quiet, perfect, and beautifully behaved this silent toy appears to be. Eulalie, however, is full of mischievous energy and decides to try the doll's hollow head on for size. What happens next is a wildly hilarious case of mistaken identity and absolute chaos. As Eulalie bounces blindly through the forest disguised as a giant, hopping doll head, the woodland creatures are thrown into a total panic. Through the frantic search and the silly confusion, this incredibly funny woodland adventure ultimately proves that a lively, wonderfully messy child is always better than a quiet, perfect doll.

How would you react if you woke up one morning with a giant pair of antlers sprouting from your head? For young Imogene, this unexpected discovery is simply the start of a very strange and hilarious Thursday. While she accepts her new feature with calm grace, her family is thrown into absolute panic. The family doctor is stumped, the school principal is horrified, and her know-it-all brother has no answers. Fortunately, the kitchen staff has much better ideas, finding delightfully creative and practical uses for Imogene's impressive new horns. Featuring wonderfully dry comedy and expressive artwork, this classic tale turns a bizarre situation into a heartwarming celebration of acceptance and keeping your cool. You will be giggling at the absolute chaos happening around one remarkably calm girl, right up to the unforgettable surprise waiting at the breakfast table the very next day.

Meet Fenwick, the mild mannered guy in the office who perfectly blends into the background. Tired of feeling completely invisible, he decides it is time to drastically change his image and grab everyone's attention. Marching straight to the tailor, Fenwick purchases a wildly bright, red and yellow plaid three piece suit. He is confident this vibrant new outfit will finally help him make some friends and stand out from the crowd. However, he gets much more than he bargained for when his incredibly bold clothing literally takes on a mischievous life of its own. As the suit begins dragging him into increasingly absurd and disastrous situations, Fenwick must figure out how to regain control of his life. This surreal and incredibly funny adventure is packed with hilarious physical comedy that proves the clothes do not always make the man.

Everyone knows George Washington as the brilliant father of his country, but wait until you meet the residents of his farm! Running the nation is hard enough, but managing his incredibly demanding animals might just be impossible. His cows absolutely refuse to stay in the barn, insisting on living upstairs in the house wearing their own fancy dresses. The hogs are admittedly very helpful around the property, but it deeply annoys Martha Washington when their lavish parties outshine her own. To make matters worse, the sheep are highly educated scholars walking around with college degrees to prove it. What is an important historical leader supposed to do with such a ridiculous farm? Written in bouncy, laugh out loud rhymes, this hilarious tall tale offers a wildly imaginative and utterly silly peek behind the scenes of American history that will leave you grinning.

Do you have what it takes to change the world? Discover the incredible true stories behind some of the most fascinating creations in history. You will meet famous historical figures like Thomas Edison and Benjamin Franklin, but you will also learn about the lesser known geniuses who gave us everyday marvels like Velcro and the technology behind satellite communications. Whether you are a quiet daydreamer or a daring risk taker, this witty and spirited look at history shows that anyone with a clever idea and plenty of determination can create something amazing. Packed with brilliant facts and brought to life with incredibly engaging illustrations, this journey through the history of innovation will inspire your own creativity. You might just close these pages ready to sketch out the next great invention yourself.

Meet Elizabeth Brown. She has no interest in playing with dolls or learning how to roller skate. Her true passion is diving into a good book. As the years go by, Elizabeth reads and reads, and her collection grows and grows. Soon enough, her shelves collapse under the weight of her beloved stories, and the towering stacks of books completely block her front door. What is a dedicated reader to do when her house can no longer hold her collection? You will be charmed by Elizabeth's brilliant and generous solution to her enormous problem. Written in cheerful, witty rhymes and brought to life with charming illustrations, this heartwarming story celebrates the pure joy of reading and the wonderful gift of sharing stories with others. It is a perfect tribute to the magic found inside a library.

What would you do if a snapping, hungry crocodile showed up at your house just in time for Christmas? That is exactly what happens to Alice Jayne and her family when a giant crate is delivered to the wrong address. This is not your typical holiday guest! The Christmas Crocodile is mischievous, very green, and has a taste for everything from the ornaments on the tree to the roast turkey in the kitchen. As the family tries to figure out what to do with their toothy visitor, chaos ensues in the funniest ways possible. You will enjoy this wild holiday romp that proves sometimes the most unexpected guests can make for the most memorable celebrations. It is a silly, warmhearted tale perfect for anyone who thinks their family holidays are a little bit crazy.

Marshall is absolutely certain about one simple fact: gingerbread men are meant for eating, not for running. Despite what the classic fairy tales claim, he knows cookies cannot simply hop off a baking sheet and sprint away. But after spending a wonderful morning baking with his classmates, it is finally time to pull their delicious treats out of the oven. There is only one massive problem. The cookies have completely vanished! Now, Marshall and his friends must dash through the school halls, solving a trail of clever rhyming clues left behind by the rogue treats. As the hunt becomes wilder and the riddles get trickier, Marshall might just have to admit that a little bit of magic is real after all. This delightfully funny and fast paced mystery will have you guessing right alongside the class until the very last crumb.

When times get incredibly tough for her family, young Lydia Grace Finch is sent away to the bustling, gray city to live with her cantankerous Uncle Jim. Leaving her rural home behind is difficult, but Lydia refuses to leave her passion for growing things. Packing her small suitcase full of hope and a massive collection of seeds, she arrives at her uncle's bakery ready to work. Slowly but surely, Lydia begins to transform the gloomy shop, planting vibrant flowers in every available window box and bringing bright smiles to the weary customers' faces. However, her ultimate goal is to create a breathtaking, secret rooftop garden spectacular enough to finally make her grumpy uncle crack a smile. Told entirely through heartfelt letters, this inspiring and visually stunning historical tale celebrates the immense power of bringing beauty and joy into a dark world.

Elliot is an impeccably polite boy who knows exactly what he wants. While on a trip to the aquarium with his somewhat distracted father, Elliot discovers his dream pet: a majestic penguin. With a polite request and a clear mind, he asks his father for one, and to his surprise, the answer is a resounding yes. What follows is a delightfully dry and witty adventure as Elliot brings his new tuxedoed friend home. You will watch as he meticulously cares for his secret guest, turning his bedroom into a chilly sanctuary and sharing his snacks. But Elliot's father might not have realized that his son wasn't asking for a plush toy. This Caldecott Honor book features elegant illustrations that perfectly capture the sophisticated humor of the story. You will be charmed by the unexpected friendship and the clever twist at the end that proves Elliot and his father might have more in common than you first thought.

Have you ever wondered what it takes to run a whole country? Step inside the most famous house in America and discover the wild, funny, and surprisingly human facts about the men who have held the highest office in the land. From George Washington to modern leaders, you will find out that presidents come in all shapes, sizes, and personalities. Some had pet alligators, while others could not stop making terrible jokes. Through hilarious portraits and incredibly fun facts, you will see the quirks, triumphs, and everyday habits of these powerful leaders. This brilliantly illustrated, award-winning history book brings the past to life in a way that is guaranteed to make you laugh and think. You will quickly learn that there is no single right way to be a leader, and maybe, just maybe, you have what it takes to take the job yourself.

Running errands with Mom is usually the most boring part of the week, but today is about to be entirely different. Instead of receiving the typical lollipop at the bakery or a simple sticker at the doctor's office, a young boy discovers that the entire town is running the most spectacular promotion in history. Every single purchase comes with a massive, living, breathing dinosaur! A trip to the shoe store scores him a triceratops, while a dozen donuts earns him a towering hadrosaur. It is the absolute ultimate dream come true for a kid, but his mother is understandably terrified by their rapidly growing, stomping, roaring collection. How on earth are they going to fit all these prehistoric giants into their yard, and more importantly, how can he convince his shocked mom to let him keep them? This stupendously funny adventure turns a boring afternoon into an unforgettable prehistoric parade.

A beautiful glass kingdom is cracking, and no one knows how to save it. The king and queen are desperate, so they try to find Bloom, a powerful fairy. There is just one problem. Bloom was banished a long time ago because of her messy, muddy boots. When the royal couple fails to get her help, they send an ordinary girl named Genevieve on a quest to save the day. Genevieve must figure out how to work with the muddy, magical fairy to fix their fragile home. This story takes you on an exciting adventure where you learn that being perfectly clean is not always the most important thing. Sometimes, you have to roll up your sleeves and get a little dirty to solve big problems. Discover how courage, clever thinking, and a pair of muddy boots might just be the perfect magic to save an entire kingdom.

Shirley and Moe are just a perfectly ordinary couple trying to host a quiet, peaceful dinner for their relatives. Moe is happily tinkering in the yard when something completely extraordinary interrupts their suburban afternoon. A massive flying saucer silently drops out of the sky and parks right next to their humble toolshed. Out march a pair of friendly, bug-like aliens who simply need to use the bathroom. While Moe completely panics and dials the FBI, the Pentagon, and the Marines, Shirley calmly decides that good manners matter no matter what planet you are from. As the military surrounds their house and their fainting relatives arrive for dinner, Shirley politely invites the extraterrestrial visitors to sit down for a plate of spaghetti and meatballs. This hilarious, out-of-this-world comedy playfully proves that a little bit of courtesy and a great meal can instantly bridge the gap between galaxies.

High up in the rugged Appalachian Mountains, young Cal has absolutely no time for reading. He would much rather be out helping his father plow the fields or chasing after stray sheep than sitting perfectly still staring at pages of chicken scratch. But a mysterious woman keeps appearing at their isolated cabin, determined to lend his sister books. Neither pouring rain nor blinding snow stops her from riding her horse right up the treacherous mountain paths. Cal cannot understand why anyone would go through so much trouble just to deliver a pile of pages. Slowly, he begins to realize that this brave librarian might be carrying something far more valuable than he ever imagined. This beautifully told and deeply moving story honors the heroic Pack Horse Librarians of American history, celebrating the incredible power of stories and the dedicated people who share them.