Crafty Fiction for Kids

Pelle shears his lamb and gets the wool carded, spun, dyed, woven and made into a fine new suit. (Ages 4 - 9) ...

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Business returns to a once prosperous restaurant when a mysterious stranger pays for his meal with a magical paper crane that comes alive and dances. ...

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An artist describes finding natural beauty in the world around us. ...

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With paintings that capture all the beauty of Appalachia in authentic detail, this tender story about a resourceful mountain girl's special coat will touchreaders with its affirming message of love and friendship. ...

California, here we come!Faith's Pa says there's no room on a wagon train for Josefina, a chicken who's too tough to eat and too old to lay eggs. But Faith loves her pet. Can Josefina show Pa that she still has a few surprises left in her? ...

"We will make a quilt to help us always remember home," Anna's mother said. "It will be like heaving the family in backhome Russia dance around us at night. And so it was. From a basket of old clothes, Anna's babushka, Uncle Vladimir's shirt, Aunt Havalah's nightdress and an apron of Aunt Natasha's become The Keeping Quilt, passed along from mother to daughter for almost a century. For four generations the quilt is a Sabbath tablecloth, a wedding canopy, and a blanket that welcomes babies warmly into the world. In strongly moving pictures that are as heartwarming as they are real, patricia Polacco tells the story of her own family, and the quilt that remains a symbol of their enduring love and faith. ...

Geraldine, a goat, describes each step as she and her Navajo friend make a rug, from the hair clipping and carding to the dyeing and actual weaving. ...

In this enchantingly told original folktale, a wise quiltmaker makes the most beautiful quilts in the world - but she will give them only to those who have nothing. When a rich, dissatisfied king insists that she give him one of her quilts, she gives him what seems an impossible task: to give away all he owns. One by one, the king gives away his many possessions, and finds that the more he gives away, the happier he is. Finally, when the king has nothing, the quiltmaker gives him the promised quilt. But he knows that the true reward for his generosity has been the smiles of those he has helped.The Quiltmaker's Gift has touched the hearts of readers young and old, bringing it to the PW bestseller list and earning it numerous awards and commendations. The heartwarming, strongly moral tale supports important values, and the detailed illustrations, featuring dozens of lovingly rendered quilt patterns, offer hours of delight. Children will delight in this new commemorative edition, which includes a special Quiltmaker's Gift Box so that, following the example of the Quiltmaker, they can create their own beautiful quilts. The gift box includes a quarter yard of quilting fabric, step-by-step instructions for simple, fun projects, and helpful tips and advice for eager young quiltmakers. ...

“An extraordinary book, one no reader will fail to find compelling and unforgettable.” —Booklist, starred review The star of her school’s running team, Sadako is lively and athletic…until the dizzy spells start. Then she must face the hardest race of her life—the race against time. Based on a true story, Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes celebrates the courage that makes one young woman a heroine in Japan. "[The] story speaks directly to young readers of the tragedy of Sadako's death and, in its simplicity, makes a universal statement for 'peace in the world.” —The Horn Book "The story is told tenderly but with neither a morbid nor a sentimental tone: it is direct and touching." —BCCB ...

A classroom favorite about the power of art and creativity. A new neighborhood. A new school. A lonely birthday. Life isn’t easy for nine-year-old Gregory. Then he finds an abandoned chalk factory behind his house. It’s a secret place, just for him! Now he can draw anything he imagines on the dark brick walls. What amazing thing will Gregory draw first? Two beloved classics—The Chalk Box Kid and The Paint Brush Kid—get a vibrant new look! ...

Gloria Whelan's National Book Award–winning novel, chronicles the breathtaking story of a remarkable young woman who dares to defy fate. Like many girls her age in India, thirteen–year–old Koly faces her arranged marriage with hope and courage. But Koly's story takes a terrible turn when in the wake of the ceremony, she discovers she's been horribly misled; her life has been sold for a dowry. In prose both graceful and unflinching, this powerful novel relays the story of a rare young woman, who even when cast out into a brutal current of time–worn tradition, sets out to forge her own remarkable future.Inspired by a newspaper article about the real thirteen–year–old widows in India today, this universally acclaimed best–selling novel, characterized by spare, lyrical language and remarkable detail, transports readers into the heart of a gripping tale of hope. Ages 10+ ...

The white shape silhouetted against a blue background changes on every page.Is it a rabbit, a bird, or just spilt milk? Children are kept guessing until the surprise ending -- and will be encouraged to improvise similar games of their own. ...

Little blue and little yellow share wonderful adventures. One day, they can't find one another. When they finally meet, they are overjoyed. They hug until they become green. But where did little blue and little yellow go? Are they lost? ...

"A gentle story about a lamb who wants to have a bright red sweater just like the shepherd boy who tends him. When Lalo finds out from his mother how wool becomes a sweater, he sets out to try to wash, spin, and dye his own wool. As Lalo perseveres and goes through this bewildering process, the shepherd boy is always there to rescue the lamb when he faces difficulties. The ending is wonderfully endearing as the lamb discovers the most important step in making a sweater, and one that gives him his true wish in the end. The story echoes a beautiful message of acceptance and unconditional love." ...

A year in the life of two young girls growing up on the Wisconsin frontier, as they help their mother with the daily chores, enjoy their father's stories and singing, and share special occasions when they get together with relatives or neighbors. ...