One morning Silly Tilly Mole wakes up and smells jelly beans. She thinks she forgot to remember Easter. She wants to ask the Easter Bunny in for a cup of tea, but where are her glasses and Easter bonnet? Tilly is so silly she forgets what she's looking for--and almost misses Easter!‘Tilly Mole wakes up one morning, smells jelly beans in the wind, and remarks to herself, ‘It must be Easter.’ Easter it is, but that’s the only thing Tilly gets right during the morning. Kids will get a laugh out of Tilly’s goofs, which are genuinely gently funny.’ —SLJ.

Library of Congress Children's Book of the Year

When Pa was taking Jim to school for the first time, Jim said, "Will I have a friend at school?" "I think you will," said Pa.

But even his father's gentle reassurance doesn't make Jim feel any better. The other children in kindergarten are scary strangers to him. He's sure that he'll never find a friend...until naptime, when he discovers someone who feels the way he does.

s her little sister Gloria's birthday approaches, Frances wavers between being generous'and being jealous. ‘[Frances] is every youngster who chafes at being the un-birthday child.

For big sisters and little brothers in dens, burrows, and houses everywhere. "Mildred," said Father Muskrat, "it is true that Harvey is selfish and inconsiderate, but he is not stupid and no-good. Mildred is loudmouthed and bossy," Father said to Harvey, "but she is not mean and rotten." When Mildred goes off to a big party where little brothers are not invited, Harvey finds a secret club in a secret place where big sisters are not allowed to be members. But when Harvey's lonesomeness overpowers his stubbornness, he discovers that a secret club with two members is much better.

Arthur's gone Camping.

Violet's camping out too, but her friends don't want Arthur around. So Arthur decidesto collect slimy things he knows Violet wouldn't like. But he doesn't count on slippery rocks and swooping bats, or hunger pangs. Then he smells hot dogs roasting over a warm fire...

Frances, one of children's best-loved characters for over 30 years, now springs to life even more in Bread and Jam for Frances,beautifully reillustrated in sparkling full color by Lillian Hoban. In this memorable story, Frances decides that bread and jam are all she wants to eat, and her understanding parents grant her wish'at breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even snacktime. Can there ever be too much bread and jam?

Arthur thinks his pen pal is more fun than his little sister. Little sisters don't do things like karate and wrestling -- or do they? It takes a surprise letter to show Arthur that sometimes there's more to sisters -- and pen pals -- than meets the eye!

Children's Choices for 1977 (IRA/CBC)
Children's Books of 1976 (Library of Congress)

‘An hilarious account of Arthur’s attempts to earn enough money to buy a T-shirt and cap, assisted by his sister Violet. Simple business concepts are ingeniously woven into the story. This marvelous book will capture the interest of eager learners and creative teachers.’ —YC.

Children's Choices for 1982 (IRA/CBC)
Children's Books of 1981 (Library of Congress)

Frances is a fussy eater. In fact, the only thing she likes is bread and jam. She won't touch her squishy soft-boiled egg. She trades away her chicken-salad sandwich at lunch. She turns up her nose at boring veal cutlets. Unless Mother can come up with a plan, Frances just might go on eating bread and jam forever

Frances doesn't think her younger sister Gloria can be her best friend. Besides, Albert is Frances's best friend. But when Albert has a no-girls baseball game, Franes sets out to prove to Albert a thing or two about friendship - and what girls can do. Along the way, Frances discovers that sisters can indeed be friends... maybe even best friends.

Arthur is having a gymnastics party for his birthday, with prizes for balancing, tumbling, and rope climbing. Arthur is sure that he will win the prize for best all--around gymnast. But his little sister, Violet, and her friend Wilma have been practicing-and they may have a surprise in store....

Brrr ... ing!
There's the school bell!
It's the first day back at school for Arthur and Violet and all of their friends. Time for riding the school bus, going to class, and best of all, eating snacks and playing games at recess.

But this year the first day is full of surprises. The bus ride to school is an unexpected adventure, and Arthur's friend, Norman, almost loses his lunch box. Just when things settle down, Arthur finds his snack has disappeared from his lunch box. What will happen next on this exciting first day of school?

Beginning readers heading back to school will enjoy the humor in Lillian Hoban's tenth I Can Read Book about these much loved characters.

The irrepressible Frances teaches Albert, the badger next door, about friendship. ‘Full of the humor and homely details of family life that make [the Frances stories] beloved by both children and adults.’ —H.

Children's Books of the Year 1969 (CSA)