Tongue twisters are so much fun and in this book, the illustrations help keep readers engaged and entertained. But, reading these twisters is not just for fun...researchers have found that perfecting the sounds in these phrases can help ESL students and others with pronunciation and also helps with comprehension as readers decipher the riddles contained within each Tongue Twister.

Racism and intolerance are ideas that are taught to young people; they are not born this way. In We're Different it is True, readers will follow the main character as he discusses the differences among his friends. Tolerance, friendship, and understanding are all topics discussed in this story. This is the second edition of this book. It has been completely re-illustrated to be as inclusive and representative of all types of people as possible.

A young boy goes over to visit friends without calling them first or even planning anything with them. When he arrives, they are not home. He is upset by this fact and when he gets home, he tells his mother that he won't be their friend anymore. She is disappointed in him and explains that in order to have friends, you must be a good friend. "You get what you give in life," is what she tells him. He mends his ways and sees the benefits.

With so many parents serving proudly in our military, including her step-son, author Terri Kelley wanted to pay tribute to the effects this has on children. This loving story is told from the point of view of a child who daddy is a much-loved soldier. Through lyrical rhyme and fabulous illustrations, readers will feel the love, sadness, and pride that children of military families often feel.

Sometimes, the things that a child hears about himself or herself is confusing to him or her. That is the case with the young boy in Almond Eyes. As a young child, he is constantly told that he has "beautiful Almond Eyes." He doesn't understand what this means until he asks his mother. She explains that his eyes are shaped like almonds because he is Korean. The boy then notices the different eye shapes of all of his friends. This is a wonderful book about celebrating the differences among friends.

Christmas is a time of good cheer, renewed friendships, forgiveness, generosity, and love, like no other. In this story, a young girl wonders what life would be like if Christmas lasted all year. The story coupled with fabulous illustrations will have your reader wondering about the possibilities.

Foster children all over the world live in a state of insecurity, not knowing the comfort and satisfaction of having a forever family to call their own. These children may, over the years as they wait, develop some behavioral issues that make them even more unlikely candidates for adoption. This is the story of one such child. It is told from her point-of-view and brings the reader to understand how she thinks and how she sees herself as she waits for her very own forever family.

Growing up is something we all must do. For children, this is a fast moving time as they go from being babies to becoming more and more skilled. With their added skills, they also acquire more responsibility. Follow along with the story of a young girl, told by her mother, as the girl goes through changes. She takes on responsibilities, such as walking and feeding the family dog, washing dishes and cleaning her own room. This story is sure to be a much loved read-aloud for boys and girls alike.

Going to bed can be a challenging time for children and parents alike. As parents set a routine to raise their kids in a healthy environment, their children strategize about ways to get around strict bedtimes. This story is about a child who finds many excuses to stay up later every night, but in the end finds that the parents are right.

Book number 5 of the Writing is a Process series is all about the need to and benefits of conferencing when creating stories. As with all of the other books in this series, readers will be fully engaged by the fabulous illustrations as well as by the fun and informative story written in lyrical rhyme. These books make a great introduction to any writing lesson and also help to reinforce this important step of the writing process.

As they grow, children become more independent, sometimes with interesting effects. In this delightful story, a little girl decides that she can dress herself. Her clothing choices are interesting and unique. When she has completely dressed herself, the girl's mother is surprised by the final outcome. This is a story of love, growing up, and understanding. Children will love sharing this book with their favorite adult.

Writing is a Process is a series of eight children's picture books that help kids understand the importance of using a writing process in the development of their stories. This book, Writing is a Process, is the first one in the series. Readers will follow along with a group of young friends as they begin their journeys to becoming writers. Through lyrical rhyme, effective story-telling, and fabulous illustrations, this book will engage, entertain, and inform students of all ages. As you continue through the series, you meet each child as he or she works on different steps in the writing process. These books are a great way to introduce the idea of using a process to write stories as well as to introduce lessons on each step such as brainstorming, rough drafts, revising, etc.

Birthdays are so special Most children look forward to celebrating the day they were born. The little girl in Birthday Surprise is no different; she looks forward to her special birthday breakfast and lots of attention from her mom and dad. But on this birthday, something happens to interupt her day. When she wakes and goes downstairs, there are no hugs and kisses and no birthday pancakes. There's just old Miss Jenkins to comfort the little girl. Children will enjoy following along on the emotional roller-coaster that is the main character's birthday. Illustrated with colorful and carefully detailed artwork, this story will become a favorite for young and old readers alike. Find out what finally makes the little girl's birthday special in the end.

This collection of poems provides readers with compassion and understanding of the emotions associated with various life-changing events. Topics covered are divorce, friendship, heartache, illness, death, loss of a pet, relationships, panic disorder, depression, cancer, military deployment, parenting, and many others. By reading the words written here, readers will gain a better understanding of the depth of emotion associated with each of the topics. Each poem seeks to provide comfort and encouragement and to celebrate the joys of certain events. Each poem is beautifully represented with an illustration by Laura Mazzello. The simple blackline drawings reinforce the subject of the writing.

Nowadays, more than ever, people feel free to express their individuality by changing the color and style of their hair, by piercings and gauges, by tattooing their bodies, and so many other things. Even the music we listen to is very diverse. In this story, a little boy, who has a crush on a girl who has many of these self-expressions, finds the courage to ask her about each of them. The results are heart-warming. This is a great book to read with your child to open the conversation about personal choice.

In today's world, there are so many differences in the way people dress, act, look, and more. In this delightful children's picture book, a little boy asks many questions, such as "What's that in your ear?" The answers are quite appropriate and true (for many). This is a book that should be shared by adults with their children so that they can have an open dialogue about all of our differences and how we should get along with each other without judgment.

Traveling by plane can be a confusing and scary experience for children (and for some adults as well). This story is narrated by a young boy who is taking his first plane trip with his family. He observes everything that happens and explains it so that readers will appreciate their own trips. This is a great book to give to a child who is about to travel on an airplane.

Growing up and entering school can be scary. There are so many new rules to follow. This story gives children an insight into how to behave in school and with each other. Written in lyrical rhyme and coupled with wonderful illustrations, this book will encourage and inform young readers as they begin their journey into the world outside their homes.

Children, like adults, sometimes questions the strength of their Faith. The young boy in this story wonders if he prays like everyone else does; he also wonders if God really listens to his prayers. This is a wonderful story to share with the children in your life.

Having a pet is a wonderful and memorable experience for kids. However, pets don't live forever and children and parents are heartbroken when their beloved pet passes away. In this story, a young boy wakes up in the morning, expecting his best-friend, his dog, Shadow, to be next to him. He discovers that Shadow is missing. Soon, he finds out from his parents that Shadow passed away in the night. The boy experiences grief and goes into mourning. He shares his memories of Shadow and comes to realize that even though it's hard to lose someone you love, it is worth the investment in loving them.

This is the story of a young boy who get a new puppy. As he tries to figure out what name to give his companion, the puppy shows his personality through his constant movement and funny antics. The boy tries different names on the puppy, but none of them seem to fit. Finally, in the end, he discovers that the perfect name has been in front of him the whole time. This is a wonderful children's picture book that reminds kids to be great observers of the things around them.

Autism is a disorder that affects so many more children nowadays. While it is prevalent in our society, many children are still confused when they have a classmate who exhibits some of the characteristics of autism. Things like stemming behaviors are the topic of this story. A boy notices his classmate, Sarah, who stems by flapping her hands in a flying motion. Before the teacher explains to the class what is happening to Sarah, the boy believes that she is trying to fly. This is a great story to share with all children to help them understand and communicate about autistic friends so that they can be even better friends to them.