FROM SARAH:

This book is funny, funny, funny. And pretty surprising! It's amazing to me how much expression Klassen shows on animals that have... seemingly no expressions. 😅

FROM THE PUBLISHER:
The bear’s hat is gone, and he wants it back. Patiently and politely, he asks the animals he comes across, one by one, whether they have seen it. Each animal says no, some more elaborately than others. But just as the bear begins to despond, a deer comes by and asks a simple question that sparks the bear’s memory and renews his search with a vengeance.

FROM SARAH:

This book is out of print, but it's one of my all-time favorites, so hunt it down if you can! Your library might have it, or it's worth a little splurge on a used copy online.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A hilarious tale about a tricky fox who can outsmart any human except a teacher! "Cleverly paced repetition and an unexpected ending make this droll caper a winning choice." - Publishers Weekly

FROM SARAH:

A collection of beloved Aesop's fables—a childhood must.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 
For centuries, children and adults have treasured the stories handed down by Aesop, a slave who lived in ancient Greece approximately six centuries B.C. Known for their charm and simplicity, these simple tales feature brief adventures of animals, birds, and beasts - with a message hidden in each narrative.

FROM SARAH:

I love Marcia Williams's comic-strip books that make classics oh-so approachable.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Travel back to Medieval England and join Chaucer and his band of Canterbury pilgrims in this wonderful introduction to one of Britain's greatest literary legacies. These nine well-loved tales, from a host of colourful characters - the Knight, the Miller, the Reeve, the Wife of Bath, the Summoner, the Clerk, the Franklin, the Pardoner and the Nun's Priest - are brought to life with Marcia Williams' trademark witty, comic-strip art, allowing this classic text to be enjoyed by all ages.

FROM SARAH:

We love Gyo Fujikawa around here (check out the picture book biography about her, It Began With a Page, which we featured as our Family Book Club choice in RAR Premium.)

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Gyo Fujikawa creates magic with this enchanting collection of fairy tales and fables. These are the stories that all children should experience, that will nourish their young minds and imaginations: Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, The Hare and the Tortoise, The Little Red Hen, The Three Little Pigs, and many more. Some are well known and beloved; others are unfamiliar, but they’re all beautifully written and illustrated.

FROM SARAH:

Geraldine McCaughrean is a master storyteller, and her retellings of classics for children are where she especially shines! Given the nature of the stories within The Canterbury Tales, I generally suggest this book for middle school and up, though I think you could read it aloud with kids slightly younger than that.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Chaucer's classic retold for children.

FROM SARAH:

Beatrix Potter, need I say more? ❤️

FROM THE PUBLISHER:
The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck is an original classic by Beatrix Potter. Poor Jemima. All she wants to do is lay her eggs in peace, and be allowed to hatch them herself. At last she flies off and finds the perfect place. Little does the silly duck realize that the charming gentleman who has lent her his woodshed is busily planning a delicious meal of . . . roast duck!

FROM SARAH:

Marguerite Henry is one of the best of the best! This novel is narrated by a proud fox who lives on the grounds of George Washington’s estate, Mount Vernon.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Cinnabar is a fox. He lives in a den with his family, Vicky and four little cubs. He’s a hardworking fox who does everything he can to ensure that his family has what they need. But during fox hunting season, he likes to have a little fun: Every hunt day, promptly at one o’clock, Cinnabar shows up and runs until nightfall. Can the huntsmen ever catch this clever fox?