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APH/Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Audio Booklist
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July 2019
The First Strawberries
Retold by Joseph Bruchac.
Illustrated by Anna Vojtech
From an award-winning Native American storyteller comes this captivating re-telling of a Cherokee legend, which explains how strawberries came to be.
Long ago, the first man and woman quarrelled. The woman left in anger, but the Sun sent tempting berries to Earth to slow the wife’s retreat. Luminous paintings perfectly complement this simple, lyrical text.
Fly, Butterfly
Written and illustrated by Bonnie Bader.
Did you know that every year hundreds of thousands of monarch butterflies migrate 2,500 miles to Mexico for the winter? It takes four generations of butterflies to make the trip, and only the fourth generation lives longer than three weeks. Follow a beautiful butterfly as she makes her journey down to Mexico!
The Pudgy Where Is Your Nose? Book
Written by Grosset and Dunlap.
Illustrated by Laura Rader.
Where is your nose…your eyes… your ears? Young children can play along with the simple, interactive text, pointing to different parts of their bodies as they turn the pages of this fun and sturdy book.
Tomorrow I’ll Be Brave
Written and illustrated by Jessica Hische.
Journey through the beautifully hand-lettered messages by award-winning illustrator Jessica Hische. This uplifting and positive book – now a New York Times best seller – encourages kids to promise that tomorrow, they will try new things, do their best, and be brave.
Tomorrow I’ll be all the things I tried to be today:
Adventurous, Strong, Smart, Curious, Creative, Confident, & Brave.
And if I wasn’t one of them, I know that it’s OK.
Journey through a world filled with positive and beautifully hand-lettered words of widsom, inspiration, and motivation. As this book reminds readers, tomorrow is another day, full of endless opportunities–all you have to do is decide to make the day yours.
June 2019
The Ring Bearer
Written and illustrated by Floyd Cooper.
Mama’s getting married, and Jackson has an important job to do! A story about love, weddings, and the special joy that is a blended family.
Jackson’s mama is getting married, and he gets to be the ring bearer. But Jackson is worried . . . What if he trips? Or walks too slowly? Or drops the rings? And what about his new stepsister, Sophie? She’s supposed to be the flower girl, but Jackson’s not sure she’s taking her job as seriously as she should.
In a celebration of blended families, this heartwarming story, stunningly illustrated by the award-winning Floyd Cooper, is a perfect gift for any child who’s nervous to walk down the aisle at a wedding, and shows kids that they can handle life’s big changes.
Quiero a mi papa Porque (I Love My Daddy Because English / Spanish edition)
Written by Laurel Porter Gaylord
Illustrated by Ashley Wolff.
“I love my daddy because he plays with me. . .”
This book begins with a heartwarming scene between a human parent and child, but moves on to loving care in many animal families. “He sings me songs,” says a gray wolf cub. “He keeps me safe and warm,” says a young penguin. Children will love reading about how baby animals spend time with their dads, and daddies everywhere will love celebrating Father’s Day—or any occassion!—with this adorable gift from their little ones.
May 2019
Baby Sounds
Written and illustrated by Joy Allen.
A baby-sized introduction to sounds we hear every day, and a delightful companion to Baby Signs
Long before they can speak, babies are listening. And with this book of fourteen everyday sounds, babies and toddlers are encouraged to interact with parents, caregivers, and the noisy world around them in ways that widen their sensory awareness and expand their vocabulary. From a tweeting bird to clanging pots, a beeping phone to honking cars, the splash! of water to the sound of a kiss–mmmwah!–this book is full of the sounds that fill a baby’s day. Perfect for little hands to grasp, this is a delightful stand-alone or a lovely companion to Baby Signs.
I Just Want to Say Goodnight
Written and illustrated by Rachel Isadora.
Caldecott Honor-winner Rachel Isadora’s stunning oil paintings illustrate this delightful bedtime tale, set on the African plains.
The sun has set and the moon is rising, and that means it’s bedtime. But not if Lala has a say—because she’s not ready to go to sleep! First she needs to say good night to the cat. And the goat. And the chickens. And, and, and . . . Lala’s adorable stalling strategy will ring true for all parents whose little ones aren’t ready to say goodbye to the day—and all will appreciate the wonderful culmination to the bedtime ritual.
One Leaf, Two Leaves, Count with Me!
Written by John Miklos, Jr.
Illustrated by Clive McFarland.
This playful counting book shares the colorful highlights of the four seasons in charming illustrations.
Count your way through the seasons! In spring, the tree’s leaves appear, one by one. By summer, there’s a glorious canopy. And when autumn winds blow, leaves fly from the tree, one after another, leading us into winter. There’s a world of activity to spy in and around this beautiful tree as the wild creatures, and one little boy, celebrate the cycles of nature. As little ones count leaves, look for animals, and enjoy the changing seasonal landscape, bouncy rhymes and bold illustrations make learning to count easy—corresponding numerals reinforcing the learning fun.
Peace is an Offering
Written by Annette LeBox
Illustrated by Stephanie Graegin.
A warm, comforting poem about finding peace in a community of neighbors
Peace is an offering.
A muffin or a peach.
A birthday invitation.
A trip to the beach.
Join this group of neighborhood children as they find love in everyday things—in sunlight shining through the leaves and cookies shared with friends—and learn that peace is all around, if you just look for it. With rhyming verse and soft illustrations, this book will help families and teachers look for the light moments when tragedy strikes and remind readers of the calm and happiness they find in their own community every day.
The Gruffalo
Written by Julia Donaldson
Illustrated by Axel Scheffler.
A mouse is taking a stroll through the deep, dark wood when along comes a hungry fox, then an owl, and then a snake. The mouse is good enough to eat but smart enough to know this, so he invents . . . the gruffalo! As Mouse explains, the gruffalo is a creature with terrible claws, and terrible tusks in its terrible jaws, and knobbly knees and turned-out toes, and a poisonous wart at the end of its nose. But Mouse has no worry to show. After all, there’s no such thing as a gruffalo. . . .
When the Elephant Walks
Written and illustrated by Keiko Kasza.
A charming circular story where the tiniest animal just might be the most powerful.
When the Elephant walks, he scares the Bear. When the Bear runs away, he scares the Crocodile. When the Crocodile swims for his life, he scares the Wild Hog . . . and so on, down to the Mouse. And who could be scared of the little Mouse? The last spread answers this question in a way that will delight small children-and the endearing animals, rhythmic text, and hilarious illustrations will make this book a favorite.
April 2019
Bunny’s Book Club
Written by Annie Silvestro.
Illustrated by Tatjana Mai-Wyss
Join Bunny for a top-secret trip to the library in a story that celebrates the love of reading!
Bunny loves to sit outside the library with the kids and listen to summer story time. But when the weather gets cold and everyone moves inside, his daily dose of joy is gone. Desperate, Bunny refuses to miss out on any more reading time and devises a plan to sneak into the library at night . . . through the library’s book drop!
What follows is an adorable caper that brings an inquisitive, fuzzy bunny and his woodland pals up close and personal with the books they have grown to love. A warm celebration of the power of books, Bunny’s Book Club is sure to bring knowing smiles to any child, parent, teacher, bookseller, and librarian who understands the one-of-a-kind magic of reading.
Tale of Peter Rabbit
Written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter.
Follow the story of naughty Peter Rabbit as he squeezes under the gate into Mr. McGregor’s garden and finds himself in all kinds of trouble!
March 2019
Silly Goose’s Big Story
Written and illustrated by Keiko Kasza.
Friends and imagination save the day!
Goose’s friends love the stories he makes up when they’re playing. Except one thing – Goose is always the hero. And when they ask to take turns leading the fun, Goose doesn’t agree. While they argue about it, no one notices the hungry wolf sneaking up on them until he shouts, “Hello, Lunch!”
This real-life danger shows Goose how silly he’s been and that his friends make terrific heroes!
February 2019
Daniel Finds a Poem
Written and illustrated by Micha Archer.
Stunning collage art full of rich color, glorious details, and a sense of wonder—reminiscent of the work of Ezra Jack Keats—illustrate this delightful story celebrating the poetry found in the world around us.
What is poetry? Is it glistening morning dew? Spider thinks so. Is it crisp leaves crunching? That’s what Squirrel says. Could it be a cool pond, sun-warmed sand, or moonlight on the grass? Maybe poetry is all of these things, as it is something special for everyone—you just have to take the time to really look and listen. The magical thing is that poetry is in everyone, and Daniel is on his way to discovering a poem of his own after spending time with his animal friends. What is poetry? If you look and listen, it’s all around you!
Good Morning, Farm Friends
Written and illustrated by Annie Bach.
Rise and shine! This charming board book about farm animals waking up and getting ready for a busy day is perfect for the youngest readers.
As the sun rises, the animals on a bustling farm get ready for the day. Pigs roll around in the mud, cows wait at the milking stall, and horses run through pastures. But is everyone awake? The rooster will make sure of it! The fun rhyming text and colorful illustrations in this delightful book will help little ones start their day off just right.
Sleep Train
Written by Jonathan London.
Illustrated by Lauren Eldridge.
A perfectly pitched bedtime story and counting book for sleepy train lovers, illustrated in dramatic 3D sculptures!
A little boy climbs into bed with a book and starts counting the train cars in it, between the engine and caboose. “Ten sleepy cars going clickety-clack,” reads the refrain. But as the boy counts cars and gets sleepier and sleepier, his room looks more and more like one of the train cars from his book–the sleeping car, of course!
Rhythmically told by the author of the Froggy books, Sleep Train is also stunning to look at. 3D illustrator, Lauren Eldridge, has sculpted an entire train full of intricate details. Part bedtime story, part counting book, part children’s fantasy, Sleep Train is a magical ride to dreamland.
January 2019
Last Stop on Market
Written by Matt De La Peña.
Illustrated by Christian Robinson.
Every Sunday after church, CJ and his grandma ride the bus across town. But today, CJ wonders why they don’t own a car like his friend Colby. Why doesn’t he have an iPod like the boys on the bus? How come they always have to get off in the dirty part of town? Each question is met with an encouraging answer from grandma, who helps him see the beauty—and fun—in their routine and the world around them.
This energetic ride through a bustling city highlights the wonderful perspective only grandparent and grandchild can share, and comes to life through Matt de la Pena’s vibrant text and Christian Robinson’s radiant illustrations.
Chimpanzees for Tea!
Written & Illustrated by Jo Empson.
A silly, fun version of the game “telephone”—in which a grocery list committed to memory goes playfully awry.
One day, Vincent’s mother asks him to go to the store to pick up a few items: “a bunch of carrots, a box of rice, some China tea, a big, firm pear, and a tin of peas” to be precise. “And hurry home in time for tea!” she says. Sounds easy enough.
Yet distractions are at every turn, causing havoc with Vincent’s memory. All of a sudden, a tin of peas is replaced by a trapeze; a big, firm pear becomes a big furry bear; and a box of rice transforms into a box of mice!
Needless to say, Vincent’s mother is in for quite a surprise.
Told with a playful rhythm for reading aloud and illustrated with exuberance and great child appeal, this humorous picture book will have kids laughing and asking for repeated readings.
December 2018
Llama Llama Red Pajama
Written and illustrated by Anna Dewdney.
Llama, Llama red pajama
waiting, waiting for his mama.
Mama isn’t coming yet.
Baby Llama starts to fret.
Anna Dewdney’s classic tale of nighttime drama has been charming readers for over a decade. Now everyone’s favorite Llama Llama who wants his Mama is available in a lap board book format. These infectious rhymes are perfect for bedtime reading anywhere, anytime!
Baking Day at Grandma’s
Written by Anika Denise
Illustrated by Christopher Denise.
A Christmas-cookie sweet story perfect for families to share!
Three bouncing little bear siblings, wrapped tight in their winter clothes, can’t wait to tromp through the snow for Baking Day at Grandma’s! In a rhyming text that begs to be sung, the bears and their grandma pour and mix and stir–with breaks for hot cocoa and dancing–to create the perfect wintry treat. Then they wrap it up in ribbons to show that sweets are even better when they’re shared. With a recipe in the back, this is a perfect family feel-good story for the fall, winter, and any holiday spent with grandparents.
Coat of Many Colors
Written by Dolly Parton
Illustrated by Brooke Boynton Hughes.
Dolly Parton lends the lyrics of her classic song “Coat of Many Colors” to this heartfelt picture book for young readers.
Country music legend Dolly Parton’s rural upbringing in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee provides the backdrop for this special picture book. Using lyrics from her classic song “Coat of Many Colors,” the book tells the story of a young girl in need of a warm winter coat. When her mother sews her a coat made of rags, the girl is mocked by classmates for being poor. But Parton’s trademark positivity carries through to the end as the girl realizes that her coat was made with love “in every stitch.” Beautiful illustrations pair with Parton’s poetic lyrics in this heartfelt picture book sure to speak to all young readers.
The Snowy Day
Written & Illustrated by Ezra Jack Keates.
Waking up to a world of snowy white-what could be better? Young peter can’t wait to jump in his snowsuit and run out to explore. There are snowmen to build snowballs to pack, mountains to climb and snow banks to collapse in-to carve a snow angel! And when the day is done, there’s a dark night of dreams and drifting snow, and a new snowy day to awake to.
November 2018
I Love My Mommy Because
Written by Laurel Porter-Gaylord
Illustrated by Ashley Wolff.
“I love my mommy because she gives me great big hugs.”
This book begins with a heartwarming scene between a human parent and child, but moves on to loving care in many animal families. ”She listens when I talk,” says a mewing kitten. “She tucks me in,” says a joey kangaroo. Children will love reading about how baby animals spend time with their moms, and mammas everywhere will love celebrating Mother’s Day—or any occassion!—with this adorable gift from their little ones.
Little Owl’s Night
Written & Illustrated by Divya Srinivasan.
It’s evening in the forest and Little Owl wakes up from his day-long sleep to watch his friends enjoying the night. Hedgehog sniffs for mushrooms, Skunk nibbles at berries, Frog croaks, and Cricket sings. A full moon rises and Little Owl can’t understand why anyone would want to miss it. Could the daytime be nearly as wonderful? Mama Owl begins to describe it to him, but as the sun comes up, Little Owl falls fast asleep.
Putting a twist on the bedtime book, Little Owl’s Night is sure to comfort any child with a curiosity about the night.
Brother Eagle, Sister Sky
Written & Illustrated by Susan Jeffers.
The Earth does not belong to us. We belong to the Earth. The great American Indian Chief Seattle spoke these words over a hundred years ago. His remarkably relevant message of respect for the Earth and every creature on it has endured the test of time and is imbued with passion born of love of the land and the environment. Illustrated by award-winning artist Susan Jeffers, the stirring pen-and-color drawings bring a wide array of Native Americans to life while capturing the splendor of nature and the land. Children and parents alike will enjoy the timeless, poignant message presented in this beautifully illustrated picture book.
October 2018
ABC Look At Me
Written, Photographed, and Designed by Roberta Grobel Intrater.
Learning the alphabet has never been more fun! Kids will love lifting the big, colorful letters and discovering other children expressing their feelings and moods. The engaging rhymes and creative layout, with 26 letter flaps and delightfully charming photographic portraits, will keep kids captivated from A to Z!
Maple
Written & Illustrated by Lori Nichols.
Lori Nichols’ enchanting debut features an irresistible, free-spirited, nature-loving little girl who greets the changing seasons and a new sibling with arms wide open.
When Maple is tiny, her parents plant a maple tree in her honor. She and her tree grow up together, and even though a tree doesn’t always make an ideal playmate, it doesn’t mind when Maple is in the mood to be loud—which is often. Then Maple becomes a big sister, and finds that babies have their loud days, too. Fortunately, Maple and her beloved tree know just what the baby needs.
Owl Moon
Written by Jane Yolen.
Illustrated by John Schoenherr.
Owl Moon, the timeless and beautiful award-winning classic, is celebrating its twentieth year of charming and delighting children the world over. This touching story of a child and parent finding magic and adventure in a simple, snowy nighttime search for the great horned owl won the Caldecott Award in 1988. With letters from author Jane Yolen and artist John Schoenherr, and a stunning silvery cover, this celebratory edition is a treasure for longtime fans, and introduces a whole new generation to this beautiful book.
September 2018
Baby Sounds
Written and illustrated by Joy Allen.
A baby-sized introduction to sounds we hear every day, and a delightful companion to Baby Signs
Long before they can speak, babies are listening. And with this book of fourteen everyday sounds, babies and toddlers are encouraged to interact with parents, caregivers, and the noisy world around them in ways that widen their sensory awareness and expand their vocabulary. From a tweeting bird to clanging pots, a beeping phone to honking cars, the splash! of water to the sound of a kiss–mmmwah!–this book is full of the sounds that fill a baby’s day. Perfect for little hands to grasp, this is a delightful stand-alone or a lovely companion to Baby Signs.
Little Sleepyhead
Written by Elizabeth McPike
Illustrated by Patrice Barton.
Baby’s bedtime is more cuddly than ever!
Tired little eyes,
ready now for bed,
Tired little everything,
precious sleepyhead.
By the end of a busy day, little knees are tired from crawling, little arms are tired from stretching—even little lips are tired from blowing kisses. But with the help of gentle verse, and art as sweet as a bedtime lullaby, tired little eyes will quickly give way to sleep.
Shhh . . .
I Am a Rainbow
Written by Dolly Parton.
Illustrated by Heather Sheffield
Have you ever been tickled pink? Green with envy? Or just plain blue? Well, it’s good to know that we all have a rainbow of feelings inside.
Beloved music legend Dolly Parton provides children with a fun way to talk about their feelings in this colorful, upbeat picture book. And by understanding their own feelings, they can learn to respect the feelings of others.
I Am a Rainbow will encourage children of all ages to acknowledge their feelings and take control.
Otis & the Kittens
Written and illustrated by Loren Long.
The #1 bestselling illustrator of Matt de la Pena’s Love and the creator of Otis presents an homage to firefighters everywhere—and to the many boys and girls who dream big of being heroes!
On the farm where Otis the tractor lives, it hasn’t rained in a long time and farmers all over the valley have grown anxious with water in such short supply. One hot afternoon, when Otis and his friends are resting beneath the shade of the apple tree, Otis spots something moving down in the valley—an orange tabby cat headed straight for the old barn. But then Otis sees something else that causes his engine to sputter . . . a swirl of smoke coming from the same barn. A fire!
As Otis races toward the fire with his friends in tow, he spots the tabby cat mewing in alarm. Otis rushes inside to discover the source of the cat’s worries–her little kittens are perched up on the hayloft, scared. Otis never hesitates. Yet even after he delivers a tractor full of kittens safely outside, their mama remains upset. Re-entering the burning barn, Otis discovers why: one tiny kitten, still too scared to move. With a friendly chuff, Otis coaxes her down and she scampers out the door. That’s when the floor collapses with a CRASH, trapping the tractor. Now Otis, the friend everyone can count on, must count on his friends.
Told with a sense of play and devotion, this is a heartwarming tale that reminds readers that sometimes even those who we count on to help us need a little help themselves. From the creator of Otis, Otis and the Puppy, and the illustrator of The Little Engine That Could and Of Thee I Sing by President Barack Obama.
August 2018
Bunny’s Book Club
Written by Annie Silvestro.
Illustrated by Tatjana Mai-Wyss
Join Bunny for a top-secret trip to the library in a story that celebrates the love of reading!
Bunny loves to sit outside the library with the kids and listen to summer story time. But when the weather gets cold and everyone moves inside, his daily dose of joy is gone. Desperate, Bunny refuses to miss out on any more reading time and devises a plan to sneak into the library at night . . . through the library’s book drop!
What follows is an adorable caper that brings an inquisitive, fuzzy bunny and his woodland pals up close and personal with the books they have grown to love. A warm celebration of the power of books, Bunny’s Book Club is sure to bring knowing smiles to any child, parent, teacher, bookseller, and librarian who understands the one-of-a-kind magic of reading.
The Giant Jumperee
Written by Julia Donaldson
Illustrated by Helen Oxenbury.
Rabbit arrives home one day to hear a loud voice coming from inside his burrow:
“I’m the Giant Jumperee and I’m scary as can be!” shouts the stranger.
Rabbit’s friends Cat, Bear, and Elephant come to help, but they’re no match for the mysterious, booming voice. But who is the Giant Jumperee?
Here’s how to download and play an APH/DPIL digital audio book using an NLS Digital Talking Book Player:
- Connect a USB drive to your computer, such as a blank NLS digital Talking Book cartridge or a commercial flash drive.
- In the book list above, find the title of the book you want.
- Click the download link for the title. Depending on your browser, you may see a dialog box that asks what you would like to do with the file. Choose “Save.” The file you are saving is a “zipped” file, meaning it contains several files inside it. Select the location to save the zipped file—either to your computer’s internal hard drive or to the external USB drive that you connected in step #1.
- If the downloaded zipped file did not unzip automatically, unzip it now. Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Mac OS X all have the built-in ability to unzip files. The unzipped file will create a folder containing all of the files needed to play the book.
- If you downloaded the files to your internal hard drive, copy the unzipped folder to the external USB flash drive or NLS cartridge. Note that the book will not play unless ALL of the files are present on the flash drive or cartridge.*
- Follow instructions provided with your NLS digital player to listen to the audio book.
*For example, if you download the zipped file for The Little Engine that Could, you will receive a file called: the_little_engine_.pdtb.zip When you unzip this file, a folder will be created called the_little_engine_.pdtb This folder contains 15 files. This folder and all 15 files must be copied to your USB flash drive or NLS cartridge for the book to play.
