Robert D. San Souci

Jerry Pinkney

The author of such delights as The Christmas Ark and The Enchanted Tapestry joins forces with illustrator Pinkney to resurrect a colorful folktale that captures the unique flavor of the American South. A 1989 Caldecott Honor Book.

The Talking Eggs

Orianne Lallemand

Carole Haenaff

folktale

materialism

gratitude

When Natasha makes a selfish choice, she finds herself trapped in a lavish but lonely palace, far from her widowed father. Will she find a way to escape and see her father again? This poignant tale, inspired by Russian folklore, will help start conversations about the importance of family.

The Blue Bird's Palace

Mike Reiss

David Catrow

Edward has oodles of toys but doesn’t share any of them with his little sister, Claire. She cannot ride his rocking horse, hug his teddy bear, or even think about touching his Slinky. “They’re mine!” he says. That is, until one day when Edward finds himself stuck under his enormous pile of toys and can’t move! With a little help from an unlikely ally, he learns that if he can share with others, they’ll share right back with him. Mike Reiss’s wickedly funny verse and David Catrow’s remarkable gift for comic illustration make this one book you’ll want to share—again and again!

The Boy Who Wouldn't Share

Gaku Nakafawa

Yoshimi Kusaba

“A poor person is not someone who has little, but one who needs infinitely more, and more, and more.” Thus spoke José Mujica, then the President of Uruguay, before the United Nations in 2012. Paraphrasing the wisdom of the great thinker Seneca, he asked the world to question the dogma of consumption that has driven us into environmental and economic crisis. Often referred to as the worlds “poorest” president, in part because of his practice of donating 90% of his $12,000 monthly salary to charity, José Mujica lived his words and proved that one need not have money to be rich. In The World’s Poorest President Speaks Out, José Mujica’s famous speech comes to life as he asks us to remember our neighbors, our children, and the Earth.

The World's Poorest President Speaks Out

Pamela Duncan Edwards

Henry Cole

In this classic Irish legend, two harpists – merry-hearted Old Pat and ill-spirited Young Tom – set off for a contest to name the finest harpist in all of Ireland. When Young Tom realizes that Old Pat is truly the better musician, he schemes to be the winner – but he doesn′t reckon with the clever trickery of a mischievous little leprechaun. Noted picture book creators Pamela Duncan Edwards and Henry Cole have imagined a joyful and fanciful tale with a priceless lesson.

The Leprechaun's Gold

Judy Cox

Jeffrey Ebbeler

On Thanksgiving Day while everyone naps, Mouse spots one pea, a perfect feast, but he cannot help adding all of the fixings–until Cat spots him, in a story about giving thanks for little things. 12,500 first printing.

One is a Feast for Mouse

Steve Smallman

Jack Tickle

A greedy bee learns a lesson when he “slurps and burps” too much nectar, falls asleep in a meadow, and needs help from other insects to find his way home after dark.

The Very Greedy Bee

Olivier Tallec

FOMO

greed

A squirrel decides to keep everyone in the forest away from a favorite tree (?It’s MY tree?), but hasn’t thought the plan all the way through! The squirrel loves a particular tree (?It’s MY tree?) and is happiest eating pinecones in its shade (?MY pinecones in the shade of MY tree?). But then the squirrel starts to worry. What if someone else decides it’s THEIR tree? What if that someone wants to eat THEIR pinecones in the shade of THEIR tree? Should the squirrel build a gate in front of the tree to keep the others out? Or maybe a wall? Yes, a wall. The squirrel will build a long and high wall that no one can get over or around. Only, now that there’s a wall, how can the squirrel know what’s on the other side of it? Maybe a better tree is out there, full of pinecones. Maybe even a whole forest of better trees … World-renowned author-illustrator Olivier Tallec has created a simple, funny, relevant fable for the modern age. The humor and exaggeration ensure that even the youngest children will recognize the greed, xenophobia and fear of missing out afflicting the poor squirrel. With tones of bright orange and yellow, the captivating illustrations bring the enormous-tailed squirrel’s rapid-fire range of emotions to vivid and hilarious life. This highly entertaining read-aloud would also make a perfect conversation starter for lessons on the importance of appreciating what one has.

It's My Tree

Laurel Snyder

Aurore Damant

King Jasper can order his wizard to conjure up anything at all: dragons, robots, superheroes, even rainbow-colored kittens—which leads to a magical mess only he can clean up. A hilarious, modern fairy tale, The King of Too Many Things will keep readers guessing with the turn of every page, while showing how always wanting more can ultimately lead to less happiness.

The King of Too Many Things

Emma Lewis

When the old king dies, a Duke and Earl find themselves in competition for the Kingdom. Their vanity and greed see them locked in a futile battle, which impacts the lives of the people who live in the Kingdom. But what do the people want? And will anyone listen? In this moralistic tale about the dangers of vanity and power-hungry leaders, Emma Lewis’s distinctive collage style–inspired by the famous Bayeux Tapestry–lends a unique approach to a contemporary folktale.

Two Kings

Ben Sears

The Double+ gang discover that sometimes greed can extend beyond the grave, as they are thrust into a battle between revolting real estate developers and their ghoulish goon bent on destroying the idyllic Gear Town with ghastly gentrification and the most frightful sight of all…condos!

House of the Black Spot

William Mayne

Jonathan Heale

After finding a cache of truffles, Boark the pig and his wife, Sowk, set off to town to buy a grand coach, but, along the way, the temptation becomes too great to resist, and Sowk begins to eat the mouthwatering truffles.

Lady Muck

Oliver Jeffers

A TIME Best Children’s Book of 2019!A Chicago Public Library 2019 Best of the Best Book!*This minimalistic masterpiece is a must-read for all ages. –School Library Journal (starred review!)A quirky, cautionary tale from beloved New York Times bestselling picture book creator Oliver Jeffers! There was once a man who believed he owned everything and set out to survey what was his. You are mine, Fausto said to the flower, the sheep, and the mountain, and they all bowed before him. But they were not enough for Fausto, so he conquered a boat and set out to sea . . . Combining bold art and powerful prose, and working in traditional lithographic printmaking techniques for the first time, world-renowned talent Oliver Jeffers has created a poignant modern-day fable to touch the hearts of adults and children alike. Praise for The Fate of Fausto  Jeffers paints Fausto and the objects of his desire with the nonchalant finesse he is known for and in the richly saturated colors he generally favors… Jeffers delivers swift justice in a few concluding words that make for an ending that satisfies for being both fair-minded and irrevocable.–New York Times Book Review Boldly conceived and gracefully executed.–Publishers Weekly A parable sure to spark lively discussions. –Booklist A cautionary fable on the banality of belligerence. –Kirkus Reviews

Fate of Fausto: A Painted Fable

Elisa Paganelli

The new Big Little Talks series offers unique call-and-response stories: kids vocalize their frustrations and fears, and an omnipresent grown-up offers reassuring messages to ease their concerns. Written by experts in the field, this is a must-have series to help kids.
The first three books are “I Want Everything!”, “Oh, Brother!” and “I Don’t Want to Go to School!”.

A boy wants everything in the world, but his parent tries to help him realize that maybe he’s okay with what he already has and that he cannot have everything that he wants. As the boy’s tantrum persists, he is gently brought back down to earth.

 “Little Big Talks” books are fun stories to ease both parents and children through typical and common life stages using empathic listening and encouraging an understanding of age-appropriate behavior and emotions. Includes a Reader’s Note to further explain this common behavioral and emotional stage of childhood.

I Want Everything!

Ron Roy

Help Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose solve mysteries from A to Z!    Kids love collecting the entire alphabet and super editions! With over 8 million copies in print, the A to Z Mysteries(R) have been hooking chapter book readers on mysteries and reading for years. Now this classic kid favorite is back with a bright new look!   G is for Gold . . . There’s sunken treasure off the Florida coast! On the day after they arrive for vacation, Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose meet two men who are diving for gold from their boat, the Golden Goose. They promise to share with anyone who backs their plan. Is it too good to be true?

The Goose's Gold

Diane Stanley

0nce upon a time a miller’s daughter was given an impossible task by a cruel and greedy king. She had to spin straw into gold. And who should show up to help her but an odd little man named Rumpelstiltskin.According to tradition, the gold-bedazzled king and the miller’s daughter are wed. But wait just a minute! This king is definitely not husband material, and there’s someone else who is–a hardworking guy who’s supportive and nice looking, and who really comes through in a pinch.Why not marry Rumpelstiltskin?In Diane Stanley’s merry rethinking of the traditional tale, Rumpelstiltskin and the miller’s daughter are wed…and then sixteen years later their only daughter is stuck in the same dilemma: She’s been locked in a room full of straw to spin for a greedy king! She could call for help from her father, but this fairy-tale heroine has some canny plans of her own.How Rumpelstiltskin’s daughter sets things to rights in the troubled kingdom, while achieving a unique place for herself, makes for a wise and witty tale of kindness and cleverness rewarded. Diane Stanley’s wickedly funny text and zesty illustrations put a delightful new spin on a classic fairy tale.Rumpelstiltskin’s daughter may not be able to spin straw into gold, but she is more than a match for a monarch whose greed has blighted an entire kingdom. 2000-2001 Georgia’s Picture Storybook Award &amp;amp; Georgia’s Children’s Book Award Masterlist01-02 Land of Enchantment Book Award Masterlist (Gr. 3-6) 99-00 Children’s Book Award

Rumpelstiltskin's Daughter

Aaron Blabey

Pig the Pug celebrates Halloween in this picture book from #1 New York Times bestselling author-illustrator Aaron Blabey.Pig was a pugand I’m sorry to say, on Halloween nighthe’d get carried away…Pig, the world’s greediest pug, is on the rampage for TREATS! TREATS! TREATS! But don’t even think about being stingy with the goodies, because this candy-fueled glutton has some terrible tricks up his sleeve…Rich with author-illustrator Aaron Blabey’s signature rhyming text and unforgettable illustrations, Pig the Monster is a laugh-out-loud story that follows the eight previous books in the series (Pig the Pug, Pig the Winner, Pig the Elf, Pig the Star, Pig the Fibber, Pig the Stinker, Pig the Tourist, and Pig the Slob).

Pig the Monster

The world’s greediest pug won’t play fair, and he’ll do just about anything to win!Will Pig ever learn? He’s an absolute cheat and quite the sore loser as well. But when Pig challenges his foot-long playmate, Trevor, to a kibble eating contest, he accidentally stuffs more than just food in his mouth. Lucky for Pig, Trevor knows what to do and saves the day!Young readers will love Blabey’s irresistibly quirky illustrations that are paired with a relatable lesson about learning to play nice. For dog and pet lovers everywhere.

Pig the Winner

Susan Stevens Crummel

Janet Stevens

Deep, deep down in their underground town, the prairie dogs live in harmony–until a mysterious, fluorescent, very fuzzy thing (otherwise known as a tennis ball) rolls down their hole. When the prairie dogs discover that they can pluck and pull the fuzz into fabulous fashions, their fear quickly turns to curiosity, then delight, then pure greed. Will the frenzy that erupts tear apart the prairie-dog town forever. Or will the kidnapping of mean ol’ Big Bark trigger the prairie dogs to come to his rescue and remember the true meaning of community?

Greed

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