Best Selling Books by Barney Saltzberg

A life lesson that all parents want their children to learn: It’s OK to make a mistake. In fact, hooray for mistakes! A mistake is an adventure in creativity, a portal of discovery. A spill doesn’t ruin a drawing—not when it becomes the shape of a goofy animal. And an accidental tear in your paper? Don’t be upset about it when you can turn it into the roaring mouth of an alligator. An award winning, best-selling, one-of-a-kind interactive book, Beautiful Oops! shows young readers how every mistake is an opportunity to make something beautiful. A singular work of imagination, creativity, and paper engineering, Beautiful Oops! is filled with pop-ups, lift-the-flaps, tears, holes, overlays, bends, smudges, and even an accordion “telescope”—each demonstrating the magical transformation from blunder to wonder.

Illustrations and rhymes celebrate what makes each season special, from baby chicks in the spring through a snowman in the winter.

"You ate the story?" says one mouse to the other in this funny, heartfelt read-aloud with pitch-perfect repartee and Barney Saltzberg''s signature take on the joys of creativity. Two mice—one big and one small—have a terrible problem. Little Mouse is looking for a story—they’re in a book, after all!—and Big Mouse has to admit the truth. The story is gone. And (gasp!) he ate it. That is not okay with Little Mouse, who is all ready to hear a story and will settle for nothing less. Saltzberg''s improvisational dialogue showcases both the patience required of true creativity and the dazzling on-the-spot storytelling that can happen when you get in the flow. In the end, these endearing mice work out their conflict— and make the reader realize that they’ve been delivering a story all along. Parents and children will want to take this satisfying comedic journey together again and again.

Barney Saltzberg’s irrepressible and imaginative books—Good Egg, Beautiful Oops!, Arlo Needs Glasses, and A Little Bit of Oomph!, combine distinctive art, a lively spirit, and paper engineering to bring great joy to kids (and grown-ups, too). Now Barney is launching a new series of board books about a character named Redbird. With his long orange beak, red body, and friendly expression, Redbird calls to mind Dr. Seuss’s offbeat heroes and Boynton’s zany barnyard creatures, while embodying the author’s signature playful style. In Friends Come in Different Sizes, he introduces readers to all his delightful friends—some who are tall and some who are taller, and some who are small and some who are smaller. Friends can be SHORT. Friends can be LONG. Doesn’t matter what they look like . . . Friends all get along!

Every mistake is an opportunity to make something beautiful. This is the central idea of Beautiful Oops!, Barney Saltzberg’s beloved bestseller—and now My Book of Beautiful Oops!, an interactive journal for young artists, takes that principle into unexpected new directions. A hands-on journal that’s meant to be personalized—drawn in, painted on, torn up, smudged, or otherwise artistically wrecked—My Book of Beautiful Oops! is filled with folded, crumpled, die-cut, and lift-the-flap pages that will challenge the reader’s sense of play. The friendly green alligator from the first book prompts the reader: Bend a page. Decorate a smudge. Play with splats and spills. Even complete a poem that was accidentally ripped in half. My Beautiful Book of Oops! champions imagination, play, and the courage to express oneself. It’s about self-forgiveness, about turning off that inner critic that clamors for perfection. And it’s about freedom—the freedom to be creative and follow your curiosity wherever it goes. That’s a lesson to celebrate.

One of these is not like that other--and that''s great! This gently subversive picture book points out-- and celebrates!-- the differences between subjects. Barney Saltzberg''s hilarious and delightfully direct text and simple illustrations introduce children to the concept and splendor of inclusiveness, through recognizing who or what''s different on each spread and celebrating the unity as it is. For example, the reader sees three cows and an elephant accompanied by the text "One of these is not like the other," turn the page... and all four animals take part in an exuberant conga line and say "that''s just fine with us"! In a series of similar examples children are encouraged to notice both the similarities and differences between characters and celebrate both. Barney Saltzberg''s picture book is a pointed and timely tribute to the power of inclusivity and as well as a riotous read-aloud.

From the bestselling author of Beautiful Oops! and I Want to Be Mad for a While, Barney Saltzberg, comes a playful and heartfelt new sibling book! This sweet, lyrical read-aloud shares all the love young siblings feel as they count down the days to their new baby’s arrival! Following an adorable young elephant sibling who shares the boundless love and excitement for this soon-to-be new family member, this is a touching tribute to the most special relationship siblings have. Told with Barney Saltzberg’s vibrant, bold artwork and playfully tender text, this book is perfect for expectant families eagerly anticipating the BIG DAY.

After visiting the eye doctor and getting fitted with glasses, Arlo the dog is able to catch the ball thrown by his owner. Includes eye chart, fold-out vision-testing machine, and four pairs of try-on glasses.

Discover an exploration of BIG feelings that is perfect for fans of social-emotional bestsellers When Sophie Gets Angry -- Really, Really Angry and My Mouth Is a Volcano, from the bestselling author of Beautiful Oops!, Barney Saltzberg! Sometimes it helps when we talk. Sometimes there''s nothing to say. I just need a little alone time to make the mad go away. Discover a universally relatable story about one little cat who just wants to be MAD... at least for a little while! With gentle text and bold, vibrant illustrations, Barney Saltzberg encourages readers to "feel what they feel" and express their emotions, helping young ones develop key tools for social-emotional literacy. A must-have for any toddler caregiver. This book empowers children on the topic of anger, letting them know that it''s okay to feel mad sometimes. Because after you let yourself feel mad... then you can start to feel GLAD!

Excited about being "star of the week" at school, Stanley spends a lot of time choosing and preparing his favorite things to share, but becomes discouraged when his classmates make fun of what he likes. 20,000 first printing.

A sheep sister, tired of her brother''s pestering, climbs through a hole in the page to find some quiet time.

Spending time with Grandpa is always fun. Singling, laughing, eating, and playing. And when it''s time to say goodbye, It won''t be for long because He''s never too far away to have tea. In this sweetly simple, rhyming picture book by acclaimed author/artist Barney Saltzberg, a little girl tells us about her daily tea ritual with her grandfather where they sing and laugh and clink their teacups with the help of their computers and a video chat. A Neal Porter Book

A little boy who loves dogs describes their various characteristics.

Barney Saltzberg’s irrepressible and imaginative books—Good Egg, Beautiful Oops!, Arlo Needs Glasses, and A Little Bit of Oomph!, combine distinctive art, a lively spirit, and paper engineering to bring great joy to kids (and grown-ups, too). Now Barney is launching a new series of board books about a character named Redbird. With his long orange beak, red body, and friendly expression, Redbird calls to mind Dr. Seuss’s offbeat heroes and Boynton’s zany barnyard creatures, while embodying the author’s signature playful style. In Colors, Colors, Everywhere!, Redbird tries to pick his favorite color—is it red like him, blue like the sky, or yellow like the sun? Finally, he concludes: Colors, colors, everywhere! It’s hard to really choose. . . . It’s hard to really know! And that’s the reason why I love . . . the colors of the rainbow!

A little girl who loves cats describes their various characteristics.

An energetic, heartfelt, and humorous ode to book love You can spin and twirl and dance with this book. You can listen while someone else reads it. You can take your book to lunch. Just do not try to feed it. Expertly whimsical illustrations accompany this rhyming celebration of the printed book, and the attachment many of us all feel to our very favourites. The imaginative humour is balanced by earnest devotion, traits to which the young audience will relate. A sure-to-be favourite, this title will draw giggles and snuggles ... with the book itself!

How do you make the ordinary extraordinary? With a little bit of oomph! An utterly inspiring and playful new book on creativity from Barney Saltzberg, author of Beautiful Oops!, A Little Bit of Oomph! teaches the invaluable lesson of throwing your heart into whatever you’re doing and trying just a little bit harder— because with a little extra effort and a lot of oomph, you can make anything beautiful. With a little bit of oomph you can help a sprinkle of seeds—lift flap—become a magical, three-dimensional bouquet of flowers. With a little bit of oomph, small notions—like a goldfish in a little bowl—open out to big oceans (just look through the peephole!). Oomph can transform a dog’s tail into a funny tale (there’s a miniature book involved). Oomph changes curiosity into discovery, daydreams into playthings, your singing into others’ dancing. A triumph of imagination, vibrant, colorful art, and paper engineering, A Little Bit of Oomph! is filled with pop-ups, lift-the-flaps, spinning circles and gatefolds—and, underlying every page, Barney’s timeless message that creativity is for everyone. Just add a little bit of oomph.

Stanley is excited about bringing the class pet, a bird, home for the weekend, but when his friend Larry urges him to open the cage and let Figgy out to fly, it is hard to know who is to blame for the ensuing disaster.

In this companion to the award-winning "Animal Kisses", readers can share in the kisses with animals in this touch-and-feel book. Full-color illustrations.

A funny, sweet story of unrequited friendship from the creator of Beautiful Oops! and Crazy Hair Day. Dog likes Rabbit. Rabbit likes Bunny. But Bunny ignores Rabbit. How will the friendship triangle resolve? Written in four parts, this picture book navigates the pitfalls of budding friendship and explores the rewards of patience under the sure hand of seasoned author/illustrator Barney Saltzberg.

Stanley is excited about Crazy Hair Day at his school, until he discovers that he has gotten the date wrong and it is actually Class Picture Day, but his classmates come to his rescue in a show of solidarity. Jr Lib Guild. 15,000 first printing.

Some little ones want to be princesses; others want to be dragons. The message of this book is that you can actually be both! There are lots of things you can be: a little wild, a little sweet. A little polite, a little troublesome. A little dainty, a little dragony. There''s nothing stopping you from being just what you want to be . . . so which would you rather be: a princess or a dragon? Here''s just the book to help you sort through that difficult question. You might be surprised at what you decide by its end.

High in his bamboo tree, a young panda named Chengdu lies awake while everyone around him is sleeping. No matter what he tries, he cannot fall asleep. He turns and he tosses. He scrunches and he rolls. He even hangs upside down. Finally he climbs up and up and up, until he finds the perfect spot atop his brother. Panda pile!

The night before Lena''s first soccer game of the season, her father, Ruben Drinkwater, tells her the amazing story of his own first season playing soccer. His mom was like any ordinary parent watching the Atomic Pickles play. But soon, she began to act very differently-she started to look like a pickle, and she started to roar in a very loud voice when the team was scoring goals. In fact, she turned into an alien! Ruben spied on her at home, but she seemed to turn into an alien only during soccer games. Finally, he confronted her and asked her to act like all the other parents. That''s when they discovered how much Mrs. Drinkwater''s cheering meant to the team-especially to the parents, who took up where her cheerleading left off and renewed the whole team''s spirit for the game.

Participating in her class spelling bee, Phoebe uses her wonderful imagination to remember tough word spellings.

Now in paperback, here''s a birthday book with a twist, involving a circus family, a flying cake, and a guessing game that keeps readers wondering what baby Beanie will do. Saltzberg is the author-illustrator of numerous children''s books, including "The Soccer Mom from Outer Space".

Equal parts heart-melting and stinky, The Smell of Wet Dog is a must-have illustrated poetry book for every young canine fan. The smell of wet dog is not a good smell. When a dog is wet it’s easy to tell. Imagine moose and skunk perfume. An odiferous stench, a paint-peeling plume. Beloved author and illustrator Barney Saltzberg offers up twenty-seven poems on the evergreen topic of human’s best friend. Many have all the humor of a Shel Silverstein classic. Others are unexpectedly poignant, about separation anxiety or older dogs growing less spry. All are accompanied by Saltzberg’s lively and loveable artwork. Whether you are a dog lover, love a dog lover, or are simply dog-curious, The Smell of Wet Dog is for someone in your life. One thing’s for sure: You’ll leave this book inspired to write an ode to a furry friend of your own! A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

Describes a noisy game. 6 mths - 3 yrs.

Because the restaurant has no more stew, and the grandmother who makes it is out for the evening, two friends find a different way to enjoy themselves.

Where is Blueberry? Peekaboo!

Offers toddlers a colorful, interactive board book where playful animals of various shapes and sizes are hiding behind numerous lift-the-flaps, and comes complete with a squeaker to press and a peek-at-yourself mirror. Children''s BOMC Main. 75,000 first printing.

Mrs. Morgan, who is very fussy and protective about her front yard, confiscates all the soccer balls, baseballs, and other kinds of balls that land there while neighborhood children are playing.

Cornelius the pig has doubts about his new baby brother since the baby cannot talk, eat pizza, or play.

Chengdu can do many things all by himself. He can get down from his branch, and he can look for breakfast. Chengdu can jump, he can push, and he can pull. He can climb, he can stretch, and he can swing. But sometimes even the most capable young panda could use a little help. Independent-minded toddlers will love following along as the determined Chengdu reaches for his goal of some tasty leaves. The gentle text is a delight to hear read aloud, and a variety of fold-out pages add to the fun.

In a cheering tale of kindness and friendship, Stanley''s worst day ever takes a surprising turn when his classmates concoct a creative show of solidarity. Stanley Birdbaum couldn’t be more excited. He has rolled and wrapped and dyed his hair. He has dipped it and sprayed it and made it, well, perfect. He is ready to celebrate Crazy Hair Day at school. But when Stanley saunters up to the classroom, he learns, to his horror, that Crazy Hair Day is . . . next week. To make matters worse, today is School Picture Day, and everyone is expected to line up for the class photo! What’s Stanley to do?

T-Bone the pup drives in his little convertible greeting birds, flowers, the moon, and a fish. Features lift-the-flap illustrations.

T-Bone the pup receives a variety of responses when he asks his animal friends what they would do with a bone. Features lift-the-flap illustrations.

A boy''s morning yawn is passed on throughout the day until it returns to the boy who began it all.