Best Selling Books by Maryann Cocca-Leffler

An inspiring young picture book about overcoming challenges and frustrations with the Power of Yet “I can’t do it!” “Can’t do it yet.” This charming picture book tells the story of one small piglet who uses the Power of Yet to conquer frustration. While it may not be possible to perfectly flip pancakes or play the violin yet, with practice and patience and courage and grit, anything is possible!

Rhymed text and illustrations describe a young girl''s distribution of her valentines.

A family decides their Christmas gifts to each other must be homemade rather than store bought. A family of adorable pigs decides that this year they will make their gifts to each other for Christmas rather than buy gifts. Each family member is excited to try. Momma makes breakfast, Dad makes a blanket, and sister Rosie sings a song. But the littlest pig struggles to come up with an idea. What can he make?

Meet Violet. She''s going on vacation to sunny Florida. She packed her bag very carefully. Meet Pooch. He''s going on vacation to Grandpa''s snowy farm. Violet packed his bag very carefully, too. After they both leave, disaster strikes! When their bags get mixed up, Violet thinks Pooch''s vacation will be miserable. But Pooch the dog is having a grand old time, so all is very well!

In this simple rhyming story, three children share the activities of winter, until the first signs of spring appear.

A cat who struggles with social skills learns ways to be honest without being rude. Cat always says what''s on his mind, no matter how much his words may upset others. But when he hears his friends talk about him, Cat realizes that words can hurt, even though that may not be the intention.

A perfect picture book for toddlers on the go! All toddlers live by the pleasure principle. For them, fun times always end too soon. So often they either turn a deaf ear to the words "It''s time to say bye-bye" or simply throw a tantrum. What is the solution? In this warm-hearted picture book, Maryann Cocca-Leffler follows a toddler from morning to bedtime, showing that all saying "byebye" really means is that you''re ready to say "hello" to the next fun thing on your "agenda." With a bare minimum of words, and playful artwork, this is one of those rare read-alouds perfect for very young children.

ILA 2016 Teachers'' Choices Reading List Meet Janine. She is one of a kind! Janine dresses a little different, remembers random facts, reads the dictionary for fun, and has her own style of cheering. Nobody does things the way Janine does things! One girl in Janine''s class is throwing a party and all the COOL kids are invited. But Janine is not cool. Some kids think she is strange and want her to change. Will Janine try to be different or just be her spectacular self? In this charming story, Maryann Cocca-Leffler uses her own daughter as inspiration for a delightfully spunky character. Janine Leffler focuses on the positive while navigating life with disabilities. She has become a role model to children and adults, encouraging them to focus on abilities and promoting respect, tolerance, and kindness.

A blizzard might ruin a young girl''s seventh birthday--her party is canceled when the electricity goes out! But a series of fun surprises and optimistic attutides makes this a birthday to remember!

It''s Valentines Day, and a little girl is making Valentines for her mom and dad. When the cards disappear, she tracks down the culprit—and gets a Valentine surprise herself!

When make-believe Princess Jessica throws a royal ball, she delivers invitations to her loyal subjects, picks out her best ball gown, and even loses her slipper. If only her sister wasn''t such a royal pain!

A shy artist helps her classmates see the beauty in the world around them. Because Marabella is shy, she''s often overlooked. But Marabella doesn’t overlook anything—not the puffy clouds, or the birds in the trees, not even her dancing shadows. When she spies some flowers poking up from weeds in the schoolyard, she decides to draw them big enough for others to notice. Chalk in hand, she fills the blank wall with bright spectacular drawings of the simple moments she has seen, which inspires her classmates to notice the world around them.

The Best Children''s Books of the Year 2014, Bank Street College On "Mood Monday," students describe their moods after the weekend. But Theo doesn''t know what to say because he has a new baby sister and is feeling so many emotions all at once. It''s Mood Monday and Miss Cady''s class is sharing how they feel after the weekend. But Theo doesn’t know whether he’s in a good mood or a bad mood. He has a new baby sister, and he isn’t just happy like Eric who got a new bike or sad like April who lost her dog. As Theo’s classmates discuss all their feelings, he realizes he’s not in a good mood or a bad mood—he’s both those things!

Janine is back! Today is field day and even though Janine is not good at sports, she is ready to compete. Her body just doesn''t work like the other kids''. But no matter what, Janine cheers for everyone and tries her best. During the big race, her classmate Abby trips and falls. Janine is right there to help. But Abby is crushed that she won''t win the race. Can Janine teach Abby and her classmates that being a winner is not always about being number one?

On the first day of school, as the children in Miss Lucinda''s class introduce themselves and name their special talent, Jack wonders if he is good at anything.

The Belonging Tree is a thoughtful picture book about respect, inclusion, and acceptance in a woodland community of animals from writer Maryann Cocca-Leffler and illustrator Kristine A. Lombardi. Life was ordinary in the big oak tree on Forest Lane. Squirrels lived in every part of the tree, and the Gray squirrel family inhabited the knot in the middle. But the neighborhood starts to change as the big oak tree welcomes families of chipmunks, beavers, and birds. And with each new arrival, the Grays become increasingly unhappy. Can’t everything remain just as it was? It will take an unexpected moment of heroism from a thoughtful inhabitant to finally open hearts and bind together this diverse animal community. Christy Ottaviano Books

The leaves turn red, brown, and orange, then drift down from the trees. It''s time to go apple picking and on hayrides at the county fair. Fall is finally here! With soft, colourful art, adorable children, and seasonal outdoor scenes, Let It Fall celebrates the beauty of autumn.

While on summer vacation at their grandparents'' beach house, all the children go clam digging every day. And every day, they return empty handed. One day after a big storm they discover a bumper crop of clams--enough to last all year long.

Life is the same every day for Ben, and that''s just how he likes it. Ben likes things the same way every day at school—he sits at the same table, eats the same lunch, and likes the daily class routine. But when his teacher leaves to have her baby and a substitute teacher comes and changes everything, Ben gets upset. He liked everything the way it was before! But soon Ben starts to think differently about change and realizes that doing things another way can be fun.

El and Jo are the shortest kids in class, and they''re inseparable. But what happens when Jo starts to grow? This sweet picture book explores the joys and challenges of friendship and growing up. "A sweet story with emotional depth." --Kirkus El and Jo are the smallest students in their class--and best friends, too, like peas in a pod. Even their names are short. But in springtime, something BIG happens: Jo starts growing like a weed, while El feels smaller every day. On the last day of school, their teacher asked every child to pick a plant to care for over the summer. All the other kids reach over El to grab their plant, and she has to take the very last one: a tiny, flowerless aster. At first, she''s disappointed. But as summer progresses, the aster begins to bloom--and so does El

The everyday sights, sounds and smells of a colorful and bustling city come alive in this book - a child''s view of Boston. Maryann Cocca-Leffler remembers frequent bus trips she took into the city as a girl with her mother and little sister. Together they shopped for delicious treats in the Italian North End - warm pizza and creamy cannoli - or stopped for ice cream sundaes at Bailey''s after a day of bargain hunting at Filene''s Basement. One of the best things about the trips was the bus driver, Bill. He started his route each day in their neighborhood and knew all the kids on the street. In this engaging Parents'' Choice Award book, the author-artist conveys all the warmth and simple pleasure of childhood memories and the people and places that made them so special.

Carlin, who is frightened by everything, wants to try some of Big Bear''s bravery soup, but first he must travel through a dark forest to a monster''s cave to retrieve an important ingredient.

This "Halloween--jungle-style" story will capture the spirits and moods of young trick-or-treaters everywhere. Bouncy verses with repetitive lines, and colorful, comical illustrations propel jungle characters along as they parade their way to a party.

Kim wants the kids at her new school to like her, so she tells a teeny, tiny, bitty lie. She says her name is really “K.I.M.”—for “Katherine Isabella Marguerite”—and that she comes from a royal family! Pretty soon all the students know there is a princess in the school. Kim wears her golden tiara from dance class and a big fancy ring she won at the arcade. Her little lie grows and grows. When a classmate invites her to a birthday party, Kim says she can’t go because her grandmother is coming to visit. But she had told the kids her grandmother was a queen. Now they all want to meet the queen. Kim is in a real bind; her lie has grown too big and it’s about ready to explode!

A Junior Library Guild Selection February 2022 The true story of the people who helped make every public school a more inclusive place. There was a time in the United States when millions of children with disabilities weren''t allowed to go to public school. But in 1971, seven kids and their families wanted to do something about it. They knew that every child had a right to an equal education, so they went to court to fight for that right. The case Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia led to laws ensuring children with disabilities would receive a free, appropriate public education. Told in the voice of Janine Leffler, one of the millions of kids who went to school because of these laws, this book shares the true story of this landmark case.

2013-2014 Show Me Readers Nominee List 2012 Best Children''s Books of the Year, Bank Street College Although she''s always been called Princess at home, Kim is not a real princess, so she decides "From now on, no matter what, I''m only going to tell the truth!" At home, she tells her Dad that the pancakes are rubbery and her Grandma that her new necklace looks the the slimy rocks at the bottom of the fish tank. At school, she''s just as honest...until she learns what too much truth can do.

A large extended family is enjoying their summer vacation in New England, and Grandpa has been getting everyone up at five in the morning to dig for clams. They haven''t found many yet, but their luck is about to change. The morning after a big storm, they discover a bumper crop of clams on the deserted beach! The rest of the day is spent collecting and cleaning the clams, and their reward at the end of the day is sitting down to a huge dinner of clam chowder, stuffed baked clams, and spaghetti with clam sauce! As you and your child join Grandpa and the gang in their clam-digging adventures, you will discover the importance of family and how food brings people together, all while learning a new language!

Mr. Tanen and his ties are back! But now there''s trouble. Mr. Tanen''s school has run out of funds for the long-awaited playground. He needs to raise money--fast. But how? Then Mr. Tanen considers his tie collection as a moneymaker.

It''s Career Day, and the students are running the Lynnhurst School! Olivia takes Mr. Tanen''s place as principal--along with the keys to his closet filled with 998 crazy ties. While the kids are in charge, there''s an important visitor from Washington, D.C.

Fighting for Yes is a picture book biography celebrating the life and work of disability rights activist and icon Judith Heumann, highlighting one of her landmark achievements—leading the historic 504 Sit-in in 1977. From a very young age, Judy Heumann heard the word “No.” When she wanted to attend public school, the principal said “No.” When she wanted her teaching license, the New York Board of Education said “No.” Judy and people with disabilities everywhere were tired of hearing “No.” In the 1970s, an important disability rights law, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, was waiting to be signed. Judy and other disability rights activists fought for “YES!” They held a sit-in until Section 504 was signed into law. Section 504 laid the foundation for the Americans with Disabilities Act, which was established thanks in large part to the ongoing work of Judy and her community. Along with a personal reflection from Judy herself, award-winning author Maryann Cocca-Leffler and illustrator Vivien Mildenberger’s picture book biography captures the impact and influence of one of America’s greatest living activists. “Cocca-Leffler’s straightforward text relates Judy’s challenges and triumphs . . . Uplifting and stirring.” —Kirkus Reviews “Illustrations combine gouache painting and digital art to bring Heumann and her allies to life . . . an informative portrait of an under-recognized activist.” —Booklist

Inspired by the #1 New York Times bestseller She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton and Alexandra Boiger, a chapter book series about women who spoke up and rose up against the odds--including Bethany Hamilton! Bethany Hamilton learned to surf when she was three years old, and she joined—and won—many surfing competitions as a child. When she was thirteen, while she was surfing one morning, a shark suddenly attacked her and bit off her left arm. Through hard work, courage, and faith, Bethany persisted and went on to reach her dream of becoming a professional surfer. Along the way, she used her experience to provide inspiration and comfort to surfers and non-surfers alike. In this chapter book biography by award-winning author Maryann Cocca-Leffler, readers learn about the amazing life of Bethany Hamilton--and how she persisted. Complete with an introduction from Chelsea Clinton, black-and-white illustrations throughout, and a list of ways that readers can follow in Bethany Hamilton''s footsteps and make a difference! A perfect choice for kids who love learning and teachers who want to bring inspiring women into their curriculum. And don’t miss out on the rest of the books in the She Persisted series, featuring so many more women who persisted, including Harriet Tubman, Marian Anderson, Oprah Winfrey, Ruby Bridges, and more!

It''s time to wash the dog! Have a splish-splashin'' good time with simple words, pictures, and flash cards to make learning to read easy and fun!

Silly Willy, our eponymous hero, likes to get dressed in a topsy-turvy way—with gloves on his head, socks on his ears, and the rest of his clothes in the strangest places—in this silly story by the author of What a Pest! and Ice-Cold Birthday. Featuring extra-large type and primer easy sentences, this All Aboard Reading book includes 24 flash cards.

Follow a group of children as they enjoy the rain and all the wonderful activities of spring.

Kids will love discovering the floor plan of the White House, a list of presidential perks, and lots of interesting info about all the presidents, from George Washington to Barack Obama. (Did you know he is the only president born in Hawaii?) Each page is jam-packed with trivia, fun facts, and information on the historical events of each presidency.

The kids in Ms. Brandt''s class create a special report on the United States of America, with each child doing research on ten states. There''s a double-spread map of the whole U.S. and a page for every state jam-packed with trivia, interesting facts, handwritten captions, and jokes. At the end of the book is a map showing how the United States grew over time, a spread on the presidents and what states they hailed from, as well as a "bibliography" of books the kids used in their research. Written by a team of well-known author/artists, this 64-page Smart About History book is a great guide for kids.

Edgar Degas is famous for his paintings of ballerinas, and that''s what first attracts Kristin to his artwork. But as she studies him for her report, she discovers that his art ranged far beyond the ballet and she gradually learns exactly what makes Degas''s work so unique.

Little sister Jessie is a nuisance at day camp, until a crisis threatens to ruin the talent show and she saves the day.

A large extended family is enjoying their summer vacation in New England, and Grandpa has been getting everyone up at five in the morning to dig for clams. They haven''t found many yet, but their luck is about to change. The morning after a big storm, they discover a bumper crop of clams on the deserted beach! The rest of the day is spent collecting and cleaning the clams, and their reward at the end of the day is sitting down to a huge dinner of clam chowder, stuffed baked clams, and spaghetti with clam sauce! As you and your child join Grandpa and the gang in their clam-digging adventures, you will discover the importance of family and how food brings people together, all while learning a new language!