Best Selling Books by Mordicai Gerstein

A lyrical evocation of Philippe Petit''s 1974 tightrope walk between the World Trade Center towers, a quarter of a mile in the sky.

"Once in a book by Mordecai Gerstein ... there lived a family of characters." This is the tale of one little girl''s search for her own story.

From the winner of the 2004 Caldecott Medal comes a memorable new work, a novel of singular insight and imagination that transports readers to the Old Country, where "all the fairy tales come from, where there was magic -- and there was war." There, Gisella stares a moment too long into the eyes of a fox, and she and the fox exchange shapes. Gisella''s quest to get her girl-body back takes her on a journey across a war-ravaged country that has lost its shape. She encounters magic, bloodshed, and questions of power and justice -- until finally, looking into the eyes of the fox once more, she faces a strange and startling choice about her own nature. Part adventure story and part fable; exciting, beautifully told, rich in humor and wisdom, The Old Country is the work of an artist and storyteller at the height of his powers.

Abelardo defies his father''s instructions and sets out to free a whale caught in their tangled fishing net.

"A picture book about the Greek god of the wild, shepherds, music, hunting and misrule, Pan."--

The excessively quiet town of Pupickton and the sleeping lovesick giant upon which it was built, are both awakened by the joyful noise of a little girl''s songs.

A roving, rhyming tale about three friends in search of the perfect new home. Giggles guaranteed! Moose, Goose, and Mouse need a new house, so they set off in search of one. But when their caboose comes loose, they''re off on a wild adventure—with a perfect surprise waiting at the end. The rollicking story is a delight to read aloud, paired with boldly-colored, expressive illustrations. This zany friendship tale is sure to be a favorite. Author Mordicai Gerstein, Caldecott medalist, was a four-time New York Times best illustrated book winner. Moose, Goose, and Mouse is the culmination of the humor, wit, and joy that he brought to all of his books. A heartfelt letter from Jeff Mack, who worked with Gerstein to finish the art, celebrates the legacy of this talented artist. With fun rhymes, wordplay, and alliteration, Moose, Goose, and Mouse promotes foundational skills for young readers. Officially leveled using the Fountas & Pinnell Text Level Gradient™ Leveling System, Moose Goose, and Mouse is a Level I book, perfect for late first-grade readers. A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

When Zachary loses his oldest toy and first friend, he searches for it behind the couch where he discovers a wonderful, imaginary world.

At birth, Hermes, son of Zeus and the Nymph Maia, says his first word: "Gimme!" In this brilliant, hilarious graphic novel about the mischievous, fun-loving messenger of the gods, Caldecott Medal winner Mordicai Gerstein, transports classical mythology to the 21st century. "The world!" the newly born Hermes says. "It''s even better than I expected! I love it! I want it all!" This book is filled with joy, exuberance, and humor. On his first day of life, Hermes manages to trick a turtle into surrendering its shell and a ram into surrendering its horns, thereby inventing the lyre, music, and song! He also manages to steal his brother Apollo''s precious cows, but later redeems himself by outwitting the giant brothers Otus and Ephialtes, who have kidnapped Mars. These adventures and more, all derived from classical mythology, are told with great humor as well as a twenty-first century sensibility by the colossally talented Mordicai Gerstein. The art in this graphic novel is truly spectacular, with 250 illustrations, executed by a master artist and filled with unique humor. A Bank Street Best Book of the Year

Imagine you were born before the invention of drawing, more than thirty thousand years ago. You would live with your whole family in a cave and see woolly mammoths walk by! You might even see images of animals hidden in the shapes of clouds and rocks. You would want to share these pictures with your family, but wouldn''t know how. Who would have made the world''s first drawing? Would it have been you? In The First Drawing, Caldecott Medal winner Mordicai Gerstein imagines the discovery of drawing...and inspires the young dreamers and artists of today.

"Gerstein creates a rousing visual cacophony that echos Ives''s compositions in this inspired picture-book biography." --Starred, Publishers Weekly

A beautiful story about the secrets of nighttime and the beauty of dawn from Caldecott Medal-winning illustrator, Mordicai Gerstein. Includes Read-Aloud/Read-to-Me functionality, where available. Book Description:One night, a little boy is awoken by his cat, Sylvie. Everyone in the house is sleeping, but outside, the Night World is wide awake! Beginning with a beautiful black-and-white palette, the shadows of the Night World come to life: lilies, sunflowers, rabbits, deer, and owls are all revealed as Sylvie and the boy explore the world outside his door. But the animals all know something new is coming--what could it be? Finally, in an explosion of color, the dawn arrives.

An alliterative alphabet book presents mean and monstrous letters, from A (an awfully arrogant amphibian) to Z (a zig-zagging zoological zany).

The month of May travels to meet her father December, and meets all of her relatives, the other months of the year, on the way.

After dying, a Tibetan woodcutter is given the choice of going to heaven or to live another life anywhere in the universe.

Rules are made to be broken, Especially for Minifred. But if she wants to go to school, she''ll have to behave, right? Maybe not, because Minifred isn''t a regular child—she''s a kitten! In this playful picture book from Caldecott Medalist Mordicai Gerstein, Minifred makes her own rules about how to have fun.

Collects poems celebrating everyday activities, including drifting off to sleep, lying in the warm sun, and eating spaghetti for dinner.

It is time for bed, but Daisy has a hard time getting her stuffed animals to settle down.

Made on the sixth day of the Creation, a white ram waits patiently in the Garden of Eden. The other animals leave one by one, but the ram waits and waits until he is needed to fulfill God''s will by sacrificing himself to save a boy''s life. Full color.

Presents glimpses of the many people who have lived in a room that is once again for rent.

A retelling of the Old Testament story of how Noah and his family were saved, along with two of every living creature, when God destroyed the wicked of the world with a devastating flood.

A young boy has trouble getting dressed one morning when his clothes decide to play hard to get.

Mistaken for a fish by a nearsighted pelican and deposited with a family of ducks, young Arnold learns to swim, fly, and eat like a duck until his curiosity finally leads him back to his human family.

The more a baby cries, the more she grows, until her brother thinks of a way to reverse the process and turn his gigantic sister into a normal-sized infant.

In this simple, step-by-step instructional picture book, learn how you too can visit the moon on your bicycle! All you need is a very long garden hose, a very large slingshot, a borrowed spacesuit, and a bicycle . . . and plenty of imagination. With tongue firmly in cheek, Caldecott Medal winner Mordicai Gerstein outlines the steps needed in glorious comic book-style panels and a deadpan voice, leaving nothing out: the food you''ll eat, how to deal with loneliness in space, how to water those sunflower seeds once they''re planted—even how to deal with the media attention back home after a successful trip. An inspired work of whimsy, How to Bicycle to the Moon to Plant Sunflowers is a spacefaring adventure for daydreamers and a starter kit for the imagination. A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2013!

A young girl and all the animals of the field come together to plant and harvest a garden.

The lives of a baby jay bird, a young girl, a kitten, and a small squirrel intersect as they venture out into the world. 20,000 first printing.

An old man tells his grandchildren about a sheep dog named Herman who, during the days when dogs and cats ruled the world, discovered the first humans.

Three lively little girls attempt to start a friendship with a lonely giant.

"An unforgettable story." --Starred, Booklist "Nature and civilization collide in this thought-provoking picture book based on the story of a boy discovered living alone in the mountain forests of southern France in 1800 . . . Young readers will be fascinated, perhaps even spurred to further investigate the facts behind the story." --Starred, Publishers Weekly "The illustrations, executed in textured paint strokes and rough, crosshatched lines, evoke the untamed freedom of a child who lives purely for himself. The page design heightens the emotional tension and moves the story forward." --Starred, School Library Journal

Retells the Old Testament story of the man who disobeyed God''s wishes and was swallowed by a great fish.

A novel based on the work of Dr. Jean Marc Itard who spent the years shortly after the French Revolution working with a "savage" boy whom he called Victor, trying to prove he was not an idiot and to teach him how to live in human society.

From the winner of the 2004 Caldecott Medal (for "The Man Who Walked Between the Towers") comes a memorable new work, a novel of insight and imagination that transports readers to the Old Country, where" all the fairy tales come from."

Robert and Sam suspect their weird new neighbor is really Frankenstein.

A collection of tales about the Greek god Pan and his relatives and some of the grand and silly things they did.

A seal sheds her skin and becomes a beautiful woman, but even after marrying and bearing a son she longs to return to her seal family in the sea.