Most Popular Books by Rachel Isadora

The gorgeous reimagining of the classic Christmas tale with Rachel Isadora''s signature twist! Caldecott Honor winner Rachel Isadora sets her colorful, unique version of this well-known Christmas poem in Africa, capturing the anticipation and excitement of the holiday in her stunning collages. Children will pore over the enchanting artwork--brimming with special touches like traditional African toys and a Santa who sports dreadlocks--as they chime along with the familiar rhyming text.

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.

Carmelita loves to greet everyone in her colorful neighborhood. There are people from so many different cultures! They all like to say hello too, so now Carmelita can say hello in Spanish, English, French, Japanese, and many other languages. And her dog, Manny? Well, he seems to understand everyone, and gives a happy "Woof!" wherever he goes. Caldecott Honor winner Rachel Isadora''s eyecatching collages are full of kid-friendly details like colorful storefronts, pigeons and an ice cream truck, making Carmelita''s neighborhood fun to explore. Emphasizing the rich diversity of America''s neighborhoods, this simple portrait of a child''s day provides a great introduction to the joy of language.

Join a sweet toddler for some morning fun perfect for sharing with babies, in this playful book by Caldecott Honor winning author Rachel Isadora, author of I Just Want to Say Good Night and I Hear a Pickle. A toddler plays a game of peekaboo, and you''re invited to play too! First there''s Mommy to find, with Daddy not far behind. Then Puppy comes peeking around the corner, and a favorite toy train brings the toddler to Grandma and Grandpa. Rachel Isadora''s brilliant, joyful pastel illustrations capture familiar and cozy people, toys, and animals that will delight babies, who will love finding out what the toddler sees next.

When a prince sets out to find a princess to marry, he soon discovers this is not a simple task. There is no shortage of so-called princesses, but how can he tell whether or not they are what they claim to be? Then one night a great storm rages, there comes a knock on the palace gate, and the prince''s life is never the same . . .

* “Isadora’s book about the five senses is aimed perfectly at another sense—kids’ sense of humor.”—The Horn Book, starred review Caldecott Honor winner Rachel Isadora’s sweet and simple introduction to the five senses is perfect for the youngest children, who will recognize themselves in charming vignettes portraying a wide range of childhood activities. Hearing, smelling, seeing, touching, tasting--our five senses allow us to experience the world in so many ways! With our ears we hear the birds sing; with our nose we smell the stinky cheese; with our eyes we see the moon and stars (and sometimes glasses help us see even better!); with our skin we feel the rain (and learn not to touch the hot stove!); and with our tongue we can taste our favorite foods. Isadora’s lively art reveals the power and delight of each sense.

The story of Ben is fiction, but it could be the story of more than one jazz musician who grew up in the twenties. Using the art-deco style of the period, Rachel Isadora not only captures the poignancy and yearning of a youthful talent, but in page after page of striking art seems to convey the very sound of music.

The children of a South African village eagerly gather at the crossroads to welcome their fathers, who have been away for months working in the mines. The children wait, but the men don''t come. So the children keep waiting. And waiting. They wait all through the night, until the dawn brings both the day and the longed-for loved ones.A "lively portrayal of young children in a South African village eagerly awaiting their fathers'' homecoming after ten months of working in the mines....A unique glimpse...and one that deserves a place in all collections."--School Library Journal

Lili loves to dance, and dreams of becoming a ballerina. In her ballet class she does stretches, works at the barre, and learns the five classical dance positions that are the basics for the roles she may dance when she is older. Enhanced by delicate watercolor illustrations, this lovely book is the perfect introduction for boys and girls who want to learn more about ballet. Full color.

For any toddler who''s caused a bit of trouble by mistake, this book has a surprise with each page turn. Revealing a day in the life of a rambunctious child in bold, bright pastels, Rachel Isadora uses just one word to set the scene. Whether it''s breakfast that ends up all over everything--Uh-oh!--or ice cream that falls to the ground, or the wrong person falling asleep at bedtime, each spread is guaranteed to inspire giggles.

Examines the use of slang.

Caldecott Honor winner Rachel Isadora''s delightful introduction to the joys of having a dog stars a diverse ensemble of adorable kids and their beloved canine friends, in a style reminiscent of her popular I Hear a Pickle. Dogs are amazing! Dogs are a lot of work! And here is the perfect book to help a child understand what is involved in living with one. Lively illustrations show a variety of children learning what makes their dog tick, as they train them, care for them, and play with them. But most of all, it celebrates the fact that dogs are truly awesome companions--who are always happy to see you, and who can even sing, laugh and dream with you! Rachel Isadora''s love for our canine friends shines through on every page, as she shares some of the best--and most exasperating!--things about having a dog.

A favorite children''s song becomes a colorful book filled with African wildlife Also known as "The Green Grass Grew All Around," this popular song has been recorded by artists from Barney to Captain Kangaroo. Now "the prettiest tree that you ever did see" is a lovely acacia tree, where a baby starling is just about to hatch. Rachel Isadora gives children a fun, easy way to follow along with the cumulative lyrics by using rebus icons for the repeated words, as she did with 12 Days of Christmas. Sheet music is also included, making this irresistible fun!

Zolani, who lives in a rural Black homeland in South Africa, goes with his mother to visit his Grandma Zindzi.

Caldecott Honor winner Rachel Isadora gives readers a stunning new interpretation of this classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale, setting the infamous witch''s cottage deep in a lush African forest. Hansel and Gretel''s plight feels all the more threatening as they''re plunged into the thick, dark jungle of Isadora''s rich collages.

This companion to the beloved Peekaboo Morning takes children through the evening of the same adorable toddler, who plays peekaboo with everyone from his grandparents to his puppy, until it’s finally time to snuggle into bed with his blankie. Visual clues leading into each page turn, the repetition of the phrase, “Peekaboo, I see . . . “ and Rachel Isadora’s gorgeous illustrations combine to make a wonderful read aloud for young children.

A magic cloak. A hidden passage. A secret underground world beyond imagining. Night after night, the princesses mysteriously wear out their shoes. But how are they doing it? The baffled king promises a great reward to any man who can solve the mystery. From the colorful flurry of the princesses? dressing room to a captivating nighttime scene on an underground lake, Rachel Isadora has revitalized and reimagined this well-loved Brothers Grimm fairy tale by bringing the story of the twelve princesses to Africa. Her collage of blazing colors, rich textures and dramatic shapes evoke the patterns and palette of this beautiful continent. Returning to the lush setting of The Princess and the Pea, the unique presentation of this classic tale is sure to enchant readers with its vibrant imagery.

This fabulous version of the classic nursery song “Old MacDonald” introduces children to a menagerie of African animals and their sounds. It is beautifully illustrated by Caldecott Honor winner Rachel Isadora, with her signature collage-style artwork. Old Mikamba had a farm, E-I-E-I-O. And on this farm he had . . . a giraffe, a baboon, and an elephant! Meet Old Mikamba, who watches over a wide variety of animals on his game farm in the plains of Africa. Children will discover a whole new set of fun animal sounds as they are invited to sing along and roar with the lions, bellow with the rhino, whinny with the zebras, honk with the wildebeests, and more! A wonderful introduction to African wildlife that is great fun to read aloud, this truly irresistible rendition of a beloved song includes a list of animal fun facts and gives children a huge variety of animal sounds to imitate as they pore over the detailed animals, landscapes and patterns in the stunning illustrations.

A first grader gets into trouble when her love of drawing keeps her from doing something important.

Set in Africa, this beautiful rendition of the classic Christmas carol has a unique twist: colorful icons illustrate the various gifts repeated in each verse of this cumulative song, creating a rebus-style text that gives young children a fun way to follow along and chime in with the lyrics. The gorgeous, wonderfully detailed collage illustrations, comprised of colorful kente cloth and cut paper, feature tribal drummers and dancers, traditional clothing and native wildlife, making every scene as visually striking as the last.

Set in the wilds of Africa, Caldecott Honor winner Rachel Isadora''s stunning interpretation of the beloved Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale portrays African animals and landscapes with beautiful detail. As the ugly duckling searches for a place where he can fit in, Isadora''s vibrant collages capture the beauty in everything from glistening feathers to shimmering sunsets.

Caldecott Honor winning artist Rachel Isadora brings another fabulous fairy tale to brilliant life with her stunning collages. The Brothers Grimm story of the kind fisherman who catches an enchanted fish, and his greedy wife who always wants more, is perfect for these "give-me" times. Rachel Isadora''s captivating collage-style artwork, featuring the African landscape and the increasingly turbulent ocean, provides a wonderful new backdrop for this classic story.

Sitting in the kitchen of his grandfather''s Chinese restaurant, a young boy enjoys watching the chefs and waiters prepare and serve mouth-watering dishes.

Twilight in Johannesburg, South Africa, finds the bustle of the city beginning to subside. Work is over, and it is time for rest. But in Kruger National Park the setting sun beckons the animals and their young from the bush. On the darkened plain it is time to hunt, to graze, and to cool off in the night air. Rachel Isadora''s portrayals of South Africa that delighted her readers in At the Crossroads and Over the Green Hills continue in this breathtakingly beautiful picture book.

Starring an adorable toddler ballet class, this endearing companion to former dancer Rachel Isadora’s Bea at Ballet pares down the classic ballet to its most basic, child-friendly elements, making it perfect for preschool audiences. Bea and her friends are excited to put on their costumes and dance onstage in The Nutcracker! Bea is going to be Clara, and Sam is going to be the Prince. They will dance in the ballet’s magical Land of Sweets. Yum!

Each letter of the alphabet is represented by an illustration of a ballet-related word.

Caldecott Honor winner Rachel Isadora celebrates each of the four seasons with a diverse cast of endearing kids All four seasons are full of wonderful things that make them fun and special, and the children in this delightful book share some of the highlights (and some pretty nifty clothes)! Spring brings berries, baby animals, cool showers--and raincoats. Summer brings warm breezes, the best beach weather--and no more coats! In the fall, we play in the leaves and pumpkin patches--and wrap up in cozy sweaters. And winter brings ice skating and all kinds of snowy outdoor fun--but we need to bundle up in our heaviest coats! In a style reminiscent of her popular My Dog Laughs and I Hear a Pickle, Rachel Isadora''s charming vignettes are packed with details that young children will want to pour over.

Caldecott Honor winner Rachel Isadora’s irresistible illustrations of enthusiastic toddlers will have budding gymnasts jumping for joy. Jake and his diverse group of friend love their action-packed gymnastics class, where they stretch, tumble, balance, turn somersaults and so much more. This is the perfect book to introduce toddlers to the joy of movement and the fun of gymnastics.

A brief biography of the woman whose unique style of dance was not readily accepted by audiences at the turn of the twentieth century.

Bea and her friends have fun attending a toddler ballet class.

Describes the struggles and triumphs of a young girl learning and performing ballet.

Heather, a young ballerina, experiences the off-stage and on-stage excitement of opening night at the ballet.

Lili is thrilled to be dancing the part of a guest in the party scene of The Nutcracker Ballet.

A biography of the famous Austrian composer.

Lili loves ballet and she gets a chance to see what goes on behind the scenes. Full-color illustrations. Copyright © Libri GmbH. All rights reserved.

Uses the story of Nick and his teammates'' championship baseball game to provide an introduction to aspects of the game of baseball including equipment, player positions, and rules.

Twenty-six black-and-white drawings of scenes of city life suggest words beginning with each letter of the alphabet.