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Jarvis revisits his beloved, sometimes befuddled, duo in a fifth set of stories where gentle mix-ups and genuine friendship abound.Bear and Bird may not always understand each other, but they both want nothing more than for their best friend to be happy. So when they each find today’s date circled in red, they obviously assume it’s the other one’s birthday (so sorry, Snail!). And when Bird puts her pal through his paces—to prove he’s himself and not his look-alike cousin—she finds a sweet way to soothe an unhappy Bear when the test is done. Whether it’s Bird bravely helping Bear to retrieve a ball from a cave full of stinky goo (or so they’ve heard) or both of them putting their faith in a flying umbrella when Bird blithely removes the candy trail meant to lead them home, Jarvis’s subtle humor and sweet illustrations create a charming world that young readers are eager to come back to.

Is there ever such a thing as being too considerate? It's another comedy of errors in this fourth set of stories featuring Jarvis's lovable duo. "Bird, why are you blowing in my face?" said Bear."I'm just stretching my cheeks," said Bird. "Important to stretch your cheeks." Bear and Bird are the kind of friends who just want to make each other happy. So when Bird realizes Bear has had a leaf stuck to his face all day, she goes to comical extremes not to embarrass him--even if it means encouraging a new trend. And when they both grab the same excellent stick on a windy day, they outdo each other trying to give it back--until Bear comes up with a better use for their imagination. Whether following a hilariously--and touchingly--circular path on Swapsy Day or discovering there are as many times of day as there are things to do, Jarvis's classic pair fuses humor and heart in another quartet of adventures.

Bird feels a flutter of jealousy when Bear is unduly entertained by the jocular Mole in Jarvis’s third set of stories about the endearing pair.Usually, a new wonky stick for Bird’s collection would be exciting, but . . . not today. “Hmm,” said Bear. “Well, in that case, I think it’s time for . . .The Dance.”Bear and Bird are the best of friends. They don’t always understand each other, but both agree that all they want is to make the other happy. So when Bird is under the weather, Bear arrives with a backpack of goodies and his best rendition ofThe Danceto try to make her feel better. And when Bear and Bird hang out with Mole—who tells hilarious jokes!—Birdeventuallyrealizes that she doesn’t need to compete for Bear’s attention, since there’s plenty of laughter to go around. Whether it’s a comedy of errors around a Do Not Go in the Hole sign or the discovery that doing nothing together is the true badge of friendship, Jarvis tempers the mix-ups and misunderstandings with a genuine warm

Jarvis's witty humor is on display as Bear and Bird, unlikely best friends, return in a second collection of tender, charmingly illustrated stories. "OK," said Bird. "I'll be on this rock. I promise I won't wander off. I'll stay on the rock."And she did. Even when it grew legs . . . and a little head.Bear and Bird are the best of friends, but yesterday they had a falling out. And although they can't quite remember why, each is sure that a new best friend is now in order. If Bear sends an anonymous letter floating down the river, will it be found by someone nice--someone with whom he has as much in common as he did with Bird? In this quartet of tales, the endearing duo is back to show that even friends who sometimes get their wires crossed can always be each other's best supporter--whether making plans to meet that go comically awry, baking hideously inedible surprise cakes, or savoring a starlit moment together (and getting carried away with wishes for just one more thing to make it pe

Picture-book maven Jarvis brings his subtle wit and charm to the chapter-book realm with this set of stories about a most endearing pair. Bear didn't really like the painting. I mean, look at it. But he liked Bird a lot, and it would remind him of her . . .Bear and Bird are best friends, and they spend a lot of time together. They don't always understand each other, but both agree that all they want is for their friend to be happy. So when Bear forgets the most important thing to pack for a picnic (but pretends that he didn't), Bird doesn't let on that she knew all along. And when Bird is upset to discover her friend has more of a certain talent than she does, Bear finds a touching way to make her feel better. Whether it's the tale of a missing Bird and a "talking" flower that has Bear bewildered or that of a blanket whose irresistible coziness inspires a comic misunderstanding, Jarvis's well-honed timing combines with gentle humor and genuine affection that will have readers eager for

"Readers may have to count to 100 to cool their heels waiting for this clever pair's next adventure." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Fergus and Zeke love being the class pets in Miss Maxwell's classroom, and they do everything the students do. But when the kids start collecting items and doing gym challenges and making projects to celebrate the one hundredth day of school, the mice can't seem to find a way to join in. One hundred miles is a very long distance when you're running on your spinny wheel. One hundred seconds is a very short time when you're trying to take a nap. Stacking one hundred wood chips makes a tower that tips and falls before you're even halfway done. And writing a story with exactly one hundred words means abandoning your characters in the middle of the action! Will these two classroom mice ever come up with the perfect project to celebrate the one hundredth day?

A secret is in the air as the unlikely friends return in four more stories threaded with Jarvis's signature warmth and subtle humor. Best friends Bear and Bird may not always understand each other, but they always want the other to be happy. So when Bird feels left out because Bear has given a cute nickname to everyone but her, she's relieved when her hasty list of names for Bear doesn't reach him (Stinky Sock Muffin, anyone?). And when the two of them learn they have zero dislikes in common--from lasagna to chess to the word armadillo--and wonder if they can still be friends, they soon realize there's one important dislike they can both agree on. Whether the challenge is being hopeless at keeping a secret (Bear), or getting befuddled about the rules for hide-and-seek (Bear again), this ever-endearing pair continue to charm in a sixth set of gentle stories.

"Beekeeper Boelts infuses her narrative with both appropriate vocabulary and empathy. . . . Could be just the ticket for turning bee-phobes into beekeepers." --Booklist Kaia is the brave type. Like hottest-hot-pepper brave. But there is one thing that scares her: BEES! And right now, thousands of bees live on her roof because Kaia's dad is a beekeeper. Her dad says that the world needs bees and that's why they are beekeepers. But only he goes on the roof, not Kaia--unless she can find a way to be the brave girl she always says she is. Against a sunny city setting, author Maribeth Boelts and illustrator Angela Dominguez depict Kaia's small courageous steps--and her tiny insect neighbors--with great empathy and charm. Buzzing with storytime potential, Kaia and the Bees is an honest and relatable tale about bravery and compassion, as well as the importance of bees to our world.

"The kids--and the use of historical and presidential facts--are a backdrop to the engaging storyline. . . . A wholesome, solid story with fun characters."--Kirkus Reviews It's Presidents' Day, and all the students in Miss Maxwell's classroom are choosing their special projects. Classroom pets Fergus and Zeke want to participate, too! Zeke appoints himself president of their cage. But the power goes a bit to his head, and his "leading" and "supervising" leave Fergus to do all the work. Will these two mice be able to agree on what makes a good president--and a good friend--in time to turn in their project with the rest of the class? Humorously illustrated and sprinkled with presidential trivia, this fifth title in the delightful series is a winning candidate.

Join this amiable pair as they spend a week together in another sweet, funny story for little ones from award-winning creator Steve Light. Friends Gus the rhino and Sully the mouse are excited to spend the week together having fun. While they may take a different approach to things - Gus's tacos are a little too spicy for Sully, and Sully prefers building a book fort to reading - they enjoy each day. This gentle story reinforces the days of the week while also showing the joys of friendship and compromise.

Newbery Honoree Cece Bell follows her offbeat Chick and Brain: Smell My Foot with an even wackier story for beginning readers, sure to elicit eye-rolling squeals of delight. Oh! Oh, oh, oh! Look what Brain found. Chick and Spot say it is an egg. Brain says it is an eyeball. Is it an egg or an eyeball? The inimitable Cece Bell is back with a second hilarious primer on good manners gone awry and arguments run amok. Perfectly pitched to kids just learning to read and loaded with verbal and visual comedy, this offbeat graphic story by a master of the genre builds to an exhilaratingly absurd surprise ending.