This story shows the importance of literacy, as a pig is able to trick and escape from her captor wolf thanks to his inability to read.

A wonderful read-aloud about a dog who learns to talk after eating alphabet soup. With her new gift, Martha talks too much and says things that shouldn't be said. Her family gets angry with her and she stops talking, but eventually learns when to talk and when to hold her tongue. Martha Speaks is a funny story with a message many kids can learn from.

Chrysanthemum is teased about her long name when she starts school, and she goes from loving her name to hating it as a result. A teacher finds a way to solve the problem and turns Chrysanthemum's name into something special again.

This story teaches that a confrontation between a child and a teacher can end with resolution and a relationship that is better than ever.

A wonderful exploration of the feelings an older sibling has toward a new baby. Henkes tells it like it is, not shying away from the fact that new babies cry, take parental attention, and don't always smell so good, but Lilly defends her new brother in the end.