A young crocodile with a vivid imagination celebrates a birthday

Ernst (Picture Puffins)

Children's Books

Kleven, Elisa

Literature & Fiction

Puffin Books

A gust of wind sends a paper princess flying. "Wait! I didn't finish you," cries the little girl who made her. "I'll finish myself," calls the princess, and the wind carries her away, over a meadow and a river, to a carnival and a town, until finally she finds her way home. "Elisa Kleven's mixed-media collages are a kaleidoscope of color and activity, encompassing a vast, multiracial cast of happy people?" (Publishers Weekly). "The best book yet from this talented author/illustrator, and one that children will love." —School Library Journal, starred review Elisa Kleven's award-winning picture books include her own Ernst and The Lion and the Little Red Bird, the illustrations for Abuela, by Arthur Dorros, and her most recent book for Dutton, The Puddle Pail. She lives near San Francisco, California.

The Paper Princess (Picture Puffins)

Action & Adventure

When his older green brother suggests that he collect things, Ernst, a young blue crocodile, comes up with an unusual choice, puddles.

The Puddle Pail (Picture Puffins)

Animals

Puffin

Clara picks an adorable dog pinata for her birthday party. She names him Lucky, and he becomes her constant companion. When the big day finally comes, she doesn't want to let everybody break him. But if Clara keeps Lucky as a pet, she won't have a pinata at her party. Luckily her friend, Samson, comes to the rescue with a wonderful solution -- and a different pinata that nobody will mind breaking. Elisa Kleven's lively, multicolored collage art is the perfect compliment to this joyful birthday story about the power of imagination. * "There is not a wrong note in this wonderful, upbeat picture book. . . Magical yet full of warmth and homey details, the pictures are a seamless blending of watercolor, ink, and cut paper. Alive with color, pattern, and shape, they'll keep even the most easily distractible child fascinated." --Booklist, starred review

Hooray, a Pinata! (Picture Puffins)

A boy listens to his new neighbor describe the monster that lives at her house, who screams when awakened, yells for food, spits up on everything, and sucks his toes. Reprint.

A Monster in the House

Humor

Winter's gray chill has set in and everyone misses the sun-especially the baker. So she decides to bring some warmth to the town by making sun bread. And as the bread bakes, rising hot and delicious, everyone comes out to share in its goodness. Everyone, including the sun itself. With a lilting, rhyming text, colorful illustrations, and a recipe for baking your own sun bread, this tasty treat from the illustrator of the best-selling Abuela is just right for all ages to enjoy.

Sun Bread

Lizzy loves the big apple tree in her yard more than anything. So when the first day of school comes, she picks a beautiful apple, turns it into a makeshift doll she names Susanna, and takes it along to keep her company. But her teacher tells her that dolls aren't allowed at school. Even worse, her sister says that Susanna won't last forever. Then Lizzy's mom shows her a way to turn Susanna into a real apple doll. And with the help of Susanna the Apple Doll, Lizzy overcomes her shyness at school and makes plenty of new friends to bring home to play in her beloved apple tree. 
Detailed, delightful collage illustrations accompany this sweet story about one girl's success in bringing together her home world and her school world. Instructions for making an apple doll just like Susanna are included!

The Apple Doll

Growing Up & Facts of Life

Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

Nellie is a stray cat who wishes she had a house to live in, warm meals, and a best friend. When a crafty crow overhears her wishing, he decides to play a trick on her for his own amusement - which is how Nellie ends up putting all her faith in a rubber ball she believes to be a magic star that grants wishes. But even though it's not a magic star, the rubber ball turns out to be just what Nellie needs. When the ball bounces out of her grasp, Nellie chases it into a faraway town, and one by one, all of her wishes come true. This is the story of a delightfully surprising chain of events, with lively illustrations, a colorful cast of creatures, and hidden details on every page.

The Wishing Ball

Brand new book. Still in wrap. Ships next day.

Hooray A Piñata!, Imagination Library Book, 1996

Penguin Group

With the same whimsy and buoyancy that established her as a master of magical stories for children, Elisa Kleven tells, in her unique dreamlike style, the story of a shy dog named Joey. Joey is afraid to reach out and make friends, until a beautiful dream angel draws him out by showing that everyone has secret talents to share. Accompanied by shimmering, glorious artwork, it's a joyous, heartwarming story, told in a way that only Elisa Kleven can.

The Friendship Wish

Dutton Books for Young Readers

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Books by Kleven, Elisa