It's laundry day on a South Pacific island, and Kessy is proud that Mama has chosen him to go to Minda's Store to buy the biggest soap. But he'll have to hurry if he wants to get back in time for the storytelling that accompanies the washing, so off he goes -- as fast as a typhoon wind! Along the way there are plenty of surprises, but Kessy returns with just enough soap to finish the wash and in time to tell stories galore from his big adventure. Exploding with bright colors and patterns, this playful picture book celebrates the warmth of a close-knit island community and the independent spirit of its youngest member.

The Biggest Soap

Children's Books

Schaefer, Carole Lexa

Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths

Farrar. Straus and Giroux

Two Scarlet Songbirds: A Story of Anton Dvorak

Fact and fiction come together in a magically imagined tale of the composer Anton Dvorák’s inspiration for “American Quartet.” Transfixed by the birdsong of the little Iowa river town where he and his family are spending the summer, Dvorák seeks out the beautiful song of the scarlet tanager. And as the tanager woos a mate and begins to build a nest, Dvorák writes the bird’s music down on everything from paper to shirtsleeves. At the end of one long summer evening, the scarlet tanager hears familiar music from the town’s schoolhouse and settles on a branch nearby to listen. Inside, Dvorák and his friends play the first rehearsal of “American Quartet,” inspired by the little songbird. Then, while one plays on, the other flies home.

Biographies

Knopf Books for Young Readers

WHOUI! WHOUI! WHOUI! Louie blows on his brand-new whistle from Paree. It sounds important, snappy, and grand to Josette. But it scares the birds from the garden. Fonfon jumps up and yip-yaps away. And baby Roland starts to cry. “Play it sweet, mon cher,” says Auntie Claire. “Can’t you blow soft?” asks Mama. “Zut alors!” cries Grand-père. “Non! Non! Non!” yells Louie. When he leaves in a huff without his whistle, Josette finally gets to give it a try. She blows it sweet for the birds: “Whoui. Tee-whoui.” She blows it soft for Fonfon: “Whhoui-ooo-whhouit.” She blows it soft and sweet for Sheba: “Brr-oui. Brr-oui.” The birds twitter back. Fonfon comes dancing. And Sheba purrs to the music she makes. Then, maybe Josette will call a taxi—WHOUI! WHOUI! WHOUI!—and return the little French whistle to Louie.

The Little French Whistle

Growing Up & Facts of Life

Alfred.A. Knopf

Fact and fiction come together in a magically imagined tale of the composer Anton Dvorák’s inspiration for “American Quartet.” Transfixed by the birdsong of the little Iowa river town where he and his family are spending the summer, Dvorák seeks out the beautiful song of the scarlet tanager. And as the tanager woos a mate and begins to build a nest, Dvorák writes the bird’s music down on everything from paper to shirtsleeves. At the end of one long summer evening, the scarlet tanager hears familiar music from the town’s schoolhouse and settles on a branch nearby to listen. Inside, Dvorák and his friends play the first rehearsal of “American Quartet,” inspired by the little songbird. Then, while one plays on, the other flies home.

WHOUI! WHOUI! WHOUI! Louie blows on his brand-new whistle from Paree. It sounds important, snappy, and grand to Josette. But it scares the birds from the garden. Fonfon jumps up and yip-yaps away. And baby Roland starts to cry. “Play it sweet, mon cher,” says Auntie Claire. “Can’t you blow soft?” asks Mama. “Zut alors!” cries Grand-père. “Non! Non! Non!” yells Louie. When he leaves in a huff without his whistle, Josette finally gets to give it a try. She blows it sweet for the birds: “Whoui. Tee-whoui.” She blows it soft for Fonfon: “Whhoui-ooo-whhouit.” She blows it soft and sweet for Sheba: “Brr-oui. Brr-oui.” The birds twitter back. Fonfon comes dancing. And Sheba purrs to the music she makes. Then, maybe Josette will call a taxi—WHOUI! WHOUI! WHOUI!—and return the little French whistle to Louie.From the Hardcover edition.

Down in the Woods at Sleepytime

Walker Books

Sometimes Moon

Sometimes Moon is full. Sometimes it is just a sliver of light. And sometimes Moon is not there at all. When Selene looks up into the bright night sky, she sees a shining moon face that waxes and wanes. There’s Hiding Moon that’s shy and secret, Cheeky Moon that’s round and soft, and Treasure Moon that’s shiny as gold. With magic and imagination, Sometimes Moon helps children understand the amazing faces and phases of our magnificent moon.

Science, Nature & How It Works

Dragonfly Books

Snow Pumpkin

The author-illustrator team of the celebrated picture book The Squiggle team up again to tell of a heartwarming and surprising snowy adventure. No school tomorrow! With a few inches on the ground, Lily is off to the park bright and early to find her friend Jesse and build the season's first snowman. But everyone's already at the park and everyone's building snowmen. Lily and Jesse roll enough snow for the body, but there's not enough for a head until Lily gets an idea. A head should be round, but it doesn't have to be white. It could even be . . . a pumpkin! From the Hardcover Library Binding edition.

Holidays & Celebrations

From the creators of the highly-acclaimed The Squiggle, here is an imaginative introduction to the phases of the moon for young children. As the little girl in The Squiggle fancies a string to be many things, here, Selene uses her imagination to understand the moon's waxing and waning. She tells her Grandpa how she relates the different lunar phases to familiar concepts--the new moon is a Hiding Moon, the crescent moon is a Boat Moon like grandpa's dory, the half moon is a Basket Moon like mama's knitting basket. When the moon is two-thirds full, it is a Cheeky Moon, like Baby Nico's round, chubby cheeks, and the full moon is a Treasure Moon, like pieces of pirates' silver. Enhanced by Pierr Morgan's beguiling, fluid illustrations, Sometimes Moon is a terrific teaching tool on a subject of universal appeal. Includes an informational spread, clearly depicting the lunar progression.

From the creators of the highly-acclaimed The Squiggle, here is an imaginative introduction to the phases of the moon for young children. As the little girl in The Squiggle fancies a string to be many things, here, Selene uses her imagination to understand the moon's waxing and waning. She tells her Grandpa how she relates the different lunar phases to familiar concepts--the new moon is a Hiding Moon, the crescent moon is a Boat Moon like grandpa's dory, the half moon is a Basket Moon like mama's knitting basket. When the moon is two-thirds full, it is a Cheeky Moon, like Baby Nico's round, chubby cheeks, and the full moon is a Treasure Moon, like pieces of pirates' silver. Enhanced by Pierr Morgan's beguiling, fluid illustrations, Sometimes Moon is a terrific teaching tool on a subject of universal appeal. Includes an informational spread, clearly depicting the lunar progression.

Education & Reference

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Schaefer, Carole Lexa. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Schaefer, Carole Lexa

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Schaefer, Carole Lexa. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

The Biggest Soap

Two Scarlet Songbirds: A Story of Anton Dvorak

The Little French Whistle

Two Scarlet Songbirds: A Story of Anton Dvorak

The Little French Whistle

Down in the Woods at Sleepytime

Sometimes Moon

Snow Pumpkin

Sometimes Moon

Sometimes Moon