Synopses & Reviews
When three friends find a golden crown on a rock in the forest, they argue over who should wear it. Written on the rock is the message: "For the mightiest." But who is the mightiest? When a tiny old woman comes along, Bear, Elephant and Lion agree to take turns to see who can scare her the best. But their contest goes awry when a GIANT appears to claim the crown for his own. Is he the mightiest? Not if the tiny old woman has anything to say about it: she's his mom. And she's not too happy about her son being such a bully!
Keiko's latest charmer plays with size and power, in her inimitable style, with adorable animals, perfect pacing and hilarious understatement. As any kid knows, there's no one mightier than Mom.
Review
"The message is warm and reassuring, particularly to adoptees, stepkids, and other children who for various reasons don't resemble their caretakers." --
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books "Just right for the preschool group or beginning reader." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"Cheerful, energetic . . . An excellent choice for storytime." --School Library Journal, starred review
"A profound message, endearingly and subtly delivered. An ideal choice for adopted or foster children." --Publishers Weekly
Review
A new lesson from the mistress of gentle teaching. (
Kirkus Reviews)
Review
[A] wittily ironic tale.
-Publishers WeeklyReview
"Just right for use with preschoolers." (
The Horn Book)
"Kasza brings delicious humor to this wonderfully simple tale. . . . A gem to share." (Kirkus Reviews, pointer review)
Review
As in her past books, Kasza here delivers a valuable lesson cunningly and effectively. (Publishers Weekly)
A good choice both for story times and for beginning readers. (School Library Journal)
Synopsis
Fans of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie will love this new preschool gem from beloved storyteller Keiko Kasza
A hat is not just a hat in these woods
From tree branch to stream to flower patch--wherever the hat lands, someone knows exactly what to do with it and exclaims, "Finders, keepers "
But this red hat doesn't stay in one place for long, and everyone will be surprised by what happens to it in the end.
Youngsters will be delighted by the silly scenes and clever twists and turns in this charming circular story.
Synopsis
Family is about love no matter how different parents and children may be, adopted or not.
Choco wishes he had a mother, but who could she be? He sets off to find her, asking all kinds of animals, but he doesn't meet anyone who looks just like him. He doesn't even think of asking Mrs. Bear if she's his mother-but then she starts to do just the things a mommy might do. And when she brings him home, he meets her other children-a piglet, a hippo, and an alligator-and learns that families can come in all shapes and sizes and still fit together.
Keiko Kasza's twist on the "Are you my mother?" theme has become one of the most highly recommended stories about adoption for children.
Synopsis
Fans of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie will love this new preschool gem from beloved storyteller Keiko Kasza A hat is not just a hat in these woods!
From tree branch to stream to flower patchwherever the hat lands, someone knows exactly what to do with it and exclaims, Finders, keepers!”
But this red hat doesnt stay in one place for long, and everyone will be surprised by what happens to it in the end.
Youngsters will be delighted by the silly scenes and clever twists and turns in this charming circular story.
Synopsis
Moka is a good dog. But when Michelle, his little girl, reads him a book about wolves, being a good dog suddenly seems awfully boring. Wolves get to run around doing whatever they want. No one ever makes a wolf dress up for a tea party. So Moka decides to run away to the wild. But what will happen when the real wolves show up?
Synopsis
It's time for Joe to learn how to play dead. But no matter what Mother Possum does, Joe can't help laughing. She pretends to be a hungry fox. She growls like a coyote. She shakes him like a wildcat. But Joe just laughs and laughs. Until a grumpy old bear comes along and teaches Joe a lesson he'll never forget.
Synopsis
Is the Bear, the Elephant, or the Lion the mightiest animal in the forest? When the three friends come upon a golden crown that says, "For the Mightiest," they each think that they deserve the title. Just when it looks like they'll argue forever, an old woman comes along, which gives them an idea. They'll have a contest to see who can scare her the most! But their game goes awry when a giant appears to take the crown. The giant is certainly the biggest, but does that make him the mightiest? Or is there someone else even mightier than the giant? Keiko Kasza charms us again with a subtle reminder that no one is mightier than Mom.
Synopsis
Badger just can?t face eating the same old apples, worms, and roots. They?re too boring! He dreams of eating something new and fancy. Badger gets some yummy ideas from seeing the animals who live near his den, but the main ingredients he tries to catch aren?t so eager to become his lunch. And in the end, they unwittingly convince Badger that he should have appreciated what he had in the first place.
Synopsis
When the Elephant walks, he scares the Bear. When the Bear runs away, he scares the Crocodile. When the Crocodile swims for his life, he scares the Wild Hog . . . and so on, down to the Mouse. And who could be scared of the little Mouse? The last spread answers this question in a way that will delight small children-and the endearing animals, rhythmic text, and hilarious illustrations will make this board book a favorite.
Synopsis
Friends and imagination save the day
Goose's friends love the stories he makes up when they're playing. Except one thing - Goose is always the hero. And when they ask to take turns leading the fun, Goose doesn't agree. While they argue about it, no one notices the hungry wolf sneaking up on them until he shouts, "Hello, Lunch!"
This real-life danger shows Goose how silly he's been and that his friends make terrific heroes!
Always a surefire hit on laps or at storytime, Keiko Kasza's latest shows how imagination can come in handy in an unexpected way.
Synopsis
When a delicious-looking piglet knocks on Mr. Fox's door "accidentally," the fox can hardly believe his good luck. It's not every day that dinner just shows up on your doorstep. It must be his lucky day! Or is it?
Before Mr. Fox can say grace, the piglet has manipulated him into giving him a fabulously tasty meal, the full spa treatment (with bath and massage), and . . . freedom.
In a funny trickster tale of her own, Kasza keeps readers guessing until the surprise ending when they'll realize it was piglet's lucky day all along.
Synopsis
Tiger has been acting like a bully, but Rat shows him how important it is to share and play fair.
Rat and Tiger are best friends. They have lots of fun playing together, even though when they play cowboys, Rat always has to be the bad guy. When they share a snack, Rat always gets the smaller piece. But one day, Tiger takes the bullying too far, and Rat decides that hes not going take it anymore. Rat stands up for himself and refuses to be Ttigers friend until Tiger learns to play fair and square. With appealing illustrations and a simple text, Keiko Kasza delivers an important message about friendship in this heartwarming story.
About the Author
Keiko Kasza was born on a small Japanese island in the Inland Sea of Japan. She grew up in a typical Japanese extended family with her parents, two brothers, and grandparents. Uncles, aunts, and cousins also lived nearby. "All the steps I took growing up were very normal," Ms. Kasza says. "The only unusual thing I did was go to college in the United States." She graduated with a degree in graphic design from California State University at Northridge. Ms. Kasza married an American, and the United States has been her home ever since.
After publishing five children's books in Japan and working as a graphic designer for fourteen years, Ms. Kasza decided in 1988 to devote her time to picture books. She says, "Having two small boys and two professions was too much to handle."
Ms. Kasza admires many great picture-book creators, such as Leo Lionni and Maurice Sendak, but says that the work of Arnold Lobel has influenced her the most. The subtle humor and warmth he created in his books continues to inspire me," she says. "I often go back to his work when I get discouraged or lose confidence."
Ms. Kasza compares the process of making a book to acting on stage under the lights:
"I become the character that I'm working on at that moment. I pretend that I'm a bird looking for a mother, or a pig trying to impress his girlfriend. When I'm acting, I'm a child myself."
Ms. Kasza's ambition is not to create a hundred books, but to "create one really good book that will be kept on the family bookshelves for generations, although a hundred really good books would be even better, of course!"
Keiko Kasza lives in Indiana with her husband and two sons.
copyright © 2000 by Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers. All rights reserved.