Lisa Wheeler

Place: the castle
Time: late
Event: the Madcap Monster Ball,
the rockin'-est
knee-knockin'-est
beboppin'-est
party of them all.

It's impossible to sleep through.
Just ask the prince
Or his off-the-wall princess
Or any of their seven
(count 'em, seven)

Boogie Knights.

Bubble gum, bubble gum,

Chewy-gooey bubble gum,

Icky-Sticky bubble gum

Melting in the road.

​

Along comes a toad, a shrew, a goose, and more wacky animals who get stuck in the gooey-ooey mess. How will they escape when a big blue truck comes straight toward them?

Written in lively, lyrical rhyme and accompanied by hilarious, colorful illustrations, Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum is an irresistible picture book for reading aloud. If you like the Wonky Donkey, you'll love Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum!

​

For the 2017 Michigan Reads! program the Library of Michigan selected Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum written by Lisa Wheeler and illustrated by Laura Huliska-Beith. Michigan Reads is a program modeled after "One Book, One Community" and is intended to support the development of early literacy skills as a foundation to future reading and success in school and beyond.

A storm, a shipwreck,
an ongoing ocean,
then finally, finally
a deserted isle. . . .
Safety -- but wait!
The fifteen swimmers
braving the waves
are, after all . . . kitties.
They are not into
cooperating
until, until
on this desert isle
they must.

Here,
from the creators
of the witty Old Cricket,
comes a wily, wise
saga of sogginess,
a feline fantasy
about drying off (elegantly),
shaping up (grumpily),
getting along (at last),
and loving it.

Farmer Dale is hauling a load of hay into town when, one by one, he meets some bossy barnyard animals looking for a lift. The kindly farmer lets them all squeeze in, but then his trusty truck breaks down and everyone is stranded. That is, until they get over their differences and pull together to get that old red rig moooooving again.

Full of raucous, rhythmic language and humor-filled illustrations, this exuberant story—now in a sturdy board book format—is certain to become a read-aloud favorite that you'll return to again and again.

Theodor Seuss Geisel Book Award

With a simple clap of hands, an itty-bitty beboppin' baby gets his whole family singing and dancing. Sister's hands snap. Granny sings scat. Uncle soft-shoes--and Baby keeps the groove. Things start to wind down when Mama and Daddy sing blues so sweet. Now a perfectly drowsy baby sleeps deep, deep, deep.

Lisa Wheeler and R. Gregory Christie pair up for a celebration of music, imagination, and big families--but they know that even a jazz baby needs to snooze. Oh yeah.

* "Wheeler’s verse scans beautifully and begs to be read aloud—danced to, even—making this a fine choice for preschool and kindergarten story times. Christie’s bold, double-paged gouache compositions locate this colorfully garbed, expressively hip family within an equally vibrant community. . . . Exultant and infectious, from the red-and-yellow-striped endpapers to the final ‘OH YEAH!" 
— Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Join a pack of woolly mammoths as they trek south for the winter, braving fierce storms, deadly predators, and raging rivers while making their slow journey across the gorgeous unspoiled lands of this continent until finally they reach their goal.

With the same jouncy and joyous rhythms of her youngest picture book texts, Lisa Wheeler introduces readers to one of the most awesome beasts to ever walk the earth: the massive, hairy--legendary--wonderful woolly mammoth!

This factually based book includes an author's note.

Old Cricket tells his missus why he can't fix the roof -- "I woke with a creak in my knee, dear wife."
He tells Cousin Katydid why he can't pick berries -- "I woke with a creak in my knee and a crick in my neck."
He tells Uncle Ant why he can't harvest corn -- "I woke with a creak in my knee, a crick in my neck, and a crack in my back....I'm off to see Doc Hopper."
But before he gets there, Old Crow comes calling. "Caw-caw-caw," he says, hungrily. And caw is one C-word Old Cricket can't relish.
The creators of Sailor Moo present a second critter comedy, full of wordplay and antic animation.

*"Smartly paced and skillfully drawn, this tale delivers a gentle comeuppance sure to please smart young bugs."
—Publishers Weekly, starred review

*"The figures in this original tale seem ready to spring off the pages, and the text, laced with creaks and cracks, is a natural for reading aloud."
—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

*"This amusing tale...will be requested again and again."
—School Library Journal, starred review

Normally, little Mouse and little Mole stay safe and cozy in their hole homes when sun sets for the day, but one evening when they decide to venture out to their friend's house for a dinner party, they quickly realize that the outside world at night is a scary place when they start to feel that unwanted company may be following them.

​"A very encouraging story in praise of unlikely friendships."—Kirkus Reviews

"Cleverly mixing suspense and humor, this well-crafted book . . . Will surprise, satisfy and spur repeat readings."—Publishers Weekly

Moo dreams of becoming a sailor. Little does she know, when she sets off toward the sea, that the first crew she joins will be composed of cats. Or that she herself will be hailed by a shipload of pirate steers as their captain; dairy queen. It's amoozing where a dream can take a girl -- a truth which Lisa Wheeler and Ponder Goembel relish here in rollicking words and witty, windblown pictures.
Author Lisa Wheeler and artist Barry Gott—the dynamic duo behind the Dino-Sports series—are back with a sweet treat for young readers with this entertaining addition to the Dino-Holidays series.

Beware! When Old Seadog decides on "one last sail," he invites his good friends Brave Beagle and Dear Dachshund along for the ride. But the sea is filled with danger -- storms rage and pirates abound! Will the three friends end up as a dog meat?

Come set sail and sing along with this boisterous canine crew. Who knows what surprises lie ahead!

Cowboy Gene loves his eight cows, and Cowgirl Sue loves her eight cows, and both of them like the fence that keeps their pastures--and cows--apart. But then a tornado blows through and takes the fence with it. Will they ever be able to figure out whose cows are whose?

Some children are simply too naughty for Mother Goose to handle. Luckily her sister Spinster Goose knows just how to deal with these uncouth urchins. Her school is home to some world-class troublemakers: they bite and pinch, they talk back and fight--they eat chalk! But brats beware--this isn’t just any school, and Spinster isn't your average goose. Her curious methods will rid these students of their horrendous behaviors…right?

Fans of Mother Goose will delight in these devilishly twisted alternatives to classic rhymes.

In the spirit of Christmas classics The Polar Express and The Night Before Christmas comes a holiday tale about the magic of Santa, illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Jerry Pinkney

Lonely Hannah is delighted to discover a warm black boot as she gathers kindling in the forest. A poor woman, she doesn't have proper shoes on her cold feet. Glory be! I only wish I had your mate, she says to the boot, and the next morning, to her great surprise, there is not just one boot but two sitting by her bed! More wishes bring even better gifts--but the best is still to come: A visitor arrives at her door--a man with a big white beard, wearing a red suit and only one boot. Who could this magical visitor be? Santa Claus, of course! And he has one more surprise in store for Hannah: She wakes up the next morning to find a new puppy waiting for her!

Embark on a methodical, meticulous, and hilarious quest for the perfect pet in this wickedly witty cautionary collection of pet poems.

If you’re the type that oohs and aahs
at furry faces, precious paws,
the words ahead may be alarming:
Animals aren’t always charming.

If you think you’d like a cute and cuddly pet, you may need to do some research. Formulate a query. Devise a scientific plan. And be sure to write down every observation of the animals you encounter. Join one budding young scientist as she catalogs the pros and pitfalls of potential pet ownership in this assortment of zany and relatable poems that will change the way you look at cuddly animals—and give you the giggles.

Turk's parents are proud of him, the biggest, strongest, most graceful bird at Wishbone Farm.

"He's a dancer," says his mother.

"He's an athlete," says his father.

"He's a goner," says his little brother, Runt.

But no one ever listens to Runt -- even after people with seasonal plans and roasting pans begin showing up at Wishbone Farm, or even after the juiciest turkeys are chosen, one by one.

"Chosen for what?" Turk asks.

No one wants to hear Runt's answer. But you will laugh at what he has to do to get the family's attention. They are, after all, turkeys. And rarely has a story about them been told with such warmth and cleverness. Or with such witty pictures.

Ol' Bear wakes one morning with a hankering for Ugly Pie, so he goes on a search from neighbor to neighbor. All he finds are pies that please the eye and . . . ingredients? Wait a second. Maybe it's time for Ol' Bear to start cookin' up something ugly himself! Ol' Bear shares that Ugly Pie with his generous neighbors—and he shares his secret recipe, too, in the back of this book.

Lisa Wheeler's story is a joy to read aloud and some parts just beg to be sung. Heather Solomon's illustrations aren't the least bit ugly, but full of lovely details and charming bears with big ol' appetites for pie.

Grab the reins of this Christmas counting story starring eight wacky reindeer who make up a happy family—and help Santa fly his sleigh—illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Brian Floca.

Shaggy coats,
scarves of red.
Two tall antlers
on each head.

Get in the holiday spirit and count from one to eight in this playful tribute to a team of reindeer relatives, each quirky and fun, who help a certain jolly old man bring delight to children each year.

It's a typical Christmas Eve at the North Pole. That is, until Santa suddenly disappears! Luckily, his polar pals are on the case. But will the furry friends rescue dear old Santa before it's too late for him to make his special deliveries?

Filled with Lisa Wheeler's festive rhymes and Ivan Bates's cozy illustrations, here is a rollicking Christmas adventure that little ones will want to hear over and over again.

*"A read-it-again, rollicking rhyme fest with winsome, white animals and rosy pink backgrounds. . . . This one has it all: impeccable rhyming text, bouncy rhythm, rich language, engaging illustrations and a breathtaking ending. A surefire success for Santa storytimes."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review