Barbara Joosse

Over the course of eighty years a spruce tree grows, along with the little boy who first selected it at a tree farm. As the tree grows from sapling to magnificent evergreen, the child matures as well, becoming a father and then grandfather. Now at the end of its life, the glorious tree is chosen to be the centerpiece of a city's holiday celebration. The tree journeys from rural countryside to big city center, where everyone, young and old, comes together...

"When a lonely dragon follows a trail of princess tears, a beautiful friendship is born. They march and sing, roar and whisper, hide and seek, then settle into snug companionship at bedtime"--

Harriet gives examples of polite words and expressions to use in various social situations to make them more pleasant.

Henry and Ruby are best friends forever, even though they do not always get along.

A hen keeps her seven new baby chicks safe, even though they like to go exploring.

"Using the window as her stage, Gramma uses the things in her basket to create a wonderful parade of shadow animals."--

Once there was a girl, a very little girl. And there was a dragon, a very biggle dragon they were friends, evermore. One day, they play a game of hide-and-seek...But, oh, where can little girl be?

Sailor Old Robert lives a solitary existence until some performing cats come into his life.

Nikolai, a bear who lives in the orphanage in Novosibirsk, Russia, does not seem to fit in until the day some visitors arrive from America.

Snowed in after sharing Christmas with Grandma, a houseful of relatives settles in for the night.