Purple Bear Books

Books 2006

Spring

Carlo Castlecrusher

Finn and the Fairies

Jack and the Beanstalk

The Three Grasshoppers

The Ugly Duckling

Fall

Ahchoo! Lion's Got The Flu

The Steadfast Tin Soldier

Carlo Castlecrusher Written and illustrated by Eva Montanari Every day, Amon, Cathy, and Pei meet on the beach and build sand castles together. And every day, Carlo stands by, waiting for them to finish - then he jumps, kicks, and crushes the castles. One day, a new boy shows up on the beach. All alone, he works away. Soon, a crowd gathers, ooh-ing and aah-ing at the boy's wonderful creation. What could he have built to draw so many people together? The story of how the dreaded, destructive Carlo Castlecrusher is transformed into Carlo Castlebuilder is as satisfying and sunny as a day at the beach. Product Details Trade Binding: $15.95 ISBN: 1-933327-15-4 Library Binding: $16.50 ISBN: 1-933327-16-2 Product Dimensions: 40pp, 8 1/4 x 11 3/8 Color illustrations throughout Reading Level: Ages 4 & up Publication Date: Spring 2006 On sale now at Amazon.com Place an order with our distributor Back to top	Enlarge Image
Finn and the Fairies Licia Oddino Illustrated by Alessandra Toni Everyone in Aran Village believes in fairies - everyone but Finn the tailor. When hens don't lay or cows dry up, the villagers blame the fairies, and take extra care not to anger the creatures. Finn just laughs. "What foolish superstitions!" he declares. When King Bertrand announces a royal ball to find a wife for his son, Finn's talents as a tailor are in great demand. But much to his amazement, it's not just the girls of the kingdom who need new gowns! How can he keep these mischievous new customers happy? Finn's comical efforts to stay in the fairies' good graces make for a lively and delightful story. Product Details Trade Binding: $15.95 ISBN: 1-933327-17-0 Library Binding: $16.50 ISBN: 1-933327-18-9 Product Dimensions: 32pp, 11 3/8 x 8 1/4 Color illustrations throughout Reading Level: Ages 4 & up Publication Date: Spring 2006 On sale now at Amazon.com Place an order with our distributor Back to top	Enlarge Image
Jack and the Beanstalk Retold by Scudder Smith Illustrated by Felipe López Salán Jack and his widowed mother are dreadfully poor. There's no hope but to sell their only possession, a cow. On his way to sell the animal, Jack meets a mysterious old woman, who convinces him to trade the cow for a handful of beans. His mother is furious, and angrily throws the seeds out the window. The next morning, a fabulous beanstalk has sprouted, reaching clear to the sky. The old woman promised the beans would bring great fortune . . . could it possibly lie at the top of the stalk? Jack's adventures up the beanstalk, where he battles a fearsome giant with nothing more than courage and quick wits, make for a spellbinding lesson in resourcefulness. Product Details Trade Binding: $15.95 ISBN: 1-933327-11-1 Library Binding: $16.50 ISBN: 1-933327-12-X Product Dimensions: 32pp, 7 7/8 x 7 7/8 Color illustrations throughout Reading Level: Ages 4 & up Publication Date: Spring 2006 On sale now at Amazon.com Place an order with our distributor Back to top	Enlarge Image
The Three Grasshoppers Francesca Bosca Illustrated by Giuliano Ferri Every summer evening, three grasshoppers gather in a field to sing and make music. One night, they realize that autumn is near. It's time to forget about making music and start gathering food for the winter. All goes well at first, but soon the three friends are squabbling, and the little group breaks up. Each grasshopper goes his separate way, competing to gather the most food, and before long a fierce war breaks out among them. The story of how the three grasshoppers find harmony and happiness by joining forces once more is a satisfying tale that celebrates true friendship. Giuliano Ferri's enchanting illustrations add to the book's charm. Product Details Trade Binding: $15.95 ISBN: 1-933327-13-8 Library Binding: $16.50 ISBN:1-933327-14-6 Product Dimensions: 32pp, 8 1/4 x 11 3/8 Color illustrations throughout Reading Level: Ages 4 & up Publication Date: Spring 2006 On sale now at Amazon.com Place an order with our distributor Back to top	Enlarge Image
The Ugly Duckling Hans Christian Andersen Illustrated by Roberta Angaramo A mother duck hatches a brood of ducklings. All are sweet little yellow babies - all but one, who is very large, very gray, and very ugly. The poor ugly duckling is teased and tormented by everyone he meets, even his own mother, brothers, and sisters. Driven from his home in the barnyard, the unhappy duckling wanders the world alone, suffering hardships, cruelty, and ridicule wherever he goes. This exquisite tale of rejection and redemption has been a favorite with children since its first publication in 1845. The hapless duck's plight, and his ultimate triumph, is especially relevant in today's image-conscious world. Product Details Trade Binding: $15.95 ISBN: 1-933327-09-X Library Binding: $16.50 ISBN: 1-933327-10-3 Product Dimensions: 32pp, 8 1/4 x 11 3/8 Color illustrations throughout Reading Level: Ages 4 & up Publication Date: Spring 2006 On sale now at Amazon.com Place an order with our distributor Back to top	Enlarge Image
Wings Written and illustrated by Shinsuke Tanaka On a road by the sea a farmer finds an adorable, abandoned puppy. But this is no ordinary pooch . . . this pup has wings! The dog soon becomes a beloved member of the farmer's family, and they discover the charms - and sometimes comical consequences - of life with a flying dog. But not everyone is charmed: in his youthful exuberance, the puppy wreaks havoc in the village. Will the free-spirited dog's wings be clipped? Will he be grounded forever? Shinsuke Tanaka's intricate pencil drawings, filled with action and emotion, carry the reader along on a buoyant and joyous adventure, a soaring flight of fancy to delight young and old alike. Product Details Trade Binding: $14.95 ISBN: 1-933327-19-7 Product Dimensions: 80pp, 8 1/4 x 6 B&W illustrations throughout Reading Level: Ages 4 & up Publication Date: Spring 2006 On sale now at Amazon.com Place an order with our distributor Back to top	Enlarge Image
Ahchoo! Lion's Got the Flu Written and illustrated by Hagino Chinatsu Ahchoo! Poor Lion's caught the flu. He has a sore throat and a fever and he aches all over. So Lion stays in bed, resting quietly, until . . . Knock! Knock! The Mouse Brothers tiptoe in with a special get-well cake. Rabbit and Cat soon follow, bringing carrots and ice cream, and Elephant barges in bearing bananas. Before long, a clamorous parade of well-wishers crowds into Lion's house. Chaos ensues, and the many acts of kindness make Lion wonder if he's getting well or getting worse! Wonderfully detailed pictures enhance a delightful story that gently reminds young readers to be considerate of others' feelings. Product Details Trade Binding: $15.95 ISBN: 1-933327-26-X Library Binding: $16.50 ISBN: 1-933327-27-8 Product Dimensions: 48pp, 11 3/8 x 8 1/4 3/8 Color illustrations throughout Reading Level: Ages 4 & up Publication Date: Fall 2006 On sale now at Amazon.com Place an order with our distributor Back to top	Enlarge Image
Auntie Tigress and Other Favorite Chinese Folk Tales Retold by Gia-Zhen Wang Illustrated by Eva Wang Auntie Tigress, a fearsome child-eating monster who decorates her immense cape with trophies collected from her victims, finally meets her match in the unlikely form of a kindhearted little girl. How the girl triumphs makes for a story full of sly wit and intrigue, with echoes of Little Red Riding Hood. In the second tale, a hardworking, generous fisherman outwits his greedy landlord. The final tale, a Cinderella story, finds a foolish father discovering that the most valuable gifts aren't the most costly. Beautifully illustrated and filled with fascinating details, these satisying stories are the perfect introduction to the folklore of China. Product Details Trade Binding: $15.95 ISBN: 1-933327-28-6 Library Binding: $16.50 ISBN: 1-933327-29-4 Product Dimensions: 48pp, 8 1/4 x 11 3/8 1/4 3/8 Color illustrations throughout Reading Level: Ages 4 & up Publication Date: Fall 2006 On sale now at Amazon.com Place an order with our distributor Back to top	Enlarge Image
The Snow Queen Hans Christian Andersen Illustrated by Pavel Tatarnikov A magic mirror in which good and evil are hideously distorted breaks, and its tiny pieces fly all over the world. One piece lodges in the eye of a little boy named Kay, transforming his vision. Another pierces his heart, turning it cold as ice. Kay's playmate Gerda is shocked by the change in her friend, and becomes heartbroken when he disappears. A perilous journey to find Kay takes Gerda to a land locked in ice and snow, where she must outwit the powerful Snow Queen to rescue her beloved friend. The haunting illustrations capture all the mystery and magic of Andersen's longest, most imaginative tale. Product Details Trade Binding: $15.95 ISBN: 1-933327-22-7 Library Binding: $16.50 ISBN: 1-933327-23-5 Product Dimensions: 48pp, 8 1/4 x 11 3/8 Color illustrations throughout Reading Level: Ages 6 & up Publication Date: Fall 2006 On sale now at Amazon.com Place an order with our distributor Back to top	Enlarge Image
The Steadfast Tin Soldier Hans Christian Andersen Illustrated by Gianni de Conno One of Hans Christian Andersen's most romantic tales, The Steadfast Tin Soldier tells the story of a one-legged tin soldier who suffers a terrible fate all for the love of a beautiful paper dancer. Cursed by a jealous goblin, the toy solider is sent flying out the window to the street below, where a perilous adventure carries him ever further from his love. But throughout his ordeal, the soldier remains sturdy and staunch on his one leg, ever true to his beloved little dancer. The story's humor and pathos are perfectly reflected in Gianni de Conno's charming illustrations. Product Details Trade Binding: $15.95 ISBN: 1-933327-24-3 Library Binding: $16.50 ISBN: 1-933327-25-1 Product Dimensions: 44pp, 8 1/4 x 11 3/8 Color illustrations throughout Reading Level: Ages 6 & up Publication Date: Fall 2006 On sale now at Amazon.com Place an order with our distributor Back to top	Enlarge Image