Early Readers & Picture Books

Good Guys, Bad Guys

Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2020 / ISBN 978-1-4197-3417-5 / Picture Book, illustrated by Nancy Carpenter

Here come the bad guys,

  green and scary–

    smelly, yucky,

      slimy, hairy…

But here come the good guys

  Wearing fancy capes,

    Don’t even try it—

       nobody escapes.

 An ode to imagination, as a brother and sister play pretend with the neighborhood kids in their backyard—dressing up as pirates, swimmers, cowboys, and more! In the make-believe world, the bad guys cause mischief and the good guys save the day. And who knows who they’ll be tomorrow?

“Rocklin… offers jaunty verse whose energy is amplified with crayonlike mixed-media art by Carpenter…and both bolster the wry conclusion to this lighthearted tale.”

Publishers Weekly

“Rocklin and Carpenter present a rollicking homage to neighborhood kid-summertime play…The final spread leaves readers with a gentle message about not prejudging others’ inherent goodness or badness.”

The Horn Book

“…an engaging celebration of friendship and fun..Packed with charming details and nonstop action…A sunshine-filled ode to imagination.”

School Library Journal

I Say Shehechiyanu

Kar-Ben, 2015 / ISBN 978-1-4677-3467-7 / Picture Book, illustrated by Monika Filipina

Follow a little girl and her baby brother throughout the year as she says “Shehechiyanu”, the beautiful blessing for expressing thanks when something takes place for the first time, or when it happens again after a long time. I SAY SHEHECHIYANU, written by Joanne Rocklin and illustrated by Monika Filipina, is a beautiful picture book suitable for all Jewish festivities, celebrations, and the proud “first times” of childhood.

One of “The Best Jewish Children’s Books of 2015,” Tablet Magazine

This Book is Haunted

ISBN 0-06-028456-0 / A HarperCollins I Can Read Book / Illustrated by JoAnn Adinolfi

A ghostly narrator tells six not-so-scary Halloween tales that beginning readers will enjoy.

“…charming tales…A treat for emerging readers.”

School Library Journal

“…art has the right mixture of daffy and spooky…pitch-perfect…”

Kirkus Reviews

“Hello, Math” Early Readers

The “Hello, Math” series is published by Scholastic, and includes an excellent guide and math activities by the acclaimed mathematics educator, Marilyn Burns.

My Books in the series include:

  • HOW MUCH IS THAT GUINEA PIG IN THE WINDOW
  • ONE HUNGRY CAT
  • NOT ENOUGH ROOM
  • THE CASE OF THE MISSING BIRTHDAY PARTY
  • THE CASE OF THE BACKYARD TREASURE
  • THE CASE OF THE SHRUNKEN ALLOWANCE
  • JUST ADD FUN!
  • THE INCREDIBLY AWESOME BOX

array hello math

guinea pig

How Much is That Guinea Pig in the Window?
Scholastic, “Hello, Math”
ISBN 0590227165
Students earn money to buy a class pet.

one hungry cat

One Hungry Cat
Scholastic, “Hello, Math”
ISBN 0590939726
A greedy cat learns division.