Shmutzy Girl

"Even when she tries to keep clean, Shmutzy Girl is constantly so dirty she even leaves a ring around the swimming pool, but an encounter with Kvetchy Boy makes her realize something about herself"--

Noshy Boy loves to eat. Every thing. Watermelon, cookies, pasta, broccoli, but especially cake and ice cream. When his pants get a bit tight, he takes his big sister Keppy Girl's smart advice to "save treats for special occasions." With that, cake and ice cream become even more delicious to Noshy Boy. Ages 0-7 years.

Klutzy Boy is the clumsiest kid in the neighborhood. He always has a new boo-boo from his latest klutzy encounter. It's not until Shluffy Girl encourages him to "slow down and take your time" that he can drink milk without spilling it and play ball with all windows intact. A lesson for us all: slowing a bit can lead to an easier day. But Klutzy Boy can still be a bit clumsy at times just like most everyone else. Ages 0-7 years.

In the years around 1492, Moishe, a Bar Mitzvah boy, leaves home to join a ship's crew, where he meets Aaron, the polyglot parrot who becomes his near-constant companion. But Inquisition Spain is a dangerous time to be Jewish and Moishe joins a band of hidden Jews trying to preserve some forbidden books. He falls in love with a young woman, Sarah; though they are separated by circumstance, Moishe's wanderings are motivated as much by their connection as by his quest for loot and freedom. When all Jews are expelled from Spain, Moishe travels to the Caribbean with the ambitious Christopher Columbus, a self-made man who loves his creator. Moishe eventually becomes a pirate and seeks revenge on the Spanish while seeking the ultimate booty: the Fountain of Youth. Bestseller. Winner of the 2017 Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour. 2016.

Shluffy Girl loves to sleep. It's what she does best. But sometimes her sleeping gets her into trouble, like when falls asleep on the bus and misses her stop or falls asleep in the playground and Klutzy Boy trips over her. When Kvetchy Boy is worried that there's something wrong, Shluffy Girl goes to the doctor who advises, "there's a time and place for most everything, maybe save naps for nap time." With that, Shluffy Girl vows to stay awake on the bus and the play yard, but looks forward even more to her next slumber party with Shmutzy Girl. Ages 0-7 years.

Shleppy Boy is always dragging some thing, some where - a tuba, a tent, a dozen basketballs! In his book, he learns that sometimes less shlepping allows for more time to actually have fun with his friends, Shmutzy Girl, Klutzy Boy, Kibbitzy Girl, Noshy Boy and Shluffy Girl. Shleppy Boy transitions from thinking more stuff is always better to realizing that only "some things are worth the shlep." Ages 0-7 years.