Books like The House on East 88th Street
By Bernard Waber
For the kid who begs to keep every stray creature they meet, this is the story that says yes, you really can love the strangest houseguest. Cozy, funny, gentle-hearted, a little absurd in the best way.
A small boy is invited to tea at the palace and always asks the same question — may he bring a friend? — and each time, a surprising animal guest shows up beautifully behaved.
After an owl attack knocks a baby fruit bat from her mother's grasp, she lands in a bird's nest and is raised alongside three baby birds, learning to live by their rules — until she finds her way back to her own kind.
On a distant planet, a red Smed and a blue Smoo fall in love despite their families' rule that Smeds and Smoos never mix, sending both sides on a journey that tests old prejudices.
A fish and his best friend, a tadpole, grow up together in a pond until the tadpole becomes a frog and hops off to explore dry land, leaving the fish desperate to follow.
A friendly ghost named Leo loves drawing and making snacks, but when a new family misunderstands his attempts to help, he leaves home to find where he truly belongs.
A tiny snail longing to see the world hitches a ride on a humpback whale's tail, and together they sail to icebergs and volcanoes — until the whale gets stranded and needs the smallest friend to save her.
A mouse named Chester has one way of doing everything, and his best friend Wilson happily matches him move for move — until a bold new neighbor named Lilly moves in with her own way of doing things entirely.
A girl in a swimsuit and flippers copies a graceful flamingo's every move, and through twists, turns, and one big flop, the two find their way to a dance in perfect harmony.
A girl's walking house trips down a mountainside, scattering her found family of creatures across the hills, and now she must gather everyone and track down her runaway home.
A lonely old man sets out to find one pretty cat but can't choose among the millions, billions, and trillions he finds on a hillside — so he brings them all home.
Eight little ballerinas practice plié, relevé, and jeté together in perfect step until Miss Lina introduces a ninth dancer, Regina, and their tidy rows suddenly fall into disarray.
A lonely squirrel named Mr. Peanuts spends his days climbing trees and gathering nuts, wishing for company — until he meets a special squirrel friend and falls in love, with visits to the bookstore, the park, and a candlelit dinner.
