Books Written and Illustrated
by Denise Fleming

Awards and Availability

Available in Hardcover version.

ALA Notable Book 1991
AMERICAN BOOKSELLER Pick of the List 1991
BOSTON GLOBE-HORN BOOK Award Honor Book 1992
BOOKLIST Editors' Choice 1991
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL Best Book 1991
REDBOOK Children's Picturebook Award 1991
IRA-CBC Children's Choices 1992
Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts 1991
Master Reading List for Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award 1993 & 1994

Available in Hardcover, Paperback, Big Book , and Audio versions.

New York Public Library's List of One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY 50 Best Books of 1992
PARENT'S Reading-Magic Award – Outstanding Children's Book 1992
Master Reading List for Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award 1993 & 1994

"A fresh, upbeat concept book. Lizards, giraffes, toucans, butterflies are available for counting—if only they'll hold still long enough! Fuchsias and oranges, teals and purples roll over the pages blending into each other in Fleming's beautiful couched paper with hand-cut stencil illustrations. Her explosions of color and motion are captivating and energizing. When the text says, ``Wiggle, worms!,'' readers can see them slithering right off the page…The more children who Count! under the influence of this title's breezy mood, the better. Very bright, very hip!" —School Library Journal

Available in Hardcover, Paperback, and Board Book versions.

New York Public Library's List of One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing
ALA Notable Book 1992
New York Public Library's List of One Hundred Picture Books Everyone Should Know 1997

"Soup's on in this tummy-tempting concept book. A very hungry mouse nibbles and crunches his way through the various components of a vegetarian repast, while the text introduces readers to the individual foods and their respective colors.…Fleming's pulp painting technique drenches each page with vibrant hues. A black and white checked tablecloth appears throughout, further punching up the color contrasts-shiny red apples stand out, even on a red background. Bon appetit!" —Publisher's Weekly

Available in Hardcover, Paperback, and Board Book versions.

Mouse is also available as a soft toy from MerryMakers—call 1-888-989-0405.

Caldecott Honor Book 1994
ALA Notable Book 1994
AMERICAN BOOKSELLER Pick of the List 1993
New York Public Library List of One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing
Ohioana Book Award – Juvenile Fiction 1994
PARENT'S Reading-Magic Award – Outstanding Children's Book 1993
PARENTS Magazine Best Kids' Books of 1993
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY Best Books of 1993 Editors' Choice
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL Best Books of 1993

Available in Hardcover, Paperback and Hardcover/CD combination versions.

ALA Notable Book 1994
AMERICAN BOOKSELLER Pick of the List 1994
New York Public Library's List of One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL Best Books of 1994
PARENTING Magazine 40 Outstanding Children's Books

"…Strong rhythm and rhyme, plus fun onomatopoeic animal sounds, demand reading aloud. But even more delightful than the engaging text are Fleming's spectacular illustrations, created by pouring cotton pulp through hand-cut stencils. They create realistically textured, bold, bright settings for the whimsical critters to romp through. Intimate perspectives…make Barnyard Banter one more plus to Fleming's already impressive collection." —School Library Journal

Available in Hardcover, Paperback, and Board Book versions.

ALA Notable Book 1996

"Already a favorite of preschoolers, Fleming…takes an appreciation of the natural world a giant step further. Rhythmic verse…demonstrates that there was another sort of community before people arrived… An ecology lesson it surely is, but it's also a celebration of the earth and its creatures. Illustrations in vivid jewel-and-earth tones appear on handmade paper; the woods, creeks, and meadows are clean and inviting, and, bringing balance to the presentation, the new houses are not without their charms. The lively back matter, titled "Welcome Wildlife to Your Backyard Habitat," offers substantial, easily executed suggestions for encouraging wildlife around the home; it's information just right for family and classroom sharing. Perfect for Earth Day observances, a book that's as welcome as spring." —Kirkus Reviews

Available in Hardcover and Paperback versions.

Winner of the 1996 Ohioana Award for Children's Literature: Alice Louise Wood Memorial (for body of work).

Society of Illustrators The Original Art '98 – Silver Medal
New York Public Library's List of One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing 1998
Charlotte Zolotow Award Highly Commended Title

"If winter's in the air, hibernation can't be far behind. So when Bear senses a change of season, she thoughtfully reminds her friends and neighbors of their impending naps in this gentle introduction to fall's cycle. …Fleming's simple text is ripe with astute observations of the natural world and animal behavior.…As in her previous titles (In the Small, Small Pond, Where Once There Was a Wood) Fleming's "pulp painting" style results in lushly textured handmade paper compositions saturated with earthy browns, reds and golds." —Publishers Weekly

Available in Hardcover and Paperback versions.

ALA Notable Book 1998
IRA-CBC Children's Choice
1998 Charlotte Zolotow Award Highly Commended Title
New York Public Library's List of One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing
NICK JR. MAGAZINE Ten Can't Miss Classics 2000

"As Mama cat leads her kittens through a garden adventure, Fluffy and Skinny carefully follow her example (cleaning paws, chasing leaves) while Boris naps. The surprise comes when Boris is ready to frolic and the others are too exhausted to play. Preschoolers will request repeat readings of this delightful story and enjoy searching for the smaller creatures found on each page. Fleming's kittens, created by pouring colored cotton pulp through hand-cut stencils, are large and bold and set against colorful backdrops. An excellent choice for reading aloud to groups." —School Library Journal

Available in Hardcover and Paperback versions.

New York Public Library's List of One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing
PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY Best Children's Books of 2000
AMERICAN BOOKSELLER Pick of the List 2000
NICK JR. MAGAZINE Best Books for Ages 1-3 2001
Texas Library Association 2 X 2 Reading List 2001
Parenting Reading Magic Award 2001

"…With her warm, intuitively childlike touch, Fleming's book could be properly billed as 'What Every Pre-Kindergartner Wants to Know.'" —New York Times Book Review

Available in Hardcover, Board Book and Paperback versions.

BANK STREET COLLEGE OF EDUCATION The Best Children's Books of the Year 2001

"All eyes in a Halloween story hour will be riveted to this stellar story of trick-or-treaters enjoying the deliciously scary nature of this special night. images of eyes peek out throughout the story with golden cat eyes, lighted windows in houses, and the pie-shaped eyes of jack-o'-lanterns looming on oversized pages.…Each double-page spread has a rhyming couplet set in huge white type, relating a pitch-perfect story full of heart-pounding excitement ("toes curl, heads swirl, things bump, hearts thump")…for those who celebrate Halloween in all its spooky glory, this story seems destined to become an essential read-aloud for October story hours. " —Kirkus Reviews

Available in Hardcover and Paperback versions.

ALA Notable Children's Book 2002
Chicago Public Library's 2004 Best of the Best List
Nick Jr. Magazine Best Books for ages 1-3 2002
Texas Library Association 2 X 2 Reading List 2002
Children's Literature Top Choice List 2003
Oppenheimer Toy Report Gold Medal 2003
Booklist EDitors Choice 2002
Parent & Child Teacher's Picks: The Best New Books
2002 Capitol Choices Under Seven List

Available in Hardcover and Paperback versions.

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY Best Children's Books 2003
ABC Best Books for Children 2003
New York Public Library's List of One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing
Chicago Public Library's 2004 Best of the Best List

Available in Hardcover and Paperback versions.

Oppenheimer Toy Portfolio Best Book Award 2006
New York Public Library's List of One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing
Kirkus Reviews Best Books for 2005
CCBC Choices 2006

Available in Hardcover version.

Kirkus Reviews Best Books for 2006
CCBC Choices 2007
Bank Street Best Books 2007
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best 2007

Available in Hardcover version.

Stared review in Publisher's Weekly:

"if you’re a fan of Denise Fleming, well, you’re in luck, because her new title about the bopping of beetles in your backyard completely delivers in all the wonderful ways that Fleming never fails to wow readers: The book sings with her rhythmic, alliterative, onomatopoeic text (”Buzzing beetles, humming beetles, steadily drumming beetles”) and her bold, bright, bustling illustrations"

Available in Hardcover version.

Other Resources

In the Small, Small Pond Storytelling Kit