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The Boll Weevil Ball

[Hardcover]

Written and illustrated by Kelly Murphy

ISBN-10: 0805067124
ISBN-13: 978-0805067125
Henry Holt and Co. (September 1, 2002)
Illustrations © 2002 Kelly Murphy

From School Library Journal: "The warm blues and greens and muted reds create the perfect ambience. Young children will identify with Redd's predicament and will laugh aloud as the little beetle tries to fit in at the dance."

A Place To Grow

[Hardcover]

Written by Stephanie Bloom
Illustrated by Kelly Murphy

ISBN-10: 1931969078
ISBN-13: 978-1931969079
Bloom & Grow Books (August 28, 2002)
Illustrations © 2002 Kelly Murphy

From The American Horticultural Society: Recipient of the "Growing Good Kids--Excellence in Children's Literature" Book Award for outstanding plant, garden and environment themed title.

Loony Little

[Hardcover]

Written by Dianna Hutts Aston
Illustrated by Kelly Murphy

ISBN-10: 0763616826
ISBN-13: 978-0763616823
Candlewick Press (October 13, 2003)
Illustrations © 2003 Kelly Murphy

"When a drop of water falls - plop - on Loony Little's head, she and her friends decide that they must bring this unfortunate news to the fearsome queen. Maybe she can explain how this strange turn of events will affect them."

Dancing Matilda

[Hardcover]

Written by Sarah Hager
Illustrated by Kelly Murphy

ISBN-10: 0060514523
ISBN-13: 978-0060514525
HarperCollins Publishers (June 14, 2005)
Illustrations © 2005 Kelly Murphy

From School Library Journal: "The endearing Matilda is oblivious to everyone and everything around her, including mud puddles, laundry hanging to dry, and the postman. Murphy's lively and colorful illustrations are a perfect complement to the hopping and bopping verse and its spunky heroine."

Good Babies

[Hardcover]

Written by Tim Myers
Illustrated by Kelly Murphy

ISBN-10: 0763622273
ISBN-13: 978-0763622275
ASIN: B0017HZRDU
Candlewick Press (September 13, 2005)
Illustrations © 2005 Kelly Murphy

From School Library Journal: "Murphy's acrylic, watercolor, and gel illustrations are based in blue. The figures are simply drawn but the rich color and shading bring them to life. An enjoyable story, particularly for children who would like to trade in their noisy younger siblings."

Fiona's Luck

[Hardcover]

Written by Teresa Bateman
Illustrated by Kelly Murphy

ISBN-10: 1570916519
ISBN-13: 978-1570916519
Charlesbridge Publishing (January 15, 2007)
Illustrations © 2008 Kelly Murphy

From Publishers Weekly: "Murphy's textured mixed-media compositions, in a predominantly dusky palette, keep pace with the action. Freckle-faced Fiona's changeable expressions hint at her scheming and the lively sweet-faced leprechauns flit across the pages."

From School Library Journal: "Using the background of the Irish potato famine, Bateman weaves a tale of Irish history and leprechauns, threads it with optimism, and embroiders it with cleverness and luck. At one time, luck was in abundance in Irelandz-until the leprechaun king got angry at the humans for soaking it all up. Using a spell, he steals it away. The people fall on hard times, and Fiona uses her wits to get it back from the wily king. Murphy's illustrations are richly toned and evocative. Some are spreads, full of color in a folk-art style; on other pages, the smaller spot illustrations highlight the details in the story. Each page is a harmonious blend of artwork and text, which makes the story an engaging read-aloud, and it's also accessible to young readers. Children will love this tale, particularly the facial expressions on Fiona and the small people who surround her, and they'll delight in the young woman's cleverness and quick thinking."

Gallop-O-Gallop

[Hardcover]

Written by Sandra Alonzo
Illustrated by Kelly Murphy

ISBN-10: 0803729677
ISBN-13: 978-0803729674
Dial Books for Young Readers (April 5, 2007)
Illustrations © 2007 Kelly Murphy

From School Library Journal: "Each selection is presented on a single page or full spread and complemented by Murphy's well-composed, beautifully textured art, created with watercolor, acrylic, and gel medium on paper. Many of the paintings feature realistic images of horses in action or young girls interacting with their mounts, while others are more whimsical."

Hush, Little Dragon

[Hardcover]

Written by Boni Ashburn
Illustrated by Kelly Murphy

ISBN-10: 0810994917
ISBN-13: 978-0810994911
Abrams Books for Young Readers (March 1, 2008)
Illustrations © 2008 Kelly Murphy

From Midwest Book Review: "The whimsical color illustrations add just the right touch to this tongue-in-cheek bedtime storybook."

The Peach Boy

[Hardcover]

Written by Alex Frith
Illustrated by Kelly Murphy

ISBN-10: 0746096658
ISBN-13: 978-0746096659
Usborne Publishing Ltd (July 31, 2009)
Illustrations © 2009 Kelly Murphy

Brand-New Baby Blues

[Hardcover]

Written by Kathi Appelt
Illustrated by Kelly Murphy

ISBN-10: 0060532335
ISBN-13: 978-0060532338
HarperCollins (December 29, 2009)
Illustrations © 2009 Kelly Murphy

Star Review from School Library Journal: "...Oil, acrylic, and gel are used to create gentle hues. What makes this telling of the new brother/sister theme stand out is how well the verses are in sync with the illustrations, layout, and the characters' facial expressions. Great for sharing with a group or one-on-one."

From Kirkus Reviews: "...Appelt's catchy, child-friendly text and Murphy's energetic, engaging pictures illustrate her woes (...) which modulate in palette from angry blues and greens to sunny yellows, while serene compositions replace off-kilter ones."

Over At The Castle

[Hardcover]

Written by Boni Ashburn
Illustrated by Kelly Murphy

ISBN-10: 0810984148
ISBN-13: 978-0810984141
Abrams Books for Young Readers (March 1, 2010)
Illustrations © 2010 Kelly Murphy

From School Library Journal: "The loving Mom and baby from Ashburn and Murphy's Hush, Little Dragon (Abrams, 2008) reenact a variation of another familiar folk song. Well-rhymed quatrains guide readers through a medieval landscape populated with ever-increasing numbers of inhabitants (from one little dragon and two gruff guards all the way up to ten frisky jesters). Suspense builds on each earth-toned page, as mother dragon advises "patience" while child eagerly anticipates the book's culminating surprise: fireworks ignited by the "whoosh" of the dragons' breath. Simple but richly textured oil and acrylic illustrations contain amusing details for observant eyes (the little dragon can be caught peeking inside the castle walls, and an "old wily prisoner" and his "pet rats five" can be spied planning and executing escape from the dungeon). A playful and comforting addition to storytimes."

From Booklist: "Richly textured paintings in subtle hues that fit the medieval period convey the chores of the occupants of the castle, and comedic touches throughout deepen the story and will have children flipping back through the pages."

Creepy Monsters, Sleepy Monsters

[Hardcover]

Written by Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Kelly Murphy

ISBN-10: 0763642010
ISBN-13: 978-0763642013
Candlewick Press (July 12, 2011)
Illustrations © 2011 Kelly Murphy

With wildly colorful illustrations full of whimsy and warmth, Kelly Murphy brings to rambunctious life Jane Yolen's gently rhyming tale of snarfing, growling, snoring way that monsters go to bed.

Face Bug

[Hardcover]

Written by J. Patrick Lewis, Photography by Fred Siskind
Illustrated by Kelly Murphy

ISBN-10: 1590789253
ISBN-13: 978-1590789254
Wordsong (March 1, 2013)
Illustrations © 2013 Kelly Murphy

In this ingenious picture book, Children's Poet Laureate J. Patrick Lewis invites you to visit the Face Bug Museum. There, readers can meet fourteen bugs in Lewis's sly, humorous poems; gaze upon giant close-ups of the creatures' faces in Siskind's photographs; and follow the antics of two beetle friends in Kelly Murphy's artwork. This is a trip to a museum-built by bugs, for bugs-unlike any other. It is also a poetry collection, macro-photography book, and illustrated story-all in one. Includes end notes with photographs of the entire bugs and further information about these creatures.

Romping Monsters, Stomping Monsters

[Hardcover]

Written by Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Kelly Murphy

ISBN-10: 0763657271
ISBN-13: 978-0763657277
Candlewick Press (July 9, 2013)
Illustrations © 2013 Kelly Murphy

Those little monsters are back - and on the move! Jane Yolen takes her rhymes to the playground, aided by Kelly Murphy's exuberant illustrations.

The Slowest Book Ever

[Hardcover]

Written by April Pulley Sayre
Illustrated by Kelly Murphy

ISBN-10: 1620917831
ISBN-13: 978-1620917831
Boyds Mills Press (April 5, 2016)
Illustrations © 2013 Kelly Murphy

Two-color cartoons from Murphy dominate each spread as Sayre addresses slow-moving animals and slow-growing organisms, human processes such as breathing and sleep, the 2,000-year construction of the Great Wall of China, space exploration, and more.