Meet Jack.
He's almost six years old. And that's almost grown up. 
After all, he can almost ride a big bike just like his older brother. And he almost never gets scared.
This spunky little almost-six-year-old is ready to take on the world.
Well, almost.
Richard Torrey's sweetly funny tale is sure to resonate with any child who just can't wait to be big.

Almost

Children's Books

Torrey, Richard

Action & Adventure

Harpercollins

Balzer + Bray

Like any almost-six-year-old, Jack is full of questions. 
Why does all the good-for-you food taste bad? 
Why can't he have a tail? 
Why doesn't hair hurt when you cut it? 
From bedtimes to ball games, Jack has a question for everything.
Why?
Why?
Why?
Richard Torrey's funny, sweet companion to almost is a celebration of every child's favorite question.

Why?

Animals

Jack's mom may tell him that "because" is not an answer, but he disagrees. In fact, this almost-six-year-old thinks "because" is the perfect answer . . . to any question!
Why did he cover himself in Band-Aids?
Why is the dog wearing a cape?
Why did he eat all the chocolate cake?
Richard Torrey's endearing companion to Almost and Why? celebrates every child's favorite answer to life's trickiest questions.

Because

Literature & Fiction

Beans Baker sure can pogo. He’s the Robo-Pogo champion of the school—until his classmate Sheldon beats his record. Beans knows he can become the Robo-Pogo Champion for Life, if only he didn’t have to study for that pesky spelling test Readers will love this funny sequel to Beans Baker Number Five.

Beans Baker Bounces Back (Step into Reading. Step 3)

Random House Books for Young Readers

Beans Baker, Number 5 (Step-Into-Reading, Step 3)

When he is given an unlucky uniform number, Beans Baker considers giving up baseball rather than face kidding from the other players.

Beans Baker's Best Shot (Step into Reading)

An entertaining early reader about soccer, friendship, and sportsmanship. When Beans hurts his leg in soccer practice right before the championship game, his best friend Chester thinks it’s all his fault! Beans may not be able to play in the game, but he can still play an important role on the team when he cheers up—and cheers on—Chester. A great story for young sports lovers and those interested in character education. Step 3 Readers feature engaging characters in easy-to-follow plots about popular topics—for children who are ready to read on their own.

When Beans hurts his leg in soccer practice right before the big championship game, his best friend Chester thinks it’s all his fault! Beans may not be able to play in the game, but he can still play an important role on the team when he cheers up—and cheers on—Chester.From the Trade Paperback edition.

The Almost Terrible Playdate

“[A] delightful look at the importance of compromise among friends.” — Kirkus Ideal for all families who have ever heard (or said!) the words “Why can’t you both JUST GET ALONG?!”, here is the story of two young children with VERY different ideas of what they want to play. What starts with an innocent question (“What do you want to play?”) soon veers hilariously toward chaos, as two children engage in the age-old struggle of princesses, ponies, and ballet vs. dinosaurs, dragons, and race cars. Which child will win? Or will both find a way to play nicely together? In a humorous mock–epic battle staged with crayon illustrations of each child’s increasingly steadfast and elaborate ideas of what they want to play, Richard Torrey taps into the charged and volatile emotions of childhood, which every parent and child will recognize with a smile. It’s a lighthearted and funny way to reflect on the ideas of sharing, cooperation, patience, and generosity. “A clever story of dueling imaginations.” — School Library Journal “A playful and accessible introduction to cooperation.” — Booklist “Friendship, it seems, like make-believe, takes an act of imagination.” — The New York Times From the Hardcover edition.

Activities, Crafts & Games

Doubleday Books for Young Readers

Entering Hartland

BERKLEY

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Torrey, Richard. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Torrey, Richard

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Torrey, Richard. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Almost

Almost

Why?

Because

Beans Baker Bounces Back (Step into Reading. Step 3)

Beans Baker, Number 5 (Step-Into-Reading, Step 3)

Beans Baker's Best Shot (Step into Reading)

Beans Baker's Best Shot (Step into Reading)

The Almost Terrible Playdate

Entering Hartland