Vacation's Over! Return of the Dinosaurs by Joe Kulka

Published by CarolRhoda ©2010

The worst part of vacation is coming home. There's laundry to do, mail to pick up, and photos to develop. It's such a hassle. So when the dinosaurs return from their vacation (they're not really extinct, you see), just imagine what they have to go through!

Much has changed in the millions of years since they left on a spaceship cruise.

Can Earth handle their return?

Wolf's Coming! by Joe Kulka

Published by CarolRhoda ©2007

As a distant howl echoes through the forest, animals quickly stop what they're doing and run for home. Look out-Wolf's coming! As the shadowy figure gets closer and closer and the day draws to a close, the animals shut the door, pull the shades, and turn out the lights. Soon the wolf's glowing eyes appear at the window and the front door opens. . . But things are not as they seem in this suspenseful, clever story, and it's the reader who's in for the biggest surprise of all!

STARRED REVIEW "Suspense builds from the very first page of this new twist on the not-such-a-big-bad-wolf theme." --School Library Journal

"The rhyming text leads the reader to make predictions about the outcome and is just right for reading aloud. The author's twilight illustrations provide a feeling of mystery and danger. The fear in the animal's eyes is almost palatable. The drawings of the wolf are just the right mix of sinister charm. This book is perfect for lessons on predictions, and as the inspiration for writing assignments. Students and teachers will clamor to check out this unexpected treat."
--Library Media Connection

Books Illustrated by Joe Kulka

Awards for Wolf's Coming!

Wolf's Coming! has won the 2009-2010 South Carolina PIcture Book Award.

Wolf's Coming! has won the 2008 Wanda Gág Award for Best Book to Read Aloud to Children.

Wolf’s Coming! has been chosen by School Library Journal as one the best books of 2007.

Wolf’s Coming! has been awarded a 2007 Bronze Medal Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards.

Wolf's Coming! has won the 2007 Society of School Librarians International (SSLI) Honor Book award .

Wolf's Coming! was nominated for the 2008-2009 North Carolina Children's Book Award.

Wolf's Coming! was nominated for the 2009 Missouri Building Block Picture Book Award.
 
Wolf's Coming! was nominated for the 2008-2009 Golden Archer Award.

Wolf's Coming! was nominated for the 2008 Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award. 

Wolf's Coming! was nominated for the 2009-2010 Young Hoosier Book Award.  

Wolf's Coming! has been selected as a Great Illustrated Storybook on James Patterson's ReadKiddoRead.com.

The Rope! by Joe Kulka

Published by Pelican Publishing ©2008

One day a humble farming family finds that a mysterious rope is dangling from the sky, swaying over their cornfield.

There is a small sign attached to the rope which says "Pull for more".

Should they test the rope and find out what happens when you ask for more?

“Combining classic fable elements with just the right combination of the bizarre takes some doing. The Rope manages to mix the two together well by adding in some visual spins that are certainly out of the ordinary. A creative new take, this is a great look at older story elements.”
––Elizabeth Bird, A Fuse #8 Production

Gingerbread Man, Superhero!

by Dotti Enderle Illustrated by Joe Kulka

Published by Pelican Publishing ©2009

One day, a little old lady decides to bake a Gingerbread Man. But he turns out to be not just any Gingerbread Man--this one has special powers, like the ability to fly. He flies to a bakery and helps save the other baked goods from a crazed macaroon, in this hilarious picture book for young readers.

Smokey Bear Story

Illustrated by Joe Kulka Published by USDA Forest Service © 2009

This book is being used nationwide to introduce Smokey Bear , his fire safety and fire prevention messages to a new geneartion of chiildren.

An illustrated book that narrates the story of the living Smokey. The book is to be read to young children. The story is narrated in both English and Spanish languages. It's colorful illustrations can be used to incorporate a variety of topics and concepts while reading the story. At the end, there is a teacher's page with this book's correlation to the national standards of learning, suggestions on activities, and additional resources you can use to engage children to team up with Smokey Bear to prevent wildfires.

The teacher's version of this book is a large format 11" x 17" book that comes with a tabletop easle so children can easily view the illustrations as they are being read the story.

Just Five More Minutes!

by Marcy Brown & Dennis Haley Illustrated by Joe Kulka

Published by Treasure Bay © 2008

It's Mark's bedtime, but he begs his mom for "just five more minutes!" When his five minutes are up, he just keeps coming up with something new to do that will take him "just five more minutes". Each new thing is more outlandish than the last, including teaching a dinosaur how to tie his shoes and brushing George Washington's teeth on Mount Rushmore! He finally goes to sleep, but when his mother comes in to get him out of bed in the morning, he naturally asks for "just five more minutes!

Granny Gert and the Bunion Brothers

by Dotti Enderle Illustrated by Joe Kulka

Published by Pelican Publishing ©2006

Buddy and Buck Bunion, known as the dumbest boys in Texas and worthless rascals, have met their match with Granny Gert. After being chased out of Amarillo, the Bunion Brothers ask Granny Gert for a job. She agrees to give them a chance but threatens to sic Mad Dog on them if they don’t behave.

Everything is fine until Buddy and Buck both fall in love with Starla Scissors, Granny Gert’s granddaughter...

[Joe Kulka] “vibrant colors and bigger-than-life pictures extend the text”
––JoAn W. Martin, Review of Texas Books

Woodsy's ABCs

by Roberta Burzynski Illustrated by Joe Kulka

Published by USDA Forest Service © 2005

Woodsy Owl, famous for his catch phrase "Give a hoot, don't pollute", is spreading a new message to children:
"Lend a hand, care for the land."
This alphabet book teaches children about their environment and how to care for and appreciate it.
The illustrations are filled with many different types of wild animals found all throughout the United States.