Books by Kate Messner

Book SynopsisPart of the critically acclaimed Over and Under series!Award-winning duo Kate Messner and Christopher Silas Neal take readers on a thrilling tour of one of the most diverse ecosystems on planet earth: the rainforests of Central America. Discover the wonder that lies hidden among the roots, above the winding rivers, and under the emerald leaves of the rainforest." Features animals like the slender parrot snake to the blue morpho butterfly" Explores the canopies, where toucans and pale-billed woodpeckers chatter and call" Other animals include capuchin monkeys who swing from vines and slow-moving sloths who wait out daily thunderstormsUnder the canopy of the rainforest hundreds of animals make their homes, but up in the leaves hides another world.This stunning read is perfect for kids who can''t get enough of the rainforest and all the animals living in it. " Equal parts educational and beautiful, this book is perfect for parents and grandparents, as well as librarians, science teachers, and educators." A great gift for kids who love nature, rainforests, animals, and learning more about the world" Perfect for children ages 5 to 8 years old" Add it to the shelf with books like The Big Book of Bugs by Yuval Zommer, The Animal Book by Lonely Planet Kids, and A Butterfly Is Patient by Dianna Aston.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisA secret underwater world brought to life: This gorgeous companion to the acclaimed Over and Under the Snow and Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt is an excellent addition to any emerging reader's collection. In Over and Under the Pond, readers will discover the plants and animals that make up the rich, interconnected ecosystem of a mountain pond. Over the pond, the water is a mirror, reflecting the sky. But under the water is a hidden world of creatures—minnows darting, beavers diving, and tadpoles growing. These secrets and many others are waiting to be discovered over and under the pond in this sweet children’s book from Kate Messner and Christopher Silas Neal, the latest in their beloved series that offers kids a peek into hidden ecosystems. ENTERTAINING AND EDUCATIONAL: Stunning illustrations paired with an easy-to-follow storyline make this a great read for any early elementary school student, while a glossary of animals that live in, near, and around the mountain pond enriches the reading experience. INSPIRES A LOVE A NATURE: Offering a look inside a beautiful underwater ecosystem, this gorgeously illustrated book encourages children to explore the world around them and appreciate the natural wonders they discover.   A FIVE-STAR FAVORITE OF READERS & REVIEWERS: 'Playful and lovely to read aloud. Even older budding naturalists will find something to enjoy here.'—School Library Journal; 'A contemplative journey through an ecosystem.'—USA TodayPerfect for: A great read-aloud book for home or school Parents looking for enchanting bedtime reads or nature books for kids Fans of books like A Different Pond, An Egg Is Quiet, Because of an Acorn, and Over and Under the Rainforest and others in the Over and Under series Any kid who loves picture books about science, nature, or animals    

Read more less

Book SynopsisA follow-up to OVER AND UNDER THE SNOW that explores the hidden world and many lives of a garden through the course of a year, now in paperback.

Read more less

Book SynopsisMyths! Lies! Recycling scams? Discover the real story behind the first Earth Day celebration and some of the biggest US climate catastrophes--and their solutions! Don''t miss the award-winning History Smashers series as they get to the truth on the biggest environmental fibs!In April 1970, twenty million people grabbed their rakes, gloves, and recycling bins to celebrate the first Earth Day. Since that environmental kickoff, nature has never been in better shape. RIGHT?WRONG! The real deal is a bit muddier than that. It?s true that the first Earth Day encouraged people around the globe to clean up their act when it came to the environment. But activists have been working for centuries to save the planet! Native people across the world developed sustainable farming practices, women in eighteenth-century India stood up to protect trees, and amateur scientist Eunice Foote discovered the science behind global warming all the way back in the 1850s!Join the History Smashers team to bust history''s biggest misconceptions and figure out what in the world really went down before (and after!) the first Earth Day?and how you can join the fight to protect the environment.Ready to bust new myths? Check out more titles in the History Smashers series: The Mayflower? Plagues & Pandemics? The Titanic? The Underground Railroad? The Salem Witch Trials

Read more less

Book SynopsisA Kirkus Best Picture Book of 2023! A Smithsonian Magazine Best Kids Books of 2023! From Caldecott and Newbery Honoree Grace Lin and bestselling author Kate Messner comes a modern folktale about the joy of reading.Once upon a time, there was a girl. She went to a place alive with colors, where even the morning dew was warm.  Alice loves to imagine herself in the magical pages of her favorite book. So when it flaps its pages and invites her in, she is swept away to a world of wonder and adventure, riding camels in the desert, swimming under the sea with colorful fish, floating in outer space, and more! But when her imaginative journey comes to an end, she yearns for the place she loves best of all. Paired with vibrant illustrations, this lyrical, expressive story invites the reader to savor each page and indulge in the power of imagination.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAll it takes is one: one coral gamete to start a colony, one person to make a difference, one idea to change the world.Trade Review"Sumptuously illustrated and empathetically written ‘The Brilliant Deep’ provides a much needed prod to our consciences to save our wonderful but struggling nature." -- Picture Books Blogger"This beautifully illustrated picture book with its simple, easy to read text is amazingly informative and thought provoking" -- StorySnug"A fascinating book to read." -- Let Them Be Small

Read more less

Book SynopsisA wonderful winter book for kids from the author and illustrator of the beloved Over and Under series, now in paperback! Part of the acclaimed nature book series that includes Over and Under the Pond, Over and Under the Rainforest, and Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt, this volume takes readers on a cross country ski trip through the winter woods to discover the secret world of animals living under the snow. Over the snow, the world is hushed and white. But under the snow lies a secret world of squirrels and snow hares, bears and bullfrogs, and many other animals making their winter home under the snow. This beloved nonfiction picture book reveals the tunnels and caves formed beneath the snow but over the ground, where many kinds of animals live through the winter, safe and warm, awake and busy, but hidden beneath the snow.  ENCHANTING AND EDUCATIONAL: A charming story and beautifully rendered illustrations invite readers of all ages to explore and learn about the 'subnivean zone' (the space between the colder snow and the warmer ground) where many animals live in the winter, opening a fascinating window into the natural world. A DIFFERENT KIND OF HIBERNATION BOOK FOR KIDS: While there are many wonderful books depicting animals' preparations for winter (including, for some, a long winter's nap), Over and Under the Snow gives a unique peek into the busy daily lives of many types of forest creatures once winter is upon them. GREAT SET OF NATURE BOOKS FOR PRESCHOOL: The five-book series by author Kate Messner and illustrator Christopher Silas Neal is a wonderful addition to any classroom or home library, sure to delight curious toddlers and emerging young readers.Perfect for: Fans of the Over and Under series Kids who love winter and animals, including rabbits, squirrels, foxes, owls, frogs, and bumblebees Baby shower, birthday, and holiday gift giving and year-round reading for nature enthusiasts Readers who love The Snowy Day, The Story of Snow, A Loud Winter's Nap, and Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring Trade Review"This delightful book is much more than just a simple tale. Children will learn a huge amount about what goes on when snow falls and the life it supports." Creative Steps Winter 2011 "With stunning illustrations, this book takes a poetic look at what is happening above and below ground when a little girl goes skiing with her father...young minds will love it." Junior Book Club 01.01.12

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom the acclaimed author of Over and Under the Snow, Kate Messner!Now in paperback, Tree of Wonder is an exciting introduction to the biodiversity of the rainforest biome. From two Great Green Macaws to 1,024 Leaf-cutter Ants, readers will delight in counting each animal that makes a home in the heart of the rainforest, where life multiplies again and again in the shade of just one almendro tree. • An eye-opening way of visualizing numbers • Features playful, forest-themed word problems • A lush and fascinating storyDeep in the forest, in the warm-wet green, one almendro tree grows, stretching its branches toward the sun—in and under those branches, all sustained by one tree, thousands of rainforest creatures are living. Count each one as life multiplies again and again in this book about the rainforest's abundant beauty, and the wonderful multiplicity of life. • A stunning read for kids who can't get enough of the rainforest and all the animals living in it • Equal parts educational and beautiful, this book is perfect for parents and grandparents, librarians, and math, literature, and science teachers • A great gift for kids 5 to 8 years old who love nature, rainforests, animals, and learning more about the world • Add it to the shelf with books like The Big Book of Bugs by Yuval Zommer, The Animal Book by Lonely Planet Kids, and A Butterfly Is Patient by Dianna Aston.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisCinderella has never been so adorable--or amphibious!--as in this fractured fairytale picture book by New York Times bestselling author Kate Messner, with art by award-winning illustrator Lian Cho.Axolotl-Ella is a quick and clever salamander with a daring, deliciously ambitious dream. All she needs to do to make her dream a reality is to meet the Prince at the King’s Festival. So with a little bit of magic from the lake of the night, Ella makes her skin gleam and her gills glow--and conjures the perfect outfit for a fancy party!But the Prince talks a lot, and the magic wears off at midnight. Can Axolotl-Ella find a way to make her dream come true, or will she be stuck at the murky lake with her annoying stepsisters forever?Bestselling author Kate Messner has created a funny, empowering retelling of the Cinderella story with a confident heroine who's way too practical for glass slippers. Complemented with laugh-out-loud illustrations by award-winning illustrator Lian Cho, and filled with amusing axolotl facts, Axolotl-Ella is destined to become a storytime favorite.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisMyths! Lies! Secrets! Uncover the hidden truth behind the infamous Pearl Harbor attack with beloved educator/author Kate Messner. The fun mix of sidebars, illustrations, photos, and graphic panels make this perfect for fans of I Survived! and Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales.On December 7, 1941, the Japanese launched a completely unpredictable attack on the U.S. Navy base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Right? Well, that's not quite the real deal. Some military experts had suggested that Pearl Harbor was a likely target. There were other warning signs, too, but nobody paid much attention. From the first wave of the Japanese bombers to the United States' internment of thousands of Japanese Americans, acclaimed author Kate Messner smashes history by exploring the little-known truths behind the story of Pearl Harbor and its aftermath.Don't miss History Smashers: The Mayflower and Women's Right to Vote

Read more less

Book SynopsisAccomplished storytellers Kate Messner and Mark Siegel chronicle the process of becoming a reader: from pulling a book off the shelf and finding someone with whom to share a story, to reading aloud, predicting what will happen and—finally—coming to The End.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisDiscover the hidden magic of the Everglades in this fascinating and beautiful exploration of the wetland habitat from the New York Times bestselling author and award-winning illustrator of the beloved Over and Under series!Part of the acclaimed nature book series that includes Over and Under the Pond, Over and Under the Rainforest, and Over and Under the Snow, this volume takes readers on a journey into the magical and mysterious reaches of Florida’s Everglades National Park. Over the swamp, the barred owl hoots, and the great egret swoops down on snowy wings. The slow mazes of waterways are quiet with the shush of reeds and grasses. But under the swamp’s soft shadows, there’s a whole hidden world of panthers and orchids, red-bellied turtles and raccoons, lurking alligators and singing frogs. This beautifully illustrated nonfiction picture book reveals all the fascinating creatur

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisMyths! Lies! Secrets! Uncover the hidden truth behind the sinking of the Titanic with beloved educator/author Kate Messner. The fun mix of sidebars, illustrations, photos, and graphic panels make this perfect for fans of I Survived! and Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales.On April 15, 1912 an unsinkable ship called the Titanic unexpectedly hit an iceberg and sank to the bottom of the North Atlantic. Right?Wrong! Nobody was really talking about the Titanic being unsinkable until after it sank.The truth is, four different ships wired the Titanic to report icebergs and field ice in the area. But the Titanic never slowed down. In fact, when the Californian warned that it was trapped in ice, the Titanic's wireless operator was so busy sending outgoing messages that he replied, Shut up! No joke.Discover the nonfiction series that demolishes everything you thought you knew about history.Don't miss History Smash

Read more less

Book SynopsisMyths! Lies! Secrets! Uncover the hidden truth about the Underground Railroad and Black Americans' struggle for freedom. Perfect for fans of I Survived! and Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales.Before the Civil War, there was a crack team of abolitionists who used quilts and signal lanterns to guide enslaved people to freedom. RIGHT? WRONG! The truth is, the Underground Railroad wasn't very organized, and most freedom seekers were on their own. With a mix of sidebars, illustrations, photos, and graphic panels, acclaimed author Kate Messner and coauthor and Brown Bookshelf contributor Gwendolyn Hooks deliver the whole truth about the Underground Railroad.Discover the nonfiction series that smashes everything you thought you knew about history!

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe inspiring sequel to the 2015 Parent''s Choice Winner, How to Read a Story!Step 1: Choose an idea for your story. A good one.Step 2: Decide on a setting. Don''t be afraid to mix things up.Step 3: Create a heroine—or a hero.Now: Begin.Accomplished storytellers Kate Messner and Mark Siegel playfully chronicle the process of becoming a writer in this fun follow-up to How to Read a Story, guiding young storytellers through the joys and challenges of the writing process. From choosing an idea, to creating a problem for their character to resolve, to coming to The End, this empowering picture book breaks down the writing process in a dynamic and accessible way, encouraging kids to explore their own creativity—and share their stories with others!• Perfect for educators, librarians, and parents who are helping children develop early writing and reading skills• Great read-aloud book for preschool- and kindergarten-aged children interested in learning to read• Helps teach Common Core Curriculum skillsYoung readers who love We Are in a Book!, How Rocket Learned to Read, and Also an Octopus will love the reading and writing lessons and inspiration in How to Write a Story.• Read-aloud books for kids ages 3–5• Learning to write books for kids• Kindergarten, pre-K creativity booksKate Messner is an award-winning author whose many books for kids have been selected as Best Books by the New York Times, Junior Library Guild, Indie Bound, and Bank Street College of Education. She lives on Lake Champlain with her family.Mark Siegel is the author of many graphic novels and children''s picture books, including the 5 Worlds series, as well as the illustrator of How to Read a Story and the Robert F. Sibert Honor Book To Dance: A Ballerina''s Graphic Novel. He lives in New York.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisMyths! Lies! Secrets! Smash the stories behind famous moments in history and expose the hidden truth. Perfect for fans of I Survived and Nathan Hale''s Hazardous Tales.In 1620, the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock and made friends with Wampanoag people who gave them corn. RIGHT? WRONG! It was months before the Pilgrims met any Wampanoag people, and nobody gave anybody corn that day.Did you know that the pilgrims didn''t go straight from England to Plymouth? No, they made a stop along the way--and almost stayed forever! Did you know there was a second ship, called the Speedwell, that was too leaky to make the trip? No joke. And just wait until you learn the truth about Plymouth Rock.Through illustrations, graphic panels, photographs, sidebars, and more, acclaimed author Kate Messner smashes history by exploring the little-known details behind the legends of the Mayflower and the first Thanksgiving. Kate Messner serves up fun, fast hi

Read more less

Book SynopsisMyths! Lies! Secrets! Smash the stories behind famous moments in history and expose the hidden truth. Perfect for fans of I Survived and Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales.In 1920, Susan B. Anthony passed a law that gave voting rights to women in the United States. RIGHT?WRONG! Susan B. Anthony wasn't even alive when the Nineteenth Amendment was ratified. Plus, it takes a lot more than one person to amend the constitution.The truth is, it took millions of women to get that amendment into law. They marched! They picketed! They even went to jail. But in the end, it all came down to a letter from a state representative's mom. No joke.Through illustrations, graphic panels, photographs, sidebars, and more, acclaimed author Kate Messner smashes history by exploring the little-known details behind the fight for women's suffrage.Don't miss History Smashers: The Mayflower!

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisOver the snow, the world is hushed and white. But under the snow exists a secret kingdom of squirrels and snow hares, bears and bullfrogs, and many other animals that live through the winter safe and warm, awake and busy, under the snow. Discover the wonder and activity that lies beneath winter''s snowy landscape in this magical book.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisAward-winning duo Kate Messner and Christopher Silas Neal return in this latest addition to the OVER AND UNDER picture book series, this time exploring the rich, interconnected ecosystem of the ocean! Over the waves, the sea lions bark and seagulls wheel and call. The bay is smooth and bright in the sun. But under the waves, there’s a whole hidden forest, full of whales and wolf eels, sardines and sea bass, leopard sharks and luminous jellies, as well as the waving kelp that shelters them all. Discover the magical depths of the kelp forest, and all the fascinating creatures living just a paddle’s length away—over and under the waves.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn this latest book in the acclaimed Over and Under series, a spectacular hike reveals the hidden wonders, rich colors, and layers of wildlife living within a thriving desert slot-canyon.Over and Under the Canyon takes young readers on a thrilling tour of a desert canyon ecosystem. Over the canyon, the sun scalds the air, baking desert mud to stone. But under the shade of the cliffs hides another world, where bighorn sheep bound from rock to rock on the hillside, roadrunners make their nests in sturdy cacti, and banded geckos tuck themselves into the shelter of the sand. Discover the wonders concealed in the curves of the canyon, the magic of a desert wildflower bloom, and all the unexpected creatures that bring the desert to life.DISCOVER AMAZING ANIMALS: Kids are endlessly curious about the natural world and the wildly varied animals living in it—and the desert is FULL of amazing and surprising animals! CAPTIVATING NONFICTION: L

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less