Children’s / Teenage general interest: Communities, places and peoples

Book SynopsisPerfect for fans of Mo Willems and Jon Klassen, award-winning author Sharon G. Flake’s story about a very serious cat and a very silly duck will inspire giggles with every reading.Best friends Duck and Cat have a problem—Cat makes Duck sneeze! “I think—achoo!—I’m allergic to you,” Duck declares. Hilarity ensues as Cat keeps trying to solve the problem—but Duck keeps sneezing! Is Duck really allergic to Cat or is something else going on? Written completely in dialogue, this text is fun to read aloud and easy enough for newly independent readers to enjoy on their own. Humorous illustrations highlight the characters' personalities, emphasizing Duck's quirky humor and Cat's earnestness. This dynamic duo will charm readers as the sly friendship tale keeps them laughing.Trade Review"Told entirely in dialogue using color-coded speech bubbles, this is the tale of a dynamic duo whose friendship is full of silly bickering, consternation, and smiles....Readers who enjoyed You Are Not a Cat! (2016) will be pleased to see more from this pair. Comparable to a series about a famous elephant and pig...this is a close second." —Kirkus Reviews"The creators’ comic follow-up to You Are Not a Cat! finds pals Cat and Duck in a touchy quandary...Digitally assembled ink, pen, and pencil illustrations by Raff contrast the sylvan setting—depicted in soft textures, grassy tones, and simple shapes—with the characters’ escalating, and very sibling-like, interplay." —Publishers Weekly"Raff’s illustrations are soft but colorful, filled with movement and speech bubbles interspersed with Duck’s numerous achoos.... children (will) enjoy the colorful illustrations along with the actions and discussions the two friends share." —Booklist

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Book SynopsisIn the third miniature picture book in the Hippo Park Pals series, perfect for little hands—Fiona needs help getting onto her swing, and brother Herbert helps out, like big brothers do.The fourth book in the adorable Hippo Park Pals series, real picture books--perfect for little hands!In the third Hippo Park Pals miniature book, Fiona is first to the swing set, but her swing is too high to reach! “Help me, please, Herbert,” she asks her brother. With his help, Fiona gets comfy in her swing, gets a big push–and up she goes! “Kick and tuck,” Herbert encourages! And she’s off! Herbert joins, too, and the siblings soar up to the sky (and over a beautiful rainbow) in their imaginations! Rilla Alexander’s hippo siblings, Fiona and Herbert, are adorable and kind! Her bold. bright colors and the social emotional messages in these precious books meet kids exactly where they are.

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Book SynopsisDuck and the gang want to build a cool hangout in the second book in this graphic chapter book series perfect for fans of Narwahl and Jelly.When the gang decides to build a hangout where everyone can chill together, there are supplies to gather, the puuurrrfect tree to find, and of course: an awesome name to pick! (Turkey wonders: What about the Doozy Den?) But when Cat tells the gang that tree forts aren’t cool, everybody’s feathers get ruffled—especially Duck’s. In three short chapters, perfect for readers just gaining confidence, Duck and his friends once again show Cat that being cool is never about being mean!Hippo Park graphic chapter books are ideal for beginning and newly independent readers, with approachable page counts, easy-to-follow paneling, and artwork that supports text comprehension.Trade Review"Kid-friendly with a rad edge…..Young readers [will] appreciate the sick vibes and smooth wordplay..Totally sweet!” -- Kirkus Reviews"A fun adventure....Recommended for raders ages 5-7 looking for a silly beginner chapter book graphic novel. Great for fans of the Pea, Bea, and Jay series." -- Youth Services Book Review"The fun continues as these characters search for a place to hang out together....the artwork is full of details for readers to flesh out the dialogue. I appreciate the ending leading to the next book. A fun read for mid-elementary level." -- Pamela Gombert, Librarian, Bowen Elementary"... the second book in an already super cool series. Kids will love the quirky expressions of the animal friends, as well as their unique personalities. They will wonder in anticipation with the other friends as they decide what to name the fort....Children will be drawn to the colorful illustrations and fun characters. A fantastic addition to the series!" -- Rebecca Band, educator"This book was ace! Highly recommended." -- Dona Maguire, Goodreads

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Book SynopsisDuck and the gang want to build a cool hangout in the second book in this graphic chapter book series perfect for fans of Narwahl and Jelly.When the gang decides to build a hangout where everyone can chill together, there are supplies to gather, the puuurrrfect tree to find, and of course: an awesome name to pick! (Turkey wonders: What about the Doozy Den?) But when Cat tells the gang that tree forts aren’t cool, everybody’s feathers get ruffled—especially Duck’s. In three short chapters, perfect for readers just gaining confidence, Duck and his friends once again show Cat that being cool is never about being mean!Hippo Park graphic chapter books are ideal for beginning and newly independent readers, with approachable page counts, easy-to-follow paneling, and artwork that supports text comprehension.Trade Review"Kid-friendly with a rad edge…..Young readers [will] appreciate the sick vibes and smooth wordplay..Totally sweet!” -- Kirkus Reviews"A fun adventure....Recommended for raders ages 5-7 looking for a silly beginner chapter book graphic novel. Great for fans of the Pea, Bea, and Jay series." -- Youth Services Book Review"The fun continues as these characters search for a place to hang out together....the artwork is full of details for readers to flesh out the dialogue. I appreciate the ending leading to the next book. A fun read for mid-elementary level." -- Pamela Gombert, Librarian, Bowen Elementary"... the second book in an already super cool series. Kids will love the quirky expressions of the animal friends, as well as their unique personalities. They will wonder in anticipation with the other friends as they decide what to name the fort....Children will be drawn to the colorful illustrations and fun characters. A fantastic addition to the series!" -- Rebecca Band, educator"This book was ace! Highly recommended." -- Dona Maguire, Goodreads

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Book SynopsisWant an adorable Halloween appropriate picture book that's not scary at all? Addie and the Amazing Acrobats is your book!Will Addie choose fame or friendship when she gets invited to join the Big Bat Circus? Perfect for fans of Aaron Blabey and Ryan T. Higgins.Addie was born to be a STAR. Just look at her—she loves attention! “Ehem! Can we please continue?” (Of course!) Addie and her best friends, Ben and Jude, are three peas in a pod. Besties since birth! And together, they learn to perform spellbinding moves in the air (check out the spinzarella and the bonkers bug out!), forming a trio called Addie and the Acrobats! They love the crowds, the cheers, and most of all the attention! One night after a spectacular show, Addie receives an invitation to join the Big Bat Circus. “We’ll start packing right away,” says Addie. But when the friends arrive, suitcases packed, there's only room for the star. Only Addie? Addie loves her friends, but she loves the spotlight, too! Will she have to choose? Shauna Cagan’s delightful debut picture book is a story that both entertains and encourages conversation. Fame or friends? Competition or community? Smart and off-beat with delightful illustrations, readers will fall in love with Addie.Trade Review“A high-flying authorial debut … Cagan makes the characters’ journey fun, with meta-interplay between the narrator and protagonist, and crisply outlined cartooning that evokes a lively nocturnal world.”—Publishers Weekly"Creative...and the bats’ acrobatics provide inspiration for a colony’s worth of vivid verbs.”—Kirkus ReviewsI can’t think of a CUTER story to read!! What do you do when you’re a part of an amazing acrobatic team (who just happen to be your best BEST friends) that dazzles onlookers every night, but then someone comes along and only wants one of you?? You’ll just have to read this adorable book to find out!!”—@squarepegroundworld

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Book SynopsisWho's to blame when a vain, heedless king meets his comeuppance? He is, of course! Fans of Tomi Ungerer's mischievous humor and Jon Agee's sly morality tales will be delighted by this hilarious read-aloud about a long, long beard and its short-sighted royal owner, by a popular Belgian illustrator, designer, and animation whiz.The lush, golden royal beard is a wondrous thing - especially to the king himself. He spends his days admiring and grooming it, and passes laws making it a crime punishable by death for anyone else's face to sport even a single hair. As the people of the kingdom nervously shave daily, the royal beard grows and grows until it appears at the palace's back gate. What happens next will have readers laughing along -- and cheering for the astronomers who, unlike the tyrannical king, know that the earth is round.Trade ReviewA 2022 Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year"What once might have been 'long ago' seems eerily not so long ago at all." — The New York Times"A new children's classic...will warrant entry into your forever library....playful, weird, funny, absurd, and wil make elementary-aged children laugh out loud....one of those picture books that kids will laugh at and adults won't mind reading over and over." —Daddy Mojo“A fairy tale for our unusual times. Verplancke hopes the book will help children (and their respective parents) understand the danger of absolute power, narcissism, selfishness and ignorance of science and knowledge." — Steven Heller, The Daily Heller/PRINT “A fun way to introduce readers to concepts such as self-indulgence and abuse of power….An enjoyable read, a worthy addition to any library, and a useful tool for teaching humility and respect.” —School Library Journal "The illustrations are extremely clever and the text flows around the sides and bottom of the pages, even appearing upside down in some places, to convey the concept of circumnavigation…..Just plain fun. Recommended." — School Library Connections"Rapunzel has nothing on the vainglorious king from this sly cautionary [picture book] .... “The law may be the law, but some laws are bad for your health,” a new king remarks with distinct schadenfreude. Readers fond of Jon Klassen’s karmic tales will agree.” —Booklist “Deeply satisfying.” —Kirkus Reviews"A witty story, exquisitely drawn! — Award-winning artist, author, graphic designer Christoph Niemann"A clever, biting fable.” —Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisWelcome to the show! Bienvenidos! This rags-to-riches tale of a doggy mother-daughter singing act in the Nuevo Wild West will enchant dog lovers, music lovers, and anyone looking for new Latinx voices. This spellbinding original story opens in a cantina crowded with desert animals, cowboys, and cowgirls all excited to see the glamorous Luna Ranchera mother-daughter singing duo. Long ago, Luna was down on her luck, starving and struggling to feed her pups, reduced to thieving from nearby ranchers. One day, escaping another heist, Luna has to hide in the worst possible place: on top of a beehive! She howls in pain so loudly, it carries all across the desert. It turns out Luna's musical wails are something special, captivating creatures far and wide. Her most rebellious pup, Ranchera, joins her, and soon the two become the famous howling singing act with the flea-bitten souls, Luna Ranchera! Immersive and unforgettable, with knockout, whimsical art, the tale ends with the lyrics to Luna Ranchera's most famous song. Perfect for fans of Coco and Soul.Trade Review"A strikingly original story of overcoming the odds.....This rags-to-riches story of a mother-and-daughter pair making it big will pull at readers’ heartstrings....the writing has an appealingly folksy, tall-tale feeling. Reminiscent of Raul the Third’s artwork" -- Kirkus Reviews

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Book SynopsisAward-winning author Nikki Grimes’s beloved novel in verse Garvey’s Choice is now a graphic novel, imaginatively and dramatically illustrated by Little Shaq artist Theodore Taylor III. Garvey’s father has always wanted Garvey to be athletic, but Garvey is interested in astronomy, science fiction, reading—anything but sports. Feeling like a failure, he comforts himself with food. Garvey is kind, funny, smart, a loyal friend, and he is also overweight, teased by bullies, and lonely. When his only friend encourages him to join the school chorus, Garvey’s life changes. The chorus finds a new soloist in Garvey, and through chorus, Garvey finds a way to accept himself and a way to finally reach his distant father—by speaking the language of music instead of the language of sports.Garvey’s Choice was a School Library Journal Best Book, a Kirkus Reviews Best Book, a Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award Honor Book, and a Paterson Prize for Books for Young People Honor Book. With Theodore Taylor III’s full-color illustrations, this graphic novel edition is enthralling and inspiring.Trade ReviewSchool Library Journal Best Book of the Year★ "Some of Grimes’s original tanka poems have been adjusted, but the novel in verse adapts beautifully to the graphic novel format, and Taylor’s art emphasizes the imaginative, ­poignant, painful, and joyful aspects in turn. Starry night sky illustrations, with characters outlined in white, are striking. Taylor often shows Garvey regarding himself in a mirror, and readers can see how Garvey’s feelings about his appearance change throughout. This format will attract new readers to a poetic, powerful story of growth. Highly recommended." —School Library Journal, starred review★ "The verses are given a new visual life with excellent page designs and clever illustrations...An unusually effective use of the graphic novel format to bring poetry alive. —The Horn Book, starred review"Grimes’ acclaimed novel in verse sees new life in comics format. Grimes’ tanka poems...pair nicely with Taylor’s straightforward illustrations, bringing to life Garvey’s story of newfound self-possession. The energetic illustrations playfully depict his rocky journey toward a truer version of himself, providing levity at times but never shortchanging the most poignant moments...These charming, reflective poems are an ideal match for Taylor’s endearing first graphic novel endeavor.An adaptation that expands the world of a captivating, much-loved character." —Kirkus Reviews "Grimes wrote the original version of Garvey’s Choice in a type of Japanese non-rhyming verse called tanka. Although she slightly modified the text for this graphic novel, the effect still comes through: The story is broken into bite-size pieces, each page or spread depicting a single moment. Taylor’s art has a minimum of detail but plenty of emotional impact." —School Library Journal"Grimes’ award-winning tanka poem narrative about a boy struggling to find a place for himself in his family and the world is adapted in this captivating, visually impressive graphic, which looks at Garvey from a slightly different perspective." —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

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Book SynopsisHidden Figures meets Rosie Revere, Engineer in this STEM/STEAM picture book about Edith Clarke, the innovator who solved an electrical mystery and built the first graphing calculator—from paper!Long before calculators were invented, little Edith Clarke devoured numbers, conquered calculations, cracked puzzles, and breezed through brainteasers. Edith wanted to be an engineer—to use the numbers she saw all around her to help build America.When she grew up, no one would hire a woman engineer. But that didn’t stop Edith from following her passion and putting her lightning-quick mind to the problem of electricity. But the calculations took so long! Always curious, Edith couldn’t help thinking of better ways to do things. She constructed a “calculator” from paper that was ten times faster than doing all that math by hand! Her invention won her a job, making her the first woman electrical engineer in America. And because Edith shared her knowledge with others, her calculator helped electrify America, bringing telephones and light across the nation.Trade ReviewA Rise Feminist Book Project Recommended TitleA 2024 NSTA-CBC Best STEM Book"The full-color images catch the eye and playfully include mathematical puzzles. Edith’s quotes are interspersed throughout, highlighting her love of math and her determination to succeed in a traditionally male field. This one will inspire and validate any readers who love mathematics and calculations, especially anyone who has felt marginalized within STEM fields...Rousing encouragement for readers—especially math-minded ones—to follow their dreams." —Kirkus Reviews"(T)he text tells Clarke’s story in terms that are accessible to children and offers more information in the extensive back matter. The attractive illustrations, drawn digitally and brightened with watercolors, do a particularly good job of portraying Clarke as she gradually grows from childhood to maturity. An intriguing introduction to a trailblazing woman in the field of electrical engineering."—Booklist“Oh, me oh my, I DO so love a good picture book biography when it has something to do with math. And as I mentioned before, over the last 10 or so odd years there’s been a notable uptick in the marketplace. I wonder, though, if you were to look at which publishers create such books, would the same names come up time and again? For example, the Calkins Creek imprint appears to be better suited to publishing a book of this sort. Why do I say such things? Because when I read a book like The Brilliant Calculator about Edith Clarke I notice several smart choices throughout. Fake dialogue? Not present. Is the story itself more fun than the backmatter? You betcha. Plus this is a smart duo of author and artist to pair together. Lower’s A Song for the Cosmos: Blind Willie Johnson and Voyager’s Golden Record was an accurate but dreamy take on its subject matter, while Reagan’s work on Revolutionary Prudence Wright elevated a book that might not have gotten attention otherwise. Here they have to prove their mettle in one specific way: Are they afraid of numbers? I’m not kidding about this. Many is the mathematician bio that eschews almost any mention of actual math (check out the bulk of books on Katherine Johnson if you don’t believe me). Ms. Reagan does include math in the details of the art, though the equations reminded me of the year I served on the Mathical Prize committee and the mathematicians there started trying to solve the math in the art that they found in such borders. But with her accurate rendition of the Clarke Calculator patent, I am certain everything checks out. Great writing, an interesting person to learn about, and some truly awesome art. A winner!” —Betsy Bird, A Fuse8 Production blog (School Library Journal)

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Book SynopsisThis YA biography-in-verse of six important Black Americans from different eras, including Ona Judge, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Ida B. Wells, Martin Luther King Jr., and Barack Obama, chronicles the diverse ways each fought racism and shows how much—and how little—has changed for Black Americans since our country’s founding.Full of daring escapes, deep emotion, and subtle lessons on how racism operates, A LONG TIME COMING reveals the universal importance of its subjects’ struggles for justice. From freedom seeker Ona Judge, who fled her enslavement by America’s first president, to Barack Obama, the first Black president, all of Shepard’s protagonists fight valiantly for justice for themselves and all Black Americans in any way that they can. But it is also a highly personal book, as Shepard — whose maternal grandfather was enslaved — shows how the grand sweep of history has touched his life, reflecting on how much progress has been made against racism, while also exhorting readers to complete the vast work that remains to be done.Trade ReviewA 2023 School Library Journal Best BookA 2023 Booklist Editors' Choice A 2023 Kirkus Best BookTexas Topaz Nonfiction Reading ListFinalist, SCBWI Golden Kite Award for Nonfiction Text for Older Readers★ "These narratives will also give young people a new understanding of how the subjects became exceptional forces for racial freedom...Meticulously researched and organized...Shepard creatively argues through captivating poetic history that racial justice is the long struggle in this country and that we are still working toward who ''we' is in this more perfect union. A must ­purchase." —School Library Journal, starred review★ "Rooting the events presented in documented history, Shepard distills them into concentrated bursts of truth... Christie’s section-heading black-and-white scenes are as starkly powerful as the poems. The information presented is kaleidoscopic rather than comprehensive; readers will come away with clear senses of who these individuals were and what motivated them, while formidable backmatter...provides avenues for them to fill in the gaps. Electrifying." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review★ "In this substantive nonfiction history in verse, Shepherd depicts the lives of six Black Americans who 'tilted the country’s moral arc toward liberty, freedom, and justice.' The poetry is always engaging, at times unwieldy, at times electric in its power. Highly recommended for both personal reading and curricular study." —Booklist, starred review★ “This is a highly readable work of creative nonfiction told in five story-poems–flash lines of verse, prose, and quotes–anchored in historical facts The individual poems are impressionistic, and many have a rhythm that would work well when read aloud.” —Youth Service Book Review"In this biography in verse, Shepard presents thoroughly researched portraits of six historical Black figures...Shepard makes each subject both distinct and connected; repetitive phrases and similar stylistic structures thread through the book, underscoring an arc of history that has lurched toward racial justice in fits and starts, taking one step back as many times as it moved forward." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books“A Long Time Coming is an unflinching, thoughtful, instructive, and beautiful rendering of the African American journey from slavery to freedom and beyond. Students of all ages will benefit from reading it.”—Randall Kennedy, Michael R. Klein Professor at Harvard Law School and author of Say It Loud! On Race, Law, History, and Culture“Ray Anthony Shepard takes readers on an epic journey along Freedom’s road. As they encounter conquering souls like Ona Judge, Frederick Douglass, Ida B. Wells, and President Obama, readers will finish the book bolstered with understanding and feelings of inspiration and joy.”—Alice Faye Duncan, author of Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop“In powerful prose poetry, Ray Anthony Shepard recounts the lives and audacity of Black leaders from Harriet Tubman and Frederic Douglass to Ida B. Wells, Martin Luther King Jr., and President Barack Obama. Learning about them together gives this history of our country’s sins and the people who fought for justice the gravitas it deserves. I pray that this book—painful, revealing, and ultimately inspiring—will disprove forever ‘the lie,’ as Shepard puts it perfectly, ‘that people are color-coded into winners and losers.’ It is a long time coming.”—Deborah Heiligman, author of Charles and Emma: The Darwins’ Leap of Faith“An exquisite historical tapestry, A Long Time Coming, weaves the lives of six heroes to create unflinchingly detailed documentation of American strength, suffering, and survival. Approachable, quick, and brimming with dynamic storytelling. Depth of research shines as Shepard graciously sheds new light on the lives of these heroes.”—Angela Joy, author of Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights Movement

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Book SynopsisPart of the My Little World series, this playful book of numbers features a haunted house on Halloween with concentric window shapes, peek-through pages and a fun rhyming story to teach children to count from 1 to 10.Do you dare to enter the haunted house in this playful book of numbers? Young readers will learn to count from 1 to 10 when they meet a cast of adorable, cheerful characters who are all celebrating Halloween night. Step inside the house to meet glowing jack o''lanterns, hopping frogs, floating ghosts, and dozing cats. But wait! What''s that sound in the yard? It''s more guests who have arrived for the Halloween party! With bright artwork, die-cut pages, and a fun rhyming story, learning is brought to life!Discover a whole world of learning fun with titles from the cheerful and interactive My Little World series. From colors and counting to opposites and first words, key early-learning concepts are presented in a bright, bold, engaging manner.

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Book SynopsisPart of the My Little World series, this playful book of numbers features concentric Christmas tree shapes, peek-through pages, and a fun rhyming story to teach children to count from 1 to 10.Children can learn to count from 1 to 10 with this adorable peek-through book of Christmas friends! Young readers will love to see the die-cut concentric Christmas tree on the cover decrease in size with each turn of the page. Meet a host of festive friends, including two polar bears, three bunnies, four owls, and more as they all prepare their forest home for Christmas. With bright artwork, die-cut pages, and a fun rhyming story, learning is brought to life!Discover a whole world of learning fun with titles from the cheerful and interactive My Little World series. From colors and counting to opposites and first words, key early-learning concepts are presented in a bright, bold, engaging manner.

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Book SynopsisFrom a sparkling green tree to Santa''s jolly red coat, there are so many colors to see at Christmas!Snow is falling on the ground; the colors of Christmas are all around. From a sparkling green tree to Santa''s jolly red coat, there are so many colors to see at Christmas! Learning becomes festive fun with this bright board book.

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