Early years: first experiences

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisHello Kitty meets Star Trek under the sea! Dive in for adventure in this exciting picture book, featuring global sensations The Octonauts! Enjoy the original books that inspired the hit animated TV series, broadcast around the world!

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Book SynopsisTwo-time Caldecott winner Sophie Blackall spins a winning tale about Max, a feline whose behavior doesn''t win any raves, except from the boy who believes in him and finds a way to turn a negative into a positive.When a boy is FINALLY allowed to get a cat, he has no doubts about which one to bring home from the shelter. But Max the cat isn’t quite what the family expected. He shuns the toy mouse, couldn’t care less about the hand-knitted sweater, and spends most of his time facing the wall. One by one, the family gives up on Max, but the boy loves his negative cat so much, he’ll do anything to keep him. Even the thing he dreads most: practicing his reading. Which, as it turns out, makes everything positive! Trade Review“Humorous, heartwarming.” —People Magazine“A must-read for anyone that loves cats, books, and reading.” —Brightly“[An] adorable and sweet picture book.” —Book Riot“Sometimes things aren’t what they seem at first. . . . Understated text brings a dry sense of humor to the child’s plight. . . . An author’s note describes the true event on which this story is based and offers readers ideas on how they can go read to animals. A humorous tale in which everyone gets what they want—even a negative cat!” —Kirkus Reviews“Max is, of course, adorable, and the discovery that reading to animals can benefit both the children who read and the animals who listen is the story’s hidden treasure.” —Publishers Weekly“[Blackall’s] illustrations, ‘created digitally and superimposed on the reverse side of vintage wallpaper salvaged from a falling-down house,’ have a charmingly old-school feel, deepened by the dull-toned color palette and design choices. A touching story that adds depth to the usual sweet humor of cat books.” —Booklist "A boy's new pet starts out as a problem and becomes the solution to another problem in Sophie Blackall's droll and commiserative picture book." —Shelf Awareness"This entertaining tale is a tribute to animal rescue shelters—and to literacy. . . . The many eye-catching details in Blackall’s fine-lined illustrations invite close inspection. . . . Blackall expertly captures body language and extracts a lot of humor from the surly cat, especially when comparing him to the animated pet-owner: we see the child attempt to connect (“I tell him all my best jokes. He doesn’t even smile”); the cat is shown with his back to readers, staring at the wall or rudely putting his tail in a stick of butter. As a result, it’s immensely rewarding to see the connection that occurs when the boy starts to read (and to enjoy it!) and Max crawls closer to cuddle. A positive and satisfying tale." —Horn Book"This readaloud is an excellent depiction of the drawbacks of cat ownership, from cleaning up unwanted messes to only receiving affection when it’s desired by the feline party, but its message that cats are still worth keeping around (and make particularly good reading buddies) is both sweet and helpful to would-be cat owners with certain expectations. The digital art has a vintage look." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

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Book SynopsisIt’s an exciting day for Llama Llama; he’s going to visit Gram and Grandpa Llama and spend the night! His first night away from home….and from Mama. But he makes sure to pack everything he needs. And there are so many fun things to do with Gram and Grandpa. It’s not until he gets ready for bed that he realizes that he’s forgotten something important. Fuzzy Llama! Fortunately, Grandpa Llama has a wonderful solution and soon Llama Llama is having sweet dreams.

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Book SynopsisLearn how to get your octopus to school in this hilarious and endearing back-to-school story!Trade Review★"Scharnhorst’s second-person narrative slips readers into the perspective of the young girl sending her cunning, yet cuddly, octopus off to school. While the octopus’s game of hide-and-seek may extend a bit too long for grown-ups, young readers will hardly notice as they enjoy spotting the octopus hiding throughout Sinquett’s playful and brightly colored digital cartoon illustrations. Spoiler alert: The goodbye hug at the end of the story might draw a tear from grown-up readers getting ready to send children off to school. Back matter contains a list of “Ten (Mostly) True Facts About Octopuses,” for readers curious about the habits of octopuses highlighted throughout. VERDICT A charming, eight-armed hug of a story that won’t hide long on library shelves."--School Library Journal (starred review)"The matter-of-fact text will easily pull anyone into this alternate version of the world, where octopuses play with stuffed toys, draw at easels, and hug their humans goodbye. As a bonus, the book does not reference a specific school level, making it accessible for a wide range of young children. A list of octopus facts after the story will help caregivers distinguish between truth and fiction presented in the narrative. A charming back-to-school book for the nervous octopus in all of us." -- Kirkus reviews"Sinquett’s illustrations are neatly composed and highly detailed, showing off every stitch of a knit pattern, every vein on a leaf, and every speckle of glitter, while still maintaining a cartoonish, adorable look for the octopus and his burdened but doting pigtailed caretaker. The red-hued octopus’ outfits and choice of hiding spots make this a visual treat of a picture book as viewers get to look for the octopus on each page and giggle at his evasion tactics and stylish garb. The octopus serves as a sweet buffer for viewers who are shy about going to school themselves, and older siblings may benefit from a reminder to be patient with little ones who don’t know the drill just yet. An engaging list of embellished octopus facts is included at the end." --BCCB"It’s all-hands-on-deck when a pale-skinned child with long black pigtails tries to wrangle an octopus for his first day of school. Addressing readers in a second-person voice, Scharnhorst offers funny and endearingly patient point-by-point advice on a morning routine . . . All the while, Sinquett’s breezy digital art depicts a small, salmon-hued octopus humorously exhibiting arrayed behaviors both human (trying on outfits, sitting at the breakfast table) and cephalopod (camouflaging, inking). Arrival at the classroom, filled with octopus friends and a kind-faced teacher, sets the stage for a tender transition. “Ten (Mostly) True Facts About Octopuses” closes this sweetly humorous take on a familiar rite of passage." --Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisWhen a big vocabulary leads to big confusion, Theo TheSaurus learns that there are some things you can say without any words at all! This story is Fancy Nancy for dinosaur lovers.Theo TheSaurus is a little dino who loves words--the bigger the better! And he''s determined to share that love with his new classmates in his new school, no matter that they don''t understand him at first. But when a trip to the athenaeum (also known as the library) becomes a visit to the auditorium instead, and a suggestion to play conceal-and-search (or hide-and-seek) only earns him looks of confusion, Theo realizes that misinterpretations can actually just be plain confusing! It''s only when his newfound friends find a way to show they care that Theo learns that sometimes, there are things more important than words.In this sweet and funny book filled with bright art, a brand-new dino character, and a full glossary of big words at the end, readers have tons of fun--and learn so

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Book Synopsis What the Road Said is the New York Times-bestselling comforting and uplifting picture book from bestselling poet and activist Cleo Wade. Which way do I go? That is your choice to make, said the Road.But what if I go the wrong way?The Road curved a little, almost as if it was giving me a hug, and said,Do not worry. Sometimes we go the wrong way on our way to the right way.It''s okay to be afraid or to sometimes wander down the wrong path. Bestselling poet and activist Cleo Wade''s What the Road Said features illustrations by Lucie de Moyencourt and encourages us to lead with kindness and curiosity, remembering that the most important thing we can do in life is to keep going.

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Book SynopsisA thoughtful and reassuring picture book about how one child experiences anxiety, and what kids can do to manage their worries. Perfect for social-emotional learning and Back to School reading, The Worry Balloon includes a guide for kids to build their own worry tool bag that children and caregivers alike can use when faced with anxiety and change. On the first day of school, Isla's mind plays the what if game. Scary thoughts come, the world goes dark, and everything feels stormy. With Mami at her side, Isla takes a deep breath and blows her worries away in a big balloon. But as school gets closer, Isla's worries come back like a tornado. Mami encourages her to imagine something happy, and Isla remembers there's nothing she can't handle.The storm might come again, but for now, her mind is quiet.

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Book SynopsisMake it fun and easy for kids to practice self-care, foster independence, and build self-confidence, with the help of these step-by-step photos from Montessori teacher Saniyyah Kahalilallah. With a toddler-sized hairbrush, a mirror hung at just the right height, and the step-by-step photos in I Did It Myself!, children aged 2 to 5 are on the path to mastering self-care skills. From getting dressed to washing hands, brushing teeth, and applying lotion, each activity fosters independence, builds concentration, helps develop motor skills, and encourages responsibility. Inspired by the Montessori curriculum, the unique book format features an interactive skills chart that's included on the inside back cover, with sturdy slider windows for each activity. This offers children the perfect incentive to make self-care a daily routine, as they complete each activity, slide the window, and confidently declare, “I Did It!”.

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