Early years: time and seasons

Book SynopsisA celebration of the wonder and colors of every child''s favorite season--summer! In this celebration of the outdoors, two rambunctious children take off on an adventure from their own backyard. In each new scene they discover the wondrous details--and beautiful colors--of nature. Even when a little summer rain threatens to dampen their grand adventure, the fun continues as woodland scenes come to life in a whole new way. Diana Murray''s spirited verse paired with Zoe Persico''s charming illustrations hits a wonderful balance of sophisticated and sweet, with details that young children will immediately relate to and layered verse that will enchant readers of all ages.

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Book SynopsisA deliciously sweet story of family, traditions, and chocolate! Perfect for Valentine''s Day, or anytime you want to tell someone I love you.As a family welcomes an adopted little girl to their home, her brother takes it upon himself to teach his new sister their traditions. For good days and bad, for birthdays, holidays, and everything in between, their family always celebrates with chocolate. They make super chewy chocolate chip cookies in the spring, very-berry chocolate-cherry mousse in the summer, chocolate banana pancakes in the fall, and warm chocolate sauce in the winter. But the boy soon realizes that his sister might have favourite treats of her own, and that if they work together, they can create new traditions and memories together.Inspired by the author''s adoption of her daughter-and by her grandmother''s chocolate sauce recipe (included in the back of the book)-Love Like Chocolate is a mouth-watering celebration of family.

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Book SynopsisFeaturing easy-to-use, wipe-clean pages and an attached dry erase marker, the Get Ready for School: First Grade Wipe-Off Workbook is packed with teacher-approved, common-core aligned activities that cover everything from math and reading to colors and shapes. This fun and lively primer is a must-have to help your first grader get ready for school. Help the young student in your life prepare for first grade with this friendly, colorful, and re-useable activity book that introduces and reinforces basic skills through hands-on activities like tracing, coloring, fill-in-the blank prompts, and more. Get Ready for School: First Grade Wipe-Off Workbook offers a wide variety of curriculum-based topics that will help your child:  Spell more difficult words by teaching familiarity with the alphabet, vowels, and consonants Recognize different types of words like nouns, action words, and describing words Master addition and subtraction Understand scientific concepts such as where animals live and what they eat, states of matter, and the five senses Learn to tell time and to recognize and count money Differentiate between common shapes and colors Time-tested and teacher-approved, Get Ready for School: First Grade Wipe-Off Workbook will help your child develop a love for learning while enhancing their essential motor and problem-solving skills. Colorful workbook pages combine a sense of fun with a feeling of accomplishment, and parents will love that this spiral-bound workbook reflects current academic standards and aligns with the Common Core.Whether it's used during summer break, for extra practice during the school year, or for at home schooling, the Get Ready for School: First Grade Wipe-Off Workbook is the perfect study aid for every young learner, and now it comes in a new, easy to use and re-use format.

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Book SynopsisThis beautiful set of cards carefully depicts the passing of time to aid an understanding of order and direction. They can be used in many environments and the accompanying booklet includes ideas and activities for using the cards. The cards are varied in content - for example: Times of the day - Morning, Afternoon, Evening, Night; Seasons - Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter; Ageing - Baby, Child, Teenager, Adult, Senior Citizen; Moon Phases - New Moon, Half Moon, Full Moon; Plant Life-cycle - Seed, Seedling, Flower, Seed head; and, Frog lifecycle - Frogspawn, Tadpole, Froglet, Adult. The cards vary in complexity and encourage comprehension, attention and observation.Intended for use in educational settings and/or therapy contexts under the supervision of an adult. This is not a toy.Table of Contents36 Cards, A5 (210 x 148mm) + CD-Rom ISBN 978-0-86388-944-8 Order Code D11-001-5820 GBP40.99 + VAT

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Book SynopsisTrade Review" Starred Review! K-Gr 4–Henry David Thoreau, more commonly known for his literary works, is revealed to be a multi-layered gentleman in this refreshing biography. Written in descriptive prose and beautifully illustrated with drawings and primary resources, this is an exploration of the convergence of influences that shaped his philosophy and naturalist lifestyle. As an inquisitive and keenly observant child, Thoreau had an ability to use all his senses to connect with the plants, animals, and the flow of the seasons; this ability provided him with the foundation that would eventually aid phenological studies 150 years after his death. Dunlap details Thoreau’s upbringing and some of the historical figures (lesser and well-known) who would have an impact on his life and writing. Baratta’s glorious illustrations, time lines highlighting Thoreau’s observations, and Thoreau’s own words evoke a sense that readers are exploring the mind of a man with a deep respect for all life and stages in the cycle. Readers will not only come to appreciate, as Thoreau did, the beauty in nature and simplicity, but feel inspired to treat the earth and its inhabitants with kindness as well.VERDICT An engaging and inspiring biographical title for budding scientists, artists, and environmentalists. " -- School Library Journal"How can one man living in a cabin in the woods make any kind of a difference? The life and writings of Thoreau are explored in a playful, engaging notebook of a book, showing his influence both then and on people today. This is a dive into the life of Henry David Thoreau, but told in such a way as if you were you reading through one of his journals. There’s a running timeline on the bottom of the pages as the seasons pass noting when the first bank swallow is seen or when he collected white pine cones. It makes a pretty strong case not simply for why David’s life was important (civil disobedience and his vehement dislike of slavery are cited multiple times) but also his work. I found the backmatter on how current climate change scientists are able to use his meticulous notes fascinating. I do wish there had been some mention of the fact that yeah, he lived in the woods but his mom did all his laundry, but all told it’s a strong piece with some killer backmatter. A must read!" -- Elizabeth Bird - SLJ - A Fuse 8 Production" Horn Book Star! "Dunlap begins her illustrated biography with a question posed by Thorea in a school report, his earliest known writing: “Why do the seasons change?” She anchors the book solidly in primary-source material, following Thoreau’s copious recorded observations of nature, including his classic work Walden, crafting an insightful and vivid portrait for readers. Baratta’s delicately detailed illustrations, which appear to be rendered in watercolor and ink, feature the birds, butterflies, trees, and other parts of nature Thoreau talked about in his journals and letters; each specimen is carefully labeled with its common and/or scientific name (such as “birdsfoot violet / Viola pedata”). A timeline runs across the bottom of many pages, marking days of the year as the book moves through the seasons with specific notes Thoreau made on a particular day: “June 5, Woodpecker nest in apple tree.” Dunlap discusses the importance of her subject’s work in a modern-day study of climate change, encouraging readers to become citizen scientists and record what they see, too. The biography reflects not just Thoreau’s interest in natural history but also his political stances (he and his family were passionate abolitionists), his interest in scientific thought (he read On the Origin of Species with keen interest), and his relationships with other notable contemporaries, including Ralph Waldo Emerson and Louisa May Alcott. An excellent introduction to Thoreau and the turbulent times in which he lived.From the May/June 2022 issue of The Horn Book Magazine." " -- The Horn Book"The seasons and their variations provide a framework for this absorbing biography of Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862). Starting with Thoreau’s springtime forest rambles in Concord, Mass., Dunlap chronicles the figure’s youthful forays into natural history, going on to note major milestones in the seasons of his life, including his famous move to Walden Pond (“the perfect spot to talk with friends about transcendentalism”) and his accomplishments as a writer, naturalist, and lecturer. Well-chosen quotes from the naturalist’s writing are woven throughout the narrative text, including excerpts from his childhood essay “The Seasons.” Well-chosen quotes from the naturalist’s writing are woven throughout the narrative text, including excerpts from his childhood essay “The Seasons.” Scattered across each page, Barrata’s delicate sketches of flora and fauna are captioned with notes for a nature journal effect, and a timeline of monthly observations appears as a running footer. Dunlap provides useful scientific and historical context, touching on industrialization, politics, and slavery in this richly detailed field guide to Thoreau that offers older readers ample inspiration for outdoor exploration. Back matter includes further resources, notes on climate change, and instructions for creating a nature calendar." -- PW" STARRED REVIEW! Henry David Thoreau spent many years observing seasonal changes in the natural world; now, a new biography for young readers chronicles the seasons of his life.The book begins with a description of Thoreau’s outdoorsy childhood spent collecting wildflowers, leaves, and seeds on his grandmother’s farm in Concord, Massachusetts. As a teenager, Henry explored the small town’s rivers and wetlands and “learned the voices of birds, frogs, and insects too.” After studying Greek, Latin, and German at Harvard, he taught at the district school until his beloved brother’s untimely death forced him to reevaluate his life. He started journaling and writing essays and poems inspired by his excursions in nature. Determined to carry out an “experiment” in “living more simply,” he dwelled by himself in a tiny house at Walden Pond for two years. The narrative goes on to describe Thoreau’s writerly life and literary accomplishments; his foray into land surveying; his public lectures; his involvement in the anti-slavery movement; and his many adventures and groundbreaking contributions as a naturalist. Dunlap’s generous text unfolds at a leisurely pace and excels at narrative despite being nonfictional. It puts Thoreau’s lasting legacy into context, establishing his influence on Martin Luther King Jr. and the modern environmental movement. Never overdrawn, Thoreau comes across as a thoroughly modern individual, quirks and all. The book’s layout approximates a nature journal; the pages are riddled with labeled watercolor sketches and handwritten field notes. Facsimiles of primary documents are interspersed throughout, bringing 19th-century Concord to life. A marvelous life survey of a perennially relevant historical figure. (author’s notes, resources) (Illustrated biography. 7-12) " -- Kirkus Reviews"...With a deep nod to the mid-19th-century nature journal, it’s an absorbing life history of the formidable philosopher, naturalist, and humanist, and it exemplifies narrative children’s nonfiction at the height of its powers." -- Summer Edward - Kirkus

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Book SynopsisA beautiful paperback reissue of a classic book about telling the time from the Mr Men creator Roger Hargreaves.

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Book SynopsisA boy has trouble settling down to sleep when a series of animals come knocking on his door in this ideal read-aloud for a cold winter night.Just when William is ready to fall asleep in his cozy cabin, there is a tap on his window. A chilly chipmunk asks to stay, and Will scooches over in bed. 'There's room for two -- I'm sure we'll fit.' The chipmunk is just the first in a parade of mammals, each bigger than the last, until the bed is full. Then a note is slipped beneath the door: 'Do you have room for just one more?' William tugs the door to see who's there . . . only to find a great big BEAR! Is there enough space to spare? Will the other animals be willing to share?Kids will delight at each new guest's arrival and enjoy counting along as the animals keep scooching over to fit in William's bed. Linda Ashman's clever rhymes set up each page turn with suspense and humor, and the expressions on Chuck Groenink's characters a

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Book SynopsisA is for arctic . . .B is for boots . . .C is for chairlift . . .It’s time to catch a winter chill! With H for hot chocolate, J for Jack Frost, and T for toboggan, this colorful primer has everything you need to know about what makes the winter season cool. Take this wintry slope from A to Z, and you’ll never want the snow day to end!

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Book SynopsisThe Little Explorers series takes children on a journey to teach them more about the world around them. Each title is beautifully illustrated and easy for children to read themselves. Approved by the National Department of Education as a Foundation Phase reader for Grades 1, 2 and 3. Shapes are Everywhere shows children how to find different shapes in the beautiful world around us. What are You Doing? introduces children to the many different ways that children can find the written word. Stop, Look and Listen shows children essential elements of road safety while dodging wild animals in a national park. It's Time! takes us through all the things that happen in a normal day. Oh No! is the story of poor Dangoes, who has many things to do but falls ill and can't do them. She gets better, but then it starts to rain! Lele Dreams takes the reader on a fantastical journey to the clouds and the sea.

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Book SynopsisThis fun board book is the perfect introduction to the sights of Halloween. From spooky ghosts to witches and ghosts, explore the vibrant artwork created by acclaimed artist Jane Foster. The perfect gift for littles ones at Halloween!

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Book SynopsisThe Night Before Christmas will help children become excited for festive fun with this beloved Christmas rhyme

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Book SynopsisAcadia Greene wants answers. What happened to the frogs she used to see at her favorite local pond? Why do leaves change color in the fall, and why don't evergreen needles do the same? What is the water cycle, and what is transpiration? How do time zones work, and why does the sun set at different times in different places within a single zone? How do germs infect us? Acadia doesn't mean to do science, but she has questions and her parents refuse to simply give her the answers. Conduct an experiment, they tell her. Use the scientific method. So Acadia makes hypotheses, designs experiments, analyzes data, and draws conclusions. Acadia does science. The author, Katie Coppens writes a recurring column for NSTA's middle school magazine Science Scope on science and literacy called The Integrated Classroom.

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Book SynopsisIn Book Three of the Acadia Files series, Acadia Greene carries her search for answers into winter.Trade Review"Acadia and two friends learn more science while enjoying a Maine winter. This is the third in a thoughtful series that began with Summer Science (2018). Like its predecessors, this combines a slight storyline with science facts, definitions, and descriptions of experiments using the scientific method. A melting snowman, a floating balloon, a paper-airplane contest, a wait outside in the cold, and a sledding challenge prompt 11-year-old Acadia's questions, which are presented in a present-tense narrative with unlikely dialogue but realistic daily details. Her parents are always happy to help her find answers, offering clear explanations, demonstrations, and encouragement for further experimentation. This outing introduces the topics of climate change, food waste, recycling and repurposing, atoms and elements, buoyancy, aerodynamics, animal adaptations for winter, and the physics of sledding. In each chapter, the protagonists accomplish some activity, one that could be easily replicated by readers at home or in school: listing ways to reduce one's carbon footprint or looking for animal tracks in the snow, for example. The author appends a list of helpful websites for further exploration of each topic. Acadia is pictured as pale and blonde; Joshua is darker, with straight hair, and brown-skinned Isabel wears her hair in two Afro puffs. Experiments, charts, and definitions are hand-lettered and profusely decorated with sketches, and each chapter ends with further questions. Accessible and approachable, a useful tool for science learning. (Informational fiction. 8-12)" -- Kirkus Reviews" The Acadia Files introduces kids to science via the readily observable principles and easy-to-reproduce experiments of its precocious and endlessly curious lead character, Acadia, who’s enjoying the summer before she enters fifth grade. Both of her parents are science teachers, so learning is naturally encouraged.The book introduces important scientific information in a clear and enjoyable fashion. Each chapter highlights a new topic based on Acadia’s summer activities and what she observes. Acadia uses the scientific method to discover who is stealing her blueberries from the bushes. She learns about genetic inheritance of traits like height and curly hair. She learns how sand is formed and what creates seasons and tides. Her summer adventures will open young minds to science and how it helps to make sense of the world. Illustrations from Acadia’s scientific notebook include amusing images, notes from experiments, and summaries of what she learned. Lists of vocabulary terms and further questions are also included. Notebook pages beautifully reflect the perspective of a ten-year-old girl. They are fun and entertaining, supporting and clarifying scientific concepts.The science in the book is wonderfully presented, but there is also another layer of lessons: Acadia learns not to accuse someone without proof; she learns to treat others with kindness; and she learns to accept and even celebrate things that might otherwise irritate her, such as the early morning sun and the temporary nature of a sandcastle.These age-appropriate lessons are clearly conveyed, without taking attention away from the book’s science. The Acadia Files is an excellent book that will help its audience look at the world in a new way. Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. " -- CATHERINE THURESON - Foreword Review

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Book SynopsisMichael Garland (Daddy Played the Blues) displays his impressive illustration range with the stylized, country-quilt, digital collage illustrations of A Season of Flowers.Trade Review"PreS-Gr 2 –This book takes readers on a journey through the seasons exploring the blossoming of flowers. Garland pairs the short rhyming text with beautiful and eye-catching illustrations created by a digital collage technique he developed. (“Snowdrop and Crocus. We are the earliest flowers of spring. Robins devour the bugs that we bring.”) Each page shows a seasonal flower(s) in full bloom and the wildlife that’s attracted to its fragrance and color. The text could easily supplement units on seasons and plants for younger readers or serve as an early introduction to life science. Librarians and parents alike will reach for this title as spring and summer come around. Back matter contains more detailed information about each bud mentioned and a summary of the life of a flower. VERDICT A solid purchase for collections in need of a fresh option for season-themed storytimes." -- School Library Journal Express

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Book SynopsisFrom Caldecott Medalist and Newbery Honor author Kevin Henkes and acclaimed painter Laura Dronzek, the bestselling and award-winning creators of seasonal favorites When Spring Comes and In the Middle of Fall.Snow falls, animals burrow, and children prepare for the wonders winter brings.Trade Review“This accomplished picture book details the season of winter. Author Henkes’ text is simple but evocative, observing winter in perceptive and sometimes-playful detail. Illustrator Dronzek’s acrylic illustrations...enrich and deepen the text as they add story details and warmth. ...A polished, playful story in which words and pictures dance in perfect harmony.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “Gorgeous...An appealing series of pictures shows the boy donning boots and zippers, vests and zippers, and jackets and zippers, wryly underscored by humorous text. ...The gentle repetitions continue as winter stays, and stays and stays, until it finally shrinks away and slips around the corner into a gorgeous, green spring. ...The large format, language, and pictures merge in a just-right read-aloud for fans of winter’s charms.” — ALA Booklist (starred review) “Another must-have seasonal picture book created through the amazing collaboration of Henkes and Dronzek. . . .The descriptive word choice is able to set the scene perfectly with so few words, and the soft illustrations match and enrich the text seamlessly. . . .Bundle up for this wonderful wintry tale of all the highs and lows that the season has to offer.” — School Library Journal (starred review) “Henkes and Dronzek present a lyrical ode to winter and its many moods. The text, marked by a gentle rhythm, uses descriptive language to bring the season to vivid life...Expressive, full-bleed spreads steal the show.” — The Horn Book “A cinematically enticing take on winter, and the atmospheric lyricism is seasonally suitable. ...A cozy evocation both of the real and imagined experience of days measured by the white stuff.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books “Acrylic paintings that spill off the pages set the scene through this book, an exploration of the long winter’s season’s juxtapositions. . .Winter’s journey, difficult and serene as it may be, ends with the full-page color spread that is spring. The simple, lyrical text and rich, soft illustrations work together to provide the perfect, snuggle-under-the-covers storytime experience.” — St. Louis Post-Dispatch “Have a warm cup of cocoa, snuggle up with a youngster and share Winter Is Here, a charmer by best-selling, award-winning Kevin Henkes. . . his poetic words [are] accompanied by soft artwork by Laura Dronzek. . . .The season’s never looked or sounded better.” — The Missourian

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Book SynopsisA twenty-four-hour day leaves plenty of time to play and learn, to jump and run, and finally, time to cuddle up in the blankets and dream. Easy-to-read digital and analogue clock faces on every page will help very young readers grasp the skill of telling time as they follow a boy through his day. Ages 5+.

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Book SynopsisJoin Fancy Nancy on a trip to the beach in this 8x8 picture book, complete with a fabulous set of stickers!In Fancy Nancy: Sand Castles and Sand Palaces, Nancy spends the day at the beach with her friends.

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Book SynopsisCrockett Johnson's charming book about a groundhog searching for signs of spring is now back in print! First published in 1959, this edition of the funny story about a Groundhog Day mix-up features refreshed cover artwork ready to delight a whole new generation of readers.With slightly more text than Harold and the Purple Crayon, this book is great for beginning readers or for reading aloud with little ones. Pair it with Crockett Johnson's Time for Spring for even more snow-turned-to-springtime fun!

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