Search results for ""pajama press""

Now a high-quality board book in Pajama Press' Toddler Tough imprint! Rain is falling, and these siblings know just how to enjoy it: raincoats, rubber boots, puddle jumping, swimming ducks, and wiggling worms! A thunderstorm sends the children scrambling for home and a cup of hot cocoa. Maybe it will rain again tomorrow! From the acclaimed creators of Wild One, A Good Day for Ducks is a child-centered celebration of the joy that can be found in any rainy day. Jane Whittingham's spare but sensory-laden text and Noel Tuazon's energetic and endearing illustrations are packaged in a sturdy board book format for little hands. This sweet story will make even the weariest of parents nostalgic for their own puddle-jumping days.

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Explore the very important jobs that dogs do every day with this photographic ode to working dogs.Through ice and snow,I run with my pack.Towing my friendsDown the track.Preschoolers will explore adorable dogs and their jobs in this photographic celebration. When Dogs Work explores the real jobs that dogs do! From guide dog to water rescue dog to actor—these marvellous dogs may surprise you!   In rhythmic text perfect for an energetic read-aloud, When Dogs Work points out the incredible skills that dogs have. Bright photographs of the working dogs will help preschoolers identify the “uniform” of each working dog.

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Since 2011 Rebecca Bender’s award-winning Giraffe and Bird books have been tickling the funny bones of children and their families as the cantankerous cronies learn that friendship, while not always easy, is always worthwhile. But how did this unlikely pair become friends in the first place? In Giraffe Meets Bird, Bender’s bright acrylics and lively storytelling reveal the friends’ early days while pairs of scrumptious synonyms make her trademark rich vocabulary accessible to a new, younger audience. When the egg in Giraffe’s tree first hatches, he is excited and eager. But the baby bird grows quickly, and he soon learns how to make Giraffe angry and annoyed. It doesn’t take long for Giraffe and Bird to start fighting over their tree. When danger forces them to work together, the two not-quite-friends realize they might not be able to share their home at all. Luckily, they come up with a solution that is surprising, startling, and absolutely stunning.

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Her pirate-captain father reminds her to be bold and saucy and selfish, but Augusta can’t help being shy, polite, and helpful; in short, a bad pirate. But when a terrible storm puts the crew in danger, Augusta is bold enough to be true to herself and show that a good pirate can be selfless, too. Barnacle Garrick is bold and saucy and selfish. And for a pirate captain, that’s good, very good. And his crew are all scurvy sea dogs—selfish down to the last fleabitten scuttle-butt. And that’s good too. But Augusta Garrick is shy, polite, and selfless. For a pirate, that’s bad, very bad. Despite her father’s horrible example, the sea pup can’t stop helping out. It just might take one terrible storm, a ripped sail, a missing peg leg and a panicked crew before Augusta can prove that being selfless is a bold and saucy move after all. And that’s good, very good indeed. A rollicking tale peppered with pirate talk, Kari-Lynn Winters’ Bad Pirate is a story about being true to yourself, even if it means you must go against the pack. Dean Griffiths’ artwork glows with rich colors, fine detail and spot-on doggie characters. A scurvy delight. For landlubbers, the endpaper design includes a glossary of pirate and sailing terms.

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“Although set in faraway Sri Lanka, Fullerton’s rhythmic tale holds a universal message: that even the smallest and youngest among us can summon up the courage to face, and overcome, the most gargantuan challenges.”—Kirkus ★ Starred Review It is time to plant the rice crop in Malini’s Sri Lankan community, and the little girl is both excited and nervous to help for the first time. What if she does it wrong? Will she be responsible if the crop fails? When the oxcart rumbles in loaded with seedlings, she reluctantly agrees to watch the big, imposing animal while the driver takes a break. Suddenly, the skies go dark with monsoon rain. A flash flood pours down the road, separating Malini from the driver and her family. They are shouting for her to run for higher ground, but what about the rice? Summoning courage sh

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Green for a deer, / And green for me!... Gold for a bee, / And gold for me!Preschoolers will explore bright colors, healthy foods, and a variety of adorable animals in this multilayered Big, Little Concepts book. Just like the endearing animals around the world, we eat greens, reds, and blues too! Bunny Loves Beans explores the wonderfully similar and different food that preschoolers and animals both eat.This fun book serves as a great introduction to fruits and vegetables, and the upbeat language paired with the adorable photographs are sure to encourage your little one to eat their fruits and vegetables! By the end of this book, preschoolers’ will love to eat their greens, yellows, blues, and even pinks with this adorable photographic book!

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For young Ali, a former refugee from Afghanistan, “home” is where his family is together. Although his family is safe in their new country, Ali finds himself wishing he could go back to Afghanistan. A day spent picking blackberries with Nana reminds him of their old house with the mulberry tree he loved, and the day the soldiers came. He recalls their nighttime flight and the crowded buses and airplane that took him to this beautiful but unfamiliar place. When Ali and Nana spot a bluebird, she tells him to make a wish. Ali wishes to go home, but, as he comes to learn, home is not a place. Home is the love his family has for each other. In If You See a Bluebird, Bahram Rahman, author of ALA Schneider Family Book Award Honor Book A Sky-Blue Bench, reflects on the experience of former refugees as they learn to adapt and embrace a new country and a new home. Award-winning illustrator Gabrielle Grimard incorporates rich and varied colour palettes to capture Ali’s two worlds. A story of family togetherness that redefines the meaning of home.

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The Big Book of Civil Engineering for Curious Kids 56 pages packed with information about How cities developed around the world The people who make cities their home Architecture and culture How urban planners organize a city and its services The role of City Hall Systems for water, waste, and energy And innovations for an eco-friendly urban future In the spirit of David Macaulay’s The Way Things Work, I Love My City is a treasure trove of information for middle-grade readers who want to know the how and why of cities. Why did cities start appearing in the first place, or become what we know today? How do urban planners know where to place fire stations, schools, and parks? What’s a water tower, and how does it fill the pipes of thousands of people? How about roads and highways, communications and energy, water treatment and waste? The answers to these questions and more can be found in this richly illustrated, global guide to everything urban. Today, 55% of the global population is urban, and that number is only growing. In I Love My City, readers explore the history, geography, demography, technology, infrastructure, and government of cities, with fascinating facts about specific urban centres around the world. A particular focus on ecology, green energy, and environmental planning moves readers forward to consider what sustainable development might look like in the future as well. This nonfiction STEM title, ideal for civics and social studies units, includes a table of contents, a glossary, and a list of resources for further research. Written by children’s author France Desmarais and municipal administrator Richard Adam, with lively full-color illustrations from Yves Dumont, I Love My City is a captivating resource for the library, classroom, or home.

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When Percy finds himself in a kindergarten classroom full of unfamiliar children, he can’t help but feel uncomfortable and alone—that is, until he meets a cuddly new friend: a plush cat he names Miss Petticomb. When Percy’s new friend is picked up by other children, Percy cautiously sets out to find her. On his journey to retrieve Miss Petticomb, Percy must decide whether it is better to share his friend with his classmates or keep her all to himself. A plush cat, a tea party, and the uniting power of toys may be the secret to saving Miss Petticomb and bringing Percy out of his shell. In Percy’s Perfect Friend, early childhood educator Lana Button celebrates the importance of toys in play, the power they have to help children practice social skills, language skills, and imagination, and their ability to bring children together. ALA Schneider Honor Book Winner Peggy Collins captures Percy’s growth from uncertainty to confidence on his quest to save Miss Petticomb. He may just be surprised at the new friends he makes along the way.

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In this intimate and inspiring novel about the power of art and the value of community, award-winning author and former New Yorker Colleen Nelson brings life and liveliness to an eccentric cast of New York City neighbors. Middle-schooler and New Yorker Roxy Markowski wants to tell the truth fearlessly and powerfully, just like her idols at Veracity News. She and her best friend Scout already make YouTube videos together about East Village life, so when Veracity News announces a Young Voices video competition, Roxy knows it’s the perfect opportunity to make a name for herself, if only she can find a story worth telling. When a real-estate mogul threatens to buy her historic East Village apartment building, Umbrella House, Roxy sets out to create a video about the people who live in her building, depicting their love for art, community, and family. With time—and her options for saving Umbrella House—running out, Roxy finds herself caught up in the mystery of the Midnight Muralist, a famous East Village artist whose murals once made buildings famous and valuable. Could finding this enigmatic artist be the key to saving her historic East Village apartment building?

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“A visual delight, this picture book offers openings for conversation about wishes, predictions, and one’s own enviable strengths.”—School Library Journal **Starred Review** What child has not daydreamed about having wings like a butterfly? But secretly, the flashy butterfly yearns for a stick insect’s privacy. And the stick insect wants to swim like a whirligig beetle. One after the other, the denizens of bestselling author-illustrator Mies van Hout’s vibrant garden landscape wish to be like somebody else. From the glowing firefly to the capable spider to the adorable ladybugs, each one brings something to be admired. And when the dragonfly wishes to be like a child who can run, play, laugh, and build, a world of possibilities opens up. A gentle but effective story for social emotional learning, If Only allows children to reach their own conclusions and acknowledge that while it’s common to compare ourselves to others, it’s best to remember and celebrate what we ourselves can do. “The imaginative narrative guides viewers through a series of richly colorful, dynamic collages, each showcasing a creature and its particularly enviable ability, characteristic, or situation….Originally published in the Netherlands, this radiant picture book has international appeal.”—Booklist **Starred Review**

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Preschoolers love baby animals, and they love to move. Celebrate both with this Toddler Tough board book perfect for an active read-aloud! Fawns leap, / Hatchlings bounce, / Porcupettes nibble, / Kittens pounce. Story time is on the move with this multilayered concept book. Preschoolers will enjoy learning fun baby animal names from baboon “infants” to kangaroo “joeys,” and they’ll revel in using their bodies to mimic the movements each animal makes. Bright photographs give a close-up look at every kitten, nestling, and foal, as well as young children who are pouncing, flapping, and racing alongside them. The rhyming text teaches young minds pattern recognition for language learning and reading readiness, and a closing spread of enriching, age-appropriate activities keeps the learning going. A lively addition to the Big, Little Concepts series by author and children’s librarian Jane Whittingham, Animals Move will have everybody wiggling and giggling through story time. “This book works in all the ways books for littles should work: engaging subject, pleasing presentation, gentle introduction of new vocabulary, lack of stereotyping, and strong construction for repeated reading and handling. There is a note to adults in the back offering several extension activities to get kids thinking and moving.”—Youth Services Book Review ★ Starred Review

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A witty and whimsical picture book for young fans of dinosaurs and vehicles alike. What kind of car would a tiny Velociraptor drive? Perhaps a mini car? But what would suit a vegetarian Iguanodon or a pack of r owdy Triceratops? What would an ideal vehicle be for a T-rex? Whatever it is, it had better come with an adjustable steering wheel for those short arms! Illustrated by award-winning artist Scot Ritchie, this humorous picture book helps dinosaurs find their perfect way to get around. Carnotaurus, Brachiosaurus, Diplodocus, and more, ride around a variety of vehicles that suit their style, anatomy, and nature. At story time, readers will ask themselves the inevitable question: out of all the things that go, what would my favorite dinosaur drive? Scot Ritchie’s fun and witty dinosaurs will have children laughing at the absurdity of a T-rex in a monster truck, while they simultaneously learn the names of these prehistoric creatures. Author Lynn Leitch includes preschooler-friendly dinosaur facts that help readers to go beyond the story. A closing page of activities is included to further enrich the reading experience.

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In this multilayered Big, Little Concepts book for preschoolers, explore body parts along with animals and celebrate the differences and similarities of our wonderful bodies Bear has a belly: a soft, round belly. Bear has a belly. I do too! Do you have a nose like Fox, cheeks like Squirrel, and a tongue like Frog does? In rhythmic text perfect for an energetic read-aloud, Bear Has a Belly points out Moose’s legs, Otter’s back, and Duck’s feet, inviting little ones to chime in with every body part they share in common. Bright photographs of the animal friends are paired with images of real children of diverse backgrounds and abilities who are joyfully engaging with that body part. Jane Whittingham, author of Animals Move and A Good Day Ducks, channels her expertise as a children’s librarian into yet another celebration of active preschooler fun. The chant-along text supports pattern recognition for language learning and reading readiness, and a closing spread of enriching age-appropriate activities invite further exploration and learning. The book’s Toddler Tough format with a padded cover, rounded corners, and extra-heavy pages makes it a sturdy choice for endless repetitions of foot-stomping, belly-laughing, body-positive story times.

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Parents Magazine Parents® Approved! A stuffed-up cow, a rogue bedsheet, and a chantable silly refrain. A quintessential read-aloud for a lively story time, now available in board book format. Poor cow woke up with such a bad cold that every “moo” comes out as “boo!” When she stumbles into a sheet hanging from the clothesline, her barnyard friends mistake her for a spooky ghost and run away. But the cow is able to bravely turn this misunderstanding to her advantage when a truly scary intruder arrives at the farm. . . In The Cow Said BOO!, author Lana Button delivers a silly read-aloud for a not-so-spooky Halloween, or any time of the year. Written in playful rhyme that will shine at an interactive story time, the text includes a repeated refrain that will have listeners chiming in with many an exuberant, “The cow said, BOO!” Watercolor illustrations by Alice Carter catch both the eye and the heart with their humor and energy. Closing scenes of the animal friends nursing the cow back to health bring a tender lull to riotous story time—until a final twist dissolves the peace in giggles once again. Don’t miss the closing spread with illustrated hand- (and paw!) washing instructions for chasing away colds.

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Springtime, baby animals, and secular Easter fun fill the pages of a big, colorful activity book filled with stickers, coloring pages, mazes, dot-to-dots, drawing, matching, and more! Celebrate the holiday while building your child’s early math and literacy skills. Features a double-page spread of stickers, sixteen magazine-style full-color pages, and forty-eight pages of coloring and activities, all appropriate for children in preschool, kindergarten, and the first grade: Drawing tutorials Matching exercises Coloring pages Puzzles Mazes Exercises to practice numerology concepts Spot-the-difference puzzles Poetry games that support the important literacy skill of identifying rhymes True-or-false questionnaires Word searches Hidden-picture activities Secret codes Dot-to-dots And more! Tailored for children ages 4–6 with consultation from an elementary school specialist, Eggs, Baskets, Spring! Activity Book is a high-value resource to support the development of foundational learning skills for boys and girls who are learning at home, who need enrichment during a break from classes, or who are simply looking for some engaging fun.

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A family of cats’ spirited celebration of Easter traditions from the creators of Pumpkin Orange, Pumpkin Round Easter morning, Easter sun, Easter breakfast, Easter bun. What would Easter be without family traditions like hot cross buns for breakfast, a gleeful egg hunt, and a special dinner with loved ones? In infectious rhyme, a family of cats celebrates the holiday with feline fun. The festive bonnets are out, the meadow is alive with spring, and even a tumble and an emptied basket can’t dampen the joy this family of charming cats share. From the creators of Pumpkin Orange, Pumpkin Round, this buoyant picture book is perfect for read-alouds and lap sharing. An egg-decorating activity on the endpapers will add extra fun for little hands. With Rosanna Battigelli’s bouncing rhyme and Tara Anderson’s cozy art, Easter Morning, Easter Sun is sure to become a tradition of its very own.

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Back in two sharp new editions, this oh-so-punny friendship story is making its mark. Pencil and his boy Jackson are a great pair: they draw, they sketch, they scribble. But then Jackson gets Tablet and Pencil finds himself dumped in the dreaded junk drawer; he just can’t compete with Tablet’s videos, games, and movies. How will Pencil ever reclaim Jackson’s attention? With the help of some new pun-loving junk-drawer friends (and a drooling, pencil-chomping dog), Pencil sketches out a plan to draw Jackson back into their friendship. A former educator whose first book was shortlisted for a Crystal Kite award, author Ann Ingalls uses kid-friendly puns and an upbeat tone in this story that celebrates friendship, collaboration, and unplugged fun. Buoyed by award-winning artist Dean Griffith's always-exuberant illustrations, Pencil: A Story with a Point is a gentle reminder that technology is no match for imagination.

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Explore the wild and wonderful world of animal senses with a dynamic work of children’s nonfiction. Humans experience the world through sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell. But what if you had the compound eyes of a fly, the whiskers of a cat, or a whale’s ability to sense magnetic north? There’s a whole world of surprising senses out there, and fascinating adaptations that have allowed animals to make use of them. We can’t interpret the faint vibration of an elephant’s faraway stomp, but learning how they keep in touch with family across the wide savannah helps us understand that we are more alike than different. Featuring accessible text from Emmanuelle Grundmann, inviting art from Clémence Dupont, and informational sidebars, a glossary, an index of animals, and a standard index, When Elephants Listen with their Feet is a lively nonfiction book that encourages curiosity about—and respect for—the animals with which we share our planet.

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A New York Times Notable Children’s Books selection. The moving story of one boy’s refugee experience in the Syrian Civil War and the birds who help him on the road to emotional healing Behind Sami, the Syrian skyline is full of smoke. The boy follows his family and all his neighbours in a long line, as they trudge through the sands and hills to escape the bombs that have destroyed their homes. But all Sami can think of is his pet pigeons—will they escape too? When they reach a refugee camp and are safe at last, everyone settles into the tent city. But though the children start to play and go to school again, Sami can't join in. When he is given paper and paint, all he can do is smear his painting with black. He can't forget his birds and what his family has left behind. One day a canary, a dove, and a rose finch fly into the camp. They flutter around Sami and settle on his outstretched arms. For Sami it is one step in a long healing process at last. A gentle yet moving story of refugees of the Syrian civil war, My Beautiful Birds illuminates the ongoing crisis as it affects its children. It shows the reality of the refugee camps, where people attempt to pick up their lives and carry on. And it reveals the hope of generations of people as they struggle to redefine home.

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When an aid worker brings a life-changing gift to Kato's Ugandan village, he finds something beautiful to give her in return In a small Ugandan village, Kato wakes early to start the long, barefoot trek beyond his village and along fields dotted with cattle and guarded by soldiers. His destination is the village well, where he will pump a day's supply of water into two jerry cans. Like every day, Kato lets the water splash over his hot tired feet before carrying his heavy load back home, where his chores await him. But this is no ordinary day. The aid worker's truck has come to the village square, and in the back is a gift so special, the little boy rushes home to look for something to repay the aid worker. Alma Fullerton's spare, lilting prose tells a deceptively simple story of one day in a little boy’s life. But in a place ravaged by a generation of civil war and drought, a village well brings life, a gift of shoes is a cause for celebration, and a simple flower becomes an eloquent symbol of peace and gratitude.

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Perfect for Mother’s Day or a baby shower gift, a celebration of a family’s anticipation of a new baby “Before…You were a song in our hearts, a star in our eyes.” Told from the perspective of new parents welcoming their baby to the world, this touching love letter to young children by Governor General’s Literary Award–nominated author Deborah Kerbel describes with lyrical grace all of the promise held by new life. As the seasons change from fall through winter and into spring, the expectant parents’ anticipation over the baby’s arrival is mirrored in the animals around the family’s seaside home, marrying the natural world to the family’s experience. Suzanne Del Rizzo, author-illustrator of My Beautiful Birds — a New York Times Notable Children’s Books selection and winner of the 2018 SCBWI Crystal Kite Award — adds an intricately tactile element with her lush illustrations rendered in polymer clay and acrylic wash, depicting the animals in scenes at times playful and other times serene.

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From the award-winning creators of Slug Days Lauren and her family drive to a farm in North Dakota to visit relatives and celebrate her Aunt Jossie’s wedding. But Lauren finds to her dismay that she is expected to do more than meet adults who hug her and invade her personal space. Lauren is going to be—horror of all horrors—a flower girl. Lauren has Autism Spectrum Disorder, and she sees the world a little differently from other kids. What makes her comfortable are her routines and her coping mechanisms for her anxiety, which can get out of control in no time. So it is a challenge to deal with her rambunctious cousins, try on scratchy dresses, and follow impossible directions about going down aisles slowly-but-not-like-a-sloth and tossing pretend flowers around. So is it any surprise that Lauren flips her lid more than once? But while having an extended family seems like a lot of trouble at first, she’s about to learn just how much they can care for one another. In Penguin Days, two award winners revisit second-grader Lauren from the acclaimed Slug Days with equal humor and empathy. Drawing on her experience teaching children with ASD, Sara Leach creates an energetic character who stomps eloquently off the page. And Rebecca Bender’s delightful black-and-white illustrations show in Lauren’s fraught situations and facial expressions all the love and assertiveness that could possibly dwell together in one unique little person.

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From Governor General’s Literary Award finalist Michelle Kadarusman, an empowering novel about a girl from the slums of Jakarta who dreams of an education and the chance at a better life From the time she was a little girl, Nia has dreamed up adventures about the Javanese mythical princess, Dewi Kadita. Now fourteen, Nia would love nothing more than to continue her education and become a writer. But high school costs too much. Her father sells banana fritters at the train station, but too much of his earnings go toward his drinking habit. Too often Nia is left alone to take over the food cart as well as care for her brother and their home in the Jakarta slums. But Nia is determined to find a way to earn her school fees. After she survives a minibus accident unharmed and the locals say she is blessed with 'good luck magic,' Nia exploits the notion for all its worth by charging double for her fried bananas. Selling superstitions can be dangerous, and when the tide turns it becomes clear that Nia’s future is being mapped without her consent. If Nia is to write a new story for herself, she must overcome more obstacles than she could ever have conceived of for her mythical princess, and summon courage she isn't sure she has. A portion of the proceeds from this #ownvoices story are in support of Plan International Canada Because I Am A Girl

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Lauren, who has Autism Spectrum Disorder (an umbrella term that has included Asperger Syndrome since 2013), navigates the ups and downs of school and home life. School friendships have always been a challenge, but Lauren finds she is exactly the friend a brand new classmate needs On slug days Lauren feels slow and slimy. She feels like everyone yells at her, and that she has no friends. Today there is a different bus driver; Dan and Sachi are sitting in Lauren's seat on the bus; and Lauren's teacher interrupts her reading time. It is definitely a slug day. But not every day is like this. On butterfly days Lauren makes her classmates laugh, or goes to get ice cream, or works on a special project with Mom. Lauren has Autism Spectrum Disorder (an umbrella term that has included Asperger Syndrome since 2013), and she sees the world differently from many people. Sometimes this can be frustrating and makes Lauren want to flip her lid, especially at school where she learns differently from her classmates. But with support and stubbornness and a flair that's all her own, Lauren masters tricks to stay calm, to understand others' feelings, and to let her personality shine. She even manages to find common ground with her sticky, slobbery baby sister. Best of all, it is being different that gives Lauren insight into the insecurities of the new student, Irma. Award-winning author Sara Leach writes Lauren's endearing story with empathy and humor, and sends her flying off like a butterfly into a new chapter of life with a new friend.

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A celebration of bicycles, cooperation, and the resourcefulness of children everywhere In a Tanzanian village school, Anna struggles to keep up. Her walk home takes so long that when she arrives, it is too dark to do her homework. Working through the lunch hour instead, she doesn’t see the truck from the bicycle library pull into the schoolyard. By the time she gets out there, the bikes are all gone. Anna hides her disappointment, happy to help her friends learn to balance and steer. She doesn’t know a compassionate friend will offer her a clever solution—and the chance to raise her own cloud of dust. Brought to life by Brian Deines’ vivid oil paintings, Alma Fullerton’s simple, expressive prose captures the joy of feeling the wind on your face for the first time. Inspired by organizations like The Village Bicycle Project that have opened bicycle libraries all across Africa, In a Cloud of Dust is an uplifting example of how a simple opportunity can make a dramatic change in a child’s life. "Soaked in warm golds and oranges, Deines's oil paintings glow with a sense of promise as the children race around the schoolyard on their bikes. Fullerton says quite a bit with few words in her verselike prose, and a detailed author's note discusses the vital role bicycles play in communities across Africa and supplies information about bicycle donation organizations."—Publishers Weekly

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A confidence-boosting story about a little one’s first haircut from the creators of Hat On, Hat Off, Baby Cakes, and Where’s Bunny? Uh oh, hair in eyes—it’s time for this little one’s first haircut. The barbershop comes alive with sensory details as he watches other customers and bravely takes his own turn in the chair. Clip, clip, clip…Now there is a big boy in the mirror! Theo Heras and Renné Benoit once again capture the toddler experience with simplicity and charm. In this “Toddler Tough” book complete with a padded cover, rounded corners, and extra-heavy pages that are easy to turn and hard to tear, The Haircut is perfect for little ones who are just beginning to feel big.

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Nine celebrated children’s picture book illustrators, including Rebecca Bender, Wallace Edwards, and Suzanne Del Rizzo, unite to illustrate an empowering text that celebrates the ways young children can show kindness. Are you kind? In a series of simple yet evocative questions, this impactful book asks children how they will show kindness and consideration for others. Written by the editors of Pajama Press, and illustrated by celebrated Pajama Press artists, these stunning pages inspire meaningful discussion and storytelling about the understated yet powerful ways in which children might influence the world around them. A World of Kindess goes beyond mere rhetoric to examine, in a child-friendly way, everyday social interactions where a kind word or act could have a transformative affect on others. Many of the original images in this book have been donated by the artists. The cover art was created and donated by award-winning author-illustrator Suzanne Del Rizzo.

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For twelve-year-old violinist Flora, growing up doesn’t always mean growing apart. But when a Battle of the Bands starts to divide Flora’s friend group, she knows that music will either separate them or bring them back together again.Playing violin makes twelve-year-old Flora feel alive, whether she is playing with her friends in their string quartet or playing fiddle for her Auntie Flora.When a music competition is announced, Flora wants her string quartet to play a classical song like they always do, but her friends want to play something new. Then, Simon, a talented drummer, who is struggling with a recent loss, invites Flora to join his rock trio. Pulled in several directions, Flora must decide if she is willing to risk her friendships by playing in Simon’s band.For Flora, finding harm

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Based on interviews with a young woman forced to flee Iran because of her sexual orientation, Moon at Nine is a tense and riveting novel that shines a light on an issue of social injustice that continues to this day. Fifteen-year-old Farrin has grown up with secrets: ten years after the overthrow of the Shah, her aristocratic mother is still working against Iran's conservative revolutionary government. But when Farrin befriends Sadira, the intriguing and outgoing new student at her school for gifted girls, her own new secret is even more dangerous. Because the girls discover their relationship is more than just a friendship—and in Iran, being gay is punishable by death.

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Make-believe + melodrama = comedy as one dramatic little girl learns the new skill of finding a friendLeah is looking for a friend to play fairies. But when her invitation fails to sway her classmates, Leah is left all…ALONE. Poor Lonely Leah! Will she always be the only one standing alone in line? The only one reading fairy tales in the book corner? The AGONY of her SUFFERING is so overpowering that she almost misses the quiet voice trying to get her attention…From the creators of Percy’s Perfect Friend comes an entertaining new journey into social-emotional growth. Author Lana Button is an early childhood educator who has seen firsthand the struggles many kids experience learning to navigate social situations and conflict—especially if pandemic lockdowns were part of their early lives. In The Only Lonely Fairy, she tells a relatable story of someone trying to make friends and missing the mark, while Peggy Collins br

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The 2022 OLA Forest of Reading Blue Spruce Award Honor Book, now available in paperback! A young girl takes action against ocean pollution in a timely story with unique plastic-waste diorama art from award-winning author-illustrator Alma Fullerton.Isley loves the ocean and everything in it. Well, almost everything. Her heart sinks at the sight of her Alantic Ocean shoreline covered in trash. One day, upon discovering a beached right whale that has starved to death after swallowing plastic, Isley decides enough is enough. She steers her family into adopting a zero-waste lifestyle, inspiring others to do the same. But when the adults around her give way to apathy and routine, how can Isley make sure her whale’s memory inspires lasting change?

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“Simply told and cleverly imagined, French Toast is a great starting point for talking to young children about race, diversity, and respect.”—Quill and Quire ★ Starred Review Phoebe—half Jamaican, half French-Canadian—hates her school nickname of “French Toast.” So she is mortified when, out on a walk with her Jamaican grandmother, she hears a classmate shout it out at her. To make things worse, Nan-Ma, who is blind, wants an explanation of the name. How can Phoebe describe the color of her skin to someone who has never seen it? “Like tea, after you’ve added the milk,” she says. And her father? “Like warm banana bread.” And Nan-Ma herself? She is like maple syrup poured over...well... In French Toast, Kari-Lynn Winters uses favorite foods from both of Phoebe’s cultures to celebrate the varied skin tones of her family. François Thisdale’s imaginative illustrations fill the landscape with whimsy and mouthwatering delight as Phoebe realizes her own resilience and takes ownership of her nickname proudly.

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The witty and whimsical picture book that Kirkus Reviews calls “Amusing fun from the “Car”-taceous era,” now in board book format! What kind of a car would a tiny velociraptor drive? Perhaps a mini car? But what would suit a vegetarian iguanodon or a pack of rowdy triceratops? What would an ideal vehicle be for a T-rex? Whatever it is, it had better come with an adjustable steering wheel for those short arms! Illustrated by award-winning artist Scot Richie, this humorous picture book helps dinosaurs find their perfect way to get around. Carnotaurus, Brachiosaurus, Diplodocus, and more ride around on a variety of vehicles that suit their style, anatomy, and nature. At story time, readers will ask themselves the inevitable question: out of all the things that go, what would my favorite dinosaur drive? Scot Richie’s fun and witty dinosaurs will have children laughing at the absurdity of a T-rex in a monster truck, while they simultaneously learn the names of these prehistoric creatures. Author Lynn Leitch includes preschooler-friendly dinosaur facts that help readers to go beyond the story. “Young readers who sit firmly in the Venn diagram overlap of dinosaur lovers and car enthusiasts will be thrilled, and with the right guidance, those outside of that overlap will be interested as well.”—Kirkus Reviews “Dinosaurs hit the road as Leitch and Ritchie pair eight species with their ideal vehicles…a playfully tender concluding scene should fuel driving daydreams.”—Publishers Weekly “In a (mostly) four wheeled flight of “What If…” Leitch pairs prehistoric motorists to preferred motor vehicles and Ritchie puts pedal to the metal with windswept views of full sized dinos atop, usually, hilariously tiny cars…”—Booklist

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The bestselling picture book now in an enhanced edition with four pages of activity prompts and discussion questions In a garden outside a Kenyan schoolhouse, children are working together to harvest the vegetables they have grown and make them into a soup for everyone to share. But Kioni is having trouble: her herd of mischievous goats followed her to school today, and they are trying to make their own lunch out of the vegetable garden! The ensuing chaos is cleverly resolved by the children, making their vegetable soup very tasty while saving Kioni's four-legged intruders at the same time. Using rollicking verse with echoes of "Mary had a Little Lamb," award-winning author Alma Fullerton tells a lively story about communal projects and finding creative solutions that help everyone contribute. This lively story for young readers is graced with Alma's stunning primitive paper sculpture art—the first book she chose to illustrate herself using this unique style. Don't miss the soup recipe at the end of the story! NEW in this edition: four pages of extra back matter on growing food, celebrating communities around the world, creating collage art, and making connections beyond the text.

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In the garden ecosystem, a flower means many things to each bird, insect, and creature. What does a flower do? They may not seem active to human eyes, but for the creatures of the garden they dust a bumblebee, shade a frog, feed a hummingbird, and serve as the center of a buzzing, humming, thrumming community. In A Flower is a Friend, award-winning author Frieda Wishinsky’s spare text whispers softly to readers about the many ways a flower cares for those around it, while award-winning illustrator Karen Patkau’s striking art provides a close-up view of each mouse, frog, and butterfly within a blossom’s embrace. Rich back matter unfurls further information about the partnerships within the garden ecosystem, including the ways these garden creatures are friends to flowers in return.

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Where do the trains go? There and back. Let’s sing a train song All down the track. Toddlers and babies love trains and the noises they make. Listen Up! Train Song uses repeating verse and bright photographs to match this enthusiasm with a unique take on the conceptual sound book that is perfect for reading aloud. Each spread uses onomatopoeia to highlight the ting-a ling! of subway door chimes, the chuff-a-gruff-a! of a diesel engine, and more. And after the children have sung along through the colorful pages, a final note to caregivers offers enriching, age-appropriate activities to keep building their child’s foundational learning skills. Playing with sounds and rhythms is a first step to language development. With repetitive, easy-to-remember verse from the award-winning author of Nat the Cat Can Sleep Like That and Shape Up, Construction Trucks!, Victoria Allenby’s Listen Up! Train Song invites its young audience to recognize the songs of the railway and to proudly sing their own. “Train lovers will delight in this book featuring photos of trains….[A] perfect match for story hours about things that go. The back matter provides three developmentally appropriate activities and prompts to increase and extend engagement with children, making this a first purchase for the shelves.” —School Library Journal★ Starred Review

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The cooking of a healthy breakfast moves from parent-child bonding to an eloquent conversation about energy, the growth of plants, and the miraculous ways the sun’s light nourishes us all. It began with the sun, Who showers the earth With heat and light— Tiny packets of energy. How does a home-cooked breakfast give a little girl the energy she needs for a brand-new day? In gently expressive language, her mother takes readers on a journey into the earth where sleepy seeds are tickled awake and grow into golden oats; into blueberry patches, where green leaves break apart water and air to build sweet sugar; and into a pasture where sun becomes grass, becomes cow, becomes milk. Author Laura Alary’s free verse breaks big ideas into child-sized pieces, making Sun in My Tummy an accessible introduction to the concepts of matter and energy, and how the sun’s light becomes fuel for our bodies through the food we eat. Andrea Blinick’s mixed-media illustrations pair the cozy and homelike with the glowing and dramatic as she takes readers from the kitchen to the farm field and to the sky and back. A concluding Author’s Note shares further information about photosynthesis for young readers.

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Measuring, following steps, and trying again after messy mistakes are all part of the fun when these tots and their kitty help with the baking. The sibling duo from Where’s Bunny? are back in another household adventure, exploring and playing in the kitchen. These little ones know that baking is hard and messy work, but it sure is fun. Put on an apron, gather ingredients, measure the flour—try to keep kitty off the counter! Wash sticky fingers, and let mommy put the cakes in the oven. Waiting is the hardest part, but time flies for these playmates whose patience is rewarded with more than just baby cakes. Little helpers will be keen to work in the kitchen after reading this sweet story. Told in simple text and delivered in a sturdy Toddler Tough board-book format that is perfect for little hands, Baby Cakes highlights curiosity being explored right at home. The small and familiar moments of childhood are cherished in these heart-warming books written by Theo Heras and illustrated by the award-winning Renné Benoit.

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In a read-aloud perfect for conversations about team stewardship and growth mindset, a boy overshadowed by a family of skilled hockey players finds an innovative way to shine. In Jackson Moore's small town, his family is known for producing hockey heroes—but he worries that he’ll never measure up to their amazing skills. On the ice he feels like a potato on skates, and his teammates begin to wonder if he really is a Moore. Then, when a shortage of equipment puts his team at risk of losing their spot in the Winterfest Tournament, Jackson makes a game plan of his own and realizes that his problem-solving and stewardship abilities are hallmarks of a true MVP. Just like Jackson, award-winning author Kari-Lynn Winters grew up playing in the shadow of a big hockey family. In On the Line she demonstrates with heart and humor how scoring goals is not the only path to team heroism. An author's note furthers the conversation about sportsmanship, teamwork, and building supportive communities. Lively art by award-winning illustrator Scot Ritchie perfectly captures the action on and off the ice as Jackson learns to celebrate the skills he has—and to enjoy the game in spite of the ones he doesn’t.

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Baby is getting dressed to go out. But as often as his big sister adds a new piece of clothing, he tosses his hat aside. It’s time for this little one to go out. But which hat will he choose? Red hat, blue hat, striped hat, penguin hat, teddy bear hat? Once that decision is made, that hat just doesn’t stay on while shoes are tied and a jacket is buttoned. One more visit to the potty. And once this child is in the stroller at last, will that hat be on his head? Toddlers will delight in choosing their own hats after sharing charming story, now available in sturdy board book format. A simple, rhythmic text that reflects the everyday challenge of getting a busy toddler ready to go out. Written by Theo Heras and Illustrated with gentle humor by Renné Benoit. “Intimate and cozy…A seemingly simple story is greatly enhanced by nuanced, toddler-friendly details.”—Kirkus Reviews

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An exciting picture book inspired by a real-life classroom service dog with themes of friendship, neurodivergence, and courage Harley the service dog is on the job! He goes to school every day with Ms. Prichard to make sure she feels safe. Their students are a lot of fun, but Harley can’t play with them while he's wearing his work vest. They write him lots of letters instead, and everything is perfect in the best, most quiet class in the whole school. Until the day the old stage curtains catch fire. As the fire alarm blares and chaos erupts, Harley remembers that Ms. Prichard isn't the only human in his class who gets upset by loud noises. Inspired by a true story, Harley the Hero celebrates the work of service animals and the normalization of neurodivergence. Author-illustrator Peggy Collins brings Harley and his class to charming life and concludes with an Author's Note about the real dog behind the fictional Harley.

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The top picture book about peregrine falcons returns in a new paperback edition with an expanded Author’s Note. High in the sky, two peregrine falcons swoop and dive. The pair doesn’t know it yet, but they will lose most of this year’s eggs: the first clutch to a volunteer scaling the cliff, and the next to the harmful effects of DDT. Told against the backdrop of scientists’ efforts to understand the raptors’ decline in the wild, this illustrated nonfiction book tells the story of several generations of falcons as they’re taken to a sanctuary, reintegrated into the wild, and ultimately relocated to the ledge of a city skyscraper. With dynamic oil illustrations, author and wildlife artist Celia Godkin effortlessly captures the detail of the falcons and brings to life the different landscapes they inhabit. Skydiver will delight and inform readers with a passion for species preservation, as it documents the struggles and the eventual success of the efforts to save the fastest bird in the world. Skydiver will delight and inform readers with a passion for species preservation, as it documents the struggles and the eventual success of the efforts to save the fastest bird in the world.

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Cheerful rhyme celebrates the varied aspects of snow from a preschooler’s perspective. First snow, surprise snow: Nature’s sparkly magic show For small children, snow is a wonder. It sparkles and glitters. It transforms the outside world. Every kind of snow brings its own magic. It invites snow angels, skating, fort-building, and snowballs. Even blizzard days are exciting, when routines are overturned and everyone bands together to clear the snow away. For the youngest among us, winter is magical. In Snow Days, author Deborah Kerbel captures that magic with nimble couplets that celebrate every kind of winter pleasure. Illustrator Miki Sato’s fascinating textural collage art looks intimately touchable. She recreates the coziness and spectacle of the season in paper, felt, and embroidery silk, creating masterpieces that invite readers to look again and again.

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The award-winning creator of the Giraffe and Bird books introduces Dotty the dancing dachshund, celebrating the gifts of those who struggle to "sit" and "stay" Dotty the dachshund knows she was born to dance ballet. When told to sit, she does a plié. Asked to stay, she does an assemblé. Fed up with Dotty’s lack of discipline, Mrs. Austere sends her to the Canine School of Obedience, but Dotty just can’t seem to learn. Heartbroken, the little dog flees to the park—where an unexpected new friend is waiting. Could he know the secret to helping Dotty dance out her dreams with her own style of discipline? In Ballewiena, author-illustrator Rebecca Bender, creator of the award-winning Giraffe and Bird books, introduces a new volume of animal hi-jinks. Tucked into the witty language and amusing antics is a story about growth mindset and a perceptive note of encouragement for anyone who was made for activity in a world that expects stillness.

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A cozy board book edition of the feline Halloween hit featuring foil and glitter embellishments Pumpkin orange, pumpkin round Pumpkin hiding, pumpkin found! What could be better than an autumn trip to the pumpkin patch with a cast of cat characters ready to celebrate Halloween? In bouncy rhyme, the folksy felines choose their pumpkins, wheel them home, and work together through all the steps of carving a jack-o-lantern. With the lanterns' spooky and cheerful faces shining bright, now is the time to dress up and head out for trick-or-treating. Tara Anderson, the award-winning illustrator of Nat the Cat Can Sleep Like That, depicts cozy and charming fall scenes in Pumpkin Orange, Pumpkin Round. Infectious rhymes by debut children's author Rosanna Battigelli make this a favorite in any season.

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The side-splittingly funny un-friendship story with a new title in a new format for younger readers. Giraffe doesn’t like Bird, not even a little bit, and the feeling is mutual. The bird pesters the giraffe with his face-making, feather-pruning, and disgusting eating habits. The giraffe annoys the bird with his bad breath, ear-swatting, and lack of respect for personal space. Of course they are always fighting. Of course they would be better off without each other. Except, it turns out, maybe they wouldn’t be. With bold acrylic illustrations, expressive wordplay, and laugh-out-loud storytelling, award-winning author-illustrator Rebecca Bender delivers an odd-couple tale that is anything but your average friendship story. Satisfyingly un-sweet and uproariously irreverent, Giraffe and Bird invites thoughtful discussion about children’s relationships with each other—though first you’ll have to wait for the laughter to stop.

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