Homes throughout the natural world may be found in any manner of place, be made of any number of materials, and be permanent or temporary. As this poetic, illustrated board book makes the circuit from big or little, below or above, the feature that seems to link all kinds of homes--including those of humans--is that they are places where we love. Young readers and observers will enjoy naming the various animals and making comparisons among the types of dwellings as a positive sense of belonging is reinforced.

Discover the true story of an orphaned mallard duckling being raised by a pair of loons.

On a lake in northern Wisconsin in 2019, loon researchers were surprised to discover a mother and father loon caring for a mallard duckling. Normally loons and mallards live very different lives and do not get along. Follow along as the duckling grows and displays a mix of both loon behaviors and mallard behaviors. Intriguing verse and striking illustrations combine in this heartwarming tale of unexpected animal cooperation.

A Blueberry Honor Book
A Bank Street College School of Education Best of the Best Book 2024

* An informative read-aloud choice for home or classroom. -Booklist, starred review

Explore the life cycle of a thunderstorm in this informative and engaging picture book.

Morning's calm. Outside is still. A blue-forever day until . . .

The real beginning of a thunderstorm happens long before the first raindrop falls.

No rain yet. It's just a threat-
a rising cloud, a towering plume, then . . .

Follow along as the weather changes, from a blue-sky day to a brewing storm, from a brewing storm to a dazzling downpour, and from a dazzling downpour to the breathtaking moment when the sky emits a-

ZAP! CLAP! BOOM!

Laura Purdie Salas's dynamic text and Elly MacKay's vibrant art offer the perfect introduction to the science of weather and the forces that work together to create a storm. The next time nature puts on a dramatic thunder and lightning show, readers will be ready to find a cozy spot near a window and watch the storm unfold.

An author's note delves deeper into the science of thunderstorms.

Classes. Lunch. Quiet time. The routine of school is a common experience for children. However, when a butterfly makes a migratory rest stop outside a school, such a typical day turns extraordinary. Her flashy wings provide a lesson in art. She zips and sips her way through lunch in the garden. Her life story of metamorphosis becomes history in the making. Young readers and observers will delight in watching the day unfold and be encouraged to search for the unexpected in their own lives.

There's a big difference between getting paid for your writing and making a living from it. In this book, award-winning children's author Laura Purdie Salas shares insights and habits gained over 20+ years of writing (and related speaking and teaching) for kids. Her successes and failures are laid bare, in detail. You will learn: -What kind of mindset adjustments must I make to build a career? -Besides my book sales, what related writing and speaking can I do to earn money? -What habits do many successful working writers have in common? -How do I keep my writing business organized? -What's the difference between networking and promotion, and do I really have to do either one of them? -What conferences should I go to? -How do I negotiate better contracts? -How do I find some kind of balance between life and work? -Why do I always have to handle the family appointments? -How can I avoid professional humiliation or deal with it when it does happen? And lots more. With honesty, tough love, and humor, Salas spreads out the business side of writing for a living. You'll gain a realistic view of how to approach and achieve a livable income as a writer. (And you'll know whether this field is for you, or whether you want to stick with your day job and write on the side for pure love ) NOTE: About 80% of the information in this book applies to writers for adults and also other creatives. But since Salas is a children's writer, the examples come from the children's publishing world, and some information, like school visits, is particular to children's writers. Laura Purdie Salas is the author of more than 125 books for children, including Meet My Family , If You Were the Moon, the Can Be series, and BookSpeak Recognition for her books includes starred reviews, the Minnesota Book Award, NCTE Notable Books, Bank Street Best Books, Riverby Award for Nature Books, Scholastic Book Club editions, foreign editions, and more. Salas has taught writers through classes, conferences, and online for many years. Making a Living is a practical guide focused on the Children's Literature business, but it is useful for any self-employed human being trying to make a living through creative work of any kind. Reading it affirmed many things I've learned over the years and gave me new ideas to try. It is a good resource to own and refer to over and over as the political climate, business climate, and one's personal life changes. --Georgia A. Greeley, artist, writer, and teacher I think most writers would love to sit down with a mentor over a cup of tea. Laura Purdie Salas's personal tone in Making a Living as a Children's Writer makes reading it feel like a conversation with her. It is FULL of information for every children's writer, and it's thorough. Not only does Laura share the details of how she makes a living writing for children, she guides the reader to do the same through personal experiences, tips, and next steps to take. Even as an experienced writer, I found nuggets (and heaps) of wisdom in every section. I appreciate how there is enough information in this book that Laura could have prepared a writing conference on the content...instead she makes this comprehensive book affordable and accessible for all of us. --Annette Whipple, children's writer If you want to make a living writing for children, or if you already do but want to up your game, don't pass on this book. It's the most thorough and informative book you'll find on this subject. --Avery Elizabeth Hurt, children's author Reading this book is like having a nice long chat with an experienced author--and learning from her years of experience --Buffy Silverman, author of nonfiction books and poetry for kids Salas is an organizational, motivational whiz. Packed with specific, down-to-earth advice that will help both newbie and experienced writers set and reach career goals. --Michelle Schaub, author of Fresh-Picked Poe

There is more than one way for animals to prepare for winter. Some, such as mice, foxes, and moose, simply tolerate the cold. Of course black bears hibernate, but chipmunks, wood frogs, and garter snakes do too. And then there are the creatures that migrate, including hummingbirds, blue whales, and even earthworms! This rhyming nonfiction picture book by Laura Purdie Salas tells you all about how animals survive chilly weather.

We all belong!

You and I, we're alike, / but we're different too. / That's not good. / That's not bad. / It's just what is true.

Explore and celebrate who you are and who others are too! Rhyming verse by Laura Purdie Salas invites others to notice the diversity of our world and affirm that we all belong, just as we are. Bright illustrations by Carlos Vélez Aquilera feature a diverse group of children, playing and learning in an urban setting.

What would you do if you were the moon? Do you think you would rest quietly in the night sky? Oh, no. The moon does so much more than you might imagine It spins like a twilight ballerina, plays tug-of-war with the ocean, and lights a pathway for baby sea turtles. Discover the many other roles the moon plays in this whimsical and lyrical picture book.

A tiny chipmunk named Oskar accidentally stows away on an enormous Great Lakes freighter. Can he survive an epic trip--and find his way back home?

Near a bustling harbor, a plucky chipmunk's love of tomatoes earns him a heart-pounding ride up up up onto a huge ship. After iron ore pellets thunder into the cargo holds, the boat sets sail across Lake Superior--with Oskar still aboard! Lost and desperate to return to land, Oskar explores the enormous boat for a way out. The metal, the machines, the noise--it's all so different from his small home in the oak tree. Tasty treats in the galley calm his nerves, but when he ventures up to the pilothouse, where sailors steer the ship, he's shocked to see his bridge and his oak tree fading into the distance. Soon, the lake stretches endlessly in all directions.

As he searches for a way home, Oskar discovers excitement--and danger--instead. He's never before seen a dizzying drop to icy water; an avalanche of mail; a roaring, rumbling engine room; or a steel boom swinging through the sky to deliver a ship's cargo. Though he encounters amazing wonders on board, he can't find the one thing he needs most--his oak tree back at the harbor. Will Oskar ever make it home?

In 2019 author Laura Purdie Salas took a voyage on the Paul R. Tregurtha, the largest freighter on the Great Lakes. That trip inspired her poetic narrative highlighting the features of a working ship through a chipmunk's eyes. Artist Kayla Harren's vibrant illustrations offer glimpses into life aboard a
laker--with dazzling scenes of both inland sea and shore. A diagram of a freighter offers perspective, and a map displays Oskar's route. A glossary and further reading list round out this tale of an unlikely adventure--and may just inspire readers to imagine their own Great Lakes excursion.

A rock is a rock, part of cliff, road or sea. But now can you guess what else it can be?

A rock can be a...dinosaur bone, stepping-stone, hopscotch marker, fire sparker. Find out about the many roles a rock can play in this poetic exploration of rocks around the world.

Laura Purdie Salas's lyrical, rhyming text and Violeta Dabija's glowing illustrations make simple yet profound observations about seemingly ordinary objects and encourage readers to suggest what else it can be! Using metaphors for a leaf (tree topper / rain stopper), a rock (hopscotch marker / fire sparker), and water (thirst quencher / kid drencher), these insightful picture books creatively highlight a variety of roles and relationships in nature.

A leaf is a leaf, a bit of a tree. But just try to guess what else it can be!

A leaf can be a...shade spiller, mouth filler, tree topper, rain stopper. Find out about the many roles leaves play in this poetic exploration of leaves throughout the year.

Laura Purdie Salas's lyrical, rhyming text and Violeta Dabija's glowing illustrations make simple yet profound observations about seemingly ordinary objects and encourage readers to suggest what else it can be! Using metaphors for a leaf (tree topper / rain stopper), a rock (hopscotch marker / fire sparker), and water (thirst quencher / kid drencher), these insightful picture books creatively highlight a variety of roles and relationships in nature.

Water is water, puddle, pond, sea. But now can you guess what else it can be?

Water can be a . . .thirst quencher, kid drencher, cloud fluffer, fire snuffer. Find out about the many roles water plays in this poetic exploration of water throughout the year.

Laura Purdie Salas's lyrical, rhyming text and Violeta Dabija's glowing illustrations make simple yet profound observations about seemingly ordinary objects and encourage readers to suggest what else it can be! Using metaphors for a leaf (tree topper / rain stopper), a rock (hopscotch marker / fire sparker), and water (thirst quencher / kid drencher), these insightful picture books creatively highlight a variety of roles and relationships in nature.