This clever picture book introduces the concept of animal characteristics by highlighting how there can be both differences and similarities within a group. For example, the zebra gallops, the bumblebee flies, the lemur leaps and the tiger prowls --- But look closer now ... We all have STRIPES! And so it goes. Again and again, readers will be surprised to find that a group of four seemingly different animals all have one trait in common --- whiskers, horns, shells and the like --- for a total of thirteen traits in all. Observant children will notice that one of the animals from each group also appears on the following spread with three new animals that have a different characteristic in common. Finally, all forty of the featured animals are shown together, and readers are asked to search for those with specific characteristics not already covered in the book --- for example, those with spots, those who live in the ocean or those with six or more legs. Author Heather Tekavec has discovered a fun and interactive approach to helping young children begin to explore the ways animals are classified. Pippa Curnick's playful and engaging illustrations of the animals in their habitats are all scientifically accurate, keeping the experience both enjoyable and informative. The searching activity also works to enhance visual literacy. With a detailed glossary included, this is an ideal book for introducing early lessons on the characteristics of living things and for starting discussions on the ways all creatures are like and unlike one another.

A New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Book, 2024 - Kirkus Best Book of 2024 - Starred reviews from Kirkus, The Horn Book, Publishers Weekly - Kids Indie Next Pick

Akiko Miyakoshi returns with a beguiling, quietly magical appreciation of life's little pleasures.

Little Shrew is diligent in all parts of life. He's a hard worker and follows a strict schedule from morning to night. But even a life that runs like clockwork can be filled with unexpected pockets of joy, such as solving a puzzle for the very first time, enjoying the scent of freshly baked bread, seeing the vast beauty of a shimmering blue ocean or delighting in a visit with friends.

This collection of three short stories -- perfect for emerging readers -- is illustrated in Miyakoshi's signature soft monochrome palette with pops of color. The charming tales celebrate enduring friendships, dreams for the future and the little pleasures that make everyday life more meaningful.

While out for a walk with her mom, a little girl has the surprise of her life --- she meets a real, live, fire-breathing dragon! Now this dragon is nothing to be afraid of --- in fact, he's so friendly that she invites him home for tea. But their afternoon snack is suddenly interrupted when the dragon sneezes and sets the table ablaze. Luckily, the girl knows just what to do, and she teaches her new friend to be fire smart, too.

With its funny, rhyming verse and spunky illustrations, Dragons for Tea shows kids that learning about fire safety doesn't have to be scary. The story ends with The Dragon's Fire Safety Rhyme --- a fun and easy way to remember what to do in case of fire.

Award-winning author and illustrator Ashley Spires has created a charming picture book about an unnamed girl and her very best friend, who happens to be a dog. The girl has a wonderful idea. She is going to make the most MAGNIFICENT thing! She knows just how it will look. She knows just how it will work. All she has to do is make it, and she makes things all the time. Easy-peasy! But making her magnificent thing is anything but easy, and the girl tries and fails, repeatedly. Eventually, the girl gets really, really mad. She is so mad, in fact, that she quits. But after her dog convinces her to take a walk, she comes back to her project with renewed enthusiasm and manages to get it just right.

For the early grades' exploration of character education, this funny book offers a perfect example of the rewards of perseverance and creativity. The girl's frustration and anger are vividly depicted in the detailed art, and the story offers good options for dealing honestly with these feelings, while at the same time reassuring children that it's okay to make mistakes. The clever use of verbs in groups of threes is both fun and functional, offering opportunities for wonderful vocabulary enrichment. The girl doesn't just make her magnificent thing --- she tinkers and hammers and measures, she smoothes and wrenches and fiddles, she twists and tweaks and fastens. These precise action words are likely to fire up the imaginations of youngsters eager to create their own inventions and is a great tie-in to learning about Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

This book is the wise and compassionate friend you need when you experience grief and loss.

Everyone faces loss, and everyone grieves. But grief is as unique as a thumbprint--not everyone grieves the same losses or in the same way. A Guide to Grief covers everything you need to know about death and loss that no one wants to talk about, including:

What to expect in the days, months, and years after loss

The different kinds of loss

How to ask for help

How to help a grieving friend

Whether you are grieving a deathloss (the death of a loved one), or a shadowloss (the death of something not someone), there are simple exercises and helpful mantras to help you move forward in healthy ways. Grief traditions from different cultures and throughout history remind you that this is a universal experience, and you are not alone. This guide has been sensitively reviewed by experts in the field, and contains writing prompts, helpful resources, a glossary of terms, as well as a guide for caregivers. You are part of a new generation of grievers. So let's start a new way of talking about endings.

A one-of-a-kind, lift-the-flap picture book about some very big feelings.

When a girl gets SO MAD at her dad, she starts to storm around and slam doors, but soon realizes she doesn't really like being mad. She tries everything she can think of to be less mad. Counting. Taking deep breaths. Drawing some pictures. But it is so hard to NOT be mad! A long day of being mad really wears the girl out, though, and that makes her sad. And, strangely enough, when the girl is sad, her dad is pretty good at making her feel better!

Author-illustrator Janie Hao uses a unique interactive approach to explore the topic of anger in this engaging picture book. The lift-the-flap format allows the spreads to expand, making them big enough to contain the full size and many shapes of the girl's feelings. Hao uses bold images such as lightning bolts, squiggly lines and spirals; large, emphatic thick type; and the girl's expressive body and face to make the energy and depth of her feelings jump off the pages. The universally relatable topic is approached in a simple, yet impactful, way, and the child-centered narrative is sure to make this a favorite read-aloud. This book supports emotional intelligence in young children by validating their feelings, offers specific strategies for how to identify and manage anger in healthy ways, and portrays a positive parent-child relationship.

New for fans of the runaway bestseller The Most Magnificent Thing, a story about the ups and downs of working with others.

A girl and her dog are ready to make something. She gathers her supplies, and they head to her favorite workspace - only to discover that her neighbor, along with her cat, got there first! Hmm, well, maybe they could make something together? Magnificent idea! So the girl starts cutting, hammering and gluing, while her neighbor considers, measures and calculates. Her neighbor believes in always measuring twice and cutting once, but the girl thinks that takes way too long. Tensions start to rise as it becomes clear they have very different styles of working. And even different ideas about exactly what they're making! Can they ever work things out as a team?

Blending humor with empathy to strike just the right note, Ashley Spires perfectly captures the emotional ups and downs of working with others in this celebration of collaboration in the creative process. As the girl perseveres through technical and emotional challenges, she learns that mistakes don't mean failure and setbacks are just part of the route to success. This amusing and inspiring picture book is part of the Most Magnificent franchise that includes books, a TV series and an award-winning short film. The series is a favorite among educators because of its growth mindset focus, and this title highlights another important theme in the classroom: teamwork.

Scaredy Squirrel never leaves his nut tree. It's way too dangerous out there. He could encounter tarantulas, green Martians or killer bees. But in his tree, every day is the same and if danger comes along, he's well-prepared. Scaredy Squirrel's emergency kit includes antibacterial soap, Band-Aids and a parachute.

Day after day he watches and waits, and waits and watches, until one day ... his worst nightmare comes true! Scaredy suddenly finds himself out of his tree, where germs, poison ivy and sharks lurk.

But as Scaredy Squirrel leaps into the unknown, he discovers something really uplifting ...

Poetic text and ethereal illustrations combine with science facts about wind in this delightful informational picture book.

You can feel wind ... but you can't see it. What is wind? This exploration of different types of wind pairs lyrical descriptions of wind types with accessible, informational sidebars about each. The whimsical narrative uses metaphor to help readers visualize wind's characteristics: Wind is a butterfly - fluffing flower petals and ruffling riverbank grasses. Informative bubbles on each page complement these descriptions with short explanations of each wind type, which range from a light breeze to a hurricane. Evocative illustrations further bring the text to life in this fascinating introduction to the ever-changing wind.

Author Debra Kempf Shumaker uses figurative language and metaphors to capture the imagination of readers as they learn about wind. Her imagery will inspire readers to find their own words to represent the world around them, and in particular to answer the question at the end of the book: How would you describe the wind today? The breezy illustrations by award-winning, bestselling artist Josée Bisaillon help readers feel the movement of the air. With its easy-to-understand depictions of the types of wind, this is a perfect STEAM pick for lessons on daily and seasonal weather. More information about types of wind, the Beaufort scale and a list of resources for further learning are at the back of the book.

This delightfully rhythmic story follows two children as they grow a garden from seeds.

Author and poet JaNay Brown-Wood's cumulative tale, similar to The House That Jack Built, starts promisingly: Here are the seeds that we will sow to help our garden grow. But as time passes, the children quickly learn that things rarely go as planned in the garden. Plants will droop without enough sun and wilt without enough water. Suddenly, OH NO! becomes the children's repeated refrain. Eventually, the pair come to see that nature itself provides everything a magnificent garden needs to flourish!

This engaging read-aloud doubles as a child-friendly lesson on what plants need in order to grow. Olivia Amoah's vivid artwork brings the story to life, particularly on the spreads featuring the refrain (OH NO!), where readers can look at the illustrations to try to figure out what went wrong in the garden. The story covers the key elements of what makes a healthy garden, such as soil, sun, bugs, water, mushrooms and worms - and shows how balance is necessary for plants to survive. The back matter includes brief explanations of each of these key elements. This picture book offers excellent life science curriculum connections to the needs of living things, growth and changes in plants and plant life cycles.

Scaredy Squirrel never leaves his nut tree. It's way too dangerous out there. He could encounter tarantulas, green Martians or killer bees. But in his tree, every day is the same and if danger comes along, he's well-prepared. Scaredy Squirrel's emergency kit includes antibacterial soap, Band-Aids and a parachute.

Day after day he watches and waits, and waits and watches, until one day ... his worst nightmare comes true! Scaredy suddenly finds himself out of his tree, where germs, poison ivy and sharks lurk.

But as Scaredy Squirrel leaps into the unknown, he discovers something really uplifting ...

For fans of Owly and Unicorn and Yeti, a delightfully funny graphic novel from bestselling creators Helaine Becker and Kevin Sylvester.

On his first day at his new school, Puffin is thrilled when Penguin is assigned to be his buddy - Penguin's the coolest kid in the school! But Puffin quickly learns that the coolest kid is also the busiest kid, especially with Penguin starring as King Midas in the school play. Puffin realizes he's on his own when it comes to making friends - and what better way than joining the stage crew? When a blackout threatens the play's opening night, it's up to Puffin to save the day!

This early graphic novel from bestselling and award-winning creators Helaine Becker and Kevin Sylvester is sure to win the hearts of emerging readers with its lighthearted humor, schoolyard drama and endearing lead characters.

Rover and Speck are loose on an unknown gas giant planet. Will they survive? And what's so funny about gas anyway?

Rover and Speck have found a new kind of planet to explore - a gas giant! The pair don't know what to expect when they launch themselves from their spaceship, so they're thrilled when they find life there. That is, until shark-like creatures start shooting sparks at them! And things only get worse when Rover is zapped out of commission by one of their bolts, leaving Speck to save the day on his own! Thankfully, Speck makes a new friend, Jelli, who's happy to help him try to avoid the Spark Sharks and get Rover back to their spaceship for a reboot. But will they be able to do it in time?

This is the third installment in Jonathan Roth's popular graphic novel series about an endearingly mismatched pair of space-traveling rover friends: organized and careful Rover, and impulsive, excitable Speck. It features classic, colorful comic-style art and a fast-moving character-driven plot, and is packed with jokes, including kid-perfect riffs on how funny it is to say gas. Illustrated sidebars supplement the story with accessible information about gases and space, and a built-in drawing activity is included at the end of the story, making this book an engaging tool to augment lessons on gases as well as earth and space systems.

In this Franklin Classic Storybook, Franklin's first school project is to create a picture of what he likes best about his neighborhood. Franklin can't decide what to draw. Beaver chooses the library and Moose decides on the pond. Franklin likes those places, too. But what about the fire station? Or the park? After considering all the many choices, Franklin finally decides that it's the people, rather than the places, that make his neighborhood so special.

Step aside for a fresh and funny new voice in middle-grade graphic novels.

Nansi has never lost a race ... until snobby Tania beats her in an unofficial event. Surely it's Tania's flashy shoes that gave her the edge. Nansi has to get a pair before the track tryouts! But how will she kick up $338?

Incorporating Jamaican culture and the West African trickster character, Anansi, debut author Carl Brundtland has created an endearingly self-absorbed heroine who always goes the distance - even if it's the wrong way. With award-winning illustrator Claudia Dávila's expressive art, Way Off Track hits the ground running with humor, hijinks and a whole lot of heart.

Everything you need to know about making the world better from a real-life youth activist.

Here's the definitive handbook for young activists who want to make a difference but don't know where to begin. It covers everything from choosing a cause and doing the research, to deciding on a goal, and then making a plan to get it done. Along the way, readers will encounter loads of practical tips on handling specific tasks, like creating a petition, and larger responsibilities, like leading a team. There are also important discussion about essential topics such as intersectionality, privilege and allyship. Written in the encouraging, friendly tone of a peer, this book is sure to inform and inspire budding activists - and open their eyes to what's possible!

Written by youth activist Charlene Rocha and award-winning author Mary Beth Leatherdale, this guide demystifies activism for budding social justice campaigners and climate advocates, and encourages readers to bring their own passions and interests to their work. Drew Shannon's illustrations bring a sense of fun to the topic, and the comprehensive text is presented in chunks and sidebars, with engaging quizzes, prompts, lists, templates, profiles and interviews throughout. The book supports young readers in learning more about issues such as queer rights, feminism and Black Lives Matter. The back matter includes an extensive list of resources, a checklist of next steps, a glossary and an index. Part of the CitizenKid collection, this book aligns with the themes of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The first installment in a hilarious early graphic novel series, based on Kelly Collier's popular picture book introducing the one and only (just ask him!) Steve the Horse.

Steve the Horse wants to be exceptional ... you know, like a peacock! His friend Bob tries to reassure him that he's special, but Bob can't seem to think of anything exceptional about him. Steve is discouraged ... That is, until he finds a shiny gold horn in the forest. Obviously, somebody left this exceptional horn for him to find! He ties it to his head and prances off to show his friends. Who's exceptional now? Steve, that's who! Only, as Steve's friends make clear, dressing up and showing off are not the answer.

Adapted from Kelly Collier's much-loved picture book A Horse Named Steve, this early graphic novel will delight slightly older readers with its silly, laugh-out-loud story about self-esteem and what really makes someone special.

Adapted from the bestseller One Hen and inspired by a true story, this picture book about a determined boy with a plan brings the concept of microfinance to life.

Kojo's family doesn't have much. But Kojo has big dreams and one big idea. It starts with him borrowing money to buy a fluffy white hen. The hen provides his family with eggs, and even some extras he can sell at the market. With the money he makes, Kojo pays back his loan and buys more hens. More hens mean more eggs to sell. With the profits from the egg sales, he can pay his school fees and then go to college, where he learns more about raising chickens. And, in time, Kojo's dreams come true: He becomes the owner of a thriving business - and the person who can help other big dreamers in his community.

Adapted from the bestselling book One Hen, which was inspired by the real-life experiences of Dr. Kwabena Darko, this picture book, written by award-winning authors Katie Smith Milway and Mary Beth Leatherdale, presents an easy-to-understand explanation of microfinance for younger readers. Through a relatable main character and a step-by-step narrative, the accessible story describes how one small loan can uplift an entire community. Colorful illustrations by Tequitia Andrews help to clarify the concepts and add texture and visual appeal. This book is part of the popular CitizenKid collection of books aligned to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. Adapted to suit a younger audience aged 5-8, One Hen and Then is an excellent accompaniment to lessons on global communities, mathematics and basic money management. Back matter includes a note from Dr. Darko, more about microfinancing, resources and questions for discussion.

In this heartwarming and poignant story, a girl and her grandfather share a love beyond words, for fans of When Lola Visits and Holding On.

Every night, Maria and Lolo draw together. Though she tries, Maria isn't nearly as good as her grandfather. Lolo can draw anything: Lola cooking, sampaguita blooming, maya birds perching. One day, though, things start to change. Lolo does not feel well. And when Maria asks him to draw, he says he needs to rest. Not long after, Lolo begins to forget people's names, and soon he cannot find the words for what he wants. Maria tries to find some way to help Lolo communicate - could their shared love of drawing be the answer?

This sweet and moving picture book written by Cristina Oxtra is a wonderful conversation starter about how to navigate through family changes by continuing to care and connect. It highlights a strong intergenerational bond between a young girl and her beloved grandfather. Jamie Bauza's rich illustrations in gorgeous tropical colors are full of evocative details of the setting in the Philippines. Tagalog words are incorporated into the text. This book works well for character education lessons on empathy, initiative and resilience.

A special collection of six perennial classics, starring every child's favorite turtle, Franklin.

Franklin the Turtle is beloved around the world for the way he faces dilemmas familiar to all children and, with the help and support of his friends and family, finds his own way to deal with them. Franklin's ability to express his feelings, try new things and show his vulnerability make him a trusted friend to young children. This special edition features six Franklin Classic Storybooks:
Franklin in the Dark
Franklin Goes to School
Franklin's New Friend
Franklin Rides a Bike
Franklin Goes to the Hospital
Franklin Says I Love You
It's the best of Franklin - all in one place!

Paulette Bourgeois and Brenda Clark are the author-illustrator team who created the Franklin the Turtle series. This volume features six favorite titles from that series, all timeless classics, with touching storylines and richly colored art that's chock-full of the small details that make up a young child's day-to-day life. Franklin has universal appeal - adored by children for his relatability and kindness, and by adults for the gentle, reassuring guidance he provides. More than 65 million copies of Franklin books have been sold in over 30 languages.