Discover the inspiring true story of Isatou Ceesay, an African woman who started a recycling movement to combat the pollution caused by plastic bags in her community.

For years, plastic bags were a cheap and convenient option for carrying goods in Njau, Gambia. However, when these bags broke or were no longer needed, they were carelessly discarded, leading to an unsightly accumulation of plastic waste alongside roads. The stagnant water in the bags provided a breeding ground for mosquitoes and diseases, while the burning of bags left behind a foul smell. The bags also strangled gardens, killed livestock, and polluted the environment.

Isatou Ceesay decided to take action, and she began to collect the plastic bags and recycle them into something new. Her efforts not only helped to clean up the environment, but also provided income for women in her community who had been struggling to make ends meet.

This powerful and moving book showcases the impact of one person's determination and ingenuity in creating positive change. It highlights the urgent need to address the plastic pollution crisis and encourages readers to take action to make a difference in their own communities. Join Isatou Ceesay and be inspired to become a changemaker in your own right.

Eee-oh-lay! Chirp-a-chirp! Rat-a-tat!

Nature is full of music. Listen in as a wood thrush, a cricket, a woodpecker, and many other animals perform a symphony under the stars. Rhyming verse and eye-catching photos will draw in animal lovers and music lovers alike!

This is a great fit for educators looking for STEAM content, bringing together animal behavior, figurative language as animals are compared to musicians, and lots of onomatopoeia. Back matter includes more about each of the featured animals and each of the featured instruments.

In the middle of the great Pacific Ocean is a little island. Her name is Kanaloa Kaho'olawe.

Discover the story of an island sacred to Native Hawaiians. Beginning with her birth in a volcanic eruption, Kaho'olawe thrives surrounded by animals on land and in the sea. When Polynesian voyagers arrive and begin to raise their families there, the island is happy. As the years pass, invasive goats devastate the ecosystem, and during World War II and the decades that follow, the US military claims the island for target practice. Kaho'olawe is hurt. Yet activists never give up on the island, and they finally succeed in reclaiming her.

Kaho'olawe endures.

Author Kamalani Hurley and illustrator Harinani Orme present the remarkable story of the smallest Hawaiian island, encompassing loss and erasure, sacrifice and dedication, and ultimately restoration, highlighting hope, resilience, and aloha 'āina (deep love of the land).

The author has pledged 100 percent of her proceeds from sales of this book to the Protect Kaho'olawe 'Ohana.

Stop right there!

If you think poems about nature are all pretty flowers and rainbow sunsets, this book is not for you. If you can't handle giant whale farts, turn back right now. If you don't want to know how lobsters pee, do not read one word further. Seriously, if you open this book, you're going to find out the disgusting truth about where honey comes from!

All right, you're in charge. Don't say we didn't warn you . . .

Stokes tells the story of the NBA's first Black superstar, Maurice Stokes, who is not as well known as he should be in part because of a career-ending injury.

Coauthors and basketball enthusiasts John Coy and Ty Chapman highlight what a standout Stokes was: he was 6'7 and as they write, nobody had ever seen a guy his size score, defend, rebound, dribble, and pass so well.

In a 1958 game against the Minneapolis Lakers, Stokes, went down hard and hit his head, losing consciousness. At the time, there was no concussion protocol, and Stokes went back into the game. A few days later, he went into a coma and woke up unable to move his body from the neck down. Players did not have any sort of financial support in situations like this, and Stokes's teammate Jack Twyman worked with other players and Milton Kutsher to put on a benefit game during the summer at Kutsher's hotel in the Catskills. This game became an annual tradition, and Stokes was eventually able to travel and watch the game. Wilt Chamberlain said of Stokes, He had something transcending as a person. . . . Everybody loved him.

Back matter includes some great historical photos as well as further information about Stokes, who was posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004, and about the NBA's Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award.

This picture book biography provides a fascinating look at basketball history, accompanied by Lonnie Ollivierre's action-packed illustrations.

Honey bees are among the world's most important insects. They help pollinate many of the crops we depend on for food. Without them, the global food supply would be in great danger.

In 1998, beekeepers in Europe made a shocking discovery--almost all of the honey bees had disappeared from their hives. Several years later, beekeepers in the United States found that many of their honey bees had vanished too. Scientists called this disappearance colony collapse disorder (CCD), and at first, no one knew why it was happening.

It was time to call the bee doctors! Join author Sandra Markle as she explores what apiologists--scientists who study bees--have learned about CCD and what they are doing to prevent it from spreading further.

If your hands can mix and mash, what job might you have?

Hands can wiggle, hands can clap.
Hands can wrap and flap and tap.
But hands can help--so raise yours, please!
Can you guess? Whose hands are these?

What if your hands reach, wrench, yank, and crank? The hands in this book--and the people attached to them--do all sorts of helpful work. And together, these helpers make their community a safe and fun place to live.

As you read, keep an eye out for community members who make repeat appearances! Can you guess all the jobs based on the actions of these busy hands?

Miranda Paul is an award-winning children's book author. Her recent books include One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia, a Junior Library Guild selection. She lives in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with her husband and two children. Find out more at www.mirandapaul.com and www.oneplasticbag.com.

Luciana Navarro Powell was born in Brazil and worked as a product and graphic designer and before becoming an illustrator. She incorporates watercolor, photographs, and scanned objects into her artwork. She lives with her husband and two children in San Diego, California.

Patterns are found in math, reading, science, music, art, dance, and poetry--and in the world all around us.

Toxic creatures can be found almost anywhere--in the woods, in the desert, in your own backyard . . . even in your room!

Some, such as poison dart frogs and puffer fish, have poisonous skin or other organs. Others are venomous--they have stingers, spines, or fangs to injects their toxins.

You know some of them already: black widow spiders, killer bees, rattlesnakes, stingrays, and scorpions. There are lots of other toxic species, too.

Just take a look inside . . . if you dare!

Sharp, full-color photos loaded with icky details are sure to catch readers' eyes and hold their interest.--School Library Journal

For biology reports or for students interested in the subject, this book will be a winner.--VOYA

We're mighty fuel--ready to power the world!

From lightbulbs and stoves to cars and planes, many things around us need fuel to work. Where does that fuel come from?

Follow oil on its journey from the time of the dinosaurs to the bottom of the ocean floor, through drilling machines and oil refineries, and right into our homes and vehicles. Discover oil's power and problems, and find out how the sun, wind, and water are providing cleaner forms of energy. Engaging text, bright illustrations, and approachable science explore why fuel matters, how it got here, and where it's going next.

A fun and fact-filled look at fuel from the team that created I Ship!

During the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany, United States basketball player Joe Fortenberry leaped into the air and stuffed the ball through the hoop. It was the slam dunk that introduced the shot to the professional game. But slam dunks didn't become popular until years later. Today they are one of the most exciting plays in basketball.

Read about the history of the famous shot, the most memorable plays, and the top dunkers. Take a look at how superstars complete the iconic shot, and learn how game rules and equipment have changed since jams gained popularity.

Off the coast of Perú, gentle giants swim beneath the waves. Thanks to the work of Kerstin Forsberg, giant manta rays have become a symbol of hope for ocean conservation in the region. Mantas are a flagship species, and when they're protected, the whole ocean ecosystem benefits.

Kerstin, who founded the organization Planeta Océano, has taken a new approach to ocean conservation. Previous conservation projects were often led by scientists from other places who didn't work with the local people. When Kerstin decided to help manta rays, she sought the opinions of local fishers and educated them about the dangers of overfishing, bycatch, and poaching--things that affect both manta rays and fishers. She also involved local schools and teachers.

With the help of teachers, students, and fishers, Kerstin launched a project to identify and track manta rays and protect them, making the ocean a better place for all creatures. Dive in with author Patricia Newman and explore how taking care of the ocean can benefit everyone!

What can you find in nature? Look for bright flowers and listen to buzzing bees! Feel rough tree bark and taste a sweet apple! Join author and photographer Shelley Rotner as she encourages kids to use their senses to safely explore the outdoors. With simple text and photos featuring kids in nature, this book invites children to search for colors, shapes, and more in the world around them. Back matter includes easy activities to enhance the outdoor experience.

Some people are scared of sharks. Not Cristina Zenato.

As a little girl, Cristina dreamed of making friends with the sharks deep in the ocean. When she grew up, she made those dreams come true, becoming a diver, conservationist, and shark advocate. But Cristina discovered that sharks--the sleek, strong, powerful guardians of the ocean--need our help. She started diving in a protective suit and, as she built trust with sharks, they began coming to her with fishing hooks stuck in their bodies. Did she have the courage to remove the hooks?

Sharks Unhooked is the true story of how one woman is exploring the ocean, helping our ecosystem, and forming incredible bonds with animals beneath the rolling surf.

Heroes come in all shapes, sizes, and species!

Growing up in Cambodia, Malen knew that dangers from a long-ago war lay hidden underground. Buried explosives forced her and many others to live, farm, and play in fear. As she got older, Malen learned how to use a metal detector to find and safely dispose of these landmines.

Five thousand miles away, in Tanzania, Magawa was also learning how to find landmines. But he didn't need a metal detector--he had his nose. Magawa was a rat, and his smelling superpower and light weight helped him safely sniff out dangerous explosives.

After completing his training, Magawa joined Malen in Cambodia, and together they cleared more than a hundred landmines from fields all across the country. A fascinating true story with a hopeful ending and rich back matter from Scott Riley, author of The Floating Field, with Sambat Meas, a Cambodian deminer, and Cambodian American illustrator Huy Voun Lee.

The United States Department of Defense has more than four hundred military bases across the country. They are used to house and train personnel, keep watch of enemies, support allies, and . . . protect America's plant and animal species. The Sikes Act of 1960 and the Endangered Species Act of 1973 require military bases to collaborate with federal land management agencies to protect the endangered or at-risk species within their borders. On Eglin Air Force Base, scientists and soldiers work together to study and manage endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers, gopher tortoises, and reticulated flatwoods salamanders. Discover the unique challenges endangered species face and the work the military is doing to protect them.

Head out on patrol with the Black Mambas, South Africa's first women-led anti-poaching unit.

This anti-poaching team is unlike any other: they carry no weapons. Instead, they keep animals safe with frequent patrols and a keen eye for footprints, snares, and other clues that poachers are nearby. These courageous women work in a nature reserve in South Africa's Greater Kruger National Park. The reserve is home to the largest remaining populations of white rhinos, critically endangered black rhinos, and ground pangolins, one of the most trafficked animals in the world.

Author and photographer Kelly Crull traveled to South Africa to see firsthand how the Black Mambas are making a difference--for animals and for their communities. He tells their incredible story from their perspective, giving readers an unforgettable look at these environmental heroes.

A portion of the proceeds from this book will be donated to the Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit.

With their long tusks, narwhals are unique whales that live in the Arctic Ocean.

But as climate change causes global temperatures to rise, less and less sea ice is covering the Arctic Ocean each year. Narwhals are left vulnerable without the ice, which historically provided them with safe areas to roam out of reach of their natural predators, killer whales. And humans are taking advantage of the clearer water, searching and drilling for oil and hauling cargo. So as Arctic sea ice shrinks, a new challenge emerges: noise pollution from human activity. The thrum of engines and other man-made sounds threaten narwhals ability to locate food, communicate with other narwhals, and use echolocation to navigate while migrating.

How can people reduce noise pollution in the Arctic Ocean to help them? Follow along as scientists study the effects of noise pollution on narwhals and work to ensure they have a hope-filled future.

Are you curious about fire trucks? Firefighting clothes? Hoses and ladders? You're in luck!

Firefighter Jim works at the fire department. He knows how to handle all kinds of emergencies. He shows a group of kids how he does his job. Let's hear it for firefighters!

So many people help out in our communities! In these books, young students talk with different community helpers to find out what they do, what skills and training they need, and how their work benefits people in the community.

What is the tallest living thing? It's not an elephant, or a giraffe, or even a blue whale. It's a tree!

Trees are the tallest living things on Earth. But how do they grow to be so tall? Science writer Rebecca E. Hirsch presents a poetic introduction to the tree life cycle in Rise to the Sky. Accompanied by Mia Posada's detailed collage illustrations, this book features the tallest tree species from around the world, including the coast redwood, the Sitka spruce, and the giant sequoia.