List

here's how i see it

Rave reviews, an endless request for autographs, my name in lights on Broadway.

here's how it is

The audience is half empty, I spend zero time onstage, my dad's midlife crisis is about to ruin the playhouse...and my family.

Junebug dreams of being a leading lady someday. A serious actress, a stage actress, a real actress. And it should be easy for her to get her start -- her parents own the Blue Moon Playhouse, after all, and her dad performed on Broadway (once). But the truth is, at (almost) thirteen, she's not even a supporting actress or a stand-in or an understudy or even a child actor has-been. In the current Blue Moon production, her role is this: thunder, props...and stagehand (gopher, actually). And lately it seems like maybe the stagehand mindset -- go unnoticed, don't say a word -- is rubbing off on Junebug's personality. She's starting to feel as though her opinions never count, her worries aren't taken seriously, that she's becoming the ultimate stagehand: invisible. And that's not a role she's happy with.

From author and former playhouse insider Heather Henson comes a novel about growing up, standing out, and what it means to live your life just outside of the spotlight.

Ted and Kat watched their cousin Salim board the London Eye, but after half an hour it landed and everyone trooped off--except Salim. Where could he have gone? How on earth could he have disappeared into thin air? Ted and his older sister, Kat, become sleuthing partners, since the police are having no luck. Despite their prickly relationship, they overcome their differences to follow a trail of clues across London in a desperate bid to find their cousin. And ultimately it comes down to Ted, whose brain works in its own very unique way, to find the key to the mystery.
This is an unput-downable spine-tingling thriller--a race against time.

Perfect for fans of Fish in a Tree and Wonder, this uplifting debut novel from Mandy Davis follows space-obsessed Lester Musselbaum as he experiences the challenges of his first days of public school: making friends, facing bullies, finding his "thing," and accidentally learning of his autism-spectrum diagnosis.

Lester’s first days as a fifth grader at Quarry Elementary School are not even a little bit like he thought they would be—the cafeteria is too loud for Lester's ears, there are too many kids, and then there's the bully.

Lester was always home-schooled, and now he’s shocked to be stuck in a school where everything just seems wrong. That's until he hears about the science fair, which goes really well for Lester! This is it. The moment where I find out for 100 percent sure that I won.

But then things go a bit sideways, and Lester has to find his way back. A touching peek into the life of a sensitive autism-spectrum boy facing the everydayness of elementary school, Superstar testifies that what you can do isn’t nearly as important as who you are.

Alcatraz Island in the 1930s isn't the most normal place to grow up, but it's home for Moose Flanagan, his autistic sister, Natalie, and all the families of the guards. When Moose's dad gets promoted to Associate Warden, despite being an unlikely candidate, it's a big deal. But the cons have a point system for targeting prison employees, and his dad is now in serious danger. After a fire starts in the Flanagan's apartment, Natalie is blamed, and Moose bands with the other kids to track down the possible arsonist. Then Moose gets a cryptic note from the notorious Al Capone himself. Is Capone trying to protect Moose's dad too? If Moose can't figure out what Capone's note means, it may be too late.

The first book in a funny, heartfelt, and irresistible young middle grade series starring an unforgettable young boy on the autism spectrum, from acclaimed author Elana K. Arnold and with illustrations by Charles Santoso.

For Bixby Alexander Tam (nicknamed Bat), life tends to be full of surprises—some of them good, some not so good. Today, though, is a good-surprise day. Bat’s mom, a veterinarian, has brought home a baby skunk, which she needs to take care of until she can hand him over to a wild-animal shelter.

But the minute Bat meets the kit, he knows they belong together. And he’s got one month to show his mom that a baby skunk might just make a pretty terrific pet.

"This sweet and thoughtful novel chronicles Bat’s experiences and challenges at school with friends and teachers and at home with his sister and divorced parents. Approachable for younger or reluctant readers while still delivering a powerful and thoughtful story" (from the review by Brightly.com, which named A Boy Called Bat a best book of 2017).

A dedicated mom puts love into action as she creates the perfect rainbow-colored wig for her transgender daughter, based on the real-life experience of mother-daughter advocate duo Trinity and DeShanna Neal.

Warm morning sunlight and love fill the Neal home. And on one quiet day, playtime leads to an important realization:Trinity wants long hair like her dolls. She needs it to express who she truly is.

So her family decides to take a trip to the beauty supply store, but none of the wigs is the perfect fit. Determined, Mom leaves with bundles of hair in hand, ready to craft a wig as colorful and vibrant as her daughter is.

With powerful text by Trinity and DeShanna Neal and radiant art by Art Twink, My Rainbow is a celebration of showing up as our full selves with the people who have seen us fully all along.

Meet Janine. She is one of a kind! Janine dresses a little different, remembers random facts, reads the dictionary for fun, and has her own style of cheering. Nobody does things the way Janine does things! One girl in Janine's class is throwing a party and all the COOL kids are invited. But Janine is not cool. Some kids think she is strange and want her to change. Will Janine try to be different or just be her spectacular self? In this charming story, Maryann Cocca-Leffler uses her own daughter as inspiration for a delightfully spunky character. Janine Leffler focuses on the positive while navigating life with disabilities. She has become a role model to children and adults, encouraging them to focus on abilities and promoting respect, tolerance, and kindness.

In Classroom Six, second left down the hall, Henry has been on the lookout for a friend. A friend who shares. A friend who listens. Maybe even a friend who likes things to stay the same and all in order, as Henry does. But on a day full of too close and too loud, when nothing seems to go right, will Henry ever find a friend—or will a friend find him? With insight and warmth, this heartfelt story from the perspective of a boy on the autism spectrum celebrates the everyday magic of friendship.

Contains 366 nature poems -- one for every day of the year. Filled with familiar favorites and new discoveries by a vast array of poets, including Langston Hughes, Lilian Moore, Emily Dickinson, Jack Prelutsky, William Shakespeare, N.M. Bodecker, Kanoko Okamoto, and many more.

Trust Dreams.
Trust your heart,
and trust your story.

A renowned storyteller whose words have transported readers to magical realms and an acclaimed illustrator of lushly imagined fairy-tale landscapes guide a traveler safely through lands unknown and yet strangely familiar . . .

. . . and home again.

A collection of poems that can be read in sixty seconds features the work of celebrated writers, including Jon Scieszka, Nikki Grimes, and Lemony Snicket.

Caldecott Medalist Chris Raschka brings John Keats's words to whimsical life in the poet's only work written for children.

He was a naughty boy,
A naughty boy was he,
He would not stop at home,
He could not quiet be.

English poet John Keats is remembered for his great odes and sonnets -- making this lighthearted, little-known poem a special treat. As written in a letter to his young sister when he was feeling homesick on a visit to Scotland, Keats runs his rhymes up and down and all around, leading the reader on a playful chase in and out of language and meaning while caricaturing both himself and what it means to be an aspiring poet. In perfect synchrony, the celebrated Chris Raschka illustrates Keats's droll words with his signature vibrant, energetic watercolors.

Rocks, fossils, earthquakes.
Seventeen short syllables?
Earth Science haiku!

In a stunning combination of haiku and impressionistic (but accurate) art, this one-of-a-kind book encourages readers to think playfully about our planet and its wondrous processes. Sibert Medal-winning author Sally M. Walker covers Earth's many marvels -- fossilized skeletons of plants and animals, terrific volcanic eruptions, the never-ending hydrologic cycle -- in sometimes straightforward, sometimes metaphoric three-line haikus. Expertly drawn art by William Grill, author-illustrator of Shackleton's Journey, provides a visual reference for each poem. In clear and creative back matter, Walker and Grill further use their skills to provide additional detailed explanations for the science behind each concept. A unique, artistic intersection of poetry and science, Earth Verse is sure to enthrall any and all readers interested in the world around them.

A poetic book highlighting everyday nature

The perfect blend of science and poetry, Hidden City demonstrates that nature can thrive anywhere, even in highly populated areas. In this graceful collection of poems, skyscrapers serve as perches for falcons, streetlights attract an insect buffet for hungry bats, and an overgrown urban lot offers shelter to both flora and fauna. Hidden City also includes engageing supplementary materials, which provide scientific information about the animals and plants featured in the book.

Coupled with beautiful collage illustrations, the poems in Hidden City offer readers the perfect reminder to notice and care about their environment.

Take a bite out of the calendar with this cheerful collection of delicious seasonal poems, each one an ode to a favorite food!

The daring popcorn astronauts
are brave beyond compare—
they scramble into puffy suits
and hurtle through the air.

And when they land, we say hooray
and crowd around the spot
to salt the little astronauts
and eat them while they’re hot.

Dive into a watermelon lake and sing the praises of mac and cheese in this playful and poetic celebration of food. In spring, bow to the “Strawberry Queen” and eat “Only Guacamole.” In summer you’ll meet Bob the Ogre, who only eats corn on the cob, and in fall, you can learn “21 Things to Do with an Apple.” And then in winter, retreat from the cold at “The Cocoa Cabana!”

Stellar team Deborah Ruddell and Joan Rankin deliver a whimsical celebration of the tastiest treats of life in this palatable poetry collection.

An outstanding celebration of diversity and family: fourteen poets and sixteen illustrators of diverse backgrounds share memorable childhood experiences and reflect upon their different heritages, traditions, and beliefs.

I Remember: Poems and Pictures of Heritage brings together the work of fourteen award-winning poets and sixteen illustrators of diverse backgrounds who share aspects of their childhood experiences in honest portraits of what it was like for them growing up in the United States. Newbery Medalist Kwame Alexander takes us on a riotous ride through good times and sad spent with his extended family, which is perfectly captured by Coretta Scott King Award winner Michele Wood's vibrant overflowing and overlapping images. Pura Belpré Award winner Margarita Engle shares happy memories of learning embroidery from her grandmother, accompanied by Ecuadorean fine artist and printmaker Paula Barragán's colorful graphic representation of a granddaughter and grandmother at work. Bestselling author Nick Bruel talks about his confusion over having to define himself by a single racial label, which is brought to life by newcomer Janine Macbeth's reflective image of herself trying to figure out her own mixed ancestry.

Together these heartfelt poems and captivating illustrations shine a light on the rich diversity of people in our nation as well as the timeless human connections and universal experiences we all share. Readers of any age and background are sure to find much that spark their memories and open their eyes.

Featuring poems by Douglas Florian, Naomi Shihab Nye, Jorge Tetl Argueta, Marilyn Nelson, Nick Bruel, G. Neri, Jane Yolen, Joseph Bruchac, and Carole Boston Weatherford, and illustrations by Sean Qualls, Simone Shin, Insoo Kim, Michele Wood, Paula Barragán, Neil Waldman, Jeanne Rorex Bridges, Sawsan Chalabi, Rafael López, R. Gregory Christie, Janine Macbeth, Charlotte Riley-Webb, Julie Downing, David Fadden, Daniel Minter, and Juliet Menéndez.

An ode to the girl with scrapes on her knees and flowers in her hair, and every girl in between, this exquisite treasury will appeal to readers of Dear Girl and I Am Enough and have kids poring over it to find a poem that's just for them.

I am a canvas
Being painted on
By the words of my family
Friends
And community

From Vanessa Brantley-Newton, the author of Grandma's Purse, comes a collection of poetry filled with engaging mini-stories about girls of all kinds: girls who feel happy, sad, scared, powerful; girls who love their bodies and girls who don't; country girls, city girls; girls who love their mother and girls who wish they had a father. With bright portraits in Vanessa's signature style of vibrant colors and unique patterns and fabrics, this book invites readers to find themselves and each other within its pages.

The Newbery Award-winning author of THE CROSSOVER pens an ode to black American triumph and tribulation, with art from a two-time Caldecott Honoree.
Originally performed for ESPN's The Undefeated, this poem is a love letter to black life in the United States. It highlights the unspeakable trauma of slavery, the faith and fire of the civil rights movement, and the grit, passion, and perseverance of some of the world's greatest heroes. The text is also peppered with references to the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks, and others, offering deeper insights into the accomplishments of the past, while bringing stark attention to the endurance and spirit of those surviving and thriving in the present. Robust back matter at the end provides valuable historical context and additional detail for those wishing to learn more.

An inspiring collection of Pat Mora's own glorious poems celebrating a love of words and all the ways we use and interact with them: reading, speaking, writing, and singing.

Whether we are collecting words, reading favorite books in the library, celebrating holidays, writing poems, sharing secrets, or singing a jazzy duet, words and books can take us on wonderful adventures and bring us joy. Poet Pat Mora has brought together a collection of her poems that celebrates engaging with words and books in all these ways and more. Vivid illustrations by Raúl Colón bring the poems to life and interpret the magic of the language with captivating images in a style influenced by Mexican muralists. Together the poems and illustrations are sure to inspire creative wordplay in readers of all ages.

We can read, you and I,
see letters become words,
and words become books . . .
You and I read, round and round,
bookjoy around the world.

How can a firefly find the one, among so many? Exquisite photographs and poetic text evoke a sense of mystery and magic.

On a summer evening, just as the stars blink on, a firefly lands on a flower. Lights start to flash all around her -- first one, then three, seven. Hundreds. Thousands. How will she find just one flash among them? And will he see her flash in return? In evocative photographs and lyrical language, Rick Lieder and Helen Frost, creators of the critically acclaimed Step Gently Out and Sweep Up the Sun, offer a true story of how two fireflies come together after finding each other's light among thousands of others.

In the tradition of Shel Silverstein, celebrated picture book poet Douglas Florian offers an honest, touching, and often humorous collection of twenty-three poems about relationships -- both good and bad! There are all kinds of friends -- good friends, bad friends, old friends, new friends.

Let your children discover the works of poet Emily Dickinson in Poetry for Kids: Emily Dickinson.

As the premier title in the Poetry for Kids series, Emily Dickinson introduces children to the works of poet Emily Dickinson. Poet, professor, and scholar Susan Snively has carefully chosen 35 poems of interest to children and their families. Each poem is beautifully illustrated by Christine Davenier and thoroughly explained by an expert. The gentle introduction, which is divided into sections by season of the year, includes commentary, definitions of important words, and a foreword.

A zombie family reunion, a "Jekyll lantern," a giggling undertaker, a telekinetic warlock . . . are you scared yet? Sure to induce shrieks and giggles in equal measure, Calef Brown's poems present a wonderfully creepy cast of characters. Richly detailed paintings add to the frightful fun!

Maya Angelou's unforgettable poem is matched with the daring art of Jean-Michel Basquiat in this powerful ode to courage

Shadows on the wall
Noises down the hall
Life doesn't frighten me at all

Maya Angelou's brave, defiant poem celebrates the courage within each of us, young and old. From the scary thought of panthers in the park to the unsettling scene of a new classroom, fearsome images are summoned and dispelled by the power of faith in ourselves.

Angelou's strong words are matched by the daring vision of artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, whose childlike style reveals the powerful emotions and fanciful imaginings of childhood. Together, Angelou's words and Basquiat's paintings create a place where every child, indeed every person, may experience his or her own fearlessness.

This brilliant introduction to poetry and contemporary art features brief biographies of Angelou and Basquiat and an afterword from the editor. A selected bibliography of Angelou's books and a selected museum listing of Basquiat's works open the door to further inspiration through the fine arts.

A 2018 Notable Poetry Book for Children (National Council of Teachers of English)

Introduce your children to the beautiful words of classic American poet, Walt Whitman. Poetry for Kids: Walt Whitman makes the work engaging and easy to understand.

Walt Whitman is considered by many to be one of the most prolific poets in American history. What better time to introduce your children to the written word than now?

This collection of thirty-five of Walt's best works has been carefully curated for kids. Each piece of work is lovingly illustrated, and are both presented and explained by New York University professor Karen Karbenier, PhD, a primary authority Whitman's poetry.

Walt Whitman includes enlightening commentary for each poem, definitions of key words, and a foreword by the expert so that kids, or even parents new to poems, will understand.

Starting off with "I Hear America Singing," the collection includes excerpts from "Song of Myself," "O Captain! My Captain!", poems from Leaves of Grass, and many more thought-provoking, descriptive, and kid-friendly selections.

Under the desert's cracked and barren skin, spadefoot toads are waiting for rain. In the endless black of the deepest caves, blind fish find their way. Even in the frozen hearts of glaciers, ice worms by the billion flourish. In this fascinating look at fourteen animals who defy the odds by thriving in Earth's most dangerous places, renowned poet Marilyn Singer and celebrated artist Ed Young show that of all the miracles of life, it is life's persistence that astounds the most.

Runny Babbit, the lovable star of Shel Silverstein’s New York Times bestselling poetry book, is back in this instant New York Times bestseller!

Runny Babbit Returns, a collection of 41 never-before-published poems and drawings, features Runny and other woodland characters who speak a topsy-turvy language all their own.

This carefully compiled work from the Silverstein archives is filled with spoonerism poems that are both playful and poignant. With tongue-twisting word play and uproarious characters, the endearingly befuddled Runny Babbit and his friends embody Shel Silverstein’s singular style, the one we all know and love. 

Fans of all ages won’t want to miss their chance to follow their favorite Runny in this New York Times bestseller of laugh-out-loud adventures!

The 2018 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Winner

A Newbery Medalist and a Caldecott Honoree's New York Times best-selling ode to poets who have sparked a sense of wonder.

Out of gratitude for the poet's art form, Newbery Award-winning author and poet Kwame Alexander, along with Chris Colderley and Marjory Wentworth, present original poems that pay homage to twenty famed poets who have made the authors' hearts sing and their minds wonder. Stunning mixed-media images by Ekua Holmes, winner of a Caldecott Honor and a John Steptoe New Talent Illustrator Award, complete the celebration and invite the reader to listen, wonder, and perhaps even pick up a pen.

From the creative team that brought us Where in the Wild? and Where ELSE in the Wild? come 10 new mysteries of the natural world for readers to solve. Kid-pleasing riddles paired with mystifying images give clues to guess: What creature made that pile of twigs, mass of leaves, frothy spittle, and so on...And why? As with the other books, answers are found by opening a generous gatefold and revealing full-color photographs.

This poetic story has universal appeal and spans time and distance with eloquent simplicity. In fourteen gentle stanzas, sleepy-eyed children throughout history draw comfort from bedtime tales and tender lullabies. Here, their innate curiosity about the world around them is satisfied by timeless music that drifts through centuries on the wind. Loving parents sing of white polar bears, northern lights, sea creatures, and woodland animals that dance under the stars and visit each child on the edge of sleep. Evocative rhyming text and vivid images will call little ones back time and again to hear the song that drifts into their own special dreams and links them to past and future generations.

Six children aged from kindergarten to the fifth grade share their excitement for the new school year, from meeting new teachers and friends to preparing to leave in the morning. Ethan is nervous about starting Kindergarten. First grader Zach is worried about having to learn everything all over again. Katie finds out that their second-grade teacher's name starts with "Mr." It turns out that Jackie isn't the only third grader who gets dropped off early each morning. Carlos notices only a few other fourth graders who look like him. Fifth grader Mia takes time to adjust her hearing aids and is almost late.

"It is almost Earth Day, and Katie and her friends all want to keep the Earth green. To do her part, Katie organizes a yard sale."

"Earth Day is right around the corner, and everyone in Jacksonville is working hard to be green and take care of the Earth. From a playground cleanup to the Earth Day parade, Kylie Jean is doing everything she can to make sure Jacksonville is fit for a green queen and gets crowned the “Prettiest Town in Texas.”"

Learning to respect the environment is no small task, especially if you want to celebrate Earth Day every day of the week! Luckily, Nancy is on hand to make sure Mom, Dad, and her little sister do their part in being green—even if she has to keep reminding them. Nancy knows that she's helping her family do something very important, but will she take her enthusiasm for the environment a step too far?

A sweet story about learning to respect both the Earth and your family, this I Can Read includes a glossary of Fancy Nancy's Fancy Words in the back.

To celebrate Earth Day, Dora makes a scrapbook of tips about how to save energy, and then she attends an Earth Day party with her friends.

Gilbert has trouble coming up with ideas. First he couldn't think of a springtime poem, and now he needs an idea for an Earth Day project! Everyone else in Mrs. Byrd's class is busy working on posters about recycling and saving water and electricity, but Gilbert wants to do something original. A distressing class picnic inspires him, and he comes up with an Earth Day project that even Mrs. Byrd thinks is the best idea yet.

With vivid, lively illustrations and a timely story about how kids really can help the world around them, Diane deGroat shows readers of all ages that sometimes the simplest solutions are right in our own backyards!

In the latest beginning reader from the bestselling, classroom based Robin Hill School series the class celebrates Earth Day!

The kids in Mrs. Connor's class are celebrating Earth Day, and everyone has lots of ideas on how to save the Earth...except Emma. Emma is worried that her ideas are not good enough. With the help of her dad and Mrs. Connor, Emma learns that her small ideas can have big results!

George loves to go to the science museum. So, when he finds out that the museum is planning a Green Day” dedicated to recycling and planting trees, and George is curious and wants to help out! But little monkeys eager to help can sometimes become little monkeys getting into trouble. When George begins to find and recycle things around town that aren't quite ready for the recycle bin, he gets into a jam. Thankfully, George isn't the only one who wants to helpthe whole community can't wait to lend a handand help George and the museum plant some trees!

*Printed on paper from responsibly managed sources certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council *Environmentally-friendly soy inks

Did you know...? The new Rey Center at the Margret & H.A. Rey Center in Waterville, New Hampshire will a model for energy conservation, using solar panels and wind generators for its electricity. It will reuse and slow-release stormwater, and treat its gray water” (from sinks/showers) in a constructed wetland.

Suggests a variety of crafty ways to reuse everyday items.

When Gabby and Grandma get together, "Green Day" means "Fun Day." From sewing their own cloth bags and buying vegetables at the Farmers' Market to recycling their bottles, these two know how to have a good time while doing good things for the earth.

The illustrations in Monica Wellington's popsicle-bright palette-enhanced with myriad shades of green-result in a perfectly "green" addition to her books for the very young.
 

Provides step-by-step instructions on making crafts using natural and recycled materials, including plastic bottle bird feeders, CD mobiles, and pressed flower bookmarks.

Everyone's favorite first grader is back--and ready to go green!

Freddy's first-grade class is learning all about Earth Day, and all about the little things that even kids can do to help the planet. If Freddy can complete all ten points on the Earth Day Challenge list, he gets to join Team Green!

Just in time for Earth Day and filled with fun activities that readers can easily try at home, Save the Earth! Is perfect for Ready Freddy fans who want to go green!

With help from her Grandma Barb, Marty builds a habitat for worms in her school cafeteria as part of the Save the Earth Project.

Each person in the United States makes almost five pounds of trash every day. That’s more trash per person per day than people make in any other country. What happens to our trash? How can we stop throwing so much stuff away? Read and find out!

The star of The Lorax by Dr. Seuss makes his Step into Reading debut in this rhymed reader that offers kids easy suggestions for going green! After explaining how the trash in a wastbasket ultimately ends up in a landfill or incinerator, the Lorax suggests realistic ways children can reduce waste, such as by carrying a lunch box, donating old clothes and toys, sharing magazines with friends, recycling cans and bottles, and using rechargeable batteries. He also explains how they can save energy around the home by turning off lights, taking shorter showers, donning sweaters to stay warm, and much, much more. All in all, this is a great introduction to helping the Earth and helping kids step into reading!

Americans throw away millions of tons of waste at home every year. But did you know that much of this household waste can be recycled? Or that there are ways to turn this waste into energy? Learn how you can be part of the solution.

As part of the Searchlight Books(TM) collection, this series sheds light on an important question--What Can We Do about Pollution? Informative text, compelling photos, and engaging captions will help you find the answer

All the stuff that surrounds us has a life cycle: materials are harvested, the stuff is made and distributed, it's consumed and then it gets trashed or recycled. Using the typical contents of a child's school backpack (defined as water, food, clothing, paper, plastic, metals, electronics), this book explores those stages in detail, including lots of ways to reduce, reuse or recycle waste along the way. Children will gain new insight into the routine decisions they make about their own consuming and trashing or recycling practices. For example: How long does it take for a cotton T-shirt to decompose in a landfill? Can a bike helmet be made from recyclable materials? Which is better for the Earth, wrapping a sandwich in aluminum foil or plastic? By learning to use critical thinking skills to make informed choices, children will feel empowered by the important, constructive role they can play in the future health of the planet.

Author Erica Fyvie has found a way to use everyday objects to speak directly to children's curiosity and their desire to make a difference. With infographics, short subsections, sidebars and charts, the information presented is engaging and accessible. Playful illustrations by award-winning illustrator Bill Slavin help make complex subjects easier to understand, while keeping the tone friendly. From energy to climate, innovations to sustainability, this all-encompassing look at a timely topic is the perfect go-to resource for elementary science and social studies classrooms. Includes a glossary, resources, bibliography and index.

An ALA Notable Book

“The year was 1987 and a ship full of trash was about to become famous…The narrative is immensely readable…A fresh take on a story of old garbage guaranteed to spark conversations and a desire for actions among students. Highly recommended.” —School Library Journal (starred review)

A garbage barge that can’t find a place to welcome it sparks a recycling movement in the United States in this smart and smelly picture book from the author of Earmuffs for Everyone.

Lowell Harrelson wanted to turn trash into methane gas so he rented a barge called Morbo 4000. His plan was to ship the garbage from New York to North Carolina, but as the barge floated down the coast, no state would let him dock because of smelly waste on board! The barge became a mockery and the butt of many jokes in the media. What started as an attempted business venture turned into quite the predicament for Mr. Harrelson.

Mobro 4000 roamed the seas for forty-five days and traveled a distance of 6,000 miles. While awaiting its fate, the trash floated in New York’s harbor, garnering much attention by onlookers. Green Peace activists put up a large banner across the barge that read, “NEXT TIME…TRY RECYCLING.”

Even though the garbage barge was a farce, the unintended consequence inspired America to find a new way to deal with its trash.

Colorful illustrations and diverse characters will lead readers along a narrative that teaches them the environmental benefits of reusing. Comprehension questions, fun facts, and critical thinking questions keep readers engaged and thinking while they read.

In this Green Light Reader based on Curious George, the Emmy Award-winning PBS TV show, Curious George is part of a team challenge to clean up the city streets -- until he finds hidden treasures along the way!
George is part of a team challenge to help clean up the city on Pretty City Day. But when he finds hidden and forgotten treasures along the way, he realizes he's collecting more treasures than he is trash! If he wants to help his team win the challenge, he'll need to sort out his growing stash of treasures and see which ones he really wants to keep. But how?

This Green Light Reader based on Curious George, the Emmy Award-winning PBS TV show, also includes bonus activities to help reinforce the concepts presented in the story.

Conserving Resources introduces readers to the ideas behind recycling, conservation, and sharing resources.

An evocative wordless picture book that is a loving tribute to mindful living on our precious planet.

From a tall tree growing in the forest--to the checkout counter at the grocery store--one little bag finds its way into the hands of a young boy on the eve of his first day of school.

And so begins an incredible journey of one little bag that is used and reused and reused again.

In a three-generation family, the bag is transporter of objects and keeper of memories. And when Grandfather comes to the end of his life, the family finds a meaningful new way for the battered, but much-loved little bag to continue its journey in the circle of life.

Praise for The Sewer Rat Stink: Fresh, funny, and fast-paced. The free-style artwork and anything-goes story will make kids want to write and draw their own books! -Dav PilkeyThis is Geronimo Stilton like you've never seen him before!

A stinky smell is taking over New Mouse City! No mouse can live like this! Geronimo and his best friend Hercule, the private detective, head underground into the sewer world of Mouse Island to investigate. Can they save the city from the stench?This is all-new Geronimo Stilton as interpreted by author, artist, and longtime fan Tom Angleberger. Tom is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author.

Oscar the Grouch knows a lot about trash, including how to reuse it! Read along as Oscar and friends show young readers that reducing, reusing, and recycling lessens their impact on the planet.

Learn how to turn trash into treasure, like making old bottle caps into artwork. We can help Earth!

Interior paper made with 30 percent recycled post-consumer waste fibers.

Presents projects made by recycling different materials, from using sheet music to wrap gifts to creating a picture frame from eyeglasses.

*2016 EUREKA SILVER*

*2016 LIVING NOW AWARD, Books for Better Living*

*RIF Multicultural Collection*

*Skipping Stones Honor Book*

*CBC Recommended Reading*

*Santa Monica Public Library Green Prize for Sustainable Literature*

In a Guatemalan village, students squished into their tiny schoolhouse, two grades to a classroom. The villagers had tried expanding the school, but the money ran out before the project was finished. No money meant no wall materials, and that meant no more room for the students. Until one boy got a wonderful, crazy idea. The idea not only solved both problems, but also inspired others.

Milly Zantow wanted to solve the problem of her town's full landfill and ended up creating a global recycling standard -- the system of numbers you see inside the little triangle on plastics. This is the inspiring story of how she mobilized her community, creating sweeping change to help the environment.

On a trip to Japan in 1978, Milly noticed that people were putting little bundles out on the street each morning. They were recycling -- something that hadn't taken hold in North America. When she returned to Sauk City, Wisconsin, she discovered that her town's landfill was nearing capacity, and that plastic made up a large part of the garbage. No one was recycling plastics.

Milly decided to figure out how. She discovered that there are more than seven kinds of plastic, and they can't be combined for recycling, so she learned how to use various tests to identify them. Then she found a company willing to use recycled plastic, but the plastic would have to be ground up first.

Milly and her friend bought a huge industrial grinder and established E-Z Recycling. They worked with local school children and their community, and they helped other communities start their own recycling programs. But Milly knew that the large-scale recycling of plastics would never work unless people could easily identify the seven types. She came up with the idea of placing an identifying number in the little recycling triangle, which has become the international standard.

Milly's story is a glimpse into the early days of the recycling movement and shows how, thanks to her determination, hard work and community-building, huge changes took place, spreading rapidly across North America.

Includes an introduction, black-and-white illustrations, sidebars, sources for further information and an index.

Fly Guy and Buzz visit a landfill to discover where their garbage goes. They learn all about garbage trucks, trash sorting, bacteria, and how landfills can be more environmentally friendly. They also visit a recycling plant to learn about how recycling programs get started, the recycling cycle, and what happens when trash isn't properly disposed of. There are even tips for how readers can help keep our planet healthy! --Publisher's description.

When Mrs. MacGregor introduces the Aldens to the local recycling center, they bring home lots of great stuff, including unused notebooks and fun pinata. Mrs. MacGregor was right, you can find treasure in junk. When a series of break-ins and vandalization hits the center, the Alden kids are there to help solve the mystery!

Learn how recycling has grown in popularity over time and find out what kinds of careers are involved in this rapidly growing industry.

Calling All Innovators series introduces students to careers in science and technology. The complex text allows readers (Grades 5-8) to determine the main idea and explain how it is supported by key details.

From leftover food to packaging materials to outdated or broken technology, humans produce an enormous amount of waste. Readers will find out how some of today's top innovators are working to find new recycling methods and cut down on the amount of trash the ends up in landfills.

Fun text and upbeat illustrations will inspire readers to learn about recycling. Comprehension questions, fun facts, and critical thinking questions keep readers engaged and thinking while they read through an interesting narrative with diverse characters.

How many uses can you find for an old glass jam jar? This engaging book looks at the always topical issues of managing our waste in a world with finite resources. Infographic details provide ready facts such as how much energy recycling one tin can provides and what that energy can be used for.

For anyone who loves cats, dogs (or both!), James Patterson's most pawsome story ever is set in a society defined by the oldest rivalry in the world: katts versus doggs!
Oscar is a happy dogg---a rambunctious kid who loves being a Dogg Scout. Thanks to his family, he knows that snobby katts are good for nothing but chasing up trees.

Molly is a clever katt who just knows she's destined for fame and fortune as an actress. She comes from a family of well-bred katts who despise drooly, disgusting doggs!

For their whole lives, Oscar and Molly have been told that katts and dogs hate each other. One day, they each get hopelessly lost in the woods, but those lifelong prejudices flare up when they cross paths. Slowly, they realize that the only way to survive and find their way home is to...work together?!
Yeah, that's not going to happen!

In the second book of this FANGtastic spin-off of Mo O'Hara's New York Times—bestselling My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish chapter book series, an aspiring evil scientist and his mostly evil (and totally forbidden) vampire kitten blast off to Evil Scientist Space Camp.

My epic summer has just gotten even more epic, because Evil Scientist Summer Camp just turned into Evil Scientist Space Camp! AND it will be led by the totally epic evil astronaut Neil Strongarm! Who is looking for evil apprentices for his next space mission! Which means that I could totally go into SPACE!!!

I’m already well on my way to Evil Emperor of the Camp. Winning this competition should be easy. Okay, so maybe I didn’t expect Geeky Girl to be quite so good at being evil, but I know I’ve got this. All I need is a plan. Hmmm . . . I wonder if you can take evil kittens on space stations.

Let the Epic Evil Spaceness begin.

Signed,
The Great and Powerful Mark

A pioneering new graphic novel series by Dav Pilkey, the author and illustrator of the internationally bestselling Dog Man and Captain Underpants series.

In Cat Kid Comic Club, Li'l Petey, Flippy, and Molly introduce twenty-one rambunctious, funny, and talented baby frogs to the art of comic making. As the story unwinds with mishaps and hilarity, readers get to see the progress, mistakes, and improvements that come with practice and persistence.

Squid Kid and Katydid, Baby Frog Squad, Monster Cheese Sandwich, and Birds Flowers Trees: A Haiku Photo Comic are just some of the mini-comics that are included as stories-within-the-story, each done in a different style, utilizing humor and drama, prose and poetry, illustrated in different media including acrylics, pastels, colored pencils, felt-tip markers, clay, hand-made cardboard sculptures, photographs, pipe cleaners, construction paper collages, and cookies.

Readers of all ages will be inspired to dream up their own stories and unleash their own creativity as they dive into this new graphic novel adventure from Dav Pilkey and his heartfelt, humorous, and amazing cast of characters in the Cat Kid Comic Club.

Every porcine wonder was once a piglet! Celebrate the joy of a new arrival with this endearing picture-book prequel to the New York Times best-selling Mercy Watson series.

Mr. Watson and Mrs. Watson live ordinary lives. Sometimes their lives feel a bit too ordinary. Sometimes they wish something different would happen. And one day it does, when someone unpredictable finds her way to their front door. In a delightful origin story for the star of the Mercy Watson series, a tiny piglet brings love (and chaos) to Deckawoo Drive -- and the Watsons' lives will never be the same.

The stars of Jonathan Fenske's 2016 Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor book, A Pig, a Fox, and a Box, and A Pig, a Fox, and Stinky Socks return in another humorous three-part story designed to engage early readers. This story contains charming characters combined with simple text, lively illustrations, and laugh-out-loud humor to help boost kids' confidence and create lifelong readers

As in the precursors to this tale, A Pig, a Fox, and a Box and A Pig, a Fox, and Stinky Socks, Jonathan Fenske tells a humorous three-part story of two friends, Pig and Fox. In this book, Fox has a doll that looks like him, and he uses it to prank Pig into thinking it's the real Fox. As always, the mischief winds up backfiring, and Fox becomes his own victim.

With comic art and simple language, this title is sure to have kids rolling with laughter.

Exciting, easy-to-read books are the stepping stone a young reader needs to bridge the gap between being a beginner and being fluent.

From Caldecott Honor–winning and New York Times bestselling duo Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin comes an all-new, laugh-out-loud original Level 2 Ready-to-Read about Duck not wanting to join in on camping fun!

Farmer Brown wants to go camping. He packs up the animals. He packs up his brother, Bob. The chickens want to hike. The cows want to fish. The pigs want to picnic. And Duck? Duck just wants to stay in the truck. How will Farmer Brown bring everyone together?

The beloved character Harry the Dirty Dog returns in this brand-new picture book! A fun story to share with all dog fans, as well as guinea pig families and classrooms.

Harry, the mischievous little white dog with black spots, isn't happy when the children are paying more attention to the neighbor's guinea pig than him. But when Harry accidentally causes the guinea pig to get loose at school, he has to use his detective skills to save the day. Can Harry find the guinea pig before he's sent to the doghouse?

Created in the style of Gene Zion and Margaret Bloy Graham, this is an irresistible story featuring a classic picture book character--perfect for young dog lovers and fans of Harry the Dirty Dog!

Gene Zion and Margaret Bloy Graham's Harry the Dirty Dog has been recognized by the National Education Association as an all-time top-100 children's book. It has also been welcomed by a new generation at home, as Betty White's 2020 reading of the story on StorylineOnline has been viewed more than 8 million times.
 

Move over, Spot. . . . Spoofing classic primers, Max the Dog talks back to the book in a twist that will have fans of funny early readers howling.

See Max. Max is not a cat--Max is a dog. But much to Max's dismay, the book keeps instructing readers to "see the cat." How can Max get through to the book that he is a DOG? In a trio of stories for beginning readers, author David LaRochelle introduces the excitable Max, who lets the book know in irresistibly emphatic dialogue that the text is not to his liking. Illustrator Mike Wohnoutka hilariously depicts the pup's reactions to the narrator and to the wacky cast of characters who upend Max's--and readers'--expectations as the three stories build to an immensely satisfying conclusion. Hooray, Max, hooray!

From New York Times bestselling creators Kimberly and James Dean, Pete the Cat becomes...Super Pete! We all need a superhero Pete in our life.

When there's trouble in town, it's up to Pete the Cat's alter ego, Super Pete, to save the day! With his cool jet, nifty goggles, and slick slingshot, Super Pete is ready to take down any bad guys.

Pete the Cat: Super Pete is a Level 1 I Can Read book, which means it's perfect for shared reading with a child and any heroes-in-training.

Introducing the Fly Guy and Fly Girl series YIPPEEZZZ

Buzz and Liz go to the zoo with their pets, Fly Guy and Fly Girl. Little do they know that something scary is about to happen... GULPZ GULPZIE

Featuring an appealing story and fun illustrations, Tedd Arnold's bestselling Fly Guy series is a perfect fit for beginning readers.

Mike White hits a heartwarming hat trick with this cute, funny, and action-packed adventure. Mellybean will bounce off the page and into your heart. --Mo O'Hara, New York Times bestselling author of the My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish series

The Secret Life of Pets meets The Wizard of Oz in this debut graphic novel about a spunky pup who gets trapped in a world filled with magic, adventure, and one giant, grumpy monster.

Melly loves to play games. All her feline friends want to do, though, is take a nap. So when she doesn't leave them alone, the cats trick her into burying a shoe in the backyard. But the small prank turns into a big problem when Melly falls down the hole . . . and is magically transports her to another world!

Melly lands smack-dab in the middle of a scuffle between a group of knights and a huge monster. But Melly soon befriends the grumpy giant, learning he isn't as scary as he seems. He's being hunted by a greedy king. One who has also been stealing from his people and locking them up in the dungeons. So although Melly is desperate to find a way back home to Mama and Papa (her human owners), she makes it her mission to help her new friend and the kingdom. But how could someone so tiny defeat such a powerful king? It may just take a game that only Melly can win.

A child enlists the help of a dragon in trying to persuade his mother to let him have a dog.

Seven-year-old Alfie Jakes isn't thrilled when her mom organizes end-of-summer playdates with her soon-to-be classmate, Hanni. Hanni is kind of bossy. So Alfie is relieved when Hanni is more fun to play with then she thought. Even better, she shows Alfie her cat--who has kittens! Alfie immediately falls in love with a little gray kitten and wants to give it a home. But one of the Jakes' house rules is 'no pets' because Alfie is supposedly allergic. Alfie is sure she's outgrown that allergy, but how can she convince her parents? Wouldn't it be better to sneak the kitten home and PROVE that she's not allergic? But keeping a kitten a secret is lot harder than she ever thought!

A young boy takes his pet gecko with him on his first day of school. Little does he know the trouble he and his pet can get into once the students find out and the teacher realizes he's broken a school rule! The story is mixed with some facts about geckos and presented on facing pages so a parent may read one side and the child may read the other.

Humphrey is the favorite pet in Room 26, but will he also be a favorite at the pet show? Find out in this sixth book in the popular chapter book series.

When A.J. brings Humphrey to the town pet show, he's sure Humphrey will win a prize. But Humphrey isn't convinced. There are all kinds of animals in the show--from dogs and cats to parrots and even something called a bearded dragon!

Humphrey tries to impress the judges with some tricks, but when a dog noses a little too close to him, Og the Frog saves the day with the most impressive trick of all. And Humphrey realizes that a great friend is the best prize ever.

With cute illustrations and an easy reading level, Humphrey's Tiny Tales are just right for emerging readers.

In the tradition of Clementine and Ramona Quimby, meet Bat. Author Elana K. Arnold returns with another irresistible story of friendship in this widely acclaimed series starring an unforgettable boy on the autism spectrum.

For Bixby Alexander Tam (nicknamed Bat), life is pretty great. He’s the caretaker of the best baby skunk in the world—even Janie, his older sister, is warming up to Thor.

When Janie gets a part in the school play and can’t watch Bat after school, it means some pretty big changes. Someone else has to take care of the skunk kit in the afternoons, Janie is having sleepovers with her new friends, and Bat wants everything to go back to normal.

He just has to make it to the night of Janie’s performance. . . .

After wacky third grader Hazy Bloom starts seeing visions of things that will happen one day in the future, she hopes her "tomorrow power" will help her get the pet she's always dreamed of in Hazy Bloom and the Pet Project, a hilarious chapter book by Jennifer Hamburg with illustrations by Jenn Harney.

It's the annual Third Grade Leadership Challenge, where each third-grade class plans and hosts a fundraiser. Hazel "Hazy" Bloom, however, has other things on her mind—like proving to her parents she’s responsible enough to get a pet iguana. But when Hazy's "tomorrow power"—her ability to see visual clues about things that will happen one day in the future—mistakenly causes her to have a brilliant idea for a Pet Day fundraiser, her classmates put her in charge. Hazy's annoyed, until she realizes that if she helps the class win, her parents will finally see that she's responsible enough to get the iguana she's dreaming of. Soon, Hazy’s determined to make sure her team ends up on top—but it’s not so easy when her tomorrow visions keep throwing her plans into disarray!

A wordless picture book about what we lose, what we find, and what we give back.

Jenn’s beloved dog was lost sometime ago. Long enough that she has given up the search. But she still misses her friend. One day she finds a lost dog. She takes him in and despite a rocky start, she grows to love him. Until she spots his picture on a missing poster. His name is Roscoe, and he’s someone else’s best friend. Jenn knows she should return Roscoe, but she really doesn’t want to. Will Jenn do the right thing? Or will she keep this new dog she’s grown to love so much?

Ava and her sisters are thrilled to be getting a kitten. And they all agree that brave, adventurous Tiger is the perfect one for them! But from the moment Tiger arrives, he starts getting into mischief, and Ava can't help worrying about what he might do next. When Tiger disappears one day, Ava is sure that he's gotten into real danger. It's up to her to rescue the kitten - and to do that, she's going to have to be every bit as brave as Tiger.

An NPR Favorite Book of 2019
A New York Times Best Children’s book of 2019
A Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book of 2019
A School Library Journal Best Picture Book of 2019

"An enchanting tale of bravery, heroism, and undying devotion." —The New York Times Book Review

After his best friend Sarah leaves for her first day of school, a tortoise named Truman goes on an adventure across the living room and learns to be brave in this thoughtful and heartwarming twist on a first experience story.

Truman the tortoise lives with his Sarah, high above the taxis and the trash trucks and the number eleven bus, which travels south. He never worries about the world below…until one day, when Sarah straps on a big backpack and does something Truman has never seen before. She boards the bus!

Truman waits for her to return.
He waits.
And waits.
And waits.
And when he can wait no longer, he knows what he must do.

Even if it seems…impossible!

A New York Times Best Children’s Book of 2019

A boy and a dog embark on an out-of-this-world adventure in this whimsical picture book from award-winning author-illustrator Sergio Ruzzier.

This is the story of a boy and his dog.

Or is it a dog and his boy?

Either way, it’s a playful story of friendship and adventure!

A girl seeks her perfect pet at a wonderfully unusual animal shelter in this comical read-aloud by the award-winning creator of Life on Mars

The Copley County Animal Shelter has an aardvark, a lizard, a goose, a weasel, and plenty more. But do they have a puppy? The girl with her wagon is ready to adopt a dog--not an aardvark, lizard, or goose! Can the shelter manager help her to find her perfect pet?

Patrick has been desperate for a dog of his own for as long as he can remember, and this summer, with his father away, he longs for a canine friend more than ever. Meanwhile, in his short doggy life, Oz has suffered at the hands of bad people. Somewhere out there, he believes, is an awesome boy - his boy. And maybe, when they find each other, Oz will learn to bark again?

Frankie Sparks, the self-proclaimed "best inventor in the third grade," does research and creates a tool to try to persuade her classmates that a rat would make the best class pet.

The adorable Palace Pets love being the Disney Princesses' royal companions!

Welcome to the magical world of Palace Pets, where each Disney Princess has a furry pet to love and care for! Get to know Blossom, Mulan's panda, and learn how she became Mulan's fur-ever friend. New readers and Disney Princess Palace Pets fans ages 4 to 6 will love this book, which is full of sweet, cuddly pets--and 30+ stickers! Step 2 readers use basic vocabulary and short sentences to tell simple stories. For children who recognize familiar words and can sound out new words with help.

In a world built for Perfect Pets, Barnabus is a Failed Project, half mouse, half elephant, kept out of sight until his dreams of freedom lead him and his misfit friends on a perilous adventure. A stunning picture book from international bestsellers The Fan Brothers, joined by their brother Devin Fan.

Deep underground beneath Perfect Pets, where children can buy genetically engineered "perfect" creatures, there is a secret lab. Barnabus and his friends live in this lab, but none of them is perfect. They are all Failed Projects. Barnabus has never been outside his tiny bell jar, yet he dreams of one day seeing the world above ground that his pal Pip the cockroach has told him about: a world with green hills and trees, and buildings that reach all the way to the sky, lit with their own stars. But Barnabus may have to reach the outside world sooner than he thought, because the Green Rubber Suits are about to recycle all Failed Projects . . . and Barnabus doesn't want to be made into a fluffier pet with bigger eyes. He just wants to be himself. So he decides it's time for he and the others to escape. With his little trunk and a lot of cooperation and courage, Barnabus sets out to find freedom -- and a place where he and his friends can finally be accepted for who they are.

This suspenseful, poignant and magical story about following your dreams and finding where you truly belong will draw readers into a surreal, lushly detailed world in which perfection really means being true to yourself and your friends.

When Zoe helps out at Aunt Jo's animal rescue, she's caught up in an emergency right away. Three tiny puppies have been abandoned on the doorstep and need nursing back to health, especially the littlest puppy, Cookie. Zoe knows she can't have a dog of her own, but as the days go by, she becomes more and more attached to the puppies, and she love Cookie the most. How will she cope when it's time for Cookie to be adopted?

A sijo, a traditional Korean verse form, has a fixed number of stressed syllables and a humorous or ironic twist at the end. Like haiku, sijo are brief and accessible, and the witty last line winds up each poem with a surprise. The verses in this book illuminate funny, unexpected, amazing aspects of the everyday--of breakfast, thunder and lightning, houseplants, tennis, freshly laundered socks. Carefully crafted and deceptively simple, Linda Sue Park's sijo are a pleasure to read and an irresistible invitation to experiment with an unfamiliar poetic form. Istvan Banyai's irrepressibly giddy and sophisticated illustrations add a one-of-a-kind luster to a book that is truly a gem.

Getting to feel at home in a new country

Yoon's name means Shining Wisdom, and when she writes it in Korean, it looks happy, like dancing figures. But her father tells her that she must learn to write it in English. In English, all the lines and circles stand alone, which is just how Yoon feels in the United States. Yoon isn't sure that she wants to be YOON. At her new school, she tries out different names – maybe CAT or BIRD. Maybe CUPCAKE!

Helen Recorvits's spare and inspiring story about a little girl finding her place in a new country is given luminous pictures filled with surprising vistas and dreamscapes by Gabi Swiatkowska.

My Name Is Yoon is a 2008 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

When a baby sister comes along, it seems she is just too little for anything! Will she ever be big enough to play? To whisper secrets? To eat kimchee? Will she always lie there? Scream for no reason? Be so helpless and little? When a baby sister is just TOO LITTLE to do anything, what's her big sister to do but wait and wait and WAIT . . . and dream about what's to come.
Susan Roth and Nancy Patz have collaborated on a stunning and heartwarming story of two Korean sisters, celebrating in glorious color a universal bond between a tiny baby sister and her loving big sister.

It is Yoon’s birthday and all she wants is a jump rope so she can play with the other girls in the school yard. Instead, Yoon’s mother gives her a Korean storybook about a silly girl who is tricked by a tiger. Yoon also receives a jade bracelet that once belonged to her grandmother. The next day at school, a girl offers to teach Yoon how to jump rope, but for a price: she wants to borrow the jade bracelet. When Yoon tries to get her bracelet back, the girl swears it belongs to her. Yoon must use the lessons learned in her storybook and her “Shining Wisdom” to retrieve the precious keepsake.

In this third book featuring Yoon, lush impressionistic dreamscapes evoke a simple and timeless message: it is possible to trick a tiger.  Yoon and the Jade Bracelet is a 2009 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

My First Book of Korean Words is a beautifully illustrated book that introduces young children to Korean language and culture through everyday words.

The words profiled in this book are all commonly used in the Korean language and are both informative and fun for English-speaking children to learn. The goals of My First Book of Korean Words are multiple: to familiarize children with the sounds and structure of Korean speech, to introduce core elements of Korean culture, to illustrate the ways in which languages differ in their treatment of everyday sounds and to show how, through cultural importation, a single word can be shared between languages.

Both teachers and parents will welcome the book's cultural and linguistic notes, and appreciate how the book is organized in a familiar ABC structure. Each word is presented in Hangeul, as well as in its Romanized form.

With the help of this book, we hope more children (and adults) will soon be a part of the nearly 80 million people worldwide that speak Korean!

In the days when only wealthy Korean children are allowed to attend school, a poor boy named Song-ho learns by listening outside a schoolroom door, which eventually earns him a chance to better himself and make life easier for his widowed mother.

Gently explore the special bond between children and their pets? A shy little girl and her very independent cat, play, hide, and comfort one another. Both children and parents will appreciate how the cat soothes the little girl and silently encourages her to explore the bigger world and experience new things.

The jungle is a noisy place. The elephants BOOM, the rhinos BAM-BAM, the hornbills CAW-CAW and the apes HOO-HAA. But Tapir and Little Tapir don't make a sound. They tiptoe through their days -- until the morning a hungry leopard forces them to run for the lives. Leopard is just about to pounce when BANG! The sound of a hunter's gun stops all three animals in their tracks. Now Leopard must flee -- very quietly, with help from the tapirs. From that day on, Leopard moves with a very soft step as do the rest of the jungle beasts. With elegant pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations, this original pourquoi story is a satisfying and visually arresting tale of quiet rewarded.

Based on the author's childhood in South Korea

The white peaches grown in Puchon are the best in all South Korea, and a rare treat for a little girl who lives in the town. She dreams of a peach orchard where she can play and eat as much of the delicious fruit as she wishes. Then one day, after weeks of heavy downpours, the sky begins to rain peaches. Yangsook finds herself in peach heaven - until she remembers the farmers who have lost their harvest, and decides she must help them.

Paintings with scenes that evoke traditional South Korean landscapes accompany this lovingly told story from the author's childhood.

Beautifully illustrated and told by debut author Julie Kim, this own voices picture book in graphic-novel style follows a young Korean girl and boy whose search for their missing grandmother leads them into a world inspired by Korean folklore, complete with mischievous goblins (dokkebi), a greedy tiger, a clever rabbit, and a wily fox.

Two young children pay a visit to Halmoni (grandmother in Korean), only to discover she's not home. As they search for her, noticing animal tracks covering the floor, they discover a window, slightly ajar, new to their grandmother's home. Their curiosity gets the best of them, and they crawl through and discover an unfamiliar fantastical world, and their adventure begins. As they continue to search for their grandmother and solve the mystery of the tracks, they go deeper into a world of Korean folklore, meeting a number of characters who speak in Korean along the way, and learn more about their cultural heritage.

This beautifully illustrated graphic picture book is filled with a number of Easter eggs for readers of all ages to discover, and is inspired by the Korean folktales that author and illustrator Julie Kim heard while growing up. Translations to Korean text in the story and more about the folktale-inspired characters are included at the end.

Traveling to a foreign country and learning how other people live can be fun, as well as educational. Through authoritative, easy-to-read text and stunning photographs that beautifully capture the spirit of each country, this exciting series invites young readers to explore the world. South Korea is a country with one of the newest and strongest industrial economies in the world. Join this voyage of discovery and take a closer look at the lives of the South Korean people and the land of celadon pottery, taekwondo, and kimchi.