RANDOLPH CALDECOTT: THE MAN WHO COULD NOT STOP DRAWING
Randolph Caldecott is best known as the namesake of the award that honors picture book illustrations, and in this inventive biography, leading children’s literature scholar Leonard Marcus examines the man behind the medal. In an era when the steam engine fueled an industrial revolution and train travel exploded people’s experience of space and time, Caldecott was inspired by his surroundings to capture action, movement, and speed in a way that had never before been seen in children’s picture books. Thoroughly researched and featuring extensive archival material and a treasure trove of previously unpublished drawings, including some from Caldecott’s very last sketchbook, Leonard Marcus’s luminous biography shows why Caldecott was indeed the father of the modern picture book and how his influence lives on in the books we love today.
READY TO FLY: HOW SYLVIA TOWNSEND BECAME THE BOOKMOBILE BALLERINA
An inspiring picture book for little ballerinas everywhere!
Ready to Fly is the true story of Sylvia Townsend, an African American girl who falls in love with ballet after seeing Swan Lake on TV.
Although there aren’t many ballet schools that will accept a girl like Sylvia in the 1950s, her local bookmobile provides another possibility. A librarian helps Sylvia find a book about ballet and the determined seven-year-old, with the help of her new books, starts teaching herself the basics of classical ballet.
Soon Sylvia learns how to fly—how to dance—and how to dare to dream.
Lyrical, easy-to-read, and affecting text paired with bright, appealing illustrations make Ready to Fly perfect for aspiring ballerinas everywhere who are ready to leap and to spread their wings.
Includes a foreword from Sylvia Townsend, a brief history of the bookmobile, an author’s note, and a further reading list.
REAL MOTHER GOOSE NURSERY RHYMES
For more than seventy-five years THE REAL MOTHER GOOSE has been delighting millions of children, and today the magic is as strong as ever. Heralded as the “standard” Mother Goose by parents, grandparents, teachers, and librarians, this wonderful book with Blanche Fisher Wright’s lively, colorful pictures makes an enchanting introduction for the very young.
Mother Goose rhymes are a vital part of childhood. And this collection of essential rhymes have been reproduced exactly as they have been repeated from generation to generation.
RESCUE AND JESSICA: A LIFE CHANGING FRIENDSHIP
Based on a real-life partnership, the heartening story of the love and teamwork between a girl and her service dog will illuminate and inspire.
Rescue thought he’d grow up to be a Seeing Eye dog — it’s the family business, after all. When he gets the news that he’s better suited to being a service dog, he’s worried that he’s not up to the task. Then he meets Jessica, a girl whose life is turning out differently than the way she’d imagined it, too. Now Jessica needs Rescue by her side to help her accomplish everyday tasks. And it turns out that Rescue can help Jessica see after all: a way forward, together, one step at a time. An endnote from the authors tells more about the training and extraordinary abilities of service dogs, particularly their real-life best friend and black lab, Rescue.
RHYME CRIME
From the creator of Splat! comes more playful, irreverent, kid-empowering fun–with a rhyming twist.
In this buoyant rhyming romp, words have gone mysteriously missing: Who stole Marlow’s happy smile, and replaced it with a crocodile? Who swiped Dingle’s sneeze–aaaaachooo!–and left a stinky cheese? The thief took Tumble’s orange, and switched it with a . . . with a . . . Hey, does anything rhyme with orange? No? Aha! Could this be the rhyming robber’s undoing? Guided by bright, clever artwork, kids are empowered to put the final clues together for themselves to solve this silly rhyme crime, then guess at the name-nabber’s next sneaky move. Splendid, satisfying, inspiring.
“Rhyming wordplay. . . [and] even more hysterical laughter.” —Kirkus
“The creator of Splat! offers more page-turn-based tomfoolery” —Booklist
SAME, SAME BUT DIFFERENT
Elliot lives in America, and Kailash lives in India. They are pen pals. By exchanging letters and pictures, they learn that they both love to climb trees, have pets, and go to school. Their worlds might look different, but they are actually similar. Same, same. But different!
Through an inviting point-of-view and colorful, vivid illustrations, this story shows how two boys living oceans apart can be the best of friends.
SATURDAY
In this warm and tender story by the Caldecott Honor-winning creator of Thank You, Omu!, join a mother and daughter on an up-and-down journey that reminds them of what’s best about Saturdays: precious time together.
Today would be special. Today would be splendid. It was Saturday! But sometimes, the best plans don’t work out exactly the way you expect….
In this heartfelt and universal story, a mother and daughter look forward to their special Saturday routine together every single week. But this Saturday, one thing after another goes wrong–ruining storytime, salon time, picnic time, and the puppet show they’d been looking forward to going to all week. Mom is nearing a meltdown…until her loving daughter reminds her that being together is the most important thing of all.
Author-artist Oge Mora’s highly anticipated follow up to Caldecott Honor Thank You, Omu! features the same magnificently radiant artwork and celebration of sharing so beloved in her debut picture book.
Scarecrow"s Hat
In this classroom favorite, a resourceful chicken enlists her farm friends to get a coveted hat from Scarecrow. A delightful circular tale and fall read-aloud!
“Great for storytelling, with big beautiful pictures for a topper.” ?Kirkus Reviews
Chicken really admires Scarecrow’s hat. Scarecrow would gladly trade his hat for a walking stick to rest his tired arms. Chicken doesn’t have a walking stick to trade—but she knows someone who does.
Author-illustrator Ken Brown pairs vivid, realistic watercolors with an inventive plot, engaging sequencing and repetition and to tell a charming circular story packed with relatable themes of friendship, bartering, and problem solving. An ideal storytime choice for autumn and harvest themes.
Also available from Ken Brown:
What’s the Time, Grandma Wolf?
Awards:
Children’s Literature Choice List (Picture Books, Ages 4-8) ?Children’s Literature
Best Bets for the Classroom (Picture Books) ?Virginia Center for Children’s Books
Nevada Young Readers’ Award (Nominee, Picture Books) ?Nevada Library Association
SEE THE CAT: THREE STORIES ABOUT A DOG
Winner of the 2021 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award
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!
Seed Magic
In a barren, gray city, Rose dreams of gardens full of red and yellow and blue flowers.
Rose and her brothers mock crazy old Birdman, who sits in his wheelchair all day feeding seeds to the pigeons. Birdman says pigeons are beautiful, but Rose dreams of gardens like the ones she sees in her library books. So when Birdman fills Rose’s hands with slick, black seeds and tells her they are magic, she plants the seeds outside her window and waits. Soon, like Birdman promised, a garden appears before her eyes—a singing flurry of red and yellow and blue, drawn to Rose’s window by seed magic.
Jane Buchanan’s rhythmic prose and Charlotte Riley-Webb’s vibrant and striking illustrations bring to life a story of community, connection, hope, and unexpected beauty.