BOX: HENRY BROWN MAILS HIMSELF TO FREEDOM
A 2021 Newbery Honor Book
In a moving, lyrical tale about the cost and fragility of freedom, a New York Times best-selling author and an acclaimed artist follow the life of a man who courageously shipped himself out of slavery.
What have I to fear?
My master broke every promise to me.
I lost my beloved wife and our dear children.
All, sold South. Neither my time nor my body is mine.
The breath of life is all I have to lose.
And bondage is suffocating me.
Henry Brown wrote that long before he came to be known as Box, he “entered the world a slave.” He was put to work as a child and passed down from one generation to the next — as property. When he was an adult, his wife and children were sold away from him out of spite. Henry Brown watched as his family left bound in chains, headed to the deeper South. What more could be taken from him? But then hope — and help — came in the form of the Underground Railroad. Escape!
In stanzas of six lines each, each line representing one side of a box, celebrated poet Carole Boston Weatherford powerfully narrates Henry Brown’s story of how he came to send himself in a box from slavery to freedom. Strikingly illustrated in rich hues and patterns by artist Michele Wood, Box is augmented with historical records and an introductory excerpt from Henry’s own writing as well as a time line, notes from the author and illustrator, and a bibliography.
Boy Who Cried ninja
In this quirky twist on the fable The Boy Who Cried Wolf, a boy’s outrageous excuses turn out to have an unexpected element of truth.
Tim witnesses some strange happenings around his house, but no one believes his explanations. In fact, no matter what Tim says, his parents just punish him with chores. To save himself, he hatches a clever plan to expose the truth. Will it work, or will Tim have to spend the rest of his life raking the yard?
Bubbling with wit and humor from start to finish, author-illustrator Alex Latimer’s debut picture book with wacky characters like ninjas, pirates, crocodiles, and time-traveling monkeys, will have readers of all ages laughing out loud.
BOY WHO DREAMED OF INFINITY: THE TALE OF THE GENIUS RAMANUJAN
A young mathematical genius from India searches for the secrets hidden inside numbers — and for someone who understands him — in this gorgeous picture-book biography.
A mango . . . is just one thing. But if I chop it in two, then chop the half in two, and keep on chopping, I get more and more bits, on and on, endlessly, to an infinity I could never ever reach.
In 1887 in India, a boy named Ramanujan is born with a passion for numbers. He sees numbers in the squares of light pricking his thatched roof and in the beasts dancing on the temple tower. He writes mathematics with his finger in the sand, across the pages of his notebooks, and with chalk on the temple floor. “What is small?” he wonders. “What is big?” Head in the clouds, Ramanujan struggles in school — but his mother knows that her son and his ideas have a purpose. As he grows up, Ramanujan reinvents much of modern mathematics, but where in the world could he find someone to understand what he has conceived?
Author Amy Alznauer gently introduces young readers to math concepts while Daniel Miyares’s illustrations bring the wonder of Ramanujan’s world to life in the inspiring real-life story of a boy who changed mathematics and science forever. Back matter includes a bibliography and an author’s note recounting more of Ramanujan’s life and accomplishments, as well as the author’s father’s remarkable discovery of Ramanujan’s Lost Notebook.
BRAVE BALLERINA: THE STORY OF JANET COLLINS
A lyrical picture book biography of Janet Collins, the first African American principal dancer at the Metropolitan Opera House.
Janet Collins wanted to be a ballerina in the 1930s and 40s, a time when racial segregation was widespread in the United States. Janet pursued dance with a passion, despite being rejected from discriminatory dance schools. When she was accepted into the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo as a teenager on the condition that she paint her skin white for performances, Janet refused. She continued to go after her dreams, never compromising her values along the way. From her early childhood lessons to the height of her success as the first African American prima ballerina in the Metropolitan Opera, Brave Ballerina is the story of a remarkable pioneer as told by Michelle Meadows, with fantastic illustrations from Ebony Glenn.
BRILLIANT DEEP: REBUILDING THE WORLD'S CORAL REEFS
The Brilliant Deep is the proud recipient of the ALA Notable Children’s Books Award, the NSTA-CBC Best STEM Trade Books Award, the Junior Library Guild Selection and the ILA Teacher’s Choices.
All it takes is one: one coral gamete to start a colony in the ocean, one person to make a difference in the world, one idea to help us heal the earth. The ongoing conservation efforts to save and rebuild the world’s coral reefs—with hammer and glue, and grafts of newly grown coral—are the living legacy of environmental scientist Ken Nedimyer, founder of the Coral Restoration Foundation.
In telling the story of this sea conservation pioneer and marine life protector, Kate Messner and Matthew Forsythe create a stunning tribute to the wonders of nature and the power of human hope—a power even the smallest readers can access in their quest to aid our extraordinary planet.
Recommended by experts for children who are reading independently and transitioning to longer books, The Brilliant Deep is perfect for the following reading categories:
- Books for Kids Ages 5-9
- Children’s Books for Kindergarten – 3rd Grade
- Nonfiction Science Studies Education
- Summer Reading
BRUCE'S BIG STORM
BUG GIRL
Real-life 7-year-old Sophia Spencer was bullied for loving bugs until hundreds of women scientists rallied around her. Now Sophie tells her inspiring story in this picture book that celebrates women in science, bugs of all kinds, and the importance of staying true to yourself.
Sophia Spencer has loved bugs ever since a butterfly landed on her shoulder–and wouldn’t leave!–at a butterfly conservancy when she was only two-and-a-half years old. In preschool and kindergarten, Sophia was thrilled to share what she knew about grasshoppers (her very favorite insects), as well as ants and fireflies… but by first grade, not everyone shared her enthusiasm. Some students bullied her, and Sophia stopped talking about bugs altogether. When Sophia’s mother wrote to an entomological society looking for a bug scientist to be a pen pal for her daughter, she and Sophie were overwhelmed by the enthusiastic response–letters, photos, and videos came flooding in. Using the hashtag BugsR4Girls, scientists tweeted hundreds of times to tell Sophia to keep up her interest in bugs–and it worked! Sophia has since appeared on Good Morning America, The Today Show, and NPR, and she continues to share her love of bugs with others.
Camp K-9
When Roxie heads off to Camp K-9 for a fun-filled summer, she’s terrified that the poodle bully may discover her secret. But maybe some of the other dogs have secrets too.
Roxie is excited to be going away to camp, but scared that the other dogs will find out she’s brought her blankie along in her Pooch Pouch. If the other campers find out, they’ll call her a scaredy-cat. Even worse, a mean bully named Lucy seems determined to cause trouble.
Mary Ann Rodman’s lighthearted but meaningful story of summer, secrets, and friendship is complemented by Nancy Hayashi’s warm, humorous illustrations that are sure to comfort anyone who has ever dealt with a bully.
CAN I BE YOUR DOG?
The New York Times bestseller featured on THE TODAY SHOW!
A heart-tugging dog adoption story told through letters–deeply sincere and almost desperate pleas for a forever home–from the dog, himself!
This picture book shares the tale of Arfy, a homeless mutt who lives in a box in an alley. Arfy writes to every person on Butternut Street about what a great pet he’d make. His letters to prospective owners share that he’s house broken! He has his own squeaky bone! He can learn to live with cats! But, no one wants him. Won’t anyone open their heart–and home–to a lonesome dog? Readers will be happily surprised to learn just who steps up to adopt Arfy.
Troy Cummings’s hilarious and touching story is a perfect gift for a child wanting a dog, and for pet adoption advocates. It also showcases many different styles of letter writing, making it appealing to parents and teachers looking to teach the lost art of written communication.
“It’s an instant classic in our household.” –#1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas
Can You Growl Like a Bear
This adorable read-aloud features appealing baby animals and a rhyming text that is sure to please.
From trumpeting like an elephant to howling like a wolf, author-illustrator John Butler delights the very young with this simple, interactive look at different animals and the noises they make.
Butler’s lavish double-page portraits feature wide-eyed animals in their natural surroundings. The simple text invites young children to mimic the animals’ sounds. When all the animals are quiet, readers are encouraged to imitate their animal friends one last time: “It’s time to gently close your eyes and fall fast asleep.”
Captain Small Pig
A charming story of family and a day on the water
Out on Blue Lake with his parents Old Goat and Turkey, Small Pig is ready for an adventure. “I’m Captain Commander!” Small Pig said. “Aye aye, Captain Small Pig!” yawned Old Goat. “You are in charge of this boat!” But Small Pig soon tires of rowing and falls asleep. Before they know it, the boat is drifting across the lake, and grumpy Turkey is in for a soaking!
Martin Waddell’s quirky tale, coupled with Susan Varley’s evocative illustrations, makes for a gentle bedtime story filled with quiet adventure.