Press the buttons to hear the music in this time-traveling journey around the world, as young readers embark on an adventure through classical music. From Elgar’s Cello Concerto, to a violin sonata by Beethoven, this book will teach children about cultural history, famous musicians, and musical genres.
Listen to the Music: The Instruments
A NASA voyage to explore Jupiter’s moon, Europa, launched in October 2024 on its 6-year journey is sure to mesmerize readers of all ages as the mystery lies above, beneath, and around us. The poem is written by the U.S. Poet Laureate and engraved on the Europa Clipper, illustrated here by internationally recognized artist. A wonderful book to share aloud, including with older children.
In Praise of Mystery
Pablo is a beret-wearing canine whose favorite subject is cats. Other dogs don’t understand him, and understandably, cats run away from him. Pablo decides to give up his art until befriended by a brave feline. Bold form color and rich language tell a seemingly simply but surprisingly sophisticated tale meant to be shared. Older children may enjoy this board book as well.
Pablo Dreams of Cats
When the name of his all-Asian rock band, The Slants®, was turned down for a patent, Simon Tam took his fight all the way to the Supreme Court. The eight-year battle finally resulted in success. Illustrations use limited color and angular lines to suggest the difficulty of the fight to highlight the name intended to confront bias head-on. Resources included including lyrics to the titular song.
We Sing From the Heart: How The Slants® Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court
Dragons have ignited imaginations around the world. Information is presented through a 19th century handbook found by the granddaughter of the first dragon rider. Letters open and close the volume with imaginative illustrations in a large format in this original, ingenious, and immersive exploration.
A Natural History of Dragons
After a natural death, a whale provides continued life for numerous sea and land creatures for many years. Follow one 90-year-old whale in its environment and after its life has ended, through accessible language and highly informative illustrations in this stunning book.
Life After Whale: The Amazing Ecosystem of a Whale Fall
Poetry and information combine for a joyful and illuminating look at wind. Mixed-media illustrations dance through the pages, concluding with additional resources to discover more about wind.
Wind Is a Dance
A dandelion on the playground grows and grows, captivating children who appreciate its beauty. Not so the adults who rip the flower from the ground, dismaying the students. But dandelions are resilient and so are children in this oversized, slightly subversive tale.
The Weedflower
A mouth is for eating of course, but animals use them for so much more! Discover how some use them for climbing and for storing food and what differentiates similar mouths. Dramatic illustrations and informative inserts create an informative, accessible book. Back matter includes a glossary and additional resources.
Open Wide! Jaw-Dropping Mouths of the Animal World
Words matter but sometimes silence is stronger. That’s why in 1917, a man of words and author of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” (known as the Black National Anthem) organized a silent march down New York City’s Fifth Avenue. Over 10,000 adults and children participated. Additional information and the words to Johnson’s poem concluded this handsome volume.
Let Us March On! James Weldon Johnson and the Silent Protest Parade
Sissy’s younger brother nicknamed Chooch (Cherokee for boy or son) is more trouble than help until he helps Sissy feel better after she has a meltdown. Illustrations capture a specific culture in this universal family story. Backmatter provides additional information about the art and language.
Chooch Helped
Follow an arctic tern as it grows from egg to migrating bird. In Little Brown Nut (opens in a new window) (another book from the same Start Small, Think Big series), watch a small nut grow into a huge tree with a little help from the agoutis. Each book unfolds in text and illustration that can be shared at different levels. Both titles include a large, informative foldout.
Small Speckled Egg
Reluctantly, a child dons itchy winter clothes to accompany her mother to see ice sculptures being created. While there, she loses her beloved toy horse. Magic occurs when they return that evening to see the ice figures at night and the narrator’s horse is found.
A Little Like Magic
Goat and Bunny form a friendship when they discover they both enjoy the same coffee. As the friends do many things together but differently, they know that “It is okay.” Whimsical but detailed illustrations complement the well-told tale.
It Is Okay
Hank is not only a silly goose, but he’s also rude and downright obnoxious making friends miserable. Until they don’t want to deal with him. Lonely Hank becomes a more considerate goose who changes his ways (or does he?) in this slyly funny tale.
Hank Goes Honk
Eddy is lonely as he swims — until one day not one, but two friends appear just outside of the fishbowl. The friends’ identity is revealed when Eddy excitedly jumps out the bowl. Tension is high until a true friendship becomes evident.
A Friend for Eddy
A single word begins each short poem on opposing pages that describe an animal and contrasting attributes: a cautious groundhog appears with the reckless squirrel, a patient spider with a restless blowfly, a playful dolphin with the dignified sperm whale and more in each of the bold, bouncily illustrated pairings in this handsome volume.
Fast Cheetah, Slow Tortoise: Poems of Animal Opposites
The countdown to the change in season begins with one red fox “stalking winter” to twelve excited children “happily meeting spring.” Bold scratchboard illustrations evoke the frozen Alaskan landscape, inspired by the author’s time in Fairbanks.
Counting Winter
A lonely child saves his beloved woods in this magical, highly imaginative tale. Follow the unfolding tale told entirely through gorgeous illustrations.
The Boy and the Elephant
Evocative illustrations and lyrical language follow a young Cherokee child as she cheerfully moves from an urban area to a home where there’s “room to run.”
Being Home
When Bear loses his round red glasses, he sees an elephant and even a snake that turns out to be Giraffe. Bear’s glasses are perched on his head as Giraffe and readers realize. Understated humor is presented in bold shapes and language.
Bear’s Lost Glasses
Even as a chip, the robot knew he was different which was a problem until he stumbled upon an art museum where he found his passion. Wry humor and a bit of wisdom are conveyed in illustration and understated text.
ARTificial Intelligence
Dogs help people in many ways. Guess what jobs the dogs presented in color photographs and simple rhymes perform — including being a best friend.
When Dogs Work
Dogs and cats talk without words! Childlike illustrations and straightforward language describe myriad moods to bring meaning to the familiar ways pets communicate. In the same series: Cat Chat: How Cats Tell Us How They Feel (opens in a new window).