Michelle Obama is revealed here through the lens of her official White House photographer and a brief but informative text. Obama’s verve and interests are evident throughout this lively book. For preschoolers, Alison Oliver’s board book, Michele Obama (opens in a new window), can inspire parents to talk with young children about how to “be inspirational” while remaining true to one’s self.
Reach Higher: An Inspiring Photo Celebration of First Lady Michelle Obama
What happens when you plant a seed? With a bit of care, something grows. The first children’s librarian from Puerto Rico, Pura Belpré (for whom an American Library Association literary award is named) planted seeds of stories throughout New York City where she worked, introducing children to tales from her homeland in Spanish and English. Illustrations bring the time and period to life.
Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré
Eliza Schuyler Hamilton’s life and accomplishments come into focus through letters written to an imagined-yet-unborn great granddaughter. Eliza’s insights go beyond that of her famous husband, Alexander (about whom additional material is included at the end). Handsome illustrations evoke a 19th century style and period.
Eliza: The Story of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton
The women in Senator Gillibrand’s family inspired this examination of those active in the women’s suffrage movement from the late 19th to early 20th century. Some like Susan B. Anthony and Harriet Tubman are well known. Others such as Inez Mulholland and Lucy Burns are lesser known. Together, these portraits present an accessible look at early activists. Stylized illustrations enhance the presentation.
Bold and Brave: Ten Heroes Who Won Women the Right to Vote
She was a composer, an instrumentalist, the wife of a man whose name would become synonymous with jazz, and basically a woman before her time. Generous illustrations evoke the period in with Lil lived just as her story in verse suggests her musical talent. Readers will enjoy meeting this fascinating woman. Timeline, additional resources, and documentation are included.
Struttin’ with Some Barbecue: Lil Hardin Armstrong Becomes the First Lady of Jazz
Are you ready to go behind the scenes of our amazing sanitation system? From the history of toilets to the mystery of tap water, each book reveals what goes on after the flush and after the trash has been taken out.
Sewers and the Rats That Love Them
Why do you see lightning before you hear thunder? What keeps the planets orbiting around the sun? What metal is a liquid at room temperature? Using an accessible question-and-answer approach, key concepts in biology, chemistry, physics, earth and general science are explored and demystified. An engaging and fun way to understand how science surrounds us every day.
101 Things Everyone Should Know About Science
Each one-minute mystery (solutions included) exercises critical thinking skills while covering earth, space, life, physical, chemical, and general science. See the second book in the series, (opens in a new window)One Minute Mysteries: 65 More Short Mysteries You Solve With Science (opens in a new window).
One Minute Mysteries: 65 Short Mysteries You Solve With Science!
Bilingual book celebrates the bond between parent and child in the animal kingdom. Babies — whether in snowy dens, warm lagoons, cozy nests, or living rooms — are carried and cuddled, nurtured and nuzzled.
Cuddled and Carried / Consentido y cargado
As seasons change, days get shorter and colder. Animals adapt, children await snow, and there are holidays to celebrate. Straightforward text and crisp photographs document winter and introduce some of its characteristics in informative yet poetic narration.
Hello Winter!
Weather forecasters didn’t expect much from a storm that approached New York City in 1888 so they left for the day. What became a devastating blizzard is presented here in vivid detail with period photographs and riveting narrative. Contemporary readers will recognize many of the changes that were put in place because of this powerful storm.
Blizzard: The Storm That Changed America
A large and diverse group of writers and visual artists present a range of art and writing to encourage young people to use their voices. From essays to poems, from collage to photographs, this handsome volume is sure to inspire as it introduces readers to different forms of expression.
We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices
Sophisticated art portrays a haunting, bigger-than-life Sojourner Truth. When combined with a moving narrative, the result is a unique portrait of Sojourner Truth’s life. A biographical note and sources are included.
So Tall Within: Sojourner Truth’s Long Walk Toward Freedom
It is said that necessity is the mother of invention. And the women readers meet here certainly seem to support that notion. Have you ever seen a baby in a “snugli”? It was invented by a woman who wanted to keep her baby calm. How about “Scotchgard”? This woman came up with it to help wipe away stains. Meet these inventors and others who had good ideas, skill, and stick-to-it-ness.
Girls Think of Everything
Striking illustrations and short chapters capture the drama of the man who walked from the United States to Canada — on a tightrope — over Niagara Falls. This little known event took place in the mid-19th century. Additional information is included.
Crossing Niagara: The Death-Defying Tightrope Adventures of the Great Blondin
Go ahead, dip in. There is something for everyone in this fascinating compendium of information. Organized by general topic, brief, illustrated essays are accessibly written to provide a taste of the topic. A glossary and complete index conclude the volume.
Absolutely Everything! A History of Earth, Dinosaurs, Rulers, Robots and Other Things Too Numerous to Mention
They may appear similar but can really be different. Think noodles and pasta are the same? What about a clementine and a mandarin orange? They’re similar but different. Readers will encounter seemingly same pairs and discover what makes them unique in this handsomely illustrated and fact-filled volume.
What’s the Difference? 40+ Pairs of the Seemingly Similar
Get ready for an archaeological dig then go on to find out more about dinosaurs and how they lived. There are flaps to pull, pop-ups to surprise and lots of interesting detail in this browsing book that may inspire further research.
Ultimate Spotlight: Dinosaurs
Factual information about dolphins — they “come in all sizes, shapes, and colors” and they can even whistle — combines with cartoon illustrations complete with conversation bubbles. An engaging addition to an informative series.
The Truth About Dolphins
The class homework assignment is to draw “12 things, but in sets.” How the kids do it is up to them. Annamarie decides to present 3 types of music represented by 4 instruments each while classmates do it in different, creative ways. This clever presentation is both reading and math (and maybe music) made clear in easy graphic format.
3x4
Fact and fiction combine in this handsomely illustrated, informative, and readable story of a small brown bat. We follow Otis over a period of time until the small brown bats hibernate. Additional information about bats, threats to them and a glossary are included.
The Secret Life of the Little Brown Bat
The gorilla is fierce but a loving father. A porcupine is prickly but gentle. This handsome portrait of animals describes the most familiar trait and then relates behaviors that are very different. Soft monochromatic illustrations are juxtaposed to text that encourages readers to learn more about the animals presented and question common assumptions.
Lovely Beasts: The Surprising Truth
Most of the time animals want to be discreet. But sometimes they want to be noticed. In their signature use of collage, this team presents handsome portraits of a range of animals and information about each. Additional information about the subjects is included at the end.
Look at Me!
If polar bears just disappeared, the world would be very different indeed. But what can young people do? They can change some behaviors, study, learn, write. Similar to the approach in If Sharks Disappeared (opens in a new window), this book informs as well as inspires action.