SteamTeam Books for 2024

January Releases

Cedar Pruitt is the author of the children’s books FIRE FLIGHT: A Wildfire Escape, about an owl’s real-life surprise ride in a firefighting helicopter, and the forthcoming WHAT MARCEL FOUND: The Incredible Discovery of the Lascaux Cave Paintings, illustrated by David Litchfield and releasing in 2026. Cedar Pruitt holds an Ed.M. from Harvard University and works as a consultant of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. She lives in Massachusetts with her family. Find her at www.CedarPruitt.com

Flames consume a forest, and an owl seeks refuge. Helicopter wings chop, and water drops to drench the branches below. Using spare, lyrical language, this debut picture book takes readers inside the journey of a screech owl that fled the flames to ride along with a firefighting helicopter during the 2020 California Creek wildfire. Vivid imagery highlights the fear and danger of the experience--as well as an astonishing moment of connection. Hardcover 9781684468867 PURCHASE

Marie-Therese Miller is an award-winning author of more than 35 nonfiction books for children and teens. Her recent selections include Sly as a Fox: Are Foxes Clever? Dogs (An Early Encyclopedia), States of Matter: A Sesame Street Science Book, Being Thankful with Gabrielle A Book About Gratitude, and Esports Superstars. Miller earned her PhD in English from St. John’s University, where her academic focus was James Thurber’s humorous writing. She teaches Children’s and YA Literature at Marist College.

Space holds some of the universe's biggest mysteries. Blast off into the unknown with stunning photographs and gentle introductions to new vocabulary. Readers will discover incredible facts about moon missions, planets, stars, and more in this entertaining, high-interest book. Library 9798765609040 PURCHASE, Paperback 9798765625170 PURCHASE

Minecraft is one of the world's hottest games, with millions of active players globally. Multiple modes give players freedom to choose how they want to play the game and interact with their surroundings. Read about the game's most dangerous enemies, its rarest ores, and more in this one-stop collection of fun facts! Library 9798765609002 PURCHASE, Paperback 9798765625132 PURCHASE

Laura Gehl is the award-winning author of more than fifty books for young readers, including lift-the-flap books, board books, picture books, early readers, and middle grade nonfiction. Laura’s books have received many awards and honors, including Kirkus best picture books of the year selection, Junior Library Guild selection, Indie Next List, CCBC choices selection, ALA Notable selection, Booklist Editors’ Choice, Amazon Editors’ Choice, Charlotte Zolotow Highly Commended Title, ILA Honor Book, and the Mathical Award. Her books have also appeared on state and national reading lists and been translated into numerous languages. Laura's new books for 2024 include Who Laid These Eggs?, Saving Delicia, and Snow Is. When she isn't writing, Laura enjoys reading, hiking, and eating ice cream. She lives in Maryland with her husband and four children, but you can also visit her online at lauragehl.com

Young children may know that birds lay eggs. Do they know that snakes, alligators, fish, and insects lay eggs too? In this innovative lift-the-flap book, kids see eggs on each spread and can guess which animal laid them. When little readers lift each flap to see if their guess is correct, they will also find a simple, age-appropriate fact about the animal. Hardcover: 9781419756627 PURCHASE

Megan Hoyt first fell in love with reading on a cozy branch of the crabapple tree outside her Dallas, Texas, home, where she feasted on books about Narnia and Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time took her out of this world. Her debut picture book biography, Bartali's Bicycle, was a Jewish Book Award finalist, a Junior Library Guild selection, a New York Public Library Best Kids Book, and a Cybils Award finalist, and it was on the Texas Topaz Festival List and the Master List for the Texas Bluebonnet Award. Her next book, The Greatest Song of All: How Isaac Stern United the World to Save Carnegie Hall, was an SCBWI Golden Kite Award finalist. Two more non-fiction picture books quickly followed: A Grand Idea: How William J. Wilgus Created Grand Central Terminal, and Kati’s Tiny Messengers: Dr. Katalin Kariko and the Battle Against Covid-19, as well as a Jewish-themed picture book, Tzimmes for Tzipporah. She lives near Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband, son, and two fluffy pups.

There is a building in New York City that once housed a tennis court, a movie theater, an art gallery, a whispering corner, a secret passageway, a huge library, and even a ski slope! This colossal architectural masterpiece is Grand Central Terminal, and it was the work of one brilliant man who wanted to create a new electric-powered train system and knew he needed to house this special fleet somewhere exceptional. His grand idea of a solution? An underground multi-level train station that would become an iconic New York landmark. A Grand Idea is a thoughtful STEM picture book biography about the brilliant architect of Grand Central Terminal, William J. Wilgus. It is a celebration of resilience in the face of adversity, creative problem solving, and, of course, trains! Hardcover 9780063064744 PURCHASE

February Releases

Melissa Stewart has written more than 200 science-themed nonfiction books for children, including the Sibert Medal Honoree Summertime Sleepers: Animals that Estivate, illustrated by Sarah S. Brannen. She co-wrote 5 Kinds of Nonfiction: Enriching Reading and Writing Instruction with Children’s Books and edited the anthology Nonfiction Writers Dig Deep: 50 Award-winning Authors Share the Secret of Engaging Writing. Melissa’s highly-regarded website features a rich array of nonfiction reading and writing resources.

Nature is full of shapes. You can find a circle in a spider web, a rectangle in a bug's body, and a star in a blooming flower. Look around. What shapes can you find? Hardcover 9781478887744 PURCHASE

Christine Van Zandt is an editor, writer, and award-winning author. Her nonfiction picture books include A Brief History of Underpants (becker&mayer! kids, 2021) and, Milkweed for Monarchs (Beaming Books, 2024). She lives in Los Angeles, California, with her family. You can find her at www.ChristineVanZandt.com.

Bold, gold, the chrysalis gleams. And deep down inside . . . the butterfly dreams. Every year, monarch butterflies migrate to warmer climates for overwintering months. However, changing environments make it continually more difficult to find food and places to lay eggs. In this nonfiction picture book, the monarch's life cycle is detailed in lyrical verse as stunning art accompanies each stage in the butterfly's life. The most recognizable butterfly, monarchs are classified as a vulnerable species by the IUCN, and face drastic challenges when it comes to locating food sources--milkweed. Milkweed for Monarchs is the perfect resource for young readers to learn more about these beautiful insects and how they can foster monarch-friendly environments in their own backyard. Backmatter includes actionable ways for readers to help this vulnerable species. Hardcover 9781506489308 PURCHASE

Award-winning author Laurie Wallmark writes picture book biographies of women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) as well as other types of children’s books. Her books have earned multiple starred trade reviews, been chosen as Junior Library Guild Selections, and received awards such as Outstanding Science Trade Book, Best STEM Book, Cook Prize Honor Book, Crystal Kite Award, Mathical Honor Book, and Parents’ Choice Gold Medal. Her titles include ADA BYRON LOVELACE AND THE THINKING MACHINE, GRACE HOPPER: QUEEN OF COMPUTER CODE, HEDY LAMARR’S DOUBLE LIFE, CODE BREAKER, SPY HUNTER, and THE QUEEN OF CHESS. Laurie has an MFA in Writing from VCFA and is a former software engineer and computer science professor. You can find Laurie on the Web at www.lauriewallmark.com and @lauriewallmark.

A powerful story of hope about a woman who fought against all odds to become the first Indian American female astronaut. Kalpana Chawla set her sights on flight from an early age. She was told "no" many times in life: No, girls don't study aerospace. No, women don't become astronauts. No, you won't succeed in the United States. But Kalpana didn't listen--she was too busy forging her own path to the stars. And after a long journey of dedication, perseverance, and patience, she finally made it to space. Her inspiring story is a powerful reminder for girls all over the world to never, ever give up on their dreams. Based on the true story of the first female Indian American astronaut, Journey to the Stars details the challenges and triumphs of Kalpana Chawla's life up through her first journey into space. Her story is sure to inspire educators and parents interested in encouraging curiosity and a passion for STEM in girls and boys. Backmatter includes an author's note and a timeline of Kalpana's life and awards. Hardcover 9781506484693 PURCHASE

March Releases

Nora Nickum leads conservation policy work for the Seattle Aquarium and writes articles and books for children about STEM and nature topics, including Superpod: Saving the Endangered Orcas of the Pacific Northwest, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection. Nora lives with her family on an island in Washington state. Some of her favorite holes include ones on the beach where water may suddenly squirt up from hidden clams.

This book is chock full of holes--shallow and miles deep, microscopic and visible from space, human-caused and natural, mysterious and maddeningly familiar. When you think of holes, what comes to mind? Maybe the irritating hole in your sock. Or the hole on the shelf where you plucked out this book. But did you know there are holes that suddenly devour entire gas stations? Big holes in the ocean that are visible from space? Small holes in balls that prevent a backyard home run? A hole is a part of something where there's nothing at all. Holes are investigated by scientists, used by artists, designed by engineers, and fixed by problem-solvers. They can be natural or human-made, big or small, plentiful or scarce, mysterious or painfully familiar. Many are important to our everyday lives, whether we give them credit or not. HARDCOVER 9781682636008 PURCHASE

Jessica Stremer is an award-winning children’s author who combines her love of science and writing to create books that inspire kids to explore and think critically about the world around them. Her titles include GREAT CARRIER REEF (a Junior Library Guild Gold Star Standard), LIGHTS OUT: A Movement to Help Migrating Birds, and FIRE ESCAPE: How Animals and Plants Survive Wildfires. Jessica obtained a B.S. in Biology, with an emphasis in Ecology, from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Jessica received honorable mention for the SCBWI 2021 Ann Whitford Paul award, took first place for her nonfiction entry in the 2021 Rate Your Story writing competition, and received honorable mention for her entries in the 2021, 2022, and 2023 50 Precious Words writing competition. When not writing, Jessica loves spending time outdoors with her family and rewilding her yard in Wisconsin.

Based on the real-life Lights Out movement, this inspirational picture book shows how even the smallest of actions, like flipping a switch, can make a big difference in helping migrating birds.
When the seasons change and it's time for a flock of sparrows to move on, a map made of stars guides their way. But when they reach the city, light pollution masks the map and confuses the birds. One sparrow becomes separated from the flock. A girl rescues the lost sparrow and decides to take action so this doesn't happen again. She rallies a group of friends, and together they encourage people all over the city to help the sparrows by turning off their lights at night. But will the city be ready by the time the flock return? HARDCOVER 9781665931977 PURCHASE

Award-winning author Alison Pearce Stevens was a science professor until life took her overseas, at which point she started writing about science and nature for kids, because she’s an educator at heart and had to find new ways to share cool things with the world's most curious people. Alison writes lots of fun nonfiction: articles, picture books, and middle grade books. All of her work is inspired by a love of science and nature. Rhinos in Nebraska: The Amazing Discovery of the Ashfall Fossil Beds and Animal Climate Heroes were both named Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selections. Rhinos also won the Nebraska Book Award in three categories. You can learn more about her at apstevens.com.

In our left corner we have the meanest villain that’s ever existed. Responsible for rising seas and loss of biodiversity, it’s climate change ready to wreak havoc on Earth. But in our right corner? We have four superheroes ready to save the day! But we can’t leave them in this fight alone. We need to protect our heroes who, in return, defend our planet. Get ready to learn all about these four legged, and two-flippered, creatures and how YOU can be a climate hero too! HARDCOVER 9781250847348 PURCHASE

Laurie Ann Thompson grew up in the fields and forests of northern Wisconsin and now lives between the mountains and the sea in Washington State. A master naturalist and former software engineer, she writes to help her readers—and herself—better understand the world we all share. Laurie is the author of several award-winning nonfiction books, including Emmanuel’s Dream, winner of the ALA Schneider Family Book Award.

The third in the adorable, STEM nonfiction picture book series that encourages very young readers to learn—through gentle interactivity and play—about the animals who share their world. Flit, flap, flutter! You might have seen a robin flying overhead or heard one singing in the trees. Did you know that robins tidy themselves up, teach their babies to find food, and are almost fully grown in just two weeks? From birth to first flutter and beyond, discover all that goes into being a robin in this charming picture book, the third in the Meet Your World series. This playful and informative series invites you to take a closer look at the amazing animals that live right alongside you in rural, suburban, and urban landscapes across North America. In each book, words and art inspire you to act out animal actions that are not so different from your own habits. And robust backmatter offers even more facts and fun. From the animals’ families and foods to their environments and behaviors, let’s meet your world! HARDCOVER 9780593529751 PURCHASE

Swish, swoosh, fly! You might have heard the words “busy as a bee,” but what do bees actually do each day? Did you know bees clean their rooms, help feed baby bees, and build the hive they live in? From birth to first flight and beyond, discover all that goes into being a bee in this charming picture book, the first in the Meet Your World series. BOARD 9780593529690 PURCHASE
Crawl, cling climb! You may have seen a raccoon scurry up a tree or across the road just before dark. Did you know that raccoons stay up at night playing, hunting, and eating when you go to sleep? From birth to first stripes and beyond, discover all that goes into being a raccoon in this charming picture book, the second in the Meet Your World series. BOARD 9780593529720 PURCHASE

Annette Whipple celebrates curiosity and inspires a sense of wonder while exciting readers about science and history. She’s the author of many fact-filled children’s books including The Laura Ingalls Wilder Companion: A Chapter-by-Chapter Guide (Chicago Review Press), Ribbit! The Truth About Frogs (Reycraft Books) in The Truth About series, and Quirky Critter Devotions: 52 Wild Wonders for Kids (Tyndale). When Annette’s not reading or writing, you might find her baking for her family in Pennsylvania. Get to know her and explore her resources for teachers and writers at www.AnnetteWhipple.com.

Quirky Critter Devotions sets you on an animal-themed expedition to uncover wildly weird facts, journal your thoughts, and gain hands-on experience with zoo-tastic activities! Discover a wide range of crazy-cool critters spanning seven animal categories—mammals, insects, amphibians, birds, fish, reptiles, and spiders. From familiar faces like turtles and honey bees to incredible creatures like the Goliath bird-eating spider, this devotional is sure to cultivate a passion for God’s Word and his creation. Hardcover 9781496477002 PURCHASE

A former teacher, Karen Jameson holds a master’s degree in education. She has found the perfect way to combine her love for language, learning, poetry, and animals in her prolific picture book career. Karen is the author of WOODLAND DREAMS, FARM LULLABY, WHERE THE WEE ONES GO, and the forthcoming WAKE UP WOODLANDS (Chronicle), TIME TO SHINE (Groundwood), and A LLAMA IS NOT AN ALPACA (Running Press Kids) and many more.

Celebrate the promise and potential of spring in this effervescent follow-up to Woodland Dreams. Oh, the promise of spring and a new day! A honeybee, bear cub, bunny, squirrel, fawns, and more wake up as the landscape brims and bursts with spring firsts. In this beautifully illustrated picture book follow-up to their beloved bedtime book, Karen Jameson and Marc Boutavant offer a lyrical and reassuring ode to the morning and a celebration of a new season, affirming the power of greeting the day with energy, positivity, and hope. HARDCOVER 9781797215037 PURCHASE

Cover of A PLACE FOR RAIN by Michelle Schaub showing the title in pink in a cloud. Below, children in colorful rain coats and boots tend a garden with a rain barrel in it.

Michelle Schaub is an award-winning children’s author and poet. She loves using wordplay and the sounds and rhythms of language to delight, inspire, and empower kids, especially when it comes to caring for the Earth and each other. Her books include Fresh-Picked Poetry: A Day at the Farmers’ Market, which won the 2018 Growing Good Kids Award and 2019 Northern Lights Book Award; Finding Treasure: A Collection of Collections, a National Council of Teachers of English notable poetry book for 2020; Dream Big, Little Scientists; and Kindness is A Kite String. Michelle lives in Colorado with her husband, three children, and a golden retriever named Bear. When she’s not writing, you’ll find Michelle hiking in nature, biking, and visiting her local farmers markets.

A spring storm brings the chance to build a rain garden in this charming, actionable picture book about protecting our waterways. HARDCOVER 9781324052357 PURCHASE

Cover of Leafy Landmarks: Travels with Trees, by Michelle Schaub, shows a multi-ethnic family of mom, dad, two kids and a dog in a red SUV driving down a road with trees all around.

Michelle Schaub is an award-winning children’s author and poet. She loves using wordplay and the sounds and rhythms of language to delight, inspire, and empower kids, especially when it comes to caring for the Earth and each other. Her books include Fresh-Picked Poetry: A Day at the Farmers’ Market, which won the 2018 Growing Good Kids Award and 2019 Northern Lights Book Award; Finding Treasure: A Collection of Collections, a National Council of Teachers of English notable poetry book for 2020; Dream Big, Little Scientists; and Kindness is A Kite String. Michelle lives in Colorado with her husband, three children, and a golden retriever named Bear. When she’s not writing, you’ll find Michelle hiking in nature, biking, and visiting her local farmers markets.

Part geography, part history, and part nature celebration, this poetry picture book takes readers on a trek to discover famous and historic trees across the United States, including the oldest trees on Earth, trees that traveled to the moon, and trees that inspire wishes for the future. HARDCOVER 9781534112872 PURCHASE

Leslie Barnard Booth writes picture books about nature and science. She is the author of A Stone Is a Story (S&S/McElderry, 2023), and the forthcoming books One Day This Tree Will Fall (S&S/McElderry, 2024) and I Am We (Chronicle, 2025). She has taught at preschool, elementary, and college levels and holds an MS in education and an MFA in creative writing. Leslie lives in Portland, Oregon. For more information, visit lesliebarnardbooth.com.

Discover how a tree’s wounds and decay bring new life to the forest ecosystem in this lyrical nonfiction picture book for fans of Because of an Acorn and A Stone Sat Still. HARDCOVER 9781534496965 PURCHASE

April Releases

Dr. Marc Kuchner lives in Rhode Island with his two children, his wife, and a Venus flytrap named Popcorn. Need a Dad joke? Or a long-winded explanation of a random topic in astrophysics? Dr. Kuchner can hook you up. Marc was born in Montreal, Canada, and he earned his Ph.D. in 2001 from Caltech. He’s scienced at Harvard, Princeton and NASA and written more than 100 scientific papers on topics such as exoplanets, white dwarfs, brown dwarfs, exotic binaries, debris disks, Kuiper belt objects, young stellar objects, gamma ray bursts, and supernovae. Neil deGrasse Tyson called Kuchner's Marketing for Scientists book “the first of its kind”. The Cosmic Collisions series is Kuchner's children's book debut.

There's a comet speeding in from the outer solar system, and it's about to slam into an asteroid. Who will be left standing after this interplanetary smackdown? The pockmarked asteroid, a veteran fighter who's already seen some action? Or the dazzling comet, with its incredible velocity and a tail that stretches millions of miles? Kicking off a dynamic series on cosmic collisions, Asteroid vs. Comet starts by comparing the two opponents, then offers hints and context to encourage readers to use real science to form a hypothesis. Action-packed full-color illustrations with a graphic, comic-book feel will attract reluctant readers and kids who love smash-and-crash, along with budding scientists. Curious readers can find back matter addressing the question of fact versus fiction, how to become a citizen scientist, and comets and asteroids in the news. HARDCOVER 9781536236637 PURCHASE

Jennifer Swanson is the author of 40+ nonfiction books for kids. She is the creator and cohost of the Solve It! For Kids podcast which, in its two years of being on air, has 40k+ downloads, is ranked in the top 5% of all podcasts Worldwide, and is #1 in the Top 10 Best Podcasts for Learning by All Digital School. Her passion for science and technology resonates in all of her books but especially, Brain Games, named one of the 50 Best Science Books Ever by ThePlanets.org, Astronaut-Aquanaut, BEASTLY Bionics, and Parents’ Choice Gold Award Winner, Save the Crash-test Dummies. Her books have received starred reviews, been on the Booklist ‘Best Tech’ books list, won a Green Earth Book Honor Award, three Florida Book Awards, California Reading Association awards, and multiple National Science Teaching BEST STEM awards. Jennifer’s Outdoor School: Rocks, Fossils, and Shells book was named a 2021 Kirkus Best Books of the Year, and her Save the Crash-test Dummies book received a Parent’s Choice GOLD Award. Jennifer is an accomplished speaker at events and schools around the country, the Highlights Foundation, the National NSTA conferences, the World Science Festival in NYC, and the Library of Congress’ National Book Festival.

Take a deep dive with scientists exploring a sunken cypress forest that had been undisturbed in the Gulf of Mexico for fifty thousand years. Page Plus links lead to videos of the scientists at work. HARDCOVER 9781728493015 PURCHASE

Lydia Lukidis is the author of 50+ trade and educational books for children. Her titles include DANCING THROUGH SPACE: Dr. Mae Jemison Soars to New Heights (Albert Whitman, 2024), DEEP, DEEP, DOWN: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench (Capstone, 2023) which was shortlisted for a Silver Birch Express (Forest of Reading) award and nominated for a Cybils award, THE BROKEN BEES’ NEST (Kane Press, 2019) which was nominated for a Cybils Award, and NO BEARS ALLOWED (Clear Fork Media, 2019). A science enthusiast from a young age, she now incorporates her studies in science and her everlasting curiosity into her books.

The true story of Dr. Mae Jemison, whose lifelong passions of science and dance prepared her to become a trailblazing astronaut. Today, Dr. Mae Jemison is famous for being the first Black woman to travel into outer space. But when she was growing up, she felt torn between two passions: science and dance. It seemed like an impossible choice. There had to be some way to make room for both―and Mae found one. As an adult, she combined her gifts of scientific logic and artistic creativity and became an astronaut. HARDCOVER 9780807514580 PURCHASE

Lindsay H. Metcalf is a former journalist who writes nonfiction and poetry for children. Her books include Beatrix Potter, Scientist, a Mighty Girl Best Book of 2020 and Young People’s Literature Award winner from the Friends of American Writers Chicago; Farmers Unite! Planting a Protest for Fair Prices, a Kansas Notable Book, Friends of American Writers honoree, NCSS/CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Book, and Junior Library Guild selection; and No Voice Too Small: Fourteen Young Americans Making History, a Kirkus and Chicago Public Library Best Book, Notable Social Studies Trade Book, and NCTE Notable Poetry Book. Her latest title, No World Too Big: Young People Fighting Global Climate Change, is a poetry anthology from the team behind No Voice Too Small (Charlesbridge, spring 2023). Forthcoming: Outdoor Farm, Indoor Farm, illustrated by Xin Li (Astra Young Readers, spring 2024). Lindsay lives in north-central Kansas with her husband, two sons, and a menagerie of pets.

Discover how both outdoor and indoor farms sustainably grow the food we eat throughout the year in this vibrant, rhyming picture book. Outdoor farm, tractors toil. Indoor farm, zero soil. With energetic, enchanting verse and sunshiny, colorful illustrations, discover how the food you eat is grown both outside—and inside! Join two children as they explore the inner workings of an outdoor farm and an indoor farm. You’ll see how a variety of amazing machinery like tractors and drones along with innovative farming techniques yield the wonderful food we all love to enjoy. HARDCOVER 9781635925913 PURCHASE

Laura Gehl is the award-winning author of more than fifty books for young readers, including lift-the-flap books, board books, picture books, early readers, and middle grade nonfiction. Laura’s books have received many awards and honors, including Kirkus best picture books of the year selection, Junior Library Guild selection, Indie Next List, CCBC choices selection, ALA Notable selection, Booklist Editors’ Choice, Amazon Editors’ Choice, Charlotte Zolotow Highly Commended Title, ILA Honor Book, and the Mathical Award. Her books have also appeared on state and national reading lists and been translated into numerous languages. Laura's new books for 2024 include Who Laid These Eggs?, Saving Delicia, and Snow Is. When she isn't writing, Laura enjoys reading, hiking, and eating ice cream. She lives in Maryland with her husband and four children.

From the award-winning team who created Apple and Magnolia comes a beautiful story introducing the concept of seed banks. When the last delicia tree is in danger of extinction, a young girl creates a seed bank as a surprise for Old Otis, whose stories have inspired her. Kari's favorite parts of summer are eating juicy fruit from the delicia tree and listening to stories from Old Otis. But now the last remaining delicia is in danger. What if this beloved tree dies out? Is there anything one girl can do? With inspiration, information, and a pocketful of seeds, Kari sets out to craft a surprise for Otis--and for the future. This tender story celebrates the connections between generations, emphasizing that small steps can have a big impact when one looks beyond the present. An author's note about seed banks around the world is included. HARDCOVER 9781947888449 PURCHASE

Gabi Snyder is a fan of the unexpected and is the author of several picture books. Her debut, TWO DOGS ON A TRIKE, illustrated by Robin Rosenthal, was a Kirkus Best Picture Books of 2020 selection. Her second picture book, LISTEN, illustrated by Stephanie Graegin, was a 2022 Oregon Book Award finalist. Gabi’s most recent title, COUNT ON US!, illustrated by Sarah Walsh, is the winner of the 2022 Sigurd F. Olson Nature Writing Award in the children’s category. Gabi is also the author of the upcoming picture books TODAY (2024) and LOOK (2024). She studied psychology at the University of Washington and creative writing at The University of Texas and is a member of SCBWI. When she’s not writing, she loves taking nature walks, visiting Little Free Libraries, and baking sweet treats. She lives in Oregon with her family.

This timely picture book with beautiful diorama illustrations shows that if you really look, you never know what the world might give you to see. The natural world is full of patterns to enjoy for those who can ground themselves, be mindful, and truly see. HARDCOVER 9781665905404 PURCHASE

Lisa Varchol Perron is the author of several books for children, including Patterns Everywhere (JLG Gold Standard Selection, Golden Kite Finalist, SLJ Starred Review), My Love for You (Amazon Editor's Pick, A Mighty Girl Pick of the Day), and Tell Me About Space (NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book)--a companion title to Tell Me About Oceans. Her poetry has been featured in numerous anthologies and magazines, including Highlights High Five, Spider, Ladybug, Babybug, The Caterpillar, Tyger Tyger, The School Magazine, and more. Lisa lives outside of Boston, Massachusetts, where she enjoys going on coastal hikes with her family.

A child gets answers to their many questions about the ocean in this rhyming, fact-filled nonfiction board book perfect for curious minds. Tell me why the ocean moves in waves that splish and splash. Wind on water makes those waves that hit the shore and crash! A child asks their grownup many questions about the ocean. From what creates waves, what lives in the deep sea, what makes the ocean blue, and more, scientific facts are conveyed in accessible language. Sidebars on each spread provide even more information for every question asked and answered. BOARD BOOK 9781665935593 PURCHASE

Nicholas Hummingbird is a native plant expert and plant activist. When Nicholas was a child, his Cahuilla and Apache great-grandparents taught him to listen to plants and how to steward their lands wisely and with respect. Today he keeps their memories and stories alive through his work restoring habitat and bringing nature back to concrete urban spaces. He and his young son, Tuhui, whose name means the first drop of rain, enjoy hiking, cooking, and reading picture books. Nicholas lives in Ventura, California.

Julia Wasson is an educator and curriculum designer. She and her husband tend a small native plant garden on their Hollywood curb strip. Their adult children live nearby.
Our people believe spirit lives in everything. Mountain, river, wind, tree. Come, take a walk with me. What do we learn from plants when we listen to them speaking? Indigenous plantsman Nicholas Hummingbird calls on the legacy of his great-grandparents to remember how one drop of rain, one seed, one plant can renew a cycle of hope and connection—for him and for each of us. Perfect for readers of Sy Montgomery, debut authors Nicholas Hummingbird and Julia Wasson joyfully proclaim even the youngest person can be an earth protector. With gorgeous illustrations from Rock Your Mocs artist Madelyn Goodnight, Can You Hear the Plants Speak? encourages us to engage with the natural world.

Our people believe spirit lives in everything. Mountain, river, wind, tree. Come, take a walk with me. What do we learn from plants when we listen to them speaking? Indigenous plantsman Nicholas Hummingbird calls on the legacy of his great-grandparents to remember how one drop of rain, one seed, one plant can renew a cycle of hope and connection—for him and for each of us. Perfect for readers of Sy Montgomery, debut authors Nicholas Hummingbird and Julia Wasson joyfully proclaim even the youngest person can be an earth protector. With gorgeous illustrations from Rock Your Mocs artist Madelyn Goodnight, Can You Hear the Plants Speak? encourages us to engage with the natural world. HARDCOVER 9780063221284 PURCHASE

Laura Segal Stegman is a Los Angeles-based publicity consultant and author whose middle grade debut novel, Summer of L.U.C.K., its sequel, Ready or Not (both Five-Star Readers' Favorite Award winners), and The Chambered Nautilus, third in Young Dragons Press’ L.U.C.K. trilogy, are available wherever books are sold. L.A. Parent Magazine lauded Summer of L.U.C.K. as a "good read," and middle grade/young adult author Frank Morelli praised Ready or Not as “filled with magic, time travel, and a healthy dose of courage from its deeply authentic cast of characters.” Rob Kent, Middle Grade Ninja podcast host, called The Chambered Nautilus, “a fun, fast-paced read with a whole lot of heart and whimsy.” Laura’s PR Tips for Authors workshop, a step-by-step guide to building a digital author media kit, has been presented by SCBWI, The Writing Barn, and elsewhere. Non-fiction writing credits include collaboration on the travel book Only in New York. Her feature stories and guest posts have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Magazine, and School Library Journal’s Teen Librarian Toolbox, among others. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of UC Irvine with a B.A. in Drama, Laura serves as a judge for kidlit writer competitions and shares her author journey in visits to schools and libraries. www.LauraStegman.com

The Chambered Nautilus, third in Laura Segal Stegman’s Summer of L.U.C.K. middle grade trilogy, is a magical tale of the power of friendship and the rewards of perseverance. With the summer camp from Books One and Two as the setting, the story begins when best friends Darby, 13, Justin, 14, and Naz, 12, are drifting apart. Busy with kids their own ages, they have little in common now that the ghostly Leroy Usher has been laid to rest. With the camp overseeing his extraordinary carnival, everyone's captivated by the new Chambered Nautilus ride, inspired by the spiral-shaped sea creature whose name it bears. But when pieces from the Ferris wheel inexplicably vanish, the three friends reunite to answer a mysterious plea for help -- from Mr. Usher. As they strive to locate him, they discover a connection between the Ferris wheel incident and the Chambered Nautilus' secrets. In a race against time, they encounter one crisis after another, attracting increased scrutiny from camp officials. Ultimately, they must rely on their wits – and each other – to figure out how to get Mr. Usher back to rest before he’s trapped forever. If they can’t, they risk expulsion from camp and threaten the beloved carnival’s very existence. PAPERBACK 9781633739031 PURCHASE

Marta Magellan was born in Brazil but has lived in South Florida most of her life. Her interest in both children and nature has led her to writing books about wild animal conservation and pollinators. Her published nonfiction children’s have won several awards, such from Florida Book Awards, California Reading Association’s Eureka! Nonfiction Award, Crystal Kite, Green Earth Awards and many more. Two of her books are mentioned in textbooks and used by Columbia Teacher’s College for teaching purposes. She taught Composition, Creative Writing, and Survey of Children’s Literature, at Miami Dade College, where she was a full professor and adviser to the campus literary arts magazine. She leads a discussion group for SCBWI-Florida and presents at garden clubs, schools, and libraries around the state and virtually across the country.

Monarch butterflies are the celebrities of the insect world. You probably know about their famous transformation from caterpillar to butterfly. But what else do you know about them? Are monarchs endangered? Why are there imposters out there imitating them? How do they manage their incredible two-way flights? And what’s up with those Florida monarchs? Why don’t they behave like the others? The answers may surprise you. Hardcover PURCHASE

May Releases

Heather Lang writes picture books that celebrate our natural world and biographies about women who overcame extraordinary obstacles to follow their dreams. Her award-winning books include SWIMMING WITH SHARKS: The Daring Discoveries of Eugenie Clark and THE LEAF DETECTIVE: How Margaret Lowman Uncovered Secrets in the Rainforest, an NSTA/CBC Best STEM Book and Green Earth Book Award winner. To research her books, Heather has observed animals in the Serengeti, climbed to the treetops of the Amazon, and explored the depths of the ocean. The mom of triplets plus one, who have all flown the nest, Heather lives in Massachusetts with her husband and two super pups.

In the animal world, moms get most of the credit for raising young. But sometimes it’s the dads who do most of the work. The giant water bug dad incubates up to 150 eggs on his back—and does push-ups to keep air flowing over them. The burying beetle dad buries a dead animal for his newborns to feast on. A Darwin’s frog dad holds his tadpoles in his mouth until they turn into froglets—then “burps” them up! These are just some of the many extraordinary things animal dads do to incubate, shelter, protect, and teach their young. Coauthors Heather Lang and Jamie Harper have teamed up once again to explore some amazing heroes of the animal world. These animal fathers are patient, tireless, smart, dedicated, playful, and so much more. They are superdads! HARDCOVER 9781536217964 PURCHASE

Nell Cross Beckerman writes books for children, inspired by the magic of free play and exploration in nature. Her book, CAVES, recieved three starred reviews, and was a Best of 2022 Book for Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, New York Public Library, and Bank Street. Other titles include WHEN THE SKY GLOWS, DOWN UNDER THE PIER, and VOLCANOES. FROM PARK TO PLAYA was inspired by a trail she was hiking in her neighborhood while trying to escape writer's block (Guess what? It worked!) Visit her at NellCrossBeckerman.com.

From a dynamic author and illustrator team, a picture book about connecting to nature and with each other on a path across the city, from a park to the beach Follow along as families from all over the city set out and connect on a trail that begins inland and winds its way through diverse neighborhoods, city playgrounds and parks, up and down open-space hills, past piñata parties and food trucks, downtown buildings, movie-studio rainbows, and public art murals—all the way to the beach at dusk, where they meet around a bonfire, next to a sparkling Ferris wheel on a pier. Inspired by a real city trail called Park to Playa in Los Angeles, From Park to Playa includes back matter not only about the real path, but about finding your path where you live. Nature is just outside the door and free and accessible to all, even if you live in the middle of a major city. HARDCOVER 9781949480252 PURCHASE

Michelle Cusolito is the award-winning author of Flying Deep: Climb Inside Deep-Sea Submersible ALVIN and Diving Deep: Using Machines to Explore the Ocean. She joined a three-week research expedition to the North Atlantic with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution to research her third book, A Window into the Ocean Twilight Zone: Twenty-Four Days of Science at Sea. That expedition fueled her love of science communication and being at sea. In the World of Whales (Neal Porter Books) and Meet Maude Delap, Jellyfish Scientist (Charlesbridge) publish in 2025. Michelle teaches in the Simmons University MFA Program, Writing for Children and Young Adults. www.michellecusolito.com

Want a front-row seat to cutting-edge ocean twilight zone technology? Climb aboard for twenty-four days of photo-illustrated science at sea! A fascinating middle-grade STEM book. HARDCOVER 9781623543020 PURCHASE

Amanda West Lewis is the author of ten books for children and young adults, including historical novels, craft, and non-fiction books. Her books have been nominated for the Silver Birch Award, Red Cedar Award, Violet Downey IODE Award, Snow Willow Award, included in the American League of Poets recommended reading summer 2022, and others. She is a writer, theatre creator, calligrapher, and teaching artist. Amanda has an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and lives in the woods of Brooke Valley, Ontario, with her husband, writer Tim Wynne-Jones, where she gets a good view of the stars at night.

Science and poetry combine in an out-of-this-world exploration of the wonders of our solar system. From a ballad of Earth and an ode to the sun to a villanelle for Venus and a sestina for Saturn, here are 14 original poems about planets and other bodies in our solar system. Each poem is written in a different poetic form that’s been chosen to reflect the object’s unique characteristics, and each is bursting with intriguing details sure to capture readers’ imaginations. Why is Mars known as the Red Planet? How many moons does Jupiter have? And what exactly is the Kuiper Belt? Budding astronomers, young and old, can find the answers to these questions and many more in this innovative book. HARDCOVER 9781525304422 PURCHASE

Children’s book author and indie publisher Darcy Pattison writes award-winning fiction and non-fiction books for children. Five books have received starred PW, Kirkus, or BCCB reviews. Awards include the Irma Black Honor award, five NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books, four Eureka! Nonfiction Honor book (CA Reading Assn.), two Junior Library Guild selections, two NCTE Notable Children’s Book in Language Arts, a Notable Social Studies Trade Book, an Arkansiana Award, and the Susannah DeBlack Arkansas Children’s History Book award. She’s the 2007 recipient of the Arkansas Governor’s Arts Award for Individual Artist for her work in children’s literature. Her books have been translated into ten languages.

Dive into the enchanting world of the animal kingdom with the sixth book in the "Another Extraordinary Animal" series! "Pelorus Jack, the New Zealand Dolphin: Inspiring a Government to Protect an Individual Animal" introduces the incredible tale of Pelorus Jack, a New Zealand dolphin who won the hearts of travelers and inspired a nation to protect him with legislation. HARDCOVER PURCHASE

Rebecca E.F. Barone is an engineer and author. She has worked on technical projects as diverse as injury analysis for the NFL and engine calibration for hybrid cars. Realizing her love of books in addition to numbers, she now describes the world with words rather than equations. Her first two books, Race to the Bottom of the Earth: Surviving Antarctica and Unbreakable: The Spies Who Cracked the Nazis’ Secret Code, received a combined nine starred reviews and were featured on numerous “Best of” lists.

Mountain of Fire is the narrative nonfiction story of the violent volcanic eruption of Mount St. Helens on May 18, 1980, the story of the people who died, those who survived, and the heroes who fought to raise an alarm. HARDCOVER 9781250881656 PURCHASE

Beth Anderson, a former educator, has always marveled at the power of books. Driven by curiosity and a love for words, she writes untold tales, hoping to inspire kids to laugh, ponder, and question. She’s the award-winning author of CLOAKED IN COURAGE, FRANZ’S PHANTASMAGORICAL MACHINE, REVOLUTIONARY PRUDENCE WRIGHT, TAD LINCOLN’S RESTLESS WRIGGLE, “SMELLY” KELLY AND HIS SUPER SENSES, LIZZIE DEMANDS A SEAT!, and AN INCONVENIENT ALPHABET. Beth has more historical picture books on the way.

Thomas Jefferson is one of the most famous founding fathers, but did you know that his mind was always on science? This STEM/STEAM picture book tells how Jefferson's scientific thinking battled against faulty facts and bias to prove that his new nation was just as good as any in the Old World. HARDCOVER 9781635926200 PURCHASE

Randi Sonenshine grew up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, surrounded by the watery wonders of the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Her books have earned starred reviews, appeared on many notable lists, and been chosen as Junior Library Guild selections. Her titles include THE NEST THAT WREN BUILT, THE LODGE THAT BEAVER BUILT, THE INSIDE NAME, and the forthcoming THE DEN THAT OCTOPUS BUILT. She lives with her husband, two sons, and a sock-eating poodle in northwest Georgia, where she is a literacy specialist and instructional coach. Learn more about Randi at randisonenshine.com.

Exploring one of the ocean’s most mysterious animals, Randi Sonenshine brings her characteristic warmth and honesty to the drama of the octopus life cycle. With a poignant ending and deeply informative back matter, this companion to The Nest That Wren Built and The Lodge That Beaver Built continues the work of gently introducing children to the realism of the animal world. HARDCOVER9781536226546 PURCHASE

June Releases

Children’s book author and indie publisher Darcy Pattison writes award-winning fiction and non-fiction books for children. Five books have received starred PW, Kirkus, or BCCB reviews. Awards include the Irma Black Honor award, five NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books, four Eureka! Nonfiction Honor book, two Junior Library Guild selections, two NCTE Notable Children’s Book in Language Arts, a Notable Social Studies Trade Book, an Arkansiana Award, and the Susannah DeBlack Arkansas Children’s History Book award. She’s the 2007 recipient of the Arkansas Governor’s Arts Award for Individual Artist for her work in children’s literature. Her books have been translated into ten languages.

The compass needle always pointed north. This simple observation sent William Gilbert deep into research about magnets. William's insatiable curiosity led him to collect lodestones from all over the world, conducting fascinating experiments that debunked myths and revealed astonishing facts about magnets. Gilbert’s research led to a book about magnetism and earned him the name, the Father of Magnetism. Come on a journey of curiosity to discover the wonder of magnets and Earth’s magnetic mysteries. MAGNET joins eight other books in award-winning Moments in Science series that focuses on small moments that changed science. PAPERBACK PURCHASE

Abi Cushman is the author-illustrator of funny picture books, including WOMBATS ARE PRETTY WEIRD (Greenwillow), ANIMALS GO VROOM! (Viking), and SOAKED! (Viking). Her upcoming books include THE QUIET FOREST (Paula Wiseman Books), written by Charlotte Offsay, and FLAMINGOS ARE PRETTY FUNKY (Greenwillow). Abi lives in a small Connecticut beach town with her family. In her spare time, she enjoys running, playing tennis, and eating nachos. (Yes, at the same time.)

Flamingos Are Pretty Funky introduces young readers to flamingos and their fantastic and (truly) funky traits. A companion to Wombats Are Pretty Weird, this funny, reader-friendly narrative nonfiction picture book about the natural world also features sidebars, comic panels, and extensive backmatter. Flamingos are tall, wading birds known for their bright pink color. Their nests look like tiny volcanoes, and they live in areas that are considered extreme—from nearly boiling bodies of water filled with corrosive chemicals, to cold, mountainous regions where ice freezes around their feet. Contains informative, expressive, and funny illustrations of flamingos in their natural habitats. This enlightening picture book offers an entertaining blend of narration, sidebars, speech balloons, and dialogue. A refreshing departure from traditional nonfiction, serving up a child-friendly guide to the fun and fancy world of flamingos and the mystery, beauty, and science of the natural world. Includes extensive backmatter. HARDCOVER 9780063234444 PURCHASE

Maria Marianayagam is a Tamil Sri Lankan-Canadian children's book author. She was born in India and grew up in Nigeria and four provinces across Canada. Maria is a former chemical engineer who fell in love with children’s books (again!) after becoming an Amma (mom). Maria enjoys writing lyrical picture books centered on STEM, faith, and South Asian culture, as well as high concept middle-grade grounded in culture. The first two installments of her debut board book series, BABY HOPE and BABY COURAGE (WorthyKids/Hachette), and her debut picture book THE AMAZING POWER OF GIRLS (Sourcebooks eXplore) release in 2024. When Maria is not writing, she can be found traveling the world, devouring books, and spending time with her wonderful family. She resides in Alberta, Canada, with her husband and two daughters. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram @MSMarianayagam.

An accessible and beautiful picture book about our universe's most powerful and invisible forces: girls. Light-hearted, I go with the flow. Feel weighed down? Just let it go. Scientific forces are part of your everyday life, but you can't see them! How do you know they are there? Follow seven girls in this unique spin on introductions to STEM, as they personify and explain each force in their own words, bringing science to life. This exciting and beautiful girl-powered, STEM-focused picture book celebrates the strength of girls and their importance to science. The Amazing Power of Girls is perfect for teachers and parents looking for: Girls in STEM books Introductory kid STEM books Feminist picture books about STEM, and daring books for girls. HARDCOVER 9781728294308 PURCHASE

Laurie Ann Thompson grew up in the fields and forests of northern Wisconsin and now lives between the mountains and the sea in Washington State. A master naturalist and former software engineer, she writes to help her readers—and herself—better understand the world we all share. Laurie is the author of several award-winning nonfiction books, including Emmanuel’s Dream, winner of the ALA Schneider Family Book Award.

Stretch, slip, twist! You may haves seen a small, sleek garter snake disappear amid rocks or flowers. Did you know that garter snakes sniff with their tongues, huddle together for winter, and spray smelly stuff to scare off predators? From birth to first shedding and beyond, discover all that goes into being a garter snake in this charming picture book, the fourth in the Meet Your World series. This playful and informative series invites you to take a closer look at the amazing animals that live right alongside you in rural, suburban, and urban landscapes across North America. In each book, words and art inspire you to act out animal actions that are not so different from your own habits. And robust backmatter offers even more facts and fun. From the animals' families and foods to their environments and behaviors, let's meet your world! HARDCOVER 9780593529782 PURCHASE

Jeanne Walker Harvey is the author of several picture books, including Boats on the Bay, as well as the well-received picture book biographies Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas and Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines. She lives in Sonoma, California.

Else B. in the Sea is a poetic picture book biography about a daring and pioneering woman artist that combines themes of art and science from author Jeanne Walker Harvey and illustrator Melodie Stacey. Else Bostelmann donned a red swimsuit and a copper diving helmet and, with paints and brushes in hand, descended into the choppy turquoise sea off the coast of Bermuda. It was 1930, and few had ventured deep into the sea before. She discovered a fairyland six fathoms below the surface--fantastic coral castles, glittering sunbeams, swaying sea plumes, and slender purple sea fans. And fish! Flashy silverfish, puckering blue parrotfish, iridescent jellyfish.
Else painted under the sea! She painted what she saw with her own eyes, and, back on land, she painted the never-before-seen deep-sea creatures described by world-renowned scientist William Beebe on his momentous 1930s bathysphere expeditions for the New York Zoological Society's Department of Tropical Research. It was a daring and glamorous adventure and a dream come true for Else B., who shared this new, unfathomable world with humankind. HARDCOVER 9781949480283 PURCHASE

Becca McMurdie is an elementary school teacher by day. At night, she researches and writes children’s books about animal rescues and ecosystem revivals. She takes trips to climb up mountains, hike through rainforests, and swim in oceans and any chance she gets. Born and raised in Takoma Park, Maryland, she has lived in Mexico, Chile, Costa Rica, and currently resides in New York City. Learn more about her at www.beccamcmurdie.com.

In the wild, Grecia the toucan loved to soar from branch to branch and sing for all the creatures of the rainforest. Until, one night, loud voices echoed through the trees, sticks and rocks flew, and Grecia fell from her favorite avocado tree, tragically breaking her beak. She was unable to move. Unable to sing. Animal rescuers examined Grecia and found that she needed a new beak to survive. Though no one had ever made a toucan beak before, Grecia’s determination to live drove their search for a creative solution―an innovative 3D-printed beak. As news of her story spread, people of all ages around the world came together, finding their own ways to help Grecia sing again. While witnessing Grecia’s determined spirit, readers will learn how this single plucky toucan became a symbol for the international wildlife protection movement and inspired real change in anti-animal cruelty law, saving countless animals from harm. Perfect for the young activist, engineer, or animal lover, Grecia’s triumphant true story will resonate with readers of all ages, showing how determination and teamwork can make an impact and create lasting change. HARDCOVER 9781645678687 PURCHASE

Kerry Aradhya loves puzzling over words and immersing herself in the creative process. She is the author of ERNO RUBIK AND HIS MAGIC CUBE (Peachtree, 2024) and more than a dozen poems in award-winning children’s magazines such as Babybug, Ladybug, and Highlights High Five. When not writing for children, Kerry works as a science writer and editor, performs with a quirky modern dance ensemble, and occasionally muses about children’s literature and dance at her blog, Picture Books & Pirouettes. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family and their cute but naughty pooch named Sofie. Visit her online at kerryaradhya.com.

This picture book biography of Erno Rubik reveals the passion, imagination, and design process behind the unintentional invention of a bestselling puzzle that is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024 -- the Rubik's Cube! HARDCOVER 9781682636640 PURCHASE

Jessica Stremer is an award-winning children’s author who combines her love of science and writing to create books that inspire kids to explore and think critically about the world around them. Her titles include GREAT CARRIER REEF (a Junior Library Guild Gold Star Standard), LIGHTS OUT: A Movement to Help Migrating Birds, and FIRE ESCAPE: How Animals and Plants Survive Wildfires. Jessica obtained a B.S. in Biology, with an emphasis in Ecology, from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Jessica received honorable mention for the SCBWI 2021 Ann Whitford Paul award, took first place for her nonfiction entry in the 2021 Rate Your Story writing competition, and received honorable mention for her entries in the 2021, 2022, and 2023 50 Precious Words writing competition. When not writing, Jessica loves spending time outdoors with her family and rewilding her yard in Wisconsin.

A timely middle grade nonfiction overview of the incredible ways animals detect, respond, and adapt to wildfires, as well as how climate change is affecting the frequency and severity of these devastating events in nature. Goats and beavers. Drones and parachutes. Pinecones and beetles. What do they have in common? Believe it or not, they are all crucial tools in fighting, preventing, and adapting to wildfires! These vicious fires are spreading faster and burning hotter than at any other time in history. Ongoing droughts, warming weather, and a history of poor forest management have extended the traditional wildfire season beyond the summer months. It is a matter of life and death for wildlife worldwide. This breathtaking nonfiction book focuses on unique angles to a hot topic, including injury rehabilitation efforts, species that use wildfires to their advantage, how to help area repopulation, and the animals that help to prevent/fight wildfires. A riveting, kid friendly text is accompanied by stunning woodcut illustrations and full-color photographs, as well as extensive back matter with glossary, sources, and index. HARDCOVER 9780823454426 PURCHASE

July Releases

l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mightyape.co.nz%2Fproduct%2Fruru-night-hunter%2F38740442%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1LqzrIWoWyikp6cG-3j3M2jtZwZY4wuKGpRl33a5GBDRnVPK9cCkzgieo_aem_u3S2YiRmXx8zqTDsP-3ycw&h=AT2DG36727YPG1oJS4YtXfWkM-5eKNRPWMK_xFwJxypYQagE0iNPfDENxzf6cyg9DD90Ms0g1ShK8ikGoaV3s9aND50EZCVeoiL9gjROD7Mk35RbBv8pfMrHEeQZKMSWNOylVn3oboK9xI_HTDr7x3s&__tn__=R]-R&c[0]=AT2gmiIYG6541uiNsagZjKJQDJyw6uww11ujqw9UpyLwIXIuMmm3l6eGUTsLf62cLzCS7LkQPMxcWNfH6bpdwmKjB4YOOGgTtd4bU8U3kranhQXj9b0nAMQEz0YdtncskNWfCUqEqdPst8c8cp9TiI6REIGbcFEBhFHIBJhI1SqqOfcmNl00BPIHNTQXcmUIKVjZMxrzWwK3aOex6DNVzBhH0xNiXw7mOujwgIwR_LV5zdoKatie Furze is an author of children’s stories and books who loves science and nature and has a master’s degree in creative writing. Her books include, Tuatara, a Living Treasure, illustrated by Ned Barraud (Scholastic NZ, 2023) and Ruru, Night Hunter (Scholastic NZ, 2024). Katie’s work is regularly published in The School Magazine in Australia and The New Zealand School Journal. She has also written early readers and children’s plays for the educational market, and published stories in anthologies. Read more about Katie at: http://www.katiefurze.com/

RURU, Night Hunter is a narrative nonfiction picture book that invites young readers into the dark world of New Zealand’s only surviving native owl. The lyrical text follows Ruru on a night out hunting to feed his family – gliding high, swooping low, always on the lookout. STEAM links are further developed in break out boxes and back matter. HARDCOVER: 9781775438397 PURCHASE

Katey Howes is an award-winning picture book author and poet. She's passionate about raising kids who love to read, and about helping kids recognize that they are makers, inventors, and creators! Many of her books teach or reinforce STEAM concepts and/or SEL skills. Katey's books have received recognition including multiple starred trade reviews, the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Honor Award, the ILA Social Justice Literature Award, the #1 Makerspace Read Aloud Award, and the Bologna Book Festival Ragazzi Award Special Mention for Nonfiction. Her books have been included in Kirkus Best Books of the Year, the RISE Feminist Booklist, Anna Dewdney Read Together Honor Books, and the Library of Congress Great Reads from Great Places. A former physical therapist, Katey is fascinated by physics and biology, reads everything from classic children’s lit to modern neuroscience, and has strong opinions about commas. She presents at elementary and middle schools, colleges, writing and education conferences, and school districts on many topics related to her books.

A perfect picture book for back-to-school or any time of year, this clever, rhyming story shows how working together and including others are important parts of friendship. A class of a dozen reindeer is preparing for the big showcase night event when a new student arrives. This isn't a big deal until it's time to divide in groups, and there's a leftover reindeer every single time. How will the class make sure everyone feels included? And what will they learn in the process? Back matter includes facts about division and prime numbers and practical tips for what to do when you or someone else is left out of the group. An excellent read-aloud for both school and home libraries! HARDCOVER 9781728271651 PURCHASE

Lisa Varchol Perron is the author of several books for children, including Patterns Everywhere (JLG Gold Standard Selection, Golden Kite Finalist, SLJ Starred Review), My Love for You (Amazon Editor's Pick, A Mighty Girl Pick of the Day), Tell Me About Space (NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book), and Tell Me About Oceans. Her poetry has been featured in numerous anthologies and magazines, including Highlights High Five, Spider, Ladybug, Babybug, The Caterpillar, Tyger Tyger, The School Magazine, and more. She loves spending time outdoors and can often be found searching for rocks with her kids and her husband, Taylor Perron, along the New England coast. Taylor Perron is a professor of geology in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union and a MacArthur Fellow. Taylor grew up in rural Vermont, which inspired his fascination with the Earth.

Children love rocks. Rocks appear in jacket pockets, on windowsills, in the car, in their hiding places, and most often, in their little grips. Rocks can be collected, compared, stacked, plunked into water, painted, and shared. This book is an appreciation of rocks' versatility and appeal, paired with the presentation of real types of rocks and their play-worthy attributes. The backmatter provides just enough extra information about each of the rocks included in the book. Written by a children’s author in partnership with her geologist husband, and illustrated with both warmth and accuracy, this nonfiction ode to rocks will speak to all little hands and hearts. HARDCOVER 9780593662151 PURCHASE

August Releases

Marie-Therese Miller is an award-winning author of more than 45 nonfiction books for children and teens. Her recent selections include Sly as a Fox: Are Foxes Clever? Dogs (An Early Encyclopedia), and Orcas Attack. She also has several Sesame Street books, such as Being Thankful with Gabrielle: A Book About Gratitude and Talking About Grief: A Sesame Street Resource. Miller earned her PhD in English from St. John’s University, where her academic focus was James Thurber’s humorous writing. She teaches Children’s and YA Literature at Marist College.

Natural disasters such as hurricanes, wildfires, or floods can be especially scary for young children. Sesame Street friends invite young readers to make an emergency plan together with their families, and remind them that there are so many people in their communities to help keep them safe. LIBRARY BINDING 9798765620199 PURCHASE, PAPERBACK 9798765629710 PURCHASE

Marie-Therese Miller is an award-winning author of more than 45 nonfiction books for children and teens. Her recent selections include Sly as a Fox: Are Foxes Clever? Dogs (An Early Encyclopedia), and Orcas Attack. She also has several Sesame Street books, such as Being Thankful with Gabrielle: A Book About Gratitude and Talking About Grief: A Sesame Street Resource. Miller earned her PhD in English from St. John’s University, where her academic focus was James Thurber’s humorous writing. She teaches Children’s and YA Literature at Marist College.

This book explores the marvels of orcas. It examines the ways that orcas and humans interact and how they are learning to share the oceans. HARDCOVER: 9798892502115 PURCHASE

Laura Perdew is an author, presenter, writing consultant, and former middle school teacher. She is the author of The Fort (Page Street Kids, 2020) and over 60 books for the education market including Biodiversity: Explore the Diversity of Life on Earth (Nomad Press, 2019) which is on the Booklist editors’ list of the Top 10 Books on the Environment & Sustainability for Youth 2020. Laura is a long-time member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and an avid runner and hiker. She lives and plays in Boulder, Colorado.

It's your world, so make it a sustainable one! Learn how small, everyday choices can lead to big, positive changes for the planet--from how you use energy to what you wear, eat, and buy. Packed full of tips and relevant actions for kids to take, this is an empowering guide for any young reader looking to help the environment and make a difference. Get ready to go green and create a sustainable lifestyle, one choice at a time! HARDCOVER: 9781669077190 PURCHASE

Nell Cross Beckerman has been bewitched by volcanoes, ever since playing "the floor is lava" as a child, and she accomplished a life's dream of seeing an active eruption up close while on Hawaii's Kīlauea volcano. With a librarian mother and scientist father, Nell enjoys combining language arts and STEM in her lyrical books about nature. Titles include WHEN THE SKY GLOWS, DOWN UNDER THE PIER, FROM PARK TO PLAYA, and the award-winning, CAVES, illustrated and edited by the same team as VOLCANOES. Visit her at NellCrossBeckerman.com and bring her to your school for a virtual field trip of reading and adventure.

The team behind the acclaimed book Caves returns with an enticing exploration of one of the most explosive wonders on the planet -- Volcanoes! A rumble. A tremble. A grumble. Growing, growling, getting hot. When will it... POP?! Using evocative storytelling, Nell Cross Beckerman leads children on an adventure through the radioactive wonders that are volcanoes. From deep down on the ocean floor to extraterrestrial volcanoes, Beckerman guides readers with dramatic, poetic language. Nonfiction text on every page allows for deeper understanding of the topic. Illustrator Kalen Chock's stunning illustrations have been praised as "atmospheric" and "striking," and readers will be delighted as each new page brings a new surprise. Extensive backmatter includes an author's note, additional information on the types of volcanic eruptions and the questions volcanologists are trying to answer, and additional facts. HARDCOVER: 9781338874679 PURCHASE

Christine Liu-Perkins loves solving puzzles of various kinds, especially ones that involve asking questions and digging into research for answers. Her middle grade nonfiction book, At Home in Her Tomb: Lady Dai and the Ancient Chinese Treasures of Mawangdui, received starred reviews, appeared on multiple "best books of the year" lists, and was recommended by both the National Science Teachers Association and the National Council for the Social Studies.

The Quest for a Tangram Dragon is a story of seven classic tangram shapes searching for a Chinese dragon to bring rain to their thirsty land. It combines storytelling, mathematical concepts, and problem-solving skills. HARDCOVER: 9781547608058 PURCHASE

Jonathan Roth writes and illustrates the graphic novel series ROVER AND SPECK (Kids Can Press, 2022+), the chapter book series BEEP AND BOB (Aladdin/S&S, 2018+) and the upcoming non-fiction picture book ALMOST UNDERWEAR: HOW A PIECE OF CLOTH TRAVELED FROM KITTY HAWK TO THE MOON AND MARS (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2024). Though his books are often space-themed, he loves Earthly activities like hiking, canoeing and cycling. He lives in Rockville, MD and teaches elementary art.

ALMOST UNDERWEAR chronicles the amazing true story of how a plain piece of fabric became part of the first powered airplane flight in 1903, the first moon landing in 1969 and the first flight on Mars on 2021. In 1903, two brothers bought a bolt of plain muslin – usually used for undergarments – from a department store in Dayton, Ohio. Little could anyone imagine that this simple fabric was about to be used as a vital part of the first powered airplane, and even more incredibly, that swatches of the same cloth were to land with Neil Armstrong on the moon in 1969 and also become part of the first powered flight on Mars in 2021. HARDCOVER: 9780316525541 PURCHASE

Sarah Albee is the New York Times bestselling author of nonfiction books for kids. Her most recent titles are both nonfiction picture books: The Painter and the President: Gilbert Stuart’s Brush with George Washington, and Bounce!: A Scientific History of Rubber. Other popular titles includeTroublemakers in Trousers: Women and What They Wore to Get Things Done; Fairy Tale Science; Accidental Archaeologists: True Stories of Unexpected Discoveries; and Poop Happened: A History of the World from the Bottom Up; and Alexander Hamilton: A Plan for America. She and her husband live in New York City and have three grown children. Visit her at www.sarahalbeebooks.com.

George Washington and artist Gilbert Stuart didn't always see eye-to-eye, but both men knew the importance of legacy and the power of art. Though George disliked having his portrait painted--which took days and days to complete--he knew his place in history would require people to know his face. Fortunately, Gilbert Stuart's unique way of painting didn't compel his subjects to sit for hours on end--in fact, he encouraged them to move around and even bring friends to chat with. Capturing the soul of each subject, his portraits were unlike any other artists'. And Gilbert Stuart's one-of-a-kind portrait of Washington stands the test of time--it's the one that's used on the one-dollar bill. HARDCOVER: 9781662680007 PURCHASE

Award-winning author, Roxanne Troup, writes children's books that entertain, educate, and inspire. She lives in the mountains of Colorado and loves hiking with her family, gazing at the night sky, and exploring our amazing world through stories–both written and lived. Roxanne also enjoys visiting schools to inspire the next generation of leaders, scientists, and explorers.

With lyrical text and illustrations that incorporate actual NASA photographs, this picture book for ages 3-8 introduces space concepts and vocabulary while celebrating NASA's Artemis missions. Spotlighting a diverse crew of scientists, this adventure into space will inspire the next generation of space enthusiasts to reach for the stars. HARDCOVER: 9780764368172 PURCHASE

Helen Taylor is a science-loving children’s author living in Santa Cruz, California. She started telling quirky stories in the museum world, about polar bear hair plugs, catfish physicals, and other curiosities. Now, she writes books that inspire kids to wonder about their world in new ways. Her first picture book, HOW TO EAT IN SPACE (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2023) is a JLG Gold Standard Selection and Amazon Editor’s Pick. CHASING GUANO: THE DISCOVERY OF A PENGUIN SUPERCOLONY (Tilbury House, 2024) is her first middle grade title.

When scientist Heather Lynch came across a satellite image of the Antarctic Peninsula's remote Danger Islands streaked with pink, she knew exactly what she was looking at. . . . Poop—guano, to be more specific—and a lot of it. The culprit, she suspected, was a previously unnoticed colony of penguins. A big one. And their favorite food appeared to be pink krill. For a closer look, Heather built a team for an expedition to the Danger Islands, an area notorious for its unpredictable sea ice. Their mission was to count the penguins, determine how long ago the colony was established, and make a case for protecting their habitat from overfishing and other threats. Penguins are particularly important to study because, as indicator species, they can alert scientists to issues affecting the larger ecosystem. Join Heather and her team on a fascinating exploration of these remote islands as they discover a “supercolony” home to one of the world’s largest populations of Adélie penguins. Features team photos from the expedition! HARDCOVER 9781668944851 PURCHASE

September Releases

Elizabeth Shreeve writes children’s books that celebrate the origins and diversity of life on Earth. Recent books include The Upside-Down Book of Sloths (Norton Young Readers, 2023), a Junior Library Guild Selection, and the award-winning Out of the Blue: How Animals Evolved from Prehistoric Seas (Candlewick Press, 2021). Elizabeth lives in northern California with her family, including Hector the PaleoDog. Visit her at www.elizabethshreeve.com, YouTube: Elizabeth Shreeve Books, and @ShreeveBooks.

Are they walking seashells? Time-traveling dinosaurs? No…they’re ARMADILLOS, wonderful oddballs that amble through life dressed in full sets of armor. This playful nonfiction book compares modern-day species to their prehistoric cousins, with adaptations to changing climates and ecosystems over time. And have you heard about screaming hairy armadillos—or ancient glyptodonts, enormous creatures that once grew as large as cars? Armadillos are on the move! HARDCOVER 9781324052180 PURCHASE

Laurie Ann Thompson looks for the light from her home in the rainy Pacific Northwest. A naturalist and former software engineer, she writes to help young readers—and herself—better understand the world we all share. She is the author of several award-winning books for children, including Emmanuel’s Dream, winner of the ALA Schneider Family Book Award. Learn more at lauriethompson.com.

Help little ones move from sadness to brighter days with this hopeful and encouraging look at a universal emotion. It's normal to feel sad, but for kids, sadness can often feel overwhelming and confusing. Let the Light In meets children in their moment of sadness and offers empathetic ideas on how to navigate it. Concrete and simple ideas include creative expression, going for a walk, paying attention to the world around them, and visiting a friend. Little ones will be left with the uplifting message that, whether it happens in big ways or small, all at once or over time, sadness will eventually fade, and better days will come. HARDCOVER 9781546006473 PURCHASE

Buffy Silverman is the author of many nonfiction books for children, featuring topics from Angel Sharks to Alligators, and Mars to Monster Trucks. Her recent book, On a Snow-Melting Day: Seeking Signs of Spring, received a star from Kirkus Reviews and is an NCTE 2021 Notable Poetry Book. A companion book, On a Gold-Blooming Day: Finding Fall Treasures, is a CLA/NCTE 2023 Notable Book in the Language Arts. She lives near a swampy lake in Michigan where she enjoys outdoor time with her dog, watching and photographing nature, and writing poetry.

Eee-oh-lay! Chirp-a-chirp! Rat-a-tat! Night animals perform a symphony under the stars. Rhyming verse and eye-catching photos will entrance both animal lovers and music lovers. The sounds of the animals featured in STARLIGHT SYMPHONY are compared to musical instruments, and their behavior is highlighted. Back matter includes more about the animal musicians and the musical instruments. LIBRARY BINDING 9798765644331 PURCHASE

Megan Clendenan writes middle grade non-fiction that aims to instill curiosity, wonder and questions about the natural world, help readers to understand how everything is connected, and to explore innovative solutions to the global climate crisis. She is the co-author of DESIGN LIKE NATURE: BIOMIMICRY FOR A HEALTHY PLANET, which earned a School Library Journal starred review, FRESH AIR, CLEAN WATER: OUR RIGHT TO A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT, which won the 2023 Green Earth Book Award and CITIES: HOW HUMANS LIVE TOGETHER. Megan lives with her family near Vancouver, Canada and spends as much time as possible visiting the mountains and the ocean and learning to grow vegetables in her backyard.

Every day, no matter where we are or where we need to go, humans need food. Imagine carrying meals with you as you parachute into a war zone. Or trying to stay well fed while building the pyramids. People have always found ways to work together to put a meal on the table. What Do We Eat? is a delicious celebration of human creativity and cooperation, wrapped up in bite-sized slices of history, with a look at what scientists and inventors are cooking for the future. We are gobbling up Earth's resources, and food is not shared equally. But today there's a magic tree transforming the dry African plains, food "ambulances" on the move and cities that have declared access to food a human right. Hungry to find out more? Let's roll up our sleeves and find out what's for dinner. HARDCOVER 9781459836761 PURCHASE

October Releases

Kelly Rice Schmitt writes for curious kids of all ages. She loves getting small humans excited about big ideas . . . like energy! A former energy trader, Kelly has helped fuel countless homes, schools, and businesses. Like this book’s narrator, Kelly has visited oil refineries, chemistry labs, rail yards, and more—but the closest she’s come to dwelling with dinosaurs is living with her dino-loving husband and children in North Carolina. Learn more about Kelly and her award-winning books at www.kellyriceschmitt.com.

From lightbulbs and stoves to cars and planes, many things around us need fuel to work. Where does that fuel come from? Follow oil on its journey from the time of the dinosaurs to the bottom of the ocean floor, through drilling machines and oil refineries, and right into our homes and vehicles. Discover oil’s power and problems, and find out how the sun, wind, and water are providing cleaner forms of energy. Engaging text, bright illustrations, and approachable science explore why fuel matters, how it got here, and where it’s going next. HARDCOVER 9781728476834 PURCHASE

Sibert Honor author Patricia Newman uses social and environmental injustice to empower her readers to seek connections to the real world and to use their imaginations to act on behalf of their communities. Patricia’s nonfiction titles have received multiple starred reviews, two Orbis Pictus Recommended Awards (NCTE), two Green Earth Book Awards, and several Eureka! Awards (CRA). All her nonfiction titles are Junior Library Guild Selections, and most have been included in the Bank Street College’s Best Books of the Year lists. Her newest title, A River’s Gifts: The Mighty Elwha River Reborn, is a Kirkus Best Picture Book of 2022 and an ALA Notable Book.

Off the coast of Perú, gentle giants swim beneath the waves. Thanks to the work of Kerstin Forsberg, giant manta rays have become a symbol of hope for ocean conservation in the region. Mantas are a flagship species, and when they’re protected, the whole ocean ecosystem benefits.With the help of teachers, students, and fishers, Kerstin launched a project to identify and track manta rays and protect them, making the ocean a better place for all creatures. Dive in with author Patricia Newman and explore how taking care of the ocean can benefit everyone! HARDCOVER 9798765607992 PURCHASE

"You can feel wind ... but you can't see it. What is wind?" This exploration of different types of wind pairs lyrical descriptions of wind types with accessible, informational sidebars about each. The whimsical narrative uses metaphor to help readers visualize wind's characteristics: "Wind is a butterfly - fluffing flower petals and ruffling riverbank grasses." Informative bubbles on each page compliment these descriptions with short explanations of each wind type, which range from a light breeze to a hurricane. Evocative illustrations further bring the text to life in this fascinating introduction to the ever-changing wind.

Debra Kempf Shumaker started reading at the age of four and hasn't stopped since. She grew up on a small dairy farm in Wisconsin but now lives in the suburbs of Northern Virginia with her husband, three sons, and two cats. When she isn’t reading or writing, she enjoys hiking, gardening, and watching Jeopardy. She is the author of FREAKY, FUNKY FISH (Running Press Kids), TELL SOMEONE (Albert Whitman), PECULIAR PRIMATES (Running Press Kids) and the upcoming WIND IS A DANCE (Kids Can Press October 1, 2024). HARDCOVER 781525308758. PURCHASE

Kate Allen Fox is an award-winning children’s author from southern California. After working in public health, she combined her passions for science and the written word and began writing picture books that inspire wonder and curiosity about the natural world. Her debut picture book, Pando, A Living Wonder of Trees, was published by Capstone in 2021 and named one of the best books of the year by School Library Journal and Chicago Public Library and a finalist for the SCBWI Crystal Kite Award. Little, Brown will publish her second picture book, A Few Beautiful Minutes, in 2023, and Beaming Books will publish Winter Solstice Wish in 2024. Her essays have appeared in several publications, including The New York Times and McSweeney’s. In addition to being a writer, Kate is a speaker, arts educator, and homeschooler.

Today we stretch the daylightas much as we can, trying to make it last. On the shortest day of the year, when daylight slips by like sand through one's fingers, people savor the light. As night falls, a community gathers on a beach and builds a bonfire of hope. Winter Solstice Wish is an ode to the winter solstice, human connectedness, and the hope of renewal. HARDCOVER 9781506492858 PURCHASE

Laura Perdew is an author, presenter, writing consultant, and former middle school teacher. She is the author of The Fort (Page Street Kids, 2020) and over 60 books for the education market including Biodiversity: Explore the Diversity of Life on Earth (Nomad Press, 2019) which is on the Booklist editors’ list of the Top 10 Books on the Environment & Sustainability for Youth 2020. Laura is a long-time member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and an avid runner and hiker. She lives and plays in Boulder, Colorado.

In Keystone Species: Meet the Animals Key to Ecosystem Health and Biodiversity, readers ages 9 to 12 are introduced to several different types of keystone species from around the world as they discover the crucial roles these animals play in their ecosystems. Meet the predators, herbivores, ecosystem engineers, mutualists, and foundational species that all play a keystone role in regulating an ecosystem. Investigate how these ecosystems function, learn about threats to wolves, sharks, beavers, alligators, flying foxes, bees, wildebeests, bison, and coral, and dive into what happens when these species disappear. Throughout the book, find stories about science-based conservation practices that inspire kids to do their part in protecting their own environments.
HARDCOVER 9781647411206 PURCHASE

Annette Whipple celebrates curiosity and inspires a sense of wonder while exciting readers about science and history. She's the author of more than a dozen fact-filled books including The Truth About series featuring owls, dogs, spiders, frogs, cats, and more to come. Her shark research led her to add a megalodon tooth to her nature collection. When Annette's not reading or writing, you might find her baking for her family in Pennsylvania. Learn more about her books, programs, and teacher resources at www.AnnetteWhipple.com.

Dive deep into the fascinating world of sharks with "Chomp: The Truth About Sharks"! Have you ever pondered where these oceanic predators call home, how they locate their next meal, or even their classification as fish? In her 6th Truth About book, Annette Whipple provides insightful answers to these questions and more! In "Chomp," readers are taken on an exhilarating journey through the vast oceans to unravel the mysteries surrounding sharks. With the expertise of the author and the intriguing insights shared by the sharks, this book offers a comprehensive exploration of their habitats, feeding habits, and taxonomic identity. Perfect for aspiring marine biologists, curious minds, and shark enthusiasts alike, "Chomp" delivers a wealth of knowledge and discovery. Prepare to be enthralled as you uncover the truth behind shark behavior, ecology, and evolutionary adaptations. Also included is a hands on activity included in the back of the book and the book jacket folds out to a full size shark poster! HARDCOVER 9781478885788 PURCHASE

Sarah Albee is the New York Times bestselling author of nonfiction books for kids. Her most recent titles are both nonfiction picture books: The Painter and the President: Gilbert Stuart’s Brush with George Washington, and Bounce!: A Scientific History of Rubber. Other popular titles includeTroublemakers in Trousers: Women and What They Wore to Get Things Done; Fairy Tale Science; Accidental Archaeologists: True Stories of Unexpected Discoveries; and Poop Happened: A History of the World from the Bottom Up; and Alexander Hamilton: A Plan for America. She and her husband live in New York City and have three grown children.

Ever wondered what makes rubber bounce? Or why it's stretchy? And WHY is rubber so . . . rubbery?! Learn the facinating science and history behind this ubiquitous material!
With sidebars, graphics, fun facts, and more, the history of rubber reveals plenty of fascinating secrets and surprises. Elementary school readers will discover that early balls didn't bounce; that people in the rainforest made waterproof gear from rubber thousands of years before Europeans got into the act; and that sneakers, bicycles, and cars created demand for more and more rubber!
HARDCOVER 9781623543792 PURCHASE

November Releases

Donna B. McKinney lived most of her life in the Washington, D.C. area, where she worked at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, writing about science. Now she has another great job--writing books for kids, including her previous release titled Lights On. Donna currently lives in North Carolina with two full-of-mischief dogs. When she's not writing, she enjoys hiking, fishing, and playing a game called pickleball (kind of like a mix of tennis and ping pong).

Tiny Tern's extraordinary journey begins! Arctic terns make the longest migration of any species. Every year, they fly from the northern Arctic to the southern Antarctic--and back--spending most of the year in flight. As the days grow shorter and colder, Tiny Tern and his flock prepare to leave the Arctic and begin their journey towards sunlight and warmth. The terns travel all the way to the other side of the world. Along the way, they encounter many dangers. Experience a bird's-eye view of getting lost in heavy storms, protecting hatchlings from predators, and finally reaching your destination. Following the story, discover more educational content about arctic terns. Read about what they eat, how they fly, and everything they encounter during their time in the Arctic and Antarctic. With lyrical text and wondrous illustrations, join the flock of terns on their incredible journey, and learn about the power of perseverance from the birds who do it best. Tiny Tern Takes Flight is a celebration of nature and a reminder that sometimes all it takes is a little bravery. HARDCOVER 9781958629550 PURCHASE

Laura Gehl is the award-winning author of more than fifty books for young readers, including lift-the-flap books, board books, picture books, early readers, and middle grade nonfiction. Laura’s books have received many awards and honors, including Kirkus best picture books of the year selection, Junior Library Guild selection, Indie Next List, CCBC choices selection, ALA Notable selection, Booklist Editors’ Choice, Amazon Editors’ Choice, Charlotte Zolotow Highly Commended Title, ILA Honor Book, and the Mathical Award. Her books have also appeared on state and national reading lists and been translated into numerous languages. Laura's new books for 2024 include Who Laid These Eggs?, Saving Delicia, and Snow Is. When she isn't writing, Laura enjoys reading, hiking, and eating ice cream. She lives in Maryland with her husband and four children, but you can also visit her online at lauragehl.com.

An introduction to the traditions of Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest, with a Jetsons twist! In preparation for the weekly Sabbath dinner and celebration, a young girl builds a robot from household junk. The girl and robot become quick friends, vrooming around the space colony, baking challah, making matzah ball soup and getting ready to celebrate with family. Together, the girl and robot light the Shabbat candles and sing the blessings. A science fiction Shabbat, told in fun rhyme with an emphasis on noticing sounds. An author's note explaining Shabbat makes this a fun-filled introduction to this important Jewish ritual. HARDCOVER 9781681156491 PURCHASE

Jennifer Swanson is an award-winning children's author of more than forty-five nonfiction and fiction books, including National Geographic Kids Brain Games and Outdoor School: Rocks, Fossils, and Shells (a Kirkus Reviews Best Book), as well as the co-author of The Atlas Obscura Explorer's Guide for Inventing the World. She is also the creator and co-host of the award-winning podcast Solve It for Kids. When not writing, Jennifer loves to walk along the ocean watching for dolphins and sea turtles near her home in Florida. Visit her online at jenniferswansonbooks.com and @jenswanbooks.

Discover the hidden figure who created the first comprehensive computer program to design ships for the US Navy. Girls like Raye Montague weren't supposed to like math or science, or go to engineering school. But tenacious Raye had a plan, one that eventually took her all the way to the US Navy. There, she was assigned an impossible task: to come up with a single computer program that could design every part of a ship. It had never been done before--but Raye's groundbreaking program revolutionized the way ships and submarines were built, and set her on a path to become a pioneering figure in naval engineering and the navy's first female program manager of ships. Award-winning author Jennifer Swanson and acclaimed illustrator Veronica Miller Jamison celebrate a self-made engineer who worked around anyone and anything that stood in her way in this illuminating biography about never giving up on your dreams. HARDCOVER 9780316565486 PURCHASE

Suzanne Jacobs Lipshaw is an award-winning children’s book author and former teacher passionate about growing young minds. Her writing credentials include the true-story picture books I Campaigned for Ice Cream and Mighty Mahi. Suzanne enjoys speaking at schools about writing, leadership, and how kids can make a difference.

A secret superhero lies beneath Yellowstone National Park… In a wonder-filled trip through an iconic destination, discover the spectacular powers of the supervolcano hidden below the ground. WHOOSH! SIZZLE! BLORP! Visit the volcano’s exploding geysers, boiling mud pots, and much more. But what does a hero do best? Help others! The Yellowstone Supervolcano doesn’t just dazzle tourists. Learn how its superpowers support a thriving ecosystem, helping feed and protect the unique wildlife year after year. HARDCOVER 9781958629574 PURCHASE