STEAM-related books bring the spirit of inquiry, discovery, and creative problem-solving to your learners while engaging them in rich literacy experiences.
|
|
January Releases
|
Marie-Therese Miller is the award-winning author of 60 nonfiction books for children and teens. Her recent selections include Zendaya, Taylor Swift: Unstoppable Icon, Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, and Orcas Attack, 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 University.
Concussions are dangerous head injuries that harm many young athletes. These injuries can affect sleep, neural synapses, memory, and more. Learn about concussions in youth sports, from why they happen to how they are treated. Hardcover: 9798765689578 PURCHASE |
|
Katy Tanis is an explorer, illustrator, and children’s book author. She lives and works at the Jersey Shore. She spends most of her days chasing deadlines but occasionally wanders to far-off places, like Madagascar, where she chases primates instead. Her work is inspired by specific ecosystems and the wonderful webs of life that they contain. Katy has a soft spot for the weirdos of the animal kingdom, and she has never met a color she didn’t like.
The delightful and enchanting companion to the bestselling Love in the Wild board book! This beautifully illustrated book is filled with vibrant colors that bring to life the deep blue sea and its ocean inhabitants. The book celebrates the love expressed by various sea creatures, emphasizing that love is universal, whether you're an octopus, seahorse, or pufferfish. Through charming rhyming text and colorful artwork, children are introduced to diverse species, each of which demonstrates affection in unique and tender ways. The book promotes inclusivity, showing that love is a universal feeling. Hardcover: 9780735383531 PURCHASE |
February Releases
|
Sibert Honor author Patricia Newman empowers readers to seek connections to the real world and to use their imaginations to act on behalf of their communities. Her new Teach the Hope initiative integrates gratitude, connection and narrative nonfiction books like hers that introduce readers to civic role models to inspire action, not anxiety. Patricia’s 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. To learn more about her books and Teach the Hope, visit her website at patriciamnewman.com.
On May 19, 1924, a duet between a young cellist and a male nightingale was broadcast across the British Commonwealth as far away as Canada, India, and Australia to over one million listeners. It was an unprecedented collective experience made possible by the invention of the radio and a new microphone that picked up sounds of nature. Hardcover: 9781682637272 PURCHASE |
|
Nora Nickum writes books for children about nature and STEM topics and leads ocean conservation work at the Seattle Aquarium. She is the author of the middle-grade nonfiction book Superpod: Saving the Endangered Orcas of the Pacific Northwest, about the toothed whales’ plight and the people working to help them recover, as well as the picture book This Book Is Full of Holes, illustrated by Robert Meganck.
Follow a dozen brave gray whales in search of food as they take a high-risk, high-reward 170-mile detour off their already grueling migration route to the Arctic. Hardcover: 9781536234701 PURCHASE |
|
Karen M. Greenwald is the author of Mud Angels and A Vote for Susanna, which was a Kansas 2022 Notable Book and represented Kansas at the Library of Congress National Book Festival and in the Great Reads from Great Places initiative. She cofounded the #SunWriteFun writing contest, which raises money for kidlit charities, and her strategic branding efforts have earned seventeen international awards, including a Platinum International Summit Marketing Effectiveness Award in 2023. Karen shares her Maryland office with a very noisy dog. For more information, visit: www.karengreenwald.com.
A child plants a tiny seed and wonders what secrets it might hold. As it grows and grows and grows, she nurtures the little plant until it isn’t so little anymore—in fact, it’s COLOSSAL. What does one do with a colossal cabbage? The girl dreams that the cabbage feeds a soup kitchen full of neighbors, inspiring her to grow more veggies to share with her community, inspiring kids and families all over the country to grow veggies to share with their own communities. And when she wakes up, she is ready let the world in on the cabbage’s colossal secret. Inspired by the true story of Katie Stagliano, her forty-pound cabbage, and the nonprofit Katie’s Krops. Hardcover: 9781668955154 PURCHASE |
March Releases
|
Jilanne Hoffmann is an engineer with an MFA in creative writing. Her debut picture book, A River of Dust: The Life-Giving Link Between North Africa and the Amazon received a PW starred review, a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection, a Crystal Kite, and the Louis J. Battan Author Award (K-12) from the American Meteorological Society. It was also named an ALA Notable, Bank Street Best for 2024, and on the Garden State Children’s Book Award List for 2026.
The largest migration of animals on Earth happens every single night as billions upon billions of microscopic animals―zooplankton―paddle from the ocean’s depths to its surface. On their journey, they swim daunting distances through predator-infested waters in pursuit of a midnight feast. Zooplankton are so small, and they live so deep, that we may never see them―but the entire food web depends upon their survival. Venture into the ocean’s twilight zone with Jilanne Hoffmann’s lyrical, evocative prose and Khoa Le’s luminous illustrations of these tiny yet magnificent creatures. Hardcover: 9798765643464 PURCHASE |
|
Melissa Stewart is a leading researcher in the field of nonfiction literature for young people and the author of more than 200 books for children. Her work has been translated into more than a dozen languages and garnered such awards as the Sibert Honor, AAAS/Subaru Prize for Excellence in Science Books, eighteen NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students, two Green Earth Book Awards, and three ALA Notables. She co-wrote 5 Kinds of Nonfiction: Enriching Reading and Writing Instruction with Children’s Books, edited the anthology Nonfiction Writers Dig Deep: 50 Award-winning Authors Share the Secret of Engaging Writing, and maintains the award-winning blog Celebrate Nonfiction.
Meet the monarch and the mourning cloak — two common North American butterflies that are about the same size, but have their own special ways of surviving. Compelling free-verse poetry and rich, detailed illustrations showcase the butterflies’ similar body structures and life stages as well as their different habitats, food choices, and strategies for avoiding enemies and surviving winter weather. Flutter into the pages of this stunning nature journal to gain a deeper understanding of these two beautiful butterflies — and to celebrate the joy of creativity inspired by the natural world. Hardcover: 9781665962711 PURCHASE |
|
Biologist and award-winning author Alison Pearce Stevens writes fun nonfiction for curious young readers. All of her work is inspired by a love of science and nature. All of her books were named Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selections. They have also won state book awards, been listed among Bank Street College’s Best Children’s Books, and won Blueberry Honor and Outstanding Science Trade Book awards. You can learn more about her at apstevens.com.
Beavers topple trees and build dams, which can cause floods and disrupt neighborhoods. So what do we do when beavers move in? In Puget Sound, we call the Tulalip Tribes. They send biologists to help relocate our furry friends to a place far from people, where the beavers can be free. Poetic text and gorgeous art makes this an irresistible read with gentle STEM tie-in. Hardcover: 9781250339447 PURCHASE |
|
Dr. Laurel Neme is a regular contributor to National Geographic and Mongabay.com. To expand her experiences she has camped in and explored the Kalahari, investigated walrus carcasses on Alaska's Bering Sea beaches, and gotten lost in the Amazon jungle. Laurel is also the author of books for children, including The Elephant’s New Shoe, about a true animal rescue story about an orphaned elephant who needed a prosthetic foot, and Orangutan Houdini, a true story about an ape who outwits his zookeeper friend.
Calling all nature detectives! Use clues to guess the animal each shelter belongs to, discovering twenty-four extraordinary creatures—not a bird among them!—and the tree, mud, sand, water, plant, dirt, rock, and snow nests they call home. Hardcover: 9781665975407 PURCHASE |
|
Laurel Neme is a journalist and author who writes about wildlife and wild places. She is a regular contributor to National Geographic, co-hosts The WildLife Podcast, and is the author of several books, including: ANIMAL INVESTIGATORS, THE ELEPHANT'S NEW SHOE, and THE GIRAFT: A REAL-LIFE GIRAFFE RESCUE.
Poor Asiwa--time is running out! She and seven other rare Nubian giraffes have peacefully lived on a peninsula that juts out into Lake Baringo in Kenya. But now relentless rain and rising floodwaters have turned their home into an island. Food is running out. It's especially desperate for Asiwa as the water has stranded her away from the other giraffes. She is alone and frightened. If the giraffes aren't rescued, this endangered breed will be one step closer to extinction. But how does one transport an almost 20-foot-tall wild animal? With a GiRaft, of course! An alliance of wildlife rangers, conservancies, and local community members work to create a flotational craft specifically to ferry the giraffes to a new home. Will Asiwa and her herd get on board? Hardcover: 9781534113572 PURCHASE |
|
ELAINE KACHALA is the award-winning author of Superpower? The Wearable-
Tech Revolution. With over 20 years as a health policy writer and advisor, degrees in psychology and sociology (University of Toronto), and a master’s degree in environmental studies (York University), Elaine brings a unique perspective to STEAM topics. She hopes to write books that inspire young readers to embrace their curiosity and creativity as they learn about real-life inventors who are unafraid to dream big while thinking critically about health, social and ethical issues. Housing for health and well-being is her passion, both personally and professionally. She lives with her family in Toronto. Everyone Deserves a Home! The world is facing both a housing shortage and a climate crisis. But what if you could quickly manufacture wood buildings that actually slow climate change? What if 3D printing human settlements on the moon and Mars helps us tackle housing challenges here on Earth? And what if robots, drones and wearable technologies were our super helpers? Discover why homes are essential for our health and well-being, and meet trailblazers who are proving that we can create affordable green housing and healthy communities at the same time. Is innovation risky? You bet! But not innovating is way riskier.Hardcover: 9781459839564 PURCHASE |
|
Katie Lee Reinert lives outside of Portland, Oregon with her family and pets, which sadly doesn't include any sloths. She is also the author of Ready to Smile Again and Emma Wasn't Ready. She loves to write stories that will make kids laugh and spark their curiosity and imagination.
A sloth’s fur is full of life. Many small creatures live there, and each one plays an important part in the sloth’s world. Told in cumulative format, SLOTHS AND THEIR MOTHS zooms in to take a closer look at each part of the unique relationship between sloths, the moths that live on them, and so much more! Kids will discover each layer of this unique ecosystem, step by step, in a fun and educational way! Hardcover: 9781998426263 PURCHASE |
|
Michelle Cusolito is a former National Board Certified Teacher, curriculum developer and adjunct professor. Her debut non-fiction picture book Flying Deep was awarded the PEN-NE Susan P. Bloom Children’s Book Discovery Award, was named a “Must Read” at the Massachusetts Book Awards and was on the Kirkus Best Books list and the NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books list. She is also the author of the NSTA-CBE award-winning Diving Deep, as well as Twilight Zone, In the World of Whales, Jellyfish Scientist and the middle grade non-fiction book Window into the Ocean.
Meet 12 national trees and uncover WILD facts, ANCIENT legends, and the INCREDIBLE creatures hidden in their leaves! Travel the world and find out how each country honors, protects, and proudly celebrates their national tree. Hardcover: 9781786789631 PURCHASE |
April Releases
|
Sara Levine is a veterinarian, science educator, and award-winning picture book author of over a dozen books. Her titles, which include The Animals Would Not Sleep!, Flower Talk, and Hello Dog/Hello Human the AAAS/Subaru Prize for Excellence in Science Books, Animal Behavior Society Award, and Mathical Book Prize. She lives with her daughter in Stony Creek, Connecticut.
Connect with nature in this interactive trip to an urban park full of wildlife! As you listen for birds, scatter seeds, spot animals and more, you'll learn how to use your senses to observe and appreciate the wildlife around you no matter where you are! Hardcover: 9781464222955 PURCHASE |
|
Michelle Schaub is an award-winning children’s author and poet. She loves using the sounds and rhythms of language to inspire kids to care for the Earth. Her other Sleeping Bear Press title is Leafy-Landmarks: Travels with Trees, illustrated by Anne Lambelet. She lives in Colorado near the mountains but loves to visit the sea whenever she can.
Beneath ocean waves there exists a fascinating and vital ecosystem. Underwater meadows, teaming with vibrant life, sway and ripple in the currents. Often called "the lungs of the sea," seagrass meadows provide shelter and food for an abundance of marine life and play an important role in the health of our plane, lessening the effects of climate change and filtering out plastics and pollutants awash in the ocean. But this important ecosystem is under threat from many human activities. It's time to pay attention to this vital space on Earth. Hardcover: 9781534113510 PURCHASE |
|
Karen Jameson is a children's author, poet, teacher, and literacy advocate. Her picture books include Woodland Dreams and Wake Up, Woodlands, illustrated by Marc Boutavant; Farm Lullaby, illustrated by Wednesday Kirwan; and Where the Wee Ones Go, illustrated by Zosienka. She lives and works in Southern California.
A spectacular world of weird and wonderful jellyfish awaits in The Secrets of the Jellies. Engaging rhyming text will amaze young readers with awe-inspiring information about these beguiling sea creatures. Filled with facts and energetic undersea artwork, this aquarium-exhibit-in-a-book helps us learn all about jelly anatomy, behavior, habitats, and ecosystems as we get to know the moon jelly, lion's mane jellyfish, fried-egg jellyfish, flame jellyfish, and so many more. Dive in and be dazzled! Hardcover: 9781797221977 PURCHASE |
|
Curtis Manley was a volcanologist in a previous life—and for “Chasing Eruptions” he was able to draw on his own experience and a lifetime of volcano lore. Curtis is also an award-winning author of fiction and nonfiction picture books, including “Grace Builds an Almost-Perfect Dog”, “Climbing the Volcano: A Journey in Haiku”, “The Rescuer of Tiny Creatures”, “Just Right: Searching for the Goldilocks Planet”, “The Crane Girl”, and “Shawn Loves Sharks”. Curtis grew up in Pennsylvania but now lives with his wife east of Seattle, far enough from the local volcanoes as to be out of harm’s way.
This beautiful biography in verse tells the gripping story of two French scientists who changed what we know about volcanoes. Katia, a curious girl who collected pebbles and dreamed of escaping her small town, grew up just a few miles away from Maurice, a boy who knew more about rocks and minerals than his own teachers did. When Katia and Maurice met as college students, they formed The Vulcan Team—named after the Roman god of fire—to observe, investigate, and document one of the most dangerous, natural phenomena on the planet. For nearly 25 years they crisscrossed the globe filming eruptions and creating films and books that educated and entertained. After witnessing a volcanic disaster in South America, they pursued a new project to explain the hazards of volcanoes to the people who live closest to them. Their work helped save tens of thousands of lives—just days after the Kraffts themselves perished in an eruption in Japan. Complete with dynamic art from award-winning illustrator Katherine Roy, and extensive backmatter for school and at-home conversations. Hardcover: 9780063386297 PURCHASE |
|
Christine Van Zandt is a freelance editor and coach, writer, and award-winning author of five nonfiction picture books including Hot Dog! The History of America’s Favorite Sausage, a 2026 Junior Library Guild (JLG) gold-standard selection illustrated by the renowned Steven Salerno. You can also find her stories and poems in anthologies and magazines. She lives in Los Angeles with her family.
With a build-it-yourself clock model and tie-ins to simple machines curriculum. Discover the importance of the cogwheel and its crucial role in history from ancient civilizations to the modern day. Think a cogwheel is just a circle with spikes? Think again! Cogwheels have been used to map the stars, travel along the Great Wall, and even race in the Tour de France. This Mighty Models title highlights ten important key moments in which the cog leveled up in history—from being a wheel to a telescope in space. Readers can build their own working pendulum clock, using the build-it-yourself model included in the book, to see the power of the cog in action! Hardcover: 9781454961666 PURCHASE |
May Releases
|
Katie Furze is an author of children’s stories and books from Aotearoa New Zealand who holds a master’s degree in creative writing and a love of science and nature. Her books include Tuatara, a Living Treasure, Ruru, Night Hunter and Pekapeka, Secret Forest Bat, illustrated by Ned Barraud and published by Scholastic NZ. Both Tuatara and Ruru were finalists in New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults, and the SCBWI Crystal Kite Awards, and Pekapeka and Tuatara were Storylines Notable Books. 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.
Baby Kekeno sniffs the salty air, shakes his flippers and looks around. The waves CRASH onto the rocks. Hold on tight, little fur seal, your mother will be back soon! Meet KEKENO native New Zealand fur seal curious EXPLORER, sleek swimmer and deep ocean diver. Paperback: 9781775439677 PURCHASE |
|
Michelle Schaub is an award-winning children’s author and poet. She loves using the sounds and rhythms of language to inspire kids, especially when it comes to caring for the Earth. Michelle’s companion book to A Pathway for Pollinators, entitled A Place for Rain, is also illustrated by Blanca Goméz. Michelle lives in Colorado with her family and dog named Bear, where she enjoys hiking in nature and tending her own waterwise, pollinator-friendly garden.
Flitter. Flutter. Buzz. Hum. Come watch a meadow thrum. But what happens when a meadow meets a metropolis? There’s not much pollen to be found with steel buildings, concrete roads, and primly trimmed lawns. With the help of their neighbors, this classroom builds a network of pollinator pathways, adding native plants to empty lots, window boxes, and yards, to make city spaces bloom and create connected habitats for birds, bees, and pollinators. A PATHWAY FOR POLLINATORS provides an upbeat and actionable approach to an important environmental issue, empowering readers with the tools to create a habitat for wildlife, grow healthy plants, and support local ecosystems. Hardcover: 9781324082118 PURCHASE |
|
Kaitlyn Wells is an award-winning journalist whose work has been featured in the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and Wirecutter, among others. Her first children's book, A Family Looks Like Love, received the Outstanding Book Award from the National Association of Black Journalists. She lives in New York City with her wonderful husband, the sweetest toddler, rambunctious dog, and demanding cat.
Guided by moonlight, a child and their uncle travel across a shimmering beach in search of clams... Big and small, old and young, clams burrow beneath the sand, just waiting to be discovered. This effervescent tale is a beautiful shoreside journey about creating core family memories, and the wonders of the natural world, perfect for fans of A Different Pond and Owl Moon. Hardcover: 9781250341198 PURCHASE |
|
Christine Van Zandt is a freelance editor and coach, writer, and award-winning author of five nonfiction picture books including Hot Dog! The History of America’s Favorite Sausage, a 2026 Junior Library Guild (JLG) gold-standard selection illustrated by the renowned Steven Salerno. You can also find her stories and poems in anthologies and magazines. She lives in Los Angeles with her family.
Explore the sizzling history of America’s favorite ballpark snack! Join Frank De Wienerdog, your outrageously funny guide, in HOT DOG!—a laugh-out-loud nonfiction adventure that tracks the hot dog’s journey from the streets of New York to grills nationwide. This vibrant picture book is perfect for "young foodies," curious readers ages 6-9, and anyone who loves a side of humor with their history. Hardcover: 9781250388032 PURCHASE |
|
Laura Perdew is an author of fiction and nonfiction for kids, and a presenter, author coach, writing consultant at CU Boulder, and former middle school teacher. She has written over 60 books for the education market. Her favorite subjects to research and write about are nature and the environment, and her goal as an author is to share the wonders of nature with kids with the hope of inspiring them to unplug, explore, and take action. She is also the author of THE FORT (Page Street Kids, 2020), a picture book that celebrates the power of imagination and compromise, and the magic of a fort. She lives in Boulder, Colorado with her husband and twin boys.
The mighty ocean covers 70 percent of the planet, supports well over 100,000 marine species, regulates climate, feeds billions of people, and plays a key role in the carbon cycle. Yet the ocean is also fragile and needs our help. In The Ocean: Explore a Watery World, young marine biologists learn the ocean’s history and the key roles it plays on Earth, including its part in the carbon cycle and in regulating weather and climate. Explore the polar oceans, intertidal zones, the shallow ocean, and the open ocean, and discover the incredible biodiversity adapted to living there. Find out how people use and rely on the ocean and how humans are making a giant impact on this massive body of water. Hardcover: 9781647411480 PURCHASE |
|
Mary Helen Berg writes fiction and nonfiction picture books that honor big feelings and inspire young readers to explore and protect our big beautiful world. A former journalist, she lives in Southern California, where she loves to hike, bike, kayak, and road trip. She has a degree in literature from the University of Michigan, and a masters in journalism from Columbia University. She and her husband have three grown children, one son-in-law, and one very anxious dog.
For thousands of years, Spirit Bear and Sea Wolf have shared the misty woods and rocky shores of the beautiful Great Bear Rainforest. But now climate change and dwindling resources jeopardize their fragile world and they must compete for food, space, and clean water, putting their survival at risk. Hardcover: 9781998426188 PURCHASE |
June Releases
|
Robert F. Sibert Honoree Colleen Paeff starts every book with a sense of wonder for her subject. Whether writing about pollution and infrastructure, as in The Great Stink, or the intersection of humans and the natural world, as in Pufflings Fly Free and Firefly Song, she aims to provide readers with equal doses of information and awe. Colleen lives in Los Angeles, CA.
While most of the world sleeps, Freya and her family embark on a late-night rescue mission like no other. On Iceland’s Westman Islands, families gather at midnight to save lost baby puffins, or pufflings, guiding them safely back to the sea. Freya has always dreamed of rescuing a puffling on her own, just like her older siblings. But every time she tries, the tiny birds slip through her fingers—beaks nip, claws scratch, and they escape. When one puffling tumbles into the deep clamshell bucket of an excavator, out of reach from everyone else, Freya is faced with a choice. With her family ready to head home, she must find the courage to climb in and save the little bird—all by herself. This fictional story is based on the Puffling Patrol, a real rescue that takes place every year on the Westman Islands of Iceland. Both the author and illustrator joined the Puffling Patrol and rescued birds themselves. Hardcover: 9781665980227 PURCHASE |
July Releases
|
Melissa Stewart is a leading researcher in the field of nonfiction literature for young people and the author of more than 200 books for children. Her work has been translated into more than a dozen languages and garnered such awards as the Sibert Honor, AAAS/Subaru Prize for Excellence in Science Books, eighteen NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students, two Green Earth Book Awards, and three ALA Notables. She co-wrote 5 Kinds of Nonfiction: Enriching Reading and Writing Instruction with Children’s Books, edited the anthology Nonfiction Writers Dig Deep: 50 Award-winning Authors Share the Secret of Engaging Writing, and maintains the award-winning blog Celebrate Nonfiction.
Sharks in Kansas? Seems impossible, right? After all, Kansas is smack dab in the middle of the United States — more than 1,000 miles from the closest ocean. But the world hasn’t always looked the way it does today. Once upon a time, 85 million years ago, the middle of America was a watery world called the Western Interior Seaway. At the water’s surface, mighty mosasaurs attacked flightless birds bobbing on the waves. Deeper down, turtles the size of a small car fed on fish and ammonites. But the most ferocious hunters were the sharks. More than a dozen species cruised through the ancient sea in search of prey, and when they spotted a target … Chomp! Journey into the past for a fascinating look at the incredible cast of creatures that once lived where we live now. Hardcover: 9780593904718 PURCHASE |
|
DARCY PATTISON has written over seventy fiction and nonfiction award-winning books for children. Five books have received starred PW, Kirkus, or BCCB reviews. Awards include the Irma Black Honor award, six NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books, six Eureka! Nonfiction Honor book (CA Reading Assn.), two Junior Library Guild selections, two CLA Notable Children’s Book in Language Arts, two Notable Social Studies Trade Book, three Best STEM 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 eleven languages.
On a March night in 1497, a young Nicholas Copernicus watched the moon glide across the sky and hide a distant star. When the star reappeared too soon, he knew something was wrong with the accepted science of his time. That single observation launched a lifetime of questions—and changed how we understand our place in the universe. NIGHT tells the true story of how Copernicus challenged centuries of scientific thinking. Using only his eyes and simple instruments—no telescopes existed yet—he carefully measured the movements of planets across the dark skies above the Baltic Sea. Night after night, year after year, until the math finally worked: the sun stood still at the center, and Earth moved around it. Hardcover: 9781629443362 PURCHASE |
|
Award-winning author Elizabeth Shreeve writes children’s books that celebrate the history and diversity of life on Earth. Elizabeth grew up on the Atlantic Coast in a family of scientists, artists, and storytellers. She majored in geology at Harvard College, where she studied with renowned scientists Stephen Jay Gould and E.O. Wilson and snuck into art history classes whenever possible. While at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, Elizabeth worked at The Archaeological Exploration of Sardis in Turkey and fell in love with the wonders of the ancient world. She went on to a career in urban design. Elizabeth lives in northern California with her family, including Hector the PaleoDog.
An iimaginative exploration of mythology, paleontology, and early civilizations that invites readers to delight in legendary creatures from across the globe and the fossils and living animals and places that might have inspired their origins. Hardcover: 9781665941006 PURCHASE: |
|
Jilanne Hoffmann is the author of A River of Dust, which was an ALA Notable Children's Book, a Bank Street Best Book, and a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection, and The Ocean's Heart, which received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews. She has a degree in engineering and an MFA in writing and codirected San Francisco's Kidquake for eight years. Jilanne lives in San Francisco with her family.
Out of the Dust meets Me and Marvin Gardens in this coming-of-age novel about a young misfit searching for the truth of her family's past, set against the backdrop of an environmental cover-up. Hardcover: 9780316580052 PURCHASE |
August Releases
|
MICHELLE SCHAUB is an award-winning children’s author and poet. She loves using the sounds and rhythms of language to inspire kids, especially when it comes to caring for the Earth. Michelle’s other Norton Young Reader titles include A Place for Rain and A Pathway for Pollinators. Michelle lives in Colorad where she enjoys growing pumpkins, smashing them post-Halloween, and turning them into rich compost for her garden.
Instead of dumping rotting jack-o-lanterns in the trash, award-winning picture book author Michelle Schaub invites readers to take them to a pumpkin smash! Stomping and squashing pumpkins into compost helps them to decompose―providing nutrients for the soil, seeds for next year’s harvest, and plenty of post-Halloween fun. With lively, lyrical text and Rilla Alexander’s bright, beguiling illustrations, Pumpkin Smash is an upbeat and playful celebration of Halloween―and a call to action to reduce landfill waste and support local ecosystems. Hardcover: 9781324083085 PURCHASE |
|
Melissa Koch writes nonfiction children’s books that focus on making science and social justice personal and valuable to kids. For YA readers, Melissa has written 3D Printing: The Revolution in Personalized Manufacturing and Forest Talk: How Trees Communicate. She has also designed award-winning learning technologies and out-of-school learning experiences that encourage women and youth from diverse backgrounds to pursue their dreams in STEM. Stone by Stone is Melissa’s debut picture book. She lives with her family in an old house with a solid stone foundation in a small Iowa town surrounded by limestone bluffs.
Changed by billions of years and shaped by human hands, the stones that make up our homes, roadways, buildings, and bridges are a part of our story. Earth's story. From ancient cairns to castles, from the Great Wall of China to Maya Cities, the stone structures we build tell us who we are, what we value, what we fear, and who we want to be. The story begins deep below the earth's surface. All those stones start with a rock. Stone by Stone invites readers to consider how geology, engineering, and human history connect. The book opens with a striking and dramatic description of the rock cycle before delving into the many ways humans have used stones across history to rebuild, reconnect, and reimagine our place on Earth. Hardcover: 9780823456734 PURCHASE |
|
Lina Chopra Haldar writes children’s books that bring storytelling and mathematics together in creative and engaging ways. She draws from twenty years of experience in STEM education and a Ph.D. in mathematics education to write stories that spark children’s curiosity and foster positive relationships with math.
In Dear Math, We’re Not Friends, Nikhil’s teacher asks him to write letters to math to help him work through his uneasiness and fear toward the subject. His humorous letters and growth over the course of a school year show children how universal and FUN math actually is. This book makes an excellent gift for teachers, librarians, and parents who want to help kids find the joy in math. Hardcover: 9798889835790 PURCHASE |
|
Vicky Fang is the author-illustrator of the Ava Lin chapter book series, the Friendbots early comic series, the AlphaBot novelty book, and the forthcoming One Mad Cat early graphic novel series. She is the author of the Layla and the Bots series, the Best Buddies series, the I Can Code board book series, the picture books Invent-a-Pet and The Boo Crew Needs You!, and the forthcoming Lots and Lots of Ocelots. A former Google product designer, she now writes and illustrates children’s books full-time. You can learn more at vickyfang.com.
This rhyming romp of a picture book introduces kids to the concept of skip counting with piles and piles of crocodiles, crews and crews of kangaroos, and more. How do you count lots and lots of ocelots? Or pile and piles of crocodiles? By 1s, 2s, 5s, and 10s, that’s how! Children ages 5-7 learn the magic of skip counting—a key math skill in elementary curriculum—via silly rhymes and memorable groupings of animals. Engaging full color art encourages little fingers to count along, rhyming text encourages little voices to read along, and animal facts on every spread add an additional layer for rereading. Backmatter includes more skip counting activities and math support. Hardcover: 9781523532490 PURCHASE |
|
Sita Singh is an Indian American children’s author of award-winning picture books. An architect in the past, Sita now writes stories that explore themes of heritage, identity, and belonging. Her works include Birds of a Feather, a Dolly Parton Imagination Library selection, Mango Memories, a Gold medal winner at the Florida Book Awards, and Let’s Celebrate Diwali. Her forthcoming picture book Indigo Hands releases from Penguin Random House in August 2026. Sita’s writing journey began after moving to the United States and realizing that the experiences of families like her own were not reflected in the books her children were reading. When Sita isn’t writing, she enjoys cooking, walking, yoga, and spending time outdoors. Sita lives in South Florida with her family and a very curious dog.
A heartwarming picture book about family, tradition… and indigo! An Indian girl accompanies her grandfather to his indigo studio, where she learns, step-by-step, how to dye cloth–and her hands!–the color of the midnight sky. Neela can’t wait to go to her Dadu’s indigo studio, where he’ll teach her to dye white cloth a brilliant indigo blue. On the way, Dadu and Neela stop at the indigo farm, so she can see how this special dye is made. They watch as women collect indigo leaves and men stomp on them in water-filled tanks. Then, it’s off to Dadu’s studio where they mix last year’s indigo in a big pot with lime and date juice. At last, the indigo dye is ready. Neela dips in her cloth, waits for it to dry, and–magic!–it turns a shade of blue like no other. And now her hands are stained indigo, too, just like Dadu’s. This touching intergenerational story, accompanied by vibrant artwork, celebrates passing down a beloved tradition and showcases the how-tos of a unique and important craft. Hardcover: 9780593569740 PURCHASE |
September Releases
|
Katy S. Duffield is the author of more than twenty-five books for children, including the celebrated Crossings: Extraordinary Structures for Extraordinary Animals, which was an ALA/ALSC Notable Book, a Bank Street Best Book of the Year, and the recipient of the Eureka! Excellence in Nonfiction Gold Award. She lives in Florida with her husband and her wild and crazy Australian Shepherd.
Keystone species are plants, animals, or other organisms that have a huge effect on the environments around them. From beavers to elephants, alligators to hummingbirds, keystones help themselves and other species survive. Whether it’s creating habitats for themselves and other animals, leaving behind leftovers that fertilize the soil, or clearing out harmful algae, keystones live up to their name in their essential contribution to the harmony of our natural world. Hardcover: 9781665946896 PURCHASE |
|
Laura Perdew is an author of fiction and nonfiction for kids, and a presenter, author coach, writing consultant at CU Boulder, and former middle school teacher. She has written over 60 books for the education market. Her favorite subjects to research and write about are nature and the environment, and her goal as an author is to share the wonders of nature with kids with the hope of inspiring them to unplug, explore, and take action. She is also the author of THE FORT (Page Street Kids, 2020), a picture book that celebrates the power of imagination and compromise, and the magic of a fort. She lives in Boulder, Colorado with her husband and twin boys.
Every species has a role to play in an ecosystem, but some roles are more significant than others. In Keystone Plants and Fungi: Discover the Organisms Vital to Ecosystem Health and Biodiversity, young botanists examine the keystone plants that can make the difference between a thriving ecosystem and a collapsing one. Oak trees, baobab trees, Brazil nut trees, mangroves, saguaro cacti, and certain flowers, grasses, and fungi are all considered keystone species that other species depend upon. Hardcover: 9781647411572 PURCHASE |
|
Nora Nickum is a children's author from Washington state. She writes picture books and middle-grade fiction and nonfiction books, and her stories and articles have also appeared in children's magazines like Cricket, Ladybug, and Muse. In addition to being a writer, Nora leads ocean conservation policy work for the Seattle Aquarium.
How do scientists and veterinarians protect endangered animals from deadly disease outbreaks when the animals can't be brought in from the wild for treatment? They get creative! Discover how these innovative and dedicated people use everything from peanut butter to darts to hidden cameras in order to treat creatures of all shapes and sizes via stories told directly from those involved. For rare and threatened animals like gorillas, bats, sunflower sea stars, Hawaiian monk seals, and Ethiopian wolves, creative inventions and wild medicine in deep jungles, high mountains, and deserted islands can be the missing puzzle pieces to save them from extinction. Content includes information on how young readers can get involved and make an impact in the effort to keep these creatures from going extinct. Hardcover: 9781668961162 PURCHASE |
|
In 1775, General George Washington and his ragtag army are preparing to battle the powerful British military when the first attack comes—from an enemy that is invisible and deadly—smallpox! The disease wreaks havoc on his troops, foils his plans, and threatens to extinguish hope for independence. Desperate to get smallpox under control, Washington faces an agonizing decision—one that could either destroy his army or save it. He knew what he had to do, but how? The fate of a nation was on the line.
Beth Anderson is the award-winning author of more than ten picture books, including HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT, THOMAS JEFFERSON’S BATTLE FOR SCIENCE, and LIZZIE DEMANDS A SEAT. A former educator, her experience in the classroom continues to inspire and inform her writing as she shares true stories that widen our world and invite kids to laugh, ponder, and question. Born and raised in Illinois, Beth now lives in Colorado. Hardcover: 9781662681240 PURCHASE |
|
Katy Tanis is an explorer, illustrator, and children’s book author. She lives and works at the Jersey Shore. She spends most of her days chasing deadlines but occasionally wanders to far-off places, like Madagascar, where she chases primates instead. Her work is inspired by specific ecosystems and the wonderful webs of life that they contain. Katy has a soft spot for the weirdos of the animal kingdom, and she has never met a color she didn’t like.
is a poem-length picture book (350 words) about salamanders as a group and specifically names all the different salamanders (more than 30 at last count) that can be found in Great Smoky Mountains National Park--but most are also found in the surrounding landscapes. From the monstrous hellbender to the tiny Pygmy salamander, the temperate rainforest provides an incredible habitat for herpetological wonders. Hardcover: 9780937207192 PURCHASE |
|
Ann McCallum Staats is the award-winning author of over 15 children's books, mostly nonfiction. A former teacher, she has taught in three countries and at three different levels (Elementary math, college English, high school ESL). When not writing, Ann travels, mentors, and connects with audiences.
Dr. Karen Nyberg yearned to reach the stars, and when they were finally within grasp, she wanted to share the extraordinary sight with the world. Seeing that the Earth from a distance was like a quilted masterpiece of people and places, she put her skills with needle and thread to use--in space! When Nyberg lived on the International Space Station, she and NASA invited crafters from around the world to join a project to stitch together a global community quilt. Thousands of people from more than 30 countries stitched quilt squares that were combined to make 28 king-size quilts displayed at the 40th International Quilt Festival in Houston. With dreamy illustrations from Alida Massari that perfectly capture Nyberg's starry quilt and fun facts about space on every page, A Quilt of Stars is an accurate retelling of Karen Nyberg's true story. This book is an inspiration to those in love with STEM and art, teaching children that anyone with a goal, a community, and a dash of persistence can stitch together a dream. Hardcover: 9798893960013 PURCHASE |