The EARTH Book by Todd Parr"I take care of the earth because I know I can do little things every day to make a BIG difference..." With his signature blend of playfulness and sensitiviy, Todd Parr explores the important, timely subject of environmental protection and conservation in this eco-friendly picture book. Featuing a circular die-cut Earth on the cover, and printed entirely with recycled materials and nontoxic soy inks, this book includes lots of easy, smart ideas on how we can all work together to make the Earth feel good - from planting a tree and using both sides of the paper, to saving energy and reusing old things in new ways. Best of all, the book includes an interior gatefold with a poster with tips/reminders on how kids can "go green" everyday. Equally whimsical and heartfelt, this sweet homage to our beautiful planet is sure to inspire readers of all ages to do their part in keeping the Earth happy and healthy.
Greta's Story by Valentina Camerini; Moreno Giovannoni (Translator); Veronica Carratello (Illustrator)The inspiring true story of Greta Thunberg, a young eco-activist whose persistence sparked a global movement. You are never too young to make a difference. Ever since she learned about climate change, Greta Thunberg couldn't understand why politicians weren't treating it as an emergency. In August 2018, temperatures in Sweden reached record highs, fires raged across the country, and fifteen-year-old Greta decided to stop waiting for political leaders to take action. Instead of going to school on Friday, she made a sign and went on strike in front of Stockholm's parliament building. Greta's solo protest grew into the global Fridays for Future--or School Strike 4 Climate--movement, which millions have now joined. She has spoken at COP24 (the UN summit on climate change) and has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. This timely, unofficial biography is her story, but also that of many others around the world willing to fight against the indifference of the powerful for a better future.
Here We Are by Oliver Jeffers (Illustrator)#1 New York Times bestseller A TIME Magazine Best Book of the Year A NPR Best Book of 2017 A Boston Globe Best Book of 2017 "Moments of human intimacy jostle with scenes that inspire cosmic awe, and the broad diversity of Jeffers's candy-colored humans...underscores the twin messages that 'You're never alone on Earth' and that we're all in this together."--Publisher's Weekly (starred review) "A true work of art."--BuzzFeed Oliver Jeffers, arguably the most influential creator of picture books today, offers a rare personal look inside his own hopes and wishes for his child--and in doing so gifts children and parents everywhere with a gently sweet and humorous missive about our world and those who call it home. Insightfully sweet, with a gentle humor and poignancy, here is Oliver Jeffers' user's guide to life on Earth. He created it specially for his son, yet with a universality that embraces all children and their parents. Be it a complex view of our planet's terrain (bumpy, sharp, wet), a deep look at our place in space (it's big), or a guide to all of humanity (don't be fooled, we are all people), Oliver's signature wit and humor combine with a value system of kindness and tolerance to create a must-have book for parents. Praise for Here We Are: -"A sweet and tender distillation of what every Earthling needs to know and might well spend a lifetime striving to achieve. A must-purchase for new parent shelves"--School Library Journal -"From the skies to the animal kingdom to the people of the world and lots of other beautifully rendered examples of life on Earth, Here We Are carries a simple message: Be kind." --NPR -"[An] enchanting gem of a children's book"--NBC's Today Show -"A must-have book for parents."--Gambit -"A celebration of people all shapes and sizes, and of the beauty and mystery of our Earth."--Booklist -"...a beautifully illustrated guide to living on Earth and being a good person."--Brightly -[Here We Are] is a tour through the land, the sea, the sky, our bodies; dioramas of our wild diversity....[Jeffers] is the master of capturing the joy in our differences."--New York Times Book Review
Kids vs. Plastic by Julie BeerIt's in your toothbrush ... your clothes ... your earbuds. Chances are, you're touching it right now. We're talking about plastic! Plastic is absolutely everywhere and in practically everything we touch, from pens to water bottles to sports equipment. And a lot of it is used once and then thrown away. Unfortunately, it takes a REALLY long time for plastic to break down and it can be harmful to our environment, especially wildlife. But why and when did we start using it in so much stuff? And how do we stop? Discover shocking stats and surprising facts; inspirational interviews with National Geographic explorers and leading researchers who are working tirelessly to protect the planet; tons of simple suggestions for sustainable swaps; and more eco-friendly choices and smart action steps. This book answers all of your burning questions about plastic and offers tangible ways to get involved, reduce plastic use, and create a more plastic-free future!
One Little Bag by Henry Cole (Illustrator)From a tall tree growing in the forest--to the checkout counter at the grocery store--one little bag finds its way into the hands of a young boy on the eve of his first day of school. And so begins an incredible journey of one little bag that is usedand reusedand reused again. In a three-generation family, the bag is transporter of objects and keeper of memories. And when Grandfather comes to the end of his life, the family finds a meaningful new way for the battered, but much-loved little bag to continue its journey in the circle of life.
Plastic, Ahoy! by Patricia Newman; Annie Crawley (Illustrator)Plastic: it's used to make everything from drink bottles and bags to toys and toothbrushes. But what happens when it ends up where it doesn't belong--like in the Pacific Ocean? How does it affect ocean life? Is it dangerous? And exactly how much is out there? A team of researchers went on a scientific expedition to find out. They explored the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, where millions of pieces of plastic have collected. The plastic has drifted there from rivers, beaches, and ocean traffic all over the world. Most of it has broken down into tiny pieces the size of confetti. For nearly three weeks at sea, researchers gathered bits of plastic and ocean organisms. These samples helped them learn more about the effects of plastic in the ocean. Follow along on the expedition to find out how scientists studied the Garbage Patch--and what alarming discoveries they made.
Thank You, Earth by April Pulley Sayre (Illustrator)Winner of the Green Prize for Sustainable Literature "A splendid marriage of poetry and photography." --School Library Journal (starred review) Acclaimed children's book author and photographer April Pulley Sayre's love letter to Earth is a stunning exploration of the beauty and complexity of the world around us. Remarkable photographs and a rich, layered text introduce concepts of science, nature, geography, biology, poetry, and community, perfect for classrooms and homeschooling. This nonfiction picture book is ideal for Earth Day and for celebrating the planet all year long. April Pulley Sayre, award-winning photographer and acclaimed author of more than sixty-five books, introduces concepts of science, nature, and language arts through stunning photographs and a poetic text structured as a simple thank-you note. Touching on subjects from life cycles to weather, colors, shapes, and patterns, this is an ideal resource for science and language art curriculums and a terrific book for bedtime sharing. Thank You, Earth is a great choice for Earth Day celebrations, as well as family and group read-alouds. Includes backmatter with kid-friendly ideas for conservation projects information about the photographs, and additional resources. Winner of the Green Prize for Sustainable Literature and a Green Earth Book Award Long List title!
We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom; Michaela Goade (Illustrator)Water is the first medicine.It affects and connects us all.Water is sacred. My people talk of a black snake that will destroy the land, Spoil the water, wreck everything in its path.They foretold that it wouldn't come for many, many years.Now the black snake is here.Told from the perspective of a Native American child, this bold and lyrical picture book written by Ojibwe/Métis author Carole Lindstrom and illustrated by Tlingit artist Michaela Goade is a powerful call to action to defend Earth's natural resources--inspired by the Dakota Access Pipeline protests and similar movements led by Indigenous tribes all across North America.
What Does It Mean to Go Green? by Molly Aloian"Going green" is a commonly used term--but what does it really mean? In this overview book, fact-filled text and child-centered examples explain the threats that the Earth faces and encourage readers to be inspired activists for environmental change. Readers will be encouraged to live each day as though it is Earth Day!
Visit the library or our Poetry page for even more poetry books and activities!
That Sweet Diamond by Paul B. Janeczko; Carole Katchen (Illustrator)What better sport to inspire poetry than the timeless but carefully metered game of baseball? And what better poet than Paul B. Janeczko -- an ardent baseball fan -- to bring young readers his accessible, insightful observations of every aspect of the game, from the umpires to the vendors in the stands to the turning of a perfect double play. What does one do to pass the time during a rain delay? Is there really a right way to spit if you are a baseball player? Here is a collection of poems perfect for sharing, illustrated with Carole Katchen's atmospheric pastels.
Once I Ate a Pie by Emily MacLachlan Charest; Patricia MacLachlan; Katy Schneider (Illustrator)A sweet and funny collection of poems by Patricia MacLachlan, the author of the Newbery Medal-winning Sarah, Plain and Tall. It's a dog's life! Every dog has a tail to wag . . . and a tale to tell. Patricia MacLachlan and Emily MacLachlan Charest asked a collection of canines to speak up--and so they do, in words, barks, and yips. Captured here are accounts of happy days filled with squeaky toys, good smells, plenty of naps, and the very important jobs they do for the people they love to love.
Wet Cement by Bob RaczkaWho says words need to be concrete? This collection shapes poems in surprising and delightful ways. Concrete poetry is a perennially popular poetic form because they are fun to look at. But by using the arrangement of the words on the page to convey the meaning of the poem, concrete or shape poems are also easy to write! From the author of the incredibly inventive Lemonade: And Other Poems Squeezed from a Single Word comes another clever collection that shows kids how to look at words and poetry in a whole new way.
Pocket Poems by Bobbi Katz; Marylin Hafner (Illustrator); Hafner Marilyn (Illustrator)Here’s the perfect book for celebrating and spreading the word about Poem-in-Your- Pocket Day. This lively collection is packed with kid-friendly “pocket-size” poems, most of them eight lines or less, by such well-known poets as Eve Merriam, Jack Prelutsky, and the anthologist herself, Bobbi Katz. The easy- to-memorize, pint-size poems reflect many different facets of children’s lives and are embellished with witty, winning art by the beloved Marylin Hafner, making a package that will be welcomed by children and their teachers.
African Acrostics by Avis Harley; Deborah Noyes (Illustrator, Photographer)Look carefully! The wild animals of Africa spring to life in clever, lighthearted poems and compelling, evocative photographs.Inside every acrostic is a secret message, often lurking in the first letter of each line (read top to bottom). But look out! These acrostics not only follow their subjects to Africa, but they also take the form to a whole new level. Here you'll find the elusive double acrostic (in which the first and last letters of each line spell a message), the cross acrostic (in which the message is read diagonally), and the multiple acrostic (see it to believe it) - not to mention lions, zebras, crocodiles, hippos, leopards, and elephants. Oh, my! Illustrated with gorgeous full-color photographs, this collection is sure to send poetry buffs and animal lovers on an armchair safari they'll never forget. Back matter includes information about acrostics, nature notes, and a photographer's note.
Messing Around on the Monkey Bars by Betsy Franco; Jessie Hartland (Illustrator)Grab a partner (or many more) and read these playful poems for multiple voices aloud - evoking all the high spirits and hijinks of a day at school.Out on the playground, kids are skipping rope and making trades. In the library, they're whispering, fidgeting, and giggling. In the classroom, they're learning their lessons....or spinning tales about why they haven't turned in their homework. Throughout this collection of nineteen poems - ideal for reading aloud in pairs, but just as much fun with one or many - words, pictures, and voices erupt in an irresistible invitation to join an exhilarating ride around school. So hop on the bus! The pencils are tapping, the clock is ticking, and reports are due...tomorrow?
Moon's Ramadan by Natasha Khan Kazi (Illustrator)With radiant and welcoming art, this debut picture book and modern holiday classic captures the magic and meaning of one of the world's most joyful and important celebrations. It's Ramadan, the month of peace, and Moon watches over Ramadan traditions with excitement and longing in this sweetly illustrated debut. In Egypt, India, Argentina and the United Arab Emirates, in Somalia, New Zealand and Indonesia, in Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States, children and their families do good deeds in honor of those who have less. Cleverly blending glimpses of different countries' celebrations with the corresponding phases of the moon, Moon's Ramadan makes Ramadan, one of the world's most widely celebrated traditions, accessible and exciting for all readers. Includes robust and easy-to-understand back matter.
Moon Watchers by Anne Sibley O'Brien (Illustrator); Reza JalaliLooking through the tall trees in their backyard in Maine, Shirin and her dad search for a glimpse of the new moon, the sign that the month of Ramadan has begun. It is the time when Muslims all over the world pray, fast, and focus on good deeds. Nineyear-- old Shirin wants to fast like her parents and older brother Ali, but her parents feel she is too young. When Shirin catches Ali sneaking food, she has to decide: Should she tell her parents, or use this as a chance to do a good deed? Moon Watchers--like Lailah's Lunchbox (see page 20), another lovely picture book--is a timely celebration of Muslim traditions in America.
Under the Ramadan Moon by Sylvia Whitman; Sue Williams (Illustrator)Ramadan is one of the most special months of the Islamic year, when Muslims pray, fast, and help those in need. This lyrical story serves as an introduction to Ramadan--a time for reflection and ritual with family and friends.
Happy Passover, Rosie by Jane Breskin Zalben (Illustrator)"Beni's cousin Rosie celebrates the first Passover seder she will remember.... Soft, decorative illustrations, similar in style to the illustrations in some Haggadot & depicting a warm, loving bear family highlight this narration of a family Seder. -Publishers Weekly
The Matzo Ball Boy by Lisa Shulman; Rosanne Litzinger (Illustrator)On the morning of the Passover seder, a lonely bubbe decides to make a matzo ball boy to keep herself company. Soon delicious smells waft from the bubbling pot, and when she lifts the lid to see if the matzo ball boy is done, out he jumps. "Oy!" she cries. "And where do you think you're going?" "I'm off to see the world, bubbe," replies the matzo ball boy. "Run, run, as fast as you can. You can't catch me. I'm the matzo ball man!" Before long a yenta and her children, a rabbi, and a fox are all on a mad chase to catch the matzo ball boy, ending with his hilarious comeuppance. The familiar tale of the gingerbread man is updated with a twist as savory as a brimming bowl of the bubbe's chicken soup.
Peter Easter Frog by Erin Dealey; G. Brian Karas (Illustrator)In this hilarious picture book, a group of basket-bearing, egg-delivering animal friends give the Easter Bunny a run for his money--led by Peter Easter Frog! Here comes Peter Easter Frog, hopping down his favorite log. Hippity, hoppity, Easter's on its--wait. Easter FROG? Peter Easter Frog loves, loves, LOVES Easter, and sharing is caring, AND he's just as good a hopper as any ol' rabbit, so he decides to pass out some of his own Easter eggs. Why should Bunny have all the fun, anyway? Turtle, Cow, Dog, and Chipmunk all agree. But what happens when the Easter Bunny finds out?
The Easter Egg by Jan Brett (Illustrator)Hoppi, the lovable bunny hero, and her remarkable Easter Rabbit will enchant readers as they pore over illustrations of dazzling eggs made by Flora Bunny, Aunt Sassyfrass and other adorable characters. If Hoppi can make the best Easter egg, he will get to help the Easter Rabbit deliver the eggs on Easter morning. But it's not an easy task. Discouraged, he goes into the woods to think. There, he finds a blue robin's egg which has fallen out of its nest. Hoppi feels sorry for the egg and keeps it safe and warm until the egg hatches - but she's in for a surprise.
Dumb Bunny by Barbara Park; Denise Brunkus (Illustrator)Meet the World's Funniest First Grader--Junie B. Jones! It's an Easter Egg-stravaganza! With over 50 million books in print, Barbara Park's New York Times bestselling chapter book series, Junie B. Jones, is a classroom favorite and has been keeping kids laughing--and reading--for over 20 years! In the 27th Junie B. Jones book, Lucille is having an Easter Egg Hunt at her rich expensive mansion! And guess what? The winner gets a play date to swim in Lucille's heated indoor swimming pool! Only, here is the problem. How did Junie B. get stuck wearing a big dumb bunny suit? And how can she possibly find eggs when she keeps tripping over her huge big rabbit feet? Being a dumb bunny is definitely not as easy as it looks. Will Junie B. end up with egg on her face? Or will the day deliver some very uneggspected results? USA TODAY: "Junie B. is the darling of the young-reader set." Publisher's Weekly: "Park convinces beginning readers that Junie B.--and reading--are lots of fun." Kirkus Reviews: "Junie's swarms of young fans will continue to delight in her unique take on the world....A hilarious, first-rate read-aloud." Time Magazine: "Junie B. Jones is a feisty six-year-old with an endearing penchant for honesty."
Pete the Cat: Big Easter Adventure by James Dean (Illustrator); Kimberly DeanWhen Pete wakes up on Easter morning, he finds that the Easter Bunny needs his help! Read along to find out if Pete can help the Easter Bunny before Easter is over! This story comes complete with a poster, punch-out cards, and stickers.