Collection: Children

A colorful, fun picture book about gender identity and pronouns--and super cool fish!

Alex's class is taking a field trip to the aquarium! While there, the teacher encourages the students to pick a sea creature they'd most like to be.

Freddie picks jellyfish for their awesome dance moves.

Rebecca picks an octopus for their eight wriggly arms.

But Alex struggles to find a fish that feels just right. After all, there are so many incredible creatures to choose from!

Until Alex discovers the goby, a very special fish that encourages Alex to be just who they are . . .

A moving picture book about gender identity and fluidity, Their Name Is Alex shows readers just how powerful it can be for a child to feel seen and understood.

Size isn't everything. Especially when it comes to Worm, who's willing to stretch his limits to get the job done!

Worm loves being a librarian but has decided it's time for a new job. He considers many options - lifeguard, deep-sea fisherman, window washer - but none of them quite fits his, um, skill set. Until he comes across a posting looking for a courageous security guard to keep a thief from stealing the Invention Convention's exhibits during the night. It sounds like the perfect job for him! Unfortunately, the hiring manager doesn't agree. Worm is too small! Also, he's a worm. Can Worm convince the manager he's got what it takes? And, if he does get hired, will he really be able to capture the dastardly thief?

Award-winning author Maureen Fergus's story about the loveable, winsome Worm is just the right kind of absurd to tickle the funny bones of young children everywhere. With his outsized self-confidence and can-do spirit, Worm is sure to steal their hearts as well. Some facts about worms are introduced right into the story, such as when Worm sells himself to the manager by asking, "Can you survive being cut in half, eat your own weight in soil every day and turn kitchen scraps into valuable fertilizer?" Award-winning illustrator Paul G. Hammond's artwork is packed with loads of clever details (and hilarious inventions!) and manages to make Worm the star of every page, even as he's interacting with the much larger creatures in the human world. This is a great story for character education lessons on optimism and perseverance.

The Kids Under the Stairs series continues in this honest and hilarious novel-in-verse from award-winning author K.A. Holt. This fourth installment follows Javier--the artist, the quiet one, the funny one, the good friend--who finds himself on a collision course with a hurricane that shares his name.

Javier--or Javi--is the quiet, funny one in his friend group and an all-around easygoing guy who's also an artist. But as his ever-present sketchbook reveals, he has a lot going on beneath that calm exterior. Adding even more to his swirling thoughts is the giant hurricane bearing down on his small Florida town--a giant hurricane that shares his name and is forecast to make landfall close to his thirteenth birthday!

As the hurricane gets closer, school is closed, and Javi and his mom have to hunker down at home. Everything starts to feel even more stormy when the power goes out and Javi's teacher, Ms. J, brings her cat over so they can all wait out the storm together. Then, to make matters worse, it seems like his grandfather might be closer to the eye of the storm than he or his mom initially thought. This is not how he wanted to spend his birthday week! As the days stretch on and more and more of Javi's comfortable norms are upended, he'll have to face big changes and the big emotions that come with them.

Funny, wise, and moving, this riveting novel-in-verse celebrates friendship, family, and "divergent" thinking while also showing how you can find strength--and yourself--during the most uncertain of times.

RENOWNED AUTHOR: K.A. Holt's books have been nominated for awards in more than thirty states. She is a trusted name and a favorite for middle-grade readers!

PERFECT FOR RELUCTANT READERS: This book is written in free verse and includes a variety of other elements--chat logs, bullet-pointed lists, newspaper articles, and illustrations--welcoming all different types of readers. The characters in the book also struggle with reading, but they are not shamed or looked down on for it, so readers with similar issues will feel understood.

VIDEO GAME APPEAL: The characters in the book play Sandbox, which readers will instantly recognize as a fictionalized version of Minecraft, an immensely popular game. Playing Sandbox is depicted as both cool and educational, which will uplift rather than shame young readers for playing video games.

Perfect for:

• Reluctant readers
• Fans of video games and unique, multi-format stories
• Neurodiverse readers and fans of accessible middle-grade fiction
• Teachers, educators, and librarians
• Readers of The Kids Under the Stairs series, including BenBee and the Teacher Griefer, Ben Y and the Ghost in the Machine, and Jordan J and the Truth About Jordan J

With engaging die-cut pages and simple text, this stunning picture book shows young readers how important bees are to our ecosystems and how these busy pollinators help us grow our food!

Because of a bee, a strawberry sprouts, a butterfly sips, celery grows, and we can all gather to share a feast around our table!

The interconnected networks between pollinators and plants can be quite complex, but this deceptively simple picture book showcases the spiraling circles of nature and the importance of even the tiniest creature in all our lives. Wander through the farm to learn how every fruit, vegetable, bug, and bird connect to each other before food arrives on your plate. A bee is just the beginning.

EASY TO UNDERSTAND: Because of a pollinator, a plant. And because of a plant, another pollinator. And on and on the wonderful, natural process goes. All kids have to do is open this book's die-cut cover and flip the cleverly designed pages to follow along and become experts on pollination!

POLLINATORS ARE IMPORTANT: Bees and other pollinators have seen a scary decline over the past few decades, making it vital to share information with young learners to educate and encourage them to spread awareness and contribute to conservation efforts.

CURRICULAR CONNECTION: Kids learn about animal habitats and biomes in kindergarten, and they also learn about food chains, conservation, and endangered species in elementary school. This book and its backmatter will introduce students to a farm's worth of information on the animal species that pollinate our food sources and how we can continue fighting for their conservation, all of which complement the curricula perfectly.

BEAUTIFUL BOOK: From the award-winning author of Because of an Acorn and the illustrator of My Friend Earth, this engaging and gorgeously illustrated book will stand out on nonfiction shelves in libraries and classrooms and make an irresistible volume for kids to flip through again and again at home.

Perfect for:

• Kids who love insects, science, and nature
• Parents, grandparents, and caregivers seeking a beautiful and informative picture book
• Librarians, in-school educators, and homeschoolers seeking nonfiction books with STEM content
• Anyone looking for a book about nature's interconnectedness and how pollinators help with our food sources
• Fans of Because of an Acorn, the Over and Under series, and other popular nature books for kids

From Ingela P. Arrhenius, creator of the Peekaboo and Felt Flaps series, this stylish and innovative new touch-and-feel series is perfect for little ones just beginning to engage their senses.

The latest in a new series of board books that encourages babies and toddlers to explore the world through touch.

From soft, furry paws and tails to slick vinyl and holographic foil, children will develop their tactile senses as their tiny fingers traverse each cat-themed spread. Bestselling illustrator Ingela P. Arrhenius's bright and cheerful artwork adds stylish flair to these adorable board books!

Features a free "Stories Aloud" audiobook--just scan the QR code on the cover and follow along!

Other titles in the series include:

This Little Puppy

This Little Duckling

This Little Dinosaur

This Little Lion

An adorable, action-packed spin on Cinderella featuring lots of soccer and a prince with two royal dads.

Jack begs his dad to tell him his favorite bedtime story, the one about Leo and the royal soccer match. It includes two mean stepbrothers, a fairy squad father, and magical race car ride to the big game. The match is amazing, and Leo scores the winning goal, with an assist from Prince Ollie! But after his uniform starts to change back to his regular clothes, Leo rushes off, leaving his cleat behind. The prince searches high and low for the boy the cleat belongs to, and when he finds him, it's the perfect match! Leo and Prince Ollie live happily ever after. And one day . . . they have a little boy named Jack who loves soccer as much as they do!

A riveting, in-depth guide to all the jobs that make up the soccer industry--from star players to team chefs--written by accomplished former Arsenal and England women's team player, Rachel Yawkey.

Do you have what it takes to become a professional soccer player, sports broadcaster, or oversee operations at a world-class stadium? Find out what it's like to work in the exciting, high-profile world of professional soccer whether on the field or behind-the-scenes.. Discover the ways in which each person and job is integral to the soccer industry--whether they are taking the field as a player or coach, running games as a referee, scouting talent from all over the world, or keeping players well-fed and healthy as a team chef. With fascinating insight from retired star player, Rachel Yawkey, this is the perfect book for anyone who loves soccer or sports at any level!

Discover a world of color with Rainbow Train in this beautiful board book with a die-cut rainbow arch.

All aboard Rainbow Train, hop on and start the day.
Rainbow's on a journey, finding colors on her way.

Whether making her way through the grassy green countryside or chugging through city streets in the purple twilight, Rainbow Train is here to take little ones on a colorful adventure. A perfect gift for toddlers, featuring a sturdy, die-cut rainbow arch, delightful rhyming text, and surprises for readers to spot on each page.

"A raw, beautiful story about surviving the impossible and learning how to move forward . . ." --Aiden Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of The Sunbearer Trials

When her mother refuses entry to a stranger named Richard at her father's funeral, 17-year-old Mira Howard doesn't understand why. But snooping through her father's things reveals that Richard was her father's boyfriend--a boyfriend she never knew about. In fact, Mira never even knew for sure that her dad was gay. Hoping to feel more connected to her late father, Mira reaches out to Richard without telling her mom, who is still angry from the divorce. As Mira and Richard become closer, Mira gains more and more insight into the side of her father that she never got to see.

Grieving that she never got to connect with her dad about their shared queerness, Mira asks that Richard teach her "how to be queer" while she navigates a new crush on her co-worker, which brings her out of her diary and into the real world.

But as Mira grows more confident in herself, she finds it hard to keep her relationship with Richard a secret, questioning why her family never talked about her father's sexuality in the first place. Soon Mira has to decide if she wants to keep the peace or honor her father's memory by being her truest self.

An epistolary novel told through diary entries, text messages, and book reviews, IN BETWEEN DAYS is a story about queerness, grief, and families--both ones we are born into and ones we create.

All This Fuss Over a Cookie?!

Every month Ms. Madeleine creates a special cookie of the month for her bakery. And her best customer, a little girl named Cookie, is always the first to try it. Ms. Madeleine's sweet treats never disappoint.
When June arrives, Cookie and her two moms stop in and taste the best cookie yet: a heart-shaped, rainbow-striped, crunchy, frosted confection that Ms. Madeleine baked especially for Pride.

But Rainbow Cookies make some people in the neighborhood angry. They write harsh notes. They cancel orders. Ms. Madeleine is afraid her Rainbow Cookie might be her last.

But Cookie is not about to let that happen. With great determination and a fabulous idea, she gathers friends and neighbors to support Ms. Madeleine. Together they show the whole town how colorful and fun and celebratory and delicious the combination of love, Pride, and cookies can be!

Life On Us is a first-of-its-kind exploration of everything that lives ON and IN us, but is NOT us, from one of the world's greatest living explorers and scientists!

Welcome to the fascinating world of Life On Us! Our bodies are home to tens of thousands of species that aren't at all human - on our skin, inside our gut and even in our brain, and they can have an extraordinary impact on how we feel, act and live. Many organisms are microscopic, but some are far longer than we are. Some make frequent but temporary visits, while others stay for a very long time!

Get ready to learn all about our amazing microbiome and the trouble-making germs and parasites you won't like to host. Scientist-extraordinaire Tim Flannery and his daughter Emma Flannery come together in this incredible exploration of a rapidly growing and enormously exciting area of science. Together, they've assembled possibly the weirdest collection of knowledge about the human body, from poo transfusions to research into how parasites can help us. Find out what's living on you!

Did you know:
- that your gut microbiome makes up three-quarters of the weight of your poo?
- that COVID-19 can enter your body through your eyeballs?
- that botox is more poisonous than any snake, spider or jellyfish?
- that your pet cat could pass on a mind-controlling parasite?

Perfect for:

• Kids who love knowing everything about anything!
• Fans of books such as Guinness Book of World Records and 100 Things To Know About the Human Body
• Educators and literacy specialists seeking hybrid texts to use in the classroom

In this lyrical and empowering tribute to Latine laborers, one child realizes how her Papi's love and labor make their community, home, and future stronger, and illustrates her vow to do the same--perfect for fans of Someone Builds the Dream and My Papi Has a Motorcycle.

My Papi's hands are bigger than mine...That's because they build cities piece by piece, día tras día.

Because of my Papi's hands, I know what my hands can do. And together, our hands will build a brighter future, piece by piece, día tras día. With lyrical text and striking wood block illustrations, this heartwarming ode to parental love uses the metaphor of a father's labor to illustrate how manos poderosas can teach little hands how to create change within their community.

Readers get a look into the history and life story of their favorite classic cartoon character, Bluey. Each title will cover Bluey's creator, when she first debuted, and her fictional life story. Aligned to Common Core standards & correlated to state standards. Abdo Kids Jumbo is an imprint of Abdo Kids, a division of ABDO.

The funny antics of Ten lovable animal characters are brought together in this marvelous collection - a brilliant way to introduce phonics to young readers.
Each story has rhyming text and is based on Phonics and comes with online audio. A handy parent's guide is at the front of the collection with tips for parents and educators on how to use this book to introduce children to Phonics.
The collection contains the following titles: Mole in a Hole, T. Rex Needs Specs, Llamas in Pajamas, Goat in a Boat, Raccoon on the Moon, Bug in a Rug, Kangaroo at the Zoo, Seal at the Wheel, Poodle Draws Doodles, Flamingo Plays Bingo

A touching and warmhearted picture book that explores what it means to belong to two cultures.

Marlee's parents are excited. "We are going back home!" they tell her and her brother. "Not my home," Marlee says. She knows the island is where her mum and dad grew up, and that she and her brother will get to do lots of fun things when they visit. But she's never been there. And though her dad says a person can have two home countries, Marlee isn't sure she believes him. But slowly, the warm welcome from her large, loving family, the coconut water she drinks on the beach and the many other delights she discovers on the island, from pigs on the beach to music at bedtime, help Marlee see that what her dad says is true.

Heather Beaumont's poetic story portrays an experience that many children with family heritage in another country or culture can relate to, and it affirms the experience in loving detail. The book's expressive, rhythmic text, using the refrain "when we go home," and the rich, vibrant art by Nátali de Mello make it an excellent read-aloud choice. Perfect to spark meaningful discussions about what home can be, it highlights for young children what a treasure it is to have a family and a place - or two - that feels like home. The book also lovingly captures aspects of life on a Caribbean island, from the food to the music to the beach.

There's no place like Nani Camp! This playful picture book celebrates the joy, wonder, and fun of spending the night at a grandparent's house.

When Padma's parents go away for the weekend on a babymoon (whatever that is), Padma goes away too--to Nani Camp!

Nani Camp may look suspiciously like Nani's house, but it's a lot more fun than staying home. From scavenger hunts to arts-and-crafts, camp is packed with activities, but things don't always go to plan. Luckily, Padma will learn there's no problem a cup of chai and a positive attitude can't fix!

Grab your emergency slime, fill your pockets with supplies, and don't wear anything you're afraid of getting wet. Now you're ready for Nani Camp!