Collection: Children

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. So this classroom plans and builds urban gardens to create an inviting pathway for pollinators to visit.

With lively, lyrical language and beguiling illustrations, 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.

Superpowers aren't just for the movies! Take a closer look at the extraordinary abilities of 20 different bugs and discover how humans have harnessed them for our own technologies and inventions.

What can freeze solid and come back to life? Glow in the dark? Grow their own armor? If you think these superpowers only exist in comic books and action movies, then think again! The real world is filled with bugs that have amazing abilities. In this fascinating book, readers ages 8-12 will learn about these incredible bug powers and more, including how bugs have directly inspired human inventions, such as tough armor, tiny drones and robots, and heatless lights.

Written by a real entomologist, Bug Power features:

• 20 bugs and their superpowers
• Fascinating photos and comic-style illustrations of the bug in action
• Zoomed-in diagrams of the mechanisms behind bugs' amazing abilities

An awe-inspiring, deep-sea-themed picture book that explores the mysterious marine life that dwells within and below the waves, all the way to the very bottom of the ocean!

Dive into this compelling, content-rich nonfiction picture book and find yourself on an underwater adventure: a marine mission that takes you past reefs, beyond the near-shore sea floor, down, down, down through the sunlight layer, the twilight layer, the midnight zone--all the way (as in seven miles!) down to the bottom of the ocean!

Keep your eyes peeled--if you're lucky, you might see a 400-year-old shark, a dumbo octopus, or . . . a xenophyophore! Layer by layer, you will get to know all of the mysterious sea life that dwells in the deepest depths while finding out just how interconnected--and crucial--the ocean's ecosystems really are.

EDUCATIONAL & EXCITING: Despite covering 70% of our Earth, a mere 20% of our oceans have been explored. What could be more thrilling than an adventure to the bottom of the sea? This book's immersive writing and awe-inspiring illustrations bring mysterious marine creatures to light for young readers, creating an adventurous and learning-rich atmosphere.

GO-TO GIFT FOR OCEAN LOVERS: This beautifully illustrated sea-themed book is for kids aged 5 to 8 and beyond who are fascinated by science, facts, and the mysteries of the ocean, sharks, fish, mollusks, sea turtles, penguins, seals, squid, jellyfish, and so much more. It makes a gorgeous gift for a birthday or any special occasion.

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS: Due to pressing crises like ocean acidification and overfishing, it is vital to promote environmental and ecological awareness in young people. In these pages, children will see--and experience--the interconnectedness of the ocean's layers, and learn how important it is to their survival for sea creatures to maintain connections and balanced relationships in their ecosystems.

Perfect for:

• Kids who love and are interested in the ocean
• Parents and grandparents of children who want to learn more about the ocean
• Teachers, educators, and librarians seeking beautiful nonfiction books with STEM content
• Anyone seeking a distinctive gift for an animal- or nature-loving child
• Readers seeking a picture book that promotes environmental awareness

Why do ships sink? What really happens when they go down? Join Dr Profundo on a voyage across the world's waters to uncover the astonishing true stories behind real-life shipwrecks.

With more than 50 fascinating case studies uncovering the mysteries surrounding shipwrecks beneath the waves, The Shipwreck Atlas offers a captivating journey through maritime history and discovery. Written by Jo Arnold, a trusted voice in children's books, this immersive guide provides an expert yet accessible look at what lies hidden on the seabed.

For example, readers will learn about:

• The Mary Rose, a shipwreck which left historians scratching their heads for centuries.
• The SS Gairsoppa which sank in just twenty minutes.
• The HMS Erebus and HMS Terror which were trapped in ice before sinking in Arctic Waters in 1848.
• SS Sultana's deadly explosion on the Mississippi River.
• . . . and many more extraordinary stories from across the world's waters.

Each spread features full-bleed artwork and engaging annotations, bringing the drama and mystery of each wreck to life. Discover the ships in their glory days and their resting places on the ocean floor, zoom in on remarkable artefacts, and learn fascinating facts through 'Did you know?' bubbles and 'In numbers' lists.

Perfect for curious minds, The Shipwreck Atlas combines adventure, history, and science in a visually stunning package. This is the ultimate book for young explorers, budding historians, and anyone fascinated by the secrets that lie beneath the sea.

The funny antics of twelve lovable animal characters are brought together in this marvelous collection - a brilliant way to introduce phonics to young readers. Why won't Fat Cat move from his mat? Who can stop the goose on the loose? And is there really a SHARK in the park?

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.
A plus on each page: there is a little yellow duck to spot!

The collection contains the following titles: Fat Cat on a mat, Ted in a red bed, Big Pig on a dig, Hen's pens, Fox on a box, Frog on a log, Ted's shed, Sam Sheep can't sleep, Shark in the park, Toad makes a road, Goose on the loose and Mouse moves house.

A resourceful twelve-year-old comes up with an unusual real estate plan in this moving middle-grade novel about what it means to have, and make, a family.

Cyril's mom has been dragging him to open houses for as long as he can remember. It's been her dream that one day the two of them will have a house of their own. So, when she decides she'll never find one they can afford, Cyril is relieved, but also sad for her. Which leads him to an idea: What if they moved in with an older person living alone who needs companionship and housekeeping? And what if that person then leaves the house to his mom in their will? It's a big "what if." But one elderly gentleman named Mr. Hartt actually seems open to it. Could this grouchy, stubborn old man be their dream come true? Or will he turn out to be their worst nightmare?

Award-winning author Monique Polak has written a highly readable novel that sensitively explores the idea of found family and alternative family structures. Readers will appreciate how the novel's lovable protagonist, Cyril, has caring relationships with his mom, his best friend and his friend's family (refugees from the war in Ukraine), while also feeling normal middle-grade insecurities and frustrations as he tries to navigate the changes in his and his friend's family's lives. The book offers excellent lessons on adaptability and tolerance. The story's focus on older people (Cyril is originally inspired by a school assignment to interview older adults) offers an opportunity for conversations about aging, and could inspire readers to cultivate their own intergenerational relationships and learn more about the older people in their lives.

In Tiny Mighty Dinosaur Creations, young makers will be inspired by dinosaur images, birds, and the work of paleoartists. They will learn more about dinosaurs as they create a fossil excavation site, dinosaur eggs, an erupting volcano, and more! Crafting tips, step-by-step directions and photographs guide readers to success with these mighty mini STEAM projects. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Super Sandcastle is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

A simple spelling lesson leads to a life-changing moment for Poppy in this sweet picture book that normalizes queerness and finding one's voice, for fans of Love, Violet and Pink Is for Boys.

Every morning, Poppy wakes up eager to go to school. It's where she plays house, colors with her class, and learns from her teacher, Ms. Merriwick. Best of all, it's where Poppy sees Ava, who has big, bouncy curls and pencils to share. But when one spelling lesson about words beginning with the letter Q leaves Poppy confused and disappointed, she turns to her teacher for answers.

This heartwarming school story follows Poppy as she navigates her big feelings and discovers the power in asking questions. Bright, colorful artwork brings to life this impactful picture book about imagination, acceptance, and the importance of representation.

Come along with Roscoe & Ivy as they find ways to make waiting fun.

Roscoe and Ivy have to wait for Mama. The only toy in the waiting room has beads that go up . . . then down . . . then up . . . then down. BORING! Roscoe would rather sing a song or bang-bang-BANG on the fish tank. Can Ivy keep the peace until Mama comes back?

• Roscoe & Ivy series focuses on the daily life of a neurodivergent family
• Created by neurodivergent author and illustrator drawing from their own lived experiences
• Endnotes offer gentle guidance on tolerating boredom

Impossible Creatures meets The Giver in this unforgettable fantasy series starter perfect for kids 8-12!

When twelve-year-old Rain bonds with the last wild griffin, she has the chance to change her fortune--and possibly her world.

"Powerful, inspiring, and absolutely wonderful."
--Shannon Messenger, New York Times best-selling author of the Keeper of the Lost Cities series

As an orphan on the lowest rung of society, twelve-year-old Rain is destined for a future of hard labor--until she meets a wild griffin and bonds with him.

An old law says that bond entitles Rain to an education at the elite Griffin Riders Academy instead of a life in the mines. But Rain's Rise threatens to topple Griffin Land's fragile hierarchy, and those at the top are determined to see her fail. So they task Rain with proving herself: Armed with just her wit and accompanied by her best friend and an unlikely ally, Rain must scale the highest peak in Griffin Land and defeat the monster at its summit.

Rain's success could change the world. But with an impossible quest ahead, will she and her griffin even survive?

Filled with awe-inspiring black-and-white illustrations, Griffin Speaker is both a delightful friendship-adventure story and a hopeful tale of resistance in an unequal world.

Roxie wants to blend in at a new school, which is hard to do when your parents are blind, in this remarkable novel about friendship, misperceptions, and family--plus a dog's view of the world.

Roxie loves her parents, but other people can't seem to see past the fact that they're blind--and they don't really see Roxie, either. To them, she's just "the girl with the blind parents." So when her family moves to a new town and Roxie starts seventh grade at a new school, she's determined to be known for the other parts of who she is: an artist, an animal lover, and the kind of person who bakes cookies for people she cares about for no special reason. But that means keeping her parents' blindness a secret from the kids at school and definitely not telling anyone that she might inherit the eye condition that caused her mother's vision loss--at least until they get to know her.

For a while, Roxie is happier than she's ever been. But when her lies and omissions lead to a visit from Child Protective Services, will Roxie find the courage to be fully honest with her friends, her parents, and herself? This heartfelt depiction of a girl establishing her own identity, with some chapters told from the perspective of her mother's loyal guide dog, is an authentic portrayal of the joys, challenges, and everyday ordinariness of being raised by parents who have a disability.

Note: The novel is typeset in Atkinson Hyperlegible, a font developed by Braille Institute specifically for low-vision readers.

Don't run away from buzzing insects--this book will teach you how to be safe, and "bee" a good friend to these important pollinators

Do you feel scared when you're outside hear that BUZZZZZ? Don't be! With this handy guide, learn everything you need to know about bees and other pollinators.

In simple, accessible language, author New York Times best-selling author Toni Buzzeo describes how kids can be safe around stinging insects. Learn how to remain calm when you meet a bee and what to do if you get stung. Discover how to watch the pollinators in your backyard safely and why they are so important to things kids love, like their favorite foods.

Perfect for the kid who needs some help gaining confidence outdoors and for the young explorers who can't stay out of the bushes.

Joe Cepeda, Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor-winner and ALA Pura Belpré Honor-winning illustrator (and nature enthusiast), makes insects look friendly and fascinating with his vibrant colors.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection