FROM SARAH:

Perfect for Nature Study any time of year, this sweet picture book invites us to use our imagination and dream about all the things a leaf can be. Check out the other books in this series and treat your readers to beautiful illustrations and brand-new ways to think about the simplest elements of nature.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A leaf can be a...shade spiller, mouth filler, tree topper, rain stopper. Find out about the many roles leaves play in this poetic exploration of leaves throughout the year. Purdie Salas's lyrical, rhyming text and Violeta Dabija's glowing illustrations make simple yet profound observations about seemingly ordinary objects and encourage readers to suggest "what else it can be!" Using metaphors for a leaf (tree topper / rain stopper), a rock (hopscotch marker / fire sparker), and water (thirst quencher / kid drencher), these insightful picture books creatively highlight a variety of roles and relationships in nature.

FROM SARAH:

One of my very favorites. The slow and sensory-rich experience of reading a book by the Steads is put on display in this book. Just buy it for your permanent collection—you'll be glad you did! RAR Premium members, don't miss the Family Book Club Guide for this one!

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

It was almost winter and Bear was getting sleepy. But first, Bear had a story to tell...Bear found his friend Mouse, but Mouse was busy gathering seeds and didn't have time to listen to a story. Then Bear saw his friend Duck, but Duck was getting ready to fly south ...

FROM SARAH:

There's so much to see in the illustrations of this countdown book. Your kids will learn the shapes and colors of many leaves (and the trees from which they fall).

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Count backwards from 10 to one during one of the most colorful times of year: fall. Learn about the bright, colorful leaves and the trees from which they fall: aspen, birch, maple, oak, chestnut, linden, pine, beech, dogwood, and sweet gum.

FROM SARAH:

This book is amazing in its simplicity and beauty, both in the text and the pictures. Listen to my special edition episode about the illustrator, Barbara Cooney, on the RAR Podcast.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Thus begins a lyrical journey through the days and weeks, the months, and the changing seasons in the life of one New Englander and his family. The oxcart man packs his goods - the wool from his sheep, the shawl his wife made, the mittens his daughter knitted, and the linen they wove.

FROM SARAH:

I love this whole series from Kenard Pak! Worth owning.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

As leaves fall from their trees, animals huddle against the cold, and frost creeps across windows, everyone knows―winter is on its way! Join a brother and sister as they explore nature and take a stroll through their twinkling town, greeting all the signs of the coming season.

FROM SARAH:

All of the books in this seasonal series by Kenard Pak are delightful, and this is no exception!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Join a boy and his dog as they explore nature and take a stroll through the countryside, greeting all the signs of the coming season. In a series of conversations with everything from the melting brook to chirping birds, they say goodbye to winter and welcome the lushness of spring.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 
In this book, we hear all the different bird calls in counterpoint to the pervasive quiet of a mama bird waiting for her eggs to hatch. Fun and informative back matter takes the shape of an interview so that readers learn more right from the bird's bill. Ken Pak's lively illustrations, paired with Rita Gray's words, render a visual and sonorous picture book to be enjoyed by young naturalists.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Flowers are calling to all the animals of the forest, "Drink me!"—but it’s the pollinators who feast on their nectar. In rhyming poetic form and with luminous artwork, this book shows us the marvel of natural cooperation between plants, animals, and insects as they each play their part in the forest's cycle of life.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Warble is a small yellow warbler who lives on the beautiful island of Icyland, where he pursues his hobby of human watching. But on a warm day, a deep fog rolls in and obscures his view. The rest of the birds don't seem to notice the fog or the other changes Warble observes on the island. The more the fog is ignored, the more it spreads. When a Red-hooded Spectacled Female (Juvenile) appears, Warble discovers that he's not the only one who notices the fog. Will they be able to find others who can see it too? And is the fog here to stay?

FROM SARAH:

I love this book so much, I selected it for its own Family Book Club at RAR Premium.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Newbery Medal-winning author Patricia MacLachlan’s poignant text and award-winning artist Kenard Pak’s gentle and rustic illustrations paint the picture of a beautiful red barn and the people who call it home.

FROM SARAH:

You'll be eager for a snow day after reading this book, just so you can hear the many different sounds of snow. I loved everything about this book, and it's illustrated by one of my very favorite illustrators—Kenard Pak. Highly recommended for your winter reading basket. This is an RAR Premium Family Book Club pick for winter 2024.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

A snowy day, a trip to Grandma's, time spent cooking with one another, and space to pause and discover the world around you come together in this perfect book for reading and sharing on a cozy winter day.