Books

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Follow Julia Child—chef, author, and television personality—from her childhood in Pasadena, California, to her life as a spy in WWII, to the cooking classes she took in Paris, to the publication of Mastering the Art of French Cooking, to the funny moments of being a chef on TV.

FROM SARAH:

A fascinating look at one of the world’s most eccentric mathematicians. LeUyen Pham’s richly detailed illustrations weave mathematical ideas into every page, capturing Paul Erdős’s brilliance and childlike joy.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Most people think of mathematicians as solitary, working away in isolation. And, it's true, many of them do. But Paul Erdos never followed the usual path. At the age of four, he could ask you when you were born and then calculate the number of seconds you had been alive in his head.

FROM SARAH:

I adore this picture book biography about E.B. White, the author of some childhood favorites, including The Trumpet of the Swan, Charlotte's Web, and Stuart Little.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A lyrical biography of E. B. White, beloved author of Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little, written by Barbara Herkert and illustrated by Caldecott honoree Lauren Castillo. When young Elwyn White lay in bed as a sickly child, a bold house mouse befriended him.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Unearth the true story of green-thumbed pioneer and activist Kate Sessions, who helped San Diego grow from a dry desert town into a lush, leafy city known for its gorgeous parks and gardens.Katherine Olivia Sessions never thought she’d live in a place without trees.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A gorgeous and inspiring picture book biography of Jane Austen, one of the most beloved writers of all time, from award-winning author Deborah Hopkinson.It is a truth universally acknowledged that Jane Austen is one of our greatest writers.But before that, she was just an ordinary girl.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

When fourteen-year-old William Kamkwamba's Malawi village was hit by a drought, everyone's crops began to fail. Without enough money for food, let alone school, William spent his days in the library . . . and figured out how to bring electricity to his village. Persevering against the odds, William built a functioning windmill out of junkyard scraps, and thus became the local hero who harnessed the wind.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Ella Kate Ewing was born in 1872. She started out small, but she just kept on growing. Soon she was too tall for her desk at school, too tall for her bed at home, too tall to fit anywhere. Ella Kate was a real-life giant, but she refused to hide herself away. Instead, she used her unusual height to achieve her equally large dreams.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

This is the first picture book biography of Dr. Seuss, written especially for his young fans who want to know what made him tick. The animals in the zoo that his father ran and his fondness for drawing them, the injustices he suffered as the child of German immigrants, and his inherent sense of humor all fed into the imagination of this boy.

FROM SARAH:

A tribute to all of the kids who love to ask, "why?", this fascinating picture book biography brings to life the story of a man who never stopped asking questions.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

This colorfully illustrated biography of the Greek philosopher and scientist Eratosthenes, who compiled the first geography book and accurately measured the globe's circumference, is just right for budding mathematicians, scientists, historians, and librarians!

FROM SARAH:

The rollicking picture book biography about a pioneer in children's books: John Newbery himself. While most children's books in the 18th century contained lessons and rules, John Newbery imagined them overflowing with entertaining stories, science, and games. Nancy Carpenter's (hilarious) illustrations make reading this book pure delight.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

The rollicking picture book biography about a pioneer in children's books: John Newbery himself. While most children's books in the 18th century contained lessons and rules, John Newbery imagined them overflowing with entertaining stories, science, and games. Nancy Carpenter's (hilarious) illustrations make reading this book pure delight.

FROM SARAH:

This picture book biography is a perfect example of why older kids should keep reading picture books! The history, art, and depth in this story are hard to beat. Worth owning for your permanent collection.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A great example of how picture books are not just for little kids! This gorgeous award-winning book tells the true story of Winnie-the-Pooh, the world's most famous bear.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Caroline Herschel (1750–1848) was not only one of the greatest astronomers who ever lived but also the first woman to be paid for her scientific work. Born the youngest daughter of a poor family in Hanover, Germany, she was scarred from smallpox, stunted from typhus and used by her parents as a scullery maid. But when her favorite brother, William, left for England, he took her with him. The siblings shared a passion for stars, and together they built the greatest telescope of their age, working tirelessly on star charts.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

When young Temple was diagnosed with autism, no one expected her to talk, let alone become one of the most powerful voices in modern science. Yet, the determined visual thinker did just that. A true story your kids and teens will be inspired by.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Through artful prose and beautiful illustrations, Donna Jo Napoli and Kadir Nelson tell the true story of Wangari Muta Maathai, known as "Mama Miti," who in 1977 founded the Green Belt Movement, an African grassroots organization that has empowered many people to mobilize and combat deforestation, soil erosion, and environmental degradation.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Ella Fitzgerald began her life as a singer on the stage of the Apollo Theater when she was just seventeen years old. Her rich voice and vocal innovations brought her fame and a remarkable career than spanned half a century and won her generations of fans around the world.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

President Theodore Roosevelt is known as the man with a plan, the rough rider. His figure stands tall in American history; his legacy stretching him to larger-than-life proportions. But before his rise to fame, he was just Teedie, a boy with ambitious dreams to change the world, and the conviction to see his stupendous imaginings brought to fruition.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Everyone in Folly Cove knows Virginia Lee as “Jinnee.” With her magical wands she can draw whatever she imagines, but for her sons Aris and Michael, she draws the most wonderful characters of all: BIG MACHINES with friendly names like Mary Anne, Maybelle, and Katy. Her marvelous magical wands can make anything move—even a cheerful Little House.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Every inventor has to start somewhere, and one of the greatest innovators in our history was no exception. Ben Franklin developed his first invention while doing what he loved best: swimming! Ben's Big Splash is the story of Franklin's first invention, his journey through the scientific method, and the surprising successes that result when you're willing to make mistakes.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Bill Monroe loved many things: playing music, his big family, and his home in the bluegrass state of Kentucky. Even though his eyes were crossed and didn't work right, Bill's ears worked hard, picking out all sorts of sounds around his treasured home: rushing streams, wailing winds, and sundown jamborees with his family.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Vasya Kandinsky was a proper little boy: he studied math and history, he practiced the piano, he sat up straight and was perfectly polite. And when his family sent him to art classes, they expected him to paint pretty houses and flowers--like a proper artist.

FROM SARAH:

My favorite genre of all is picture book biography, and one of my all-time favorite pb biographers? Barb Rosenstock. I think you'll know why when you hear her on RAR episode #151: It's a Story... So What? This story is one of my favorites about Vincent Van Gogh. Gorgeously illustrated by the incomparable Mary GrandPré.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Vincent van Gogh often found himself unable to sleep and wandered under starlit skies. Those nighttime experiences provided the inspiration for many of his paintings, including his most famous, The Starry Night. Van Gogh sold only one painting in his lifetime--but he continued to pursue his unique vision, and ultimately became one of the most beloved artists of all time.

FROM SARAH:

As soon as Thomas Jefferson learned to read, he found his passion: books, books, and more books! This unique take on Jefferson's massive book collection has something to appeal to all ages. My daughter Clara asked me to read this one every night for several weeks in a row. Come listen to Barbara Rosenstock on her Author Access replay in RAR Premium!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

FROM SARAH:

Barb Rosenstock has quickly become one of my favorite picture book authors, and in this true tale, she introduces us to two brave men who journeyed to the deepest depths of the ocean. Your kids can meet author Barb Rosenstock at her Author Access video replay in RAR Premium.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

On June 6, 1930, engineer Otis Barton and explorer Will Beebe dove into the ocean inside a hollow metal ball of their own invention called the Bathysphere.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

In the summer of 1941, Yankee center fielder Joe DiMaggio and his favorite bat, Betsy Ann, begin the longest hitting streak in baseball history. But when Betsy Ann goes missing, will DiMaggio keep hitting?

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

In a tiny log cabin a boy listened with delight to the storytelling of his ma and pa. He traced letters in sand, snow, and dust. He borrowed books and walked miles to bring them back. When he grew up, he became the sixteenth president of the United States. His name was Abraham Lincoln.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Profiles the childhood dreams and realities of the first Asian American to win an Olympic gold medal, achieved in the 10-meter platform diving event in 1948.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

With short, exciting chapters, reflections for family devotions, and advice for making Lent a meaningful experience, Amon’s Adventure will help families discover anew the spiritual power of the resurrection story.

FROM SARAH:

Z is for . . . moose? Indeed! I bet your whole crew will laugh through the whole alphabet in this one!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Caldecott Medalist Paul O. Zelinsky illustrates Kelly Bingham's outrageously funny, critically acclaimed, and boundary-breaking story about a moose, a zebra, and the alphabet! Zebra wants to put on a show as simple as ABC, but Zebra's friend Moose has other (unexpected and hilarious) ideas!

By day, the library lions Patience and Fortitude guard the iconic New York Public Library. But when the sun goes down, and the library closes, their work is done, and it is time for fun. This debut wordless picture book brings the reader along on a late-night subway trip to the wild and wonderful Co...

FROM SARAH:

This book is an absolute delight, start to finish!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

One rainy day in the city, an eager little boy exclaims, “Rain!” Across town a grumpy man grumbles, “Rain.” In this endearing picture book, a rainy-day cityscape comes to life in vibrant, cut-paper-style artwork.

FROM SARAH:

Especially good for very young kids, this book is a celebration of how rain feels on bare feet! A joy to read aloud.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A very young boy in a yellow slicker enjoys playing in the rain.

FROM SARAH:

What is worm weather? Ask your kids, I bet they'll know! Get the boots out and ready for puddle jumping after you read aloud this delightful book.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Drip,drop,skip and hop.Splish, splash,sidewalk dash!It's worm weather! Join in the rainy-day fun, as kids splash through the puddles, affecting another weather enthusiast, a nearby worm.

FROM SARAH:

A beautiful picture book, lyrically written, that gets up close and personal with a farming family and their springtime weather.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Discover the joys of a wild rainstorm in this poetic picture book, illustrated by a Caldecott Medalist.

FROM SARAH:

A childhood classic. Have a colorful fruit salad while you read this one together!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Young children will enjoy learning about colors and flowers with this new edition of one of Lois Ehlert's most popular titles in a brand-new format.

FROM SARAH:

A sweet story, perfect for reading aloud in spring.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Green grass is wide and fresh and clean for a family to play in, and brown dirt is perfect for digging a garden. But when gray buildings start to rise up and a whole city builds, can there be any room for green space?

FROM SARAH:

This one is out of print, but worth tracking down, if you can find it! Your kids just might look at swallows the same way again.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Song of the Swallows, which won the Caldecott Medal when it was first published in 1948, was written and illustrated by Leo Politi, one of Los Angeles’ most beloved artists.It tells the famous story of the yearly return of the swallows to the Mission San Juan Capistrano through the eyes of a small child...

**Description from Amazon: Charlotte is a serious scientist. She solves important problems by following the scientific method. She has all the right equipment: protective glasses, a lab coat, a clipboard, and a magnifying glass. What she doesn’t have is space. She has so many brothers and sisters (she is a rabbit, after all...

**Description from Amazon: A little girl and her favorite dress dream of an extraordinary life. They enjoy simple pleasures together on a beautiful Greek island. They watch the sunset, do chores, and pick wildflowers on the way home. One day, the dress and the girl must leave the island and immigrate to the United States. Upo...

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Angelina Ballerina is the picture book that first introduced Angelina to her adoring fans. This tiny dancer has proved to have enormous staying power—she has been a hugely popular character for more than twenty years.

**Description from Amazon: The little house first stood in the country, but gradually the city moved closer and closer.

FROM SARAH:

One of my all-time favorite read-alouds. You'll find yourself enjoying this one every bit as much as your kids! What will grandfather do when his coat becomes all worn out? Well, you'll have to read it to see! Highly recommended for all ages.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

When my grandfather came to America he made himself a handsome coat!Then he wore it and he wore it and he wore it--until it was all worn out!So what did he do? He snipped and he clipped-- and he stitched and he sewed. . . and out of the still-good cloth of his coat--he made himself a smart jacket!How many things can Grandfather makeout of that old frayed coat? Jim Aylesworth's satisfying retelling and Barbara McClintock's heart-warming pictures celebrate the clever recycling of a beloved coat that lasts four generations -- until it becomes this story!

**Description from Amazon: 64 pages, classic children's stories such as Wynken, Blynken and Nod and Animal Crackers, illustrated in color by Eulalie

In this empowering picture book with a STEM focus, Charlotte, a budding bunny scientist, ignores the doubters and confidently finds a cure to the mysterious malady affecting the forest. The animals of the forest are all getting sick and no one can figure out why. Determined to get to the bottom of t...

**Description from Amazon: The tenth book in Ralph Masiello’s popular drawing series shows budding artists how to illustrate quirky aliens from out of this world. Clear, linear steps in red outline how to draw the friendly Martians. Challenge steps in blue encourage adding extras to each masterpiece.

**Description from Amazon: Learn about the five-eyed Opabinia and the Four-toed Horse. Speculate about the life of the Jamaican Long-tongued Bat. Discover the fate of the beautiful Quagga. But don't look for any dinosaurs in this book. There aren't any!Millions of creatures other than dinosaurs are now extinct. In true alphab...

**Description from Amazon: A biography of the wealthy young Italian who gave away all his possessions to become a wandering preacher and protector of animals.

**Description from Amazon: Francis is so full of God?s love that he wants to sing His praises. His glorious singing inspires birds of every color, and even the sun and moon, to join him in joyful celebration. Tomie dePaola?s simple text and vibrant illustrations bring the spirit of Saint Francis of Assisi to life for even the...

**Description from Amazon: A celebrated illustrator presents his interpretation of the legend of St. Christopher, who originally had been a giant named Reprobus out to serve the world's most powerful king, a ruler he finds when he carries the young Christ across a river.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 
Newly refreshed with a contemporary redesign, Pascual and the Kitchen Angels tells the story of the patron saint of cooks and kitchens with luminous illustrations by the beloved Tomie dePaola.

**Description from Amazon: Gilbert Keith Chesterton, (29 May 1874 -14 June 1936), better known as G. K. Chesterton, was an English writer, poet, philosopher, dramatist, journalist, orator, lay theologian, biographer, and literary and art critic. Chesterton is often referred to as the "prince of paradox". Time magazine has obs...

FROM SARAH:

Here's a sweet story that will have your students wanting to plant flowers, visit the library, and snuggle on the couch a little bit longer!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

How does your garden grow? Book-loving Lola is inspired by a collection of garden poems that she reads with her mommy. She wants to plant her own garden of beautiful flowers, so she and Mommy go to the library to check out books about gardening.

FROM SARAH:

OH my goodness, I love everything about this book. The story, the text, the charming illustrations. I'm keeping my eye on Lisa Anchin for more like this one!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

The Little Green Girl is no ordinary topiary. She dreams of visiting far off places and exploring the world beyond her garden's walls. And haven't we all felt just like that, rooted to the ground but longing to fly?

FROM SARAH:

A lovely board book—perfect for a baby shower gift, in fact. Who can resist a baby animal book? And by none other than Mem Fox! She was a guest on RAR #162: How Reading Aloud Will Change Your Children's Lives Forever.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

After meeting a bevy of baby animals— including a clever monkey, a sleepy leopard, and a dusty lion cub—the baby in this story discovers the most precious creature of all . . . itself, of course!

FROM SARAH:

There's something about baby animals that none of us can resist. This book is written and illustrated by Lita Judge. She joined us in RAR Premium when we featured her book, Red Sled, as an RAR Premium Family Book Club selection.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

What do grizzly bear cubs eat? Where do baby raccoons sleep? And how does a baby otter learn to swim? Every baby mammal, from a tiny harvest mouse "pinky" to a fierce lion cub, needs food, shelter, love, and a family.

FROM SARAH:

Very few words. Gorgeous and lush illustrations. Lovely.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Kadir Nelson, acclaimed author winner of the Caldecott Honor and the Coretta Scott King Awards, presents a resonant, gently humorous story about the power of even the smallest acts and the rewards of compassion and generosity.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

With a cleverly simple rhyme and playful, vibrant artwork, Cheryl B. Klein and Tomie dePaola lovingly paint the picture of a baby bird’s first flight—overcoming stings and dings along the way to soar triumphantly.

**Description from Amazon: Looking for Waldo's twenty-fifth anniversary? Search no more. the time has come and we’ re celebrating our favorite wanderer in style!For a quarter of a century, the bespectacled Waldo has held a place as a beloved cultural icon. Now, in honor of his anniversary, Candlewick is reissuing the classi...

FROM SARAH:

A graphic novel that I highly recommend… even if you don’t usually like graphic novels! This one tells the true story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's courageous stand during Hitler's rise to power.

Recommended for ages 14+. 

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Adolf Hitler’s Nazi party is gaining strength and becoming more menacing every day. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a pastor upset by the complacency of the German church toward the suffering around it, forms a breakaway church to speak out against the establishment.