Books

FROM SARAH:

A great book to invite your kids to look just a little closer at an apple—that practically perfect portable snack!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Crunchy and tasty, sweet and tart, in colorful shades of red, yellow, and green -- sometimes all three -- everyone loves apples! In this lively and vibrant book, young readers will learn how apples grow, from the planting of a tree, to the pollination of buds by bees, and on to the harvest.

FROM SARAH:

Rich and warm in illustration style. I read this one to my kids just about every year.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:
In the rich, warm colors of autumn, here's a slice of American history as we watch Anna and her extended family help with the town's traditional fall apple harvest. Now available in paperback.

FROM SARAH:

Playful and minimalist. I can't get enough of the expressions on the bear in this one!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Destined to become a contemporary classic, this book has spare text and sweet illustrations but contains only five words: apple, pear, orange, bear--and there. Emily Gravett creates clever variations on this theme by rearranging the words--on one spread, a brown bear juggles an orange, apple, and pear; on another spread, there is an orange-colored apple and a pear-shaped bear.

FROM SARAH:

The story of a young immigrant girl finding her place on a class trip to the apple orchard. See if your library has it!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Farah feels alone, even when surrounded by her classmates. She listens and nods but doesn’t speak. It’s hard being the new kid in school, especially when you’re from another country and don’t know the language. Then, on a field trip to an apple orchard, Farah discovers there are lots of things that sound the same as they did at home, from dogs crunching their food to the ripple of friendly laughter.

FROM SARAH:

I adore this whole series from Kenard Pak, but this one in particular might be my favorite! I love comparing the use of colors from the beginning of the book to the end (or even the different sides of the cover). Love.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

As trees sway in the cool breeze, blue jays head south, and leaves change their colors, everyone knows--autumn is on its way! Join a young girl as she takes a walk through forest and town, greeting all the signs of the coming season.

FROM SARAH:

A moving interpretation of the life and ministry of Jesus by the ever-brilliant John Hendrix. This picture book brings to life the Biblical accounts of Jesus’s miracles, crucifixion, and resurrection. From the feeding of the five thousand to walking on water, this is a story of faith told through Jesus’s miraculous deeds. You can listen to our incredible conversation with John on the RAR Podcast.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

In this moving interpretation of the life and ministry of Jesus, John Hendrix brings to life the Biblical accounts of Jesus’s miracles, crucifixion, and resurrection. From the feeding of the five thousand to walking on water, this is a story of faith told through Jesus’s miraculous deeds.

FROM SARAH:

You guys, this book. It's one of my very favorites. For all of us who can relate to stacks of books so high we can’t open our front doors! When your own collection of favorites is that big, all that’s left to do is share them.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Elizabeth Brown doesn't like to play with dolls and she doesnt like to skate. What she does like to do is read books. Lots of books. The only problem is that her library has gotten so big she can't even use her front door anymore. What should Elizabeth Brown do? Start her own public library, of course! With charming verse and watercolors Sarah Stewart and David Small celebrate one of America's oldest and finest institutions.

**Description from Amazon: When Isabel and her family move to the United States, Isabel misses all the things she left behind in Mexico, especially her aunt Lupita and hearing people speak Spanish. But she also experiences some wonderful new things--her first snow storm and a teacher who does not speak Spanish but has a big s...

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Beginning in the dark hours of morning, an Amish girl, along with two adult companions, sets off for the big city for the first time. The reader receives nightly reports through young Hannah's diary, in which, with tireless awe, she relates the significant events of the day. Each experience is decidedly new to Hannah -- a trip to the top of a skyscraper, a visit to the aquarium -- yet in each she finds some universal element that reminds her of home. Though she loves the city, a trip to the art museum on the final day of her visit clinches Hannah's longing for family and familiarity; fortunately, the bus is ready to take her back to the place she loves most.

**Description from Amazon: From the beloved husband-and-wife team of The Gardener, a Caldecott Honor BookAnnabelle Bernadette Clementine DoddWas a good little girl, though decidedly odd.Belle lived every day as if she were grown --She thought she could do everything all on her own.Lucky for Belle, she has a friend at home, a ...

**Description from Amazon: A dazzling depiction of the connection between diverse readers of all ages and their books, from beloved author-illustrator team Sarah Stewart and David Small. This Book of Mine is a celebration of the power of reading, of the ways in which books launch our adventures, give us comfort, challenge our...

**Description from Amazon: Miss McGillicuddy's simple country routine continues through-out the year in spite of a very unusual tree growing in her yard.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Learn the story of what really happened to Honest Abe when he was just a kid in this nonfiction picture book that's perfect for President's Day and every day!

FROM SARAH:

The art in this story is just stunning. Love that this is based on the true story of Joshua Bell, a world-renowned classical violinist who famously took his instrument to a busy subway for a free concert. You might be surprised to learn how many stopped to listen, and who. Enjoy this with a Family Book Club guide in RAR Premium.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Dylan is someone who notices things. His mom is someone who doesn’t. So try as he might, Dylan can’t get his mom to listen to the man playing the violin in the subway station. But Dylan is swept away by the beautiful music that fills the air as crowds of oblivious people hurry past.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

When Lawrence Fox's teacher announces that students will be presenting their collections at show-and-tell, Lawrence realizes he doesn't have anything to share. Luckily, Papa knows just what to do to help! Together, they venture into the woods.

FROM SARAH:

Jim Arnosky has done some truly delightful nature-based picture books for kids, and this is one of my favorites. Even a peek at the cover will show you his clever use of composition to show you how *big* a bear really is. See if your library has this one!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Each autumn, just before the onset of winter, a bear shows up in the rugged woodland behind a family farm.

FROM SARAH:

The mice in this story are named after C.S. Lewis and his wife, Joy. What's not to love about that? The story itself is quite darling, as well, as we have come to expect from Karma Wilson!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Cozy up to this tender tale about overcoming fears and finding friendship, from the New York Times bestselling author of Bear Snores On. Lewis Mouse is preparing his nest for winter. It is cozy and it is warm, and yet something is missing.

FROM SARAH:

We have the board book version of this one, and it's a regular favorite in the fall, especially for the younger set. A great gift for toddlers.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

This simple, charming story of a young bear's first autumn is perfectly suited to board book format. Bear is surprised when the leaves start falling off the trees, but when he tries to reattach them, it doesn't work. Eventually, he gets sleepy, and burrows into the fallen leaves for a long nap.

FROM SARAH:

This simple story is perfect for the younger crowd. Would be a lovely birthday gift for a 1-2 year old!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

In the middle of fall, it takes only one gust of wind to turn the whole world yellow and red and orange. Caldecott Medalist and award-winning author Kevin Henkes’s striking text introduces basic concepts of language and the unique beauty of the fall season.

FROM SARAH:

I really appreciate the illustrator's use of light in this book. A lovely addition to your autumnal reading stack.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Autumn is in the air: days grow shorter and nights are long. Birds leave, flowers, too. Apples and temperatures fall—then snow! Part poem, part silent stage, this luminous picture book puts autumn on display and captures the spirit of change that stays with us long after fall leaves.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Did that pumpkin just quack?

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

An inspiring tale of creativity and determination on the Underground Railroad from Coretta Scott King Award winner James Ransome and acclaimed author Deborah Hopkinson.Clara, a slave and seamstress on Home Plantation, dreams of freedom—not just for herself, but for her family and friends.

FROM SARAH:

This inspiring true story shows how a love of reading can change the world. I love how it highlights the power of perseverance—reminding us that the stories we read shape the way we see history and ourselves.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Carter G. Woodson was born to two formerly enslaved people ten years after the end of the Civil War. Though his father could not read, he believed in being an informed citizen. So Carter read the newspaper to him every day. When he was still a teenager, Carter went to work in the coal mines.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

The unbeatable team of Deborah Hopkinson and James E. Ransome present a riveting brick-by-brick account of how one of the most amazing accomplishments in American architecture came to be.

**Description from Amazon: Inspired by the life of pioneering female baseball player Alta Weiss, and dramatized by Terry Widener’s bold illustrations, Girl Wonder tells the unforgettable story of a true American original.Alta Weiss was born to play baseball, simple as that. From the age of two, when she hurls a corncob at a...

**Description from Amazon: "Delivers an eloquent environmental message while demonstrating how kids can change the world through teamwork and perseverance." — School Library JournalA triumphant story of environmental activism, community, and friendship: Acclaimed activist Philippe Cousteau and renowned author Deborah Hopkin...

**Description from Amazon: Missouri, 1847When James first started school, his sister practically had to drag him there. The classroom was dark and dreary, and James knew everything outside was more exciting than anything he'd find inside.But his teacher taught him otherwise. "We make our own light here," Reverend Meachum told...

**Description from Amazon: When the Nazis invaded Denmark on Tuesday, April 9, 1940, the people of this tiny country to the north of Germany awoke to a devastating surprise. The government of Denmark surrendered quietly, and the Danes were ordered to go about their daily lives as if nothing had changed. But everything had cha...

**Description from Amazon: “A delightful combination of race-against-the-clock medical mystery and outwit-the-bad-guys adventure.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred   Eel has troubles of his own: As an orphan and a “mudlark,” he spends his days in the filthy River Thames, searching for bits of things to sell. He’s bein...

**Description from Amazon: From the award-winning author of The Great Trouble comes a story of espionage, survival, and friendship during World War II.Bertie Bradshaw never set out to become a spy. He never imagined traipsing around war-torn London, solving ciphers, practicing surveillance, and searching for a traitor to the ...

**Description from Amazon: A sketchbook is an essential tool for the growth of any aspiring artist, but its blank pages can be daunting to even the most motivated. Obsessed with perfection, many wind up treating their sketchbooks more like portfolios than playgrounds. In Drawing Is Magic, author John Hendrix teaches aspiring ...

**Description from Amazon: Published on the 150th anniversary of John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry, this biography explores the life of one of American history’s most controversial figures. A great deal of academic study has been published recently about John Brown. This is the first book for young readers to include the...

FROM SARAH:

An excellent picture book for older kids and teens, this text-heavy picture book relays the incredible (and true!) story of the Christmas Truce of 1914. Perfect to pair with your history studies for this time period. John Hendrix is an RAR favorite.

Age rec: 12 + up

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Shooting at the Stars is the moving story of a young British soldier on the front lines during World War I who experiences an unforgettable Christmas Eve. In a letter to his mother, he describes how, despite fierce fighting earlier from both sides, Allied and German soldiers ceased firing that evening and came together on the battlefield to celebrate the holiday. They sang carols, exchanged gifts, and even lit Christmas trees. But as the holiday came to a close, they returned to their separate trenches to await orders for the war to begin again.

**Description from Amazon: This is the incredible true story of Sarah Emma Edmonds, who dressed as a man and fought in the Civil War. When she was 19, Sarah cut her hair, donned her brother’s clothes, and fled from Canada, where her father wanted her to marry an elderly gentleman. In the U.S., she went by the name Frank Tho...

FROM SARAH:

A delightful picture book biography about the man who wrote some of the most famous novels of all time, including A Christmas Carol and Oliver Twist.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

For years Dickens kept the story of his own childhood a secret. Yet it is a story worth telling. For it helps us remember how much we all might lose when a child's dreams don't come true...

**Description from Amazon: McToad likes Thursdays. Why? Because on every other day of the week, McToad mows Big Island, but on Thursdays, McToad mows Tiny Island. To do so, he puts his mower on the back of a truck, which drives to a train, which goes to a helicopter, which flies to a boat, which uses a crane to put the lawn m...

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Grab a seat as Marcia Williams wields her popular comic-book style to bring As You Like It, King Lear, Much Ado About Nothing, Antony and Cleopatra, Twelfth Night, The Merchant of Venice, and Richard III vividly to life while evoking the mood, mischief, and manners of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Elizabethan theater. As in her previous volume Tales from Shakespeare, Williams blends her own storytelling skill with Shakespeare's rich dialogue to make these masterpieces accessible to even the most reluctant reader. Bravo!

FROM SARAH:

I love Marcia Williams's comic-strip books that make classics oh-so approachable.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Travel back to Medieval England and join Chaucer and his band of Canterbury pilgrims in this wonderful introduction to one of Britain's greatest literary legacies. These nine well-loved tales, from a host of colourful characters - the Knight, the Miller, the Reeve, the Wife of Bath, the Summoner, the Clerk, the Franklin, the Pardoner and the Nun's Priest - are brought to life with Marcia Williams' trademark witty, comic-strip art, allowing this classic text to be enjoyed by all ages.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

This title presents a comic-strip re-telling of some of Britain's best-loved stories and legends. Aided by the magician Merlin, Arthur draws the sword from the stone to become King of Britain, and Lord of the Knights of the Round Table. Read of their valiant deeds as King Arthur, Sir Lancelot, Sir Galahad and other heroic knights rescue maidens, defend Excalibur and search for the Grail. Also publishing this month are "God and His Creations" and "Sindbad the Sailor".

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Told in lively comic-strip style, this book relates eleven colourful action-packed tales about Robin and his merry men. Read how Robin becomes an outlaw, gets a ducking from Little John and encounters a disguised Maid Marian in the forest; enjoy the stories of Much the Miller's Son, Friar Tuck, Allan-a-Dale, Sir Richard of Leigh and the golden arrow. Meet Robin's sworn enemy Sir Guy of Gisborne, witness his visit from King Richard and see Robin fire his final arrow.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Witches, murder, ghosts, and madness — one of Shakespeare’s finest tragedies is also a perfect fit for the graphic novel format. This compelling adaptation depicts every blood-curdling scene in easy-to-follow illustrations, accompanied by Shakespeare’s original text. An illustrated cast of characters reminds readers who’s who, and fascinating background information on Shakespeare and the real Macbeth adds historical context.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

This is the entire, unabridged play brought to life as a vivid and engaging full-color graphic novel.With its mix of real people who stumble into a fairy kingdom (with its own problems!) it is little wonder that this play is one of the best loved and most performed of all Shakespeare's masterpieces.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

This full-color graphic novel presents the sparkling romantic comedy just as Shakespeare intended: in its original and unabridged format, and in its original setting. As with the other titles in this well-received series, it encourages readers to discover classical literature while staying true to Shakespeare’s vision.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Shakespeare’s rousing tale of war and peace between England and France during the reign of Henry V springs to life in this unabridged, full-color graphic adaptation.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Placed on countless reading lists, translated into more than forty languages, and made into a feature film, The Giver is the first book in The Giver Quartet that also includes Gathering Blue, Messenger, and Son. In this new graphic novel edition, readers experience the haunting story of twelve-year-old Jonas and his seemingly ideal, if colorless, world of conformity and contentment, through the brilliant art of P. Craig Russell that truly brings The Giver to life.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

in 50 years of publication, the book has never been illustrated. In the graphic novel, Hope Larson takes the classic story to a new level with her vividly imagined interpretations of tessering and favorite characters, like the Happy Medium and Aunt Beast. Perfect for delighting old fans and winning over new ones, this graphic novel adaptation is a must-read.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Schoolyard rivalries. Baking disasters. Puffed sleeves. Explore the violet vales and glorious green of Avonlea in this spirited adaptation.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Drawing on the unique historical sites, archives, expertise, and unquestioned authority of the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, New York Times bestselling authors Sid Jacobson and Ernie Colón have created the first authorized and exhaustive graphic biography of Anne Frank.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Did you know snails build roads like engineers and go undercover in camouflage like spies? Did you know they can be smaller than a seed or bigger than a grown-up’s hand? Kevin McCloskey mixes snail science, art, and hilarity for the newest book in his Giggle and Learn series, praised by The New York Times as “a winning combination of facts and gross-out fun.”

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

In the midst of a family dinner with her scolding parents, Maya receives an unexpected invitation to dine with the Queen. Suddenly, her messy manners are put to the ultimate test and she begins to improvise her very own set of rules, with uproarious results.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Why won't Benny help? Penny found a dead salamander, but her brother Benny is refusing to help her bury it. Is it silly to hold a service for Little Sallie, or could this tiny salamander mean something more to the siblings? Geisel Award–winner Geoffrey Hayes shares this gentle tale of a child's early encounter with death.

FROM SARAH:

This book is clever! Our team met Ivan Brunetti at a library conference one, and he was a real gem (even helping Kortney find her lost phone!).

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Annemarie and her clever classmates have to draw sets of twelve and use their imagination to come up with creative solutions. Young readers will delight in the counting game while learning the basics of multiplication. Star cartoonist Ivan Brunetti’s ingenious and fun-to-read comic turns everyone into a math whiz!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Go "outside," "elsewhere," and down the "rabbit hole" with this hilarious introduction to compound words. Young readers will fall in love with the English language as they watch star cartoonist Ivan Brunetti put his sly spin on vocabulary. The lesson here? Even "homework" is fun when you let yourself play with the words.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Barnaby Richards lives in London, where he shares a studio with his wife Alice and their cat Mosca. He has been doodling pictures of his little robot in the margins of notebooks and the corners of pictures for many years. Barnaby was inspired to write Blip! when he felt it was time his robot found a friend.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Zita's exploits from her first adventure have made her an intergalactic megastar! But she's about to find out that fame doesn't come without a price. And who can you trust when your true self is being eclipsed by your public persona, and you've got a robot doppelganger wreaking havoc . . . while wearing your face?

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Zita the Spacegirl has saved planets, battled monsters, and wrestled with interplanetary fame. But she faces her biggest challenge yet in the third and final installment of the Zita adventures. Wrongfully imprisoned on a penitentiary planet, Zita has to plot the galaxy's greatest jailbreak before the evil prison warden can execute his plan of interstellar domination!

**Description from Amazon: The Saints Chronicles bring vividly to life the stories of courageous Christians from the earliest days of Christianity to modern times. All four volumes of this Graphic Novel Series are packed with engaging texts and dramatic images that captivate and inspire readers of all ages.In this first volum...

FROM THE PUBLISHER

When Jack and Lilly follow Maddy’s captor through the portal, they are ready for anything . . . except what they find waiting for them in the floating crossroads between worlds. Even the power of their magic plants may not be enough to get them back to earth alive.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

It's the middle-grade team-up of the century as the heroes of New York Times bestselling author Ben Hatke join forces to save the world in Mighty Jack and Zita the Spacegirl.