Books

FROM SARAH:

I absolutely love Ellen Stoll Walsh’s collage-art illustrations. This one is perfect for your earliest mathematicians who are learning to count to ten.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

In this charming companion to Mouse Paint, Ellen Stoll Walsh introduces the concept of counting forward and backward in a suspenseful story that will keep young readers guessing. “The rhythm follows the illustrations in a glissando; one can almost hear the background music.”--The Horn Book

**Description from Amazon: How do these blocks stack up? Gentle math concepts go down easy in this fun and accessible story for very young children by the esteemed Robie H. Harris.Elephant has a bucket of blocks and wants to build something tall. Something as tall as Elephant. But will it stay up? CRASH! BOOM! Not this time. ...

FROM SARAH:

The winter begins to melt and the spring slowly warms up the earth in this delightful picture book.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Rap, bap, tap. Late one winter night, a child awakes to peculiar noises in the backyard- a bear! They journey together through the snowy forest as other animals eagerly join in, creating a parade to welcome the spring.This is a perfect seasonal read aloud to bridge Winter and Spring.

FROM SARAH:

A St. Patrick's Day story worth seeing if your library has. Fun!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

On St. Patrick's Day, leprechauns are lucky. But on every other day of the year, they make for noisy neighbors -- and they're turning the entire town of Dingle upside down! Fortunately, Finn O'Finnegan always has a clever plan brewin . . .

FROM SARAH:

A fun read-aloud for St. Patrick's Day. See if your library has it!

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Welcome to the rival towns of Tralee and Tralah, where the annual St. Patrick’s Day decorating contest is under way. Every year, Tralah defeats Tralee. This year, though, little Fiona Riley has a wonderful idea that will help Tralee win the contest for sure. But neither town has counted on a stranger arriving—a funny little man with pointed ears and boots trimmed with bells—who will turn the contest upside down!

FROM SARAH:

A beautiful celebration of life and my new favorite gift for kids who are about to welcome a baby into their life! We've got a great RAR Family Book Club Guide for this one in Premium.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Join a family of three who spend nine whole months waiting, from a frosty winter through a sun-dappled summer, until finally . . . a baby is here.

**Description from Amazon: Paul Bunyan has a BIG problem. He's in love but the lady who has caught his eye will have nothing to do with him. What's a giant lumberjack to do? When Paul Bunyan meets pretty Lucette, he knows she's the gal for him. After all, she's so tall she can't fit into an ordinary cabin. She can churn butte...

**Description from Amazon: Located in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic, the Nordic Countries/Territories are comprised of Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and Aland. And while they may share a region and some traditions, each has its own distinct geography, history, and heritage. ...

**Description from Amazon: In 1914 crew members of the lighthouse tender Hyacinth rescued a stray puppy from the Milwaukee River and named him Sport. For the next twelve years, this charming Newfoundland-retriever mix lived the life of a ship dog, helping the Hyacinth crew as they carried supplies to lighthouses and maintaine...

**Description from Amazon: Lulu and her cousin Rocky are visiting the city of Detroit, the Motor City! There are so many fun things to see and do, like visiting Campus Martius to make sand castles, eating cherries at the Eastern Market, riding the carousel at the Riverfront, and seeing the works of Diego Rivera at the Detroit...

**Description from Amazon: Lulu and her cousin Rocky are visiting the city of Milwaukee. There are so many fun things to see and do, like canoeing, visiting a lighthouse, riding surrey-bikes, going to a fish fry, and even gearing up and burning rubber at the Harley-Davidson Museum! Written by Barbara Joosse and illustrated by...

**Description from Amazon: Step back in time to seventeenth-century Paris with Thérèse, a talented young girl who lives and works at the Gobelins Manufactory, where Europe’s greatest artisans make tapestries and luxury objects for King Louis XIV. Even though girls are not trained on the great looms there, Thérèse practi...

**Description from Amazon: Lulu and her cousin Rocky are visiting Music City--Nashville! There are so many fun things to see and do, like visiting the Goo-Goo Shop to make the famous candies, climbing the dragon at Fannie Mae Dees Park, and standing on the stage of Ryman Auditorium. Written by Barbara Joosse and illustrated b...

**Description from Amazon: Each December, generations of children delight in the ballet version of the quintessential Christmas story The Nutcracker. But few have had the opportunity to revel in the richly detailed original tale. Now, in this glorious new edition, acclaimed children's book author and editor Janet Schulman ret...

**Description from Amazon: Babbette Rabbit hires the bear detectives to find out who has been stealing from her produce stand at night, and when their stakeout fails, Poker the porcupine goes undercover.

**Description from Amazon: This bewitching first novel is a puzzle, wrapped in a mystery, disguised as an adventure, and delivered as a work of art.Chasing Vermeer joins the Scholastic Gold line, which features award-winning and beloved novels. Includes exclusive bonus content!When a book of unexplainable occurences brings Pe...

**Description from Amazon: From #1 New York Times bestselling author Gordon Korman comes a hilarious and heartfelt novel in which one middle-school troublemaker accidentally moves into the gifted and talented program—and changes everything.For fans of Louis Sachar and Jack Gantos, this funny and touching underdog story is a...

**Description from Amazon: This funny and heartwarming sequel to Ungifted, which has become a word-of-mouth hit, cleverly sends up our ideas about intelligence, heroism, and popularity.Donovan Curtis has never been what anyone would call “gifted.” But his genius friend Noah Youkilis is actually supergifted, with one of th...

**Description from Amazon: Capricorn Cap Anderson has been homeschooled by his hippie grandmother, Rain. When Rain is injured in a fall, Cap is forced to attend the local middle school. Although he knows a lot about Zen Buddhism, nothing has prepared him for the politics of public school.

**Description from Amazon: Good books are often good friends. Because gifted readers often intensely identify with characters, good books can provide bridges to new insights and better communication of feelings, values, and decision making, while also fostering intellectual and creative development. Now in its third edition, ...

** Description from Amazon: When Louise Smith started racing cars, most girls weren't even allowed to drive. From her first wild adventure behind the wheel of her daddy's Ford to the dangers and thrills of stock-car tracks across the country, Louise fearlessly paved the way for women in racing and became a NASCAR legend!

**Description from Amazon: This inspiring and beautiful celebration of life and new experiences--now available as a board book--is the perfect gift for graduations and for fans of Oh, the Places You'll Go!

**Description from Amazon: Being present means...
Noticing when someone needs help
Waiting patiently for your turn
Focusing on what's happening now

Follow a group of friends at school, at home, and at the beach as they experience just what it means to be present.

FROM SARAH:

If you love Madeline, you'll just love reading this complete treasury again and again!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A complete collection of all the adventures of Madeline, a fearless little girl full of mischief and vitality. Madeline, first published in 1939, and its five sequels have charmed generations of readers, and have become true classics.

Celebrate one of the world’s most popular and beloved fictional characters with this beautiful, deluxe collection, bringing together all six of the Madeline books in one volume. In each of these books, Bemelmans’ humorous verse, his immortal characters—Miss Clavel, Pepito, the magician, the others—and his wonderful, whimsical drawings of Paris combine to create a memorable reading experience for people of all ages.

FROM SARAH:

Among my tippy-top favorites! The mice of Brambly Hedge are easy to love, and the illustrations are so detailed and enthralling. All eight of their classic picture book tales are brought together in this single, lovely, volume.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Explore the natural world with the mice of Brambly Hedge, who made their first appearance in 1980 when the four seasonal stories were published. Ever since, readers have loved exploring the miniature world of the hedgerow and meeting the families that live there.

In this collection the mice have many adventures, but they always have time for fun and relaxation too. Whatever the season, and whether they are by the sea, in the hills, or simply at home by the fire, there is always someone ready to lend a helping hand.

Contains: Spring Story, Summer Story, Autumn Story, Winter Story, Poppy’s Babies, Sea Story, The High Hills, The Secret Staircase.

FROM SARAH 

My very favorite picture book folk tales are from Paul Galdone, and this one takes the cake! It contains six of these tales in one volume: The Little Red Hen, The Three Little Pigs, The Three Bears, The Gingerbread Boy, The Three Little Kittens, and The Three Billy Goats Gruff.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

This jacketed, hardcover book features foil cover accents, a ribbon bookmark, and full-color illustrations on large, lush spreads. Enjoy a bonus audiobook download of all six stories for repeated listening at home and on the go.

FROM SARAH:

A delightful collection of stories to share about this dear, charming, marmalade-loving bear, Paddington. As you read, of course, "Please look after this bear. Thank you." (Because he does take a bit of looking-after!) ;)

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Join Paddington as he meets the Browns, visits the palace, goes to the zoo, and much more.The hardcover treasury includes the complete text and art of the following beloved picture books: Paddington, Paddington at the Palace, Paddington at the Zoo, Paddington in the Garden, Paddington and the Marmalade Maze, and Paddington the Artist.

FROM SARAH:

I love this collection of the original Curious George stories! Of special note is the short biography on H.A. and Margaret Reyes, who created Curious George and have a fascinating story of their own.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

This handsome hardcover collection includes complete editions of all seven of the original Curious George titles in one complete volume. Perfect for sharing and gifting—this is a book that belongs on every little monkey's shelf.

Books included in this collector’s edition are Curious George, Curious George Takes a Job, Curious George Rides a Bike, Curious George Gets a Medal, Curious George Flies a Kite, Curious George Learns the Alphabet, and Curious George Goes to the Hospital. This edition also includes an original illustrated map of Curious George’s world, as well as a new scrapbook biography of H. A. and Margret Rey’s creative journey written by the historian Louise Borden.

FROM SARAH:

I love how this collection of picture book classics allows you to "sample" some of the most iconic picture books out there. You just may discover a new family favorite! Currently out-of-print, but check your local library or secondhand bookstore for a copy!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

This large, oversized collection assembles twelve of the greatest picture books ever published: Goodnight Moon, Caps for Sale, Harold and the Purple Crayon, Crictor, A Baby Sister for Frances, Leo the Late Bloomer, William's Doll, A Chair for My Mother, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Chrysanthemum, From Head to Toe, and Pete's a Pizza.

A perfect book for parents excited to read their children the books they themselves grew up with, this collection is a wonder-filled opportunity for families to own and share "the best of the best."

FROM SARAH:

Nobody does funny illustrations quite like Nancy Carpenter. This book is just fun-fun-fun all around. Highly recommended for a day when you just want to love living a little bit more.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

A laugh-out-loud look at all the fun things grown-ups never let you do. The text is short, spare, and fall-on-the-floor funny—not to mention utterly child-friendly.

Poor Emily. She doesn't mean to be loud, but whenever she says anything in her Emily voice, plates shatter, neighbors are astonished, and birds are frightened right out of the trees. It seems like there's nowhere she fits in.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

A stunning picture book about Mary "Mother" Jones and the 100 children who marched from Philadelphia to New York in a fiery protest against child labor.

A brother and sister invite their friends to play good guys and bad guys with them. While playing pretend, this rowdy group of kids dress up as pirates, swimmers, cowboys, and more—imagining a vibrant world where the bad guys cause mischief and the good guys save the day.

**Description from Amazon: From the creator of Little Owl Lost and Oh No, George! comes a funny, strikingly illustrated story of best-laid plans — and the secret to attracting the birdie.

FROM SARAH:

This picture book biography of Malala Yousafzai captures her courage and unwavering belief in the power of education. Deeply inspiring with lovely illustrations.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

The inspiring true story of Malala Yousafzai, human rights activist and the youngest ever winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, from debut author/illustrator Lina Maslo.

**Description from Amazon: Award-winning author Sid Fleischman blends the broadly comic with the deeply compassionate in this memorable novel, winner of the Newbery Medal. 

FROM SARAH

The classic that has been beloved for decades, newly updated and revised by Cyndi Georgis. We're big fans of every edition of this book, but this newest one takes the cake! Listen to Sarah talk to Cyndi in episode 153 of the Read-Aloud Revival.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The classic million-copy bestselling handbook on reading aloud to children--revised and updated for a new generation of readers.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

From an award-winning author and illustrator, the inspiring story of how the Little Free Library organization brings communities together through books, from founder Todd Bol’s first installation to the creation of more than 75,000 mini-libraries around the world.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:
Kids around the world get to school in unique ways. Take a peek inside this book and see how they reach their destinations!

**Description from Amazon: Blobfish lives at the bottom of the ocean with no lights, no friends, and no delicious treats. The only two ways he can think to change this would be to 1) throw a party, or 2) save the world in true hero style. He decides to do the first one.

**Description from Amazon: If your hands can mix and mash, what job might you have? What if your hands reach, wrench, yank, and crank? The hands in this book―and the people attached to them―do all sorts of helpful work.

Meet Bertie Wooster and his precise, capable valet, Jeeves. First published in 1919, this delightful series is an example of some of the finest humorous writing found in English literature. And 100% fun to listen to! Especially fun for fans of Downton Abbey.

FROM SARAH:

If you could change history, would you?

Page-turner alert! This time-travel story is unputdownable. I’d be inclined to recommend it for 10-15’s, but my 18-year-old told me it was the best book she’s read all year. So let’s just say 10+. 😁⁣ It’d make a fun read-aloud, or a great pick for a kid who thinks he/she doesn’t like reading.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

From the critically acclaimed author of Float comes a new whirlwind adventure about a pair of kids who must break all the rules of time travel.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

From the critically acclaimed author of the Edge of Extinction series comes this fast-paced, action-packed, and heartfelt adventure about a group of kids with uncontrollable abilities, perfect for fans of Gordon Korman, Lisa McMann, and Dan Gutman!

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Goonies meets the humor and heart of Gordon Korman in this new adventure full of nonstop action and spot-on humor from the critically acclaimed author of Float.

**Description from Amazon: Weave in and out of time as perfectly placed die cuts show you that a fossil today was a creature much long ago, perhaps in a completely different environment. Complete with a spectacular double gatefold, an intricate map and extensive back matter.

From SARAH:

A fascinating and beautiful book about the redwoods in Redwood National Forest, by the inimitable Jason Chin. An excellent picture book for ages 6-9, especially.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

Jason Chin's Redwoods tells the story of a boy who discovers a book about redwoods and finds himself in their midst as he turns the pages.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

When Mona the Mouse stumbles across the wondrous world of the Heartwood Hotel in the middle of a storm, she desperately hopes they'll let her stay. As it turns out, Mona is precisely the maid they need at the grandest hotel in Fernwood Forest, where animals come from far and wide for safety, luxury, and comfort.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Debut illustrator Torben Kuhlmann’s inventive tale and stunning illustrations will capture the imagination of readers—young and old—with the death-defying feats of this courageous young mouse.

FROM SARAH:

Susan Meissner is my all-time favorite author, and this is my favorite of her books so far. A historical fiction novel set during WWII that you won't forget. Especially delightful on audio. (Audible | LibroFM).

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Current day, Oxford, England. Young American scholar Kendra Van Zant, eager to pursue her vision of a perfect life, interviews Isabel McFarland just when the elderly woman is ready to give up secrets about the war that she has kept for decades...beginning with who she really is. What Kendra receives from Isabel is both a gift and a burden—one that will test her convictions and her heart.

FROM SARAH:

Widely circulated in homeschool circles, this is a great collection of short classics.

FROM THE PUBLISHER: 

This anthology is a thorough introduction to classic literature for those who have not yet experienced these literary masterworks. For those who have known and loved these works in the past, this is an invitation to reunite with old friends in a fresh new format.

**Description from Amazon: In this sequel to My Father's Dragon. Elmer and Boris's island hopping adventures continue.

**Description from Amazon: In this third and final installment of the classic My Father's Dragon trilogy, Boris, the baby dragon, is excited to be heading home to Blueland and looks forward to reuniting with his family.

FROM SARAH:

There's a reason Andrew Lang's series of fairy books are some of the most widely read versions of fairy tales! Homeschoolers tend to love this series.

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

The first installment of Andrew Lang's widely read classics and arguably his best known, The Blue Fairy Book has been admired time and time again, enchanting readers with its carefully crafted prose and eclectic assortment of fairy tales. Originally published in 1889, this collection of celebrated tales has stood the test of time.

**Description from Amazon: In addition to such familiar favorites as Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, The Ratcatcher (The Pied Piper), and Snowdrop (Snow White), The Red Fairy Book contains a wonderful collection of lesser-known tales from French, German, Danish, Russian, and Romanian sources. A tale from Norse mythology recounts the old story of Sigurd and Brynhild; tales by the great Madame d'Aulnoy include Graciosa and Percinet and Princess Rosette; lesser-known tales from Grimm's collection include The Three Dwarfs, Mother Holle, and The Golden Goose.
All in all, this collection contains 37 stories, all narrated in the clear, lively prose for which Lang was famous.

**Description from Amazon: This enchanting tale of dragons, betrayals, and the power of friendship is the first in a charming and thrilling series by New York Times bestselling author Jessica Day George.