Recommended Reads

"This book stands out with its sensitive and positive portrayal of a visually impaired character and the normalized support of others. An essential purchase for all libraries." -- School Library Journal

Bruno's home is a bit different, but he wouldn't trade it for the world.

Bruno's friend Sanjay is lucky: He doesn't have to share his room (well, except with a pet iguana), and he can leave his toy soldiers all over the house. And Bruno's brother, Mateo, who is visually impaired, is pretty lucky too: He has a dog named Rocco who helps him get around. Plus, Mateo can keep reading after dark by using just his fingers (while Bruno has to use a flashlight).

Still, Bruno has it pretty good. He can leave his bed a total mess. He can play dinosaurs with Sanjay and his iguana. And he can listen to Mateo's made-up adventure stories (Mateo is a great storyteller). If he had to compare, he'd say he was the luckiest of all to have such a great friend and great brother.

The clever and hilarious star of the Geisel Award winners Fox at Night, Fox the Tiger, and Fox Has a Problem is back in another I Can Read adventure.

There's only one Fox . . . except when there are two!

Will Fox outfox this new fox? Or will he make a new friend?

Carefully crafted using basic language, word repetition, sight words, and whimsical illustrations, Fox versus Fox is ideal for sharing with your emergent reader. The active, engaging My First I Can Read stories have appealing plots and lovable characters, encouraging children to continue their reading journey. Other Fox books include Fox Has a Problem, Fox at Night, Fox versus Winter, Fox the Tiger, Fox Is Late, Fox and the Jumping Contest, and Fox and the Bike Ride.

Join a child captain and parent first mate as they embark on a wild high seas adventure…all without leaving the living room! This imaginative romp of a picture book is filled with glorious illustrations from a beloved Caldecott Medalist and New York Times bestselling creator.

Raise the mainsail!
Batten the hatches!
It's time to set sail…on the couch!

There's a storm coming, and a child is ready to captain the ship. "Make haste and climb aboard," they call out to their parent, "before you're swept out to sea!"

Sea? What sea? The parent is only trying to vacuum the rug. But the child is adamant. It's not a rug--it's the ocean. And that broom? It's the ship's mast. Soon enough, child and parent are both off on an imaginary nautical adventure!

Here is a thoroughly engaging, hilarious picture book that celebrates the joys of playing make-believe--and hanging out with a parent!

Every great adventure needs a hero—or two! This playful take on storytelling and equity proves that two tellers can make a rhyming tale twice as nice.

What do you do with an interrupting sibling? Especially when she's stepping all over your story with wild ideas that don’t. Even. Rhyme. Knights riding rockets? Dancing pirates? Who’s ever heard of a fire-breathing armadillo?! But when this big brother realizes his sister just might be improving his yarn—and doing it with an impressive surprise of her own—it's clear what you do with an interrupting sibling. You share the narrative! Turns out adventure is way more fun when you build it together, rhyme by daring rhyme.

"Sure to amuse." —Booklist (starred review)
"Immensely creative . . . Exciting." —BookPage (starred review)
"Riotous." —Kirkus
"Hilarious . . . Such a funny read-aloud." —Book Riot
"Sprightly . . . Energetic." —Publishers Weekly
"Funny throughout." —The Horn Book

Lovingly illustrated, this wry and gentle fantasy will speak to adults as well as children--and cast the familiar in an astonishing new light.

A tiny Spaceman arrives on a new planet, ready to perform his monotonous tasks--collecting samples, labeling and filing them, and moving on to the next planet. But pausing to look around, the Spaceman is dazzled by the beauty of his surroundings. And when a large bird makes off with his ship, he's forced to venture out into this new world--planet Earth--on foot. Marveling at a varied landscape of flowers, butterflies, and other wondrous creatures, he finds a pond to float in and a goofy, slobbery beast who seems to want to be his friend. Could it be that the Spaceman has found a new home? This simple and sophisticated story filled with deadpan humor offers surprises on each lively spread. From a veteran creator comes a delightfully droll story radiating warmth and the wonder of the new, reminding us to look up from our mundane lives and embrace discovery.

A gorgeous wordless adventure story about a rabbit and a tree, their surprising friendship, and the distance they go to find a place to call home.

Bunny and Tree first meet when the tree observes a ferocious wolf threatening the bunny and comes to its protection. From that moment on, there is a bond of trust between the two, which flowers not only into friendship, but amazingly, into a road trip adventure, when Bunny, who's looking for his rabbit friends, convinces Tree that it's time to uproot and see the world. Compelled by sympathy and a shared purpose, Bunny and Tree hit the road, becoming another tremendous and memorable picture book odd couple. Depicted in bright colors in a world of lavish skies and so much to see, Bunny and Tree share in wonder, adventure, misadventure, solidarity, and a sense of homecoming.

A Wall Street Journal Best Children's Book of 2023! ★ A New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children's Book of 2023 ★ A New York Public Library Best Children's Book of 2023 ★ A Publishers Weekly Flying Start ★ A Marginalian Favorite Book of 2023 ★ A Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 2023 Blue Ribbon ★ A 100 Scope Notes Most Astonishingly Unconventional Children's Book of 2023 ★ A Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Book of 2024

"Finishing the last page of Bunny & Tree is like waking from a dream--one you did not want to end. Filled with surreal adventure and magical thinking, Zsako has created a secret world unlike any other." --Lane Smith, Kate Greenaway medalist and Caldecott honoree

"A book to treasure... Bunny & Tree will reward little children for its story, adults for its art, and everyone for its buoyant spirit." --Paul Zelinsky, Caldecott medalist 

Cut-paper wizard Nikki McClure is a brilliant steward for the words of a pioneering environmentalist in this wondrous ode to clouds--and the scientific "language of the sky."

Rachel Carson once wrote, "It is not half so important to know as to feel." What do we know about clouds? There are three basic types: stratus, cumulus, and cirrus. Some are fleecy and fair-weathered while others portend storms. But clouds are more than pretty or ominous backdrops. They're the vehicle of water between sea and land, land and sea, in a cycle without end or beginning. They are the writing of the wind on the sky, a language all their own. An illustrator note explains the origins of Rachel Carson's shimmering essay--previously unpublished in its entirety--and the process of adapting it to picture book format, as well as how the author of Silent Spring forever changed the way we think about science and progress. Bringing the soft edges of clouds and the natural world to vivid life with a new, more fluid approach to her signature cut-paper technique, Nikki McClure inspires true emotional engagement with the world we all share. An antidote to "get your head out of the clouds," this art-meets-science tribute to curiosity and wonder is a gift for daydreamers and nature lovers of all ages.

A boy with a father in the military reflects on cherished memories of a camping trip with Dad in this warm, reassuring picture book.

Written by acclaimed author Richard Jackson and illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Brian Floca, this timeless story is a perfect Father’s Day tribute.

A red Jeep on a dirt road, two sets of hands on the wheel; fresh-caught trout grilling over a fire; a night in a sleeping bag, the moon glowing outside the tent. Camping with his dad near Michigan’s Au Sable river, a young boy collects these indelible memories, and more.

Now war has called his father away, to drive a different kind of Jeep, and the memories are even more precious. One day soon, he hopes, Dad will come home, and they’ll be headed back into the woods, off to make more.

Acclaimed editor and author Richard Jackson drew from his own experience for this tender story about the lasting impact of quality time with a parent, especially poignant for military families. Caldecott Medalist and Sibert Honoree Brian Floca’s warm, lively illustrations pair perfectly with Jackson’s timeless words.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

"Epic is an overused word--most of the time. It barely begins to explain the tremendous work and vision behind this sensational piece of compelling nonfiction that truly is a picture book for young readers and adults." -- School Library Journal (STARRED REVIEW)

"A stunning debut...arresting artwork...gasp-inducing." -- Shelf Awareness (STARRED REVIEW)

A dramatically illustrated biography of Private Rosetta "Lyons" Wakeman, the only soldier whose letters capture the Civil War from a woman's perspective.

In 1862, the war between North and South showed no signs of stopping. In rural New York, nineteen-year-old Rosetta Wakeman longed for a life beyond the family farm. One day she made a brave, bold choice: she cut her braid and disguised herself as a man. No one suspected that "Lyons" was a woman--not even when she signed up to fight for the Union. As Rosetta's new regiment traveled to Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Louisiana, she sent letter after letter home to New York. Army life wasn't easy, but Rosetta knew it was where she belonged-- supporting her family and serving her country.

Through intricately detailed scratchboard art and excerpts from Rosetta's letters, this fascinating biography introduces young readers to an unconventional woman who was determined to claim her own place in history. Memorable and inspiring, Guts for Glory is a stirring portrait of the Civil War and the courage of those who fought on its front lines.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • An empowering story about a girl who turns her performance jitters into confidence when faced with singing a solo at her school concert. Inspired by the childhood experience of award-winning actress Phillipa Soo who originated the role of Eliza in Hamilton.Piper Chen loves nothing more than to sing. She sings to the sun, and she sings to the moon. She sings to her stuffed animals and with the birds outside her window. So, when her music teacher asks if Piper would like to sing a solo in her school’s Spring Sing, all she can say is “yes!” But as practice continues, doubt and worry creep in and Piper’s confidence wavers. She feels like butterflies are having a dance party in her belly. At home, Piper finds Nai Nai, her grandmother, at the piano. They’ve always shared a love of music, and Piper knows if anyone can help her through the unsettling feeling in her stomach and to shine her brightest at the Spring Concert, it’s Nai Nai.

First time picture book writers and sisters-in-law, Phillipa Soo and Maris Pasquale Doran along with acclaimed illustrator Qin Leng have created a cheerful intergenerational and stunning story that inspires confidence in the face of nervousness

When Eddy the goldfish takes a leap of faith to be closer to his new friends, his perspective of the world widens in unexpected ways. A funny story about building empathy and making connections, for fans of LeUyen Pham, Dan Santat, Laura Vaccaro Seeger, and Michael Hall.

Eddy is a lonely goldfish stuck inside his fishbowl. He would love to have a friend to swim and play and blow bubbles with. Soon, on the other side of the glass, he spies not one but two new friends. After days of playing games together, Eddy leaps out of his bowl to be closer to them. And that's when he realizes that his two friends are really the inquisitive eyes of A CAT! Oh, no! Luckily for Eddy, friendship can be found in unexpected places.

A Friend for Eddy is funny and suspenseful, and observant readers will delight in seeing Eddy's mistake before he does. Ann Kim Ha's clever, bold illustrations will hold the attention of the youngest children, making A Friend for Eddy a wonderful choice for bedtime and story-time sharing.

Maurice Sendak's legacy continues with this playful counting extravaganza for the youngest child. Here is a small reader's introduction to the magic of Mr. Sendak's books--a journey that will continue for many years to come.

Prepare to be . . .

Amazed . . .

Dazzled . . .

And mesmerized by Mino's magic show!

"Counting from 1 to 10 and back again--that's the concept in this never-before-published book from the renowned children's book creator. With pure Sendak whimsy, this simple story will grab readers' attention. Useful as a counting book for young children, this charmer also lends itself to home or classroom discussions of strategies for recognizing and dealing with obstacles and frustration. A newly discovered treasure from a beloved children's book magician." --School Library Journal (starred review)

"This previously unpublished treasure from the late Sendak recalls the creator's Nutshell Library in its gentle-hued simplicity. The action runs full circle from mirth to mayhem and back, and droll, controlled sketches order the chaos, highlighting each new development, beat by beat, en route to a satisfying 'all done." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"The M emblazoned on his stage podium could just as well stand for Max or Mickey or Maurice, as another little boy with flair, talent, and determination. There's also drama in the changing expressions on the boy's face as a magic trick that begins in pride and insouciance starts to overwhelm him. A true Sendak hero, he sets himself to rights. Goes straight to the heart. " --Horn Book (starred review)

*An Instant Indie Bestseller*

A JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD GOLD STANDARD SELECTION!

Meet this pint-sized unicorn in this funny, modern fairy tale about perception and self-confidence from a Caldecott-Honor winning creator.

Once upon a time, in a land where horses were mythical beasts, there lived a unicorn—a Teeny-Weeny Unicorn. He lived with his family in a palace—one that was extra-large for him, full of extra-large rugs and extra-large food. And when his brother and sister played chess, they used him in place of a pawn.

When it’s just too much to take, Teeny-Weeny Unicorn runs away—and has a chance encounter with a salty gnome. It's then that he suddenly starts to wonder... IS he teeny weeny? Or is he just the right size?

Every kid will relate to Teeny-Weeny Unicorn, as he figures out how to live in a world not made for his stature. With wit and charm, as well as delightful illustrations, Shawn Harris creates a modern classic made for sharing—be it at bedtime or on a story time rug.

Discover the tiny, fascinating world of nurse logs in this first book in an illuminating picture book series that explores how even the smallest habitats play big roles in nature.

Once there stood a giant fir tree that stretched to the sun. One stormy day, a great gust came. The tree creaked, and cracked, and collapsed! And the tree’s new life as a nurse log began...

When old trees fall to the forest floor, they can take centuries to decompose, becoming home to all sorts of organisms along the way. These nurse logs are unique ecosystems that support hundreds of rare and important plants, creatures, and fungi. They provide nutrients for tree seedlings, hideaways for animals, shelters in the winter, and protection from the elements. With snappy text and lush illustrations, this book invites curious readers to step into a tiny ecosystem that’s truly like no other.

Maggie Smith, bestselling author of the viral poem "Good Bones" and the memoir You Could Make This Place Beautiful, delivers a lyrical and reassuring picture book perfect for calming active minds at bedtime (or anytime).

A Today Show Spring Pick!

At bedtime, when lights go out...sometimes thoughts stay on.

Scary things and worries flutter and flap around. It's so hard to sleep!

But a little imagination (and a lot of love) can create a cozy nest for happy thoughts--and sweet dreams for little ones.

An adorable, inquisitive tale which encourages readers to explore their emotions and free their imaginations as they are invited into a little cat’s world

As a little cat rushes in from a day’s adventuring, her owner asks her where she’s been and what she’s seen. Was she happy? Was she brave? Was she kind? The richly imagined answers—in Richard Jones’s gorgeous illustrations, beautifully complementing his own simple text—will surprise, delight, and melt hearts.

From Geisel Award-winning author Greg Pizzoli comes a hilarious picture book about a duck who learns just how lucky she is.

Susan the duck has the worst luck. Her rollerskates are two sizes too big. She's lost her favorite marble. And she's run out of pickles.
But with each unfortunate discovery, Wolf shows up with a gift she's won. Her luck has turned around . . . hasn't it? Come see just how lucky Susan is, in this slyly funny story about finding luck when you least expect it.

Geisel Award-winning creator Greg Pizzoli delivers another rib-tickling picturebook that will have kids howling with laughter.

Come along with Otto and his friends once again in this Pre-Level 1 Ready-to-Read in the award-winning, star-reviewed The Adventures of Otto series by the Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor–winning author-illustrator David Milgrim.

See Tweet come. See Otto say hi! See Tweet go. What will Otto do?

This Pre-Level 1 Ready-to-Read with bright illustrations and minimal text is perfect for the emergent reader.

A boy and his dad experience a total solar eclipse in this heartwarming picture book by author and illustrator Andy Rash.

Shimmering rays shine around the moon. I try not to blink.

We are in the perfect place at the perfect time.

After hearing about the total solar eclipse happening in two months, a boy makes a plan with his father to go see it. They drive to the perfect campsite, not wanting to miss the couple of minutes when the sun will be completely hidden by the moon. When the moment happens, being together makes it even more special.

Based on a trip that author-illustrator Andy Rash took with his son to see the eclipse in August 2017, Eclipse is a heartfelt and playfully illustrated ode to seeking out unique adventures and savoring the most special moments with the people you love. Back matter about eclipses and maps of eclipses' paths across the United States make this book perfect for the STEAM curriculum.

"Just as we once screamed at a pigeon not to drive the bus, we now, with similar glee, take on Salmon as he commands us not to count past one."
--Amy Alznauer, New York Times

You know how to count, right? GREAT! There are LOTS of fun things to count in this book: whales, baboons, rainbows, pyramids . . .There's just one rule. You must ONLY ever count to ONE. So don't even about THINK bigger numbers. OK?!

Get ready to show off your skills in this fun new counting book! But not everything is as it seems . . . is this book really only about counting to "ONE?" Because there are SO MANY fun things that you could count. But wait --maybe there's a way to outsmart the book . . . and count all the way up to 100!

A fun and interactive read-aloud experience, perfect for fans of B. J. Novak's international bestseller The Book With No Pictures.

Anansi the Spider meets Jon Klassen in this wickedly witty debut.

When a suspiciously polite fox attempts to coax his next meal out of a burrow, he is met with a clever rabbit who has been cooking up a surprise for this very moment!

Careful readers may spot what is in store for fox before he does in this darkly funny cautionary tale that roots for the underbunny.

A timely, inspiring, and uplifting story about hope and the power of creative expression from one of the world's most treasured storytellers

After a long, cold winter, doors finally open, and children spill out like candies from a box. Amanda is the last one out of the apartment building, with a carton of chalk in her hands. On every inch of the pavement outside, the children draw pictures of flowers and trees, mushrooms and snails, and a few very unexpected things. It's a concrete garden. Their creativity, unfettered in the open air, brings something beautiful, something hopeful, to the residents there, and to many more across the globe. From master storyteller Bob Graham comes a charming, gentle post-pandemic story about finding optimism after a dark spell, and the nurturing power of community friendships in an urban setting. The Concrete Garden will resonate with anyone who has been apart from their loved ones, and will encourage us all to find the brightness and color within ourselves.

A gluttonous pea runs afoul of a very hungry princess in this playful cautionary tale inspired by a favorite cumulative rhyme and a classic fairy tale.

There was a green pea who swallowed a sprout. Without a doubt, a brussels sprout. What's that about?

This little pea is hungry! So hungry it swallows a sprout, slurps up some soup, munches the bread, gobbles the cake, noshes the pickle, guzzles the cheese, drinks all the tea, and even chomps down the table it's all served on. After all that, it needs to sleep. But whose dinner did it steal? And whose mattress is the now-humungous pea resting under? With bold, delightfully detailed illustrations and a bouncy verse perfect for reading aloud, this wickedly funny mash-up of "The Princess and the Pea" and "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly" will have little listeners clamoring for multiple helpings.

Prepare for plenty of giggles as a kindergarten class arrives for their first day of school but can't find their teacher--only a delicious-looking sandwich and the words "Mr. S" scribbled on the chalkboard. Chaos ensues as the kids argue whether the sandwich must be their teacher. A comical first-day-of-school book of mayhem and chaos by Monica Arnaldo, perfect for fans of Miss Nelson Is Missing.

"This might be the funniest first-day-of-school book I've ever read." --Adam Rex, New York Times bestselling author of School's First Day of School

It was the first day of school.

But even the kindergarteners of room 2B could tell something was seriously wrong. . . . Where was the teacher? Who left this sandwich on the desk?

The only clue, written on the chalkboard, were three simple letters: Mr. S

Praise for Mr. S:

"Confusion, mystery, and laughs are on the menu in Arnaldo's deliciously goofy back-to-school tale." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"The tale's genuinely absurd situation, the mystery of the teacher's identity, and the deadpan storytelling make this a memorable read-aloud choice." --ALA Booklist (starred review)

"Mysteries for young readers are few and far between and this one is fun and entertaining." --School Library Journal (starred review)

An Amazon Best Book of the Month * A Junior Library Guild Selection * Indigo Staff Pick of the Month * Governor General's Literary Award Finalist * Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year * Indigo Best Book of the Year * Chicago Public Library Best of the Best List * New York Public Library Best Book of the Year * School Library Journal Best Book of the Year * Booklist Editor's Choice

Meet Dot the ladybug, a charming new My First I Can Read character, who loves dots and spots. Beginning readers will fall in love with the simple wordplay and adorable illustrations!

Dot the ladybug can't wait to celebrate her Dot Day with her friends. But when she goes to Spots' house, she doesn't spot anyone. Not here. Not there. Not anywhere! Dot must follow the clues to solve the mystery.

Kallie George's fun yet simple wordplay pairs perfectly with Stephanie Fizer Coleman's vibrant illustrations in this My First I Can Read adventure for beginning readers.

With simple, playful text and joyful, bright art, this My First I Can Read book is perfect for shared reading with a child. Books at this level feature basic language, word repetition, and whimsical illustrations, ideal for sharing with emergent readers. The active, engaging stories have appealing plots and lovable characters, encouraging children to continue their reading journey.

Through the lens of the land that has come to be known as America, award-winning picture book creator Jennifer Thermes captures centuries of history.

A Place Called America takes the long view of the land's history, from its earliest formation and inhabitants up through today, and challenges its readers to think critically about the stories we tend to take for granted about our own history. Meet those indigenous to the deserts, prairies, forests, and shores of the land called Turtle Island and their relatives whose ideas formed the basis of the Constitution and who contributed in unique ways to World War II and more. Meet immigrant communities who came to the land from all around the world--at different times and against all odds, even with staunch United States immigration policies. And meet enslaved ancestors who were brought to the land against their will and whose labor and experience changed the story forever.

Expert picture book maker Jennifer Thermes deftly weaves the threads of these communities' narratives together, giving each the spotlight they deserve and using the land itself as a unifying lens. Illustrated with colorful, dazzling maps, A Place Called America is a visual delight. It is an info-packed read, with sidebars, an author's note, and a timeline supplementing the accessible text.

Jump into these spine-chilling stories from New York Times bestselling author Max Brallier, perfect for beginning readers!

Pick a book. Grow a Reader!

This series is part of Scholastic's early reader line, Acorn, aimed at children who are learning to read. With easy-to-read text, a short-story format, and full-color artwork on every spread, these books will boost reading confidence and fluency. Acorn books plant a love of reading and help readers grow!

Who is waiting at the end of the dark hall? What is a monster doing on the beach? This scary story collection from New York Times bestselling author Max Brallier is perfect for beginning readers who are looking to be spooked. With simple text, creepy full-color artwork on every page, genuine scares, and a spooky "invisible" message on the cover, these five hair-raising stories are sure to send shivers down your spine!

An ogre turns out to be the best neighbor ever in this punny easy reader comic.

A family gets a surprise when a fun-loving ogre moves in next door and helps a sister bond with her screen-obsessed brother.

Ollie is so absorbed in the video game Smash Tower that he doesn’t notice that his sister and an ogre named Tim have emptied his room and constructed an obstacle course that mirrors the levels of the game in the yard. But a tell-tale red string leads him to the challenges. This comic is perfect for reintroducing kids to the fun of in-person play.

Comics-lovers can now share the fun with their kids, students, siblings, and younger friends who are learning to read!

I Like to Read® Comics are perfect for kids who are challenged by or unengaged in reading, kids who love art, and the growing number of young comics fans. Filled with eye-catching art, humor, and terrific stories, these comics provide unique reading experiences for growing minds.

Like their award-winning I Like to Read® counterpart, I Like to Read® Comics are created by celebrated artists and support reading comprehension to transform children into lifelong readers.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

Charlie and Mouse are stirring up some magic! Join the fun in this latest edition in the Geisel Award-winning series.

Every day is magic with Charlie and Mouse! In this latest continuation of the Charlie & Mouse early chapter book series, the two brothers are mixing up a magical potion--with sweet and surprising results. In Charlie & Mouse Are Magic the brothers also dance in the rain, bring some animals to dinner, and make wishes come true!

SIBLINGS ARE THE BEST: The Charlie & Mouse books show a sibling friendship that is kind and cooperative as well as full of humor, imagination, and play.

IDEAL FOR READERS READY FOR SHORT CHAPTERS: Each chapter in this book is a new adventure as Charlie and Mouse engage in imaginative play with Mom, Dad, and each other. An ideal and accessible transition for readers who are just moving into chapter books.

HUMOR WITH HEART: The Charlie & Mouse books offer a picture of family life that feels authentic and has lots of humor and warmth.

Best friends Horse & Buggy test their friendship as Horse spins out of control showing off his skating moves in this hilarious story for beginning readers!

Horse can skate. He can spin. He can leap! But when he falls, Buggy is there to get her friend back on the ice.

Together they try again! Ethan Long's expressive, slapstick-style art shines in this story about practice and friendship—great for beginning reader collections.

Don't miss this hilarious duo's other adventures in Dance, Dance, Dance!, Horse & Buggy Paint It Out!, and Horse & Buggy Plant a Seed.

This book has been officially leveled by using the F&P Text Level Gradient(TM) Leveling System.

The award-winning I Like to Read® series focuses on guided reading levels A through G, based upon Fountas and Pinnell standards. Acclaimed author-illustrators--including winners of Caldecott, Theodor Seuss Geisel, and Coretta Scott King honors--create original, high quality illustrations that support comprehension of simple text and are fun for kids to read with parents, teachers, or on their own.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

Two feathered friends are Frog and Toad for the emoji generation in this delightful graphic novel for emerging readers.

A Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book!

Owl likes peace and quiet.
Penguin likes to SING OUT LOUD.

But best friends don’t need to be the same. Sometimes it’s good to disagree! Owl and Penguin celebrate their differences and solve their problems with creative play. From ice cream mishaps to rainy day chills, there’s nothing these pals can’t get through together.

In three nearly wordless stories, expressive art takes charge of the storytelling, supplemented by simple text captions and emoticon-style images in speech bubbles. This innovative format supports visual literacy and sight word recognition for the earliest independent readers. With warm humor and a joyful palette, it’s perfect for kids to giggle over on their own.

I Like to Read® Comics are perfect for kids who are challenged by or unengaged in reading, kids who love art, and the growing number of young comics fans. Filled with eye-catching art, humor, and terrific stories, these comics provide unique reading experiences for growing minds. Like their award-winning I Like to Read® counterparts, these books are created by celebrated artists and support reading comprehension to transform children into lifelong readers.

An American Library Association Notable Children's Book
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

Nonfiction for new readers! Egg to tadpole to frog. This level G science book is perfect for first graders to read on their own!

You started in an egg.
You hatched.
You ate.
You grew.

A tadpole swims, breathes, eats, rests, climbs, and grows into a frog . . . when he jumps up and catches a dragonfly. An elegant, beautifully illustrated life cycle book by a highly regarded author and illustrator of books for young children.

A chart in the back of the book shows nine stages of the frog’s development.

For early-to-mid first graders, Level G books feature more complex storylines than prior levels, and a wider variety of structure and punctuation. Illustrations offer support for decoding the more challenging vocabulary words introduced.

The books in the award-winning I Like to Read series are especially created for new readers and are leveled using Fountas & Pinnell standards. Acclaimed author-illustrators—including winners of Caldecott, Theodor Seuss Geisel, and Coretta Scott King honors—create original, high-quality illustrations that support comprehension of simple text and are fun for kids to read again and again with their parents, teachers, or on their own!

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

From award-winning creator Sergio Ruzzier, an oddball "squirrel" forges his own path in this comical tale about being yourself

Custard the Squirrel, aren't you a duck?
Will you please quack?
Will you do anything you don't want to do?
"NO!" said Custard the Squirrel.

From the brilliant mind of author-illustrator Sergio Ruzzier comes this delightfully wacky story about rejecting others' expectations of who you should be and being unapologetically, authentically you. Simple, universal, and hilarious, this rollicking read-aloud is an ode to free spirits everywhere.

Boisterous and buzzing, A Bear, a Bee, and a Honey Tree is destined to be an instant classic . . . with delightfully funny illustrations and clever, fun-to-read text, from the acclaimed author of One Day in the Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus Tree.

When a hungry, fuzzy brown bear and a hive of angry bees come face to face, everybody's abuzz! Award-winning author Daniel Bernstrom and critically acclaimed illustrator Brandon James Scott have created a rowdy, rhythmic read-aloud that's also perfect for beginning readers. This epic chase story features Bernstrom's signature alliterative wordplay and verbal pizzazz, along with Scott's expressive characters that jump off the pages. A Bear, a Bee, and a Honey Tree has the kind of high-energy, uninhibited playfulness that makes kids want to run, chase, find out something about bear and bee behavior—and learn to read!

From Newbery Medal–winning author Patricia MacLachlan comes a cozy picture book of love, light, and community during New Year’s and taking the past with us as we step into the future, brought to life with tender and intricate cut paper illustrations.

On the very last evening before the new year, when the snow is falling soft and thick, two black horses wait for the jingle of their sled. As they ride about town, they will spread light to their beloved neighbors, bidding farewell to the last night—and saying hello to the first morning.

In this Native American story, Kara and Amanda are best-friend cousins. Then Kara leaves the city to move back to the Rez. Will their friendship stay the same?

Kara and Amanda hate not being together. Then it's time for the family reunion on the Rez. Each girl worries that the other hasn't missed her. But once they reconnect, they realize that they are still forever cousins. This story highlights the ongoing impact of the 1950s Indian Relocation Act on Native families, even today.

This tender story about navigating change reminds readers that the power of friendship and family can bridge any distance.

The long-awaited sequel to the runaway bestseller The Most Magnificent Thing! This is the story of a girl who, with her dog at her side, loves to make things. Her brain is an “idea machine,” always so full of ideas, she can hardly keep up! But then, one day … it isn’t. All of a sudden, the girl can’t think of anything to make. She tries brainstorming, gathering new supplies, even jumping up and down on one foot to shake an idea loose. Nothing. What if she never has another idea again? Readers everywhere will be rooting for their favorite thing-maker to get her mojo back!

As the sun sets, three siblings discover nature’s nighttime beauty in this soothingly rhythmic and gorgeously illustrated bedtime picture book from the acclaimed author-illustrator team behind Green on Green.

Gentle the evening. Sweeping the skies.
Dark the shadows as twilight arrives.
Rose the horizon, gleaming and bright.
Twilight and evening and dark on light.

When the family dog trots away from the house at sunset, three siblings tumble out the door to go find him. Soon they find themselves immersed in the luminous colors, shades, and shadows of nature at night—both dark and light. They wander through moonlit lavender meadows, past a timid fawn, beneath a snowy white owl, and much, much more as the night deepens until, at last, they find their sneaky pup.

With beautiful illustrations by Felicita Sala and lyrical text by Dianne White that’s perfect for reading aloud, this book invites young readers to step into the wondrous, colorful nighttime natural world.

From the bestselling author of The Quiet Book comes an honest and touching new picture book about the ups and downs of friendship.

Walter and Xavier are best friends. They do everything together! But then…quietly…slowly…Xavier becomes best friends with someone else. Walter goes from feeling hurt and left out to feeling confused and angry to feeling just plain lonely. Until one morning he wakes up feeling a tiny bit hopeful. That day, while out for a hike by himself, he meets Ollie. Could this be the beginning of a new friendship?

Sometimes best friends aren’t forever, and that’s okay. Because there might be a new pal waiting just around the corner.

A heartwarming picture book about a neighborhood coming together to help a kitten find a home, from a New York Times bestselling author and a Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator.

Contrary to what you may believe, this story is not about a kitten, hungry and dirty, scared and alone, needing a home. It is also not about the dog who heard the kitten meowing sadly. Even less so about the woman and child walking the dog, who stopped when their dog heard the kitten. Nor is it about the friends who brought a box for the kitten, or the man who offered it some milk. No, this story is not about a kitten at all—well, maybe a little—but more importantly this is a story about community, compassion, and generosity.

Randall de Sève’s thoughtful and warm story is sure to fill readers of all ages with hope and the warm fuzzy feeling that rescuing animals brings. Wonderfully complemented by Carson Ellis’s breathtaking illustrations, this book is sure to be cherished by animal-loving readers everywhere!

A lush companion to The Nest That Wren Built brings to light the habits of a secretive creature with lifelike illustrations and a lyrical, informative text.

Resourceful Beaver and his family work every day to build the perfect lodge in the pond, made of branches from the shore willow and silty mud from the streambed. Secure and safe from the elements and all the forest animals who come by, the beavers sleep, play, and grow inside the lodge. But come springtime’s flood, this family of beavers will move on, leaving behind the remains of the lodge that Beaver built. Gently scientific and accessible, with soft, glowing illustrations from award-winning artist Anne Hunter, this lilting, poetic companion to The Nest That Wren Built introduces young children to the engineering feat of dam-building and the life cycle of beaver families. Budding nature lovers can explore more beaver facts, a glossary, and a list of suggested resources in the back matter.