Napping, crying, cuddling, playing, making friends, exploring – such a wealth of experiences await each new life. With Humor, honesty, and sweetness, the author/artist Lucy Knisley celebrates the joy of a new baby and the timeless gifts of new beginnings.
By Michelle Lord, Illustrated by Julia Blattman ( Flash Light Press – 2020 )
Join four children in a little boat as they discover the magnitude of The Mess That We Made. With rhythmic language and captivating art, this cumulative tale portrays the terrible impact of trash on the ocean and marine life, inspiring us to make changes to save our seas. Includes a back section with facts about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, ocean pollution, and Call to Action for kids and grown-ups to share. >>>Michelle Lord’s books in the SHI collection.
Together, boy and boat ride the shifting tides, catching wants and wishes until fate calls for a sea change. Brother and collaborators Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey’s newest picture book is a masterfully crafted celebration of the natural world and a tribute to the families we make and the homes that we nurture. The text is short, but the images tell us a lot. >>>Jarrett and Jerome created a series of prints with hand-carved stamps made of plastic recycled from trash they picked up on the side of the road.
By April Jones Prince, Illustrated by Christine Davenier ( Margaret Ferguson Books – 2021 )
If you guzzle stacks of books, sound out wonder, or soak up jokes, you are a reader. Whether you jot down lists, type text messages, or dream up tall tales, you are a writer! With upbeat rhyme and a diverse cast of characters, these pages will encourage and empower young communicators of all kinds. This book is made to be read twice. Start from one side and children will see all the joys that reading can bring. Flip the book over and they’ll be inspired by the imaginative possibilities of writing! After all, reading and writing are two sides of the same coin – or in this case, two sides of the same book.
Love shapes every moment in our lives. From morning sunrise with colors bold to dandelion wisher carried on the wind to evening sunset, with shades soft and cool, the world is made of love. Here is a book that asks and answers the most important question loved once can ever share : Do I Love You?Yes I Do!
By Tom Percival (Bloomsbury Children’s Books – 2021 )
One day Tilda’s world turns completely Upside Down. All of a sudden, everything is topsy-turvy and nothing feels right. Things that were once easy – playing with her friends, even eating cereal – now seem incredibly challenging. Can Tilda discover a way to move forward and embrace all this change? This encouraging and empowering story is the perfect springboard to help kids build resilience. >>> On the last page, Tom Percival’s advice is found. >>>>Tom Percival’s books in the SHI collection.
From the day she’s born, a child feels the love and power that come with being part of something bigger. She’s a new spring leaf, alive and growing, as strong as the ancient cedars and as radiant as the glittering night sky. She is one with the amazing forces of nature that surround and nurture her – and that she nurtures in return. Steph Littlebird’s inspiring text and stunning artwork celebrate our connection to the land and show how we perfectly mirror its beauty and resilience.
Sven may be a little Viking, but he has the loudest cry, the fiercest set of teeth, and unparalleled pillaging power. And everyone knows he’s the best storyteller around. Sven’s size doesn’t hold him back one bit. In fact, he rather likes being the littlest Viking. But when an even littler Viking shows up – a tiny warrior princess – Seven’s pluck is put to the test. Is this longship big enough for both of them? >>> Alexandra Penfold’s books in the SHI collection.
By Cynthia Jaynes Omololu, Illustrated by Randy DuBurke ( Clarion Books – 2009 )
When it’s six o’clock in San Francisco, children all around the globe are busy going to school, playing with their friends, and spending time with their families. Some are even sound asleep – in their part of the world, it’s the middle of the night! When it’s six o’clock in San Francisco, what time is it where you live? >>> On the last pages, more information about world time zones.
The boy, child of the Lord of the Sun, is mocked by the other boys because he seems to have no father. Then one day the boy comes to a decision: “Mother,” he says, “I must look for my father. No matter where he is, I must find him.” And thus begins his quest… With vibrant colors and bold geometric forms, Gerald McDermott brilliantly captures the stylized look of Pueblo Indian art in this retelling of an ancient legend. A young boy searches for his father, but before he can claim his heritage he must first prove his worthiness by passing through the four ceremonial chambers: the kiva of lions, the kiva of snakes, the kiva of bees, and the kiva of lightning. Striking in its simplicity and grace, arrow to the Sun vividly evokes the Native American reverence for the source of all life – the Solar Fire.