Red Truck, Yellow Truck
by Michelle Robinson
illustrated by Jez Tuya

Red truck, yellow truck.
Red truck, yellow truck.
Tug truck. Tow truck.
Steady as you go, truck!

Red truck, yellow truck and their dog drivers are on their way to the construction site! Follow along as they drive through a busy city, plow through a snowy forest, and a pass by a cow-filled farm. A slow garbage truck, tall snow drifts, and a speeding tractor can’t stop these hard-working vehicles! But will all the trucks be able to get their jobs done before they have to drive all the way back home?

Introducing a colorful case of tractors, diggers, mixers, bulldozers, and more in this vibrant salute to things that go. Little vehicle aficionados and fans of Richard Scarry’s Busytown will eagerly turn page after page to find rolling trucks, lifting trucks, trucks that that dump, mix, climb, squash, and keep going when the going gets tough! Author Michelle Robinson’s delivers a rhythmic, action-packed story that builds excitement with every page turn, and Jez Tuya’s brightly colored trucks, townscapes, and adorable dogs on-the-go are perfect for storytime and interactive read alouds. But the vehicle fun doesn’t stop at the end of the story… End papers bursting with trucks of all kinds are sure to delight young readers!

Can’t wait to explore this action-packed new read aloud? Read an excerpt, and get a peek at Jez Tuya’s colorful illustrations below!

Curious About Fish
by Cathryn Sill
illustrated by John Sill

Welcome to the fascinating world of fish! These beautiful, diverse creatures come in all shapes and sizes, and now even the littlest ocean enthusiasts can start learning about our finned underwater friends. A simple, realistic first glimpse into the natural world of fish, Curious About Fish is the fourth addition to the Discovering Nature board book series.

From the award-winning team of the acclaimed About… and About Habitats series comes another early nature introduction for toddlers and preschoolers to learn basic facts about the world around them. Author Cathryn Sill offers easy-to-understand descriptions of how fish look, where they live, what they eat, and how they move around, and noted wildlife illustrator John Sill’s detailed and realistic art brings this colorful book to life. A dependable and informative resource for budding oceanographers as well as for early childhood education units on animals, environments, fish, oceans, and pets, and perfect for a first trip to the aquarium with little ones hoping to spot sharks, seahorses, clownfish, and more!

Get to know some of the fish from the book in this excerpt.

Explore the Sills’ award-winning About… and About Habitats picture book series, perfect for further exploration with young nature enthusiasts.

Check out the rest of the Discovering Nature series, and download the activity sheets for more nature fun!

One night, under the light of a silvery moon, an inquisitive bear ventures into People Town to find some fun. He wanders around until he makes quite the curious discovery. This thing looks friendly, but what is it? A springy thing—a bouncy thing—a sit-on-it, hop-on-it, jump-on-it thing! Bear can’t wait to share his discovery with his friends, but he needs help getting it back to the woods. His sleepy friends send Bear away empty-handed, forcing him to take matters into his own paws. So what does Bear invent to roll the “Thingity-Jig” back home? A “Rolly-Rumpity” should do the trick. And what does he design to hoist it up the mountain? A “Lifty-Uppity” of course!

Reading specialist and former educator Kathy Doherty blends upcycling and STEAM with a delightful story of trial and error and wacky wordplay in this delightful storytime pick perfect for summer read alouds with little inventors. Illustrator Kristyna Litten brings the charming world to life with detailed, imaginative art and characters.

Dive deeper into this whimsical read with the free teacher’s guide, and get to know author Kathleen Doherty in this Q&A!

“Doherty’s joyous, inventive, action-packed language begs to be shouted out loud. The moonlit night sparkles in town and city as Litten’s fanciful illustrations fill in the details of the tale and showcase Bear’s inventiveness. Little readers might want to create their own Thingity-Jigs. A delightful, rollicking, joyous romp.” —Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

“[An] intricately illustrated picture book that rejoices in creative play—and in imaginative takes on ordinary objects.” —Foreword Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

“Making the most of Bear’s wacky, ingenious contraptions, the appealing artwork rewards curious viewers with visual details that reappear in different contexts as the story unfolds. The well-constructed text rolls along in a satisfying way, enhanced by the devices’ inventive names, which are uniquely fitting and great fun to read aloud. A dynamic, enjoyable picture book.” —Booklist

“With text as energetic and playful as Bear himself, the story builds a delightful anticipation for each new Rube Goldberg-ian invention. Atmospheric illustrations are washed in softly textured nighttime blues and are chock-a-block full of endearing detail…. With language that trips off the tongue and pictures filled with charming ingenuity, this is a read-aloud that will endure.” —School Library Connection

“Illuminating nightscapes, enveloped in rich purple shadows that contrast beautifully with the shining yellow light from windows. As the sun rises, the scenes masterfully transition to the warm orange morning…. Doherty’s text is at its most playful, with all manner of funny words, when Bear constructs his inventions. Her rhyming text on those pages is bouncy and fun…. A celebration of inventiveness, in both ­contraption and language, this book is a lovely addition to larger collections.” —School Library Journal

Order your copy of The Thingity-Jig today from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, or IndieBound!

Lillian lives in a big house with her mother and father, her aunt and uncle, and her seven brothers. It’s tradition in her big family for each child to receive a pet on their sixth birthday, so when Lillian turns six, she gets a fish! This is no ordinary fish. This particular fish ripples and shimmers with all the colors of the rainbow. Lillian loves her birthday gift until one day, the little fish disappears!

Lillian is devastated, so she and her brothers begin to work together to solve the mystery. Meanwhile, the other family pets―the horse, the goat, the dog, the cat, the turtle, the spider, and the bird―secretly band together to crack the case of the missing birthday fish. They soon discover a trail of clues leading them along the river, deep into the woods, and on a fantastic adventure filled with new places and strange creatures!

Now available in paperback, author James Menk’s delightful, lively tale of discovery and friendship will enchant readers of all ages. Louisa Bauer’s captivating drawings bring this charming story of children and their pets to life for an immersive summer middle grade read aloud.

Dive into this thrilling middle grade tale in this excerpt, and lead a summer book club with this free discussion guide!

Order your copy of Lillian’s Fish today from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, or IndieBound!

Need a few more four-legged friends on your summer reading list? Everyone’s favorite community helper duo is back, and this time Madeline Finn and her therapy dog-in-training are spreading the joy of reading at a local retirement home.

Madeline Finn and Star are off to Walker Oaks, a retirement community where Star will take his tests to become a therapy dog! They’ve been practicing meeting new people (and other dogs, too) and sitting still when a bike goes by. Star does a wonderful job with a variety of challenges, and everyone at the retirement community welcomes him with open arms. Everyone except a man sitting in a wheelchair who doesn’t speak and never smiles. Is there anything Madeline Finn and Star can do to help?

This touching installment in the Madeline Finn collection from author-illustrator Lisa Papp offers an adorable introduction to the therapy dog training process and a realistic, appealing example of a young person making a difference. Paired with warm, gentle illustrations, this beautiful story of empathy, perseverance, and community is ideal for social emotional learning-themed summer reading and discussions about self-esteem, volunteering, and—of course—therapy animals.

Check out the rest of the Madeline Finn collection, and download the free activity kit to bring these touching stories to life!

Get to know author-illustrator Lisa Papp in this Q&A.

“A beautifully designed introduction to the lives of therapy dogs and how much work goes into becoming one. A backdrop of warm tan surrounds each image; this, coupled with soft purples, blues, and greens, lends a sense of familiarity and comfort to the story. Pencil lines and watercolor enhance this feeling, nonverbally communicating the effect a therapy dog has on the people he meets…. This intergenerational story of love and acceptance is an important addition to library collections for young elementary-aged readers.” —School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW

“Charming, soft-focus illustrations provide extra details and capture the personalities of the determined child and irresistible dogs…. This touching story stands on its own, but fans of Madeline’s previous outings will particularly enjoy reading this account that ties all the previous tales together. A gentle, heartwarming introduction to the world of therapy dogs.” —Kirkus Reviews

Your animal-filled summer reading adventure continues with an action-packed tale loaded with plenty of mystery, adventure, and… pigeons? Homer the crime-solving homing pigeon is on the case!

Homing pigeon Homer spends his days in the sky, getting a bird’s-eye view of his neighborhood, and testing his homing abilities with his human Otto. Living in a cozy cage on top of Otto’s building, all Homer knows of crime and mystery comes from the detectives stories on the newspaper clippings lining his cage. That is, until he spies some four-legged criminals stealing from both animals and humans in the neighborhood’s usually peaceful park. Homer can’t wait for the chance to solve the mystery and enlists the help of his parrot friend Lulu to stop these fowl thieves. Can Homer and Lulu lead their human keepers to the culprits’ hideout and stop the thieves for good?

From award-winning author-illustrator Henry Cole comes a page-turning middle grade mystery that will keep readers guessing if the crime-solving pigeon will get his guy and wishing they could join in this suspenseful hunt. Perfect for summer book clubs and middle grade read alouds!

Lead a mystery-filled summer book club with the downloadable discussion guide!

Learn to draw Homer with author-illustrator Henry Cole in this video, and learn more about Henry’s inspiration for the book in this Q&A!

“Cole’s gentle animal fantasies can always be depended upon, and this light mystery is just right for young readers…. Cole mixes humor with intrigue to keep the narrative bouncing along, and readers will get a kick out of the unusual detective team… Hand this to fans of Chris Riddell’s Ottoline and the Yellow Cat (2008) and A. B. Greenfield’s Ra the Mighty: Cat Detective (2018).” —Booklist

“Engaging… The birds’ exploits are surprisingly believable and enjoyable to follow in Homer’s first-person narration…. Who doesn’t love smart, friendly birds on a secret mission?” —Kirkus Reviews

“Chirpy… Cole (Brambleheart) richly imbues the narrative with sensory details… The expressive b&w pencil illustrations, rendered in panels evoking newspaper comics, heighten drama, tension, and humor.” —Publishers Weekly

Introducing Hattie the magician and her magic hat! Hattie is no ordinary rabbit, and her hat is no ordinary hat. When Hattie shouts “Abracadabra, katakurico!” out pops a cat from Hattie’s magic hat. Abracadabra, katakurico… Out pops a squirrel! Can you guess what creature Hattie will pull from her magic hat next?

From renowned author and illustrator Satoshi Kitamura comes a highly interactive picture book that’s great for summer storytimes with even the youngest readers. Featuring simple, repetitive language, engaging opportunities for prediction, and fun magic words, Hat Tricks is a great pairing for magic-themed activities and animal units. Perfect for magicians and bookworms alike, dive in to this delightful book pick, and follow along as Hattie conjures up animal after animal from her magic hat.

Recreate some of Hattie’s magic at home with this downloadable activity sheet, and get to know author-illustrator Satoshi Kitamura in this Q&A.

“Dynamic, fun-filled, imaginative, and ideal for participatory reading aloud.” —Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

“Wonderful pacing and exceptional charm….comedy gold.” —The Wall Street Journal

“Positively bursting with storytime potential… Young audiences will loudly echo the closing plaudits: ‘Brava, Hattie! Bravo, hat!’” —Booklist

“Pure silliness that’s bound to be requested by listeners again and again.”—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Bold and lively pictures… [Kitamura’s] use of color is especially striking… Magician Hattie takes a well-deserved bow at the end, but preschoolers are going to want to start the story all over again, chanting, “Abracadabra, katakurico.’” —The Horn Book Magazine

Do you think you’d make it in the Society of Distinguished Lemmings? Kick off your picture book summer reading list with this laugh-out-loud tale to find out!

Deep in their underground burrow, the Society of Distinguished Lemmings follow a strict set of society rules, including no walking on four legs, no eating with your hands, and certainly no questioning the rules! Bertie’s had enough of all these rules, and he’s decided to go outside. And what does he find outside? A bear! Bears are supposed to be very fierce and scary, but this bear is quite a lot of fun and most unlike a lemming! He shows Bertie how to roll in the flowers, climb trees, and jump in muddy puddles. When the other lemmings find out about the bear, they decide he’s not at all distinguished, he’ll have to change if he’s ever to fit in. Can a creature as big and clumsy as the bear ever be distinguished enough to be accepted by the Society?

Featuring valuable themes of finding new friends, challenging peers, and questioning the rules, bookworms of all ages will return to this summer reading pick again and again to discover the quirks of every distinguished lemming while also learning about the importance of staying true to yourself amidst pressure to conform.

Do you have what it takes to be a part of the Society? Take this personality quiz to find out!

Download the free discussion guide to answer questions with young bookworms and little lemming fans after reading.

“Even the most rule-bound reader will be cheered up by these stodgy lemmings.” —Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

“This debut picture book requires multiple reads to absorb all of the humor in the various lemmings’ conversations and activities like dressing and packing. A quirky addition.” —School Library Journal

“Colombet packs her story with vivid personalities (the earnest, wide-eyed lemmings are a collective hoot), visual jokes, and, as befits a large, opinionated community, many, many dialogue balloons. There is much to linger over and return to in these pages.” —Publishers Weekly

“Colombet’s story of friendship and embracing differences shines most in its endearing pencil illustrations, digitally colored in rustic tones. Speech bubbles scatter across scenes crowded with lemmings, resulting in an adorable and hilarious peanut gallery guaranteed to elicit giggles from little readers.” —Booklist

Order your copy of The Society of Distinguished Lemmings today from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, or IndieBound!

King and Kayla are on the case, and newly independent readers are in for a mystery-filled treat!

Dive into your summer reading list with King & Kayla and the Case of the Unhappy Neighbor! The sixth installment in the lovable beginning reader series featuring everyone’s favorite dog-and-human duo, this new adventure is sure to keep any young bookworm on the edge of their seat as they work to solve the case alongside lovable King and his human Kayla.

Someone is digging up Mr. Gary’s garden and getting into his trash, and—uh-oh! Jillian’s dog, Thor, is the lead suspect. King and Kayla quickly put their detective skills to work to clear Thor’s name, gathering clues at the scene of the crime. Kayla notices the mess in Mr. Gary’s yard looks way too big for a tiny dog like Thor to make, and King learns from Cat with No Name that the culprit is a “new guy” and not Thor after all! Can King and Kayla find this mystery new guy, and do they have enough evidence to clear Thor’s name?

With simple, straightforward language and great verbal and visual humor, this laugh-out-loud tale from Geisel Honor Award-winning team Dori Hillestad Butler and Nancy Meyers is perfect for younger readers transitioning from easy readers to beginning chapter books. Great for introducing mysteries and the important concepts of fact gathering, list making, clues, and analytical thinking, explore the whole King & Kayla series today!

Download a free King & Kayla poster so you can always have this adorable duo by your side. Plus, check out the series activity kit and teacher’s guide for more mystery-filled fun!

“Meyers invests all her characters with lots of personality… Beginning readers will like the spacious typeset and thought bubbles that clue readers in to King’s thinking. This is a great story to help emerging readers strengthen their comprehension skills, and caregivers can easily discuss what young readers already know and what they are discovering along the way to piece together for a final conclusion… Entertaining reading for the newest generation of detectives.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Meyers’s illustrations invite opportunities for the developing reader to investigate alongside King and Kayla, and provide support and intrigue as the case progresses. The text also invites playful read-alouds… This newest addition to the Kayla and King series continues the good work of the sleuthing duo, offering readers an opportunity to test their mystery-solving skills and laugh along the way.” —The Horn Book Magazine

Order your copy of King & Kayla and the Case of the Unhappy Neighbor today from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, or IndieBound!

Hat Tricks
by Satoshi Kitamura

You’re invited to Hattie the rabbit’s magic show! Abracadabra, katakurico… Oh, goodness! Out pops a cat from Hattie’s magic hat. Can you guess what creature will appear from the magic hat next? Perfect for magic-themed activities this summer, renowned author and illustrator Satoshi Kitamura delivers an adorable read aloud with simple, repetitive language, fun magic words, and ample opportunities for prediction.

Recreate some of Hattie’s magic tricks at home with this activity sheet.

Madeline Finn and the Therapy Dog
by Lisa Papp

Madeline Finn and Star are off to Walker Oaks, a retirement community where Star will take his tests to become a therapy dog. They make their way through a variety of challenges and meet several new friends, but Madeline Finn can’t stop thinking about an elderly man in a wheelchair who never smiles. Is there something she and Star can do to help? Author-illustrator Lisa Papp’s empathetic, feel-good story explores the therapy dog training process and provides a realistic and appealing example of a young person making a difference. Ideal for social emotional learning and discussions about self-esteem, volunteering, community, and—of course—therapy animals.

Explore more about therapy dogs, library dogs, and shelter dogs in the Madeline Finn activity kit!

The Society of Distinguished Lemmings
by Julie Colombet

The Society of Distinguished Lemmings aims to be distinguished in absolutely everything. It takes an awful lot of rules to be so distinguished, and Bertie has had quite enough. After venturing outside, Bertie discovers a bear, who is very unlike a lemming. Will the Society ever accept Bertie’s new friend, or is the bear simply too big and clumsy of a creature to be distinguished? This hilarious tale features valuable themes of finding new friends, challenging peers, and questioning the rules. Readers will return to the story again and again to discover the quirks of every distinguished lemming while also learning about the importance of staying true to yourself amidst pressure to conform.

Download this discussion guide to dive into the distinguished world of lemmings, and find out whether you’re more like a bear or a lemming with this personality quiz!

The Thingity-Jig
by Kathleen Doherty
illustrated by Kristyna Litten

Under the light of a silvery moon, Bear wanders into people town and discovers a springy thing, a bouncy thing—a sit-on-it, jump-on-it thing! This Thingity-Jig is too heavy to carry home by himself, so Bear invents a Rolly-Rumpity to wheel the Thingity-Jig home. When it all gets stuck in the mud, Bear creates a Lifty-Uppity, of course! Reading specialist and former educator Kathy Doherty perfectly blends inventive upcycling and STEAM elements with whimsical wordplay and a delightful story celebrating ingenuity. Illustrator Kristyna Litten brings the world to life with incredible settings and empathetic characters.

Start your own wacky inventions at home or in the classroom with this teacher’s guide!