Spi-KuA Clutter of Short Verse on Eight Legs
Written by Leslie Bulion
Illustrated by Robert Meganck

Welcome to the silk-spinning, bungee-jumping, hunting, trapping, trick-filled world of spiders! Watch as they find mates, find prey…or find mates that become prey! Award-winning poet Leslie Bulion and illustrator Robert Meganck team up again for this clutter (a collective noun for spiders) of Haiku and other short poems and humorously accurate illustrations that celebrate the amazing attributes of Araneae. A feast for science and animal fans and a bonanza for teachers and students interested in cross-curricular studies!

Looking for more information about these rolling, diving, web-weaving creatures? Check out this teacher’s guide for spider-themed fun in the classroom!

Order Spi-Ku from Bookshop.org, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble just in time for some at-home poetry month celebration.

Amphibian Acrobats
Written by Leslie Bulion
Illustrated by Robert Meganck

Step right up and learn all about the lively participants in the Amphibian Acrobat show—from the agile Wallace’s flying frog to the bouncing Venezuelan pebble toad to the tricky yellow-eyed ensatina. These show-stopping creatures hail from around the world and your own backyard! Come along and get to know all about these lively denizens with this entertaining collection of science verses from author Leslie Bulion. Illustrator Robert Meganck’s witty drawings add another layer of fun to this humorous and informative exhibition.

Can’t get enough of these talented critters? Check out this teacher’s guide for more amphibian learning fun!

Order Amphibian Acrobats from Bookshop.org, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble just in time for some at-home poetry month celebration.

Superlative Birds
Written by Leslie Bulion
Illustrated by Robert Meganck

Explore the fascinating world of superlative birds―from the bee hummingbird, the tiniest bird in the world, to the peregrine falcon, the fastest creature on Earth. Get to know all about the best and brightest―and smelliest!―denizens of the bird world with this collection of nonfiction science verses. You won’t need your binoculars to observe the superlative characteristics of these avian wonders. Author Leslie Bulion’s science glossary, notes on poetry forms, and resources for information about these extraordinary birds, and Robert Meganck’s enjoyable illustrations make this an informative and humorous gallery of the world’s most accomplished birds.

Fly further into the wonderful world of birds with this teacher’s guide!

Order Superlative Birds from Bookshop.org, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble just in time for some at-home poetry month celebration.

Leaf Litter Critters
Written by Leslie Bulion
Illustrated by Robert Meganck

Have fun on this poetic tour through the leaf litter layer and dig into the fascinating facts about the tiny critters who live there. Nineteen poems in a variety of verse forms with accompanying science notes take readers on a decomposer safari through the “brown food web,” from bacteria through tardigrades and on to rove beetle predators. Glossary, hands-on investigations, and resources are included in the back matter.

Check out this teacher’s guide, and dive deeper into the leaf litter layer.

Order Leaf Litter Critters from Bookshop.org, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble just in time for some at-home poetry month celebration.

Random Body Parts
Written by Leslie Bulion
Illustrated by Mike Lowery

Take a free-form trip though the human body with these humorous riddle poems. In these pages you will discover the astonishing answers to these questions such as, “Which body parts would wrap four times around the equator?” or “Which body part, if spread out flat, would cover a tennis court?” Put your cerebral cortex to work. Follow the anatomical, poetic, and visual clues to make a guess, then read the science notes to check your powers of riddle reasoning. You’ll even find hints from the greatest poet of them all―William Shakespeare!

Want to learn more about human anatomy? Download the free teacher’s guide.

Order Random Body Parts from Bookshop.org, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble just in time for some at-home poetry month celebration.

At the Sea Floor Café
Odd Ocean Critter Poems
Written by Leslie Bulion
Illustrated by Leslie Evans

Witty poems and elegant artwork introduce what’s on the menu for some unusual undersea creatures. The ocean is Earth’s largest ecosystem, and this clever collection of poems for kids describes the devious and surprising methods ocean denizens use to forage for food, capture prey, and trick predators. The poems bobble and swim effortlessly from page to page, leading readers from the snailshell home of the jeweled anemone crab to a raft of violet snails hanging upside down in their bubble houses. In addition to helpful resources included in the back matter, striking linoleum prints round out this title, which can be used across the curriculum.

Order At the Sea Floor Café from Bookshop.org, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble just in time for some at-home poetry month celebration.

Amphibian Acrobats
Written by Leslie Bulion
Illustrated by Robert Meganck

Author Leslie Bulion provides a science glossary, notes on poetry forms, and resources for information about these extraordinary animals. Illustrator Robert Meganck adds another layer of fun to this humorous and informative exhibition with his witty drawings.

Can’t get enough of these fascinating creatures? Follow along with Leslie as she teaches you how to fold a jumping amphibian acrobat and join Robert as he shows you how to draw a frog.

Keep exploring the amazing world of amphibians with this teacher’s guide.

“A completely satisfying package… It’s impossible not to warm to herpetology after reading aloud poems… Meganck’s wry cartoons amplify the humor. The backmatter, strong as the main text, serves young readers well but will also spur teachers interested in multidisciplinary units on to new heights… Child readers and educators will find themselves enthralled by short, punchy poems and the science behind them.” —Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

“Using the same format as Superlative Birds (2019) and Leaf Litter Critters (2018), which never gets old, Bulion pairs jaunty poems with science notes…. The thorough yet equally spirited science notes complement the poems… Once again, Bulion awes—and ewws—readers with facts disguised as fun.”—Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

“Delightful… The joyful poems beg to be read aloud… The jaunty illustrations amplify the text’s humor….a fun and informative addition for nature lovers.” —School Library Journal

Find Amphibian Acrobats tumbling onto a bookshelf near you, available today at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble, and be on the lookout for the rest of our brand-new Spring 2020 titles as well as our picture books and middle grade titles back at Peachtree this season in paperback!

New Board Books

This board book beginner’s guide offers a thoughtful first glimpse into the world of birds. Educator and author Cathryn Sill and John Sill deliver simple and clear descriptions of how birds look, where they live, what they eat, and how they move around, making this first title in the Discovering Nature series a dependable and informative beginning resource for learning about birds.

Pre-order Curious About Birds today through your local bookstore, Barnes & Noble, or on Amazon.

It’s another busy day with Stanley and friends! Stanley is helping Little Woo fix up his treehouse, but Stanley also has a surprise—what could it be? An early introduction to the practical function of tools commonly found at home, William Bee‘s newest board book will appeal to Stanley’s youngest tool-loving fans.

Pre-order Stanley’s Toolbox today through your local bookstore, Barnes & Noble, or on Amazon.

Stanley brings his paint box to paint a colorful castle with Little Woo, Sophie, and Benjamin. There’s red paint and blue paint and yellow paint and white paint. But what about the other colors? William Bee‘s early introduction to painting tools and art media is great for teaching primary and secondary colors.

Pre-order Stanley’s Paint Box today through your local bookstore, Barnes & Noble, or on Amazon.

New Picture Books

Hard-working Jiva might not be the only one anticipating a delicious feast of peas from his garden. Every morning, Jiva works in his garden until the sun turns as red as a bride’s sari. But each time he is ready to pick the peas for his feast, they’re already gone. What has happened? From the award-winning author and illustrator team Kashmira Sheth and Jeffrey Ebbeler, this original story set in India features a deliciously amusing mystery about gardening, anticipation, hard work, and generosity.

Pre-order Feast of Peas today through your local bookstore, Barnes & Noble, or on Amazon.

Lali finds a little feather in the field and sets out to find it a home, but one bird after another rejects it. The feather is too small for Rooster, too slow for Crow, and too plain for Peacock. Once Lali decides to keep the little feather and discovers all the things she can do with it, the other birds begin to recognize its value. Farhana Zia’s charming tale reveals the importance of looking beyond first impressions, and illustrator Stephanie Fizer Coleman brings this delightful story of imagination and inspiration to life.

Pre-order Lali’s Feather today through your local bookstore, Barnes & Noble, or on Amazon.

In this companion to the award-winning Izzy Gizmo from author-illustrator duo Pip Jones and Sara Ogilvie, Izzy Gizmo returns in a charming and eccentric tale of ambition, perseverance, and finding your inner strength. Izzy Gizmo has been invited to Technoff Isle’s annual convention where the inventor of the best machine will win coveted admittance to the Genius Guild, but with fearsome foe Abi von Lavish getting the best of her at every turn, can Izzy Gizmo and Fixer create the winning invention? This wonderfully exuberant story has serious points to make about the importance of make do and mend.

Pre-order Izzy Gizmo and the Invention Convention today through your local bookstore, Barnes & Noble, or on Amazon.

Mia and Ben are the very best of friends, and they love making paper planes together. They dream of one day being able to make a plane that can fly all the way across the lake! But Ben and his family are moving far away. How will he and Mia stay best friends if they’re going to be so far apart? And will flying paper planes ever be the same again without Ben? From author-illustrator duo Jim Helmore and Richard Jones (The Snow Lion), gorgeous illustrations accompany a gentle story about long-distance friendship that is filled with magic and imagination.

Pre-order Paper Planes today through your local bookstore, Barnes & Noble, or on Amazon.

Once, there lived a little girl called Bo who wanted to be just like her brothers and capture a fearsome monster. Her brothers say she is too small to catch a monster, but Bo isn’t one to take no for an answer, so she sets off on a quest to catch a monster of her own. Author-illustrator Bethan Woollvin, the creator of the New York Times Best Illustrated Little Red, employs her signature style in this original fairy tale with a clever twist. Readers are sure to fall in love with Woollvin’s newest vibrant and sassy protagonist.

Pre-order Bo the Brave today through your local bookstore, Barnes & Noble, or on Amazon.

The Society of Distinguished Lemmings aims to be distinguished in absolutely everything, but Bertie has had quite enough of the Society and all its rules. 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 from author-illustrator Julie Colombet features valuable themes of finding new friends, questioning the rules, and learning about the importance of staying true to yourself amidst pressure to conform.

Pre-order The Society of Distinguished Lemmings today through your local bookstore, Barnes & Noble, or on Amazon.

New Illustrated Chapter Book

Thor has been accused of wrecking Mr. Gary’s yard—knocking over trash cans, eating the vegetables out of the garden, and pooping. But King and Kayla, with the help of some other neighbors, are determined to clear his name, using a wide variety of familiar and new detecting skills. With simple, straightforward language and great verbal and visual humor, the King & Kayla series from Geisel Honor Award-winning team Dori Hillestad Butler and Nancy Meyers is perfect for newly independent readers.

Pre-order King & Kayla and the Case of the Unhappy Neighbor today through your local bookstore, Barnes & Noble, or on Amazon.

New Middle Grade Books

Nina Soni returns in the second title in a humorous series featuring a charming Indian-American girl and her family and friends. Nina is restless and hungry for a new project and aggravated with little sister Kavita’s embarrassing behavior. A fresh pile of dirt just delivered to the neighbor’s house for a landscaping project ends up being too tempting to resist. Can Nina fix Kavita and create something amazing at the same time? With her sister’s help, Nina launches a grand engineering project—with unexpected consequences. Readers are sure to relate to author Kashmira Sheth’s endearing Nina Soni, and illustrator Jenn Kocsmiersky brings this slightly scatter-brained heroine to life.

Pre-order Nina Soni, Sister Fixer today through your local bookstore, Barnes & Noble, or on Amazon.

New Young Adult

The summer of exploration continues! After space adventures and a daring trip around the world, keep exploring with Seaman, a fictionalized biography of Lewis and Clark’s journey that introduces the faithful four-legged companion who joined Meriwether Lewis and William Clark on their famous westward expedition. Seaman may not have been the most famous member of the Corps of Discovery, but he was one of the earliest, and he was a comforting presence for all the men who had to leave their families behind for a chance at experiencing uncharted America.

Seaman: The Dog Who Explored the West with Lewis & Clark is a must-have for those wanting to fill their summer reading lists with adventure after adventure. Written accounts of the expedition from Lewis detail many of his and Seaman’s experiences, showing just how important the Newfoundland dog was to the explorer and the rest of his crew. This summer reading book will have readers feeling like part of the Corps of Discovery as they read about all the excitement and danger Seaman and the rest of the group faced on their journey across America.

Gail Langer Karwoski’s exciting work of historical fiction comes alive with the help of James Watling’s effective pencil sketches of the equally thrilling and terrifying experiences of the Corps of Discovery. Drawing inspiration from Lewis’ actual diary entries from his expedition, Karwoski presents a clear picture of what it was like to venture into the unexplored parts of America following the Louisiana Purchase.

Just in case you can’t wait to pick up your own copy of Seaman to begin reading about his adventures, check out an excerpt of his story here. You can also do some extra adventuring of your own with this free teacher’s guide.

“James Watling’s many handsome, shaded-pencil drawings will help readers visualize the setting, hardships, and dramatic moments of the story; and two maps will enable them to follow the explorers’ route. An effective, fictional introduction to the Lewis and Clark expedition.” ―Booklist

“Once young readers begin this fictional account of the dog’s role in the expedition, they will be caught up in the drama and action and even reluctant readers will find it just too good to put down.” ―School Library Journal

“In this well-researched and finely written book for young readers, Gail Karwoski brings the story back to life through the expedition’s most unlikely and endearing hero… Seaman, the first dog to cross the continent.” ―Dayton Duncan, co-author with Ken Burns of Lewis and Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery

Find your copy of Seaman at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble!

New Picture Books

With something different to count on each page, learning to count from one to ten has never been so thrilling! This surprisingly simple counting book by debut author-illustrator Kate Read, great for early education and read-alouds, has a gripping tale and hugely satisfying ending that’s sure to delight generations.

Stanley’s passengers have a beach ball, a toy boat, and an inner tube. Find out where Stanley and his friends are going in the newest installment from William Bee’s popular Stanley series that is perfect for readers transitioning from board books to picture books.

Lana Lynn is an intrepid sheep who wants adventure. She finds a disguise and dashes into the wild woods to see what life is like as a wolf―but is life with the wolf pack everything it seems? Rebecca Van Slyke’s charming depiction of experiencing new things is accented by Anca Sandu’s humorous illustrations.

Aalfred and Aalbert lead solitary lives―so how will they ever meet? This adorable story about two aardvarks and an unlikely matchmaker will appeal to families with LGBTQ parents and family members as author-illustrator Morag Hood keeps children laughing with funny situations and entertaining teachable moments about relationships.

Duck and Penguin are not friends, despite what Betty and Maud might have you think. This laugh out loud tale about the secret world of toys from author-illustrator Julia Woolf makes the perfect read-aloud with a relatable topic and hilarious illustrations that will have children begging for multiple reads.

Before Lula and her family leave their home to make way for a new highway, Lula meets a small sea monster she names Bean. What will happen to him once she moves away? From popular children’s book author-illustrator Alex Latimer comes this delightfully odd story of friendship and bravery.

As hunters approach their home in the jungle, Mother Tiger and her cubs, Puli and Sera, must venture to find a new home away from danger. With gentle text and stunning monochromatic illustrations, Jo Weaver reveals the wonder of nature, the excitement of discovery, and the strength of familial bonds.

Follow young Ava as she eagerly identifies and counts the birds she observes around her town during the Christmas Bird Count. This informative story by author Susan Edwards Richmond, coupled with Stephanie Fizer Coleman’s charming depictions of birds in their winter habitats, is the perfect book to introduce young readers to bird watching.

In this addition to the About Habitats series, award-winning author Cathryn Sill uses simple, easy-to-understand language to teach children what rivers and streams are and explain how various species of animals and plants have adapted to life in or along these waterways. John Sill’s detailed, full-color illustrations show the characteristics of the world’s different rivers and streams—from the mountain streams of the Alps to the mighty Amazon River in South America.

What kind of man would walk across Niagara River right beside the might Niagara Falls on a tightrope? And more importantly, how do you become that man? Author Donna Janell Bowman’s trademark in-depth research gives readers a clear and exciting look into the accomplishments of The Great Blondin, and Adam Gustavson’s detailed illustrations turn this book into an experience that will inspire readers of all ages.

New Middle Grade Books

The Library Dragon
Written by Carmen Agra Deedy and illustrated by Michael P. White

Sunrise Elementary School has a BIG problem. Their new librarian, Miss Lotta Scales, is a real dragon. This humorous tale by New York Times best-selling author Carmen Agra Deedy is paired with Michael P. White’s lively illustrations for an entertaining story about the power and importance of books for both children and adults.

Don’t miss this free Teacher’s Guide or these Library Dragon glasses cut-outs!

Return of the Library Dragon
Written by Carmen Agra Deedy and illustrated by Michael P. White

In this sequel to The Library Dragon, Miss Lotty is finally checking herself out of the Sunrise Elementary School Library, but not before Lotta Scales makes one final, fiery stand. After 557 years of faithful service, Miss Lotty is retiring from guarding books. But before she can check out of Sunrise Elementary for good, disaster strikes. Someone has ordered to have all the books removed from the library and replaced with machines!

Madeline Finn and the Library Dog
by Lisa Papp

Madeline Finn does NOT like to read. But she DOES want a gold star from her teacher. But, stars are for good readers. Stars are for understanding words, and for saying them out loud. Fortunately, Madeline Finn meets Bonnie, a library dog. With endearing illustrations, Lisa Papp brings an inspiring and comforting book to all new readers who just need a little confidence to overcome their fears.

Download this free Activity Kit and print out your own Madeline Finn poster!

The Boy Who Was Raised by Librarians
Written by Carla Morris and illustrated by Brad Sneed

This humorous tale of a curious young boy and his single-minded quest for knowledge is a heartfelt and affectionate tribute to librarians everywhere. Every day after school Melvin goes to the library. His favorite people—Marge, Betty, and Leola—are always there behind the reference desk. When something interests Melvin, his librarian friends help him find lots and lots of books on the subject. Readers will enjoy Brad Sneed’s delightful illustrations that colorfully capture the fun-loving spirit of Carla Morris’s story about the contagious enthusiasm of learning.

The Amazing Mr. Franklin
by Ruth Ashby

Everyone knows Benjamin Franklin was an important statesman, inventor, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. But did you know he started the first public library in America? Ruth Ashby’s fast-paced biography takes young readers through Franklin’s life from his spirited, rebellious youth through his successful career as an inventor and politician and finally to the last years of his life,  surrounded by his personal collection of books.

Find these books and more at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble!

Author Suzanne Slade answers some questions about her background in mechanical engineering, her research process, and the significance of creating Countdown: 2979 Days to the Moon.

Q: What was your inspiration for this book?

A: Many factors helped inspire Countdown, such as the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing (July 2019), my own interest in space travel and previous work on rockets, and the remarkable perseverance of the Apollo team.

Ultimately, there was one aspect of that incredible first moon landing which motivated me to take on this colossal writing project. I really wanted to share the little-known facts of the early Apollo missions—their surprises, successes, and struggles—with readers. For example, the brave Apollo 1 astronauts all died on the launch pad when their command module burst into flames during routine testing.

Q: How did your background in mechanical engineering and working on rockets for NASA contribute to the development of this book?

A: My engineering degree, and my experiences at McDonnell Douglas Space Systems working on rockets for NASA, provided a technical background to help me understand the basics of the Apollo spacecraft (Saturn V rocket, command module, service module, lunar module), but I still had a LOT to learn.

Once I understood the content/events I wanted to share, I had to figure out the best way to convey this technical information so it was interesting and understandable for young readers. My fantastic editor, Kathy Landwehr, was great at asking questions (then more questions!) which helped refine the story and science content for younger readers.

Q: Why did you decide to write this book in verse?

A: Actually I didn’t make this decision. The story did. After years of research and completing a detailed outline, I finally decided it was time to start writing. When I sat down to start Chapter 1, the words came out in short lines. The text felt powerful, tense, and urgent, just like the events they were describing. So I decided to keep writing the story in free verse. With some books, it seems the story knows how it wants to be told and the author just needs to go with it.

Q: Many readers have had emotional experiences reading your book. Why do you think this subject and your approach to it evoke such a passionate response?

A: I was very surprised when I heard two people cried after reading the book. But then, I recalled getting emotional while reading the astronaut transcripts during several perilous events, many of which are included in the book. When you read about actual people—with their own fears and precious families at home, putting themselves in incredibly dangerous situations for the noble purpose of exploring space—it’s hard not to get emotional. Tom Gonzalez’s glorious illustrations are also powerful. His stunning, detailed work heightens the emotional experience of this book.

Q: One of the themes in your book is “teamwork.” Why did you choose to include this theme in your narrative?

A: Most obviously because Project Apollo required the teamwork of 400,000 men and women, all contributing their various skills, to be successful. For most team members, the project involved a lengthy, several year commitment filled with many trials and disappointments. I hope Countdown helps readers understand that being part of a team isn’t always easy. But if team members continue to work hard, and do their best to get along despite problems and disagreements, they can accomplish wonderful things together!

Q: What was something new you learned while interviewing Alan Bean?

A: Interviewing Alan Bean, the fourth man on the moon, was one of the most rewarding experiences in my 20+ writer years. I learned a LOT from this kind, humble, and wise man. It was fascinating to hear about his long road to become an astronaut, his philosophy about being an effective team member (consider others better than yourself), and how overwhelmed he felt when he walked on the moon and saw the sparkling Earth for the first time. It was fascinating to hear about the one thing he wished he’d done—smuggled a football on board so he could throw an incredibly long pass on the moon!

Interestingly, I also learned about punctuality through a humorous event. For our second interview, Alan and I had agreed to talk at 9am on a Monday morning. Days before our call I checked the time zone map to confirm his Houston home and my Illinois address were in the same zone. Monday morning I double checked that his email said 9am, cleared my throat, and dialed his number. Alan answered, and politely told me to call him back at our appointed time and he’d be ready then. We hung up and I panicked. How had I miscalculated? I quickly rechecked the time zone map. We were in the same zone. I looked at my computer’s clock: 8:58am. Hmm. Did he mean I should call him back in 2 minutes—at exactly 9? I panicked some more. What else could he mean? Two minutes later I nervously dialed his number. He answered and said, “Hi Suzanne, now I’m ready to talk.”

Q: Why is it important for readers to learn about the different events leading up to Apollo 11, such as Kennedy’s assassination?

A: The first moon landing was decades ago. It’s often summarized in history books with a few lines or paragraphs that talk about the Apollo 11 landing and Neil Armstrong’s first step on the moon. But I think it’s important for readers to also understand the sacrifices, struggles, and determination it took to get to the moon. This phenomenal accomplishment was incredibly daunting, so I hope Countdown provides insight into the exceptional events of the 2979 days which culminated in that first landing.

Q: At the end of each chapter you include fact sheets about each Apollo mission. Why did you decide to have extra information for each chapter in addition the information at the very end of the book?

A: I know readers are curious, so I thought they’d appreciate close-up photos of the astronauts from the mission they’d just read about, along with brief astronaut biographies and compelling mission photos.

Q: You included a wealth of information in this book. Is there anything of note you opted to omit?

A: My research for this book took over eight years. My sources included NASA transcripts*, Apollo photos, astronaut autobiographies, other reliable books, NASA websites, and more. I also interviewed the fourth man on the moon, Alan Bean, corresponded with astronaut Walt Cunningham, and worked with experts from NASA and in the aerospace industry. So, of course, a great deal of my research couldn’t be included in the book. One of the toughest things an author has to decide is which facts, quotes, and events will be included in the book, and which won’t. In the end, I did my best to share a wide variety of the astronauts’ experiences, such as the successes, stressful challenges, and fun surprises they encountered.

[*Check out the NASA Transcripts yourself! The Apollo Flight Journal has discussions between astronauts and mission control while the crew was flying. Their dialogue after landing on the moon is in the Apollo Lunar Surface Journal.]

Q: What was the research process like?

A: In a word: tedious. In the question above I listed many of my sources, but the biggest challenge was organizing all the information I uncovered. With any book research, it’s hard to keep accurate records of sources. But for a technical project like this, it was particularly daunting. So I created a detailed “Sources Doc” where I listed all the sources I used. It contains every source, and lists the exact page number or web link where I found each fact in the story. I continually updated the Sources Doc throughout the project. Naturally, things get a little dicey when you find conflicting facts in different sources, but that’s a long discussion in itself. The Sources Doc for Countdown ended up being 51 pages long. After Peachtree acquired the book, they sent my Sources Doc to the illustrator, Tom Gonzalez, so he could reference it as part of his research.

Q: How do you feel that the Apollo missions are relevant today?

A: The discoveries made by the Apollo program are extremely important today, and for the future too. These missions not only allowed us to learn about the moon (it’s history, geography, how it was formed, etc.), they also helped scientists learn more about space, space travel, Earth, other planets, and much more. You can check out Air and Space Museum’s “Top Ten” Apollo Discoveries list (#2 is my favorite.)

Q: How do you hope Countdown will be used in classes and elsewhere?

A: It’s exciting for an author to think about how others might use his/her book. Here are a few of my “author dreams” for Countdown. I hope it…

• honors the bravery, persistence, and achievements of the Apollo team.
• inspires people to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing.
• nurtures budding scientists, engineers, and space explorers.
• encourages curious readers to discover more about science/space through research of their own.
• informs students about space exploration, the moon, and what astronauts do in space. [They eat chocolate pudding (p. 64) and lose lots of things (p. 81)!]

Q: What do you want readers to take away from this book?

I hope readers gain a broader understanding of the sacrifices, teamwork, and sheer determination it took to launch astronauts from Earth, transport them 240,000 miles through space, land the first man on the moon, and bring the team safely home. It was truly an astounding accomplishment!

Countdown: 2979 Days to the Moon will be at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble September 1! Read an excerpt, check out the book trailer, poster, and Teacher’s Guide, and don’t forget to follow along on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages for more inside looks and amazing space facts.

To celebrate the upcoming publication and give readers a glimpse of the truly stunning illustrations, we are offering the chance to win 1 of 2 special limited prints of incredible art from Countdown, signed by illustrator Thomas Gonzalez. The giveaway will run until August 20th, and all you need to do is leave a comment below to be entered to win! (And be sure to connect with us on Facebook and Instagram for more entry opportunities!)*

*No purchase necessary to enter or win. Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States and Washington, D.C. who are 18 years of age or older as of date of entry. Three entries maximum per individual; one entry per platform, per individual. Giveaway will run on Peachtree’s blog, Facebook profile, and Instagram profile. Void where prohibited.

One of my first memories is the Apollo 11 Moon landing. I was about four years old and I watched it on a small black & white television, between the legs of the adults who attended the party my parents threw in celebration.

Almost forty years later, it may seem like we’ve always had a space program. Some kids, like my son, may take it for granted. This is why I’m so eager for you to see Suzanne Slade’s remarkable new book, Countdown: 2979 Days to the Moon.

In this gorgeously illustrated volume, award-winning writer Suzanne Slade reminds us of how daring and mind-blowing the Moon landing really was. Written in free verse, Countdown covers Apollo missions 1 through 11—from the day President Kennedy announced the goal of landing a man on the Moon within the decade, to the moment that Neil Armstrong took his first step on the surface of the Moon. It’s accompanied by stunning paintings from Thomas Gonzalez, illustrator of the New York Times bestseller 14 Cows for America.

And did I mention that Suzanne, in addition to being an author of more than one hundred books, is also a rocket engineer? No really! Before she began her writing career, she worked at McDonnell Douglas Space Systems on a number of projects, including the third stage of the Saturn V rocket, used in the Apollo missions.

Countdown is truly inspiring (I dare say it brought some in-house readers to tears)—but also brutally realistic about how much work, time, and sacrifice it takes to do something truly amazing. It’s a beautiful tribute to the four hundred thousand people who helped make the dream of a Moon landing a reality. I hope you enjoy it.

Kathy Landwehr
Vice President and Associate Publisher
Peachtree Publishers