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!

Nina Soni, Master of the Garden
by Kashmira Sheth
illustrated by Jenn Kocsmiersky

Everyone’s favorite Indian-American middle grade series star Nina Soni returns in the newest laugh-out-loud addition to the award-winning, relatable Nina Soni series! Nina’s done science experiments and school projects, and she’s come up with elaborate plans (that don’t always work out), and now she’s back to become a master of the garden!

It’s Take Your Child to Work Day, and Nina, Kavita, and Jay are all going to work with Mom, a landscape architect, to learn how to start a garden. At first, everything goes according to plan, but soon enough, unwelcome bugs, slugs, and rabbits and some screechy singing ukulele-playing from her little sister quickly derail Nina’s plans to grow enough tasty veggies to start her own vegetable-selling business. Through trial and error—and a few mosquito bites—Nina, Kavita, and Jay learn how to care for their gardens and, of course, make some delicious meals with what they’ve grown to share with friends and family.

Just in time for Earth Day reading and planning spring gardens, this third installment in the Nina Soni series is sure to be a fan favorite with STEAM enthusiasts and young bookworms looking to test out their green thumbs. From Own Voices author Kashmira Sheth, Nina Soni, Master of the Garden will make the perfect addition to diverse book collections.

Get to know Kashmira Sheth and her inspiration for Nina Soni, Former Best Friend—the first title in the series—with our author Q&A, and use this discussion guide to answer fun questions about food, family, and the power of friendship.

Mars Is
Stark Slopes, Silvery Snow, and Startling Surprises
by Suzanne Slade

Think you know Mars? Think again!

Have you ever wondered about life on Mars? Do you imagine there could be deserts or volcanoes just like we have here on Earth? What if people could actually live there someday? You’re not alone! For centuries, people have been intrigued by the mysterious Red Planet, and over time, scientists have made some exciting discoveries. For example, Mars experiences Earth-like weather and seasons! But curious humans still want to know more.

And so NASA’s HiRISE (High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment) camera came to be. Scientists loaded this powerful camera onto a rocket on August 12, 2005, and seven months later, it began orbiting Mars. Thanks to this incredibly advanced camera, we now have stunningly detailed photographs that can show the world what Mars really is: buried bedrock, stark slopes, mighty mesas, and more amazing than anyone ever imagined!

Join award-winning author and former mechanical engineer Suzanne Slade (Countdown: 2979 Days to the Moon, A Computer Called Katherine) for a remarkable exploration of the striking beauty of Mars. This timely, photo-packed space extravaganza is a visual feast perfect for space enthusiasts, STEAM fans, and young readers following NASA’s Mars Exploration Program who can’t wait to see what future discoveries made on the extraordinary Red Planet may hold.

Start exploring the Red Planet below, and read an excerpt!

Your mission to Mars begins April 1st when Mars Is arrives at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble. And don’t forget to check out the rest of our brand-new picture books and middle grade and YA titles coming to Peachtree this season!

Spi-Ku
A Clutter of Short Verse on Eight Legs
by Leslie Bulion
illustrated by Robert Meganck

We’ve met tiny critters living in the leaf litter layer, soared with the best and brightest denizens of the bird world, and bounced along with the lively participants of the amphibian acrobat show. Now, dive back in to the entertaining world of science poetry with Spi-Ku, a humorous exploration of the silk-spinning, bungee-jumping, hunting, trapping, trick-filled world of spiders!

Meet spitting spiders spinning prey-pinning silk, scuba diving spiders donning snazzy silver bubbles, bulky, burrowing, trap-setting spiders, and so much more. Watch as the Tiger Wandering Spider attracts mates with her perfumed silk trail, or perhaps hitch a ride with some Dock Spider eggs as they travel in their mother’s jaws. Award-winning author and master of science poetry Leslie Bulion’s clutter (a collective noun for spiders) of Haiku and other short poems pairs wonderfully with Robert Meganck’s humorous illustrations to celebrate the amazing attributes of Araneae.

Read on for helpful sidebars, call-outs, and backmatter, including a glossary of science terms, notes about the poetic forms, a list of common and scientific names, a spider-hunting adventure how-to, resources for further study, and a relative-size chart. This must-read is sure to entertain little scientists, young animal fans, and lovers of all things with eight legs!

See more of these fascinating creatures in this excerpt, and the eight-legged fun never has to end with this teacher’s guide.

Explore more science poetry from Leslie Bulion!

“Cheerfully illustrated… As always, Bulion uses both evocative vocabulary and a variety of poetic forms; these are chosen with care and defined in the backmatter… Engaging and information rich, this is wonderfully well woven.” —Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

“Notes on poetic form are on hand for readers who gravitate to the “A” in their STEAM curriculum, but the verses are also effective as mnemonic devices…teasing wordplay…and wry Gorey-esque bait for the spider grossout fans… Meganck’s digital artwork balances light-hearted cartooning with reliably detailed anatomical drawing.” —Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Book

Find Spi-Ku spinning onto a bookshelf near you this March at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble, and be sure to check out the rest of our brand-new picture books and middle grade and YA titles coming to Peachtree this season!

Bird Show
by Susan Stockdale

Take your seats, nestle in—the Bird Show is about to begin!

In a flurry of feathers, the world’s most spectacular birds don their best suits, gowns, scarves, and headdresses in a fabulous fashion show! Speckled, striped, and multicolored, these birds know a thing or two about high fashion. Marvel at the elegant Great Egret in its milky-white lace skirt, and meet the Northern Flicker, dazzling in its dotted vest! Just like people, each bird has unique characteristics, and their diversity makes our world a more beautiful place. With clever comparisons between feather patterns and human clothing, budding birders and future fashionistas will cheer for these stylish models.

Susan Stockdale, award-winning author-illustrator of Fabulous Fishes, Stripes of All Types, Fantastic Flowers, and more delivers another vibrant picture book with an original take on nature nonfiction. Stockdale’s bold color palette, striking portraits, and rhyming text will engage young readers as they learn fascinating facts about 18 familiar and exotic birds. An afterword provides further information about each species’ plumage, behavior, and location, in addition to an entertaining matching game. Bird Show is one delightful display you won’t want to miss!

Take a VIP look at the feathered fashion models in this excerpt!

Susan Stockdale gives a peek into her illustration process for Bird Show in this video!

“With a brief text and clearly delineated, vibrant artwork that shows up well from a distance, this book is a natural for reading aloud during preschool or primary-grade bird units.” —Booklist

“The clever comparisons suggest a new way to see and remember these species….smoothly written couplets… A posh performance to read aloud or alone.” —Kirkus Reviews

Bird Show makes its dazzling debut this March at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble, and be sure to check out the rest of our brand-new picture books and middle grade and YA titles coming to Peachtree this season!

Stan Steiner, PhD was called the Bookman by his students due to his vast knowledge of children’s literature. He was a K-5 elementary teacher for 15 years prior to his professorship at Boise State University, where he teaches courses on children’s and young adult literature. Stan has written and co-authored many articles about children’s literature and education and a book, P is for Potato: An Idaho Alphabet, with his wife Joy. 

Joy Steiner, MA Early Childhood Education, is a former preschool teacher and school librarian. She has traveled extensively as a professional storyteller and enjoys writing original nature tales.

Oh, the wonder!  Oh, the joy!  Oh, the thrill of discovery!

Few things are as powerful as sharing books and adventures with young children. Curiosity is awakened in the outdoor world, prompting questions and rich language exchanges with young learners.  Nonfiction books are an essential part of the experience, expanding and increasing the learning.

We strapped our baby daughter into her piggyback backpack, fastened her wide brim hat, and took to the high mountain air.  We talked and sang along the way, while she bounced happily, and upon our destination, snuggled close to the edge of a crystal clear alpine lake.  Small brook trout flashed in the water.  “Look!  Fish,” we exclaimed.  “See the fish?”  After returning home, we bundled our little one for bed and read a board book with large fish pictures and just a few words (try Stockdale’s, Fabulous Fishes or Sill’s About Fish).  The next evening, our baby pronounced her very first word.  We were sharing tiny bites of fish and vegetables in her bowl; behind her, colorful carved fish hung from our apartment ceiling.  She turned around in her high chair, pointed to the hanging fish, and said, “Ish?”  She was barely nine months old.

Nonfiction books inspire scientific explorations close to home, as well.  Our growing preschooler and her new brother witnessed a miracle in our backyard rose bush.  After reading The Ladybug by Gallimard Jeunesse (also read Curious About Insects, Sill and A Place For Butterflies, Stewart), we discovered the striking appearance of ladybug larvae and searched for them in our yard.  There they were, devouring aphids in the rose bush.  To our amazement, a larva stopped, glued itself to a leaf, and squeezed sticky bug juice from its backside.  The goo hardened into a pupa and our young scientists patiently observed the changes.  Ten days later, we held magnifying glasses and watched a tiny set of mandibles chew through the pupa, struggle to push out, and emerge as a glistening yellow beetle.  The sun dried the new ladybug, yellow darkened to orange, and spots appeared.  We were in awe.

Later, Joy taught preschool children with developmental delays.  One three year old came to school with no language.  He enjoyed playing with friends, but communicated with facial expressions, physical action, roars, engine sounds, and laughter.  By chance, Joy’s co-teacher discovered the boy loved horses.  They transformed the classroom into a ranch with horse pictures and toys, cowboy hats, boots, a saddle, and piles of horse books (try Touch and Feel Ponies and The Everything Book of Horses and Ponies, published by Dorling Kindersley).  They read one on one with the boy, making sure he focused on the clear pictures and repeating the words.  The highlight of the horse study was a trip to a working ranch to watch cowboys skillfully guide their horses as they cut and culled the cattle.  In the weeks that followed, Joy overheard the boy and his friends as they mounted the imaginary horse in the dramatic play area.  He was telling them to, “Hold on!  Sit saddle!  Go!

Real life experiences teamed with realistic pictures and clear text in nonfiction board books encourage literacy in young children.  Embark on outdoor discovery adventures with little ones.  Prepare to be surprised by wonder.

Curious About Insects
by Cathryn Sill
illustrated by John Sill

Insects are fascinating and often misunderstood creatures, and no two species are exactly alike. Some insects come out during the day, and others come out at night. Some get their food from plants while the peskier insects find food in your pantry! From the author and illustrator team that brought you the acclaimed About… series, Curious About Insects introduces the youngest readers to the diverse world of insects through basic facts about what they look like, where they live, what they eat, and how they move.

This new addition to the Discovering Nature board book series provides early opportunities to compare, contrast, and observe physical and behavioral patterns in nature. Educator and author Cathryn Sill’s simple vocabulary and wildlife illustrator John Sill’s realistic portrayals of insects and their habitats are perfect for young outdoors enthusiasts learning to describe what they see outside the classroom and in their own backyard. From the helpful Honeybee to the beautiful Luna Moth, the variety of fascinating creatures introduced is sure to captivate bug buffs and little explorers alike.

Meet some of our six-legged friends in this excerpt.

Discover the Sills’ About… and About Habitats picture book series for more educational opportunities, perfect for young nature enthusiasts.

Praise for About Insects

“In image and text the Sills succeed in conveying a great deal of information at a very basic reading level. Excellent classroom or pleasure reading for science and nature fans and for any beginning readers drawn to nonfiction.” —Booklist

Look for Curious About Insects this March at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble, and be sure to check out the rest of our brand-new picture books and middle grade and YA titles coming to Peachtree this season!

We asked Mary Batten about her inspiration and writing process for Life in a Frozen World, a stunning new nonfiction resource perfect for an informative introduction to climate change.

Q: What inspired you to write this story? How did you first get involved with The Cousteau Society and explorer Jacques Cousteau’s campaign to protect Antarctica?

A: I was working as editor of the Society’s membership magazine, Calypso Log, during the late 80s and early 90s when Captain Cousteau led the Society in launching a campaign to protect Antarctica from mineral exploitation. As editor of Calypso Log, it was my responsibility to report on The Cousteau Society’s campaigns and missions. The emphasis of this campaign was to protect this pristine continent for future generations. As part of the campaign we launched a children’s petition to protect Antarctica and obtained signatures on petitions from tens of thousands of children all over the world. To further dramatize that goal, the Society mounted a special expedition. Captain Cousteau took six children—one from each of the other continents—to Antarctica. He asked me to go as a kind of mother figure for the children. I was honored that he asked me and was looking forward to this expedition adventure, but I developed pleurisy a few weeks before departure date and was unable to go. I was devastated not to be able to take part in this expedition—a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. As the photos and film footage came back to the U.S., I saw what an incredible opportunity I had missed and became fascinated with everything I was seeing and learning about the frozen continent and its importance to the planet. This book is my “virtual journey” to Antarctica.

Q: What about Antarctica interests you the most?

A: Everything about Antarctica interests me, but its profound impact on global sea level, weather, and climate interests me most. Here is a frozen continent at the bottom of the Earth, seemingly so far away, but its impact touches life everywhere.

Q: One of the main themes in this book is climate change and how it’s affecting creatures living in this particular environment. Why do you think this is such an important issue to discuss, especially with younger readers?

A: Climate change is real. More than a hundred years of science supports it, and accelerating rising seas and melting ice packs from the Arctic to Antarctica are already affecting global climate and sea level in coastal areas. In 2019, the World Health Organization predicted that climate change would kill more than 250,000 people each year. Already, people, referred to as “climate refugees,” are having to move as sea-level rise makes their homes unlivable. This issue is especially important to discuss with young readers because they will inherit the conditions left to them by the older generation. Young Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg led mass demonstrations with young people around the world, demanding that their leaders take more aggressive actions to combat climate change. In many cases, the young people are more educated and concerned than some of the so-called “leaders” who deny climate change is happening, claim it’s a hoax, and support the fossil fuel industry rather than alternative energy.

Q: What was your research process like?

A: I watched many films about Antarctica, including the old Cousteau expedition to Antarctica and videos taken by scientists doing current research in Antarctica. I interviewed scientists working in Antarctica and read books and articles reflecting recent research. My favorite part of the research is speaking with and/or emailing scientists because they’re the ones on the ground or, in the case of Antarctica, under the water, gathering information on animals and plants and their behavior. It’s their work that gives us knowledge about Antarctica, and I’m grateful to everyone who generously took the time to speak with me and answer my questions.

Q: How did your experience with writing nature documentaries for television contribute to the development of this book?

A: I think visually. When you write a nature film, you are working with the visual material—the footage. There’s interplay between the film’s narration and the images. The same is true when writing a picture book. Words and images must support each other, not just repeat each other. When writing a film, the first 30 seconds, called the “tease,” are the most important because they will either hook the viewer or they will switch to another channel. The first page, the first paragraph of a picture book functions in the same way as a film’s “tease.” I want to hook the reader so they will persist in reading the book all the way through. So I use some film-writing techniques in crafting a picture book text. And then, just as a film writer works with the film editor when narration and visuals are put together, my wonderful editor, Vicky Holifield, and I work together once the book’s designer flows Thomas’ illustrations into the page layout and we see what adjustments need to be made in order to achieve the best visual presentation of the whole book. Sometimes I have to cut some of the text to avoid a visually crowded page. Each page has to be pleasing to the eye as well as stimulating to the brain. The illustrations are key to whether a person will pick up the book in a bookstore or when browsing online. The illustrator’s images are as important as a film’s footage in selling the book.

Q: How did you react when you first saw Thomas Gonzalez’s illustrations? What do you like most about his art style?

A: WOW! I’m thrilled with Thomas’ illustrations. His larger-than-life style makes for visual impact. The scenic illustrations are spectacularly beautiful, and the illustrations of different species are accurate and bring my words to life. I feel fortunate indeed that Thomas is the illustrator for this book as well as the next one.

Q: What’s one thing you had to omit from the final version of the book that you wish you could have included?

A: We had to leave out a lot of details about how scientists work on the ice to obtain ice cores and what the cores tell about the history of climate on Earth.

Q: What’s the most interesting thing you learned in your research for Life in a Frozen World?

A: There’s no one most interesting thing. The adaptations that some animals have evolved for life in this frigid world are particularly fascinating—such as the ice fish’s natural antifreeze that prevents its blood from freezing solid, the food chain’s dependence on tiny krill, the effect of melting glaciers on penguins in West Antarctica, the “forest” of plants growing underwater. Everything about Antarctica is interesting, and I hope readers will finish this book with excitement. Maybe some of them will want to become scientists who study this remarkable continent.

Q: What was your favorite species to write about in this book?

A: The tiny crustaceans called krill and the ice fish.

Q: What is the most important thing you want readers to take away from this book?

A: That what happens to Antarctica’s ice affects not only the animals that live in Antarctica but also creatures, including humans, in every other place on Earth. Antarctic species need the ice to survive and so do we in order to keep our planet livable.

Hear from six kid lit authors whose books about animal habitats, human environments, and ecological changes are just one part of their expertise and one piece of their contributions to protect the earth’s environment. Each author shares their top tip on what individuals can do to combat the negative effects of climate change.

Mary Batten, author of Life in a Frozen World:

“Plastic is one of the worst environmental pollutants of both land and sea. Plastic debris has even reached Antarctica. The problem with plastic is that it is not biodegradable. Some plastic trash may last for a hundred years in the environment. Plastic that ends up in the ocean is broken down into tiny particles by sunlight and wave action. These microparticles are eaten by fish, seabirds and other marine animals and passed along in the food chain. One of the most important things you can do is to help your family reduce the amount of plastic that they use. Plastic water bottles make up a huge amount of plastic waste. Use sport water bottles instead of plastic water bottles. Take cloth bags to the grocery store. Use glass containers to store leftover food. Cover food with foil or wax paper instead of plastic wrap. Recycle plastic containers and bottles. Look for containers and food coverings made of recyclable materials.”

Melissa Stewart, author of the A Place for… series:

“A wildlife garden can provide birds, butterflies, and other small creatures in your community with everything they need to survive. The workers at a local garden center can help you choose native plants that provide cover and produce food, such as nectar, berries, and seeds, from spring to early autumn. Your garden will also need a water supply, such as a bird bath. As the garden grows, keep track of the creatures who visit it. Are there ways you can improve it to attract even more animals?”

Sandra Markle, author of Toad Weather:

“I value frogs and toads for all they do for us:

Eating lots of insects like mosquitoes and flies that would otherwise become pests.

Being food for lots of animals, such as birds, snakes, foxes, and some fish like pike and bass.

Plus they are just plain cool. Like the fact that they have a sticky tongue attached to the inside front of their mouth and it rolls out in less than a second to snag a bug. Or that to swallow their eyes sink to push food down their throat.

So how can YOU help frogs and toads? It’s easy! Join me in taking care of the Earth. Do all you can to Reduce, Recycle, and Reuse. Frogs need places to live and they need both clean land areas and clean water. So, helping to reduce the amount of land spoiled by becoming a landfill and reducing how many waste items and polluting liquids run into ponds, lakes, and streams is KEY. You can do it! YOU can make a difference. Now, HOP TO IT!”

Cathryn Sill, author of the About Habitats series: 

“Many children are familiar with the 3 Rs of protecting the environment: reduce, reuse and recycle. Another thing kids can do is reduce waste by precycling. This is a way of protecting the environment by stopping waste before it happens. Some simple examples of precycling include bringing your own bags when shopping, having a reusable water bottle, using fewer disposable items, and buying items that use the least amount of packaging.”

Bill Harley, author of Night of the Spadefoot Toads:

“Young people are in the forefront of fighting to protect the environment and turn the tide, and my advice is to find some people locally active in groups like the Sunrise Movement (https://www.sunrisemovement.org/) But just as important is to get outside – find people in your community who know nature and hang out with them – teachers, Audubon Society, nature centers, etc. For me, one of the overwhelming, mysterious truths is that, despite our carelessness the planet cares for us and we become aware of that if we pay attention. Knowing the birds and trees and rivers and land around us makes us care more for the Earth. Becoming familiar with the natural world right outside your door is as important as watching a documentary. We have to feel this caring in our bodies, not just our heads. And if you’re thinking about books, get some pocket field guides of birds, trees, insects and animals you can carry with you when you step outside your door.”

Sneed Collard, author of Flash Point:

“There are so many things we can each do to help protect the planet, but one that is too often ignored is to keep all cats indoors. As adorable as they are, cats are killers. It’s not their faults. That’s just how they evolved. Bells, special collars, and other things do not work to keep them from killing birds, reptiles, and small mammals. Scientists estimate outside cats and feral cats kill between one and two billion birds each year. That is a tremendous toll—and one cat owners can easily do something about, so if you have a cat, talk to your parents about the problem, and help protect our planet’s wonderful wildlife.”

Life in a Frozen World
Wildlife of Antarctica
by Mary Batten
illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez

Picture Antarctica: intensely cold, windy, and dry with ice as far as the eye can see. But if you look a little closer, you’ll find a bustling ecosystem with dense seaweed forests, upside-down fields of algae, and fascinating creatures that have evolved over millions of years to survive in this extreme environment. But what does this continent at the bottom of the world have to do with us, and how do our actions affect the amazing organisms that call this frozen habitat their home?

In conditions too harsh even for human survival, these resilient creatures have a few tricks to withstand freezing temperatures. Icefish produce a natural antifreeze so their blood doesn’t freeze, and their lack of scales allows them to absorb oxygen straight through their skin! And did you know that penguins spread an oil over their dense feathers to keep them waterproof? From the smallest microorganism and shrimplike krill to the magnificent blue whale, every species plays a special role in the food chain to keep the ecosystem in balance. But scientists have noticed worrisome changes over the past decades. Will the icefish, whose bodies are made especially for cold temperatures, be able to survive in a warmer climate? And where will penguins go when their icy breeding grounds have melted?

Award-winning nature writer Mary Batten and New York Times bestselling illustrator Thomas Gonzalez pose these important questions as they take readers on a guided tour of Antarctica. Gonzalez’ stunning illustrations will incite wonder and awe at the beauty of this mysterious continent, and Batten’s urgent message of conservation is an ideal introduction to climate change for young readers and budding scientists. Backmatter includes a map of Antarctica and its surrounding seas, a glossary, ten interesting facts about the discovery and exploration of the continent, and an inspiring author’s note to inspire the next generation of activists.

Take a peek inside this important new nonfiction picture book below, and see more in this excerpt.

Author Mary Batten shares her passion for Antarctica and inspiration for the book in this author Q&A.

Don’t forget to download the comprehensive teacher’s guide for in-depth classroom instruction, perfect for introducing students to climate change.

“Informative…fascinating… The text makes a compelling case for understanding and caring about Antarctica. Gonzalez’s illustrations provide an intriguing depiction of the setting…. A superb choice for students who are studying animal adaptation and how climate change impacts Antarctica. The well-researched text and captivating illustrations work well to convey the importance of conservation.” —School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW

“Descriptions are clear, concise, and interesting… [Batten’s] text is relatively substantial for a picture book, and it’s set against a backdrop of gorgeous Antarctic scenes created by Gonzalez.…the scenery is magnificent…. Sobering news in a handsome package.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Thomas Gonzalez’s watercolor illustrations are lively and precise, helping to make this an enchanting, educational introduction to Antarctica’s biodiversity.” —Foreword Reviews

Find Life in a Frozen World this November at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble. And don’t forget to check out the rest of our brand-new Fall 2020 titles as well as our picture books and middle grade titles coming to Peachtree this season in paperback!