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!

Stanley’s Fire Engine
by William Bee

It’s another busy day for Stanley and Peggy at the fire station! Fire fighters have to be ready for anything, so they gear up and keep their fire engine in tip-top condition. Oh no, Little Woo’s stuck in a tree! Don’t worry, the fire engine has a tall ladder that reaches as high as the branches. It also has long water hoses, ready to put out fires on this hot, sunny day. When you hear the CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! of the bell, get out of the way! This helpful hamster is on the job!

In this latest addition to the Stanley series, young readers get a fun first glimpse into a firefighter’s routine to learn about preparation and safety. Truck fans will love the gadgets and features of the bright red fire engine, illustrated in William Bee’s signature bold and detailed style. Stanley’s Fire Engine is a joy to read aloud and a perfect salute to our community helpers.

Learn more about fire safety with these helpful tips, and always be prepared like Stanley!

Visit the Stanley Fan Page to explore more Stanley picture and board books, meet the lovable characters, and download activities, recipes, and more! Join the Stanley Fan Club to keep up with the latest news for the hardest working hamster in the book business.

“It’s no wonder that young children, who crave stability in their lives, relate so strongly to the Stanley the Hamster picture-book series. Beyond their interest in Stanley’s daily activities, kids enjoy the well-structured lines and cheerful colors of the art as well as the steady, reassuring tone of the narrative. An enjoyable read-aloud choice, especially leading up to holidays involving fireworks.” —Booklist

“An adorable hamster, a fire engine, and fireworks: high preschooler appeal.” —Kirkus Reviews 

Find Stanley’s Fire Engine this August 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!

Nina Soni, Sister Fixer
Written by Kashmira Sheth
Illustrated by Jenn Kocsmiersky

Introducing the second title in the humorous Nina Soni series featuring a charming, distractible Indian-American girl, her notebook, “Sakhi,” and her family and friends.

It’s spring break for Nina, but the rain has her stuck inside, restless and hungry for a new project and aggravated with her little sister Kavita’s embarrassing behavior. When a fresh pile of dirt is delivered to the neighbor’s house for a landscaping project, inspiration strikes! Nina decides to enlist Kavita’s help in launching a grand engineering project in hopes that she can fix her silly sister and create something amazing at the same time. But in true Nina Soni fashion, Nina’s exciting new project doesn’t exactly go to plan, and she faces some unexpected consequences.

Readers are sure to relate to author Kashmira Sheth’s endearing Nina Soni and her slightly scatter-brained efforts to manage her life with lists, definitions, and real-life math problems. Fans of Nina Soni, Former Best Friend will love this new story of Nina’s misadventures with her family and friends, brought to life with Jenn Kocsmiersky’s endearing illustrations.

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.

“Sheth’s clear and distinctive narratorial voice effortlessly leads readers through the intricacies of Nina’s quirky, innocent world…. The children’s Indian heritage is cleverly woven into the storyline, infusing their lives without eclipsing their American identities.” —Kirkus Reviews

“As in the previous book, Nina’s appealing first-person narrative includes lists, which she uses to organize her thoughts, and definitions of words that interest her, but it’s her lively personality and refreshing candor that will endear her to readers.” —Booklist

Get your copy of Nina Soni, Sister Fixer 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!

Speed Demon
by Fred Bowen

Tim Beeman is an excellent athlete with incredible speed, but he is unsure whether he belongs on the football team or the track team. Although he knows that his mother, who died three years ago, didn’t approve of football, he can’t deny the fact his father would love to see his son out on the field. Plus, Tim is eager to fit in at his new school, and he knows the football team can help him quickly find new friends. Between attempting to please himself, his father, and his peers, Tim can’t figure out where he will feel most comfortable and be able to put his fast running skills to best use.

Tim struggles with his decision since he knows he could be a valuable addition to both the track and football teams. When Tim finally chooses a sport, he continues to wonder if he has made the right choice. Which team will put his talents to the best use and at the same time satisfy his own needs?

This new addition to author Fred Bowen’s Sports Story Series is filled with play-by-play action that’s sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats!

Check out the discussion guide, and find Speed Demon at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble this September!

Be on the lookout for the rest of our new Fall 2019 titles and those coming to Peachtree in paperback.

Spring Babies 

The babies are back! As the days start warming up and daylight gets longer, celebrate the wonder of blooming spring days and balmy summer afternoons with the fun-loving babies in the Babies in the Park board book series! From award-winning author Kathryn O. Galbraith and illustrator Adela Pons (our very own in-house graphic designer!) come the last two books in the series, featuring a set of energetic characters who love to play in the park all year long.

“Vibrant, jewel-tone artwork and simple texts are the hallmarks of these engaging introductions to the natural world… Upbeat and active early concept books for young explorers.” —School Library Journal

“With its companions, a sweet and cheery introduction to the seasons for the youngest readers.” —Kirkus Reviews

All four of the Babies in the Park board books celebrate their respective seasons with bright, inviting color palates and talk of typical seasonal activities  and outdoor occurrences, such as rainy days and dandelions, butterflies and bees.

Spirited, rhyming text coupled with colorful, graphic art help to introduce early concepts such as shapes, numbers, and repetition, while also encouraging an appreciation for nature and imaginative play. Each board book makes for a great stand-alone read, but when the books are looked at side-by-side, readers can see the familiar park landscape change according to each season.

For fun activity suggestions and inspiration for seasonal outdoor play, check out our Babies in the Park activity sheets for spring and summer, as well as for autumn and winter. You’ll find fun ideas for celebrating the wonder of each and every season!

Curious about how illustrator Adela Pons created the beautiful artwork for the whole series? Check out the feature, “From the Sketchbook: Adela Pons” from Children’s Book Council!

Get your copies of Spring Babies and Summer Babies on Amazon or at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble!

Everyone’s favorite hardworking hamster is back, and this time he’s a teacher! Stanley’s School sees the return of the beloved cast of familiar characters (along with some new friends) for William Bee’s seventh title in the fun-filled picture book series.

Readers will love the vibrant colors, dynamic illustrations, and engaging story as Stanley and the class explore everyday activities at school. Stanley and Hattie have a busy day planned for Little Woo, Sophie, and Benjamin as they enjoy story time, painting, and playing pretend. Young readers will likely recognize some of their own favorite preschool classroom activities. From the moment Hattie rings the morning bell until the students head home on the blue school bus, Stanley’s School highlights the true excitement and fun of learning. Fans of Stanley will also be familiar with his regular nighttime routine of supper, bath, and bed, and get to continue saying “Goodnight” to their favorite hamster.

“Order, balance, and contentment seem fundamental to the charm of the amiable series for young children…. A pleasing addition to this popular series.” —Booklist

“Stanley the hamster welcomes a cast of preschool rodents to his school as they enjoy a day of fun and learning together…. Bee isn’t afraid to break gender stereotypes… Fans of the gentle hamster will want to know: What occupation will Stanley tackle next?” —Kirkus Reviews

But the fun isn’t over with Stanley! Head on over to the Stanley Fan Page, where you can find information about the picture book and board book series as well as author-illustrator William Bee, and also download fun activity sheets.

And don’t forget to sign up for the Stanley e-newsletter, where you will receive exclusive Stanley content for Stanley’s School and upcoming announcements before anyone else!

Have you ever noticed the sound of persistent pecking on your house or a nearby tree? About Woodpeckers written by Cathryn Sill and illustrated by John Sill gives young readers a first look at the fascinating and surprisingly diverse world of woodpeckers.

In this newest addition to the About… series, author Cathryn Sill provides information about the common characteristics of these special birds and offers details about how and why they use their beaks to drill and peck at hard surfaces. With the help of beautifully detailed illustrations from noted wildlife instructor John Sill, About Woodpeckers brings 19 different species of woodpeckers to life. An afterword, glossary, and list of resources provide more details about the woodpeckers portrayed in the illustrations. From depicting their various habitats to the kinds of materials that each type of bird likes to peck, this informative read is sure to capture the interest of all curious young minds and budding birders.

“Transports the reader directly into the lives of these amazing forest carpenters…the images are worthy of framing. A delightful read.”
—Stephen A. Shunk, author of the Peterson Reference Guide to Woodpeckers of North America

Take a peek at some of the beautifully detailed illustrations below, and don’t forget to check out the About… series page for more books in this award-winning series and the series Teacher’s Guide for ideas on how to use the information in the classroom!

Is it having a snowball fight?

Is it skiing gracefully as snow falls?

Is it entering snowman-building competitions?

Look! Claude thinks he knows. Yes, Claude?

Oh! Of course!

The magic is in spending time with the people (and socks) you love.

We hope you’ll spend this December sharing Claude & Sir. B’s wintry adventure with the little people close to your heart. To help you do just that, Claude on the Slopes is the December #FreeBookFriday! Enter below!

 

Claude and his best friend Sir Bobblysock go to the Snowy Mountains to swish down the powdery slopes. They throw snowballs, learn to ski, and enter a snow-sculpture contest. But when an avalanche threatens their winter wonderland, Claude must come to the rescue.own the powdery slopes. They throw snowballs, learn to ski, and enter a snow-sculpture contest. But when an avalanche threatens their winter wonderland, Claude must come to the rescue.

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