“Cheerful… Charming…the story provides a positive look at two ways of acquiring a new pet.” —Kirkus Reviews

“A gentle first-person text accompanies the watercolor-and-pencil illustrations on soothing beige pages, which perfectly befit the reassuring, happy ending.” —Booklist

Parents’ Choice Recommended Award —Parents’ Choice Foundation, 2019

Kansas State Reading Circle Recommended Reading List (Primary) —Kansas National Education Association, 2020

Show Me Readers Award (Nominee) —Missouri Association of School Librarians, 2021-2022

South Carolina Picture Book Award (Nominee) —South Carolina Association of School Librarians, 2021-2022

Lisa Papp grew up telling stories. With a notebook full of sketches, her early tales featured her cat, stuffed animals, and other nature-y things. Today, Lisa is still making up stories and painting pictures, only now, they fill the pages of children’s books. She has received awards for both her writing and illustration, including a 2011 NAPPA Honor Award, 2012 Storytelling Award, and the 2013 PA Keystone to Reading Award. Lisa lives in Pennsylvania, with her husband, Robert, also an artist, and three wildly creative cats— to whom she does read. You can visit her website here.

“Hopkinson skillfully shapes Carter’s childhood, family history and formative experiences into a cohesive story.…the inclusion of notable figures from black history reinforces the theme (a key is in the backmatter). An important and inspiring tale well told.” ―Kirkus Reviews

“Young readers will be caught up in his story…. Quotes are seamlessly woven into the narrative, and a time line, list of sources, and bibliography add research appeal. Of special note are the illustrations, which include more than 40 portraits of black leaders… Their images and one-line biographies will pique further interest, making this a valuable resource for school and public libraries.” ―Booklist

“Thorough back matter… A charmingly illustrated picture book biography for elementary schoolers.” —School Library Journal

“Conversational… Delicately textured mixed-media illustrations…offer spare, stylized images…” —Publishers Weekly

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“Fascinating… Expressive artwork…” —Foreword Reviews

“This will be a go-to title for Black History Month, but a more meaningful tribute to the celebration’s founder will be a catalyst for further African-American studies throughout the year.” —Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Exemplary… This inspiring picture book combines a rich but focused text with clear, expressive mixed-media illustrations. It sheds light on an important, inspiring, but little-known subject, and the supplemental back matter gives weight to the exceedingly important takeaways that history must include all people, and that anyone can change history.” —Shelf Awareness

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Carter G. Woodson Book Award (Honor Book, Elementary)―National Council for the Social Studies, 2020

Eureka! Nonfiction Children’s Book Award Silver Honor ―California Reading Association, 2019

Social Justice Literature Award ―Literacy and Social Justice Special Interest Group, International Literacy Association, 2020

Parents’ Choice Silver Honor Award ―Parents’ Choice Foundation, 2019

Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People ―NCSS/CBC, 2020

Notable Children’s Books―ALSC, 2020

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Northern Lights Book Award (Biography) ―Northern Dawn Awards, 2019

Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book ―Chicago Public Library, 2019

Top 10 Books for Kids ―New York Public Library, 2019

Eloise Jarvis McGraw Award for Children’s Literature (Finalist) ―Literary Arts, 2020

Best Children’s Books of the Year (Starred) ―Bank Street College of Education, 2020

Children’s Crown Award (Nominee) ―National Christian School Association, 2020-2021

Delaware Diamonds (Nominee, 3-5) ―Diamond State Reading Association, 2020-2021

Great Kids Can Read Award  (Nominee) ―Greater Kansas City Assoc of School Librarians, 2021-2022

Kansas State Reading Circle Recommended Reading List (Intermediate) ―Kansas National Education Association, 2020

Louisiana Young Readers’ Choice Award (Nominee, Grades 3-5) ―State Library of Louisiana and Louisiana Center for the Book, 2021-2022

Oregon Spirit Book Award  (Honor, Nonfiction) ―Oregon Council of Teachers of English, 2019

Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Awards (Nominee, Grades K-3) ―Pennsylvania School Librarians Association, 2021-2022

Paterson Prize for Books for Young People (Honor Book) ―The Poetry Center at Passaic County Community College, 2020

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Deborah Hopkinson is the award-winning author of numerous critically acclaimed picture and chapter books, including Keep On!; Sweet Land of Liberty; Under the Quilt of Night; and Shutting Out the Sky: Life in the Tenements of New York 1880-1924. She lives in Oregon. You can visit her website here.

Don Tate is the illustrator of numerous critically acclaimed books for children. In 2013, he earned an Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Honor Award for his first picture book text, It Jes’ Happened: When Bill Traylor Started to Draw. You can visit  his website here.

“Imagery is presented in marvelous metaphors… Minter’s acrylic-wash prints soar… A warm, loving, necessary reminder of the power in families coming together.” —Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

“Minter’s illustrations, rendered in an acrylic wash, work in beautiful harmony with Lyons’s joyful portrait of a deeply loving multigenerational family. Carefully layered images, patterns, and textures reinforce the narrative links between family history, American history, ancestral land and nature, and the bonds of family… Readers will enjoy this moving celebration of familial love, history, and tradition. Highly ­recommended.” —School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW

“A lushly illustrated tribute to family history… Lyons’s image-rich prose and Minter’s powerful acrylics…convey a sense of historical struggle alongside cherished tradition while capturing the experience of performance jitters.” —Publishers Weekly

“Lyrical…a heartfelt story of family love, shared history, and connection to a place that binds everyone together.” —Booklist

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“Lyons’s text stands on its own so well that it begs to be read aloud — particularly by someone with the cadence of African American speech on her tongue. But when paired with Minter’s exquisite watercolor illustrations, new dimensions of the story unfold, offering visual affirmations of who this Black family is to one another and to their land.” —Michelle H. Martin, Calling Caldecott

“Geez, this is a gorgeous book. You just want to take out the pages and frame each and every one…. A true book of family should make you wish you, like the characters, never had to leave. Of course, by having this book in hand, you never have to…. Family rendered in its most beautiful light. A treasure in hand indeed.”— Betsy Bird, A Fuse #8 Production

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Randolph Caldecott Medal (Honor Book) —ALSC, 2020

North Carolina Author Awards (AAUW Award for Juvenile Literature) —North Carolina Literary & Historical Association, 2019

Capitol Choices Noteworthy Books for Children and Teens —Capitol Choices, 2020

Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People ―NCSS/CBC, 2020

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Notable Children’s Books―ALSC, 2020

Best Children’s Books of the Year ―Bank Street College of Education, 2020

CCBC Choices (Picture Books for School-Age Children) ―Cooperative Children’s Book Center, 2020

Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book ―Chicago Public Library, 2019

Best Book of 2019 ―Kirkus Reviews, 2019

Best Book of 2019 ―School Library Journal, 2019

Lupine Award  (Picture Book) ―Maine State Library Association, 2019

Georgia Children’s Picture Book Award (Finalist)―University of Georgia, 2021

Arkansas Diamond Primary Book Awards (Nominee)― Arkansas Department of Education, 2021-2022

North Carolina Children’s Book Award (Nominee, Picture books) ―North Carolina Reading Association, 2021

Star of the North Picture Book Award (Nominee) ―Minnesota Youth Reading Awards, 2020-2021

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Kelly Starling Lyons is the author numerous books for young readers including One More Dino on the Floor, Hope’s Gift, Ellen’s Broom, and the Jada Jones series. You can visit her website here.

Daniel Minter is a painter and illustrator, whose work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally. He is the illustrator of eleven books for children, including Step Right Up: How Doc and Jim Key Taught the World about Kindness and Ellen’s Broom, for which he received a Coretta Scott King Illustration Honor Award. You can visit his website here.

“Lighthearted and humorous… The two-tone illustrations, in orange and black, are comical and elevate Mr. Penguin’s antics and worries… The short chapters and riotous plot will easily win this series starter fans, especially among Inspector Flytrap devotees.” —Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

“Slapstick humor and satire combine to create lots of laughs. Memorable, quirky characters are depicted in detailed, intricate illustrations that add to the over-the-top comedy.… Fresh and funny, fans of the author’s “Claude” series will be delighted to meet Mr. Penguin and companions in this new series opener…” —School Library Journal

“Quirky, sharply illustrated… A plot twist and strategic pops of orange among detailed drawings are sure to pull readers along… For fans of the author’s Claude series who are looking for a longer chapter book.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Amusing… Mr. Penguin is delightful….whimsical and silly…a fun and funny adventure.” —Foreword Reviews

Best Children’s Books of the Year ―Bank Street College of Education, 2020

Cybils (finalist, Early Chapter Books) —Cybils, 2019

Top 10 Books for Kids —New York Public Library, 2019

Beehive Award (Children’s Fiction Nominee) —Children’s Literature Association of Utah, 2021

After briefly considering careers in space travel, cookery and being a rabbit, Alex T. Smith finally decided to become an illustrator. He graduated from Coventry University with a degree in Illustration and won second place in the Macmillan Prize for Children’s Illustration. Alex lives in England. You can visit his website here.

“With characteristic humor and carefully crafted language, poet Bulion offers readers amazing facts about birds of our world…. These engaging poems read aloud beautifully…. Meganck’s digital illustrations reflect the humorous tone…. Excellent resources for further bird study complete this delightful offering. Entertaining and educational, a superlative package.” —Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

“Fascinating facts… Meganck’s illustrations are one-dimensional and friendly, placing the birds against uncluttered backgrounds while clearly emphasizing the characteristic being highlighted by each poem.”—Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

“A “top of the class” example of combining two different subjects that are approachable and a joy to read. A win for science and English classrooms.” —School Library Journal

“Bulion is an accomplished wordsmith…. Illustration is engrossing, imaginative, instructive, and deftly calibrated to the tone of the text…there’s enough trivia here to stoke middle grade know-it-alls. Even readers who are merely on fact-finding missions, though, will be impressed by the breadth and engagement of Bulion’s chosen poetry forms…. In works such as Superlative Birds, the collaboration of poetry and science invites children of varying reading preferences, learning styles, and worldviews to enter nature study through their own chosen door.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, STARRED REVIEW

Notable Poetry Books and Verse Novels List —National Council of Teachers of English, 2020

Connecticut Book Award (Finalist, Young Readers: Picture Books) —Connecticut Center for the Book, 2020

Delaware Diamonds (Nominee, 3-5) ―Diamond State Reading Association, 2020-2021

Kansas State Reading Circle Recommended Reading List (Intermediate) ―Kansas National Education Association, 2020

Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Awards (Nominee, Grades 3-5) ―Pennsylvania School Librarians Association, 2021-2022

Leslie Bulion is the author of several children’s books, including Uncharted Waters, The Trouble With Rules, and Fatuma’s New Cloth, winner of the African Studies Association’s 2002 Children’s Africana Books. She lives in Connecticut. You can visit  her website here.

Designer and illustrator Robert Meganck is a professor of illustration, graphic design, digital imaging, and color theory at Virginia Commonwealth University.  He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Center for Creative Studies in Detroit, MI and an MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, MI.  He has received over 300 regional, national, and international awards for illustration and graphic design work. He lives in Virginia.

“Mortensen distills a very full life into a condensed but readable narrative for primary-grade children.… Children who hope to forge their own paths can take heart from this picture-book biography.” —Booklist

“Caldwell’s illustrations are clean and beautiful.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Mortensen writes in a precise, poetic manner… This volume captures the spirit of a woman who embraced new experiences and played by her own rules…” —Publishers Weekly

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“Biography enthusiasts will be inspired by [Bird’s] experiences and efforts to communicate them with others through writing.” —School Library Connection

“Sure to inspire the explorers of tomorrow…straightforward prose that has a poetic spark. Illustrator Kristy Caldwell’s clean, colorful depictions of faraway settings and remote locales bring wonderful immediacy to the story. The crux of this unforgettable tale is that if you can dream big and be brave, anything is possible.” —BookPage

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Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People —NCSS/CBC, 2020

Parents’ Choice Recommended Award —Parents’ Choice Foundation, 2019

A former high school dance teacher and sign language interpreter, Lori Mortensen is the award-winning author of over 100 books and over 500 stories and articles. You can visit her website here.

Kristy Caldwell received an MFA in Illustration from the School of Visual Arts. She lives in New York. You can visit her website here.

“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

Kathryn O. Galbraith is an award-winning children’s book author with more than a dozen picture books to her credit. She taught writing for children at the University of Washington. You can visit her website here.

A native of Venezuela, Adela Pons is a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design. She lives in Atlanta.

“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

Kathryn O. Galbraith is an award-winning children’s book author with more than a dozen picture books to her credit. She taught writing for children at the University of Washington. You can visit her website here.

A native of Venezuela, Adela Pons is a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design. She lives in Atlanta.

“The paintings draw viewers in with their warmth, charm, and accuracy…. This is ideal for storytimes…” ―School Library Journal

“Pre-school and primary-grade teachers will find this an attractive choice for units on mammals.” ―Booklist

“A quality book for introducing mammals, it is also well bound and worthy of addition to the young reader’s library.” ―NSTA Recommends

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“This is a successful book and is to be recommended for all children’s collections.” ―Science Books & Films

“I find this series to be a wonderful go to for boys and girls to get them more involved with nature and wildlife.” ―It’s About Time, MaMaw

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Cathryn Sill, a graduate of Western Carolina University, was an elementary school teacher for thirty years. She lives in North Carolina.

John Sill holds a BS in wildlife biology from North Carolina State University. Combining his knowledge of wildlife and artistic skill, John has achieved an impressive reputation as a wildlife artist and received several awards. He lives in North Carolina. You can visit his website here.

“Exceptionally detailed and uniformly accurate…the Sills succeed admirably.” ―School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW

“Fifteen exquisite, scrupulously accurate watercolors of birds in their habitats are captioned by a deceptively simple text…An excellent concept book that takes its young audience seriously while skillfully providing the basics of an important subject.” ―Kirkus Reviews

“The full-color illustrations by wildlife artist John Sill are so lifelike that one almost expects the birds to fly off the pages…a wonderful visual introduction…” ―Booklist

“An age-appropriate amount of text on each page is accompanied by beautiful, watercolor illustrations of each bird. More advanced readers and their mentors might appreciate the afterword, containing more detailed information on the birds depicted in the main body of the book.” ―NSTA Recommends

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“Older readers and parents will appreciate the four fact-filled pages at the back…” ―Ithaca Child

“Lovely picture books open the eyes, then the heart, and then the mind of the young child. This series takes the child up close to creatures and brings in words and illustrations, facts and knowledge while helping the child to gain an appreciation of the creature…I highly recommend these books…” ―Chat with Vera

“This is a gorgeous introduction to birds for readers 4 and up, with extra information for older readers contained in a handy and fascinating Afterward. The watercolor illustrations are accurate, vivacious and full of revealing details about the birds…Children will return again and again to this book and it will inspire them to look skyward.” ―My Daily Find

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Cathryn Sill, a graduate of Western Carolina University, was an elementary school teacher for thirty years. She lives in North Carolina.

John Sill holds a BS in wildlife biology from North Carolina State University. Combining his knowledge of wildlife and artistic skill, John has achieved an impressive reputation as a wildlife artist and received several awards. He lives in North Carolina. You can visit his website here.