Picture Books

Secrets of the Snow Globe (Science Makes It Work series)

A curious kid discovers how magnification and density make her favorite collectible possible.

After starting to collect snow globes with the help of her grandmother, Lily has questions. She wants to know who invented them, what the snow is made of, and how the tiny scenes look so magical when she peers inside. As she researches and experiments, Lily learns about light waves, magnification, and density—all while gathering ingredients to make her own snow globe.

The Wonder of Color (Science Makes It Work series)

An art contest inspires one young painter to learn about light waves, prisms, and the color wheel.

When Ms. Vega announces a mural painting contest at school, James can’t wait to design a picture to fill the library wall. But as he explores color, he has a lot of questions about where color comes from and how our eyes see it. As he experiments and reads, James learns about prisms, the color wheel, and light waves―all while working on his colorful contest entry.

Growing Food in the Garden (Science Makes It Work series)

A trip to the farmers market turns into a lesson on growing plants.

On a trip to the farmers market, Daniel discovers that there’s a lot he doesn’t know about plants. He sets off to learn everything he can, from how photosynthesis works to what role bees play in helping plants grow. Armed with this new knowledge, he decides to join the fun and put his plant-growing skills to the test at a local community garden. The results are yummy!

A Perfect Paper Plane (Science Makes It Work series)

A young scientist and her friends experiment to develop the ideal design for a paper airplane.

Gracie and her friend Victor want to make the perfect paper plane: one that will fly far without quickly crashing or veering off course. But just as they are starting to make big breakthroughs in their experiments, Victor gets injured and has to stay at home while he recovers. It’s up to Gracie to carry on the research and find a way to lift her friend’s spirits.

The Sound of a Guitar (Science Makes it Work series)

If I Were President

Imagine living in the White House, a mansion where you wouldn’t have to leave home to go bowling or see a movie! Imagine a chef to cook anything you like. “Two desserts tonight, Madam President. No problem!”

If you were president, you would work in the Oval Office, get help making decisions from people in your cabinet, and be in charge of the armed forces. The Secret Service would follow you everywhere, and Air Force One would carry you on trips, sometimes to other nations.

A multicultural cast of children imagines what it would be like to be president. Readers will be so caught up in the fun they won’t realize that the book is also an ingenious teaching device and discussion starter. A note about the presidency accompanies the story.

If I Ran for President

Imagine starring in commercials and traveling in your own campaign bus! Or seeing your face on bumper stickers and T-shirts!

If you ran for president, you would get to do these and other fun things, but you would also have to do a lot of hard work. You would study the nation’s problems, tell the American people about your platform, select a running mate, and debate your opponents on live television. Finally, in November, Election Day would arrive. You would keep your fingers crossed and wait for the results—will you be the next president of the United States?

A multicultural cast of children imagines what it would be like to run for president. The entertaining yet informative text is a good conversation starter for discussions on the election process. A note about this process accompanies the story. The author, Catherine Stier, is no stranger to politics—her previous book, If I Were President looked at the various responsibilities of the president. Lynne Avril’s cheerful illustrations perfectly complement the lively text.

A Vote Is a Powerful Thing

Callie knows there’s a presidential election coming up. Her class is having an election, too, about an issue that affects them all–the class field trip! She’s about to witness first-hand what a difference a vote can make – even a single vote – and along the way will find out about the election process and why people have fought for the right to vote throughout history. A great kids-eye look at the power of the vote.

Today on Election Day

The school gym is a polling place, and Bailey, Ren, David, Meg, Aiden, and Isabella know all about Election Day and voting! Bailey helped her Aunt Julia run for a seat on the city council. Aiden goes with his grandpa to vote. David’s brother Jake will be voting for the first time. Meg talks about how years ago, some citizens were not permitted to vote. A perfect picture book for future voters of America, Today on Election Day will simultaneously entertain and educate.

If I Were a Park Ranger

If you were a national park ranger, you’d spend each day in one of the most treasured places in America. You’d have an amazing job protecting animals, the environment, and our country’s natural and historical heritage, from the wilds of Denali to the Statue of Liberty!

When a Kid Like Me Fights Cancer

When a young child finds out he has cancer, he learns a lot right away. He learns that cancer is something you fight, and that cancer isn’t anyone’s fault—especially not his. He discovers that many things change with cancer, but some of the most important things stay the same. He also learns that having cancer is easier when everyone around him wants to help him fight.

Bugs in My Hair?!

When Alex spills milk on his football jersey and Morgan’s braid unravels, they both say, “These things happen.” But Ellie LaFleur, who is practically perfect, sniffs, “Not to me.” And it’s true. Ellie’s nails are always filed, her clothes are snazzy, and her long locks are lovely. So when Ellie’s head begins to itch, she’s sure it’s an allergy.

“BUGS IN MY HAIR?!” blurts Ellie when her mother and the school nurse give her the bad news: Ellie has head lice. “These things happen,” says Ellie’s mother. At home, Ellie and her mother talk to the doctor and read the papers from the school nurse. Then they shampoo, comb, and do laundry. Ellie even writes a note for kids who get head lice—“These things happen,” it says.

The author includes a note for concerned parents. Catherine Stier’s light look at this all-too-common problem is sure to strike the right note with stressed-out kids and families. Tammie Lyon’s humorous paintings complete this reassuring tale.

Barnaby the Bedbug Detective

Maybe I’m not the hero type. But I can dream. Sometimes I dream I’m a rescue dog, saving a child lost in the woods. Or a guide dog, helping a person who cannot see. Or a police dog, tracking sneaky robbers. But when I wake up, I must face the truth. It’s mostly big dogs who do those jobs. And I’m just Barnaby, a small mutt living in an animal shelter.

Barnaby has big dreams, but he finds his true calling when he’s adopted into a loving home and becomes a bedbug-sniffing dog—helping to find hidden bedbugs in hotels, on airplanes, in movie theaters, and even in people’s homes!

Turn to the last page of the book to meet an adorable, REAL-LIFE bedbug detective, Bernie!

What’s Bugging Nurse Penny? A Story About Lice

Nurse Penny is a fun and funky school nurse who wears honeybee earrings and a butterfly smock and carries a ladybug purse. But there’s one kind of bug she’d rather not have around. . .head lice! So she calls a special school assembly to talk about those pesky critters—what they look like, how to avoid them, and how to get rid of them. After all, lice can happen to anyone—even the school nurse!

Welcome to America, Champ!

Young Thomas celebrates as his widowed mother marries Jack, a kind American serviceman stationed in WWII England. But Thomas realizes someday he and Mum will move faraway to Jack’s home in America.

Once the war ends, Thomas is about to embark on a history-making event — the “Bride and Baby” voyages of 1946. Great ships are readied to transport tens of thousands of “soldier brides,” ladies from across Europe who, like his mother, married American servicemen. They will cross the Atlantic, crowded in small cabins with their babies and children, to awaiting husbands in the United States.

Thomas is excited to sail aboard the famous RMS Queen Mary. But is he brave enough to leave England — forever?

In this hope-filled WWII and immigration story, Stier and Ettlinger present an extraordinary historical event as experienced by one spirited boy from England.