Special Collections
Summer Fun for Emerging Readers
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Zoom at Sea
by Tim Wynne-Jones and Eric BeddowsThis fanciful nautical adventure stars a winsome cat named Zoom who stays indoors paddling in the sink or sailing in the bathtub all night when other self-respecting cats are out mousing and howling at the moon. One day Zoom finds in his Uncle Roy's diary a map of the sea and how to get there, which leads him to the huge house of the beautiful Maria. When, with the turn of a large wheel, mysterious Maria launches him on a wonderful sea voyage, the first of Zoom’s adventures begins.
Yoshi, Sea Turtle Genius
by Lynne CoxIn this picture book that is both heartwarming and exciting, join Yoshi, a sea turtle, on her remarkable journey as she swims farther than any animal in recorded history—23,000 miles!—to return to the beach where she first hatched, to lay her own eggs.
Inside every loggerhead turtle is genius: the ability to find their first home, no matter how far away. Follow one, from her birth on a beach in Australia…to her trip across an ocean filled with sharks and seahorses and much more…to her rescue from a net by a fisherman, who names her Yoshi…to her rehabilitation at an aquarium…to her record-breaking swim across the Indian Ocean to the beach on which she hatched, to lay her eggs.
Written by Lynne Cox, also a record-breaking swimmer, here is the true story of a sea turtle who swam the longest distance of any animal in recorded history.
Words Are Magic!
by Zaila Avant-gardeScripps National Spelling Bee champ Zaila Avant-garde shares her love of words with new readers in this level 1 Step Into Reading book.Words are magic! Have you heard? Pick a letter. Make a word! New readers will find joyful encouragement in this level 1 easy reader that sings out about the magic of words. Encouraging kids to mix words, match words, shout and rap words, Scripps National Spelling champ Zaila Avante-garde takes readers along on a noisy and boisterous celebration of letters, sounds, and reading. It's the perfect first step for new readers, full of fun and energy, from one of America's most exciting and unique young voices. Step 1 Readers feature big type and easy words for children who know the alphabet and are eager to begin reading. Rhyme and rhythmic text paired with picture clues help children decode the story.Also available by Zaila Avant-garde:Words of Wonder from Z to AIt's Not Bragging If It's True
What This Story Needs Is a Pig in a Wig
by Emma J. VirjánWhat this story needs is a pig in a wig, on a boat in a moat with a frog, a dog, and a goat on a log...
As a panda in a blouse, a skunk on a trunk, and more hop on board, it becomes clear that what this story really needs is a bigger boat! Join Pig on an exciting boat ride as she discovers that life is more fun with friends in this fantastic, funny read-aloud about friendship.
We Are Water Protectors
by Carole LindstromInspired by the many Indigenous-led movements across North America, We Are Water Protectors issues an urgent rallying cry to safeguard the Earth’s water from harm and corruption―a bold and lyrical picture book written by Carole Lindstrom and vibrantly illustrated by Michaela Goade. Water is the first medicine. It affects and connects us all . . . When a black snake threatens to destroy the Earth And poison her people’s water, one young water protector Takes a stand to defend Earth’s most sacred resource.
The Very Noisy Night
by Diana HendryLittle Mouse keeps Big Mouse awake with his worries about nighttime noises.
Big Mouse offers him earmuffs, but the quiet only makes Little Mouse feel lonely.
By morning, both mice are sound asleep in Big Mouse's bed.
The Underdogs Catch a Cat Burglar
by Kate Temple and Jol Temple&“The Underdogs will have young readers HOWLING with laughter, SNIFFING for clues, and BARKING with delight.&” —Andrew McDonald and Ben Wood, creators of the Real Pigeons series Perfect for fans of comical animal do-gooders like The Bad Guys, The InvestiGators, and The Chicken Squad, this hilarious chapter book series follows a group of bumbling dog detectives and their newest recruit—a cat! In this first case, the Underdogs are hot on the tail of a cat burglar.Crime is on the rise in Dogtown, and it&’s all thanks to a mysterious cat burglar! They&’ve stolen everything from handbags to ham sandwiches, and nobody has been able to catch them. Now The Underdog Detective Agency is on the case . . . but as their name might suggest, they aren&’t exactly the best sleuths in town. Barkley and the other dogs at the agency have been in a bit of a slump, but this latest case could turn it all around. So to catch this menacing cat burglar, they may have to do the unthinkable and hire their first-ever cat detective. Enter Fang, a street-smart, one-eyed feline and the newest member of the team. Being a cat in a dog&’s world isn&’t easy, but Fang is determined to prove she&’s got what it takes. Will Fang and Barkley be able to work together to solve the case and help make Underdogs the top dogs once again? You&’ll have to read to find out in this paws-itively hilarious mystery!
Toot & Puddle
by Holly HobbieIt's a glorious day in Woodcock Pocket. The sun is shining, the birds are singing . . . and Toot is moping.
Telephone
by Jen Corace and Mac BarnettIt's time to fly home for dinner!
In this witty picture book from award-winning and bestselling author Mac Barnett, a mother bird gives the bird next to her a message for little Peter.
But passing messages on a telephone line isn't as simple as it sounds. Each subsequent bird understands Mama's message according to its own very particular hobbies.
Will Peter ever get home for dinner?
This uproarious interpretation of a favorite children's game will get everyone giggling and is sure to lead to countless rereads.
The Storm Whale
by Benji DaviesNoi and his father live in a house by the sea. Noi's father works hard as a fisherman, and Noi often has only their six cats for company.
So when, one day, he finds a baby whale washed up on the beach after a storm, Noi is excited and takes it home to care for it. He tries to keep his new friend a secret, but but there's only so long you can keep a whale in the bath without your dad finding out.
Noi is eventually persuaded that the whale has to go back to the sea where it belongs, but now very much aware of his son's loneliness, his father helps and in the weeks that follow the whale's return, finds time to do more with him, be it colouring or going on a picnic.
For Noi, even though he can't keep it, the arrival of the whale changes his life for the better - the perfect gift from one friend to another.
Steam Train, Dream Train
by Tom Lichtenheld and Sherri Duskey RinkerThe team behind the #1 New York Times bestseller Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site returns with another fabulous book for bedtime!
The dream train pulls into the station, and one by one the train cars are loaded: polar bears pack the reefer car with ice cream, elephants fill the tanker cars with paints, tortoises stock the auto rack with race cars, bouncy kangaroos stuff the hopper car with balls.
Sweet and silly dreams are guaranteed for any budding train enthusiasts!
Start Saving, Henry!
by Nancy CarlsonHenry's finally old enough to get an allowance, and he can't wait to spend it every week on giant jawbreakers, a huge pencil, and other silly things. But when Henry finds something he really wants, he discovers that saving money can be more difficult- and more rewarding-than he ever imagined. With candy-bright artwork, a popular main character, and a story that every child will relate to, Nancy Carlson's new book makes perfect "cents" for young readers!
Splat The Cat
by Rob ScottonSplat and his class go on a field trip to an ice cream factory in this delectable I Can Read book from New York Times bestselling author-artist Rob Scotton. Splat can barely sit still during the bus ride. He's imagining the mountain of ice cream he thinks he'll get to eat! But when Splat gets there, that mountain becomes more of an avalanche. It's up to Splat and his classmates to save the day! Beginning readers will practice the –eam sound in this easy-to-read addition to the Splat series. Splat the Cat: I Scream for Ice Cream is a Level One I Can Read book, which means it's perfect for children learning to sound out words and sentences.
Space Boy
by Leo LandryThis world, decides Nicholas, is too noisy for him.
Time to take a trip.
He packs a snack, puts on his suit, and takes off . . . to the utterly quiet craters and vast deserts of the distant moon.
In this utterly charming picture book, the allure of space travel and the longing for peace and quiet entice a young boy to take his space rocket to the moon for a picnic.
Snakes
by Seymour SimonWhat animal can smell with its tongue, swallow an animal larger than its own head, and grow to be longer than a school bus? A snake!
Pound for pound, snakes are among the strongest of animals.
Most people fear snakes, but there are only a few that are dangerous to humans.
And if snakes were to disappear, the earth would be overrun with rats and rodents.
We all must learn to appreciate these awesome reptiles as a vital part of the global balance of nature.
Ruby Bridges Goes To School
by Ruby BridgesThe extraordinary true story of Ruby Bridges, the first African-American child to integrate a New Orleans school--now with simple text for young readers!
In 1960, six-year-old Ruby Bridges walked through an angry crowd and into a school where she changed history.
This is the true story of an extraordinary little girl who helped shape our country when she became the first African-American to attend an all-white school in New Orleans. With simple text and historical photographs, this easy reader explores an amazing moment in history and the courage of a young girl who stayed strong in the face of racism.
Lexile Measure: 470L
Rot, the Cutest in the World
by Ben ClantonA mutant potato learns that he’s pear-fect just the way he is in this bright, fun, and silly picture book from the creator of It Came in the Mail that will have kids collapsing in giggles (and rescuing the contents of the vegetable drawer).
Rot is a mutant potato. Like most mutant potatoes, Rot loves all sorts of games and contests. So when he sees a sign for the “Cutest in the World Contest,” he can’t wait to enter.
But when Rot realizes who he’s up against—an itty-bitty baby bunny, a little-wittle cuddly kitten, and an eenie-weenie jolly jellyfish—he loses confidence. Will the judges find room in their hearts for an adorable mutant potato?
Quackers
by Liz WongA cat who thinks he's a duck?
He must be Quackers!!
This quirky funny book is about standing out, fitting in, and building a life with room for all.
Quackers is a duck. Sure, he may have paws and whiskers. And his quacks might sound more like. . . well, meows, but he lives among ducks, everyone he knows is a duck, and he's happy.
Then Quackers meets another duck who looks like him (& talks like him, too!)--but he calls himself a cat.
So silly!
Quackers loves being among his new friends the cats, but he also misses his duck friends, and so he finds a way to combine the best of both worlds.
Part cat, part duck, all Quackers!
Peanut Goes for the Gold
by Jonathan Van NessPeanut Goes for the Gold is a charming, funny, and heartfelt picture book that follows the adventures of Peanut, a gender nonbinary guinea pig who does everything with their own personal flare. Peanut just has their own unique way of doing things. Whether it’s cartwheeling during basketball practice or cutting their own hair, this little guinea pig puts their own special twist on life. So when Peanut decides to be a rhythmic gymnast, they come up with a routine that they know is absolutely perfect, because it is absolutely, one hundred percent Peanut. This upbeat and hilarious picture book, inspired by Jonathan’s own childhood guinea pig, encourages children to not just be themselves—but to boldly and unapologetically love being themselves.
The Paper Kingdom
by Helena Ku RheeWhen the babysitter is unable to come, Daniel is woken out of bed and joins his parents as they head downtown for their jobs as nighttime office cleaners. But the story is about more than brooms, mops, and vacuums. Mama and Papa turn the deserted office building into a magnificent kingdom filled with paper. Then they weave a fantasy of dragons and kings to further engage their reluctant companion--and even encourage him to one day be the king of a paper kingdom. The Paper Kingdom expresses the joy and spirit of a loving family who turn a routine and ordinary experience into something much grander. Magical art by Pascal Campion shows both the real world and the fantasy through the eyes of the young narrator.
Outer Space Bedtime Race
by Rob Sanders and Brian WonAaaaaand they're off . . . to bed!
Aliens from every planet rocket through their out-of-this-world bedtime routines--they sink into steamy crater bubble baths and shimmy into deep-sleep suits, just like you (almost)!
Brian Won's glowing graphic art pops off the page, and Rob Sanders's goofy rhymes will have kids racing to snuggle under the covers and blast off to dreamland.
Oona
by Kelly DiPucchioThis comical and heartfelt picture book is a winning celebration of invention, creativity, and friendship. With gorgeous underwater scenes and a crowd-pleasing tale, this is one little mermaid who is here to make a splash! New York Times bestselling author Kelly DiPucchio and illustrator Raissa Figueroa would like to introduce Oona-the big wide sea's littlest mischief-maker. Oona and her best friend Otto love to search for treasure...and often find trouble instead. Messy trouble. Tricky trouble. Even shark-related trouble. That's never stopped them before, though! After all, no proper treasure hunt is without some adventure. But when the grandest treasure yet is stuck in a deep, dark rift, Oona's not sure if she can dive right in. What might be waiting for her in those unknown waters?
No, David!
by David ShannonWhen David Shannon was five years old, he wrote and illustrated his first book. On every page were these words: NO, DAVID! . . . and a picture of David doing things he was not supposed to do. Now David is all grown up. But some things never change. . . .
Over fifteen years after its initial publication, NO, DAVID! remains a perennial household favorite, delighting children, parents, and teachers alike. David is a beloved character, whose unabashed good humor, mischievous smile, and laughter-inducing antics underline the love parents have for their children--even when they misbehave.
The Night Before Summer Vacation
by Natasha WingA little girl and her family are getting ready to go on vacation . . . or at least they are trying to. In the effort to pack everything that will be needed, there's bound to be something overlooked, and what that is provides a funny ending to this meter-perfect "twist" on Clement Moore's classic.
The Night Before Summer Camp
by Natasha WingThe first day of summer camp is almost here, and one little camper doesn’t know what to expect. For a while everything is hunkydory . . . until rest time rolls around and he gets a bad case of nervous butterflies. But an unlikely friend appears out of the crowd and reassures him that the best cure for the summertime blues is tons of summertime fun! A sweetly reassuring story, once again told in verse to the meter of Clement Moore’s classic.