Book Finder

Learn about the unique Christmas customs and legends from around the world. Find out why celebrate Christmas on December 25th, who invented the first glass ornament, why people build nativity scenes, why we decorate Christmas trees, and more! Included is information about traditional holiday food, drink, and other traditions: Glögg, Kutia, Lutefisk, Jansson’s Temptation, Julskinka, Bûche de Noël, Hallaca, Kourabiedes, Christmas Pudding, Panettone, Christmas carols, talking animals, and The Nutcracker!

There are countless ways we celebrate and give to others on Thanksgiving. The goodness we share lasts the rest of the year — and sometimes for a lifetime. From joyful preparation of food, to quiet reflection honoring farmers and Native communities, to cherished moments of laughter with friends or family …   there is always room for making more memories together.

In this vibrant tribute to Rock Your Mocs Day, observed yearly on November 15, author Laurel Goodluck (Mandan, Hidatsa, and Tsimshian) and artist Madelyn Goodnight (Chickasaw) celebrate the joy and power of wearing moccasins — and the Native pride that comes with them.

In this piano sound book, very young children press the keys to learn eight famous classical tunes, such as “The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” from The Nutcracker. Each song includes an illustration and description of the part of the story that the music is telling, along with playing tips. 

Press the buttons to hear the music in this time-traveling journey around the world, as young readers embark on an adventure through classical music. From Elgar’s Cello Concerto, to a violin sonata by Beethoven, this book helps children about cultural history, famous musicians, and musical genres.

Have you ever wondered where colors come from? Explore the colors like never before in a totally engaging, often downright funny, and always informative book written by an illustrator (depicted with his dog throughout). Additional resources and activities conclude this fascinating, unique look at one aspect of art.

When the name of his all-Asian rock band, The Slants®, was turned down for a trademark, Simon Tam took his fight all the way to the Supreme Court. The eight-year battle finally resulted in success. Illustrations use limited color and angular lines to suggest the difficulty of the fight to highlight the name, intended to confront bias head-on. Resources included lyrics to the titular song.

After a natural death, a whale provides continued life for numerous sea and land creatures for many years. Follow one 90-year-old whale in its environment and after its life has ended, through accessible language and highly informative illustrations in this stunning book.

Look around … art is everywhere! Art can be everything from the family photograph to the chair in your living room. This exploration encourages readers to discover art from around the world and in their own backyard. “Circles of art” begin with self, expanding out to the cosmos. Thoughtfully presented and attractively formatted, this book can be enjoyed many times over.

Poetry and information combine for a joyful and illuminating look at wind. Mixed-media illustrations dance through the pages, concluding with additional resources to discover more about wind.

Human error led to creative solutions as the Webb Space Telescope was designed and tested — leading to amazing “eyes in the skies.” More than 20,000 people contributed to its success and are introduced through photographs and illuminating text. The author is an engineer who once worked at NASA.

A mouth is for eating of course, but animals use them for so much more!  Discover how some use them for climbing and for storing food and what differentiates similar mouths. Dramatic illustrations and informative inserts create a fact-packed, accessible book. Back matter includes a glossary and additional resources.

Words matter but sometimes silence is stronger. That’s why in 1917, a man of words and author of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” (known as the Black National Anthem) organized a silent march down New York City’s Fifth Avenue. Over 10,000 adults and children participated. Additional information and the words to Johnson’s poem concluded this handsome volume. 

Follow an arctic tern as it grows from egg to migrating bird. In another book from the same Start Small, Think Big series, Little Brown Nut (opens in a new window), watch a small nut grow into a huge tree with a little help from the agoutis. Each book unfolds in text and illustration that can be shared at different levels. Both titles include a large, informative foldout. 

A single word begins each short poem on opposing page, describing an animal and contrasting attributes: a cautious groundhog appears with the reckless squirrel, a patient spider with a restless blowfly, a playful dolphin with the dignified sperm whale, and more in each of the bold, bouncily illustrated pairings in this handsome volume.

Dogs help people in many ways. Guess what jobs the dogs presented in color photographs and simple rhymes perform — including being a best friend.

Share photos of cheerful babies wearing familiar clothing from hats to pajamas in this small, sturdy book, just right for reading on a lap.

Dogs and cats talk without words! Childlike illustrations and straightforward language describe myriad moods to bring meaning to the familiar ways pets communicate. In the same series: Cat Chat: How Cats Tell Us How They Feel (opens in a new window).

Short rhymes introduce animals in clear, simple illustration with a touch of texture. Playful vegetables are presented in another title from the Touch and Feel series: Fruits & Veggies (opens in a new window).

In the pages of this book, you’ll find a workshop filled with everything you need, including a head, a thorax, an abdomen, and much more. Written by an entomologist and accompanied by delightfully detailed illustrations, this wonderfully original take on insect anatomy will spark curiosity and engage even those who didn’t think they liked creepy, crawly things!

The inspirational and little-known story of a dedicated teacher who coached Hawaiian swimmers all the way to the Olympics, beautifully told in simple rhyme. When the children of workers on a 1930s Maui sugar plantation were chased away from playing in the nearby irrigation ditches, local science teacher Soichi Sakamoto had an idea. He offered to take responsibility for the children — and then he began training them how to swim. Using his science background, Sakamoto devised his own innovative coaching techniques.

Out of the depths of the Great Depression comes the astonishing tale of nine working-class boys from the American West who at the 1936 Olympics showed the world what true grit really meant. With rowers who were the sons of loggers, shipyard workers, and farmers, the University of Washington’s eight-oar crew was never expected to defeat the elite East Coast teams, yet they did, going on to shock the world by challenging the German boat rowing for Adolf Hitler.

Have you ever wondered how athletes become Olympians? Canadian Olympic runner and author Madeleine Kelly explains the history of the Games, how athletes train for their event, ancient Greek athletes to contemporary competitors representing a number of different sports (including skateboarding, martial arts, and rock climbing), and more. “Fun fact” boxes shed light on sports that are new to the games as well as some that are no longer included, the Olympic motto, and the tradition of playing the anthem of the gold medalist’s country as they are honored.

From boxing to boccia, find out just what it takes to compete in every sport in the summer games. You’ll discover what makes each sport great — and not so great — as well as what skills and equipment you’ll need to start practicing like a pro!