Book Finder

From the NHL to the Olympics — discover the history, heroes, and hidden secrets of hockey. You’ll also discover cool trivia and surprising stories about the sport.

From holding an edge to laces and hooks, glide and dance through the alphabet explaining the history, techniques, and memorable moments of the sport. Written by four-time World Champion and professional figure skater Kurt Browning, known for his fluid movement and confidence on the ice.

Triumphant, relatable, and totally true biographies tell the childhood stories of a diverse group of international athletes who have captured the world’s attention at the Winter Olympics and Paralympics, including Johnny Weir, Chloe Kim, Alex and Maia Shibutani, Surya Bonaly, and 13 other inspiring Olympians. All over the world, athletes break records and defy odds to compete in the games — and some were kids themselves when they started dreaming and training! In Kid Olympians: Winter, discover the childhood stories of legends such as: Michelle Kwan, who used to sleep in her skating clothes to get a few extra minutes of sleep before her lessons at dawn!; Cindy Ouellet, one of the few athletes to have competed in both the Winter and Summer Paralympics; and Apolo Ohno, who started skating because he thought the speed skaters looked like superheroes!

Grab your skis, ice skates, and snowboard and learn how the Winter Olympic Games became a worldwide phenomenal event watched by millions. Although fans the world over have been fascinated by the modern Summer Olympics since 1896, the Winter Olympics didn’t officially begin until 1924. The event celebrates cold-weather sports, displaying the talents of skiers, ice skaters, hockey players, and, most recently, snowboarding. Like its summer counterpart, the Winter Games are dedicated to bringing together the world’s top athletes to honor their talents and see who gets to stand on the medal podium. Learn about the highs, such as the 1980 US hockey team’s unexpected gold medal grab, as well as the lows, including the Tonya Harding-Nancy Kerrigan figure-skating scandal in 1994. Includes 80 black-and-white illustrations and a 16-page photo insert.
 

Count to twelve with the zodiac animals as they get ready to celebrate Chinese New Year! Sweet, colorful illustrations introduce each of the zodiac animals as they bring special items to the celebration. Xīn Nián  Kuài Lè! Happy Chinese New Year! The simple text and vibrant illustrations in this book make it easy for little ones to follow along as the animals’ preparations lead up to a tasty feast followed by a party with music and dancing! The pages also feature the Chinese characters that correspond to each number highlighted on the page. Children will learn to recognize the characters as they read the book again and again, and the pronunciation guide will help them say the words out loud.

Learn about Buddy, the first seeing eye dog in America. Meet Buddy, a dedicated German Shepherd who meets Morris Frank, a young blind man who chooses Buddy to be his seeing eye dog. A classic tale about a young man and a dog, young readers will love this sweet story about a loyal German Shepard and his human.

When Helen was nineteen months old, an illness left her unable to see or speak. She struggled to make herself understood, and often lashed out when she couldn’t. With the help of a teacher named Annie Sullivan, she learned to spell words with her fingers, opening her world immeasurably. She soon learned to write and to read Braille, and even to read lips by touch; with Annie by her side, she went to college, and wrote an autobiography that shared her story with the world. She was lauded as a genius and became an advocate for people with disabilities, workers’ rights, women’s rights, and racial justice.

Most of us have heard of Helen Keller, but few have heard of Laura Bridgman. Left blind and deaf in her childhood in the 1830’s, Bridgman attended school and taught Helen’s teacher, Annie Sullivan, to fingerspell. When she was just two years old, Laura Bridgman lost her sight, her hearing, and most of her senses of smell and taste. At the time, no one believed a child with such severe disabilities could be taught to communicate, much less lead a full and productive life. But then a progressive doctor, who had just opened the country’s first school for the blind in Boston, took her in. Laura learned to communicate, read, and write — and eventually even to teach. By the age of 12, she was world famous. Audiences flocked to see her, and she was loved and admired by children everywhere. This fascinating and moving biography shows how Laura Bridgman paved the way for future generations of children with disabilities, making possible important advances in the way they would be educated. 

Joyous Kwanzaa! On December 26th of each year, the celebration of Kwanzaa begins. Kwanzaa is an African American and pan-African holiday that honors history, family, values, community, and culture. During this time, families gather, songs are sung, and dances and stories and poetry are performed! This festive board book helps teach even the youngest of readers about the celebration and importance of Kwanzaa.

Little Alliah (of The Juneteenth Story) is all grown up and, along with her husband LeVaur, teaches their children Daphne and Alistair why they celebrate Kwanzaa as a family and as a community. This beautifully illustrated book shares the origins of the holiday — rooted in Africa, born in Los Angeles — giving historical and cultural context on how a joyful celebration was birthed after the Watts Rebellion and during the Civil Rights Movement. 

Lyrical language and artful illustrations present the life of a lotus and the resilience it represents. A lotus seed falls into the soil and drifts into a deep sleep. It awakens, unfurling tender buds and wide green leaves. Then, the flower blooms, its brilliant petals opening to the sun. And soon enough, another lotus seed falls, starting the cycle all over again… This is a book to share with children of different ages.

Take a fascinating tour of some of the most amazing museums around the world. From Bilbao to Beijing, from New York to the Netherlands, explore the wonders of 13 extraordinary museums through this richly illustrated book, perfect for sharing with children of varied ages. You’ll visit the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C., the State Hermitage in St. Petersburg, the Quai Branly in Paris, and more! 

Discover the mysteries of history in this factoid-filled guessing game. Lift the flap to learn the purpose of each specific contraption. A perfect book for sharing together with curious children of different ages.

Dramatic descriptions of the eruption of Indonesia’s Mount Tambora in the early 19th century open this compelling story of Earth’s warning signs, often left unheeded by humankind. This is the true story of how a massive catastrophic eruption plunged the world into darkness, altering the global climate and inspiring the likes of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Black and white sketches enhance the compelling presentation which is fully sourced and documented.

A foreword by the founder of the Humanimal Trust sets the stage for a fascinating look at what humans and animals have in common and a call for recognition of our interdependency. The large format is organized in bite-sized chunks of information and clearly illustrated, with additional resources included.

Visit the Andes Amazon with a group of scientists from Chicago’s Field Museum who work with local people to collect information about the plants and animals at specific sites. A conversational narrative and full-color photographs document the work which is realistic but optimist about environmental threats. Additional information is included.

Have you ever wondered about the world of sound? Why and how do we hear sounds, how does sound travel, and how do birds, dolphins, and humans use sounds to communicate? Discover the answers and much more in this handsome, brief, but surprisingly thorough examination of sound enhanced by expressive illustrations.
 

It starts with a question: what do Indigenous people from around the world share? The answer: the planet we all live on and a deep respect for it. Stunning portraits of individuals are overlayed with images reflecting their land and customs. This beautiful, oversized look at our world is not to be missed.

Filled with facts, this fresh approach is sure to delight as well as inform. After all, these are animals presenting oral reports about other animals because “humans only look at things through their own human eyes. Every single time.”  Cleaner fish report on sharks; barn owl reports on Tasmanian devil, and mole knows everything there is to know about daddy long-legs. Charming line illustrations punctuate the lively language in this singular book.

The life of a sea turtle born at the Ría Lagartos nature reserve in Mexico is dramatically presented in realistic yet expressive illustrations and carefully crafted narration. A note from the author describes her interest in wildlife and suggests tangible ways to help sea life. Additional information is also presented.
 

Stunning illustrations chronicle the growth and life of a Coho salmon from its birth on Day 1 on the Duwamish River in Washington to Days 1380–1450 when she lays eggs of her own. Additional information, including a QR code that provides more information on Coho salmon, concludes this gorgeous book.

Alma is the curator of the Museum of Shapes. It starts with a point that it is almost hard to see on the page. The point is soon joined by more and more complicated shapes that begin to combine. Geometric words and shapes are cleverly illustrated on open pages, for a fascinating introduction to the subject.

“Once, each speck was something else: dirt, pollen, or a bit of a living thing traveling someplace new.” Dust plumes are fascinatingly presented through lyrical language and textured illustrations. Dust plumes feed sea creatures, can weigh as much as billions of basketballs, and can be seen from space. Additional resources are included in this gorgeous book sure to engage and inspire readers.

Spot, a Dalmatian dog, and a white cat with tan markings named Dot (from Please Look After This Cat), promote best care practices and understanding basic behaviors. Humor, information, and illustration combine in this engaging presentation. From the Pet Care series — child-friendly and accessible books about common pets that introduce young readers to their care and feeding.