Book Finder

Explore colors in crisp photographs and brief language. Blocks of different hues show color variations and accompany a picture and a brief descriptor (e.g., a photo of a frog combines with “Green hops.”). Turn the page and other images complement the lyrical text for a very satisfying introduction to colors in the real world.

Simple concepts are presented in straightforward language in both Spanish and English. On each sturdy double page is a crisp illustration that uses simple line and flat form. The result is a precise, highly accessible look at the basic concepts of near and far. You may also want to share Lejos / Far(opens in a new window).

The science behind sound and vision is presented in accessible illustration and straightforward text. The language used includes sophisticated terms (e.g., cochlea, vibration) which will likely familiarize younger children and their adults with the science vocabulary. You may also enjoy Baby Loves the Five Senses: Sight(opens in a new window).

The places where animals live are specifically named and presented in illustration. Turn the page and the animal is placed in a very human setting (e.g., otters’ resting place is a “couch”) to allow children to glimpse the dual meaning of (generally) familiar words.

Have you ever thought about telling your own story, whether it be true or imagined? Are you interested in writing, drawing, or both? With guidance from bestselling graphic novelist Raina Telgemeier herself, brainstorm ideas, make lists, paste in personal photos, and use your imagination to create your own stories. For additional inspiration, special behind-the-scenes information from Telgemeier’s own comics-making adventures is featured inside.

Raina wakes up one night with a terrible upset stomach, but eventually returns to school, where she’s dealing with the usual highs and lows. It soon becomes clear that Raina’s tummy trouble isn’t going away…and it coincides with her worries about food, school, and changing friendships. What’s going on? In this autobiographical graphic novel, Telgemeier gives young readers an honest and compassionate look at one girl’s struggles with anxiety.

Fly Guy and his owner, Buzz, are back! This time they’re on a field trip to the aquarium. With a bit of trepidation (which he loses along the way), Fly Guy agrees to tour the shark exhibit with Buzz acting as guide. Mixing photos of fish tanks with notebook-lined journal pages, taped pictures, and handwritten notes about the predators, Buzz introduces readers to a sampling of the more than 400 kinds of sharks.

Meet the shark — the fish who ruled the deep before dinosaurs roamed the Earth! This fish has soft cartilage so he can glide, twist, and turn. He can smell a single drop of blood in 25 million drops of ocean. He can feel electricity given off by his prey. He will lose and replace more than 10,000 teeth in his lifetime. Cool photos bring kids into the shark’s world. Fun facts go deep into the science of sharks.

From the first time she saw a shark in an aquarium, Eugenie was enthralled. Instead of frightening and ferocious eating machines, she saw sleek, graceful fish gliding through the water. After she became a scientist — an unexpected career path for a woman in the 1940s — she began taking research dives and training sharks, earning her the nickname “The Shark Lady.”

What would happen if a hammerhead and a bull shark met each other? What if they had a fight? Who do you think would win? This nonfiction reader compares and contrasts two ferocious shark species. Kids learn about the sharks’ anatomies, behaviors, and more. Inckludes photos, charts, illustrations, and amazing facts.

As he’s done with each other season (e.g., Awesome Autumn(opens in a new window)), the author introduces recognizable features of summer. Brief information is followed by activities that seem most appropriate during warmer months such as making swirly freezer pops. Crisp photographs and limited text make this a breezy summer read.

Who lives in a pond? There are fish and fowl, insects and plants. Some live in the water, others near it. Straightforward questions are asked and answered as each is identified. Simple illustrations on sturdy, non-glossy pages made from recycled material are used in this and in the author/illustrator’s My Little Ocean(opens in a new window) to provide a quick way to introduce environments and words to young children.

The story of one Lepidoptera as it evolved in England is a story of  “change and adaptation, of survival and hope…[that] starts with a little moth.” Lyrical narration is accompanied by stunning but simple illustration in dark, dramatic hues and bold forms that chronicle the evolution of the Peppered Moth. A brief afterward discusses basic ideas of natural selection.

An engaging, informative introduction brings the idea of “one planet, one ocean” to light. The author then goes on to bring sea creatures and their habitats into focus. Handsome illustrations float through the pages of this fascinating if brief exploration of a little known world that surrounds lands and what can be done to improved the oceans’ health. Glossary and index are included.

National Parks span the United States from Maine to California. Take a glimpse at 60 of them through a brief introduction, tidbits of information about size and special things to see, photographs and playful cartoons. A map of the U.S. begins the journey to the parks and corresponds to the numbers given to the parks on the map. An index concludes a short but engaging look at some of America’s parks.

Just in time for the 50^th anniversary of the Apollo Moon landing, the author/illustrator’s spectacular, dramatic but readable look at the mission has been updated and expanded. Additional art has been added to the new portions including a look at the people who worked behind the scenes to make it happen. Additional information about Apollo’s return is also here.

In this striking volume, readers will encounter the Moon in both fact and fiction. Moon myths from various cultures are presented, the impact of the Moon on plant and animal behavior, a brief examination of the first Apollo landing, even a reflection on what the future of Moon exploration may do and more are presented briefly in well organized, clearly noted and stunningly illustrated sections. A glossary of people and terms are included.

What could be more fun than going to a birthday party by rocket? Celebrating your birthday on the Moon, of course! That’s just is explored in this playfully illustrated look at the moon, bouncily contrasting it an Earth party. The views of Earth would be stunning making up for the fact that everyone would have to wear space suits. Information is presented in boxes throughout this fanciful journey.

A boy looking out his bedroom window into the night sky begins, “The Moon is out tonight. In the morning, three brave men will climb into a giant rocket … and fly to the Moon.” It’s the Apollo 11 mission which inspires the child for a lifetime. Dramatic, highly realistic illustrations present the narrator’s life on earth interwoven with images and information about the Apollo Moon landing and return. An author’s note reveals that he grew up to build small rockets and an airplane. Fun facts, a glossary, and additional resources are included.

Spare, poetic text and luminous, realistic illustrations chronicle the Apollo missions. Comprehensive back matter with photographs adds depth to the presentation. The author, a trained engineer, also presented Countdown: 2979 Days to the Moon(opens in a new window) illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez for readers 9 to 12. The subtitle of this memorable book is the time it took from President John F. Kennedy’s challenge to Neil Armstrong’s first step on the Moon.

Alan Bean was not the first but the fourth man to walk on the Moon. However, he was the first astronaut to create paintings inspired by what he saw on and from the Moon. The highly readable, handsomely illustrated look at the Apollo 12 astronaut includes information gleaned from interviews with him as well as back matter (biographical information, a timeline and bibliography). This is a unique look at the moon and its impact on one artist/astronaut, sure to inspire others.

What did President Franklin D. Roosevelt have in common with the notorious gangster, Al Capone? It just might have been a car; specifically a bulletproof Cadillac with a V-8 engine. How these men diverged is presented anecdotally with a touch of speculation but in a highly engaging, readable style. Scratchboard illustrations and concluding back matter includes a timeline, additional resources and a few photographs.

Tornadoes are complex weather phenomena that can be highly destructive. Follow scientist and storm-chaser, Robin Tanamachi, as she researches the genesis of tornadoes and tornadic behavior. Dramatic photographs show not only storm clouds but the aftermath. Charts and other graphics help explain more technical aspects of tornadoes.