Book Finder

Theater aficionados and non-theater buffs alike will enjoy this original take on a musical production presented in graphic format. The poetic forms used and theater terms presented are included in a glossary that concludes this animated presentation.

Born enslaved in Maryland, Harriet Tubman became a force of nature with her determination and tenacity. Collage illustrations in a naïve style combine with poems chronologically organized by year to present a unique portrait of an icon of Black history. Resources are appended.

This handsome collection with boldly colored illustrations complements familiar (plus some not-so-familiar) rhymes and poems, sure to delight listeners and readers alike. A QR code takes readers to an audio of the book.

A playful, rhyming book on how to send loving, kind thoughts to yourself and others to make the world a better place. Worried or sad, grateful or glad, you can send good wishes to yourself, others, and the whole world with your thoughts! Just repeat these simple phrases: “May you be protected and safe. May you feel happy and pleased. May your body be healthy, and may you live with ease.” Starting with the individual child and extending outward to the whole universe, the rhyming couplets and beautiful art carry the reader through the thoughtful process of extending love and kindness to yourself and all those around you. 

Celebrate nature in poems by different writers and accompanied by colorful illustrations. Informational sidebars flank each poem, offering scientific context for readers, and recommended resources and a glossary are also included. 

Since the day that Ano was born, her heart has been connected to her home. But, this adventurous child has a lot to learn! When Ano begins to dance hula — a storytelling dance form that carries the knowledge, history, and folklore of the Hawaiian people — Ano comes to understand the true meaning of aloha. In this exciting adventure, you’ll encounter mighty canoes crashing over ocean waves, regal hawks soaring high above the clouds, and brilliant lizards jumping nimbly through forest trees! Most importantly, you’ll meet a courageous young girl named Ano who learns, grows, and comes to love her island home with all her heart. The beautiful poetry — weaving its way through every page — artfully blends 25 Hawaiian words into the English prose and provides a thoughtful exploration of the meaning of aloha in relation to the land, the people, and the lore. 

A NASA voyage to explore Jupiter’s moon, Europa, launched in October 2024. Its 6-year journey is sure to mesmerize readers of all ages as the mystery lies above, beneath, and around us. The poem is written by the U.S. Poet Laureate and engraved on the Europa Clipper, illustrated by internationally recognized artist. A wonderful book to share aloud, including with older children.

Sophisticated readers will appreciate the poetic examination of family and the life of one woman, her past, and the influence she’s had on the members of her family. These new poems by Nye remind us of that we all have family and a community, as we meet and empathize with the poet’s late mother.

Brief language and simple illustrations in comic book format ask readers to consider their everyday world in fresh and new ways. Short poems and sly humor abound in this creative approach.

As a girl, Rachel Carson did not realize that she would influence so many to respect and protect the natural world. Lyrical verse, gracefully illustrated, fictionalizes Carson’s life and relationships with her family and others.

Join children as they enjoy each month, the change of seasons, and the pleasures it brings. Short, rhythmic poems are sure to engage as readers view the simple, colorful illustrations for a satisfying look at a year of changes.

They’re beautiful in so many ways, tall or small, leafy or spiky, and can be found around the world. Short, varied poems introduce a range of trees from across the globe, encouraging readers to care for them. Colorful illustrations will help young readers to identify specific trees.

A range of poets, from Lois Lowry to Lee Bennett Hopkins, express thanks for critters small and large. Expressive, idealized watercolors depict adorable animals and children in poems of gratitude.

It’s the night before Lunar New Year, and a little girl is excited for all of the celebrations to come. She’s prepared dumplings with her mom, bought a new dress in Chinatown, and even helped scare mythical beast Nian away with her cousins and brother. There’s only one problem: she’s a bit nervous about all of the loud noises at the upcoming Lunar New Year Parade. Will she overcome her fears? Written in the style of The Night Before Christmas.

Evocative poetry and lovely watercolor artwork brings the Christmas story to life for young readers. Animals from across the ancient Palestinian landscape lumber, gambol, crawl, fly, and parade toward Bethlehem with gifts worthy of the newborn King. Rare ebony wood, a finely tuned harp, mustard and saffron, a zither, apricot cakes, and other treasures are carried to the manger. The animals bow low and join the music of the angels in a welcoming lullaby.

Short poems are generously illustrated in a large, inviting, and diverse collection of poetry— and as the title indicates, there is at least one for each day! To build on daily poems, try some of the ideas in Poetry Prompts: All Sorts of Ways to Start a Poem from Joseph Coelho (opens in a new window).

Short, mostly familiar rhymes and lullabies are gently illustrated by textured embroidered images, just right to remind adults of the power of short rhymes meant to be shared with the youngest.

Fefa struggles with words. She has word blindness, or dyslexia, and the doctor says she will never read or write. Every time she tries, the letters jumble and spill off the page, leaping away like bullfrogs. How will she ever understand them? But her mother has an idea. She gives Fefa a blank book filled with clean white pages. “Think of it as a garden,” she says. Soon Fefa starts to sprinkle words across the pages of her wild book. She lets her words sprout like seedlings, shaky at first, then growing stronger and surer with each new day. And when her family is threatened, it is what Fefa has learned from her wild book that saves them.

Told in the voices of young people, a novel in verse about the attack on the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. Author Jacqueline Jules, who was a school librarian in Arlington, Virginia on 9/11, tells the story of that day through a tapestry of poems.

Harjo thinks of “a poem as a pocket or an envelope that can hold dreams, thoughts or anything else …”  Her sophisticated poem calls on us to “Remember the sky that you were born under,/know each of the star’s stories.” It is presented in lushly illustrated picture book format to reflect the indigenous stories from which they derive, calling on all to remember.

Two tweens are suspended for fighting in school. Their story is told in verse from two points of view: Ebony (aka Eb) and Flow (real name De’Kari). Their lives gradually unfold in readable free verse and as readers come to understand them, and both Eb and Flow begin to realize they share a lot in common, ultimately reaching détente in this plausible and moving novel.

Nature has inspired countless designs from the umbrella to space saving and naturally cooled buildings. Short poetry (Japanese tanka) accompanies a handsome illustration of the object that inspired the human invention shown in a photograph on the opposing page. Additional information is carefully presented at the end as are additional resources.

Poetry, photography, and information combine to present a range of fascinating creatures. Though rhymes can feel a bit forced, the combination is a unique introduction to a range of bees, bugs, and other things that crawl and skitter. By the same creative team: Bugs: Exploring the World of Crawly Critters.

Sophisticated readers will enjoy this poetic exploration of light. Luminous illustrations show light’s variations in both the familiar and abstract as a child awakens to first light, and later views stars — after all, “light speaks.” Back matter includes brief information about light and related light topics.