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The Noisy Puddle

Linda Booth Sweeney

In this poetic picture book, two curious siblings observe the hidden world of a vernal pool: a special kind of puddle habitat that pops up in the spring, dries up by summer, reappears in the fall, freezes over in the winter -- only to come back again in the spring. Linda's buoyant text is nothing short of an anthem for these "now-you-see-me, now-you-don't" wetland habitats, encouraging young naturalists and future water stewards to listen, watch and even wait to witness the seasonal changes of the ever-changing puddle and its inhabitants.

And as readers pore over Miki's beautiful and busy cut-paper collages, they will be fascinated to discover many familiar and not-so-familiar creatures that make up the surprising web of interrelationships living in these vital pop-up pools. THE NOISY PUDDLE includes backmatter that introduces relevant vocabulary (for e.g., "ecosystem" and "vernal pool") and answers some anticipated questions by explaining the vernal pool's annual cycle in more detail, as well as its connection to the larger forest ecosystem. Linda worked with several vernal pool experts to review the manuscript for scientific accuracy - she has included their names and affiliations in her acknowledgements.

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Olivetti

Allie Millington

Being a typewriter is not as easy as it looks. Surrounded by books (notorious attention hogs) and recently replaced by a computer, Olivetti has been forgotten by the Brindle family—the family he’s lived with for years. The Brindles are busy humans, apart from 12-year-old Ernest, who would rather be left alone with his collection of Oxford English Dictionaries. The least they could do was remember Olivetti once in a while, since he remembers every word they’ve typed on him. It’s a thankless job, keeping memories alive.

Olivetti gets a rare glimpse of action from Ernest’s mom, Beatrice—his used-to-be most frequent visitor—only for her to drop him off at Heartland Pawn Shop and leave him helplessly behind. When Olivetti learns Beatrice has mysteriously gone missing afterward, he believes he can help find her. He breaks the only rule of the “typewriterly code” and types back to Ernest, divulging Beatrice’s memories stored inside him.

Their search takes them across San Francisco—chasing clues, maybe committing a few misdemeanors. As Olivetti spills out the past, Ernest is forced to face what he and his family have been running from, The Everything That Happened. Only by working together will they find Beatrice, belonging, and the parts of themselves they’ve lost.

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Beneath the Swirling Sky

Carolyn Leiloglou

After an experience he’d rather forget, Vincent is determined to be done with art. So when he and his little sister, Lili, spend spring break with their art conservator great-uncle, Vincent’s plan is to stay glued to his phone.

That is, until Lili disappears into one of the world’s most famous paintings and Vincent learns his parents have been hiding something from him: Their family is the last of The Restorationists, a secret society with the power to travel through paintings—and a duty to protect them from evil forces.

With Lili’s safety on the line, leaving art behind is no longer an option. Vincent must team up with his know-it-all second-cousin Georgia, wrestle with why his parents lied to him, and confront both his past and a future he never wanted. Young readers are invited into a captivating universe where paintings become a portal—and adventure and danger lurk beyond every canvas.

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Sato the Rabbit, the Moon

Yuki Ainoya

A pillow of fresh spring water, a moon basket, and flowers that grow more fragrant at night as they carry you aloft into dreams: such is the gentle world, rich in sensorial experience, nature, and imagination, of Sato the Rabbit.

Pastoral and surreal, the seven short tales in this collection are a celebration of the senses, and of the harmony that can exist between a gentle creature such as Sato the Rabbit and the natural world. Whether it's a pillow of cool, fresh water offered to him for a nap by the spring on a blisteringly hot day, a fragrant floral air float to carry him and his dreams, a hole in his hat, through which he discovers a midsummer forest full of singing cicadas, or a moon basket, nature's offerings are a bounty to be marveled at and enjoyed. The second book in a whimsical trilogy from Japan, this collection of stories invites readers to embrace the wonders of nature, the transportive power of the senses, and the transformation of the imagination. Because, as Sato shows us, the beauty that we see in the world is actively created by the eyes which perceive it and the imagination that conceives it.

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Frogs (A Day in the Life)

Dr Itzue W. Caviedes-Solis

Journey into the rainforest to follow the lives of these nocturnal animals as they dance, hunt, and fight their way through their day. Frog scientist and conservationist Dr. Itzue W. Caviedes-Solis tells the story of the world’s most amazing frogs and toads in the style of a nature documentary, including gentle science explanations of topics such as metamorphosis that are perfect for future biologists. Witness incredible moments including:

• The frog that can turn blue
• A wolverine frog that shoots claws out from beneath its skin
• A female frog that absorbs frogspawn into its own skin!

Beautifully illustrated by Henry Rancourt and packed with animal facts, Frogs (A Day in the Life) encourages kids to look at the incredible roles these mind-boggling amphibians play in ecosystems across the globe.

 

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Where Is My Nose?

Lucas Zanotto

In this interactive story, young readers turn and fold pages to reveal how the journey can be just as remarkable as the destination.

In this humorous and heartwarming story, a dog wakes up without his nose and sets out on a search to find it. Despite the obvious challenge of searching without a nose, the dog explores various places.

At the seaside, he mistakes a fluffy white cloud for his nose. Underwater, he spots something red that he hopes might be his nose, only to discover it's a fish. As our protagonist continues his quest for his nose, he realizes how far he has come and the wonderful things he has discovered. Curious about what more he can find in this vast world, he decides to keep searching.

This beautifully designed die-cut book is printed on luxurious, heavy-stock paper, matte coated with a varnish, that transmits silky tactile elegance. Die-cut elements provide for an interactive reading experience and lessons on perspective sure to delight parents and young readers alike.

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