I was sent a copy of each of these books for a spot in this years Christmas Gift Guide 2021: Part Three Children’s Books. Don’t forget to check out the Main Directory for more Gifts for everyone on your Gift Giving List.
The Lord has really BLESSED our Homeschool Library this year as I am back with our Christmas Gift Guide:: Part Three Children’s Books. Before you ask no, we can never have to many books. How about you?
Over and Under the Canyon by Kate Messner
In this latest book in the acclaimed Over and Under series, a spectacular hike reveals the hidden wonders, rich colors, and layers of wildlife living within a thriving Desert slot-Canyon.
Over and Under the Canyon takes young readers on a thrilling tour of a Desert Canyon Ecosystem. Over the Canyon, the Sun scalds the air, baking desert mud to stone.
But under the shade of the cliffs hides another world, where bighorn Sheep bound from rock to rock on the hillside, Roadrunners make their nests in sturdy Cacti, and banded Geckos tuck themselves into the shelter of the sand.
Discover the wonders concealed in the curves of the Canyon, the magic of a Desert Wildflower Bloom, and all the unexpected creatures that bring the desert to life.
DISCOVER AMAZING ANIMALS: Kids are endlessly curious about the natural world and the wildly varied Animals living in it—and the Desert is FULL of amazing and surprising Animals!
CAPTIVATING NONFICTION: Like its predecessors, this latest offering in the Over and Under picture book series illuminates the magic of the natural world and its amazing inhabitants by telling the story of one family’s hike through a real-world Desert Ecosystem in lyrical prose and color-drenched illustrations. Even the most reluctant readers will be drawn into a fact-filled story this compelling!
GREAT FOR TEACHING: The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) emphasize learning about Animal habitats/biomes in K–2 curriculums, while later grades address topics like food chains, conservation, and endangered species.
With a depth of research and an engaging, highly visual narrative, this book is an excellent resource for librarians and primary school educators.
ENCOURAGES ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS: Concern for and preservation of the Wilderness is an increasingly talked-about topic. This book provides a great, upbeat jumping-off point for discussions of the importance and wonder of our world’s Natural Habitats and Ecosystems.
ACCLAIMED AUTHOR-ILLUSTRATOR TEAM: Kate Messner is an award-winning author whose books for kids have been New York Times Notable, Junior Library Guild, IndieBound, and Bank Street College of Education Best Book selections.
In addition to his work on this acclaimed series, Christopher Silas Neal is an award-winning illustrator and author who regularly contributes to the New York Times and The New Yorker, and he has been awarded a Medal from the Society of Illustrators.
Perfect for:
• Parents
• Nature lovers
• Fans of Kate Messner
• Fans of Over and Under the Snow and previous books in the series
• Educators and librarians seeking nonfiction books with STEM content
The Ultimate Book of Animals By Anne-Sophie Bauman
Discover the exciting world of Animals! Creatures of Land, Sea, and Air—including Elephants, Spiders, Snakes, Falcons, and Whales—fill the pages of this interactive book, providing a comprehensive overview of how Animals grow, see, hear, move, and more!
Best of all, lots of flaps, pop-ups, pull-tabs, and rotating wheels bring these Animals to life. Readers will find out how the structure of an Animal’s body determines how it moves, discover their seeing and hearing abilities, and explore the special features of various animals that help them adapt and survive.
• Supersized spreads feature detailed illustrations that just beg to be pored over again and again
• More than 50 interactive flaps, tabs, and more to keep kids engaged
• A captivating adventure that brings our Planet and the magic of books to life in young minds
Fans of The Ultimate Book of Animals will also enjoy other books in the Ultimate Book™ series, including Airplanes and Airports, Cities, Horses, Planet Earth, Space, Vehicles, and the Construction Site Book.
• Great family and classroom read-aloud book
• Nonfiction books for kids
• Educational books for kindergarten and early elementary school students
Inside Cat Published by Brendan Wenzel
![Inside Cat by [Brendan Wenzel]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51HjjQgR82L.jpg)
The newest story from the New York Times bestselling author/illustrator Brendan Wenzel is a funny and wise celebration of observation, curiosity, and indoor life.
From the endlessly inventive Caldecott Honor author/illustrator of They All Saw a Cat comes a picture book that is playful, perceptive, and full of delights.
Inside Cat is just that: an inside Cat. But while the Cat’s life is bound by the walls of an unusual house, it’s far from dull. As the Cat wanders, wonders, stares, and snacks, roaming from room to room and place to place, both Cat and reader discover worlds and sensations beyond what’s right in front of them.
And just when Inside Cat is sure it knows everything, another surprise awaits! Fresh, funny, and wise, Inside Cat is a feast for the eyes and the imagination.
A BOOK THAT ENCOURAGES IMAGINATIVE THINKING: All of Brendan Wenzel’s books play with observation, perception, and the imagination. Readers will see how the Cat’s imagination grows as it explores its building and will be inspired to make their own imaginative journeys.
A BOOK THAT ENCOURAGES OBSERVATION: There are many details in this book, from the decorations in the different rooms to the Animals that appear. Readers will enjoy seeing how these details affect the Cat, and will flip pages back and forth to see how the Cat has incorporated these details into its thinking.
A BOOK THAT MAKES THE MOST OF THE INDOORS: The Cat’s world is inside a building, and it enjoys every aspect of being inside. The book sends a positive message about playing inside that parents will appreciate.
GREAT TO READ ALOUD: The rhythmic narrative and refrains are catchy and fun to read out loud and invite audience participation.
BELOVED AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Brendan is a bestselling Caldecott Honor–winning artist and a sought-after speaker at schools and libraries. His books They All Saw a Cat, Hello Hello, and A Stone Sat Still have received multiple starred reviews, State Awards, and are family and classroom favorites.
Perfect for:
• Parents and grandparents
• Cat lovers
• Fans of Brendan Wenzel
• Educators
• Librarians
Death & Sparkles By Rob Justus
Adventure Time meets The Good Place in this zany-yet-philosophical graphic novel buddy comedy about the unlikely friendship between Death, a grim reaper who’s never had a friend, and Sparkles, The Last Unicorn, a celebrity influencer who is somehow immune to Death’s touch.
Being Death is no way to live.
Sure, you’re all-powerful, but collecting souls involves a ton of paperwork, and it’s impossible to have friends when everything you touch instantly dies.
Being Sparkles the Last Unicorn isn’t as fun as you’d imagine, either. Maybe it seems like the whole world wants to be your bestie, but really people just want you to pose with them for selfies, or use you to help them sell stuff.
Everything changes when Death and Sparkles meet and realize they might just be one another’s first chance at a real friend. But before they can even enjoy the bromance, the whole world starts freaking out about this unlikely pair. Will fame or BFFdom prevail?
Laugh-out-loud hilarious, gently philosophical, and full of delightfully zany exuberance, this buddy comedy turns friendship on its head—literally—and will have readers believing in the power of cupcakes for breakfast and cosmic camaraderie.
HILARIOUS BUDDY COMEDY: Move over, Wayne and Garth! Move over, Beavis and Butthead! Readers will love this spin on the classic mismatched BFF dynamic featuring two of the most powerful beings around: the guy in charge of taking everyone’s life, and the most magical creature still in existence on Earth. Never have two beings been less alike or more adorable.
PERFECT FOR RELUCTANT READERS: With bright, vibrant illustrations, big fun fonts, expressive sound effects throughout, an irreverent spirit, and a heart full of cupcakes, this graphic novel will entice even the most skeptical of young readers.
BIG THEMES: Self-awareness; empathy; bravery; commercialism; celebrity influencers; and the courage to stand up for what you believe in, even if that’s the hard thing to do—all of these important themes weave throughout the book in subtle ways that will resonate with readers without feeling heavy-handed.
THE FIRST ADVENTURE OF MANY: This is the first book in a planned series about the adventures of Death and Sparkles. The next book will be out in Fall 2022!
LIKE LIVING IN CANDYLAND: Rob Justus’s expressive, vivid art makes readers feel like they’re living in Candyland. With tons to see on every page, and countless visual gags per spread, this book will delight graphic novel fans and bring new readers to the genre.
Perfect for:
• Reluctant readers
• Parents
• Fans of graphic novels
• Fans of unicorns
• Educators
The Longest LetsGoBoy By Derick Wilder
Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey meets Dog Heaven in this profoundly beautiful book about the special relationship between kids and dogs, the importance of language, and finding the meaning of life even in its final days.
Poignant, hopeful, and lovingly told, this dog’s journey—told by the dog himself in his own unique words—proves that love abides beyond a lifetime, out of sight but never far away.
As a dog and his little girl go on their final walk together, he experiences the sights, smells, and wonders of this world one last time before peacefully passing on. But for such a good boy (oh yes, he is!) and his foreverfriend, that doesn’t mean it’s the end.
Offering a unique and noteworthy take on death, this book balances the somber topic with a dog’s ever-optimistic viewpoint, all woven together with its unconventional yet fitting approach to language.
Family members, librarians, art-lovers, and educators alike will use this book as an accessible and comforting introduction to the ever-difficult topic of death, discussed and related in a new way with hopeful, uplifting, innovative language.
THE PERFECT BOOK TO TALK ABOUT LOSS: The perennial themes of grief, fear, and death are always relevant and classic discussion topics even in families not yet dealing with death. The perfect answer to kids’ big questions about what happens when we die, this book will be a standard in every home library.
CREATIVE USE OF LANGUAGE: The words in this book are incredibly special, with phrases that conjure how the dog sees the world. The enjoyable challenge of matching up “letsgoboy” to a walk or “pufftails” to rabbits will make for meaningful discussions on a parent’s lap or in a classroom reading circle.
TEACHES CHILDREN EMPATHY: Reading this story from the dog’s perspective is the perfect way for young readers to understand that the way another character thinks and perceives the world is different from their own experience.
A BEAUTIFUL DOG STORY: Ideal for readers who love dogs, want dogs, or are going through a grieving process for their family dog, this book celebrates all that is most magical about these animals who are always by our side.
A COMFORTING MESSAGE: It’s rare for a book about death to extend beyond the moment of dying. The continuation of the dog’s story past this point makes it special and especially comforting.
Perfect for: parents and caregivers, dog lovers, educators
The Fox and the Forest Fire By Danny Popovici
After moving from the City, one boy discovers his new home in the Woods isn’t so bad—there is friendship in the midst of the Forest. But when he spots a Fire on the Horizon that soon engulfs everything he’s come to know—the Bugs, the Plants, the Fox who keeps him company—he is forced to flee. When his newfound comfort goes up in smoke, how can he ever feel at home again?
In a Forest Fire, so much can change in an instant. But both Fox and Boy learn that there are some things Fire cannot burn. With time, the Forest will regrow, the Animals will return to their home, and so will the boy and his mom.
As we all search for tools for understanding the destruction of Forest Fires, this touching story shows that hope, friendship, and resilience shine the brightest.
TIMELY: As Fires rage over a wider swath of the United States and internationally, and as Fire Season lengthens year after year, and sets new records year after year, these are themes Communities are engaging with daily during Fire Season.
WRITTEN BY A FIREFIGHTER: The Author-Illustrator was a Volunteer Firefighter, giving him a unique perspective on the topic of Forest Fires.
EMOTIONALLY RESONANT: This moving story ends with rebuilding—both for humans and for Nature—and with a truly uplifting message of resilience.
COMMUNITY-BUILDING: A wonderful resource for families and Communities experiencing the aftermath of a Fire or other Natural Disasters, as well as anyone looking to empathize with, and better understand, those communities in need.
CLASSROOM RESOURCE: Not only is this the perfect resource for talking about topics like the Environment, Natural Disasters, Forest Management, and Emergency Preparedness, this book will also spark important conversations about coping with personal and community tragedies. The Author-Illustrator reflects on his own experiences with Forest Fires in the Author’s note, and backmatter provides additional context.
Perfect for: Parents, Educators, Nature lovers
Audrey L and Audrey W: Best Friends-ish: Book 1 By Carter Higgins
The unique writing of Ivy + Bean meets the pep of Clementine and the authentic humor of Dory Fantasmagory in this chapter book series about two girls with the same name and absolutely, definitely, NOTHING else in common.
Over the course of a week in school, this bighearted, true-to-life chapter book will resonate with any young reader who’s ever felt overlooked, second-best, or defined according to someone else. The first in a series, Best Friends-Ish provides a fresh take on the joys and traumas of elementary school drama.
More than anything, second-grader Audrey wants to be the best at something. It always feels like she’s not-quite-enough—not smart enough, not fast enough, not funny enough.
When her beloved Miss Fincastle announces that a new girl, another AUDREY, is joining the class, Audrey suddenly becomes Audrey L., which makes her feel worse than ever.
But is the new Audrey all bad? Might the two Audreys have more in common than just their name? And if the girls become friends, how will Audrey ever figure out how to be her best self—if she can’t even be the best Audrey?
Visually dynamic and narratively unique, this chapter book series is perfect for fans of the Ivy + Bean, Deckawoo Drive, and The Penderwicks series.
TONS OF ILLUSTRATIONS: The book has many black and white illustrations throughout, providing newer readers with the perfect on-ramp from early readers into novels. There’s something visual on every page.
EMPATHY READ FOR BEGINNING READERS: This book is about embracing people’s differences, understanding their similarities, and making new friends.
COMING-OF-AGE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: This book encourages young readers to consider and celebrate the things that make them unique, while recognizing that sharing some of those traits with someone else isn’t a bad thing.
A DILEMMA EVERY KID FACES: Having to share a name with a classmate is one of the biggest nightmares for a kid. That extra last name initial becomes a part of who you are for years to come. It’s an annoying, funny subject that kids everywhere will relate to.
UNFORGETTABLE, FUNNY WRITING: Carter Higgins’s writing is special. This storytelling is friendly, funny, and genuinely good, with an unforgettable voice that doesn’t sound like any other chapter books.
Perfect for: Beginning readers, Parents, Educators, Librarians, Grandparents, Anyone looking for a new series, Readers who love books set at school
A Cub Story By Kristen Tracy
Timeless and nostalgic, quirky and fresh, lightly Educational and wholly heartfelt, this Autobiography of a Bear Cub will delight all cuddlers and snugglers.
See the world through a Bear Cub’s eyes in this charming book about finding your place in the world. Little Cub measures himself up to the other Animals in the forest. Compared to a Rabbit, he is big. Compared to a Chipmunk, he is HUGE. Compared to his mother, he is still a little Cub.
The first in a series of board books pairs Kristen Tracy’s timeless and nostalgic text with Alison Farrell’s sweet, endearing art for an adorable treatment of everyone’s favorite topic: baby animals!
PERFECT FOR BEDTIME KISSES: The book goes through a day in the life of a baby bear cub and ends tucked into his den with mama bear. The perfect book to take families through their own day, ending with a cozy goodnight moment!
ENCOURAGES CHILDREN TO IMAGINE OTHER PERSPECTIVES: This book is told in the first person: “I am a cub.” This unusual narrator will get the youngest readers thinking about what it’s really like to be a little bear cub!
TEACHES COMPARISONS: The idea of seeing through the animal’s eyes by comparing themselves to familiar ideas (cub is bigger than rabbit but smaller than mama bear) is a perfect introduction to comparative logic.
CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED ILLUSTRATOR: Alison Farrell is the Author/Illustrator of the fan favorite The Hike, along with Cycle City and Bicycle Bash. Here she brings her love of Science and sweet Animals a brand-new series based on forest animals!
BABY ANIMALS!: There’s one thing all babies love: baby Animals! There are all kinds of Animals to look at and learn about in these pages, rich with Wildlife and filled with love.
A BOOK TO BOND OVER: This is the perfect cuddly read between baby and parent, since it’s focused on baby Animals and their families.
Perfect for:
•Parents
• Grandparents
• Friends searching for the perfect baby shower gift
• Animal lovers
My. Lion’s New Hair By Brita Teckentrup
A hilarious hair adventure about always being true to yourself: Oh no! Mr. Lion is having a bit of trouble with his mane. Luckily, his friend Monkey is around to help. But what hairdo is right for Mr. Lion? Should he wear braids . . . or dye his hair red? Try pigtails . . . or add a tiara?
• A playful hair-themed book with a die-cut and silly illustrations on every spread
• Featuring an amusing story about finding the best look, young readers will learn the importance of always being true to yourself
• Sturdy board book design is just right for little hands
Britta Teckentrup, renowned author and illustrator, takes readers on an entertaining journey through Mr. Lion’s many hairstyles.
• Great family and classroom read-aloud
• Books for children aged 3 to 5
• Books for preschool and kindergarten children
Buckley & Ralphy Published By Renee Rutledge
Follow this charming true story of Buckley, an orphaned Cow, and his best friend Ralphy, along their journey to overcome Barnyard Bullying and Loneliness, and discover the power of resilience, diverse friendships, and loving who you are!
When a baby Highland Cow named Buckley he suddenly finds himself all alone at a brand-new Farm with no other Cows, surrounded by unfamiliar, unfriendly faces, he isn’t sure what to do.
However, friends come from unlikely places! Ralphy, a rambunctious Goat, decides to take Buckley under his wing. Ralphy and Buckley are different in every way, but despite they become fast friends. Buckley soon learns that a loving, supportive farmyard family can come in all shapes and sizes.
With adorable photographs of Insta-famous Buckley (@buckleythehighlandcow) and beautiful illustrations, this unforgettable real-life story of childhood resilience will inspire kids of all ages to overcome tough Social Situations and thrive.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
