Run Wild, by David Covell

Book description (from publisher): 
"Get back to nature in this gorgeous sunlit filled book that celebrates the joy of being outdoors.

“Hey, you! Sky’s blue!” a girl shouts as she runs by the window of a boy bent over his digital device. Intrigued, the boy runs out after her, leaving his shoes (and phone) behind, and into a world of sunshine, dewey grass, and warm sand. Filled with the pleasures of being alive in the natural world, Run Wild is an exquisite and kid-friendly reminder of how wonderful life can be beyond doors and screens."

This book is one for the nature lovers! Simple yet compelling illustrations and text. Celebrates the simple pleasures of exploring the nature world. Openly challenges many of the attitudes that commonly prevent children (and adults) from getting out and enjoying nature ("Squeaky clean? Who cares about that?"). A great book to read to prime children to enjoy the outdoors over summer or to reminisce on adventures when they come back together in the fall. Made me want to take my shoes off and go find some warm sand to wander in...





 

Quiet Please Owen McPhee, by Trudy Ludwig & Patrice Barton

Publisher's description:
"From the author-illustrator team who brought you The Invisible Boy comes the story of a boy who won't stop talking--until he gets laryngitis. You don't have to be a chatterbox to appreciate this tale of listening and learning.

Owen McPhee doesn't just like to talk, he LOVES to talk. He spends every waking minute chattering away at his teachers, his classmates, his parents, his dog, and even himself. But all that talking can get in the way of listening. And when Owen wakes up with a bad case of laryngitis, it gives him a much-needed opportunity to hear what others have to say.

From the author-illustrator team behind The Invisible Boy comes a bright and lively picture book that captures the social dynamics of a busy classroom while delivering a gentle message about the importance of listening."

A great book to share with children as they join new learning communities this fall. Using talk to share ideas, wonder, and build identity is important. But listening to others has much to offer also. A great discussion tool to explore the artful skill of balancing speaking and listening. The book's diverse characters are also sure to appeal to a wide audience.

The Word Collector, by Peter H Reynolds

Book description (from publisher):

"Some people collect stamps.
Some people collect coins.
Some people collect art.
And Jerome?
Jerome collected words . . .

In this extraordinary new tale from Peter H. Reynolds, Jerome discovers the magic of the words all around him -- short and sweet words, two-syllable treats, and multisyllable words that sound like little songs. Words that connect, transform, and empower.

From the creator of The Dot and Happy Dreamer comes a celebration of finding your own words -- and the impact you can have when you share them with the world."

OUR THOUGHTS:
A delightful book! A contagious celebration of the power of words to connect, foster self-expression and understanding, and the simple joy of words for their own melodious sake. A great book to prompt children to become word collectors–to notice and inquire about the meaning of the many new words they encounter. Given that a rich language environment will prompt children to learn approximately 3,000 new words each and every year (until they are well into college!), this book is a great one to celebrate that journey and the diversity and power of language. Also great for promoting development of voice. We were definitely "moved" and "delighted" by Peter H. Reynolds' new treasure of a book!

Shaking Things Up: 14 Young Women Who Changed The World, by Susan Hood

Book description (from publisher):
“Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations.” —Mae Jemison, the first female African American astronaut
Fresh, accessible, and inspiring, Shaking Things Up introduces fourteen revolutionary young women—each paired with a noteworthy female artist—to the next generation of activists, trail-blazers, and rabble-rousers.
From the award-winning author of Ada’s Violin, Susan Hood, this is a poetic and visual celebration of persistent women throughout history.
In this book, you will find Mary Anning, who was just thirteen when she unearthed a prehistoric fossil. You’ll meet Ruby Bridges, the brave six-year-old who helped end segregation in the South. And Maya Lin, who at twenty-one won a competition to create a war memorial, and then had to appear before Congress to defend her right to create.
And those are just a few of the young women included in this book. Readers will also hear about Molly Williams, Annette Kellerman, Nellie Bly, Pura Belprè, Frida Kahlo, Jacqueline and Eileen Nearne, Frances Moore Lappè, Mae Jemison, Angela Zhang, and Malala Yousafzai—all whose stories will enthrall and inspire. This book was written, illustrated, edited, and designed by women and includes an author’s note, a timeline, and additional resources.
With artwork by notable artists including Selina Alko, Sophie Blackall, Lisa Brown, Hadley Hooper, Emily Winfield Martin, Oge Mora, Julie Morstad, Sara Palacios, LeUyen Pham, Erin Robinson, Isabel Roxas, Shadra Strickland, and Melissa Sweet."

This is an original addition to your biographies bookshelf. The diverse young women highlighted in this book pursued diverse interests and causes, but all changed our world in important ways. The contents prompt young readers to connect women across time and place, to discover similarities and differences in the ways that women are important change makers the world over. The book contains some lesser known figures and changes, making it likely to introduce even avid young biography readers to new content. Told primarily in verse, the book is a playful celebration of young female change makers. The book can be read cover to cover, or dipped into to explore individual women, passions and/or places. A great nonfiction book for younger and older readers. 

They All Saw a Cat, by Brendan Wenzel

Book description (from publisher): "The cat walked through the world, with its whiskers, ears, and paws . . . In this glorious celebration of observation, curiosity, and imagination, Brendan Wenzel shows us the many lives of one cat, and how perspective shapes what we see. When you see a cat, what do you see?"

This is a fantastic book! The illustrations bring the idea of perspective (and perspective taking) visibly to life. A simple yet powerful concept. Use to provoke awareness of and discussion about how we each interpret the world based on our interests, fears and desires. Great for sharing with readers of all ages.






A 2017 Caldecott Honor Book 
A New York Times bestseller
★"An ingenious idea, gorgeously realized." —Shelf Awareness, starred review

"Both simple and ingenious in concept, Wenzel's book feels like a game changer." —The Huffington Post

Mae Among The Stars, written by Roda Ahmed and illustrated by Stasia Burrington

Book description (from the publisher):

"A great classroom and bedtime read-aloud, Mae Among the Stars is the perfect book for young readers who have big dreams and even bigger hearts!

When Little Mae was a child, she dreamed of dancing in space. She imagined herself surrounded by billions of stars, floating, gliding, and discovering.

She wanted to be an astronaut.

Her mom told her, "If you believe it, and work hard for it, anything is possible.”

Little Mae’s curiosity, intelligence, and determination, matched with her parents' encouraging words, paved the way for her incredible success at NASA as the first African American woman to travel in space.

This book will inspire other young girls to reach for the stars, to aspire for the impossible, and to persist with childlike imagination."

A beautiful book to share with young children, especially girls. 

Watch Mae's TEDtalk (for parents and educators)

The World Is Not a Rectangle: A Portrait of Architect Zaha Hadid, by Jeanette Winter

Book description (from publisher):

"A Washington Post Best Children’s Book of 2017
Parents’ Choice Recommended

Get to know Zaha Hadid in this nonfiction picture book about the famed architect’s life and her triumph over adversity from celebrated author-illustrator Jeanette Winter.

Zaha Hadid grew up in Baghdad, Iraq, and dreamed of designing her own cities. After studying architecture in London, she opened her own studio and started designing buildings. But as a Muslim woman, Hadid faced many obstacles. Determined to succeed, she worked hard for many years, and achieved her goals—and now you can see the buildings Hadid has designed all over the world."

An inspiring individual! Our favorite line from the book:
"Hadid  means iron in Arabic, and Zaha is strong as iron. She keeps on working - one plan after another. "I made a conscious decision not to stop.""
The illustrations are beautiful and help to highlight the inspiration Hadid drew from the natural world. A great book for nature lovers, design thinkers, and the mathematically minded. A great addition to your books featuring Muslim subjects/characters.