a chip off the old block

Rocky comes from a family of remarkable rocks—there’s Uncle Gibraltar, Great-Grandma Half Dome and his monumental cousin Rushmore.  With a history of such great accomplishments to live up to, tiny Rocky—just a pebble—feels a little overshadowed.  But what he lacks in size, he makes up for in grit, gumption and tenacity.  He forms a plan—a grand plan—and sets off to make his mark in the world.

A Chip Off the Old Block takes readers on a beautiful road trip through the US and its wide skies and majestic landforms, gorgeously illustrated by Daniel Miyares.  The story leaves readers with the realization that they can rely on their own unique traits to find their place in the world and make a true difference.  An informative author’s note about rock types concludes this fantastic story.

A Chip Off the Old Block was written by Jody Jensen Shaffer, illustrated by Daniel Miyares and published by Nancy Paulsen Books.  It's out tomorrow!

the unintentional adventures of the bland sisters + giveaway

If you’re a word maven with a penchant for adventure, this book is for you.  Even if you don’t quite fit that description, you might find the Bland Sisters an interesting—or shall we say uninteresting—pair.  The sisters lead dreary lives—they each eat a cheese sandwich on day-old bread and drink a glass of flat soda for lunch every day.  Their hobby is reading the dictionary and they darn socks for a living.  One day, intrepid adventure comes knocking at their door, literally.

The Bland Sisters’ heaps of wry humor made us laugh out loud more than a few times and is one reason why the book makes an excellent read-aloud.  Kudos to Kara LaReau and Jen Hill for the best idea for chapter header concepts/illustrations that we’ve seen in a long time.  Head over to Kara LaReau's blog to read about how quirky Jaundice and Kale came to life in this smart and terrific middle grade book for ages 8-12.

We’re giving away a copy of The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters: The Jolly Regina.  This giveaway is open to US residents and ends Thursday, February 22, at 11:59 PM PST.  Head over to this Instagram post to enter.

A Bear Sat on My Porch Today

A lively, boisterous story about a girl and her encounter with a spate of unanticipated visitors who are adamant to stay.  Jane Yolen’s repetitive, rhyming text rises to an exuberant crescendo without missing a beat.  Talk about perfect pacing!  Rilla’s use of color is genius—her brilliant hues play a part in the evolution of the visual narrative and watching it unfold is an absolute treat.  Altogether a winner of a read-aloud.

A Bear Sat on My Porch Today was written by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Rilla Alexander and published by Chronicle Books.  Don’t miss this one when it comes out on March 6!  And of course available to pre-order now.

who was that?

A highly engaging guessing game with intriguing cutouts and interactive page turns that keep readers on their toes and test their short-term memory.  A fun way to sharpen observational skills and pinpoint those small, slight details that sometimes make all the difference. 😉

Who Was That? was cleverly penned and illustrated by Olivier Tallec and published by Chronicle Books. Out soon on March 6 and available for pre-order now.

Florette

Mae and her family have moved to a big crowded city and she longs for the garden she left behind.  Her attempts to create a new version of her beloved green space are foiled one by one.  She longs to “chase butterflies in the wavy grass” again.  One day she encounters a leafy green forest in the midst of her gray city and with it, an opportunity.  A charming story about dealing positively with inevitable change and “growing where you’re planted.” Anna Walker’s watercolors are vibrant and incredibly lovely, and Florette is an absolute delight.

Florette was written and illustrated by Anna Walker and published by HMH Books for Young Readers. Out soon on February 20!