goldfish on vacation

A strangely delightful and unexpected tale about one hot summer in the city, three children and their three goldfish.  Who are joined by a whole lot more children and their goldfish.  When you can’t leave the city for a vacation...there’s only one thing to do.  It’s a sunny, lighthearted story with a nostalgic nod to simpler, more carefree times that has us pining for summer warmth...and an unusual vacation!

Goldfish on Vacation was written by Sally Lloyd-Jones, illustrated by Leo Espinosa and published by Schwartz & Wade.

A Storytelling of Ravens

An exuberant, spry palette comes together with a clever narrative to look at the nuances of collective nouns in A STORYTELLING OF RAVENS.  Brilliant and curious in too many ways, this one is for linguists, big and small.  And warning — you’ll want to look up the etymology of all of these quirky names once you put this one down.

A STORYTELLING OF RAVENS was written by Kyle Lukoff, illustrated by Natalie Nelson and published by Groundwood Books.  It’s due out on May 1.

Read More

Hello Lighthouse

Hello Lighthouse | Avery & Augustine
Hello Lighthouse | Avery & Augustine
Hello Lighthouse | Avery & Augustine

This book’s unique trim size is perfect for the story inside it—the life of a lighthouse “on the highest rock of a tiny island at the edge of the world” and its diligent keeper.  He tends to the light from sunset to sunrise, never letting it go out. Every small and big event that transpires, he faithfully records in his logbook.  Sophie Blackall’s depictions of the ocean are dramatic, moving and captivating.  It’s far and away one of the loveliest books published this year, both in art and sentiment.

HELLO LIGHTHOUSE was written and illustrated by Sophie Blackall and published by Little Brown Books for Young Readers.  It’ll be out very soon on April 10.

The Great Chicken Escape

The Great Chicken Escape | Avery and Augustine

 

A brood of chickens see their opportunity for a getaway and seize the day.  They flee the coop and head out for a good wander through the forested terrain of their island home.  It’s a very spare, charming text and as always, Nikki McClure’s cut-paper art is quietly whimsical, joyful and unique.  We’ve always appreciated her point of a view as an artist living in the the Pacific Northwest, very much in touch with the ebb and flow of the wild, beautiful life there.  An author’s note recounts Nikki’s experience living with “a small group of monastics on Spruce Island, Alaska” and the event that inspired this wonderful story.

The Great Chicken Escape was written and illustrated by Nikki McClure and published by Cameron Kids.  It’ll be out soon on April 24 and is available to pre-order now.

Rooster Summer

Rooster Summer | Avery and Augustine
Rooster Summer | Avery and Augustine
Rooster Summer | Avery and Augustine

A brother and sister spend the summer at their grandparents’ farm, making their daily rounds hunting for eggs in the chicken coop, “barking the cows home,” and spending some quality time with the watermelon in their grandmother’s garden.  Their circle of companions during this “rooster summer” includes Ginger-Tea the farm dog, Seed-Sack the mule and a rooster named Rexter.

Written in verse, this special collection of stories evokes the warm, wild and carefree cadences of summer and are based on poet Robert Heidbreder’s childhood experiences.  Paired with Madeline Kloepper’s unique art with its charming, vintage quality and energetic line, these poems make for a humorous and lively read-aloud, any season of the year.

Rooster Summer was written by Robert Heidbreder, illustrated by Madeline Kloepper and published by Groundwood Books.