CHILDREN'S
Released: Jan. 3, 2012
"This primer on friendship wrapped in hijinks is paced for maximum pleasure. (Picture book. 3-7)"
In this variant of "The City Mouse and the Country Mouse," two dragons learn to appreciate each other's talents and milieus.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Jan. 17, 2012
"Utterly believable, this bittersweet story, complete with an author's note identifying the real Ivan, will inspire a new generation of advocates. (author's note) (Fiction. 8-12)"
How Ivan confronts his harrowing past yet stays true to his nature exemplifies everything youngsters need to know about courage.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: March 1, 2012
"Just label it F for funny. (Picture book. 4-6)"
CHILDREN'S
Released: March 13, 2012
"A dazzlingly poetic photo album of the insect world for tots on up. (Picture book. 2 & up)"
CHILDREN'S
Released: April 1, 2012
"From the beaver's coat to the tiger lily's petals to the snakeskin, this fish tale is a keeper. (Picture book/early reader. 4-8)"
Take a conventional story, add a new art technique--and voilà, a striking picture book is born.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: May 1, 2012
"Beautifully benign illustrations conjure powerful familial feelings. (Picture book. 3-6)"
Who wouldn't want to put on a monster show in a big, cardboard box or pop bubble wrap at rapid-fire speed?
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CHILDREN'S
Released: May 8, 2012
"Ready or not! Here comes a book worth finding. (Picture book. 2-5) "
Expert hide-and-seekers will hear the hushed scuttles and feel the quickened pulses as a group of animals plays a rain forest game of hide-and-seek.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: May 15, 2012
"Indian folk art triumphantly meets 17th-century English trick verse in this sophisticated graphic venture fit for middle graders on up. (Picture book/poetry. 10 & up)"
Creative worlds collude and collide in this contemporary rendering of a well-known 17th-century English poem.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: June 1, 2012
"Soothing and satisfying; perfect for reading on the porch on a summer evening, preferably next to a dog. (Picture book. 3-7)"
Stories of patiently waiting dogs have been around for just about forever, or at least since Homer wrote about faithful Argos recognizing Odysseus after a 20-year absence. In Cooper's touching story, the patient pup is an aging yellow Lab named Homer, whose love for his family is as deep and wide as the ocean outside their cottage.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: June 5, 2012
Vernon is both a toad and a forager for found objects. Ambling along with his latest haul, he chances upon a creature he seeks to know and then to help.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: June 18, 2012
"How extraordinary to visit Mars in Spirit; readers will be very glad of the Opportunity. (sources, chapter notes, glossary, index) (Nonfiction. 10-14)"
What's it like to explore Mars? Did life ever exist on Earth's red neighbor? To find out, readers need only soar along with this enthralling account of the adventures of two rovers designed to seek evidence on Mars of water that could have once supported life.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: July 10, 2012
"A luminous celebration of family, food and home. (Picture book. 4-9)"
Day by day, brick by brick, a community is built in this winning tribute to fellowship and family.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Aug. 21, 2012
"The joyful clarity of both vision and execution thrills. (notes on 22 artists referenced) (Picture book. 3-7)"
CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 1, 2012
"Utterly winning. (Fiction. 7-9)"
A warmhearted beginning to a new chapter-book series delights from the first few sentences.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 1, 2012
"Smart and accessible, charming and witty, this is one for educators and adventurers alike. (Picture book. 3-5)"
CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 1, 2012
"A doll of a beginning reader. (Early reader. 5-7)"
Following
Penny and Her Song (2012), Henkes delivers an even stronger slice of anthropomorphic mouse life for beginning readers.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 1, 2012
"An excellent addition to both the folk tale genre and the early-reader shelf. (Folk tale/early reader. 4-7)"
CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 4, 2012
"The Steads' work adopts a folkloric approach to cooperative relationships; the affectionately rendered animals that stand in for humans convey a nurturing respect for child readers. (Picture book. 3-7)"
Within a gentle tale of hibernation and renewal, the Steads' second collaboration (after Caldecott-winning
A Sick Day for Amos McGee) explores a second, internal theme: the nature of the storytelling narrative itself.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 11, 2012
"A spectacular collection--"And," the editor notes with remarkable understatement, "the pictures are pretty nice too!" (Poetry. 7-12)"
Gathered by the United States children's poet laureate, 200 (mostly) lighthearted poems from the likes of Basho and Ben Franklin, Leadbelly, Jack Prelutsky and Joyce Sidman share space with eye-popping animal photographs.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 11, 2012
"Oh, yes! This is a terrific new picture book. (Picture book. 2-6)"
With text that begs to be read aloud and sumptuous illustrations made by a master printmaker, this picture book reads like an instant classic.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Sept. 11, 2012
"A visual stunner. (Picture book. 4-7)"
In this splendid retelling of Aesop's familiar fable, a country mouse leaves his bucolic existence to sample the glitz and glam of the city, only to discover there's absolutely no place like home.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 1, 2012
"Terrifying, life-affirming and memorable. (author's note, bibliography) (Adventure. 10-14)"
CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 2, 2012
"There is much to enjoy here, and the illustrations and allusions beg for repeat readings. (Picture book. 4-8)"
Readers check in on Mr. Wolf every hour of his birthday, but it seems like the poor guy just can't catch a break on his special day.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 9, 2012
"Read unhurried, in a lap, again and again. (Picture book. 4-7) "
This gem about canine siblings goes from peaceful routine to funny mayhem to erroneous bereavement--and relief.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Oct. 9, 2012
"Hats off! (Picture book. 4-8)"
Klassen combines spare text and art to deliver no small measure of laughs in another darkly comic haberdashery whodunit.
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CHILDREN'S
Released: Nov. 1, 2012
"Be forewarned: Youngsters will find Charley as irresistible as Henry does and will no doubt beg for puppies of their own. (Picture book. 4-8)"
The tenderness a child feels for his new puppy seeps from the pages of a book sure to be instantly beloved.
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