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Read It Now on NetGalley!
Fans of the “Wolfstongue Saga,” rejoice! Sam Thompson’s THE FOREST YET TO COME will arrive soon–and is already available for you on NetGalley. Published by Little Island Books and with the author recognized by USBBY as an award-winner, this episode takes readers back into the walled city protected from the endless Forest beyond. the Forest is filled with savage wolves. The human settlement stays safe inside its walls…until one day a stranger named Reynard arrives. Reynard: trickster, storyteller, secret-keeper. There are worse things in the world than wolves, and the fox has one final trick to play. Make sure you’re ready to share this exciting tale with middle grade readers!
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Our Latest Article
- Celebrate Spring with Little Bookworms
The approach of the Spring Equinox offers us a chance to get warmed up for our gardens coming back to life! Spring brings a veritable smorgasbord of inspiration in books for young readers, from the science of a seed becoming a blossoming garden, to the hands-on crafting of an origami flower, to a a field guide that masterfully combines fact with oversized paintings. For teachers and caregivers striving to plant a seed that will blossom into a love of reading, these stories will do just that.
Little ones will be captivated by the interactive cut-outs and flaps scattered throughout Post Wave’s Little Seed. Hector Dexet’s engaging storytelling leads readers on a journey alongside a seed as it grows into a beautiful flower, teaching young readers how plants grow and thrive while celebrating the interconnectedness of all living things.
Wait Like a Seed, published by Pajama Press, follows two young children as they explore the lifecycle of a milkweed plant, from seed to new buds to flower. Author Erin Alladin’s lyrical text and illustrator Tara Anderson’s nostalgic style invites young and old alike to celebrate the world around them, complete with backmatter explaining the connection between milkweed and monarch butterflies, fun facts about monarch migration, and a helpful glossary!
Shyala Smith’s The Language of Flowers, illustrated by Aaron Asis and published by Lantana, follows little Juhi as she learns all about the language of flowers in her Appa’s shop. This story combines the various meanings of flowers, as taught to Juhi by her father—irises for hugs and kisses, daffodils to welcome a new baby—with a gentle introduction to self-expression and processing grief as Juhi puts together a bouquet for a favorite customer who has passed away.
From pattern designer and illustrator Clover Robin, Blossom Origami, published by Nosy Crow, is ideal for origami fans of all ages. In lieu of planting real flowers, caregivers and their little ones can follow step-by-step instructions to create 13 different plants and flowers using the included pull-out sheets of beautifully patterned origami paper. Poems accompany the clear and beautifully illustrated instructions for readers of all ages!
Gardening isn’t limited to flowers, either! How Do Seeds Grow Into Gardens?: A Hands-On Book About Gardening (Flowerpot) takes readers on an adventure that explores popular vegetables, the plant life cycle, unique gardening methods, and much more. Simple diagrams, Srimalie Bassani’s hilarious illustrations, and Clayton Tobias Grider’s engaging text make this nonfiction title fun for all ages.
The fifth installment of Jacqueline Briggs’ “Food Heroes” series introduces readers to Eva Sommaripa, who founded Eva’s Garden in South Dartmouth, Massachusetts more than 50 years ago, in Farmer Eva’s Green Garden Life. This mini-farm continues to introduce culinary herbs, greens, flowers, and wild foraged goods to area chefs and eaters. The picture book biography is illustrated in realistic, muted tones by Christy Hale, published by Readers to Eaters and is also available in audiobook format narrated by Eva Kaminsky and published by Live Oak Media. Bookworms, whether visual readers or listeners, will learn how Ms. Sommaripa experiments with wild edibles and parts of plants that are not well known, and how she explores microbes in the “brown underground” that make growing and eating healthier for humans and our planet. With an afterword from the gardener herself in both the print and audio editions, as well as a recipe for growing your very own pea shoots, readers will be itching to start a garden of their very own!
Mary Auld’s Flying Fluffy Seed, published by Red Comet Press, allows young readers to follow along with the journey of a dandelion seed, blown by the wind in search of the perfect place to grow. Readers will learn how it grows, protects itself from frost, and becomes a food source for animals, exploring its impact on the meadow ecosystem around it. Alongside Dawn Cooper’s delightful illustrations are facts about germination, photosynthesis, seed dispersal, parts of a plant, and food chains, ending with a fold-out map that will delight readers of all ages.
Acclaimed botanical artist Pavlina Kourkova introduces readers to 21 common flowers in The Souls of Flowers, published by Albatros. Vibrant watercolor illustrations of blooms that can be found in readers’ own gardens are paired with information about the plant, its origins, meaning in the language of flowers, and so much more. Artistic adults and children alike will be captivated by the full-page illustrations, while the accompanying information will draw in more history or science-minded young readers.
These books serve as a fantastic way to teach children about the world around us, connecting topics like science and emotions and art to the impact even the tiniest seeds can have.