Help young readers become young writers with this sweet picture book about a child finding the words to tell his own story! If you’ve ever tried to write a story of your own, you know it’s not as easy as it looks. Words get tangled, pencils get broken, piles of pages get crumpled up. It’s so much easier just to read all the lovely stories other people have written. . . . But their stories aren’t your stories, and your tale is worth telling. A mostly empty page Then another. And still another. There are squiggles. There are doodles. But the words won't come. With the gentle reassurance of experience, two-time SCBWI Golden Kite Award Winner Deborah Hopkinson writes a story that encourages persistence, and celebrates the strength of every child’s unique voice and the story they have to tell. Charming illustrations by Hadley Hooper detail the child’s efforts-- and the stroke of inspiration that helps him get going. This is the perfect picture book for kids who love stories and have big ideas of their own. Young readers who don’t know where to start will be encouraged by the gentle humor, and a page of story-starting ideas offers the opportunity to expand the experience beyond the book. A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection A CCBC Choice

The slightly true narrative of how a brave pioneer father brought apples, pears, plums, grapes, and cherries (and children) across the plains. Apples, ho! When Papa decides to pull up roots and move from Iowa to Oregon, he can’t bear to leave his precious apple trees behind. Or his peaches, plums, grapes, cherries, and pears. Oh, and he takes his family along too. But the trail is cruel. First there’s a river to cross that’s wider than Texas, then there are hailstones as big as plums, and then there’s even a drought, sure to crisp the cherries. Luckily Delicious (the nonedible apple of Daddy’s eye) won’t let anything stop her father’s darling saps from tasting the sweet Oregon soil. A hilarious tall tale from the team that brought you Fannie in the Kitchen that’s loosely based on the life of a real fruiting pioneer.

This funny, touching picture book celebrates the difference a good teacher can make. Written as a thank-you note to a special teacher from the student who never forgot her, this moving story makes a great classroom read-aloud, and a perfect back-to-school gift for students and teachers! Dear Teacher, Whenever I had something to tell you, I tugged on your shirt and whispered in your ear. This time I’m writing a letter. So begins this heartfelt picture book about a girl who prefers running and jumping to listening and learning—and the teacher who gently inspires her. From stomping through creeks on a field trip to pretending to choke when called upon to read aloud, this book’s young heroine would be a challenge to any teacher. But this teacher isn’t just any teacher. By listening carefully and knowing just the right thing to say, she quickly learns that the girl’s unruly behavior is due to her struggles with reading. And at the very end, we learn what this former student is now: a teacher herself. From award winning author Deborah Hopkinson and acclaimed illustrator Nancy Carpenter, this picture book is made to be treasured by both those who teach and those who learn.

Susan B. Anthony was taught that girls and women could do anything boys and men could do--if only they were allowed. She fought for a woman's right to own property, hold down a job, and, more importantly, vote. Full color.

Inspired by the life of pioneering female baseball player Alta Weiss, and dramatized by Terry Widener’s bold illustrations, Girl Wonder tells the unforgettable story of a true American original. Alta Weiss was born to play baseball, simple as that. From the age of two, when she hurls a corncob at a pesky tomcat, folks in her small Ohio town know one thing for sure: She may be a girl, but she’s got some arm. When she’s seventeen, Alta hears about a semipro team, the Independents. Here’s her big chance! But one look at Alta’s long skirts tells Coach all he needs to know—girls can’t play baseball! But faster than you can say “strike out,” Alta proves him wrong: Girls can play baseball!

Westward Ho! Congress has ruled that settlers in Kansas Territory will decide whether Kansas will enter the Union as a free or a slave state. Charlie Keller's papa is an abolitionist, and he's moving the family to Kansas so he can cast his vote for freedom. Papa and Momma, big sister Ida Jane, even baby Sophie, seem excited about being pioneers -- but not Charlie. Why couldn't they stay back home in Massachusetts with Grandpa and with Charlie's beloved old dog, Danny, who is too old to make the trip? Turning the wild Kansas prairie into a farm is hard work, filled with worries and danger. Will Kansas ever feel like home to Charlie?

Step into the quiet magic of this celebration of summer nighttime and the mystery of a world lit differently by the moon. On a summer night, the world is still. Even the crickets think it’s too hot to sing. But all at once, a girl wakes. In the kitchen, the cat rolls onto its soft paws. A neighbor’s small white dog yaps, a brown rabbit peeks from a hedge, and the leaves of a cherry tree begin to stir in the breeze. Readers witness and wonder: Who has woken them all? In this soothing bedtime story, the quiet of a warm summer night is brought to vivid, magical life with the soft steps of bare feet, the padding of paws, and the bright, golden light of the moon. One by one, each creature is roused and then gently returned to sleep in a lovely and lyrical exploration of wakefulness, restfulness, and the mysterious calm of the night. PERFECT FOR BEDTIME . . . OR ANYTIME: This beautifully illustrated children's book is ideal for soothing young readers to sleep—or encouraging a contemplative break in an energetic day. The story’s engagement with the wonders of nighttime will help children feel comforted by the dark and the prospect of going to sleep rather than afraid of them. READ-ALOUD READINESS: With its lyricism and short refrains, this gentle story is just right for sharing. CONNECTION TO NATURE: This magical book gradually reveals the moon as a character as it wakes girl, cat, dog, rabbit, tree, air, and cloud in turn—and connects them to one another through the welcoming quiet and wonder of a world gilded by moonlight. THE POWER OF SLOWING DOWN: Picture books are often wonderful excuses to slow down and share a moment of gentleness in kids' (and parents') busy lives; this book feels like a deep breath and offers a chance to wonder and reflect. Perfect for: Kids who can't sleep on hot summer nights Parents, grandparents, and caregivers seeking a sweet bedtime book Librarians and storytime leaders looking for a summer read-aloud Gift givers who want to share a beautiful, lyrical book with someone special Readers of such classic bedtime stories for kids as Goodnight Moon and The Going to Bed Book

An inspiring tale of creativity and determination on the Underground Railroad from Coretta Scott King Award winner James Ransome and acclaimed author Deborah Hopkinson. Clara, a slave and seamstress on Home Plantation, dreams of freedom—not just for herself, but for her family and friends. When she overhears a conversation about the Underground Railroad, she has a flash of inspiration. Using scraps of cloth from her work in the Big House and scraps of information gathered from other slaves, she fashions a map that the master would never even recognize. . . . From the award-winning author-illustrator team of Deborah Hopkinson and James Ransome, this fictional tale of the Underground Railroad continues to inspire young readers 25 years after its original publication. "Inspiring." —The New York Times "A triumph of the human spirit." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

Klondike or bust! Stowing away on the steamer Al-Ki was only the beginning of Davey's daring quest to find his uncle in the Klondike. Now he's camping in the rough-and-tumble town of Skagway, working for his photographer friend Erik Larsen, and preparing for his next challenge -- the steep, treacherous, hundreds-of-miles-long Chilkoot Trail. When Erik falls ill on the trail, Davey fears he will not be able to go on -- until he gets help from a surprising ally.

STORMS ARE BREWING When Charlie and Papa arrive in Lawrence for supplies, they find the bustling Kansas town threatened by border ruffians from proslave Missouri. Papa decides to remain behind with other free-soil settlers to defend the town, so Charlie must drive the wagon back to the family's isolated claim by himself. At home a different sort of storm is brewing -- gray skies, bitter cold, and vicious winds warn that a prairie blizzard is coming. Charlie is always getting into trouble for daydreaming and forgetting his chores. Now he has to show he's grown-up enough to help Momma, his sisters, and his newborn baby brother survive in their tiny cabin in the snow.