New Releases by Jane Yolen

The largest single anthology of Jane Yolen''s poetry, containing more than one hundred poems for all occasions—with fun black-and-white art throughout. Our Kitchen Smells of mornings, blueberry muffins, hot chocolate, tea. It smells of bacon and of eggs. It smells of family. For the first time, legendary author Jane Yolen gathers the largest single anthology of her poetry celebrating childhood. At home or at school, playing sports or practicing music, enjoying the holidays or delighting in each season, Jane Yolen’s masterful collection shows just how lively it is to be a kid. With whimsical artwork by Cathrin Peterslund, this collection of more than one hundred poems is a classic that children are sure to return to again and again.

The Giants go camping in the second book about the huge-hearted family from the bestselling and beloved team Jane Yolen and Tomie dePaola in this series for Aladdin QUIX, a line of fun-to-read, short chapter books. Dazzle, Grizzle, Grub, Grab, and Dab share the fun and surprises of a camping trip to the mountains.

From the bestselling and beloved team Jane Yolen and Tomie dePaola come the adventures of a family of hilarious and huge-hearted Giants in this series for Aladdin QUIX, a line of fun-to-read, short chapter books. Meet Dazzle, Grizzle, Grub, Grab, and Dab, a family of giants who decide a farm would be the best place for them to live. Will this huge-hearted group be able call Fe-Fi-Fo Farm home sweet home?

In this collection of poems, noted children''s poet Jane Yolen takes readers on an expedition underground, exploring everything from animal burrows and human creations, like subways, near the surface—to ancient cities and fossils, lower down—to caves, magma, and Earth''s tectonic plates, deeper still below our feet. At the same time, in Josée Masse''s rich art, a girl and boy, accompanied by several animals, go on a fantastic underground journey. This book contains science, poetry, and an adventure story all rolled into one. But it''s also more than that: In these poems we see that beneath us are the past, present, future—history, truth, and story. This thought-provoking collection will evoke a sense of wonder and awe in readers, as they discover the mysterious world underneath us.

In this wondrous book by award-winning fantasy author Jane Yolen and award-winning fantasy illustrator Doug Keith, two children and a dog explore the coves and caves of a tiny island. Under the watchful eye of Grandpa, the kids are thrilled to discover a huge surprise: the craggy rocks, tufted grass, and wind-swept trees on Giant Island are much more than they seem. Stunning watercolor illustrations with a timeless, mythical feel depict the island above and below the water, as it rises and sinks. Perceptive young readers may giggle or gasp when they realize that the entire island is a giant, and then will revel in knowing the giant secret that the main characters have yet to discover. Jane Yolen''s text entrances readers with hints of age-old magic, and pays tribute to mystery, curiosity, and friendship. Doug Keith''s paintings invite readers to match the shiny rocks to the giant''s eyes, the tunnel to his ears, and the trees and dripping water plants to his hair. Are the kids the first to learn the secret of Giant Island, or has Grandpa brought them here to discover for themselves what he discovered many years before? Visit Giant Island, where fantastical adventures await.

Experience a magical story of ele-friendship and one disappearing elephant''s ele-fate. Discover the unlikely—and entirely unforgettable—friendship between Flora, an elephant calf stolen from her African home, and David, the circus impresario and magician who adopts, trains, and ultimately liberates her, in this tale freely inspired by actual events. With a minimum of language—only 22 words in all—but a maximum of inventive ele-fantabulous wordplay, Jane Yolen deftly reimagines this initially tentative but ultimately unconditional relationship between a man and an elephant. Brett Helquist not only lovingly illuminates the tale with all the excitement and tension, mystery and color of a vintage circus poster but also fully captures the subtle range of emotions of a remarkable and enduring ele-friendship. FRIENDSHIP TALE: There''s endless fascination with the deep bond of friendship that can grow between wild animals and humans. This spectacular narrative is based on the true story of Flora the elephant, which can be read in the back of the book. READ-TOGETHER WHIMSY AND WIT: A simple text in which every word starts with ELE- makes this a great read-aloud and guessing game that will have children completing the whimsical text. EVERYONE LOVES ELEPHANTS: From Babar to Elmer, elephants have been icons of children''s literature and continue to be one of the most popular animals featured in contemporary children''s books. This book is perfect for Elephant-fans of all ages! Perfect for: • Lovers of animal friendship stories • Grandparents • Parents • The myriad fans of Jane Yolen • Teachers and educators • Librarians

A powerful celebration of libraries from master storyteller Jane Yolen. Benjamin Franklin introduces his son Billy to the Leather Apron Club, where it''s love at first page. When Billy''s father Benjamin Franklin announces that Billy and his lazy cousin James will soon have a tutor, Billy is initially dismayed. But his tutor awakens him to the power of story and books, and when Billy accompanies his father to the Leather Apron Club (which Franklin started in 1727), he decides to do more with his education and life. Best-selling author Jane Yolen introduces readers to the Leather Apron Club. Not only was the Club the first successful lending library in the United States--it also exists to this day as the Library Company of Philadelphia! Careful readers will notice that the story cleverly incorporates famous sayings from Ben Franklin''s Poor Richard''s Almanack, underscoring the lasting impact of words.

Becca refuses to try any news foods, until her family persuades her that Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is a time to try something new. While dad suggests shaving off his mustache for a new look, and mom thinks she''ll take up knitting as a new project, Becca decides she''s ready to try something new, too!

Celebrate girl power in this exuberant, mischievously illustrated picture book that shows little princesses that they can be whoever they want to be! Not all princesses dress in pink. Some play in bright red socks that stink, blue team jerseys that don’t quite fit, accessorized with a baseball mitt, and a sparkly crown! Princesses come in all kinds. Some jump in mud puddles and climb trees, play sports and make messes—all while wearing their tiaras! Not every girl has a passion for pink, but all young ladies will love this empowering affirmation of their importance and unlimited potential.

In this spine-tingling book from the nonfiction An Unsolved Mystery from History picture book series, journey to colonial America and discover the enduring mystery of the missing Roanoke Colony. In 1587 John White was chosen by Sir Walter Raleigh to lead a new colony at Roanoke off the Atlantic coast. After bringing many men, women, and children to the new land, White went back to England to gather supplies for the long winter. But when he finally returned to the fort almost three years later, he found that all of the colonists had vanished. The only signs of life left were the letters CRO carved into a tree and the word CROATOAN carved into one of the fort’s posts. Did the Spanish army capture the colonists? Did the colonists get in a battle with the native people—or join them? Did they try to follow John White to England and get lost at sea? Become a detective, study the clues, and see if you can help solve this chilling mystery from history!

In this spooky book from the nonfiction An Unsolved Mystery from History picture book series, tragedy strikes Salem, Massachusetts, in 1692 as the community is torn apart by accusations of witchcraft. When a group of girls came down with a horrible, mysterious bout of illness, they pointed the finger at people in their community they claimed were witches. Soon, the whole town was convinced they were in danger from supernatural forces. Today, we have details about the accusations, trials, and those who lost their lives, but the question remains: What caused the mass hysteria? Become a detective, study the clues, and see if you can help solve this chilling mystery from history!

In this spooky book from the nonfiction An Unsolved Mystery from History picture book series, set off on the high seas to a ghost ship left completely abandoned and adrift on the waves. The Mary Celeste was discovered adrift on the open sea by another ship in 1872—with no sign of captain or crew. What happened? Did the crew mutiny? Were they attacked by pirates? Caught in a storm? No one ever found out. Inside this book are the clues that were left behind and the theories of what people think happened aboard that ship. Become a detective, study the clues, and see if you can help solve this chilling mystery from history!

From critically acclaimed and prolific author Jane Yolen comes a hilarious Level 2 Ready-to-Read. Get ready for the Interrupting Cow to meet the Chicken Crossing the Road! Why did the chicken cross the road? Was it to get to the other side...or was there more to the story? Read this hilarious book and see what happens when the Interrupting Cow meets the famous Chicken Crossing the Road!

A tornado, a blizzard, a forest fire, and a hurricane are met, in turn, with resilience and awe in this depiction of nature''s power and our own. In the face of our shifting climate, young children everywhere are finding themselves subject to unfamiliar and often frightening extreme weather. Beloved author Jane Yolen and her daughter Heidi Stemple address four distinct weather emergencies (a tornado, a blizzard, a forest fire, and a hurricane) with warm family stories of finding the joy in preparedness and resilience. Their honest reassurance leaves readers with the message: nature is powerful, but you are powerful, too. Illustrated in rich environmental tones and featuring additional information about storms in the back, this book educates, comforts, and empowers young readers in stormy or sunny weather, and all the weather in between.

From critically acclaimed and prolific author Jane Yolen comes a colorful Level 1 Ready-to-Read story all about a fish with pre-test jitters! There is a test at school today, and the fish’s tummy is whirling. Just like two currents, angry and swirling! To make matters worse, his regular teacher has been replaced by a mean-looking substitute teacher. What will happen with the test now? Beginning readers can follow along as the fish overcomes his nerves!

A lyrical kid-friendly telling of the famous Bible story of baby Moses in his basket being set on the River Nile by big sister Miriam, who continues to watch over him as he becomes the Prince of Egypt

"Silex and his assistant Craig must prevent one of the Devil''s lieutenants from overtaking both the underworld and Earth"--

From acclaimed, prolific author Jane Yolen comes a Level 1 Ready-to-Read story bursting with all the excitement and a little bit of the nervousness that color a fish’s first day at a new school. I look around. What do I see? Another fish who’s just like me! A little scared. A little new. All alone and feeling blue. Starting at a new school is never easy, but it can also be really exciting. Beginning readers can follow along as one intrepid little fish goes through the many emotions associated with a new school experience!

Jane Yolen, the bestselling and award-winning author of The Devil''s Arithmetic, returns to World War II and the Holocaust with this timely and necessary novel. It''s 1942 in Poland, and the world is coming to pieces. At least that''s how it seems to Chaim and Gittel, twins whose lives feel like a fairy tale torn apart, with evil witches, forbidden forests, and dangerous ovens looming on the horizon. But in all darkness there is light, and the twins find it through Chaim''s poetry and the love they have for each other. Like the bright flame of a Yahrzeit candle, his words become a beacon of memory so that the children and grandchildren of survivors will never forget the atrocities that happened during the Holocaust. Filled with brutality and despair, this is also a story of poetry and strength, in which a brother and sister lose everything but each other. Nearly thirty years after the publication of her award-winning and bestselling The Devil''s Arithmetic and Briar Rose, Yolen once again returns to World War II and captivates her readers with the authenticity and power of her words. Perfect for fans of Markus Zuzak''s The Book Thief and Ruta Sepetys''s Salt to the Sea.

Collecting together the critically acclaimed The Book of Ballads and Sagas series by the legendary fantasy artist Charles Vess. The award-winning compendium of English, Irish and Scottish fairy tales and folklore returns to print in a sumptuous new collection featuring stories written by multi-award winning author Neil Gaiman (‘Sandman’, ‘Coraline’, and ‘Stardust’), Eisner and Harvey Award-winning cartoonish Jeff Smith (‘Bone’), Aurora award-winning author Charles De Lint, New York Times Bestseller Sharyn McCrumb, Elaine Lee (‘Starstruck’) and acclaimed children’s writer Jane Yolen. This new collection also includes, for the first time since its original publication, back in 1995, Vess’ unfinished epic saga ‘Skade’, and includes an additional 10 pages of artwork that have never been seen before. “Each ballad is a little gem sparkling with restored vitality. It is all here: lust and humor, ghosts and demons, passion and terror, all the things that keep us up at night. What more could the fantasy reader desire?” – SciFi Dimensions “Here Vess reaches the peak of his art, standing proudly with the 19th and early 20th century illustrators who influence him.” – Publishers Weekly “A cloth of rare delight, rich with the perfume of the forest and its graces.” – James Gurney, author of Dinotopia

“This collection is Jane Yolen at her best. This is magic.”—Patricia C. Wrede, author of the Enchanted Forest Chronicles Fantasy icon Jane Yolen (The Devil’s Arithmetic, Briar Rose, Sister Emily’s Lightship) is adored by generations of readers of all ages. Now she triumphantly returns with this inspired gathering of fractured fairy tales and legends. Yolen breaks open the classics to reveal their crystalline secrets: a philosophical bridge that misses its troll, a spinner of straw as a falsely accused moneylender, the villainous wolf adjusting poorly to retirement. Each of these offerings features a new author note and original poem, illuminating tales that are old, new, and brilliantly refined.

Finding Baba Yaga is a mythic yet timely novel-in-verse by the beloved and prolific New York Times bestselling author and poet Jane Yolen, “the Hans Christian Andersen of America” (Newsweek). A young woman discovers the power to speak up and take control of her fate—a theme that has never been more timely than it is now... You think you know this story. You do not. A harsh, controlling father. A quiescent mother. A house that feels like anything but a home. Natasha gathers the strength to leave, and comes upon a little house in the wood: A house that walks about on chicken feet and is inhabited by a fairy tale witch. In finding Baba Yaga, Natasha finds her voice, her power, herself.... "Jane Yolen is a phenomenon: a poet and a mythmaker, who understands how old stories can tell us new things. We are lucky to have her."—Neil Gaiman At the Publisher''s request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Where do monsters go to school? Monster Academy! And anything can happen when your teacher is Miss Mummy. It''s not like any other school, but if you''re a little monster, you''ll fit right in! Come along with Principal Frank N. Stein into a bright, energetic classroom where the class pet is a big purple boa constrictor, recess is in a swamp, and class bats help build a Creepy Castle in the Monster Maker''s Lab. When Tornado Jo, a new student, roars into class, a storm is brewing. Who could ever guess that her new best friend will be a vampire, and she''ll help him find his missing fang? Award-winning writer Jane Yolen teams up with her daughter, Heidi, to present colorful monster children who have familiar human issues such as making friends and learning to help others. In a final twist, Tornado Jo -- the worst behaved student -- is revealed to be an out-of-control human, not a monster after all. Oh, no! Monsters are more afraid of humans than we are of them! Everybody runs! Laugh-aloud humor is enhanced by John McKinley''s highly imaginative illustrations loaded with fun and hidden jokes tucked into the art. An irresistible romp from start to finish!

Old Testament stories center around men. Leaders, prophets, kings, and priests are all male. But hidden in the background are strong-willed, daring females. Jane Yolen and Barbara Diamond Goldin''s masterful retellings pairs eloquent profiles with stunning art, answering one question: What makes these women heroes? From first woman, Eve, to Deborah the judge, to Queen Esther, savior of her people, females in the Hebrew bible are resourceful and courageous. Each chapter is devoted to a single story with text complemented by sidebars, known in Jewish tradition as "midrashim," that pose questions, provide more information, and include nondenominational interpretations. "A much-needed, thoughtful updating of Bible stories about women" — Kirkus Reviews (STARRED REVIEW) "A solid source of study and reflection for libraries with religious patrons" — School Library Journal "Each chapter features a lovely full-page piece of artwork" — Booklist

A collection of thirty shareable fairy tales, folk tales, and fables from around the world that includes magic tales, homey tales, animal tales, and two tales by Jane Yolen.

Poems framed as epitaphs for extinct prehistoric animals hit the proverbial (coffin) nail on the head in this darkly humorous collection from expert poets Jane Yolen and J. Patrick Lewis. Macabre, ironic, and witty epitaphs share how prehistoric creatures like the terror bird, the woolly mammoth, and the T-rex met their demise. The ever-entertaining J. Patrick Lewis and the inimitable Jane Yolen offer a collection organized by era, with posthumous poems paired with short secondary text providing additional, factual information about each creature.

A warrior and her dark sister join forces to dismantle and remake their embattled world in this epic fantasy saga from a Nebula Award–winning author. One of fantasy fiction’s preeminent practitioners, Jane Yolen creates a world and mythology that are richly enthralling and vibrantly alive in this acclaimed trilogy. Sister Light, Sister Dark: Three-times orphaned and raised secretly by the acolytes of the goddess Alta, the child Jenna studies the ways of the warrior in preparation for the day that has been prophesied. For she may well be the goddess reborn who, with the aid of Skada—her mirror twin who can reveal herself only in darkness—is fated to bring devastation to the world. White Jenna: Grown to young womanhood, the warrior Jenna offers her allegiance to the rightful king of the Dales—and her heart to his brother, Carum—joining the fight against the malevolent usurper Kalas. But the powerful despot appears unstoppable, dedicated to the destruction of the worshippers of Alta, the society of women in which the orphaned Jenna was lovingly raised. The One-Armed Queen: Having fulfilled an ancient prophecy, the Queen of the Dales must now keep her faltering kingdom safe from a looming terror, and prepare her chosen successor—a one-armed orphan girl she discovered on the battlefield—for the grim responsibilities of rule. A sweeping adventure of destiny, peril, magic, and romance, The Great Alta Saga is a magnificent feat of storytelling that ingeniously blends world-building, myth, poetry, and song.

Get up close and personal with alligators in all their tooth-filled glory in this collection of poems by New York Times bestselling author Jane Yolen. Rhymes and rhythms reflect on how alligators hunt, keep warm, and care for young. Stunning, large-scale photographs zoom in on these mighty hunters, while fun fact boxes accompany the poetry, providing details that are sure to pique young readers'' curiosity.

A warrior woman and her dark twin are destined to remake the world in this “powerful” tale, the first in a trilogy by a World Fantasy Award winner (Newsweek). Legend foretold the child named Jenna, who was three-times orphaned before she could crawl, a fate that would leave her in the hands of women who worshipped the benevolent goddess Great Alta. In this world without men, Jenna comes of age, learning quickly the skills of close combat. But her most powerful gift lies elsewhere: a mirror sister who emerges only in the darkness—a twin named Skada—and shares the soul of the young, white-haired warrior who might well be the goddess reborn. But if Jenna is, in truth, the one whose coming is awaited, there is cause for great alarm among those who rule the Dales, for the prophecy speaks of upheaval and change, and a devastating end of all things. An incomparable world-builder and one of America’s premier fantasists, the remarkable Jane Yolen begins a three-part saga as inventive, intelligent, and exciting as anything that has ever been produced in the literature of the fantastic. Brilliantly contrasting the “true” story of Jenna with the later myths, poetry, and so-called scholarship that her coming engendered, Yolen creates a culture as richly imagined as those found in the acclaimed novels of Ursula K. Le Guin. A truly magnificent work, Sister Light, Sister Dark takes fantasy fiction to wondrous places it has never gone before.

If you give a child a box, who can tell what will happen next? It may become a library or a boat. It could set the scene for a fairy tale or a wild expedition. The most wonderful thing is its seemingly endless capacity for magical adventure, a feature imaginatively captured in cardboardesque art by Chris Sheban and rhythmically celebrated in this poetic tribute by renowned children''s author Jane Yolen.