New Release Books by Jill Esbaum

A hilarious and factual introduction to the Amazonian hoatzin—or stinkbird—and its surprising, incredible superpower. (Spoiler alert: it''s more than just the stink!) Stinkbirds have a lot in common with other birds: they have feathers, wings, and a beak. But they also have . . . a hidden superpower! This proud stinkbird papa would love to tell you more about it—if his adorable chick would quit interrupting him! Is it their stinky, poopy smell? Nope. What about their loud and beautiful song? Negative. Is it the fact that they can swim? Not that either, but you’re getting closer. Just what is it that makes stinkbird chicks so special? You’ll have to read the book to find out!

Splish, splash! Prepare to experience the forces of physics at work. It’s time for Baby’s bath . . . Ooh! We made a waterfall . . . Invite your tubby-time friends to join in. Even Einstein started somewhere, so who’s to say your little genius-to-be won’t find inspiration in the bath? Gather up your gear: floating toys, fluffy towels, warm tub, favorite little lab partner (may take multiple attempts). Place tiny tot in the tub (note water displacement), and proceed to explore buoyancy, gravity, and evaporation. Now it’s time to make waves and see that third law of motion in action. Go, baby, go! Wait, hold on . . . Stop, baby, stop! In a bright, graphic board book leavened with dry humor, photos of happy tykes and a tongue-in-cheek running dialogue are sprinkled with factual asides that define basic concepts of physics. So don your protective goggles—with a bathtub as a lab bench, your precocious little one can master physics every day!

Secure your bib, open wide, and get ready to unpack the properties of matter. Chemistry is all around us—starting with Baby’s high chair . . . Are you hungry? . . . Let’s experiment. Why wait for college when you can teach your toddler advanced science right now? After sterilizing your workstation, prepare to explore solids, which can be combined with liquids to form an optimal mixture. Now test your mixture. Eureka! Isn’t feeding time a total . . . gas? In a bright, graphic board book loaded with dry humor and comic timing, photos of happy, outrageously messy toddlers (and exhausted parents) complement a tongue-in-cheek running dialogue, interspersed with factual asides that define basic concepts of chemistry. So rest assured, with a high chair tray as a lab bench, your precocious little one can master chemistry multiple times a day!

When Thunder gets stuck in quicksand, Cluck uses his smarts to free his friend.

Two unlikely dinosaur friends brave the way in the second book in the Thunder and Cluck Level 1 Ready-to-Read Graphics series! It is a hot day. Thunder and Cluck find a dark, cool cave. But which friend is brave enough to lead the way in? Ready-to-Read Graphics books give readers the perfect introduction to the graphic novel format with easy-to-follow panels, speech bubbles with accessible vocabulary, and sequential storytelling that is spot-on for beginning readers. There’s even a how-to guide for reading graphic novels at the beginning of each book.

Big, scary, and hungry Thunder the dinosaur wants to chase and chomp Cluck, a small but brave dinosaur, but Cluck has decided that they will be friends.

High-flying history is brought to life in this suspenseful story of an unknown and daring pilot named Jack Knight, who in 1921 flew his biplane straight into a blizzard over America''s heartland and saved the US Air Mail Service in the process. When Jack Knight takes off in his biplane from North Platte, Nebraska, in 1921, hundreds of people crowd the airstrip. Is Jack transporting a famous passenger? Is he ferrying medicine for a sick child? Nope -- Jack has six sacks of mail. For the past few years, biplanes like Jack''s have been flying the mail only during daylight hours. Flying after dark is risky and crashes are too common, so lawmakers decide to cut funding for the US Air Mail Service. Outraged officials and pilots want to prove that flying the mail is best, so they concoct a plan--a coast-to-coast race. But when a crash, exhaustion, and a snowstorm ground three of the planes, Jack Knight becomes the race''s only hope. All he has to do is fly all night long, leaning out of the plane to see, and navigate a blizzard over land he''s never covered . . . with an empty fuel tank. Will Jack pull it off and save the Air Mail Service?

Welcome to the wild world of sea turtles! In this intro to the species, youngsters discover where on Earth this reptile lives, what it eats, and how big it grows. Cool photos of all the different kinds of sea turtles and adorable photos of just-hatched turtle babies bring the creatures into full focus. After learning the basics, young readers will learn why sea turtles need our help and what people around the world are doing to help save them. Filled with fun facts, games, and an activity focused on making a difference in sea turtles'' world, Go Wild! will inspire kids to care about this swimmingly cute animal.

When trucker Jo hits the open road, her faithful little doggy pal, Big Al, is always with her. The two make a fine traveling team until Big Al gets distracted after a potty break at a rest stop and wanders off. In her rush to get back on the road, Jo doesn''t realize her best buddy isn''t in the truck cab. As soon as Big Al figures out what has happened, he is determined that nothing will distract him from his plan to wait for Jo to come back. Well, almost nothing. When you''re a dog, it''s easy to get overwhelmed by all the unfamiliar and tempting sights and smells, and even new humans. Told in both Jo''s and Big Al''s voices, this heartwarming story of separation and joyful reunion is based on a true event.

Preschoolers are full of "Where?" questions, and this next book in the best-selling Little Kids First Big Book series is full of fascinating and often surprising answers for them. This charming reference book zeroes in on location, location, location. More than 200 colorful photos are paired with age-appropriate text featuring answers to questions like, "Where does the sky end?" "Where is the highest mountain?" and, "Where was ice cream invented?" Containing several kid-friendly maps designed to expand the learning experience, this book inspires kids to be curious, ask questions, and explore the world around them.

Rhyming text and pictures celebrate the different physical attributes of animal babies.

In this colorful, photo-packed picture book for preschoolers, curious kids learn all about kangaroos and watch a kangaroo joey as it grows from a tiny baby in its mother''s pouch into a big, fast-hopping marsupial. Readers learn all about these marvelous marsupials, including where they live in Australia, what they eat, and how they communicate, play, and grow. Kids will meet red kangaroos, gray kangaroos, tree kangaroos, rat kangaroos, and other members of the kangaroo family. A habitat map shows where kangaroos live. These engaging Explore My World picture books, on subjects kids care about, combine simple stories with unforgettable photography. They invite little kids to take their first big steps toward understanding the world around them and are just the thing for parents and kids to curl up with and read aloud.

Welcome to the wild world of sea turtles!

Following up on the best-selling Little Kids First Big Book of Why, the next book in the hit Little Kids First Big Book series features even more of the endless "Why?" questions preschoolers love to ask! This charming reference book answers some of kids'' most burning "Why?" questions. More than 200 colorful photos are paired with age-appropriate text featuring answers to questions like "Why do dogs sniff everything?" "Why do I burp?" and "Why is ocean water salty?" This book inspires kids to be curious, ask questions, and explore the world around them.

A big-kid dinosaur can’t wait to teach the new baby everything in this funny, tender, joyful take on becoming a big sister or brother, from the celebrated artist of I Don''t Want to Be a Frog Good news: Your mom''s hatching a baby! Bad news: Babies take their sweet time. And when they finally do hatch? They’re too little to play! They don’t even know how to be a dinosaur. That''s where you come in. You can teach your baby everything—from peek-a-boo to roaring to table manners to bedtime. Growing a dinosaur is a big job, but you''re perfect for it. Because one thing the baby wants more than anything? It’s to be just like you. Silly humor and sincere, moving moments, make this hilarious, reassuring, and useful “guide” a must for existing big brothers and sisters and for every big brother and big sister to-be. Great fun for family reading too. "Fresh . . . Adorable . . . Funny." —Publishers Weekly "Hysterical . . . Tender." —Kirkus "Sweet . . . Allow[s] for maximum comic effect.” —SLJ

In this charming picture book, little kids will learn all about sea otters, including their social behavior, communication, diet, and, of course, playtime! These engaging Explore My World picture books on subjects kids care about combine simple stories with compelling photography. They invite little kids to take their first big steps toward understanding the world around them and are just the thing for parents and kids to curl up with and read aloud.

In this charming picture book, curious little kids will learn all about the bustling world of honeybees and the important role they play in our delicate ecosystem. These engaging Explore My World picture books on subjects kids care about combine simple stories with unforgettable photography. They invite little kids to take their first big steps toward understanding the world around them and are just the thing for parents and kids to curl up with and read aloud.

In this charming picture book, curious little kids will learn all about tigers, including their social behavior, communication, diet, and playtime. These engaging Explore My World picture books on subjects kids care about combine simple stories with

In this charming picture book, curious little kids will learn all about tigers, including their social behavior, communication, diet, and playtime. These engaging Explore My World picture books on subjects kids care about combine simple stories with unforgettable photography. They invite little kids to take their first big steps toward understanding the world around them and are just the thing for parents and kids to curl up with and read aloud.

Following up on the best-selling Little Kids First Big Book of Why, the next book in the hit Little Kids First Big Book series features even more of the endless "Why?" questions preschoolers love to ask!

This charming reference book answers questions kids ask every day, taking a closer look at the things that surround them and how they work—from cars to vacuum cleaners, storms to seasons, animal bodies to humans. More than 100 colorful photos are paired with age-appropriate text featuring answers to questions like "How do chameleons change color?" "How do refrigerators stay cold?" "How do tornadoes form?" "How do submarines stay underwater?" "How does food get to the grocery store?" and "How does my body heal?" This book helps parents share fascinating, accurate answers, and inspires kids to be curious, ask questions, and explore the world around them. Games and parent tips encourage interactivity and extend the experience of the book beyond its pages.

School shopping is no fun for Dylan--until he spots boots decorated with poison-dart frogs. They even glow in the dark! He can''t wait to show them off in class. But then a kid exclaims: "Ms. Kory, that boy''s wearing girl boots." Suddenly, everyone''s laughing at Dylan and the boots don''t seem so cool anymore. Will he ever wear them again? A timely story about staying true to yourself and defying stereotypes.

From sea stars to seahorses to sharks, young readers will be amazed by the diversity of life in coral reefs and by the wonders of our natural world.

Curious kids ages 3 to 7 will be excited to learn about nighttime and all its mysteries, from the stars to hooting owls. These engaging Explore My World picture books on subjects kids care about combine simple stories with unforgettable photography. They invite little kids to take their first big steps toward understanding the world around them and are just the thing for parents and kids to curl up with and read aloud.