New Releases by Jonah Winter

Bestselling author Jonah Winter and award-winning illustrator James E. Ransome knock it out of the park with this tribute to one of the greatest baseball players who ever lived, Joe DiMaggio. In the golden age of baseball, sports announcers ruled the radio, winning and losing was front-page news, and just about every young boy wanted to grow up to wear Yankee pinstripes, including Giuseppe Paolo DiMaggio, Jr., a first generation Italian from San Francisco. “Baseball is not a job,” said young Joe’s dad, but through hard work and dedication, Joe grew up to make headlines as a top centerfielder and ace hitter—Joltin’ Joe, the Yankee Clipper. And when the paychecks started rolling in and the newspaper reporters wouldn’t stop calling, you can bet Pop was mighty proud! During the Depression and WWII the country needed something to cheer for, and Joe was the star player who outshone the rest, even marrying movie star Marilyn Monroe—all by keeping his mouth shut and his eye on the ball.

How hard is it to move 5 legless pianos 39 times? Beethoven owned five legless pianos and composed great works on the floor. His first apartment was in the center of Vienna''s theater district... but he forgot to pay rent, so he had to move. (And it''s very hard to move a piano. Even harder to move five). Beethoven''s next apartment was in a dangerous part of town... so he moved, and the pianos followed on a series of pulleys. Then came an apartment with a view of the Danube (but he made too much noise and the neighbors complained), followed by an attic apartment (where he made even MORE of a rukus), and so Beethoven moved again and again. Each time, pianos were bought, left behind, transported on pulleys, slides, and by movers, all so that gifted Beethoven could compose great works of music for the world.

From Jonah Winter and Kevin Hawkes (both beloved bestsellers and award winners), the story of how Pablo Picasso painted the way he wanted to paint, and left the world speechless! Pablo Picasso may have been one of the most famous artists of the 20th century, but that doesn''t mean he painted what people wanted him to paint! In fact, some people hated his paintings! But Picasso didn''t listen to all those people, and kept on working the way he wanted to work, until he created something so different... that people didn''t know what to say! Pablo Picasso puede ser uno de los pintores mas famosos del siglo XX, pero eso no quiere decir que el siempre pinto las cosas que los demas querian que pintara. De hecho, algunas personas detestaban sus pinturas. Pero a Picasso no le importaba la opinion de esas personas y se mantuvo pintando lo que el queria hasta llegar a pintar algo tan diferente que la gente no supo que decir. "

"Just Behave, Pablo Picasso!" is a celebration of a modern master and an inspiration to anyone who''s ever felt judged. For every young artist who''s drawn something other kids think is "ugly," this story of rebellion and creativity is sure to inspire. Full color.

East Texas, the 1930s—the Great Depression. Award-winning author Jonah Winter''s father grew up with seven siblings in a tiny house on the edge of town. In this picture book, Winter shares his family history in a lyrical text that is clear, honest, and utterly accessible to young readers, accompanied by Kimberly Bulcken Root''s rich, gorgeous illustrations. Here is a celebration of family and of making do with what you have—a wonderful classroom book that''s also perfect for children and parents to share.

Et tu es invité chez elles pour le thé. Mais attention, car tu rencontreras un ours, en vrai, de quoi te flanquer la frousse. Et puis la brousse d''une barbe, avec un homme dessous. Et puis, bien sûr, des mots vont se présenter, quoique pas tes invités, mais très amusants parce qu''inusités dans les musées. Mais, mais, mais - tout ça n''a aucun sens ! Eh oui ! Dans une histoire inspirée par Gertrude et par ses livres si modernes et si déroutants, pas grand-chose n''a de sens. Mais bon, l''écrivain Jonah Winter et l''illustrateur Calef Brown t''invitent dans le monde fantastique de Gertrude Stein et d''Alice B Toklas, avec leur on moins célèbre caniche Basket. N''arrive pas en retard !

On an island called Puerto Rico, there lived a little boy who wanted only to play baseball. Although he had no money, Roberto Clemente practiced and practiced until--eventually--he made it to the Major Leagues. America! As a right-fielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates, he fought tough opponents--and even tougher racism--but with his unreal catches and swift feet, he earned his nickname, "The Great One." He led the Pirates to two World Series, hit 3,000 hits, and was the first Latino to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. But it wasn''t just baseball that made Clemente legendary--he was was also a humanitarian dedicated to improving the lives of others.

From Annie Oakley to Polly Pry, biographical sketches, color portraits, and sepia line drawings reveal the accomplishments of 15 amazing women whose adventurous spirit helped build our nation. Illustrations.

This New York Times Best Illustrated Book is a mostly true and completely stinky story that is sure to make you say, “Pee-yew!” Teaching environmental awareness has become a national priority, and this hilarious book (subtly) drives home the message that we can’t produce unlimited trash without consequences. Before everyone recycled . . . There was a town that had 3,168 tons of garbage and nowhere to put it. What did they do? Enter the Garbage Barge! Amazing art built out of junk, toys, and found objects by Red Nose Studio makes this the perfect book for Earth Day or any day, and photos on the back side of the jacket show how the art was created. Here Comes the Garbage Barge was a New York Times Best Illustrated book of 2010, a Huffington Post Best Picture Book of the Year, and a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year. The Washington Post said, “Cautionary? Yes. Hilarious? You betcha!” and the New York Times Book Review raved, “[A] glorious visual treat.”

Gertrude is Gertrude is Gertrude is Gertrude. And Alice is Alice. And Gertrude and Alice are Gertrude and Alice. And you are welcome to join them for tea. But beware, for there you will find a bear in a chair, just barely scary. And here is a beard with a man attached to it. And then, of course, some words might appear, uninvited, but delighted in spite of their light bulbs. But, but, but, but—that doesn''t make any sense! Yes! In a story inspired by the oh-so-modern groundbreaking writing of Gertrude herself, not a lot makes sense. Even so, the oh-so-popular author Jonah Winter, and the ever-so-popular illustrator Calef Brown, and the most popular poodle of all time, Basket, invite you to enter the whimsical world of Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas.

Welcome to Topsy-Turvydom, a magicalkingdom (well, more like an opera stage)full of pirates, policemen, fairies, and fakemustaches! Mr. Gilbert and Mr. Sullivanhave ruled this kingdom together in peace,but one day, Mr. Sullivan decides he''shad enough. Every opera they write is thesame silly old story, and he''s ready forsomething different. Something serious!Mr. Gilbert is stunned. He''s lost hisbusiness partner and his best friend, andhe needs a brilliant idea in order to gethim back. When Mr. Gilbert comes acrossa Japanese street fair, inspiration strikes,and The Mikado is born! Gilbert andSullivan reunite for their greatest workyet, showing that good things can comefrom an argument between friends.

Presents a tribute to fourteen people who risked their lives to help others and make the world a better place.

Discusses the childhood of Frida Kahlo and how it influenced her art.

In Steel Town, it''s always dark. In Steel Town, it''s always raining... In Steel Town, the mills blaze all day and all night, making steel and even more steel to be shipped over the Magic Mountains, down the Pitch-Black River, and far, far away. The men who work in the mills work as hard as the machines that make the steel, never stopping. But when the men go home at night, a different side of Steel Town emerges -- one filled with music and neighbors, pierogies and spaghetti, churches and front porches. This gritty yet poetic world is brought to life through Jonah Winter''s lyrical, rhythmic text and Terry Widener''s luscious, nocturnal illustrations, whose massive figures glow with the few lights that shine through this darkness. This is a portrait of an imaginary town derived from the very real American steel towns of the 1930s, when the sky was often black as night all day and the cavernous mills belched out fire and smoke. Here is a journey to a town that time has not forgotten, just misplaced: Steel Town.

This is the story of Dizzy Gillespie, a real cool cat who must have been born with a horn in his hands, judging from the way he played the trumpet. Jazz was his ticket on a train to better days, and he left his hard life in a small town for New York City and the hottest band around. But did Dizzy stand straight and play right? No! He was a clown. He hit high notes, low notes, never-been-heard notes, and before he knew it, Dizzy created a whole new music: Bebop. This is a story about a boy who breaks all the rules -- and finds his own personal heaven along the way.

Frida Kahlo''s paintings are unique. Like her art, this is a work of imagination, but it is also true.

This poet writes fiercely and hilariously about the trivial and the universal...in other words, about our lives and dreams. And he does it from an imagination whose inventiveness seems to have no limits. Winter is also the author of Maine and numerous children''s books.

As a boy working in his father''s shop, Paul Revere hears adults talk all about their clubs with meetings, rules, and elections. It gives Paul an idea: Why doesn''t he start his own club -- a bell ringing club?

Poetry. "Hypocrite reader, mon somblobble, Jonah Winter will New York School you in the woodshed of his imagination! These poems remind me of Robert Bresson''s FOUR NIGHTS OF A DREAMER, in which a tape recorder spews out the blurts and ravings of the heart at inappropriate moments. MAINE is a hemorrhage of the goofy, the sinister, and the sublime"--James Cummins. Jonah Winter is a children''s book author and illustrator whose books include Diego, Fair Ball! 14 Great Stars from Baseball''s Negro Leagues, Once Upon a Time in Chicago, Beisbol and Frida. His poetry has appeared in journals including Field, Chicago Review and Ploughshares, from which he won the Cohen Award; he has also received a Pushcart Prize. This is his first book of poems.

Features biographical information on some of the more famous baseball players from the Negro Leagues.

Legendary jazz clarinetist Benny Goodman''s life is a classic AmericanCinderella story. Born into a large family (12 kids!) of poor Jewish immigrants,Benny was given his first clarinet in fourth grade. His sweet, supportivefather, David, hoped that young Benny and his siblings could make a better lifefor themselves than their parents had. Quiet Benny liked playing his clarinetmore than he liked talking. It wasn''t long before he was playing music innightclubs with grown men, astounding audiences with his hot, beautiful jazzsounds. Benny''s father''s dream for his son paid off--but sadly, not before Davidwas tragically killed. Benny poured his grief into his music; as a result, the"King of Swing" is still heard around the world in dozens of recordings from the1930s to the 1980s.Jonah Winter and Jeanette Winter have created a lively tribute to one ofAmerica''s true musical greats. Jonah Winter writes in short, clean sentences,telling Goodman''s story with respect and quiet humor. Jeanette Winter''s colorfulearly-American style illustrations charmingly reflect the era that produced thisbrilliant musician. The mother-son team has also written a wonderful biographyabout artist Diego Rivera, called Diego. (Ages 4 to 7)--Emilie Coulter

Discusses the childhood of Frida Kahlo and how it influenced her art.