New Releases by Liz Garton Scanlon

Inspired by the life of a real Alaskan brown bear named Otis, who rose to internet stardom during Fat Bear Week, this heartwarming picture book invites young readers to celebrate their differences and embrace their individuality. Otis sleeps his deep and heavy sleep. He dreams his Otis dreams. And he’ll wake when he’s ready, in his own way, in his own time. Why? Because Otis knows. While other bears emerge from their dens on the first spring morning, Otis is still sleeping. While other bears chase slippery salmon through the water, Otis catches them from his own special spot by the river. While other bears play and tussle, Otis naps. Why? Because Otis knows something we can all get behind: the best way to be…is to be yourself, in your own time and in your own unique way.

A literary play on a common baby game, encompassing the paradox of babyhood, by Caldecott-winning author Liz Garton Scanlon. The universal game, “How big is baby? So big!” provides inspiration for this playful and poignant literary text contrasting the physical smallness of a baby with the largeness of their presence and importance. Written in bouncing, masterful rhyme, Liz Garton Scanlon’s words will roll off the tongues of adoring parents and caregivers as they snuggle their littlest readers.

Meet Bibsy Cross, the precocious, regular-pegular eight-year-old who isn't so sure she wants to capture her childhood in a time capsule in the fourth installment of this charming chapter book series. Most things are easy-peasy, regular-pegular for Bibsy Cross. She loves her parents, her cat, her best friend, Natia. She loves school and the library. And she loves a good school project. But this time, each student is tasked with creating a time capsule, and Bibsy's not so sure she wants to trap the present in a box. She needs her childhood now, not preserved for the future. When Nanaberry comes--not just for a visit, but for good--she helps Bibsy see the project in a new light. Will Bibsy figure out how to preserve her memories without letting them go?

Meet Bibsy Cross, the precocious eight-year-old heroine of this charming chapter book series, as she navigates a relationship with a teacher who thinks that Bibsy is just too much. A KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR Most things are easy-peasy, regular-pegular for Bibsy Cross. She loves her parents, her cat, her best friend, Natia. And she loves going to school. She might just love that most of all! This year, Bibsy has Mrs. Stumper for a teacher... and Mrs. Stumper doesn't seem too keen on Bibsy. She thinks Bibsy talks too much--especially about her science fair project. But one day, when Bibsy talks a little too much, and goes a stone too far, Mrs. Stumper punishes her by punching a hole in her paper apple that hangs in the classroom. And Bibsy is devastated. How can she make the best science fair project when she feels so rotten?

This lyrical, gorgeously illustrated picture book in verse follows a litter of baby wolf pups in the wild through their first full lunar cycle. Deep in the forest, Mama Wolf gives birth to an adorable litter of pups under a sky full of moon. Over the next month, the pups will open their eyes, stretch out their tiny paws, and playfully explore the world around them—all under the watchful eyes of Mama Wolf and the rest of the pack. And before long, these pups will be big enough to yip at the full moon themselves! With stunning artwork and a gently rhyming text full of fascinating wolf facts, this ideal bedtime or storytime read is perfect for anyone who has ever heard the call of the wild.

For readers who love The Thing About Jellyfish and Counting By 7s, Lolo's Light is a deeply honest middle grade novel about grief, redemption, and life as a kid facing both. This is a truth about growing up: Once in your life, sometime after your first memory but before you can drive a car, something is going to happen to you that doesn't happen to anyone else you know. It might be something good. It might be something bad, or special, or funny, or shocking. For Millie, it's something really sad. Lolo, her neighbors' infant daughter, dies unexpectedly, suddenly, inexplicably, on the night Millie babysits. It's not Millie's fault. There's nothing she could have done. And there's nothing she can do now. So how does she go on? She does what you'll do. She finds her way. This poignant and profound coming-of-age story portrays a tragic experience of responsibility and its poisonous flip side: guilt. Emotional and important, this is an honest and empathetic portrait of a girl at her most vulnerable—a mess of grief, love, and ultimately, acceptance—who must reckon with those most difficult of demons: death . . . and life. A GREAT WAY TO UNDERSTAND DIFFICULT FEELINGS: Coming to terms with one's responsibility for things both our fault and not is a universal experience that can be difficult to process, particularly when grief is involved. Millie offers a great blueprint for young readers who don't understand the surrounding emotions and need help working through them. A MAIN CHARACTER KIDS WILL LOVE: Millie makes mistakes as she navigates grief. It's often not pretty, but it is very relatable. The author's honest portrayal of this experience will resonate with young readers, whether grieving or not. Perfect for: Middle grade readers Educators and librarians Parents looking for books on loss or grief

Frances is a city kid, but it’s hard for her to fit in. City walls aren’t for climbing, city rooms aren’t for running, city shops and city yards are too crowded, and there are so many rules that Frances can’t seem to follow. A New York Times Best Children's Book of the Year She takes a trip to visit her cousins in the country, where she finds cats for chasing, roads for racing down, ladders for leaping, and fields full of animals. When it’s time to go home, it’s not easy to leave her cousins, but she invites them to visit and see the sights and sounds, lights, thumps, beeps and shines of the city where she returns to her loving mom and sisters. Liz Garton Scanlon is author of the Caldecott Honor book All the World, illustrated by Marla Frazee, and many other books including Bob, Not Bob, illustrated by Matt Cordell, and Another Way to Climb A Tree, illustrated by Hadley Hooper, With Frances in the Country, she deftly balances the appeals of city and country life. Sean Qualls is the Coretta Scott King Honor artist for Before John Was a Jazz Giant, Emmanuel's Dream, and Giant Steps to Change the World.

This whimsical and poignant picture book celebrates playing outside and invites readers to grab some friends, gear up their imaginations, and immerse themselves in nature. Can you imagine what it’s like to be a rock, a nest, a bird, or even a bubbling creek? A group of curious children is headed outside to find out… Would you come, too? Join in on an outdoor adventure to discover the magic and mystery of the living, breathing natural world all around us.

A box is never just a box when you have a vivid imagination and a couple stuffed animal friends to join you on a fantastic ocean voyage. I have a box, I want a boat. With nothing but spare text and a bright imagination, I Want a Boat! follows a girl as she finds a way to transform a plain old box in an ordinary room into a magical sailboat, complete with a rudder, sail, and anchor. She and her stuffed-animal friends take to the high seas, encounter raging storms, and make it to dry land, just in time for supper. Award-winning author Liz Garton Scanlon's sprightly text and candy-colored, kid-friendly illustrations by Kevan Atteberry (Ghost Cat, Dear Beast) make this a perfect read-aloud for the youngest child.

From the author of the Caldecott Honor–winning picture book All the World comes an exuberant, lyrical celebration of the plants—and people—that grow and thrive in a busy community garden. A community garden unites children and neighbors in this celebration of all the things that grow there, from flowers and fruits to friendships. In the spirit of her Caldecott Honor­–winning picture book All the World, this ode to friendship, community, and working together for a better world will have young readers gathering their friends young and old to plant something together.

From award-winning author Liz Garton Scanlon and celebrated artist Frann Preston-Gannon comes a gorgeously illustrated, lyrical counting book that will have young readers’ imaginations taking flight. One dark bird is perched up high, with a view of the town and a taste of the sky. Then she’s joined by two more, then three, then four. Before long, there are hundreds of starlings dancing across the sky—and avoiding a hunting hawk with one of the most spectacular tricks in the animal kingdom. Then, when night comes, the starlings begin to depart, until finally there is just one dark bird perched way up high, with a view of the town and a taste of the sky.

When a substitute teacher named Miss Pelly comes to class, one student bristles at the change in routine -- Miss Pelly doesn't follow the rules like Mrs. Giordano. But in time, our student learns that even though the substitute may do things a little differently, and she may be a bit silly, mixing things up might not be so bad. Told in a series of epistolary poems, this funny, relatable picturebook is a great fit for classrooms and for any child nervous about new experiences.

Award-winning author Liz Garton Scanlon presents a young, rhythmic read-aloud about a girl who solves a windy problem with an environmentally sound solution: planting trees. A wild wind blows on the tippy-top of a steep hill, turning everything upside down for the man who lives there. Luckily, Kate comes up with a plan to tame the wind. With an old wheelbarrow full of young trees, she journeys up the steep hill to add a little green to the man's life, and to protect the house from the howling wind. From award-winning author Liz Garton Scanlon and whimsical illustrator Lee White comes a delightfully simple, lyrical story about the important role trees play in our lives, and caring for the world in which we live. Praise for Bob, Not Bob by Liz Garton Scanlon: "This is read-aloud gold!" --Publishers Weekly, Starred Praise for All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon: "A sumptuous and openhearted poem . . . (that) expresses the philosophy early readers most need to hear: there's humanity everywhere." --The New York Times

"When Lulu's feeling well, she climbs every tree in sight. But when Lulu's sick, all she has is her imagination and a shadow"--

From the Caldecott Award-winning and bestselling team of Audrey Vernick, Liz Garton Scanlon, and Matthew Cordell comes a hilarious sick-day read-aloud! Little Louie is stuck in bed with a bad cold. His nose is clogged, his ears are crackling, and his brain feels full. All he wants is his mom to take care of him, but whenever he calls out for her, his stuffed-up nose makes it sound like he's summoning slobbery dog Bob instead! This silly but sweet picture book will make kids laugh out loud as Louie tries to make himself understood. They won't be able to help joining Louie in crying out, "Bob, not Bob!"

Pull on your hiking boots and get ready to see the magnificent Grand Canyon! From the author of the Caldecott Honoree All the World, here is a marvelous celebration of one of our nation’s natural wonders. Experience the Grand Canyon through the eyes of a child who is seeing it for the very first time. From soaring vistas and cloud-swept skies to tiny lizards and almost-invisible petroglyphs, the canyon is filled with so many sights waiting to be discovered…and so many amazing memories to carry back home. Filled with gorgeously depicted, factually accurate info and including a glossary of the flora and fauna contained within, this homage to the Grand Canyon will evoke awe and wonder.

Twelve-year-old Ivy Green, whose mother may have run off with a charismatic preacher to Panhandle, Florida, and classmate Paul Dobbs, who wants to see a Space Shuttle before the program's scrapped, team up for a summer adventure that's full of surprises.

A fun and cozy celebration of birthdays from the author of the Caldecott Honor book All the World. What are these and what are those? Fancy shoes and party clothes! Bunny’s big day has arrived, and her family and their forest friends are ready to celebrate in style. There’s hugging and kissing, singing and dancing, and, of course, cake and presents! In this sweet picture book that’s just perfect for reading aloud, Liz Garton Scanlon commemorates that most cherished of childhood events—a little one’s birthday.

Art is so much more than easels and paintbrushes as this delightful new picture book by two exciting talents makes clear. Follow along as a classroom of exuberant young kids explore art and the power of creativity in its most varied forms-painting, music, writing, cooking, performing ... there's no end to where their imaginations can take them! The lilting poetry of Liz Garton Scanlon's text pairs perfectly with the playful art of Vanessa Newton in this warm, thoughtful, and-of course-creative picture book. Young listeners will want to jump right into the pages to find their own muse.

Pictures and rhyming text celebrate a family's day spent going to the beach, shopping at the market, eating at a restaurant and spending the evening with the rest of the extended family.