New Release Books by Scot Ritchie

From award-winning author and illustrator Scot Ritchie comes this lively look at the journey of a West Coast tugboat towing a log boom, as seen through the eyes of a young boy. "I’m helping Dad on the tugboat. We’re going to tow a log boom to the sawmill on the river... I look out for ferries and other boats in the harbor... Then I see it — a deadhead!" Follow a child and his father through their workday on a tugboat on the West Coast as they watch a log boom being made, then tow it to a mill upriver. The pair must steer clear of other ships, race against the tide and weather a storm along the way. Told from a child's perspective, this fun, accessible picture book explores the key role of a tugboat in the logging process. As explained in the author's note, the story is inspired by Scot Ritchie’s childhood memories of seeing tugs and log booms off the coast of Vancouver, British Columbia, with additional information provided in the note about forestry on the West Coast today. Key Text Features author's note diagrams glossary illustrations facts map speech bubbles writing inspiration

Lilliana, a young nature lover, adores chorus frogs. Her room is already full of frog posters and toys but one night as she listens to frogs singing, she decides to bring home some real, live frogs. Chorus frogs are hard to find and catch, but that won’t stop Lilliana! Oh dear. Chorus frogs are very small and very fast and very loud. The frogs have escaped! But Lilliana, with a little inspiration, knows just what to do. Based on author and illustrator Scot Ritchie’s fond memories of exploring Camosun Bog as a child (he really did bring home a box full of frogs), Lilliana and the Frogs is a humorous story with playful illustrations that will inspire young readers to explore nature—but to leave it outside.

A perfect, kid-friendly introduction to family heritage. Today is a big day for the five friends. Their class is hosting a Heritage Festival to celebrate the customs and traditions of people from all over the world. Martin, Sally, Pedro, Nick and Yulee each have their own heritage, and they have so much to share! They learn about various traditions involving music, food, language, stories, crafts, clothing and games. They also learn that exploring their different heritages makes everyone feel like they belong! There’s a world of fun to be had, as readers discover the many ways people are alike and what makes each of us unique!

The perfect kid-friendly introduction to mindfulness. Pedro’s friends — Yulee, Nick, Martin and Sally — are at his house for a sleepover. Pedro is moving in a few days, and he’s been feeling sad and worried about the change. To help Pedro feel better, his mom decides to teach the five friends about mindfulness. As the children practice focusing on their bodies, using their senses, paying attention to their feelings and accepting life as it happens, Pedro learns there are many ways to manage the stress of his upcoming move. It’s an enlightening journey to peace and calm, and kids will want to be present.

Learn about the problem of single-use plastic — and what to do about it. On his birthday, Nick challenges his friends to spend the day without using any single-use plastic. This means they bring their own cloth bags, say no thanks to plastic straws and decorate with paper streamers instead of balloons. Along the way, the kids learn what plastic is made of, how much of it surrounds us and how it’s polluting our oceans and affecting the food chain. Most importantly, the five friends learn ways to use less — including just saying NO! No plastic? No problem. Readers will be primed for a No-Plastic Challenge of their own!

An engaging introduction to buildings, with a deft mix of nonfiction and fiction elements.

Working with his dad in the park, Owen gets to do his favorite job all by himself. First, he clears the park of picnickers, checkers players, sleepy dogs and geese, and then the magic happens ... It’s a busy morning in the park. All along the boulevard, families are picnicking and people are napping, playing checkers and reading on the grass. But Owen and his dad are hard at work, raking and mowing the grass. And today, Owen gets to do the best job all on his own. With his dad’s encouragement, Owen gathers his courage and goes around to everyone in the park. He tells the families, the checkers players and the readers what he has to do, and they rush off. Finally, when the park is empty, it is the moment Owen has been waiting for. He turns the tap for the sprinkler system, and water cascades over the trees and flower beds. In creating this book, Scot Ritchie was inspired by his trip to the beautiful Tiergarten park in Berlin. Owen at the Park is a sweet story illuminating the small pleasures in everyday life and the excitement of a child taking on new responsibilities. Key Text Features author’s note Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3 Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.3 Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges.

A fun introduction to why the world needs bees. Pedro, Nick, Yulee, Sally and Martin are buzzing with excitement today! The five friends are visiting Martin’s neighbor, Mr. Cardinal. He keeps beehives in his backyard, and he’s offered to show the friends how honeybees live. Mr. Cardinal explains how bees feed and pollinate, what happens inside their colony, how they build their hives and even why they like to dance! He also describes why some bees are in trouble and what people can do to help. And the day’s perfect sweet ending? Honey, of course! Kids will delight in the message: it’s best to “bee a friend” to bees everywhere!

Everybody in the pool! It’s time to get moving! Pedro, Yulee, Nick, Sally and Martin are excited! Tomorrow their swim team, the Flying Sharks, will be competing in the school meet. Readers follow along as the team has one last practice with their coach at the community pool. Then it’s off to the races on the big day! While the friends work hard to get ready for the meet, they learn about the benefits of physical fitness and what it takes to stay active and healthy. With so much to learn about keeping their bodies and minds in tune, kids will be jumping (and splashing) for joy!

An award-winning author and illustrator uses accessible language and familiar characters from his other books to encourage young children to make healthy choices about what they eat, while introducing each basic food group. Full color.

When Federica invites the animals from the park back to her house, chaos ensues! Federica’s busy family can’t keep their house clean! To get away from the buzzy, buggy mess, she escapes to the peaceful park where she can spend time with her animal friends...which gives her an idea. She brings home sheep and goats, spiders and dragonflies, a toad, an owl, and some raccoons. Then she takes her family to the park for a picnic, and while they’re gone, the animals chomp the overgrown grass in the backyard, eat the garbage and catch the pesky bugs overrunning the house. After a peaceful afternoon at the park, Federica’s family comes home to a clean house — and raccoons doing the dishes! Scot Ritchie’s warm art and original story bring a fresh perspective to the busy-family challenge of keeping the house clean, while featuring a clever and resourceful young girl who knows that, sometimes, letting nature back into our lives is the best answer. Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.3 With prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a story. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.7 With prompting and support, describe the relationship between illustrations and the story in which they appear (e.g., what moment in a story an illustration depicts). CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.3 Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations, or feelings) and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events

It’s the day of the first salmon ceremony, and P'ésk'a is excited to celebrate. His community, the Sts'ailes people, give thanks to the river and the salmon it brings by commemorating the first salmon of the season. Framed as an exploration of what life was like one thousand years ago, P'ésk'a and the First Salmon Ceremony describes the customs of the Sts'ailes people, an indigenous group who have lived on the Harrison River in British Columbia for the last 10,000 years. Includes an introductory letter from Chief William Charlie, an illustrated afterword and a glossary.

Explains and demonstrates key mapping concepts, discussing the use of symbols, legends, a compass, scale, landmarks, and gridlines, along with instructions for making a map of a bedroom.

Want to make a new friend? All you'll need is a needle and thread. Follow the simple instructions to create your own sock monkey. Then enjoy his company as you swing through pages of entertaining songs, activities, puzzles, games, and other general monkey business.

It's the day of the first salmon ceremony, but Paeska realizes that the special tray needed for the ceremony has been left behind.

About the Annikin Series: Annikins are mini books made especially for children -- small enough to fit into tiny hands and pockets. Each book measures 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" and contains full color pages. Individual titles available in quantities of 20s only.

From the author of "Games for Reading" comes the perfect learning aid for beginning readers and their parents. This book features 50 treasure hunt games plus two sheets of two-color, die-cut reward stickers bound into the book.

Share memories that will last a lifetime with this Memory Scrapbook for kids to preserve their baby sister memories.

... but these aren't the usual run-of-the-mill dwellings. These are houses with a difference ... inspired by an overcrowded planet and the need to find alternative living spaces. They'll visit an underwater house, an alien house, a tree house, a moon house, a Junk house...Puzzles include:Mazes with quests or adventures, including rescue and solving dilemmas!Find-an-object puzzle where an object, of some use to the house, is hidden in each spread. A small icon of the hidden object will be placed in the corner of the explanatory text box so children will know what they're looking for.Count the objects and spell out a word: Each spread has objects to count (aliens, cats, octopuses). The children have to count them, note down the total number on each spread and then find the corresponding letter of the alphabet (each number represents a letter). Once the letters have been collected and un-jumbled, they will spell out "HOME SWEET HOME"!Facts at the back-a page at the back of the book with brief, kid-friendly facts relating to each of the crazy houses, including: alternative building materials, ancient cliff-dwellings, futuristic housing etc.Ages 8 - 11

Get your pencil ready--it's time to jumpstart your imagination with The Everything Kids' Connect the Dots Puzzle and Activity Book! When you crack the connect-the-dots puzzles in this book, you'll climb aboard a ship and encounter swashbuckling pirates, dig up a dinosaur skeleton, or get behind the wheel of your very own racecar! Count your way through puzzles to discover: Exciting sports and games Cuddly cats and dangerous dragons Slimy, smelly, and gross creatures Sneaky spies and their secret lives Perfect princes and pretty princesses Vehicles that go vroom! With tons of terrific puzzles that deliver hours of fun, you won't want to stop connecting the dots!

Clever disguises, cool gadgets, secret missions - a spy's life is full of excitement and adventure. With this book, kids can go undercover and follow the clues to solve crimes and mysteries in more than 100 puzzles and activities.

Share memories that will last a lifetime with this Memory Scrapbook for kids to preserve their baby brother memories.

Packed with ghosts, ghouls, zombies, skeletons and bogeymen, this brilliant puzzle book combines Scot Richie′s fun and funky style with some seriously scary puzzles! Ages 8-11 years