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Engaging STEM Stories

3/23/2020

 
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Calling all young scientists and engineers! Here's a selection of terrific upcoming STEM books that everyone should check out.

Some of these titles are already out in the world, and the rest are coming VERY soon -- we urge you, if you are able, to order or pre-order from your local independent bookstore or Bookshop.Org, as these small businesses need our support during this difficult time.

Click on the book jackets for links and more info!

TRACKING PYTHONS
by Kate Messner
Millbrook - March 3, 2020

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Burmese pythons are native to Southeast Asia, so when one showed up dead along the side of a Florida highway in 1979, scientists wondered where it came from. No one knew the snakes had launched a full-scale invasion. Pet pythons that escaped or were released by their owners started breeding in the wild, and these enormous predators began eating every animal in their path. Delve into the science of pythons and their role as invasive predators.

ROVER THROWS A PARTY
by Kristin L Gray & Scott Magoon
Knopf - March 31, 2020

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In 2013, NASA programmed their Curiosity rover to hum "Happy Birthday to You" in honor of its first year on Mars. Inspired by this anecdote, this is the tale of a lonely rover and his party, accompanied by fascinating Mars rover facts that help explain the real science behind the story. This fun birthday tale provides an accessible, kid-friendly look at one of NASA's coolest programs.

LIBBY LOVES SCIENCE by Kimberly Derting, Shelli R Johannes & Joelle Murray - Greenwillow - June 9, 2020

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Libby and her friends volunteer to run the  science booth at their school fair and have some great ideas, but Libby does not always follow directions precisely. Includes a worksheet for each experiment mentioned!

SOLVE THIS: FORENSICS 
by Kate Messner & Anne Ruppert
NatGeo - March 19, 2020

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C.S.I. meets National Geographic in this forensics-filled adventure. Examine the evidence and consider the suspects to put your crime-solving skills to the test.

Calling all budding sleuths! Solve your way through each entertaining, imaginary G-rated mystery to explore the forensic science of investigating and analyzing evidence. You'll study smudges on a computer keyboard, dust for fingerprints, examine bite marks on a discarded snack, analyze toxicology tests on blood samples, and much, much more. Piece together the clues to see if you can solve each case.

MACHINES THAT THINK! 
by Don Brown - Abrams
April 28, 2020

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The BIG IDEAS series is a funny and accessible Graphic Novel series about science and history... Machines That Think! explores machines from ancient history to today that perform a multitude of tasks, from making mind-numbing calculations to working on assembly lines. Included are fascinating looks at the world’s earliest calculators, the birth of computer programming, and the arrival of smartphones. Contributors discussed include Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, Ada Lovelace, and Bill Gates. From the abacus to artificial intelligence, machines through the ages have pushed the boundaries of human capability and creativity.

Picture Books that Celebrate Nature

3/18/2020

 
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 School may be out for a while, but at least we can go outside and observe nature! Or... bring the outside in, with these beautiful new picture books. Learn facts about all kinds of animals, or take a virtual tour of a working farm. Contemplate the poetry of the trees, or the magic of the intertidal zone. Discover  how species come back from near-extinction... and so much more. 

Click on each book jacket to learn more about it and order a copy of your own. Each of these titles is either brand new or coming out in the next couple of months (publication dates are noted on each listing) -- we can't wait for you to read them! 

We encourage you to support your local independent bookstore wherever possible; each of these titles can be ordered or pre-ordered at your retailer of choice. 

IF WE WERE GONE 
by John Coy & Leslie Capannelli - Millbrook 3/3/20

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Water, air, sunlight, plants . . . we need these elements to live in this world. But does the world need us? And what would happen to the world if humans were gone? 

TALES OF THE DAIRY GODMOTHER by Viola Butler & Ward Jenkins
FeedingMinds-3/17/20

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With the help of his Dairy Godmother, Chuck is taken—poof!—on a memorable and delicious adventure to a dairy farm. He finds out exactly where ice cream comes from and gains an even deeper love and appreciation for his favorite food.

OUTSIDE IN by Deborah Underwood & Cindy Derby - HMH - 4/14/20

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Outside is waiting, the most patient playmate of all. The most generous friend. The most miraculous inventor. This thought-provoking picture book poetically underscores our powerful and enduring connection with nature, not so easily obscured by lives spent indoors.

THE FARM THAT FEEDS US by Nancy Castaldo & Ginnie Hsu
Quarto - 5/19/20

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Where does our food come from? What role do farms play? What’s it like to be a farmer? In this charmingly illustrated book, follow a farm throughout the year to discover how the farmer grows fresh and tasty food for us to eat in a sustainable and natural way.

BRINGING BACK THE WOLVES by Jude Isabella & Kim Smith 
KidsCan Press- 3/3/20

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An unintended experiment in Yellowstone National Park, in which an ecosystem is devastated and then remarkably rehabilitated, provides crucial lessons about nature's intricate balancing act.

DOWN UNDER THE PIER by Nell Cross Beckerman & Rachell Sumpter - CameronKids - 4/7/20

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There’s lots of fun to be had up on the pier—the Ferris wheel, the rollercoaster, Skee-Ball and Whac-A-Mole, cotton candy, copper coins, the carousel. But it’s down under the pier, at low tide, where the real magic can be found. The best part? It’s free. 

EAT YOUR ROCKS, CROC by Jess Keating & Pete Oswald - Orchard - 5/5/ 20

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Dr. Sugar Glider travels around the world to help animals (and, on occasion, plants!) with all sorts o​f problems. Whether it's a crocodile with a sick stomach, a creeped-out krill, a stressed meerkat, or a male praying mantis trying to date, Dr. Glider is ready to offer advice!

GREEN ON GREEN by Dianne White & Felicita Sala - Beach Lane - 3/17/20

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A child is on a colorful journey through the seasons, filled with yellow flowers and blue coral in spring and summer and orange pumpkins and green pine forests in fall and winter. All the while, there is another colorful change on the horizon—the birth of a new sibling.

IN THE WOODS by David Elliott & Rob Dunlavey - Candlewick - 4/7/20

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The animals in the dark woods are secretive, their inner lives a mystery. The stealthy bobcat, the inquisitive raccoon, and the dignified bear waking up from his winter nap are just a few of the glorious animals featured in this clever collection of poems and woodland scenes.

WHEN THE STORM COMES by Linda Ashman & Taeeun Yoo - Paulsen - 5/26/20

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When stormy skies threaten, people stock up on supplies, bring in their outside toys, and check the news for updates. And during the storm, if the power goes out, they can play games and tell stories by candlelight. But what do animals do? They watch and listen, look for a cozy den or some other sheltered spot, and hunker down to wait. After the storm, while the people are cleaning up their yards, making repairs, and checking on the neighbors, the animals emerge from their hiding places and shake off the rain. And everyone is happy to be out in the sunshine again, grateful for better weather and the company of friends.

Books for New and Forthcoming Humans

3/16/2020

 
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Our talented authors and illustrators turn their attention to books for and about new babies!

​These titles have either just hit stores, or will be released in Spring 2020. We encourage you to buy or pre-order these titles from your favorite retailer; you can click on the images below to see the books at IndieBound.com. 

I LOVE MY TUTU, TOO! by Ross Burach - Scholastic - March 3, 2020

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What's more irresistible than a pink tutu? Dancing in a pink tutu, of course, and inviting friends to join you!

* "A rollicking tutu lovefest." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

In this jubilant rhyming romp, a penguin, a bear, a toucan, and even a gnu (who knew?) are all wearing their tutus today. As a parade of other curious critters join the fun -- I know a ewe with a new tutu. You do? I do. Woo-hoo! -- the number of tutus grows, until they reach 10 tutus. Then it's time to dance!
Abundant alliteration and rollicking rhythms will have little ones laughing and dancing till they drop -- and joyfully learning to count along the way.

MAIL DUCK by Erica Sirotich
Abrams Appleseed - April 21, 2020

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Come along on Mail Duck's delivery route for a day full of lift-the-flap surprises! 

Mail Duck is delivering differently shaped packages to all his friends on his mail route. (Trudy likes triangles, and Harry likes hearts!) Lift the flaps to peek inside and guess what each friend received. Then head back to the post office for a big surprise: a thank-you celebration for Mail Duck planned by all his pals using the various packages they received throughout the story! There are plenty of sweet and silly details to unpack in this charming board book.

DO CATS MOO by Salina Yoon
​Sterling - 5/12/20

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Do cats moo? Do cats chow? All I know is cats go MEOW This novelty board book, with fun text and colorful illustrations, features adorable puppies, hamsters, and bunnies, as well as the cuddly title cat and other favorite pets. Kids will happily lift the flap on each big animal "mouth" to uncover what sound it makes. 

MY DADDY AND ME by Linda Ashman & Jane Massey - Cartwheel - March 3, 2020

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In the spirit of read-aloud family favorites like Guess How Much I Love You and I Love You Through and Through comes a fresh classic about the eternal love between father and child.

Daddy wakes before I rise.
Drinks his coffee. Rubs his eyes.
Sees me standing on the stair.
Picks me up. Smooths my hair.

Discover a poignant, heartfelt ode to the special love between father and child. From sharing a quiet moment over the comics section at breakfast, to playing at bathtime before tucking into bed, My Daddy and Me celebrates the day-to-day joys of fatherhood. With tender, rhyming text from Linda Ashman, and sweet, tender illustrations by Jane Massey, in a cuddly padded board format, this book is perfect for daddies everywhere -- who love and guide their little ones morning, noon, and night!

BORN by John Sobol & Cindy Derby
​Groundwood Books - May 5, 2020

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As she is born, the baby in this story goes through a time of intense movement and change before she takes her first breath and cries. Warm hands wrap her in a blanket, and she is held in loving arms. She has arrived!
Sobol captures the mystery and wonder of the birth experience in this deeply sympathetic tale. Reading this book together will enable children and their parents to celebrate the joy and emotional power of that remarkable moment.
Cindy Derby's soft, gentle illustrations beautifully complement the poem.

DO SHARKS BARK by Salina Yoon
Sterling - 5/12/20

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Do sharks stamp? Do sharks stomp? All I know is sharks go CHOMP With flaps to lift that reveal the sounds each animal makes, this fun board book introduces preschoolers to singing whales, roaring polar bears, snappy crabs, and growling hippos, along with the chompy title shark and other popular creatures.

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    The Andrea Brown Literary Agency has been representing the best authors and illustrators of Children's and Young Adult books since 1981.

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