Educator Services

In this heartwarming holiday picture book, House misses being decorated for the winter holidays . . . but is delighted to be lit up for Eid instead.

After seeing all of its neighbors' twinkling lights for the winter holidays, House hopes to shine too. When Huda and her family move in, House thinks its time to sparkle has finally come.

But, Diwali, Hanukkah, and Christmas come and go without a shimmer. Quickly, House learns that every family celebrates joy and togetherness in their own way, no matter the season. And a few months later House will see that this new family has its own holiday to shine for.

This book is sure to be a holiday classic, complete with back matter about the holidays mentioned, including the one House lights up for–Eid.

Before the first Christmas light is strung, Grandma is hard at work, making thousands of tamales to sell so she can buy gifts for her family! This heartwarming tale, based on a true story, explores a grandmother's boundless generosity, and the irresistible magic of tamales.

A PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

When the weather changes, but way before the Christmas tree is decorated, Grandma begins her preparations. With so many children and grandchildren in her family, she finds a way to put gifts under the tree-- she sells as many tamales as she can! Masa in one hand, corn husks in the other, Grandma’s just getting started. 15 dozen tamales. As Halloween passes, and Thanksgiving, Grandma is still toiling away in the kitchen: 150 dozen tamales, 700 dozen tamales, 850 dozen tamales. When it’s time to string the lights for Christmas, she’s inching closer to 1000 dozen tamales! Enough to give some to those in need and enough to sell to earn money for Christmas gifts.

Based on the author’s own grandmother, who was the heart of the familia, here is a warm story about Christmas, generosity, and, yes, tamales.

From New York Times bestselling author of The Leaf Thief comes the funny snowy companion picture book that teaches kids about winter, adapting to change, and the seasons.

Squirrel and Bird are back, and this time it's winter! But squirrel has never seen snow before. Will he like it? You bet he will! Except, just as Squirrel starts to get used to the snow, it disappears. Is there a snow thief on the loose?

With vibrant art and captivating characters, the magic of winter is captured beautifully on each page as readers tag along Squirrel's forest adventure. Is there truly a snow thief on the loose, or is something else going on in Squirrel's forest? A perfect exploration of change--both seasonal, and the anxiety that change sometimes causes. Bonus material explaining about the changing of the seasons. Poised to be a new fall classic.

Pick up The Snow Thief if you are looking for:

• A classic read for ages 4 and up
• Back to school books, ideal for your classroom, homeschool curriculum, and more!
• Seasonal and educational stories about the changing seasons

In the sweet and charming follow-up to the beloved picture book Harold Loves His Woolly Hat, little bear Harold is NOT ready to to go to sleep—and, just like kids everywhere, he makes every attempt to stay awake.

Harold loves the springtime flowers. And spending time with friends on summer days. In the fall, he loves the bright, bold colors. But now winter is coming, and Harold will have to go to sleep...only he really doesn't want to. 

Harold is determined to stay awake. So, with help from his friends the crows, he tries everything—from filling his belly with delicious berries to wearing cozy pajamas to keep him warm. Finally, snow starts to fall, and Harold finds he needs to rest his eyes, just for a minute. When he finally dozes off, the crows return—with his woolly hat—to snuggle up for some winter rest.

All kids will see themselves reflected in this sweet, cozy read aloud about bears (ahem, kids) who are NOT ready to go to sleep.

The hit Hello, World! board book series teaches toddlers all about snow! Includes easy-to-understand facts about chilly weather, snowflakes, storms, snowplows, and winter fun.

Young children love to play in the snow. Now Hello, World! can teach them all about winter weather—with colors, shapes, sizes, and super-simple facts. ("Snowflakes come in different shapes, but they all have six sides and six points.")

Told in clear and easy terms and featuring bright, cheerful illustrations, Hello, World! makes learning fun for young children. Each page offers helpful prompts for engaging with your child.

It's a perfect way to bring science and nature into the busy world of a toddler, where learning never stops.

Look for all the books in the Hello, World! series: 
• Solar System
• Weather
• Backyard Bugs
• Birds
• Dinosaurs
• My Body
• How Do Apples Grow?
• Ocean Life
• Moon Landing
• Pets
• Arctic Animals
• Construction Site
• Rainforest Animals
• Planet Earth 
• Reptiles
• Cars and Trucks 
• Music
• Baby Animals
• On the Farm
• Garden Time
• Planes and Other Flying Machines
• Rocks and Minerals
• Snow
• Let's Go Camping
• School Day
• Baking
• From Seed to Pumpkin

In this follow-up to the beloved board book Dog’s First Baby, Dog and Baby explore the delightful and puzzling ways their family prepares for Christmas.

See these branches? They’re not for tugging.
See this ball? It’s not for fetching.
 
It’s the holiday season, and Dog smells a change in the air. With his new friend Baby by his side, Dog investigates the many strange occurrences in their home—like a tree in the living room, fragile balls that are not for fetching, and friends new and old—as he gets into the Christmas spirit with his family.

Humans and canines alike will love celebrating the season with this latest book in a beloved series!

Celebrate new experiences any time of the year with Dog's First Baby and Cat's First Baby.

Babies have a lot to say! Help strengthen your bond and enhance communication with your little one through this delightful introduction to sign language. Each page introduces three to four first signs that will help you teach your baby to express what they are feeling and what they want. Lift the tab for a description of how to make each sign. Then read and sign the simple story. Charming pictures reinforce the meaning for your toddler. Using baby sign language helps reduce frustration for both parents and children. Parents who learn sign language alongside their baby can be more responsive to their baby's needs, which can foster a closer bond.

A celebration of seven different winter holidays observed in the US and the traditions that unite them all.

Diwali, Solstice, Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Bodhi Day, and Lunar New Year are visually depicted in turn, accompanying a stunning, read-aloud text that speaks of the traditions that link them all together. The warm yet accurate imagery is explained in simple secondary text on each spread, and further in the backmatter. Beloved author Jane Yolen and daughter, author Heidi Stemple, have crafted a loving and poignant story with true reverence for our shared traditions of celebrating light, love, food, and family. An empowering, informative, and inclusive holiday book for families of all traditions.

The first piece of Judaica in the White House's permanent holiday collection was introduced for Hanukkah in 2022. This lovely picture book tells the history and importance of its creation.

The official White House menorah is a symbol of strength and perseverance against seemingly insurmountable odds. It was created from a piece of reclaimed wood salvaged during a Truman-era renovation of the building. That beam of White House wood sat in storage for seventy years, through thirteen different presidents. It might have been destroyed, but instead it waited for its new purpose. And so, in 2022, it was transformed into a menorah that will shine its beams of light every year, celebrating the resilience and permanence of Jewish people in America and abroad.

Kids in the Kitchen is the ultimate cooking companion for your budding little chefs!

Say hello to a world of hands-on fun that will ignite a passion for cooking and creativity in your kids. No more kitchen boredom- it's time to let their culinary imaginations run wild! Let their kitchen dreams take flight with our carefully curated healthy recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, desserts, anddrinks that not only tantalize taste buds but also foster independence and confidence. You'll also find fun facts about different food favorites such as bagels, lemonades, chocolate, and empanadas, among much more, as well as nutritional facts, kitchen term definitions, and advice for picky eaters. 

Get ready to cultivate a new generation of confident cooks and enthusiastic eaters with our delicious and kid-friendly recipes.

 Here are some yummy examples:

• Chocolate Chip Protein Pancake Muffins: Whip up a batch of these delightful and nutritious treats that will have your little chefs beaming with pride as they conquer the art of baking.
• Rainbow Fried Rice: Watch as your kitchen transforms into a palette of vibrant colors and flavors with this whimsical take on the classic fried rice. It's not just a meal; it's a masterpiece in the making!
• Pepperoni Pizza Empanadas: Ignite the spirit of culinary adventure with these scrumptious, handheld delights that will have your little ones feeling like kitchen superheroes.
• Easy One Pot Mac and Cheese: Unleash the magic of simplicity and taste with this creamy, cheesy classic that's perfect for their solo kitchen escapades.
• Strawberry Drink Refresher: Let their creativity flow as they concoct their own refreshing and fruity beverage that's as delightful to make as it is to sip.
• 2-Ingredient Red Velvet Cake: Unveil the secret to baking wizardry with this unbelievably easy yet stunning red velvet cake that will leave everyone in awe of their newfound kitchen skills.
• Pear and Apple Nachos: Transform snack time into a gourmet adventure with these fruity and fun nachos that are as fun to make as they are to munch on.

Join us on a cooking journey that sparks creativity,builds confidence, and nurtures a love for cooking. Kids in the Kitchen is not just a cookbook; it's a gateway to a world of endless possibilities and unforgettable food adventures. Let the kitchen magic begin!

A quiet, joyful story celebrating a Jewish mother's tradition of making challah with her child merges a lyrical text with stunning illustrations--and includes the author's favorite recipe.

Melt into the nooks and crannies of this book's unhurried pages, offering a place to rest and a pregnant pause for counting your many blessings--current and imminent! Here, a child and a mother measure, mix, knead, shape, and tuck their dough under a towel like a sleeping baby. Then, as they do every week, they wait while their dough rises, soon to be baked and gratefully shared at a Shabbat gathering with loved ones. Author Sidura Ludwig's poetic narration captures the experience of a Jewish family as they make challah--a lesson in patience, slowing down, faith, and family. Illustrator Sophia Vincent Guy brings light and warmth to the scene, from a sun-bleached, gossamer curtain to the rising steam from the bread, all rendered in delicate, decorative patterns. Whatever their background, readers will be happy to find the author's go-to recipe for challah at the end, along with a glossary and an author's note describing the personal meaning of her family's weekly ritual.

Get ready for Christmas with your favorite Disney and Pixar characters! This holiday cookbook for kids makes learning how to cook fun and downright magical.

Inspired by fan-favorite Disney and Pixar films, these 50 recipes will have beginner chefs whipping up everything from hearty breakfasts to sweet desserts in no time.

Featuring 50 beginner-friendly recipes with simple step-by-step instructions--plus mouth-watering photos of every dish--this cookbook invites readers to craft delicious holiday-themed treats while enjoying captivating illustrations of beloved Disney and Pixar heroes. 

Kid chefs will get a thorough introduction to kitchen basics, a difficulty rating for each recipe, and an index of vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free, and gluten-free recipes. Some of the delicious recipes inside include:
 

• Breakfast: Belle's Classic Winter Porridge and Pooh Bear's Mini Honey Buns
• Lunch: Rapunzel's Pumpkin Hazelnut Soup and Encanto-inspired Arepas de Queso
• Dinner: Lightning McQueen's Pot Pie and Woody's Cowboy Chili
• Sides: Wreck-It Ralph's Smashed Potatoes and Ratatouille-inspired Christmas Ribbon Salad
• Snacks: Ariel's Starfish Dip and Zootopia-inspired Hoppy Holidays Veggie Garden Wreath
• Drinks: Never Land Hot Chocolate and Stitch's Hawaiian Eggnog
• Desserts: Sugar Rush Popcorn-Gumdrop Garland and Baymax S'mores Brownie Bites

Don't miss these other delightful Disney cookbooks for kids!
The Disney Princess Cookbook
Tiana's Cookbook
The Disney Villains Cookbook

From debut author Kelsey Gross and New York Times bestselling artist Renata Liwska comes a gentle and lulling picture book celebrating the magic of the Winter Solstice with a group of animal friends in a quiet forest.

Tonight is the longest night of the year—solstice is here! Deep in the forest, the dark, cold, and quiet of winter is all around. Owl, Mouse, and Deer all watch the light fades and dark surrounds them, but they have a gift of hope to share with their neighbors. The moon and stars shine down on a lone tree in the forest, and the animals gather around to bask in its light. Winter Solstice arrives as the winter sky brings magic for all to share.

New York Times bestselling author-illustrator Eliza Wheeler welcomes readers to Acorn Village, where a community of adorable forest animals celebrates all the wonder that winter offers.

The busy animals of Acorn Village love to spend winter days doing all sorts of cozy activities together, whether they’re indoors reading, baking, and doing art projects or outside playing in the snow. And at the end of the day, the coziest activities await—sharing songs, hot drinks, and stories in front of a crackling fireplace, and then snuggling into bed and drifting off into dreamy sleep. Eliza Wheeler’s charming illustrations give her story the feel of a beloved classic and are full of rich, cozy details sure to ignite imaginations and make readers want to visit Acorn Village again and again.

A beautiful exploration of how animals face the challenges of winter. When the autumn days grow shorter and temperatures cool, animals prepare for winter. The hiders find someplace to rest and wait for spring, huddled under the ground or snuggled in a sheltered spot. The seekers migrate to new locations with milder weather and better food sources. And the finders keep warm and fed by adapting to the harsh conditions. Every creature knows just what to do to survive winter — following an ingenious plan that’s just right for them! The perfect book to curl up with on a snowy day. Readers will be transported through the magic of the seasons alongside the animals.

No two snowflakes look the same! But do you know how they form? This book introduces emergent readers to how snow forms and how it can affect us in our daily lives. Leveled text and vibrant photos introduce the subject, while unique features help readers visualize snow formation, highlight snowy day activities, and more. This title will keep readers engaged and excited to learn more about this chilly weather event!

From Laura Gehl, author One Big Pair of Underwear and Goat Wants to Eat, comes another side-splitting Ready-to-Go! Ready-to-Read about three animal friends on their first snow day!

Cat sees snow. Dog cannot blow the snow. Pig is slow in the snow. Can they still have fun in the snow?

Perfect for kids at the beginning of their reading journeys, Cat Sees Snow was written for children who have learned the alphabet and are ready to start reading! And what better way to get kids excited than with a hilarious story with words they can read on their own?

Each Ready-to-Go! Ready-to-Read includes a note to parents explaining what their child can expect, a guide at the beginning for readers to become familiar with the words they will encounter in the story, and reading comprehension questions at the end. Each Ready-to-Go! story contains about 100 words and features sight words, rhyming words, and repetition to help children reinforce their new reading skills. In this book, readers will learn six sight words and six words from one word family.

“My name is Earth / but people call me Little Earth.” In the fourth installment of their award-winning Madre Tierra / Mother Earth series of trilingual picture books about the natural world, Jorge Argueta and Felipe Ugalde Alcantara collaborate again to introduce Mother Earth, who is “full of all the colors / and all the flavors.” She is the mother of water, fire, wind and earth. Some call her planet, others nature or creation. “I am Mother Earth / a globe spinning around the sun, / creating sunrises, sunsets and nights.” She is the song of all the plants and animals, she is “dew, snow, heat,” she is life. A Junior Library Guild selection, this book about Mother Earth reflects Argueta’s indigenous roots and his appreciation for the natural world. Felipe Ugalde Alcantara’s stunning illustrations depict streams, mountains and wildlife in their habitat. Containing the English and Spanish text on each page, the entire poem appears at the end in Nahuat, the language of Argueta’s Pipil-Nahua ancestors. This is an excellent choice to encourage children to write their own poems about nature and to begin conversations about the interconnected web of life.

The picture book Snowy Mittens: A Winter Adventure is a celebration of Black joy and the simple pleasures of a day in the snow from award-winning poet and picture book author Shauntay Grant.

Follow along as a young boy spends the day sledding and ice skating with his family in this spare and poetic picture book. With a simple story—and simply stunning color illustrations from Candice Bradley—Snowy Mittens is an ode to celebrating winter’s coziest wonders, big and small.

Let’s go! Experience the magic of skating on wild ice.

Two children wake up to hear the lake singing, then the wind begins wailing ... or is it a wolf? They bundle up and venture out into the cold, carrying their skates. On the snow-covered shore, they spot tracks made by fox, deer, hare, mink, otter ... and the wolf! In the bay, the ice is thick and smooth. They lace up their skates, step onto the ice, stroking and gliding, and the great lake sings again.

In her signature poetic style, Jean E. Pendziwol describes the exhilarating experience of skating on the wild ice of Lake Superior, including the haunting singing that occurs as the ice expands and contracts. Accompanied by Todd Stewart’s breathtaking illustrations, this book will make us all long to skate wild!

Key Text Features

illustrations

Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3

On a feather-fluffing, seed-stuffing, cloud-puffing day . . .

Weasels whiten. / Cardinals brighten. / Frost glistens. / Owl listens.

From Buffy Silverman, author of On a Gold-Blooming Day and On a Snow-Melting Day, comes the third installment of a seasonal celebration. With winter's arrival, plants and animals hunker down for the cold season. Rhyming text and eye-catching photos sparkle in this wonderful read-aloud that encourages kids to closely observe the natural world. Back matter offers more information on the featured animals, plants, and weather conditions.

Join Really Bird and his friends who play outside in the snow while Really Bird keeps warm inside and directs the others in a game of throwing snowballs. 

Meet Really Bird, a small bird who lives in a large city park with his friends, Cat, Rabbit, and Pup. In each story, Really Bird finds himself really wanting something - to be bigger, to have his fair share, or to be a leader - to be really silly, funny, strong, cool, happy, or brave. And when he feels something, he really feels it.

Each story is an entertaining, character-driven caper based on relatable social/emotional themes, delivered with surprise twists, high drama, and expert timing. Along the way, lessons are learned about qualities such as teamwork and compassion. The emphasis is on character growth and development through creative problem solving. Friendship and emotional engagement are at the heart of every story.

In It's Really Cold Outside!, Really Bird manages to stay warm while his friends play outside in the snow. By coming up with a creative idea, the friends manage to include everyone even if one member of the group isn't quite feeling up to facing the cold snowy weather.

Go on a snowy adventure through the woods and match animals to their tracks in this beautiful board book with die-cuts throughout!

Who tiptoed across the snow? Who scurried and skittered? Who slink-slink-slinked along? Little readers will love looking at different tracks in the snow and figuring out which animal made each one.

"Very small motor enthusiasts are the ones to relish Will Hillenbrand's sweet Yuletide story." --The Wall Street Journal



"A warm Christmas read and a reminder of the best gifts: friendship, kindness, helpfulness, and cooperation." --Kirkus Reviews



"A fun story that introduces vocabulary and colors, packaged in a holiday adventure." --School Library Journal



"A visually appealing picture book that's fun for reading aloud." --Booklist



"There are so many details to love, from the text's patterned repetition to the unique personality-filled vehicles to the color-coded speech bubbles and sound effects." --Horn Book



For fans of Katy and the Big Snow, meet everyone's hero, Little Red--a pick-up truck with a mighty spirit and a heart of gold. He's determined to help his many vehicle friends in this winter holiday offering that includes foil on the cover!



The annual tree-lighting is one of the most beloved nights of the year. But a snowstorm has blanketed the streets and made it difficult for the community to get around.



Enter Little Red! A cute-as-a-button pickup truck with a mighty spirit and a heart of gold. Little Red will stop at nothing to help his neighbors--the show must go on!

The magic and wonder of winter’s first snowfall is perfectly captured in Ezra Jack Keat’s Caldecott Medal-winning picture book. Young readers can enjoy this celebrated classic as a full-sized board book, perfect for read-alouds of all kinds and a great gift for the holiday season.

In 1962, a little boy named Peter put on his snowsuit and stepped out of his house and into the hearts of millions of readers. Universal in its appeal, this story beautifully depicts a child's wonder at a new world, and the hope of capturing and keeping that wonder forever. This big, sturdy edition will bring even more young readers to the story of Peter and his adventures in the snow.

Ezra Jack Keats was also the creator of such classics as Goggles, A Letter to Amy, Pet Show!, Peter’s Chair, and A Whistle for Willie.
 
(This book is also available in Spanish, as Un dia de nieve.)
 

Praise for The Snowy Day:
“Keats made Peter’s world so inviting that it beckons us. Perhaps the busyness of daily life in the 21st century makes us appreciate Peter even more—a kid who has the luxury of a whole day to just be outside, surrounded by snow that’s begging to be enjoyed.” —The Atlantic

"Ezra Jack Keats's classic The Snowy Day, winner of the 1963 Caldecott Medal, pays homage to the wonder and pure pleasure a child experiences when the world is blanketed in snow."—Publisher's Weekly

A beautifully illustrated, rollicking read-aloud about forest animals who are caught—literally up to their ears and antlers—in a snowstorm.

On Monday, it starts to snow.
Silent swirling.
How high will it go?

Follow seven forest creatures, from a tiny mouse to a giant moose, as they hunker down in a snowstorm. As the week progresses, the snow piles up and up--even past Moose's antlers!

On Sunday, the sun starts to melt the snow, and it seems that, as the next week passes and it grows sunnier, spring has finally sprung. But wait...is that more snow?! This cumulative picture book is at once beautiful and lyrical and playful and joyful, with charming illustrations by a highly acclaimed illustrator.

In this sparkling picture book celebration of winter and creativity, a boy’s snow day efforts show that perfection is relative and what’s important is taking pride in what you do!

When a little boy wakes up to see a blanket of snow covering the world outside, there’s only one thing to do: make a snowman, and not just any snowman—he wants the best snowman ever. But when his perfectly packed and powdery dreams clash with cold, slushy reality, he realizes the best snowman ever may be out of reach…but he can make his best snowman yet.

In this raucous, rhyming plea for snow, a group of youngsters imagines the cold-weather delights they'll enjoy once winter arrives. From sledding down hills and skating on ponds to building snow forts and snowmen to sharing crackling fires and mugs of hot cocoa, they want snow and plenty of it! The snow can't arrive soon enough. But once the flakes start to fall, are the youngsters in for more than they bargained for? Readers young and old will enjoy this celebration of winter's snowy activities, recalling past pleasures and imagining future ones.

Pete the Cat goes walking down the street wearing his brand new white shoes. Along the way, his shoes change from white to red to blue to brown to WET as we steps in piles of strawberries, blueberries and other big messes! But no matter what color his shoes are are, Pete keeps movin' and groovin' and singing his song...because it's all good.

Ages: 3 - 7

From local author, Tracy Schlepphorst, comes the latest installment in the Emotion Belly Books series, Ripley Goes to School. 

"Dogs have a unique way of expressing their emotions through body language and actions. Follow Ripley to school and learn to read what she is feeling as she navigates a challenging classroom experience."--Publisher's description.