Holiday Spotlight: DK 2022

Here at Penguin Random House Canada, we’re lucky to work with so many different publisher lists. This holiday season, we’ll be highlighting each one with a dedicated post to help you find the perfect gift (or your next read). Today’s post spotlights DK.

101 Great Science Experiments: A Step-by-Step Guide
By Neil Ardley
120 Pages | Ages 8-12 | Paperback
ISBN 9781465428264 | DK Children
Find out how to make a rainbow, build a buzzer, see sound, construct a circuit, bend light, play with shadows, measure the wind, weigh air, and create an underwater volcano. The astonishing variety of experiments are all very easy and entirely safe, with step-by-step text and everyday ingredients. Biology, chemistry, and physics are brought to life, showing budding young scientists that science is all around us all the time. As you have fun trying out experiments with friends and family, core scientific principles are presented in the most memorable way. With chapters covering important topics such as color, magnets, light, senses, electricity, and motion, the laws of science are introduced in crystal-clear text alongside specially commissioned full-color photography for children to understand. Follow in the footsteps of Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, and all the other great minds with 101 Great Science Experiments and learn the secrets of science you’ll never forget.

An Anthology of Aquatic Life: DK Children’s Anthology
By Sam Hume
224 Pages | Ages 7+ | Hardcover
ISBN 9780744059823 | DK Children
From the deepest, widest ocean to the tiniest puddle, this beautiful compendium takes young readers on an enthralling journey through the aquatic world, meeting amazing animals, ingenious plants, and much more along the way. Stunning photography and gorgeous illustrations complement storybook descriptions about each lifeform, and children can uncover hundreds of fascinating facts as they read. Did you know that elephant seals that can hold their breath underwater for more than an hour, or that the Victoria Amazonica water lily can support the weight of an adult, or that the brown basilisk reptile can run across water? Discover the science of how plants have learned to live, feed, and breathe in water, and take a look at the unique challenges of distinct ecosystems on feature spreads about rivers, lakes, wetlands, and more. There’s also a visual index, packed with reference information including the size and location of each species. With foil on the cover, gilded edges, and a ribbon for keeping your place, An Anthology of Aquatic Life makes an attractive gift for any child who can’t get enough of the natural world – and it’s perfect for young readers to explore by themselves or for bedtime stories. From sharks and sailfish, to bulrushes and beetles, there’s something for everyone in this celebration of all things aquatic.

Disney Encanto The Ultimate Sticker Book
By DK
16 Pages | Ages 5-7 | Paperback
ISBN 9780744053173 | DK Children
Meet a magical family living in a magical home in Disney’s new movie Encanto and in this fun sticker book. Travel to Colombia with this ultimate sticker book, featuring beautiful images and artwork from Disney’s new movie Encanto. Discover all the key characters, including Mirabel Madrigal and her family, and encounter the magic of the Encanto. Disney Encanto Ultimate Sticker Book will help kids to relive the wonder of Disney’s newest movie. Fun stickering activities will keep kids aged 5-7 entertained for hours and, with more than 100 stickers, there are plenty of extra stickers, too.

Find My Favorite Things
By DK
16 Pages | Ages 2-5 | Board Book
ISBN 9780744026603 | DK Children
From an exciting town to a sunny beach, a beautiful park to a colorful toyshop, little ones visit their best-loved places, search through the busy scenes, then point to and name all sorts of delightful things, building their vocabulary. They follow entertaining characters like the little girl and her mum buying things for a birthday party, the young boy out and about with his grandparents, and playful Patch, the mischievous pup. They count scampering squirrels, fluttery butterflies, flying birds, and more. Plus there are favorite toys and fabulous treats to find, and a cool cat is hiding somewhere in each scene! A perfect interactive book to share with pre-reading toddlers or older children just beginning to read, every scene has “Can you spot?” questions, things to find that are certain colors or patterns, and open-ended prompts to encourage observation, exploration, and conversation. And at the end of the book, little ones can play a fun “Look back and find . . . ” game. With so many favorite things to talk about, and characters to follow from page to page, children can use their imaginations to tell their own story. Perhaps they will continue the story even after they have finished the book!

My Encyclopedia of Very Important Dinosaurs
By DK
224 Pages | Ages 5-9 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781465468482 | DK Children
Journey back in time to discover a prehistoric world of dinosaur facts. Dust off your fossil brush and let’s practice our paleontology skills! Little dino-lovers (and their dino-loving parents) will delight in this visually stunning dinosaur book. Dig up dazzling dinosaurs, see dinosaur bones up-close and learn facts about fossils. Feed your little one’s imagination with this bright and playful educational book. Discover the incredible lost world and meet dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops, and Stegosaurus. Each dinosaur has its name written phonetically, so you and your child can sound them out together. This dinosaur encyclopedia will tap into every child’s natural curiosity and answer all their questions about these prehistoric creatures! Packed with up-to-date facts and discoveries, your little fossil hunter will get to explore the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods. Go on a journey of dinosaur discovery! This kid’s book includes detailed profiles of popular dinosaurs, as well as the more unfamiliar species. Covering a huge range of dino-tastic topics, this is the book that every young dinosaur enthusiast will want to own. For Little Dinosaur Lovers Who Want To Know Everything. Every important person needs to know about the amazing creatures that once ruled the Earth, and this book has them covered. Packed with jaw-dropping fun facts, startling discoveries, and colorful illustrations. My Encyclopedia of Very Important Dinosaurs is the perfect book for any young reader who can’t get enough of dinosaurs!

The Grumpy Reindeer: A Winter Story About Friendship and Kindness
By DK
Illustrated by Clare Wilson
18 Pages | Ages 0-3 | Board Book
ISBN 9780744065060 | DK Children
From the team behind the bestselling book, The Happy Pumpkin, comes a new winter wonderland adventure for Christmas! Travel to the North Pole and meet the grumpiest reindeer there ever was, who needs a little help learning about the happiness that can come from making friends. It’s the most wonderful time of the year – but not for one grumpy reindeer! He huffs and puffs and scares all the other reindeer off. But when Santa asks him for his help, the grumpy reindeer soon realizes that sometimes being on your own isn’t fun after all! A magical, heartwarming book about making room for others and the power behind choosing to be kind. Little ones will begin to understand that while everyone should have a shoulder to lean on, sometimes we need to show kindness in order to get it back. Featuring the most festive illustrations, adults and children will love to read aloud and follow the story of this reindeer to see if his frown does ever turn upside down!

The Met Lost in the Museum: A seek-and-find adventure in The Met
By DK
72 Pages | Ages 7-9 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780744033625 | DK Children
Seven-year-old Stevie is lost in the galleries! She needs to locate a series of artworks to find her way out and back to her family. Can you help her? Follow Stevie as she explores the most exciting and intriguing galleries and exhibitions inside The Met in this beautifully illustrated seek-and-find adventure! As Stevie moves through The Met’s galleries of Greek and Roman art, Ancient Egypt, and Modern and Contemporary art, learn about the rarest and most beautiful objects found in the museum’s prestigious galleries. Who can you find? What will you discover?

The Ultimate Disney Sticker Book
By DK
16 Pages | Ages 7-10 | Paperback
ISBN 9780744033656| DK Children
Meet timeless Disney characters like Mickey Mouse, as well as newer fan favorites including Moana and Elsa. Find the stickers to fill the spaces and learn all about your favorite characters and movies along the way. With enchanting images and captions, this sticker book allows fans to learn about Disney characters from the classics to modern favorites. The Ultimate Disney Sticker Book is a must-have for any young Disney fan.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Very First Encyclopedia
By DK
224 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780744065237 | DK Children
Travel around the world to explore the continents, discover where different animals live, learn all about the people who came before us, and find out how your body works in this colorful and charming first reference book for children aged 5-7. Young learners can find out all about light and sound, the planets in the Solar System, how plants grow, and much, much more in this one-of-a-kind introduction to common core subjects.

Ultimate Sticker Book: Diggers and Dumpers
By DK
16 Pages | Ages 5-8 | Paperback
ISBN 9780756609740 | DK Children
Big building machines fill the pages of this delightful sticker book. Your child will learn everything about these hard-working vehicles, from excavators and bulldozers to forklifts and cranes. Do you have a construction-obsessed kiddo in your life? This digger activity book is filled with 60 reusable stickers, fun facts, and interesting activities. Cheerful photographs show these machines in action, digging and dumping away! Experience all the energy and excitement of a day at the construction site. Let your little budding engineers dig deep into the world of diggers and dumpers as they expand their knowledge on these powerful machines! They will discover what a dredging bucket is used for, why concrete is mixed in a machine and how tall a dump truck is. Taking subjects that kids love, like massive diggers and dumpers, the Ultimate Sticker Book series is packed with activities that are simple enough for children to do independently but engaging enough to keep their interest. With tons of fun stickers that can be reused and moved, this adventure book will keep your children entertained as they work through the pages. The reusable stickers are designed to develop dexterity in children, which is an important step in early childhood development.

Easter Reading 2022

Easter is coming up on April 17! If you’re looking for an egg-stra special treat for an Easter basket, here are some new and upcoming books to share:

An Eggstra-Special Easter! 
By Matt Huntley
Illustrated by Jason May
32 Pages | Ages 4-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780593431788 | Random House BFYR
Duncan’s favorite day is Easter, and his dreams come true when the Easter Bunny needs his help delivering eggs. But it’s a big responsibility and he’s not sure he can do it. Will a little confidence and some LEGO® creativity get the job done? This sweet and silly storybook is the perfect gift for LEGO fans ages 4 to 7 on Easter or any day!

Baby’s First Easter
By DK
14 Pages | Ages 0-3 | Board Book
ISBN 9780744026580 | DK Children
Introduce your little angel to Easter with this beautiful illustrated Easter board book. It’s ideal for story time and provides lots of opportunities for parent-and-child interactions. From the donkey that carried Jesus into Jerusalem to church prayers and hymns, this Christian book brings the warmth and celebrations of Easter to life through engaging, real-life photos. It’s clear and easy for babies and toddlers to follow with one main image per page they can focus on. The simple language and short text are great for reading aloud and encourages language development for children 0-3 years old’s.

Bunny Roo and Duckling Too
By Melissa Marr
Illustrated by Teagan White
32 Pages | Ages 1-3 | Board Book
ISBN 9780525516088 | Nancy Paulsen Books
It’s hard to keep up with an energetic toddler, and as an adoring mom tries to, she describes all the frisky young animals her little one reminds her of – from a hopping frog and a squirming snake, to her adorable cuddly bunny. A loving mama has fun sharing the various animals her growing child resembles, in this delightful companion to Bunny Roo, I Love You.

Easter
By Gail Gibbons
18 Pages | Ages 0-3 | Board Book
ISBN 9780823450954 | Holiday House
Is a toddler in your life celebrating Easter for the first time? Guide them through the basics of the sweet holiday with this simple board book. Colorful, detailed illustrations accompany an easy-to-read description of Easter’s history and traditions. Maybe the Easter Bunny will even make an appearance! Award-winning science author Gail Gibbons shows that it is never too early to learn with a book that is perfect for any Easter basket.

Easter, Here I Come!
By D. J. Steinberg
Illustrated by Emanuel Wiemans
32 Pages | Ages 4-6 | Paperback
ISBN 9780593224014 | Grosset & Dunlap
D. J. Steinberg is back with more playful poems, and this time, they are all odes to Easter and springtime. From making an Easter bonnet to enjoying an egg-squisite Easter brunch, this book – with its sheet of stickers – is a perfect gift to put in any child’s Easter basket!

Happy Ear-ster!
By Jo Parker
Illustrated by Debbie Palen
10 Pages | Ages 0-3 | Board Book
ISBN 9780593384381 | Grosset & Dunlap
Little ones will delight in this playful, rhyming adventure as they search for the real Easter Bunny!
It’s Easter today and there’s a basket of sweets . . .
But where, oh where, could it be?
Explore the farm and touch all the animals . . .
Can you find the Easter Bunny and his special treat?

Happy Easter! A Touch-and-Feel Playbook
By Ladybird
Illustrated by Lemon Ribbon Studio
10 Pages | Ages 0-2 | Board Book
ISBN 9780241530375 | Ladybird
Enjoy Easter with this festive addition to the Baby Touch series. This delightful board book is filled with bold Easter-themed illustrations and exciting, interactive moments on every page for young readers.

Little Chick Looks for the Easter Bunny
By Nosy Crow
Illustrated by Jannie Ho
10 Pages | Ages 0-3 | Board Book
ISBN 9781536220094 | Nosy Crow
Little Chick is searching for the Easter Bunny. Along the way she meets lots of friends who all have delicious chocolate eggs, but she just cannot find the Easter Bunny. Wherever can he be? Little readers will love joining in with Little Chick’s springtime search.

Mr. Impossible and the Easter Egg Hunt
By Adam Hargreaves
32 Pages | Ages 3-5 | Paperback
ISBN 9780593385968 | Grosset & Dunlap
Mr. Impossible is organizing an Easter Egg hunt for all his friends. He’s hiding them in all the most impossible places – some are so high that only Mr. Tall can find them and some so low and cleverly hidden that Mr. Small will need to be called. Can his friends find all the eggs? Find out in this new Mr. Men and Little Miss adventure, packed with Easter fun!

No Bunnies Here!
By Tammi Sauer
Illustrated by Ross Burach
32 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780593181355 | Doubleday BFYR
From the author of Wordy Birdy and the illustrator of The Very Impatient Caterpillar comes a hilarious picture book about a super-sassy bunny who tries to save himself and his cotton-tailed pals from a wolf by conning him into thinking they are not bunnies, despite the fact that a) they are very clearly bunnies and b) more and more (and more!) bunnies keep showing up. How many bunnies are in this book? A LOT! Young readers and their parents won’t be able to stop giggling at this chatty, boisterous, fur-filled, fun-filled caper.

Our Easter Adventure
By Emma Randall
32 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781524793333 | Penguin Workshop
Have you ever wondered where the Easter Bunny lives, or how he makes all those colorful eggs? Join a group of children as they follow a trail of eggs and discover his secret hideaway! The question is, what will they find there? Find out in Emma Randall’s enchanting tale, complete with bright illustrations that encourage young ones to appreciate and enjoy the season.

Rocket Finds an Egg
By Tad Hills
32 Pages | Ages 4-6 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780593181270 | Random House BFYR
Rocket and his friend Bella find an egg! The birds in the meadow don’t know whose it is. The egg is too small, too colorless, or too round to be theirs! Will the friends return the egg to its nest? With its simple words, lots of repetition, and bright, colorful illustrations, young readers will love this Step 1 leveled reader about Rocket, which they can ready all by themselves!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s First Spring
By Eric Carle
Illustrated by Eric Carle
16 Pages | Ages 0-2 | Board Book
ISBN 9780593384725 | World of Eric Carle
There are so many ways to spend a bright spring day. Join The Very Hungry Caterpillar and explore everything the season has to offer! Celebrate spring with The Very Hungry Caterpillar and his friends in this exploration of the season. Young readers can learn all about seasonal sensory experiences, like watching clouds change shapes, feeling cool rain on your skin, sniffing fresh blooming flowers, and so much more.

And for our Jewish friends, here are a couple of Passover titles!

More Than Enough: A Passover Story
By April Halprin Wayland
Illustrated by Katie Kath
40 Pages | Ages 3-5 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780593462546 | Dial BFYR
In this story told in spare, lyrical prose, a Jewish family prepares for their Passover seder, visiting the farmer’s market for walnuts, lilacs, and honey (and adopting a kitten along the way!), then chopping apples for the charoset, and getting dressed up before walking to Nana’s house. The refrain throughout is “Dayenu” – a mind-set of thankfulness, a reminder to be aware of the blessings in each moment. At Nana’s, there’s matzo ball soup, chicken, coconut macaroons, and of course, the hidden afikomen. After opening the door for Elijah and singing the verses of “Chad Gadya,”Nana tucks the children in for a special Passover sleepover. This warm, affectionate story embraces Passover in the spirit of dayenu, and offers a comprehensive glossary – it’s a perfect read for the entire family in anticipation and celebration of the holiday.

Passover, Here I Come!
By D. J. Steinberg
Illustrated by Emanuel Wiemans
32 Pages | Ages 4-6 | Paperback
ISBN 9780593224038 | Grosset & Dunlap
The Seder plate is set and the pantry’s filled with matzah – Passover is here! Author D. J. Steinberg is back with an all new collection of poems celebrating the joys of Passover, from singing the Four Questions to finding the Afikomen. Includes a sheet of stickers for extra holiday fun!

Holiday Spotlight: DK 2021

Here at Penguin Random House Canada, we’re lucky to work with so many different publisher lists. This holiday season, we’ll be highlighting each one with a dedicated post to help you find the perfect gift (or your next read). Today’s post spotlights DK.

An Anthology of Intriguing Animals
By DK
224 Pages | Ages 7-10 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781465477026 | DK Children
This animal book for children will delight and inspire kids who love animals. They will discover incredible facts and fascinating stories about their favorite animals and some they have never heard of! Find out why the slow-motion sloth is so sluggish and how the plodding pangolin protects itself from predators, and more! Throughout the book, each specially chosen animal is revealed in stunning photos and gorgeous illustrations. Kids will be intrigued by all the small, exciting details. The animal factbook also explores some of the stories and mysterious myths surrounding their favorite beasts. Curious kids can pour over the index, which is packed with reference information, including the size and location of each species, and a tree of life shows how the animal groups are connected. Find the animals that interest you and uncover new favorite along the way.

Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Life
By Professor Anusuya Chinsamy-Turan
224 Pages | Ages 7+ | Hardcover
ISBN 9780744039436 | DK Children
The perfect storybook for children to explore prehistory! Fascinating descriptions in this dinosaur book cover myths and legends about these animals, and surprising facts about the natural history of prehistoric life. Find out why Pachycephalosaurus had such a thick head, how a coral fossil can be used to work out how long a prehistoric year was, and which fossil was thought to protect people from poison! This beautifully illustrated prehistoric book unfolds the history of earth and answers questions kids commonly ask like, “What happened to dinosaurs?” Organized into the Palaeozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic eras, and packed with fascinating details, children will return to these colorful pages time and time again.

LEGO City Build Your Own Adventure: Catch the Crooks
By Tori Kosara
80 Pages | Ages 7-9 | Book & Toy
ISBN 9781465493286 | DK Children
Get ready for an exciting LEGO® City adventure! Discover building tips and ideas to inspire your own LEGO® models. Follow the instructions inside to build an exclusive model – a police patrol car – with the bricks in this book. Then grab your own LEGO bricks and the minifigure that comes with this book to help the LEGO City Police track down a missing jewel – and the crooks! 

LEGO Jurassic World Build Your Own Adventure
By Julia March and Selina Wood
80 Pages | Ages 7-9 | Book & Toy
ISBN 9781465493279 | DK Children
Build yourself an exciting dinosaur adventure with more than 50 ideas to inspire your own LEGO® Jurassic World™ models. LEGO® Jurassic World™: Build your Own Adventure combines an action-packed, thrilling story inspired by the Jurassic World movies and LEGO Jurassic World animations, with more than 50 fun ideas for building. Once you have built new creations, play out exciting adventures of your own using your personal LEGO collection. This book comes with a minifigure and the bricks to build an awesome exclusive vehicle that features in the story.

LEGO NINJAGO Build Your Own Adventure: Greatest Ninja Battles
By DK
80 Pages | Ages 6-8 | Book & Toy
ISBN 9781465473356 | DK Children
All the bricks you need to make an exclusive LEGO® NINJAGO® Hover-Bike, plus a book filled with more than 50 ideas to inspire your own LEGO NINJAGO models. Also contains a Master of Water Nya minifigure, two bookmarks and a fun poster. The perfect gift for LEGO NINJAGO fans, LEGO NINJAGO Build Your Own Adventure features adventures involving all your favourite Ninja. Each adventure is illustrated with exciting models, designed to inspire you to pick up your bricks and build your own! Avoid the Anacondrai’s jungle traps with Lloyd and Zane. Escape a spooky ghost town with Cole. Join Jay as he stows away on the Sky Pirate ship. Help Kai destroy a dangerous Vermillion snake egg.

My Encyclopedia of Very Important Things
By DK
224 Pages | Ages 5-9 | Paperback
ISBN 9781465449689 | DK Children
The world is so much bigger than young minds can fathom and there is always more to learn. My Encyclopedia of Very Important Things is a mind-boggling collection of everything interesting to get you on your way to knowing it all. Full of fun facts for kids, colorful illustrations, and games that will feed your imagination. This kids encyclopedia is filled with age appropriate knowledge on a range of topics that is complementary to your school’s Curriculum. Explore our world and its place in the galaxy – from animals and people, to planets and very importantly about yourself! Go on a journey to discover a world of information. Learn about just how many animals are there and how they live and communicate. Find out about our history – cavemen, the first explorers, ancient Egyptians and even dinosaurs. There’s so much crammed into one place and it’s all put into colorful and engaging ways suitable for young inquisitive minds.

Nature’s Treasures
By Ben Hoare
192 Pages | Ages 7+ | Hardcover
ISBN 9780744034950 | DK Children
A lump of coal, a cacao pod, a mermaid’s purse, a fossil, a pine cone, an owl pellet and a chrysalis – all tell a story. Learn how bristly mouths help huge whales capture tiny animals, marvel at rocks and minerals forged through time, and discover how studying a leaf skeleton can tell us how it transports food.  Nature’s Treasures takes you on a tour of our planet through incredible objects made by nature itself. Objects are shown with truly stunning photography and colorful illustrations to help explain the science behind them. The lively descriptions explore the remarkable tales of each item, and all are packed with fascinating information. It’s the perfect first book about nature for inquisitive children ages 7 and up who love to spot things when exploring outside and want to know more about nature.

Picturepedia, Second Edition
By DK
360 Pages | Ages 8-12 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781465438287 | DK Children
From incredible insects and musical instruments to spacecraft and prehistoric life, and from art and earthquakes to American football and dogs, Picturepedia gives you a world of information on every page. Did you know that more than half of the human body’s weight is water and that a koi carp can live for more than 200 years? Or how about there being more than 20,000 islands in the Pacific Ocean, or that Turkey eats the most bread, with each person getting through 104.6 kg (230.5 lb) of it per year? First published in 2015, Picturepedia has been revamped into a more thrilling edition that will take you on a visual odyssey. This brilliant book is crammed with stunning photographs, gripping information, and explanatory diagrams that allow for fascinating discoveries.

Pokémon Visual Companion Third Edition
By DK
304 Pages | Ages 7-11 | Paperback
ISBN 9780744021974 | DK Children
Learn all about your favorite Pokémon in this fact-packed guide to the animated series. Discover every region from Kanto to Alola, including the people and Pokémon who live there. If you want to be the very best, then you need to know Ash, Pikachu, and all the rest! Inside this go-to companion to Pokemon the Animated series you’ll find content from over the past 20 years, covering everything from video games, to mobile apps, the Pokemon Trading Card game, movies, tv shows, and much much more! Trace Ash’s journey and get to know his friends and travel companions, discover the secrets behind some of your favorite gym battles, plus see epic battles and meet Legendary and Mythical Pokémon along the way. Start the journey towards being a Pokemon master today!

Tabbed Board Books: My First Trucks and Diggers
By DK
28 Pages | Ages 0-3 | Board Book
ISBN 9781465416735 | DK Children
For little ones who enjoy big noisy vehicles like tankers and fire engines or construction vehicles like excavators and dump trucks. Help expand your toddler’s vocabulary with this attractive tabbed board book. Packed with bright, colorful photos of real-life vehicles, your toddlers will learn to identify different types of trucks and diggers, and the things that come with them! Learning different names and terms is an exciting stimulation for early childhood language development. This fun book includes everything from building sites and emergency vehicles to a school bus! Each page is dedicated to a different type vehicle, such as tractors and rollers. Easy-to-read labels help kids to sound out the words with you. Each page also shows objects associated with the truck, like the fire hose and the ladder engine. The interactive book encourages kids to count the firefighters in the picture, name the colors and match jobs with each vehicle.

The Animal Book
By David Burnie
304 Pages | Ages 8-12 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781465414571 | DK Children
This inspiring children’s reference guide welcomes you to the animal kingdom where you can meet more than 1,500 species, ranging from ants to zebras and everything in between. Stunning pictures bring you face to face with giant predators you know and love, including polar bears and tigers, as well as mysterious microscopic life, including amoebas and bacteria. A variety of animal habitats are shown in beautiful detail, while accessible information, additional fact boxes, and amazing galleries complete the stories. A jaw-dropping spectrum of animal types – from fish and birds to reptiles and mammals – provides a learning experience like no other.  Whether you’re a budding naturalist or simply want to complete a school project, The Animal Book has got it covered!

The Dinosaur Book
By John Woodward
208 Pages | Ages 9-12 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781465474766 | DK Children
Engage in amazing interesting facts about dinosaurs – the most awe-inspiring creatures to have ever lived. The Dinosaur Book brings you face-to-face with incredible creatures in fully colored images and realistic digital reconstructions. The largest footprints in history aren’t just a footnote. Believed to have lived millions of years ago, this book contains everything prehistoric from dinosaurs and flying pterosaurs, to marine reptiles and early mammals, even prehistoric plants, some of which still live today. Find out about great herbivores and ferocious predators such as the Tyrannosaurus, Hadrosaur, Quetzalcoatlus, and Stegosaurus. Learn about fun facts and recent discoveries like the amazing uncovering of a 110 million-year-old dinosaur named Nodosaur. Go on the journey of history’s longest-lived periods of life on the planet. Find out how amazing fossilized remains inform us about how they lived and how new feathered dinosaurs were discovered. The Dinosaur Book is filled with fun educational facts that will answer your young dino-lovers curiosity and take a detailed approach in explaining the “what, why and how’s.”

The Mysteries of the Universe
By Will Gater
224 Pages | Ages 7-9 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781465499332 | DK Children
From planets and asteroids to black holes and galaxies, every page of this captivating book reveals the secrets behind more than 100 celestial objects. Get ready to explore fun facts and exciting new scientific discoveries! For centuries, the mysteries of space have captured our imaginations. This picture book will illuminate imaginations and spark curious minds to explore the vastness of space. Take your little astronaut on a journey from our planet out into the furthest reaches of the universe! Filled with gorgeous illustrations and incredible photography, young readers will be intrigued by the detailed close-up images of each celestial body. The engaging storybook-style descriptions and simple text shed a light on facts, myths, and key discoveries about the universe. Explore the wonders of our solar system and beyond. This educational book also includes reference pages packed with fascinating information.

The Secret Explorers and the Rainforest Rangers
By SJ King
128 Pages | Ages 7-9 | Paperback
ISBN 9780744021363 | DK Children
In this fact-stuffed children’s science book, we follow rainforest expert Ollie on an exciting mission to rescue a lost baby orangutan in the steamy rainforest of Borneo. Accompanied by engineering expert Kiki, they set out in a glider to search for the friendly ape. Along the way, they encounter greedy plantation owners who are plotting to destroy the forest to expand a palm oil plantation! They also learn about the threat that endangered animals and plants face due to deforestation. Kids will love turning the pages to find out if the Secret Explorers manage to succeed in their mission! It’s the perfect gift for children aged 7-9 who love all things rainforest. Packed with lots of information on animal and plant life, this epic adventure book gives them a thrilling introduction to nature. 

The Wonders of Nature
By Ben Hoare
224 Pages | Ages 7-9 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781465485366 | DK Children
From opals to orchids and tapirs to toadstools, this beautiful collection brings more than 100 incredible items from the natural world to life. Perfect for all the nature-loving readers on the planet we call home. Every page of this reference book reveals fascinating animals, plants, rocks, minerals and microorganisms that will wow children and adults alike. Fantastic photography and illustrations showcase the wonders of planet Earth beautifully. Children will love exploring the detailed close-up images of different plants, animals and rocks. Curious kids can pour over the reference pages packed with new information. Find out how the dragon blood tree got its name, why a sundew means big trouble for insects and what on Earth a radiolarian is. From orchids to opals and lichens to lizards, this beautiful book lets you find the things that interest you and uncover new favorites along the way.

Hanukkah Reading List

This year, Hanukkah begins the evening of Sunday, November 28 and ends the evening of Monday, December 6. Get into the Hanukkah spirit or learn more about this Jewish holiday with these books!

All-of-a-Kind Family Hanukkah
By Emily Jenkins
Illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky
40 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780399554193 | Schwartz & Wade
The beloved All-of-a-Kind Family comes to life in a new format perfect for younger readers. Join the five sisters back in 1912, on the Lower East Side of NYC, and watch as preparations for Hanukkah are made. When Gertie, the youngest, is not allowed to help prepare latkes, she throws a tantrum. Banished to the girls’ bedroom, she can still hear the sounds and smell the smells of a family getting ready to celebrate. But when Papa comes home she is given the best job of all: lighting the first candle on the menorah. Jenkins and Zelinsky’s charming compliment to Taylor’s series perfectly captures the warmth and family values that made the original titles classics.

Baby’s First Hanukkah
By DK
14 Pages | Ages 0-3 | Board Book
ISBN 9781465499721 | DK Children
From the miracle of the oil, lighting the menorah candles, and delicious fried latkes and doughnut treats, to the spin-the-top dreidel game, shiny chocolate coins, and fun family time with songs to sing and gifts to give and receive, all the elements of this wonderful Jewish festival of lights are included. This classic little picture book has simple language and engaging, real-life photos that bring the warmth and celebrations of Hanukkah to life.

Hanukkah Lights
By David Martin
Illustrated by Melissa Sweet
26 Pages | Ages 0-3 | Board Book
ISBN 9780763630294 | Candlewick
Candles on the menorah, ready to light! At Hanukkah, there are many much-anticipated rituals – latkes to eat, dreidels to spin, presents to give and receive, and shiny gold treats. Add some free-form fun, from shadow puppetry to singing and dancing, and you have a warm, truly child-friendly celebration.

Hanukkah: The Festival of Lights
By Bonnie Bader
Illustrated by Joanie Stone
32 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781984852496 | Golden Books
It’s Hanukkah time! Preschoolers will learn all about how people celebrate Hanukkah – from eating latkes, spinning dreidels, exchanging gifts, and lighting the menorah. And they’ll also learn why they celebrate – from the destruction of the Temple, the bravery of the Maccabees, and the miracle of that little bit of oil that lasted for eight nights. Filled with colorful illustrations and simple, yet informative text, this Big Golden Book is perfect for reading again and again. Share it with your family this Hanukkah!

Happy Hanukkah, Pups!
By Random House
22 Pages | Ages 0-3 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780593177808 | Random House BFYR
Nickelodeon’s PAW Patrol get ready to celebrate Hanukkah in Adventure Bay! Learn to count from one to ten with dreidels, latkes, snowflakes, and more as the PAW Patrol helps their new friends Rachel and Jimmy decorate for their Hanukkah party! Girls and boys ages 0 to 3 will love this sturdy board book, which follows Marshall, Skye, Rubble, and the rest of the pup heroes on a holiday adventure.

Is it Hanukkah Yet?
By Nancy Krulik
32 Pages | Ages 4-6 | Paperback
ISBN 9780593375846 | Random House BFYR
Families who celebrate Hanukkah will recognize the familiar anticipation of the little girl in this story. And what better way to make the wait go faster than to read this sweet family story. Kids will recognize their favorite songs, games, and traditions in this early reader that captures the joy and warmth of the Festival of Lights.

Meet the Latkes
By Alan Silberberg
36 Pages | Ages 3-5 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780451479129 | Viking BFYR
Lucy Latke’s family is just like yours or mine. Except that they’re potato pancakes. And also, they are completely clueless. After lighting the menorah and gobbling the gelt, Grandpa Latke tells everyone the Hanukkah story, complete with mighty Mega Bees who use a giant dreidel to fight against the evil alien potatoes from Planet Chhh. It’s up to the Latke family dog to set the record straight. (To start with, they were Maccabees, not Mega Bees…) But he’ll have to get the rest of the Latkes to listen to him first!

The Eight Knights of Hanukkah
By Leslie Kimmelman
Illustrated by Galia Bernstein
48 Pages | Ages 4-8 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780823439584 | Holiday House
It’s the last night of Hanukkah and everyone is doing their part for the big celebration, but a dragon called Dreadful has other ideas. He roams the countryside, interrupting the party preparations. Lady Sadie must call upon the Eight Knights of Hanukkah to perform deeds of awesome kindness and stupendous bravery and put an end to the dragon’s shenanigans. When Dreadful eats all the special donuts the baker made, Sir Lily helps the baker make more sufganiyot. Sir Alex makes a young lad a new dreidel after Dreadful scorched his original one. And on the Knights go – but when they finally catch up to Dreadful, a funny surprise awaits them!

The Hanukkah Magic of Nate Gadol
By Arthur A. Levine
Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes
40 Pages | Ages 5-8  | Hardcover
ISBN 9780763697419 | Candlewick Press
Nate Gadol is a great big spirit with eyes as shiny as golden coins and a smile that is lantern bright. He can make anything last as long as it is needed, like a tiny bit of oil that must stretch for eight nights, a flower that needs to stay fresh to cheer up someone ailing, or a small lump of chocolate that grows to allow the Glasers to treat their children over the holiday and, during a harsh winter when medicine is needed more than sweets, spurs them to share what little they have with the O’Malleys. In this charming holiday hybrid story, well-known children’s author and editor Arthur A. Levine pairs with award-winning illustrator Kevin Hawkes to offer a mythical, magical take on the way Jewish families came to give and receive gifts over Hanukkah, just as their Christian neighbors do at Christmas, thanks to a loving spirit named Nate Gadol working behind the scenes – together with a certain jolly old soul.

Yitzi and the Giant Menorah
By Richard Ungar
32 Pages | Ages 5-9 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781770498129 | Tundra Books
On the eve of Hanukkah, the People of Chelm have received a special gift from the Mayor of Lublin. A giant menorah in which they place in the square for all the admire. Every night, the villagers meet to watch the lighting of a candle on the menorah. And every night, the villagers ponder What is the most fitting way to thank the Mayor of Lublin? The villagers come up with idea after idea, but their gift never quite reaches the Mayor. What will they do? Finally, on the last night of Hanukkah, Yitzi has an idea to orchestrate the surprise thank you gift.

Diwali Reading List

This year,  Diwali will occur for Hindu people on November 4. If you’re looking for books to celebrate Diwali or just want to learn more about this Hindu festival of lights, here are some suggestions.

Archie Celebrates Diwali
By Mitali Banerjee Ruths
Illustrated by Parwinder Singh
32 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781623541194 | Charlesbridge
Archana loves her family’s annual Diwali party, and this year she gets to share it with all her friends from school. She helps with the decorations and the food, and is eager for everyone to arrive. But once the party starts a thunderstorm kicks up and drenches the outside decorations and knocks out the power. Archie worries that everything will be ruined. How can there be a festival of lights without any electricity?

Baby’s First Diwali
By DK
14 Pages | Ages 0-2 | Board Book
ISBN 9781465485397 | DK Children
The bright and colorful images in this book are the perfect way to discover Diwali together. From the shining diya lamps that gave the festival its name, to colorful flower decorations, to sweet treats, Baby’s First Diwali features all the familiar favorites associated with India’s biggest and brightest holiday.

Goodnight Ganesha
By Nadia Salomon
Illustrated by Poonam Mistry
32 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780593203613 | Philomel BFYR
As nighttime falls over the city, two children visiting their grandparents in India find there’s so much fun to be had! Whether it’s listening to epic stories or observing rituals in the puja room, there are many moments that make this time together special. In this beautiful, rhyming ode to bedtime, the only thing more universal than getting ready for bed and saying goodnight is the love between children and their grandparents.

Happy Diwali Mad Libs
By Shweta Raj
48 Pages | Ages 8-12 | Paperback
ISBN 9780593094006 | Mad Libs
Time to decorate the house with [PERSON IN THE ROOM] and light the [PLURAL NOUN], as we celebrate Diwali with family, friends, and Mad Libs. Lay out your diyas and create your rangoli [PLURAL NOUN] because the Festival of Lights is here! With 21 “fill-in-the-blank” stories about the festive and spiritual holiday, Happy Diwali Mad Libs is the perfect way to celebrate. Play alone, in a group, or around the house as you decorate for Diwali. Mad Libs are a fun family activity recommended for ages 8 to [NUMBER].