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.

Ramadan and Eid Reading List

This year, the holy month of Ramadan will occur for Muslim people from April 13 to May 12, culminating with Eid al-Fitr on May 13. If you’re looking for books to celebrate Ramadan or just want to learn more about Muslim culture, here are some suggestions.

A Party in Ramadan
By Asma Mobin-Uddin
Illustrated by Laura Jacobsen
32 Pages | Ages 7-9 | Paperback
ISBN 9781629798479 | Boyds Mills Press
Ramadan is coming, and Leena is excited. Although she is too young to fast every day during the Muslim religious festival, Leena decides to fast each Friday instead. When Leena receives an invitation to a party which happens to fall on Friday, she has a dilemma. She doesn’t want to miss the party, but she doesn’t want to miss fasting either. So Leena decides to go to the party, but not eat or drink anything at all. Later, she will join her family for the meal known as iftar, when the daily fast is broken. But when Leena, the only Muslim at the party, sees her friends enjoying fresh lemonade and chocolate cake, her stomach starts to growl and her head begins to hurt. Will she keep her Ramadan fast?

Amal Unbound
By Aisha Saeed
240 Pages | Ages 10+ | Paperback
ISBN 9780399544699 | Nancy Paulsen Books
Twelve-year-old Amal’s dream of becoming a teacher one day is dashed in an instant when she accidentally insults a member of her Pakistani village’s ruling family. As punishment for her behavior, she is forced to leave her heartbroken family behind and go work at their estate. Amal is distraught but has faced setbacks before. So she summons her courage and begins navigating the complex rules of life as a servant, with all its attendant jealousies and pecking-order woes. Most troubling, though, is Amal’s increasing awareness of the deadly measures the Khan family will go to in order to stay in control. It’s clear that their hold over her village will never loosen as long as everyone is too afraid to challenge them – so if Amal is to have any chance of ensuring her loved ones’ safety and winning back her freedom, she must find a way to work with the other servants to make it happen.

Amira’s Picture Day
By Reem Faruqi
Illustrated by Fahmida Azim
40 Pages | Ages 4-8 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780823440191 | Holiday House
Just the thought of Eid makes Amira warm and tingly inside. From wearing new clothes to handing out goody bags at the mosque, Amira can’t wait for the festivities to begin. But when a flier on the fridge catches her eye, Amira’s stomach goes cold. Not only is it Eid, it’s also school picture day. If she’s not in her class picture, how will her classmates remember her? Won’t her teacher wonder where she is? Though the day’s celebrations at the mosque are everything Amira was dreaming of, her absence at picture day weighs on her. A last-minute idea on the car ride home might just provide the solution to everything in this delightful story from acclaimed author Reem Faruqi, illustrated with vibrant color by Fahmida Azim.

Baby’s First Ramadan
By DK
14 Pages | Ages 0-3 | Board Book
ISBN 9780744026597 | DK Children
Perfect for story time with little ones, this first board book introduces babies and toddlers to the holy month of Ramadan. From the first sight of the crescent moon in the sky, colorful lanterns and sparkly lights, beautiful henna designs, and favorite Ramadan sweets, to prayers at the mosque, family meals, and sweet dates after a day of fasting, all the elements of this wonderful Islamic celebration of the holy month are included. This classic first picture book for babies and toddlers has simple language and engaging, real-life photos that celebrate Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr.

Deep in the Sahara
By Kelly Cunnane
Illustrated by Hoda Hadadi
40 Pages | Ages 4-8 | Paperback
ISBN 9780525645665 | Dragonfly Books
Lalla lives in the Muslim country of Mauritania, and more than anything, she wants to wear a malafa, the colorful cloth Mauritanian women, like her mama and big sister, wear to cover their heads and clothes in public. But it is not until Lalla realizes that a malafa is not just worn to show a woman’s beauty and mystery or to honor tradition – a malafa for faith – that Lalla’s mother agrees to slip a long cloth as blue as the ink in the Koran over Lalla’s head, under her arm, and round and round her body. Then together, they pray.

Fatima’s Great Outdoors
By Ambreen Tariq
Illustrated by Stevie Lewis
40 Pages | Ages 4-8| Hardcover
ISBN 9781984816955 | Kokila
Fatima Khazi is excited for the weekend. Her family is headed to a local state park for their first camping trip! The school week might not have gone as planned, but outdoors, Fatima can achieve anything. She sets up a tent with her father, builds a fire with her mother, and survives an eight-legged mutant spider (a daddy longlegs with an impressive shadow) with her sister. At the end of an adventurous day, the family snuggles inside one big tent, serenaded by the sounds of the forest. The thought of leaving the magic of the outdoors tugs at Fatima’s heart, but her sister reminds her that they can keep the memory alive through stories – and they can always daydream about what their next camping trip will look like. Ambreen Tariq’s picture book debut, with cheerful illustrations by Stevie Lewis, is a rollicking family adventure, a love letter to the outdoors, and a reminder that public land belongs to all of us.

Hannah and the Ramadan Gift
By Qasim Rashid
Illustrated by Aaliya Jaleel
40 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780593114667 | Viking BFYR
It’s the first day of Ramadan and Hannah wants to be a part of this important month every way she can. But if she’s too young to fast, how can she observe Ramadan? By saving the world, Dada Jaan tells her. And so Hannah learns that by helping her friends and neighbors and by showing kindness and generosity, she can make the world a better place. The debut picture book by human rights activist and attorney Qasim Rashid tells a timely story full of warmth and heart about the observance of Ramadan and the power of good deeds.

My Grandma and Me
By Mina Javaherbin
Illustrated by Lindsey Yankey
32 Pages | Ages 4-8 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780763694944 | Candlewick
While Mina is growing up in Iran, the center of her world is her grandmother. Whether visiting friends next door, going to the mosque for midnight prayers during Ramadan, or taking an imaginary trip around the planets, Mina and her grandma are never far apart. At once deeply personal and utterly universal, Mina Javaherbin’s words make up a love letter of the rarest sort: the kind that shares a bit of its warmth with every reader. Soft, colorful, and full of intricate patterns, Lindsey Yankey’s illustrations feel like a personal invitation into the coziest home, and the adoration between Mina and her grandma is evident on every page.

Peg + Cat: The Eid al-Adha Adventure
By Jennifer Oxley and Billy Aronson
32 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Paperback
ISBN 9781536206807 | Candlewick
It’s Eid al-Adha, a very special holiday for Yasmina and Amir, who invite their friends Peg and Cat to check it out. After they all rock out with some singing, it’s time to head to the celebration, where there’s so much food waiting! Amir explains that an important part of celebrating Eid al-Adha is dividing the meat into three equal parts, one third to be shared with someone who has less. But with all three bowls of meatballs holding different amounts, they’ve got a BIG PROBLEM! Thanks to a balancing scale, a trip to a soup kitchen, and an unexpected visit to a housebound neighbor, Peg and Cat learn all about the concept of taking from where there’s more and giving to where there’s less. Even Cat discovers how awesome giving can be. Eid Mubarak!

Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Maker
By Zanib Mian
Illustrated by Nasaya Mafaridik
224 Pages | Ages 8-12 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780593109212 | Putnam BFYR
Welcome to the imaginative brain of Omar! Omar and his family have just moved, and he is NOT excited about starting at a new school. What if the work is too hard or the kids are mean or the teacher is a zombie alien?! But when Omar makes a new best friend, things start looking up. That is, until a Big Mean Bully named Daniel makes every day a nightmare! Daniel even tells Omar that all Muslims are going to be kicked out of the country. . . . Could that possibly be true? Luckily, Omar’s enormous imagination and goofy family help him get through life’s ups and downs. Omar’s funny, relatable narrative is the perfect answer to the call for both mirrors and windows to fill bookshelves with diverse stories.

The Green Bicycle
By Haifaa Al Mansour
368 Pages | Ages 10+ | Paperback
ISBN 9780147515032 | Puffin Books
Spunky eleven-year-old Wadjda lives in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with her parents. She desperately wants a bicycle so that she can race her friend Abdullah, even though it is considered improper for girls to ride bikes. Wadjda earns money for her dream bike by selling homemade bracelets and mixtapes of banned music to her classmates. But after she’s caught, she’s forced to turn over a new leaf (sort of), or risk expulsion from school. Still, Wadjda keeps scheming, and with the bicycle so closely in her sights, she will stop at nothing to get what she wants. Set against the shifting social attitudes of the Middle East, The Green Bicycle explores gender roles, conformity, and the importance of family, all with wit and irresistible heart.

The Night Diary
By Veera Hiranandani
288 Pages | Ages 8-12 | Paperback
ISBN 9780735228528 | Kokila
It’s 1947, and India, newly independent of British rule, has been separated into two countries: Pakistan and India. The divide has created much tension between Hindus and Muslims, and hundreds of thousands are killed crossing borders. Half-Muslim, half-Hindu twelve-year-old Nisha doesn’t know where she belongs, or what her country is anymore. When Papa decides it’s too dangerous to stay in what is now Pakistan, Nisha and her family become refugees and embark first by train but later on foot to reach her new home. The journey is long, difficult, and dangerous, and after losing her mother as a baby, Nisha can’t imagine losing her homeland, too. But even if her country has been ripped apart, Nisha still believes in the possibility of putting herself back together. Told through Nisha’s letters to her mother, The Night Diary is a heartfelt story of one girl’s search for home, for her own identity . . . and for a hopeful future.

The White Nights of Ramadan
By Maha Addasi
Illustrated by Ned Gannon
32 Pages | Ages 7-9 | Paperback
ISBN 9781629798462 | Boyds Mills Press
Mid-Ramadan is a special time for families in the Arabian (Persian) Gulf. These middle days are known as “the three whites,” because they include the day of the full moon, the day before, and the day after. It’s a time when children dress in traditional clothing and go from house to house collecting treats from their neighbors. When Noor sees the full moon rising, signaling the coming of Girgian, she and her brothers prepare for the fun. Together, they decorate the bags they’ll carry to collect the candies. But along with the fun, Noor remembers the true meaning of Ramadan: spending time with family and sharing with those less fortunate.

Spring Animals Books

Babies love books about animals! What they love even more is to snuggle when being read to. Check out these books featuring a Narwhal, bunny, and lamb!

Blankie
By Ben Clanton
22 Pages | Ages 0-3 | Board Book
ISBN 9780735266780 | Tundra Books
Dive into a brand new Narwhal and Jelly story for the youngest readers! A big, yellow blankie is one of Narwhal’s favorite things; not only because it keeps Narwhal warm and cozy, but also because it’s not just a blankie. Narwhal can fold it into a hat, wear it as a cape (or a dress!) and even use it for a picnic with a best bud, like Jelly! This charming board book celebrates the power of imagination and reusability, and is perfect for both fans of the Narwhal and Jelly graphic novel series and readers new to the world wide waters.

Baby Touch and Feel: Bunny
By DK
14 Pages | Ages 0-3 | Board Book
ISBN 9780756689872 | DK Children
Babies will explore different textures and expand their senses as they discover the tactile elements of Baby Touch and Feel: Bunny. This padded board book promotes sensory development and early language skills, and is the perfect size for small hands to hold. With simple images that are clearly labeled, and an amazing range of novelty textures, Baby Touch and Feel books capture the attention of the very youngest children and create an experience they’ll want to repeat again and again.

We  Adopted a Baby Lamb
By Lori Joy Smith
48 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780735266537 | Tundra Books
Ila is excited about her family’s move to the country – mostly because it means she can have more pets! But no one expected their next addition to be a lamb. When Albert first comes home, he sleeps a lot, he eats a lot . . . and he pees on the floor a lot. Ila and her sister and parents quickly learn how to care for a baby sheep – they must feed him and protect him. It’s not easy because Albert gets into everything! He eats the tulips from the flower bed, chews on car bumpers, chases the dog (and hides from the cats). Ila and her family does everything to make Albert happy and healthy, but she can’t help feeling like her little lamb might be missing something from his life. Maybe he needs a friend? But Ila soon realizes that she doesn’t need to look for a friend for Albert – he already has his flock.

Here are even more adorable books to help you celebrate spring and cute animals with the babies in your life:

Adventures with Barefoot Critters
By Teagan White
30 Pages | Ages 0-2 | Board Book
ISBN 9781101919132 | Tundra Books
Join a charming cast of animal characters as they explore the alphabet in a simplified version of Teagan’s beloved picture book Adventures With Barefoot Critters. From gathering honey to building cozy campfires, the friends make the most of every activity, both enjoying the great outdoors and staying snug inside. Learning the alphabet is fun when adventuring with these critters, and children and adults alike will delight in Teagan White’s sweet, nostalgic illustrations.

Counting with Barefoot Critters
By Teagan White
30 Pages | Ages 0-2 | Board Book
ISBN 9780735263239 | Tundra Books
What is a day of counting with Barefoot Critters?
Reading
Making pancakes
Helping friends
Exploring
Swimming
Playing pirates
Learning about numbers!
Join this adorable cast of animal characters as they explore numbers and counting over the course of a day, having fun at all stops along the way.

The Secret Fawn
By Kallie George
Illustrated by Elly MacKay
40 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780735265165 | Tundra Books
A little girl is always missing out on the wonderful things her family gets to see and do, just because she is the youngest and smallest. She misses seeing shooting stars because she goes to bed too early; she can’t pick the first apple of autumn because she’s too short; and, this morning, everyone else got to see a deer . . . except her. She goes into her backyard in search of the deer, a sugar cube tucked in her pocket. She sees a flick of brown in the orchard – is that the deer? No, it’s just the neighbor’s friendly dog (shhhhh, Nala!). Is that it by the pond? No, that’s just a bird, playing in the water. Just when she’s about to give up, she spots a fawn, beautiful, quiet and small . . . just like her. The Secret Fawn beautifully captures the power of nature to inspire children and shows how connecting with animals can help kids who feel left out or overlooked.

Where’s Baby?
By Anne Hunter
40 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780735264984 | Tundra Books
Papa Fox is looking for Baby Fox, who is just out of his sight . . . but not ours! In this clever introduction to prepositions, a near-sighted Papa is looking for his baby. Is Baby up in the tree? Is Baby under the log? Is Baby around the corner? Where could Baby be? Readers will delight in spotting the little fox on every page as Papa wanders the forest, encountering other animals all along the way, but never quite able to spot his own baby. Anne Hunter’s delicate and lovely illustrations with their limited palette highlight the humor of this adorable hide-and-seek tale.