Children Services

New Children's Books

Image for "The World Needs the Wonder You See"

The World Needs the Wonder You See

New York Times bestselling author Joanna Gaines welcomes you on an imaginative adventure through nature’s small surprises and invites you and your children to be curious, slow down, and take in everyday wonders. With vibrant art by Julianna Swaney that is full of dreamy details, this whimsical picture book will inspire your family to pause busy schedules and explore together.

Inspired by Joanna’s young son’s insistence to “look up!” and the shift to a slower perspective she enjoyed after having her last child, this book shares the delight of taking a friend by the hand, getting your boots muddy, and discovering the secrets just waiting to be uncovered.

In The World Needs the Wonder You See, you and your kids will

  • slow your pace, look closely, and find joy as you make discoveries together;
  • join a diverse cast of children on a journey below leaves, amidst treetops, under ocean waves, through rabbits’ tunnels, and into the clouds;
  • imagine hidden worlds in which ladybugs live in tiny cabins, snails journey through mushroom fields, and stars paint stories across the sky; and
  • learn to notice the amazing beauty that children naturally see.

This companion book to The World Needs Who You Were Made to Be is perfect for

  • children ages 4–8;
  • grandparents, parents, teachers, and librarians;
  • classroom story times and discussions about valuing others’ ideas and perspectives;
  • households that enjoy watching Chip and Joanna on Magnolia Network and HGTV’s Fixer Upper; and
  • holiday or Christmas gift-giving, birthdays, graduations, or other celebrations.

Celebrate the wonder of the world through a child’s eyes in this imaginative book about all the beauty, hope, and surprise hiding in plain sight. Look up. Lean in. Bend low. Reach for new heights. Every day, from every place, there’s more to see in this great big world of possibility.

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Safe Crossing

How does an amphibian cross the road? With the help of the Amphibian Migration Team! Learn all about a citizen scientist who acts as a crossing guard for migrating amphibians and helps build them a tunnel to safety in this delightful nonfiction picture book!

From Kari Percival, Ezra Jack Keats Award-winning author of How to Say Hello to a Worm, comes an entertaining and informative children’s book perfect for curious, nature-loving young readers.

Every spring, frogs and salamanders must travel from wooded uplands where they were born to vernal pools where they will mate. Unfortunately, roads constructed through their habitats have made the journey dangerous for these slow-moving animals. Many never reach their destinations. But with the help of the Amphibian Migration Team, there is hope for a safe crossing!

Readers will learn so much about amphibians and their habitats and get a great introduction to civic participation, too. The citizen scientist at the heart of this story presents her proposal for a wildlife tunnel to her local City Council and coordinates with stakeholders in the process like a wildlife biologist, a herpetologist, a roadway engineer, a surveyor, the Conservation Commission, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Department of Transportation, contractors, and reporters. It’s a fascinating way to find out how local government works and how kids can actively create social change.

Playful and educational, Safe Crossing offers an empowering example of how even the youngest citizens can raise awareness about a meaningful cause, drive change, and unite people locally and globally.

BECOME A CITIZEN SCIENTIST: Citizen scientists are rallying around the world. You, too, can train to be an amphibian crossing guard! Protecting amphibians as they migrate to and from laying eggs means protecting many endangered species.

CONNECTION AND CONSERVATION: Doing citizen science gives kids and caregivers a meaningful way to connect with neighbors, friends, and their local ecosystem. This book offers a powerful example of how children can make a difference by raising awareness and uniting a community around causes they care about.

FASCINATING BACKMATTER: There’s so much to learn! Additional resources at the back of the book include information on amphibian life cycles, crossings, and safety, wildlife tunnels, road safety, becoming a community scientist, and a glossary. As an added bonus, the front and back endpapers feature scavenger hunts for spring peeper tadpoles, spotted salamander eggs, tiny fairy shrimp, and much more!

Perfect for:

  • Kids who love science, nature, and animals
  • Teachers, educators, and librarians seeking classroom books with STEM content
  • Scout troop leaders and parents looking for engaging nature books for kids
  • Environmental activists and club leaders
  • Fans of Over and Under the Pond, We Are All Connected: Caring for Each Other & the Earth, and National Geographic Kids books
Image for "Soy Sauce!"

Soy Sauce!

A joyful picture book for kids and foodies of all ages (with real soy sauce as paint!) that celebrates the iconic kitchen staple and the magical way food connects family and friends across the world.

Salty, savory, rich, and even sweet, soy sauce is as fascinating to make as it is delicious to eat!

Luan makes a classic Chinese soy sauce. Haru uses his own recipe at his family's traditional Japanese brewery. And Yoo-mi's Korean soy sauce features special ingredients to make it spicy and sweet.

With unique ingredients that reflect different Asian cultures, and a brewing process that can take years, even decades, soy sauce holds deep meaning and flavorful history in every drop.

Praise for Soy Sauce!:

✭ "Lee's lively watercolor illustrations of the children gleefully celebrating each stage of the long process pair beautifully with the upbeat text for an informative, engaging story.... A joyful ode to soy sauce that's delicious to the last drop." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Soy Sauce! is a charming celebration of one of our favorite condiments. Delicious!" --Grace Lin, author of Chinese Menu and A Big Mooncake for Little Star

"I can't wait for children and families to learn about the colorful history and process of soy sauce." --Kristina Cho, James Beard-winning author of Chinese Enough and Mooncakes and Milk Bread

"A loving ode to the ways we connect at the table through taste and tradition....A perfect read for your budding epicurean." --Cecily Wong, author of Gastro Obscura: A Food Adventurer's Guide