Children & Parent Services

Caboose is a hilarious picture book all about the antics of classroom line-ups from children's book creator and elementary school librarian Travis Jonker, with art from critically acclaimed illustrator Ruth Chan

Every kid knows the joy of being line leader. You can make the line go fast. You can make the line go slow. You can stop suddenly and make the line crash--oh, the power!

Cedric has all sorts of tricks to make sure he's first in line. There's the fast walk, the slow run, the shoulder tap, the slingshot, and so much more. But when Cedric's line leader antics go too far, he's banished to the back of the line. The very back of the line.

Now that Cedric's the caboose, he must hatch a whole new world of hijinks. The turtle walk, the step back, the cloak of invisibility, the "no, no, after you!" The possibilities are endless!

"A chaotic yet hilarious story grounded in real childhood emotions." (Kirkus starred review) 
"Comically and intricately mapping a circuitous path through the playground." (Publishers Weekly starred review)

Set sail for adventure! Dive in to this hilarious and moving middle grade graphic memoir about friendship, growing up, and life at sea.

Janey's family is about to set sail for the adventure of a lifetime! The only problem? Janey must leave her school, her life, her best friend, the entire country behind for new adventures - coral reefs, colorful markets, and new cultures. Life at sea is exhilarating, but there's a major downside: when you're raising anchor every few days with sights on a new harbor, it's almost impossible to make new friends.

Finally, Janey meets the cool and aloof Astrid - a fellow boat kid who's equally starved for friendship. But Astrid can be a challenging friend to navigate, and beyond that, hurricane season has only just begun . . . .

At turns laugh-out-loud hilarious and heartbreakingly poignant, this stunning graphic memoir charts both the turbulence and joys of growing up.

Included in CBC's November Hot Off the Press reading list!

Could you drink 20 gallons of water in under 15 minutes? Or carry 100 times your own weight? Some animals can! Animals can do countless remarkable things that people could never do. Within these pages, you'll learn about 11 animal species and their extraordinary abilities: camels, hummingbirds, bats, ants, elephants, beavers, crocodiles, sloths, flamingoes, penguins, and mosquitoes.

Each page invites readers to question, "Could you?" followed by interesting and informative facts about animals who do. From the hummingbird's ability to consume half its body weight in food each day while remaining lean and trim to the remarkable adaptations of other creatures, this book showcases the diversity and ingenuity of the animal kingdom.
Accompanied by simple illustrations that bring each animal to life, this book offers an immersive and informative reading experience. Perfect for sparking curiosity and fostering a love for nature, this book is a must-have addition in class or for any young reader's library.

An immersive and informative guide to 11 animals and the fascinating things they can do. For animal lovers aged 6 years and up.
 

A rhyming board book with novelty felt mouths to feed!

You should never feed a yeti spaghetti, offer a llama a banana, or give a cheetah a fajita! Find out why in this hilarious rhyming book. Each animal has a giant open mouth and big, felt teeth, so children can reach through the holes to mimic feeding them!

Children of all ages, 0 and up, will love:

• The interactive tactile features of this durable board book
• The amusing rhyming text that helps promote an early love of reading
• Receiving this fun book as a birthday gift, stocking stuffer, Easter basket goody, road trip activity, or just because

Parents and their little ones will enjoy reading aloud Never Feed a Yeti Spaghetti again and again.

Encourage your baby's early motor skills with See, Touch, Feel Tummy Time from Priddy Books.

This casebound board book features two double page fold-outs so the book can stand up and open out. It was designed this way to be used while babies are lying on their fronts, encouraging them to strengthen their back, arm, and neck muscles as part of their daily tummy time routine. 

The book features a mix of black-and-white high contrast imagery, appealing photographs of happy babies, and bright colorful handprint artwork which the See Touch Feel series is best known for. The varied art style will engage and entertain babies as they get older. 

There is also touch and feel textures to explore and a mirror at the end for babies to look into and enjoy.

Part of the best-selling See, Touch, Feel series which includes See, Touch, Feel; See, Touch, Feel 123; See, Touch, Feel ABC; See, Touch, Feel Colors; See, Touch, Feel Create, and See, Touch, Feel Roar.

All aboard the journey of a lifetime! Ticket to Ride is an immensely popular board game where players test their skills in teamwork, strategy, and luck. This new, 100% official, and high stakesTicket to Ride book will whisk readers all throughout the North America, is perfect for fans of all ages, with black-and-white illustrations by artist David Miles and chilling, pulse-pounding prose by bestselling author Adrienne Kress. 

To say twelve-year-old Teddy loves trains is an understatement. He is obsessed. He knows everything there is to know about them, has the most amazing model train setup in the basement, and he carries around a classic caboose, a small model of a caboose of a 19th century steam engine that he received as a birthday gift. It's his good luck charm! So when Teddy wins a Ticket To Ride the Excelsior Express in a writing contest, he can't wait. The Excelsior Express is a train that's modeled to look like it's from the 1920's but is outfitted with a high-tech locomotive system. This will be the train's flagship journey, and it's a dream come true for Teddy. Plus, he'll get to see his grandparents in Los Angeles, and travel all across North America from his hometown of Toronto, Canada. 

Wait . . . dream come true?

Or maybe a nightmare.

When the train gets rerouted from Omaha to Pittsburgh, at first, Teddy doesn't think anything of it. Trains get rerouted all of the time. But then the train gets rerouted again. What's more, his lucky caboose is missing.

As it turns out, this ticket to ride takes Teddy, his new friend Olivia, a woman always dressed in yellow named Mina, two traveling musicians named Allie and Dex, and their fellow passengers on an unexpected journey and through some pretty hefty corporate corruption.

Based on the hit board game, Ticket to Ride, author Adrienne Kress weaves fascinating story with adventure in this book that's full of mystery, adventure, and friendship, in a style reminiscent of Lemony Snicket and Roald Dahl. Illustrator David Miles's spot art leaps off the page . . . and onto a train track. Fans of Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events and Adrienne's own Bendy and the Ink Machine novels will love this series.

"Perfect for readers who love trains and adventure. A valuable addition with an entertaining story line and enjoyable artwork." - School Library Journal

"With a crisp, engaging voice and sharp wit, Adrienne Kress is always a treat to read." - Kelley Armstrong, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

When scientist and explorer Maria Reiche visited Peru’s Nazca Lines in 1941, she was immediately captivated by the larger-than-life animal carvings. But what were they, and why were they there? This STEAM nonfiction picture book for young readers reveals the story behind one of the greatest indigenous artworks in the Americas, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Maria Reiche wanted to put her curious mind to the test. When visiting Peru in 1941, she trekked across the land and discovered hidden lines covered in centuries of clay and sand. Fasciated, she picked up a broom from her tools and began sweeping for miles and miles to uncover more details, taking time to track her movement and sketch out the precise shapes she followed. Her first discovery was a spider-shaped carving spanning hundreds of feet of desert! Sweeping her way across the land, other shapes followed—a monkey, a condor, and a whale. But in the midst of these discoveries, she found out the land was going to be used for farming. She got to work again, this time demanding a press conference to announce her discoveries and stop the destruction of these ancient works of art—and it worked! Her efforts protected the land, which was later named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 thanks to Maria’s tireless efforts.

Author Michaela MacColl’s lyrical writing and extensive research showcase Maria’s triumphant tale, accompanied by art from Peruvian illustrator Elisa Chavarri, a past recipient of the Pura Belpré Honor.

This sweet, giggle-inducing early reader kicks off a brand-new series featuring two unlikely friends in the tradition of Frog and Toad, from the beloved Geisel Award-winning author of The Watermelon Seed.

Earl and Worm have been friends for a very, very long time, but their friendship had a rocky start. Earl is a happy go-lucky bird who plays saxophone to his plants because they love music in the morning. His neighbor Worm, on the other hand...well, Worm is the exact opposite. She would rather read in silence.

How will these very different neighbors become the very best of friends? With some sweet lemonade, the right shade of paint, and an unfinished poem, and most of all, sharing a little bit about themselves.

Award-winning creator Greg Pizzoli delivers three funny and heartwarming stories that will delight fans of other iconic duos like Elephant and Piggie or Pizza and Taco.

Little Dino has a loud roar. Sometimes it's amazing and astounding, but sometimes it's just too much. She must learn that yelling all the time is not okay. Part of the Hello Genius series for toddlers, this sturdy board book teaches manners and reinforces positive behavior with a relatable story for kids.

Shiny, sturdy, and featuring a die-cut cover, this board book from beloved and bestselling creator Sandra Boynton that is a year-round valentine from parent to child is now available in an oversized lap edition!

Starring a little fox child and a big fox parent, this book is a loving ode to terrific noses of all kinds and a celebration of the love between a parent and child—and of the beautiful, BOOP-able noses they love. It’s BIG fun from Sandra Boynton in the big, big lap edition of this favorite board book.

I love your nose!
Oh whoa, whoa, whoa your nose!
You can tell everybody I told you so.
It’s the greatest little nose I know.

The Gnumans are moving! And they are in for quite an adventure. Packed with hilarious details, larger-than-life characters and endless amounts of kindness, this zany read-aloud story reimagines classic search-and-find kids books with a whole new world of fun. With its focus on kindness, friendship and community, this storybook makes a perfect gift for kids ages 4-8.

* A NYT Wirecutter Pick *

The Gnumans, a family of gnus, aren’t sure how they will feel about their new home. After a rocky move to Kindness County, they discover that their new neighbors have BIG plans for them. Young ones will laugh out loud as the family and the narrator try to keep up with an itinerary that only keeps getting bigger and more exciting!

Throughout, readers will look for Otto the sharing otter, Hildey the helpful hippo, Plácido the polite-y-osaurus, the Grati-Dude and many more kind critters on every page. Searching for and finding each of these characters’ acts of kindness makes this book a unique search-and-find story adventure. And with so much to look for, readers will discover new details every time they return to this book.

Find the Kind offers a thoughtful and fun read-aloud experience that young children will love. It’s the perfect book to spark conversations at home or in the classroom about the concepts of friendship, empathy and kindness. Highlights children’s books are crafted by childhood experts to promote strong social and emotional skills and build positive associations with reading from an early age.

An egret and a rhinoceros navigate the ups and downs of their symbiotic relationship—which is more like a friendship!—in this warm and witty book from bestselling author-illustrator Mark Teague.

In a not-so-simple symbiotic friendship between two pals, Egret does his best to teach Rhino about how to be a friend. Friends eat together, have fun together, and help each other out, right? But they also respect boundaries, recognize their differences, and compromise (sometimes).

When Egret ends up in a sticky situation, it’s Rhino to the rescue as this unlikely pair realizes that communication and kindness are the key to any friendship.

Andy the ant is planning a small party for his birthday. But as word spreads around the anthill, the guest list grows and grows! Exuberant fun on every colorful page.

It's another busy day at the anthill. Farmer ants collect food, worker ants build tunnels, and soldier ants guard the queen. But for Andy, it's a very special day: his birthday! He invites his neighbors for a fun party with dancing and dips. But unbeknownst to Andy, his neighbors invite a few of their friends, and then those friends invite a few of their friends . . . Soon the event is shaping up to be a full-blown mega ant party! Andy is shocked by the turnout, but soon gets into the swing of things. Until, that is, an unwelcome guest crashes the party--and Andy's house!--and the ants must work together to save the day (and the dips). Jovial text and lively, detailed illustrations make this story a comedic delight.

Follow the delightful daily adventures of Matilda the bee in this fully illustrated diary that reveals the vital role bees play in nature and their life cycle.

Step into the buzzing world of bees with Diary of a Bee, a fully illustrated non-fiction book that takes young readers on an engaging journey through the life cycle of Matilda, a hardworking bee, and her friend Thomas. Presented in a diary format, this captivating narrative combines story with fascinating facts, exploring how bees live, their daily activities, and the various roles they play within the hive. From gathering nectar to tending to the queen, kids will discover the fascinating jobs that bees undertake throughout their lives, all illustrated with lively pictures that bring the story to life.

Perfect for curious minds aged 6-9, this book not only entertains but also educates about the crucial importance of bees in our ecosystem. By blending captivating storytelling with rich illustrations and informative details, it inspires a love for nature and fosters an understanding of environmental awareness.

In this second picture book from the #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator of the Food Group series, Pete Oswald, and acclaimed picture book author Phuc Tran's bestselling Cranky series, Cranky is feeling extra cranky when a new crane joins the crew.

There's a new crane on the construction site! His name is Lefty and he's the opposite of Cranky--smiley, talkative, and a jokester. Everything Lefty does makes Cranky feel extra cranky. But everyone else seems to love him. What if Cranky's friends like Lefty more than him

Find out how self-acceptance and a supportive crew help one cranky truck make a new friend in this humorous story about big trucks, big feelings, and even bigger friendships. With Phuc Tran's hilarious text and Pete Oswald's bold, expressive illustrations, this read is perfect for fans of Grumpy Monkey and construction vehicles.

A 2025 Bank Street College of Education Cook Prize Silver Medalist
The Nature Generation's 2025 Green Earth Book Award Short List

How did the Joshua Tree National Park in California come to be? Meet Minerva Hamilton Hoyt, an artist, activist, and environmentalist, whose determination saved the desert and helped to create the park, in this STEAM picture book.

Long before she became known as the Cactus Queen, Minerva Hamilton Hoyt found solace in the unexpected beauty of the Mojave Desert in California. She loved the jackrabbits and coyotes, the prickly cacti, and especially the weird, spiky Joshua trees.

However, in the 1920s, hardly anyone else felt the same way. The desert was being thoughtlessly destroyed by anyone and everyone. Minerva knew she needed to bring attention to the problem. With the help of her gardening club, taxidermists, and friends, she took the desert east and put its plants and animals on display. The displays were a hit, but Minerva needed to do much more: she wanted to have the desert recognized as a national park. Although she met with President Franklin D. Roosevelt and won him over, Minerva still had to persuade politicians, scientists, teachers, and others to support her cause. And, it worked! Minerva’s efforts led to what came to be known as Joshua Tree National Park in California, and saved hundreds of thousands of plants and animals. Now, the millions of people who visit each year have learned to love the desert, just as Minerva did.

Follow Faith on a joyful journey on a New York City train, where she learns a delicious lesson about courage and being kind. A perfect pick for fans of Milo Imagines the World, Last Stop on Market Street, and Saturday at the Food Pantry.

Faith takes the train with her mother most days, and today she's eating one of Grandma's delicious sandwiches. Isaiah, who usually sings a song on their ride home, instead asks a question that quiets a busy train into awkward silence.

"Can anyone please spare some change A bite to eat"

When Faith sees his face, her heart goes thump-thump-thump. Will she have the courage to answer

This sweet and relatable picture book from author Kesi Augustine and illustrator Mokshini is sure to spark conversations about the small ways we can show kindness and help people in need.

A slow-moving jellyfish finds his groove transporting deep sea tourists in this story about the power of community

Slowpoke the jellyfish bus loves his job transporting fellow sea creatures, but he struggles to keep up with demands for faster travel. After he's called into headquarters and told to consider a different career, he feels sad and decides to set out on a sightseeing vacation.

Down in the deepest, darkest parts of the ocean, Slowpoke encounters an anglerfish who needs help navigating to the ocean's night bazaar up above. Slowpoke offers a ride. And as he travels through unfamiliar terrain and obstacles, he collects a diverse crew of excited passengers who are also headed to the bazaar and eager to see different parts of the sea. Slowpoke finishes the journey feeling inspired to start a new career that suits him perfectly--a deep ocean jellyfish tour bus!

Told in graphic novel-style panels and illustrated in a striking palette of aquatic hues, this funny, friendly story is a lighthearted look at finding community and turning a salty situation into an epic adventure.

A charmingly cozy rhyming picture book about a sweet little panda who has trouble falling asleep.

The moon is too far,
the stars are too high.
Little Panda is scared
by the dark of the sky.
But a marvelous bug,
with a magical light,
is just what she needs
to sleep through the night.

It’s time for bed, but Little Panda wants to stay awake! Her bed is too lumpy, lullabies don’t work, and the dark is a little scary. But with the help of her parents and some twinkling friends, Little Panda might face her fears after all. Maybe, just maybe, she’ll even fall asleep!

From the creators of Theodor Seuss Geisel winner You Are (Not) Small and Christopher Award winner Eraser comes a heartfelt story about the power of friendship.

So-Hee is lonely. She doesn't have a brother or sister, nor does she have many friends. More than anything, she longs for a pet she can hold and love. The trouble is, she's allergic to just about everything. When So-Hee meets a snake named Lowy, all at once, her life starts to change in unexpected ways.

Inspired by never-before-seen sketches by Dr. Seuss, creator Lala Watkins builds a bright and playful story about a worm in this brand-new beginning reader that is the first in the Seuss Studios line of Beginner Books.

If you could play with the sun, what would you do? Would you sing? Dance? Play hide-and-seek?

Join Norbit the Worm, his friends, and the sun itself as they spend a day doing everything they can think of, from swimming and hiking to blowing bubbles and watching the clouds drift by! By encouraging imaginative play, Hello, Sun! keeps kids entertained as they learn to read.

Seuss Studios is a new line of Beginner Books with original stories and art from emerging authors and illustrators. Every Seuss Studios story was inspired by never-before seen sketches from the Dr. Seuss archives, which you can find in the back of each book! Launched by Dr. Seuss in 1957 with the publication of The Cat in the Hat, Beginner Books make learning to read FUN!

#1 New York Times bestselling cartoonists Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud team up for a one-of-a-kind friendship story about creativity and self-expression that blends how-to and comics magic. Welcome to the club!

Makayla is bursting with ideas but doesn't know how to make them into a story. Howard loves to draw, but he struggles to come up with ideas and his dad thinks comics are a waste of time. Lynda constantly draws in her sketchbook but keeps focusing on what she feels are mistakes, and Art simply loves being creative and is excited to try something new. They come together to form The Cartoonists Club, where kids can learn about making comics and use their creativity and imagination for their own storytelling adventures!

Five starred reviews!
“An arm-pumping, truck-horn toot to each person reveling in their own ‘garbage.’” —BCCB (starred review)

From the creator of I’m Going to Build a Snowman comes a “enthusiastic, delightful” (BookPage, starred review) celebration of community helpers that captures the joy and wonder of being a kid, centering around a precocious girl whose favorite day of the week is Monday.

Every Monday, Mabel wakes up early and peeks out her window to make sure she didn’t miss the one thing she’s been looking forward to the whole week. She drags her chair down the hallway, past her big sister and Mom and Dad, out the door, and waits.

What is Mabel waiting for every Monday? According to Mabel, it’s the best thing in the world. But no one else in her family seems to understand…until they see what’s honking down the street!

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Rabbit Listened, an unforgettable story of being brave and jumping into new experiences

When Nellie the sea turtle hatched, she was on a beach surrounded by lots of her brothers and sisters. Soon all the other turtles joyfully ran into the ocean and swam away, but Nellie? She was too scared. The ocean was loud, it was deep, and it was unknown. She stayed on the safe, dry sand instead. 

But when night starts to fall and it gets too dark and cold for a tiny little sea turtle on land, Nellie realizes that if she looked past the scary crashing waves, there's actually a whole world out there, just waiting for her to jump in.

Introverted party animal Snail is back in this delightfully hilarious SHHHelebration of homebodies

Snail is an epic explorer ... kind of. He loves the quiet things about adventures, like reading maps, hiking along slime trails, and collecting souvenirs. On big vacations, he finds the sights, sounds, and unfamiliar foods--like escargot!--way too overwhelming. In fact, his favorite part of a vacation is when he gets to return to his home SHHHweet home.

So, while his friends take a trip to the city, Snail and his buddy Stump decide to have an adventure in their own backyard--a staycation! The pair smell the silence, listen to the SHHH SHHH of the waterfall, and read their guidebooks with their indoor voices. Just when they start to wonder if they've run out of things to do, they notice something new: parachute seeds falling from the sky! The seeds have arrived for a vacation, and who better to show them around than Stump and Snail?

Snail's second adventure is just as witty and charming as his first, with laugh-out-loud moments and hidden puns on every page. Snail and Stump's staycation reveals the unexpected joys of staying home and promises that readers will find wonder around every corner, however close to home they may be.