Who wants to learn calligraphy when your brush is meant for so much more? Wu Daozi (689-758), known as China's greatest painter and alive during the T'ang Dynasty, is the subject of this stunning picture book. When an old monk attempts to teach young Daozi about the ancient art of calligraphy, his brush doesn't want to cooperate. Instead of characters, Daozi's brush drips dancing peonies and flying Buddhas! Soon others are admiring his unbelievable creations on walls around the city, and o...

In 1977, graduate student Irene Pepperberg walked into a pet store and bought a year-old African grey parrot. Because she was going to study him, she decided to call him Alex--short for Avian Learning EXperiment. At that time, most scientists thought that the bigger the brain, the smarter the creature; they studied great apes and dolphins. African greys, with their walnut-sized "birdbrains," were pretty much ignored--until Alex.His intelligence surprised everyone, including Irene. ...

"Moore captures the children's complicated mix of feelings: embarrassment, defiance, pride, appreciation and, most palpably, love." — The New York TimesAcademy Award–winning actress and New York Times–bestselling author of the Freckleface Strawberry series Julianne Moore pays homage to all the Muttis, Mammas, and Mamans who are from another country. A foreign mom may eat, speak, and dress differently than other moms—she may wear special clothes fo...

"Moore captures the children's complicated mix of feelings: embarrassment, defiance, pride, appreciation and, most palpably, love." — The New York TimesAcademy Award–winning actress and New York Times–bestselling author of the Freckleface Strawberry series Julianne Moore pays homage to all the Muttis, Mammas, and Mamans who are from another country. A foreign mom may eat, speak, and dress differently than other moms—she may wear special clothes fo...

Now in paperback: In a series of poetic verses in both English and Spanish, readers learn about the movement and moods of water around the world and the ways in which water affects different landscapes and cultures.Water rolls/El agua ruedaonto the shore/hacia la orillaunder the sun, under the moon./bajo el sol, bajo la luna.Here is an ode to the beauty of the natural world as expressed by the movement and moods of...

**Butterflies Belong Here is a powerful story of everyday activism and hope.In this moving story of community conservation, a girl finds a home in a new place and a way to help other small travelers.This book is about the real change** children can make in conservation and advocacy—in this case, focusing on beautiful monarch butterflies.• From Deborah Hopkinson and Meilo So, the acclaimed team behind Follow the Moon Home• An empowering, clas...

When Jack Prelutksy posted the first couplet of a funny poem on a Web site and invited children to finish it, he expected about 100 responses. He got thousands. Now he has come up with an anthology of poems on 10 popular subjects by well-known poets and combined it with his own “poemstarts.” Included with each poemstart are suggestions for various ways the reader might continue the poem. With large type and a big red stop sign, it is made abundantly clear that the reader get a pencil and p...

A heartwarming tale about adoption, diversity, and acceptance that's perfect for all types of families!A lyrical adoption story that tenderly addresses a baby’s transition from the care of her birth mother to that of her adoptive parents. This lovely poem illuminates the role of an adopted child’s birth mother, respecting her choice to give her child to a loving family. We follow a mother’s journey as she carries her child, searches for deserving parents, and ultim...

One summer day a bunny hops out of the woods and into a garden. “What a wonderful garden someone has made just for me,” she thinks. All summer she feasts there. In the fall, she hides from the mean old cat behind big orange pumpkins. Then, just before the snows of winter, another bunny hops into her garden. Now during the cold winter, she has a friend. And when the first flowers of spring pop up in the garden, the two bunnies are there–and so are their three little baby bunnies!This...

"A salty breeze seems to spring from the pages" in this collection of poetry and artwork celebrating the oceans ( The Wall Street Journal).Come down to the shore with this rich and vivid celebration of the ocean! With watercolors gorgeous enough to wade in by award-winning artist Meilo So and playful, moving poems by Kate Coombs, Water Sings Blue evokes the beauty and power, the depth and mystery, and the endless resonance of the sea."Gentle rhymes...

A classic, heartwarming tale set to the backdrop of the Chinese cultural revolution, with the timeless feels of Eva Ibbotson's Journey to the River Sea.When Sunflower, a young city girl, moves to the countryside, she grows to love the reed marsh lands – the endlessly flowing river, the friendly buffalo with their strong backs and shiny round heads, the sky that stretches on and on in its vastness. However, the days are long, and the little girl is lonely. ...

Acclaimed activist Philippe Cousteau and renowned author Deborah Hopkinson team up to offer a story of the powerful difference young people can make in the world. Meet Viv, who has a new home and a new school by the sea, and follow her as she finds her way in a new place and helps bring together a whole community to save the sea turtles of the South Carolina coast. Plus, this is the fixed format version, which looks almost identical to the print edition.