Spotlight: Here We Are: Note For Living on Planet Earth by Oliver Jeffers

Oliver Jeffers, arguably the most influential creator of picture books today, offers a rare personal look inside his own hopes and wishes for his child–and in doing so gifts children and parents everywhere with a gently sweet and humorous missive about our world and those who call it home.
 
Insightfully sweet, with a gentle humor and poignancy, here is Oliver Jeffers’ user’s guide to life on Earth. He created it specially for his son, yet with a universality that embraces all children and their parents. Be it a complex view of our planet’s terrain (bumpy, sharp, wet), a deep look at our place in space (it’s big), or a guide to all of humanity (don’t be fooled, we are all people), Oliver’s signature wit and humor combine with a value system of kindness and tolerance to create a must-have book for parents

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Spotlight: Willy and the Cloud by Anthony Browne

When a niggling worry begins to cloud Willy’s whole day, Anthony Browne shows readers that facing your fears head-on can clear the skies once more.

One warm, sunny day, Willy the Chimp decides to go to the park. There’s not a cloud in the sky — well, except for just a little tiny one. It doesn’t bother Willy too much at first. But as the cloud follows him, it grows bigger and bigger and becomes harder and harder to ignore. Pretty soon the cloud is all Willy can think about, and he has no idea how to make it go away. Quietly powerful and remarkably perceptive, Anthony Browne’s thoughtful tale depicts worry and anxiety in a way readers of any age can understand. And as Willy discovers, sometimes a little bravery — and a willingness to face your problems — can make a world of difference.

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About the Author

Anthony Browne is the acclaimed author and illustrator of Gorilla (winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal) The Night Shimmy and Zoo (winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal.) The Shape Game was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal.

Spotlight: Can’t Catch Me! by Timothy Knapman and Illustrated by Simona Ciraolo

A cheeky tale follows a speedy mouse as he taunts a progression of hungry animals — with a wickedly funny final twist.

“I’m the fastest mouse in the world!” Jake claims. “I’m like the wind. I am faster than lightning!” But will speed alone keep boastful Jake from being caught by a cat, a fox, a wolf, or a bear? “Can’t catch me!” he shouts. Well, clever Old Tom Cat will just have to see about that. . . . Expressive and energetic illustrations pair with a fun cumulative text in a mischievous story that begs to be read aloud.

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Spotlight: Once Upon a Tree by Dawn Jarocki and Soren Kisiel and Illustrated by Jessica McClure

This fable of a little leaf looking for his purpose will delight children and their caretakers.

The whirling, swirling adventures of an ordinary little leaf high on a tree, struggling to find its purpose. The leaf watches baby birds break out of their shells and grow until they learn to fly. Caterpillars wrap themselves in silk and emerge as magnificent butterflies. Warm sunny days get shorter and windy chilly nights grow longer. The little leaf is terribly worried that it should be transforming too. It no longer noticed anything other than the thoughts spinning in its head. The leaf held on to the tree with all its might, growing exhausted as increasingly cooler winds blew. Then one day, the leaf noticed it had become a beautiful crimson color. And it became aware that maybe, maybe it was time for the leaf to fly too. The leaf was very tired, so it just let go. As it danced and twirled to the ground in the amber sunlight, the leaf finally learns its own unique purpose.

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Spotlight: My Best Pop-up Noisy Train Book by DK

An exciting, fun-to-read, noisy board book with flaps and pop-ups, perfect for reading aloud with preschoolers and promoting hands-on, active learning.

From steam trains to underground trains to double-decker trains, My Best Pop-up Noisy Train Book covers all the favorites, and an embedded sound button enhances the reading experience on each and every page. Train drivers, passengers, and other featured characters inspire toddlers to talk and focus on the scene, and text and word labels help develop vocabulary and encourage picture-and-word association.

With its heavy board format, topical appeal, and lively approach, My Best Pop-up Noisy Train Book is a must-have for train-loving toddlers.

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About the Author

DK was founded in London in 1974 and is now the world’s leading illustrated reference publisher and part of Penguin Random House, formed on July 1, 2013. DK publishes highly visual, photographic non-fiction for adults and children.  DK produces content for consumers in over 87 countries and 62 languages, with offices in Delhi, London, Melbourne, Munich, New York and Toronto.

DK’s aim is to inform, enrich and entertain readers of all ages and everything DK publishes, whether print or digital, embodies the unique DK design approach.  DK brings unrivalled clarity to a wide range of topics with a unique combination of words and pictures, put together to spectacular effect. We have a reputation for innovation in design for both print and digital products.

Our adult range spans travel, including the award-winning DK Eyewitness Travel Guides, history, science, nature, sport, gardening, cookery and parenting.

DK’s extensive children’s list showcases a fantastic store of information for children, toddlers and babies. DK covers everything from animals and the human body, to homework help and craft activities, together with an impressive list of licensing titles, including the best-selling LEGO® books.

DK acts as the parent company for Alpha Books, publisher of the Idiot’s Guides series and Prima Games, video gaming publishers, as well as the award-winning travel publisher, Rough Guides.

Spotlight: Buster and the Baby by Amy Hest by Illustrated by Polly Dunbar

What could be more endearing than the bond between a baby and a puppy? A sweet and spirited tale from two picture-book masters.

In the little red house, a dog ducks under the table. He waits and watches and waits some more as his heart goes thump, thump, thump. And then . . . CHAAA! Out of the shadows comes the baby, squealing and whirling and bumping his nose! Go Buster, go Buster, go! Is behind the blue chair a good place to hide? With beautifully tender artwork and an engaging repetitive text, author Amy Hest and illustrator Polly Dunbar follow two little ones in a breathless game of chase — winding up in a heart-tugging role reversal sure to sweeten readers’ dreams.

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About the Author

Amy Hest is a three-time winner of the Christopher Medal and winner of the BOSTON GLOBE-HORN BOOK Award. She lives in New York City.