by Megan Ciskowski, Assistant Publicist
Check out January new releases from Lerner Publishing Group!
Picture Books – New in Paperback
A Fall Ball for All written by Jamie A. Swenson and illustrated by Chiara Fedele
On the verge of winter, the autumn wind issues an invitation: “Come one, come all to the annual windfall ball!” Join all the animals in this beautifully illustrated rhyming picture book as they gather for the autumn wind’s harvest in preparation for the long winter.
Praise for A Fall Ball for All
“This satisfying book for the fall season emphasizes the interconnectivity of nature. Soothing at bedtime yet with enough substance for an autumn group storytime.”—Kirkus Reviews
“The bounties of autumn are on full display in this cozy story.”—Publishers Weekly
“Fedele’s art perfectly captures the scene of a northern woods. . . . Great for storytime or one-on-one sharing.”—School Library Journal
Fiction
My Community (Pull Ahead Readers — Fiction) series
Visit a farm, go grocery shopping in the suburbs, ride the bus in the city, and look at photos from yesteryear in this fiction series that explores communities. Each story features full-color illustrations and engaging, instructionally leveled text. Pair these titles with their counterparts from the My Community (Pull Ahead Readers — Nonfiction) series.
Nonfiction
Stay Healthy with Sesame Street ®: Understanding Coronavirus written by Mary Lindeen
Familiar characters from Sesame Street and a friendly question-and-answer format help make the subjects of coronavirus, COVID-19, and quarantine accessible to young children.
Praise for Stay Healthy with Sesame Street®
“A highly topical book that may offer families a starting point for discussing COVID-19 with young children.”—School Library Journal
Play at Home with Elmo and Friends: Games and Activities from Sesame Street ® written by Percy Leed
Staying home today? Let Elmo, Big Bird, and the rest of your friends from Sesame Street help you get creative with fun games and activities for the whole family.
The Fight for Black Rights series
Examine the struggle for justice for Black Americans, from voter suppression and the controversy over Confederate monuments to the protests against police brutality and racially motivated violence. Gain historical and current context to understand why the fight for Black rights continues today.
Biomes of North America Second Editions series
The interdependence of plant and animal species comes alive in these immersive looks at North American biomes. Descriptive text engages the senses as it takes readers through each habitat. Scientifically accurate illustrations and striking photos add to the you-are-there approach.
Bumba Books ® — We Love Cars and Trucks series
Vehicle fans will love learning about the special parts of their favorite vehicles, from the many different kinds of race cars to the strength and power of a pickup truck.
Creepy Crawlers in Action: Augmented Reality series
Get up close with creepy crawlers through amazing augmented reality experiences! Jumping spiders soar through the air to inject venom into unsuspecting prey. Ticks chew through skin to suck blood, while stick insects hide in plain sight. Learn the fascinating details of insect and arachnid life cycles with fascinating facts and pictures. Augmented reality experiences accessible via a tablet or smartphone show readers creepy-crawly critters like they’ve never seen them before!
Extreme Sports Guides (UpDog Books ™) series
Extreme competitions are a thrill-seeker’s delight! This high/low series introduces readers to different extreme sports competitions and explains how athletes prepare for these extreme challenges.
Food Field Trip series
Take readers on fun food adventures that feature a variety of foods from apples to cookies. Kids will explore food literacy concepts, including where a food comes from, its nutritional value, and how it is prepared. Readers also learn by playing with their food through simple recipes and experiments. Hungry for more? Page Plus QR codes link to a digital landing page showing detailed steps, photos and videos that will help young eaters discover everyday food science.
Greatest of All Time Teams (Lerner ™ Sports) series
The greatest teams of all time dominated their sports and won championships. Read all about legendary teams in a fun, top-ten format packed with thrilling action, interesting stats, and incredible moments.
Lightning Bolt Books ® — Planet Explorer series
Introduce readers to our solar system’s eight planets. From Jupiter’s moons to Neptune’s winds, the books reveal key planetary information and the technology scientists use to study them. Page Plus QR codes lead to downloadable 3D printer models from NASA.
My Community (Pull Ahead Readers — Nonfiction) series
Explore the sights in three communities—a city, a suburb, and a farm—and note how a neighborhood changed over time. These leveled nonfiction titles help emergent readers build literacy skills. Pair these titles with their counterparts from the My Community (Pull Ahead Readers — Fiction) series.
My Life in 2055 series
Explore the possibilities for what life will look like in the future. From cars that drive themselves to holographic projections, readers will discover how technology and innovations will change school, cities, houses, and more.
Searchlight Books ™ — Spy Secrets series
Readers are in for a thrill as they uncover true fascinating stories of spies, the people they worked for, and the methods they used to complete their missions.
Sesame Street ® Character Guides series
Elmo, Abby, Big Bird, and their Sesame Street friends join this positive introduction to character traits and social-emotional wellness. Hands-on activities help kids model each topic, while simple text and a colorful design keep things engaging and fun.
Step by Step series
What happens first? What comes next? Introduce readers to simple sequences and processes by exploring animal life cycles, how plants grow, or how foods or products are made. Readers will be fascinated by these step-by-step accounts.