Check out April new releases from Lerner Publishing Group!
Picture Books
Poop for Breakfast: Why Some Animals Eat It by Sara Levine and illus. by Florence Weiser
Eating poop is gross! So why do some animals do it? For lots of good reasons! Male butterflies slurp up poop to give as a gift to females, which makes their eggs stronger. Robins scarf down the poop of young chicks because it’s full of undigested nutrients. And baby elephants gobble up the poop from adults to get essential bacteria into their digestive systems. This disgustingly informative book is bursting with lots of surprising information about animals—and digestion!
Praise for Poop for Breakfast
“Levine knows how to grab young readers’ attention and explain science topics simply but effectively. And while Weiser’s illustrations are entertaining, they’re also enlightening . . . Irresistible science.” — Kirkus Reviews
Rise to the Sky: How the World’s Tallest Trees Grow Up by Rebecca E. Hirsch and illus. by Mia Posada
Trees are the tallest living things on Earth. But how do they grow to be so tall? Science writer Rebecca E. Hirsch presents a poetic introduction to the tree life cycle in Rise to the Sky. Accompanied by Mia Posada’s detailed collage illustrations, this book features the tallest tree species from around the world, including the coast redwood, the Sitka spruce, and the giant sequoia.
Free Educator Resources
Download the free activity guide from the Lerner website.
Praise for Rise to the Sky
★ “Varied composition and realistic textures heighten the appeal of Posada’s attractive illustrations. Created with cut-paper collage and watercolor, they capture the trees’ soaring height and dignity . . . Written with clarity and illustrated to help viewers understand the ideas discussed, this handsome book offers an appealing, informative introduction to trees.” — starred, Booklist
★ “A well-focused, beautiful, and informative introduction to the arboreal world.” — starred, Kirkus Reviews
★ “Hirsch teaches basic plant biology through the example of the world’s “tallest living thing”—trees—in this awe-inspiring text. . . . Washed in earthy browns and vivid emerald greens, Posada’s expertly rendered cut paper collage provide texture that feels touchable.”
– starred, Publishers Weekly
Graphic Novels
Another Band’s Treasure: A Story of Recycled Instruments by Hua Lin Xie and translated by Edward Gauvin
In Paraguay, teacher Diego and carpenter Nicolas look to a nearby landfill and see instruments in the making. Soon, they’re building what they need to begin music lessons for local children. A fictional reimagining inspired by true events.
Praise for Another Band’s Treasure
“Xie’s soft, sketchy artwork nicely captures the atmosphere of the town, and a pop of color for the first homemade instrument emphasizes how life changing it is. A truly inspiring tale, perfect for middle-grade readers.” — Booklist
“[I]nfused with optimism. . . . A gentle reminder of music’s might.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Rough-hewn b&w illustrations and lean text convey a linear story that prioritizes a collective journey over individual character arcs. By rendering the recycled instruments in full color, Xie adds a welcome burst of verve while spotlighting the story’s unique hook.”
— Publishers Weekly
Middle Grade
Indigo and Ida by Heather Murphy Capps
Indigo, an eighth-grade investigative reporter, is torn between fighting a racist school policy and keeping her friends—until she discovers a series of letters written by Black journalist and activist Ida B. Wells.
Free Educator Resources
Download the free discussion guide from the Lerner website!
Praise for Indigo and Ida
★ “Indigo is a relatable and sympathetic character, and the social justice issues she champions at her school are timely and ring true. Readers will be inspired by Indigo’s passion and compelled to read more about Wells, too.” — starred, Booklist
“This lively middle-grade novel successfully captures the turmoil of finding one’s place while navigating the various demands of growing up. . . . A satisfying story that demonstrates how the past can shed light on the present.” — Kirkus Reviews
“In Capps’s endearing debut, biracial (white and Black) eighth grader Indigo Fitzgerald faces scrutiny and microaggressions from her peers during her campaign for class president. . . . Forthright conversations surrounding privilege between Indigo and her white mother further elevate this complex depiction of race and discrimination.” — Publishers Weekly
Nonfiction
Climate Warriors: Fourteen Scientists and Fourteen Ways We Can Save Our Planet by Laura Gehl
Who do you think of when you imagine a climate scientist? Maybe a biologist? Or a chemist? But economists study the climate too! Meet fourteen different scientists who are working to solve the climate crisis and the surprising ways they are doing it. Along with explanations of different areas of science and the many ways scientists are working to save the climate, readers will find tips for how they too can work for change. Climate Warriors informs young readers and gives them the tools they need to make a difference.
Praise for Climate Warriors
“The featured climate warriors are not only a balanced mix of men and women scientists with racial and ethnic diversity, but they also depict an amazing array of science itself, from ecology and materials science to psychology and economics.” — Booklist
“[E]mphasizes over and over the effectiveness of working together to accomplish a goal. . . . Practical, creative, and empowering.”
— Kirkus Reviews
Patterns Everywhere by Lisa Varchol Perron
Look around and discover patterns in the natural world! You might see them in leaf veins, in coral reefs, in sand dunes, and in many other places. Rhyming verse is accompanied by stunning photographs and brief sidebars that explain how these different patterns form.
Praise for Patterns Everywhere
★ “With content that will appeal to a wide range of readers, this beautiful book about patterns is excellent choice for elementary libraries.” – starred, School Library Journal
“Intriguing encouragement to consider the intersection of mathematics and nature.” — Kirkus Reviews
The Great Giraffe Rescue: Saving the Nubian Giraffes by Sandra Markle
After oil was discovered in the Nubian giraffes’ habitat in Uganda, conservationists needed to move some of these endangered animals across a river to safer territory. But there was no bridge and giraffes can’t swim. What did scientists do? Follow this unusual—and successful—rescue!
Praise for The Great Giraffe Rescue
“A welcome example of human efforts to salvage what’s left of the natural world.” — Kirkus Reviews
Roads to Family: All the Ways We Come to Be by Rachel HS Ginocchio, MPH
Examine—and appreciate—the many ways in which people can create a family. This informative compendium goes beyond the basics of sexual reproduction to examine the diversity of medical and societal methods people use, including in-vitro fertilization, surrogacy, adoption, and more. Through scientific research, diagrams, and interviews with families, author Rachel Ginocchio provides a thoughtful and thorough examination of the possibilities available.
Praise for Roads to Family
★ “Within each chapter, Ginocchio tells engaging, lengthy stories, based on interviews, of several racially and ethnically diverse parents, from same-sex relationships to individuals who wanted to be parents to heterosexual couples struggling with infertility, and how they brought children into their lives. . . . Supplemental facts and figures as well as enlightening graphics enhance this much-needed and inclusive resource.” — starred, Booklist
“A rich and resourceful guide . . . The book is nuanced, bringing to the forefront the validity of all families along with answers to the questions young people might have about themselves and others.”
— Kirkus Reviews
Find more announcements on the Lerner blog!