Hello, Earth!

We walk on Earth’s surface every day, but how often do we wonder about the incredible planet around us? From the molten cracks below to the shimmering moon above, Hello, Earth! explores the wonders of the natural world. This playful journey across our puzzle-piece continents does not hesitate to ask questions—even of the Earth itself!

Joyce Sidman’s imaginative poems encourage boundless curiosity, and Miren Asiain Lora’s stunning paintings capture the beauty of Earth’s ecosystems, creatures, and powerhouse plants. The book concludes with extensive scientific material to foster further learning about how the earth works, from water cycles to plate tectonics to the origin of ocean tides.

A gorgeous, expansive celebration of science and art, Hello, Earth! is a book to cherish in whatever landscape you call home.

“A must-have for all schools and libraries that wish to maintain a current and vibrant poetry collection for young people.”
—School Library Journal (starred review)

Purchase Hello, Earth! Poems to Our Planet at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Christianbook.com,  Indiebound, Eerdmans, or your local  bookstore.

Going for the Record

Seventeen-year-old Leah Weicynkowski is on the brink of realizing her dream—playing soccer for the under-eighteen national team, her gateway to the World Cup and the Olympics. Everything she’s worked for has been about this moment. She can’t wait to tell her dad, her biggest fan and her faithful chauffeur to games and practices.

Unfortunately, her dad has news of his own. News that will make Leah reconsider everything that matters most to her. He has pancreatic cancer, and maybe only a few months to live.

Loosely based on the author’s own experiences, this coming-of-age story portrays Leah’s passion for her sport, her love for her father, and her struggle to define herself in the shadow of an uncertain future.

Sleep Like Me

A little boy can’t fall asleep, so he asks the animals how they do it. Will he doze off if he floats on his back like an otter? If he keeps one eye open like a duck? If he hangs upside down like a bat? Nothing seems to help, but all this trying is getting tiring…

This whimsically illustrated book features the real sleeping habits of ten different animals. Whether you snooze like a whale or nod off like a giraffe, Sleep Like Me is the perfect bedtime story for restless nights.

Facing Fear: An Immigration Story

Tenth Avenue Cowboy

Ben has always dreamed of becoming a cowboy. But when his family moves from the West to New York City, they have to give up their ranch. Ben hates his new home: he can’t imagine staying in a place without wide plains or galloping horses. But one day, he learns that the city has its own kind of cowboys…

Featuring a new endnote about the real twentieth-century riders of New York, this adventurous story reveals how one boy’s dream helps him accept his new home.

On September 11, 1973, a military coup plunged Chile into seventeen long years of dictatorial rule. Only the return of democracy could reveal the full horrors of Augusto Pinochet’s regime: 3,197 people dead or disappeared—including thirty-four children under the age of fourteen.

This book is a stirring memorial to those victims and to the cost of extremism. Thirty-four poems—one for each child lost—consider the diverse hopes of these fragile young lives. From Alicia to Jaime, Héctor to Paola, Soledad to Rafael, they were brave and creative, thoughtful and strong. In these pages, some children watch for the changing seasons. Some listen for new sounds on rainy afternoons. And some can’t wait for their next birthday.

Featuring gentle, emotive poems and soft, pastel-toned illustrations, Niños is an unforgettable tribute to the children of Pinochet’s Chile and all those threatened by political violence across the world.

The Story of Bodri

Hédi spends her days playing with her dog Bodri in the park, but her quiet world starts to crumble the day she hears Adolf Hitler on the radio. Germany’s leader hates her and her family, just because they are Jewish. And Hitler doesn’t even know them—it doesn’t make any sense. Soon Nazi Germany invades Hédi’s country, and her life changes forever.

Inspired by the author’s experiences, this book is a thoughtful introduction to the Holocaust for young readers. Strikingly honest prose and illustrations share an unforgettable story about a faithful dog, a family in danger, and the power of hope in unimaginable circumstances.

Saint Spotting

A church is a weighty thing, isn’t it? Its doors are heavy and hard to budge. Its walls are made of stone. And there may be strange or even scary pictures inside. How can a small person make sense of these intimidating places? Two-time Caldecott medalist Chris Raschka shares his mother’s wonderful way of visiting a church: what they would call saint spotting. Each visit to a church becomes an adventure, a trip through the stories that have shaped centuries of faith.

Playful and poignant, this beautifully illustrated book introduces readers to saints and symbols through the warm bond between a mother and son. From bookish Paul to faithful Mary Magdalene, from musical Cecilia to animal-loving Francis, there’s a fascinating saint to discover in every corner.

The Crow and the Peacock

Crow sets out on a journey to find the happiest bird alive. Could it be the lovely dove, the musical nightingale, or the elegant swan? But each bird has their own reason to not be content, even the glamorous peacock. Perhaps all of Crow’s searching will help him discover the real secret to happiness.

The Crow and the Peacock retells a classic fable with warmth, personality, and a dose of humor. Energetic prose and vibrant illustrations encourage young readers to consider the dangers of comparison and the meaning of contentment.