More Hands-on Books for Fun at Home
These books are great for Elementary-school-aged kids. All of the projects (and snacks!) are super fun to make! Some may need help from an adult.
Read More Calling All Hamilton Fans!
Hamilton has been out on Disney+ for a whole week now! Have you watched it? If you or someone you know are looking for more of a Hamilton fix, well….we’ve got some books for you! Check out books about Alexander Hamilton himself, “Dear Theodosia” in her own words, and Hamilton’s creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Read MoreEscapist Middle-Grade Reads
by Amy Fitzgerald, Editorial Director, Carolrhoda Books
I always tell people that my mission is to publish stories that reflect the real world honestly for young readers, and that’s true. But sometimes, leaving the world as we know it has its upsides. Here are a few books that offer readers alternate universes to explore.
Read MorePodcast Interview with Jeff Fleischer, author of Votes of Confidence, 2nd Edition
Listen in as Votes of Confidence author Jeff Fleischer covers what teens, young adults, and voters in need of a civics refresher ought to know about government, politics and elections. From the importance of primaries and mid-term elections to how student council can prepare participants for a life in politics to why teens should care about local politics even if they think they’re not interested, Jeff presents a compelling portrait of politics in everyday life. The book goes in-depth with clear explanations about how our election process actually works, why it matters, and how voters can become involved. Using real-world examples and anecdotes, this book provides readers with thorough, nonpartisan explanations about primaries, the electoral college, checks and balances, polls, fundraising, and more. Updated with statistics and details from the 2018 elections, the revised second edition will prepare the next generation of voters for what is sure to be a fascinating 2020 election cycle.
Read MorePodcast Interview with Hannah Batsel, author/illustrator of A Is for Another Rabbit
Today on The Lerner Podcast, we’re joined by Hannah Batsel, author and illustrator of A Is for Another Rabbit, a hilarious picture book in which a rabbit-obsessed narrator makes an owl increasingly irate by refusing to play by the rules of a conventional alphabet book. Every entry is about bunnies, from “delightful, dynamic, daredevil rabbits” to “xylophone rabbits and rabbits on drums!” Readers will pore over scenes of bunnies at the circus, in a tiny town, at the museum, even in a motorcycle gang. Author-illustrator Hannah Batsel takes readers on a delightful romp through the alphabet and keeps them laughing all the way to the ridiculously fun conclusion.
Hannah covered “binkying”, a move that rabbits do when they’re being mischievous (it’s so cute – you need to stop what you’re doing right now to watch this), how the book came into being, and the seriously silly end-sheets in the book that tend to delight kids every time they read. You can browse through an excerpt on our website to see some of the search and find elements that will keep kids coming back to this book over and over again, and you can click here to see the end sheets.
“[A]n excellent elementary-age read-aloud. Creative, comedic, and carrot-loads of fun.”—starred, Kirkus Reviews
“‘Dynamic’ and ‘delightful,’ Bastel’s rollicking picture-book debut will be a surefire success at story hour.”—The Horn Book Magazine
Click below to listen!
Or find a download wherever you get your podcasts:
Learn more about Hannah Batsel at her website, or on Instagram.
A transcript of this episode is available here.
Check out more episodes of The Lerner Podcast.