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Sophie Makes a Splash

Gillian Shields

The Mermaid S.O.S. team continues its mission to retrieve six magic crystals that will protect Coral Kingdom for another year. But the evil mermaid Mantora is up to her old tricks again, and will do anything to stop them. In these two new adventures, Sophie rescues a dolphin from a very tangled situation, and Holly convinces her friends to investigate a mysterious shipwreck.

This adorable series is perfect for every young mermaid fan ready to transition into early chapter books.

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Shawn Loves Sharks

Curtis Manley

Shawn loves sharks.

He loves their dark, blank eyes.
He loves their big mouths full of sharp teeth.
And he loves pretending to be a shark and chasing Stacy around the playground.

Shawn loves sharks more than anything else in the world. But Predator Day at school is on Monday and Great White Shark isn't assigned to Shawn.

It's assigned to...Stacy.

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Secret Sisters of the Salty Sea

Lynne Rae Perkins

Newbery Medalist Lynne Rae Perkins introduces two irresistible sisters—Alix and Jools—and takes readers on an unforgettable vacation to the beach.

This joyful celebration of sisters, family, friendship, and the ocean is illustrated in black-and-white throughout. The Wall Street Journal said, “Ocean meets sky meets two young girls in Lynne Rae Perkins’s affectionate chapter book. . . . Illustrations by the author add wit and tenderness to this sunny summer story.” For fans of Kate DiCamillo and Rebecca Stead.

Alix and her older sister, Jools, have never been to the ocean. When their parents pack them up to spend a week by the shore, Alix is nervous about leaving home—but excited, too. At the beach, the sisters make friends, go exploring, and have adventures big and small. To Alix’s surprise, as the week comes to an end, she finds she doesn’t want to leave!

Each chapter contains its own miniature discovery—from picking periwinkles, meeting a crab, and making sandcastles, to exploring the nearby town. Award-winning author Lynne Rae Perkins has beautifully crafted a genuine and engaging novel about sisters, family, and exploration.

A great read-aloud, as well as a good choice for newly independent readers. Booklist said, “Ordinary pleasures, in the hands of a writer so skilled, are elevated.” Features black and white art throughout.

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Sea Glass Summer

Michelle Houts

Author Michelle Houts and illustrator Bagram Ibatoulline explore the magic of one of the seaside's greatest wonders and the bonds that link us through time.

One summer, a boy named Thomas visits his grandmother at her seaside cottage. She gives him a magnifying glass that once belonged to his grandfather, and with it Thomas explores the beach, turning grains of sand into rocks and dark clamshells into swirling mazes of black, gray, and white. When his grandmother shows him a piece of sea glass, Thomas is transfixed. That night he dreams of an old shipyard and the breaking of a bottle. Could the very piece of sea glass on his nightstand have come from that bottle? For the rest of the summer, he searches for more sea glass and hopes to have dreams that will reveal more of the sea's secrets. A stunning ode to stories and the seaside, this picture book invites readers to imagine the ocean of possibility that lives in every small or forgotten treasure.

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Sabrina Sue Loves the Sea

Priscilla Burris

From the beloved illustrator of the Heidi Heckelbeck series comes a smart and sassy Level 1 Ready-to-Read story about a spunky chicken clucking her way toward the beach!

Sabrina Sue is a small barnyard chicken with big dreams. She wants to see the sea! The other animals tell her she’s being silly, that chickens belong on a farm. But Sabrina Sue thinks not following her dreams would be silly, and one day, she takes off on a wonderful adventure.

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Rise of the Jumbies

Tracey Baptiste

Deep beneath the waves, a great enemy awakens . . .

Corinne LaMer defeated the wicked jumbie Severine months ago, but things haven’t exactly gone back to normal in her Caribbean island home. Everyone knows Corinne is half-jumbie, and many of her neighbors treat her with mistrust. When local children begin to go missing, snatched from the beach and vanishing into wells, suspicious eyes turn to Corinne.
 
To rescue the missing children and clear her own name, Corinne goes deep into the ocean to find Mama D’Leau, the dangerous jumbie who rules the sea. But Mama D’Leau’s help comes with a price. Corinne and her friends Dru, Bouki, and Malik must travel with mermaids across the ocean to fetch a powerful object for Mama D’Leau. The only thing more perilous than Corinne’s adventures across the sea is the jumbie that waits for her back home.
 
With action-packed storytelling and inventive twists on Caribbean and West African mythology and fairy tales, Rise of the Jumbies is a breathlessly exciting tale of courage and friendship.

 

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Pua and Heihei (Disney Moana)

Random House Disney

Walt Disney Animation Studios' Moana is a sweeping, CG-animated comedy-adventure about a spirited teenager on an impossible mission to fulfill her ancestors' quest. In the ancient South Pacific world of Oceania, Moana, a born navigator, sets sail in search of a fabled island. During her incredible journey, she teams up with her hero, the legendary demi-god Maui, to traverse the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous sea creatures, breathtaking underworlds, and ancient folklore. This Step 2 Step into Reading leveled reader based on the film features over 30 shiny stickers. Perfect for children ages 4 to 6. Step 2 Readers use basic vocabulary and short sentences to tell simple stories. For children who recognize familiar words and can sound out new words with help.

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Scuba-cat

James Dean

New York Times bestselling author and artist James Dean brings Pete the Cat s world to life under the sea in this new I Can Read book.

Pete the Cat is going scuba diving! Before he hits the water, Captain Joe tells him about all the sea creatures he can encounter, and Pete is super excited to see a seahorse. But when he is suited up and swimming around, he has to search high and low to find the little guy. In this aquatic adventure, Pete makes a new friend and gets a big surprise!

Pete the Cat: Scuba-Cat is a My First I Can Read Book, which means it s perfect for shared reading with a child. New readers will love the easy-to-read format and groovy illustrations in Pete the Cat s first I Can Read underwater journey!"

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Ocean Meets Sky

Terry Fan

From the creators of the gorgeous bestseller The Night Gardener comes a stunning new picture book about a young boy who sets sail to find a place his grandfather told him about…the spot where the ocean meets the sky.

It’s a good day for sailing.

Finn lives by the sea and the sea lives by him. Every time he looks out his window it’s a constant reminder of the stories his grandfather told him about the place where the ocean meets the sky. Where whales and jellyfish soar and birds and castles float.

Finn’s grandfather is gone now but Finn knows the perfect way to honor him. He’ll build his own ship and sail out to find this magical place himself!

And when he arrives, maybe, just maybe, he’ll find something he didn’t know he was looking for.

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Little Lost Dolphin

Kristen L. Depken

Girls ages 4 to 6 love dolphins, so they will love reading how Barbie(R) rescues a cute baby dolphin in this Step into Reading leveled reader!

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Leo, Dog of the Sea

Alison Hart

An action-packed and heartwarming story of a hardened old sea dog on Magellan's journey to Spice Island
After three ocean voyages, Leo knows not to trust anyone but himself. But when he sets sail with Magellan on a journey to find a westward route to the Spice Islands, he develops new friendships with Magellan's scribe, Pigafetta, and Marco, his page. Together, the three of them experience hunger and thirst, storms and doldrums, and mutinies and hostile, violent encounters. Will they ever find safe passage?
In the fourth book of their "Dog Chronicles" series, Alison Hart and Michael Montgomery bring readers an exciting tale of friendship and loyalty.

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Junonia

Kevin Henkes

Returning to the beach cottage—a cottage named Scallop—where she has always celebrated her birthday is a special occasion for Alice Rice.

Who will see the first dolphin this time? The first pelican? What will have changed? Stayed the same? And will this be the year she finally finds a junonia shell?

Alice's friends are all returning, too. And she's certain her parents have the best party planned for her. Alice can't wait. If Alice is lucky, everything will be absolutely perfect. Will Alice be lucky?

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Otter: Hello, Sea Friends!

Sam Garton

Otter—the irrepressible picture book character sure to be adored by fans of Llama Llama—takes a trip to visit sea friends and meet all the animals that live in the ocean.

Otter: Hello, Sea Friends! is a My First I Can Read book, which means it’s perfect for shared reading with a child.

Read about more of Otter’s adventures in I Am Otter, Otter in Space, Otter Loves Halloween!, Otter: Oh No, Bath Time!, Otter: The Best Job Ever!, and Otter Goes to School.

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Flat Stanley and the Lost Treasure

Jeff Brown

Sometimes being flat comes in handy for Flat Stanley—like when he is surfing or rescuing a trapped dolphin from a net. In this exciting adventure, Flat Stanley and his brother, Arthur, find sunken treasure in an old shipwreck. But Stanley has to get rid of his gold bar in order to squeeze through the net and rescue the dolphin. Will they ever find the treasure again?

This is a Level Two I Can Read book, geared for kids who read on their own but still need a little help.

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Emily Windsnap and the Tides of Time

Liz Kessler

Emily Windsnap must travel through time in order to save the people of her hometowns -- both human andmerfolk -- in the exciting ninth book of the New York Times best-selling series.

When Emily makes a wish on a magic stone, she gets a glimpse of what the future holds -- and it's a disaster! She tries to make things right, but each trip through time takes Emily to a future where things turn out badly for either the humans of Brightport or the merpeople of Shiprock. Plastic pollutes the ocean, garbage overflows the landfills, and the two towns are no longer getting along. Emily realizes she can't save her hometown and the ocean alone, but with help from her best friends, Shona and Mandy, she'll have to find a way to get humans and merpeople to work together. Will Emily be able to create a better future for everyone, including herself? This new adventure gives readers a glimpse at what Emily and her friends could be like as grown-ups, with a fresh story that explores how uniting communities can make a future that's bright for everyone.

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Dude!

Aaron Reynolds

Aaron Reynolds, the author of Nerdy Berdy and Creepy Carrots! teams up with Dan Santat, the Caldecott–winning illustrator behind The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend to create the hilarious, gnarly summer adventure picture book, Dude!

Dude! You have to read this book.

It's totally about this platypus and this beaver who are friends. They want to go surfing but dude, there's this shark who's in the ocean, too.

But don't worry. This shark approaches and you'll never guess what happens.

Kirkus Reviews named this one of their "BEST PICTURE BOOKS OF 2018" for a good laugh!

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Duck & Goose Go to the Beach

Tad Hills

Take a trip to the beach with the beloved, classic, and New York Times-bestselling odd couple Duck & Goose!

Duck wants to go on an adventure. But Goose isn't so sure. Together, the two best friends set off on a walk that takes them through the meadow, past a shady thicket, and over a distant hill, all the way to a place they've never been before--the beach! Turns out, Goose loves the ocean. But guess who doesn't?

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Don't Worry, Little Crab

Chris Haughton

From the award-winning creator of Shh! We Have a Plan comes a vibrantly colorful story about mustering the courage to try something new.

Little Crab and Very Big Crab live in a tiny rock pool near the sea. Today they're going for a dip in the big ocean. "This is going to be so great," says Little Crab, splish-splashing and squelch-squelching along, all the way to the very edge. Then comes a first glance down at the waves. WHOOSH! Maybe it's better if they don't go in? With vivid colors, bold shapes, and his trademark visual humor, Chris Haughton shows that sometimes a gentle "don't worry, I'm here" can keep tentative little crabs sidestepping ahead -- and help them discover the brilliant worlds that await when they take the plunge.

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Dolphin Rescue (Animal Planet Adventures Chapter Books #1)

Animal Planet

Siblings Maddie and Atticus love living by the sea. Their dad traps lobsters off the coast of Maine. They love helping with the family business and volunteering at the local aquarium. The summer is shaping up to be a super one, for sure. Then one day they spy a pod of dolphins in the cove looking distressed. How will the kids use their knowledge of animals and their awesome problem-solving skills to help the dolphin family get safely back to sea?

Perfect for reluctant, challenged, and newly fluent readers, the Animal Planet Adventures chapter book series combines fun animal mysteries with cool nonfiction sidebars that relate directly to the stories, bringing the best of the animal world to young readers. With full-color illustrations and photographs throughout.

Collect all of the Animal Planet Adventures, including Luke and Sarah's story Farm Friends Escape!.

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Daughter of the Deep

Rick Riordan

New York Times #1 best-selling author Rick Riordan pays homage to Jules Verne in his exciting modern take on 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

"If you have ever craved a story that will leave your heart racing, your lungs gasping from the numerous twists and turns, your soul heaving from the effort of now carrying an ensemble cast, you will find all that and more in these pages."--New York Times best-selling author Roshani Chokshi

Ana Dakkar is a freshman at Harding-Pencroft Academy, a five-year high school that graduates the best marine scientists, naval warriors, navigators, and underwater explorers in the world. Ana's parents died while on a scientific expedition two years ago, and the only family's she's got left is her older brother, Dev, also a student at HP. Ana's freshman year culminates with the class's weekend trial at sea, the details of which have been kept secret. She only hopes she has what it'll take to succeed. All her worries are blown out of the water when, on the bus ride to the ship, Ana and her schoolmates witness a terrible tragedy that will change the trajectory of their lives.

But wait, there's more. The professor accompanying them informs Ana that their rival school, Land Institute, and Harding-Pencroft have been fighting a cold war for a hundred and fifty years. Now that cold war has been turned up to a full broil, and the freshman are in danger of becoming fish food. In a race against deadly enemies, Ana will make amazing friends and astounding discoveries about her heritage as she puts her leadership skills to the test for the first time.

 

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Darwin the Dolphin

Felicia Law

Darwin is revered in the dolphin choir for his beautiful voice, until he produces a sound that makes everyone who hears it scurry away in pain. When some hungry sharks threaten Darwin and his friends, can he bravely use his special talent to stop them?

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Coral the Reef Fairy

Daisy Meadows

The fairies are going green!

The fairy king and queen have just put together a new team of seven fairies for a very special mission. They are the Earth Fairies! Together, they're going to work their magic to clean up the environment. But they can't do it alone. Luckily, Rachel and Kirsty are ready to help!

Coral the Reef Fairy's magic keeps the reef environment healthy. But Jack Frost's goblins have her wand and underwater environments everywhere are in trouble. Can Rachel and Kirsty find the wand and put an end to Jack Frost's plans?

Find the missing magic wand in each book and help save the environment!

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Consider the Octopus

Nora Raleigh Baskin

When chance, or fate, throws two twelve-year-olds together on board a scientific research ship at the edge of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, it’s not all smooth sailing!

Jeremy “JB” Barnes is looking forward to spending the summer before seventh grade hanging on the beach. But his mother, a scientist, has called for him to join her aboard a research ship where, instead, he’ll spend his summer seasick and bored as he stares out at the endless plastic, microbeads, and other floating debris, both visible and not, that make up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

Miles and miles away, twelve-year-old Sidney Miller is trying to come up with an alternate activity worthy of convincing her overprotective parents that she can skip summer camp.

When Jeremy is asked to find the contact information for a list of important international scientists and invite them to attend a last-minute Emergency Global Summit, he's excited to have a chance to actually do something that matters to the mission. How could he know that the Sidney Miller he messages is not the famous marine biologist he has been tasked with contacting, but rather a girl making podcasts from her bedroom—let alone that she would want to sneak aboard the ship?

Consider the Octopus is a comedy of errors, mistaken identity, and synchronicity. Above all, it is a heartfelt story about friendship and an empowering call to environmental protection, especially to our young people who are already stepping up to help save our oceans and our Earth.

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Big Shark, Little Shark, and the Spooky Cave

Anna Membrino

Just in time for Halloween comes a spooky, funny early reader starring Big Shark and Little Shark!

Big Shark is scared! The cave looks far too dark and spooky to swim into. But Little Shark isn't scared in the least! Can he coax Big Shark to explore? Some exciting surprises are waiting deep in the spooky cave! Shark fans and emergent readers will enjoy all the stories starring this odd couple: Big Shark, Little Shark; Big Shark, Little Shark Go to School; and Big Shark, Little Shark, Baby Shark.

Step 1 Readers feature big type and easy words for children who know the alphabet and are eager to begin reading. Rhyme and rhythmic text paired with picture clues help children decode the story.

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Beyond the Bright Sea

Lauren Wolk

The moving story of an orphan, determined to know her own history, who discovers the true meaning of family.

Twelve-year-old Crow has lived her entire life on a tiny, isolated piece of the starkly beautiful Elizabeth Islands in Massachusetts. Abandoned and set adrift in a small boat when she was just hours old, Crow's only companions are Osh, the man who rescued and raised her, and Miss Maggie, their fierce and affectionate neighbor across the sandbar.

Crow has always been curious about the world around her, but it isn't until the night a mysterious fire appears across the water that the unspoken question of her own history forms in her heart. Soon, an unstoppable chain of events is triggered, leading Crow down a path of discovery and danger.

Vivid and heart-wrenching, Lauren Wolk's Beyond the Bright Sea is a gorgeously crafted and tensely paced tale that explores questions of identity, belonging, and the true meaning of family.

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Arch of Bone

Jane Yolen

When a rough sailor called Ishmael turns up on a family's doorstep, even loyal dog Zeke knows that the news is ruinous.

Ishmael comes bearing the tragic tale of the Pequod: the whaling ship that fourteen-year-old Josiah's father served on as first mate. Ishmael presents himself as the sole survivor of the deadly journey, fatally lead by the vengeful Captain Ahab and his obsession with the legendary white whale, Moby Dick. But Josiah is not so certain his father's death was that simple. Especially when Ishmael looks so boldly at Josiah's devout Quaker mother.

Josiah is almost of age in Nantucket, and he still cherishes his dream of following in his father's footsteps. He is yet too young to sign on to a ship's crew, but he yearns to be at sea.

Yet adventure has a way of finding a boy and his dog. The true vision of his father's death--as well as the difficult tasks of surviving, growing up, and finding his strength--await Josiah, when he and Zeke discover the secrets of the Pequod at the mysterious Arch of Bone.

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Oceans

Michael Sandler

Dive into this exciting story of the deep sea. Young readers will meet Dr. Sylvia Earle, a marine biologist. Her life-long love of the water has taken her to the depths of the Pacific Ocean and led to her greatest adventure diving 3,000 feet down. Readers will explore the underwater world with Dr. Earle and learn about the defining characteristics and features of the great oceans and discover the different plants and animal that thrive well beyond the sun's reach. Full-color photographs, along with a map, diagram, and timeline will further engage the young deep-sea diver in every student.

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Oceans

Seymour Simon

Exceptional nonfiction for children from two of the most trusted names in science education: Seymour Simon and the Smithsonian Institution.

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Across the Wide Ocean

Karen Romano Young

A turtle, a shark, a whale, a submarine, a container ship, and a sailboat named Rosita.

Where are they going?

They're headed across—over, through, and under—the wide ocean.

And you're going with them.

All life began in the oceans, and so much life still remains there, leading an existence mysterious to most of us. In the world's last uncharted frontier, most things are on the move—often a long move. Using maps and charts, oceanography and navigational tools, intrepid explorers and researchers have followed the ocean's pathways and created some of their own. Now it's your turn.

You are holding in your hands the key to a journey—your journey. One teeming with science and adventure, facts and fun, danger and intrigue. A journey that includes diving deep in a submarine, docking a container ship, migrating with right whales, and hunting with sharks. From the ocean floor to the North Pole, the whole ocean awaits you.

Are you ready to dive in?

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Oceans

Laura Purdie Salas

A digital solution for your classroom with features created with teachers and students in mind: * Perpetual license * 24 hour, 7 days a week access * No limit to the number of students accessing one title at a time * Provides a School to Home connection wherever internet is available * Easy to use * Ability to turn audio on and off * Words highlighted to match audio What lives in the ocean besides fish? What causes the water to move, and why is it salty? Take a deep breath and dive into this book to find out what makes the ocean one of Earth's treasures.

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The ABCs of Oceans

Bobbie Kalman

Did you know that a tiny sea jelly the size of your fingernail can kill a person? Oceans are filled with some of the most colorful creatures alive-and some of the deadliest! Young children will be thrilled by the animals featured in this exciting ABC books with identifies everything under the sea, from colorful nudibranchs, sea cucumbers, and clownfish to deadly electric eels, stingrays, great white sharks, and sea jellies.

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What Makes an Ocean Wave?

Melvin Berger

Provides young readers with an informative and illustrated introduction to oceans through a discussion on tides, coral reefs, its living creatures, and more. Simultaneous.

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DK Guide to the Ocean

Frances A. Dipper

This is a comprehensive guide to the world's seas with step-by-step artwork and diagrams that simplify technical details for children. It explores many aspects of the underwater world - from colourful coral and fish near the surface to the shifting landscape of mountains in the deep.

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Hands on Projects about Oceans

Krista West

Earth is covered mostly by oceans, not land. This book teaches kids about Earth's waters by complementing the lively, informative text with hands-on projects that show students how waves work, how to measure the tides, even how to make a mini-iceberg in their bathroom sinks!

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Destroying the Oceans

Sarah Levete

Oceans and seas are habitats for millions of animals and plants. Life on land depends on the oceans. Sea creatures provide food for billions of people around the world. The waters of the oceans shape the weather, the land, and the planet's temperature. But human activity is endangering some of the world's most unique habitats. Warmer ocean temperatures due to climate change are affecting food webs both in the water and on land, and may be responsible for an increase in the number of damaging storms around the planet. This fascinating book uses case studies to explore the causes and effects of the destruction of ocean habitats and their wildlife and the ways in which people can reduce their impact on these life-giving bodies of water.

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Oceans

Camilla De la Bédoyère

Presents a collection of unusual and miscellaneous facts about the ocean and its inhabitants, covering such topics as supersize marine animals, toxic fish, camouflage defense mechanisms, and predatory behavior.

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The Dolphins of Shark Bay

Pamela S. Turner

Ride alongside the author Pamela S. Turner and her scientific team and meet a cast of dolphin characters large enough (and charismatic enough) to rival a Shakespearean play—Puck, Piccolo, Flute, and Dodger among them. You will fall in love with this crew, both human and finned, as they seek to answer the question: just why are dolphins so smart? And what does their behavior tell us about human intelligence, captive animals, and the future of the ocean? Beautiful photos of dolphins in their natural habitat and a funny, friendly, and fast-paced text make this another winner in the Scientists in the Field series.

 

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Bottlenose Dolphins

Elizabeth Thomas

This book takes readers on a journey under the sea to discover the fascinating facts about bottlenose dolphins, including physical features, habitat, life cycle, food, and more. Photos, captions, and keywords supplement the narrative of this informational text, while additional search tools--including a glossary and an index--help students locate and review important information.

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Whale Sharks

Julie Murphy

This book takes readers on a journey under the sea to discover the fascinating facts about whale sharks, including physical features, habitat, life cycle, food, and more. Photos, captions, and keywords supplement the narrative of this informational text, while additional search tools--including a glossary and an index--help students locate and review important information.

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Mako Sharks

Susan H. Gray

This book takes readers on a journey under the sea to discover the fascinating facts about mako sharks, including physical features, habitat, life cycle, food, and more. Photos, captions, and keywords supplement the narrative of this informational text, while additional search tools--including a glossary and an index--help students locate and review important information.

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The Next Wave

Elizabeth Rusch

Journey to the wave-battered coast of the Pacific Northwest to meet some of the engineers and scientists working to harness the punishing force of our oceans, one of the nature's powerful and renewable energy sources. With an array of amazing devices that cling to the bottom of the sea floor and surf on the crests of waves, these explorers are using a combination of science, imagination, and innovation to try to capture wave energy in the hopes of someday powering our lives in a cleaner, more sustainable way.

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Blue Sharks

Tammy Kennington

This book takes readers on a journey under the sea to discover the fascinating facts about blue sharks, including physical features, habitat, life cycle, food, and more. Photos, captions, and keywords supplement the narrative of this informational text, while additional search tools--including a glossary and an index--help students locate and review important information.

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Harp Seal

Dee Phillips

On the gleaming white ice, a little seal pup dozes in the sun. Her fluffy white fur camouflages her and helps her stay hidden from enemies. Soon the pup?s mother will return from her fishing trip in the ocean. Then the hungry pup will enjoy feeding on her mom?s rich milk. Filled with information perfectly suited to the abilities and interests of its primary-grade audience, this colorful, fact-filled book gives readers a chance not only to learn all about harp seals and how their bodies are adapted to the extreme cold, but also to develop their powers of observation and critical thinking. Built-in activities, such as describing the different stages of a seal pup?s development will give readers a chance to gain, insights beyond the facts and figures.

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Wandering Whale Sharks

Susumu Shingū

Meet the world's largest living fish: the whale shark. With a back like a mountain range and a body that creates an enormous, looming shadow in the ocean below him, the whale shark is an exceptionally gentle giant--and yet it is relatively unknown. This informational picture book introduces readers to these stunning creatures in spare, poetic text. It's a lyrical meditation that gives a sense of the whale shark's slow, grand journey through the Earth's oceans while creating an opportunity for inquiry and awe. Deep blue sketch illustrations play with perspective and seem to move with the natural energy of wind and water. The book ends with a factual page about whale sharks, which can be found in all tropical seas, and have been spotted off the coast of several countries around the world, including South Africa, Australia, India, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Mexico. Readers will come away with a well-formed sense of wonder and respect as they leave the whale shark to continue his leisurely journey.

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Lionfish

Susan H. Gray

The ocean is home to a variety of fascinating animals. Strange Sea Creatures: Lionfish dives in and gives readers a chance to explore this armored predator. This captivating book provides fascinating facts about lionfish, including their spiny skeleton, habitats, food sources, life cycles, and more. Strange Sea Creatures: Lionfish provides an interactive approach to teaching life science. The book introduces basic concepts and ideas while also providing activities and exercises that engage students in processes and skills that are essential to scientific learning and discovery.

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Lantern Fish

Sara Howell

A lantern fish has a body covered with organs that can make their own light! This light helps lantern fish survive in the depths of the ocean. Readers view detailed photographs of these amazing animals in their ocean habitats as they learn fascinating facts about their lives. Additional information about lantern fish is provided through fact boxes. These fish can use their glowing ability like a superpower to make them invisible to predators. Readers discover this and other cool facts with each turn of the page.

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Nudibranch

Susan H. Gray

The ocean is home to a variety of fascinating animals. Strange Sea Creatures: Nudibranch dives in and gives readers a chance to investigate these slow creatures we often call "sea slugs". This captivating book provides fascinating facts about nudibranchs, including their soft bodies, habitats, food sources, life cycles, and more. Strange Sea Creatures: Nudibranch provides an interactive approach to teaching life science. The book introduces basic concepts and ideas while also providing activities and exercises that engage students in processes and skills that are essential to scientific learning and discovery.

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Anglerfish

Julie Murphy

The ocean is home to a variety of fascinating animals. Strange Sea Creatures: Anglerfish dives in and gives readers a chance to explore this little-known creature. This captivating book provides fascinating facts about these under water animals, including their varied physical traits, habitats, food sources, life cycles, and more. Strange Sea Creatures: Anglerfish provides an interactive approach to teaching life science. The book introduces basic concepts and ideas while also providing activities and exercises that engage students in processes and skills that are essential to scientific learning and discovery.

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Boxfish

Samantha Bell

The ocean is home to a variety of fascinating animals. Strange Sea Creatures: Boxfish dives in and gives readers a chance to explore this interesting creature that lives among the reefs. This captivating book provides fascinating facts about boxfish, including their boxy shape, habitats, food sources, life cycles, and more. Strange Sea Creatures: Boxfish provides an interactive approach to teaching life science. The book introduces basic concepts and ideas while also providing activities and exercises that engage students in processes and skills that are essential to scientific learning and discovery.

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Why Is Seawater Salty?

Ellen Lawrence

You're splashing around in the ocean on a hot day when you accidentally swallow a mouthful of salty seawater. Yuck! The water that comes out of a faucet doesn't taste salty. If you catch raindrops on your tongue, they don't taste of salt either. So what makes seawater taste salty? Readers will discover how tiny particles of salt from rocks on land are carried into Earth's oceans by rivers, and washed into the sea by ocean waves. They'll also learn the answers to these questions: Why is the ocean salty and rivers are not? How do underwater volcanoes help make oceans salty? Why is it unsafe to drink salt water? And how is the salt that we use to flavor our food taken from the sea? Filled with information perfectly suited to the abilities and interests of an early elementary audience, this colorful, fact-filled volume gives readers a chance not only to learn, but also to develop their powers of observation and critical thinking. With its stunning photographs and surprising and high-interest facts, this book makes learning about water an engaging experience

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Box Jellyfish

Elizabeth Raum

All of these animals—from the mostly innocent black widow spider to the deadly taipan snake—have one thing in common: they use venom, or poison, for defense. Read about how these poisonous animals survive in their natural habitats and what part they play in the food chains and ecosystems in which they live. The question and answer feature throughout the book promotes reader inquiry, while the list of resources encourages further research and learning. This photo-illustrated book for elementary readers describes the venomous box jellyfish of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Readers learn how these jellies use venom to kill prey and as a protection against predators. Also explains where they live and what to do when they are encountered.

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The Big Book of the Blue

Yuval Zommer

Following the wild success of The Big Book of Bugs and The Big Book of Beasts, The Big Book of the Blue is the third installment in Yuval Zommer's beloved series. Alongside everything the young oceanographer needs to know, Zommer's charming illustrations bring to life some of the slipperiest, scaliest, strangest, and most monstrous underwater animals.

The book opens by explaining how different types of animals are able to breathe and survive underwater, and the different families to which they belong. Subsequent pages are dedicated to specific creatures, including sea turtles, whales, sharks, stingrays, and seahorses, and show varied life in specific habitats, such as a coral reef or deep sea bed. The Big Book of the Blue also explores the underwater world thematically, looking at animals in danger, learning how to spot creatures at the beach, and discovering how to do our part to save sea life. Beautiful and filled with fascinating facts, young, curious readers won't be able to tear their eyes away from the page.

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Would You, Could Save the Sea?

Todd Tarpley

In this simple, rhymed Step 2 Step into Reading Book, the Lorax addresses a concern shared by people of all ages, how to preserve and protect the ocean by reducing our use of plastic and recycling cans and bottles. With kid-friendly tips, this is the perfect way to empower young children.

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Planet Ocean

Patricia Newman

A little more than 70 percent of Planet Earth is ocean. So wouldn't a better name for our global home be Planet Ocean?

You may be surprised at just how closely YOU are connected to the ocean. Regardless of where you live, every breath you take and every drop of water you drink links you to the ocean. And because of this connection, the ocean's health affects all of us.

Dive in with author Patricia Newman and photographer Annie Crawley--visit the Coral Triangle near Indonesia, the Salish Sea in the Pacific Northwest, and the Arctic Ocean at the top of the world. Find out about problems including climate change, ocean acidification, and plastic pollution, and meet inspiring local people who are leading the way to reverse the ways in which humans have harmed the ocean.

Planet Ocean shows us how to stop thinking of ourselves as existing separate from the ocean and how to start taking better care of this precious resource.

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Strega Nona

Tomie DePaola

When Strega Nona leaves him alone with her magic pasta pot, Big Anthony is determined to show the townspeople how it works.

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Tony's Bread

Tomie DePaola

Tony dreams that one day he'll become the most famous baker in northern Italy. His poor daughter Serafina wants to be allowed to marry. Each of their dreams seems far away until Angelo, a rich young nobleman from Milan, appears and devises a way to make everyone's dreams come true. Full color. Copyright © Libri GmbH. All rights reserved.

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There's a Dolphin in the Grand Canal!

John Bemelmans Marciano

Carrying on the legacy of his grandfather Ludwig Bemelmans--the creator of the Madeline books--Marciano tells the story of a young boy spending a boring summer in Venice, Italy, until he spies something wonderful in the Grand Canal and goes on the ride of his life. Full color.

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Pippo the Fool

Tracey E. Fern

Was Pippo the Fool really Pippo the Genius?

The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence was a marvel of art, architecture, and engineering. But it lacked a finishing ornament, a crown--a dome! The city fathers had a solution: to invite the finest masters to compete for the chance to design a dome. The rumors of this contest reached the ears of Filippo Brunelleschi, better known in Florence as Pippo the Fool. As soon as he heard about the contest, Pippo knew it was the chance he had been waiting for. "If I can win the contest, I will finally lose that nickname once and for all!"

This book tells the story of the construction of an architectural masterpiece--Brunelleschi's Dome. Tracey E. Fern depicts Pippo's prickly personality with humor and warmth, and Pau Estrada's richly detailed illustrations bring Renaissance Florence to life. An excellent way to introduce kids to an important moment in Western engineering and history.

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Fun with Italian Cooking

Rosalba Gioffrè

Your excited readers will prepare a hearty, savory meal with this cookbook. Kids can easily follow these simple, step-by-step recipes; they’ll learn how to cook with Italian spices and ingredients while also learning about Italian culture.

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Vivaldi and the Invisible Orchestra

Stephen Costanza

Every day, Antonio Vivaldi composes a new orchestral piece, and every day, the orphan Candida transcribes Vivaldi's masterpiece into sheet music for the Invisible Orchestra. Nobody notices Candida or appreciates her hard work.

But one day Candida accidentally slips a poem she wrote into the sheet music and the girl so often behind the shadows gets recognized for her own talents. Vivaldi really did have an Invisible Orchestra made up of orphan girls he taught to play. This beautiful book pays tribute to their inspiration.

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I Survived the Destruction of Pompeii, AD 79

Lauren Tarshis

The beast beneath the mountain is restless...
No one in the bustling city of Pompeii worries when the ground trembles beneath their feet. The beast under the mountain Vesuvius, high above the city, wakes up angry sometimes -- and always goes back to sleep.
But Marcus is afraid. He knows something is terribly wrong -- and his father, who trusts science more than mythical beasts, agrees. When Vesuvius explodes into a cloud of fiery ash and rocks fall from the sky like rain, will they have time to escape -- and survive the epic destruction of Pompeii?

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The Mystery of the Mosaic

Harper Paris

After arriving in Venice, Ethan and Ella embark on a high-speed gondola chase in the second book of this chapter book series about mystery, travel, and adventure.

When Ethan and Ella first land in Venice, they are in awe of all the canals and tiny little streets. They’re especially excited to look for a five-hundred-year-old-mosaic near Calle Farnese that Grandpa Harry tells them about. While the twins are out getting gelato later that day, they notice someone looking around suspiciously as he unties a gondola from a dock.

The next morning, the twins hear two gondoliers arguing, one of them accusing the other of stealing his most beautiful boat. The gondolier begs Ethan and Ella to help him find the boat. They agree, and also tell the man they need to get to Calle Farnese. Will the twins be able to find the stolen gondola and their Grandpa’s favorite mosaic...before dinner?

With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, the Greetings from Somewhere chapter books are perfect for beginning readers.

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What Was Pompeii?

Jim O'Connor

For use in schools and libraries only. The morning of August 24, AD 79, seemed like any other in the Roman city of Pompeii. So no one was prepared when the nearby volcano Mount Vesuvius suddenly erupted, spouting ash that buried the city and its inhabitants. The disaster left thousands dead, and Pompeii was no more than a memory for almost 1,700 years. In 1748, explorers rediscovered the port city with intact buildings and beautiful mosaics. This easy-to-read account is gripping and includes photos of the ruins.

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Danger in Ancient Rome

Kate Messner

Ranger, the time-traveling golden retriever, is back for the second book in Kate Messner's new chapter book series. This time, he's off to save the day in ancient Rome!

Ranger is a golden retriever who has been trained as a search-and-rescue dog. In this adventure, Ranger travels to the Colosseum in ancient Rome, where there are gladiator fights and wild animal hunts! Ranger befriends Marcus, a young boy Ranger saves from a runaway lion, and Quintus, a new volunteer gladiator who must prove himself in the arena. Can Ranger help Marcus and Quintus escape the brutal world of the Colosseum?

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Paolo, Emperor of Rome

Mac Barnett

A daring dog takes a whirlwind tour of Rome in search of freedom in new picture book from beloved storyteller Mac Barnett and masterful illustrator Claire Keane

Paolo the dachshund is trapped. Though he lives in Rome, a city filled with history and adventure, he is confined to a hair salon. Paolo dreams of the sweet life--la dolce vita--in the Eternal City. And then, one day, he escapes Paolo throws himself into the city, finding adventure at every turn. Join our hero as he discovers the wonders of Rome: the ruins, the food, the art, the opera, and--of course--the cats. Readers will cheer the daring of this bighearted dog, whose story shows that even the smallest among us can achieve great things.

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Friends Are Forever (Disney/Pixar Luca)

Random House Disney

Set in a beautiful seaside town on the Italian Riviera, Disney and Pixar's original feature film Luca is a coming-of-age story about one young boy experiencing an unforgettable summer filled with gelato, pasta and endless scooter rides. Luca shares these adventures with his newfound best friend, but all the fun is threatened by a deeply-held secret: they are sea monsters from another world just below the water's surface. Directed by Academy Award(R) nominee Enrico Casarosa (La Luna) and produced by Andrea Warren (Lava, Cars 3), Luca opens in theaters June 18, 2021. Girls and boys ages 4 to 6 will love this Step 2 Step into Reading leveled reader featuring two sheets of bonus stickers. Step 3 readers feature engaging characters in easy-to-follow plots about popular topics. For children who are ready to read on their own.

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Count Silvernose

Eric A. Kimmel

The two younger daughters of an old washerwoman are lovely, foolish, and useless, while the oldest is homely, clever, and strong. When the two younger sisters disappear and are reported dead, Assunta resolves to discover the truth and rescue her sisters. Rayyan's impressive watercolors resemble a Renaissance sketchbook and balance the narrative beautifully. Full color.

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Days of the Blackbird

Tomie DePaola

Gemma, a young girl living in the mountains of northern Italy, asks the blackbirds to sing to her ailing father, Duca Gennaro, and only one blackbird decides to remain when the weather becomes cooler, in the story of the origins of the Days of the Blackbird.

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C Is for Ciao

Elissa D. Grodin

From its unparalleled achievements in art and architecture (the Sistine Chapel), science and exploration (Galileo Galilei), music and literature (Stradivarius and Dante), the country of Italy has had a lasting and profound impact on the world. In C is for Ciao: An Italy Alphabet, young readers are invited to explore Italy's rich history, diverse geography, and many traditions. Sumptuous artwork magnifies each letter topic's poem and expository text. R is for the city, Rome, whose beauty will astound you. Modern life is bustling while antiquities surround you. Renowned Italians such as Augustus Caesar (first Roman emperor), Amerigo Vespucci (Florentine explorer), and Leonardo da Vinci (Renaissance artist and scientist) come to life alongside stunning monuments, breathtaking scenery, and history-in-the-making moments that have shaped Italy and the world at large. Governor Mario Cuomo adds a personal message reflecting on his Italian heritage.

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Italy

Saviour Pirotta

Readers can savor the flavor of foreign countries through their favorite festival foods. Each title highlights a sampling of holiday foods, describing how they are grown or produced, and how they are used to celebrate special occasions. Easy yet authentic recipes in each title invite readers to become a part of the festivities.

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Looking at Italy

Jillian Powell

This leveled-reader series provides a colorful introduction to countries and cultures around the world. Perfect for reports, each book presents an exciting overview of the featured country's people, land, weather, homes, food, and lifestyles. Clear, easy-to-follow text is coupled with large, vibrant, full-color photographs, multiple maps, and a black-and-white reproducible activity map.

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Let's Visit Italy

Susie Brooks

The eye-catching design and fun fact boxes in this book will engage your reluctant readers. They'll feel as if they've been taken on a whirlwind tour of Italy, learning about the sights, sounds, and culture of this gorgeous country.

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Italy

Amy Rechner

Two thousand years ago, Italy was known for its spectacles. Rome's famous Colosseum hosted epic sports contests and gladiator fights. In this book, Italy is on display to engage fluent young readers. Kids will be especially amazed by ancient Italian architecture.

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Leaving Lucy Pear

Anna Solomon

"From the first page, I was under Anna Solomon's spell." --Sue Monk Kidd

Chosen as a must-read book by TIME Magazine, InStyle, Good Housekeeping, The Millions, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and BookPage

Set in 1920s New England, the story of two women who are both mothers to the same unforgettable girl--a big, heartrending novel from award-winning writer Anna Solomon

One night in 1917 Beatrice Haven sneaks out of her uncle's house on Cape Ann, Massachusetts, leaves her newborn baby at the foot of a pear tree, and watches as another woman claims the infant as her own. The unwed daughter of wealthy Jewish industrialists and a gifted pianist bound for Radcliffe, Bea plans to leave her shameful secret behind and make a fresh start. Ten years later, Prohibition is in full swing, post-WWI America is in the grips of rampant xenophobia, and Bea's hopes for her future remain unfulfilled. She returns to her uncle's house, seeking a refuge from her unhappiness. But she discovers far more when the rum-running manager of the local quarry inadvertently reunites her with Emma Murphy, the headstrong Irish Catholic woman who has been raising Bea's abandoned child--now a bright, bold, cross-dressing girl named Lucy Pear, with secrets of her own.

In mesmerizing prose, award-winning author Anna Solomon weaves together an unforgettable group of characters as their lives collide on the New England coast. Set against one of America's most turbulent decades, Leaving Lucy Pear delves into questions of class, freedom, and the meaning of family, establishing Anna Solomon as one of our most captivating storytellers.

"Anna Solomon writes with a poet's reverence for language and a novelist's ability to keep us turning the page. A gorgeous and engrossing meditation on motherhood, womanhood, and the sacrifices we make for love." --J. Courtney Sullivan

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Unstoppable: Siggi B. Wilzig's astonishing journey from Auschwitz survivor and penniless immigrant to Wall Street legend

Joshua M. Greene

Winner – Best of Los Angeles Award's "Best Holocaust Book - 2021"

“A must-read that hopefully will be adapted for the screen. Greene lets Wilzig’s effervescent spirit shine through, and his story will appeal to a wide variety of readers.” - Library Journal

Unstoppable is the ultimate immigrant story and an epic David-and-Goliath adventure. While American teens were socializing in ice cream parlors, Siggi was suffering beatings by Nazi hoodlums for being a Jew and was soon deported along with his family to the darkest place the world has ever known: Auschwitz. Siggi used his wits to stay alive, pretending to have trade skills the Nazis could exploit to run the camp. After two death marches and near starvation, he was liberated from camp Mauthausen and went to work for the US Army hunting Nazis, a service that earned him a visa to America. On arrival, he made three vows: to never go hungry again, to support the Jewish people, and to speak out against injustice. He earned his first dollar shoveling snow after a fierce blizzard. His next job was laboring in toxic sweatshops. From these humble beginnings, he became President, Chairman and CEO of a New York Stock Exchange-listed oil company and grew a full-service commercial bank to more than $4 billion in assets.

Siggi’s ascent from the darkest of yesterdays to the brightest of tomorrows holds sway over the imagination in this riveting narrative of grit, cunning, luck, and the determination to live life to the fullest.

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The Dressmakers of Auschwitz

Lucy Adlington

A powerful chronicle of the women who used their sewing skills to survive the Holocaust, stitching beautiful clothes at an extraordinary fashion workshop created within one of the most notorious WWII death camps.

At the height of the Holocaust twenty-five young inmates of the infamous Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp--mainly Jewish women and girls--were selected to design, cut, and sew beautiful fashions for elite Nazi women in a dedicated salon. It was work that they hoped would spare them from the gas chambers.

This fashion workshop--called the Upper Tailoring Studio--was established by Hedwig Höss, the camp commandant's wife, and patronized by the wives of SS guards and officers. Here, the dressmakers produced high-quality garments for SS social functions in Auschwitz, and for ladies from Nazi Berlin's upper crust.

Drawing on diverse sources--including interviews with the last surviving seamstress--The Dressmakers of Auschwitz follows the fates of these brave women. Their bonds of family and friendship not only helped them endure persecution, but also to play their part in camp resistance. Weaving the dressmakers' remarkable experiences within the context of Nazi policies for plunder and exploitation, historian Lucy Adlington exposes the greed, cruelty, and hypocrisy of the Third Reich and offers a fresh look at a little-known chapter of World War II and the Holocaust.

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In Love: a memoir of love and loss

Amy Bloom

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A powerful memoir of a love that leads two people to find a courageous way to part—and a woman’s struggle to go forward in the face of loss—that “enriches the reader’s life with urgency and gratitude” (The Washington Post)

“A pleasure to read . . . Rarely has a memoir about death been so full of life. . . . Bloom has a talent for mixing the prosaic and profound, the slapstick and the serious.”—USA Today


ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS OF 2022—Oprah Daily, BookPage


Amy Bloom began to notice changes in her husband, Brian: He retired early from a new job he loved; he withdrew from close friendships; he talked mostly about the past. Suddenly, it seemed there was a glass wall between them, and their long walks and talks stopped. Their world was altered forever when an MRI confirmed what they could no longer ignore: Brian had Alzheimer’s disease.

Forced to confront the truth of the diagnosis and its impact on the future he had envisioned, Brian was determined to die on his feet, not live on his knees. Supporting each other in their last journey together, Brian and Amy made the unimaginably difficult and painful decision to go to Dignitas, an organization based in Switzerland that empowers a person to end their own life with dignity and peace.

In this heartbreaking and surprising memoir, Bloom sheds light on a part of life we so often shy away from discussing—its ending. Written in Bloom’s captivating, insightful voice and with her trademark wit and candor, In Love is an unforgettable portrait of a beautiful marriage, and a boundary-defying love.

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The Happiest Man on Earth: the beautiful life of an Auschwitz survivor

Eddie Jaku

A New York Times Bestseller

In this uplifting memoir in the vein of The Last Lecture and Man's Search for Meaning, a Holocaust survivor pays tribute to those who were lost by telling his story, sharing his wisdom, and living his best possible life.

Born in Leipzig, Germany, into a Jewish family, Eddie Jaku was a teenager when his world was turned upside-down. On November 9, 1938, during the terrifying violence of Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass, Eddie was beaten by SS thugs, arrested, and sent to a concentration camp with thousands of other Jews across Germany. Every day of the next seven years of his life, Eddie faced unimaginable horrors in Buchenwald, Auschwitz, and finally on a forced death march during the Third Reich's final days. The Nazis took everything from Eddie--his family, his friends, and his country. But they did not break his spirit.

Against unbelievable odds, Eddie found the will to survive. Overwhelming grateful, he made a promise: he would smile every day in thanks for the precious gift he was given and to honor the six million Jews murdered by Hitler. Today, at 100 years of age, despite all he suffered, Eddie calls himself the "happiest man on earth." In his remarkable memoir, this born storyteller shares his wisdom and reflects on how he has led his best possible life, talking warmly and openly about the power of gratitude, tolerance, and kindness. Life can be beautiful if you make it beautiful. With The Happiest Man on Earth, Eddie shows us how.

Filled with his insights on friendship, family, health, ethics, love, and hatred, and the simple beliefs that have shaped him, The Happiest Man on Earth offers timeless lessons for readers of all ages, especially for young people today.

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The Sisters Weiss

Naomi Ragen

In 1950's Brooklyn, sisters Rose and Pearl Weiss grow up in a loving but strict ultra-Orthodox family, never dreaming of defying their parents or their community's unbending and intrusive demands. Then, a chance meeting with a young French immigrant turns Rose's world upside down, its once bearable strictures suddenly tightening like a noose around her neck. In rebellion, she begins to live a secret life – a life that shocks her parents when it is discovered. With nowhere else to turn, and an overwhelming desire to be reconciled with those she loves, Rose tries to bow to her parents' demands that she agree to an arranged marriage. But pushed to the edge, she commits an act so unforgivable, it will exile her forever from her innocent young sister, her family, and all she has ever known.

Forty years later, pious Pearl's sheltered young daughter Rivka suddenly discovers the ugly truth about her Aunt Rose, the outcast, who has moved on to become a renowned photographer. Inspired, but nave and reckless, Rivka sets off on a dangerous adventure that will stir up the ghosts of the past, and alter the future in unimaginable ways for all involved.

Powerful, page-turning and deeply moving, Naomi Ragen's The Sisters Weiss is an unforgettable examination of loyalty and betrayal; the differences that can tear a family apart and the invisible bonds that tie them together.

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Warner Bros: the making of an American movie studio

David Thomson

From the prizewinning Jewish Lives series, behind the scenes at the legendary Warner Brothers film studio, where four immigrant brothers transformed themselves into the moguls and masters of American fantasy

Warner Bros charts the rise of an unpromising film studio from its shaky beginnings in the early twentieth century through its ascent to the pinnacle of Hollywood influence and popularity. The Warner Brothers--Harry, Albert, Sam, and Jack--arrived in America as unschooled Jewish immigrants, yet they founded a studio that became the smartest, toughest, and most radical in all of Hollywood.

David Thomson provides fascinating and original interpretations of Warner Brothers pictures from the pioneering talkie The Jazz Singer through black-and-white musicals, gangster movies, and such dramatic romances as Casablanca, East of Eden, and Bonnie and Clyde. He recounts the storied exploits of the studio's larger-than-life stars, among them Al Jolson, James Cagney, Bette Davis, Errol Flynn, Humphrey Bogart, James Dean, Doris Day, and Bugs Bunny. The Warner brothers' cultural impact was so profound, Thomson writes, that their studio became "one of the enterprises that helped us see there might be an American dream out there."

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The World That We Knew

Alice Hoffman

This instant New York Times bestseller and longlist recipient for the 2020 Andrew Carnegie Medal takes place in 1941, during humanity’s darkest hour, and follows three unforgettable young women who must act with courage and love to survive.

“[A] hymn to the power of resistance, perseverance, and enduring love in dark times…gravely beautiful…Hoffman the storyteller continues to dazzle.” —THE NEW YORK TIMES

“Oh, what a book this is! Hoffman’s exploration of the world of good and evil, and the constant contest between them, is unflinching; and the humanity she brings to us—it is a glorious experience.” —ELIZABETH STROUT, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Olive Kitteridge

“Alice Hoffman’s new novel will break your heart, and then stitch it back together piece by piece. It’s my new favorite Hoffman book.” —JODI PICOULT, New York Times bestselling author of Small Great Things and A Spark of Light

In Berlin, at the time when the world changed, Hanni Kohn knows she must send her twelve-year-old daughter away to save her from the Nazi regime. She finds her way to a renowned rabbi, but it’s his daughter, Ettie, who offers hope of salvation when she creates a mystical Jewish creature, a rare and unusual golem, who is sworn to protect Lea. Once Ava is brought to life, she and Lea and Ettie become eternally entwined, their paths fated to cross, their fortunes linked.

Lea and Ava travel from Paris, where Lea meets her soulmate, to a convent in western France known for its silver roses; from a school in a mountaintop village where three thousand Jews were saved. Meanwhile, Ettie is in hiding, waiting to become the fighter she’s destined to be.

What does it mean to lose your mother? How much can one person sacrifice for love? In a world where evil can be found at every turn, we meet remarkable characters that take us on a stunning journey of loss and resistance, the fantastical and the mortal, in a place where all roads lead past the Angel of Death and love is never ending.

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We Were the Lucky Ones

Georgia Hunter

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Inspired by the incredible true story of one Jewish family separated at the start of World War II, determined to survive--and to reunite--We Were the Lucky Ones is a tribute to the triumph of hope and love against all odds

"Love in the face of global adversity? It couldn't be more timely." --Glamour

It is the spring of 1939 and three generations of the Kurc family are doing their best to live normal lives, even as the shadow of war grows closer. The talk around the family Seder table is of new babies and budding romance, not of the increasing hardships threatening Jews in their hometown of Radom, Poland. But soon the horrors overtaking Europe will become inescapable and the Kurcs will be flung to the far corners of the world, each desperately trying to navigate his or her own path to safety.

As one sibling is forced into exile, another attempts to flee the continent, while others struggle to escape certain death, either by working grueling hours on empty stomachs in the factories of the ghetto or by hiding as gentiles in plain sight. Driven by an unwavering will to survive and by the fear that they may never see one another again, the Kurcs must rely on hope, ingenuity, and inner strength to persevere.

An extraordinary, propulsive novel, We Were the Lucky Ones demonstrates how in the face of the twentieth century's darkest moment, the human spirit can endure and even thrive.

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Three Sisters: a novel

Heather Morris

From Heather Morris, the New York Times bestselling author of the multi-million copy bestseller The Tattooist of Auschwitz and Cilka's Journey: a story of family, courage, and resilience, inspired by a true story.

Against all odds, three Slovakian sisters have survived years of imprisonment in the most notorious death camp in Nazi Germany: Auschwitz. Livia, Magda, and Cibi have clung together, nearly died from starvation and overwork, and the brutal whims of the guards in this place of horror. But now, the allies are closing in and the sisters have one last hurdle to face: the death march from Auschwitz, as the Nazis try to erase any evidence of the prisoners held there. Due to a last minute stroke of luck, the three of them are able to escape formation and hide in the woods for days before being rescued.

And this is where the story begins. From there, the three sisters travel to Israel, to their new home, but the battle for freedom takes on new forms. Livia, Magda, and Cibi must face the ghosts of their past--and some secrets that they have kept from each other--to find true peace and happiness.

Inspired by a true story, and with events that overlap with those of Lale, Gita, and Cilka, The Three Sisters will hold a place in readers' hearts and minds as they experience what true courage really is.

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Harvey Milk: his lives and death

Lillian Faderman

Harvey Milk--eloquent, charismatic, and a smart-aleck--was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977, but he had not even served a full year in office when he was shot by a homophobic fellow supervisor. Milk's assassination at the age of forty-eight made him the most famous gay man in modern history; twenty years later Time magazine included him on its list of the hundred most influential individuals of the twentieth century.

Before finding his calling as a politician, however, Harvey variously tried being a schoolteacher, a securities analyst on Wall Street, a supporter of Barry Goldwater, a Broadway theater assistant, a bead-wearing hippie, the operator of a camera store and organizer of the local business community in San Francisco. He rejected Judaism as a religion, but he was deeply influenced by the cultural values of his Jewish upbringing and his understanding of anti-Semitism and the Holocaust. His early influences and his many personal and professional experiences finally came together when he decided to run for elective office as the forceful champion of gays, racial minorities, women, working people, the disabled, and senior citizens. In his last five years, he focused all of his tremendous energy on becoming a successful public figure with a distinct political voice.

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Jerome Robbins: a life in dance

Wendy Lesser

From the prizewinning Jewish Lives series, a lively and inspired biography celebrating the centennial of this master choreographer, dancer, and stage director

Jerome Robbins (1918-1998) was born Jerome Wilson Rabinowitz and grew up in Weehawken, New Jersey, where his Russian-Jewish immigrant parents owned the Comfort Corset Company. Robbins, who was drawn to dance at a young age, resisted the idea of joining the family business. In 1936 he began working with Gluck Sandor, who ran a dance group and convinced him to change his name to Jerome Robbins. He went on to become a choreographer and director who worked in ballet, on Broadway, and in film. His stage productions include West Side Story, Peter Pan, and Fiddler on the Roof. In this deft biography, Wendy Lesser presents Jerome Robbins's life through his major dances, providing a sympathetic, detailed portrait of her subject.

About Jewish Lives:

Jewish Lives is a prizewinning series of interpretative biography designed to explore the many facets of Jewish identity. Individual volumes illuminate the imprint of Jewish figures upon literature, religion, philosophy, politics, cultural and economic life, and the arts and sciences. Subjects are paired with authors to elicit lively, deeply informed books that explore the range and depth of the Jewish experience from antiquity to the present.

In 2014, the Jewish Book Council named Jewish Lives the winner of its Jewish Book of the Year Award, the first series ever to receive this award.

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The Almost Legendary Morris Sisters: a true story of family fiction

Julie Klam

A Washington Post best nonfiction book pick of 2021

“It is biography as an expression of love.” The New York Times


New York Times–bestselling author Julie Klam’s funny and moving story of the Morris sisters, distant relations with mysterious pasts.


Ever since she was young, Julie Klam has been fascinated by the Morris sisters, cousins of her grandmother. According to family lore, early in the twentieth century the sisters’ parents decided to move the family from Eastern Europe to Los Angeles so their father could become a movie director. On the way, their pregnant mother went into labor in St. Louis, where the baby was born and where their mother died. The father left the children in an orphanage and promised to send for them when he settled in California—a promise he never kept. One of the Morris sisters later became a successful Wall Street trader and advised Franklin Roosevelt. The sisters lived together in New York City, none of them married or had children, and one even had an affair with J. P. Morgan.

The stories of these independent women intrigued Klam, but as she delved into them to learn more, she realized that the tales were almost completely untrue.

The Almost Legendary Morris Sisters is the revealing account of what Klam discovered about her family—and herself—as she dug into the past. The deeper she went into the lives of the Morris sisters, the slipperier their stories became. And the more questions she had about what actually happened to them, the more her opinion of them evolved.

Part memoir and part confessional, and told with the wit and honesty that are hallmarks of Klam’s books, The Almost Legendary Morris Sisters is the fascinating and funny true story of one writer’s journey into her family’s past, the truths she brings to light, and what she learns about herself along the way.

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Justice, Justice Thou Shalt Pursue: a life's work fighting for a more perfect union

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Tracing the long history of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s work for gender equality and a “more perfect Union”

In the fall of 2019, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg visited the University of California, Berkeley School of Law to deliver the first annual Herma Hill Kay Memorial Lecture in honor of her friend, the late Herma Hill Kay, with whom Ginsburg had coauthored the very first casebook on sex-based discrimination in 1974. Justice, Justice Thou Shalt Pursue is the result of a period of collaboration between Ginsburg and Amanda L. Tyler, a Berkeley Law professor and former Ginsburg law clerk. During Justice Ginsburg's visit to Berkeley, she told her life story in conversation with Tyler. In this collection, the two bring together that conversation and other materials—many previously unpublished—that share details from Justice Ginsburg's family life and long career. These include notable briefs and oral arguments, some of Ginsburg's last speeches, and her favorite opinions that she wrote as a Supreme Court Justice (many in dissent), along with the statements that she read from the bench in those important cases. Each document was chosen by Ginsburg and Tyler to tell the story of the litigation strategy and optimistic vision that were at the heart of Ginsburg's unwavering commitment to the achievement of "a more perfect Union."
 
In a decades-long career, Ruth Bader Ginsburg was an advocate and jurist for gender equality and for ensuring that the United States Constitution leaves no person behind. Her work transformed not just the American legal landscape, but American society more generally. Ginsburg labored tirelessly to promote a Constitution that is ever more inclusive and that allows every individual to achieve their full human potential. As revealed in these pages, in the area of gender rights, Ginsburg dismantled long-entrenched systems of discrimination based on outdated stereotypes by showing how such laws hold back both genders. And as also shown in the materials brought together here, Justice Ginsburg had a special ability to appreciate how the decisions of the high court impact the lived experiences of everyday Americans. The passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in September 2020 as this book was heading into production was met with a public outpouring of grief. With her death, the country lost a hero and national treasure whose incredible life and legacy made the United States a more just society and one in which “We the People,” for whom the Constitution is written, includes everyone.

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My Name Is Yoon

Helen Recorvits

Getting to feel at home in a new country

Yoon's name means Shining Wisdom, and when she writes it in Korean, it looks happy, like dancing figures. But her father tells her that she must learn to write it in English. In English, all the lines and circles stand alone, which is just how Yoon feels in the United States. Yoon isn't sure that she wants to be YOON. At her new school, she tries out different names – maybe CAT or BIRD. Maybe CUPCAKE!

Helen Recorvits's spare and inspiring story about a little girl finding her place in a new country is given luminous pictures filled with surprising vistas and dreamscapes by Gabi Swiatkowska.

My Name Is Yoon is a 2008 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

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Red is a Dragon

Roseanne Thong

Discover shades of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and more as a little girl finds color in all sorts of everyday things. Many of the featured objects are Asian in origin, others universal: red is the dragon in the Chinese New Year parade, green is a bracelet made of jade, and yellow are the taxis she sees on her street. With rich, boisterous illustrations and colors that leap off the page, this concept picturebook will brighten every child's day!

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I Am Golden

Eva Chen

An Instant New York Times Bestseller!

This joyful and lyrical picture book from New York Times bestselling author Eva Chen and illustrator Sophie Diao is a moving ode to the immigrant experience, as well as a manifesto of self-love for Chinese American children.


What do you see when you look in the mirror, Mei? Do you see beauty?

We see eyes that point toward the sun, that give us the warmth and joy of a thousand rays when you smile. We see hair as inky black and smooth as a peaceful night sky. We see skin brushed with gold.

 

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Stranger in the Mirror

Allen Say

One morning eight-year-old Martin looks in the mirror and sees a stranger. Overnight, he has changed. His parents take him to one doctor after another, only to be told that there is nothing wrong with their son. At school his teacher asks, "What have we here, trick or treat?" His classmates will not play with him. At home his family tries to treat him as if he were the same child. But things now are different. Martin has grown very old in the space of one day. His world will never be the same again.

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Who Is Kamala Harris?

Kirsten Anderson

The inspiring story of Vice President Kamala Harris told in the new Who HQ Now format for trending topics.

On November 7, 2020, Kamala Harris, a senator from California, became the first woman and the first African-American and South Asian-American person to be elected to the vice presidency. While her nomination for this position was not unexpected, her rise to national prominence was one filled with unexpected turns and obstacles. After failing her first bar exam to become a lawyer, she tried again and passed. From there, she quickly rose through the legal ranks, serving as district attorney of San Francisco, then California's attorney general, and soon, senator. As a politician, Kamala Harris has been a vocal champion of progressive reforms and women's rights. This exciting story details the defining moments of what led to her nomination and all the monumental ones since that have shaped her career and the future of America.

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Asian-American Crafts Kids Can Do!

Sarah Hartman

- Step-by-step instructions and photos illustrating each step - Crafts are made using inexpensive, at-hand materials - Craft books can connect to the curriculum texts (holidays and cultural studies) - Meets the Art, English/Language Arts and Social Studies curricula - Illus. with color illustrations - Each book contains large, readable type, a short history of the culture, a glossary, Reading About, and Internet addresses

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Crouching Tiger

Ying Chang Compestine

A Chinese-American boy gains a new understanding of his Chinese grandfather in this celebratory story of family, martial arts, and the Chinese New Year.

Vinson is very excited when his grandfather comes from China for a visit. When Grandpa practices tai chi in the garden, Vinson asks to learn, hoping it will be like kung fu, full of kicks and punches. But tai chi's meditative postures are slow and still, and Vinson quickly gets bored. He can't understand why Grandpa insists on calling him by his Chinese name, Ming Da, or why he has to wear a traditional Chinese jacket to the Chinese New Year parade. As the parade assembles, however, he notices the great respect given to his grandfather and the lion dancers under his training. And when Vinson is offered a role in the parade, he realizes that being part Chinese can be pretty cool--and is ready to start learning from his grandpa's martial-arts mastery in earnest.

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Bee-bim Bop!

Linda Sue Park

Bee-bim bop (the name translates as “mix-mix rice”) is a traditional Korean dish of rice topped, and then mixed, with meat and vegetables. In bouncy rhyming text, a hungry child tells about helping her mother make bee-bim bop: shopping, preparing ingredients, setting the table, and finally sitting down with her family to enjoy a favorite meal. The energy and enthusiasm of the young narrator are conveyed in the whimsical illustrations, which bring details from the artist’s childhood in Korea to his depiction of a modern Korean American family. Even young readers who aren’t familiar with the dish will recognize the pride that comes from helping Mama, the fun of mixing ingredients together in a bowl, and the pleasure of sharing delicious food. Includes author’s own recipe.

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Auntie Yang's Great Soybean Picnic

Ginnie Lo

"A Chinese American girl's Auntie Yang discovers soybeans-a favorite Chinese food-growing in Illinois, leading her family to a soybean picnic tradition that grows into an annual community event. Includes author's note and glossary"--Provided by publisher.

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