New Releases by Anne Rockwell

Beloved author Anne Rockwell celebrates nature and the outdoors with a gorgeous new picture book about a child’s first mountain hike! A young girl and her family go hiking up a nearby mountain for the very first time. As they climb up and up the path, they see everything from a friendly toad to a prickly porcupine, tall leafy trees to tiny red berries. Anne Rockwell and her daughter, artist Lizzy Rockwell, celebrate a day the little girl will never forget, especially when she reaches the mountain’s summit. With simple, lyrical text and bright illustrations that jump off the page, Hiking Day brings the joys of spending an afternoon outdoors to life.

Told for the first time in picture book form is the true story of James Lafayette—a slave who spied for George Washington''s army during the American Revolution. But while America celebrated its newfound freedom, James returned to slavery. His service hadn''t qualified him for the release he''d been hoping for. For James the fight wasn''t over; he''d already helped his country gain its freedom, now it was time to win his own.

When the new house needs fixing up, it''s off to the hardware store to find the tools and materials needed to get the job done—a hammer, a screwdriver, a shiny tape measure, and even a stepladder. This family outing explores a familiar errand that fascinates plenty of young children: the hardware store. Anne Rockwell''s perfectly pitched story and Melissa Iwai''s child-friendly illustrations make this book ideal for the preschool audience.

Beloved author Anne Rockwell celebrates books, the love of reading, and of course, libraries, with a gorgeous new picture book about a child’s first visit to the library! One day, a young boy visits the library for the very first time. While he’s there he listens to stories, reads books and magazines, and learns that there are also movies, crafts, chess, and puppet shows—something for everyone! With simple, lyrical text and bright illustrations that jump off the page, Library Day brings the joys of reading vividly to life.

A mother and child go through the supermarket choosing their groceries.

Originally published: New York: Macmillan, 1989.

A young girl spends a radiant summer day at the beach in this updated classic from the author of Apples and Pumpkins. Sun...sand...the bright blue ocean! There is so much for a young girl to do on a visit to the beach: sand castles to build, seashells to gather, sandpipers to run with, and a picnic lunch to enjoy. This updated edition of a perennial summertime favorite includes new jacket art from Lizzy Rockwell and refreshed interior art and design.

What happened when a former enslaved man took beat-up old instruments and gave them to a bunch of orphans? Thousands of futures got a little brighter and a great American art form was born. In 1891, Reverend Daniel Joseph Jenkins opened his orphanage in Charleston, South Carolina. He soon had hundreds of children and needed a way to support them. Jenkins asked townspeople to donate old band instruments—some of which had last played in the hands of Confederate soldiers in the Civil War. He found teachers to show the kids how to play. Soon the orphanage had a band. And what a band it was. The Jenkins Orphanage Band caused a sensation on the streets of Charleston. People called the band''s style of music "rag"—a rhythm inspired by the African American people who lived on the South Carolina and Georgia coast. The children performed as far away as Paris and London, and they earned enough money to support the orphanage that still exists today. They also helped launch the music we now know as jazz. Hey, Charleston! is the story of the kind man who gave America "some rag" and so much more.

The kids from Mrs. Madoff''s classroom—"a charmed place" (Kirkus Reviews)—are preparing for a brand-new school year! The first day of school is full of new things. New is exciting! But it can also be scary. What will school be like this year? Get ready to share in the excitement of the first day of school with friends old and new!

On St. Parick''s Day, come dance a jig with the students in the classroom ALA Booklist calls "a lively place." Today in Mrs. Madoff''s class we all wore something green to school. Kate played the fiddle and we danced to Irish music. Then we learned about St. Patrick and many Irish tales and traditions. Now we know why there are no snakes in Ireland. Not every-one in school is all Irish like me, but we all can celebrate St. Patrick''s Day together!

The earth is getting hotter, and not just in the summer. The climate of your own hometown is changing. But why is this happening, and can we stop it? Read and find out!

Anne and Harlow Rockwell''s preschool classic still shines with a well-crafted simplicity that speaks to the desire young children feel to make something uniquely their own. Look inside this well-loved toolbox-there is so much to discover! It holds strong wrenches that turn, pliers that pinch, and sandpaper that smoothes. There are nails, screws, and a hammer. A toolbox is a treasure trove for curious young builders. When they''re not running to explore their own tool collections, children will be glued to this book, exploring the shapes, names, and useful jobs of common hand tools.

The rousing true tale of an American Revolution heroine. When her husband joined General Washington''s army, Molly Hays went with him. All through the winter at Valley Forge, Molly watched and listened. Then in July, in the battle at Monmouth, she would show how much she had learned. Molly could tell the day would be a scorcher, so she decided to bring water from a nearby spring to the fighting men. More than 50 British soldiers would die of heatstroke that day, but the American soldiers need only cry, Molly-pitcher! On one trip through the fighting field, she saw her husband get shot. She satisfied herself that he wouldn''t die from his wound, then took over his job-firing off the cannon! Molly epitomized the feisty, self-reliant spirit of the colonists who would soon win their battle for independence-and her story has rightly become a beloved legend of American history. From the Hardcover edition.

In spring and summer, honeybees gather nectar to make into honey. These fascinating insects live and work together in complicated societies, complete with queen bees and workers. Read and find out about honeybees and their creation -- honey!

Through Little Shark''s story, young readers will discover all sorts of fascinating shark facts, including how they eat, how they swim, what their skeletons are like, and more.

A boy visits the classroom where he will attend kindergarten the following fall and finds out what is in store for him.

Each season brings new surprises and discoveries. In the spring, leaves sprout, showers come, and it''s time for planting. Bees buzz and roses bloom as summer arrives. The fall turns pumpkins orange and leaves red and gold, and the wind grows cold. In wintertime, snow twirls down, and the flames in the fireplace leap and glow. Next year, it will all happen again, but it will be a little different, too. Everything is always growing and changing on a farm. Beloved author Anne Rockwell takes young readers through the year. Megan Halsey''s charming collage illustrations are the perfect complement to this delightful introduction to the wonders of the seasons.

Thanksgiving is almost Here! It''s time for Mrs. Madoff''s class to put on the Thanksgiving play. Charlie is the ship called the Mayflower, Sarah is a Pilgrim, and Eveline is Chief Massasoit. Everyone has a role to play and a reason to be thankful for the special things that made the first feast possible. The story of the first Thanksgiving is one we''ll never forget -- especially when we have friends and family to celebrate it with year after year.

Relates a boy''s excitement in buying the perfect pumpkin and then making the perfect jack-o-lantern.

A simple introduction to geography which explains such things as how the earth was shaped, how islands are born from volcanoes, and how gushing springs affect rivers.

Describes what happens to a bean as it is soaked, planted, watered, repotted, and eventually produces pods with more beans inside.

Just in time for summer vacation, here is Anne Rockwell''s reassuring account of the experience of air travel from a child''s perspective. "Readers are given a detailed account of what to expect, from the sound of the seat belt sign to the jet engines growing quiet as the plane lands".--"School Library Journal".

“An admirable introduction to myth...” – School Library Journal This Ready-to-Read book retells the legend of Romulus and Remus, beginning with the separation from their mother through the childhood as they were raised by wolves, and all the way up to their founding of the city of Rome. This is an exciting and simple read that is sure to keep young readers hooked while bringing them into the world of mythology.

It''s Halloween and there''s a party at school. This diverse group of preschoolers wears an equally varied set of costumes''from pirates to clowns to firefighters. Everyone''s ready for their tricks and treats''they could start the party if only their missing teacher would return. Where could Mrs. Madoff have gone, and who is the mysterious fairy godmother who keeps following them around? Anne Rockwell''s simple text and Lizzy Rockwell''s bright illustrations make this book a Halloween treat that is not to be missed! “Full of smiles and good cheer.”-- Kirkus Reviews “Children will find much to talk about and relate to their own holiday fun.” -- ALA Booklist Mrs. Madoff’s class is back for Halloween Day! Jessica is a superhero. Pablo is a pumpkin. And Evan is an astronaut. the ten students are just learning how to express themselves, and their Halloween costumes say a lot about who they are. Mother-and-daughter team Anne and Lizzy Rockwell capture a holiday every child loves in this early picture-book companion to Show & Tell Day. And be sure to look out in upcoming seasons for another exciting book about Mrs. Madoff’s class: Visitors’ Day.

Relates ten Greek myths featuring an assortment of fantastic creatures.

Using simple text and illustrations, this book introduces colorful cars of all kinds—and their uses—to young children. "Rockwell''s neat, brightly hued graphics are instantly recognizable, and little boys and girls will love this entertaining exploration of cars." —Publishers Weekly

This collection of fourteen essays presents a unique comparative analysis of agrarian change in the main rice-growing regions of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand. Its central theme is the interplay between agrarian relations and wider political-economic systems. By drawing on historical materials as well as intensive field research, the contributors show how local-level mechanisms of labor control and accumulation both reflect and alter larger political and economic forces. The key to understanding these connections lies in the structure and exercise of power at different levels of society. The approach developed in this volume grows out of a set of detailed local-level studies in regions that have experienced rapid technological change and commercialization. This comparative focus calls into question widely held views of technology and the growth of markets as the chief sources of agrarian change. By relating local-level processes to variations in the structure of state power, the history of agrarian resistance, and the particular forms of capitalist development, the authors suggest an alternative approach to the analysis of agrarian change.

"When red and yellow leaves are on the trees," a little girl goes with her parents to a farm where they pick apples and choose "the best pumpkin of them all." Back home, she helps to carve a grinning jack-o''-lantern face on the big orange pumpkin, which guards their doorstep on halloween night while her mother hands out shiny red apples and she and her father go trick-or-treating with the neighborhood ghosts and goblins. Bold, autumn-colored paintings and a simple but lively story capture a little girl''s joy and satisfaction as she shares in the excitement of the fall season.