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.

Beloved author Anne Rockwell celebrates animals of all kinds with a gorgeous new picture book about a child’s first visit to the zoo! A young boy and his family visit the zoo for the very first time. From gorillas to lions, polar bears to parrots, Anne Rockwell and her daughter, artist Lizzy Rockwell, celebrate a day he will never forget. With simple, lyrical text and bright illustrations that jump off the page, Zoo Day brings the joys of visiting the zoo vividly 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.

"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 and something for everyone"--Provided by publisher.

Originally published: New York: Macmillan, 1989.

Let the snowflakes fall! Enjoy a cold-weather adventure in this updated classic from the author of Apples and Pumpkins. Snow falls and falls all through the night. And when morning comes, it’s time for fun! Watch the snowplows sweep the streets. Shovel walkways! Build a snowman! Sled! Ski! There are so many wonderful things to do in this magical snow-covered world! This updated edition of a wintry favorite includes new jacket art from Lizzy Rockwell and refreshed interior art and design.

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.

A fascinating and accurate look at different kinds of trucks and what they do, Anne Rockwell''s simplified text and detailed illustrations will captivate readers as her cast of cats move, tow, and carry different items throughout the city. Truck lovers will be delighted to recognize and identify the familiar vehicles they see in their own neighborhoods every day.

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.

They''re big. They''re bright. They''re powerful. Lifting, pushing, digging, dumping - big wheels get the tough jobs done. Available for the first time as a board book, Big Wheels, is sure to become a favorite in its durable new format - ready to stand up to the demanding attention of the youngest truckers on the road.

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!

A mother and child fill a cart at the supermarket with everything from grapes to paper towels, finishing off with some very special items.

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!

Allan, who loves trains and learns all that he can about them, has a wonderful time when he finally takes his first train ride.

Describes different types of clouds and how to identify them.

From the duo who created the classroom called "a charmed place" comes a patriotic primer for picture-book readers. Today at school we celebrated Presidents'' Day by putting on a play. Mrs. Madoff said I could be George Washington because his birthday is the same as mine. Charlie was Abraham Lincoln because he''s the tallest kid in our class. Everyone else had very important parts to play, too. At the end of the day we voted for class president, and you''ll never guess who won!

When Digger, a backhoe construction machine, is dropped off in a vacant lot, a little boy could not be more excited. He watches as Digger and the construction workers work hard and slowly transform the empty lot into a wonderful new community centre. Now the boy and his friends can make music, dance, and plant flowers. And what better way to thank Digger than by painting a picture of him on the wall of the new community centre!

Scientists consider alligators a "keystone species"—the most important animal in their habitat. Without the alligator, many animals dependent on the gator would become extinct. Read and find out about how alligators are much more than big jaws and sharp teeth!

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!

Taught survival skills by his mother, a bear cub grows up in the forest with everything he needs to live, but when the people tear down the trees and force him to search garbage cans for food, the bear wonders how long it will be before he finds himself in trouble by the people who live nearby.

While tucking a child into bed, a parent explains the colors and sounds that night brings.

Buzzing from flower to flower, honeybees are busy gathering nectar and pollen. The nectar will be made into honey, and the pollen will feed their queen bee and her offspring back in the hive. Like people, bees form societies with leaders -- the queen -- and workers, and like people, their survival depends on every bee doing its part. Read and find out about bees, honey, and life in the hive.

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.

Mrs. Madoff's class is counting pennies -- one for every day of school. When they get to 10 pennies, they know they've been going to school for 10 days. What will happen when they get to 100? How will they celebrate Day 100, and what will they do with their 100 pennies?

Chip starts taking karate lessons to be like the hero of his favorite television show, but his impatience to earn a belt gets in the way of learning the true spirit of karate.

The students in Mrs. Madoff's class share how they will celebrate Mother's Day with their families.

A class observes the various stages caterpillars go through to become butterflies.

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.