New Releases by April Pulley Sayre

ALA Notable Book Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book Discover the fascinating lives of often-misunderstood vultures in this award-winning nonfiction picture book from celebrated author April Pulley Sayre and Caldecott Honor illustrator Steve Jenkins—now featuring updated end matter with more illuminating info about these amazing creatures. Turkey vultures are best known for being nature’s clean-up crew, but did you know they’re among the most graceful soaring birds on earth? Come spend a day in the life of a vulture and learn how they fly on thermals of warmed air, preen their feathers to stay squeaky clean, keep up their scavenger diet—and so much more. This updated edition features a new author’s note about the inspiration for the book, remastered color, and updated end matter with the latest scientific information about these marvelous and majestic creatures.

This sweet and spicy celebration of all things pickled is the perfect poetry picture book for foodies of all ages! Open this book to savor a riotous rainbow of pickles. Not just green cucumbers, but yellow peppers, pink cabbages, and purple plums! Pickles come in all shapes and sizes—and so do the words that describe them. Punchy poetry and zesty art tell the story of a diverse community drawn together by their love of pickles. From kosher dills to sweet chutney to tangy kimchi, Pickle Words describes them all in this global tour of pickled foods. Back matter includes the science of pickling, an easy recipe for refrigerator pickles, and a visual glossary of pickles from around the world.

Skyscraper babies grow up, up high. Close to their families. Close to the sky. This perfectly poetic story is an ode to family and nature in the big city. Squirrels and humans alike rush to get from place to place, all returning to their nooks and nests at the end of the day atop skyscrapers, amidst the stars. This gentle text is sure to lull little ones to sleep as well as instill the importance of coexisting with the natural world.

"We all go through awkward phases-even animals! Award-winning author and photographer April Pulley Sayre shines a light on nature''s relatable in-between moments. No longer underwater but not ready to fly, no longer a tadpole but not yet leaping to land. Animals, just like people, can find themselves stuck in some awkward in-between stages. How do we get out of the in-betweens? We just have to push on through! Come get a glimpse behind-the-scenes into nature''s in-between moments"--

"Take a sloth''s-eye view of the world in this beautiful and informative photographic picture book. Young readers will see where sloths live, what they eat, how they hide from predators, and much more. They''ll learn about the creatures that interact with and depend on sloths in the interconnected and fragile tropical forest ecosystem"--

"A photographic picture book that explores how fog is formed, how it clears away, why it feels cold, and more"--

Award-winning author April Pulley Sayre explores everyone''s favorite impertinent birds--seagulls--examining their intelligence, behavior, and surprisingly widespread habitat in this STEAM nonfiction picture book. Did you know that seagulls sometimes live far from the sea--near a lake or farm, or even in a desert? Or that they are omnivores, eating everything from fish and clams, to grasshoppers and mice, and even to blueberries? Or that they dance? These birds are full of surprises! Join April Pulley Sayre as she poetically describes the curious behaviors and wide-ranging habitats of one of the most graceful birds to soar in the sky.

From award-winning author and photographer April Pulley Sayre comes a stunning photographic look at the fascinating lives of frogs. A frog is a being. It is watching. It is seeing… Frogs are amazing creatures, and this book offers young readers an up-close and revealing peek at their everyday lives. Follow them from egg to tadpole to froglet crawling up onto land for the first time. Watch them resting on a favorite log, searching for food, and leaping through the air. And see how frogs are unique, individual beings with rich lives all their own in the wild.

Photographs and easy-to-read, rhyming text introduce how basic STEAM concepts can be found in the architecture, building, construction, and transportation of city life. Includes notes about what to look for while wandering through a city.

Asking questions may seem like it comes naturally, but it''s actually a learned social skill. How do questions and answers work? What makes a good question--and what makes a rude one? Who cares about questions? This helpful how-to guide teaches kids what a question is, when to ask one, and how to form one. Friendly tips and pointers ("Keep it short!" "Show interest!") help kids keep their questions appropriate and on point. Above all, the book encourages readers to keep on asking questions--the beginning of learning about the world.

The attributes of 28 different lizards are revealed in this STEM nonfiction picture book, while the story provides a subtle message encouraging children to be true to their own nature. The actions of 28 lizard species--the flying dragon that swoops through the air, the shingleback that sticks out its blue tongue to scare predators, the basilisk that can race across the surface of water--invite readers to act like a lizard themselves. The text by noted author April Pulley Sayre asks: "Can you run like a lizard? Sun like a lizard? Bob your head like a lizard?" Featuring brilliantly colorful, textured artwork by illustrator Stephanie Laberis, the book also includes extensive back matter with further information about the featured lizard species--their size, geographical range, why they perform the various actions introduced in the text--as well as details about lizards in general.

Discover the magic—and the science—behind spring flower blooms with this companion to the celebrated Raindrops Roll, Best in Snow, and Full of Fall. When spring arrives, flowers of all kinds sprout and grow buds and bloom. Sometimes, they bloom a few at a time. But other times, many will bloom at once in a colorful flower boom! This photographic exploration of flowers goes from the desert to the woodlands and beyond, celebrating their beautiful variety and the science behind these colorful displays.

Read Along or Enhanced eBook: In this latest book by acclaimed science writer April Pulley Sayre, young readers follow along as a mother humpback whale and her calf make their annual trek from the warm waters of the Caribbean to their summer feeding grounds off the coast of New England and back again. Within this extraordinary story of migration, Sayre provides information about how humpback whales breathe, sing, and how they got their name—a secondary layer of text expands upon the more intricate details. But aside from the basics about the humpback whale species, HERE COME THE HUMPBACKS! also delves into the dangers these whales face—from other mammals and sea life such as hungry orcas, to man-made threats like pollution and giant ships. Jamie Hogan’s stunning, rich pastel illustrations complement Sayre’s text beautifully, and make this book a great choice for a read-aloud in the classroom, library, or at home.

Acclaimed children’s book author and photographer April Pulley Sayre’s love letter to Earth is a stunning exploration of the beauty and complexity of the world around us. Remarkable photographs and a rich, layered text introduce concepts of science, nature, geography, biology, poetry, and community. April Pulley Sayre, award-winning photographer and acclaimed author of more than sixty-five books, introduces concepts of science, nature, and language arts through stunning photographs and a poetic text structured as a simple thank-you note. Touching on subjects from life cycles to weather, colors, shapes, and patterns, this is an ideal resource for science and language art curriculums and a terrific book for bedtime sharing. Thank You, Earth is a great choice for Earth Day celebrations, as well as family and group read-alouds. Includes backmatter with kid-friendly ideas for conservation projects information about the photographs, and additional resources.

Discover the magic—and the science—behind the migration of warblers with this stunning photographic picture book from the award-winning author and photographer of Raindrops Roll, Best in Snow, and Full of Fall. The migrating warblers have arrived, to feed and preen, to refuel and rest before continuing on their amazing journey of thousands of miles. This photographic picture book captures in lush detail the story of these tiny, colorful, and diverse birds. April Pulley Sayre’s vibrant photography has been called “striking” and “wonderful in every way” by Kirkus Reviews, and Warbler Wave is just that.

Discover the magic—and the science—behind fall leaves with this companion to the celebrated Raindrops Roll and Best in Snow. With gorgeous photo illustrations, award-winning author April Pulley Sayre explores the transformation trees undergo in fall. The book takes readers through the leaves’ initial change from green to red, yellow, and orange, the shedding of the leaves, and the leaves crumbling as winter approaches. Extensive back matter explains the science behind this process to the youngest of budding scientists.

Discover the wonderful world of snow with this companion to the celebrated Raindrops Roll! With gorgeous photo illustrations, award-winning author April Pulley Sayre sheds sparkly new light on the wonders of snow. From the beauty of snow blanketing the forest and falling on animals’ fur and feathers to the fascinating winter water cycle, this nonfiction picture book celebrates snowfall and the amazing science behind it.

"This is a S-L-O-W book. Do not read it while surfing, water skiing, or running to escape giant weasels..." April Pulley Sayre''s wry, quirky storytelling tone shines from the warning on the first page right through to the glossary at the end. In between, readers will explore an astounding variety of information about all things slow—in nature, geology, art, outer space, etc. Throughout, The SLOWEST Book EVER playfully encourages readers to slow down and savor everything. As Sayre shows: "If you think slowly enough, the entire world is amazing." This innovative nonfiction work is a treasure trove of information that begs for multiple readings.

Presented principally in rhyming verse, finishing with woodpecker information.

Discover the wonder of water in this refreshingly fun and fascinating exploration of rain, raindrops, and the water cycle from the creator of Rah, Rah, Radishes! and Go, Go Grapes! Raindrops drop. They plop. They patter. They spatter. And in the process, they make the whole world feel fresh and new and clean. In this gorgeously photo-illustrated nonfiction picture book, celebrated author April Pulley Sayre sheds new light on the wonders of rain, from the beauty of a raindrop balanced on a leaf to the amazing, never-ending water cycle that keeps our planet in perfect ecological balance.

Follows a bear from the time she emerges from her den in April after four months without food, through months of eating fish, ants, and huckleberries, to midwinter when the arrival of two cubs interrupts her long winter''s rest. Includes facts about brown (grizzly) bears of the Yellowstone National Park/Glacier National Park region.

Demonstrates how healthy eating can be both fun and appetizing, while sharing engaging facts about seeds and providing an additional section on how to help nut-sensitive friends stay safe.

Are you feeling hoppy? Hop hop hop. Like a rabbit? Or a kangaroo? Or a frog? If the answer is yes, this book will make you happy. If the answer is no, this book will make you hoppy and happy!

Where in the world can you see the world''s largest rodents, galloping around in herds? Where can you find the world''s largest river or the highest waterfall? The continent of South America!

Where in the world can you find the world''s largest flower? Where can you ride a camel to see the oldest and deepest lake in the world? Where can you climb to the highest peak on Earth? The continent of Asia!

Where in the world can you take a dip in a volcanically heated pool, while snow is on the ground around you? Where can you find the world''s largest country? Where can you sail past ancient ruins? The continent of Europe!

A fascinating look at the dangers sea turtles face and the role that humans have in helping with wildlife and ocean conservation. In this re-illustrated edition of the previously published text, author April Pulley Sayre introduces readers to the life of a sea turtle. From the tiny hatchlings being born on the shores of Florida to the turtles making their way through the sea to their journey back to lay eggs of their own years later, the reader sees the dangers that turtles must face and how humans can help. Backmatter includes Information on sea turtle conservation efforts and the seven species of sea turtles. A great introduction to ocean life cycles as well as a perfect resource for building awareness about environmental and nature conservation in and outside of the classroom.

Two Canada geese start a family.

In this version of the classic lullaby, a boy tries to settle his puppy down to sleep with a lullaby after a day of splashing in the creek, fetching sticks, and chasing sheep.

An introduction to bioacoustics that gives young readers “a deeper understanding of what has been, and has yet to be, learned about animal communication” (Kirkus Reviews). Can whales communicate across miles of vast ocean? Can elephants talk to one another with sounds we cannot hear? These are the kinds of questions that drive the work of acoustic biologists. Follow three creative scientists—Christopher W. Clark, Katy Payne, and Bill Evans—as they research why and how animals communicate. Through remarkable photographs and stories about all sorts of animals, this book celebrates the challenges of lab work and fieldwork and the thrill of discovery. “This fascinating title shows the thrill of scientific discovery up close. Sayre profiles three bioacousticians—scientists who study the sounds made by living things, communication that is often outside the range of human hearing . . . this book is part of the consistently excellent Scientists in the Field series; it provides readers with an inspiring introduction to a little-discussed field and to biology in general.”—Booklist “Each of the profiles is filled with absorbing scientific information while also providing insights into the personalities involved in this work—adventurers who work in interesting field locales, sometimes with limited funding, to do what they love.”—Horn Book “Sayre offers good descriptions of work with the various species and its import.”—The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books