New Releases by Jacqueline Briggs Martin

This fifth title of author Jacqueline Briggs Martin''s award-winning Food Heroes series features Farmer Eva Sommaripa, who founded Eva''s Garden in South Dartmouth, Massachusetts, a place "so close to the ocean, she can smell the sea, so close to woods she can talk to trees." More than 50 years later, she has grown a big green garden life of friends and neighbors, creatures that crawl, fly, and slither, even microbes that create rich soil in the brown underground. One of the first picture books to focus on a woman farmer, this is also a fascinating story connecting farming with nature, ecology, and science. Included is an Afterword from Eva, Author''s Note, Back Matter and Resource page.

In this picture book biography of the "Fermentation Revivalist," the award-winning authors of Chef Roy Choi and the Street Food Remix combine the themes of ecology, community-building, and resilience. They explore the beginnings of his love of fermented food from New York City kid through adult life in a queer community in the mountains of Tennessee. Sandor believes that making fermented foods connects ALL of us on planet Earth—people, plants, and the Tiny Wild—and his quotes, author''s note, and recipe are all part of this delicious and inspiring presentation.

Describes the L.A. street cook''s life, including working in his family''s restaurant as a child, figuring out what he wanted to do with his life, and his success with his food truck and restaurant.

Begin with a Bee and its story of the life of one queen bee, a rusty-patched bumblebee, teaches us not only about bees but also about our own responsibilities in the natural world By looking closely at the life cycle of one bee, Begin with a Bee helps readers of all ages understand and appreciate the contributions and significance of all bees. The life cycle of the rusty-patched bumblebee is a tale of wonder, the adventure of one queen bee who carries an entire colony of bees inside her tiny body. Her story begins in the spring when she emerges from a hole in the ground to search for pollen. She finds a nest, "underground best," lays a few eggs, and seals them in pollen. All summer this single queen lays more eggs, and more worker bees hatch. They gather pollen and maintain the colony until next year''s queen hatches in the fall. The queen bee''s life unfolds through Claudia McGehee''s captivating illustrations. The authors--three beloved and prolific writers of award-winning children''s books--impart the poetry and basic science of the rusty-patched bumblebee, the first bee to appear on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Endangered Species list. Extensive commentary at the end of the book offers suggestions for being a friend to bees as well as a good citizen of the natural world. It also introduces the native plants that bumblebees need for survival. Begin with a Bee might inspire a child (or any of us) to seek out, identify, even cultivate these essential flowers--and participate in the next chapter in the story of all bumblebees.

In this Caldecott Medal–winning picture book, the true story of Wilson Bentley and his singular fascination with snowflakes is rendered in rich prose and gorgeous artwork, perfect for the holidays, snow days, and everyday. Wilson Bentley was always fascinated by snow. In childhood and adulthood, he saw each tiny crystal of a snowflake as a little miracle and wanted to understand them. His parents supported his curiosity and saved until they could give him his own camera and microscope. At the time, his enthusiasm was misunderstood. But with patience and determination, Wilson catalogued hundreds of snowflake photographs, gave slideshows of his findings and, when he was 66, published a book of his photos. His work became the basis for all we know about beautiful, unique snowflakes today. This biographical tribute to a very special farmer is the perfect holiday gift or snow day read.

An irresistible read-aloud picture book, in which a little odd-duck-out discovers her unique strengths When these ducks go to the pond, it is Bim, Bam, Bop . . . and Oona, always last. They’re all ducks, but Bim, Bam, and Bop are runners, and Oona’s a waddler. “Last is a blot on my life,” she says to her frog friend, Roy. “I don’t feel as big as a duck should feel.” But she’s good with gizmos, Roy reminds her. So Oona tinkers with things, scraps, and strings, and eventually creates just the right gadget to get her to the pond first. Spunky Oona will inspire and delight all who see her final triumphant creation. With its fun read-aloud words (from Brrrrrring to OOO-hoolie-hoo!), her story is wonderful to hear. Its charming illustrations invite readers to imagine our own new gizmos, and her victory reminds us to look for our own special gifts. A tale about being true to yourself, building confidence, and finding friendship, Bim, Bam, Bop . . . and Oona is sure to bring smiles to readers and listeners of all ages.

Describes the L.A. street cook''s life, including working in his family''s restaurant as a child, figuring out what he wanted to do with his life, and his success with his food truck and restaurant.

A former basketball star, Farmer Will Allen is an innovator, educator, and community builder. When he looked at an abandoned city lot he saw a huge table, big enough to feed the whole world. This is the inspiring story of his determination to bring good food to every table.

Come along with Chef Alice Waters on a wonderful trip to Delicious! She learned as a child, and wants all children to share with her, the joy of tasting real food that begins not in the kitchen, but in the fields with good soil and caring farmers. This lively presentation hronicles Aliceu0092s passion, from her childhood to her travels to France, and back home to establish the landmark restaurant Chez Panisse and the Edible Schoolyard project. With an Afterword read by Alice Waters that offers children tips on how to enjoy good food, and a Note read by the author, this is a delightful and inspiring journey for kids of all ages!

Once upon a time a creek burbled up and tumbled across a prairie valley. It was filled with insects and brook trout that ate them, frogs that chirruped and birds watching for bugs and fish. This is a true story about a man named Mike who went looking for that creek long after it was buried under fields of corn. It is the story of how a creek can be brought back to life, and with it a whole world of nature. In the words of award-winning author Jacqueline Briggs Martin and the enchanting illustrations by Claudia McGehee, this heartening tale of an ecosystem restored in the Driftless Area of northeast Iowa unfolds in a way that will charm and inform young readers who are drawn to a good mystery, the wonders of nature—and, of course, big earth-moving machines.

Text and illustrations copyright 1992; introduction copyright 2003.

The true gripping story of how scientist George Schaller and four mountain men set out to save the chiru (antelope-like creatures who cannot survive captivity and who live on the high plains of Tibet) from near extinction.

When people danced to Joe Beebee’s music they forgot about bad knees, tight shoes, backaches, blisters, and beetles . . . They forgot sickness, sadness, and sin. Joe Beebee’s music, folks say, will take you up so high, your problems look small enough to stomp on. But, worries a plain brown hen, can it make a quiet rooster sing? Can it save her best friend from becoming Quiet Rooster Stew? Will Joe Beebee even play for chickens? With art as fun as waltzing on the moon and with words as lively as a fiddle, this book captures the power of music to heal and of friendship to endure.

Granny’s heart is set to see her new grandbaby, but how can she ford a fast river, climb a steep mountain, and cross a wide desert? With a dose of determination, a well-stocked banjo case, and the charm of a simple bluegrass song—that’s how! Part tall tale, part lullaby, this rhythmic story, illustrated with warm pastoral paintings, celebrates the meeting of grandmothers and grandbabies everywhere.

Radiant, elegantly textured illustrations capture the very heart of this unusual story about a divining rod, a beloved pig, and a quiet granddaughter with gifts of her own to uncover. Together, word and image reveal that there is indeed much more to this world than what we see.

In 1916 on an island in Lake Superior, young Carl builds himself a boat by bartering with the other islanders for parts and labor, in a touching story of hope and help.

This is the dramatic story of the Canadian Arctic Expedition that set off in 1913 to explore the high north. Full-color illustrations.

A biography of a self-taught scientist who photographed thousands of individual snowflakes in order to study their unique formations.

Annie Livemore, her cat, and two of her friends collect acorns, carefully nurture them until they are big enough to be planted in the ground, and then grow old with all the oak trees they have planted. Includes instructions on growing oak trees from acorns.

Mountain man Washburn insists on looking on the bright side of things, even as disaster after disaster befalls him.

When two people pass out seeds and gardening supplies, neighbors who claim to have no interest in gardening are transformed into a community of gardeners. Includes information on gardening and related topics.

A grumpy fisherman vows to eat his socks if he can''t catch Oscar, the craftiest bait-stealing catfish in the river.

Suffering from nightmares after her dog is killed in a fire, a young girl in eighteenth-century Maine goes to live with her grandparents.

A loon is rescued from an oil spill, cleaned, and cared for before being returned to the wild. Includes information on cleaning birds.

Mountain man Washburn insists on looking on the bright side of things, even as disaster after disaster befalls him.

When Bizzy loses the quilt he needs to go to sleep, Uncle Ezra and the orchard mice try to make him a new one.

Shy Bizzy does not look forward to his stay with big, loud Moosemouse when Uncle Ezra goes away but the visit does not turn out as expected.