Best Selling Books by Jane Yolen

“This collection is Jane Yolen at her best. This is magic.”—Patricia C. Wrede, author of the Enchanted Forest Chronicles Fantasy icon Jane Yolen (The Devil’s Arithmetic, Briar Rose, Sister Emily’s Lightship) is adored by generations of readers of all ages. Now she triumphantly returns with this inspired gathering of fractured fairy tales and legends. Yolen breaks open the classics to reveal their crystalline secrets: a philosophical bridge that misses its troll, a spinner of straw as a falsely accused moneylender, the villainous wolf adjusting poorly to retirement. Each of these offerings features a new author note and original poem, illuminating tales that are old, new, and brilliantly refined.

From Africa, Burma, and Czechoslovakia to Turkey, Vietnam, and Wales here are more than 150 of the world''s best-loved folktales from more than forty countries and cultures. These tales of wonder and transformation, of heroes and heroines, of love lost and won, of ogres and trolls, stories both jocular and cautionary and legends of pure enchantment will delight readers and storytellers of all ages. With black-and-white drawings throughout Part of the Pantheon Fairy Tale and Folklore Library

In Poland in the 1940s, twins Chaim and Gittel rely on each other to endure life in a ghetto, escape through forests, and the horrors of a concentration camp.

Where do monsters go to school? Monster Academy! And anything can happen when your teacher is Miss Mummy. It''s not like any other school, but if you''re a little monster, you''ll fit right in! Come along with Principal Frank N. Stein into a bright, energetic classroom where the class pet is a big purple boa constrictor, recess is in a swamp, and class bats help build a Creepy Castle in the Monster Maker''s Lab. When Tornado Jo, a new student, roars into class, a storm is brewing. Who could ever guess that her new best friend will be a vampire, and she''ll help him find his missing fang? Award-winning writer Jane Yolen teams up with her daughter, Heidi, to present colorful monster children who have familiar human issues such as making friends and learning to help others. In a final twist, Tornado Jo -- the worst behaved student -- is revealed to be an out-of-control human, not a monster after all. Oh, no! Monsters are more afraid of humans than we are of them! Everybody runs! Laugh-aloud humor is enhanced by John McKinley''s highly imaginative illustrations loaded with fun and hidden jokes tucked into the art. An irresistible romp from start to finish!

These princesses dig in the dirt, kick soccer balls, and splash in muddy puddles -- all in their sparkly crowns!

Jane Yolen poetically reminds young readers that a simple box can be a child''s most imaginative plaything as artist Chris Sheban illustrates its myriad and magical uses. Reviews -Booklist, November 2021 “A Box! A box is a wonder indeed. The only such magic that you’ll ever need.” This book offers gentle suggestions for what to do with a cardboard box, from the practical to the fantastical and from solitary to social.”

Explains how little dinosaurs should behave during a typical school day.

DIVDIVDIVUnder the fountain in Washington Square Park, there lives an incompetent wizard . . . /divDIV David has just moved to New York City from Connecticut, and he’s a bit lonely. He hasn’t made any friends yet, and the city is so big. But one Saturday afternoon in Washington Square Park, David and his dog, D. Dog, meet a girl named Leilah. Leilah tells David that there’s a wizard in the park—a wizard who lives under the Washington Square fountain. At first, David thinks Leilah is just making things up—until he encounters the real live wizard! Unfortunately, the wizard’s spells work at the most inconvenient times, and he accidentally turns David’s dog into a marble statue. Before the wizard can change D. Dog back, a sneaky antiques dealer grabs the statue and races uptown to sell it. Can David’s new friends help him get D. Dog back?/divDIV /divDIVThis ebook features a personal history by Jane Yolen including rare images from the author’s personal collection, as well as a note from the author about the making of the book./div/div/div

The unicorns flee from the noise, violence, and destruction of civilization and find refuge in the sea.

DIVDIVDIVAll magic has consequences/divDIV Long ago, the seawitch Dread Mary fell in love with a hard-hearted prince and gave him the Magic Three of Solatia: three silver buttons that could fulfill any wish—but at a price. Centuries later, the buttons belong to Sianna of the Song, a button maker’s daughter and heir to all of Dread Mary’s magic secrets. But the cruel King Blaggard of Solatia seeks to wed the lovely Sianna and steal her power. Sianna will need her wits, her magic, and the silver buttons to save herself and Solatia from the evil Blaggard . . . but what will it cost her?/divDIV /divDIVThis ebook features a personal history by Jane Yolen including rare images from the author’s personal collection, as well as a note from the author about the making of the book./div/div/div

From critically acclaimed and prolific author Jane Yolen comes a colorful Level 1 Ready-to-Read story all about a fish with pre-test jitters! There is a test at school today, and the fish’s tummy is whirling. Just like two currents, angry and swirling! To make matters worse, his regular teacher has been replaced by a mean-looking substitute teacher. What will happen with the test now? Beginning readers can follow along as the fish overcomes his nerves!

Merlin, now twelve years old, begins to come into his magic while being held captive by a band of wild folk.

Get up close and personal with alligators in all their tooth-filled glory in this collection of poems by New York Times bestselling author Jane Yolen. Rhymes and rhythms reflect on how alligators hunt, keep warm, and care for young. Stunning, large-scale photographs zoom in on these mighty hunters, while fun fact boxes accompany the poetry, providing details that are sure to pique young readers'' curiosity.

DIVDIVAward-winning author Jane Yolen transports readers to new realms of dragons, sprites, and rogues in twenty-seven magical stories and poems/divDIV “That’s what dragons are for, after all, to call forth heroes.”/divDIV /divDIVJane Yolen enchants and enthralls with an exquisite collection of short fiction and poetry brimming with sympathetic monsters, unlikely heroes, and all manner of magical amazements. Exploring the depths of human love, pain, and folly in these unforgettable tales, Yolen gives life to a cast of unforgettable characters: a selfless young woman whose sadness brings forth beautiful gifts, a deluded musician whose song spectacularly fails to soothe a savage beast, and an alien salvage crew mining gems from the mind of a dying poet. Here be dragons, outlaws, kings, mermen, and dream weavers, sprung from the unparalleled imagination of one of the world’s foremost fantasists./divDIV /divDIVThis ebook features a personal history by Jane Yolen including rare images from the author’s personal collection, as well as a note from the author about the making of the book. /div/div

Parents get their dinosaurs to bed.

Two rambunctious monsters creep, gurgle, crawl, and tumble before falling asleep.

Mary Louise gradually gets to know and love her elderly neighbor lady who tells wonderful stories as she walks around the block of her Virginia home.

Magic is everywhere you turn, and for visiting American teens Jennifer and Peter, that can really complicate a summer vacation.

What were all those fairy-tale characters thinking? Jane Yolen and Rebecca Kai Dotlich answer this question in paired poems, with sometimes startling results. The Princess claims all those mattresses kept her awake—not a silly pea—while the poor pea complains that the princess snores. One Snow White begs the witch to settle by the bay and throw that mirror away. Another boldly tells the mirror she "won''t be guided by a glass that''s so one-sided." Grumbles from the Forest is a bewitching brew of voices—grumbling, pleading, bragging, reminiscing, confiding—that bubbles with magic and wonder. The spectacular paintings that tie the poems together are full of surprise and intrigue. This stunning collection includes end notes that briefly describe the tales and their history and an introduction that invites readers to imagine their own poems from unusual perspectives.

All the fairies are excited to be invited to the King''s ball, except for one young fairy whose only party dress is in tatters.

Becca refuses to try any news foods, until her family persuades her that Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is a time to try something new. While dad suggests shaving off his mustache for a new look, and mom thinks she''ll take up knitting as a new project, Becca decides she''s ready to try something new, too!

From acclaimed, prolific author Jane Yolen comes a Level 1 Ready-to-Read story bursting with all the excitement and a little bit of the nervousness that color a fish’s first day at a new school. I look around. What do I see? Another fish who’s just like me! A little scared. A little new. All alone and feeling blue. Starting at a new school is never easy, but it can also be really exciting. Beginning readers can follow along as one intrepid little fish goes through the many emotions associated with a new school experience!

Dragons are trained to fight to the death, and two determined teens help free them in this spellbinding saga. Training a dragon to be a fighting champion is the only way to freedom for fifteen-year-old Jakkin.

Halva is traveling with her trained bear to visit the King of Denmark when they stop for the night at a cottage where, they learn, a pack of trolls is about to make its annual Christmas Eve visit, causing trouble and making a big mess. Includes author''s note about the story''s origins.

Cuddle up and share this feel-good book from the creators of How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?

Experience a magical story of ele-friendship and one disappearing elephant''s ele-fate. Discover the unlikely—and entirely unforgettable—friendship between Flora, an elephant calf stolen from her African home, and David, the circus impresario and magician who adopts, trains, and ultimately liberates her, in this tale freely inspired by actual events. With a minimum of language—only 22 words in all—but a maximum of inventive ele-fantabulous wordplay, Jane Yolen deftly reimagines this initially tentative but ultimately unconditional relationship between a man and an elephant. Brett Helquist not only lovingly illuminates the tale with all the excitement and tension, mystery and color of a vintage circus poster but also fully captures the subtle range of emotions of a remarkable and enduring ele-friendship. FRIENDSHIP TALE: There''s endless fascination with the deep bond of friendship that can grow between wild animals and humans. This spectacular narrative is based on the true story of Flora the elephant, which can be read in the back of the book. READ-TOGETHER WHIMSY AND WIT: A simple text in which every word starts with ELE- makes this a great read-aloud and guessing game that will have children completing the whimsical text. EVERYONE LOVES ELEPHANTS: From Babar to Elmer, elephants have been icons of children''s literature and continue to be one of the most popular animals featured in contemporary children''s books. This book is perfect for Elephant-fans of all ages! Perfect for: • Lovers of animal friendship stories • Grandparents • Parents • The myriad fans of Jane Yolen • Teachers and educators • Librarians

Aliera Carstairs just doesn''t fit in. She''s always front and center at the fencing studio, but at school she''s invisible. And she''s fine with that . . . until Avery Castle walks into her first period biology class.

The biblical story of baby Moses as told by his big sister. Giving her baby brother a kiss, brave little Miriam places Moses''s basket into the river. With one quick push, she sends him into the water, hoping her wish will come true and her brother will be saved from Pharaoh''s orders. But will Pharaoh''s daughter arrive in time to rescue him?

In this sequel to "Sister Light, Sister Dark," the saga of Jenna, thrice prophesied White Queen, and her dark sister, Skada, continues as they cross a battle-torn land to save their true-born king.

Describes how a little dinosaur learn to read, using the toys and other things around him.

Before he forms the Argonauts and searches for the Golden Fleece, Jason learns a secret that sends him and five companions on a perilous journey to save their kingdom.

Elsie is a city girl. She loves the noise of the cobbled streets of Boston. But when her mother dies and her father moves them to the faraway prairies of Nebraska, Elsie hears only the silence, and she feels alone in the wide sea of grass. Her only comfort is her canary, Timmy Tune. But when Timmy flies out the window, Elsie is forced to run after him, into the tall grass of the prairie, where she''s finally able to hear the voice of the prairie-beautiful and noisy- and she begins to feel at home. Jane Yolen and David Small create a remarkable, poetic, vividly rendered book about finding one''s place in the world.

From critically acclaimed and prolific author Jane Yolen comes a hilarious Level 2 Ready-to-Read. Get ready for the Interrupting Cow to meet the Chicken Crossing the Road! Why did the chicken cross the road? Was it to get to the other side...or was there more to the story? Read this hilarious book and see what happens when the Interrupting Cow meets the famous Chicken Crossing the Road!

From award-winning and beloved author Jane Yolen, this delightful picture book is a funny and endearing field guide to the unique world of mermaids. Would you like to spot a mermaid? If so, you will need a few supplies and a great deal of patience. As we learn in these informative illustrated pages, mermaids are very shy and do not make friends easily. But if you find a place near the water, sit very still, and are willing to share your Goldfish crackers, you just might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of one. And who knows . . . there may even be a mermaid, somewhere, hoping to catch a glimpse of you, too! Mermaid fans and science-minded young readers alike will love the step-by-step guidance in How to Spot a Mermaid, a clever how-to book that celebrates the magic in the world around us and helps us to let our imaginations run wild and swim the line between reality and fiction. FOR IMAGINATIVE EXPLORERS: Binoculars, map, pad, and pen—check. The main character who leads the way on this mermaid search is an engaged young scientist doing exciting fieldwork. She is at the ready for real-world observational science with all the tools she needs—including a sense of curiosity! ENVIRONMENTAL BOOK FOR KIDS: Preservation of our wilderness—and our waterways in particular—is essential, and this book makes a great, upbeat starting point for discussions of the importance and wonder of our world''s natural habitats and ecosystems. GORGEOUS UNDERWATER WORLD: This captivating marine life book illuminates the amazing biodiversity and wonder of our world''s waterways by telling the story of one curious kid''s search for an ever-elusive mermaid. Perfect for: Young readers who love mermaid tales and nature books Parents and grandparents looking for books that spark imagination and curiosity Educators looking for books that model fieldwork, observational science, and STEM themes in a fun way Fans of Jane Yolen books, including the How Do Dinosaurs series, Owl Moon, and What To Do With a Box Fans of books illustrated by Sally Deng, including Warrior Princess: The Story of Khutulun and Jella Lepman and Her Library of Dreams Readers who love How to Catch a Mermaid, The World of Emily Windsnap, and The Little Mermaid Stories

Illustrations and rhyming text show dinosaurs learning the names of all the colors of the rainbow.

From New York Times bestselling author Jane Yolen comes a lilting lullaby from the bottom of the sea. Hush, foam rocker, sleep, wave breaker. Close your eyes and dream, tide breaker. A hush-filled bedtime rhyme for parents to share with their newborns, Merbaby’s Lullaby is an underwater cradlesong written by Jane Yolen and illustrated by Elizabeth O. Dulemba. Join a mermaid as she helps her merbaby to sleep, rocking with the gentle waves, singing with the whispering whales, and settling in with sea stars lighting the way to sweet dreams.

All but ignored by her family, Princess Djeow Seow spends most of the day playing with her kite. When her father, the Emperor, is imprisoned in a high tower, Princess saves the day by flying her kite up the tower to save him.

Commander Toad leads the lean green space machine "Star Wars" to fine new worlds but runs into trouble when he sets course for home.