Most Popular Books by Jill Esbaum

Examines the characteristics and changes that occur in nature during the spring season with text and photographs of baby animals.

This charming picture book, the latest in National Geographic''s popular Picture the Seasons series, is a vibrant celebration of winter traditions. Full color.

Tom is on the hunt for a tasty morning treat when he spies a flip-flapping, fluttery bird just there for the taking. Hello, breakfast! But little Tweet with his big black button eyes is too skinny to eat. Tom is determined to not get involved, but he can''t just leave Tweet there . . . frightened, unhappy, alone. Consarn it! It''s just Tom''s luck to get stuck with a Tweet!

Secure your bib, open wide, and get ready to unpack the properties of matter. Chemistry is all around us—starting with Baby’s high chair . . . Are you hungry? . . . Let’s experiment. Why wait for college when you can teach your toddler advanced science right now? After sterilizing your workstation, prepare to explore solids, which can be combined with liquids to form an optimal mixture. Now test your mixture. Eureka! Isn’t feeding time a total . . . gas? In a bright, graphic board book loaded with dry humor and comic timing, photos of happy, outrageously messy toddlers (and exhausted parents) complement a tongue-in-cheek running dialogue, interspersed with factual asides that define basic concepts of chemistry. So rest assured, with a high chair tray as a lab bench, your precocious little one can master chemistry multiple times a day!

Discusses how pumpkins grow, the different varieties of pumpkins, and the many ways people use them.

A factual (and funny) introduction to the parrotfish and its incredible somewhat-squirmy superpower, from the team that brought you Stinkbird Has a Superpower. Just wait till you hear what a parrotfish can do! You may know they live in warm tropical waters, have an interesting trick for hiding from predators, and have crazy-incredible teeth. But they also do something that no other fish can do—and Parrotfish is eager to tell you all about it. There’s just one problem—nosy Hammerhead Shark keeps interrupting to talk about himself. But even Hammerhead gets intrigued and bellows, “WHAT. IS. YOUR. SUPERPOWER!!” Want to know what it is? Read this book! Reader beware: you may never look at a day at the beach the same way again.

Grab a play mat, blocks, and your favorite baby engineer. It''s time to build something--and see science at work! Oh, my. You''ve gathered lots of materials. What will you build? With blocks at the ready, watch as your baby uses their hands to bear weight and the couch for support while experimenting with setting up a sturdy base, stacking a tower, spanning a space with an arch--and applying force, of course. Bash! Smash! Crash! Babies and toddlers are naturally curious explorers--now help them discover that science is fun! In this bright, graphic board book, photos of busy little ones offset a lively running dialogue sprinkled with factual asides that define basic engineering terms.

A factual (and funny) introduction to the polecat and its awesome, action-packed superpower, from the team that brought you Parrotfish Has a Superpower. The polecat has a super cool superpower you’d probably never guess. Why? Well, first, he’s usually only awake when the rest of us are sleeping! Second, he is NOT a baby skunk, despite what everyone says, so he can do more than spray his predators. And third, his superpower isn’t something he normally shows to friends. But today he’s happy to show you (and one nervous porcupine) what it is! After we get to know him of course. Will you be able to guess the superpower? Read this book to find out!

Splish, splash! Prepare to experience the forces of physics at work. It’s time for Baby’s bath . . . Ooh! We made a waterfall . . . Invite your tubby-time friends to join in. Even Einstein started somewhere, so who’s to say your little genius-to-be won’t find inspiration in the bath? Gather up your gear: floating toys, fluffy towels, warm tub, favorite little lab partner (may take multiple attempts). Place tiny tot in the tub (note water displacement), and proceed to explore buoyancy, gravity, and evaporation. Now it’s time to make waves and see that third law of motion in action. Go, baby, go! Wait, hold on . . . Stop, baby, stop! In a bright, graphic board book leavened with dry humor, photos of happy tykes and a tongue-in-cheek running dialogue are sprinkled with factual asides that define basic concepts of physics. So don your protective goggles—with a bathtub as a lab bench, your precocious little one can master physics every day!

From the illustrator of Little Pea comes a gleeful, goofy, gorgeous celebration of being new, curious, and ready to take on the world--perfect for fans of Duck and Goose A baby chick bursts from his egg and into the world with hilarious enthusiasm, awe, and I-can''t-help-myself energy, capturing babies'' delight in new discovery and parents'' joy in this amazing new person. Rompy, rhyming text evokes the zeal of a toddler who''s eager for everything. And Jen Corace''s gorgeous artwork is alive with critters and curiosities and surprises--the biggest of which? The hatching of a new baby sister, to the absolute delight of her now "expert" big brother! Breathless, breathtaking, and downright funny, this story is sure to find fans in new moms, toddlers, and big brothers and sisters too.

On a hot day, two unlikely dinosaur friends find a dark, cool cave, but who''s brave enough to lead the way in?

Stanza the dog and his two rotten brothers terrorize the streets by day, but at night Stanza secretly writes poetry.

Ready to roll with your little ecologist? Head to the park to engage all the senses and discover new things--living things! Shh. If we''re really quiet, what can we hear? Did you know your nearby park is its own ecosystem? There, your baby can smell some flowers that use sunshine to grow, watch a bird reuse twigs for a nest, listen to ducklings peep, and touch the rough bark of a squirrel''s habitat. Babies and toddlers are naturally curious explorers--now help them discover that science is fun! In this bright, graphic board book, photos of wide-eyed little ones offset a lively running dialogue sprinkled with factual asides that define basic ecology terms.

An introduction to the growing process, harvesting, types, and uses for apples.

When Thunder gets stuck in quicksand, Cluck uses his smarts to free his friend.

In this charming picture book, curious little kids will learn all about tigers, including their social behavior, communication, diet, and playtime. These engaging Explore My World picture books on subjects kids care about combine simple stories with unforgettable photography. They invite little kids to take their first big steps toward understanding the world around them and are just the thing for parents and kids to curl up with and read aloud.

Following the bestseller "Little Kids First Big Book of Why, " this second entry features even more of the endless "Why?" questions preschoolers love to ask! This charming reference answers some of kids'' most burning "Why?" questions and includes more than 200 colorful photos.

Two dinosaurs with larger-than-life personalities become unlikely friends in this silly and sweet Level 1 Ready-to-Read Graphics book, the first in a new series! Thunder is big. Cluck is small. Thunder likes to ROAR! Cluck likes to say “hello!” Can Thunder and Cluck be friends? Ready-to-Read Graphics books give readers the perfect introduction to the graphic novel format with easy-to-follow panels, speech bubbles with accessible vocabulary, and sequential storytelling that is spot-on for beginning readers. There’s even a how-to guide for reading graphic novels at the beginning of each book.

A hilarious and factual introduction to the Amazonian hoatzin—or stinkbird—and its surprising, incredible superpower. (Spoiler alert: it''s more than just the stink!) Stinkbirds have a lot in common with other birds: they have feathers, wings, and a beak. But they also have . . . a hidden superpower! This proud stinkbird papa would love to tell you more about it—if his adorable chick would quit interrupting him! Is it their stinky, poopy smell? Nope. What about their loud and beautiful song? Negative. Is it the fact that they can swim? Not that either, but you’re getting closer. Just what is it that makes stinkbird chicks so special? You’ll have to read the book to find out!

"Explore the wonders of the night, from the moon and the stars to nocturnal animals that howl and hoot!"--Back cover.

Looks at the life cycle of a cherry tree, the history behind the gift of the Japanese cherry trees to our nation''s capital, and the association of cherry trees and spring.

Answers questions about technology in the home, the outdoors, food, transportation, and animals.

Curious kids ages 3 to 7 will learn about a day in the life of a koala, from mama''s pouch to the great world beyond. These engaging Explore My World picture books on subjects kids care about combine simple stories with unforgettable photography. They invite little kids to take their first big steps toward understanding the world around them and are just the thing for parents and kids to curl up with and read aloud.

A big-kid dinosaur can’t wait to teach the new baby everything in this funny, tender, joyful take on becoming a big sister or brother, from the celebrated artist of I Don''t Want to Be a Frog Good news: Your mom''s hatching a baby! Bad news: Babies take their sweet time. And when they finally do hatch? They’re too little to play! They don’t even know how to be a dinosaur. That''s where you come in. You can teach your baby everything—from peek-a-boo to roaring to table manners to bedtime. Growing a dinosaur is a big job, but you''re perfect for it. Because one thing the baby wants more than anything? It’s to be just like you. Silly humor and sincere, moving moments, make this hilarious, reassuring, and useful “guide” a must for existing big brothers and sisters and for every big brother and big sister to-be. Great fun for family reading too. "Fresh . . . Adorable . . . Funny." —Publishers Weekly "Hysterical . . . Tender." —Kirkus "Sweet . . . Allow[s] for maximum comic effect.” —SLJ

This picture book examines the bustling world of honeybees and the important role they play in our delicate ecosystem.

"Pictures and text about sea otters for very young children"--

A high-stakes adventure and hilarious ode to self-esteem for fans of Oliver Jeffers, Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type, and Louise, The Adventures of a Chicken. Nadine can talk a blue streak, and one day she tells a real whopper: she isn''t afraid of anything--no siree! Then her friends call her bluff, and Nadine must enter. . .The Deep. Dark. Woods. Only the woods aren''t so scary after all, until the sun sets, that is, and Nadine can''t find her friends. What is this boastful bovine to do? Run around in blind terror? Plummet off a cliff? Crash into a stream? Check, check, and check. But is all lost? Doubtful. After all, she is cow, hear her MOOOOOOOOO!

Readers learn all about kanagroos, including where they live in Australia, what they eat, and how they communicate, play, and grow.--

"Read amazing stories about Martin Luther King, Jr., Amelia Earhart, Mohandas Gandhi, and many other fascinating and inspiring people from all over the world. These colorful and kid-friendly pages introduce younger readers to more than 50 people and their interesting lives,"--page [4] of cover.

Describes the unique physical characteristics, food habits, and parenting behavior of snow leopards.

K-2 math concepts include counting 1-100. Let''s count the animals around the world! This book encourages kids to count groups of animals from reindeer to elephant seals to lemurs in a tour around the globe with amazing nature pictures! Math challenges guide kids to practice adding and subtracting within 1-25 and counting up to 100. ABOUT THE SERIES: In Nature Numbers, math is beautiful, recognizable, and all around us! Highly engaging pictures of animals and nature scenes, along with cool chalk illustrations, are used to introduce basic math concepts and encourage kids to see a world of numbers all around them.

Preschoolers are full of "Where?" questions, and this next book in the best-selling Little Kids First Big Book series is full of fascinating and often surprising answers for them. This charming reference book zeroes in on location, location, location. More than 200 colorful photos are paired with age-appropriate text featuring answers to questions like, "Where does the sky end?" "Where is the highest mountain?" and, "Where was ice cream invented?" Containing several kid-friendly maps designed to expand the learning experience, this book inspires kids to be curious, ask questions, and explore the world around them.

K-2 math concepts include measuring and data. How long are a jaguar''s whiskers or a toucan''s beak? How long does it take a sloth to climb a tree? This book explores measuring elements from length and weight and time, with stunning pictures of the colorful animals of the Amazon. ABOUT THE SERIES: In Nature Numbers, math is beautiful, recognizable, and all around us! Highly engaging pictures of animals and nature scenes, along with cool chalk illustrations, are used to introduce basic math concepts and encourage kids to see a world of numbers all around them.

The world becomes a playground in this incredible book of questions and answers featuring Rovio''s hugely popular Angry Bird characters. The well-loved characters encourage children to ask big questions, think big thoughts, and get the right answers. A fun-tastic way to help answer the questions kids ask time and time again, this accessible and educational tool allows readers to analyze and explore their immediate world as they build basic skills, and provides hours of engagement for Angry Birds fans and curious young minds! Packed with learning exercises and fun activities, it will prepare them for the bigger questions and world ahead.

This lively STEAM picture book is about the life of Gene Stratton-Porter, a pioneering wildlife photographer and popular author from the late 19th and early 20th century, who showed the world the beauty of nature, especially birds, and why it was worth preserving. Gene Stratton-Porter was a farm girl who fell in love with birds, from the chickens whose eggs she collected to the hawks that preyed on them. When she grew up, Gene wanted nothing more than to share her love of birds with the world. She wrote stories about birds, but when a magazine wanted to publish them next to awkward photos of stuffed birds, she knew she had to take matters into her own hands. Teaching herself photography, Gene began to take photos of birds in the wild. Her knowledge of birds and how to approach them allowed her to get so close you could count the feathers of the birds in her photos. Her work was unlike anything Americans had ever seen before—she captured the true lives of animals in their natural habitat. A pioneering wildlife photographer and one of the most popular authors of the early 20th century, this bird girl showed the world the beauty of nature and why it was worth preserving.

Rhyming text and pictures celebrate the different physical attributes of animal babies.

Readers are invited to join the Angry Birds on an around-the-world habitat adventure in search of their stolen eggs. Includes learning exercises and activities.

When trucker Jo hits the open road, her faithful little doggy pal, Big Al, is always with her. The two make a fine traveling team until Big Al gets distracted after a potty break at a rest stop and wanders off. In her rush to get back on the road, Jo doesn''t realize her best buddy isn''t in the truck cab. As soon as Big Al figures out what has happened, he is determined that nothing will distract him from his plan to wait for Jo to come back. Well, almost nothing. When you''re a dog, it''s easy to get overwhelmed by all the unfamiliar and tempting sights and smells, and even new humans. Told in both Jo''s and Big Al''s voices, this heartwarming story of separation and joyful reunion is based on a true event.

High-flying history is brought to life in this suspenseful story of an unknown and daring pilot named Jack Knight, who in 1921 flew his biplane straight into a blizzard over America''s heartland and saved the US Air Mail Service in the process. When Jack Knight takes off in his biplane from North Platte, Nebraska, in 1921, hundreds of people crowd the airstrip. Is Jack transporting a famous passenger? Is he ferrying medicine for a sick child? Nope--Jack has six sacks of mail. For the past few years, biplanes like Jack''s have been flying the mail only during daylight hours. Flying after dark is risky and crashes are too common, so lawmakers decide to cut funding for the US Air Mail Service. Outraged officials and pilots want to prove that flying the mail is best, so they concoct a plan--a coast-to-coast race. But when a crash, exhaustion, and a snowstorm ground three of the planes, Jack Knight becomes the race''s only hope. All he has to do is fly all night long, leaning out of the plane to see, and navigate a blizzard over land he''s never covered with an empty fuel tank. Will Jack pull it off and save the Air Mail Service?

"Learn about different kinds of sea turtles, where they live, what they like to eat and do, and how you can help keep them safe"--