New Releases by Judy Young

Meet Digger and Daisy! They are brother and sister. These dogs like to explore their world and see new things. Sometimes they agree with each other. Sometimes they disagree. But no matter the situation, one thing always stays the same--their love and concern for each other. In playful, simple stories written especially for the K-1 audience, author Judy Young explores the dynamics and nuances of the sibling relationship. In Digger and Daisy Go on a Picnic, Digger and Daisy walk to the park for a picnic. On the way there Digger''s keen sense of smell leads him to explore his surroundings, ending up with an encounter with a skunk.

Shampoo Your Cat is a collection of 16 humorous stories based on daily dramas. This funny, quirky book offers a humorous interpretation of daily life where literal perspective explodes into lateral humor. An entertaining book dotted with gems of wisdom. This laugh-out-loud book by author Judy Young will: lift your spirits entertain and amuse you provoke thought soften the rough edges of reality "Hilarious! Very cleverly written with philosophical insights woven into the humor on each page." Julie Postance, author of Breaking the Sound Barriers "Judy''s wonderful use of language and her sense of humor brings enjoyment to her readers and connection to everyday events." Margaret Addison, DTM A drama a day keeps sanity away! Give yourself the gift of laughter."

From earliest times, the concept of "play" has been part of the human experience. And while some pastimes have gone in and out of favor over the years, some never change or lack for enthusiasts. Using poetry and prose, Judy Young relives many of the familiar games of childhood and invites young readers to join along as she plays Kick the Can, Monkey in the Middle, and Double Dutch jump rope. "The rope starts to turn and I jump with my feet As I sing out a song with the same rhythmic beat, Turn around, touch the ground, first jump slowly, then fast; How many more jumps do you think I will last?" Colorful artwork reinforces the underlying message of the importance of physical play in today''s techno-driven world. In Lazy Days of Summer even "older" children will recall the welcome tang of lemonade after a rugged game of tag.Lazy Days of Summer is Judy Young''s third book with Sleeping Bear Press. She also wrote the playful and popular Ris for Rhyme: A Poetry Alphabet, which received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews. Judy teaches poetry writing workshops for children and educators, and lives near Springfield, Missouri. Kathy O''Malley graduated from Chicago''s Columbia College and has illustrated more than 30 children''s books. Her artwork can also be found on greeting cards, limited-edition collectibles, and other decorative products. Kathy lives in Glenview, Illinois.

Meet Digger and Daisy! They are brother and sister. These dogs like to explore their world and see new things. Sometimes they agree with each other. Sometimes they disagree. But no matter the situation, one thing always stays the same—their steadfast love and concern for each other. In playful, simple stories written especially for the K-1 audience, author Judy Young explores the dynamics and nuances of the sibling relationship. In Digger and Daisy Go to the Zoo Digger tries to imitate the various animals they see while Daisy tries to tell him what he can and cannot do.

Bring the magic of poetry to life with R is for Rhyme: A Poetry Alphabet. From acrostics and ballads to meter and metaphor, author and poet Judy Young has written a delightful collection of poems to illustrate poetic tools, terms and techniques. Each term or technique is demonstrated in an accompanying poem so readers can see the method at work. Whether haiku or rap, sonnets or cinquain, budding writers of all ages will be inspired to put their imaginations to work crafting their own poems.Judy Young remembers showing one of her poems to her grandmother when she was about 10 years old, and she has been in love with writing poetry ever since. Judy is the author of another Sleeping Bear Press book, S is for Show Me: A Missouri Alphabet. Judy lives with her family near Springfield, Missouri. Victor Juhasz''s humorous illustrations and caricatures have been commissioned by such clients as Time, Newsweek, The New Yorker, Rolling Stone, and The New York Times. He is also the illustrator of the popular D is for Democracy: A Citizen''s Alphabet. Victor lives and works in Stephentown, New York.

Eduardo and his family live in a small town in Ecuador, not far from the Amazon rainforest. The rainforest is an important part of their lives. Each month Eduardo and his father travel by river from their town to the rainforest. There, using just a basket and a machete, they gather Brazil nuts. They are castañeros and this is how they earn their living. But the rainforest is not only important to the castañeros; it is home to many exotic species of plants, birds, and mammals, including two playful tamarins that Eduardo has named Tuki and Moka. So although it is difficult work being a castañero, Eduardo looks forward to his visits to the rainforest so he can play with his two friends. But one night, the peace of the forest is threatened by poachers, animal traffickers who illegally capture and then try to sell some of the birds and animals. Can Eduardo save his friends?

Westward Journeys contains three stories focusing on the American westward expansion, including the Oregon Trail and the Oklahoma Land Run. In Minnow and Rose, Rose and her family are traveling with a wagon train heading west on the Oregon Trail. When she encounters Minnow, a young native girl, their meeting has life-changing results for both cultures. The Oklahoma Land Run is the topic in Pappy''s Handkerchief. When Moses and his family hear of free farmland out in Oklahoma, they head west to fulfill a lifelong dream of owning their own land. After a difficult wagon trip, they arrive at the staging point for the Oklahoma Land Run. In A Book for Black-Eyed Susan, Cora''s family is faced with tragedy during their journey on the Oregon Trail. When Cora learns she is to be separated from her baby sister, she creates a memento of their journey together.

State birds, flowers, trees, and animals brought to board book form for the youngest book lovers. Toddlers will delight in these books filled with rhyming riddles framed by brightly painted clues, introducing elements that make each state so special.

In the mid-1800s thousands of pioneers crossed the western plains of the United States using the 2,000-mile pathway called the Oregon Trail. Minnow and her family live in one of the many native villages scattered across the plains. She has a lively sense of adventure and her favorite pastime is swimming in the nearby river where she rightly earns her nickname. Rose and her family are traveling in one of the many wagon trains making their way west. It''s been a tedious journey with little excitement. Rose can''t wait for something thrilling to happen. And one day it does. On the banks of a rushing river that divides one way of life from another, two very different cultures come face-to-face, with life-changing results.In addition to writing children''s books, Judy Young teaches poetry writing workshops for children and educators across the country. Her other books with Sleeping Bear Press include the popular R is for Rhyme: A Poetry Alphabet and The Lucky Star. Judy lives near Springfield, Missouri. A graduate of the Ringling School of Art and Design, Bill Farnsworth has created paintings for magazines, advertisements, children''s books, and fine art commissions. He has illustrated more than 50 children''s books and his book awards include a Teachers'' Choice Award, the 2005 Patricia Gallagher Award, and the 2007 Volunteer State Book Award. Bill lives in Venice, Florida.

It is 1933 and the Great Depression has ravaged the nation. Millions of people are out of work; thousands of families are struggling to keep a roof overhead and food on the table. But Momma still finds ways to count her blessings (lucky stars) from Ruth''s new shoes to Poppa''s new job. But where Momma sees the ''bright,'' Ruth only sees the dark. Her shoes are hand-me-downs from a neighbor and Poppa''s new job keeps him away from home for months. And now their town can''t afford to keep the school open. Ruth will not be going to fourth grade even though she''s one of the brightest students in her class. How can anyone find the good in that? But when Ruth stops thinking of her own problems and focuses on someone else''s, she realizes that being a lucky star is the best way to start seeing your own lucky stars.In addition to writing children''s books, Judy Young teaches poetry writing workshops for children and educators across the country. Her other books with Sleeping Bear Press include the popular R is for Rhyme: A Poetry Alphabet and Lazy Days of Summer. Judy lives near Springfield, Missouri. This is Chris Ellison''s third book in the Tales of Young Americans series. He also illustrated Rudy Rides the Rails and Pappy''s Handkerchief. His first book with Sleeping Bear Press, Let Them Play, was named a 2006 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People. Chris lives in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

Miss Wright is a writer. She enjoys her work. Each day she sits at her desk and writes stories with marvelous characters who live exciting lives. But, except for the click-click-click of the keyboard, it is quiet in Miss Wright''s office. Too quiet. And too lonely. So Miss Wright decides she needs a pet to keep her company. But finding the perfect pet may not be as easy as it sounds. A mynah bird is too quiet, a cat makes her sleepy, and a hamster running around on its wheel makes Miss Wright dizzy. What''s a lonely writer to do? As the happy ending to her story, Miss Wright finds not only the perfect pet but also the perfect helpmate to her work. Judy Young''s books with Sleeping Bear Press include the recently released A Book for Black-Eyed Susan and The Hidden Bestiary of Marvelous, Mysterious, and (maybe even) Magical Creatures. Judy speaks at schools and conferences across the country. She lives near Springfield, Missouri. Andrea Wesson studied at the Rhode Island School of Design and has illustrated several picture books, including Not Just Another Moose, Opera Cat, and Argus. She lives in Maryland and would love to live in Miss Wright''s house by the beach (but not with a monkey).

When ten-year-old Cora and her family leave their home in Missouri, their hearts are filled with the hopes and dreams of a bright future gleaming with promise and opportunity. But the journey west by wagon train is harsh, and tragedy strikes swiftly and unexpectedly. Now Cora and her father must steel themselves for a different future from what they had carefully planned. How can they move forward when their hearts are broken? But move on they must, and Cora takes comfort in her new baby sister (named Susan after the black-eyed flowers). When Cora learns she and Susan are to be separated at the end of their journey, she looks to the past to help craft a link to their new lives. Judy Young is an award-winning author of children''s fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Her other books in the Tales of Young Americans series are Minnow and Rose (2010 Storytelling World Resource Award) and The Lucky Star (2009 Storytelling World Honor Award). Judy lives near Springfield, Missouri. Doris Ettlinger graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design and has numerous picture books to her credit, including the award-winning The Orange Shoes. Doris lives and teaches in an old grist mill on the banks of the Musconetcong River in western New Jersey.

Ross & Judy Young''s combined belief that children comprehend intricate ideas at a very young age made it possible for them to seamlessly create "S is for Show Me: A Missouri Alphabet." The husband and wife team elegantly synthesize text and illustration to provide a rich texture of the Show Me State. The alphabet book employs a two-tiered approach that reaches Pre-K through 6th grade students. A rhyme for each letter of the alphabet catches the attention of younger readers, while older elementary students grasp a richer understanding of the topic by reading expository information on the same page.

Explorer Basil Bernard Barnswhitten (B.B.B.) has a list of creatures he needs to verify for an important report so he visits the Finchhaven Museum of Extraordinary Curiosities, Oddities & Improbabilities. But he finds that one of the glass exhibit cases is damaged - something appears to be missing. Or did it escape? To complete his report, B.B.B. travels around the world to track down each creature on his list, all the while asking the same three questions: Is it alive? Is it extinct? Did it ever exist? By deciphering the clues in his journal, young explorers can accompany B.B.B. as he tries to locate each mysterious creature. Finding them won''t be easy; lushly detailed scenes serve not only as camouflage but also as habitats to other strange and mysterious marvels. In addition to writing children''s books, Judy Young teaches poetry writing workshops for children and educators across the country. Her other books with Sleeping Bear Press include the popular R is for Rhyme: A Poetry Alphabet and The Lucky Star. Judy lives near Springfield, Missouri. Laura Francesca Filippucci was born in Milan, Italy, where she graduated in Illustration at the Istituto Europeo di Design. She later specialized in Children''s Book Illustration at the School of Visual Arts, New York. She lives in Milan with her family.

"Using numbers many of Missouri''s state symbols, history, and landmarks, are introduced. Topics include trout, flags, Riverbluff Cave, and the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse"--Provided by publisher.

Various objects, animals, and people associated with the state of Florida are presented in short rhymes, with added commentary, and used to illustrate counting, multiplying, and adding.