New Releases by Lois Lenski

From a Newbery Award–winning author: These seven beloved classics beautifully capture growing up and overcoming challenges across America. In her Regional America series, author and illustrator Lois Lenski presents realistic portrayals of unforgettable young people facing hardships and triumphs across the diverse United States. The Newbery Medal–winning Strawberry Girl follows day-to-day life for Birdie and her family on a berry farm in Florida, as they deal with heat, droughts, cold snaps, and difficult neighbors. In Prairie School, a young girl gets stranded at her South Dakota school by a winter storm; in Bayou Suzette, the Cajun Suzette strikes up an unlikely friendship with a Native American girl in the swamps of Louisiana; and Blue Ridge Billy is the story of a boy who dreams of playing the fiddle. Other novels follow the lives of a young farmer who wants to quit school and work on his family’s Iowa farm; an Asian-American boy adjusting to city life in San Francisco’s Chinatown; and an adolescent lumberjack in the forests of Oregon. Beyond changing the face of children’s literature, Lenski’s stories endure because of their moving and believable depictions of young people from often overlooked communities. Through her art, Lenski gives these characters a voice that continues to ring loud and clear for modern readers. This ebook includes Strawberry Girl, Prairie School, Bayou Suzette, Blue Ridge Billy, Corn-Farm Boy, San Francisco Boy, and To Be a Logger.

From a Newbery Award–winning author: Seven beloved classics that beautifully capture growing up and overcoming challenges across America. In her Newbery Honor Book, Indian Captive, and her Regional America series, six of which are collected here, author/illustrator Lois Lenski presents realistic portrayals of unforgettable young people facing hardships in a range of areas across the country. Based on a true story, Indian Captive tells the compelling chronicle of a twelve-year-old girl kidnapped by the Shawnee in 1758 Pennsylvania. Beginning with the Children’s Book Award winner Judy’s Journey, Lenski depicted kids’ experiences in different regions of mid-twentieth-century America—from East Coast migrant workers to a Texas girl whose family is dealing with drought, from an eleven-year-old boy in oil-boom Oklahoma to the daughter of coal miners in West Virginia, from a family in a flooded western Connecticut town to an African American girl in the 1950s coping with moving north with the help of her loving grandmother. Beyond changing the face of children’s literature, Lenski’s stories continue to endure because of their moving and believable depictions of young people from often overlooked communities. Through her art, Lenski gave these characters a voice that still rings loud and clear for modern readers. This ebook includes Indian Captive, Judy’s Journey, Flood Friday, Texas Tomboy, Boom Town Boy, Coal Camp Girl, and Mama Hattie’s Girl.

A young girl grows up in the sooty shadow of the coal mines of West Virginia When the whistle blows, Christina knows her father is coming home. Every day he emerges from the pit with his skin caked in coal dust. He’s 50 now and he’s been working in the mines since he was 12 years old. It’s dangerous, backbreaking labor, but he does it because he loves his family. As far as Christina is concerned, there is no job in the world more honorable than digging coal. Danger is always close at hand in the mines. There are cave-ins, explosions, and diseases. But no matter what happens, Christina and her family always stick together. This meticulously researched look at life in a coal camp shows that no matter how dark the pit, love will always shine through.

A Chinese boy struggles to adapt to life in the big city In Chinatown, the streets are crowded and the air is filled with delicious smells. Felix Fong and his family just moved to San Francisco from a town in the countryside, and they have never seen so many people. Felix’s siblings are thrilled by the constant hustle and bustle, but he misses their old house. He liked having grass to play in and a pond to swim in. The city is overwhelming, and it doesn’t feel like home. But soon Felix begins to have adventures in San Francisco. He makes friends and even gets a job. Before he knows it, he forgets about being homesick and learns to fall in love with the city.

A young boy growing up in the Oregon wilderness dreams of becoming a logger Little Joe has been sawing trees since he was 5 years old. A child of the Oregon hills, he spends his days scampering through the forest around his family’s cabin. Ever since he was old enough to hold an ax, he’s wanted to be a logger like his daddy. He wants to wear boots with nails on them, saw down the mightiest trees in the forest, and holler “Timber!” as they come crashing to the ground. Little Joe has logging in his blood. Finally, Little Joe is old enough for his 1st visit to a logging camp. He sees the great machines taking down trees and loading them onto trucks, and he wants to be a logger more than ever. But as he grows up, he will find there are better ways to show his love for the forest than cutting it down.

An Iowa farm boy longs to quit school and join his dad working the land Dick comes home from school early and tells his mother he was sent home with a stomachache. She puts him to bed and tells him to get some sleep, but Dick can’t shut his eyes for a second. All his life he’s wanted to be a farmer—to quit school and join his father and brother driving tractors across their sprawling property—and today is his chance. His father is getting a 2nd tractor, and he’ll need Dick to drive it. Dick is certain that there’s nothing on the farm that he can’t handle. But when he gets a taste of farmer’s work, will he be so sure it’s the life for him? This charming novel offers a detailed look at life on a farm and a snapshot of a time when a boy could quit school to work in the fields.

A boy and his grandpa hope to strike oil in drought-ridden Oklahoma It’s hot in Oklahoma. There’s no wind, the wells are dry, and the ground is dead. Orvie’s family is doing everything they can to keep their farm going. If they miss a payment on the mortgage, the bank will take their home away, and they’ll have nowhere else to go. Farming is tough, honest work, and it’s no way to get rich. For years, Orvie’s grandfather has sworn that there’s oil under their land, and as soon as it starts bubbling up, they’ll have more money than they know what to do with. But when the oil boom sweeps across Oklahoma, Orvie will find there are some problems that money can’t solve. This rich portrait of life during the Oklahoma oil boom provides a lovingly detailed look at a forgotten time in history.

A young boy dreams of music and sunshine in the Great Smoky Mountains As far as Billy is concerned, there’s no sight more beautiful than the sun setting over the Blue Ridge Mountains. When the day is done, he sneaks away from his work to watch the sun go down. If his father knew, he would call Billy lazy, but Mama would understand. She knows life in the mountains is hard and that there’s no point in living if a person can’t take time to appreciate what he has. Billy dreams of the day when he can pick up his fiddle and sing the folk songs of his people. Until then, he will be content with the sun. This beautifully written novel tells a story of simple fun and irresistible pleasures in 1 of the most beautiful regions in the United States.

A young African American girl moves from the South to the North and finds that family is the same wherever you go Nobody can climb a tree as fast as Lula Bell. Although her mother tells her to be ladylike, Lula Bell prefers fishing and climbing and scrapping in the dirt with the boys. When her day is done, she sits on the porch with her grandmother Hattie, and listens to her tell stories of the North. Up there, Mama Hattie says, everybody’s rich. No one ever has to scrimp to buy nice dresses or spend all day fishing just to put dinner on the table. Life is good. And soon, Lula Bell is going to find out for herself. When her mother moves the family north to find better work, Lula Bell expects the good times have finally arrived. But life is hard wherever they go, and the only thing Lula Bell can truly count on is her mother and beloved Mama Hattie.

A Cajun girl tries to keep her family together on the Louisiana bayou It’s been almost 2 years since Suzette’s father caught 2 bullets in his back. Since then, he’s been bed-ridden, too sick to hunt or fish or do any of the things a bayou man must do to keep his family fed. While he heals, Suzette scours the swamps around her house for fish, gators, or anything she can sell to put food on the table. It’s hard, but Suzette is a proud Cajun, and work doesn’t scare her. When an Indian girl appears on the bayou, Suzette finds in her a friend—and maybe a way to save her family. This moving novel lovingly depicts the warmth and vitality of Cajun people and a time when the bayous seemed to stretch forever.

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Farmer Small takes care of hungry cows, pigs, chickens, turkeys, ducks, and more—all in just one day! Throughout the year, he keeps his farm running smoothly by plowing the fields and selling fruits and vegetables.

Mr. Small is a sailor in this maritime adventure! Captain Small and his dog Tinker sail and fish together. When a storm comes, Captain Small heads for the safety of the shore. A comforting, nostalgic story full of information about sailing.

Mr. Small has a shiny red auto. On nice days, Mr. Small takes his car out of the garage and goes for a drive. He can drive fast enough to pass a horse and buggy! He runs into trouble when it begins to rain and he gets a flat tire. But he is able to fix the tire, the sun comes out, and Mr. Small drives his little auto back into the garage.

Summer means the outdoors to kids everywhere. The days are long and full of summertime fun such as swimming and afternoon picnics. This classic 1953 picture book is back with bright colors after being out of print for decades.

School bells and apples and big ripe pumpkins-all the pleasures of fall come alive in this newly reissued classic by award winner Lois Lenski. First published in 1948, Now It''s Fall is a timeless celebration of autumn that will enchant a whole new generation of young readers with its gently recolored illustrations.

Mr. and Mrs. Noah are told to build an ark. Together with their three sons—Shem, Ham, and Japheth—the family gathers two of each animal and saves them from the coming flood. Lois Lenski lends her unique voice and visual style to the classic Bible story, turning it into a fun family story that the youngest initiates of Noah’s Ark will enjoy.

This is a new release of the original 1935 edition.

The Newbery Medal–winning childhood classic of life on a Florida farm—part of the Regional series from the author of the Mr. Small picture books. Birdie and her family are trying to build a farm in Florida. But it’s not easy with the heat, droughts, and cold snaps—and neighbors that don’t believe in fences. But Birdie won’t give up on her dream of strawberries, and her family won’t let those Slaters drive them from their home! This Newberry Medal–winning novel presents a realistic picture of life on the Florida frontier. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Lois Lenski including rare images and never-before-seen documents from the author’s estate.

DIVDIVWill Sally and her family ever be able to go home? /divDIVWhen heavy rains cause the river to flood, Sally, her family, and many of their neighbors have to evacuate their homes. With nothing but the clothes on their backs, they seek shelter at the local school. At first, it seems like an adventure, but as reports come in of whole houses being washed away, Sally learns the meaning of being a true friend and a good neighbor./divDIV /divDIVFlood Friday is based on the actual flooding of western Connecticut in 1955./divDIV /divDIVThis ebook features an illustrated biography of Lois Lenski including rare images and never-before-seen documents from the author’s estate./div/div

DIVDIVJudy lives in a tent with her family. Will they ever be able to afford a farm with a real house? /divDIVTen-year-old Judy and her family are migrants, moving from farm to farm with each new season. Starting in Alabama, they travel to Florida and up the East Coast all the way to New Jersey, always looking for steady work. Every time Judy feels as if they’re beginning to put down roots, they have to move on. It’s hard for her to catch up in school; it’s hard to make and keep friends. Judy likes the people she meets along the way, but she longs for a real home. Will her family ever have a farm of their own?/divDIV /divDIVJudy’s Journey is a realistic depiction of the life of migrant farm workers in the mid-1900s./divDIV /divDIVThis ebook features an illustrated biography of Lois Lenski including rare images and never-before-seen documents from the author’s estate./div/div

DIVDIVWhat would it be like to live on a houseboat on the Mississippi River with two parents, four kids, eight chickens, several turtles, a dog, and a cat? Patsy and her family are about to find out! /divDIVAt first, Patsy is upset when her parents decide to move from their home in River City, Illinois, to a houseboat on the Mississippi River. She’ll miss her house and friends, and she’s sure the trip downriver will be boring. Gradually, she and her brother and sisters get used to their new life. Patsy grows to love the ever-changing river, where she even learns to swim. But she can’t help longing for a real house—on land. /divDIV /divDIVHouseboat Girl is based on the experiences of real families living on the Mississippi River in the summer of 1954./divDIV /divDIVThis ebook features an illustrated biography of Lois Lenski including rare images and never-before-seen documents from the author’s estate./div/div

DIVDIVThe entire ranch is thirsty—will the rains ever come? /divDIVTomboy Charlie loves the ranch and the outdoors, especially now that she has a horse of her own and can ride like a true cowboy. She doesn’t understand why her mother keeps after her to help out in the house, too. But ranch life is hard, especially when there’s a drought. There isn’t enough water for the crops or cattle, and horrible dust storms sweep away the soil. If it doesn’t rain soon, her family could lose everything. Charlie must learn that on a ranch, everyone’s job is important if they are to survive—and that a good cowboy always obeys orders./divDIV /divDIVThis classic story depicts Texas ranch life during the droughts of the early twentieth century, as one girl tries to find her place in the world./divDIV /divDIVThis ebook features an illustrated biography of Lois Lenski including rare images and never-before-seen documents from the author’s estate./div/div

A Newbery Honor book inspired by the true story of a girl captured by a Shawnee war party in Colonial America and traded to a Seneca tribe. When twelve-year-old Mary Jemison and her family are captured by Shawnee raiders, she’s sure they’ll all be killed. Instead, Mary is separated from her siblings and traded to two Seneca sisters, who adopt her and make her one of their own. Mary misses her home, but the tribe is kind to her. She learns to plant crops, make clay pots, and sew moccasins, just as the other members do. Slowly, Mary realizes that the Indians are not the monsters she believed them to be. When Mary is given the chance to return to her world, will she want to leave the tribe that has become her family? This Newbery Honor book is based on the true story of Mary Jemison, the pioneer known as the “White Woman of the Genesee.” This ebook features an illustrated biography of Lois Lenski including rare images and never-before-seen documents from the author’s estate.

Ann Eliza takes very good care of the farmyard animals so, despite the grumbling of Graybeard the Goat and the bragging of White Rabbit, they work together to make a very nice Easter for her.

Cowboy Small takes good care of his horse, Cactus. In return, Cactus helps Cowboy Small get work done on the range. Together they round up cattle for branding and live the good life. At night, Cowboy Small eats at the chuck wagon, sings with his friends, and sleeps under the stars.

This boxed set includes Trophy paperback editions of Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman, Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech, and Indian Captive by Lois Lenski.

The land was theirs, but so were its hardships Strawberries -- big, ripe, and juicy. Ten-year-old Birdie Boyer can hardly wait to start picking them. But her family has just moved to the Florida backwoods, and they haven′t even begun their planting. ";Don′t count your biddies ′fore they′re hatched, gal young un!"; her father tells her. Making the new farm prosper is not easy. There is heat to suffer through, and droughts, and cold snaps. And, perhaps most worrisome of all for the Boyers, there are rowdy neighbors, just itching to start a feud.

Mr. Small directs traffic, rides the range on his horse, Cactus, raises cows, pigs, and chickens, takes a drive in the country, goes fishing in his sailboat, and flies in his single-engine plane