New Releases by Margaret McNamara

A young, curious, science-loving environmentalist named Daisy proves to her community the importance of conservation in this whimsical and hopeful story. Daisy was born with a green thumb. As an infant, she composted her own baby food. As a toddler, she slept on a bed of leaves. Now she’s embarking on her most important experiment: she’ll plant herself on her manicured front lawn, stay put, and let nature take over. What happens is a blooming miracle. With a little help from expert gardener Auntie Betsy, Daisy thrives. Sunflowers grow in her hair, moss grows between her toes, hummingbirds buzz in her bee balm. Soon Daisy’s front yard is a haven for native grasses and flowers, for pollinating insects, for birds, even for lowly worms. And that’s when her real work begins. In this funny and whimsical story about restoring natural habitats, one tenacious girl passionately leads her own conservation efforts, helping the land heal itself, and teaching her community about the importance of nurturing wild places.

Visit the state capitol with Mr. Tiffin and his students to learn all about how a bill is voted on and passed. This kid-friendly picture book from the perennially popular Mr. Tiffin’s Classroom series follows a group of students passionately engaged in learning how the US government works. Mr. Tiffin’s students are learning how a bill can become a law and are eagerly brainstorming ideas to make their state a better place. Mr. Tiffin announces that whoever has the best idea will have the opportunity to present their bill to Representative Noor during their class trip to the state capitol. Jeremy believes that they should name an official state cookie. At first it seems like a brilliant idea – until his classmates begin to argue over cookie flavors and pick sides! The only way to settle this debate is with a class vote. When the students visit the capitol the following week to present their bill, Jeremy realizes that even the best ideas require a bit of compromise and often yield surprising – and delicious! – results.

The first graders at Robin Hill School learn about and celebrate the Lunar New Year in this easy-to-follow Level 1 Ready-to-Read story! Eigen’s mom has come to talk to Mrs. Connor’s class about a special holiday called Lunar New Year. She tells them all the fun ways that the holiday is celebrated around the world. But can the students guess why it’s Eigen’s favorite holiday?

Its been a snowy winter, but there have been no snow days--and Nia is not happy. Shed love to play in the snow all day, but when a blizzard hits, Nia discovers there can be too much of a good thing. Full color.

Fans of the musical Hamilton and their children won''t want to miss this stunning picture book biography about Eliza Hamilton, American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton''s extraordinary wife and an important figure in her own right. Includes an afterword from Phillipa Soo, the actress who originated the role of Eliza in Hamilton! We all know the story of scrappy Alexander Hamilton and his rise in American politics--but how much do we know about his workmate, inspiration, and stabilizing force, Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton? Margaret McNamara employs the letter-writing style of the period to tell the story of Eliza Hamilton, who was born into a family of considerable wealth, power, and influence in Albany, New York, in 1757. Eliza was expected to marry into a similarly powerful family . . . until she met and fell in love with the charismatic Hamilton. She stood by him throughout his tumultuous life, and after his death, she single-handedly collected his papers and preserved them for historians and musical-theater writers of the future. Eliza outlived Hamilton by fifty years; during that time she founded the first orphanage in New York State, raised funds for the Washington Monument, and kept the flame of her husband''s memory and achievements alive. This is a beautiful and informative biography featuring extensive back matter--including information about America''s revolution, the historical relevance of letter writing, and a timeline--and exquisite, thoroughly researched art that mirrors paintings from 18th-century America. Every Hamilton lover will want to gift it to the young readers in their lives.

Students at Robin Hill School visit a memorial to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and learn the importance of having a special dream of their own. Full color.

The first graders in Mrs. Connor''s class prove that they can work together when Cookie the dog disrupts their graduation ceremony.

When Mrs. Connor''s class celebrates Earth Day, Emma decides to start small by recycling, using only what she needs, and picking up trash when she goes for a walk.

The kids in Mrs. Connor''s class are planting a garden! Everyone is excited to plant the vegetable seeds--except for Neil. He does not like vegetables. After all their hard work, will Neil find vegetables are not as yucky as he thought?

Nia is excited to be in the class play! Then, on the big day, she gets nervous and forgets her lines. Will taking deep breaths help her calm down?

Mr. Tiffin and his students from the perennially popular How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? and The Dinosaur Expert make friends with, Librarian Beck a new character in the series who also happens to be non-binary. This thoughtful picture book is about a wood-working project that helps a young student become a book lover. Everyone in Mr. Tiffin''s class couldn''t be more excited that the new school library has finally opened. Everyone except Jake. Jake is a slow and careful reader. Sometimes he reads the same page more than once to figure everything out. And he often feels left behind on class Library Day. All that changes when Librarian Beck notices Jake running his fingers across the grooves of a brand-new bookshelf and offers him an old, worn book: Woodworking for Young Hands. Jake checks the book out, studies the pictures and instructions, and renews the book again and again. When the school year comes to an end, Jake has the perfect gift idea for the librarian who changed his life--and he makes it with his own two hands.

The Robin Hill School first-graders celebrate Pajama Day in this Level 1 Ready-to-Read, the thirtieth book in the Robin Hill School series! It’s Pajama Day! All of the students at Robin Hill School are wearing pajamas to show their school spirit. But Emma forgot! Who will come to her rescue?

The Robin Hill School first graders learn about being thankful in this Level 1 Ready-to-Read, the twenty-ninth book in the Robin Hill School series! It’s almost Thanksgiving, and Mrs. Connor asks the class to think about what they are thankful for. Reza and his mama make a list together. He can’t wait to talk to his class about his family, his dog, his bike, and so much more! But then at school, everyone takes turns saying what they’re thankful for, and the other kids say the same things Reza wanted to say! Can Reza think of something else he’s thankful for before it’s his turn to speak?

In this charming and powerful picture book about voting and elections, the students of Stanton Elementary School learn how we can find--and use--our voices for change. Every two years, on the first Tuesday of November, Stanton Elementary School closes for the day. For vacation? Nope! For repairs? No way! Stanton Elementary School closes so that it can transform itself into a polling station. People can come from all over to vote for the people who will make laws for the country. Sure, the Stanton Elementary School students might be too young to vote themselves, but that doesn''t mean they can''t encourage their parents, friends, and family to vote! After all, voting is how this country sees change--and by voting today, we can inspire tomorrow''s voters to change the future.

Real-life 7-year-old Sophia Spencer was bullied for loving bugs until hundreds of women scientists rallied around her. Now Sophie tells her inspiring story in this picture book that celebrates women in science, bugs of all kinds, and the importance of staying true to yourself. Makes a perfect gift for nature lovers on Earth Day and every day! Sophia Spencer has loved bugs ever since a butterfly landed on her shoulder--and wouldn''t leave!--at a butterfly conservancy when she was only two-and-a-half years old. In preschool and kindergarten, Sophia was thrilled to share what she knew about grasshoppers (her very favorite insects), as well as ants and fireflies... but by first grade, not everyone shared her enthusiasm. Some students bullied her, and Sophia stopped talking about bugs altogether. When Sophia''s mother wrote to an entomological society looking for a bug scientist to be a pen pal for her daughter, she and Sophie were overwhelmed by the enthusiastic response--letters, photos, and videos came flooding in. Using the hashtag BugsR4Girls, scientists tweeted hundreds of times to tell Sophia to keep up her interest in bugs--and it worked! Sophia has since appeared on Good Morning America, The Today Show, and NPR, and she continues to share her love of bugs with others.

Join Mr. Tiffin and his students on a trip to a natural history museum and learn all about dinosaurs and the scientists who discovered them! Mr. Tiffin and his students are back in another picture book, and this time the focus is on dinosaur-loving Kimmy. During a field trip to the natural history museum, Kimmy is thrilled to share what she knows about the Stegosaurus and the Archaeopteryx and even the ginormous Titanosaurus. That changes when one of her classmates questions whether girls can be paleontologists. Kimmy starts to feel shy. What if they can''t? What if no one wants to hear what she has to say? It will take some help from Mr. Tiffin--and from a famous scientist--for Kimmy to find her voice again. Join Mr. Tiffin''s class as they learn about dinosaurs big and small, feathered and scaly, winged and ocean-dwelling. And root for Kimmy, the dinosaur expert . . . who might just learn something about herself.

For fans of the musical Hamilton, here is a stunning picture book biography about Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton''s extraordinary wife and an important figure in her own right. We all know the story of scrappy Alexander Hamilton and his rise in American politics--but how much do we know about his workmate, inspiration, and stabilizing force, Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton? Margaret McNamara employs the letter-writing style of the period to tell the story of Eliza Hamilton, who was born into a family of considerable wealth, power, and influence in Albany, New York, in 1757. Eliza was expected to marry into a similarly powerful family . . . until she met and fell in love with the charismatic Hamilton. She stood by him throughout his tumultuous life, and after his death, she single-handedly collected his papers and preserved them for historians and musical-theater writers of the future. Eliza outlived Hamilton by fifty years; during that time she founded the first orphanage in New York State, raised funds for the Washington Monument, and kept the flame of her husband''s memory and achievements alive. Featuring Esme Shapiro''s exquisite, thoroughly researched art, which mirrors paintings from 18th-century America, this is a beautiful and informative biography with extensive back matter.

It''s Parents Week for Mrs. Connor''s first graders. Each day another parent is visiting and showing what they do. But Ayanna''s dad isn''t like the other parents. Will her classmates like him anyway?

Mrs. Connor''s class celebrates Thanksgiving in this Level 1 Ready-to-Read! Thanksgiving time is here, and Mrs. Connor''s class is dressing up to celebrate. When the fire alarm goes off, they share their Thanksgiving cheer with the whole school! Ready-to-read books offer children a world of possibilities at four different reading levels: Pre-Level One: Recognizing Words -Word repetition -Familiar words and phrases -Simple sentences Level One: Starting to Read -Simple stories -Increased vocabulary -Longer sentences Level Two: Reading Independently -More-complex stories -Varied sentence structure -Paragraphs and short chapters Level Three: Reading Proficiently -Rich vocabulary -More-challenging stories -Longer chapters

Usher in National Poetry Month with Mr. Tiffin and his students, stars of the hugely popular How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? and The Apple Orchard Riddle. Once again, Margaret McNamara sets her playful, child-friendly story in the classroom, and this time, poetry—from metaphors to acrostics to haiku—is the name of the game. The focus here is on Elinor, whose confidence falters as she tries to write something "perfect" for Poem in Your Pocket Day and impress a visiting poet. G. Brian Karas''s accessible, adorable illustrations add to the fun. Includes a list of Mr. Tiffin''s tips for celebrating Poem in Your Pocket Day. "A nimble introduction to poetry as well as a sensitive look at the perils of perfectionism." —The New York Times "Pair this book with the works of Shel Silverstein, Paul B. Janeczko, Jack Prelutsky, Douglas Florian, or Robert Louis Stevenson." —School Library Journal, Starred

The Fairy Bell Sisters get in the Christmas spirit in this sixth book in Margaret McNamara’s delightful chapter-book series about Tinker Bell’s little sisters, perfect for kids ages 6 to10 who enjoy Disney Fairies, The Never Girls, and Rainbow Magic. There are only ten days left until Christmas, and the Fairy Bell Sisters couldn’t be more excited: this year, their big sister Tinker Bell is coming home to visit! Tink says she’s going to treat her sisters to the very best Christmas by bringing presents and decorations from Neverland. Then she makes her sisters promise not to do anything to prepare for the holiday—they work hard enough already! But as Christmas draws nearer—and Tink still has not arrived—Clara, Rosy, Goldie, and Sylva find it harder and harder not to join in the Fairyland festivities. And on top of everything else, baby Squeak has started acting rather strangely. . . . Will the season be ruined? Or will the Fairy Bell Sisters find enough faith in one another to make this the most magical Christmas ever?

Christmas is a magical time on Sheepskerry Island and this year, the Fairy Bell sisters are expecting a very special visitor. But as Christmas Day approaches, their guest is nowhere to be seen and Squeak is acting very strangely ...

Readers of Disney Fairies, The Never Girls, and Rainbow Magic will absolutely love the fifth book in the Fairy Bell Sisters series by Margaret McNamara, a delightful chapter-book series about Tinker Bell''s little sisters for kids ages 6-10. Springtime means spring-cleaning for the fairies of Sheepskerry Island. It also means getting to search for treasure in the jumble pile—a giant collection of unwanted items outside Queen Mab''s palace. When Sylva Bell and her best friend, Poppy Flower, find Queen Mab''s old fairy dollhouse in the pile, they are overjoyed! But as the two friends play with it, they start to unlock its secrets and discover its special magic—a magic that has a history of putting friendships to the test.

Usually, when the Summer People take over the cottages of Sheepskerry Island, the Fairy Bell Sisters go into hiding, but when kindhearted Rosy realizes that a Summer Child named Louisa needs help, she does the unthinkable and befriends her.

Before Tinker Bell flew to Never Land and met Peter Pan she lived on Sheepskerry Island with her fairy sisters - Clara, Lily, Rosie, Silver and Squeak the baby. The young fairies go to fairy school and love tea parties, dressing up and exciting adventures.

Aspiring young fairies who adore Rainbow Magic and Disney Fairies will delight in the fourth magical installment in Margaret McNamara''s Fairy Bell Sisters series, about Tinker Bell''s little sisters. All the fairies on Sheepskerry Island look up to Clara Bell. Clara can do anything, which is why the younger Bell sisters—Rosy, Goldie, Sylva, and Squeak—are so proud of her. But when Clara starts to grow into her magical powers, things get a little bumpy. At first it''s fun to practice her charms, especially since a colony of gnomes is visiting Sheepskerry Island for the Valentine''s Games . . . and one of them, Rowan, seems to like her—very much. But when Clara and Rowan are faced with very serious trouble, Clara tries to do magic that''s too hard for her—way too hard for her. Will she have to pay a terrible price? Julia Denos sprinkles her signature fairy dust on each and every page, bringing the illustrations of the Fairy Bell Sisters to life.

It''s almost the first day of first grade, and Charles can''t wait. That is, until he discovers that his puppy, Cookie, can''t join him. But when he learns that bringing Cookie means she wouldn''t be just his anymore, he decides it''s better if she stays home.

For fans of Rainbow Magic Fairies and Disney Fairies comes the third book in the Fairy Bell Sisters, a magical and utterly charming chapter-book series about Tinker Bell''s little sisters, by Margaret McNamara. In Golden at the Fancy-Dress Party, Goldie travels to the mainland for Queen Titania''s annual fancy-dress competition. But the mainland is so different from Sheepskerry Island—her host fairies are rather unfriendly and even play a mean trick on Goldie when they realize she has trouble reading. And Goldie feels out of place without her sisters by her side. She will have to use her creativity and quick thinking to turn the party from disaster to success. Julia Denos once again graces this delightful text with her girly and energetic illustrations.

Mr. Tiffin and his students from the perenially popular How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? are back in this picture book about a school trip to an apple orchard! In this playful, humorous, and child-friendly classroom story, the students learn a lot about apples and apple orchards—including how apples are harvested, how cider is made, and what the different varieties of apples are—while trying to solve a riddle. The book also celebrates how some children learn differently than others. Margaret McNamara and illustrator G. Brian Karas bring us another fun and educational picture book.