New Releases by Matthew Cordell

An endearing story about a girl’s efforts to spot an owl from the Caldecott Medal winning creator of Wolf in the Snow. This gorgeous picture book that encourages patience and perseverance will resonate with readers of all ages who have longed to see one of these elusive creatures in the natural world. When will I find you? Where could you be? What will it take? To see an owl. Silent and wide-eyed, owls are hidden creatures of the night. Janie has always dreamed of finding one. She searches everywhere for signs of an owl – on the open prairie for short-eared owls, on the beach for snowy owls, and for great horned owls in the woods near her home. But months go by, and she sees no owls. She wonders, what will it take to see an owl? Her teacher, Mr. Koji, a fellow bird-lover, shares that he, too, waited a long time to see an owl. He assures her, “If you are very quiet and very patient, and if you look very close, you might just find them.” When the snow begins to fall, Janie and her mother head into the woods again, and as she looks carefully, hidden high up in the trees, what she sees is pure magic. From Matthew Cordell, the creator of Wolf in the Snow that was awarded the Caldecott Medal, comes this beautiful story about quiet perseverance that will resonate with anyone who has experienced the anticipation of discovering a rare treasure in the wild.

This book in Caldecott medalist Matthew Cordell's bestselling early reader series tells a story about championship-level teamwork. Poppy LOVES shiny new racing gear. Cornbread does not. Poppy ADORES top secret master plans. Cornbread does not. Poppy IS super competitive. Cornbread…is not. But Cornbread and Poppy are the best of friends, so when Poppy is determined to win the Small Rodents Competitive Cycling Championship Classic Cornbread agrees to train by her side. Cornbread has fun just spending time with his friend, but Poppy’s goal is scoring the Winner’s Cup. Is a finish line all these mice will discover at the end of their race? Celebrating both partnership and the value of what makes us individuals, young readers will find this classic odd couple irresistible as they encounter relatable issues with humor and heart. Cornbread & Poppy (2022), was an Indiebound bestseller and the recipient of more than a dozen best books of the year citations. Publishing simultaneously in hardcover and paperback. Don't miss the other books in the series: Cornbread & Poppy Cornbread & Poppy at the Carnival Cornbread & Poppy at the Museum

This third book in Caldecott medalist Matthew Cordell's bestselling early reader series tells a story of precious artifacts and priceless friendships. Cornbread LOVES spending time inside. Poppy does not. Cornbread ADORES in-depth research. Poppy does not. Cornbread is THRILLED to visit The Moonville Museum. Poppy…is not. But Cornbread and Poppy are the best of friends, so when Cornbread is invited to attend the Founders Gala to see the unveiling of a surprise new exhibit, Poppy agrees to be his guest. Their evening is full of spectacular treasures, including hand-carved hairbrushes, diamond-encrusted perfume sprayers, and a solid gold ice cream scoop. What other wonders will these mice discover? Celebrating both partnership and the value of what makes us individuals, young readers will find this classic odd couple irresistible as they encounter relatable issues with humor and heart. Publishing simultaneously in hardcover and paperback. Don't miss the other books in the series: Cornbread & Poppy Cornbread & Poppy at the Carnival

A picture book by Caldecott medal winner Matt Cordell about a timid squirrel who makes a brave journey to help a relative who is ill. Evergreen the squirrel is afraid of many things: thunder, hawks, and the dark paths of Buckthorn Forest. But when her mother tasks Evergreen with delivering soup to her sick Granny Oak, the little squirrel must face her fears and make the journey. Along the way, Evergreen is met by other forest dwellers – some want to help her, but some want her mother’s delicious soup! It’s up to Evergreen to stay the course, and those who help her will surprise and delight young readers. Using an art style reminiscent of the work of William Steig and Arnold Lobel, Matthew Cordell creates a classic tale of bravery and love.

Pistache a plutôt tendance à tout planifier, tandis que Poppy préfère profiter de l'instant présent, ce qui ne les empêche pas d'être les meilleurs amis du monde. Lorsque ce dernier se retrouve sans provisions pour l'hiver, Pistache est d'accord de l'aider à se ravitailler. Leur recherche de nourriture les mène sur le mont Brouhaha, où personne n'ose s'aventurer

The second entry in Caldecott medalist Matthew Cordell's early reader series about two best friends who are as different from each other as can be. Poppy LOVES scary movies. Cornbread does not. Poppy ADORES runny cheese. Cornbread does not. Poppy can't WAIT to try a roller coaster. Cornbread...can. But Cornbread and Poppy are the best of friends, so when the Carnival rolls into town, Cornbread agrees to check it out. Their day promises to include fun games, yummy snacks, and big, big rides. What new things will these mice try? Celebrating both partnership and the value of what makes us individuals, young readers will find this classic odd couple irresistible as they encounter relatable issues with humor and heart. Publishing simultaneously in hardcover and paperback.

An IndieBound Bestseller • An Amazon Best Book of the Year • A 2022 Kirkus Best Children's Book ★ "A rewarding choice for young readers."—Booklist, starred review ★"Cornbread and Poppy are endearing characters, poised to join the ranks of other memorable early reader sets of best friends old and new, including James Marshall's George and Martha."—Bookpage, starred review ★ "Delightful."—Kirkus, starred review ​ Caldecott medalist Matthew Cordell debuts his first early reader series about two best friends who are as different from each other as can be. Cornbread LOVES planning. Poppy does not. Cornbread ADORES preparing. Poppy does not. Cornbread IS ready for winter. Poppy...is not. But Cornbread and Poppy are the best of friends, so when Poppy is left without any food for the long winter, Cornbread volunteers to help her out. Their search leads them up, up, up Holler Mountain, where these mice might find a new friend...and an old one. Celebrating both partnership and the value of what makes us individuals, young readers will find this classic odd-couple irresistible as they encounter relatable issues with humor and heart. Publishing simultaneously in hardcover and paperback.

Best friends Cornbread and Poppy spend a day at the Carnival playing games, eating snacks, and riding the Ferris wheel.

Louise and her family are sad over the loss of their beloved dog, Charlie. "Life will not be the same," Louise says, as she visits a little island that Charlie loved. But on a visit to the island after Charlie's death, something strange happens: She meets a bear. At first, she's afraid, but soon she realizes that the bear is sad, too. As Louise visits more often, she realizes that getting over loss takes time. And just when she starts to feel better, it's time for Bear to bed down for the winter. Once again, Louise believes that life will not be the same. But sometimes, things can change for the better, and on the first warm day of spring, her family welcomes a new member. Here is a lovely, poignant story about loss and healing that will bring comfort to even the youngest readers.

An award-winning author and a Caldecott Medalist introduce an adorable new circus star - who won't stop crying! When Frieda and Boffo Clown have a baby, everyone in the circus is over the moon. But there is just one problem: Baby Clown won't stop crying! Frieda and Boffo try everything: putting on their silliest faces, driving him around in their tiny car. They even try taking off his red nose and big shoes. But that just makes Baby Clown cry more. Can Frieda and Boffo turn his little clown frown upside down in time for the sold-out show? Kara LaReau juggles wit and warmth in this hilarious nod to being a new parent, while Matthew Cordell's big-top-bright illustrations bring Baby Clown and his circus family to funny, frazzled life. Older siblings, in particular, will step right up to this applause-worthy picture book, joining Baby Clown in many a heartfelt "WAAAAH!"

Kindness, caring, and reliance on our neighbors are more important now than ever before. We all need more Mister Rogers in our lives. In difficult times, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood provided a refuge for children and their families alike; a way to understand and talk about what was happening, and find hope for a brighter tomorrow. Groundbreaking in a quiet, generous way, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood introduced a generation of children to the wonders of the world in the comfort of their own living rooms. Fred Rogers took young viewers to art museums, introduced them to different professions, and talked through difficult subjects like losing a loved one, or experiencing parents' divorce, with compassion and reassurance. Share that deep respect, care, and quiet joy in the day-to-day with the only authorized picture book biography of Fred Rogers--lovingly created by Caldecott Medalist Matt Cordell. Lively, colorful illustrations explore Fred Rogers' early life and the events that led him to create his enduring show. Exclusively published archival photographs, provided by Fred Rogers Productions, offer a behind-the-scenes look at this historic show and the people whose hard work made it possible. A brief biography of Mister Rogers and a history of the show is included, as well as a note from author-illustrator Matt Cordell about his inspiration and longtime admiration for Fred Rogers and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. Perfect for fans of the film A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, starring Tom Hanks, or anyone who wants to bring home the ideals of compassion, kindness, and patience that make us all good neighbors, this captivating picture book should not be missed. A Junior Library Guild Selection A Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year!

From Caldecott Medalist Matthew Cordell, Explorers is a new picture book about an extraordinary trip to a museum. When a family goes to a local museum, a boy notices a homeless man sitting outside, making brightly colored origami birds. He convinces his dad to buy a bird the man makes just for him. Once inside the museum, his little sister takes the bird and launches it into the air. Is it lost? Soon another boy helps him look, and the paper bird brings two families—and two new friends—together. With the style he used in Wolf in the Snow, Matthew Cordell shows how an ordinary family outing can be both extraordinary and magical.

Grandparents express their hopes for their young ones in this companion to Wish and Dream, by Caldecott Award-winner Matthew Cordell. As a family grows, so does its capacity for love, for dreams, and for hope. Two lions celebrate their grandchild and express all the ways this new life has expanded their world and the hope they hold for his future. This sweet story expresses the joy grandparents feel when their children have children and shares how deeply those grandchildren are loved.

Matthew Cordell, Caldecott Medal-winning author and illustrator of Wolf in the Snow, delivers yet another warm and delightful picture book in King Alice. Alice and her family are stuck indoors on a snowy day. Alice loves to read, and when her dad suggests that she make her own book, she snaps out of her "I'm bored" mode and makes up a story that lasts till the lights go out later that night. Here is a book that celebrates books, reading, and an imaginative way that one family handles being housebound. Praise for Matthew Cordell “Beautifully paced . . . ultimately reassuring.” —Wall Street Journal on Wolf in the Snow “Shows the power of kindness and bravery. Reminiscent of William Steig's Brave Irene, Cordell's book is a perfect choice for the dark days of winter.” —IndieBound on Wolf in the Snow

From Matthew Cordell, the author-illustrator of the Caldecott award-winning book Wolf in the Snow, comes this delightful picture book that's as charming as it is fun. It's raining. There's nothing to do. Ruben is bored. But things start looking up when his grandmother gives him and his little brother some gum. Gum is fun. There's just one problem with gum—it tends to make a mess! Uh-oh. . . . Praise for Trouble Gum: “Packs plenty of pop.” —Kirkus Reviews “Working with a stripped-down palette of black, white, red and bubblegum pink, Cordell's (Mighty Casey) first solo effort evokes irrepressible boyhood with laughs throughout. . . . Dozens of Steig-like pen and ink drawings show the antics of the partners in crime.” —Publishers Weekly “Irresistible. . . . graphically dynamic.” —San Francisco Chronicle “The simple story line and liberal use of white space open plenty of opportunities for Cordell's winsome art to generate laughs. . . . A few understated sibling notes sneak into the minimal presentation as well, making this book more than just a pure giggle-maker.” —Booklist

With new life comes infinite possibility in this companion to Wish and Hope, by Caldecott Award-winner Matthew Cordell. In this stunning picture book, a gorilla family celebrates their young child by dreaming of everything their baby will encounter, who he will be, and what dreams he will eventually have. The simple but touching story perfectly expresses the emotions that parents often find difficult to put into words.

Winner of the 2018 Caldecott Medal A girl is lost in a snowstorm. A wolf cub is lost, too. How will they find their way home? Paintings rich with feeling tell this satisfying story of friendship and trust. Wolf in the Snow is a book set on a wintry night that will spark imaginations and warm hearts, from Matthew Cordell, author of Trouble Gum and Another Brother.

A girl helps her technology-loving family rediscover the beauty of nature​ in this book by Caldecott Award-winner Matthew Cordell. Outside the world is bright and colorful, but Lydia's family is too busy with their gadgets to notice. She says Hello to everyone. Hello? Hello! Her father says hello while texting, her mother says hello while working on her laptop and her brother doesn't say hello at all. The T.V shouts Hello! But she doesn't want to watch any shows. Lydia, now restless, ventures outside. There are so many things to say hello to! Hello rocks! Hello leaves! Hello flowers! When Lydia comes back home she decides to show her family what she has found, and it's hello world and goodbye gadgets!

As an elephant couple embark on a life together, thoughts of children are far away-at first. But as the desire for a child grows, so do unexpected challenges. And it's only after thwarted plans and bitter disappointment that their deepest wish miraculously comes true.

Davy the sheep wishes he had time alone with his parents, as he did before his 12 brothers came along and started imitating his every move. But when his wish comes true Davy misses playing with the youngsters. Full color.