New Releases by Phyllis Root

Kemp’s ridley sea turtles need help! Young readers will learn about the rescue efforts necessary to save these endangered animals largely due to climate change. A riveting nonfiction read for 6-9-year-old animal-enthusiasts, future veterinarians, and conservationists that will motivate compassionate kids to start taking action now! The waters around Cape Cod used to cool off gradually, signaling to sea turtles that it was time to swim south. But now, due to climate change, the water stays warm too long and cools off too quickly, making the turtles too cold to migrate. Turtles Heading Home! follows the efforts of conservationists as they rescue the turtles, nurse them back to health, and release them into warmer waters. The operation involves hundreds of people, from the volunteers patrolling beaches, to the veterinarians in the hospital, to the pilots who fly the turtles south. All of them share the goal of helping save the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle—the most endangered sea turtle in the world.

An intrepid search for Minnesota''s wildflower treasures in out-of-the-way places Beyond Minnesota''s sunlit prairies and lush north woods, wonders of wildflowers bloom, gracing fens and forested swamps, sand dunes and the rocky North Shore, even ditches and abandoned mine dumps. Venturing farther afield than their first book Searching for Native Wildflowers, Phyllis Root and Kelly Povo set out to explore smaller, less-traveled habitats throughout the state and find these hidden gems of nature. Chasing Wildflowers brings us along on their pursuit of Minnesota''s native wildflowers. Featuring Povo''s gorgeous photographs and Root''s finely detailed descriptions of nearly two hundred species, Chasing Wildflowers is both a handy guidebook and an entertaining chronicle of the thrills and occasional mishaps of the friends'' searches, from wading rivers and climbing rocky outcrops to getting their boots stuck in deep muck while on the run from an approaching storm. Here, readers will find twenty-eight of the orchids growing in Minnesota, forty-three of the state''s rare species, and flowers with names like Allegheny monkey flower, hairy false goldenaster, naked miterwort, and spoon-leaf sundew--as well as plenty of inspiration to set off on their own adventures. Neither botanists nor biologists, Root and Povo are wildflower enthusiasts determined to learn about native wildflowers wherever they can be found, providing readers with all the information they might need to find and identify rare and intriguing species in unexpected places. Along with their tales of adventure and exploration are resources and practical tips for your own outings, a glossary, and suggestions for helping preserve native habitats and wildflowers. A uniquely useful and engrossing resource for gardeners, naturalists, artists, hikers, photographers, and beyond, Chasing Wildflowers is the ultimate guide for anyone curious to learn more about our beautiful and surprising natural world.

“ ‘You can grow your own farm anywhere’ is the empowering message of this inclusive picture book.” — School Library Journal (starred review) You might think a farm means fields, tractors, and a barnyard full of animals. But you can plant a farm anywhere you like! A box or a bucket, a boot or a pan — almost anything can be turned into a home for green, growing things. Windows, balconies, and front steps all make wonderful spots to start. Who knows what plants you may choose to grow and who will come to see your new garden? Phyllis Root delivers a modern rhyming mantra for anyone hoping to put their green thumbs to good use, while G. Brian Karas’s cheerful urban illustrations sprout from every page. After all, anywhere can be a farm — all it takes is one small seed and someone to plant it.

An ear-tickling, eye-teasing romp for little listeners, led by an award-winning author and illustrator. Do you really, really want to see a moose — a long-leggy moose — a branchy-antler, dinner-diving, bulgy-nose moose? Spurred by Phyllis Root''s sing-songy text and Randy Cecil''s buoyant illustrations, this hunt for an elusive moose through woods, swamps, bushes, and hills is just as fun as the final surprise discovery of moose en masse. Children will laugh at the running visual joke — what is that little dog looking at? — and ask for repeated reads of this satisfying tale.

Celia Thaxter grew up on a desolate island off the coast of Maine, where her father worked as lighthouse keeper. Amid the white and gray of the sea, the rocks, and even the birds, young Celia found color where she could: green mosses and purple starfish and pink morning glories by the shore. And she planted her first garden, tucking bright marigolds between rocky ledges. When she was twelve, Celia''s family moved to nearby Appledore Island, where her father built a large hotel, and Celia planted a bigger, ever-growing garden with nearly sixty types of flowers, from asters to wisteria.

“The cozy, humorous story is guaranteed to invite giggling kids into their parents’ beds.” —Kirkus Reviews On a stormy night in a little house, only Papa keeps snoring away—snurkle, snark—unaware of the wild weather outside and the growing number of nervous bedmates within. Can nothing wake him? Creak! says the bed. . . . With a cumulative series of comical events, this delightful story sends readers barreling toward bedlam.

"Perfect for reading aloud, this counting book not only contains bright bold illustrations but also has lots of . . . sound effects that children will love to replicate." -- BOOKLIST Down by the marsh, by the sleepy, slimy marsh, one duck gets stuck in the muck . . . Can two fish, tails going swish, help? What about three moose, munching on spruce? Bright, spirited illustrations by Jane Chapman enhance this one-of-a-kind counting tale by Phyllis Root - a feast of sounds and numbers that will have listeners scrambling to join in the slippy, sloppy fun.

A sighting of the rare frangipani fruit fly sends Lilly''s scientist parents off in search of the fabled Shipwreck Islands. In this Smithsonian''s Notable Book for Children, Lilly awaits their return at the home of her great-uncle Ernest, the chief librarian of Mundelaine, a town that seems to have more than its share of piratical-looking characters lurking about. When news comes that her parents'' ship has wrecked, she must overcome her fear of the sea, find the hidden island, and outsmart a bunch of treasure-hungry pirates to save the day.

PICTURE STORYBOOKS. This is a tale about a rat who follows his dreams and goes to sea, with pictures by the illustrator of "The Gruffalo". Sam, the river rat, dreams of going to sea. Day and night, whatever he is doing, his thoughts turn seawards. His neighbours tell him to think of practical matters like fixing his fence and getting his garden in order. But Sam decides to build his own boat. His neighbours are sceptical, "You''ll be swallowed by a shark," they warn. By spring his boat is ready and Sam sets off on his voyage. The neighbours tell each other that that''s the last of Sam. But as they return to their vegetable patches, Sam is skimming over the wild green waves, and one day a passing seagull drops a note that reads, "Dear friends, please do not worry, I am happy. Love, Sam." Written in lyrical prose by Phyllis Root and illustrated in bright bold colours by Axel Sheffler, this book is the story of a river rat who follows his heart and realizes his dreams. Ages 4+.

Baby animals and their mothers see other types of babies.

A lost, lonely, scrawny cat who is hungry and afraid unexpectedly meets someone who takes him in and loves him, in a heartwarming tale about finding home in unlikely places.

Cold, wet, and acidic, bogs appear to be extremely hostile to life, yet numerous plants and animals have adapted in fascinating ways in order to survive there. In Big Belching Bog, Phyllis Root lets us in on the secrets of the mysterious bog, describing such special inhabitants as plants that eat insects, bog lemmings, and frogs that stay frozen through the winter and thaw out in the spring. But what''s that coming up from the bottom of the bog? The biggest bog secret of all, we learn, is the remarkable process of methane gas belching out of the bog. The gas is created by decaying peat moss and forms a bulge in the surface of the moss six inches or taller before breaking through. Does this "belch" make a sound? No one knows, says Root, because no one has ever heard it. In fact, bogs are known as some of the quietest places on earth. Maybe you will be the first to hear the big bog belch! Illustrated by renowned woodcut artist Betsy Bowen, Big Belching Bog also contains a section of bog facts, including more information about the plants and animals mentioned in the book as well as tips for visiting a bog. Big Belching Bog will stir the imagination of young readers and teach them about the landscape and environment of these mysterious and, ahem, gassy places.

"Here’s a happy story hour choice. . . . A picture book that passes the fun test with flying fizz." — Booklist It’s hot, hot, hot! So Junie and Jake and Poppa and the baby want to go to the lake. But can they make it there in their rattletrap car? It doesn’t go fast, and it doesn’t go far. . . . Inventive wordplay and expressive illustrations make this a readaloud road trip to remember.

Living alone at the foot of the mountain, Pierre decides to take a ride to the other side in the hopes of making new friends and gets more than he bargained for when he picks up helpful Goat, Sheep, and Bear before ever reaching the top!

"Perfect for reading aloud, this counting book has lots of sound effects that children will love to replicate. . . . Great fun." — Booklist One duck is stuck in the muck. Can two fish, tails going swish, help? What about three moose, munching on spruce? Will four crickets, chirping in the thickets, manage to pull the unlucky duck out of the muck? Bright, spirited illustrations by Jane Chapman enhance this one-of-a-kind counting tale by Phyllis Root — a feast of sounds and numbers sure to have listeners scrambling to join in the slippy, sloppy fun.

One winter in the Far North the sun disappears and Lucia, accompanied by her milk-white cat, braves the freezing cold and trolls who want to eat her, trying to find the sun and bring it back.

Someone said boo! But who? Lift the flaps of this silly mystery to find out who''s the spookiest character of all!

When women of a certain age were mere slips of girls they took home economics classes and learned things like how to clean just about anything with toothpaste and vinegar. For the most part, the slavish devotion to housekeeping is long gone, but the clutter and the GUILT remain. Ask Gladys pledges to dispel all that. There are some really good ideas here, such as: * Keep someone in bed so you never have to make it. * Save time-shower with your dishes. Packed with humorous advice and fabulous photographs, Ask Gladys is the perfect book for those guilt-ridden women out there who need to get over it already! Trust us, this one will be a welcome gift for any occasion.

Tabby Cat''s adventures.

Jill builds a cozy house just for her and her cat, but each of her neighbors, who are nursery rhyme characters, wants a room, so Jill keeps adding rooms to her house until it is not so cozy anymore.

When Grandmother Winter shakes out her feather quilt, birds, bats, bears, and other creatures prepare themselves for the cold.

Through a selection of talented writers and photographers, the North is embodied in the stories and photographs of the pursuit of albino deer in the central woods of Wisconsin, of the lifelong search to encounter a moose in the wilds of northern Minnesota, of one family''s half century old tradition of fishing in Ontario, of trailing timber rattlesnakes in the Mississippi River bluffs in southeastern Minnesota, and in many others. Each of the artist''s chapters offers a dramatic perspective of the region we love?each of them welcoming us North. Non-Fiction Hardcover: 112 pages Dimensions (in inches): 11 X 8.5 Publisher: Crotalus Publishing: (October 2004) ISBN 0-9741860-4-X

Who hasn''t found herself lost somewhere in mid-life, asking those questions: What''s it all about? Is this all there is? Enter Gladys, stage left, with her questions and her answers. This laugh until you cry book is smart as a whip and sharp as a tack. By the end, Gladys has found her way. Gladys takes us all the way from Sheboygan to Duluth, New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Reno and back home again. And in so doing, she''ll point the way for millions of women of a certain age, who are looking for their je ne sais quoi. Kelly Povo, photographer and artist, creator of Kelly Girls Cards and other inspiring products for women, and Phyllis Root, an award-winning writer with a pointed and gentle sense of humor, have teamed up to create Gladys- the middle-aged gal who has had it with life. None of her accomplishments and pursuits satisfy her anymore, even though her breasts (turkey, that is) were the talk of Sheboygan. She''s sure there''s more to life. So off she goes on a classic (well sort of) shero journey to find herself. In L.A. she finds women on the cutting edge- of lawns. And so it goes, until Thelma, the Angel of Lost Women appears, and, like Dorothy, Gladys figures out where her heart''s desire lies and discovers that life is a party to which she is invited.

Various disasters threaten to stop Poppa and the children from getting to the lake in their rattletrap car, but they manage to come up with an ingenious solution to each problem.

Mouse goes on a picnic.

Oliver the bear becomes lost when he chases a leaf to the edge of the woods, but then he comes up with an idea to find his way back home.

When Mouse burns his dinner, he knows just what to do!