New Releases by Sophie Blackall

SHORTLISTED FOR THE CBCA PICTURE BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024 SHORTLISTED FOR THE ABIA CHILDREN''S PICTURE BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD 2024 SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKPEOPLE CHILDREN''S BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024 If I was a horse, I would gallop all day. I could go anywhere I want . . . If you were a horse, what would you do? Could you fit in your clothes? Would you give your little sister a ride? Would your brother even notice? Gallop along with two-time Caldecott Medallist Sophie Blackall through this riotous day in the life of a child who imagines their life as a horse. Sophie''s delightful text and resonant illustrations that feature a giant horse in familiar settings offer a visual feast, a grand dose of joy and a celebration of the real power of imagination to help us navigate the world. ''This is truly a book that will be treasured by any child who loves horses . . . Absolutely gorgeous and brilliant fun for ages 2+'' READINGS

Over a hill, at the end of a road, by a glittering stream that twists and turns, stands a house with twelve children who eat and sleep and work and play, who get into trouble, and argue and dream, who milk the cows and fish in the stream a farmhouse where they are growing up, waiting to see what the future might bring.

Everyone needs things to look forward to: big things and small things, on good days and on bad days, whether we actively create delight for ourselves or simply allow it to enter our lives. In these pages, beloved author and illustrator Sophie Blackall has gathered a collection of joys for all of us—reminders that every day the sun comes up and new babies are born. She includes suggestions that you bake muffins for a friend, or draw a face on an egg and put it in the fridge where it will smile at you each time you open the door. With wisdom, whimsy, and compassion, the 52 illustrated ideas in this book offer moments of uplift and serendipity for yourself and your loved ones. A message of hope and solace in hard times and of joyful anticipation at times of new beginnings—whether you''re grieving a loss or starting a new chapter—and for all the days in between—Things to Look Forward to is full of gentle reminders of the objects, occasions, gestures, and ideas that warm our hearts. There is always something bright on the horizon, and sometimes that horizon can be a lot closer than we think. BELOVED AUTHOR: Sophie Blackall is a world-renowned, two-time Caldecott award–winning children''s book author and illustrator. Whether your kids grew up with Ivy & Bean and If You Come to Earth, or you''re discovering Blackall''s empathetic voice and gorgeous artwork for the first time, you’re sure to fall in love with her new book for adults and folks of all ages. UPLIFTING AND HOPEFUL: We all need a little reassurance that things will get better—this book offers just that, and so much more. It reminds us that while looking forward is important, sometimes we can take matters into our own hands and create our own joy when we need it most. THE PERFECT GIFT: Not only a promise of solace in tough times, this book is also a celebration of joyful new beginnings—after all, who has more to look forward to than parents of new babies, or recent grads? You''ll want to give Things to Look Forward to to the grieving and the embarking alike. Perfect for new moms, new graduates, those going through breakups or suffering a loss, and anyone who could use a little extra joy in life just because. Perfect for: • Those going through hard times and those experiencing joyous life events • Parents (or aunts, uncles, grandparents) who have bought Sophie Blackall''s books for their children and fallen in love with her artwork • Shoppers looking for the perfect grad gift or baby shower gift • People looking for a way to express sympathy with someone who is struggling or grieving

Two-time Caldecott winner Sophie Blackall spins a winning tale about Max, a feline whose behavior doesn''t win any raves, except from the boy who believes in him and finds a way to turn a negative into a positive. When a boy is FINALLY allowed to get a cat, he has no doubts about which one to bring home from the shelter. But Max the cat isn’t quite what the family expected. He shuns the toy mouse, couldn’t care less about the hand-knitted sweater, and spends most of his time facing the wall. One by one, the family gives up on Max, but the boy loves his negative cat so much, he’ll do anything to keep him. Even the thing he dreads most: practicing his reading. Which, as it turns out, makes everything positive!

"En el fin del mundo, sobre la roca más alta de una isla diminuta, se alza un faro. Se construyó para que durara siempre. Ilumina el mar con su luz y guía a los barcos en la travesía." -- from backcover.

A lyrical and timeless picture book about hope, change and the passing of time. On the highest rock of a tiny island at the edge of the world stands a lighthouse. From dusk to dawn, the lighthouse beams, sending its light out to sea, guiding the ships on their way. As the seasons pass and the waves rise and fall, outside, the wind blows; inside, the lighthouse keeper writes, and the rhythms of his life unfold. But change is on the horizon.

A beloved picture book from two-time Caldecott Medal award-winner Sophie Blackall that transports readers to the seaside in timeless, nautical splendor! Watch the days and seasons pass as the wind blows, the fog rolls in, and icebergs drift by. Outside, there is water all around. Inside, the daily life of a lighthouse keeper and his family unfolds as the keeper boils water for tea, lights the lamp''s wick, and writes every detail in his logbook. Step back in time and through the door of this iconic lighthouse into a cozy dollhouse-like interior with the extraordinary award-winning artist Sophie Blackall.

Cleverly revealing the basics of reproduction in an age-appropriate way, award-winning Sophie Blackall has created a beautiful picture book full of playful details to amuse and engage readers. Sooner or later, every child will ask, Where do babies come from? Answering this question has never been this easy or entertaining! Join a curious little boy who asks everyone from his babysitter to the mailman, getting all sorts of funny answers along the way, before his parents gently set him straight.

En pleine nuit, un petit garçon qui n’a pas du tout envie de dormir, va réveiller sa maman et lui pose mille et une questions : « Pourquoi tu dors, pourquoi c’est encore la nuit, pourquoi le soleil n’est pas levé ? ». D’une voix ensommeillée et avec une patience qui mérite d’être soulignée, Maman répond à son petit de plus en plus agité. Un inventaire à la Prévert viendra à bout de l’enfant gigoteur qui s’endormira enfin...

Ivy and Bean are always up to something. Whether they re playing tricks on Bean s older sister, doing good deeds that turn bad, or even trying to solve global warming, their adventures are always hilarious and filled with surprises! Now fans can reenact the duo s escapades (or create new ones!) with these Ivy and Bean stand-up paper dolls. Also included are two sturdy play scenes for displaying the dolls or acting out their adventures, plus reusable vinyl stickers of colorful clothes, silly hats, and all kinds of items for getting into mischief like an octopus in a bucket! WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.

In her first book for adults, the artist Sophie Blackall creates a deeply felt, poignant book about love—a book that captures the mystery, the yearning, at times the cosmic humor behind the “what if?” of a missed connection. Like a message in a bottle, a “missed connection" classified (usually posted on a website) is an attempt however far-fetched, by one stranger to reach another on the strength of a remembered glance, smile, or blue hat. The anonymous messages are hopeful and hopeless, funny and sad. Ms. Blackall, award-winning illustrator of Ruby’s Wish and Big Red Lollipop, has turned some of the most evocative (or hilarious) of them into exquisite paintings. Missed Connections is a collection of illustrated love stories. There’s “We Shared a Bear Suit.” “If Not for Your Noisy Tambourine.” “Hairy Bearded Swimmer.” Each is told in the shorthand of a “missed connection,” and then illustrated in Chinese ink and watercolor. The paintings are extraordinary: delicate yet full of feeling, each springing from one little detail of the post into a fully imagined world. Each brings the voyeuristic pleasure of watching love at first sight, and the pleasure of watching an artist discover a fresh new way to tell a story. And not all the connections are missed. Hidden in the book are three pieces that conjure up the magic of love found.

Edward can’t fall asleep, and like most children, he has a million questions burning to be answered even though it’s way past his bedtime. In this funny picture book about the all-familiar bedtime negotiations between child and parent, Edward and his mother talk about everything from yellow dogs to corn on the cob. Most children (and parents) will recognize themselves in this gentle ode to bedtime.

In this seventh entry in the New York Times–bestselling series, two unlikely best friends get creative as they prepare for the Science Fair. It’s the Science Fair, and the second grade is all over it! Some kids are making man-eating robots. Some kids are holding their breath for a very, very long time. Some kids are doing interesting things with vacuum cleaners. The theme, obviously, is global warming. But what should Ivy and Bean do? Something involving explosions? Or ropes? Something with ice cubes? Or maybe . . . maybe something different. Praise for What’s the Big Idea? “This seventh episode about unlikely best friends Ivy and Bean may be the most ambitious and triumphant yet . . . . Barrows and Blackall know just how to expose situations that are familiar to second-graders—with empathy and a light touch.” —Shelf-Awareness

Provides instructions for performing such tricks as floating the needle, the rising pushpin, exchanging wine for water, and bottling a hard-boiled egg.