Collections for Kids

How does a bear go to the ballet? A polar bear escapes into New York City in this heartfelt picture book from award-winning Afro-Latino artist Eric Velasquez.

A wordless story of unlikely friendship that celebrates art and its ability to connect us. However, this picture book also opens a conversation about alienation and empathy. Who is kept out of the theater? How can we welcome them in? A deeply personal story, author Eric Valqueuez sees himself in this tale.

When dancers have a photoshoot at the Central Park Zoo, a young, African American ballerina and a polar bear form a special friendship. When his new friend leaves her scarf behind, the polar bear must venture through Central Park and out into Manhattan to return it before her performance at the Lincoln Center.

However, the theater goers eye the strange bear with suspicion. When the ushers won't let him inside, the ballerina comes to his rescue and welcomes him in. The polar bear has dreamed of seeing the ballet, and now he gets to be a part of it in the most surprising way.

The wordless narrative is told through expressive and detailed oil paintings. On the endpapers, readers learn more about these loveable characters with illustrations of zoo signage about polar bears and a magazine article about the young ballerina.

Eric Velasquez, author-illustrator of Bank Street Best Book of the Year Octopus Stew, brings a dream-like magic to this tale of empathy and kindred spirits.

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • Running a bakery is no cakewalk for a tiny dragon with a big sweet tooth! Tummy rumbles turn to belly laughs in this feel-good picture book from the bestselling author and illustrator of The Bakery Dragon.

Batter up!

Ember is in charge while the baker takes a trip and he's excited to show what he can do! When an opinionated fairy princess swoops in demanding a cake, he eagerly agrees. So what if he's only baked bread before? How hard can it be?

The sugar hits the fan when Ember's first attempt is a complete disaster. He tries again and again, but the royal customer is not happy. Everyone told Ember he was such a good baker, so why can't he get this right? If he doesn't figure it out soon, the only thing on the menu will be humble pie.

Magic shimmers on every page of this whimsical story about how to bake a cake, make new friends and learn from your mistakes.

While kids scrawl notes to Santa Claus, hatchlings write to Santa Claws. They ask for treats to fuel their romping. Santa better get to stomping!

With bouncy, delightful rhymes, Santa Claws celebrates Christmas in the Cretaceous world. Every year, Santa Claws delivers presents, spreading cheer wherever he goes. Every dino in the land gets into the Christmas spirit: Boneheads make toys, Gallimimus trims the Christmas tree, and Tiny T-Rex makes sure Santa doesn't go hungry.

Get ready for a ride on Santa's sled (pulled, of course, by pterosaurs) in this joyful holiday tale!

"This holiday winner about friendship and cooperation is...a cheery charmer for truck aficionados and anyone who loves Christmas."--Kirkus

A festive holiday readaloud from the bestselling Digger series by Joseph Kuefler. For fans of big trucks, this is the ideal next book for readers of Construction Site on Christmas Night.

It's Christmas Eve and Digger and the other big trucks are hanging tinsel, stringing lights, and decking the halls. But when there are no decorations left for the tree, Digger and his friends seek out the help of a few curious critters. Together, they forage and craft in the hopes they'll be ready before Santa arrives . . . and discover the best gift of all along the way.

From the #1 New York Times bestselling creators of the Food Group series comes a Christmas picture book featuring the ever-popular character the Big Cheese. Perfect for holiday promotions, this book includes a tear sheet of twelve holiday cards and festive foil on the cover.

Every December, the Big Cheese hosts a gigantic jamboree with flashy decorations, sparkling outfits, extravagant gifts, ear-bursting music, and jaw-dropping entertainment. It's the #1 party in town and it can't be beat!

But this holiday season, mere hours before the festivities, disaster strikes! With no backup plan in place, the Big Cheese must call in a big favor to help save the big day. But will Christmas still be Christmas if it's not quite so grand

You don't want to miss this hilarious, charming, and thought-provoking continuation of Jory John and Pete Oswald's bestselling Food Group series.

Check out Jory John and Pete Oswald's funny, bestselling books for kids 4-8 and anyone who wants a laugh:

• The Bad Seed
• The Good Egg
• The Cool Bean
• The Couch Potato
• The Smart Cookie
• The Sour Grape
• The Big Cheese
• The Good Egg Presents: The Great Eggscape!
• The Bad Seed Presents: The Good, the Bad, and the Spooky!
• The Cool Bean Presents: As Cool as It Gets
• The Bad Seed Goes to the Library
• The Good Egg and the Talent Show
• The Cool Bean Makes a Splash
• That's What Dinosaurs Do

Land of Stories meets From the Desk of Zoe Washington in this fantastical middle grade mystery where three kids' search for a missing mother leads them to a world where every story ever told is real-making a hit web series about their search along the way.

Five months ago, Maggie Woodrow's mom disappeared without a trace. Now, the world has given up the search and Maggie and her dad may lose their house. But Maggie has a plan- hire a private investigator, find her mom, and everything will go back to normal.

When the private investigator wants $3,000 to take on Maggie's case, she knows just who to turn to- Griffin, the school's entrepreneur-influencer. Maggie and her friend Petra approach him for help. Intrigued by Maggie's mom's story, Griffin agrees to film the investigation and create a web series, splitting the profits with Maggie.

Except their search takes a totally unexpected turn when they are sucked into a world where every story ever told is real-and so is magic. From Sherlock Holmes to Baba Yaga to terrifying mythical monsters, Maggie and her new friends never know what's around the corner. Still, they are determined to work together and uncover the truth about Maggie's mom.

As Maggie, Griffin, and Petra close in on the answers they seek, a mysterious (and dangerous) man known as The Reaper sends increasingly deadly threats after them. Will they find Maggie's mom? Or will their own disappearance become the latest mystery?