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*CHILDREN'S*
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New books added daily through July 4th, 2020!
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CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK / RANCH LIFE / TEAMWORK
Hitchin’ Post & the Tornado Twistin’ 4th of July Celebration
By Julie Barker and Illustrated by Carolyn Altman
BookBaby
Paperback ISBN-13: 978-1543939538; 50 pages; $15.99
Visit the Lone Star Lit Tour Page
Hitchin' Post, the cowboy jackrabbit is back on the 6Bs' Ranch and ready for the annual 6Bs' 4th of July rodeo and dance! It's the biggest Independence Day celebration around, and this year it is sure to be the best because Hitch's five brothers are coming too. When a giant tornado threatens to destroy the celebration, Hitchin' Post shows that though he is little, he has the courage and determination to weather any storm. Hitchin' Post, his brothers, his pal Nick and the rest of the 6Bs' cowboys, all work together to rebuild what the tornado destroyed, making way for some big fireworks and rodeo fun! Join old Hitch and his cowboy friends for another wild riding, romping, stomping, 6Bs' Ranch adventure!
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CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK / PET / ANIMALS / AGES 3-9
Jesse Unleashed
By Amy Brazda
Cherry Hill Lane Books
Jesse Unleashed is the tale of Jesse, the chocolate Labrador puppy, who moves from the country to the city. Although he leaves his ranch friends behind, he begins a new city life with a "fur-real" loving family. Jesse meets new animal and human friends, and although he is scared at first to try new tasks, with the support of his new family, he overcomes his fears. Jesse demonstrates kindness and loyalty, and does good deeds for others. In addition to these "paws-itive"messages, young readers "fetch" a look for Texas symbols through brightly watercolored illustrations. Children learn the care and responsibility of a pet.
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PICTURE BOOK / ANIMALS / SOCIAL THEMES
RAD!
By Anne Bustard, illustrated by Daniel Wiseman
Abrams Books for Young Readers
Hardcover ISBN: 9781419741012; 32 pages; $16.99
Esther, Chester, Hester, and Sylvester are stoked to shred at the skate park! But unlike his daring brothers and sisters, Lester is a total fraidy-cat. Skateboarding doesn’t come easily to him—and with only nine lives to spare, why should he risk one on the half-pipe? When Lester sees how much fun his family is having, he decides to give it a shot anyway . . . only to wipe out! With the encouragement of his supportive siblings, Lester gets back up and tries again.
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NONFICTION / PICTURE BOOK BIOGRAPHY
Beautiful Shades of Brown: The Art of Laura Wheeler Waring
By Nancy Churnin, illustrated by Felicia Marshall
Creston Books/Lerner Books
Hardcover ISBN: 9781939547651; 32 pages; $18.99
Growing up in the segregated America of the early 20th century, Laura Wheeler Waring didn't see any artists who looked like her. She didn't see any paintings of people who looked like her, either. As a young woman studying art in Paris, she found inspiration in the works of Matisse and Gaugin to paint the people she knew best. Back in Philadelphia, the Harmon Foundation commissioned her to paint portraits of accomplished African-Americans. This is the first picture book biography of Waring, whose portraits still hang in Washington DC's National Portrait Gallery, where children of all races can admire the beautiful shades of brown she captured. Written with the help of her family and experts at the Smithsonian Institution, the book includes reproductions of seven of her paintings.
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NONFICTION / PICTURE BOOK BIOGRAPHY
For Spacious Skies: Katharine Lee Bates and the Inspiration for "America the Beautiful"
By Nancy Churnin, illustrated by Olga Baumert
Albert Whitman & Company
Hardcover ISBN: 9780807525302; 32 pages; $16.99
She was a poet, a professor and a suffragette. Growing up in a country divided by the Civil War, Katharine Lee Bates dreamed of finding the words that could help stitch the land she loved together. She first wrote the lines to "America the Beautiful" after a stirring visit to Pikes Peak in 1893. But the story behind the song begins with Katharine herself, who pushed beyond conventional expectations for women to become an acclaimed writer, scholar and reformer. Katharine believed in the power of words to make a difference. In "America the Beautiful," her vision of the nation as a great family, united from sea to shining sea, continues to uplift and inspire us all. Written with the support of her family, the book offers a perfect opportunity to celebrate the 100th anniversary of women winning the right to vote.
Visit the Lone Star Lit tour page.
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NONFICTION / CHILDREN'S / MIDDLE GRADE / BIOGRAPHY
King of the Hill
By Nelda Bedford Gaydou
Progressive Rising Phoenix Press
Paperback ISBN: 978-1946329684; 63 pages (48 book, 15 study guide); $9.95; also available in eBook
Fun! Informative! The perfect book to read with your child!
The Great Depression, an iconic period in U.S. history and culture, comes alive through the eyes of a child in this award-winning collection of ten entertaining biographical stories and illustrations that portray life at home, work, school and play in the 1930s in Dickens County, Texas.
King of the Hill is available wherever books are sold. To obtain a copy of the illustrations or to receive a copy of an extended study guide (grades 3-6 and 6-8) for FREE with purchase of the book, please visit the publisher's website. Learn more about the book and the author at: www.neldabgaydou.com
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RHYMING PICTURE BOOK / KINDNESS & COMPASSION / STORIES IN VERSE
The Lonely Cloud
By Marcey Heschel, Illustrated by Pei Jen
Friesen Press
Hardcover ISBN-13: 978-1525571978; 32 pages; $16.99; also available in eBook
When a small blue cloud, aimlessly floating up in the sky, gets sent to Earth on a mission to help children with upsetting problems, he doesn't know what he could possibly do to help. Feeling lonely himself, he is unsure if he can make a difference. But can he? As he interacts with the children, he learns that empathy and compassion are gifts we all have in abundance. We just have to learn how to find them inside ... and then be willing to share them with others.
Fill your heart with The Lonely Cloud, as he journeys from Heaven to Earth to learn the power of empathy and compassion. By comforting his new friends, he begins to feel less lonely himself – and that is the true nature of empathy.
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PICTURE BOOK / SCIENCE & NATURE
How Fire Ants Got Their Fire: A Texas Tale
By Susan Holt Kralovansky
Pelican Publishing
Hardcover ISBN: 9781455625192; 32 pages; $16.99
Ky-Anne's chili is so lip-smacking good that everyone, right down to the ants, want a taste. But the queen is no match for this cowgirl, who outsmarts them all and gives herself a new tale to tell. A chili recipe and fire-ant facts are included in this tantalizing picture book for young readers.
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PICTURE BOOK
Think Big (Live Big Series, Book 3)
By Best Selling, Award Winning Author Kat Kronenberg, illustrated by David Miles
Greenleaf Book Group
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1626347106; 48 pages; $15.95; also available in eBook
In the third installment of her Live Big Series, Kat Kronenberg takes readers back to the wilds of East Africa where life gets even more complicated. But when our beloved moody Baboon challenges Kudu on what to do, everything begins to change. One by one, Kudu, Giraffe, and Bee must face the dilemma of who they want to be. After seeing all their good choices, Baboon discovers another powerful secret—SHHH—that exists between the animals and the stardust that lives within them. But the danger continues to mount. Luckily, some fun animals and Baobab Tree try Baboon’s new—SHHH—secret. Will their collective courage help them survive, even thrive together where their dreams can still come true?
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PICTURE BOOK / FANTASY / MAGIC / RABBIT
The Magician
By Sherri Maret, illustrated by Pamela Behrend
RoadRunner Press
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1937054762; 48 pages; $15.99
Buddy, a live prop for a part-time magician, does not like being left home alone while his magician, Holly, goes to her day job. He would like to spend more time together, and so he decides to help their magic show go from small time to big time, which is Holly's dream. What happens when a bunny takes matters into his own paws? Pamela Behrend illustrated the book.
For reviews (Kirkus and others), classroom activities, or information about magic makerspace, go to https://www.sherrimaret.com.
Sherri Maret, who was born in Greenville but also lived in Beeville, Corpus Christi, Portland, and Pearland, became a teacher and then library media specialist. She is also an amateur magician. Her other books include The Cloud Artist and Lela and the Butterflies, which will launch on August 1st. Coming in early fall is The Book of Untold Stories.
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CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK / SOCIAL THEMES / EMOTIONS & FEELINGS
The Homesick Club
By Libby Martinez, illustrated by Rebecca Gibbon
Groundwood Books
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1773061641; 32 pages; $12.80; also available in eBook
Mónica and Hannah are school kids in the big city. Together, they have formed the Homesick Club, since they are both from far away. Mónica misses the family of hummingbirds that she and her grandmother would feed in her backyard in Bolivia every day. Hannah misses the sunshine and the tiny tortoise that lived near her house in Israel. When a new teacher, Miss Shelby, arrives from Texas, the girls discover that she misses her home, too, especially the huge sky full of stars and a Southern treat known as Hummingbird Cake. Author Libby Martinez addresses a theme that many children can relate to — feeling homesick — especially when home is far away.
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CHRISTIAN / CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK
Sadie Prays for a Good First Day
By Valerie McNeil, illustrated by Cynthia Meadows
Brown Books Publishing Group
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1612544267; 32 pages; $16.99
Sadie is excited for her first day of school, but she’s also nervous. So many worries run through her head until she isn’t even excited anymore and doesn’t want to go! But her parents remind her that all she has to do when she gets anxious is remember what the Bible tells us: instead of worrying, pray and ask God for the help you need. As Sadie’s first day unfolds and she remembers this advice, she finds she has nothing to fear when she turns to God for comfort.Learn more on the author's website.
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PICTURE BOOK / SELF ESTEEM / FRIENDSHIP / KINDNESS / HUMOR
The Box Turtle
By Vanessa Roeder
Dial Books for Young Readers,
Hardcover ISBN: ISBN 9780735230507; 40 pages; $17.99
An irresistibly cute story about finding the confidence to be yourself, starring a turtle in search of the perfect shell.
Terrance the turtle was born without a shell, so he uses a cardboard box instead. Terrance loves his box. It keeps him dry on soggy days, safe from snooping strangers, and is big enough to cozy up with a friend. But when another turtle points out that Terrance’s shell is, well, weird, he begins to wonder whether there might be a better shell out there…
Eventually, and through much trial and error, Terrance learns that there’s nothing wrong with being different–especially when it comes to being yourself.
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CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOKS / DOGS
Piper and Mabel: Two Very Wild But Very Good Dogs
By Melanie Shankle, illustrated by Laura Watkins
Zonderkidz
Hardcover ISBN: 978-0310760863; 32 pages; $12.79; also available in eBook
If you are a dog lover, you will enjoy New York Times bestselling author Melanie Shankle’s debut children’s book, Piper & Mabel. Melanie shares the adventures of her two very wild but very good dogs, Piper and Mabel, who have an experience of their own when their owners plan a vacation to the beach.
The dog duo is shocked to discover they won’t be joining their people on the trip. Instead, they’re headed to doggie day care at the Happy Trails Ranch, where they create all kinds of mischief when they discover the accommodations are not exactly what they were expecting. And when they decide to take matters into their own paws, they end up on one crazy journey.
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ANIMALS / ADVENTURE / FARM LIFE & RANCH LIFE / CHAPTER BOOKS
I Am Jax, Protector of the Ranch (A Dog's Day Series, Book 1)
By Catherine Stier, illustrated by Francesca Rosa
Albert Whitman & Company
Hardcover ISBN: 9780807516638; 96 pages; $12.99; also available in paperback and audio book
Spend a day in the life of a livestock guardian dog Jax the Great Pyrenees has a big job. After the Texas sun goes down, it's up to him and two other livestock guardian dogs to protect their ranch from predators. But when the lead dog gets hurt, Jax and a young pup are the only ones left to protect the flock through the night. Told from the dog's perspective, this story also includes back matter about the breed and role of the working dog.
I Am Ava, Seeker in the Snow (A Dog's Day Series, Book 2)
By Catherine Stier, illustrated by Francesca Rosa
Albert Whitman & Company
Hardcover ISBN: 978-0807516645; 96 pages; $12.99; also available in paperback and audio book
Spend a day in the life of an avalanche rescue dog Ava is a chocolate Labrador retriever with a big job. She and her handler have trained for years to be ready to help people at their ski resort if an unexpected avalanche hits. But Ava quickly finds out there's much more to being an avy dog than daring rescues. Told from the dog's perspective, this riveting story also includes back matter about the breed and the role of the working dog.
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NATIONAL PARKS / PARK RANGERS / NATURE / CAREER
If I Were a Park Ranger
By Catherine Stier, illustrated by Patrick Corrigan
Albert Whitman & Company
Hardcover ISBN: 9780807535455; 32 pages; $16.99
If you were a national park ranger, you'd spend every day in one of the most treasured places in America. You'd have an amazing job protecting animals, the environment, and our country's natural and historical heritage, from the wilds of Denali to the Statue of Liberty!
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PICTURE BOOK
Up on Bob
By Mary Sullivan
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1328994714; 32 pages; $13.49; also available in eBook
Bob the dog doesn’t mind hard work when it means he can reward himself with a nap. But Someone is watching him sleep! Hopefully they will just go away if Bob lies really still. But Someone, who happens to be a cat, has other things in mind.
Up on Bob is a humorous tale about sharing, working hard—and sleeping even harder. With irresistibly sly illustrations and pitch perfect pet dynamics, Geisel Honor–winning author-illustrator Mary Sullivan tells a sweet tale of friendship with a fresh new spin on the age-old cat-and-dog rivalry.
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FANTASY / ACTION & ADVENTURE / CHAPTER BOOKS
The Mischief Series
By Amanda M. Thrasher
Mischief in the Mushroom Patch: Progressive Rising Phoenix Press, Paperback ISBN: 978-0988856806, 146 Pages; $7.99; also available in hardcover and eBook
A Fairy Match in the Mushroom Patch: Progressive Rising Phoenix Press, Paperback ISBN 978-0988856813; 162 pages; $7.99; also available in hardcover and eBook
Spider Web Scramble: Progressive Rising Phoenix Press, Paperback ISBN: 978-1944277130; 170 pages; $7.99; also available in hardcover and eBook
Teamwork, friendship, and magic abound throughout The Mischief Series. In this whimsical narrative, the delightful trio Lilly, Boris, and Jack, discover who they are and what they're made of during their adventures. The descriptive passages bring the Mushroom Patch to life and instantly pull the reader into a colorful, magical world. Often books that include special need characters teach others about the disability, pointing out the differences between them and others, but not this series. Introducing a special needs fairy, Pearle, who is precious, Lilly, Boris, and Jack, unite to help—proving that friendship, loyalty, and goodness, brings all together regardless of disabilities. With gentle life lessons entwined, this series is perfect for girls and boys experiencing their first real chapter books. Author website: https://amandamthrasher.com/
Read the Lone Star Lit interview with Amanda Thrasher.
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New books added daily through July 4, 2020!
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