New in Picture Books

A story of a little girl who loves to dance in the rain—no matter what anyone thinks

Laney Dances in the Rain

A Wordless Picture Book About Being True to Yourself

story by Ken Willard, illustrated by Matthew Rivera Laney loves to dance in the pouring rain. One day, she encounters a scowling boy who tries to ruin her fun outside. But with the support of her mom, Laney goes back to what she loves—even after the boy attempts to destroy her beautiful yellow raincoat. When Laney embraces her true self, she brings joy to herself and her neighbors.

Ken Willard is a lifelong writer with degrees in sociology and communications. He currently resides in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. After many years of being an art director for corporations and toy makers, Matthew Rivera now writes and draws pictures for a living. He lives in Portland, Oregon.

October 2022

978-1-63198-665-9 $16.99 Juvenile Fiction/Self-Confidence/ Wordless 32 pp., full-color, 10" x 10" Hardcover with jacket Ages 4–9

Key Features

• Wordless stories allow young children to use their imagination to tell the story in their own words and their own way • An empathy-building storyline supports selfbelief and self-expression even in the face of skepticism or criticism • Wordless picture books are especially helpful for non-native English speakers and children with learning differences such as dyslexia • A special section for adults offers discussion questions to use in exploring the story with children

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978-1-57542-437-8

November 2022

978-1-63198-709-0 $16.99 Juvenile Fiction/Growing Up 32 pp., full-color, 10" x 10" Hardcover Ages 2–6

Key Features

• Book affirms and appreciates young children’s physical, social, emotional, and educational growth • Charming rhymes, whimsical illustrations, and heartwarming messages make the series giftable and perfect for storytime • The reminder for adults and kids that love and support are the constant in the ups and downs of life is incredibly comforting and provides a safe harbor as kids grow and learn

Celebrate the many ways children grow— inside and out

You Are Growing All the Time

by Deborah Farmer Kris, illustrated by Jennifer Zivoin From growing taller, to helping a friend who fell off the swings, to pausing and breathing when angry about losing a game, children are growing all the time— on the inside and on the outside. With affirmation and support, this book acknowledges all the ways children can grow into kind, brave, curious people.

Every year you’re taller. You need new clothes and shoes.

You also grow in other ways, and that’s exciting news!

You are growing all the time.

Deborah Farmer Kris is a child development expert and parent educator. She serves as a columnist and consultant for PBS KIDS, and she writes for NPR’s MindShift and other national publications. Over the course of her career, Deborah has taught almost every grade K–12, served as a school administrator, directed leadership institutes, and presented to hundreds of parents and educators around the United States. Deborah lives near Boston, Massachusetts. Jennifer Zivoin has illustrated more than forty children’s books, including New York Times best seller Something Happened in Our Town, and her art has appeared in children’s magazines, including High Five and Clubhouse Jr. She lives in Indiana.

Charming books that focus on affirmation and emotional support using the phrase “All the Time”

Written from the perspective of an adult speaking to a child, these rhyming books help young children know that they are deserving of love through life’s ups and downs. This encouraging series shows them all the ways they’re supported as they continue to grow and learn. Each book includes a letter to caregivers and additional information to reinforce the books’ messages.

978-1-63198-506-5 Available March 2022

March/July 2022

Each book: $16.99 Juvenile Fiction/Self-Confidence 32 pp., full-color, 10" x 10" Hardcover Ages 2–6

4-Book Series Now Complete

978-1-63198-698-7 Available July 2022

978-1-63198-509-6 Available March 2022

November 2022

978-1-63198-712-0 $15.99 Juvenile Fiction/Consent 36 pp., full-color, 10" x 10" Hardcover Ages 3–5

Digital content includes the song audio files and sheet music from Peaceful Schools.

Key Features

• Fills a need for books on consent that don’t focus on abuse or stranger danger • Series features diverse characters who give children a vocabulary to communicate emotions • A special section at the back of each book includes additional activities and more information about how to teach consent skills to young children

November 2022

978-1-63198-715-1 $15.99 Juvenile Fiction/Consent 36 pp., full-color, 10" x 10" Hardcover Ages 3–5 by Lydia Bowers, illustrated by Isabel Muñoz with song from Peaceful Schools This book follows Zakiya and Sami as they learn it’s okay to say no when the school librarian wants to touch their hair. With help from their preschool teacher, Zakiya, Sami, and their classmates learn that their bodies—including their hair—belong to them and that no one should touch them without permission.

Jovan called out, “Sometimes I don’t want to hug Grandma!”

Mr. B nodded, “That’s okay. It’s your choice!”

Jovan added, “I don’t like to sit on Santa’s lap either.”

Mr. B smiled. “That’s okay too. You can say no.” Zakiya tossed her braids. She was happy to show them off again. “I’m glad you like my hair. My auntie braided it!” she said to Ms. Cindy. “Do you like the beads?”

Ms. Cindy smiled. “Very much!”

Mr. B said, “Shall we read some stories now? Everyone is eager to hear what you’ve brought today!”

We Are in Charge of Our Bodies

by Lydia Bowers, illustrated by Isabel Muñoz with song from Peaceful Schools This book follows Jackson and his classmates as they learn the names for their private body parts, that they can say what’s okay for their bodies, and why it’s important to respect others’ bodies. Using the book as a read-aloud, educators and families can model language to help children set and respect physical boundaries. Includes an introduction to adult readers about the book’s topic.

Jackson remembered that his baby sister’s body was different from his. He wondered if his friends had different bodies too. “Can I see?” he asked Sami. Ms. H said, “Vulvas and penises are parts of the body that we call private parts. Those are the parts usually covered by your underwear or swimsuit. They’re just for you. It’s okay to be curious about other bodies. But we don’t show our private parts to others.”

Jackson felt embarrassed.

Teach consent in a child-friendly and developmentally appropriate way

Centered on a class of preschoolers, this series helps teach young children the social and emotional skills they need to understand the complexities of consent. Each book covers a consent theme, such as how to recognize the physical sensations that emotions create, look for body language cues, ask for and listen to choices, and know that our bodies have value. With believable, everyday situations and diverse characters, children can see themselves and others reflected in each story—and develop a vocabulary to communicate consent and feelings. Every book in the series is accompanied by a song from Peaceful Schools with downloadable audio files and sheet music.

978-1-63198-500-3 978-1-63198-503-4

Available Now

Each book: $15.99 Juvenile Fiction/Consent 36 pp., full-color, 10" x 10" Hardcover Ages 3–5

Digital content includes the song audio files and sheet music from Peaceful Schools.

6-Book Series Now Complete

978-1-63198-675-8 978-1-63198-703-8 Available August 2022

Lydia Bowers is a speaker, consultant, and trainer. After spending almost two decades working directly with children as a classroom teacher, she now teaches families and educators how to talk to children about subjects like gender, reproduction, and abuse. Lydia lives in Cincinnati, Ohio. Isabel Muñoz’s dream was to paint for a living, and now she’s proud to be the illustrator of several children’s books. She works from a tiny and colorful studio in the north of Spain. You can follow her work at isabelmg.com.

September 2022

978-1-63198-540-9 $16.99 Juvenile Fiction/Emotions & Feelings 32 pp., full-color, 8" x 10" Hardcover Ages 4–8

Key Features

• Helps children develop an awareness of inner feelings and ways to describe them • Especially useful for children who struggle to recognize their emotions, including some kids with

ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, and other processing disorders • Building an inner feelings vocabulary can help boost children’s emotional intelligence and empathy • A section for adults provides additional activities to use with children to reinforce the book’s message

Imaginative picture book helps children recognize their inner feelings and discover ways to regulate big emotions Dragons on the Inside (And Other Big Feelings)

by Valerie Coulman, illustrated by Alexandra Colombo Feelings on the inside aren’t always visible on the outside. This book validates young children’s emotions and helps them recognize, describe, and cope when they are anxious or overwhelmed on the inside. Throughout the book, multiple stressful situations are explored, and in each scenario, readers see the main character’s initial inner reaction to the stress and how it is diffused or diminished through a small act of connection from someone “on the outside.”

Today is a big day. We are moving to a new house, in a new city. ON THE OUTSIDE, I fasten my seat belt and tuck my bear in beside me. We wave goodbye to our old house as it gets smaller and smaller.

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978-1-63198-305-4

ON THE INSIDE, a roller coaster screams through my ribs, swooping and swirling through loop after loop. My stomach flip flops. I feel ANXIOUS.

Award-winning author Valerie Coulman leads a creative life, including working as a creative arts director and a writer, artist, editor, playwright, song writer, photographer, seamstress, teacher, or set designer as the opportunities arise. Valerie lives in Medford, OR. Alexandra Colombo was born in Sofia, Bulgaria, and attended secondary school in Italy, specializing in scientific studies. Alexandra then studied at the Milan European Institute of Design, receiving a degree in illustration.

In this English-Spanish bilingual book, Lulu personalizes the struggles of children experiencing food insecurity and hunger Lulu and the Hunger Monster™ Lulú y el Monstruo del Hambre

by Erik Talkin, illustrated by Sheryl Murray When Lulu’s mother’s van breaks down, money for food becomes tight and Hunger Monster comes into their lives. Only visible to Lulu, Hunger Monster is a troublemaker who makes it hard for her to concentrate in school. How will Lulu help her mom and defeat the Monster when Lulu has promised never to speak its name to anyone?

October 2022

978-1-63198-725-0 $15.99 Juvenile Fiction/Social Justice/Bilingual 40 pp., full-color, 11 ¼" x 9 ¼" Hardcover Ages 5–9

Key Features

• A respectful, realistic— and hopeful—story of food insecurity and how to get help • Helps people recognize food insecurity and hunger, as it isn’t always obvious and is more prevalent than many children and even adults realize • Along with downloadable leader’s guide in English, can be used with students to teach social justice issues and destigmatize the issue of hunger

In math, Monster bounces on my table so the numbers SQUIGGLE and JIGGLE. Mr. Abidi turns around. “Lulu, please sit still.” I want to tell him it’s Hunger Monster’s fault. Monster GLARES at me. So my mouth stays closed. En la clase de matemáticas Monstruo rebota sobre mi mesa y los números se MENEAN como GARABATOS. El Sr. Abidi se da la vuelta y me dice, “Lulú, por favor, quédate quieta”. Quiero decirle que es culpa del Monstruo del Hambre, pero Monstruo me FULMINA con su mirada. Entonces permanezco con mi boca cerrada.

Erik Talkin, writer, filmmaker, and CEO of the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, is a recognized innovator and leader in America’s food bank network. He authored Hunger into Health and has helped create innovative, national-award-winning children’s nutrition education programs such as Healthy School Pantry and Kid’s Farmers Market. Erik lives in Santa Barbara, California. Sheryl Murray lives in Portland, Oregon, where she illustrates books for kids, makes up funny voices for her cats, and occasionally banishes a tricky monster of her own with the help of her two brave girls. Learn more about Sheryl and her work at sherylmurray.com.

Also Available:

978-1-63198-546-1