when's my birthday giveaway

When’s My Birthday? is a celebration of the one day each year that kids look forward to with eager anticipation: their birthday.  Julie Fogliano's words are lovely and exuberant and Christian Robinson's work is, as always, an absolute delight.  His work evokes the irrepressible joy of childhood: its fun, laughter and effervescence.

We’re partnering with Red Cap Cards and Macmillan Children's Books to give away an assorted set of 24 birthday cards and 2 rolls of gift wrap featuring new designs by Christian Robinson, along with a copy of the newly released book When’s My Birthday?

This giveaway is open to US residents and ends Sunday, September 24, at 11:59 PM PDT.  Head over to this Instagram post to enter.

Pick a Pine Tree

Of all the holiday traditions, picking a tree has got to be one of the most memorable of the lot—the impatient anticipation, the frigid air nipping little noses and running up and down the rows of aromatic pine trees.  Breathing in that crisp, fragrant moment makes you realize that Christmas really is just around the corner.  That kind of wintry scene is hard to imagine as we're only starting to see hints of fall now, but soon enough this cooler, blustery season will blow by and December will be knocking at our front door.

Beautiful, jaunty rhymes by Patricia Toht are a lovely ode to our beloved tannenbaum whether it be "slim and tall or short and squat."  Her text evokes coziness, cheer and the sense of togetherness that make Christmas such a special time.  Jarvis' illustrations are incredibly lovely, inviting and will warm readers' hearts.

Pick a Pine Tree was written by Patricia Toht, illustrated by Jarvis  and published by Candlewick Press.  Coming soon—this Tuesday, September 19th, in fact!

the bad seed

A hilarious tale about a seed—a bad seed. A VERY bad seed.  One who never returns shopping carts to where they belong, is perpetually tardy to everything, and a line cutter, amongst other baaaaaad things.  But our little guy's history was not always this seedy.  We learn about his humble, simple and unremarkable upbringing on a happy sunflower bed and then what happens one fateful day when the flower droops and the petals drop.  And then the day that everything...went...dark for our tiny seed.  A hearty, animated and side-splitting read aloud for sure.  Smartly written with dynamic illustrations.

The Bad Seed was written by Jory John, illustrated by Pete Oswald and published by HarperCollins.  Click here to watch the book trailer for The Bad Seed!

the antlered ship

A decidedly inquisitive fox embarks on the quest of a lifetime in search of answers to his myriad questions.  Questions like "how deep does the sun go when it sinks into the sea?" and "why don't trees ever talk?"  He decides to set sail on a voyage to seek out other foxes who might be able to shed some light on his philosophical musings.

Marco the fox meets some traveling mates—a band of deer and a flock of pigeons—and they board their otherworldly vessel—a ship whose bow is adorned with majestic antlers.  As the journey progresses and adventures are accumulated, friendships form amongst the crew and Marco realizes he might have been asking the wrong questions all along, looking too far outward instead of right in front of him.

The Fan brothers' emotionally resonant illustrations and atmospheric landscapes immerse the reader in another world, another time and another place only conjured up in the deepest pockets of our imagination.

Special details and thoughtfulness went into producing this book as well—the dust jacket is akin to cold pressed watercolor paper—stiff, substantial, slightly rough and weighty enough to carry the immense beauty of the Fan brothers' art.  All together, picturebook-making at its finest, from all parties involved.  This story will live on past its years.  What can I say?  This book is magic.

The Antlered Ship was written by Dashka Slater and illustrated by the Fan brothers.  Published by Beach Lane Books.

If You Were the Moon

A girl tucked into bed talks with the moon whose light is shining through her window.

“Helloooooooooo up there, Moon!  I’m so tired.

I wish I could do exactly nothing, like you.”

The moon sets out to teach the girl in playful terms the many, many things he does.  “Spin like a twilight ballerina” describes how the moon “spins on its invisible axis, making a full turn every twenty-seven days.”  “Challenge the ocean to a tug-of-war” refers to how the moon’s gravity pulls on Earth, creating “high tides and low tides.”

Children learn about the formation of the moon, the moon’s gravity, the month’s phases, its waxing and waning, how it inspires artists all over the word and much more.  A glossary and references for further reading conclude this poetic lunar reference for ages 5-8.,   Italks to the mo

If You Were the Moon was written by Laura Purdie Salas, illustrated by Jaime Kim and published by Millbrook Press.