Fred’s Big Feelings: The Life and Legacy of Mister Rogers

It’s a beautiful day, all — this new book about Mr. Rogers comes out today!  It’s the story of Fred Rogers — how he went from shy and friendless, “a quiet boy with big feelings,” to becoming a kind and gentle revolutionary on a children’s television show that encouraged community, inspired wonder, taught empathy and made viewers feel welcome and loved.  This book is so many things — it’s a biography of the life of Fred Rogers and it’s a primer on feelings and how Mr. Rogers thoughtfully acknowledged and taught children about them.  It’s also proof that one person can impact the lives of so many in beautiful endless ripples.  Some of the farthest-reaching ripples the world has ever seen.

Fred’s Big Feelings: The Life and Legacy of Mister Rogers was written by Laura Renauld, illustrated by Brigette Barrager and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Bear Goes Sugaring

Temperatures have reached above freezing during the day which means it’s sugaring season!  Bear is gearing up to make her annual batch of maple syrup.  She takes readers through the long and fascinating process that starts with gathering all the supplies she needs to tap her maple sugar trees.  She’ll have to collect and boil 40 gallons of sap to make the one gallon of maple syrup that her two impatient sidekicks can’t wait to devour atop a tall stack of pancakes.  We absolutely loved this humorous, lighthearted and incredibly informative guide to making one of our favorite foods on earth.

Bear Goes Sugaring was written and illustrated by Maxwell Eaton III and published by Holiday House.

Bright in the Night

A fascinating look at things that glow in the night, from the Northern Lights and celestial beings up in the dark, vast sky to things that shine on earth, such as animals’ eyes, luminous moss found in forests, mushrooms, insects, amphibians, birds and sea creatures.  Did you know that there are caves in New Zealand and Australia whose ceilings look like they’re covered in stars?  In reality, the caves are filled with glow worms that spin long, glowing threads that resemble shining beads.  There are also parts of the ocean like near the west coast of Sweden that glow with tiny bioluminescent plants.  Read about all of these phenomena and more in this illuminating exploration of night and its surprising elements of light.

Bright in the Night was written and illustrated by Lena Sjöberg and published by Thames & Hudson.  It’ll be out on January 14.