Storey Publishing

The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World

Intimate Views of the Courting, Parenting, and Family Lives of Familiar Birds

by Laura Erickson and Marie Read

See the intimate lives of birds as never before! Laura Erikson and Marie Read document the family lives of more than 50 common North American birds through breathtaking close-up photography. Stunning images of hummingbirds, owls, tanagers, and more showcase different stages of avian development and capture the loving bond that exists within each bird family. Bird enthusiasts of all feathers will cherish these beautiful images of courting, nest construction, eggs, nestlings, feeding time, and much more.

Softcover, 208 pages. 9.75 x 8.5 inches.

About the Authors

Laura Erickson is the author of seven bird books, including The Bird Watching Answer Book, and is co-author of Into the Nest. She has served as an editor of Bird Scope magazine and a columnist and contributing editor for Birdwatching magazine and she contributed editorial content for the All About Birds website. She also writes and produces a daily radio segment about birds. She lives in Duluth, Minnesota.

Marie (pronounced "Maury") Read's photographs and articles have been featured in numerous magazines, including National Geographic, Bird Watching, Birds & Blooms, and Bird Watcher’s Digest. Marie previously worked at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology as photo/illustrations editor for the Home Study Course in Bird Biology, and later as photo editor/content developer for the All About Birds website. She lives in Freeville, New York.

Reviews

The relevancy of the details makes Into the Nest a useful title for backyard birders, but the photographs, which include everything from nests and eggs to nestlings and adult birds, make it highly appealing to browsers as well.… Smart, sweet, and irresistible. ~Booklist

A wonderful addition to any ornithology section. ~School Library Journal

[Into the Nest will] keep both experienced birders and the backyard variety enthralled as they peruse the beautifully photographed pages of this book. ~Publishers Weekly

If we were to choose the one person we’d like to give us a tour of our neighborhood park or our own backyard, it would be Laura Erickson. And if we were to choose a photographer to record the birds, behaviors, nests, and nestlings that Laura would surely show us, it would be Marie Read. ~Bird Watching Daily

Such a cool book!… The authors bring the diverse personal lives of raptors and hummingbirds and woodpeckers and wrens into stunning focus. ~Better Homes & Gardens Everyday Gardener’s Blog

This book isn’t just a collection of pretty pictures. It’s packed with high-quality information … a fact-driven Discovery Channel special in book form. ~The Wild Bird Journal

This will become your go-to book for backyard birding. ~The Star Tribune

Into the Nest ... is a bird-lovers’ delight, packed with facts and more than 340 color photos. ~The Chicago Tribune

If you’ve tried to photograph birds in your yard with your cellphone camera and missed the fleeting shot, you’ll appreciate the stunning photography that fills this 201-page guide spotlighting familiar and favorite birds. ~OregonLive

Laura Erickson and Marie Read have created a beautiful volume that is jam-packed with stunning photographs that illustrate the nest-to-fledgling story for dozens of birds. A beautiful and interesting book. ~Fort Worth Star-Telegram

The Curious Parts & Pieces of the World under the Sea

by Julia Rothman; With John Niekrasz

Julia Rothman’s best-selling illustrated Anatomy series takes a deep dive into the wonders of the sea with Ocean Anatomy. Follow Rothman’s inquisitive mind and perceptive eye along shorelines, across the open ocean, and below the waves for an artistic exploration of the watery universe. Through her drawings, discover how the world’s oceans formed, why the sea is salty, and the forces behind oceanic phenomena such as rogue waves. Colourful anatomical profiles of sea creatures from crustacean to cetacean, surveys of seafaring vessels and lighthouses, and the impact of plastic and warming water temperatures are just part of this compendium of curiosities that will entertain and educate readers of all ages. 

Also available in this series: Nature Anatomy, Farm Anatomy, Food Anatomy, and Nature Anatomy Notebook

Softcover, 208 pages.  6.5 x 9 inches.

Storey Publishing, 2020.
 

Reviews:

"Timely, important, and serious information does not have to be tough to digest. The latest book in Rothman's illustrated Anatomy series, is a spectacularly appealing overview of everything to do with the ocean that presents information with beauty and charm…This lovely book will appeal to readers of all ages, whether they want to sit and read or just dip their toes in. It should be in every library’s circulating collection." — Booklist 

"As usual, the book did not disappoint: beautifully done illustrations about the ocean and everything living in it." — Book Riot 

"The writing is clear, lively, and informative. Each spread is filled with a variety of colorful, appealing, and scientifically accurate drawings... A fact-filled, browsable title with strong visual appeal." — School Library Journal 

About the Author:

Julia Rothman is an illustrator, pattern designer, and author. Her illustrated column, Scratch, is featured biweekly in the Business section of the New York Times Sunday edition. In addition to working for clients such as City Target, the Washington Post, and MTA Arts & Design, she has her own lines of wallpaper, stationery, fabric, and dishware. Rothman has authored, coauthored, and illustrated twelve books including Ocean Anatomy, Nature Anatomy, Nature Anatomy Notebook, Food Anatomy, and Farm Anatomy. She lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.

A Guide to the Moon, Sun, Planets, Stars, Eclipses, and Constellations

by Meg Thacher

The sun, moon, stars, and planets have been a source of wonder for as long as humans have lived on earth.

In this highly visual guide to observing the sky with the naked eye, kids aged 9–14 will delve into the science behind what they see.  This captivating book offers a tour of our solar system and deep space, explaining how objects like Earth’s moon were formed and introducing the “why” behind phenomena such as eclipses, northern lights, and meteor showers.  Sky gazers will learn how to find and observe planets — no binoculars or telescopes required — and star charts will show them how to spot constellations through the seasons and in both hemispheres.

Activities include tracking the cycles of the sun and moon and observing the sky during daylight hours or on a cloudy night.  Includes profiles of professional astronomers and sidebars on space technology and current issues, such as light pollution.

Hardcover, 132 pages.  11 x 11 inches.

Storey Publishing.

Reviews:

"Packed with fun activities and fascinating facts, Sky Gazing is perfect for sharing with kids or letting them enjoy on their own. By inviting us outside to look up in wonder, Sky Gazing inspires our best defense against the continued growth of light pollution and the loss of natural night: a love for the sky gained by knowing it firsthand. You couldn’t ask for a better guide to that experience than Meg Thacher’s marvelous book."
— Paul Bogard, author of The End of Night: Searching for Natural Darkness in an Age of Artificial Light

“This title is a bonanza for upper-elementary or middle school independent reading, especially for students with an interest in the sciences.”
— School Library Journal, starred review

by Nicole Blum and Catherine Newman

In today’s thriving maker culture, kids are hungry for hands-on guidance in creating stylish wearables and practical objects, or hacking and customizing existing ones. Authors Nicole Blum and Catherine Newman get them started with complete instructions for mastering six favourite fibre crafts. Step-by-step photos teach kids ages 9–14 the basics of how to sew, knit, crochet, felt, embroider, and weave, plus how to make three projects for each craft. (In our experience, children as young as 6.5 or 7 years old can well manage and be inspired by several crafts from the book). From woven patches and a knitted backpack to embroidered merit badges and a crocheted bracelet, the fresh, kid-approved projects encourage creative variations and build confidence along with valuable life skills.

Softcover, 208 pages. 20.3 x 2.3 x 25.1 cm

Storey Publishing, 2017.

Reviews

From the Back Cover

Ready, Set, Make!

About the Author

Nicole Blum and Catherine Newman are the coauthors of Stitch Camp. They are longtime friends and cocreators who have been crafting for many years with each other, their families, and groups of kids at home camps and studio workshops. Blum is the coauthor of Improv Sewing. Newman edits ChopChop, a nonprofit family cooking magazine, and is the author of One Mixed-Up Night, Catastrophic Happiness, and Waiting for Birdy. Blum and Newman live in western Massachusetts.

Read more at the publisher's website.

Excerpt from the Book

Beanbag Hand Warmer

The project description below is an excerpt from “Stitch Camp” by Nicole Blum and Catherine Newman (Storey Publishing, 2017).

Toss them into a bucket and keep score — and they’re toys. Heat them in the microwave and pop them in your pockets — and they’re hand warmers. Either way, this is a project that comes together quickly, and it makes a great gift. Make your beanbag as big or small as you like, or vary the sizes for different projects.

What You Need

♦ Enough craft felt, polar fleece, or felted wool to cut a front and back piece

♦ Straight pins

♦ A small bowl (or a square cut from cardboard) for tracing (any size 3 to 5 inches is good)

♦ Chalk

♦ Scissors

♦ Embroidery floss or sturdy thread

♦ Sharp needle

♦ Rice or other grains, lentils or other small dried beans, or popcorn, for filling

♦ Kitchen funnel or a piece of paper or small spoon

How You Make It

1. Stack or fold the fabric so there are two layers and stick a pin through the middle to hold the layers together while you’re cutting. Trace the bowl or cardboard square onto the top layer with chalk. Keeping both pieces of fabric pinned together, carefully cut the shapes out. Taking your time here will make sewing easier, and you won’t have to fix rough edges later.

2. Measure an arm’s length of embroidery floss, thread your needle, and knot the end. Starting in between the two layers, push your needle up through the top piece of fabric and pull the thread through until the knot is snugly against the underside.

3. Stitch around the edge of both layers using a nice, even backstitch. It is important to make your stitches very close together so the filling won’t pop out, especially if you’re using rice.

4. When you have about 1 inch left open, stop sewing but don’t tie off your thread yet; just lay the needle and thread out of the way or push the needle into the fabric to keep it safe. Use the unstitched hole to fill the bag with rice, beans, or the filling of your choice. A kitchen funnel makes this easy, but you can roll up a piece of paper to make a funnel if you like, or just use a small spoon and some patience.

5. When the bag is full, finish stitching until you meet up with where you started, then tie off your thread and snip it close to the fabric. If it’s important to you to conceal the knot, you can push the needle between the two layers before knotting.

Tip: Materials for Hand Warmers

If you’re planning to offer your beanbags up (or use them yourself) as hand warmers, use wool felt for the outside. Synthetics can behave strangely in the microwave, which is where you’ll heat them up. Rice is our favorite choice for filling hand warmers (it smells good when you heat it.), but whatever you choose, don’t use popcorn.

The third book in the Backpack Explorer series from the Editors of Storey Publishing invites budding naturalists to head outside for a walk — in the woods, a park, or right in their backyard — to spot feathered friends.  Backpack Explorer: Bird Watch leads kids aged 4 and up through the basics of birding, from identifying common birds to learning about habitat and migration and listening for bird songs.

The pages are packed with prompts and activities, including 12 interactive field guides (for common birds, nests, eggs, tracks, and more), sensory scavenger hunts, activities such as building a bird nest, matching games, and simple discovery zone pages about food chains and the life cycle of birds.  Equipped with a real magnifying glass, stickers, and a birding log for recording sightings and encounters, this book is the perfect take-along for any nature adventure.

Also available in this series: Backpack Explorer: Beach Walk and Backpack Explorer: On the Nature Trail.

Recommended for ages 4 - 8 years.

Hardcover, 48 pages.  7.38 x 9.25".

Storey Publishing

102 Brainteasers, Word Games, Jokes & Riddles, Picture Puzzlers, Matches & Logic Tests for Horse-Loving Kids

By Cindy A. Littlefield

102 brainteasers, word games, jokes, riddles, and puzzles that will keep horse-crazy children entertained for hours.  Packed with fascinating bits of equine trivia and plenty of illustrations, this book will jumpstart kids’ creativity and boost their problem-solving skills, while at the same time teaching them about their favorite animals.  Get ready for some serious horsing around.

Recommended for 8 - 12 years old (Grades 3 to grade 7).

Softcover, 144 pages.

Storey Publishing, 2004.

by Deborah Jarchow (Author), Gwen W. Steege

This book is such a treasure trove of 320 pages of well-laid out instructions and lovely projects, it is like several books in one.  This book could see one through from beginner to advanced weaving projects.

Weaving is a highly accessible craft — over, under is the basic technique — but the stumbling block for many would-be weavers has been the high cost of a commercial loom.  The Weaving Explorer removes that barrier, inviting crafters and artists to try out an amazing range of techniques and creative projects that are achievable with a simple homemade loom, or no loom at all! 

Weavers Deborah Jarchow and Gwen W. Steege take inspiration from the world of folk weaving traditions, adding a contemporary spin by introducing an unexpected range of materials and home dec projects.  From sturdy rag fabric grocery bags to freeform wire baskets, delicately woven thread bracelets to colorful woven rugs, crafters will delight in exploring the opportunities to make their own personal variations on these beautiful — and functional — creations.

Hardcover, 320 pages.  8 x 10 inches.

Storey Publishing.

Featured Reviews:

"Dedicated and newbie weavers will find their dream projects in this lushly photographed primer on using everything from yarn and paper to wire and more to create unique and creative projects... . Ideal for hobbyists and artists alike, Jarchow and Steege’s smart and beautiful volume will find its way to the keeper shelves of many craft aficionados." — Publishers Weekly

"Weaver authors Jarchow and Steege count on the basics to create polished, professional-looking pieces. Each of the 40-plus projects features step-by-step photographs, tips for success, and a design notebook explaining what an author did to create/finish the pattern in addition to the project instructions. Here, it's easy to see why a 25,000- year-old craft has survived and thrived."  — Booklist, starred review 

"This beautifully photographed collection of crafts features projects that can be created with homemade looms or even without a loom—perfect for those new to the art of weaving." — Library Journal 

"The book’s range of innovative weaving projects for garments, jewelry, household objects, and art employs an assortment of techniques and materials. Generous photographs illustrate the projects—based on traditional weavings... and other, more challenging crafts projects that transform the traditional styles. Not your grandma’s crafts book, The Weaving Explorer is an imaginative, fun, and accessible collection of projects to cozy up to this winter."  — Foreword Review 

“The Weaving Explorer is the best new book on simple loom weaving. The material is approachable to the novice weaver, but also appealing to the more seasoned. Projects have a fresh look and include instruction that is helpful and clear.” — Jane Patrick, author of The Weaver’s Idea Book and creative director of Schacht Spindle Company

“An exciting look at the art of weaving that is perfect for beginners and fascinating enough to take experienced weavers on their next journey.” — Barry Klein, yarn and knitwear designer

By Helene Hovanec & Patrick Merrell

Get in the saddle and ride your way through a variety of pony-themed mazes, crosswords, quizzes, and word searches.

Jackie the Jack Russell terrier and Barney the barn owl guide children through a puzzle-packed tour around the horse farm.  Their silly, horsey humor will bring laughs galore and keep kids engaged as they work their way through 100 fun brainteasers.  Five chapters of zany activities progress in difficulty, encouraging children to stretch their abilities as they learn more about ponies. 

Recommended for 6 - 10 years old (Grade 1 to grade 4).

144 pages.

Storey Publishing.

A Kid's Guide to Birds of Prey

By Christyna M. Laubach René Laubach Charles W. G. Smith

By Helene Hovanec & Patrick Merrell

Recommended for 8 - 12 years old (Grades 3 to grade 7).

Softcover, 144 pages.

Storey Publishing, 2007.

by Nathaniel T. Wheelwright , Bernd Heinrich

An Observation Guide and 5-Year Calendar-Journal for Tracking Changes in the Natural World around You

Jump-start curiosity with this take-along field guide for children, and sure to interest older children and adults with its delightful information and illustrations.

Backpack Explorer: Discovering Trees encourages junior naturalists to step outside and get curious about the trees they see, whether in their backyard, in their neighbourhood, in a park, or on a trail.  With this take-along activity book — the fifth in the best-selling Backpack Explorer series from the Editors of Storey Publishing — kids will stop, look, listen, and touch as they search for leaves, count tree rings, notice the sound of birds or wind in the branches, gather pinecones, and feel bark.

Each page is packed with prompts and activities, including 12 interactive field guides for identifying common trees, simple craft projects such as Make a Tree Rubbing or Make a Nature Mask from colourful leaves, and simple discovery features with fun tree facts.  Equipped with a real mini-magnifying glass, stickers, and log for recording tree finds, this book is the perfect accompaniment for any nature adventure.  Filled with activities, checklists, and stickers, this interactive nature guide is fun to throw in a backpack to take with or to do a little home study.

Special lightweight durable hardcover, 48 pages.

Storey publishing, 2021.

Open Your Senses & Discover Nature’s Secrets; Mapping, Tracking & Journaling Activities

by Devin Franklin

Recommended for 8-13 years old.

Children will see the natural world around them with brand new eyes, as they learn to follow its signs, hear its language, and understand its secrets. With this unique and compelling book written by expert environmental educator Devin Franklin, kids aged 8 to 13 will build their own relationship with nature through finding a “Sit Spot” — an outdoor space in the backyard, in a field or in the woods, in a vacant lot or a city park — where they can stop, observe, and become familiar with the flora and fauna that live there.

From the Six Arts of Tracking (Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How) and making a habitat map to walking in smooth silence like a fox and learning the basics of bird language, exploration exercises lead young readers on a fascinating journey of discovery as they watch, listen, map, interpret, and write about the sounds, sights, scents, and patterns they encounter. With prompts and write-in spaces for journaling, map-making activities, and observational tracking throughout, Put On Your Owl Eyes is an interactive and thought-provoking guidebook.

Softcover, 160 pages.

Size: 7.38 x 9.25

About the Author: Devin Franklin is the author of Put On Your Owl Eyes. He holds a degree in environmental education and has studied survival, tracking, and awareness skills at Wilderness School in Maine and the Tracker School in New Jersey. He is director of programing at Flying Deer Nature Center in Chatham, New York, which he joined with his wife in 1998.

The latest addition to the best-selling Backpack Explorer series (455,000 copies in print) invites kids ages 4 and up to head outside and find, collect, and learn about rocks with this take-along activity book! Backpack Explorer: Rock Hunt is packed with prompts and activities, including: 12 interactive field guide pages introducing rock classifications (color, shape, size, texture); sensory scavenger hunts; hands-on outdoor creative activities; rock experiments; and discovery zone pages with facts about geology, landforms, igneous and metamorphic rocks, gems, fossils, and more. The book includes a real magnifying glass, stickers, and a log for recording rock finds, making it the perfect explorer guide for budding geologists, whether in a backyard, a city park, or a nature preserve.

Also available in this series: Backpack Explorer: Beach Walk and Backpack Explorer: On the Nature Trail.

Recommended by the publisher for ages 4 - 8 years; however, here at nest, we find that older children, and even many adults will find this a nifty little introductory handbook.  The activities are geared towards young elementary children, but the information is a little rich and varied.  

Hardcover, 48 pages.  7.38 x 9.25".

Storey Publishing

by Frank Grindrod

Essential Outdoor Survival Skills for Kids

Whether in the rugged backcountry or a suburban backyard, kids can experience the sense of personal independence and self-confidence that come from outdoor proficiency, while also developing a deeper connection to and understanding of the natural world. With this skills-based book, kids learn essential safety and survival tips and bushcraft that they need to have a safe wilderness experience. Led by outdoor leader Frank Grindrod of Earthwork Programs, every turn of the page takes kids on another stage of the journey. They learn how to pack for the outdoors, navigate using a map and a compass, choose and set up a campsite, handle and use a knife properly, build a fire, tie different types of knots, make a lean-to out of sticks and leaves, and cook over an open fire. This guide teaches more than just outdoor know-how; it fosters appreciation for the natural world and pride in knowing how to use its resources as a tool for survival and adventure.

Recommended for young adventurists ages 10 years and older.

Softcover, 160 pages.

Storey Publishing.

"Frank Grindrod, one of the great outdoor guides of our generation, distills a lifetime of wilderness knowledge into a best-of-class guide to help kids of all ages adventure safely and confidently into the wild places. Buy it. Read it. Share it."  — Creek Stewart, survival instructor and television host

65 Hugely Useful, Super-Important Skills to Learn before You're Grown Up

By Catherine Newman

For the kid who leaves a wet towel wadded up on the floor or forgets to put a new roll on the toilet-paper thingy, witty parenting writer and etiquette columnist Catherine Newman has created the ultimate guidebook of essential life skills for kids. 

Jam-packed with tips, tricks, and advice — all illustrated in an irresistible graphic novel–style — How to Be a Person shows kids just how easy it is to free themselves from parental nagging and become more dependable — and they’ll like themselves better, too!  They’ll learn how to do chores like loading the dishwasher and making a bed, brush up on communication skills like making a phone call and apologizing, and master 61 other super-helpful skills including how to stick up for somebody, fold a T-shirt, and turn a 33-cent package of ramen into dinner.  Improve work-life balance for the whole family with this kids’ guide to growing up.

Recommended for 10 - 14 years old (grades 5 - 9).

Softcover, 160 pages.

Storey Publishing.

Reviews

“Catherine Newman has created a starting place for loving, productive conversations about independence, competence, and kindness.”— Jessica Lahey, best-selling author of The Gift of Failure

“Kids will delight in this witty, clear, and fun-to-read handbook. And parents will rejoice in having Catherine Newman as a wise and warm partner in teaching our children nearly everything they should know — but don’t want to hear about from us!” — Dr. Lisa Damour, best-selling author of Untangled and Under Pressure

“An illustrated guide that teaches tweens (who aren't eager to learn anything from you) life skills such as managing money, doing the dishes, and addressing an envelope.”— Parents

“Geared toward kids — but honestly, everyone in the house should brush up on these cleaning and life skills.” — Real Simple

“Emphasizes why these skills are so important for kids to master and how good they’ll feel once they do. The illustrations reflect diversity and avoid gender stereotypes. Entertaining way to teach valuable skills that every kid (and adult) needs to know.” — Booklist

“This succinct and entertaining guidebook describes life skills with step-by-step instructions... No matter who is reading and enjoying the book, the skills are fleshed out with easy-to-understand steps and engaging illustrations.”  — School Library Journal

Recommended for ages 8-12 years.

Softcover, 144 pages. 8 x 10 inches.

Storey Publishing.

About the Authors:

Emma Biggs is the coauthor, with her father Steven Biggs, of Gardening with Emma.  A 13-year-old with a passion for gardening, she shares kid-focused gardening ideas at events, on radio shows, and on her blog.  In 2017, she grew 68 different varieties of tomatoes.  She lives with her family in Toronto.  

Reviews:

A Place to Track and Draw Your Daily Observations

By Julia Rothman

The best-selling Backpack Explorer series has become a favorite of nature-curious kids and families. Now available in one value-packed bundle, the Backpack Explorer 5-Book Set with Nature Collection Box includes five books in the series: On the Nature Trail; Bird Watch; Bug Hunt; Discovering Trees; and Rock Hunt.  Packed with prompts, activities, interactive field guides, and sensory scavenger hunts, each Backpack Explorer book gets kids outside and exploring the world around them. Colorful, lightweight, and durable, these books are designed to be popped in a backpack and taken along on nature walks—turning any outdoor adventure into an opportunity for nature science learning! In addition to the hands-on activities, each book includes a real magnifying glass for outdoor and on-the-page observing, three sheets of sticker patches for keeping track of nature finds, and a log for recording naturalist notes. 

The five books in the gift set are packaged in a keepsake nature collection box with sturdy dividers and label stickers for storing and identifying rocks, feathers, leaves, and other nature treasures that kids pick up along the trail.

Bursting with hundreds of activities for screen-free fun and nature learning, this collection will make a special gift for junior naturalists ages 4-7. 

A Kid's Guide to Super-Useful Social Skills to Help You Get Along and Express Yourself; Speak Up, Speak Out, Talk about Hard Things, and Be a Good Friend

By Catherine Newman

Middle school is an essential time to learn and practice social skills, including how to get along with others, talk about hard things, be an ally, and a good friend. 

In What Can I Say?, Catherine Newman, author of the bestseller How to Be a Person, provides supportive guidance and instruction to help kids establish or and maintain meaningful relationships and effective communication with friends, teachers, family members, and others in their communities.  Talking the talk can be tricky, and every page of this super-useful book provides easy, accessible scripts and guidance on the right thing to say in all kinds of situations, from how to be inclusive, listen, give advice, argue, stick up for yourself, and ask for help to how to turn down a date, express sympathy, deal with offensive comments, respond to bullying, and be trustworthy.

Humorous, graphic-style illustrations that play our familiar scenarios reenforce Newman's friendly, non-judgmental tone and her commitment to helping kids develop the skills to express themselves clearly while showing empathy, care, and generosity towards others.

Recommended for 10 - 14 years old (grades 5 - 9).

Softcover, 160 pages.

Storey Publishing.

Reviews

• "A primer for tweens on healthy communication and boundaries, how to be an ally, how to care for your community — basically, as Newman spells out in her introduction, “how to talk to the other people in your life.” Newman’s writing is kind and inclusive. Fong’s art is friendly and funny, depicting a diverse cast of young characters (of different races, genders, abilities) as they negotiate various social scenarios." — The New York Times Book Review
  
  “One of the most important things adults can teach children is the skill of communication and self-advocacy. What Can I Say? can not only teach children to be more confident, eloquent, and clear, it can save them from harm and give them the tools and courage they need to ask for help. I cannot recommend this book enough to anyone engaged in raising competent, proactive kids with a strong sense of self-efficacy.” ­ — Jessica Lahey, author of The Gift of Failure and The Addiction Inoculation
  
  "Newman is out with another totally gorgeous guide for kids about how to succeed in the world. This time, it’s real-talk on the awkward and hard task of behaving appropriately around other humans, told with the humor and nuance of a hip babysitter. This book is to GenZ what Free To Be You And Me was to GenX. You’ll find yourself wishing you’d had it years ago!" — Julie Lythcott-Haims, New York Times bestselling author of How to Raise an Adult and Your Turn
  
  "What a glorious book. What Can I Say? is much-needed in this era of increased social awkwardness and conflict. Catherine Newman and illustrator Debbie Fong have created a delightfully illustrated, inclusive guide to help kids evaluate their behavior, tune into their feelings, and figure out how to start a conversation, be a good listener, and interact in simple and emotionally charged situations, with kids and adults, and in person or digitally. If I had this book as a young person, I no doubt would have handled countless relationships in a more loving and compassionate manner." — Christine Koh, co-author of Minimalist Parenting and co-host of the EditYour Life podcast
  
  "Catherine Newman is my go-to for etiquette advice, both for me and my kids, who are 4 and 11. She has the touch: compassion for awkward and uncomfortable situations, like stepping away from a friendship or comforting someone, and our complicated feelings about them. Plus, she gets how much harder these are for young people. This book, full of fabulous illustrations, "Nerd Facts," pop quizzes, and examples of how to do things the right way ("Nailing It") and the wrong way ("Not Nailing It," "Also Not Nailing It") will make kids laugh, which is the best way to make them pay attention. It's an accessible primer on how to be more loving, inclusive, self-confident, and, indeed, a better human." — Jenny Pritchett, better known as Jenny True, "Dear Jenny" columnist on Romper and author of You Look Tired: An Excruciatingly Honest Guide to New Parenthood
  
  “A book that’s not just for kids! What Can I Say? offers clear, practical, and reassuring guidance to children and adolescents about communicating with others in all kinds of situations. From texting and emailing to conversations with an older adult or an intimate partner, the tips in this book are thoughtful, straightforward, and inclusive to young people and their families, broadly defined. As a mother, psychologist, and professor, I’d like to see this as required reading for all young people and those who love them. In a world where the art of communication is far too often neglected, What can I say reminds us how much interacting in a healthy way with those around us enriches our lives. From compromise to gratitude to forgiveness to compassion, Catherine Newman reminds youth and the adults who care about them the importance of humanity in communication.” — Abigail Gewirtz, Ph.D., L.P, author of When the World Feels Like a Scary Place, and Editor-in-Chief, International Journal of Psychology

By Helene Hovanec & Patrick Merrell

Over 150 Word Games, Picture Puzzles, Mazes, and Other Great Activities for Kids

Dig into this farm frenzy activity book and kids ages 6-10 will be playing games and solving puzzles until the cows come home!

From acclaimed puzzle creators Patrick Merrell and Helene Hovanec comes a barnyard full of fun farm-themed puzzles. From mazes and picture puzzles to brainteasers, word searches, jokes, riddles, and more, 200 puzzles will keep kids screen-free and entertained for hours:

• Find the differences between two chicken coops
• Match the baby animals to their parents
• Unscramble words to label the parts of a pony
• Try saying “Cows Count Crow Crowds” three times fast

Activities increase in difficulty throughout the book, keeping kids engaged as they learn more on the farm. Lively and humorous cartoons of favorite barnyard animals encourage farm-loving kids page after page and teach them about life on the farm – keeping your future farmer happy as a pig in the mud for hours on end!

Recommended by the publisher for 6 - 10 years old (Grade 1 to grade 5).

240 pages.

Storey Publishing.

The Ultimate Guide to Preserving 55 Fruits & Vegetables for Maximum Flavor and Versatility

by Crystal Schmidt, the Creator of Whole-Fed Homestead

Capturing the peak flavor of freshly harvested produce and preserving it for year-round eating is easier than ever with Freeze Fresh, the ultimate guide to freezing and enjoying more than 55 popular fruits and vegetables. Author Crystal Schmidt shares her time-tested preparation techniques that ensure color, texture, and flavor are retained in the freezer. From familiar favorites like apples, corn, potatoes, and peas to surprises like lettuce, avocado, and citrus fruit, Schmidt details the best ways to prepare each food for the freezer, including pre-cooking, slicing, blanching, and more. She offers more than 100 recipes that freeze well, such as Blueberry Maple Pancake Sauce, Pickled Sliced Beets, Mango Chutney, and Honey Butter Carrot Mash--as well as delicious ways to cook the frozen food after thawing, including Creamy Parmesan Confetti Corn, Tart Cherry Oatmeal Bars, Broccoli Cheese Soup, and Blueberry-Matcha Latte Smoothie. Home cooks and gardeners alike will love discovering how easy and economical it can be to fill your freezer with produce customized to your own tastes and needs.

Softcover, 208 pages.

Storey Publishing.

Reviews:

Track, Spot & Provide Healthy Habitat for Creatures Close to Home

by Mary Kay Carson

Get Messy, Get Wet, Build Cool Things, and Have Tons of Wild Fun! 51 Free-Play Activities

by Amanda Thomsen

The backyard has long been a space associated with recreation and relaxation, a private patch of earth to escape to, and a springboard for the imagination. In her signature style and drawing on her personal experience as a mother, gardener, and author, Amanda Thomsen encourages kids to create kingdoms of their own making, right in their own backyards. With whimsical projects for every season and any setting, from forest to pavement, fun-seeking kids and their families will rediscover the yard as a place for inspired play, using repurposed materials and existing features of outdoor spaces. Whether they’re creating tiny gardens inhabited by action figures, weaving a secret hideaway out of a loom of twine and twigs, or setting sidewalk cracks on fire with Coffeemate, Backyard Adventure lets kids of all ages turn their yards into a place they can call their own.

Softcover, 160 pages.

8 x 10"

Storey Publishing.

by Jonathan Adolph

Cardboard is everywhere! For creative kids aged 9 to 14, it’s the perfect eco-friendly building material, and Cardboard Box Engineering is the perfect guide to get them started on inventive tinkering. A working kaleidoscope, a marble roller coaster, a robotic hand, and a wind-powered tractor with cardboard gears are just some of the ingenious projects developed by Jonathan Adolph, author of the best-selling Mason Jar Science. Working with simple household tools, kids can follow the step-by-step photographic instructions to exercise their design smarts, expand their 3-D thinking, and learn the basics of physics and engineering with activities that have real-life applications.

Recommended for young tinkerers ages 9-14 years.

Softcover.

Storey Publishing.

The Curious Lives & Features of Wild Animals around the World