Andrew Larsen

A child shares feelings about their identity with their dad in this powerful story about change, acceptance and, above all, love.One winter, while creating their annual ice rink together, a child starts a conversation with their dad about something important. "Do you ever feel mixed up about who you are?" the child asks. But the father misunderstands the question. So, the child tries again later. "Do you ever feel different than the way you look?" Again, the father doesn't get it. But this time he asks to hear more. And the child explains. "I look like a boy, but sometimes I feel more like a girl." At last, it's been said. The child shares that their name feels like an itchy sweater and they want to change it to "Gray." It's a big change, but one they can grow into together. And when Gray's dad finally uses their chosen name, it feels warm and right, just like hot chocolate after the first skate of the season. This personal story, co-written by acclaimed author Andrew Larsen and his son Bells, is inspired by Bells's own experience as a transgender person. It's about the joy and comfort a child feels when a parent affirms their identity, and how the transition can be complex for the rest of the family. An excellent conversation starter for families with a child who might be questioning their gender identity, it centers the child's experience of navigating and sharing what they feel, and shows that, though the child's sense of themself is changing, their place in the family is not. It also demonstrates a supportive and respectful family environment, where home is a safe space. Tallulah Fontaine's softly focused illustrations punctuated by the red of Gray's cap create an inviting, wintery setting.

A picture book about what we throw away, and why it might be worth keeping!What if everywhere you looked, you saw something to make? Instead of seeing something broken, you saw something to fix? Instead of seeing something to throw out, you saw something to give away? This is how Nelson Molina sees the world. A former employee for the New York City sanitation department, Nelson saved over 45,000 objects from the garbage to fix and show his community through his museum, Treasures in the Trash.Explore the hidden potential in what we often discard and think differently about consumption, waste, and the impact of small actions. With themes of upcycling, anti-consumerism, love for community, and finding joy, Gifts from the Garbage Truck inspires kids to think creatively and curiously about what they do (and don't) throw away!Often, Nelson came across oddly shaped garbage bags.They clinked and clanked and jingled and jangled.Is there something more than garbage in here? Nelson would wonder. Is there something someone might love?“I knew it!” he’d exclaim, tearing the bag open and discovering a new gift from the trash. Nelson didn’t throw the objects into the back of the truck with everything else.He had a better idea.

★"The narrative is upbeat and provides opportunities for counting and talking about dressing to go outside. This combination of cheerful drawings and omniscient narrative, plus joyful dogs, will appeal to young readers. The book works for both story time or independent reading. A strong first buy."--School Library Journal (SLJ), starred review Sally is going out in the snow It's a winter's day and Sally the dog is headed to the park But first she has to put on some warm clothes: coat and boots. It's not easy to zip up a pup, but finally she's ready to sniff and snout her way through the snow. At the park she finds other pups to play with and sees people rolling snowballs to make snowdogs of all shapes and sizes Sally sniffs them all before saying goodbye to her new friends and heading back home for a well-earned snooze.

A picture book biography of American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie When he was a child in the 1840s, Andrew Carnegie and his family immigrated to America in search of a new beginning. His working-class Scottish family arrived at the height of the Industrial Revolution. Carnegie worked hard, in factories and telegraphy. He invested in railroads, eventually becoming the richest man in the world during his time. Carnegie believed strongly in sharing his wealth, and one of the ways he did this was by funding the construction of over 2,500 public libraries around the world. His philanthropy completely revolutionized public libraries, which weren't widespread at the time. New in paperback and told in simple, lyrical text, the story unfolds against striking, stylized illustrations that transport readers to the bustle and boom of the Industrial Revolution. An informational spread explains more about Carnegie's life and work.

Sally is excited for the first day of puppy school, but it isn't easy when there are so many new things to see (and sniff ). It's hard to focus at puppy school when there are all kinds of pups to play with, water to splash in...and so many smells But Sally doesn't give up and keeps trying, ending the day triumphantly. Just like children, puppies have a lot to explore in and learn about the world around them. This sweet story will give confidence to young readers as they venture into the world to learn and try new things.

In this poignant story from Andrew Larsen, a child spends time with a beloved grandmother during her final days and experiences love that will last a lifetime. When Grandma gets sick and comes to stay at her grandchild's house, she brings her bird feeder. Grandma loves birds. And the child loves the time they now get to have together, drawing pictures of birds and "talking about interesting things." After a while, though, Grandma's health declines, and she moves to the hospice. Hanging Grandma's bird feeder outside the window there makes things better. After a while, though, Grandma continues to grow weaker, and her ability to interact lessens. Difficult as it is, the child adjusts, knowing that, while the situation keeps changing, their love for each other never wavers. Award-winning author Andrew Larsen beautifully captures the special bond between a child and a grandparent, and sensitively deals with a child's loss of a loved one. Using the motif of their shared love of birds and its physical manifestation in the form of the bird feeder allows for a continuity in the child's life that puts the loss in a larger context. Larsen offers an authentic, straightforward presentation of the process of a loved one's death, from being sick, to going to the hospice, to participating less and less in their relationship, to death. It will lead young readers to ask their own questions about life, death and how we remember those who die. The cool palette and simple lines in Dorothy Leung's art evoke empathy for the child's experience, while the presence of the birds adds life and hope to the visual story.

In the inspirational sequel to Andrew Larsen's A Squiggly Story, a boy meets a blank page in this fun exploration of the writing process, celebrating self-expression, self-discovery and letting your imagination roam.The young boy listens as Mr. Lopez tells his class about next week's assignment: write a story about yourself. "You can write about ANYTHING," he says, "as long as you write about YOU." Marcus is going to write about his hat collection. Alia is going to write about the vampires she talks about all the time. But all the boy can come up with is a title: "The Story of Me by Me." He can't figure out what it should be about. His sister suggests starting with lists --- Things I Like, Things I Know. Only, the things all seem disconnected. Is there some way to connect them, and make them into a story?The kindergartener who learned to use squiggles to write a story in award-winning Andrew Larsen's A Squiggly Story is now in second grade and learning to write an autobiography. Told in the same authentic child's voice, this playful book encourages readers to just start, even if they don't know how their story will go. It offers an accessible early language arts lesson on the writing process, exploring important basics (brainstorming, first draft, revising) and key terms (autobiography, editing, title, cover). Mike Lowery's bold illustrations incorporate story panels and dialogue bubbles, keeping the energy high and giving a fresh and modern feel to the pages. A strong tie-in with early literacy curricula, this book also works well for supplementary or at-home learning. It's a perfect choice to inspire the storyteller in every child

Here is a boy who is sure of one thing: he does NOT like stories. Not stories about waking up in the morning, or people in space, or fish in the sea, or planes, or trains, or boring old buildings. We see the boy's experiences play out over the course of his day. The one thing this contrarian boy loves is his cat--whose day is depicted through graphic panels in a funny, parallel side narrative. The cheerful cat searches for the boy all day, chasing anything yellow, the colour of the boy's bright backpack, and causing mess and mayhem throughout the city. In the end, the boy concedes he might like a story--if it's the right one (do you know any stories about a cat?). Art in a muted palette is accented with pops of yellow in this charming book about how the stories we tell ourselves have the power to shape our days. The visual details support literacy skills, add humor, and are sure to engage young readers--even those who are sure they don't like stories.

Theodora loved her grandfather's old garden. His new apartment's balcony is too windy and small for a garden. But what appears to be a drawback soon leads to a shared burst of creativity as Theo and her Poppa decide to paint a new garden. As they work side by side --- sowing seeds with brushes and paint --- a masterpiece begins to take shape that transforms the balcony into an abundant garden. When Poppa goes away on holiday, Theo helps nurture the garden and it begins to take on a life of its own. This garden grows not from soil but from love, imagination and creativity. Readers will marvel at each stage of this fertile garden as it grows from seed to full flower, revealing the power of art to enrich our lives.

Every Sunday morning, no matter the weather, Eli could count on Zaida to bring bagels from Merv's Bakery. Eli loved the time they spent together enjoying their favorite treats. "Warm. Chewy. Salty," Eli thought. "Bagels were the best thing about Sunday." But one Sunday, Zaida didn't come. He had fallen at Merv's and "hurt his tuches," and the doctor said Zaida had to rest at home for two whole weeks. This meant Eli had no Sunday morning bagels. And neither did Zaida's friends, who had been receiving their own weekly deliveries from Zaida. Will they all go hungry for bagels on Sunday? Or is there something Eli can do?Award-winning author Andrew Larsen's picture book story offers a gently humorous take on the special bond between a boy and his grandfather and the simple ritual that looms so large in their lives. It also highlights a terrific character education lesson about how a young child can take responsibility and, with a little initiative, help a family member in need. With a blend of retro and contemporary styles, Sandy Nichols's softly colored illustrations cleverly convey the story's timelessness and capture Eli's diverse neighborhood. This book will spark wonderful discussions about family traditions and community. A mini glossary and pronunciation guide for the Yiddish words that are sprinkled throughout the story (like mensch and oy) provides an opportunity to learn about the many words we use in English that come from other languages, and to explore the connections between culture and language.

A young boy doesn't want to go to bed. The hockey game is on "What if I can't fall asleep?" the boy says. "Don't worry," says his dad. "You will." After his parents have tucked him in and turned out the light, he shines a flashlight on his prized hockey possessions around his room: the posters of his favorite players, the pennant for his favorite team, the puck. Then he decides to listen to the game on his bedside radio, which he places under his pillow. With the familiar drone of the announcer's voice for company, the boy drifts off to sleep. He dreams he has joined his favorite team on the ice --- where he scores the winning goal And the boy smiles as the announcer exclaims, "What a play What a goal What a game "Award-winning author Andrew Larsen's simple yet evocative story sets just the right tone for the youngest children, who can relate to the boy's disappointment about missing the exciting nighttime game and his fears that he won't be able to fall asleep. Jacqui Lee's illustrations in soothing greens and blues are done in a wonderful blend of nostalgic and contemporary styles that suit the story's timelessness. This book provides all of the appeal of the perfect bedtime story: the reassurance of caring parents tucking the boy in and then coming back later to check on him, the bedtime routine, the atmospheric winter night outside while it's cozy and snug inside, and the promise of dreams come true.

A young boy wants to write a story, just like his big sister. But there's a problem, he tells her. Though he knows his letters, he doesn't know many words. "Every story starts with a single word and every word starts with a single letter," his sister explains patiently. "Why don't you start there, with a letter?" So the boy tries. He writes a letter. An easy letter. The letter I. And from that one skinny letter, the story grows, and the little boy discovers that all of us, including him, have what we need to write our own perfect story. This picture book from award-winning author Andrew Larsen playfully and imaginatively explores a young child's process of learning to express himself. It promotes the idea that stories are available for everyone to tell, whatever way we can, and will inspire pre-readers to try writing stories of their own. The lively, fun illustrations by Mike Lowery incorporate story panels with dialogue bubbles, adding visual texture. Also helpful, the boy's story is shown both as he actually writes it -- with just a few letters, some punctuation marks and typographical symbols -- and as he imagines it. Celebrating self-expression, self-discovery and imagination, this book would enhance an early language arts lesson on writing, particularly on the parts of a story. It beautifully highlights the exciting worlds that are opened up when children begin to read and write. In a sweet touch, the boy and his sister model a close and supportive sibling relationship.

Every summer, a girl's family drives down the same roads, passes through the same towns, and spends a week at the same beachside motel. Year after year, everything is comfortingly predictable: the families they see, the rhythm of the days, the stars, the bonfires, and even the pattern the tractor makes as it rakes the sand on their beach. But this year, something is different: the girl, our narrator, meets a new friend who shows her how to dive under the waves and spot satellites in the night sky. When it's time to go, she's sad to part ways. But she knows she can look forward to seeing him next year. Illustrated in a restrained, retro palette, this story perfectly captures the timelessness of a summer holiday. The effect is nostalgic and almost hazy, as if seen in a dream, a memory, or through the shimmering air of a hot summer day.

Charlie learned about the life cycle of butterflies in Bye Bye Butterflies and now is back for another Tell Me More Storybook adventure. When Charlie and his dad follow a parade of their neighbours through the local park they discover everyone is walking towards a big pile of dirt But this isn't just any pile of dirt - this is compost. Charlie learns from his neighbors about the gardens they have and the delicious vegetables they grow in them. Mr Martino is growing tomatoes while Mrs Lee has onions and Mr Singh has herbs. Charlie is determined to become a gardener as well - and come up with something special to add to his neighbour's plans to make the best spaghetti sauce ever