Mary Rand Hess

Everyone should feel safe dancing however they want! Nevaeh is nervous—tomorrow is the first dance-off in Ms. Tharrington’s class. It’s supposed to boost the students’ energy for the rest of the week, but a dance contest isn’t Nevaeh’s idea of a good time. And she’s not alone—Hanh is nervous, too. When the girls tell Ms. Tharrington how they feel, the teacher challenges the class to help everyone feel comfortable. Why kids will love The Great Dance-On: Uniquely pairs an online musical performance kit with an illustrated story Gives children ideas for self-expression alongside their peers Explores how we can help others feel comfortable being themselves The students put their heads together and come up with a solution: instead of a dance contest, they’ll have a dance party! No winners, no judgment—just fun. The Mini-Musical Tales from Bird Mountain School picture book series seamlessly blends literature and the performing arts, offering an immersive storytelling experience. Each book provides online access to a script and original song recordings, allowing readers to bring the story to life as a mini musical—just like the characters in the book. This innovative series fosters creativity, imagination, and a love for the arts, making storytelling a truly interactive adventure.

An egg-citing tale of teamwork! Oh no! Lady Cluckery has run away! The students in Dr. Preston’s class know they need to find her—before the bell rings to dismiss them for the weekend. They’ll have to split up if they want to find mama chicken and care for her eggs until they hatch. Working together, they find Lady Cluckery in the costume closet, of all places. Why kids will love Chicken Predicament Uniquely pairs an online musical performance kit with an illustrated story Engaging storytelling features characters with creative problem-solving skills Encourages teamwork to tackle big challenges Thanks to these “plucky” students, Lady Cluckery returns, just in time for the arrival of Hatch, Chirp, and Peep. A 2026 KIDS FAVORITE! The Mini-Musical Tales from Bird Mountain School picture series seamlessly blends literature and the performing arts, offering an immersive storytelling experience. Each book provides online access to a script and original song recordings, allowing readers to bring the story to life as a mini musical—just like the characters in the book. This innovative series fosters creativity, imagination, and a love for the arts, making storytelling a truly interactive adventure.

Discover the magic behind the scenes! Oscar dreams of being in the spotlight, but when the lead role in the school play goes to someone else, he finds himself in an unexpected role—stage manager. Disappointed and unsure, Oscar wonders: can you still be a star if no one sees you? With encouragement from family and friends, Oscar learns about all the amazing people who shine from behind the scenes—like vice presidents, nurses, and even drummers. As Oscar works to keep things going backstage, he realizes that being backstage doesn’t mean being invisible. It means being indispensable. Why kids will love Bravo for Backstage!: Uniquely pairs an online musical performance kit with an illustrated story Engaging storytelling features an uplifting lesson on handling disappointment and recognizing the value of every role Celebrates teamwork and the behind-the-scenes heroes who make the magic happen When the curtains close and the audience cheers, Oscar finally understands: stars don’t just shine in the spotlight—they shine where they’re needed most. The Mini-Musical Tales from Bird Mountain School picture book series seamlessly blends literature and the performing arts, offering an immersive storytelling experience. Each book provides online access to a script and original song recordings, allowing readers to bring the story to life as a mini musical—just like the characters in the book. This innovative series fosters creativity, imagination, and a love for the arts, making storytelling a truly interactive adventure.

A comforting ode to the gentle potency of quiet, this lyrical picture book will captivate introverts and nature lovers alike. Quiet is strength. It's as strong as a monarch in migration. As important as a whisper and a promise. As deep as a listener, still . . . and sincere. This evocative text combines with warmly glowing images of people enjoying a day at the park, spending peaceful moments together and alone, experiencing the nourishment of quiet. It's a reminder that you don't have to be loud to make a positive impact on others, and that when you are still, you're more able to experience the magnificence of the world around you. Quiet is powerful like you.

A joyful picture book from a New York Times bestselling duo that celebrates inclusion and reassures children that in good times and bad they always matter—they always belong. You matter . . .in the way you help.The way you hug.The way you laugh.The way you love.The way you shout.The way you speak.The way you give.The way you . . . express yourself!In this warm, uplifting story, a new kid in town finds the courage to carve their own path, one that leads to a celebration of friendship and being yourself.

Our planet's most beautiful and endangered animals come to life in this visually stunning picture book. The photos, by award-winning National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore, represent a lifelong project to make portraits of the world's endangered animals. They are paired with uplifting poetry and prose from Newbery award-winning author Kwame Alexander -- a talented dream team duo to craft a uniquely wonderful book. This special edition includes a free poster highlighting 50 endangered species to commemorate the 50th anniversry of Earth Day. A howling wolf, a stalking tiger, a playful panda, a dancing bird -- celebrate the beauty, diversity, and fragility of the animal world in this lush picture book that pairs the stunning photography of National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore with the delicate mix of poetry and prose of Newbery award-winning author Kwame Alexander. Featuring more than 40 unique animal portraits, the pages invite kids to explore each creature's markings, textures, and attributes in stunning detail, while calling on all of us to enjoy and help protect each and every one. Three picture-packed gatefolds inside showcase even more familiar and exotic species. These images are part of Sartore's lifelong project to photograph every captive animal species in the world, with special attention given to saving endangered species.

In this YA novel in verse from bestselling authors Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess (Solo), which Kirkus called “lively, moving, and heartfelt” in a starred review, Noah and Walt just want to leave their geek days behind and find “cool,” but in the process discover a lot about first loves, friendship, and embracing life … as well as why Black Lives Matter is so important for all.Best friends Noah and Walt are far from popular, but Walt is convinced junior year is their year, and he has a plan that includes wooing the girls of their dreams and becoming amazing athletes. Never mind he and Noah failed to make their baseball team yet again, and Noah’s crush since third grade, Sam, has him firmly in the friend zone. While Walt focuses on his program of jazz, podcasts, batting cages, and a “Hug Life” mentality, Noah feels stuck in status quo … until he stumbles on a stash of old love letters. Each one contains words Noah’s always wanted to say to Sam, and he begins secretly creating artwork using the lines that speak his heart. But when his art becomes public, Noah has a decision to make: continue his life in the dugout and possibly lose the girl forever, or take a swing and finally speak out.At the same time, American flags are being left around town. While some think it’s a harmless prank and others see it as a form of protest, Noah can’t shake the feeling something bigger is happening to his community. Especially after he witnesses events that hint divides and prejudices run deeper than he realized.As the personal and social tensions increase around them, Noah and Walt must decide what is really important when it comes to love, friendship, sacrifice, and fate.Swing:is written by New York Times bestselling author and Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Award-winner Kwame AlexanderFeatures a diverse array of characters and perspectivestackles the biggest social issues of today, including racial prejudice and Black Lives Matteris perfect reading for the classroom or community-wide discussionsis a 2020 YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readerscontains original artwork tied to the storyIf you enjoy Swing, check out Solo by Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess.

Do you consider your pets family? Do you enjoy reading about loveable animals? Instagram sensation Steve Greig and New York Times bestselling author Mary Rand Hess share Greig’s real-life family of senior dogs, chickens, rabbits, and a pig named Bikini in his first children’s book that showcases the importance of family. In The One and Only Wolfgang, readers will meet Greig’s beloved animal family. Greig looked for the most “unadoptable” animals and gave them a home—his home! Strange and unique, The One and Only Wolfgang will remind readers that no matter how old or how odd, everyone has a place where they belong. Families will enjoy the unique, whimsical art from Nadja Sarell combined with comical photographs of the Wolfgang.Perfect for children, ages 4-8Kids will love reading about the loveable animals featured on Steve Greig’s Instagram, @Wolfgang2242 - over 900k followersChildren will learn about love, friendship and family

Solo by Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess is a New York Times bestseller! Kirkus Reviews said Solo is, “A contemporary hero’s journey, brilliantly told.” Through the story of a young Black man searching for answers about his life, Solo empowers, engages, and encourages teenagers to move from heartache to healing, burden to blessings, depression to deliverance, and trials to triumphs.Blade never asked for a life of the rich and famous. In fact, he’d give anything not to be the son of Rutherford Morrison, a washed-up rock star and drug addict with delusions of a comeback. Or to no longer be part of a family known most for lost potential, failure, and tragedy, including the loss of his mother. The one true light is his girlfriend, Chapel, but her parents have forbidden their relationship, assuming Blade will become just like his father.In reality, the only thing Blade and Rutherford have in common is the music that lives inside them. And songwriting is all Blade has left after Rutherford, while drunk, crashes his high school graduation speech and effectively rips Chapel away forever. But when a long-held family secret comes to light, the music disappears. In its place is a letter, one that could bring Blade the freedom and love he’s been searching for, or leave him feeling even more adrift.Solo:Is written by New York Times bestselling author and Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Book Award-winner Kwame AlexanderShowcases Kwame’s signature intricacy, intimacy, and poetic style, by exploring what it means to finally go homeAn #OwnVoices novel that features a BIPOC protagonist on a search for his roots and identityReceived great reviews from Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, Booklist, and Kirkus.If you enjoy Solo, check out Swing by Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess.