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State Award Winners

All of our picture books come with a free Stories Aloud audio reading.

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Animal Tales from India: Ten Stories from the Panchatantra

Written by Nikita Gill Illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat
7-10

Discover a world of wonder, wisdom, and friendship in this illustrated gift book of ancient Indian fables, retold by bestselling poet Nikita Gill. "Great read-aloud enjoyment to be had for families."-The Wall Street Journal The stories of the Panchatantra have been read aloud and shared for thousands of years, kept…

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Beasts from the Deep

Written by Matt Ralphs Illustrated by Kaley McKean
7-10

Dive down if you dare and discover the world's strangest, scariest, and most magnificent sea creatures in this breathtaking gift book from the University of Cambridge and Nosy Crow! Did you know that there is a place on Earth that has hardly been explored at all? A place with near-freezing temperatures, crushing…

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D is for Dog

Written by Em Lynas Illustrated by Sara Ogilvie
2-5

Bound into this playful and energetic rhyming text featuring an adorable cast of dogs. Whether it's getting marvelously muddy, leaping and lolloping, or hiding under the bed with a stolen slipper, a dog's life is so much FUN. This hilarious alphabet celebration of canine capers is perfect for dog lovers…

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Everything You Know About Dinosaurs is Wrong!

Written by Dr. Nick Crumpton Illustrated by Gavin Scott
8-12

Do you know all there is to know about dinosaurs? They're mean, green, and not very smart, right? Well, this book is here to show you that you're WRONG! But don't worry, even the experts can't be right all the time . . . From fossilized feathers to long-necked look-alikes,…

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Extreme Survival

Written by Ben Lerwill Illustrated by Daniel Long
9-12

From the sweltering depths of the Amazon Rainforest to the freezing plains of the Arctic, Earth is filled with extreme places for incredible adventures. But could you survive them? Discover how to navigate the vast Australian outback, keep yourself alive in a sandstorm in the Arabian desert, avoid a bear…

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Goddess: 50 Goddesses, Spirits, Saints, and Other Female Figures Who Have Shaped Belief

Written by Janina Ramirez Illustrated by Sarah Walsh
9-12

This collection brings together 50 stories of powerful female figures from around the world. There are loving creators, wise leaders, fearsome warriors, gentle healers, and mystical protectors, and they can each inspire you to find strength within yourself . . . Beautifully written by cultural historian and broadcaster Dr. Janina…

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Grandpa and the Kingfisher

Written by Anna Wilson Illustrated by Sarah Massini
4-8

Life-affirming and lyrical, this beautiful picture book celebrates the awesome power of nature and the circle of life. Over the course of a year, a young child and their dog watch kingfishers by the river with Grandpa. As spring turns to summer and autumn to winter, the kingfishers raise a…

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Granny Came Here on the Empire Windrush

Written by Patrice Lawrence Illustrated by Camilla Sucre
4-8

From Patrice Lawrence, author of Our Story Starts in Africa, named a 2022 Best Book for Kids by the New York Public Library. This heart-warming and heartfelt debut picture book from multi-award-winning author Patrice Lawrence introduces the struggles and achievements of a generation of African Caribbeans who traveled across the Atlantic…

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Growing Up: An Inclusive Guide to Puberty and Your Changing Body

Written by Rachel Greener Illustrated by Clare Owen
7-10

A modern and inclusive guide to help every child understand their journey from childhood to being a grown-up. Growing up is a natural part of life, and every child deserves to understand the different ways their body may change as they grow older. While puberty happens to everyone, every child's…

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A Horse Called Now

Written by Ruth Doyle Illustrated by Alexandra Finkeldey
4-8

A calm and reassuring story about overcoming worries and living in the present moment."When I'm afraid, I breathe in and out and let the feelings come . . . and then go. Nothing lasts forever."   Now the Horse enjoys the singing of the birds, the chattering of the crickets…

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How to Count to ONE

Written by Caspar Salmon Illustrated by Matt Hunt
4-8

A hilariously irreverent picture book about counting that children will love to outsmart! You know how to count, right? GREAT! There are LOTS of fun things to count in this book: whales, baboons, rainbows, pyramids . . .There's just rule. You must ONLY ever count to ONE. So don't even…

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How to Find a Yeti

Illustrated by Matt Hunt
4-8

Yetis aren't real . . . or are they? Get an epic game of hide and seek in bestselling author Matt Hunt's latest picture book. Some people don't believe in yetis, but this little boy does - in fact, he's a yeti expert, and today he's going out into the forest to…

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How to Help a Hare and Protect a Polar Bear

Written by Dr Jess French Illustrated by Angela Keoghan
9-12

Find out how YOU can help endangered animals and make the world a better place, too! From beetles and butterflies to porpoises and polar bears, animals and habitats all over the world need our protection. This book is full of simple everyday ways for you to help save the environment.…

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Baby Faces: Little Lamb, Where Are You?

Written by Nosy Crow Ltd Illustrated by Ekaterina Trukhan
0-3

Find your baby’s face in this interactive lift-the-flap book with a mirror on every spread! One thing is for sure— babies love mirrors! Peek behind durable card flaps featuring friendly animals to find yourself and your baby in four hidden mirrors. The large card flaps are easy for even the…

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Look, It’s Hoot Hoot Owl

Written by Camilla Reid Illustrated by Clare Youngs
0-3

An exciting multi-sensory board book series written by Camilla Reid, with illustrations from acclaimed collage artist Clare Youngs! Pre-schoolers will adore Clare Youngs' friendly animals with their high-contrast collage artwork, decorative foil highlights, and signature animal noises—but there's a tiny creature to find behind a tuggable felt flap, too! In…

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Look, it’s Moo Moo Cow

Written by Camilla Reid Illustrated by Clare Youngs
0-3

An exciting multi-sensory board book series written by Camilla Reid, with illustrations from acclaimed collage artist Clare Youngs! Preschoolers will adore Clare Youngs's friendly animals with their high-contrast collage artwork, decorative foil highlights, and signature animal noises-but there's a tiny creature to find behind a tuggable felt flap, too! In…

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My First Lift-The-Flap Nursery Rhymes

Written by Nosy Crow Ltd Illustrated by Ingela P. Arrhenius
2-5

From "Humpty Dumpty" to "Hey Diddle Diddle," introduce little ones to the joy of nursery rhymes with Ingela P. Arrhenius's bright, beautiful artwork and easy-to-lift card flaps revealing a hidden surprise on every page! Featuring 14 favorite rhymes to read together—and a QR code to scan for rhymes to listen…

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Recycling Day: What Happens to the Things We Throw Away

Written by Polly Faber Illustrated by Klas Fahlén
7-10

Find out where recycling goes in this vibrant and fascinating illustrated guide for kids! Empty things, broken things, yucky things — follow the journey of recycled objects as they move through the recycling process in order to be reused in all sorts of interesting ways. With stylish, contemporary artwork from…

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Roman Soldiers

Written by Tegen Evans Illustrated by Tom Froese
7-10

Discover the secrets of the Roman Army in this fascinating gift book for budding historians. What was a Roman legion? How exactly did soldiers train for battle? And why did they have to "march like a tortoise?" Find out the answers to these questions and many more in this complete…

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Secrets of the Dead

Written by Matt Ralphs Illustrated by Gordy Wright
9-12

Travel back in time to discover the secrets that lay among mummies and other human remains from around the world. From ancient Egyptian mummies and European bog bodies to the plaster citizens of Pompeii, painted people of the Steppe, and Japanese self-mummifying monks, this book reveals what scientists and experts…

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She’ll Be the Sky

Written by Ella Risbridger Illustrated by Anna Shepeta
8-12

A forceful, passionate, and uplifting collection of poems by women and girls that is guaranteed to inspire, delight, and empower. From well-loved poets—including Maya Angelou, Wendy Cope, Lucille Clifton, and Christina Rossetti — to newer voices—such as Amanda Gorman, Yrsa-Daley Ward, and Amineh Abou Kerech — this outstanding collection from…

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Sky Explorer

Written by Elizabeth Jenner Illustrated by Anja Sušanj
7-10

From amazing cloud formations and rainbows to twinkling stars and planets, become an expert sky explorer with this brilliant guide to the wonders of the sky, both by day and night. Wherever you are, whatever the weather, there's always something to see if you look up! Learn how to tell…

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Supa Nova

Written by Chanté Timothy
7-10

Winner of Good Housekeeping’s 2025 Best Kids’ Book Awards Venture into Nova's secret underground lab— and witness a gum monster come to life! A full-color, action-packed graphic novel about a young Black girl with a love for science and enough determination and confidence to fix the world. Nova is horrified when…

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The Girl Who Planted Trees

Written by Caryl Hart Illustrated by Anastasia Suvorova
4-8

In this empowering picture book by award-winning author Caryl Hart, one small girl inspires her whole village to plant a beautiful forest on the mountain. "The story unfolds to show the power of intergenerational partnership as a desolate gray landscape transforms into a colorful tapestry teeming with life. At a time when…

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The Wide, Wide Sea

Written by Anna Wilson Illustrated by Jenny Løvlie
4-8

A resolute promise from a child to a wild seal- to protect our beaches and oceans from plastic pollution. "Things will be different one day." When a young child forges a special connection with a seal on a trip to the beach, their imagination takes them on an unforgettable journey.…

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There Are No Silly Questions

Written by Mike Rampton Illustrated by Guilherme Karsten
8-12

A Barnes and Noble 2025 Book of the Year Finalist! Have you ever wondered . . . If dinosaurs sneezed? How long would it take to run around the world? If moths like light so much, why do they only come out at night? Find out in this hilarious collection…

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This Is Not A Small Voice

Written by Traci N. Todd Illustrated by Jade Orlando
8-12

A School Library Journal Best Book of 2025 A Chicago Public Library Best Book of 2025 A beautiful, bold collection of more than 100 dazzling poems by Black poets for the whole family to treasure. Discover classic favorites and new stars. This gorgeously illustrated children's anthology is the perfect introduction…

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Time to Move South for Winter

Written by Clare Helen Welsh Illustrated by Jenny Løvlie
4-8

Fly over the cold waters of the Arctic and watch a world of animals travel south for winter… Over the cold, mirrored waters of the Arctic, a tiny tern sets off on the world's longest animal migration. On her way, she passes humpback whales, caribou, Canada geese, leatherback turtles, and…

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Transported: 50 Vehicles That Changed the World

Written by Matt Ralphs Illustrated by Rui Ricardo
9-12

Take a journey through time to discover how 50 groundbreaking vehicles changed the world and how they might even shape our future! From ancient chariots and Viking longships to racing cars, rockets, and solar-powered airplanes, our world has been changed by the pioneering development of many incredible vehicles. Discover vehicles…

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Tummy Time: Farm

Written by Nosy Crow Ltd Illustrated by Louise Lockhart
0-3

Make tummy time extra fun for little ones with this fold-out book with a mirror! Say hello to the animals on one side and a mirror for babies to see themselves on the other. This dazzling board book series is designed with tummy time in mind - a gentle exercise…

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Tummy Time: Park

Written by Nosy Crow Ltd Illustrated by Louise Lockhart
0-3

Make tummy time extra fun for little ones with this fold-out book with a mirror! Unfold the pages to see a sprawling park scene, complete with a cast of woodland critters. Then, turn to the end of the book where your baby will see their beautiful reflection in the mirror.…

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Tummy Time: Savanna

Written by Nosy Crow Ltd Illustrated by Louise Lockhart
0-3

Make tummy time extra fun for little ones with this fold-out book with a mirror! Say hello to the animals on one side and a mirror for babies to see themselves on the other. This dazzling board book series is designed with tummy time in mind - a gentle exercise…

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Up High

Illustrated by Matt Hunt
2-5

A walk down busy city streets can feel scary when you're small, but the world doesn't seem so frightening when you're perched up high on Dad's shoulders! Going up high on Dad's shoulders is the best way to feel BIG in cities that make you feel small. This tender, funny…

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A Whale of a Time

Written by Lou Peacock Illustrated by Matt Hunt
7-10

Winner of Good Housekeeping’s 2023 Best Kids’ Book Awards Featured in The New York Times’ Holiday Gift Books for Children Named One of Smithsonian Magazine’s Ten Best Children’s Books of 2023 Named a Most Anticipated Kids’ Book by Barnes & Noble A wonderful gift for all ages, this beautiful, rib-tickling…

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When I Became Your Grandpa

Written by Susannah Shane
2-5

A heart-warming picture book about the love between grandfathers and grandchildren— with a gold foil cover! For one little lion cub, days spent with Grandpa are always the best days of all. From playing in the golden grass to watching a rainbow and snuggling up as night falls, Grandpa is…

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Who Ate Steve?

Written by Susannah Lloyd Illustrated by Kate Hindley
4-8

A hilariously quirky mini mystery reminiscent of Jon Klassen's classic I Want My Hat Back. Welcome to this extremely interesting book about size. Marcel is a bird and he is big. Steve is a worm, and he is . . . Wait a minute! Steve has DISAPPEARED! Does Marcel know…

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A World of Dogs

Written by Carlie Sorosiak Illustrated by Luisa Uribe
8-12

Written by children's author and accidental American Dingo-owner Carlie Sorosiak, this gorgeous celebration of fascinating facts and amazing real-life stories is the perfect gift for dog lovers. Throughout human history dogs have been by our side, paw prints following our footprints wherever we roamed. In A World of Dogs, discover everything you…

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