Books published by publisher Schiffer Kids

After almost six months in Maryland, fifth-grader Oliver still misses his friends back in New Jersey. But things start to change one day, when his neighbor—and possible new friend—Sam lends Oliver a magic hat that takes him back to the 18th- and 19th-century world of Thomas Jefferson. Oliver and his sisters—Cassie, the nice one, and Ruby, the annoying one—end up learning more about Jefferson than they'd expected. And Oliver finds that his new neighborhood might not be so terrible after all. Thomas Jefferson and the Return of the Magic Hat is the third in The President and Me series that began with George Washington and the Magic Hat and John Adams and the Magic Bobblehead. This new adventure brings back previous characters Sam, Ava, J.P. (blink and you might miss them, though!), and of course the cantankerous talking hat itself.

This entertaining and beautifully illustrated book introduces children to the basics of sailing. Adam, a young boy from the city, yearns to learn how to sail. When his aunt and uncle invite him to visit one summer, his cousin, Beth, takes him out in her sailboat. As they head for Dutch Ship Island, Beth shows Adam many of the things he will need to know to become a sailor—skills he must put into action when a thunderstorm arises. Here is a delightful adventure story that holds young readers’ interest while they absorb from labeled drawings many of the fundamentals necessary to begin sailing: basic nautical terms, points of sailing, channel markers and buoys, safety equipment, a few knots and bends, something about clouds and weather, anchoring, handling sails, and even crew overboard procedures. Middle grades–ages 10-13.

Handmade textiles are personal, no matter where in the world they're created, and these photos and explanations of 25 diverse world cultures' techniques vividly share the details. Take a voyage through these pages and see how today's artisans continue to create traditional fiber arts with age-old methods. Blending well-researched information, engaging style, and inspiration, the pages explore espadrilles, flatwoven rugs, mittens, voudou flags, mirror embroidery, and the histories they hold. This open-eyed approach will appeal to textile devotees, from the casually curious to professional artists, and to people who are interested in heritage crafts and diverse cultures. Brandon has written for more than a decade for WARP (Weave a Real Peace), a nonprofit networking organization whose members are dedicated to improving the quality of life of textile artisans in communities in need.

Think Farm Animals combines two things toddlers and preschoolers love—guessing games and animals—to help them learn analytical thinking skills. Its ten flaps are designed with circular die-cut shapes that give clues to the barnyard animals hidden beneath. Children are invited to listen to the clues, guess the animal, and then lift the flap to see what it is. This delightful, interactive board book and its adorable drawings will provide hours of fun while helping kids increase their knowledge, language, reading, and small motor skills.

Adventure, history, and the drama of family life intertwine in this engrossing tale of a fifth-grade girl struggling to find her place after her mom remarries and she finds herself stuck with a younger stepbrother. Find out what happens when Ava and her newly blended family take a trip to Boston, where she buys a magic bobblehead and is unexpectedly transported to the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. As Ava and her stepbrother, J. P., travel back and forth with John and Abigail Adams and their children, from Massachusetts, to Philadelphia, to the White House, to France, she learns about history, friendship, and how to deal with new situations, including her recently blended family. This sequel to The President and Me: George Washington and the Magic Hat features some of the same characters.

Around the world, millions of people hijack cars in Grand Theft Auto, role play fantastical heroes in World of WarCraft, and crush candy on phones as small as wallets yet nearly as powerful as desktop computers. But long before video games became a multi-billion-dollar industry, two hackers invented the Apple II, a PC that contained less memory than the average Microsoft Word document and bowled over consumers by displaying four colors at once. Some users tapped its resources to design productivity software. Others devised some of the most influential games of all time. From the perils along the Oregon Trail and the exploits of Carmen Sandiego to the shadowy dungeons of Wizardry and Prince of Persia's trap-filled labyrinth, Break Out recounts the making of some of the Apple II's most iconic games, illustrates how they informed the games we play today, and tells the stories of the pioneers who made them.

Ever wonder what might have happened if a certain glass slipper had been placed on the wrong maiden's foot . . . and fit?! In this comic twist on a classic fairy tale, Murray, a humble shoemaker, creates a pair of glass slippers to a frantic fairy godmother when her wand runs out of power, setting off a rollicking chain of events that may force him to disappoint a prince, risk the fairy's wrath, and sacrifice the secret love of his life. Deborah Guarino, author of the bestselling Is Your Mama a Llama?, has created a magical story that will delight readers of all ages. Vivid illustrations bring the characters brilliantly to life in this tale of true love, royal mayhem, and big feet.

Set between the sound and the sea, Long Island is home to some of America's most intriguing country houses. This book highlights the best examples, telling the story of each through outstanding contemporary color photography. The dwellings, which began as 17th-century homesteads and 18th-century, high-style plantation manor houses, embody centuries of ownership and building activity―an aesthetic evolution shaped by both Dutch and English colonial influences and proximity to the cultural crossroads of Long Island Sound and New York City. These many-layered homes, both large and small, have anchored successive generations engaged in living well amid evolving American taste, each generation expanding, altering, and redefining them in accordance with popular trends and personal eccentricities. Representing the best of maverick Americana, their charmed interiors exude warmth, comfort, and familiarity and contain wonderful old objects and materials that will satiate all who hunger for old houses.

How many states claim quartz as their official state gem? This guidebook answers this question and more as it explores the treasures that are designated official state gems and minerals. More than 150 photographs showcase these marvels, from the Star Blue quartz of Alabama to the jade nephrite of Wyoming. Each state entry is presented with details about the state gem and mineral, with pictures of each, and a map of the state showing where the gem or mineral can be found. Some states do not yet have designated gems or minerals, and suggestions and guidance are provided so that the reader can lead the way in getting one designated. Museums and parks with minerals are listed in the appendix so readers can go see specimens in person. Encyclopedic yet easy to read, this book is great for mineral and gem enthusiasts and future geologists of all ages.

Chadwick the Crab and his friends—Bernie the Seagull, Hector Spector Jellyfish, Baron von Heron, Toulouse the Canada Goose, and Matilda Egret, to name a few—live in the Chesapeake Bay and share many adventures. Snuggle up with your youngest "readers" and introduce them to the Bay's most endearing crab and his buddies with fun rhymes and flaps that lift to reveal who's who. This delightful board book will increase language and identification skills, along with developing small motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

In 1822, Clement Clarke Moore created the classic Christmas poem, "The Night Before Christmas," for his daughter. Here, in verse and accompanied by over 50 richly detailed illustrations, is the story of the writing of this classic. It is based on the history of the poem as passed down through the generations of the Moore family and told to the author by Dinghy Sharp, the great-great-granddaughter of Clement Moore. Not only does the story of the beautiful and enduring poem's creation unfold in this tale, but many of the terms and actions of the characters in "The Night Before Christmas" are explained, including why stockings were hung, why windows were