Books published by publisher Atheneum/Richard Jackson Books

Picture a sky as big as all outdoors, a fence disappearing over a hill, a crow then appearing, a boy looking up, watching, wondering. Not much more than a moment but the meetinglofts a rush of childhood questions—27 in all—inspiring answers as big as all outdoors. Caldecott medalist Chris Raschka, himself the boy perhaps,has created a book in the sparest language against the simplest setting, to inspire in any young listener the wonder of wondering.

00 Finding a friend isn't easy. Especially when there aren't many kids age eleven in your neighborhood. Being a friend is even harder. In Pearl's neighborhood, Lenore is anyone's first choice. She gets her hair straightened and curled at a real beauty shop. Pearl's is still in braids. Lenore has her own pink phone and a frilly canopy bed. Pearl has to share a room with her teenage sister, "Princess" Diana, and a shaggy old bed with her sassy little sister, Angela. Lenore has followers -- Nadine and Ce-Ce. She hardly needs Pearl. But Pearl still hopes -- until Artemesia comes along. She is everything Pearl herself dreams of being -- a modern dancer, a gifted artist. She is also a mystery. "That old stanky girl," Lenore snorts, mocking with the others Artemesia's ill-fitting yellow dress. Pearl, meaning the best, does the worst thing possible. And still she hasn't a friend. Or has she? Finding a friend isn't easy. Especially when there aren't many kids age eleven in your neighborhood. Being a friend is even harder. In Pearl's neighborhood, Lenore is anyone's first choice. She gets her hair straightened and curled at a real beauty shop. Pearl's is still in braids. Lenore has her own pink phone and a frilly canopy bed. Pearl has to share a room with her teenage sister, "Princess" Diana, and a shaggy old bed with her sassy little sister, Angela. Lenore has followers -- Nadine and Ce-Ce. She hardly needs Pearl. But Pearl still hopes -- until Artemesia comes along. She is everything Pearl herself dreams of being -- a modern dancer, a gifted artist. She is also a mystery. "That old stanky girl," Lenore snorts, mocking with the others Artemesia's ill-fitting yellow dress. Pearl, meaning the best, does the worst thing possible. And still she hasn't a friend. Or has she?

From the critically acclaimed author of The Perfect Pumpkin Pie comes a picture book about the friendship between a snail and a slug that teaches readers how good friends can help you do anything, including finding the courage to make a difference.It’s a hot, hot day and Snail invites her new friend Slug into her home for some iced tea—who knew that a snail’s shell is so roomy! When the two decide to have a picnic outside in the shade, a big mean ol’ banana slug demands that they fork over their lettuce! But with a little bit of courage, friendship, and a dash of salt, the pair will find the strength they need to stand up to him.

Monkey and Robot are the best of friends—and they have the best of adventures! This chapter book includes four (more!) playful stories.Monkey always gets in the wildest of messes. And Robot is always there to help him out. After all, what are best friends for? “Readers looking for funny friendship stories but who think that Frog and Toad and other early readers are a tad too easy will find this unlikely duo just right,” says Horn Book Magazine about the Monkey and Robot series.