Books published by publisher Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers

★ An Amazon Best Children's Book of the Year selection From the New York Times bestselling author/illustrator of Max the Brave comes an inspiring and adorable picture book about a pair of unlikely friends who face down a pack of bullies. In this timely and charming story about the importance of being true to yourself, mindfulness, and standing by your friends, we meet Leonard, a lion, and his best friend Marianne, a . . . duck. Leonard and Marianne have a happy life together—talking, playing, writing poems, and making wishes—until one day a pack of bullies questions whether it's right for a lion and a duck to be pals. Leonard soon learns there are many ways to be a lion, and many ways to be a friend, and that sometimes finding just the right words can change the world . . . This sweet, funny, thoughtful, and much-needed story will open up readers' eyes to the importance of being who they are and not backing down to hurtful criticism. It's an empowering tale about connecting with others and choosing kindness over bullying, and shows children how angry and provocative words can be overcome by empathy and inner courage. Nominated for the 2019 Kate Greenaway Medal and the 2019 Carnegie Medal An NPR Best Books of 2018 selection A New York Public Library Best Books of 2018 selection ★ "Positive role models showing boys how to be a whole person are few and far between these days. This marvelous book triumphs in that essential job."—Kirkus, starred review "Children will feel empowered after reading such a deliberate story of unyielding strength and self-awareness. Thoughtful and provocative words to live by."—School Library Journal "A gentle, Ferdinand-like soul. . . . Vere's fable makes a watertight—and charming—case for ignoring the pressures of conformity."—Publishers Weekly "The spirit of Ferdinand the Bull is a alive and well in How to Be a Lion."—NPR "gently reminiscent of Winnie the Pooh"—BookTrust

"Children are poets before they grow up and they should live with poems. I hope this book will encourage them to do so."—Eleanor RooseveltBeloved and treasured for over 60 years, here is the only poetry collection your family needs—brimming with favorite, classic poems carefully selected to inspire young readers. Over 700 classic and modern poems written by poets from William Shakespeare to J. R. R. Tolkien, Emily Dickinson to Langston Hughes, and covering a range of favorite topics—pets, playtime, family, nature, and nonsense—ensure that there’s a poem to please every child. A truly comprehensive collection that is the ideal way of introducing children to the joys of reading poetry."If your children think they don't like poetry, expose them to this collection . . . and I defy them to resist its magic."—Kirkus"A fine book for parents to read aloud to their children."—Library Journal"This volume stands out for the comprehensiveness of its selection."—The Horn Book

Discover what makes every Leo baby special! This perfect book for your little star is part of a gorgeous and 100% giftable 12-book astrology board book series that shares gentle thoughts about the characteristics of a child born under each star sign.Dear little Leo, did you know that you are generous, warmhearted, and cheerful?Every Leo baby and toddler (born July 23 to August 22) is going to need this charming, gentle board book, which allows grown-ups and children to share the many lovely qualities that make each Leo kid special. Little ones--just like adults--will love knowing the traits of their star sign while learning that they are unique, wonderful, and, above all, so loved.The absolute perfect gift for baby showers, first birthdays, and anytime a baby is celebrated, the Baby Astrology series lets little ones know that they are ALL stars.

Girls with natural black hair are celebrated in this bright, joyful read-together picture book that will have kids everywhere chanting the book's chorus: "I love being me!"Full 'fro, cute bow! I love being me! Smart girl, cool curls! I love being me! Girls will love seeing strong, happy reflections of themselves in this vibrant, rhythmic picture book celebrating the diversity of beautiful black hair. From a cute crop to pom-pom puffs, adorable illustrations of girls with gorgeous braids, blowouts, and bantus grace each page, side by side with a positive message that will make girls cheer. It's a great read-aloud to promote self-esteem for girls of all ages, building and growing the foundation of self-love (and hair love!) and letting every girl know "You are made beautiful!""A book that pays homage to the versatility of black hair. . . . Fun to read aloud.”—KirkusAnd look for Cool Cuts too—a hip and positive hair book for boys!

Watch the tree change as each page is turned! The perfect picture book for curious young minds. New York Public Library’s 100 Best Books for Kids 2016!Through a hole in the book’s cover, an owl invites you inside to meet a majestic tree and all its forest inhabitants during the changing seasons. With clever peekaboo holes throughout, each page reveals a new set of animals playing and living in the tree—baby bears frolicking in the spring, bees buzzing around apples in the summer, squirrels storing nuts in the fall, and finally the lone owl keeping warm during the winter chill—until another year begins. . . . Children will love seeing a new set of animals appear and then disappear as each page is turned, and along the way they’ll learn about the seasons and how a forest and its inhabitants change throughout the year.And look for its companion books, Bee, Moon, Ocean, and The Twelve Days of Christmas, in the same Peek-Through Picture Book series!"Ideal for sharing up close, where little ones can get a good look at the pictures, this gentle, easy-to-memorize story of the seasons is a great fit for bedtime."—Booklist "Adult readers will relish guiding their little ones into lessons about the seasons, colors, wildlife, and more. This unassuming story is an intergenerational delight."─Kirkus Reviews"A playful yet focused look at constancy and change within a specific natural setting."—Publishers Weekly

Fans of Tree: A Peek-Through Picture Book can now fly along with Bee on her very busy day! Through a hole in the book’s cover, a bee is buzzing inside a flower. Peek into this bright and lively book and discover the big ways this little insect contributes to the beauty of the environment, from pollinating colorful flowers to buzzing about the bright and beautiful meadow. With clever peekaboo holes throughout, each page reveals new flowers and plants, plus a look inside a beehive as the bees work together to help a plants grow. Children will love seeing the details of a bee’s active day as each page is turned, and along the way they’ll learn about ways in which bees and plants works together to produce a healthy, beautiful environment.And look for its companion books, Tree, Moon, Ocean, and The Twelve Days of Christmas, in the same Peek-Through Picture Book series!"Ample opportunities can be found to linger over the vibrant multimedia collages of meadows, woods, hedgerows, streams, and, most of all, the flowers bursting from the pages. An inviting introduction to the busy lives of honeybees."—Booklist

It's never too early to get an A+ in anatomy! Here's a fun new board book series that introduces a wide array of nonfiction subjects to babies and toddlers.Welcome to Baby 101, where big subjects are tailored for little babies. Featuring simple words and bright and engaging illustrations, this introduction to anatomy includes information about parts of the body, like the head and shoulders, knees and toes! So don't be late, because this is one class that babies won't want to miss. Look for the surprise lift-the-flap ending!Also available in the Baby 101 series: Botany for Babies, Zoology for Babies, Architecture for Babies.★ "Instructive and not overwhelming—just right!."—Kirkus, starred review

Handpicked by Amazon kids’ books editor, Seira Wilson, for Prime Book Box – a children’s subscription that inspires a love of reading.Two funny, unlikely friends—a thoughtful sloth and an impatient fox—make their big debut in this hilarious new picture book celebrating friendship and the wonderful ways in which we're all different.Best friends Jasper and Ollie decide to go to the pool. On your mark, get set . . . WAIT! As Jasper races ahead—crashing into the mailman, speeding past the ice cream truck—Ollie takes his sweet time, pausing to admire a butterfly, smell a daisy, and help the mailman pick up his letters! With a clever design that shows Jasper's hectic rush compared with Ollie's casual stroll, this hilarious story allows young readers to easily recognize the differences between the two pals. It's a smartly paced, hugely funny celebration of what makes each person special. Kids AND grown-ups will giggle as they decide if they're more of a "Jasper" or an "Ollie." It's also a great story to share the concept of "taking time to smell the roses"—a perfect lesson in our overly scheduled world.And look for book two from this exciting new author-illustrator, coming in summer 2020: Jasper & Ollie Build a Fort.Critics love Jasper & Ollie!:"A hilarious and lively romp that sneaks in a message about the importance of patience and will have its readers hoping for some follow-up adventures of the 'odd couple' friends."—School Library Journal“Forget the tortoise and the hare, this tale of friendship between an unhurried sloth and a wild fox is a funnier version of those famous opposites, and one that will have kids wondering whether they’re more like the deliberate Ollie or the frenetic Jasper.”—ReadBrightly.comChildren's Book Council "Hot Off the Press" selection

It's never too early to get an A+ in architecture! Here's a fun new board book series that introduces a wide array of nonfiction subjects to babies and toddlers.Welcome to Baby 101, where big subjects are tailored for little babies. Featuring simple words and bright and engaging illustrations, this introduction to architecture includes information about how buildings are made, featuring famous sites like the Colosseum, the Taj Mahal, and the pyramids. So don't be late, because this is one class that babies won't want to miss. Look for the surprise lift-the-flap ending!Also available in the Baby 101 series: Botany for Babies, Zoology for Babies, Anatomy for Babies."Think architecture isn't for little ones? This informational board book distills architectural concepts into manageable pieces. Throughout this well-organized text, short sentences clearly define various architectural terms. . . . Art and words smoothly blend to make information accessible but without talking down to child readers. . . . Architecture really is for kids! This is a surprisingly informative and accessible concept book."—Kirkus

Adventure abounds when a toy comes to life in this classic novel! It's Omri's birthday, but all he gets from his best friend, Patrick, is a little plastic warrior figure. Trying to hide his disappointment, Omri puts his present in a metal cupboard and locks the door with a mysterious skeleton key that once belonged to his great-grandmother. Little does Omri know that by turning the key, he will transform his ordinary plastic toy into a real live man from an altogether different time and place! Omri and the tiny warrior called Little Bear could hardly be more different, yet soon the two forge a very special friendship. Will Omri be able to keep Little Bear without anyone finding out and taking his new friend away?

Learn from home and explore the world with these fun and easy board books!Every young child loves to look up at the moon in the night sky. Here’s a Hello, World! board book that can teach toddlers all about the sun, moon, stars, and planets—with colors, shapes, sizes, and super-simple facts. Hello, World! is a series designed to introduce first nonfiction concepts to babies and toddlers. Told in clear and easy terms and featuring bright, cheerful illustrations, Hello, World! makes learning fun for young children. And each sturdy page offers helpful prompts for engaging with your child. (“Can you point to the red planet? That’s Mars!”) It’s a perfect way to bring science and nature into the busy world of a toddler, where learning never stops. Look for all the books in the Hello, World! series: •Solar Sytem•Weather•Backyard Bugs•Birds•Dinosaurs•My Body•How Do Apples Grow?•Ocean Life•Moon Landing•Pets•Arctic Animals•Construction Site•Rainforest Animals•Planet Earth •Reptiles“A cheerful introduction to outer space.”—Booklist“Supplemental tidbits ('Ouch! Asteroids and comets often hit this planet,' [McDonald] writes about Mercury) offer additional details to pique the interest of children just hearing about Earth’s cosmic neighbors for the first time.”—Publishers Weekly