Books published by publisher Boyds Mills Pr

Following a day in the life of Clarabelle, one of 1,200 cows on a Wisconsin dairy farm, we learn what it takes for a cow to produce life-giving milk and also by-products like electricity. The manure that Clarabelle and her herdmates create not only generates electricity, it provides fresh bedding for cow stalls and fertilizer for the crops grown to feed the cows. Vibrant close-up photographs capture Clarabelle, her calf, and the youngest members of this multi-generational farm family, Josh and Sam, sharing the workload.

Once they were a familiar sight: iron horses belching smoke and steam, chugging out of depots and racing across the countryside. Those spectacular steam locomotives are gone. But in this fascinating book, Karl Zimmermann, an authority on trains, takes young readers back to a colorful era of railroad history. He traces the development of the steam locomotive from early engines, such as the little Tom Thumb, to "Big Boy," the largest locomotive ever built. He explains how steam locomotives work; how they are classified; why they were vanquished by the diesel; and why those magnificent machines still hold us spellbound. Chock-full of facts, and featuring stunning full-color and archival photographs of steam locomotives in the United States, Canada, and other countries, this book will fire the imagination of any young reader who ever dreamed of getting behind the throttle of a mighty steam locomotive.

The biggest mathematical mystery in nature—Fibonacci numbers! Named after a famous mathematician, the number pattern is simple: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13. . . . Each number in the sequence comes from adding the two numbers before it. What's the mystery? The pattern crops up in the most unexpected places. You'll find it in the disk of a sunflower, the skin of a pineapple, and the spiral of a nautilus shell. No one knows how nature came up with the sequence. Sarah C. and Richard P. Campbell introduce the Fibonacci sequence through a series of stunning photographs in this ALA Notable Children's Book. Young readers will soon be seeing nature through new eyes, looking for Fibonacci numbers in daisies, pinecones, leaf patterns, seashells, and more.

How will Gregory find his way back to Dad?Swish-swoosh . . . Gregory draws a lion in the sand. "Don't go in the water, and don't leave Sandy," warns Dad. But the sandy lion grows a tail that gets longer and longer—and soon Gregory is lost on the beach. This wonderful read-aloud book brings to life a summer experience that is all too familiar for young children. Karen Williams's rhythmic text has been paired with Floyd Cooper's brilliant illustrations, revealing the trip down the beach entirely from a child's point of view. A gentle father-son bond is shown in both text and art, reassuring young readers even as they share in Greg's moment of worry at finding himself lost and alone.

Here is a motivating collection of true stories from athletes who have faced incredible adversity, proving that integrity and honor are not entirely missing from the playing fields. Readers will learn about blind mountain climber Erik Weihenmayer, who scaled the heights of Mount McKinley; sprinter Gail Devers, who returned from a life-threatening illness to defend her Olympic title . . . and more. Despite challenges, each of these stars found the heart and stamina to persevere. With themes of resilience and grit, this inspirational book includes a foreword by noted former baseball player and coach Bobby Valentine, with additional stories from the following athletes: Michelle Akers: The Fire Within Ruben Gonzalez: Street Survivor Jim Eisenreich: This Is Who I Am John Lucas: One on One Mansour Bahrami: For the Love of the Game Greg LeMond: Making a New Plan Diana Golden Brosnihan: Gliding on the Edge Chris Zorich: Zora’s Gift Zina Garrison: No One Is Perfect Bob Welch: Living One Day at a Time Willie O’Ree: Breaking the Barriers Dan O’Brien: No Sure Thing Jean Driscoll: Don’t Look Back

Now available in a board book edition, this lyrical bedtime book is an ode to baby birds everywhere and to sleepy children, safe in their beds.As a mother describes how different species of birds nest, secure and cozy with their mama birds, she tucks her own child into bed with the soothing refrain -- "you nest here with me" -- easing her little one and readers alike to slumber. Accompanied by beautiful artwork by award-winning illustrator Melissa Sweet, mother and daughter Jane Yolen and Heidi Stemple have combined their poetry writing and love of birding in this board book that is sure to become a bedtime classic.

. What little secret would scare three terrible giants?. Why would a giant tremble at the sight of a butterfly?. Do giants throw temper tantrums?The answers to these questions are found in three mesmerizing tales of giants and a child. But the giants that crash and bellow through this book are unlike the giants of folklore. They behave in the most unusual manner, and find themselves in the most peculiar situations. What do these cantankerous, yet sympathetic giants have in common? They encounter a small little boy, who towers over the giants by way of wit and common sense. David L. Harrison's classic collection, richly illustrated by Philippe Fix, has been translated into ten languages and sold close to a million copies in it original edition. Now this Christopher Award-winning book is available again to a new generation of children.

With rhyming text, this soothing bedtime book is an ode to baby birds everywhere and sleepy children home safe in their own beds. As a mother describes to her child how many species of birds nest, from pigeons on concrete ledges to owls in oak tree boles to swallows above barn doors. The soothing refrain of “you nest here with me” eases her little one and readers alike to slumber. Combining their poetic writing and their love of birding, mother and daughter Jane Yolen and Heidi Stemple have written what is sure to become a bedtime classic.

Discover the secret behaviors of a notoriously stinky mammal--the skunk--by following a family as the kits grow from infancy to adulthood.The celebrated Secret Life series continues with a determined mother skunk and her five kits. Young readers will learn about their hidden lives as the skunk kits grow and explore their world, escape predators, and hunt for food. Here is a story of family and survival packed with science terminology, depictions of skunk behavior, and information about skunks' habitats, diets, and sounds. And stunning illustrations invite readers to get closer than they ever could in reality to these skunks' secret lives.

Marta Enos is having a bad day. It begins when the wind blows her homework out the window and the dogs chew it to pieces. Her grandmother consoles her with a tortilla as "big and pale as a rising full moon," along with ancient words of advice. This charming story, set on a Papago reservation in southern Arizona near the Mexican border, offers Native American wisdom that helps children--and adults as well--put their problems in perspective.