Books published by publisher Holiday House, 2009

Juice, jelly, cider, pie, or straight off the tree...apples are delicious! Discover the well-loved tradition of growing and picking apples - a fruit that has been in existence for about two million years. Explore the history of the apple but also the way that families and farmers grow and care for apple trees today, from planting to selling, to turning them into delicious treats and using them for classic games like "bobbing for apples" on Halloween.Detailed pictures introduce readers to the botany of apples too. Experience colorful depictions of apple blossom pollination, the growth process of apples, and several panels of the different kinds of apples around the world. Learn how to plant and care for your own apple tree with step by step instructions. Then use the apple pie recipe also included to celebrate a job well done! Author-Illustrator Gail Gibbons explores anything and everything there is to know about the world as young readers experience it, including the ever-present, ever-refreshing apple.

Traveling alone, deep in the woods, Elisabeth suspects her basket of treats isn’t the only thing a sly wolf is after Surrounded by an abundance of wildflowers, mushrooms, pinecones, and birds, Elisabeth heads off in her red cloak to visit her ailing grandmother. She's all alone—until she is joined by a wicked wolf, who urges her to stray from her wooded path. Framed with hand-drawn patterns and textured vignettes, Trina Schart Hyman's illustrations add intrigue to the familiar story, filled with subtle detail and depth. With the help of a brave woodsman, Elisabeth and her grandmother are saved—and Little Red Riding Hood learns a valuable lesson. Little Red Riding Hood was a Caldecott Honor Book and received a Gold Kite Award for Picture Book Text. A classic of children's literature, this retelling of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale brings new life to an old favorite with illustrations that children will linger over.

Perfect for the youngest readers, this board book adaptation of the acclaimed Shades of People celebrates the diversity of everyday life. Cocoa, tan, rose, and almond--people come in lots of shades, even in the same family. Skin color is one of our most noticeable physical traits, and this beautiful board book, with its vibrant photographs and very simple text, provides a perfect starting point to talk about race and diversity with very young readers. At school, at the beach, and in the city, diverse and joyful groups of children invite young readers both to take notice and to look beyond the obvious. Combining lively action shots and candid portraits, Shelley Rotner's photographs showcase a wide variety of kids and families--many shades, and many bright smiles.

Get lost in the world of the Nissera Chronicles in this electrifying short story about a bold heroine up against an alchemist brewing an unfathomable evil. Companion to Kingdom of Ash and Briars, a Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Book of the Year. Welcome to Nissera, land of three kingdoms and home to spectacular magic. Across the realm, two powerful sorceresses are marshalling their armies, preparing for a climactic battle to decide the fate of their world. But in a hay-filled barn in the countryside, a small group of spies led by a courageous young warrior named Drell launches an offensive to root out the identity of a shadowy alchemist experimenting with a deadly weapon. If Drell’s team is successful, the forces of good have a shot at prevailing. If they fail, it could turn the tide against them. In the war to save Nissera, every battle counts—including those fought on the smallest fronts. Hannah West’s acclaimed Nissera novels combine glittering prose and captivating characters with classic fairy tale motifs and imaginative magic. Set against the backdrop of Kingdom of Ash and Briars, Fields of Fire leads the way to Realm of Ruins, a gripping companion novel. “One of the best books I've ever read.”—C.J. Redwine, New York Times best-selling author of The Shadow Queen on Kingdom of Ash and Briars“A treasure hunt for fans of fairy tales and fantasy. . . . I could have stayed and played in this treacherous world for a long time.” – Stephanie Garber, #1 New York Times best-selling author of Legendary on Realm of Ruins

A Coretta Scott King Author Honor BookWinner of the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical FictionWhen eleven-year-old Langston's father moves them from their home in Alabama to Chicago's Bronzeville district, it feels like he's giving up everything he loves. It's 1946. Langston's mother has just died, and now they're leaving the rest of his family and friends. He misses everything--Grandma's Sunday suppers, the red dirt roads, and the magnolia trees his mother loved.In the city, they live in a small apartment surrounded by noise and chaos. It doesn't feel like a new start, or a better life. At home he's lonely, his father always busy at work; at school he's bullied for being a country boy. But Langston's new home has one fantastic thing. Unlike the whites-only library in Alabama, the Chicago Public Library welcomes everyone. There, hiding out after school, Langston discovers another Langston--a poet whom he learns inspired his mother enough to name her only son after him. Lesa Cline-Ransome, author of the Coretta Scott King Honor picture book Before She Was Harriet, has crafted a lyrical debut novel about one boy's experiences during the Great Migration. Includes an author's note about the historical context and her research.Don't miss the companion novel, Leaving Lymon, which centers on one of Langston's classmates and explores grief, resilience, and the circumstances that can drive a boy to become a bully-- and offer a chance at redemption. A Junior Library Guild selection!A CLA Notable Children's Book in Language ArtsA Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year, with 5 Starred ReviewsA School Library Journal Best Book of 2018

Find out where your favorite crunchy, refreshing fruit comes from in this snack-sized book. Apples come in all shapes and sizes from all over the world. Take a bite and chew on months of planting, growing, picking, and selling that bring this tasty fruit into the home. With deliciously bright, detailed images and a simple text, Apples is the perfect board book for small curious hands who are still new to the crisp comfort of autumn.Gail Gibbons, a dedicated explorer of the world on behalf of curious young readers, uncovers and educates young audiences with board books on everything from Pumpkins to Bicycles to Boats.Readers ages 4-8 will also enjoy the newly-updated picture book version of Apples, which includes even more delectable details, diagrams, and vocabulary.

Flowers, trees, fruits—plants are all around us, but where do they come from? With simple language and bright illustrations, non-fiction master Gail Gibbons introduces young readers to the processes of pollination, seed formation, and germination. Important vocabulary is reinforced with accessible explanation and colorful, clear diagrams showing the parts of plants, the wide variety of seeds, and how they grow. The book includes instructions for a seed-growing project, and a page of interesting facts about plants, seeds, and flowers. A nonfiction classic, and a perfect companion for early science lessons and curious young gardeners. According to The Washington Post, Gail Gibbons "has taught more preschoolers and early readers about the world than any other children's writer-illustrator." Ms. Gibbons is the author of more than 100 books for young readers, including the bestselling titles From Seed to Plant and Monarch Butterfly. Her many honors include the Washington Post/Childrens Book Guild Nonfiction Award and the NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book Award. From Seed to Plant was included in the Common Core State Standards Appendix B.

Cocoa, tan, rose, and almond—people come in lots of shades, even in the same family. A celebration of the diversity of everyday life, this exploration of one of our most noticeable physical traits pairs simple text with vibrant photographs. At school, at the beach, and in the city, diverse groups of children invite young readers both to take notice and to look beyond the obvious. Combining lively action shots and candid portraits, Shelley Rotner's photographs showcase a wide variety of kids and families—many shades, and many bright smiles. For even younger readers, this title has also been adapted as a board book, All Kinds of People. An ALA Notable Book.

A delightful story of steadfast love between a pirate boy and his brave mom.After reading his favorite book about a pirate boy, Danny wonders what would happen if he sailed away on a pirate ship. Luckily, his mother reassures him that she would find him, even if she had to swim on a dolphin, battle sea monsters, and wield a bottle of pirate-shrinking magic spray to do it! Young readers will love this adventurous and ultimately reassuring tale of a mother's love.

Piper was raised in a cult.She just doesn't know it. Seventeen-year-old Piper knows that Father is a Prophet. Infallible. The chosen one. She would do anything for Father. That's why she takes care of all her little sisters. That's why she runs end-of-the-world drills. That's why she never asks questions. Because Father knows best. Until the day he doesn't. Until the day the government raids the compound and separates Piper from her siblings, from Mother, from the Aunts, from all of Father's followers--even from Caspian, the boy she loves. Now Piper is living Outside. Among Them. With a woman They claim is her real mother--a woman They say Father stole her from. But Piper knows better. And Piper is going to escape.

What in the world is a tornado? In this age of extreme weather, this newly updated edition of Gail Gibbons' informative introduction to tornadoes, with safety tips included, answers that question.Tornadoes form when hot, humid air rises from the ground and meets with the cooler, denser air that is falling back to Earth. The two airstreams begin to swirl, pulling in more and more air to form a funnel-shaped cloud. The winds can swirl faster than 261 miles per hour! Newly revised and vetted by weather experts from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, Tornadoes is an accessible introduction to this fascinating phenomenon. Using her praised combination of clear text and detailed illustrations, Gail Gibbons shares more than fifty tornado facts. . . . including how tornadoes form, the scale used for classifying them, and the safest places to go in case one should happen near you.Featuring simple, kid-friendly text, colorful paintings, and well-labeled diagrams, Gail Gibbons' nonfiction titles have been called "staples of any collection" (Kirkus Reviews) and offer clear, accessible introductions to complex topics for young readers beginning to explore the world.

Houses are built with many different materials, and in many shapes and sizes. Step by step, this picture book explains how homes are built—from the architect's plans through the arrival of a happy family. The many processes of construction are explained with simple language and bright, clear illustrations, perfect for kids starting to wonder about how the world around them works. Many different careers—including carpenters, plumbers, electricians, and landscapers—are introduced, each doing their part to bring the picture wood-frame house to life. A great read for kids who love construction sites, or who can't get enough of Building a House by Byron Barton. According to The Washington Post, Gail Gibbons "has taught more preschoolers and early readers about the world than any other children's writer-illustrator." Ms. Gibbons is the author of more than 100 books for young readers, including the bestselling titles From Seed to Plant and Monarch Butterfly. Her many honors include the Washington Post/Childrens Book Fuild Nonfiction Award and the NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book Award.