Tag: Activity Kit

Download the School’s First Day of School Activity Kit!

Need back-to-school icebreakers or storytime ideas? Download this activity kit to be used alongside School’s First Day of School! “A perfect first day read-aloud,” says School Library Journal!

School’s First Day of School story by Adam Rex; pictures by Christian Robinson

It’s the first day of school at Frederick Douglass Elementary and everyone’s just a little bit nervous, especially the school itself. What will the children do once they come? Will they like the school? Will they be nice to him?

The school has a rough start, but as the day goes on, he soon recovers when he sees that he’s not the only one going through first-day jitters.

Adam Rex has written several books for young readers, including the New York Times bestselling Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich and The True Meaning of Smekday. His first day of school was at Lookout Mountain Elementary in Phoenix. He lives now with his wife and son in Tucson.

Christian Robinson‘s award-winning books for young readers include Josephine, which was a Coretta Scott King Honor Book as well as a Sibert Honor Book and Harlem’s Little Blackbird, which was an NAACP Image Award nominee. His latest book Last Stop on Market Street earned four starred reviews and was on the New York Times bestseller list. This is his first book for Roaring Brook Press.

Download the School’s First Day of School activity kit here!

Praise for School’s First Day of School:

A New York Times Bestseller
Boston Globe Best Books of the Year
Goodreads Choice Awards
Washington Post Best Books of the Year
Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year
Kirkus Reviews Best Books of the Year

★ SEVEN STARRED REVIEWS! ★

★ “An essential purchase that is simultaneously funny, frank, and soothing. A perfect first day read-aloud.”—School Library Journal

★ “Sure to become a staple for first days of school everywhere.”—Horn Book

★ “This charming reversal of first-day-of-school nerves will delight little ones and help put their own anxieties at bay.”—Booklist

★ “A delightful, perspective-tweaking back-to-school picture book.”—Shelf Awareness

★ “Deftly juggles well-placed jokes and keen insights into feeling comfortable in one’s own skin—or bricks, as the case may be.”—Publishers Weekly

★ “Using his signature, simple style, Robinson alternates scenes of the building and its interiors with shots that show the boisterously diverse kids’ first day. A unique point of view makes this school book stand out.”—Kirkus Reviews


★ “A new and promising approach for school-shy youngsters, and it’ll make the already school-positive want to give their beloved building a hug.”—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Activity Kit: Dear Librarian

Download our new kit filled with activities that celebrate libraries, which can be used alongside the new picture book, Dear Librarian by Lydia M. Sigwarth, illustrated by Romina Galotta!

When Lydia was five years old, she and her family had to leave their home. They hopped from Grandma’s house to Aunt Linda’s house to Cousin Alice’s house, but no place was permanent. Then one day, everything changed. Lydia’s mom took her to a new place — not a house, but a big building with stone columns, and tall, tall steps. The library.

In the library, Lydia found her special spot across from the sunny window, at a round desk. For behind that desk was her new friend, the librarian. Together, Lydia and the librarian discovered a world beyond their walls, one that sparkled with spectacular joy.

Paired with warm art by newcomer Romina Galotta and a foreword by Ira Glass, Dear Librarian is a “thank you” to anyone who has offered a child love and support during a difficult time.

Download the Dear Librarian activity kit here!

Praise for Dear Librarian:

“A gentle ode to the effect one person can have on another, and what a library can offer a community.” —Publishers Weekly

“Galotta enriches the nostalgic undertones with glimpses of lush flowers, tiny robots, a dragon, and other imaginary elements… A cogent, warming reminder that public libraries have always been more than just repositories for books.” —Kirkus Reviews

“A heartfelt tribute to the power of libraries, and the power of kindness.” —Mara Wilson, actress and author

Join us for the Dear Librarian launch event on June 11 at 7pm ET!

Lydia will be joined by illustrator Romina Galotta, the team that brought her story to This American Life,
Ira Glass and Stephanie Foo, and the librarian who changed her life, Deb Stephenson. 

Register here for the Dear Librarian launch event here!

Activity Kit: This Earth Day, Take the Pledge to become a Water Protector!

Inspired by the many Indigenous-led movements across North America, We Are Water Protectors is a bold and lyrical picture book by Carole Lindstrom and illustrated by Michaela Goade. It issues an urgent rallying cry to safeguard the Earth’s water from harm and corruption.

In the spirit of this stunning book, we want YOU to take the Protector’s Pledge this Earth Day!

Download the Kit Here →

Activity Kit: Santa Baby

Santa Baby by Jonathan Stutzman; illustrated by Heather Fox

Jonathan Stutzman and Heather Fox, the duo behind Llama Destroys the World, take their trademark hijinks up to the North Pole in this laugh-out-loud, heartfelt Christmas-themed picture book.

Santa is feeling old, and being in the business of Christmas for centuries is . . . well, it isn’t all milk and cookies. In hopes of regaining some of his pep, Santa asks the spirit of Christmas to give him something for a change: skim off a couple of years and make him younger.

But Christmas magic is powerful, and Santa gets more than he wished for. Instead of a fresh new outlook and boundless energy, he needs diapers and a nap—stat. With Christmas only a few days away, the elves rush to teach Santa Baby the basics. But will there be enough time to prepare their new bundle of holiday joy for the job?

“Plenty of laughs…playfully complemented by Fox’s child-friendly illustrations.” —Horn Book

Download the SANTA BABY activity kit!

Activity Kit: The Runaway Belly Button

The Runaway Belly Button by John Flannery; illustrated by Mika Song

In the charming and lighthearted picture book, The Runaway Belly Button, John Flannery and Mika Song bring to life the sweetly goofy Belly Button as she reminds you how nice it is to be sparkling clean.

Grace loved to get dirty. But she was also pretty good at getting clean—she took proper care of Hands, paid extra attention to Feet, and even remembered to scrub behind Ears. There was just one body part she tended to forget: Belly Button.

Day after day, Belly Button got dirtier… and stinkier… and filthier. Until after one particularly neglectful bath, Belly Button decides she’ll have to get outie there to look and smell great again.

“Both solid entertainment and useful hygiene instruction.” – Publishers Weekly

Download THE RUNAWAY BELLY BUTTON activity kit!

Activity Kit: A Little Space for Me

A Little Space for Me by Jennifer Gray Olson

With clever, inventive art and universally relatable themes, A Little Space for Me by Jennifer Gray Olson is a heartwarming picture book about the importance of mindfulness, understanding, and finding a moment of peace within a big, busy world.

Sometimes, when it’s too loud, too crowded, too messy, too smelly, or for no reason at all, you might just need a little bit of space to feel like yourself again.

“Inventive compositions will transport readers into the thoughts and emotions of the protagonist. Both text and art show familiar experiences, but Olson also leaves them open to interpretation, showing people can interact with the world in different ways . . . Ripe for discussion.” —Kirkus

“A thought-provoking rumination on mindfulness . . . Olson’s art is gorgeous . . . An excellent choice for a bedtime book as kids wind down from their chaotic days.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Download the A LITTLE SPACE FOR ME activity kit!

Activity Kit: Con Quest

Con Quest by Sam Maggs

Cat and Alex are excited to be at the world’s most popular comics convention—and they’re even more excited to compete in the Quest, a huge scavenger hunt run by their favorite nerdy celebrity. The big prize: a chance to meet him!

The twins ditch their older sister Fi and set off to find geeky clues, tackle nerdy challenges, and cross as many items as possible off their Quest list, which includes volunteering at an Artist Alley booth, gathering cosplayers in enough colors to make a double rainbow, and actually finding something healthy to eat in the convention center!

Can the twins work together even when they disagree on how to compete? Will Fi find Cat and Alex before their parents realize they’re missing? Most importantly, can these ultimate fans complete the ultimate Quest?

“An absolute love letter to con culture… The next best thing to actually attending a con.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“An exciting read… A geektastic book for those who love conventions or who want a sneak peek into comic-con culture.” —Booklist

Download the CON QUEST activity kit!