Jump into June with our Month in Books series! Explore joyful journeys as we feature a book for each letter of the month. Discover new favorites and add inspiration to your summer reading list.
Just in Case by Laura McHale Holland
Elegant, haunting, beautiful prose in short, short stories to savor and share. Imagine a world where shadows of enchantment instantly render ordinary experiences eerie, terrifying or sublime. Where the unexpected becomes the norm.
The twenty-one micro stories in Laura McHale Holland’s Just in Case comprise such a place: a universe where a wife betrayed relishes her revenge; a couple chugging toward retirement takes a surprising U-turn; a much maligned character finally has his say; a cozy family scene chills the blood; a curious relative cannot leave a half-human baby alone.
The short stories in this collection contain layers of meaning hidden in metaphor. Story reveals meaning in raw emotion, arresting in their sudden intimacy. Magical, yet grounded, this is flash fiction at its best by an author who knows how to pack a gratifying punch and leave the reader hankering for more.
Unfollow Your Passion by Terry Trespicio
Every person on the planet wants their life to mean something. The problem is that you’ve been told there’s only one way to find that meaning.
In Unfollow Your Passion, Terri Trespicio—whose TEDx talk has more than six million views—questions everything you think you need: passion (fun, but fleeting), plans (flimsy at best), and a bucket list (eye roll), to name a few.
Instead, she shows you how (and why) to flip society, culture, and the #patriarchy the bird so you can live life on your terms. Trespicio effortlessly guides you through her method. She shows you how to unhook yourself from other people’s agendas, hone the skills to move you forward, and explore your own creativity, memory, and intuition. This can unlock your unique path to meaning—while also confronting the challenges that stop you in your tracks, like boredom, loss, and fear.
Nelson Mandela by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara
Next in the critically acclaimed, multimillion-copy best-selling Little People, BIG DREAMS series! Discover the incredible life of Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first Black president and his fight for equality.
Little Nelson’s given name was Rolihlahla, which means ‘troublemaker’ in Xhosa, his native language. That rebellious nature would lead him to become one of the world’s most inspirational civil rights leaders and anti-apartheid revolutionaries.
Despite years of imprisonment and adversity, Nelson remained firm in his mission to end racist system apartheid in South Africa.
His bravery and resilience were rewarded when he was released from prison. Nelson would go on to become South Africa’s first Black president. This inspiring book features stylish, quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back. There’s also a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the activist turned president’s life.
Little People, BIG DREAMS is a best-selling biography series for kids that explores the lives of outstanding people. These range from designers and artists to scientists and activists. All of them achieved incredible things, yet each began life as a child with a dream.
This empowering series of books offers inspiring messages to children of all ages, in a range of formats. The board books are simple sentences, perfect for reading aloud to babies and toddlers. The hardcover and paperback versions present expanded stories for beginning readers. With rewritten text for older children, the treasuries each bring together a multitude of dreamers in a single volume. You can also collect a selection of the books by theme in boxed gift sets. Activity books and a journal provide even more ways to make the lives of these role models accessible to children.
Inspire the next generation of outstanding people who will change the world with Little People, BIG DREAMS!
Extreme Weather for Kids by Matthew Cappucci
Extreme Weather for Kids is a whirlwind ride through the wild world of weather. It is written in accessible language and complemented by vivid descriptions and imagery.
This action-packed introduction to meteorology incorporates firsthand accounts from inside Mother Nature’s most dramatic moments. For each phenomenon introduced, explanatory text, informative illustrations, sidebars, and asides allow readers to explore at their own pace. There are storm-chasing reports and photos from in the field. Each chapter includes a step-by-step hands-on activity for engaging with the science.
What is the polar vortex? And why does a disrupted “polar vortex” lead to extreme cold air outbreaks across Europe, Asia, and North America? Among the many “in case you were wondering” questions addressed:
How strong can a hurricane get?
What’s the biggest tornado to have ever happened?
How large can hail get?
Is “thundersnow” real?
How does it form?
How thick is lightning? And how powerful is it?
Where can I find “fossilized lightning?”
Can it snow in the dessert?
What are “solar storms?”
What makes the northern (and southern) lights?
Weather is one of the most accessible sciences there is. Everyone experiences it in some way or another, and learning the basics behind it naturally sparks interest in other sciences. That’s why Extreme Weather for Kids also teaches the basic principles of scientific observation, while placing a key emphasis on safety.
Extreme Weather for Kids is sure to awaken the joy of learning—rain or shine.
