The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg

From chapters.ca:
Fourteen black- and- white drawings, each accompanied by a title and a caption, entice readers to make up his or her own story.

A Very Smart Cat by Mario Picayo, illustrated by Yolanda Fundora

Winter’s Tail: How One Little Dolphin Learned to Swim Again by Juliana Hatkoff, Isabella Hatkoff, and Craig Hatkoff

From chapters.ca:
When Winter, an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, was just three months old, she was rescued from a crab trap off the east coast of Florida, her tail seriously damaged. She was rushed to Clearwater Marine Aquarium, where she was cared for by a special team around the clock. It wasn't clear that Winter would survive, but to everyone's amazement, she did. Eventually, though, Winter's tail fell off, which caused her to compensate by swimming with a side- to- side motion like a fish instead of an up- and down motion like a dolphin. Over time, it was apparent that she was seriously damaging her spine. Then something amazing happened. A team of experts from a renowned company that makes prosthetics for humans heard about Winter and decided to help. Now Winter is learning how to use a prosthetic tail, and her odds for living the normal life of a dolphin are looking great - Winter is thriving and using her new tail with great command.

They Did What?! Your Guide to Weird and Wacky Things People Do by Jeff Szpirglas, illustrated by Dave Whamond

From chapters.ca:
To err is human - to read all about it is time well spent! They Did What?! holds up a carnival funhouse mirror to the human race, showing kids an hilarious reflection of foibles, flubs and foolishness. Over the course of history, humanity has achieved great things: the Great Pyramids, space travel and the world wide web, to name a few. But why not celebrate our eccentricities, our famous bloopers, the bits that have been edited out for so long- such as pet rocks, air guitar contests and turkey- and- gravy soda! They Did What?! approaches history, science and culture from a new perspective, awarding the booby prize to history's most ridiculous fads, hoaxes, daredevils, advertising, urban legends, inventions and more.

Saving the Baghdad Zoo: A True Story of Hope and Heroes by Kelly Milner Halls and Major William Sumner

From chapters.ca:
The baghdad zoo was once home to more than six hundred magnificent animals. But after the war in Iraq began in 2003, the city faced widespread destruction. When U. S. Army Captain William Sumner was asked to check out the state of the zoo, he found that it, too, was devastated. Hundreds of animals were missing, and the few remaining were in desperate need of care. And so Captain Sumner accepted a new mission. Together with an international team of zoologists, veterinarians, conservationists, and dedicated animal lovers, Captain Sumner worked tirelessly to save the neglected - but tenacious - animals of Baghdad.

Redwoods by Jason Chin

From chapters.ca:
A subway trip is transformed when a young boy happens upon a book about redwood forests. As he reads the information unfolds, and with each new bit of knowledge, he travels - all the way to California - to climb into the Redwood canopy. Crammed with interesting and accurate information about these great natural wonders, Jason Chin's first book is innovative nonfiction set within a strong and beautiful picture storybook.

The Last Airbender Prequel: Zuko’s Story by Dave Roman and Alison Wilgus, illustrated by Nina Matsumoto

From chapters.ca:
Prince Zuko is banished from the Fire Nation by his own father, Fire Lord Ozai. Horribly scarred and stripped of everything he holds dear, Zuko wanders the earth for almost three years in search of his only chance at redemption: the Avatar, a mystical being who once kept the four nations in balance. All around him, people whisper that this is an impossible task - the Avatar, after all, disappeared a century ago - but Zuko defiantly continues the search. His quest is all he has left.

Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World’s Strangest Parrot by Sy Montgomery, photos by Nic Bishop

From chapters.ca:
On remote Codfish Island off the southern coast of New Zealand live the last ninety- one kakapo parrots on earth. These trusting, flightless, and beautiful birds - the largest and most unusual parrots on earth - have suffered devastating population loss. Now, on an island refuge with the last of the species, New Zealand's National Kakapo Recovery Team is working to restore the kakapo population. With the help of fourteen humans who share a single hut and a passion for saving these odd ground- dwelling birds, the kakapo are making a comeback in New Zealand. Follow intrepid animal lovers Sy Montgomery and Nic Bishop on a ten- day excursion to witness the exciting events in the life of the kakapo.

The Hive Detectives: Chronicles of a Honey Bee Catastrophe by Loree Griffin Burns, photos by Ellen Harasimowicz

From chapters.ca:
Without honey bees the world would be a different place. There would be no honey, no beeswax for candles, and, worst of all, barely a fruit, nut, or vegetable to eat. So imagine beekeeper Dave Hackenburg's horror when he discovered twenty million of his charges had vanished. Those missing bees became the first casualties of a mysterious scourge that continues to plague honey bee populations today. In The Hive Detectives, Loree Griffin Burns profiles bee wranglers and bee scientists who have been working to understand colony collapse disorder, or CCD: the Hackenburgs, who move their three thousand beehives from coast to coast in order to pollinate crops; Mary Duane, who raises bees and bottles blue ribbon honey; Dennis van Engelsdorp, Jeffrey Pettis, Diana Cox-Foster, and Maryann Frazier, who study bees from every possible angle in an attempt to discover what is killing them. In this dramatic and enlightening story, readers explore the lives of the fuzzy, buzzy insects and learn what might happen to us if they were gone.

Design It! The Ordinary Things we Use Everyday and the Not-so-Ordinary Ways they came to be by Rona Arato, illustrated by Claudia Newell

From chapters.ca:
Behind the toaster, the toilet, the tub, the microwave, the camera, and countless other features of our everyday lives are smart ideas from smart people who executed them. A bright idea of a book, Design It! is a great introduction to lots of satisfying careers from architecture to model making, to the pioneers - thank you, Mr. Cummings for the modern- day toilet! - and to the principles of good design that make life more pleasant. Rona Arato introduces young readers to the world of industrial design by focusing on our homes and by presenting the basics. She asks readers to be the judge: Does it do what it's supposed to (function)? Is it big enough, small enough, or light enough for the person who'll be using it (usability)? Is it safe and comfortable to use (ergonomics)? Does it look great (aesthetics)? And, is it eco- friendly? Equal parts fascinating history and eye- opening facts, Design It! makes for great reading and is a useful resource for those who are beginning to think about careers.

Rachel Carson: Clearing the Way for Environmental Protection by Mike Venezia

Rachel Carson was a marine biologist and conservationist whose book, Silent Spring, brought attention to the damage we were doing to the environment with pesticides. Her work led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency and a greater global awareness of the importance of environmental stewardship.

Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd edited by Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci

From chapters.ca:
Acclaimed authors Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci have united in geekdom to edit short stories from some of the best selling and most promising geeks in young adult literature: M.T. Anderson, Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, John Green, Tracy Lynn, Cynthia and Greg Leitich Smith, David Levithan, Kelly Link, Barry Lyga, Wendy Mass, Garth Nix, Scott Westerfield, Lisa Yee, and Sara Zarr. With illustrated interstitials from comic book artists Hope Larson and Bryan Lee O'Malley,Geektastic covers all things geeky, from Klingons and Jedi Knights to fan fiction, theater geeks, and cosplayers. Whether you're a former, current, or future geek, or if you just want to get in touch with your inner geek Geektastic will help you get your geek on!

We’ve all got Bellybuttons! By David Martin, illustrated by Randy Cecil

From chapters.ca:
In David Martin's rollicking romp, playfully illustrated by Randy Cecil, little ones can follow the actions of animal babies and discover all the wonderful ways their bodies can move. Are you an inny or an outy? Either way, you'll love this perfect read- aloud! We've all got hands for clapping, necks for stretching, and feet for kicking. We've all got eyes that close and mouths that open (and often do). But best of all, as this colourful menagerie is happy to display, we've all got bellybuttons - for tickle- tickle- tickling!

How do you Read to a Rabbit? By Andrea Wayne von Konigslow

From chapters.ca:
Have you ever tried reading to an alligator? Probably not. After all, he would most likely eat your book. How about a bat? Maybe that's not such a good idea either - you'd have to read upside down and in the dark! Youngsters will laugh out loud at the antics of the 13 animals - and the child who tries to read to them - in this delightful picture book. From bats to boas and camels to kangaroos, the animals demonstrate the many challenges of reading to them: a boa might want to hug you a little too tight, and you'd have to jump pretty fast to keep up with a kangaroo. All ends well, however, as we see the child reading to his parents. Now that's something easy to do!

The Night Bookmobile by Audrey Niffenegger

From chapters.ca:
Audrey Niffenegger, the New York Times bestselling author of The Time Traveler's Wife and Her Fearful Symmetry, has crafted her first graphic novel after the success of her two critically acclaimed "novels- in- pictures." First serialized as a weekly column in the UK's Guardian newspaper, The Night Bookmobile tells the story of a wistful woman who one night encounters a mysterious disappearing library on wheels that contains every book she has ever read. Seeing her history and most intimate self in this library, she embarks on a search for the bookmobile. But her search turns into an obsession, as she longs to be reunited with her own collection and memories. The Night Bookmobile is a haunting tale of both transcendence and the passion for books, and features the evocative full- color pen- and- ink work of one of the world's most beloved storytellers.

Someday When My Cat Can Talk by Caroline Lazo, illustrated by Kyrsten Brooker

From chapters.ca:
This charming, child-rentric book offers a glimpse into a cat's exciting "other" life. In a little girl's fantasy, her cat sneaks away, hops a ship, and sails off to Europe! And someday, when he can talk, he'll tell her all about the amazing things he discovered there... like whether or not British cats drink tea... and how he strutted down the runway in a Paris fashion show. With facts about each place the cat visits included simply in the rhyming text, and in more detail at the end (including a map charting his route), this is sure to provide a great introduction to travel.

The Best Birthday Party Ever by Jnnifer LaRue Huget, illustrated by LeUyen Pham

From chapters.ca:
My birthday is 5 months, 3 weeks, 2 days, and 8 hours away. Today I'm starting to plan my party. So what if the Big Day's not exactly around the corner? This little girl is planning her party now. She has to, if she wants to have the best birthday party ever. She'll have the tallest birthday cake in the world, plus camels, elephants, a ferris wheel (of course), and a castle... with a moat. Kids will laugh out loud at the girl's wild plans, and love the oh- so- sweet ending, which involves a modest but fun party. Jennifer LaRue Huget and LeUyen Pham brilliantly capture what it feels like to be the Birthday Girl - a feeling many children will relate to.

Noni Says No by Heather Hartt-Sussman, illustrated by Genevieve Cote

From chapters.ca:
Noni can do many things: she can give her baby brother his bottle, she can help her mother in the kitchen, and she can even walk over to her friend Susie's house. But Noni just can't say "no." When she was very small, it was easy saying "no" to everybody, but now that she has a best friend, she wants to please. Noni can't say "no" to her friend, even when it means she has to hand over a precious toy, or when it means agreeing to a hideous haircut, or even giving up her bed at a sleepover. But when Noni finally finds her voice, the consequences are not what she - or the reader - expects.

Garbage Helps our Garden Grow: A Compost Story by Linda Glaser, illustrated by Shelley Rotner

From amazon.com:
What is that garbage doing next to the garden? It's not garbage. It's compost! Amazing things happen inside a compost bin. In go banana peels, grass clippings, and even an old jack- o'- lantern. Out comes compost. The compost goes into the garden to make the soil rich for new plants. Compost is good for the earth. Composting also helps us make less garbage. In this book, you can watch as one family makes compost for their garden and also learn how to start your very own compost bin!

Garbage Collectors by Paulette Bourgeois and Kim LaFave

From chapters.ca:
What happens to the garbage after it leaves the curb? Young children will enjoy finding out in this book, part of a first reader series that introduces them to the important jobs done by community workers. Facts blend seamlessly into the story, which provides a behind- the- scenes look at a day in the life of garbage collectors. Garbage Collectors features recycling information and tips on how kids can reduce the amount of garbage they throw away.

Yucky Worms by Vivian French, illustrated by Jessica Ahlberg

From chapters.ca:
Here's to nature's recyclers! Kids will burrow right into this book about the industrious - and danger- filled - life of the delightfully yucky earthworm. Who would want to be friends with a wiggly, slimy worm? You can't even tell which end is which! But there's more to these lowly creatures than meets the eye. Kids are invited to find out where worms live, see how they move, and understand why gardeners consider them friends with the help of this humorous and informative look at an unappreciated - and fascinating - creature.

Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth by Mary McKenna Siddals, illustrated by Ashley Wolff

From chapters.ca:
From eggshells to wiggly worms, this delightful recipe in bouncy verse features items - some familiar and some not - that are fit for the home compost bin and will nourish Mother Earth. Vibrant collage illustrations use recycled and found materials to further a timely message. And to keep young environmental chefs fully informed about composting do's and don'ts, there's a note in the back about what's not fit for the bin.

3 Pandas Planting by Megan Halsey

From chapters.ca:
What do 12 crocodiles, 9 turtles, 5 leopards, and 3 pandas have in common? They all love to pitch in and do their part to help the earth. The crocodiles carpool, the turtles take their cans home, the leopards learn about recycling, and the pandas plant trees. Thanks to their help and yours, we can all enjoy the earth!

In the Bag! Margaret Knight Wraps it Up by Monica Kulling, illustrated by David Parkins

From chapters.ca:
Tundra's Great Idea Series is comprised of biographies of inventors for early readers. The third book in the series introduces the fascinating Margaret Knight. Known as Mattie, she was different from most American girls living in 1850. She loved to make things with wood and made the best kites and sleds in town. Her father died when she was only three, and by the time she was twelve, she was working at the local cotton mill alongside her two older brothers. One day, she saw a worker get injured by a shuttle that had come loose from the giant loom, and the accident inspired her to invent a stop- motion device. It was the first of her many inventions. Margaret Knight devoted her life to inventing, and is best known for the clever, practical, paper bag. When she died in 1914, she had ninety inventions to her name and over twenty patents, astounding accomplishments for a woman of her day. Monica Kulling's easy- to- read text, peppered with lots of dialogue, brings an amazing, inspiring woman to life.

Wheels of Change: How Women Rode the Bicycle to Freedom (With a Few Flat Tires Along the Way) by Sue Macy

From chapters.ca:
Take a lively look at women's history from aboard a bicycle, which granted females the freedom of mobility and helped empower women's liberation. Through vintage photographs, advertisements, cartoons, and songs, Wheels of Change transports young readers to bygone eras to see how women used the bicycle to improve their lives. Witty in tone and scrapbook- like in presentation, the book deftly covers early (and comical) objections, influence on fashion, and impact on social change inspired by the bicycle, which, according to Susan B. Anthony, "has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world."

Daddy Calls me Doodlebug by JD Lester, illustrated by Hiroe Nakata

From chapters.ca:
What do you call your little one? This charming board book companion title to Mommy Calls Me Monkeypants showcases daddies' nicknames for their babies. It captures the love and playfulness of father and child interaction with clever, funny verses and illustrations that are right on the mark. The rhyming couplets also teach about animal behavior, which comes to life in Hiroe Nakata's sweet and charming watercolor artwork. This adorable and quietly informative book is perfect for sharing with a favourite little one.

How to Speak Moo! By Deborah Fajerman

From chapters.ca:
If the title sounds a little peculiar, that's just the start! Here's a totally silly book about cows that is sure to make kids giggle. It tells boys and girls all about the way cows do the high moo and the low moo... the bumpy moo and the jumpy moo. Kids are invited to try these moos out for themselves. Then they can discover how their moo sounds in a tunnel. Or through a funnel. Deborah Fajerman's wonderfully quirky pictures and absolutely preposterous story will have young readers mooing along with the experts as they demonstrate the wonderful versatility of cows engaged in spirited conversation.

Panopticum by Thomas Ott

From chapters.ca:
Ott's exquisite use of scratchboard appeals to fans of comics and art and horror.

Who Stole the Mona Lisa? By Ruthie Knapp, illustrated by Jill McElmurry

From chapters.ca:
Who Stole the Mona Lisa? tells the story of the famous Leonardo Da Vinci portrait known as the Mona Lisa, including its 1911 theft from the Louvre in Paris, from the point of view of the subject of the painting.

Me, Frida by Amy Novesky, illustrated by David Diaz

From chapters.ca:
Like a tiny bird in a big city, Frida Kahlo feels lost and lonely when she arrives in San Francisco with her husband, the famous artist Diego Rivera. It is the first time she has left her home in Mexico. And Frida wants to be a painter too. But as Frida begins to explore San Francisco on her own, she discovers more than the beauty, diversity, and exuberance of America. She finds the inspiration she needs to become one of the most celebrated artists of all time. Me, Frida is an exhilarating true story that encourages children to believe in themselves so they can make their own dreams soar.

ZooBorns! Zoo Babies from Around the World by Andrew Bleiman and Chris Eastland

From chapters.ca:
Pulled from the pages of the wildly popular ZooBorns blog, this picture book presents the most charming critters ever: baby animals, ranging from the adorable to the zany! Featuring full- color photographs on every page and a cozy text perfect for reading aloud, this book is bound to become a must-have for animal lovers of all ages.

My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett, illustrated by Ruth Chrisman Gannett

From chapters.ca:
The classic fantasy trilogy of Elmer Elevator and the flying baby dragon has delighted children and their parents for generations. Now, on the occasion of their fiftieth anniversary, Random House is proud to bring the three timeless tales together in one beautiful commemorative edition, complete with the original delightful illustrations. A Newbery Honor Book and an ALA Notable Book, My Father's Dragon is followed by Elmer and the Dragon and The Dragons of Blueland. Each story stands alone, but read in succession, they are an unforgettable experience.