Molly Beth Griffin

A story that inspires imagination and helps kids feel safe when life gets overwhelming Forts are fun to build, and even the simplest materials—couch cushions, chairs, blankets, and cardboard boxes—can turn into sailing ships, dragon’s dens, or magical castles. In Your Fantastical Fort, children discover that forts have healing power, too. Through poetic text and expressive illustrations, this book shows how forts can become quiet corners and safe spaces where kids can take time out from the real world—especially when they feel sad, disappointed, or scared. When they need quiet, they can tuck themselves inside. And when they’re ready, they can invite the people who matter most to share their special world. By celebrating imaginative play as a calming strategy and highlighting kids’ natural creativity, this book offers a reassuring, heartwarming reminder that every child can build a space where they feel safe, understood, and wonderfully themselves. Your Fantastical Fort: Encourages independence and resilience through creative play during moments of fear, frustration, sadness, or overwhelm Offers support for kids coping with difficult news or family stressors, from climate change to divorce or financial strain Includes a note for adults and tips for building fantastical forts at home Your Fantastical Fort is ideal for anyone seeking support to help children navigate big feelings.

Young black bears tumble and spar, rest and recharge, and--most importantly--find safety and security in the shaded sanctuary of a white pine tree. When a mama black bear goes foraging, she leaves her cubs with their babysitter--a huge white pine tree--where they'll be safe until she returns. They are sad to be left behind, but soon they are playing in the shade of the tree. All is well, until a coyote's scent sends them climbing high into the branches. Will mama come back? Will she scare the danger away? The cubs discover that their mama will always take care of them, even when that means leaving them with another trusted caretaker. Based on the real behavior of black bears in the wild, The Babysitter Tree is for every child who has been left with a sitter and has missed their grown-up. It is for all of us, at any age, who appreciate reassurances that we will be cared for, protected, comforted, and eventually reunited with the ones we love most. And it is for all the wonderful babysitters and caregivers who help our little ones feel safe--and who make parenting possible. Charming illustrations in acrylics and colored pencil capture the roly-poly playfulness of bear cubs and the expansive, protective branches of that icon of the northland, the white pine, their babysitter tree.

Growth is exciting--bigger, faster, stronger But sometimes leaving behind our younger selves is hard. From bugs to bats to bears, the natural world shows us how to embrace transformation as part of life. Growth is the excitement of something new, like a two-wheeled bicycle or a bigger pair of shiny shoes. In nature, growth shows up in new rings on a tree trunk, or a snake shedding its skin. Growing means a kid's first day in a new school, and a baby bird's first bounds out of its nest. We all grow, and sometimes, for all of us, it can be hard. In Rings of Heartwood, twelve poems about woodland, wetland, and prairie dwellers explore different kinds of growth. A tadpole grows legs and lungs and transforms into a frog. A fern unfurls from fiddlehead to frond. A spotted fawn hides in dappled sunlight; soon its coat will grow darker and thicker, ready for winter--it will never sport spots again. Molly Beth Griffin's playful yet meditative lines paired with scientific facts invite readers into the life cycles of plants, amphibians, crustaceans, birds, reptiles, and insects as they grow and change. Claudia McGehee's vivid scratchboard and watercolor illustrations entice viewers to carefully examine whimsically detailed naturescapes. In words and art, Rings of Heartwood encourages readers of all ages to appreciate the challenge of change, and feel a deep kinship with the natural world.

The leaves are down. The rakes are out. But one girl can't do it alone. Neighborhood kids join forces to build a big, huge, enormously enormous mountain of leaves. Ready, set . . . leap The girl wants a leaf pile to leap in. A big leaf pile, a huge leaf pile, an enormously enormous leaf pile She rakes and rakes and rakes, but there are not enough leaves in her yard to make the leaf pile of her dreams. And she can't do it alone. She will need some help. And so it begins: one neighbor kid here, a couple of neighbor kids there, others from down the street. They all have leaves to contribute as they build a pile together in a nearby vacant lot. Beautiful leaves from so many trees: maple, oak, ginkgo, aspen, birch, locust, catalpa. Beautiful children from so many families, all in pursuit of a single goal. The result is a dream come true. And now what? These kids know just what to do. In The Big Leaf Leap, playful phrasing evokes fall's crisp air, warm sun, and rustling leaves. Energetic illustrations--with characters based on the illustrator's own neighborhood kids--depict the satisfying effort of new friends working together to create something wonderful. A deep, soft, crunchy, springy leaf pile. A tall, wide leaf pile. A big, huge, enormously enormous leaf pile And when all the work is done, it's time to play. To count down together. To leap.

A heartfelt story of changing perspectives, set in the Midwest. Ten Beautiful Things gently explores loss, a new home, and finding beauty wherever you are. Lily and her grandmother search for ten beautiful things as they take a long car ride to Iowa and Lily's new home with Gran. At first, Lily sees nothing beautiful in the April slush and cloudy sky. Soon though, Lily can see beauty in unexpected places, from the smell of spring mud to a cloud shaped like a swan to a dilapitated barn. A furious rainstorm mirrors Lily's anxiety, but as it clears Lily discovers the tenth beautiful thing: Lily and Gran and their love for each other. Ten Beautiful Things leaves the exact cause of Lily's move ambiguous, making it perfect for anyone helping a child navigate change, whether it be the loss of a parent, entering or leaving a foster home, or moving.

Nico the Toad is always a bit grumpy. But recently he's been grumpier than ever. Stella the Mouse, Delilah the Spider and Bo the Parakeet think the school trip to the art museum will cheer him up. But the animal friends have never left the school before. If they stick together nothing can go wrong, can it? Friendship takes centre stage in this early chapter book from the Classroom Critters series.

Stella the Mouse, Nico the Toad, Delilah the Spider and Bo the Parakeet each love different subjects and different activities, so every part of the school day has something special to offer each curious creature. They are excited to greet the children in the morning and sad to see them go in the afternoon. Thankfully the animal friends all live at the school together.

Crash Boom Bang The school is under construction, so Stella the Mouse, Nico the Toad, Delilah the Spider, and Bo the Parakeet grab their hard hats to explore. The art room, music room, and media center are a mess, and they can't find Goldie the Goldfish. Is all of this construction worth the mess and stress? This early chapter book from the School Sidekicks series will answer that very question.

Testing week at school is coming, and Stella the Mouse, Nico the Toad, Delilah the Spider, and Bo the Parakeet are stressed out. Everyone wants to do well. They know their brains are ready, but they're so nervous anyway, all jitters and tummy aches Find out how the animal friends calm their nerves in this relatable early-chapter book from the School Sidekicks series.

Field day arrives, and Stella the Mouse, Nico the Toad, Delilah the Spider, and Bo the Parakeet are excited to join in the fun. Stella wants everyone to be a team for the relays. But Bo says no. He just wants to sit under a tree with his book. Can they be a team without him? You will find the answer in this sweet story from the early-chapter book series School Sidekicks.

Nico the Toad is always a little grumpy. But lately he's been grumpier than ever. Stella the Mouse, Delilah the Spider, and Bo the Parakeet think the field trip to the art museum will cheer him up. But the animal friends have never left the school before. If they stick together nothing can go wrong-can it? Friendship takes center stage in this early chapter book from the School Sidekicks series.

Four animal friends live in a school. Stella the Mouse, Nico the Toad, Delilah the Spider, and Bo the Parakeet all love every child at school, so they decide to do something nice for the kids. After all, showing your love to your friends can feel really good. Unfortunately, none of their ideas seem to work out. The grownups keep getting in the way

Stella the Mouse, Nico the Toad, Delilah the Spider, and Bo the Parakeet are animal best friends who live in a school. They are so excited to see the children arrive on the first day of school in the fall But they notice that some children are smaller than the rest, and very nervous. Is it possible that these children are brand new to school? The animal friends must do everything they can to make the new children feel at home, and help them to love school as much as the friends do. They want to make sure that everybody is ready for a new year of fun

The last week of the school year is one party after another Stella the Mouse, Nico the Toad, Delilah the Spider, and Bo the Parakeet are animal best friends who live in a school, and they LOVE parties. The four friends are so excited to take part in the fun. But then, oh no When the students get on the bus, the teachers all wave GOODBYE They will be gone all summer long How will the four friends make it until they see their child friends again in the fall?

Four animal best friends live together in a school. Stella the Mouse, Nico the Toad, Delilah the Spider, and Bo the Parakeet each love different subjects and different activities, so every part of the school day has something special to offer each curious critter. They are excited to greet the children in the morning and sad to see them go in the afternoon-but they know their best friends are there to stay.

Amid the everyday dramas of a walk to the bus stop, a drive to the grocery store, a trip to the zoo, how do we slow down and pay attention to the small miracles around us? We think of mindfulness as something we get to do when we escape from our kids-sitting alone in an immaculate yoga studio or on a quiet retreat in some pristine location. But children don't have to be a barrier to contemplation. They can inspire a special kind of awe in the natural world and in the mundane details of life-but only if we stop and notice. Yes, during bath time, and while we weed the garden, our kids-especially, sometimes, our most challenging kids-can show us deep truths. And when the larger world seems to be falling apart, we must realize that our daily struggles aren't separate from those events. How are we connected-to the world, to each other, and to those parts of ourselves that we've put on hold or hidden away? How can we walk alongside our children, at their pace, and let them teach us to see the world in new ways? "I wrote these poems during the year of my son's autism diagnosis. I found that I was more able to cope with each impossible day if I could find a few beautiful moments to focus on. I would take photos, while out with my children, and then after they were finally in bed I'd go back and look through those photos and write-digging in to the meaning of those brief blessings. Even though I was exhausted and overwhelmed, I'd spend some time dwelling in that place of beauty and abundance that they'd shown me. Over time, I realized I was training myself to notice those moments. My hope is that by reading these poems, readers will be encouraged to do the same."

Rhoda is on a long, long hike with her aunt and uncle, each of them carrying backpacks of gear as they walk through the north woods. While Auntie June and Uncle Jonah watch for wildlife and set up their campsites, Rhoda is on the hunt for one thing: ROCKS. She finds them in all shapes and patterns, from hearts and hats to stripes and sparkles. And every last treasure goes into her pack, making it heavier and heavier as they hike through forests and along streams. Soon Rhoda is sweaty, and tired of salami sandwiches, and wishing for her own bed. Then, on the last day, they come to the Big Lake. And its beach is covered in rocks. Rhoda can't believe her luck. After hours of play and even more rock discoveries, it's time to head for home. By now Rhoda's pack is too heavy to lift. Will she give up her rocks and return to the cabin for a real shower, a hot meal, and a soft bed? Or will she stay on the beach forever with her beloved collection? Her clever solution makes the most of her treasures--and offers delights for other hikers.

WINNER OF THE MILKWEED PRIZE FOR CHILDREN'S LITERATURE WINNER OF THE 2013 PATERSON PRIZE FOR BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS ALA RAINBOW LIST RECOMMENDED BOOK AMELIA BLOOMER PROJECT LIST RECOMMENDED BOOK LAMBDA LITERARY AWARD FINALIST MINNESOTA BOOK AWARD FINALIST FOREWARD REVIEWS BOOK OF THE YEAR HONORABLE MENTION In the summer of 1926, sixteen-year-old Garnet Richardson is sent to a lake resort to escape the polio epidemic in the city. She dreams of indulging in ornithology and a visit to an amusement park--a summer of fun before she returns to a last year of high school, marriage, and middle-class homemaking. But in the country, Garnet finds herself under supervision of oppressive guardians, her father's wealthy cousin and the matron's stuck-up daughter. Only a job in a hat shop, an intense, secret relationship with a beautiful flapper, and a deep faith in her own heart can save her from the suffocation of traditional femininity in this coming-of-age story about a search for both wildness and security in an era full of unrest. It is the tale of a young woman's discovery of the science of risk and the art of rebellion, and, of course, the power of unexpected love.