Ashley Barron – illustratör

Explore and discover the wonder of the nature through play, observation, and imagination in this interactive picture book!Join a curious child on a walk through the park, where readers will listen for bird songs, spot colorful feathers, count birds, and even pretend to fly. With engaging hands-on prompts woven into the story and stunning cut-paper collage artwork on every page, this book transforms a simple outing into an unforgettable adventure.A Visit with the Birds encourages young readers to slow down, notice wildlife, and connect with the nature around them, no matter where they are. Along the way, children will learn about common birds like pigeons, robins, chickadees, and blue jays, all while building early science and observation skills. Throughout the story, readers are invited to:Listen for bird calls and identify soundsLook closely to spot and count different animalsExplore colors and patterns in natureMove and play by acting like birdsDevelop curiosity about the natural worldWith additional educational back matter introducing bird species and fun facts, this book is ideal for budding birdwatchers and nature lovers alike.

Engage children with familiar songs featuring new, colorful lyrics that teach valuable social-emotional skills.La, la, la! Shake up your story time with these twelve sing-along songs based on classic tunes kids already know and love. This beautifully illus­trated songbook teaches important social-emotional skills for everyday life. Favorite songs like “Frère Jacques” and “B-I-N-G-O” get turned on their heads with new, easy-to-remember lyrics offering lessons on how to manage anger, asking for help, what to do when you’re afraid, being a good friend, when to use a quiet voice, and many others! Digital content includes downloadable sheet music for all songs.

Fifteen poems explore close encounters with animals … and choosing to respond tenderly. Whether it’s helping a hummingbird escape, respecting a bear’s habitat, admiring a heron’s beauty, or giving way to ants at a picnic, the human response in these poems is to do no harm, and to help whenever possible. The poems follow a seasonal progression, ending with a final poem that imagines where each animal might be on a winter night.Inspired by personal experiences, Nicholas Ruddock’s poems are simply written, with a pleasing rhyme, and fun to read aloud. In the spirit of the text, Ashley Barron’s cut-paper collage illustrations portray each creature with respectful realism, in environments ranging from rural and wild to urban and suburban.A delightful dip into poetry for young animal lovers! Key Text Featuresillustrationspoems Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.4Ask and answer questions about unknown words in a text.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.6With prompting and support, name the author and illustrator of a story and define the role of each in telling the story.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.4Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses.

A shy young child talks about situations when shyness takes over and what helps them engage more fully.In this compassionate exploration of shyness, a child describes feeling shy in a variety of home, social and school situations. These include meeting a new person, being in a crowded place and being on stage for a class performance. Sometimes the child feels shy with friends or when trying to make a new friend.  When feeling shy, the child tries to be brave and identify what might help in each situation. Sometimes it helps to go slowly, find a quiet place or practice for a performance. And sometimes what helps is finding a buddy or noticing that other children feel shy too.Sandra V. Feder’s nuanced text and Ashley Barron’s cut-paper collage illustrations together create an endearing character who finds a way to cope with shy feelings. Joining Angry Me and Peaceful Me in the Emotions and Me series, Shy Me is sure to strike a chord with anyone who has ever felt or still feels shy.Key Text Featuresexplanation;illustrationsCorrelates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.4Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses.

A young child talks about the times when they feel lonely, and the ways they find to cope — now in the bestselling Emotions and Me series.Lonely feelings surface frequently for the child in this story, including when they’re at home, in nature, in social settings, or facing big life events. They can feel lonely when their sibling isn’t paying any attention to them, when they feel very small as they stand before a vast ocean, when there seems to be no one to play with, and when their best friend, who lives next door, moves away.The story takes a heartwarming turn when the child realizes that if they reach out, through actions or words, they can soothe their lonely feelings. They can ask their sibling to pay attention, find a way to feel as big as the ocean, seek out someone to play with, and share their feelings about their friend’s move.This timely addition to the Emotions and Me series addresses the epidemic of loneliness in the lives of children, offering practical solutions to the different types of loneliness a child might feel. Once again, Sandra V. Feder’s thoughtful, child-centered text is perfectly complemented by Ashley Barron’s rich cut-paper collage illustrations.Key Text FeaturesexplanationIllustrationsvignettesCorrelates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.1With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.3With prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a story.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.6With prompting and support, name the author and illustrator of a story and define the role of each in telling the story.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.7With prompting and support, describe the relationship between illustrations and the story in which they appear (e.g., what moment in a story an illustration depicts).CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.1Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.4Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.