BUSHEL & PECK BOOKS – serie

Featuring more than 125 amazing creatures of the deep and hundreds of vintage zoological illustrations, Oceanus is the gorgeous guide to the fish class.

A breathtaking visual encyclopedia of the world's most fascinating ocean animals.

Featuring more than 125 amazing creatures of the deep and hundreds of vintage zoological illustrations, Oceanus is the gorgeous guide to the fish class (a.k.a. animals that live in the water!). Enchanting artwork from some of the world's most accomplished zoological artists adorns over 140 pages of facts, charts, and taxonomic trees. Written by Lindy Mattice, author of How to Speak Animal and Mammalia, this visual tome is as stunning as it is informative and a must-have vintage treasure.

A one-of-a-kind STEM gem! Join fellow science lovers in this creative,  non-fiction, poetical exploration surrounding the history and little-known origins of the Ice Age and La Brea Tar Pits—including what scientists are learning about climate change.

Nominee, 2025-2026 Keystone to Reading Elementary Book Awards, Intermediate List

“Uglow’s rhythmic text traverses thousands of years as it tells the prehistoric tale of many fossils coming to exist in Los Angeles’s La Brea Tar Pits….Milovanova’s free-form illustrations include markings that seem scratched into each page’s coloring—an apt approach given scientists’ work to peer beneath the pits’ surface in search of the region’s prehistory.”—Publishers Weekly

“Playful language and masterful illustrations make for a compelling read instead of a dry scientific tale...This stirring story and its dynamic illustrations may manage to enthrall even the least nature-focused kiddo.”—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

“Uglow invites readers to marvel at the amazing bulk and diversity of the well-preserved lode”—Booklist

For tens of thousands of years, animals and plants fell into the natural trap of what we now call La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles, California. Millions of fossils, from hundreds of species, have been collected in this one unique site. Author Joyce Uglow’s lyrical lines and Valerya Milovanova’s evocative illustrations guide readers into an entire ecosystem of plants and animals—stuck!

An author’s note at the end provides additional historical and scientific details. Additional backmatter includes a timeline, a glossary, and a "Who's Stuck?" list.

More Accolades:

“Unearthed! Uncovered! Unstuck! With its engaging storytelling, illustrations and backmatter, this book is an excellent resource for both learning and leisure. Highly recommended.” —Nadia Ali, children’s book author

“This is an amazing story that was so informative and amazing. I knew nothing about all the various species of animals stuck in the pits but also the history and the fact that they are still trapping animals. It is a must for any classroom.” —Deb Buschman, children’s book author and SCBWI Wisconsin Regional Advisor

“Using lyrical, minimal text and extensive science details, interactive animal dynamics come alive. A recurring theme is the hope of escape, portrayed by a dragonfly, hinted at in early pages but celebrated on the final double spread. Back matter provides clarity about the timing and processes, with examples of fossil types and further text/timeline. The enticement is priceless, and the payoff does not disappoint.” —Sandy Brehl, children’s book author and blogger at Unpacking Picture Book Power

“Joyce Uglow's skilled poetic style weaves its way through the entire story. The back matter, including the glossary, makes it a great fit for classrooms and libraries. A perfect gift for anyone who treasures a beautifully composed book and enjoys learning history in a straightforward, uncomplicated way.” —Kathy Groth, children’s book author

“This book will excite children with its fascinating story and thrill teachers with its beautiful language.” —Kelly Flanagan, children’s book author

“A fascinating story of a unique geographical location! It's written in such an engaging way and chock full of interesting information. Every library needs this book!” —Cynthia Mackey, children’s book author

“The back matter is extensive and so interesting, from scientific findings to charts to amazing details for curious readers. I recommend this book for science classrooms and all classrooms and libraries. Young readers will be intrigued!” —Lori Dubbin, children’s book author

“The repetition of Joyce Uglow’s words plus the engaging illustrations by Valerya Milovanova make this book one that children will enjoy reading over and over, as they get to learn about terms like climate change, fossils, ecosystems, paleontologists, among others. I highly recommend for homes, libraries, and schools.” —Mariana Ríos, children’s book author

“Stuck! The Story of La Brea Tar Pits takes readers on a captivating journey into ancient Los Angeles. The tar pits have intrigued explorers and scientists for centuries, revealing secrets of prehistoric creatures like mammoths and saber-toothed cats. The story explains the formation of the pits and how they preserved bones with engaging illustrations and fun facts. Readers will travel through the mysteries of fossil excavation, fostering curiosity about the natural world and inspiring appreciation for the history beneath their feet. A wonderful addition to any home or school library!” —Lori Keating

“This book is DELIGHTFUL! Not only is the content fascinating, but it's also fun to read--which can't be said of all nonfiction picture books. If I were still teaching, I would absolutely buy this for my classroom. Love the illustrations too!” —Kerry Hansen, children’s book author

Grow, Seed, Grow! Little gardeners will bury the seed, waterand care for it, and make the plant grow in this 3-D interactive board bookabout plants.

Toddlers will learn all about the how plants grow with theirown hands as they move a seed to the ground, cover it will soil, water it with a metalcan, give it plant food, watch the sun warm it, and then turn a clockto make the plant grow.

One little seed wild and free, blows into the sky and twirlswith the breeze. Move it to the ground nice and slow. Let’s make this littleseed grow, grow, grow!

Lift-the-flaps, spinners, and pull tabs do all the movement, so little kids can find out how important plants are to our environment!

Welcome to the magical world of PocoKins! Five stories about little pocket pals who help when big feelings hit.

In this lovingly told and illustrated tale, we meet eight PocoKin buddies and their mini pocket pal friends. Todaythey’ll travel to five kids who need care, because when BIG feelings hit,Pocokins will be there!

Come with them as they travel the world visiting childrenin need!

Available separately. PocoKin stuffed pals are handmadeby artisans in Peru and give back to children in need through In a PerfectWorld (iapw.org). IAPW brings schools and resources to rural communities in some of themost impoverished countries on the planet, harnessing the power of education toempower all children to have a voice.

The first picture book from Olympic Gymnast Fred Richard featuring the story of how he overcame racism, bullying, and more to win one of his first competitions.

Even before he could talk, Fred was flipping in his crib, giggling as his parents watched in awe. He was born to be a gymnast! But when Fred started training with other kids, he began to feel . . . different. Most of the gymnasts were girls. Fred was a boy—and not just any boy. He was a Black boy with skin so dark that even his friends joked, “Where’s Fred? He’s disappeared into the dark!” How could Fred learn to compete when he felt so different from everyone else?

In his first book, Olympic and World Championship medalist Fred Richard tells how he overcame bullying and learned to stand tall and stand out in his quest to become one of America's most famous male gymnasts. Boys and girls alike will be inspired by Fred's grit, determination, and a piece of advice from his father that changed everything: "Why just fit in when you can shine?"

1,2,3, who could it be? Curious little readers peek and guess their way through nature!

Someone is hiding. Who could it be?

Each spread in this lively interactive board book offers playful clues and invites children to figure out which bird is about to appear. From a long-legged pink flamingo, to a fantailed peacock, to a waddling penguin, each page encourages children to play along before the big reveal.

With rhythmic read-aloud language and simple clues that spark curiosity, every page turns into a joyful guessing game. It’s a cozy introduction to common birds and the fun of observation.

Perfect for toddlers and preschoolers who love animals, surprises, and books they can shout along with!

1,2,3, who could it be? Curious little readers peek and guess their way through nature!

Someone is hiding. Who could it be?

Each spread in this lively interactive board book offers playful clues and invites children to figure out which woodland creature is about to appear. From a soft-pawed bear to a clever fox and a tree-leaping squirrel, each page encourages children to play along before the big reveal.

With rhythmic read-aloud language and simple clues that spark curiosity, every page turns into a joyful guessing game. It’s a cozy introduction to woodland animals and the fun of observation.

Perfect for toddlers and preschoolers who love animals, surprises, and books they can shout along with!

A fast-paced, interactive adventure series for kids, featuring death-defying moments in history. This time featuring the Titanic!

The sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912, remains the most famous maritime disaster in history. Young readers make decisions and determine their own survival by joining twelve-year-old Alexander Hale aboard the doomed ocean liner in Decide & Survive: Titanic.

Don't forget: YOU, the reader, are in the driver's seat! This time it's 1912, and you're twelve-year-old Alexander Hale, a first-class passenger on the maiden voyage of the world's most celebrated ship. Along the way, you can chase a crew boy through the hidden corridors below decks, uncover a conspiracy hidden in a leather satchel, open the locked gates trapping steerage passengers below, or help the wireless operators send one last distress signal. But when the iceberg looms ahead, every choice matters, and not every path leads to a lifeboat!

With each page turn YOU decide which way the story unravels. This book like no other—to be used in a variety of ways—challenges puzzle-solving readers and ignites a love of history for life. The perfect gift or educational book, slyly written as an interactive narrative adventure, will delight and enthrall avid and reluctant readers with its energy and excitement.

As an added educational bonus, extensive backmatter includes a timeline, information about class divisions aboard the Titanic, survival rates by ticket class, profiles of real people from the disaster, surprising facts, details about the maritime safety laws the sinking changed forever, and a bibliography.

Meet thirty-five remarkable heroes whose courageous choices changed the world—and discover how your choices can make a difference, too.

In 35 Brave Choices That Changed the World, young readers meet extraordinary people from across history who faced important moments—and chose courage, compassion, curiosity, and perseverance to shape the world around them. From scientists and explorers to artists, athletes, and everyday citizens who chose integrity when it mattered most, these stories show how powerful a single choice can be.

Each short, engaging biography focuses on a defining decision—one brave choice that helped someone overcome obstacles and make a difference. Along the way, readers encounter inspiring figures such as Jackie Robinson, Harriet Tubman, Fred Rogers, Jane Goodall, Malala Yousafzai, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and many more.

Each story highlights a “Special Power”—a quality like kindness, determination, or honesty—that helped guide these choices. At the end of every story, a “You Can Be a Hero” section encourages kids to try small actions of their own and discover how their everyday choices can make a difference.

A gentle but powerful picture book that validates childhood anxiety and gives families a simple, repeatable mantra: “Be calm, it will pass.”

Featured in CBCBook’s The Heart Remembers Spring 2026 Showcase

A 2023 Bank Street College Best Children’s Books of the Year

"Unlike many picture books that seek to comfort young audiences by assuring them that their apprehensions are unfounded, Donnini’s quiet prose shows readers that worry is a feeling as valid as any other . . . the world is an increasingly worrisome place, and books like this one, that offer simple acknowledgement of this fact, are just as essential as those that offer elaborate escape. Timely assurance of the impermanence of life’s difficulties." —Kirkus Reviews

A young boy and his great-uncle set sail for the magical island of Mashore, but storms and uncertainty stir fear along the way. With each wave, Uncle Ollie offers the same steady reassurance: “Be calm, it will pass.” A gentle, affirming picture book that validates anxiety while offering children a simple, empowering message about resilience and emotional regulation. Includes an author’s note for caregivers.

Step into a secret society of legendary writers and discover the story that could save time itself.

What if the authors who shaped the world’s greatest stories were secretly protecting the timeline?

When fourteen-year-old Ethan Ross arrives at Oxford, he hopes to become a writer someday. Instead, he learns the truth: a hidden order called the Inklings recruits extraordinary storytellers from across history to guard time itself.

Members include some familiar names—Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Emily Dickinson, C. S. Lewis, and J. R. R. Tolkien.

But the timeline is breaking.

Strange rifts called Tears are spreading across history, threatening to erase entire stories and the people who wrote them. With danger closing in, Ethan must decide whether he belongs among history’s greatest writers… and whether his own words are powerful enough to help save the future.

In sports, there are two kinds of competitors: the favorites—expected to win with speed, strength, and star power—and the underdogs who are overlooked, underestimated, and often dismissed. While the favorites capture our admiration, the underdogs capture our hearts.

Game Changers: Underdogs tells the stories of the athletes and teams who faced impossible odds and defiantly shouted, "Let's win anyway!" From shocking upsets to inspiring triumphs, these are the moments that remind us that determination, courage, and heart can defy expectations. In their struggles, we see our own, and in their victories, we find hope.

1. The Miracle on Ice - The story of the 1980 US Olympic Hockey Team

2. The Guarantee - The story of the 1969 New York Jets

3. The Curse of the Bambino - The story of the 2004 Boston Red Sox

4. The Cinderella Story - The story of the 1985 Villanova Wildcats

5. The Greatest Show on Turf - The story of the 1999 St. Louis Rams

6. One Giant Defeat - The story of the 2007 New England Patriots

7. The Ultimate Dark Horse - The story of the Upset

8. The Battle of the Sexes - The Story of Billie Jean King

9. Game for the Ages - The Story of Satchel Paige

10. Don't Ever Give Up - The story of Jimmy Valvano