Each year, lots of families carve jack-o’-lanterns to celebrate Halloween. But did you know that the first jack-o’-lanterns were carved from turnips, not pumpkins? In Ireland and Scotland people hollowed out turnips and gave them creepy faces to celebrate the feast of All Hallows’ Eve. Many years later, when immigrants from the UK arrived in North America, they discovered that the native pumpkin made a much better jack-o’-lantern, because it was larger and softer than a turnip.  Trick-or-treating would look quite different today, without those familiar orange faces glowing in the dark! Here are some wonderful, pumpkin-themed books that will help get you ready to trick or treat: Read More

Get into the Halloween spirit by checking out Jazzy’s latest bookshelf! By the way, did you know that first, it wasn't pumpkin when the first jack-o’-lanterns were carved?... Check our Trick? or Treat? pumpkin-themed books here. Are you interested in more books about holidays and celebrations? Check them out here. Read More

The world’s population includes 2 billion children aged 0-14. These children live in 195 different countries, speak more than 7,000 languages, and represent hundreds of different ethnicities. In celebration of World Inclusion Day, enjoy these stories about children whose race, gender, abilities or experiences might differ from yours! Read More

Celebrate World Inclusion Day with these wonderful stories about honoring and embracing the things that make us different, and help create a kinder, more inclusive world! Read More

In honor of National Hispanic & Latín Heritage Month, learn more about Frida Kahlo, the brilliant Mexican artist who painted at Casa Azul in Frida Kahlo: Revolutionary Painter!, and explore other wonderful books that celebrate Hispanic and Latín heritage. Read More

Here are some great books to help celebrate National Hispanic & Latín Heritage Month! Read More

Please enjoy a special discount of 20% off the titles of your choice using the code COLBYSHARP. And below, we collected the favorite books of Colby Sharp. Read More

Pirates may not have buried much treasure on deserted islands, cried “argh” when displeased, or forced their captives to walk the plank. (Argh!) But some pirate lore seems to be based on fact. Pirates actually had parrots for pets, wore eye patches, and flew the Jolly Roger. (Blimey!) To celebrate National Talk Like a Pirate Day, read a pirate book or three. Discover interesting facts and popular pirate myths, and find out more about the seadogs, swashbucklers and scallywags who roamed the briny deep. Read More

Ahoy, me hearties! Take a gander at me pirate books, they be beauties. Read More

Jazzy’s September bookshelf is dedicated to the heroes of 9/11/2001. Never forget. Read More