Our Big Home: An Earth Poem
Illustrated by Elisa Kleven
Lerner Publishing, 2002
ISBN 978-0-7613-1650-3 hardback
(MN Storytime Reader Guide available) ISBN 978-0-7613-1776-0 (paperback)

A beautifully illustrated celebration of the air and water and soil and sky and sun and rain that we all share! Long-time Millbrook favorite Linda Glaser teams with best-selling illustrator Elisa Kleven in this clear and direct concept book about the coexistence of human beings with other living things in this big home we call Earth.  Linda Glaser's lyrical life-affirming text is greatly enhanced by Elisa Kleven's rich, multicultural, visionary illustrations which depict children, animals, and scenes from around the world.

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Reading Rainbow created four shows after 9/11 as an "arc of healing." Our Big Home was featured on their "Global Unity" show. The Our Big Home Reading Rainbow show premiered at the United Nations on International Literacy Day.

Linda Glaser (author) and Elisa Kleven (illustrator) signed books at the United Nations that day and both received a hug from LeVar Burton.

"Glaser's joyous appreciation of the interconnectdness of all living things forms the heart of this celebratory picture book; Kleven's brilliant, busy art gives it its soul."
-- School Library Journal.

--Reading Rainbow Featured Book Selection
--NSTA/CBC Outstanding Science Trade Book
--Neumann College Outstanding Merit Award
--Translated into Japanese

Click here to see larger cover
and inside pages

The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes
illustrated by Nancy Cote
Albert Whitman, 2001
ISBN 978-0-8075-0841-1 (hardback)
MN Storytime Reader Guide available
ISBN 978-0-8075-0842-8 (paperback)

Soon all the relatives will be at Rachel's house for the last night of Hanukkah.

Rachel's elderly next door neighbor Mrs. Greenberg has also been invited. However, although she's all alone, she has declined the invitation.

She doesn't want to be a bother to Mama.  But when Mama needs more potatoes, and then more eggs to make the latkes, Rachel dashes over to Mrs. Greenberg's house to borrow them.  Meanwhile, she tries to convince Mrs. Greenberg to join them for Hanukkah.  Each time, Mrs. Greenberg gladly gives Rachel the needed ingredient saying, "Don't borrow. I don't want it back. Just eat it in good health."

But she still won't join the celebration.  As Mama says, "She has a heart of gold but she's as stubborn as an ox."  Finally, when Rachel needs to borrow some chairs, she finds a clever and delightful way to include Mrs. Greenberg in the festivities.

Nancy Cote's fresh, and lively illustrations add charm and joie de vivre while capturing the warmth, humor, and love between Rachel and Mrs. Greenberg.

  American Jewish Library Notable Book
  Smithsonian Magazine Book of the Year
  Florida State Book of the Year finalist

 "Thank you for writing The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes. As a former preschool teacher, Jewish mom of 4 and co-chair of our temple's religious school, thank you! This wonderful book is now a family favorite. Every once in a while a gem comes along and the 'Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes' is in that category at our home."
  --Adrienne Fiedler, Co-chair of Temple B'nai Sholem in New Bern,
     North Carolina.

Fabulous Frogs
Illustrated by Loretta Krupinski
Lerner Publishing, 2000
ISBN 978-0-7613-0424-1 (hardback);
ISBN 978-0-7613-0448-7 (paperback)

Simple text and illustrations present the physical characteristics, habits, and life cycle of the frog. Includes a separate question-and-answer section with more information about different kinds of frogs, their way of life, and endangered status.

Magnificent Monarchs
Illustrated by Gay Holland
Lerner Publishing, 2000
ISBN 978-0-7613-1700-5 (hardback);
ISBN 978-0-7613-1636-7 (paperback)

This title contains colorful, realistic illustrations that keep step with the simple, sometimes rhyming text. Three pages of more detailed data about monarchs and their complex lives, the addresses of butterfly societies, and a list of Web sites to explore are included.

"We love the book and feel it should be on every parent's or
 grandparent's list for children. It is a great teaching tool."
                         -- Mary Ellen Ryall, Executive Director of Happy Tonics

Spectacular Spiders
Illustrated by Gay Holland
Lerner Publishing, 1998
ISBN 978-0-7613-0353-4 (hardback)
ISBN 978-0-7613-0386-2 (paperback)

Describes, in simple text and illustrations, the physical characteristics, habits, and natural environment of the black and yellow garden spider. Also includes information on some other types of spiders.

Beautiful Bats
Illustrated by Sharon Lynn Holm
Lerner Press, 1997
ISBN 978-0-7613-0254-4 (hardback);
ISBN 978-0-7613-0340-4 (paperback)

Simple text and illustrations describe the habits and characteristics of little brown bats.  For the curious young reader, back pages include a question and answer section that covers more information about little brown bats and other bats as well.