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Sunday

Trumpet was too loud, clarinet was too soft — here's 'The Story of the Saxophone'

Art from The Story of the Saxophone, text by Lesa Cline-Ransome, illustration by James E. Ransome Holiday House Publishing, Inc. hide caption

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Holiday House Publishing, Inc.

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Trumpet was too loud, clarinet was too soft — here's 'The Story of the Saxophone'

A shared love of jazz led author Lesa Cline-Ransome and illustrator James Ransome to discover inventor Antoine-Joseph "Adolphe" Sax and the instrument named after him.

Trumpet was too loud, clarinet was too soft — here's 'The Story of the Saxophone'

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Sunday

After 30+ years, 'The Stinky Cheese Man' is aging well
Illustrations © Lane Smith

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After 30+ years, 'The Stinky Cheese Man' is aging well

Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith created The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales in 1992. They remember their work on the classic children's book and how their partnership began.

After 30+ years, 'The Stinky Cheese Man' is aging well

Listen · 11:08
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Saturday

'I Don't Care' is a book about what matters in friendship, illustrated by best friends
Molly Idle and Juana Martinez-Neal / Holiday House Publishing, Inc.

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'I Don't Care' is a book about what matters in friendship, illustrated by best friends

When illustrator Molly Idle read the text of Julie Fogliano's children's book, she immediately thought of her buddy Juana Martinez-Neal — and in true friend form — she volunteered her for the job.

'I Don't Care' is a book about what matters in friendship, illustrated by best friends

Listen · 8:11
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Sunday

Kids want to know: 'Will It Be Okay?' — this book answers that question
Jessica Love / Cameron + Company

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Kids want to know: 'Will It Be Okay?' — this book answers that question

Crescent Dragonwagon was in her 20s when she wrote a story told entirely in dialogue between a mother and her child. Now, she's updating her 1977 text with new illustrations by Jessica Love.

Kids want to know: 'Will It Be Okay?' — this book answers that question

Listen · 7:07
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Sunday

The forecast: Still tasty (and terrifying) in 'Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs'
Ron Barrett

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The forecast: Still tasty (and terrifying) in 'Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs'

In the 1978 children's classic, it rains soup, it snows mashed potatoes, and hotdogs blow in from the northeast. Judi and Ron Barrett look back on their delectable tale of the town of Chewandswallow.

The forecast: Still tasty (and terrifying) in 'Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs'

Listen · 7:52
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Sunday

40 years after she took the stage, 'Angelina Ballerina' is still dancing
Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

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40 years after she took the stage, 'Angelina Ballerina' is still dancing

Angelina is a determined little mouse in a pink tutu who dreams of becoming a ballerina. Katharine Holabird and Helen Craig revisit their beloved character, the star of more than 25 picture books.

40 years after she took the stage, 'Angelina Ballerina' is still dancing

Listen · 8:25
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Sunday

A kids' story unfolds without words in 'A Day For Sandcastles'

A Day For Sandcastles Illustrations copyright © 2022 by Qin Leng hide caption

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Illustrations copyright © 2022 by Qin Leng

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A kids' story unfolds without words in 'A Day For Sandcastles'

Three siblings spend a summer day at the beach building sandcastles and watching them get demolished in a wordless picture book written by JonArno Lawson and illustrated by Qin Leng.

A kids' story unfolds without words in 'A Day For Sandcastles'

Listen · 6:58
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Saturday

Behold! 'The Great Zapfino' takes a big leap to overcome his fears
Beach Lane Books

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Behold! 'The Great Zapfino' takes a big leap to overcome his fears

A circus performer whose act is called "The Leap For Life" loses his nerve and gets a regular job as an elevator operator. Then a moment comes when The Great Zapfino must finally perform.

Behold! 'The Great Zapfino' takes a big leap to overcome his fears

Listen · 8:05
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Saturday

Colin Kaepernick says 'I Color Myself Different' in his first children's book
Scholastic/Kaepernick Publishing

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Colin Kaepernick says 'I Color Myself Different' in his first children's book

Colin Kaepernick's kindergarten teacher gave his class an assignment: Draw a picture of your family. When he colored his family yellow and himself brown, it became a pivotal moment for his identity.

Colin Kaepernick says 'I Color Myself Different' in his first children's book

Listen · 8:04
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Saturday

A kids' book travels through history to ask: Where does 'Blue' come from?
Daniel Minter/ Alfred. A Knopf Books for Young Readers

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A kids' book travels through history to ask: Where does 'Blue' come from?

The color blue is all around us, but where does it come from? In Blue, written by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond and illustrated by Daniel Minter, the answer is as deep as the sea and wide as the sky.

A kids' book travels through history to ask: Where does 'Blue' come from?

Listen · 6:30
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Saturday

Grandma's garden of magical rocks is 'Where Wonder Grows'
Cinco Puntos Press / Lee & Low Books

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Grandma's garden of magical rocks is 'Where Wonder Grows'

A grandmother brings her granddaughters to her special garden, where they learn about their connection to nature and tell stories about magical rocks, seashells, crystals and meteorites.

Grandma's garden of magical rocks is 'Where Wonder Grows'

Listen · 7:24
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Saturday

WaaaAAH! Rraak! 'Everybody in the Red Brick Building' is awake!
HarperCollins Children's Books/Balzer + Bray

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WaaaAAH! Rraak! 'Everybody in the Red Brick Building' is awake!

Baby Izzie howls, Rayhan's parrot screeches, Benny and his friends play flashlight tag, and Natalia launches her rocket in the new children's book by author Anne Wynter and illustrator Oge Mora.

WaaaAAH! Rraak! 'Everybody in the Red Brick Building' is awake!

Listen · 7:39
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Saturday

In 'The Sour Cherry Tree,' a child keeps memories of her late grandfather close
Owlkids Books

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In 'The Sour Cherry Tree,' a child keeps memories of her late grandfather close

The day after her beloved Baba Bazorg dies, a little girl remembers some of her favorite things about him: his striped slippers, the mints in his pockets and the fig cookies he always shared.

In 'The Sour Cherry Tree,' a child keeps memories of her late grandfather close

Listen · 7:09
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Saturday

Return to a world of caring and kindness, in 'Amos McGee Misses the Bus'
Roaring Brook Press

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Return to a world of caring and kindness, in 'Amos McGee Misses the Bus'

In Erin and Philip Stead's follow-up to 2010's A Sick Day for Amos McGee, the fastidious zookeeper gets help from his animal friends to finish his chores, so they can go on an exciting outing.

Return to a world of caring and kindness, in 'Amos McGee Misses the Bus'

Listen · 7:52
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Saturday

2 cousins celebrate their childhood neighborhood in 'Dream Street'
Anne Schwartz Books

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2 cousins celebrate their childhood neighborhood in 'Dream Street'

Meet Mr. Sidney, who's always sharply dressed. Belle, who catches butterflies in jar. And the Hat Lady, Ms. Sarah. They're just some of the residents of Dream Street, the best street in the world.

2 cousins celebrate their childhood neighborhood in 'Dream Street'

Listen · 8:08
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