Michelle Houts Knihy

Lucy learns all about states of matter, and a school field trip and the Fall Harvest Festival gives her the chance to put her knew knowledge to good use--

On Lucy’s first day of second grade, she’s excited to meet her new teacher, Miss Flippo, and find out everything’s she’s going to learn about this year in school. And when Miss Flippo tells the class that they’re going to have their very own science lab, complete with lab coats and goggles, Lucy can’t wait to start exploring. But one thing is troubling her. The tree that sat outside her first grade classroom all year is gone. Where are the squirrels going to live? Inspired by her classroom lab, Lucy starts her own research mission to find out what happened to the tree, and then to lobby for the school to plant a new one. With the help of her cousin, Cora, and their new classmates, Lucy discovers that science is everywhere you look, and a lab can be anywhere you look. Launching a new chapter book series from IRA Children’s Book Award-winner, Michelle Houts, Lucy Saves Some Squirrels draws on STEM themes and is aligned with curriculum guidelines to bring a love of science to young readers, inspiring them to start their own labs and explore their world.

The third book exciting title in the STEM-based Lucy's Lab chapter book series, where your science discoveries are only limited by your imagination.

Author Michelle Houts and illustrator Bagram Ibatoulline explore the magic of one of the seaside's greatest wonders and the bonds that link us through time. One summer, a boy named Thomas visits his grandmother at her seaside cottage. She gives him a magnifying glass that once belonged to his grandfather, and with it Thomas explores the beach, turning grains of sand into rocks and dark clamshells into swirling mazes of black, gray, and white. When his grandmother shows him a piece of sea glass, Thomas is transfixed. That night he dreams of an old shipyard and the breaking of a bottle. Could the very piece of sea glass on his nightstand have come from that bottle? For the rest of the summer, he searches for more sea glass and hopes to have dreams that will reveal more of the sea's secrets. A stunning ode to stories and the seaside, this picture book invites readers to imagine the ocean of possibility that lives in every small or forgotten treasure.

An owl swoops down to lay her egg in a coal yard a dangerous spot for a fragile egg! Rescued by Walter, a bird expert with a big heart and a warm shirt pocket, the egg miraculously hatches and is aptly named Coal. Thus begins a tender story of rescue, rehabilitation, and most of all, friendship. After meticulously researching the facts, Michelle Houts tells Coal's story with warmth and humor. The connections between Coal and the people whose lives he touches are captured by Deb Hoeffner's illustrations, done in her unique style of soft realism. "Explore More for Kids" answers children's questions with facts and photos of Great Horned Owls and Walter Crawford "The Man Who Saved Coal." Parents and teachers will appreciate literacy connections and STEM activities that extend the learning of the story.

The story follows Libby Ryan as she prepares for the Practical County Fair, where she hopes to win the Grand Champion title with her two calves. Despite her father's warnings, she names the steers, deepening her emotional connection to them. As the competition approaches, Libby navigates the challenges of raising her calves while facing the growing pressure to succeed. The narrative explores themes of ambition, the bond between humans and animals, and the emotional complexities of competition.

The story follows Dorothy Mary Kamenshek, who rose from humble beginnings in Norwood, Ohio, to become a national star athlete at just seventeen. Growing up playing sandlot baseball with local kids, her journey highlights the unexpected paths to greatness and the impact of her immigrant roots on her remarkable achievements in sports.

An ordinary Danish Christmas turns extraordinary when a family overlooks an important tradition: setting out the bowl of Christmas rice pudding for the tiny nisse who are rumored to look after the family and their livestock.

Set on a farm, this story unfolds during a cold winter night as a father and daughter explore the barn, discovering the vibrant life within. Through Michelle Houts' lyrical poetry and Jen Betton's enchanting watercolors, readers are introduced to the barn's inhabitants, both awake and asleep, creating a cozy atmosphere perfect for bedtime. The narrative emphasizes the warmth of shared moments and the magic of farm life, making it an ideal story for parents and children to enjoy together.