Much has been written about war and remembrance, but very little of it has been for young children. As questions come from a young grandchild, his grandpa talks about how, as a very young man, he was as proud as a peacock in uniform, busy as a beaver on his Atlantic crossing, and brave as a lion charging into battle. Soon, the old man’s room is filled with an imaginary menagerie as the child thinks about different aspects of wartime. But as he pins medals on his grandpa’s blazer and receives his own red poppy in return, the mood becomes more somber. Outside, the crowd gathered for the veterans’ parade grows as quiet as a mouse, while men and women — old and young — march past in the rain. A trumpet plays and Grandpa lays a wreath in memory of his lost friend. Just then, the child imagines an elephant in the mist. “Elephants never forget,” he whispers to his grandpa. “Then let’s be elephants,” says the old man, as he wipes water from his eyes and takes his grandson’s hand. Proud as a Peacock, Brave as a Lion has relevance to a growing number of families, as new waves of soldiers leave home.

Children are eager to grow bigger, and JoJo is no exception. He always asks his mother the same question: “How much did I grow today?” No matter how often his mother assures him that good things come in small packages, he is desperate to be bigger. After all, he wants to run in a race to win a pair of red Rocket Racer shoes. But how can he compete against bullies who are much bigger than he is? A delightful surprise ending illustrates how true growth is not always measured in inches. Jane Barclay’s heartwarming story explores a theme that speaks to every child. Esperança Melo’s wonderful art complements the text to create a charming book that’s bound to become a favorite.

C. S. Lewis was a British author, lay theologian, and contemporary of J.R.R. Tolkien. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is the first book in The Chronicles of Narnia.

When Frank Zamboni, along with his brother and cousin, opened their own skating rink in 1940 in Paramount, California, it could take an hour and a half for a crew to resurface the ice. They had to level the surface by shaving down the pits and grooves with a tractor, remove the shavings, wash the ice and find a way to give the rink its shining finish. Skaters became exasperated with the wait, so Frank was determined to do something about it. Could he turn a ninety-minute job for five men into a ten-minute task for only one? Working in the shed behind his ice rink, Frank drew designs and built models of machines he hoped would do the job. For nine years, he worked on his invention, each model an improvement on the one before. Finally, in 1949, Frank tested the Model A, which "cleaned the ice in one sweep around the rink." The rest is history.

Toddlers will delight in this board book highlighting well-known Canadian symbols and traditions, including famous buildings and wildlife. Rhyming riddles frame the questions, while brightly painted clues help the youngest book lover figure out the answer.

A nostalgic story about hockey, brothers, and the Montreal Canadiens breakout star - Maurice "Rocket" Richard! Andre lives in Montreal and loves to play hockey. But he's always being compared to his older brother, whose game is much better than his own. Resigned to living in Marcel's shadow, Andre finds solace when he he meets another boy, who also gets razzed for not playing like his brother. Meanwhile, Canadiens fans are excitedly watching their beloved team climb to the top with the help of a new young star, Maurice Richard. Andre's father works at the plant where Richard works during the day. One day, he comes home with tickets to the playoff series between Montreal and Toronto, one of which is on March 23, 1944 - the night Richard ends up scoring five goals and being named all three stars of the game! Andre is thrilled to be there, and is surprised when he notices the boy he played against at the rink is also at the game - and even more surprised when he learns this boy's identity and that of the older brother who keeps outshining him! In The Rocket, Mike Leonetti brings young hockey fans to a special time and place in hockey, while telling some universal truths about brothers, competition, and a desire to make one's own mark.

An award-winning author and an acclaimed artist honor the sacrifices of American veterans and their families in this poetic tribute. Lines of bikes are miles long, shining, half a million strong. Rumbling, grumbling, engines roar. Peace signs. High fives. Spirits soar. Every Memorial Day in Washington, D.C., more than a million veterans and their supporters gather for the Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom, a demonstration that pays tribute to the men and women of the U.S. armed forces. This lyrical story honors the bravery and sacrifice of those American heroes—the ones who have returned home, and the ones who haven’t. Praise for Rolling Thunder “A tribute to the phenomenon that is the Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom . . . Ruth’s background in comics illustration is evident in his skillful use of palette to reflect mood . . . A lyrical ode to our nation’s fallen heroes and those who keep their memories alive, suitable for one-on-one and small group sharing. A good choice for most collections.” —School Library Journal “Sincere, affecting pages . . . pay tribute to the sacrifices of veterans and their families . . . An emotional wringer.” —The Wall Street Journal “Respectful, eloquent, and moving.” —Booklist