Help ZigZag the alligator get his vowels back in this playful picture book from beloved author-illustrator Julie Paschkis! There's nothing ZigZag enjoys more than tasting his words as he uses them, plays with them, and enjoys them, for ZigZag is a lover of words! But one day, excited and energized, he gulps down all his vowels while exploring and enjoying the word "tambourine." Without A, E, I, O, and U, ZigZag's life is turned upside-down: no more lovely tambourines, only tasteless and dull tmbrns; no more tart green apples, only disappointing ppls. Poor ZigZag can't even get any sleep in his comfy, cozy bed, which is now a too short bd. But vowels are all around ZigZag, from his grandmother's satisfied "Aaahs" to his best friend Beanie's amazed "Ooohs." Can you help ZigZag find his vowels again? This is a wonderful romp through language that reminds readers to taste their words, even at the risk of swallowing them—for how else to know if they are sweet or bitter; salty, crunchy, or smooth? It is also a companion volume, with a twist, to Paschkis's The Wordy Book.

"Some children's books feel like classics the first time one encounters them. It's not hard to imagine young poets embracing The Wordy Book as warmly as new generations keep embracing The Little Prince." Naomi Shihab Nye, for the New York Times A Publishers Weekly High-Concept Picture Book for Children Selected for 2021 Society of Illustrators Original Art Exhibition This book is a collection of paintings made up of words upon words, all moving, interacting, and creating a visually stunning and wordy universe. Each page contains a question to be answered with the words that lie within. What happens when words and pictures coexist in such a way, bump into one another, are in constant conversation? How might words paint a bird, while that very bird sings the words themselves? This book invites readers to participate in a vibrant celebration of language itself.

Now in paperback, this sweet tale follows Yasmeen, a seven-year-old Pakistani-American girl, as she celebrates the Muslim holidays of Ramadan, "The Night of the Moon" (Chaand Raat), and Eid. With lush illustrations that evoke Islamic art, this beautiful story offers a peek into modern Muslim culture-and into the ancient roots of its most cherished traditions.

Illustrated in full color by Julie Paschkis

John McCutcheon's joyful song commemorates the wonderful day when a child joins an adoptive family. Read or sung, the excitement and love of new parents rings through in these heartwarming verses, which reassure adopted children that they are wanted, loved, and special. Complete with musical notation, this is the perfect gift for adopted children and their families to share.

Read the review of the book and check out the adoption activity at Kidsbooks.about.com