nonfiction

Who am I? Penguins and Other Birds

Highlights Press, Oct 6, 2026 Preorder wherever you get books!

ISBN 1639625100

Illustrated by Travis Foster

Can your child outsmart a riddle before the big reveal? Who Am I? Penguins and Other Birds pairs playful clues with distorted photos of penguins and other birds—then flips to stunning photography and real-world animal facts. A guessing game book for kids that turns every page into a discovery.

Every page is a challenge—and every reveal is a reward. Kids study distorted photos, weigh the clues in each riddle, and commit to a guess before flipping to find out if they’re right. What they discover on the other side goes deeper than a name: vivid wildlife photography and bite-sized science facts about penguins, owls, flamingos, and other extraordinary birds. It’s the kind of interactive nonfiction book for kids that builds real skills—observation, reasoning, and prediction—without ever feeling like a lesson. For ages 4–8, Who Am I? Penguins and Other Birds is a screen-free activity book that earns its place on the shelf long after the first read.

• Riddle-and-reveal format kids want to repeat. Each spread is a self-contained guessing game—study the clues, make a prediction, flip the page. The mechanic is simple enough for age 4 and satisfying enough to hold an 8-year-old’s attention.
• Real photography, real facts, real science. Reveals feature vivid wildlife images and age-appropriate details about habitat, behavior, and adaptation—the kind of animal facts for kids that spark follow-up questions, not just correct answers.
• Screen-free, parent-approved, shelf-worthy. Works beautifully as a read-aloud, an independent activity, or a road-trip companion. A nonfiction book for kids ages 4–8 that earns repeat reads and makes a standout educational gift.

When a child leans in, studies the clues, and lights up at the reveal, that’s more than a good guess—it’s a mind learning to trust itself. Who Am I? Penguins and Other Birds gives them that moment, page after page. It’s the kind of book Highlights has spent 75+ years helping families find—one that makes curiosity feel like a superpower.

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nonfiction

Who am I? Tigers and Other Big Cats

Highlights Press, April 21, 2026

ISBN 9781639624379

Illustrated by Travis Foster

Get ready for some feline fun with rip-roaring riddles about big cats!

You’re going to want to pounce on this book! Who Am I? Tigers and Other Big Cats is packed with playful, fact-filled riddles about stealthy tigers, powerful lions, speedy cheetahs, and more. But here’s the twist: each riddle is a fun guessing game that challenges kids to figure out which amazing animal is being described. Plus, all the fascinating facts are vetted by an expert, ensuring accuracy and credibility for young learners.

With jaw-dropping facts, mind-bending visual puzzles, and stunning artwork, this book is a must-have for curious kids and aspiring zoologists. As they dig into the pages, they’ll find fascinating information on big cats, spark their imaginations, and sharpen their thinking skills. Who Am I? Tigers and Other Big Cats delivers endless fun and learning for young animal lovers!

Download Tigers printables here!

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nonfiction

Who am I? Axolotls and Other Amphibians

Highlights Press, April 21, 2026 Available for preorder anywhere you get books!

ISBN 9781639624362

Illustrated by Travis Foster

You’re just a hop, skip, and a frog’s jump away from awesome amphibians! Who Am I? Axolotls and Other Amphibians is packed with playful, fact-filled riddles about adorable axolotls, energetic frogs, colorful newts, and more. But here’s the twist: each riddle is a fun guessing game that challenges kids to figure out which amazing animal is being described. Plus, all the fascinating facts are vetted by an expert, ensuring accuracy and credibility for young learners.

With jaw-dropping facts, mind-bending visual puzzles, and stunning artwork, this book is a must-have for curious kids and aspiring zoologists. As they dig into the pages, they’ll find fascinating information on amphibians, spark their imaginations, and sharpen their thinking skills. Who Am I? Axolotls and Other Amphibians delivers endless fun and learning for young animal lovers!

Download Axolotls printables here!

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nonfiction

Who Am I? Pandas and Other Bears

Highlights Press, October 7, 2025

Illustrated by Travis Foster

ISBN 9781639623839

Take a walk on the wild side with mega-fun bear riddles!

Get ready for a bear-y cool adventure! Who Am I? Pandas and Other Bears is packed with playful, fact-filled riddles about adorable giant pandas, strong polar bears, acrobatic black bears, and more. But here’s the twist: each riddle is a fun guessing game that challenges kids to figure out which amazing animal is being described. Plus, all the fascinating facts are vetted by an expert, ensuring accuracy and credibility for young learners.

With jaw-dropping facts, mind-bending visual puzzles, and stunning artwork, this book is a must-have for curious kids and aspiring zoologists. As they dig into the pages, they’ll find fascinating information on bears, spark their imaginations, and sharpen their thinking skills. Who Am I? Pandas and Other Bears delivers endless fun and learning for young animal lovers!

Download Pandas printables here. Download Pandas bookmarks here.

#4 on the Oklahoma Bestseller List!

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nonfiction, picture books

Who Am I? Sharks and Other Ocean Animals

GREAT NEWS!! Sharks and Other Ocean Animals has been named to Missouri’s 2026 Dogwood List for recommended nonfiction books for children! I’m grateful to the Missouri Association of School Librarians for including Sharks on this list!

Highlights Press, October 7, 2025

Illustrated by Travis Foster

ISBN 9781639623600

Dive into a Sea of Fun with Ocean Animal Riddles!

Get ready for an ocean adventure like no other! Who Am I? is packed with playful, fact-filled riddles about the coolest ocean creatures—like speedy sharks, clever dolphins, and dazzling sea stars. But here’s the twist: each riddle is a fun guessing game that challenges kids to figure out which amazing animal is being described. Plus, all the fascinating facts are vetted by an expert, ensuring accuracy and credibility for young learners.

With jaw-dropping facts, mind-bending visual puzzles, and stunning artwork, this book is a must-have for curious kids and aspiring marine biologists. As they splash through the pages, they’ll soak up fascinating information, spark their imaginations, and sharpen their thinking skills. Who Am I? delivers endless fun and learning for young ocean explorers!

Download Sharks printables here. Download Sharks bookmarks here.

#3 on the Oklahoma Bestseller List!

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early reader, nonfiction, picture books

CREEP, LEAP, CRUNCH! A Food Chain Story

GREAT NEWS!! Creep, Leap, Crunch! A Food Chain Story is a *2026 Bill Martin Jr. Picture Book Award finalist! Download free bookmarks and poster here!

Knopf Books for Young Readers/Random House, December 12, 2023

Illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal

ISBN: 0593565525

Follow along as a day in the life of the food chain begins. From the sun that shines on the grass and trees to the animals that feed each other, each element in nature has its place. But what happens when the food escapes? This cumulative, lyrical story will delight, with a surprise ending that all science lovers will enjoy.

Download the FREE Discussion Guide and Activities here

Download “This is the Food Chain” Song lyrics here

Salina Public Library highlights the 2026 Bill Martin Jr. Picture Book Award nominees

*CYBILS Award Finalist, Elementary Nonfiction 2024

*Missouri Show Me Award preliminary nominee 2025-2026

*Crystal Kite Award Winner 2024, SCBWI

*Best of 2023 K-12, Pennsylvania School Librarians Association

*Finalist for Oklahoma’s 2025 Donna Norvell Award for “a book that has made a significant contribution to the field of literature for children through second grade

*Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K-12″ NSTA 2024 (National Science Teaching Association)

*Starred Review, School Library Journal “VERDICT: This is an excellent introduction to the food chain, and will be especially popular among elementary science teachers.”

*Kirkus “A good and read-aloud-ready way of introducing an important natural process.”

*Publishers Weekly “In this useful look at the food chain, readers see predator and prey together but never the moment of devouring, making for a STEM portrait suited to even sensitive readers. Back matter provides more about the featured flora and fauna.”

*Find out about the book’s cumulative structure, back matter, and how the title came to be in this Interview on Picture Book Builders

*Interview about Jody’s and illustrator Christopher Silas Neal’s processes on Debbie Ridpath Ohi’s blog

*Imagination Soup says, “This is a perfect STEM read aloud introduction to food chains and forest biomes” here.

*We Are Teachers “Best New Books for Kids and Teens in December 2023” here

*Author Chat with Jody Jensen Shaffer, YA and Kids Book Central here

*Book review with Sal here

*Book review with YA (and kids’)Books Central here

*Youth Services Book Review here

*Listen to my interview on The TeachingBooks Blog here

*Book review on Frog on a (B)Log here

*Creep, Leap, Crunch! A Food Chain Story: Making a Science Topic Accessible for Kids GROG Blog here

*Creep, Leap, Crunch! A Food Chain Story is on the Missouri Association of School Librarians’ Recommended Show Me Summer Reading List!

*Wonderfully thoughtful review on Unpacking the Power of Picture Books about Cumulative Picture Books here

*Creep, Leap, Crunch! A Food Chain Story highlighted in this article about developing readers by reading to them

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nonfiction, picture books

LIBRARIANS (Community Helpers)

The Child’s World, August 1, 2022

ISBN: 1503858324

Librarians are a vital part of our communities. They guide people to the right information, but just how do they do this important job? This book features photos and information through easy-to-read text that allows readers a peek behind the scenes at this interesting job. Additional features include a table of contents, informational captions and sidebars, a phonetic glossary, sources for further research, an index, a Think-About-It section, and an introduction to the author.

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Community helper, nonfiction, picture books, The Child's World

AIR AMBULANCE CREWS ON THE SCENE

The Child’s World, January 1, 2022

ISBN:  1503855848

Provides an inside look at the fast-paced, important, stressful, and often dangerous job of air ambulance crews.

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air ambulance, emergency services, nonfiction, picture books

HOTSHOT CREWS ON THE SCENE

The Child’s World, January 1, 2022

ISBN: 1503855872

Provides an inside look at the fast-paced, important, stressful, and often dangerous job of hotshot crews as they battle wildfires.

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emergency services, fire fighting, nonfiction, picture books

911 DISPATCHERS ON THE CALL

The Child’s World, January 1, 2022

ISBN: 1503855880

Provides an inside look at the fast-paced, important, and stressful job of 911 dispatchers.

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911 dispatchers, emergency services, nonfiction, picture books