Sara O'Leary

What if you found out that there was a ghost haunting your home? What if you found out that you were the ghost? In the middle of her life, Fay wakes up on the top of her piano with a strong intuition that something is not right. To all appearances everything is perfect: married to a man she loves, living in the house she dreamt of as a child, her life is full of possibility. Except--for reasons not immediately clear to Fay--she is now haunting her own once-happy home. Everything that should be familiar is suddenly altered. But furniture in the wrong places and walls the wrong colour are nothing compared to the fact that there is another woman in the house. A woman who is sharing Fay's husband's bed. There is also a strange, wan girl roaming the house and claiming that she has "brought Fay back." Somehow her husband has moved on and made a new life without her and now he finds himself in the unenviable position of sharing a house with two wives, one of whom harbours thoughts of revenge. As Fay begins to come to terms with the reality of her situation, she must confront all of the choices she has made, as well as those she hasn't--and now never will. This glimmering and darkly comedic novel explores both the domestic and the existential, delving into the dark heart of marriage and the meaning of a life. The Ghost in the House strips away all that seems less than essential, leaving behind a story that is raw and polished and as close to true as fiction can be.

The Ghost in the House

A little girl with a big imagination fantasizes about her many adventures and identities that depict her talking with the birds in the treetops, flying to amazing lands and inventing endlessly creative stories. By the creators of the Henry series.

This Is Sadie

When a teacher asks the children in her class to think about what makes their families special, the answers are all different in many ways -- but the same in the one way that matters most of all. One child is worried that her family is just too different to explain, but listens as her classmates talk about what makes their families special. One is raised by a grandmother, and another has two dads. One is full of stepsiblings, and another has a new baby. As one by one, her classmates describe who they live with and who loves them -- family of every shape, size and every kind of relation -- the child realizes that as long as her family is full of caring people, her family is special. A warm and whimsical look at many types of families written by award-winning author Sara O’Leary, A Family is a Family springs to life with quirky and sweet illustrations by Qin Leng.

A Family Is a Family Is a Family

Julie Morstad

Henry begs his mother to tell him a story about when she was small.

When I Was Small

A group of kids share the silly questions they always hear, as well as the questions they would rather be asked about themselves.

A Kid Is a Kid Is a Kid

The perfect bedtime story for anyone who was once small enough to be carried in their parents' pocket and wishes they could remember it!

When You Were Small

Narrated in the second person, You Are Two is a charming read-aloud that addresses the baby directly. Supersaturated ink-and-wash illustrations play with pattern and perspective and lend a contemporary, artistic feel to the book. The diverse group of babies pictured comes to life on the page and adds to the text s warmth and broad appeal.

You are two

The inspiring true tale of young siblings who loved to make stories — and grew up to be among English literature's finest writers. A picture book for fans of Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein. Many years ago, the four motherless children of the Brontë family — Charlotte, Branwell, Emily and Anne — lived in a windswept house by the moors with their father. Although their lives were often filled with sadness and their world was only as large as the distance they could walk, their INNER worlds were bound only by their imaginations. Hungry for stories, these children devoured novels and poetry, history and fables. And with the gift of a group of toy soldiers, they were inspired to make their own stories, and their own tiny books . . . a passion that would last them a lifetime. A moving and atmospheric story about the power of imagination, the joy of storytelling and the love of books, The Little Books of the Little Brontës will enchant both those who love these literary sisters and those who are learning about them for the first time. Includes an author's note, timeline of the Brontës' lives and a fun craft with instructions on creating your own little book.

The Little Books of the Little Brontës

This sweet story captures the singular experience of a child's visit with grandma. A diverse story for fans of How to Babysit a Grandma/Grandpa and Grandma's Purse or readers who love This Is Sadie. Maud loves the weekends that she stays over at her grandma's house. There's always breakfast-for-supper, matching nightgowns, black-and-white movies and best of all -- having someone to listen to her dreams for when she grows up. But what makes the visit extra-special is what Grand-Maud has hidden in an old chest under her bed. Sometimes there are paint sets, toys, homemade cookies, handknit mittens or sweaters. But Maud finds a wonderful surprise when she finds a belonging from Grand-Maud's childhood. When she grows up, Maud wants to be just like Grand-Maud. Maud and Grand-Maud is a sweet celebration of the unique bond between grandparents and grandchildren.

Maud and Grand-Maud

When a young boy asks his parents where he came from, they give contradicting stories of him being brought by fairies, dropped by a spaceship, purchased at the supermarket, and dreamed into existence.

Where You Came from

"A little girl living in a doll house has her life upended by a new owner."--

Gemma and the Giant Girl

"A book of little-known animal 'facts' -- one for each letter of the alphabet"--

An Unusual Alphabet

Owls Are Good at Keeping Secrets

Ruby is curious about her world and has big ideas about how it works. A delightful picture book celebration of science and creativity, and a welcome companion to Sara O'Leary's beloved This Is Sadie. Ruby is a little girl with a sense of curiosity and enthusiasm that's too big to contain! Ruby is always busy -- she loves to make things, watch things grow and figure out how things work, with her dog Teddy by her side. And Ruby has lots of ideas about what she wants to be: maybe an animal conservationist? Or an archaeologist? She's great at excavating (i.e. digging holes). Or maybe an inventor? She's already invented a book with smells instead of words (so dogs can read it) and a time machine (the dinosaurs did have feathers after all, and the future is looking wild). This is Ruby, and this is her world.

This Is Ruby

"Maman, raconte-moi quand t'étais petite..." demande le petit Jules à sa maman. Oui, avant d'être une mère, Capucine a été une petite fille. Une toute petite fille même qu'on surnommait "Puce". Pour le plus grand plaisir de son fils, Capucine se plonge dans son enfance et en sublime chaque petit moment... Imaginez un peu, elle vivait dans une maison de poupée, dormait dans une moufle et sa meilleure amie n'était autre qu'une coccinelle !

Quand j'étais petite...

Curious little Henry from the award-winning books When You Were Small and Where You Came From has a new question for his mother in this charming new picture book. "What was it like when you were small?" he asks. His mother proceeds to describe her adventures to him, all about when she was little - very little!

In this companion to the enormously popular A Family Is a Family Is a Family, a group of kids share the silly questions they always hear, as well as the questions they would rather be asked about themselves. Being the new kid is hard, a child in the school playground tells us. I can think of better things to ask than if I’m a boy or a girl. Another child comes along and says she gets asked why she always has her nose in a book. Someone else gets asked where they come from. One after another, children share the questions they’re tired of being asked again and again — as opposed to what they believe are the most important or interesting things about themselves. As they move around the playground, picking up new friends along the way, there is a feeling of understanding and acceptance among them. And in the end, the new kid comes up with the question they would definitely all like to hear: “Hey kid, want to play?” Sara O’Leary’s thoughtful text and Qin Leng’s expressive illustrations tell a story about children who are all different, all themselves, all just kids. Key Text Features dialogue Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.6 Identify who is telling the story at various points in a text. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7 Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.1 Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.6 Acknowledge differences in the points of view of characters, including by speaking in a different voice for each character when reading dialogue aloud. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.7 Use information gained from the illustrations and words in a print or digital text to demonstrate understanding of its characters, setting, or plot. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.1 Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.7 Explain how specific aspects of a text's illustrations contribute to what is conveyed by the words in a story (e.g., create mood, emphasize aspects of a character or setting)

When a teacher asks her class to think about what makes their families special, the answers are all different, but the same in one important way ... When a teacher asks the children in her class to think about what makes their families special, the answers are all different in many ways -- but the same in the one way that matters most of all. One child is worried that her family is just too different to explain, but listens as her classmates talk about what makes their families special. One is raised by a grandmother, and another has two dads. One has many stepsiblings, and another has a new baby in the family. As her classmates describe who they live with and who loves them -- family of every shape, size and every kind of relation -- the child realizes that as long as her family is full of caring people, it is special. A warm and whimsical look at many types of families, written by award-winning author Sara O'Leary, with quirky and sweet illustrations by Qin Leng. Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.1 With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2 Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.6 Identify who is telling the story at various points in a text. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.9 Compare and contrast the adventures and experiences of characters in stories. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.6 Acknowledge differences in the points of view of characters, including by speaking in a different voice for each character when reading dialogue aloud.

A child explores her neighborhood on a late-night walk with her dad, finding delight and comfort in moments of quiet and the warm windows into other people’s lives. When a little girl can’t sleep one night, her dad asks if she’d like to go for a walk. They tiptoe through the silent house and step out into the dark. It’s strange and exciting to be out so late. Walking down the street, the girl can see inside the lit-up windows of apartment buildings and houses where people’s lives are unfolding. Kids are having a pillow fight in one house, while a family has gathered for a festive meal in another. She and her dad reach the still-busy shopping area, walking past restaurants and enticing store windows, then stop for a tranquil moment in the park before returning home. Sara O’Leary has captured a child’s nighttime wonder as she explores her neighborhood and comes to the comforting realization that she belongs. Ellie Arscott’s illustrations, luminous and rich in color, perfectly complement the story. Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.6 Identify who is telling the story at various points in a text. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.1 Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

Night Walk

A baby's second year is full of memorable milestones. Walking, running, understanding more words, speaking their names, and forming first memories are all exciting achievements. You Are Twopicks up where You Are Oneleft off and looks back on each of these moments and more, inviting little ones and their parents to celebrate how much they have grown and discovered. Narrated in the second person, You Are Twois a charming read-aloud that addresses the baby directly. Supersaturated ink-and-wash illustrations play with pattern and perspective and lend a contemporary, artistic feel to the book. The diverse group of babies pictured comes to life on the page and adds to the text's warmth and broad appeal. The second in a three-book series, You Are Twois designed as a whimsical gift for toddlers or parents who will enjoy reflecting on all the highlights of the second year and expressing how much their little one is loved.

Sara O'Leary

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