Where The Watermelons Grow

Fans of The Thing About Jellyfish and A Snicker of Magic will be swept away by Cindy Baldwin’s debut middle grade about a girl coming to terms with her mother’s mental illness. An Oregon Spirit Award Honor book. When twelve-year-old Della Kelly finds her mother furiously digging black seeds from a watermelon in the middle of the night and talking to people who aren't there, Della worries that it’s happening again—that the sickness that put her mama in the hospital four years ago is back. That her mama is going to be hospitalized for months like she was last time. With her daddy struggling to save the farm and her mama in denial about what’s happening, it’s up to Della to heal her mama for good. And she knows just how she’ll do it: with a jar of the Bee Lady’s magic honey, which has mended the wounds and woes of Maryville, North Carolina, for generations. But when the Bee Lady says that the solution might have less to do with fixing Mama’s brain and more to do with healing her own heart, Della must learn that love means accepting her mama just as she is.

Welcome to Schnobbleville, the adorable little town with a funny name and a silly secret: it’s the only place on Earth where you can pick a ripe, juicy watermelon—right from a tree! Come along with Marty, the cheese-loving mouse, grab a pair of magical binoculars, and prepare to be amazed with the sweet sights—and tastes—of this enchanted land. It’s a friendly place where the people still say “excuse me, may I, thank you, and please.” But whatever you do, don’t sneeze too hard or you might shake loose a whole crop of lip-smacking watermelons! Bursting with glorious, full-color illustrations and full of enchanting rhymes, Do Watermelons Grow On Trees? urges kids to explore their limitless and precious imaginations. The message is simple: anything is possible with just a little vision. Children are also encouraged to explore their own stories by drawing what they see around them. After all, if watermelons can grow on trees, what else is possible?

Greg Pizzoli's beloved Geisel Award-winning gem playfully taps kids' classic question about what could happen if they swallow a seed. Crocodile loves watermelon, but what will happen when his greatest fear of swallowing a watermelon seed comes to pass? Will vines sprout out his ears? Will his skin turn pink? Only one thing is certain: his wild imagination will have kids laughing out loud and begging for another read. With perfect comic pacing, bold color and dynamic sense of design, three-time Theodor Seuss Geisel Award recipient Greg Pizzoli's picture book debut transforms this familiar childhood anxiety into a contemporary classic read-aloud perfect for fans of I Want My Hat Back. "[A]n expert debut." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review) "Children will love this hilarious book. The story has broad appeal, making it a great first purchase." -- School Library Journal (starred review) Don't miss these other favorite books by Greg Pizzol: The Book HogGood Night OwlNumber One SamTempleton Gets His WishThis Story is For YouThe Twelve Days of Christmas

Raffi's hilarious version of the classic song about strange events that happen down by the bay, where the watermelons grow... Singing supports and encourages even the youngest child's speech and listening skills, which makes Down by the Bay perfect for early learning. In this friendly board book edition, irresistible art by Nadine Bernard Westcott depicts wonderfully amusing creatures such as a bear combing his hair, a goose kissing a moose, and a whale with a polka-dot tail. Very young children will find this book both entertaining and instructive in early language skills such as rhyme, rhythm, and repetition, and will delight in hearing it read or sung aloud to them.

When Grandpap teaches Charlie how to plant watermelon seeds in the spring, Charlie hopes they’ll grow a "Wishing Watermelon." Grandpap has never heard of such a thing, and when he asks Charlie what he would wish for, Charlie won't tell. Through a whole summer of biking, fishing, basketball, and waiting for watermelons together, Grandpap tries to guess his grandson's harvest wish. Lush, vivid paintings evoke the friendship, teamwork, and affection between grandfather and grandson as they share their wisdom and this special summer together.

The acclaimed author of Where the Watermelons Grow is back with a story perfect for fans of Lynda Mullaly Hunt and Ali Benjamin, about finding friendship after a tragic loss. It’s been eighty-three days since Annie Lee’s daddy died, but she still sees reminders of him everywhere. His record player mysteriously plays his favorite songs, there’s shaving cream in the sink every morning, and the TV keeps flipping to the Duke basketball games he loved. She knows Mama notices it too, but Mama’s been working around the clock to make ends meet. To make matters worse, Annie Lee’s friends ditched her over the summer. She feels completely alone—until she meets Mitch. Though Mitch is tough and confident on the outside, she may need a friend just as badly as Annie Lee. But after losing so much, Annie Lee is afraid to let anyone get too close. And Mitch isn’t the only friend trying to break through Annie Lee’s defenses. Ray, an elderly pianist who plays at a local mall, has been giving her piano lessons. His music is pure magic, and Annie Lee hopes it might be the key to healing her broken heart. But when Ray goes missing, searching for him means breaking a promise to Mitch. Faced with once again losing those who mean the most to her, Annie Lee must make a choice: retreat back into her shell, or risk admitting how much she needs Mitch and Ray—even if it means getting hurt all over again. Just like in her debut, Where the Watermelons Grow, Cindy Baldwin brings her signature twist of magic to this authentically heartfelt story. A Whitney Award finalist An AML Award finalist

Storybook characters try to pull up a large watermelon; (a variation on The Giant turnip folktale)

Duane the polar bear and the other animals of the very, very far north find their friendships deepening as they are challenged by the arrival of a contentious weasel and an unexpected departure.