What’s New on Epic for April!

For over 50 years music lovers have been humming along to Otis Redding’s classic song “The Dock of the Bay,” but few know him for his advocacy for educating and empowering young people through music, writing and instrumentation.

This joyful, heartwarming digital kids book brings the timeless song to life, as it follows a lonely cat on a dock hoping for a catch.

In this book, part of the popular “Don’t Push the Button” series of board books, Larry the monster is at it again. After a busy day it’s time for bed, but Larry isn’t sleepy. He knows he shouldn’t push the button, but he can’t resist. What happens each time he sneaks in just one little tap?  

This cute, zany book is great to read along with toddlers, babies and preschoolers before bed.

This adventurous picture book from Children’s Literature Legacy Award-winning author Nikki Grimes and acclaimed illustrator Elizabeth Zunon shows young kids that bath time can be pretty cool! It’s filled with adventures where a faucet can be a flowing waterfall and the floor a distant shore. Toy boats can sail the high seas as little ones dive for treasure, making getting clean epic fun.

Filled with delightful poetic riddles, this picture book encourages young readers to explore the natural world and all of its amazing critters. For instance, one poem asks, “who scribbles on the sidewalk with glistening ink?” “Who’s a comma in a long, long sentence of a stream?” You and your little one can read aloud together to find out. If you love this, check out another clever rhyme-filled book by Antoinette Portis on Epic, “Hey, Water!”

Welcome to Dullsville, a boring place where nothing ever happens. But when a herd of magical unicorns appears, they turn the town upside down with chaotic bursts of color. Will the people of Dullsville learn to love a life with a little more sparkle? 

Perfect for read-alouds, the silly scenarios and illustrations in this colorful picture book are sure to make your young reader giggle.

From Caldecott honoree Jason Chin comes this accessible, well-researched nonfiction picture book exploring the known universe. Young readers can grasp it’s awesome scale and everything in it, from the very small (“most 8-year olds are about 5 times as tall as this book”) to galaxy clusters and beyond. It even includes extensive supplementary material in the back of the book for kids craving to learn more.

This moving autobiographical account of a child of immigrants discovering and connecting with her heritage, is a powerful story that will inspire empathy and curiosity. Driving through Ohio in an old Pontiac, young Andrea’s parents stop when they see watercress growing by the side of the road. The whole family wades into the muck to collect as much of it as they can. This embarrasses her until, when her mother shares about her family’s life in China, Andrea comes to appreciate the value of the fresh food they foraged.

In a series that helps kids learn how to recognize, express and cope with emotions, “I feel…Allergic” shows kids who are allergic that allergies are part of life—and not to let them stop them from being who they are. 

With simple text and fun, light-hearted illustrations, this digital kids’ book helps kids who have allergies feel seen and understood. It’s also a good way to teach kids who don’t have allergies empathy for those who are different from them. 

After losing his parents, Ollie goes to live with his grandpa in earthquake-prone, rainy Sueño Bay. Miserable, he plans his escape on the next bus out of town. 

But when Ollie and three classmates discover something mysterious in a trailer in the woods, the unlikely friends come together to solve a supernatural mystery to save themselves, Sueño Bay and the creatures that inhabit it from a darkness that is infecting the island. 

This first book in the Sueño Bay Adventures graphic novel series explores themes of family, friendship and the meaning of home.

11-year-old Harry has always admired Harry Houdini—the famous escape artist who died in 1926. He even lives (and was born in) in Houdini’s old New York City home! One day he gets a series of texts from someone claiming to be Houdini. Harry’s sure it’s a prank but “Houdini” texts him the secrets to all of his escape tricks. An intriguing text exchange ensues and Houdini makes a death-defying offer. Should he take it or dismiss it as a hoax? 

This middle-grade chapter book is chock full of magician secrets and historical facts that will entertain and intrigue your young reader.