Books by Lois Ehlert

Leaf Man

by Lois Ehlert

Ride the wind and drift east with Leaf Man in this autumnal classic by Caldecott Honor-winning author-illustrator Lois Ehlert, perfect for young readers returning to school in the fall.
Fall has come, the wind is gusting, and Leaf Man is on the move. Is he drifting east, over the marsh and ducks and geese? Or is he heading west, above the orchards, prairie meadows, and spotted cows?
No one's quite sure, but this much is certain: A Leaf Man's got to go where the wind blows.
Ehlert crafts each illustration out of actual fall leaves on every spread to reveal gorgeous landscapes. This playful and whimsical book celebrates the natural world and the rich imaginative life of children.

Nuts to You!

by Lois Ehlert

It’s summer in the city, and a rascally squirrel is up to all sorts of tricks. He digs and eats and zips and hides, but when he sneaks inside an apartment window, it’s time for a nutty solution to get him out. Labels identify plants, birds, and insects on each page, and a glossary at the back of the book offers factual details about squirrels. “The simple, spirited plot, lively verse, and stunning double-page spreads will make Nuts to You! a storytime standard.”--School Library Journal

Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf

by Lois Ehlert

In this innovative and colorful work of early nonfiction from Caldecott Honor–winning author Lois Ehlert, little ones are introduced to facts about trees.
Ehlert blends bold graphics, vibrant colors, and precise details in her watercolor collage alongside found objects like seeds, fabric, wire, and roots.
A special glossary explains how roots absorb nutrients, what photosynthesis is, how sap circulates, how to make a bird treat, and other facts about trees. Children and adults will feel inspired to take a closer look at the nature in their own backyards.
Celebrate Earth Day, spring, and the basics of trees while improving color recognition with Lois Ehlert's Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf!

Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf

by Lois Ehlert

In this innovative and colorful work of early nonfiction from Caldecott Honor–winning author Lois Ehlert, little ones are introduced to facts about trees.
Ehlert blends bold graphics, vibrant colors, and precise details in her watercolor collage alongside found objects like seeds, fabric, wire, and roots.
A special glossary explains how roots absorb nutrients, what photosynthesis is, how sap circulates, how to make a bird treat, and other facts about trees. Children and adults will feel inspired to take a closer look at the nature in their own backyards.
Celebrate Earth Day, spring, and the basics of trees while improving color recognition with Lois Ehlert's Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf!

Oodles of Animals

by Lois Ehlert

In this exuberant collection, Lois Ehlert celebrates the animal kingdom with quirky, playful rhymes and bold collage illustrations that perfectly capture the spirit of each creature. Sixty-four of her favorite animal friends are here, from hamsters to monkeys, geckos to mountain goats--and with its clever combination of fact and wordplay, this stunning volume is as fun to read as it is to look at.

Includes an author's note.
Visit www.HarcourtBooks.com/LoisEhlert for activity sheets and more!

Planting a Rainbow Lap Board Book

by Lois Ehlert

In this perennial classic by Caldecott Honor–winning author Lois Ehlert, little ones learn the colors of the rainbow as they watch a plants grow in a beautifully vibrant garden. This lap-sized board book is perfect for sharing.
Through brilliant, textured cut paper collages, the story follows the progress of a mother and daughter in their backyard as they plant bulbs, seeds, and seedlings and nurture their growth into flowers. Bold, spare text and dazzling illustrations will inspire readers to take a closer look at the natural world and maybe even start a garden of their own.
Celebrate Earth Day, spring, and the basics of gardening while improving color recognition with Lois Ehlert's Planting a Rainbow!

Eating the Alphabet: Fruits & Vegetables from A to Z

by Lois Ehlert

A vibrant and sturdy word book starring fruits and vegetables from around the world from Caldecott Honor–winning author-illustrator Lois Ehlert. Features upper- and lowercase letters for preschoolers just learning language.
Each turn of the page reveals a mouth-watering arrangement of foods: Indian corn, jalapeno, jicama, kumquat, kiwifruit and kohlrabi. Lois Ehlert's lively watercolors paired with bold easy-to-read type make for a highly appealing and accessible book for parents and children to devour.
At the end of the book, Ehlert provides a detailed glossary that includes pronunciation, botanical information, the origin and history of the particular plant and occasional mythological references, with a small watercolor picture to remind the reader of what the plant looks like.
Apple to Zucchini,
come take a look.
Start eating your way
through this alphabet book.

Growing Vegetable Soup

by Lois Ehlert

"Dad says we are going to grow vegetable soup." So begins Lois Ehlert’s bright, bold picture book about vegetable gardening for the very young. The necessary tools are pictured and labeled, as are the seeds (green bean, pea, corn, zucchini squash, and carrot). Then the real gardening happens . . . planting, weeding, harvesting, washing, chopping, and cooking! In the end? "It was the best soup ever." Ehlert’s simple, colorful cut-paper-style illustrations are child-friendly, as is the big black type. A recipe for vegetable soup tops it all off!

Growing Vegetable Soup

by Lois Ehlert

A bright and beautiful classic about the simple pleasures of gardening from bestselling and beloved Caldecott Honoree Lois Ehlert.
Calling all budding gardeners! What would you like to grow today? Is it green beans, or peas? Corn or carrots?
There's so much to learn in Lois Ehlert's colorful picture book about growing vegetables. First we collect the necessary tools, and don't forget the seeds. Then the magic happens: planting, weeding, harvesting, washing, chopping, cooking, and best of all—eating! There's even a recipe for vegetable soup!
Ehlert’s simple cut-paper-style illustrations are perfect for even the tiniest growers. A wonderful introduction to gardening from a master storyteller.

Pie in the Sky

by Lois Ehlert, Remy Lai

Do pies grow on trees? Join a father and child as they watch over their backyard cherry tree--and all the colorful living things surrounding it--throughout the seasons. At the end of the summer, they harvest the cherries together and make a delicious pie for the whole family to enjoy.

This stunning book from bestselling author Lois Ehlert features color concepts, backyard natural history, vibrant collage illustrations, and, best of all, a recipe for making cherry pie. Yum!

Pie in the Sky

by Lois Ehlert, Remy Lai

A poignant, laugh-out-loud illustrated middle-grade novel about an eleven-year-old boy's immigration experience, his annoying little brother, and their cake-baking hijinks! Perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Gene Luen Yang!

A Parents Magazine Best Kids Book of the Year!
A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year!
An NPR Best Book of the Year!
A Horn Book Best Book of the Year!
A Kirkus Best Book of the Year!
Recipient of FIVE starred reviews!

"Pie in the Sky is like enjoying a decadent cake . . . heartwarming and rib-tickling." ―Terri Libenson, bestselling author of Invisible Emmie

When Jingwen moves to a new country, he feels like he’s landed on Mars. School is torture, making friends is impossible since he doesn’t speak English, and he's often stuck looking after his (extremely irritating) little brother, Yanghao.

To distract himself from the loneliness, Jingwen daydreams about making all the cakes on the menu of Pie in the Sky, the bakery his father had planned to open before he unexpectedly passed away. The only problem is his mother has laid down one major rule: the brothers are not to use the oven while she's at work. As Jingwen and Yanghao bake elaborate cakes, they'll have to cook up elaborate excuses to keep the cake making a secret from Mama.

In her hilarious, moving middle-grade debut, Remy Lai delivers a scrumptious combination of vibrant graphic art and pitch-perfect writing that will appeal to fans of Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham's Real Friends, Kelly Yang's Front Desk, and Jerry Craft's New Kid.

A Junior Library Guild selection!

"Seamlessly mixes together equal parts of humor, loss, identity, discovery, and love to create a delicious concoction of a story. . . illustrated beautifully with Lai's insightful drawings." ―Veera Hiranandani, Newbery Honor-winning author of The Night Diary

* "The humor [is] akin to that of Jeff Kinney’s popular “Wimpy Kid” series . . . the perfect mixture of funny and emotionally resonant." ―School Library Journal, starred review

* “Perfect for fans of Gene Luen Yang and Victoria Jamieson.” ―Shelf Awareness, starred review

This title has common core connections.

Planting a Rainbow

by Lois Ehlert

In this perennial classic by Caldecott Honor–winning author Lois Ehlert, little ones learn the colors of the rainbow as they watch a plants grow in a beautifully vibrant garden.
Through brilliant, textured cut paper collages, the story follows the progress of a mother and daughter in their backyard as they plant bulbs, seeds, and seedlings and nurture their growth into flowers. Bold, spare text and dazzling illustrations will inspire readers to take a closer look at the natural world and maybe even start a garden of their own.
Celebrate Earth Day, spring, and the basics of gardening while improving color recognition with Lois Ehlert's Planting a Rainbow!

Planting a Rainbow

by Lois Ehlert

In this perennial classic with sturdy board book pages by Caldecott Honor–winning author Lois Ehlert, little ones learn the colors of the rainbow as they watch a plants grow in a beautifully vibrant garden.
Through brilliant, textured cut paper collages, the story follows the progress of a mother and daughter in their backyard as they plant bulbs, seeds, and seedlings and nurture their growth into flowers. Bold, spare text and dazzling illustrations will inspire readers to take a closer look at the natural world and maybe even start a garden of their own.
Celebrate Earth Day, spring, and the basics of gardening while improving color recognition with Lois Ehlert's Planting a Rainbow!

Feathers for Lunch

by Lois Ehlert

An escaped house cat encounters twelve common birds in the backyard but captures only feathers for lunch. Includes bird guide. “Destined to become an uncontested favorite with many children and adults.”--The Horn Book

Feathers for Lunch

by Lois Ehlert

An escaped house cat encounters twelve common birds in the backyard but captures only feathers for lunch. Includes bird guide. “Destined to become an uncontested favorite with many children and adults.”--The Horn Book

Growing Vegetable Soup (Voyager Books)

by Lois Ehlert

A bright and beautiful classic about the simple pleasures of gardening from bestselling and beloved Caldecott Honoree Lois Ehlert.
Calling all budding gardeners! What would you like to grow today? Is it green beans, or peas? Corn or carrots?
There's so much to learn in Lois Ehlert's colorful picture book about growing vegetables. First we collect the necessary tools, and don't forget the seeds. Then the magic happens: planting, weeding, harvesting, washing, chopping, cooking, and best of all—eating! There's even a recipe for vegetable soup!
Ehlert’s simple cut-paper-style illustrations are perfect for even the tiniest growers. A wonderful introduction to gardening from a master storyteller.

Waiting for Wings (Rise and Shine)

by Lois Ehlert

Every spring, butterflies emerge and dazzle the world with their vibrant beauty. But where do butterflies come from? How are they born? What do they eat--and how?
With a simple, rhyming text and glorious color-drenched collage, Lois Ehlert provides clear answers to these and other questions as she follows the life cycle of four common butterflies, from their beginnings as tiny hidden eggs and hungry caterpillars to their transformation into full-grown butterflies. Complete with butterfly and flower facts and identification tips, as well as a guide to planting a butterfly garden, this butterfly book is like no other.

Top Cat

by Lois Ehlert

Top Cat rules the house until an unexpected box arrives with someone new--and cute--inside. At first, Top Cat doesn't want to share his house and favorite things, but soon he learns that two cats can be lots more fun than one.

Moon Rope/Un Lazo a La Luna

by Lois Ehlert

Fox wants to go to the moon. Mole does not--at least not until he hears about the huge worms waiting up there for him to eat. So the two of them set off on their adventure, with a little help from a rope of grass and their friends the birds. The bilingual text and bold art showcase Lois Ehlert at her captivating best.

Growing Vegetable Soup Board Book

by Lois Ehlert

A bright and beautiful classic about the simple pleasures of gardening from bestselling and beloved Caldecott Honoree Lois Ehlert.
Calling all budding gardeners! What would you like to grow today? Is it green beans, or peas? Corn or carrots?
There's so much to learn in Lois Ehlert's colorful picture book about growing vegetables. First we collect the necessary tools, and don't forget the seeds. Then the magic happens: planting, weeding, harvesting, washing, chopping, cooking, and best of all—eating! There's even a recipe for vegetable soup!
Ehlert’s simple cut-paper-style illustrations are perfect for even the tiniest growers. A wonderful introduction to gardening from a master storyteller.

Hands : Growing up to Be an Artist

by Lois Ehlert

A child watches her mother and father as they work with their hands, and she knows she wants to build and sew and garden and paint just like them. When they give her a special place to work, lots of good materials, and plenty of encouragement, she makes the most wonderful things! “It’s a work that looks simple, but encompasses at least as many grand notions as Ehlert’s first book, Growing Vegetable Soup.”--Kirkus Reviews

Eating the Alphabet Lap-Sized Board Book: Fruits & Vegetables from A to Z

by Lois Ehlert

A vibrant and sturdy word book starring fruits and vegetables from around the world from Caldecott Honor–winning author-illustrator Lois Ehlert. Features upper- and lowercase letters for preschoolers just learning language.
Each turn of the page reveals a mouth-watering arrangement of foods: Indian corn, jalapeno, jicama, kumquat, kiwifruit and kohlrabi. Lois Ehlert's lively watercolors paired with bold easy-to-read type make for a highly appealing and accessible book for parents and children to devour.
At the end of the book, Ehlert provides a detailed glossary that includes pronunciation, botanical information, the origin and history of the particular plant and occasional mythological references, with a small watercolor picture to remind the reader of what the plant looks like.
Apple to Zucchini,
come take a look.
Start eating your way
through this alphabet book.

Wag a Tail

by Lois Ehlert

In this exuberant new picture book, Lois Ehlert takes us on a trip to the farmers market with a group of friendly, furry, and (mostly) well-behaved pups. And when the shopping's done, the gang heads to the dog park for some serious playing.

Readers will be wowed by the gorgeous collage illustrations, subtle counting elements, jaunty text, and--best of all--dogs galore!

Includes a spread that features pictures, names, and traits of all the dogs, so children can go back and follow their favorites throughout the story.

Snowballs

by Lois Ehlert

It's time to build a snowman in this fresh and imaginative winter classic by Caldecott Honor–winning author-illustrator Lois Ehlert.

Ehlert creates a wintry world with her signature style by collaging vibrant cut paper and textured found objects, like buttons, fabric, and seeds, to illuminate the most wonderful time of the year. Readers young and old will marvel at the innovation in this dazzling snow-filled tale and just might feel inspired to build their own unique snow creations.

Eating the Alphabet

by Lois Ehlert

While teaching upper- and lowercase letters to preschoolers, Ehlert introduces fruits and vegetables from around the world. A glossary at the end provides interesting facts about each food.

Eating the Alphabet: Fruits & Vegetables from A to Z (Harcourt Brace Big Book)

by Lois Ehlert

A vibrant and sturdy word book starring fruits and vegetables from around the world from Caldecott Honor–winning author-illustrator Lois Ehlert. Features upper- and lowercase letters for preschoolers just learning language.
Each turn of the page reveals a mouth-watering arrangement of foods: Indian corn, jalapeno, jicama, kumquat, kiwifruit and kohlrabi. Lois Ehlert's lively watercolors paired with bold easy-to-read type make for a highly appealing and accessible book for parents and children to devour.
At the end of the book, Ehlert provides a detailed glossary that includes pronunciation, botanical information, the origin and history of the particular plant and occasional mythological references, with a small watercolor picture to remind the reader of what the plant looks like.
Apple to Zucchini,
come take a look.
Start eating your way
through this alphabet book.

Growing Vegetable Soup Hardbound

by Lois Ehlert

For use in schools and libraries only. A father and child grow vegetables and then make them into a soup.

Lois Ehlert’s Growing Garden Gift Set

by Lois Ehlert

"The book provides a healthy dose of completely digestible information on growing and nurturing living things; it’s also a zesty introduction to vivid, abstract art." –Publishers Weekly, of Growing Vegetable SoupColor explodes from Ehlert’s bold, beautiful cut-paper collages like seeds from an over-ripe pod. Three gift-sized editions of her beloved hardcover picture books—Eating the Alphabet (with a glossary of fruits and vegetables), Planting a Rainbow (a concept book about colors and different flowers), and Growing Vegetable Soup (includes a recipe!)—are packaged in a lovely slipcase with a 16" x 22" flower-garden poster. It’s a springtime extravaganza!

Color Farm Board Book

by Lois Ehlert

On this form you can view
Animal ears and whiskers too.
Lots of animals to be found,
Shapes and colors ail around.
Look at beaks and snouts with me.
Make some more for us to see. Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children 1990 (NSTA/CBC)
Parenting Honorable Mention, Reading Magic Award

Color Zoo Board Book: A Caldecott Honor Award Winner

by Lois Ehlert

This acclaimed Caldecott Honor Book is a visually exciting introduction to colors, shapes, and animals for preschoolers.
Share this classic die-cut concept book at home or at circle time. Lois Ehlert, of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom fame, was a picture book genius.
"Boldly designed pages easily carry to the rear of the room during story hours, and brilliant juxtapositions of vibrant primary colors will make children's eyes tingle." (School Library Journal)
"A masterpiece of graphic design." (American Library Association Caldecott Committee)
"Color Zoo is about concepts—shapes, colors, and animals—but also about looking at the world in a new and creative way." (Children's Books and Their Creators)
"Employs ingeniously designed, perfectly die-cut and bound pages which line up exactly to unfold nine distinctly recognizable abstractly formed animal heads. Immensely enjoyable." (CCBC Choices)
Shapes and colors in your zoo, lots of things that you can do. Heads and ears, beaks and snouts, that's what animals are all about. I know animals and you do too; make some new ones for your zoo.

Boo to You!

by Lois Ehlert

The harvest garden is bursting with delicious vegetables, the pumpkins are decorated and lit, and the mice have their costumes ready. Everyone is looking forward to the annual Halloween-night feast. Scary Cat wasn’t invited to the party, but he seems to think he’s coming anyway. Time for a clever mouse-style surprise to outsmart that cat!

The Scraps Book: Notes from a Colorful Life

by Lois Ehlert

The renowned Caldecott Honoree and illustrator of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom provides a moving, intimate, and inspiring inside look at her colorful picture book career.

Lois Ehlert always knew she was an artist. Her parents encouraged her from a young age by teaching her how to sew and saw wood and pound nails, and by giving her colorful art supplies. They even gave her a special spot to work that was all her own.

Today, many years and many books later, Lois takes readers and aspiring artists on a delightful behind-the-scenes tour of her books and her book-making process. Part fascinating retrospective, part moving testament to the value of following your dreams, this richly illustrated picture book is sure to inspire children and adults alike to explore their own creativity.

Lots of Spots

by Lois Ehlert

Lois Ehlert is at her Ogden-Nashian best in this lively collection of poems about animal camouflage and adornment. Birds and beasts from all walks of the animal kingdom are gathered here, beautifully illustrated in Lois's signature bold and bright collage style. Complete with an Author's Note about the how-and-why of animal spots-and-stripes.

Holey Moley

by Lois Ehlert

Get to know Mole, the underground protector of the garden, in this fact-filled natural history adventure with vibrant collage artwork from the Caldecott Honor–winning illustrator of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.

Some might think that Mole is a garden pest, but the truth is, he is a pest-preventer! Mole keeps worms and caterpillars and other crawly bugs from munching up all the growing veggie plants. And so at harvest time, there is a bounty of yummy goodies for the gardeners to enjoy—and Mole is chubby from all the eating he has done and ready to get cozy in his burrow for winter.

Complete with a beautiful glossary identifying all of the different worms, caterpillars, moths, and butterflies included in the illustrations, this colorful gem from Caldecott Honoree Lois Ehlert is sure to delight nature lovers of all ages.

RRRalph (Classic Board Books)

by Lois Ehlert

Lois Ehlert’s classic story about a very special talking dog named Rrralph is now available as a Classic Board Book!

Meet Rrralph, the talking dog! He’s the smartest pup around, and he can tell you all about whether the path is rough, rough on his paws, or whether he wants to come inside. (Yep, yep, he does!)

Featuring Lois Ehlert’s signature bold and playful collage illustrations and funny call-and-response text, RRRalph is sure to get little ones laughing (and talking to their dogs!).

This book is now available as a Classic Board Book, perfect for the youngest of readers.

Rain Fish

by Lois Ehlert

Get to know the “rain fish” that come to life during rainstorms in this gorgeous exploration of nature with vibrant collage artwork from the Caldecott Honor–winning illustrator of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.

When blue sky turns gray and it rains all day, sometimes rain fish come out and play.
They swim among discards and debris. Do you see them, too? Or is it just me?

Through lyrical text and her incomparable mixed-media collage illustrations, Lois Ehlert introduces readers to “rain fish”—the varied, colorful, and unique little collections of materials that float along on streams of rain water during storms. From a scrap of newspaper with a seashell eye and feather smile to a piece of cardboard with an orange peel eye and a leaf for a fin, Ehlert’s rain fish come in all shapes and sizes.

Complete with an author’s note explaining how Ehlert collected the found materials she used to make the book over the course of a year, Rain Fish is a spirited celebration of imagination, creativity, and observing the world in your own way—and it invites you to discover your own rain fish.

Heart to Heart

by Lois Ehlert

From beloved Caldecott Honor artist Lois Ehlert comes a clever and funny valentine celebrating love and friendship.

Readers of all ages will go bananas for this pun-filled and sweet story filled with rebuses and love. Alphabet letters and bold, graphic images of fruits and vegetables come together in this endearing and playful book that is perfect for sharing.

Red & Green

by Lois Ehlert

The classic story of the night before Christmas gets a humorous twist in this engaging holiday picture book filled with die-cuts from the acclaimed and beloved picture book creator, Lois Ehlert.

It was a cold, wintery night, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring…except a small mouse!

Follow this mischievous mouse on his late-night holiday adventure. The snow is falling, the tree is decorated, and the cookies are ready for nibbling. Just be sure to keep an eye out for Santa!

In My World

by Lois Ehlert

Creeping bugs and wiggling worms, splashing rain and glittering stars--nobody notices the details of the world around them more than children--and artists.
Take a walk with bestselling picture book creator Lois Ehlert in this vibrant die-cut celebration of nature's many wonders. Complete with a simple rebus game, this gentle book of discovery will inspire readers of all ages to share their love for nature--and to look at the world in a whole new way.

Leaf Man Board Book

by Lois Ehlert

Ride the wind and drift east with Leaf Man in this autumnal classic by Caldecott Honor-winning author-illustrator Lois Ehlert, now available as a board book, perfect for young readers returning to school in the fall.

Fall has come, the wind is gusting, and Leaf Man is on the move. Is he drifting east, over the marsh and ducks and geese Or is he heading west, above the orchards, prairie meadows, and spotted cows

No one's quite sure, but this much is certain: A Leaf Man's got to go where the wind blows.

Ehlert crafts each illustration out of actual fall leaves on every spread to reveal gorgeous landscapes. This playful and whimsical book celebrates the natural world and the rich imaginative life of children.