Spring 2025 Preview
Spring 2025 Preview
Welcome to our Spring 2025 Preview!
Dive into reading some of the books we’re most excited about for spring! Tour Sandy Shorts, an underwater town full of weirdly wonderful and friendly sea creatures in Axolotls!, and learn about cultural and religious holidays and celebrations in the new companion series to the beloved Yasmin stories in Holidays and Celebrations with Yasmin. Among our new picture books include two exploring and celebrating beauty—through honoring the Indigenous nations, cultures, and ancestral lands in I Am on Indigenous Land, and showcasing the stunning variation of beauty norms around the world in The Glam World Tour. Take a sneak peek at highlights of Capstone’s Spring 2025 titles before they hit the shelves.
Axolotls!
Starring adorable axolotls, this new early chapter book series is a-lotl silly fun!
Hugs-a-Lotl Can’t Show the Love
By C.W. Estes, illustrated by Irene Saluzzi
Ages 5-8
Welcome to Sandy Shorts, an underwater town full of weirdly wonderful and friendly animals. But no critter is more friendly than the axolotl! Each stand-alone story in the new Axolotls! series follows the hijinks of a plucky young amphibian as they tackle itty-bitty challenges, try new activities, and more—all with a smile on their face! In this story, Hugs-a-Lotl loves nothing more than giving a warm embrace to friends. But after jumping rope too fast at school, the axolotl’s little arms pop right off! Losing the limbs isn’t a problem. They’ll grow back. Hugs is only worried about one question: Who will hug for him?
Holidays and Celebrations with Yasmin
New Yasmin series inspires young readers to learn about cultures and traditions
100th Day of School with Yasmin
By Saadia Faruqi, illustrated by Debby Rahmalia
Ages 5-7
Yasmin is a spirited second grader who likes to know things about her world—but first, she has to learn them! In this companion series to the beloved Yasmin stories, readers will join Yasmin in making discoveries about various cultural and religious holidays and celebrations. Shy but curious, Yasmin finds the courage to ask questions, make new friends, try new foods, and explore traditions. Along with her classmates and her multigenerational Pakistani American family, Yasmin will inspire readers to learn new things too. In this story, it’s almost the 100th Day of School and Yasmin and her friends are celebrating 100 days of learning! But what will Yasmin wear for the special day?
Picture Books
I Am On Indigenous Land
By Katrina M. Phillips
Illustrated by Sam Zimmerman
The Glam World Tour
By Rachel Werner
Illustrated by Octavia Ink
Do Super Heroes Make Mistakes?
By Michael Dahl
Illustrated by Oman Lozano
TM & © DC. (s24)
Write Here, Write Now
By Rebecca Gardyn Levinton
Illustrated by Andrea Boatta
Up, Up High: The Secret Poetry of
Earth's Atmosphere
By Lydia Lukidis
Illustrated by Katie Rewse
Sumaya Solves It
Charming stories showcase a Black girl protagonist with a keen interest in STEM
Sumaya Solves the Woodpecker Problem
By Aisha Ahmed, illustrated by Hamnah Rizwan
For ages 5-7
Eight-year-old Sumaya is curious about the natural world around her. An immigrant from Somalia, Sumaya is eager to learn how her new home compares to her home country. Her adventures often lead her to use her STEM skills to solve a problem, while having plenty of fun along the way. In this story, Sumaya discovers a busy woodpecker in her backyard and worries the bird could be hurting its head and neck. She sets out to create some inventions to help protect the bird. How will Sumaya solve the woodpecker problem?
Golda & Ezra
Celebrates growth mindset and community-building through stories of stepsiblings in a multi-racial family
Golda and Ezra's Dinner Dilemma
By Hollie Michaels, illustrated by Claudio Cerri
Ages 5-8
There's usually something up in Golda and Ezra's neighborhood—a tricky problem to solve or someone who needs a little encouragement. And Golda and Ezra are always up to the task! With an eagerness to pitch in and some clever ideas, they always save the day for their neighbors, their neighborhood, and even each other. In this story, Golda and Ezra’s neighbor Ms. Ortega has to go out of town unexpectedly. But she was supposed to cook a big meal for the senior center using the harvest from her garden—like she does every Sunday. That's a problem Golda is certain they can solve! Can Golda and Ezra figure out how to make sure the seniors at the senior center get their special dinner anyway?
Early Readers & Chapter Books
The Pets Are Missing
By Natasha Deen
Illustrated by Lays Bittencourt
This Journal Belongs to Mason E. Pig
By Jose Cruz
Illustrated by Danesh Mohiuddin
The Music Blues
By Keith Wain
Illustrated by Michela Di Cecio
The Super-Sneaky Substitute!
By Michael Anthony Steele
Illustrated by M. Johnson
Stranded in the Mojave Desert
By Ailynn Collins
Illustrated by Syd Fini
My Animal Migration Story
Fun, engaging introductions to migratory animals from the point of view of the animal
My Caribou Migration Journey
By Nancy Loewen, illustrated by Paula Zorite
Ages 5-7
These engaging read alouds are perfect introductions to the concept of animal migration. Help young readers discover some of nature's most incredible journeys! Adorable, first-person narratives relay the migratory habits of different animals. The illustrated nonfiction picture books combine science and humor to deepen students’ understanding of why some animals migrate and how they do it. In this title readers come along on a caribou’s lifelong journey. Follow a young calf and its herd from the coasts of the Arctic Circle to the mountains of the Yukon and back. Learn how these hardy animals survive in the barren landscape and cold temperatures of the world’s northernmost habitat.
Growing Up in the Shadow of Alcatraz
Nonfiction narrative shares the unknown story of the children who lived on Alcatraz Island
Growing Up in the Shadow of Alcatraz
By Emma Bland Smith
For ages 8-11
Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay is notorious for its prison, which held some of the world's most dangerous criminals. But it was also home to more than 100 children and their parents who worked at the prison. Engaging narrative, historical photos, primary sources, and more will give readers an inside look at daily life on Alcatraz and the children who called it home.
Nonfiction Selections
Grown Your Own Basil
By Lisa J. Amstutz
Triceratops
By Laura K. Murray
Jewish Festivals and Traditions
By Emily Raij
Secret Agents of Honor:
Bold Spies of World War II
By Matthew K. Manning
Illustrated by Leo Trinidad
Boiling Point:
Understanding Earth's Rising Temperatures
By Golriz Golkar
Home Run: The Science Behind
Baseball's Amazing Plays
By Eric Braun
Baseball's Origin Story
By Matt Chandler