Books published by Random House USA Inc

A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK OF THE YEAR • The riveting story of the conflict over same-sex marriage in the United States—the most significant civil rights breakthrough of the new millennium"Full of intimate details, battling personalities, heated court cases, public persuasion.”  —John Williams, The New York TimesOn June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that state bans on gay marriage were unconstitutional, making same-sex unions legal across the United States. But the road to that momentous decision was much longer than many know. In this definitive account, Sasha Issenberg vividly guides us through same-sex marriage’s unexpected path from the unimaginable to the inevitable. It is a story that begins in Hawaii in 1990, when a rivalry among local activists triggered a sequence of events that forced the state to justify excluding gay couples from marriage. In the White House, one president signed the Defense of Marriage Act, which elevated the matter to a national issue, and his successor tried to write it into the Constitution. Over twenty-five years, the debate played out across the country, from the first legal same-sex weddings in Massachusetts to the epic face-off over California’s Proposition 8 and, finally, to the landmark Supreme Court decisions of United States v. Windsor and Obergefell v. Hodges. From churches to hedge funds, no corner of American life went untouched.This richly detailed narrative follows the coast-to-coast conflict through courtrooms and war rooms, bedrooms and boardrooms, to shed light on every aspect of a political and legal controversy that divided Americans like no other. Following a cast of characters that includes those who sought their own right to wed, those who fought to protect the traditional definition of marriage, and those who changed their minds about it, The Engagement is certain to become a seminal book on the modern culture wars.

This enchanting picture book about a map-making boy who is stumped when a girl asks him for a map of the "perfect place" helps readers appreciate the charms of their own neighborhood--and even shows them how to make a map of it! The Mapmaker loves maps. He loves to collect them, to study them, and most of all, he loves to make them. But when a girl asks for a map of a perfect place, the Mapmaker is perplexed. She wants a map to a toes-in-the-sand-warm, X-marks-the-spot-place filled with treasures, where it smells like her birthday and she can zip around like a dragonfly. Surely, a place that is all of these things can't exist...can it? Well, after a fun-filled day of exploring the neighborhood, the Mapmaker will discover that the perfect place--home--has been right in front of him all along. Here is a picture book, as creative as it is charming, that celebrates home, and is a gentle reminder to look around and appreciate what surrounds you.

An ode to the girl with scrapes on her knees and flowers in her hair, and every girl in between, this exquisite treasury will appeal to readers of Dear Girl and I Am Enough and have kids poring over it to find a poem that's just for them.I am a canvasBeing painted onBy the words of my familyFriendsAnd communityFrom Vanessa Brantley-Newton, the author of Grandma's Purse, comes a collection of poetry filled with engaging mini-stories about girls of all kinds: girls who feel happy, sad, scared, powerful; girls who love their bodies and girls who don't; country girls, city girls; girls who love their mother and girls who wish they had a father. With bright portraits in Vanessa's signature style of vibrant colors and unique patterns and fabrics, this book invites readers to find themselves and each other within its pages."A dynamic, uplifting, and welcoming world of girls."--Kirkus "Thoughtful, inclusive, and celebratory"--Publishers Weekly"Bursting with positivity, this would be a great book to use in primary school classrooms when discussing issues of friendship, diversity, and self-esteem."--Booklist

From one of America's most beloved poets, a piercing new collection reflecting on the characters and encounters that haunt us through this life and into the nextLeading us into a city stirring with gravediggers and beggars, lovers and dogs, Charles Simic returns with a brilliant collection full of his singular wit, dark humor, and tenderheartedness. In poems that are often as spare as they are monumental, he captures the fleeting moments of modern life-peering inside pawnshop windows, brushing shoulders with strangers on the street, and walking familiar cemetery rows-to uncover all the beauty and worry hiding in plain sight. As the poet reflects on a lifetime's worth of pleasure and loss, he recalls instances when he "made excuses and hurried away," and considers the way memory always trails just behind. No Land in Sight is a testament to all we leave in our wake and, simultaneously, all we hang on to: the passing minutes, the evening's stillness, and the many lives we inhabit in dim thresholds and bright mornings alike.

This simple, young, and satisfying story follows a Chinese American family as they celebrate the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. Each member of the family lends a hand as they prepare a moonlit picnic with mooncakes, pomelos, cups of tea, and colorful lanterns. And everyone sends thanks and a secret wish up to the moon.Grace Lin’s luminous and gloriously patterned artwork is perfect for this holiday tale. Her story is simple—tailor-made for reading aloud to young children. And she includes an informative author’s note with further details on the customs and traditions of the Moon Festival for parents and teachers. The Moon Festival is one of the most important holidays of the year along with the Lunar New Year, so this book makes an excellent companion to Grace Lin’s Bringing In the New Year, which features the same family.

Science is a blast, when you work together with Grandma! Follow the volcano fun in this silly Step 2 early reader story from the New York Times bestselling creators of How to Babysit a Grandpa.Once you've learned how to make a volacano at home, it's time to teach Grandma what to do! But what happens when you don't remember the right ingredients? Work together with Grandma to create the best at-home volacno ever, with a few tips and tricks from the experts -- kids! This Step into Reading story features a sweet Grandma and grandchild relationship and all the silly, sticky moments that come with creating an at-home experiment. Perfect for children who are ready to read on their own! Step 2 readers use basic vocabulary and short sentences to tell simple stories. They are perfect for children who recognize familiar words and can sound out new words with help.

When you're sleeping over at Grandpa's house, will the tooth fairy know where to find you? From the New York Times bestselling creators of How to Babysit a Grandpa comes a sweet Step 2 early reader story full of tooth fairy fun!Losing a tooth is exciting! It's time for the tooth fairy to come at night and leave you a special prize for your tooth. But what happens when you're staying over at Grandpa's house? How will the tooth fairy know where you are? Learn how to find the tooth fairy with a few tips and tricks from the experts -- kids! This Step into Reading story features a sweet Grandpa and grandchild relationship and all the wonderful moments that come with losing a tooth. Perfect for children who are ready to read on their own! Step 2 readers use basic vocabulary and short sentences to tell simple stories. They are perfect for children who recognize familiar words and can sound out new words with help.

"On a summer night in 1961, Betty and Barney Hill were driving home through New Hampshire when a bright object appeared in the sky. It didn't resemble a satellite or airplane or star, but it seemed to be following their car along the freeway. When the couple finally pulled over to try to get a better look, the object vanished before their eyes. With nothing else to do, Betty and Barney returned to their car and kept driving into the night. Arriving home the next morning, there were more ominous signs: scuff marks on Barney's shoes; inexplicable spots on the trunk of their car. The trip left them rattled, but what came next was even more arresting: the Hills realized they couldn't remember anything for almost two hours of their drive. Time itself had disappeared, so the couple began looking for help, hoping to uncover what happened that mysterious night. Captivating and unputdownable, The Interrupted Journey is the complete story of those missing hours and the Hills' nearly identical accounts-as revealed to doctors under psychotherapy and hypnosis-which stands as one of the most extraordinary UFO tales of our time. Thrilling, otherworldly, and wildly entertaining, The Interrupted Journey is an adventure that enraptured America and stands as the quintessential extraterrestrial encounter"--

Your all-in-one guide to the nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)!Considering attending an HBCU? Then this is the college guide for you! The Princeton Review has partnered up with Dr. Braque Talley (three-time HBCU graduate and current Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management and Student Success at University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff) to create a guide with everything you need to know about HBCUs. Find your perfect school with: • Complete profiles of all 101 HBCUs in the country (96 undergraduate and 5 graduate HBCUs)-where they are, what they cost, who they enroll, and more • Details of every aspect of academic, campus, and student life, including professors, dorms, cafeteria food, and social life • Highlights of the programs, degrees, and offerings available • Notable accomplishments of these storied institutions • Descriptions of each campus's cultural offerings • Information on career opportunities and renowned alumni

"Children and grown-ups alike will enjoy singing along to the tune of 'Here We Go 'Round the Mulberry Bush' as the characters put on costumes, trick-or-treat, share candy with family, and much more!"--

The newest picture book in the New York Times bestselling Buddy series is about being yourself through-and-through while going back to school and trying to make new buddies!After Buddy’s best friend moves away, he doesn’t know what to do: Who will he high five at school? Who will he play robo chargers with at lunch? Who will be his field trip partner? Buddy feels he has nothing in common with anyone.... Until a new student shows up who might just be a buddy in the making! And best of all: Buddy can be completely himself with her. This third book in New York Times bestselling author Christina Geist’s heartwarming and humorous series explores evergreen social-emotional themes like authenticity and friendship-building--right in time for back-to-school season.

"A leading advocate for social justice excavates the history of forced migration in the twelve American towns she's called home, revealing how White supremacy has fundamentally shaped the nation"--

A boy buys the world's longest licorice rope from a girl and follows it until he finds a surprise at the end.

Fans of John Feinstein and Matt de la Peña will love Toby Wheeler''s dreams of being a basketball star that Phil Jackson says is "a truly great basketball story."And don''t miss Thatcher Heldring''s newest novel, The Football Girl--about a girl who follows her passion for the game and tries out for the football team!When Toby Wheeler has a chance to join the junior high basketball team, he’s eager to prove he can keep up with his best friend, JJ. But practice doesn’t go quite as Toby has planned, and when the coach announces the lineup, Toby’s hopes of playing ball with JJ are history: he’s an eighth-grade benchwarmer!"A truly great basketball story. Every hoops fan will love this book.”—Phil Jackson, former head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers and member of the NBA Hall of Fame"This novel will appeal to readers who are looking for something one step beyond Matt Christopher''s books."—SLJ"This engaging sports story gains depth from subplots involving Toby''s tricky relationships with his former best friend and with the coach''s daughter."–The Horn Book"Looking for something to do during halftime of the March Madness basketball games? Read this book.”-The Washington Post"With so much written about the friction between girl friends, it''s good to have a book that acknowledges that left-out feeling happens to boys, too."–Booklist

For decades, Ruth Chew’s classic chapter books full of everyday magic have enchanted early readers. Now that they are in print again, a new generation can fall under her spell and fall in love with reading.   Why did a witch appear at Nick’s window?   Could it have something to do with a mysterious tree in Prospect Park? Ever since Nick and Marjorie discovered it, strange things have been happening. First, they find an odd spoon with no owner. Then a spooky bird follows them home—and talks to them! It must be the witch’s magic!   But where has she vanished to? And what is she looking for?