Cool Buds: To the Rescue!

Caldecott Honor artist Barbara Lehman's latest addition to Harper's I Can Read Comics line familiarizes kids with the world of graphic novel storytelling and teaches visual literacy to emerging readers. Celebrating teamwork and friendship, To the Rescue! is a Level Three book, meaning it's a complex story for an independent reader.

Here is a story about three best friends living in the arctic: Blue, Puff, and Sealy. When Puff rescues a stranded sailor, Tip, everyone wants Tip to be able to stay and be one of the Cool Buds—but where does Tip fit in? The Buds already all have their own little homes, perfectly suited to each of them. Tip has a genius idea and soon they have formed their very own little town: “population 4”!  

Barbara Lehman has illustrated many books for children, including The Red Book, which was awarded the Caldecott Honor in 2005. Born in Chicago, Barbara attended Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, where she earned a BFA in communication design. A full-time illustrator, Barbara says, “Books and art have always held the strongest attraction for me. I have always felt drawn to ‘commercial art’ because of its ability to reach many people. I like the idea of being part of the media in a meaningful and thoughtful way, especially with children as the audience.” She lives in the Hudson Valley in upstate New York. Visit her website at barbaralehmanbooks.com.