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Sky Ropes

Sondra Soderborg

For fans of The War That Saved My Life and Wolf Hollow, this fast-paced and unforgettable story follows one girl's journey to overcome her trauma, discover what friendship really means, and learn that being brave is not always about being fearless.

 

Breanna is certain of a few things: She is strong, tough, and the greatest prankster in her entire district. She doesn't need to meet new people, not when she already has amazing friends like Pascale and Niraj.
And she WILL NOT be ascending Sky Ropes--the highest ropes course in the state--at her school's required teambuilding camp. No, she's not afraid of heights!

 

Breanna is determined to get through the week of camp as quickly as possible, while planning the most epic prank and avoiding even thinking of the Sky Ropes. And as the week progresses, Breanna can't help loving her time in nature, fostering a rivalry with the other competitive softball pitcher, and bonding with the other kids. But as much as she likes to pretend that she isn't afraid of anything, Breanna knows that, come Friday, she will have to face the Sky Ropes--and with it, the fear deeply tied to memories of her father's abuse that she has been fighting to push away.

Emotionally rich and tumultuously paced, Sondra Soderborg's debut novel is a story about opening yourself up to new possibilities, understanding what it means to be a true friend, encountering the most difficult truths about your own self, and finding self-acceptance within darkness.

COMPELLING PORTRAIT OF ONE GIRL'S RESILIENCE AND STRENGTH: With poignant storytelling and a genuine voice, Sondra Soderborg conveys a main character with compelling struggles. Readers will relate to Breanna's internal battles while cheering for her during tense moments and reflecting on her moments of clarity through the end.

LOVEABLE CHARACTERS: Readers will love the diverse array of characters each with their own struggles. Personalities clash and feelings overlap in a way that is true to the pre-teen experience. It's a wonderfully nuanced portrayal of tweens that real kids will recognize right away, and that will trigger long-forgotten memories for anyone lucky enough to have survived camp.

TIMELESS STORY: With a classic summer camp setting and fun characters, this book offers an engaging narrative kids will enjoy and evokes a sense of nostalgia parents and teachers will love recommending.

POWERFUL AND RELEVANT: The abuse the main character undergoes at home is explored here subtly and authentically, steeped in the first-hand witnessing the author has done in her time as a child advocate and prison teacher.

AUTHENTIC TO THE CORE: In the tradition of Drama or Real Friends, this book makes you want to keep turning page after page. Readers of all ages will respond to the authenticity running under the fast-paced plot, making this a novel that will be meaningful for a lot of kids.

Perfect for:

  • Readers who love strong characters
  • Fans of action and adventure stories, books about friendship, and books set at camp
  • Fans of literary books for kids
  • Parents and caregivers seeking resources to help kids talk about anxiety, abuse, and fear
  • Librarians and educators looking for subtle issue books
  • Fans of Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, Rebecca Stead, and Lauren Wolk
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Run for Your Life

Jane Mitchell

A moving and sensitive children's book exploring a child's experience living in refugee accommodation in Ireland.

Azari's life has been split in two and the halves are as different as lemons and mangoes. Running links the two parts of her life: sometimes when she runs it is because she wants to, because she feels strong and free. But sometimes it is because she has no other choice.

When Azari and her mother flee for their lives to Ireland they are put in a centre for asylum seekers. They must
share a room with a stranger, eat food they don't know the name of and answer intrusive questions from authorities. Azari's life has secrets. Will she ever be able to stop running?

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Infected: an AFK Book (Piggy Original Novel)

Terrance Crawford

Mystery, mayhem -- try to survive the terrifying world of PIGGY in this original novel based on the fan-favorite videogame!

 

There is a mystery to be solved, keys to be found, and an evil pig to escape!

When an infection threatens to turn everyone into mindless, dangerous monsters, it is up to a few desparate survivors to get survive long enough to find a cure. But can they hold on long enough to get to the bottom of this mysterious illness, or will PIGGY and her new minons find them first?

Welcome to the bone chilling, pulse-pounding world of PIGGY, the survival-horror game that will keep you up at night. Explore a frightening maze full of secrets to unearth and monsters that are out for blood! Can anyone make it out alive?

 

 

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Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza

Kitty Felde

A lively mystery with a touch of spookiness, an intriguing setting, an appealing family dynamic, and an enterprising Latina heroine. - Kirkus Reviews

Beware the Demon Cat of Capitol Hill!

Legends say if you see the Demon Cat of Capitol Hill, you're cursed with bad luck. Ten-year-old Fina Mendoza just saw it. And the last thing her family needs right now is a jinx!

Fina and her older sister Gabby just moved to Washington, D.C. after the death of their mom to live with Papa, a congressman from California. But then she comes face-to-whiskers with a mysterious cat in the Capitol Crypt. Is it the Demon Cat?

Disasters follow! Jars of spaghetti sauce explode. Fina's beloved grandmother Abuelita breaks her leg. And Fina's only friend in Washington, a big orange dog named Senator Something, becomes the next target.

The only way for Fina to save her family from future "cat"astrophe is to solve the mystery of the Demon Cat of Capitol Hill.

This Readers' Favorite Award-winning novel is more than a mystery story!

Fina takes us backstage at the U.S. Capitol to see firsthand how government works with an emphasis on Congress and the Legislative Branch. The Fina Mendoza Mysteries provide an introduction to civics for elementary age children.

The West Wing meets Nancy Drew...For fans of Nancy Drew Mysteries, Boxcar Children, Encyclopedia Brown, and Hardy Boys!

THE FINA MENDOZA MYSTERIES SERIES:

Book 1 - Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza

Book 2 - State of the Union

Book 3 - Snake in the Grass (coming soon)

ALSO AVAILABLE IN SPANISH:

Book 1 - Bienvenida a Washington Fina Mendoza

Book 2 - Estado de la Unión

Book 3 - Serpiente en la Hierba (muy pronto)

ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES:

- Perfect for classroom or homeschooling settings

- Free podcast based on the books and current events: The Fina Mendoza Mysteries

- 32-page Teacher's Guide including language arts, math, and social studies lessons

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Curse of the Swamp Monster

Megan Miller

The second book in the all-new Glitch Force series for Minecrafters!

The Glitch Force: Three kids interested in Minecraft. There’s Duncan, a genius redstoner, Miranda, a sharpshooter with encyclopedic knowledge of Minecraft, and Zed, an expert builder with a prankster heart. Oh, and Duncan happens to a genius at repurposing his scientist mother's quantum electronic gizmos. When he happens to find a quantum glitch in the Minecraft programming code, it creates an opening for the three kids to visit Minecraft worlds FOR REAL. The problem is, the glitch technology isn't quite stable yet, and dangerous anomalies in their new world threaten their ability to return home. They will have to repair each world before they have any chance of returning to reality.
 
There’s rumor of a major anomaly in a swamp in Sector Z-D71508, and the Glitch Force must investigate. Everything looks normal, until nighttime, when a bubbling green ooze begins to seep from the swamp, infecting everything it touches. But Miranda, Zed, and Duncan’s efforts to contain it only make the problem worse—The green slime solidifies and mutates into an enormous hostile mob that engulfs everything in its path. But is this green swamp monster the real enemy? A frog tornado, a pack of hissing feral cats, and a hidden trove of deadly potions suggest that the anomaly is more complicated than they imagined.

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Going Viral Part 2: Minecraft Graphic Novel (Independent and Unofficial)

David Zoelner

If you like swords, sorcery, world-spanning hi-tech fantasy, and Minecraft madness by the bucketload, this is the story for you!

The Virus is growing! It's infected some of the world's biggest Minecraft servers, and it's recruited a team of monsters to do its bidding. Worst of all, our hero Steve has been taken over by his dark side and become the monstrous Herobrine.

Can his friends help return him to the light... or will the online world of Minecraft be doomed forever?

This is the epic conclusion to the story from the master animators at Black Plasma is based on the smash hit video series, which has garnered over 18 million views online.

The conclusion to the mindbending graphic novel adventure!

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Call Me Adnan

Reem Faruqi

"An emotional tale of a family's grief and healing, full of courage and hope" --Kirkus

"Faruqi renders this tender story of loss with a deft hand, employing vivid details surrounding Adnan's Pakistani Muslim identity . . . and nuanced characterizations to present a tear-jerking ode to family." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"A realistic, moving exploration of family, loss, and healing." --Booklist

"Faruqi takes on the difficult subject of family loss with beauty and grace in her gentle lyrical style. She allows Adnan, a young table-tennis enthusiast, to go through grief while holding not just sadness, but love and joy, in an honest and nuanced story that is ultimately filled with hope." --Veera Hiranandani, Newbery Honor author of The Night Diary

For fans of Planet Omar and The Ethan I Was Before, award-winning Pakistani author Reem Faruqi of Unsettled delivers a middle grade novel in verse about table tennis player Adnan, who dreams of the championship and a fun-filled family trip to Florida. But when tragedy strikes, he and his family must cope with a terrible loss and come together as one again. This poignant story about a Muslim family learning to heal is hope-filled and moving.

Adnan Zakir loves table tennis. He's also colorblind, left-handed, and has a fondness for the aviation alphabet. He's super close with his sister, Aaliyah, who is a great dancer and memorizer of Quran, and he loves his little toddler brother Rizwan, who only wants to grow up and play table tennis like his big brother.

All Adnan dreams of is making it to the Ultimate Table Tennis Championship in Florida, and if he qualifies for the tournament, he knows he will get to spend the Eid holiday with his cousins! But when the family travels there, unthinkable tragedy strikes, and Adnan swears he'll never play table tennis ever again. Slowly, he and his family must learn to make peace and move forward, as a family.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection pick!

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Clouds Over California

Karyn Parsons

From the author of the highly acclaimed How High the Moon comes a moving and heartfelt novel about how a girl's family and friendships are turned upside down--just as the world is changing in 1970s Los Angeles.



Stevie's life is fluctuating rapidly. She's starting over in a brand new middle school. Quiet and observant, it's hard for her to make friends. Plus, her mind is too occupied. The tension in her home is building as her parents' arguments are becoming more frequent. To top it all off, Stevie's older cousin Naomi is coming to live with the family in an attempt to keep her from a "bad" crowd--The Black Panthers.



Stevie agrees to keep Naomi's secrets. She's the cool big cousin, after all, and Stevie can't help but notice the happy, positive effect the Black Panthers are having on Naomi's confidence and identity--just like how Mom is making decisions for herself, even when Dad disapproves.



Stevie feels herself beginning to change as well. But one thing remains the same: she loves both of her parents, and she loves them together. Can her family stay in one piece despite the world shifting around them?

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Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup

Zira Nauryzbai

A warrior's power lies not in his weapons but in his heart.

Batu is just an ordinary kid in present-day Almaty, worried about bullies, school, and his mom's new baby...until the day he meets Aspara, the Golden Warrior. Aspara steps straight out of Batu's notebook cover--and out of Kazakhstan's past. Aspara has been waiting hundreds of years to be summoned to the human world and to finally get his chance to search for the Golden Cup, a magical talisman sent down from the heavens. When the Golden Cup was lost, Aspara watched as many of his friends and family were killed or disappeared.

Craving adventure and a sense of purpose, Batu sets out with Aspara and his own friends to find the Golden Cup, plunging them into an adventure through a world where myths come alive. But there are others looking for the Cup, and they'll do anything to make sure the kids fail. Will Batu and his friends make it out alive (and make it home in time for dinner)?

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Quest for the Neptius

A. H. Benjamin

Meet Marissa, a caring, curious, and brave eleven-year-old girl whose summer stroll on a quiet beach becomes an epic adventure that pulls her into a mysterious undersea world. Lured by the simple sounds of a unique seashell, Marissa finds herself pulled into a battle between an ancient marine species and advanced life forms not of this planet. Her survival and only path home is that of legends as she befriends magical creatures and battles an evil nymph while in quest of a simple flower. The petals of the Neptius flower hold the answers and are the salvation for Marissa and an entire undersea universe.

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Sparrow Being Sparrow

Gail Donovan

An endearingly energetic fourth grader takes on the big job of finding new homes for her neighbor’s seven cats in this heartwarming illustrated middle grade novel for fans of Patricia MacLachlan and Sharon Creech.

Sparrow Robinson loves to dance and leap around. She loves cats. She has a million questions about the world, and she’s not afraid to ask them. But she’s just moved to a new town and a new school, and her busy parents have no time for her to get “carried away.” Suddenly, she feels totally out of place.

Sparrow’s favorite thing in all this newness is her neighbor, Mrs. LaRose, who has seven cats and always has cookies and lemonade to share. But after Mrs. LaRose breaks her hip, she decides to move into assisted living—where the cats aren’t allowed! Sparrow has to help.

Determined to find new homes for the cats, Sparrow forgets about her own troubles—but her quest just might be the key to Sparrow finding a home for herself in this town, too.

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Why Did the Monster Cross the Road?

R. L. Stine

From beloved, bestselling children's book icons, R.L. Stine and Marc Brown, comes a storybook filled with hilariously spooky jokes and fun-loving monsters that will have everyone giggling!

 

Why did the monster cross the road?

To BITE someone on the other side!

Turn scary to silly with this laugh-out-loud joke book. Hunny and Funny are monster best friends. When Hunny is feeling sad, Funny knows exactly how to cheer up his friend... with laughter!

Renowned bestselling children's book talents R.L. Stine, creator of the Goosebumps series, and Marc Brown, creator of the Arthur Adventure series, join forces once again in this sweet, fun-filled story that not only teaches readers hilarious jokes to share but also reminds children that laughter is the best medicine when you're feeling down. With Stine's humorous text and Brown's bold artwork, this monster-themed picture book is sure to get the monsters and furry creatures giggling all night!

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The Tale of the Gravemother (Are You Afraid of the Dark #1)

Rin Chupeco

From master horror writer Rin Chupeco comes the nightmarish first novel in an all-new middle-grade horror series inspired by Nickelodeon's hit TV classic, Are You Afraid of the Dark?

Everyone in Southridge knows about the legend of the Gravemother. They know how to leave offerings by the abandoned house she was supposedly murdered in to pacify her. They know better than to trespass on her property. But not everyone believes in the tale--especially not fourteen-year-old Rhett, who lives around the corner from the old mansion. Then it's announced that the Gravemother's place is one of several to be demolished to give way for new townhouses. When disaster strikes the construction site and strange sightings of a woman in white begin haunting the neighbors, Rhett must figure out how to put the ghost permanently to rest before it's too late. Perfect for fans of the Five Nights at Freddy's series, these terror-inducing tales--told by members of an all-new Midnight Society--are sure to keep readers up at night.

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The Crayons Go Back to School

Drew Daywalt

The hilarious crayons from the #1 New York Times bestselling The Day The Crayons Quit are ready to go back to school!

The crayons are getting ready to go back to school, and each crayon has a subject they're looking forward to the most. They're also ready to meet new friends. . . and let loose during their very favorite time of day: art class. A humorous, small hardcover back-to-school story from everyone's favorite school supplies.

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The Cobra's Song

Supriya Kelkar

From the author of American as Paneer Pie comes a magical middle grade adventure steeped in Indian folklore following a girl who learns how to find her voice and face her fears, perfect for fans of Aru Shah and Amina’s Song.

Ten-year-old Geetanjali doesn’t mind singing, but she knows she’ll never be as good as her mother, Aai, or grandmother, Aaji, famous classical singers from India whose celebrity has followed the family all the way to their small town of Deadwood, Michigan, where Geetanjali lives with her aai, and father, Baba.

After freezing on stage during a concert performance, Geetanjali adds “fear of singing” to her list of fears, a list that seems to be multiplying daily. Aai tries to stress the importance of using one’s voice and continuing to sing; Geetanjali hopes that when her Aaji, comes to visit this summer, she’ll be able to help her.

But when they pick Aaji up at the airport, she’s not alone. Lata, an auntie Geetanjali has never met before is with Aaji and their neighbor, Heena Auntie, who is acting strange and mean, and not like the warm auntie she normally is. Lata Auntie has heard all about Geetanjali’s family, growing up in India. She knows Aai and Aaji are the only ones who can sing raag Naagshakti. Aai plays it off, but Geetanjali thinks back to the raag in the binder that started with an N that had been torn out. She has never heard of Raag Naagshakti, which sounds like it is about the power of cobras.

Geetanjali is determined not to let her imagination get the best of her and add aunties to her list of fears, but she can’t help but wonder about the connection between the missing raag, Heena Auntie’s cold behavior, and their interesting summer visitor.

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Epic Ellisons: Cosmos Camp

Lamar Giles

From Edgar Award nominee and WNDB cofounder Lamar Giles, this middle grade adventure stars the Epic Ellison twins as they race to solve the mystery of Cosmos Camp for young geniuses in a stand-alone companion to the Legendary Alston Boys series.

School's out, and Wiki and Leen Ellison are facing a new challenge... their first summer apart! Genius inventor Leen has been accepted to Petey Thunkle's world-famous summer training program for STEM prodigies with their eyes on the stars. Meanwhile, Wiki is looking forward to her first summer on her own, running the family corn stand and outclassing Otto and Sheed Alston.

But the night before Leen's departure, the twins find out that Wiki has also been accepted into the same camp (even though she didn't apply). And they are... not thrilled. This summer was never supposed to be a Twin Thing! The situation soon goes from bad to worse--because the Ellisons haven't been invited just to participate in the program.

They're there to solve a mystery.

Someone (or something) has been tampering with the company's upcoming big-deal rocket launch. Now, the sisters are undercover, dealing with hyper-competitive campers by day and trying to stop the mysterious saboteur by night.

All is not as it seems at PeteyTech. There are bigger, badder forces at play than the girls could've imagined. And if Wiki and Leen don't get their act together fast, their first epic adventure away from Logan County could end up an epic fail... for the entire world.

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My Teammate is a Hot Head

Sam Hay

Disney Villains are known for causing trouble. But what about before they were all grown up? When young Hades gets to this most magical summer camp, sparks fly!

Bloom and Benji get a new teammate for the Charmed Ropes Course relay: Hades, a kid who burns up whenever something doesn't go his way. He really wants to beat his big brother Zeus's record, even if he has to smoke out the competition. Will Bloom and Benji manage to stop him before the whole camp goes up in flames?

Catch all the Camp Lil' Vills chapter books!

 

  • My Bunkmate Hates Puppies
  • My Teammate is a Hot Head
  • There's a Sea Witch in my Swim Class

 

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Ruby Lost and Found

Christina Li

Perfect for fans of Kelly Yang and Rebecca Stead, this touching middle grade novel maps one girl's quest to remember her grandfather through his scavenger hunts; reconnect with her family; and fight for her community in her rapidly changing hometown.

Thanks to her Ye-Ye's epic scavenger hunts, thirteen-year-old Ruby Chu knows San Francisco like the back of her hand. But after his death, she feels lost, and it seems like everyone--from her best friends to her older sister--is abandoning her.

After Ruby gets in major trouble at school, her parents decide she has to spend the summer at a local senior center, with her grandmother, Nai-Nai, and Nai-Nai's friends for company. When a new boy from Ruby's grade, Liam Yeung, starts showing up too, Ruby's humiliation is complete.

But Nai-Nai, her friends, and Liam all surprise Ruby. She finds herself working with Liam, who might not be as annoying as he seems, to help save a historic Chinatown bakery that's being priced out of the neighborhood. And alongside Nai-Nai, who is keeping a secret that threatens to change everything, Ruby retraces Ye-Ye's scavenger hunt maps in an attempt to find a way out of her grief--and maybe even find herself.

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Loki: A Bad God's Guide to Taking the Blame

Louie Stowell

When Thor’s hammer goes missing, trickster god Loki, still trapped as a cranky eleven-year-old boy, is determined to prove he’s innocent (for once!). The hilarious and doodle-packed series continues in this second volume.

Norse god Loki records the highs and lows of living on Earth as an eleven-year-old in grumbles, snarks, and doodles in his enchanted diary. He might not have shown any moral improvement (yet), but Odin has given Loki another chance to prove himself worthy of Asgard. Earning everyone’s trust isn’t easy, however. So far, Loki has managed to make only one human friend, Valerie, but is now irritated to learn that Valerie has made another friend, Georgina. Then, at Thor’s birthday party (a pointless mortal ritual, though luckily there is cake), the magical hammer Mjolnir is stolen—and everyone suspects Loki! Can Loki find Thor’s hammer, discover who the real thief is, and clear his name—or will his jealousy over Valerie’s new friend cloud his judgment? From dangerous Frost Giants to disappointing parent-teacher conferences, Loki’s riotously funny illustrated adventures continue.

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We Are Allies!

Taimani Emerald

Every person, no matter how small, can do something to change the world for us all!

In her picture book debut, Taimani Emerald, has created a gentle introduction for young readers on what being an ally looks like. Whether it's sharing, saving, joining, or creating—there are many ways to pledge support to those in need.

With soft watercolor illustrations that fans will have seen on her wildly popular posters, Taimani Emerald expands that world on the page.

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Everything Possible

Fred Small

A joyful and inclusive lullaby about love, acceptance, and following your heart . . .



Strong and bold, or quiet and kind, every child is unique and their future filled with possibilities. Based on Fred Small's iconic folk song that became an anthem for generations, Everything Possible celebrates love and friendship, gently encouraging children to dream their own dream and choose their own path, wherever it may take them. An inspiring and uplifting picture book for children everywhere.



With a brand-new free "Stories Aloud" audio recording and revised lyrics--scan the QR code at the end of the story to hear the song.

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Papa's Home

David Soman

In his coziest book yet, the New York Times bestselling artist behind the Ladybug Girl series strikes a universal chord in a beautiful exploration of the bond between father and child.

Spend a day with an irresistible father and child, riding the ups and downs of the emotions that come before a parent goes away, and discover the deep comfort of learning that Papa's love is strong, no matter where he is.

With art that strikes an enchanting balance between classic and contemporary, Soman combines glowing jewel tones and modern-day details with woodsy cross-hatching and loveable bears that bring to mind Maurice Sendak's beloved Little Bear books. This joyous celebration of the bond between father and child is a welcome reassurance that separation anxiety can be navigated and reminds young readers that they are loved and cared for, and that soon enough, Papa's Home again.

 

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Percy's Perfect Friend

Lana Button

When Percy finds himself in a kindergarten classroom full
of unfamiliar children, he can't help but feel uncomfortable and alone--that is,
until he meets a cuddly new friend: a plush cat he names Miss Petticomb.

 

When Percy's new friend is picked up by other children,
Percy cautiously sets out to find her. On his journey to retrieve Miss Petticomb, Percy must decide whether it is better to share his friend with his
classmates or keep her all to himself. A plush cat, a tea party, and the
uniting power of toys may be the secret to saving Miss Petticomb and bringing
Percy out of his shell.

In Percy's Perfect Friend, early childhood educator Lana
Button
celebrates the importance of toys in play, the power they have to help
children practice social skills, language skills, and imagination, and their
ability to bring children together. ALA Schneider Honor Book Winner Peggy
Collins
captures Percy's growth from uncertainty to confidence on his quest to
save Miss Petticomb. He may just be surprised at the new friends he makes along
the way.

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The Purim Panic

Laura Gehl

Can Ruby find her special ring in time for the Purim celebration?

Ruby loves making hamantaschen with her family and dressing up in her Queen Esther costume on Purim. But as she gets ready for this year's celebration, she realizes she's lost the special ring Bubbe gave her for Hanukkah. Will her relatives be able to help her find it?

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Cindy and Panda

Benson Shum

 

 

For fans of Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers comes a perfectly baked story about the messy delight of baking and making new friends from Disney animator Benson Shum.

 

 

Cindy loves to bake, but she doesn't always follow a recipe! One day, she runs out to grab ingredients for a pie and comes back with something sweeter--a panda who wants to help! Their freestyle recipe may lead to chaos in the kitchen and a bit of a messy meltdown, but together, the pair have the perfect ingredients for a sweet-as-pie friendship.

This book includes a pie recipe in the back with its very own freestyle section for young bakers excited to explore!

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Wherever You Are

Glenys Nellist

Wherever you are, God is there.

God is in the gently falling snow, the river, and the honeybee. God is in the people you meet. God is in city streets and country lanes. God is in laughter and tears. No matter where you go, how you are feeling, or what you do, God is with you.

This gentle, reassuring picture book by bestselling author Glenys Nellist and illustrator Sian James encourages children to notice God all around them, in the ordinary people and places of everyday life.

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Some of These Are Snails

Carter Higgins

Press Here meets Eric Carle in a concept book that makes familiar ideas exciting and surprising.

 

From the creative mind behind Circle Under Berry comes this deceptively simple concept book that explores sorting, classification, and patterns as it teases the brain in unusual ways. With an elegant and simple approach, this thought-provoking book shows young readers that even the most familiar things can be seen from infinite perspectives. As with the best classic children's books, you read it once, read it ten times--and see something new every time.

 

MULTIPLE WAYS TO READ: The author has provided creative and helpful suggestions for different ways in which to read this book for varying reading levels and age ranges, making it truly versatile.

PACKED LEARNING VALUE: The unusual approach to colors, shapes, and animals intelligently introduces young readers to patterns, classification, and problem solving. The imaginative language, rich with rhythmic phrasing and playfulness, begs to be read aloud.

WIDE APPEAL FOR SCHOOL AND LIBRARY USE: Carter Higgins presents engaging learning with a variety of concepts. With its clear read-aloud qualities, this is ideal for teachers and librarians who organize reading events in their classrooms and communities.

UNIQUE DESIGN: The art style for this book, with playful nods to Eric Carle and Hervé Tullet, stands out from the pack in ways that will resonate with children as well as adults. It sits beautifully on any shelf--
from classroom to home libraries.

TALENTED AUTHOR: Carter Higgins has many successful titles across multiple age groups, including Circle Under Berry, Everything You Need for a Treehouse, This is Not a Valentine, Bikes for Sale, Big and Small and In-Between, and Audrey L and Audrey W.

Circle Under Berry
[star]​ "[V]isually striking . . . positively begging to be read aloud." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review
[star]​ "[D]rawing readers' attention while achieving real grace . . ." --Publishers Weekly, starred review
"[S]parkling and ingenious . . . positively tingles." --The Wall Street Journal
"A triumph of design and a beacon of possibility." --The Horn Book Magazine
"[A] striking exploration of shapes, colors, and patterns . . ." --Booklist Reviews

Everything You Need for a Treehouse
"Get ready for your imagination to explode!" --NPR Best Books of the Year
"[A] feast for the imagination." --Book Page
"This book urges adventure and creativity." --School Library Journal

This is Not a Valentine
"An enduring message of friendship." --School Library Journal
"A perfect book for kids who find the whole Valentine's Day holiday icky and overrated." --Book Riot
"Recognizes that you can don't need sugary hearts and mushy sentiment to show you care." --Newsday
"Heartwarmingly funny." --Entertainment Weekly

Bikes for Sale
"Celebrates the ways in which serendipity can lead to friendship and sharing." --Booklist
"A sweet, quiet, different take on new-friendship." ---Kirkus Reviews

Big and Small and In-Between
[star]​ "[V]isually stunning and emotionally rich . . ." --School Library Journal, starred review
"[A] profoundly moving, charmingly crafted picture book." --The New York Times
"[A]n abstract journey with many turns and surprises." --Publishers Weekly

Audrey L and Audrey W
"Funny and engaging." --Kirkus Reviews
"This sweet series-starter holds plenty of promise." --Booklist
"[S]ensitive and gently humorous." --Shelf Awareness
"A great addition to libraries where memorable girls like Ivy + Bean and Judy Moody are popular." --School Library Journal
"[Readers] will find their sweet spot with this easy reader." --The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Perfect for:

  • Parents and grandparents seeking engaging, interactive books for kids
  • Teachers, librarians, educators, and caregivers of children ranging from toddlers to emerging readers
  • Classroom gift book for preschool, kindergarten, art teachers
  • Baby shower, birthday, and holiday gift giving
  • Fans of Carter Higgins, Eric Carle, and Laura Vaccaro Seeger
  • Fans of fun educational books
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My Proudest Moment

Lindsay Achtman

"My Proudest Moment" is a diverse story that follows two characters side by side as they grow up following their passions. The strength, perseverance, dedication, and heart that is highlighted throughout the book comes with a special surprise that shatters gender norms and stereotypes. By sharing this story with your family, friends, and students you will be helping to build a more inclusive world where all children are encouraged to chase after their dreams.

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Sally's Big Day

Andrew Larsen

Sally is excited for the first day of puppy school, but it isn't easy when there are so many new things to see (and sniff!).

It's hard to focus at puppy school when there are all kinds of pups to play with, water to splash in...and so many smells! But Sally doesn't give up and keeps trying, ending the day triumphantly.

Just like children, puppies have a lot to explore in and learn about the world around them. This sweet story will give confidence to young readers as they venture into the world to learn and try new things.

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Dungeons and Dragons: Behold! a Search and Find Adventure

Wizards of Wizards of the Coast

Embark on a search-and-find adventure within THE WORLD OF DUNGEONS & DRAGONS!

Dive into a dozen intricately illustrated Dungeons & Dragons worlds and realms, including the frozen winds of Icewind Dale, Waterdeep and the City of Splendors, Neverwinter, the Jewel of the North, and the legendary Baldur's Gate!

Will you be able to discover the Dungeon Master as he guides you to the end, or will you remain lost forever within the Forgotten Realms? Join fighters, wizards, knights, and other iconic characters as they journey through the Forgotten Realms in search of the legendary Dungeon Master!

Get ready to explore the iconic Dungeons & Dragons franchise like never before with this 48-page search-and-find filled with magically detailed full-color illustrations, guaranteed to give hours of search-and-find fun!

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Kiki Can! Go to School

Susie Jaramillo

From the Emmy-nominated, award-winning Canticos preschool series comes a brand-new heartwarming story about the magic of trying new things and the importance of being yourself that follows the beloved Kiki, Nicky and Ricky Chickie siblings as they embark on their first day of school. With adorable, candy-colored art, this endearing picture book is perfect for fans of I Will Be Fierce and The Pigeon Has to Go To School!

It’s Kiki’s first day of school, and she’s ready to go! Her backpack is full, and she’s picked the perfect bow to wear. Even better? Her brothers, Nicky and Ricky, are going to be with her all day!

But wait a minute—why are Nicky and Ricky going to another classroom?

Kiki’s excitement rapidly turns to nerves, but as her different classmates begin to share their favorite things, Kiki learns that as long as she’s herself, she can always make new friends.

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My Pocket Bathroom

Yan Du

A sweet story about the importance of self-care and having a place of one's own.

Po is a small girl living in a BIG, loud city who has always had to share her favorite relaxing retreat--her bathroom--with her busy family. But when a mysterious visitor arrives one night, everything changes.

Po's bathroom is a place where she can be herself, enjoy quiet time, and do anything she dreams of: put on shows, dance and sing, and create whatever she imagines. But her mom, dad, and brother always barge in and interrupt her alone time. She wishes for a sanctuary all her own. Then one night, Lady Violet, a beautiful toilet guardian, appears with a magical gift. Things for Po will never be the same. But maybe she isn't the only one who needs her very own private bathroom.

Author Yan Du and illustrator Erin Vanessa bring to life a sweet story about the importance of self-care and having a place of one's own.

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The Shape of You

Muon Thi Van

A thoughtful and unique meditation on the shapes found in everyday life. A mother tells her daughter about the shapes that make up their lives. At first, they are literal shapes. The shape of their door is a rectangle, their table, a square. Water can be shaped like a cube or a cloud. Then, she moves into the figurative. The shape of learning is a question. The shape of warmth is a space waiting to be filled. Some shapes change, like a child growing up, while others remain the same, like the mountain behind their house. While the shape of her heart “will always be you.” With the feel of a classic, this book will shape readers’ minds and expand their thinking.

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Yoga Adventure

Jamaica Stevens

Travel to all seven continents and the oceans, too, with an energetic yoga sequence set to an irresistible original song. Sweet illustrations guide children into more than a dozen yoga poses, some mimicking a distinctive animal from each global region, others paired with modes of transportation to connect them all. Written by a children's yoga expert, the playful story concludes with step-by-step instructions for each yoga pose and a world map with a fun fact about each animal. Includes audio and animation.

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Norton and the Borrowing Bear

Gabriel Evans

A Children's Book Council of Australia Notable Book.

 

"Readers who have been in Norton's or the bear's shoes will emerge enlightened. A sound lesson in making friends--and setting boundaries." Kirkus Reviews

 

Wouldn't it be fun to have a friend living right next door to you? Well, as Norton discovers, it can certainly pose some challenges when that friend wants to borrow all your favorite things, even your special fuzzy slippers.

 

This is a story about setting limits and learning to accept you friends, flaws and all. It introduces readers to the important skill of boundary-setting in a funny, accessible way that will help them share and borrow without regrets.

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Too Many Hugs

Yvonne Pearson

"The story's gentle humor and warm, friendly illustrations make this book a welcome SEL tool for homes and classrooms."--Elizabeth Verdick, author of the "Best Behavior" series (Teeth Are Not for Biting, Voices Are Not for Yelling, Words Are Not for Hurting)

Sticky hugs. Tight hugs. Smooching hugs. Too MANY hugs! Theo loves his family, but too many hugs is, well, too many.

"When he feels overhugged, Theo takes action....The important message about bodily autonomy is clearly stated and further articulated for parents in the backmatter...given that all children should learn to ask before giving a hug and to expect the same from others, it's one that many little ones will benefit from reading."--Kirkus Reviews

In this adorable--but important--book on consent, Theo teaches his family about the need for respect and personal boundaries. After a day of too many hugs, he writes his five rules for hugging and puts them on the refrigerator. When Grandma comes in for a smacking, smooching hug, she sees the rules and stops. "How about a hug?" she asks. Theo can't wait to say, "YES!"

Why does consent matter? Research shows that helping kids learn to take charge of their bodies and decide for themselves what is welcome (or unwelcome) touch is a critical step to empowering them against abuse. Asking--not demanding--a hug from a child teaches him that he matters as a person and that he is as deserving of respect as a grownup.

Too Many Hugs is a funny, powerful way to get that life-changing lesson started!

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My Indigo World

Rosa Chang

This gorgeous celebration of the color blue and the indigo plant, by a Korean American debut artist and storyteller, powerfully connects art and the natural world.

With lavish mixed-media art including watercolor painting and hand-dyed textiles, debut author-illustrator Rosa Chang pays tribute to the science and art of growing the indigo plant and making indigo dye. Woven throughout is a poetic tribute to the color blue, Chang’s favorite since her girlhood in Korea, and an appreciation of the indigo plant as a valued source of blue dye in cultures around the world. Informative back matter tells more about the science behind indigo dye production, with an “indigo map” of the shades of blue produced by indigo around the world, and simple instructions for growing your own indigo plants and making homemade blue dye.

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I'm a Prince!

A. H. Benjamin

Bossy Pig is about to learn something important in this
light-hearted story about respecting others and being yourself.

When Pig finds a crown one day, he puts it on and says he is a prince. He soon gets bored just sitting on his throne, so decides to play at being royalty - fighting his friend Lizard, 'saving' Squirrel and commanding Rabbit and Badger to dance and bow to him. But when his friends get fed up with his princely antics, Pig learns an important lesson about humility and being yourself.

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Anti-Racist Art Activities for Kids

Anti-Racist Art Teachers

Harness the power of creativity to celebrate your community and change the world with Anti-Racist Art Activities for Kids.

Do you think, “I’m just a kid. What can I do to make a difference?” Be an anti-racist artist! Have fun with 38 creative projects that empower you to use your art, actions, and words to create meaningful change.

Start your anti-racist art-making journey by defining ideas like race, racism, and anti-racism. Dive into six sections, beginning with self-reflection before seeking justice and taking action! Each section’s theme includes an array of activity choices, including:
 

  • Identity – Who you are and what makes you unique.
    • Explore your identity and create a symbol that represents you.
  • Culture – Your way of life and honoring what others value about theirs.
    • Make a textile design inspired by your home and culture.
  • Community – Connecting to people and places.
    • Challenge your implicit biases and discover how to draw diverse people.
  • Empathy – Understanding others and having compassion.
    • Learn the meaning of equity by solving real-world math problems with art.
  • Justice – Making a society that is fair for all.
    • Create a miniature billboard that comments on a social issue.
  • Activism – Creating change and transforming our communities.
    • Mail a postcard to a politician that informs them of what you would like to see change.


Other activities include designing a community mural and organizing people to make a positive change. As you work through the pages and explore the many parts of being an anti-racist artist, you will learn various art-making skills and engage with different materials such as paint, clay, textiles, and recycled materials. At the back, a helpful glossary defines terms that come up in anti-racist discussions, from “activism” to “white supremacy.”

This book is just a starting point, and the possibilities are endless. There is no limit to your imagination and your impact!

Contributors include: Abigail Birhanu, Khadesia Latimer, Paula Liz, Lori Santos, Tamara Slade and Anjali Wells.

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Bug Sandwich

Brady Smith

It’s time to bite those bugs back, in this funny tale of a bitten-up boy who’s not going to take it anymore!

The kid in this story has had it with how much bugs love him—love to bite him, that is! Now he’s determined to return the favor. But as he eagerly hunts the bugs in his backyard, he can’t help noticing how impressive they are, too—they’re basically master builders with super-strength! But will that remarkable quality be enough for him to change what’s on the menu? This wacky tale will delight young readers, who will be itching to find out who wins the buggy battle!

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10 Cats

Emily Gravett

Award-winning, bestselling author and illustrator Emily Gravett follows a group of playful cats as they turn a mess of color into an engaging display of art and text in this early learning picture book, perfect for anyone looking for books for 3-year-olds and up.



Follow the lives of ten kittens as they playfully pounce, bat, and swat while their mother sleeps. Buckets of paint quickly turn the kittens--and their sleeping mother--into brilliant works of art. When mama cat wakes up, playtime turns into bath time.



Full of playful and engaging art, this inventive cat book creates page after page of spot-the-difference fun perfect for repeat reading.



This charming counting book is perfect for helping young readers learn their colors as well as how to count to ten. Emily Gravett's adorable cat art makes 10 Cats just as appealing to those looking for gifts for cat lovers as to anyone searching for kids books ages 3-5.
 

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Nothing Could Stop Her

Rona Arato

Ruth Gruber didn't want to live an ordinary life, and she wouldn't take "no" for an answer. Born to a Jewish American family in 1911, she grew up to become a renowned journalist and activist. Her career spanned seven decades and led her to places that other reporters wouldn't or couldn't go, from Nazi Germany to the remote Arctic regions of the Soviet Union. At a time when women were expected to stay at home and raise families, Ruth told the stories of people in need and fought for their rights to live in safety and freedom.

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The Big Rock

Jian Li

Grandpa builds a beautiful little vegetable garden, but a big ugly rock is in the way. He digs it with a shovel. Thinking that it is as big as a car, he decides to bypass it when planting vegetables. Grandma nearly trips over the rock when watering the seedlings, so she digs it with a shovel. Thinking that it is as big as a house, she decides to walk across it when she is there. Papa stumbles over the rock when he is going to trim the seedlings, so he digs it with a shovel. Thinking that it is as big as an airplane, he decides to let it stay. Mama is worried about her sons tripping over the rock, so she digs it with a shovel. Thinking that it is as big as a mountain, she decides to keep her sons out of the vegetable garden. One day, the two brothers see the big rock and decide to dig it out together. Both their grandparents and parents tell them to give it up, because the rock can be bigger than they ever imagine. However, in just one afternoon, the two brothers dig out the rock successfully. It is not as big as they think. Sometimes the things in front of us are not as simple as they look.

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The Forest Keeper– The True Story of Jadav Payeng

Rina Singh

Trees don’t grow on sandbars . . . but a boy from India grew a forest.

What can one person do in the face of global environmental degradation? Indian Jadav Payeng has proven that each and every one of us can make a difference. As a boy, he began planting trees on a sandbank in the state of Assam. Nobody believed that he would succeed in doing so. But since 1979, a forest the size of Central Park has emerged, offering a home to countless animals and plants. It was not until 2007 that a photographer accidentally discovered the forest and made Payeng known to the world beyond India.

Rina Singh has sensitively retraced the story of young Jadav. In Ishita Jain's picture book debut as illustrator, readers feel immersed in the spectacular habitat whose existence borders on a miracle come true.
 

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Domino's Tree House

Dawn Patitucci

Join one boy's quest to build the ultimate tree house in this imaginative picture book about the good things we might be missing in our never-ending pursuit of "better."

Domino's backyard isn't enough for him, so he builds a tree house. When the tree house isn't quite enough, he builds a tree cottage, then a tree mansion, and on and on, pursuing something "more"--something that he can't put his finger on and can't quite reach. In a series of escalating feats of tree-house engineering, Domino builds and builds, until he finds himself alone on the moon, still not satisfied.

Gorgeous illustrations of a gravity-defying tree house will capture little ones' imaginations, while the satisfying conclusion will remind young readers that wanting more might cause us to miss the sweetness of what we already possess.

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Bridges

Marc Majewski

Explore bridges around the world--and how they unite us--in this gorgeously illustrated nonfiction picture book

Bridges can be high or low, long or short, straight or curvy. Some are designed to blend in, while others stand out. But each one tells a story: a reminder of our history, a testament to ingenuity and engineering, an invitation to imagine the possibilities of the future. Literally and symbolically, bridges connect us--to new places, new cultures, and new people.

With poetic text and sweeping illustrations, Marc Majewski delivers a unique, accessible look at bridges all around the world: from San Francisco's incredible Golden Gate to the Victoria Falls Bridge connecting Zambia and Zimbabwe to England's Tower Bridge and Japan's Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge and many in between. Both informational and thought-provoking, Bridges shows how these awe-inspiring structures unite the manmade and natural worlds, and how they bring humanity together.

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The Lobster Lady

Alexandra S.D. Hinrichs

This intriguing picture-book biography tells the true story of Virginia Oliver—the Lobster Lady—who at 102 years old is the oldest person lobstering in Maine.

Still hauling lobsters at over 100 years old, Virginia Oliver is admired in the state of Maine and beyond. She has been lobstering on and off for over 93 years and is fondly known as the Lobster Lady among locals. Virginia is a native of Rockland, Maine.

The Lobster Lady chronicles a day in Virginia's life while illuminating all that she remembers from growing up and starting a family on the mainland in Maine and on her family’s island, called the Neck. Readers get a sense of Virginia’s life and an idea of all that goes into lobster harvesting.

Lyrically told and beautifully illustrated, The Lobster Lady is a tribute to the incredible life of a Maine icon and female pioneer.

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Ghosts, Toast, and Other Hazards

Susan Tan

"Susan Tan's writing is funny, fun, and hits straight to the heart."—Christina Soontorvat, two-time Newbery Honor recipient

From APALA Honor award-winning author Susan Tan, a middle-grade novel about a girl who must overcome her worries to find the truth behind her town's urban legend.

Mo is not afraid of toast. Just to be clear. She is afraid of fires, though. Which can be caused by everyday appliances, like toasters. So toast isn’t the problem, but you could say it’s the start of a slippery slope. Since her family's recent move, Mo's been eating oatmeal for breakfast.

Moving to a new town is never easy, but it’s even harder when you’re dealing with a stepdad who just left and a mom who can’t get out of bed long enough to find a new a job.

But Mo doesn’t have time to dwell on these things. Because it’s her job to keep her family together. To keep them safe.

So when an elephant starts to haunt her dreams—and a mysterious spirit attacks her home—Mo knows it’s up to her to intervene before things get too dangerous.

With her new friend, Nathaniel, she embarks on an investigation, searching for the truth about the town, its people, and their history. But things are much more complicated and tangled than she thought.

To find out what’s really going on, Mo might have to live a little dangerously after all.

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Captain Skidmark Dances with Destiny

Jennifer A. Irwin

This laugh-out-loud middle-grade novel follows thirteen-year-old Will— who hates hockey and loves dancing—as he navigates school, bullies, and his father’s expectations.

Will is a Canadian eighth grader who hates hockey—and he stinks at it, too. Will is bullied at school, doesn’t have any friends, and is generally miserable.

When Will's seventeen-year-old hockey-star cousin, Alex, arrives to stay with Will’s family, Will and Alex quickly realize they can't stand each other. Then Will stumbles into a local dance school. He fights the urge to cha-cha, but he's good! When Will’s dad finds out about the dancing, he basically forbids it. And Alex’s dad refuses to listen to what Alex wants to do with his life.

Will takes readers on a journey through noogies, awkward conversations, and epic farts. He worries, dances, and makes messes. Filled with humor, nuance, and emotion, this novel asks what makes a family and what makes a man.

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A Vanishing of Griffins

S.A. Patrick

The epic, middle grade fantasy continues in Book Two of the Songs of Magic trilogy!

Having upset the Hamelyn Piper's dastardly plan to build an army through songs of mind control, 13-year-old Piper, Patch Brightwater, must foil the escaped villain's next sinister plot: assembling a suit of immortal armor. Accompanied by Wren, a girl cursed to live as a rat, and Barver, a fire-breathing dracogriff, Patch seeks the aid of old friends, legendary heroes, and a near-dead sorcerer.

Embark on another adventure with the motley trio as they clash with pirates of the Eastern Seas, uncover secrets of the griffins, and dabble with magic to undo past wrongs and forge their own offense before it's too late.

S. A. Patrick’s Songs of Magic trilogy is a brilliant retelling of one of the darkest legends of all time, "The Piper of Hamelyn." Combining folklore with the very best of modern storytelling, the books will delight young fantasy fans who are hungry for perilous quests, friendships forged on the road, and an inventive magic system that thrills the imagination.

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Festergrimm

Thomas Taylor

In the fourth tale in this beloved series, villainous Sebastian Eels returns to Eerie-on-Sea, thrusting Herbie and Violet into a new adventure involving a missing girl, a spooky wax museum, and a dangerous clockwork robot.

Herbie Lemon, Lost-and-Founder at the Grand Nautilus Hotel, and his fearless friend Violet Parma have unearthed many secrets in their village of Eerie-on-Sea: secrets lurking beneath the waves, lapping onto the beaches, and lying behind locked doors. When their brilliant and ruthless nemesis, Sebastian Eels, returns with a plan to open the long-shuttered waxworks museum, Herbie and Violet suspect nefarious motives. Their investigation leads them into the dark Netherways below the town—and into the tragic past of the famous toymaker and inventor Ludovic Festergrimm and his doomed daughter, Pandora. Sebastian Eels is convinced that within the story of Festergrimm is the key to Eerie’s deepest secret—a secret in which Herbie himself plays a crucial part—and he’ll stop at nothing to uncover it, including bringing a terrifying clockwork legend back to life. With echoes of fairy tales and monster movies, plus a dismembered finger or two, this is a deliciously creepy addition to a fantastical mystery series that is perfectly calibrated to thrill middle-grade readers.

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We the Future

Cliff Lewis

I'm from the future. We need you.

Ever since he learned about climate change, twelve-year-old Jonah has dreaded a weather-beaten future where not even his asthma medication can save him. Luckily, a girl from that future arrives just in time to throw Jonah a lifeline.

Sunny traveled back to the 2020s with a mission: help Jonah launch a climate strike big enough to rewrite history. To do it, he'll have to recruit his entire school before Halloween. Why so soon? Sunny won't say. But how can Jonah win over 600 classmates when the only thing he dreads more than the end of the world is talking to other kids?

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Once There Was

Kiyash Monsef

A New York Times bestseller!

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them meets Neil Gaiman in this thrilling novel about an Iranian American girl who discovers that her father was secretly a veterinarian to mythical creatures—and that she must take up his mantle, despite the many dangers.

Once was, once wasn’t.

So began the stories Marjan’s father told her as a little girl—fables like the story of the girl who sprung a unicorn from a hunter’s snare, or the nomad boy who rescued a baby shirdal. Tales of extraordinary beasts that filled her with curiosity and wonder.

But Marjan’s not a little girl anymore. In the wake of her father’s sudden death, she is trying to hold it all together: her schoolwork, friendships, and keeping her dad’s shoestring veterinary practice from going under. Then, one day, she receives a visitor who reveals something stunning: Marjan’s father was no ordinary veterinarian. The creatures out of the stories he told her were real—and he traveled the world to care for them. And now that he’s gone, she must take his place.

Marjan steps into a secret world hidden in plain sight, where mythical creatures are bought and sold, treasured and trapped. She finds friends she never knew she needed—a charming British boy who grew up with a griffon, a runaway witch seeking magic and home—while trying to hide her double life from her old friends and classmates.

The deeper Marjan gets into treating these animals, the closer she comes to finding who killed her father—and to a shocking truth that will reawaken her sense of wonder and put humans and beasts in the gravest of danger.

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The Little Ice Cream Truck

Margery Cuyler

The Little Ice Cream Truck is loaded up with tasty treats in this new addition to ever-popular The Little Dump Truck, The Little School Bus and The Little Fire Truck series.

Join the little ice cream truck and its cheerful driver, Sue, as they trot all over their diverse town to deliver everyone’s favorite flavor of ice cream on a hot sunny day. With little ice cream truck’s jingly tune and pitstops at a birthday party, a park, and the zoo, this is a joyful new installment in the Little Vehicle series, which focuses on the many daily tasks of working trucks.

Christy Ottaviano Books

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The Remembering Stone

Carey Sookocheff

Alice keeps a perfectly round skipping stone in her pocket to remember her grandfather by -- but the stone goes missing.

It looked just like a regular stone, but Alice knew it was different: It was perfectly round so you could use it to trace circles, and sometimes she could trick her dad into thinking it was a quarter. It was also how Alice remembered her grandpa, who taught her how to skip stones, and who passed away last winter.

Alice brings the stone to school for Show and Share, but when her classmate asks to see it again at recess, Alice discovers that the stone is gone! Her friends search high and low and can't find the stone--but their friendship gives Alice an idea of another way that she can remember.

A gentle look at loss, grief, and how small everyday actions can connect us to those we love.

 

Key Text Features

Illustrations

 

Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.3

With prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a story.

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Dounia and the Magic Seeds

Marya Zarif

"Dounia is the story of a little girl who loves her home city of Aleppo, Syria, and its many smells, sights, and traditions. But when war breaks out, Dounia and her grandparents must flee Aleppo to find safety. Before they go, their neighbour reads their future in a cup of coffee - she sees a long difficult journey ahead of the family and a blue house awaiting them at the end. Taking only a bird carved from Aleppo soap and four little barake seeds in her pocket, Dounia faces dangerous waters, a camp surrounded by barbed wire, and unfriendly soldiers, and she wonders where she and her family belong in the world. Remembering the ancient knowledge that barake seeds ward off evil, she pulls one from her pocket to use for each of the threats they face. Magically, the seeds from their faraway home help them along their way, until they finally find the blue house at the end of their journey. In her new home, Dounia plants her final seed in a pot so it can grow and offer more seeds, while also keeping a piece of Aleppo with her. The baraké seeds represent the Syrian culture -- although Dounia is fleeing her country, she carries with her the strength of her people. It is by tapping into her roots, represented by the seeds, that she finds her own strength and resilience. The magical moments brought about by the baraké seeds can be interpreted as Dounia's imagination - it's a way of seeing the war and the migration from a six-year-old's perspective. Dounia does not understand everything that is going on, but she is not a powerless victim. By using the seeds, she feels she is taking an active part in her own destiny. In the end, whether it is magic or Dounia's imagination at play, it's a story about obstacles faced by migrants and about the courage they have in facing these obstacles. As Marya puts it in her article for TBI Magazine, it reverses the common narrative in North American media that "Syria" is synonymous with devastation and destruction, and that Syrian refugees can only be victims of their circumstance, rather than brave, vibrant heroes who can take charge of their own stories."--

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An Earth Song (Petite Poems)

Langston Hughes

Discover the power and joy of poetry in this simple, modern introduction to Langston Hughes, featuring an ode to spring and long-awaited new beginnings



In this illustrated adaptation of a beloved Langston Hughes poem, a child delights as the world around him awakens from winter and comes to life with the long-awaited arrival of spring and new beginnings of all kinds.

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The Last Two Crayons

Leah Freeman-Haskin

Sienna looks forward to drawing a picture for her school's spring art show, until she ends up with the last two crayons ...

By the time Sienna arrives at the art table in her classroom, all the crayons are gone except dark brown and light brown. Now how can she make a special picture for the art show? Andy teases that all she'll be able to draw is mud and dog poop. Her teacher tries to cheer her up, telling her that lots of wonderful things are brown. So Sienna imagines some of her favorite things -- her grandma's rose garden, her new bicycle, rainbows -- but none of them are brown! Her friends remind her that chocolate ice cream is brown, and so is the grizzly bear at the zoo. Sienna draws both, with the help of her friends, but neither picture seems special enough. In the end, inspired by an early memory, Sienna comes up with her own idea for a drawing that's perfect for the art show.

The Last Two Crayons looks at the beautiful world of brown, with a heartwarming and empowering ending that celebrates diversity, creativity and family.

 

Key Text Features

dialogue

illustrations

vignettes

 

Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2

Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.4

Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7

Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.

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Missing Violet

Kelly Swemba

Life is full of sunshine for inseparable friends Violet and Mia. Until one day, Violet leaves school sick and doesn't get better. Without her best friend, Mia slips into a gloomy existence. As she moves through the stages of grief like the colors of a rainbow, Mia wonders if she will ever feel like herself again. When Mia reaches out to her classmates, she remembers what she loved most about Violet.

A sensitive and poignant story about the loss of a friend and experiencing the different stages of grief.

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A Girl Can Build Anything

e.E. Charlton-Trujillo

A brilliant, inclusive ode to self-expression, girl power, and the many things readers can create.

Have you ever dreamed of building something? Maybe something little—like a birdhouse? Or something big—like a skyscraper? If you can envision it, you can build it! A Girl Can Build Anything is a playful celebration of all the different ways girls can make things—from tinkering to tool wielding, from ideas on paper to big, lived-out dreams that require brick and mortar. This fun and empowering ode to self expression will inspire readers to jump up and immediately start to build. Because they can. They can do anything!

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Imara's Tiara

Susan R. Stoltz

Imara's Tiara was written with the intent to feature a minority girl in the roll of a budding scientist/zoologist. Minority women are greatly under-represented in the field of zoology and as zookeepers in particular. Naomi is learning fast that it isn't an easy job, but one that she can accomplish if she tries hard enough.

A science-based book that introduces zoology and how to be a zoologist to children. While Naomi is learning all the facts about giraffes the one she's looking for is elusive, but her persistence pays off and she finally realizes she's got a big problem. How will she solve it so that both she and the giraffe are happy? Observation and patience are skills that are routinely overlooked in today's world of computers, on-line information, and instant gratification. How can we bring these skills back to students?

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The Fastest Tortoise in Town

Howard Calvert

The fable of the tortoise and the hare receives a charming new spin in this wonderfully illustrated, cheering tale about a lovable and relatable trouper.

Barbara Hendricks, a tortoise, has entered a road race, but what was she thinking? With only a week to go before the big day, she worries that she doesn’t stand a chance against the other animals competing. Barbara’s friend and owner, Lorraine, inspires her to train a little bit more each day and coaxes her out of her shell when the race day arrives. How intimidating to line up next to the slow loris, the snail, the sloth, and the walrus! But Barbara realizes that if she just tries her best, she’s already won. Adorably illustrated in rich color and detail and told with splashes of dry humor, this touching story of perseverance celebrates all that can be accomplished with a little preparation and a lot of self-love.

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Meet Frank

Mavis Lui

Meet Frank is a picture book about our unique and beautiful qualities. Frank is a curious little alien who comes from a planet where everyone looks the same: same box shape, same green color. Convinced there must be something more, Frank explores the universe and lands on Earth, where he befriends three little Earthlings who all look very different. By celebrating their unique qualities, they help Frank answer his questions about how humans come in a kaleidoscope of colors. Inspired, he returns to his home planet, determined to help his fellow beings identify and explore their differences too.

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What's That, Jack?

Cédric Ramadier

A fun read-aloud picture book to spark imaginative play and have preschoolers joining in with delight.

Jack and George are resting quietly when BOOM! A huge and strange ball lands beside them.

"What's that, Jack?" "I don't know, George. Maybe it's a rock?" No--too soft. But it rolls. Fast! Jack, George and the ball roll right off the cliff and now it's a parachute. But watch out, they're going to land in the river...

Jack and George have a brilliant day full of adventure with this object that changes with the landscape, then turns into a blanket to keep them warm.

This bright and funny book is a game of twists and turns, with a joyful refrain and vivid artwork to capture every toddler's imagination. With thick, rounded-edge paper and a hardback cover, little hands can easily help turn the pages at storytime.

This book encourages interactive reading by inviting toddlers and preschoolers to join in with the energetic catchphrase, "I don't know, George!" as call and response on every page.

Cédric Ramadier studied at the Camberwell College of Arts in London, before moving to Paris to work as an art director, graphic designer, editor, and author. He has written a number of popular French children's books. Vincent Bourgeau lives in Marseilles, France, where he works fulltime as a children's book illustrator. Together they have published nearly 50 children's books.

Translated from the French edition by Antony Shugaar.

Praise for What's That, Jack?

"Will inspire youngsters to embrace uncertainty--and adventure."--Kirkus Reviews

"Kids will enjoy the simple, repetitive text . . . fun to read with a group who enjoys interactive books."--Youth Services Book Review

Praise for Help! The Wolf is Coming!

"The interactive element is a rush that's sure to elicit squeals, shrieks, and many, many repeated readings."--Booklist

"The fun kids will have tilting, turning and shaking the book as they try to tumble the approaching wolf off a cliff."--New Zealand Herald

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All in a Day

Chihiro Takeuchi

"Be sure to make time for this charmer; kids will want to return to it time and again." Kirkus Reviews

Follow the comings and goings of everyone who lives and works in the same building and enjoy the interactive search-and-find as we see what happens throughout the day.

Look in the windows and track each character's journey over the course of a day. And we can't forget what happens when (almost) everyone is sleeping.

Chihiro's detailed, kid-friendly paper cut artwork engages readers and includes them in her work. Here, she smartly focuses on what happens on the hour, which is the way children are first introduced to the concept of reading clocks.

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The Invitation

Stacey May Fowles

Stacey May Fowles' debut picture book is a whimsical, warmhearted story of how a super-special surprise can lead to anxiety -- or invite imagination.

One beautiful fall day, Fern opens her mailbox and finds an envelope. After much worrying about what it could possibly contain, her friend Fawn encourages her to open it. Inside, she finds an invitation to a super-special surprise at the museum -- but Fern doesn't like surprises!

Luckily, Fawn offers to come with her to the party. What could possibly happen, he asks. Along the way, Fern voices her worries: What if they can't make it in time? What if they don't know anyone there?

Fawn playfully follows his friend's way of thinking, while gently suggesting twists to her story and a fun new cast of characters -- the chipmunk who could show them a shortcut, the grumpy bear who could clear their path, the brave dentist who might treat the bear's toothache -- until at last they arrive, and Fern is able to enjoy the wonderful surprise happening around her.

Marie Lafrance's delightfully dreamy illustrations bring the imagined world of Fern and Fawn to life in this super-special story about catastrophic thinking.

 

Key Text Features

illustrations

 

Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3

Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.4

Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7

Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.

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The Song That Called Them Home

David A. Robertson

From the award-winning author of On the Trapline comes a cinematic fantasy-adventure story inspired by Indigenous legends.

One summer day, Lauren and her little brother, James, go on a trip to the land with their Moshom (grandfather). After they've arrived, the children decide to fish for dinner while Moshom naps. They are in their canoe in the middle of the lake when the water around them begins to swirl and crash. They are thrown overboard and when Lauren surfaces she sees her brother being pulled away by the Memekwesewak — creatures who live in and around water and like to interfere with humans. Lauren must follow the Memekwesewak through a portal and along a watery path to find and bring back James. But when she finally comes upon her brother, she too feels the lure of the Memekwesewak’s song. Something even stronger must pull them back home.

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I'm Happy-sad Today

Lory Britain

This friendly picture book helps young children make sense of mixed-up emotions.

Happy, and also sad. Excited, but nervous too. Feeling friendly, with a little shyness mixed in. Mixed feelings are natural, but they can be confusing. There are different kinds of happy--the quiet kind and the "noisy, giggly, jump and run" kind. And there are conflicting feelings, like proud and jealous, frustrated and determined. With gentle messaging and charming illustrations, a little girl talks about her many layered feelings, ultimately concluding, "When I have more than one feeling inside me, I don't have to choose just one. I know that all my feelings are okay at the same time." A special section for adults presents ideas for helping children explore their emotions, build a vocabulary of feeling words, know what to do if they feel overwhelmed, and more.

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When PB Met J

Katelyn Aronson

The best friendship since sliced bread!

Once upon a kitchen, the Fridgers chilled on one side.
The Cupboard Crew loafed about on the other.

The kitchen may look like a peaceful place, but there was never more division than between the Fridgers and the Cupboard Crew. The Fridgers could be a little too cool. The Cupboard Crew—well, they often got stale. It was clear that the two should never mix. But that was until Peanut Butter (PB, for short) met Jelly. When Jelly finds herself in a sticky situation, it's Peanut Butter to the rescue. And the result is the best friendship since sliced bread.

When PB Met J is the deliciously funny origin story of every child's favorite lunch. Readers will cheer that these sweet and salty characters should always stick together.

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Be Wild, Little One

Olivia Hope

This gorgeous, inspiring picture book-a perfect gift for new babies or for graduations-celebrates the magic in our world and the wildness in each of us.

Embark upon an uplifting journey through the wonders of nature: from lush pine forests to awe-inspiring mountains, and from sparkling seas to starry skies, each page is exquisite. Fly across oceans, run with wolves through winter snow, dance with fireflies, and dare to BE WILD!

With a lyrical text from debut author Olivia Hope and immersive illustrations by acclaimed artist Daniel Egnéus, this stunning book brims with joy and possibility.

Cross the ocean, sail the seas . . .
Trek in jungles, climb up trees.
Swing along with chimpanzees!
Be wild, little one.

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Isabel and the Invisible World

Alan Lightman

Renowned physicist Alan Lightman, author of Ada and the Galaxies, turns his focus to light waves in a second story for children.

There’s only one gift Isabel wants for her sixth birthday: a way to see invisible things. She can hardly think of anything else! Finally, the day of her party arrives. Unwrapping a big box, Isabel finds a surprise inside—a glass prism—and a dazzling world of previously invisible color emerges, lighting up the room around her. What else could be out there, waiting for her eyes to discover? In simple, engaging language, complemented by luminous artwork from best-selling illustrator Ramona Kaulitzki, author and physicist Alan Lightman unveils the hidden world of light waves—the ones you can see and the ones you can’t. Back matter delves briefly into the subject of wavelengths, radio waves, and X-rays for readers curious to know more.

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The Loud Librarian

Jenna Beatrice

A little librarian with a larger-than-life voice finds her place in this sweet and uproarious picture book about being true to yourself—no shushing required!

Penelope is perfect for the job of student-librarian. Friendly? Check. Helpful? Check. Book lover? Check. There’s just one snag. Penelope is...LOUD. Bookcases may topple and the ground may quake at the sound of her voice, but Penelope is determined to prove she’s perfect for the job and stay true to herself. Can a little librarian with a big voice find a place where she belongs?

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The Very Best Hug

Smriti Prasadam-Halls

A delightful picture book about the power of hugs, from the mega-bestselling creators of I Love You Night and Day, You Make Me Happy and I'll Never Let You Go.

Have you ever wondered who gives the very BEST hug?
The kind that's warm and cozy and snug?
Extra squeezy, but never too tight,
the kind that fits you COMPLETELY right?


From bear hugs to koala cuddles, hippo huddles to walrus wiggles, penguin pecks to porcupine prickles, there are a LOT of hugs to choose from.

But the perfect hug may not be far-in fact, it might be right where you are!
Who gives the best hugs? Have you guessed? It's the ones at home, who love you the best!

Full of silly and snuggly animal cuddles, this irresistible story from the bestselling creators Smriti Prasadam-Halls and Alison Brown is perfect for sharing and reading aloud.

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Our Roof Is Blue

Sara E. Echenique

This heartfelt story of resilience follows two siblings as they work to recover and rebuild after Hurricane Maria destroys their home in Puerto Rico.

Before an intense hurricane hits their home in Puerto Rico, Antonio told his sister vibrant stories each night. During the storm, they huddled with their parents in a closet and hear the storm blow the roof right off their home. After the storm, their family uses a temporary blue tarp for a roof, and Antonio stops speaking. Gradually the siblings imagine their blue roof playfully—as the ocean above them or a parachute helping them fall from the sky. As the narrator helps her little brother feel safe once more--and after the family and community build a new roof--the little boy begins to speak again.

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Kitty and Cat: Opposites Attract

Mirka Hokkanen

Meet Kitty! Kitty wants to play! Meet Cat. Cat just wants to nap. Bold, whimsical artwork and plenty of humor engage little ones in a sly and stylish introduction to opposites.

This deceptively simple concept book introduces readers to grumpy, old, exhausted Cat, who just wants to be left alone, and to happy, new, energetic Kitty, who longs to make friends. In a story told entirely through well-chosen pairs of opposites and drolly expressive artwork, author-illustrator Mirka Hokkanen manages to elevate the humble concept book into a true work of art—one that is bound to have readers giggling and crying for more!

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Hush-A-Bye Night

Thelma Lynne Godin

As the sun sets on Lake Superior and the moon begins to rise, all kinds of creatures--from the solitary loon to a tumble of fox kits to a family like yours--begin their nighttime routines. This lyrical lullaby to the lake, and the flora and fauna that call its shores home, is a beautiful ode to the most beautiful lake. Backmatter includes science and nature facts.

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Sari-Sari Summers

Lynnor Bontigao

In this love letter to the Philippines (and to grandmothers), a young girl comes up with a brilliantly delicious way to attract customers after a heat wave leaves her lola’s store empty.

Nora loves spending summers with Lola at her sari-sari store, a treasure trove filled with everything you could need, from hair accessories to toys, creamy yema to sour tamarind candy. And this year, Nora is big enough to help her grandmother. But when a heat wave strikes and no one comes to the store, Nora worries that she won’t get to spend the rest of the summer with her lola—until she gets a sweet idea. After all, the mangoes on the tree outside are finally ripe, and with a bit of measuring, mixing, and a good deal of tasting, Nora and Lola have a refreshing way to bring people together—and to the sari-sari store. With soft, heartfelt illustrations, Lynnor Bontigao’s endearing picture book—featuring a recipe for making mango ice candy like Nora’s—is an ode to ingenuity and to intergenerational relationships that’s as sweet and gentle as a kiss on the cheek.

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We Play Soccer / Jugamos al fútbol

René Colato Laínez

Joe speaks English. He loves soccer. José habla español. A José le gusta el fútbol. This story is in English and Spanish!

Hola, Joe. / Hi, José.
I have my uniform. /Tengo mi uniforme.
I am ready. / Estoy listo.

Two boys, an English speaker and a Spanish speaker, are on the same soccer team. They have their uniforms and their cleats. They can both juggle the ball. At first, the boys must wait on the bench. But when the coach lets them in the game, both Joe and José score goals. “We win,” says Joe. “Ganamos,” says José.

Perfect for preschoolers, kindergarteners, and first and second graders who are learning to speak or read English and Spanish. A delightful reading experience for bilingual families.

René Colato Laínez, a teacher in a bilingual kindergarten classroom, has crafted an ingenious story that authentically and naturally uses conversation to introduce children to English and Spanish. The fun friendship story engages children, while simple words, short sentences, and a glossary reinforce learning.


Nomar Perez, illustrator of best-selling children’s books as well as greeting cards, has a bright, bold, colorful, kid-pleasing style that invites readers to befriend the characters in this book.


René was raised in El Salvador and Nomar in Puerto Rico.

You will also like Let’s Be Friends, Seamos Amigos, by René Colato Laínez; illustrated by Nomar Perez.

 

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Who Will U Be?

Jessica Hische

From New York Times bestselling creator of Tomorrow I'll Be Brave comes a delightful picture book following an inquisitive little letter "u" as she goes on a class field trip to find out all the ways letters are seen and used in the world.

It's the annual "Find Yourself Field Trip" at Ms. Bracket's School of Little Letters, and "u" couldn't be more excited. She can't wait to see all the ways letters are used in the world—they're on everything from books to boats, from sidewalks to spaceships! And it's starting to make her wonder one important question: Who will she be when she grows up?

With clever storytelling and vibrant, powerful illustrations, bestselling author-illustrator Jessica Hische has created an enchanting picture book that is not only an accessible introduction to typography for kids, but also a wonderful reminder to embrace one's individuality and curiosity as they grow older.

This story is perfect for fans of Emily Winfield Martin, and it makes an excellent gift book for big moments like graduation and birthdays with its empowering question to little ones—who will you be?

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The Flock

Margarita del Mazo

Being part of a flock is easy, you just have to do what the others do. But when Sheep Four decides not to follow the others, how will Mike, the boy counting sheep, get to sleep?

 

Being a sheep is easy. All they have to do is graze, snooze and help people fall asleep now and again. Every person is assigned their own personal flock... The drill is always the same, first Sheep one jumps over the fence, then Sheep two followed by Sheep three and so forth.

 

When a little boy called Mike can't sleep one night, he starts to count his personal flock.. Sheep One, Sheep Two, Sheep Three... but then something strange happens... Sheep four doesn't want to jump!

 

How will Mike be able to get to sleep now?

 

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Weather Together

Jessie Sima

Nimbus learns how to weather her cloudy moods and accept help from her best friend, Kelp, in this charming and gently encouraging picture book companion to the New York Times bestselling Not Quite Narwhal and Perfectly Pegasus.

Nimbus has so much fun being Kelp’s friend! Their days are filled with games, sunshine, and a whole lot of rainbows. Only, Nimbus can’t stay sunny all the time; in fact, some days she’s downright cloudy.

Nimbus hides her cloud from Kelp and tries to make it go away, only nothing works! Not ignoring the cloud, not running from the cloud, and not bottling up the cloud. It just grows and grows.

And when Nimbus’s cloud turns into a storm, there’s no way to keep it from others anymore. But maybe getting to know her cloud could make it a little less scary…and maybe friends like Kelp are there to share the weather together.

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I Really Want to Make Lemonade!

Harriet Ziefert

 

Join Really Bird and friends as they learn to make a unique fresh lemonade and use it to do some good around the park where they live.Meet Really Bird, a small bird who lives in a large city park with his friends, Cat, Rabbit, and Pup. In each story, Really Bird finds himself really wanting something - to be bigger, to have his fair share, or to be a leader - to be really silly, funny, strong, cool, happy or brave. And when he feels something, he really feels it.
Each story is an entertaining, character-driven caper based on relatable social/emotional themes, delivered with surprise twists, high drama, and expert comic timing. Along the way, lessons are learned about qualities such as teamwork and compassion. The emphasis is on character growth and development through creative problem solving, Friendship and emotional engagement are at the heart of every story.
In I Really Want to Make Lemonade! Really Bird comes up with the great idea to make an interesting batch of lemonade and share it with all the friends in the park, in return for some community service that will benefit the park.

 

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Tiny T. Rex and the Grand Ta-Da!

Jonathan Stutzman

In the newest picture book in the bestselling Tiny T. Rex series, lovable friends Tiny and Pointy challenge themselves when they enter the school talent show.

Kids love dinosaurs--and dinosaur books! Tiny T. Rex is a dinosaur kids especially love because he's a tiny dinosaur in a big world--just like them.

Tiny and his friend Pointy really want to win their school's talent show. And they think they know just how to do it: They will become great magicians, just like their hero, The Amazing Presto. Together they work hard on their act, including the grandest trick of all: to make something disappear. But it isn't easy to become magicians, and just when they've mastered their skills, they face the even greater challenge of performing in front of an audience!

With their trademark humor and warmth, beloved duo Tiny and Pointy prove that every problem can be overcome as long as it's met with patience and understanding.

EVERYONE LOVES TINY: The first book about Tiny, Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug, was an immediate bestseller from the moment it was published. All the books in the Tiny T. Rex series have been indie bookstore bestsellers, Amazon top titles, and Amazon best books.

GREAT MESSAGE: Tiny and Pointy persist in pursuing their dream despite obstacles, and despite doubts about being good enough. This is a positive book that will get kids excited about trying new things.

GREAT VALUES: Every Tiny book features Tiny solving common childhood challenges with love, a positive attitude, and friendship.

ENGAGING READ-ALOUD: Funny, charming text and cute, colorful art will make this book a storytime favorite kids will want to read again and again.

Perfect for:

  • Dinosaur-loving kids from babies and toddlers through ages 4-6
  • Parents, grandparents, teachers, and caregivers seeking funny kids' books
  • Fans of sweet, warm-hearted family picture books
  • Baby shower, children's birthday, holiday, or classroom gift
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Benny the Bananasaurus Rex

Sarabeth Holden

"Deliciously playful and imaginative."--Kirkus

Benny loves bananas. He eats them morning, noon, and night. He even rides a bike with a yellow banana seat. In fact, Benny has a secret, he hopes one day he will turn into a banana! And if there is one thing Benny knows, it's that with a little imagination anything is possible.

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Hurry, Kate, or You'll Be Late!

Janice N. Harrington

A young girl stops to call out all the sights and sounds on her morning trip to pre-school, but that’s not what makes her late—it is her dad’s goodbye hug.

Kate was late for preschool, but not for the reasons you might expect. It wasn’t because her daddy brushed her hair into poofs, or because they slowed to say hello to neighbors on the way to the bus stop. It wasn’t even because she had to wave to all the trucks, cars, and street cleaners on the road. No, Kate was late because just after they arrived at school, her daddy swooped in to give her a great big goodbye hug that lasted a very long time.

Janice N. Harrington is the Ezra Jack Keats Award winning author of Going North. With Hurry Kate or You’ll be Late, she has teamed up with illustrator Tiffany Rose to create a delightful picture book about a vehicle obsessed girl and her very patient father.

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Gilly's Monster Trap

Cyndi Marko

A young girl and her goldfish sidekick set out to trap a monster and instead wind up making a new friend in this debut picture book that’s perfect for fans of How to Catch a Monster and Jules vs. the Ocean.

Gilly loves to flap her flippers in Lighthouse Bay…until a mysterious monster starts menacing the market! It swipes Gilly’s flippers, snatches fish, and nabs nets. So Gilly hatches a plan: she is going to catch the sneaky, rotten monster! With the help of her goldfish, Finnegan, and the townspeople, she builds a trap.

But when things go awry, Gilly discovers she and the monster may have been after the same thing all along—a friend.

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Travel Guide for Monsters Part Deux

Lori Degman

Wrangling your monster to a rodeo? Or sharing the stands with him at a hockey game? Buckle up for another cross country trip with your favorite monster--from British Columbia to Newfoundland and all the Canada in between! Wherever you and your monster are traveling, Travel Guide for Monsters Part Deux: Canada is full of essential tips to help you both enjoy the sights of Canada and avoid monster-related trouble--eh?

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The Courage of the Little Hummingbird

Leah Henderson

A freshly retold animal fable about heroism, hope, and community, from award-winning creators Leah Henderson and Magaly Morales



Across oceans, lands, and skies

In whispers, shouts, and in many different languages

the story of the little hummingbird of the Great Forest can always be heard



The story of the little hummingbird has been told around the world in many forms and across many cultures, believed to have originated among the Indigenous Quecha people of modern-day Ecuador. In this spin on the globally popular legend, when a disastrous forest fire threatens the Great Forest, the hummingbird must inspire all the animals to work together to save their homes.



Lyrically told by Leah Henderson and vividly illustrated by Magaly Morales, this tale of bravery against seemingly insurmountable odds and a community working together to overcome adversity is a reminder that no challenge is too great, and that even the smallest of us can make a world of difference.



Includes an author's note, as well as back matter on the origins of the folktale and facts about hummingbirds.

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Dear Mr. G

Christine Evans

A gentle and moving story about an intergenerational friendship between a young child and their neighbor told through a series of letters, for fans of Ida, Always.

When Jackson's soccer ball accidentally lands in his neighbor's rose bush, he thinks he's ruined Mr. Graham's roses forever. So he quickly writes a letter to Mr. Graham that blossoms into a marvelous friendship. Jackson writes letters, highlighting the everyday moments to make them feel larger than life, and Mr. G keeps writing back until the very end of his life, encouraging Jackson to live each day to the fullest.



This breathtakingly beautiful epistolary story shows the strength of letter-writing and intergenerational bonds. The text is accompanied by tender and evocative artwork to remind us that even as seasons change, our loved ones always stay in our hearts.

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Bear Is Never Alone

Marc Veerkamp

A stirring, thoughtful story about the pressure to perform and the support of a true friend.

When Bear sits down at the piano, he makes beautiful music, and the other animals can't get enough. "More, more, Pianobear!" they shout. But sometimes Bear just wants to relax. Even when he tries to escape to a quiet tree branch, the voices follow him: "More! More! More!" Finally Bear snaps. No one seems to understand why he's so upset--except Zebra. Zebra loves Bear's music, but she doesn't ask him to start playing again. Instead, she brings over a book...

This moving story is the perfect companion for social-emotional lessons about choosing solitude, respecting boundaries, and building interpersonal awareness. Illustrated in striking shades of black, white, and red, Bear Is Never Alone encourages young readers to notice others' needs and care for them with kindness.

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The Train Home

Dan-Ah Kim

When a young girl wishes for a quiet place to call her own, her imagination takes her on a journey to discover the endless possibilities. Author-artist Dan-ah Kim's stunning picture book is an exploration of creativity, family, and the true meaning of home for fans of Carson Ellis's Home and Kobi Yamada's What Do You Do with an Idea?

Nari lives in a rowdy home in a crowded city. She sometimes wishes she lived somewhere else, somewhere quiet that she has all to herself. So when a train rumbles by her window, Nari goes on a journey to find her dream home.

Could it be in a vibrant garden? A colorful coral reef under the sea? Even up among the stars? Hmmm . . . what if those places are too quiet, or so beautiful she wants to share them? Maybe the train can take her back home, where she truly belongs.

Like Dan-ah Kim's debut The Grandmaster's Daughter, The Train Home is an inventive picture book about creativity and imagination. The accessible text is a terrific read-aloud that perfectly complements the stunning and detailed artwork. The Train Home is an irresistible choice for story-time sharing and anyone who has ever let their train of thought wander.

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Gustav Is Missing!

Andrea Zuill

From the author of Sweety comes a heartwarming story of friendship and bravery, featuring a little mushroom who sets off into the scary world to find his missing pet slug.

Oh, no! When mushroom boy Little Cap's pet slug, Gustav, goes missing, Little Cap is beside himself. How can he summon the courage to leave his cozy home to find him? But summon he does. There are many suspicious characters just outside his door and--gasp!--he has to talk to his neighbors, but Little Cap can't be stopped.

After much perilous searching--up sheer cliffs and into deep canyons and even stepping in something really, really gross--Little Cap finally finds his very best friend, and he's changed for the better along the way. Here is a story that celebrates friendship, perseverance, and bravery, told with Andrea Zuill's signature heart and humor.

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You Are Loved

Margaret O'Hair

From Down syndrome advocate and viral sensation Sofia Sanchez comes this beautiful and inclusive picture book about all the different ways to make a family.

 

Families come in many different shapes and forms -- but they all teach you how to be strong and show you how loved you are.

Alongside a sweet and simple narrative, the warm illustrations tell their own story. Beginning with Sofia Sanchez's adopted family, readers will meet families with two moms and two dads, families with single parents, and kids raised by grandparents, guardians, or older siblings. Big families, small families, extended families, blended families, and mixed race families -- including parents with their own differences that make them unique, too.

This heartwarming companion book to 2021's You Are Enough highlights the important message that families aren't just the people you live with. They include the people in your school, your community, and the people you choose who love you and empower you just the way you are.

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Happy Birthday to Me

Thao Lam

How does it feel to turn a year older? A child runs through a spectrum of emotions on the best day of the year, their birthday!

A child runs through a spectrum of emotions on the best day of the year--their birthday! Early-morning excitement gives way to shyness at the arrival of guests, hunger for cake, a craze for arts and crafts, and some real piñata problems. So how can a kid possibly answer that age old question: "How does it feel to be a year older?"

From bestselling picture-book creator Thao Lam comes this irrepressible celebration of emotions, captured in a rainbow of cut-paper collage. Happy Birthday to Me makes for the perfect birthday present or anytime-guide to naming our feelings.

 

Key Text Features

Illustrations

 

Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.4

Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses.

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Luli and the Language of Tea

Andrea Wang

Though they may speak different languages, kids from all over the world come together to enjoy the shared pastime of tea in this delicious book for young readers.

When five-year-old Luli joins her new English as a Second Language class, the playroom is quiet. Luli can’t speak English, neither can anyone else. That’s when she has a brilliant idea to host a tea party and bring them all together.

Luli removes her teapot, thermos, and teacups from her bag and calls out “Chá!” in her native Chinese. One by one, her classmates pipe up in recognition: in Russian, Hindi, Turkish, Persian, Arabic, and Spanish, Portuguese, and Swahili. Tea is a tasty language they all know well, and it gives them a chance to share and enjoy each other’s company. When all the tea is gone and it’s time for dessert, Luli gets to use her favorite English word, cookie! After that, the playroom isn’t so quiet.

Informed by her own experience as the child of Chinese immigrant parents, Andrea Wang makes the point that when you’re looking to communicate with people, you look for a common bond. The word for “tea” is similar in many languages, and tea becomes the unifying metaphor that brings a diverse group of children together. Additional material at the back of the book explores the rich and ancient history of tea drinking across cultures all around the world and contains maps, statistics, and fascinating details that will delight young readers.


An American Library Association Notable Children's Book
A Booklist Editors’ Choice Selection
A CSMCL Best Multicultural Children's Book of the Year

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Round

Jennifer Ward

From award-winning author Jennifer Ward and celebrated artist Lisa Congdon in her debut picture book comes a lyrical, rhyming exploration of the many round things that can be found in nature.

Nature all around is round...

Take a spin through the seasons in this thoughtful and meditative picture book that explores roundness in the natural world. There are round birds’ nests and eggs in the spring, round raindrops falling from the sky in the summer, round apples filling the trees in the fall, and round snowflakes covering the ground in winter—and so much more! Little ones will love this stunning read-aloud that is certain to intrigue and inspire them to start looking all around outside for things that are round.

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One Day

Joanna Ho

"An affirming and enchanting love letter from parent to child." -- Kirkus (starred review)

"The heartfelt title will be welcomed by new parents as the narrator voices the universal dream of wishing the best in life for their newborn." --Booklist

"It's cozy and hopeful in all the best ways."--Publishers Weekly

A 4-star Common Sense Selection recipient for Books

From New York Times bestselling Joanna Ho, author of Eyes that Kiss in the Corners and Eyes that Speak to the Stars, comes a heartfelt picture book about the depths of a mother's love. One Day is a mother's ode to her baby boy--she shares her hopes and dreams for her son as she envisions him exploring the world.

Her son will be courageous and kind, powerful and curious, and blaze his own trail. He will know that it is okay to cry, or be scared, or uncertain. Above all, he will know that he is more than enough exactly as he is.

An extraordinary gift for Mother's Day and loved ones everywhere.

One day,

your hair will tumble across your head

as you embark on adventures

Life will pull tears that

Roll like rivers over your cheeks

Let them roll, sweet boy

Softness is a sign of strength

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Baba's Gift

Ariana Shaheen Amini

Baba's Gift is a radiant celebration of a Persian father's love of family, from his boyhood in Iran to his new life in America.

Baba enchants his six daughters with his stories, transporting them to his childhood in Iran as they play on the flowering vines of the Persian carpet in California. He tells the story of a determined young man who comes to the United States, the challenges of leaving his Persian family, and the unfolding of his new American life.

This picture book is written in the voice of two daughters telling the story of their Baba (“father” in Farsi).  It weaves together the love of two countries with the love of family.

A perfect read-aloud for parents, grandparents, and teachers, the story inspires curiosity about other cultures and connection between generations.

Baba's Gift--full of delight, tenderness, and vibrant illustrations by award-winning Persian illustrator Elaheh Taherian--sparkles with the beauty of love and family around the world.

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100 Mighty Dragons All Named Broccoli

David LaRochelle

This wacky counting adventure by Geisel Award-winning author David LaRochelle is a hilarious ode to dragons and math, with pitch-perfect art by Lian Cho.

High on a mountain live 100 mighty dragons all named Broccoli. When a tremendous wind blows half the dragons away, ten others sail off to become professional surfers in Hawaii. The oldest and youngest dragons take a train to New York City to start their own heavy metal band. And a mysterious wizard turns four more into a unicorn, a werewolf, a zombie, and a tiny pink poodle. Now how many dragons are left? Young readers will delight in following each and every dragon as they leave their home for marvelous adventures, until there is but one dragon remaining. That's when this final dragon named Broccoli retreats to a cave for the winter and reappears in the spring with a surprise that will thrill and delight. Prepare to read again!

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