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Billy and the Minpins
One of Dahl's beloved stories available for the first time in novel format and newly illustrated by Quentin Blake!
Billy's mum says he must never go out through the garden gate and explore the dark forest beyond. So, one day, he does exactly that! There Billy meets the amazing Minpins, tiny people who live inside the hollow trees. But the Minpins are in danger. The terrible, galloping Gruncher stalks the forest, and the Minpins are disappearing in their thousands. Can Billy find a way to destroy the hungry beast, once and for all -- or will it gobble him up too?
Illustrated by Quentin Blake for the first time, BILLY AND THE MINPINS is a new interpretation of Roald Dahl's very last story (originally published in 1991) and marks nearly forty years of their magical collaboration.
Target age group 7-9 -
Antarctica Nonfiction Storytime Gift Set
Far, far south, in the strange and beautiful land of Antarctica, it is dark both day and night all winter long. When at last spring comes, the penguins and seals raise their young. But, one year, loud, unfamiliar sounds announce the arrival of a new presence -- one the animals hope can share this fragile world with them in peace. Find out if they can do so in this Storytime Gift Set!
This Storytime Gift Set includes:
- ANTARCTICA (paperback)
- One (1) Emperor Penguin Plushie
Target age group 4-8
This book title is not available for sale to customers outside the U.S.
Pack Contains: -
Hannah and the Ramadan Gift
It's the first day of Ramadan and Hannah wants to be a part of this important month every way she can. But if she's too young to fast, how can she observe Ramadan? By saving the world, Dada Jaan tells her. And so Hannah learns that by helping her friends and neighbors and by showing kindness and generosity, she can make the world a better place.
The debut picture book by human rights activist and attorney Qasim Rashid tells a timely story full of warmth and heart about the observance of Ramadan and the power of good deeds.
Target age group 3-7 -
How and Wow of the Human Body: From Your Tongue to Your Toes and All the Guts in Between (Wow in the World)
Based on their #1 kids podcast, "Wow in the World," hosts Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz take readers on a hilarious, fact-filled, and highly illustrated journey through the human body -- covering everything from our toes to our tongues to our brains and our lungs!
"WHY in the world do I have a belly button?
And WHAT in the world does it do?
WHEN in the world will my nose stop growing?
And HOW in the world does my pee keep flowing?"
The human body is a fascinating piece of machinery. It's full of mystery, and wonder, and WOW. And it turns out, every single human on the planet has one! Join Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz, hosts of the mega-popular "Wow in the World" podcast, as they take you on a fact-filled adventure from your toes and your tongues to your brain and your lungs.
Featuring hilarious illustrations and filled with facts, jokes, photos, quizzes, and Wow-To experiments, THE HOW AND WOW OF THE HUMAN BODY has everything you need to better understand your own walking, talking, barfing, breathing, pooping body of WOW!
A #1 New York Times Bestseller
Target age group 8-12 -
Like a Love Story
It's 1989 in New York City, and for three teens, the world is changing.
Reza is an Iranian boy who has just moved to the city with his mother to live with his stepfather and stepbrother. He's terrified that someone will guess the truth he can barely acknowledge about himself. Reza knows he's gay, but all he knows of gay life are the media's images of men dying of AIDS.
Judy is an aspiring fashion designer who worships her uncle Stephen, a gay man with AIDS who devotes his time to activism as a member of ACT UP. Judy has never imagined finding romance... until she falls for Reza and they start dating.
Art is Judy's best friend, their school's only out and proud teen. He'll never be who his conservative parents want him to be, so he rebels by documenting the AIDS crisis through his photographs.
As Reza and Art grow closer, Reza struggles to find a way out of his deception that won't break Judy's heart -- and destroy the most meaningful friendship he's ever known.
This is a big-hearted, sprawling epic about friendship and love and the revolutionary act of living life to the fullest in the face of impossible odds.
"A book for warriors, divas, artists, queens, individuals, activists, trend setters, and anyone searching for the courage to be themselves." --Mackenzi Lee, New York Times best-selling author of THE GENTLEMEN'S GUIDE TO VICE AND VIRTUE
A Stonewall Honor Book
A Time Magazine Best YA Book of All Time
Target age group 13 and up -
Astronauts: Women on the Final Frontier (Graphic)
In the graphic novel ASTRONAUTS: WOMEN ON THE FINAL FRONTIER, Jim Ottaviani and illustrator Maris Wicks capture the great humor and incredible drive of Mary Cleave, Valentina Tereshkova, and the first women in space.
The U.S. may have put the first man on the moon, but it was the Soviet space program that made Valentina Tereshkova the first woman in space. It took years to catch up, but soon NASA's first female astronauts were racing past milestones of their own. The trailblazing women of Group 9, NASA's first mixed gender class, had the challenging task of convincing the powers that be that a woman's place is in space, but they discovered that NASA had plenty to learn about how to make space travel possible for everyone.
Target age group 9-13 -
Maybe a Mermaid
A summer romp full of mystery, new friends, and maybe a mermaid!
Eleven-year-old Anthoni Gillis is not the kind of kid who believes in fairies, unicorns, or even the word "maybe." She's more of a comic-books girl. So when her mom brings her to Thunder Lake for a summer at the Showboat Resort, she doesn't believe the local rumors about the Boulay Mermaid.
Anthoni has bigger fish to fry. She's always wanted a True Blue Friend. But it's been hard to find one, since for the past five years she's been bouncing from town to town, helping her mother sell Beauty & the Bee cosmetic products to keep them both afloat. This summer will be different, though. Anthoni has a plan -- a foolproof checklist for making lifelong friends! There won't be any maybes this time.
But as she grows entangled in local gossip, and her mother stretches the truth, Anthoni must decide if she'll "stick to the plan," like always, or dive into a summer full of extraordinary possibilities.
Josephine Cameron's energetic and heartfelt debut raises timeless questions about truth, lies, and the hope that grows between them.
Target age group 8-11 -
Well (Graphic)
A fantasy graphic novel about Lizzy, a girl who gets cursed by a wishing well, and her adventure to grant three wishes in order to break free.
Li-Zhen's life on the archipelago is simple. Known to friends and family as Lizzy, she takes care of her grandfather and their goats, she flirts with the woman who helps row the ferry, and she stays away from the fog that comes in the night -- and the monsters hiding within it.
But Lizzy's life comes apart when she steals a handful of coins from a sacred well to cover a debt. The well requires repayment, but it doesn't deal in coins. It needs wishes, and its minions will drown Lizzy in its depths if she doesn't grant them. Lizzy finds herself on a quest to uncover hidden memories, bestow great wealth, and face the magical secrets that nearly destroyed her family -- and are now returning to threaten everything she has ever known.
In this breathtaking graphic novel, Jake Wyatt and Choo have created a modern fable based on magic and family secrets, exploring the power -- and limits -- of wishes.
Target age group 14-18 -
Cricket in Times Square (Chester Cricket and His Friends #01) (Hardcover)
An updated version of the timeless children's classic featuring a business-savvy mouse, a kind alley cat, and a talented country cricket, featuring a new foreword and revisions by YA author Stacey Lee.
Tucker is a streetwise city mouse. He thought he'd seen it all. But he's never met a cricket before, which really isn't surprising, because, along with his friend Harry Cat, Tucker lives in the very heart of New York City -- the Times Square subway station.
Chester Cricket never intended to leave his Connecticut meadow. He'd be there still if he hadn't followed the entrancing aroma of liverwurst right into someone's picnic basket. Now, like any tourist in the city, he wants to look around. And he could not have found two better guides -- and friends -- than Tucker and Harry. The trio have many adventures -- from taking in the sights and sounds of Broadway to escaping a smoky fire.
Chester makes a third friend, too. It is a boy, Mario, who rescues Chester from a dusty corner of the subway station and brings him to live in the safety of his parents' newsstand. He hopes at first to keep Chester as a pet, but Mario soon understands that the cricket is more than that. Because Chester has a hidden talent and no one -- not even Chester himself -- realizes that the little country cricket may just be able to teach even the toughest New Yorkers a thing or two.
THE CRICKET IN TIMES SQUARE is George Selden at his best, and the new illustrations and interior images by Garth Williams make this edition a special treat.
Target age group 8-11 -
Galaxy of Sea Stars
A GALAXY OF SEA STARS is Jeanne Zulick Ferruolo's second middle-grade novel -- a heartwarming story about family, loyalty, and the hard choices we face in the name of friendship.
Sometimes, the truth isn't easy to see. Sometimes, you have to look below the surface to find it.
Eleven-year-old Izzy feels as though her whole world is shifting, and she doesn't like it. She wants her dad to act like he did before he was deployed to Afghanistan. She wants her mom to live with them at the marina where they've moved instead of spending all her time on Block Island. Most of all, she wants Piper, Zelda, and herself -- the Sea Stars -- to stay best friends, as they start sixth grade in a new school.
Everything changes when Izzy's father invites his former interpreter's family, including eleven-year-old Sitara, to move into the marina's upstairs apartment. Izzy doesn't know what to make of Sitara -- with her hijab and refusal to eat cafeteria food -- and her presence disrupts the Sea Stars. But in Sitara Izzy finds someone brave, someone daring, someone who isn't as afraid as Izzy is to use her voice and speak up for herself. As Izzy and Sitara grow closer, Izzy must make a choice: stay in her comfort zone and risk betraying her new friend, or speak up and lose the Sea Stars forever.
Target age group 8-12 -
Baby Shark: Happy Mommy's Day (I Can Read Level 1)
Based on the all-new Nickelodeon series, this Level 1 "I Can Read" is perfect for sharing with the Baby Shark fan in your life!
When Baby Shark gets ready to celebrate Mother's Day, his best friend William starts to worry about why his family looks different than everyfishy else's.
"Baby Shark's Big Show!" is a Nickelodeon animated series starring everyone's favorite shark along with his shark family and ocean friends. The show is based on the Pinkfong characters from the YouTube global phenomenon with over 10 billion views.
BABY SHARK'S BIG SHOW!: HAPPY MOMMIES DAY is a Level One "I Can Read" book, which means it's perfect for children learning to sound out words and sentences. Whether shared at home or in a classroom, the short sentences, familiar words, and simple concepts of Level One books support success for children eager to start reading on their own.
Target age group 4-8 -
Baby Shark's Big Show!: The Bunny Slug (I Can Read Comics Level 1)
Based on the all-new Nickelodeon series and featuring a bold new comic style and easy-to-read text, this Level One "I Can Read Comic" is perfect for sharing with the Baby Shark fan in your life!
Grandma has taken Baby to a serene location overlooking Carnivore Cove to practice meditating. Baby is doing his best when -- AWWW! A cute little bunny slug hops up to him. He wants to focus and meditate but he keeps getting distracted because teeny tiny cute things are his absolute weakness!
BABY SHARK'S BIG SHOW!: THE BUNNY SLUG is a Level One "I Can Read" Comic, which means it's perfect for shared reading with young readers new to graphic novel storytelling.
Target age group 4-8 -
Antarctica
Far, far south, in the strange and beautiful land of Antarctica, it is dark both day and night all winter long. When at last spring comes, the penguins and seals raise their young. But, one year, loud, unfamiliar sounds announce the arrival of a new presence -- one the animals hope can share this fragile world with them in peace.
A 1990 New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Book of the Year
Target age group 4-8 -
My Mommy Medicine
MY MOMMY MEDICINE is a picture book about the comfort and love a mama offers when her child isn't feeling well, from renowned author Edwidge Danticat.
"Whenever I am sick,
Or just feel kind of gloomy or sad,
I can always count on my Mommy Medicine."
When a child wakes up not feeling well, it's mommy to the rescue! Her remedy includes a yummy cup of hot chocolate, a cozy bubble bath, unlimited snuggles and cuddles, fun sing-alongs, and all the extra special love and attention a kid could ask for.
Mommy Medicine can heal all woes and make any day the best day!
Award-winning memoirist Edwidge Danticat's rich and lyrical text envelops the reader in the security of a mother's love, and debut artist Shannon Wright's vibrant art infuses the story with even more warmth.
A Parent's Choice Recommended Award Winner 2019
A 2020 Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Books of the Year List
Target age group 3-6 -
Love Rules: A Family's True Story of Adoption and Unconditional Love
When Michael came to live with Andrea and Dave, all he had was one bag and a list of questions. The biggest being: Will I stay?
He met their dog, Rory, and had his favorite dinner. He went camping and started a new school with new friends. All while asking himself the same question: Will I stay? As Michael felt more and more at home, his worry that he would have to leave grew bigger than ever. And finally, one day, he got the answer to his question. And a surprise bigger than he could have dreamed of.
Based on a the true story that captured the hearts of thousands as their courtroom video went viral, Michael, Andrea, and Dave share how they opened their hearts to another in this touching story of adoption and love. Readers will be welcomed into the life of a beautiful new family.
Target age group 4-7 -
I Love You: A Touch And Feel Playbook (Baby Touch) (Board Book)
Say "I Love You" to different animals and objects in this sweet installment of the Baby Touch series.
Touch and feel all kinds of loving animals and objects in this adorable addition to the "Baby Touch" series. From soft lions to shiny mermaids, this immersive board book is filled with heart-shaped holes to look through, bold illustrations, and interactive moments that celebrate family and friendship.
Target age group 0-2 -
Kristy and the Walking Disaster (Baby Sitters Club Graphic #16)
A Baby-sitters Club graphic novel adapted by National Book Award longlister and Eisner-nominated cartoonist Ellen T. Crenshaw!
They're lean, they're mean, they're the pride of Stoneybrook. Who are they? They're Kristy's Krushers!
When Kristy sees how much her little brothers and sister want to play on a softball team, she starts a ragtag team of her own. Maybe Kristy's Krushers aren't world champions (how could they be, with Jackie Rodowsky, walking disaster, playing for them?), but nobody beats them when it comes to team spirit.
Now Bart's Bashers have challenged the Krushers to a game. It's bad enough that the Bashers truly are lean and mean -- but what's worse is that Kristy has a crush on the Bashers' coach! -
Karen's Grandmothers (Baby Sitters Little Sister Graphic #09)
Another graphic novel in this fun series spin-off from The Baby-sitters Club, adapted by newcomer DK Yingst!
When Karen adopts a grandmother from Stoneybrook Manor, she has more grandmas than anyone she knows -- five! Karen thinks that is very special. But Karen's new grandmother is so different! Grandma B makes Karen listen to old music, and she teaches Karen funny dances, like the foxtrot.
Are five grandmothers too many for Karen?
Target age group 7-10 -
My First Brain Quest Colors: A Question And Answer Book (Brain Quest Board Books #03 )
Expand your child's knowledge with this exciting introduction to ten basic colors as they learn through lyrical writing and brilliant illustrations.
MY FIRST BRAIN QUEST: COLORS introduces children to ten basic colors through lively illustrations and a catchy, rhyming text. Each scene features engaging images and focused questions that help the youngest learners count, name objects, and talk about what they see. Smart, colorful, grounded in educational principles, and reviewed by a panel of early learning experts, this board book introduces colors in a fun, memorable way.
Target age group 0-4 -
ABC Dance!: An Animal Alphabet (Hello! Lucky)
Dance through the alphabet from Aardvark to Zebra!
Hey! Is that your toe tapping? Well, go on! Strut your stuff! Shake your boots with newts, lambada with llamas, and slide with sloths!
A lively romp through the alphabet with vibrant art and cheerfully rhyming text, ABC DANCE! is a joy for children and grown-ups to read aloud together. Now get your dancing shoes on!
Target age group 0-4 -
Pocket Piggies I Love You! (Board Book)
"What's the best thing in the world?
I love you more than that!"
Celebrate the most magical feeling of all with those lovable Teacup Pigs of Pennywell Farm. POCKET PIGGIES: I LOVE YOU! is a sweet message of love and affection for little kids -- on Valentine's or any day of the year!
Target age group 0-3 -
Good Night Spencer (Spencer the Cat) (Board Book)
Time for bed, Spencer!
Here are Spencer's pajamas and rubber duckie, toothbrush and a kiss good night. Get ready for bed with your new friend Spencer and learn all the words in his world!
Spencer is a sweet little kitten in a board book shaped just like him! Bright, bold illustrations, simple text, and vocabulary labeled on each page help toddlers with language acquisition.
Target age group 0-4 -
Spencer on the Farm (Spencer the Cat) (Board Book)
Let's go to the farm, Spencer!
Spencer the cat is back in a board book shaped just like him. Here Spencer visits a farm, where he picks vegetables, pets animals, and watches Farmer Maddie ride a tractor. What a beautiful day on the farm for Spencer and his whole family!
Bright, appealing illustrations by Michelle Romo and simple vocabulary words highlighted on every page make this a warm and welcome introduction to farm and farm animals for the youngest readers.
Target age group 0-4 -
Spencer Goes to School (Spencer the Cat) (Board Book)
It's time for school, Spencer!
Spencer the cat is back in a board book shaped just like him. Here Spencer goes to his first day of school, where he meets new friends and a nice teacher, sings the ABC's, and paints a picture in art class: so much fun! Join your new friend Spencer and learn what it's like to go to school.
Bright, appealing illustrations by Michelle Romo and simple vocabulary words highlighted on every page make this a warm and welcome introduction to the idea of school for the youngest readers. It's perfect for children entering preschool or kindergarten.
Target age group 0-4 -
I'm a Figure Skater! (Little Golden Book)
A rhyming Little Golden Book introducing young readers to the joy of figure skating.
"First I wobble, hold the wall.
Coach says it's okay to fall.
Though I'm still a bit unsteady,
I let go. I'm feeling ready."
So begins a young girl's love of figure skating!
This rhyming Little Golden Book is a delightful introduction to skating lessons and a first skating competition. Perfect for all young skaters, or even fans who enjoy watching Olympic skating events. Written by Sue Fliess, the author of the best-selling Little Golden Book I'M A BALLERINA! and illustrated by Nina Mata, the artist behind Olympic gymnast Laurie Hernandez's best-selling picture book.
Target age group 2-5 -
Wash Your Hands! (Baby Shark)
Sing along with Baby Shark!
This storybook is a fun way to help little ones remember an important part of staying safe, especially as they return to daycare and classrooms.
Sing along with Baby Shark and friends as they wash their fins! Then after their fins are squeaky clean, Baby Shark also shows us how to cover our sneezes and keep ourselves and everyone around us happy and healthy.
This official title, fully endorsed by Pinkfong and Nickelodeon, is based on characters from the YouTube global phenomenon with over 4.4 billion views.
This storybook is an excellent tool for readers ages 3 to 6 and their caregivers, as it teaches the important steps of washing your hands. A good choice for parents and teachers looking for reassuring, fun ways to guide and reassure children. Like such books as Lucy's Mask, BABY SHARK: WASH YOUR HANDS! is a book to share as a fun story while also gently providing important guidance.
Target age group 4-8 -
Little Bat Up All Day
Little Bat has never stayed up all day before! How does the world look when he's normally asleep? This sweet, sunny picture book from New York Times best-selling and Caldecott Honor-winning Brian Lies is a charming story of new experiences and new friends.
Little Bat always goes to sleep at the end of the night. But what if he stayed up all day? He's excited to see how everything looks in the sun!
It turns out the world is a much different place during the day, when Little Bat is normally sleeping. It's hot, bright, and noisy. Luckily, Rusty the Squirrel is willing to show Little Bat around. But when these new, fast friends separate at the end of the day, how will they stay in touch when one is usually awake while the other is asleep?
With his signature gorgeous artwork, New York Times bestseller and Caldecott Honor winner Brian Lies brings his expressive bats back for the youngest readers.
Target age group 4-7 -
Little Critter: Fall Storybook Favorites (Little Critter)
Little Critter fans will love this hardcover storybook collection that features seven best-loved stories starring Critter -- now with a sticker sheet!
Join this classic character as he celebrates his favorite teacher, attends a fall festival, visits the firehouse, and so much more. Fans of Little Critter's signature charm will love these autumn adventures.
This collection includes the following books, complete and unabridged:
THE FALL FESTIVAL
THE BEST TEACHER EVER
GOING TO THE FIREHOUSE
THE BEST SHOW & SHARE
SNOWBALL SOUP
THE LOST DINOSAUR BONE
JUST CRITTERS WHO CARE
Target age group 4-8 -
Hoop Dance Heroes! (Spirit Rangers) (Little Golden Book)
A Little Golden Book based on the exciting new Netflix preschool animated series "Spirit Rangers!"
Kodi, Summer, and Eddy are putting on a Hoop Dancing Show at Xus Park! But first, the kids head to the Spirit Park to learn how to hoop dance from the spirits and discover that you can never skip the basics and that practice makes perfect!
Readers ages 2 to 5 will love this Little Golden Book about patience and practice based on the Netflix show "Spirit Rangers," complete with beautiful full-color illustrations!
Created by Samala Chumash descendent, Karissa Valencia, Spirit Rangers is a fantasy-adventure preschool series following Native American sibling trio Kodiak, Summer and Eddy Skycedar, who have a shared secret -- they're Spirit Rangers!
Spirit Rangers protect every crook, cranny and critter of Spirit Park. With the blessing of the Chumash and Cowlitz tribes, we'll join the Skycedar kids on their amazing adventures with spirits inspired by Indigenous stories.
Little Golden Books enjoy nearly 100\% consumer recognition. They feature beloved classics, hot licenses, and new original stories... the classics of tomorrow.
Target age group 2-5 -
Leopard Behind the Moon
No one knows what lies beyond the magical village door, but Ezomo is determined to find out. Mayonn Paasewe-Valchev's debut is an unforgettable coming-of-age story about friendship, family, and long-standing traditions. The power of storytelling comes to life in this novel perfect for fans of Erin Entrada Kelly, Tracey Baptiste, and Tae Keller.
There are three important laws in Ezomo's village: Do not go to The Valley, do not go out at night, and never, ever, ever open the magical door that protects them all. But when Ezomo encounters the leopard believed to have killed his father, he and his two best friends embark on a journey that leads them past the boundaries set by their elders.
With his friends by his side, Ezomo chases after the leopard, certain that it has the power to cure all. But in the process, he discovers the truth about his village. And that cautionary tales exist for a reason.
Mayonn Paasewe-Valchev's debut novel balances a gripping adventure with themes of friendship, community, identity, grief, and resilience. Poignant and memorable, Ezomo's story will appeal to fantasy lovers and readers of Grace Lin and Kelly Barnhill.
"A beautifully rendered coming-of-age story." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Target age group 8-12 -
Ashfall Legacy
Pittacus Lore finished telling the story of the Lorien Nine in the New York Times best-selling I AM NUMBER FOUR and "Lorien Legacies Reborn" series. Now he's back to recount an all-new adventure rooted in the real mysteries surrounding Roswell, New Mexico, that will enthrall fans of Brandon Sanderson, Jay Kristoff, and Amie Kaufman.
We have waited generations for you...
Syd Chambers knows that there's life on other planets because he's descended from it. His father was from a distant world called Denza and has been missing -- presumed dead -- for years.
When Syd discovers a device his father left behind which shows not only that he's alive, but where he is, Syd must set out on a mission of his own. But along the way, he discovers a deadly, unbearable secret that could destroy Denza, Earth, and the universe.
Target age group 13 and up -
Chorus Rises (Song Below Water #02)
Meet Naema Bradshaw: a beautiful Eloko, once Portland-famous, now infamous, as she navigates a personal and public reckoning where confronting the limits of her privilege will show Naema what her magic really is, and who it makes her.
Teen influencer Naema Bradshaw has it all: she's famous, stylish, gorgeous -- and she's an Eloko, a charismatic person gifted with a melody that people adore. Everyone loves her -- until she's cast as the villain who exposed a Siren to the whole world.
Dragged by the media, and canceled by her fans, no one understands her side: not her boyfriend, not her friends, not even her fellow Eloko. Villified by those closest to her, Naema heads to the Southwest where she is determined to stage a comeback... to her family, her real self, and the truth about her magic. What she finds is a new community in a flourishing group of online fans who support her.
At first, it feels like it used to -- the fandom, the adoration, the community that takes her side -- but when her online advocates start targeting other Black girls, Naema will realize that -- for Black girls like her -- even the privilege of fame has its limits. And only Naema can discover the true purpose of her power, and how to use it.
Target age group 15 and up -
Little Bad Book (Little Bad Book #01)
With tricky puzzles, funny riddles, and eerily funny stories, this interactive middle grade book allows the reader to become a part of the plot!
This is all about YOU -- yes, I am talking to YOU.
Your help is needed. Act NOW! Pick up and start this book no matter what else you are doing. Don't be a goody-goody and wait for the right time -- the right time is this minute! Come on, do it! Make a decision! Who cares what the adults or others say? You can start by helping me be bad -- even evil! Yah, YOU! But don't worry, because we won't get punished -- no, we'll have fun! Guaranteed FUN.
This Little Bad Book you have discovered has dreams and aspirations, but it needs help from YOU, the reader. You will find eerily funny stories packed with challenging puzzles and riddles and fantastic drawings and images. Only you, the reader, can help this little bad book get what you both want -- a surprisingly terrific time together. Get started! It's up to you, and you can do it!
Target age group 8-12 -
Children of the Stone City
A powerful novel by Carnegie Medal-winning author Beverley Naidoo that is in turns heart-wrenching, infuriating, and inspiring -- and at its core, a call to readers to make a better world than they have found.
Adam and his sister, Leila, are Nons -- second-class citizens, living under the Permitted ruling class. Though their life in the Stone City is filled with family, stories, and music, they must carefully follow the rules, have all paperwork on hand, and never, ever do anything to anger a Permitted. When their father unexpectedly dies, they are even restricted in how they are allowed to grieve.
Soon, Adam and Leila are back to school and practicing music again. But when Adam's friend Zak plays a bold prank on a group of Permitted boys, and Adam is implicated in Zak's "crime," Adam knows their lives will never be the same again.
Not to be missed by any reader who was moved by Veera Hiranandani's THE NIGHT DIARY or Alan Gratz's REFUGEE.
Target age group 13 and up -
Becket List (Blackberry Farm #01)
Everything is changing for Becket Branch.
From subways to sidewalks to safety rules, she is a city kid born and raised. Now the Branch family is trading urban bustle for big green fields and moving to help their gran on Blackberry Farm, where Becket has to make sense of new routines, from feeding animals to baling hay.
But Becket is ready! She even makes her own "Becket List" for "How to Be a Country Kid." Things don't always work out the way she planned, but whether it's selling mouth-puckering lemonade, feeding hostile hens, or trying to make a new best friend, Becket is determined to use her city smarts to get a grip on country living.
Get ready to yell "Beautiful Alert!" along with Becket as she mucks through the messy, exuberant experience of change she didn't ask for, in a story that sparkles with quirky characters, cheerful humor, and unexpected adventures.
"Charming and beautifully humorous... A sparkling story of weathering change." --Booklist, starred review
Target age group 7-11 -
Winnie Zeng Unleashes a Legend (Winnie Zeng)
An epic new fantasy series inspired by Chinese mythology that #1 New York Times best-selling author Kwame Mbalia calls "a hilarious tussle between homework, family, and heroism." When a girl awakens the stuff of legends from an old family recipe, she must embrace her extraordinary heritage to save the world.
Winnie Zeng has two goals: survive her first year of middle school and outdo her stuck-up archnemesis, David Zuo. It won't be easy, since, according to her older sister, middle school is the pits. Luckily, Winnie studied middle school survival tactics in comic books and anime, and nothing will stop her from being the very best student.
But none of Winnie's research has prepared her to face the mother of all hurdles: evil spirits. When she makes mooncakes for a class bake sale, she awakens the stuff of legends from her grandmother's old cookbook, spilling otherworldly chaos into her sleepy town.
Suddenly Winnie finds herself in a race against time, vanquishing demons instead of group projects. Armed with a magic cookbook and a talking white rabbit, she must embrace her new powers and legacy of her ancestors. Because if she doesn't, her town -- and rest of the world -- may fall to chaos forever.
Target age group 8-12 -
Six of Crows (Six of Crows #01)
See the Grishaverse come to life on screen with the Netflix series, "Shadow and Bone" -- Season 2 streaming now!
A convict with a thirst for revenge.
A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.
A runaway with a privileged past.
A spy known as the Wraith.
A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.
A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.
Meet Kaz Brekker and his crew: Jesper, Inej, Wylan, and the star-crossed Nina and Matthias, on the heist of a lifetime in Six of Crows from #1 best-selling author, Leigh Bardugo.
Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price -- and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone...
Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz's crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction -- if they don't kill each other first.
SIX OF CROWS by Leigh Bardugo returns to the breathtaking world of the Grishaverse in this unforgettable tale about the opportunity -- and the adventure -- of a lifetime.
Target age group 12-18 -
We Are Better Together
From environmentalist and best-selling author Bill McKibben comes a hopeful, inspiring picture book celebrating the power of human cooperation and the beauty of life on Earth, beautifully illustrated by artist Stevie Lewis.
When we work together, we humans can do incredible things. We share the responsibility to address climate change and our changing planet. It is critical that we act collectively to protect our beautiful, fragile world.
Renowned environmentalist Bill McKibben and the incredibly talented artist Stevie Lewis team up to bring this gorgeous picture book to life. Celebrating the amazing things people can do, it's an inspiring message of hope.
Target age group 4-8 -
Let's Go Swimming on Doomsday
Forced to become a child soldier, a sixteen-year-old Somali refugee must confront his painful past in this haunting, thrilling tale of loss and redemption for fans of A Long Way Gone and What is the What.
When Abdi's family is kidnapped, he's forced to do the unthinkable: become a child soldier with the ruthless jihadi group Al Shabaab. In order to save the lives of those he loves, and earn their freedom, Abdi agrees to be embedded as a spy within the militia's ranks and to send dispatches on their plans to the Americans.
The jihadists trust Abdi immediately because his older brother, Dahir, is already one of them, protégé to General Idris, aka the Butcher. If Abdi's duplicity is discovered, he will be killed. For weeks, Abdi trains with them, witnessing atrocity after atrocity, becoming a monster himself, wondering if he's even pretending anymore.
He only escapes after he is forced into a suicide bomber's vest, which still leaves him stumps where two of his fingers used to be and his brother near death. Eventually, he finds himself on the streets of Sangui City, Kenya, stealing what he can find to get by, sleeping nights in empty alleyways, wondering what's become of the family that was stolen from him. But everything changes when Abdi's picked up for a petty theft, which sets into motion a chain reaction that forces him to reckon with a past he's been trying to forget.
In this riveting, unflinching tale of sacrifice and hope, critically-acclaimed author Natalie C. Anderson delivers another tour-de-force that will leave readers at the edge of their seats.
Target age group 12 and up -
Wishtree
From #1 New York Times best-selling author of ODDER and THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN, WISHTREE is the beautiful, nuanced story of an oak tree and a crow who help their neighbors embrace their differences.
Trees can't tell jokes, but they can certainly tell stories...
Red is an oak tree who is many rings old. Red is the neighborhood "wishtree" -- people write their wishes on pieces of cloth and tie them to Red's branches. Along with a crow named Bongo and other animals who seek refuge in Red's hollows, this wishtree watches over the neighborhood.
You might say Red has seen it all. Until a new family moves in. Not everyone is welcoming, and Red's experience as a wishtree is more important than ever.
Funny, deep, warm, and nuanced, this is Katherine Applegate at her very best -- writing from the heart, and from a completely unexpected point of view.
This book has Common Core connections.
Target age group 8-12 -
It Sounded Better in My Head
From debut author Nina Kenwood comes a tender and funny love letter to coming of age, and first love and its confusions, perfect for fans of BOOKSMART and TO ALL THE BOYS I'VE LOVED BEFORE.
When her parents announce their impending divorce, Natalie can't understand why no one is fighting, or at least mildly upset. Then Zach and Lucy, her two best friends, hook up, leaving her feeling slightly miffed and decidedly awkward. She'd always imagined she would end up with Zach one day -- in the version of her life that played out like a TV show, with just the right amount of banter, pining, and meaningful looks. Now everything has changed, and nothing is quite making sense. And then, an unexpected romance with Zach's older brother comes along and shakes things up even further...
A 2021 William C. Morris YA Debut Award Finalist
Target age group 12-18 -
Pavi Sharma's Guide to Going Home (Hardcover)
"The Fosters" meets THE GREAT GILLY HOPKINS in this moving novel of a young girl who as sets off on an important mission to save a fellow foster kid from the home that still haunts her nightmares.
Twelve-year-old Pavi Sharma is an expert at the Front Door Face: the perfect mix of puppy dog eyes and a lemonade smile, the exact combination to put foster parents at ease as they open their front door to welcome you in. After being bounced around between foster families and shelter stays, Pavi is a foster care expert, and she runs a "business" teaching other foster kids all she has learned. With a wonderful foster family in mom Marjorie and brother Hamilton, things are looking up for Pavi.
Then Pavi meets Meridee: a new five-year-old foster kid, who is getting placed at Pavi's first horrendous foster home. Pavi knows no one will trust a kid about what happened on Lovely Lane, even one as mature as she is, so it's up to her to save Meridee.
With help from Hamilton, brooding eighth grader Santos, and Hamilton's somewhat obnoxious BFF Piper, they set off on an important mission with life-changing stakes. Pavi will stop at nothing to keep Meridee safe.
Target age group 8-12 -
Civil War Battleship: The Monitor (Penguin Young Readers Level 4)
The U.S.S. Monitor was an entirely new type of warship when it launched in 1862. Dubbed "the forefather of the modern Navy," this ironclad ship changed how wars are fought at sea. But on New Year's Eve, 1862, it sank off the coast of North Carolina in a terrible storm. No one thought the Monitor could be raised, but after 140 years, parts of the ironclad have finally been brought to the surface.
This book chronicles the Monitor's revolutionary design, exciting battle, and intriguing excavation.
Illustrated by Larry Day.
Target age group 8-9 -
Because You're Mine
Best-selling author/artist Nancy Tillman celebrates the lifelong bond between parent and child. Not just about newborns, BECAUSE YOU'RE MINE stands as a testament to a parent's protection and support of their child through all ages and stages.
"The clouds can blow, the wind can call,
the snow can come, the rain can fall --
but they'll just have to wait in line...
Because you're mine. Because you're mine."
Like LOVE YOU FOREVER, this is sure to be an evergreen gift and a new classic.
Target age group 4-8 -
Bedtime for Bad Kitty (Bad Kitty)
This new picture book in Nick Bruel's best-selling "Bad Kitty" series is sure to be a bedtime favorite, complete with a paper doll activity kit!
It's bedtime in the Bad Kitty household but Kitty does not want to go to bed.
"She doesn't want to brush her teeth.
She doesn't want to put on her bunny pajamas.
She doesn't want to use the potty.
What she wants to do is:
SING SING SING SING SING
PLAY PLAY PLAY PLAY PLAY
RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN"
Finally, when she runs out of ideas (and energy) and is promised a perfect bedtime story, Kitty gives in... but can she stay awake for the ending?
Target age group 2-5