Collection: Children

For fans of BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE and COYOTE SUNRISE

Humor and heart, along with a life-changing friendship make this perfect for SUMMER READING

Maisie is still reeling from the loss of her dad when her mom deposits her with Aunt Gertie at the start of summer in Heaven, TX. Population: tiny. Gertie is nothing but nice, but Maisie doesn't want to be there - surrounded by cactus and tumbleweeds.

Thankfully, the Heaven Library is well air-conditioned. Here, Charlene the librarian offers Maisie much-needed solace and book recommendations. Then Maisie meets another actual kid, Walt Wise, Aunt Gertie's nearest neighbor. As she and Walt work odd jobs together and become friends, they also stumble upon a stealth campaign to develop one of Heaven's most beloved natural resources.

As Maisie and Walt research the development plan, they also uncover a long-buried, life-changing secret about Maisie's family. This secret, along with an explosive event at the Heaven County Fair, will turn a sleepy summer into one Maisie and Walt will never forget.

This fresh, smart, and funny young adult debut with a speculative twist asks the question: What if Mother Nature was a teenage girl?

Who is Chloe Lovejoy, really? A straight-C student, a girl with a crush on the cutie from chorus, an all-powerful being responsible for taking care of the planet . . . or perhaps all three. That's what Chloe finds out on her sixteenth birthday, when she unexpectedly inherits the role of Mother Nature from her grandmother. Chloe is overwhelmed, to say the least. Then, when the unthinkable happens, and Grandma is no longer around to guide her, Chloe is left to oversee the natural laws of the world all by herself.

Between managing earthquakes and hurricanes, rivals at school, and her not-very-helpful mother, Chloe tries to maintain balance and harmony on Earth and in her everyday life. But someone in the community has an eye toward harnessing her powers for nefarious purposes, which means Chloe needs to dig deep and get her act together before her secret is found out. After all, the universe is depending on her.

Force of Nature by Melissa Clark is an utterly unique coming of age story about a teen girl rising to the occasion, even when she feels completely in over her head.

Dear Black Boy
You will teach the world
How to shine brightly
Just by being yourself

Celebrate the imagination, hard work, laughter, and dreams of Black boys with this expressive, empowering text from poet and author Mahogany L. Browne. With vibrant illustrations from artist Sawyer Cloud, this picture book is perfect for honoring big milestones and finding joy in everyday moments--a heartwarming and jubilant love letter to Black boys everywhere.

New York Times bestselling author Andy Griffiths invites readers to come hang out with him and his friend Terry Denton in their 26-Story Treehouse--filled with Andy and Terry's signature slapstick humor!

Special collector's edition, now in stunning full color!

Andy and Terry live in a 26-story treehouse. (It used to be 13 stories, but they've expanded.) It has a bumper car rink, a skate ramp, an antigravity chamber, an ice cream parlor with 78 flavors, and the Maze of Doom--a maze so complicated that nobody who has gone in has ever come out again. Well, not yet, anyway.

This time, the two friends have a whole week to finish their next book, and Andy even knows what it should be about--the story of how he and Terry first met. But, life is NEVER boring in the treehouse, and emergency shark operations, giant storms, and wooden pirate heads are just the beginning....

This title has Common Core connections.

Read the whole series!
The 13-Story Treehouse
The 39-Story Treehouse
The 52-Story Treehouse
The 65-Story Treehouse
The 78-Story Treehouse
The 91-Story Treehouse
The 104-Story Treehouse
The 117-Story Treehouse
The 130-Story Treehouse
The 143-Story Treehouse
The 156-Story Treehouse
The 169-Story Treehouse

Also by Andy Griffiths
The Treehouse Fun Book
The Treehouse Joke Book
Tales from the Treehouse
You and Me and the Land of Lost Things

A poignant, powerful picture book about an old triceratops who befriends a prehistoric bird during the last days of the dinosaurs, perfect for fans of The Land Before Time and Big Cat, Little Cat.

A lonely dinosaur had one wish: to care for another.

When she saves an injured bird, a friendship begins. Together, they feast, play, and roam a vast and vibrant land.

But when the bright flash of a meteor lights up the sky, the world around them begins to change.

So the dinosaur and the bird make a new wish: for life to continue. Because hope holds on with a friend by your side.

From award-winning author Richard Ho and rising star illustrator Jamie Green, comes a gorgeous and heartrending picture book about friendship, loss, and the beauty of an everlasting bond.

Mary Beth doesn't quite fit in with her family of ogres. She's not green. She's not gross. She's not scary.

But when Mary Beth has to stand up for herself and her family, she finds out she knows more than she thinks about how to be a proper ogre.

This hilarious modern fable about belonging and finding one's voice is sure to entertain readers of all ages.

Seasonal work at the fairgrounds for most summers means Seraphina, James, Avory, and Cassi are all experienced in fair life. Beloved traditions keep the best friends plenty busy. For them, this is more than just a summer vacation in Knox County, Maine. These are the best months of the year. This is their fair.

But it seems like everyone is distracted. James is having trouble at his new school. Avory is feeling smaller than ever. Cassi just wants to be left alone, but that's hard when your dad is caught in a scandal that leads to more eyes on her that she's never dreamed of. And Seraphina is afraid she'll never get over the accident no one knows about. To make matters worse, there's a new fair manager - a community outsider - who seems determined to take away what is special about their fair. This summer is feeling a little too different. With two months ahead of them, the four friends need to find a way not just to survive their own inner turmoil, but to help their fair community thrive.

For fans of Creepy Crayon!, Vampurr is a spooky and hilarious picture book about an adopted vampire kitty who finds the purr-fect home. A fang-tastic read aloud!

MEET VAMPURR.
Her fur shines blacker than a raven's feathers.
Her eyes glow greener than a witch's brew.
But most unusual of all are her long, needle-sharp fangs.
This is her story...

Born among tombstones beneath the blood moon's light, a vampire kitten longs to find a loving home like her siblings who were adopted right away. But her unusual appearance and abilities send visitors fleeing the cemetery in fright. Until one night, an eerie fog rolls in, bringing with it an unexpected new friend.

Vampurr is a laugh-out-loud funny picture book that celebrates people loving you just the way you are.

Monsters, magic, and mischief abound once more in the spellbinding sequel to Where There Be Monsters, perfect for fans of The Marvellers and Amari and the Night Brothers.

Glory Brown is finally set to start her training as a junior spherinaut at the Parliamentarium. Will she turn out to be an owl, a bee, a fox, or a magpie, like her mama? She's been waiting a lifetime for this adventure . . . and yet all she wants to do is make her family proud and try not to be homesick for the Seam and all its charm.

As Glory struggles to find her place as the new kid--one with a lot of questions and a soft spot for monsters--she's also coping with the after-effects of Paxton's treachery, like the curse that still plagues her. In fact, the worlds of the Outersphere are all in the process of recovering--and Glory suspects they haven't seen the last of Paxton, either.

When top secret spherinautical charts go missing, parcels are tampered with, and the pocket-orreries go haywire, the Parliamentarium of Junior Spherinauts plunges into chaos. Now, Glory, Marcus, and their new friends must work together to figure out who the thief is and if they have what it takes to save the worlds again.

In this hilarious picture book readers will meet a bear, a hare, and some hair.

A fuzzy brown bear and a fluffy pink hare disagree.

About hair.

Neither wants to go bare!

Will they be able to share?

With a few words used masterfully, and funny, expressive art, author illustrator Jeff Mack has created a pure delight of a picture book.

Beneath ocean waves there exists a fascinating and vital ecosystem. Underwater meadows, teaming with vibrant life, sway and ripple in the currents. Welcome to the wonders of seagrass.

These underwater flowering plants evolved from land plants millions of years ago. Often called "the lungs of the sea," seagrass meadows are found on every continent except Antarctica. Within this ecosystem is an abundance of marine life, including many species of fish, mammals, reptiles, and invertebrates. And beyond providing shelter and food for these inhabitants and visitors, seagrass plays an important role in the health of our planet. Seagrass lessens the effects of climate change and even helps filter out plastics and pollutants awash in the ocean. But this important ecosystem is under threat from many human activities. It's time to pay attention to this vital space on Earth.

Through lyrical text and ethereal artwork, the wonders of the awe-inspiring world of seagrass comes to life for young readers. Back matter includes information about the diverse species making their homes in seagrass, along with a glossary of terms.

Extra! Extra! New York Times bestselling author and Fox News senior correspondent Benjamin Hall reminds readers that we all have the power to make a difference in this heartwarming picture book about a hedgehog tasked with warning the forest about a hungry bear.

Hedgehog can't wait to be big enough to report the news like his dad does. So when he notices that a baby owl has fallen out of a tree and is in serious trouble, Hedgehog doesn't hesitate to spring into action! But can a little hedgehog like him save the day and warn the forest in time?

From award-winning senior correspondent Benjamin Hall, the New York Times bestselling author of Saved and Resolute, comes a heartwarming story, inspired by the toy his daughters gave him to carry whenever he was reporting away from home, about speaking up and daring to make a difference.

A fun, high-stakes true crime story story set in the Wild West, featuring spot art and comics throughout. Perfect for fans of MONA LISA VANISHES!

"Steve Sheinkin is more than an author--he's a time traveler whose deep research and fabulous writing whisk readers on thrilling rides through history. Kids will be transfixed by this unbelievable-but-true story of Gilded Age diamond hunters, swindlers, and train robbers. It is one of my absolute favorites!" --Lauren Tarshis, bestselling author of the I SURVIVED series

"A rollicking--and well-researched--adventure story... A sparkling accomplishment. " -- Kirkus, starred review

Late one night two travel-weary miners, Philip Arnold and John Slack, show up at a businessman's office in San Francisco. The miners seem nervous. They've got something that needs to be locked in a safe overnight. What is it? Well, that really has to stay secret, but it's...

DIAMONDS! And lots of them.

Had these two miners just discovered America's first diamond mine? Well, this is the Gold Rush era after all. Plenty of people are striking it rich. Anything is possible.

When word of the find hits the streets, diamond fever sweeps the country. Wealthy investors are desperate to elbow Arnold and Slack aside and seize control--but can they persuade the miners to reveal the location of their bonanza? At the same time, thousands of prospectors fan out across the mountains and deserts of the West--will one of them find the site before greedy bankers grab everything for themselves?

In this page-turning, high-stakes western adventure, New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Steve Sheinkin tells the true story of the Great Diamond Hoax of 1872, a rollicking tale of heists and hijinks, scams and scoundrels--and the last-minute triumph of a most unlikely hero.

"Charming, zany, and a whole lot of fun--Cursed Ever After is a breath of fresh air." --Margaret Owen, New York Times-bestselling author of the Little Thieves and the Merciful Crow series

Cursed Ever After is a dazzling romantic fantasy debut brimming with snark, humor, and banter-filled romance perfect for fans of The Princess Bride and Once Upon a Broken Heart.

Love is not for cursed girls. Risa is better off without it.

Risa Porto is a Bad Thing who was born on a Bad Day and is cursed with Bad Luck. After years of taking the blame for every calamity, mishap, and minor inconvenience that befalls the townspeople of Barrow, Risa longs to escape her village. And on her seventeenth birthday, her wish is granted.

Sort of.

Risa owes a (very annoying) witch a favor, and it comes in the form of a quest: She must escort Prince Javi--the youngest, handsomest, and least significant of the kingdom's princes--through the dark (and deadly) Bosque to his wedding. This measly errand quickly spirals into a struggle with greedy assassins, a murderous cult, a vicious tyrant, and Risa's own curse.

Most unfortunate of all . . .

Risa is not immune to Javi's charms. The more time she spends with the prince, the stronger--and more irritating--her urge to kiss him becomes.

Don't miss this action-packed, Latinx subverted fairytale!

Count along with Ten Little Butterflies and watch as they disappear!

Ten little butterflies in the bright sunshine, along comes a ladybug and then there are...nine.?Learning to count has never been more fun. This unique board book counts from ten little butterflies all the way down to one with adorable illustrations. With each page, one more butterfly disappears. To demonstrate this concept, this book uses tactile butterfly buttons to help children count how many little butterflies are left as the story progresses. Follow along with the easy rhythm and rhymes of this story and let your child touch the colorful, built-in butterfly toys for a creative, hands-on approach to counting. Start young ones on a lifetime of loving reading and learning with Ten Little Butterflies.

"A mesmerizing invitation to embrace night's beauty--great for bedtime shelves and budding naturalists alike." --Kirkus, starred review

From the author of More Than Words and Together, a Forest comes a breathtaking new picture book, perfect for bedtime, about the wonders of the dark.

When the lights are out, the world transforms into shadows and endless night sky. We go from seeing what is around us to uncertainty. It's natural to feel nervous or scared, but the dark holds so many discoveries, if we only know where to look.

Within cocoons, caterpillars become moths. Bears rest in dens, waiting for warmer months. Sea creatures swim in depths that the light never touches. Beyond the stars, in the unexplored expanse of the universe, mystery and wonder call to us.

In accessible, lyrical text, Do You Know the Dark? offers new ways to think about the unknowns of darkness, appreciating its gifts of rest, regeneration, and possibility. Beyond what we can perceive in the daylight, could there be beauty we had never thought to imagine?