Recommended Reads
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Desert Song
A family joins the music of the Texas desert night in this tale of tradition and memory from Pura Belpré Honor author Laekan Zea Kemp.
It starts with a soft tapping,
Uncle Eduardo drumming his
hands against his dusty jeans.
As the blush of sunset gives way to night in the desert, coyotes, cicadas, and barn owls emerge, each calling out to the moon. Watching from their porch, the family joins the song. One by one, each relative offers their drums, flute, maracas, strings, and voices.
They sing with the insects, birds, snakes and toads; and they sing with their ancestors, an audience glittering in the stars overhead. With each strum of passed-down instruments, memories renew, and those gone are alive and near again.
Desert Song hums and chimes with all the music a front porch and the desert beyond can hold. Pura Belpré Honor author Laekan Zea Kemp’s masterfully stirring text dances through Beatriz Gutierrez Hernandez’s enchanting and dynamic artwork. Readers will be left with the soothing sense that when creativity flourishes, the past is never out of reach, and the bonds that matter never break.
Simultaneously published in Spanish as Canción del desierto. -
Big Bear and Little Bear Go Fishing
An unhurried fishing trip, with blueberry scones in tow, introduces a new bear duo sure to charm fans of Little Bear and Frog and Toad.
One day Big Bear says to Little Bear,
I’m just in the mood for fishing.
Me, too, says Little Bear. Just in the mood.
With this decided, Big Bear and Little Bear are off… almost. First they need the right attire, poles in a red wagon, a basket of freshly-baked scones, and a good book to read. It’s unclear how much real fishing will get done today, but one thing’s for sure: there will be a cozy nap in the hammock at the end.
Adults who grew up with classic stories about friendship and caring will feel an immediate resonance in the low-stakes adventures of these two adorable bears. Amy Hest’s wry text sets a pitch-perfect mood, and Caldecott Medalist Erin Stead brings fine art to each bucolic illustration. Big Bear and Little Bear Go Fishing is a treat for all ages and is sure to find a treasured place on shelves for years to come.
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection -
A Bear, a Fish, and a Fishy Wish
From the creators of A Bear, a Bee, and a Honey Tree comes another fun-to-read romp featuring lovable, hungry Bear. This time, he’s after a determined fish, who has an altogether different plan!
Readers of the beloved A Bear, a Bee, and a Honey Tree met a bear who longed for honey, but never got to eat any. In this boisterous follow-up, will Bear’s luck change? He’s spotted a fish! And his wish? To gobble up this delicious fish dish, of course! Sadly for Bear, this is no ordinary fish—he’s a homesick fellow determined to get back upstream where he belongs. Once again, Daniel Bernstrom and Brandon James Scott show off their deep understanding of what makes kids laugh. The longing, the chase, the action, and splash—and the delightfully tongue twisting text—will have kids asking to hear this story again and again. With just a few words and page after page of fantastic expressions, A Bear, a Fish, and a Fishy Wish has the madcap energy and playfulness that keeps kids riveted—as they learn to read! -
The Yellow Bus
Perfect for fans of Love and Hello, Lighthouse, The Yellow Bus from #1 New York Times bestselling Loren Long is a tender and hopeful new classic about a forgotten school bus that finds happiness and purpose in the most unexpected places--and in the journey along the way.
There is a bright yellow bus who spends her days driving. She loves carrying children from one important place to another. Every morning they climb in... Pitter-patter, pitter-patter, giggle, giggle-patter. And they fill her with joy.
As time passes, things change. The Yellow Bus gets a new driver, a new route, and new passengers, young and old. Until one day the driving stops for good, and the Yellow Bus is left on her own. And yet, no matter where she is, the Yellow Bus still finds joy and discovery in the world around her.
With stirring black-and-white artwork and powerful pops of color, The Yellow Bus is a poignant reflection on the many new beginnings life has to offer. -
Being Home
From Sibert Honor–winning author Traci Sorell and Caldecott Medal–winning artist Michaela Goade comes a heartwarming picture book about a Native American family and the joy of moving back to their ancestral land.
Today is a day of excitement—it’s time to move! As a young Cherokee girl says goodbye to the swing, the house, and the city she's called home her whole life, she readies herself for the upcoming road trip. While her mother drives, the girl draws the changing landscape outside her window. She looks forward to the end of the journey, where she'll eat the feast her family has prepared, play in the creek with her cousins, and settle into the new rhythm of home.
With warm, expressive artwork and spare, lyrical prose, the story of a young girl’s move toward rather than away from home unfolds. -
What the Garden Tells Me
There’s nothing like stepping into a garden and connecting with nature, and readers will revel in the pages of this beautiful picture book that celebrates these wondrous and inspiring places!
Gardens are glorious places blossoming with joy, wonder, and wisdom too. Whether it’s greeting the possibilities of each sunrise with the daylilies or appreciating what makes us as unique as the polkadot plant; whether it’s contemplating life’s thorns with the roses or standing as tall as a sunflower, spending time in nature can give us new ways of seeing. This flora-filled ode will inspire readers to observe the plants around them and appreciate the things that make each one—and each of us—special. -
Oh, Are You Awake?
For anyone who has ever craved sleep--and anyone too full of energy to settle down--a comedy from Bob Shea, creator of the popular Dinosaur vs. series, and singular illustrator Jarvis.
It's sleepy time for Lion and Penguin. Correction: it should be sleepy time for Lion and Penguin, but Lion's eyes aren't tired, and his ears would like a story. Penguin, however, is tired and nods off into sweet candy dreams--until a noise wakes him. "Oh, are you awake?" asks Lion sweetly, seated before a drum set. "Let's have that story, then!" "Not now. It is time to close your eyes and dream dreams." And so it goes, with an ever-more-disgruntled Penguin trying to nod off while an exuberant Lion innocently practices his drumming, bounces on his squeaky trampoline, and munches on his crunchy chips. Will Penguin need to resort to extreme measures to get his friend to sleep, or has the answer been there all along? Bob Shea's signature wit, delivered only in dialogue, and Jarvis's unassuming, retro art and knack for visual humor are sure to delight young readers--and their caregivers--whether at naptime, bedtime, or anytime. -
Bunny Should Be Sleeping
Bunny can’t sleep because Dad forgot to check on him, so he sets out to check on Dad.
Bunny should be sleeping, but instead, he is waiting for Dad to come check on him. Dad always checks on him, but tonight, Dad is late.
Soon Dad will come. He will come in the night
to check on his little Bunny. Come on, Dad!
Check on me, check on me, check on me!
Bunny can’t wait anymore— he needs his dad! Slipping out of bed, Bunny packs a wagon of everything Dad might need: some water, a blanket, a snack, and their favorite book to share. Down the hall and through the dark, Bunny finds Dad fast asleep, oblivious to all the supplies Bunny offers him.
At last, Bunny resorts to a tap on the nose to wake Dad up. Dad checks on Bunny, and Bunny checks on Dad, who is happy to see him, if still groggy. They read their special book, and all is right with the world again.
Bestselling author Amy Hest teams up with Renata Liwska, illustrator of Deborah Underwood’s The Quiet Book, for a bedtime book as adorable and warm as two sleepy bunnies. Sure to soothe children dubious about staying in their rooms alone at night, Bunny Should Be Sleeping reminds young readers that they are safe and loved even when the house is dark and quiet. -
If You Spot a Shell
A stunning companion to If You Find a Leaf, this cheery picture book captures the excitement of summer and encourages children to see their collected seashells in an entirely new way. The artist incorporates real shells into her exquisite illustrations.
A warm summer breeze and the gentle waves of the ocean wash ashore many different types of shells. In this story a girl collects shells and thinks of all the magnificent things they can be turned into with a little creativity. She imagines one shell as a swimming cap for diving into the crashing waves, another as a magical kaleidoscope, one as a rocket ship to take her way up high and another as a submarine for exploring the wonders of the world below. The girl draws inspiration from the unique beauty of each and every shell.
In this joyous celebration of a day at the beach, artist Aimee Sicuro uses real shells she’s hand selected to make her oh-so-charming illustrations. Any young reader who turns the pages of this beautiful book will be inspired to use their own imagination as they comb the beach for shells this summer. -
Duck Duck Taco Truck
It's a summer showdown at the beach as two taco slinging ducks see their turf taken over by an enterprising goose. This rollicking, rhyming, beachy read-aloud is sure to bring on lots of giggles.
"Duck. Duck. Taco truck. Working hard to make a buck."
Two food trucks staffed by sworn enemies: ducks vs. geese. Before you can say "curly fries", these two rivals are in an epic food truck face-off. "Battle on! At dawn, we ride!"
But soon, Goose becomes overwhelmed by hangry crowds. He sure could use some extra wings to help out! Will these foes find a solution and become feathered friends?
This clever, high-energy, taco tale, packed with bright art featuring kids' favorite foods, shows young readers how cooperation and teamwork can overcome conflict. It's a superbly silly summer story, the perfect pick for taco and truck fans. -
Bubble Gum Bison Needs a Bath
Bubble Gum Bison will do just about anything to avoid taking a bath in this humorous picture book from the #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator Pete Oswald.
Bubble Gum Bison, Blue Bison’s little sister, is having too much fun with her playground associates to take time out for a bath. In fact, she escapes through the bathroom window to avoid the inevitable. But when Bubble Gum Bison slips in the mud, gets covered with bubble gum, and has bird feathers stuck all-over her, she finally decides its time for a bath. But, what’s this? There’s no water! Could Blue Bison’s ramming habit have anything to do with the hole in the water tank?
A wildly hilarious story with a subtle message that an unconventional solution can solve an unconventional problem. Bubble Gum Bison Needs a Bath is the perfect companion to Scott Rothman and Pete Oswald’s previous collaboration Blue Bison Needs a Haircut, praised by Kirkus Reviews as "This one puts the ha in 'haircut'—be prepared to snuggle up and laugh often." -
Beach Hair
From two bestselling creators comes a lyrical and heartfelt picture book about a multiracial family’s trip to the beach that’s an ode to family, community, diversity, and—most importantly—fabulous beach hair!
When I wake up with the wildest bed head
and Mommy and Daddy do too
Mommy says we all have beach hair,
so Daddy says, “Guess we should go to the beach.”
At the beach, everyone has beach hair. There’s twisty and twirly hair, flossy and glossy hair, hair that’s barely there, and hair that’s everywhere.
The best part about a beach day is the belonging and joy that everyone feels when they let their hair run as wild and free as the sea. -
Mini Bluey: A Bluey Storybook
Get ready to see double in this fun storybook based on the wildly successful animated series Bluey, as seen on Disney+
When Dad complains about how different Bluey and Bingo are, Bluey decides to color Bingo to be more like her. But when Bluey paints herself to look more like her little sister, Mum and Dad like Big Bingo more! Will Bluey and Bingo learn to be happy just how they are? Read along to find out! -
Beach Hair
From two bestselling creators comes a lyrical and heartfelt picture book about a multiracial family’s trip to the beach that’s an ode to family, community, diversity, and—most importantly—fabulous beach hair!
When I wake up with the wildest bed head
and Mommy and Daddy do too
Mommy says we all have beach hair,
so Daddy says, “Guess we should go to the beach.”
At the beach, everyone has beach hair. There’s twisty and twirly hair, flossy and glossy hair, hair that’s barely there, and hair that’s everywhere.
The best part about a beach day is the belonging and joy that everyone feels when they let their hair run as wild and free as the sea. -
Animal Albums from a to Z
From the inimitable creator of El Deafo, this all-ages alphabet book is also a hand-wrought, high-fidelity, hilariously tongue-in-cheek homage to the golden days of album cover art.
Cece Bell loves music and collecting old record albums, her introduction explains, especially albums featuring animal artists. The bouncing harmonies of the Barbershop Beagles, the elegant crooning of the elephant Ella Fontaine, the hilarious rhymes of the Hip-Hop Hedgehogs--all are represented in this quirky ABC book that draws on the creator's personal collection of albums, memorabilia, and lyrics dating between 1944 and 1984, the heyday of album design. With wry, witty text, silly and sumptuous sound play, and biographical end matter on all twenty-six musical acts, the book commands and stands up to repeated readings. Bright, zany art--all painted and lettered by hand--a stellar design, and an album-size trim make it a collector's item in its own right, sure to grace the coffee tables of vinyl- and design-loving adults even as it tickles young funny bones. A hootenanny hosted by the creator of the Newbery Honor Book and Eisner Award winner El Deafo, Animal Albums from A to Z also quietly reminds us just how much music can mean to everyone. -
Floof
In this darling picture book, the cutest, floofiest cat has a very busy, very mischievous day!
Floof is floofy.
Floof has many hobbies.
Floof has very important work to do and Floof also has a lot of friends.
Floof is about to have a very busy day...
An irresistible new picture book for cat-lovers, cute-lovers, and anyone who has ever been a little bit mischievous!
Kids (and grownups!) will delight in noticing that when the text says one thing, the pictures say something very different. Floof also gently (and humorously) teaches readers the importance of self-love, self-care, and self-belief. This floofy cat is sure to make every reader smile! -
Dalmartian
From the bestselling creator of Stumpkin and Vampenguin comes a whimsical picture book about the unexpected friendship that blooms between a boy and a dog of intergalactic origins.
A visitor from outer space comes to Stephen’s yard one night. It may look like a Dalmatian, but it certainly doesn’t act like one. At first, Stephen and the visitor get off on the wrong paw. They quibble over kibble, debate sleeping arrangements, and must abandon earth dogs’ approach to bathroom breaks altogether to keep the peace. Is a shared love of bacon a strong enough foundation for this ordinary earth boy and extraordinary out-of-this-world canine to learn to live in harmony? -
Our Pool
On a hot day, people come from all over the city to spend the day at the pool in this joyful picture book that’s a love song to summer, the city, community, and staying cool!
Today is a pool day in the city! The sun is shining, so what are you waiting for? Friends and family. Kids and grandparents. Big bodies and small bodies. Everybody is welcome at our pool! Get ready for swimming and splashing, zigzagging and dunking, and racing and laughing. -
Awe-Samosas!
This warm and joyful picture book blends family tradition and creativity as Noor puts an awesome spin on her Dadijaan's yummy but ingredient-specific samosa recipe.
It's Noor's first time making her Dadijaan's Special Samosa recipe. When she can't get in touch with her Dadijaan because it's nighttime in Pakistan, Noor must improvise to make her family's recipe without all of the correct ingredients.
Noor uses her creativity and problem-solving skills to create something new and exciting for her friends: flaky, super-crispy Awe-samosas!
Marzieh Abbas weaves Urdu words into her narrative of creativity, problem-solving, and love of food and cooking. Includes Dadijaan's traditional potato and pea samosas recipe in backmatter.
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Gather Round
New York Times Best Illustrated Book Award winner David Covell follows up Run Wild with a timely book about the importance of community and coming together.
Crackle. Crinkle. Sizzle. POP!
Listen to the fire talk.
It's telling us a story . . .
Since the magic and warmth of fire was discovered long ago, campfires have protected, aided, and inspired us. Perhaps most importantly, they've brought us together.
In this gorgeous picture book, a girl and her father build a campfire together to keep the cold at bay. But as they welcome passing travelers--from musicians to animals--they create a community, fostered by a crackling fire and its comforting warmth.
Written in sparkling, melodic prose, Gather Round is the perfect follow-up and companion to David Covell's New York Times Best Illustrated, Run Wild. -
The Cat Who Couldn't Be Bothered
March/April 2024 Kids’ Indie Next Picture Book Pick
There is a cat. A cat that couldn’t be bothered to do anything … anything at all. His friends ask him if he wants to play but he doesn’t feel like it. They invite him on adventures to far-off places, but he would rather stay at home. Until one day, a friend asks how he is doing, and the true reason why he’d rather do nothing is revealed. He is feeling sad.
This is a story about feelings, friendship and the importance of speaking to someone when you don’t feel right. This beautiful socially aware story:- Reassures kids that feeling sad sometimes is normal
- Helps them understand others’ behaviour and promotes empathy
- Encourages them to be more in touch with their feelings
- Provides a sense of fun while also broaching a tricky topic
Both children and adults will love the quirky and hilarious cat’s refusal to take part in anything and the sweet and important message behind this story.
It’s never been more important to introduce kids to the importance of mental health. This bright children’s book is an easy way to talk about feelings and looking out for others. It provides an excellent jumping-off point for at-home and classroom discussions about emotional wellbeing and caring for others. -
COME OUT, COME OUT, CHAMELEON!
A hilarious picture book about an old man and his colour-changing pet that’ll have kids laughing and shouting ‘COME OUT, COME OUT, CHAMELEON!’
I have a pet chameleon. The only thing is... I’ve never actually seen him.
A charming old man is searching everywhere for his pet chameleon. His dog tries to help... but the man just can’t see his colourful pet! The clever chameleon camouflages himself as a flower, a banana, a sock, and much more. When the man finds some pet care instructions stuck to the bottom of his slippers, he realizes that all he needs to do is shout ‘COME OUT, COME OUT, CHAMELEON!’ to make the chameleon appear... but the visual twist on the final spread will have children squealing and laughing out loud.
A brilliantly funny, creative, and engaging picture book from the bestselling author of Big Boys Cry and The Animal Song. Howley's vivid artwork style will appeal to adults and children alike. Young readers will love feeling clever as they spot the disguised chameleon on every page, and of course join in with their loudest voice: ‘COME OUT, COME OUT, CHAMELEON!’. -
Noura's Crescent Moon
Venturing out after dusk with her family, a child is eager to watch for the new moon that signals the start of Eid ul-Fitr celebrations in this charming picture-book debut.
Noura can't wait for the sun to go down! With Ramadan and her first month of fasting almost over, she and Mama and Papa are headed to the hills for a moonsighting picnic. It would be truly special if Noura could catch a glimpse of the faint silvery crescent, something even her mother has never managed to do. If the moon stays hidden, that means one more long day before Noura can wear her sparkly new dress and the joyful Eid celebrations begin--bringing with them visits with friends, eating sweets, and painting henna on her hands. In a lighthearted introduction to Ramadan and Eid, this family-centered tale of anticipation under the stars pairs an inviting text from Zainab Khan with Nabila Adani's vibrant illustrations, capturing everything from the bustle of a shared meal to the swirling magic of the night sky. Relevant terms, from food items to the Islamic lunar calendar, are explained in a glossary at the end. -
A Little Bit of Everything
Amaya was born on a winter night--and every experience and memory helps to build her identity. She is a little bit of Mama, whose family is far away in India, and a little bit of Papa, whose mother immigrated from China for a new life. She is a little bit of the salty ocean and a little bit of the rolling storm. A little bit of the stars in the sky, and a little bit of so many other things. When Amaya's new sibling arrives, she knows just what to say about who she is, and what her sister will become. With stunning, whimsical art, this lyrical book asks readers to celebrate their own uniqueness--and that of others. This is a lullaby to any child who is discovering who they are. Part of the Own Voices, Own Stories collection
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I Can Do That Too
The beloved hedgehog duo returns in a charming story about big ambitions and small victories.
It's a busy day in the woods for Big and Little Hedgehog, who meet all kinds of animal friends, each of whom can do something special that Little Hedgehog wants to do. Ladybug climbs a tree and jumps off a branch; mole digs a hole; fish swim in the pond. Sometimes Little Hedgehog is successful and sometimes he learns that he's just not up to the task. As they find their way home with the help of a turtle, an owl's hoot sends Little Hedgehog off to sleep with one last cry of "I can do that too!"
Filled with Teckentrup's signature, beautifully textured artwork, this gentle book helps kids understand that it's okay to want to do things, and it's okay if you're not quite ready. -
Roar-Choo!
Patient, peaceful Phoenix tries to take care of rambunctious and cold-ridden Dragon, which leads to hilarious and sweet results (with vibrant illustrations by the Caldecott Medal-winning creator of Beekle).
Everyone knows that dragons are fierce, capable of taking on the world!
But this dragon can’t stop sneezing long enough to get a roar out. Even with friendly Phoenix insisting that Dragon get some rest, this powerful creature refuses to stop for any orange ginger tea or a drop of bone broth soup.
It's only when Dragon realizes Phoenix has caught the same cold that they are both able to take the break they so badly need. This tale of helping your friends and valuing differences is a sure-thing for story time. -
Built to Last
Meet two friends who think they're building imaginative worlds with blocks but come to realize they've been building something far greater--a sturdy, solid friendship--in this picturebook by award-winning creators.
Two kids build entire worlds out of blocks, cardboard, and imagination. From boats attacked by a sea creature to a castle crumbling into the ocean. And they don’t mind when these creations break apart and CRASH to the floor. In fact, they think it’s pretty funny! Every time, a creation falls apart, they pick up the pieces and keep building bigger and better.
But when their latest masterpiece tumbles down in spectacular fashion, the boys aren’t laughing anymore. Have these two friends reached their breaking point?
Playful text by wordsmith Minh Le and dazzling illustrations by artisan Dan Santat showcase their close collaboration in their latest picturebook. As merry as it is moving, here is a story that recognizes the friendships in life that are truly built to last. -
The Ever-Changing Earth
Journey through time to witness Earth's evolution and marvel at the interconnectedness of all living things.
Kûn likes to imagine life on Earth millions of years ago when the sky boomed with the wild beat of pterosaur wings. Thousands of miles away, Solveig gazes at the sky as she admires the beauty of the northern lights. Learn how these children are connected in this spellbinding journey through the evolution of Earth's surface from water world to ice age to the familiar landscape we know today. Follow the poetic account of Earth's lifespan by Kate Greenaway Award-winning illustrator Grahame Baker-Smith.
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Luigi, the Spider Who Wanted to Be a Kitten
From the New York Times best-selling creators of Library Lion comes a warm (and delightfully fuzzy) storybook about learning to be--and be loved for--exactly who you are.
On a street of old houses, a big hairy spider is searching for a home with dark corners to hide in. But when he wakes up, he finds a hand reaching for him and a lady proclaiming that she has always wanted a kitten--and will name him Luigi! At first, a somewhat puzzled Luigi, used to being left alone to creep and dangle and spin webs, resists her kind advances. But soon, tasty breakfasts and getting tucked into bed (no one's ever wished him good night before) have him thinking that kittens surely live magical lives. I will be a kitten! he decides. But how long can he keep up his facade, and what might be at stake in pretending to be someone you're not? The award-winning duo behind Library Lion delivers another classic in the making, marked by humor and depth, endearing characters, and the assurance that the right people will accept and adore us, unconditionally, just as we are. -
Hello, Sun
Follow the sun and the creatures it shines on from dawn to nightfall in this companion to Hello, Moon, from Parent’s Choice Award Winner Julie Downing.
Hello, sun!
Goodbye, night!
Sunrise chill,
pale dawn light.
When the sun's rays begin to filter through the trees, sleepy bears, rabbits, deer, and other animals rise from cozy dens and burrows to greet the day. There are acorns to eat, rivers to splash in, and meadows to race through before the blanket of sunset falls again.
From the award-winning creator of Hello, Moon and Night in the City, Hello, Sun features short and simple sentences perfect for a bedtime story or for children building confidence in reading on their own. Julie Downing’s signature artwork washes each page in a symphony of color. Whether you’re starting the day or ending it, don’t miss this engrossing walk with the sun and the creatures it shines on.
"Text and images meld wonderfully to bring a fresh perspective to what’s going on in nature during the daylight hours. . . A glorious new exploration of nature’s delights for young readers."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review -
Maisy Goes to the Eye Doctor
Come along with Maisy for her first-ever eye test in a delightful story sure to help make this a rosy experience for little patients.
When Maisy's friend Ella has trouble seeing numbers on the board at preschool, the two go together to Dr. Flamingo the optometrist's office to have their eyes tested. Pirate Maisy has fun wearing an eyepatch and naming all the things she can see in a picture on the wall. But when it's Ella's turn, everything inside the picture looks blurry. Oh dear! Luckily, Dr. Flamingo is there to take care of her, with a special machine that looks inside her eyes and some big funny glasses with dials that let Ella see everything clearly. Best of all, she gets to pick out some yellow-framed glasses, and Maisy finds some snazzy red sunglasses of her own. With Lucy Cousins's trademark brilliant colors and cheery characters, this twenty-third First Experiences story is ideal for reassuring little ones ahead of their first visit to the eye doctor. -
Dog vs. Strawberry
A dog and a strawberry find themselves nose to stem in this hilarious picture book that's perfect for dog lovers. An epic battle ensues—who will come out on top?
Welcome to the Greatest Race of All Time!
Give it up for our reigning champion, the one-and-only DOG!
And let’s have a hand for her opponent: the formidable STRAW-BER-RYYYY!
When Dog is handed a strawberry from the fruit bowl, she sizes it up, dances around it, and decides she is going to race the Strawberry--and win. She dashes left, then right, then--oh!-- over the couch in an attempt to outrun her opponent. Strawberry doesn't move, but that doesn't stop Dog from continuing the race. Eventually, it's neck-and-neck... until mom walks in to see what the fuss is about, and SPLAT!
Kids everywhere will recognize the rivalry at play here, and will laugh-out-loud at the bright, expressive illustrations and ridiculous scenarios from the award-winning creators of Cat Dog Dog. -
Mama in the Moon
In this gentle and comforting bedtime book by two award-winning creators, a mama sloth helps her baby to self-soothe while she’s making her way back to him.
Baby sloth lives high up in the trees with his mama, where he loves to sleep between her and the moon. But one night he tumbles from her arms to land in a soft patch of leaves far below. “I’ll be there soon,” Mama sloth calls down to him. But sloths never get anywhere soon. When Baby becomes worried, Mama finds clever ways to reassure and distract him using his senses of sight, sound, smell, and touch.
This beautifully told and enchantingly illustrated preschool read-aloud has the happiest of endings. It’s a bedtime delight that’s perfect for fans of Owl Babies and Kitten’s First Full Moon. -
Monster Hands
Two best friends use rhyming ASL to help vanquish their fear of the monster under the bed in this fun, interactive bedtime readaloud.
When nighttime comes, Milo has a problem—he’s convinced there’s a monster under his bed! Luckily, his best friend Mel knows just what to do—scare the monster more than the monster scares you! So using shadow puppets on the wall, Mel and Milo make monster hands that roar, chomp and even laugh to scare the monster away. But uh oh! What if the monster thinks this is funny! This is NOT funny! Milo has an idea to show the monster who’s boss once and for all. Together Milo and Mel hatch a plan to scare the monster away forever. But in the end, they discover the true cure to a monster problem is a best friend who will stand and face it with you.
Accompanied by warm, atmospheric art that dazzles, this soon-to-be bedtime favorite will provide much comfort to children facing a common bedtime fear. -
Little Shrew
A beguiling, quietly magical appreciation of life’s little pleasures. Little Shrew is diligent in all parts of life. He’s a hard worker and follows a strict schedule from morning to night. But even a life that runs like clockwork can be filled with unexpected pockets of joy. This charming collection of three short stories — perfect for emerging readers — illustrated in Miyakoshi’s signature soft monochrome palette, celebrates enduring friendships, dreams for the future and the little pleasures that make everyday life more meaningful.
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How to Make a Peanut Butter Sandwich in 17 Easy Steps
A slightly overcomplicated and highly hilarious guide to making a peanut butter sandwich with all your critter friends
It's lunchtime, and all the animals are hungry. In fact, you're feeling hungry too, and you know exactly what to make--delicious peanut butter sandwiches for everyone! The recipe is surprisingly complicated, but you're not worried. You gather the critters and a few necessary items (the peanuts and bread, of course, and don't forget the accordion and wooden clogs!), and then you get started!
All the characters in this hilarious how-to have an important role in the making of this lunchtime staple. The raccoon earns the money to pay for the groceries, the crows and the mice gather the ingredients, the donkey and the beaver work hard on the hands-on (or hoofs- and paws-on) preparation, and the skunk ... well, the skunk has an essential role to play too!
Bold, charming artwork leaves something to discover on every page, and kids will laugh out loud as they puzzle through the many steps necessary to the making of this favorite sandwich.
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One Day This Tree Will Fall
Discover how a tree’s wounds and decay bring new life to the forest ecosystem in this lyrical nonfiction picture book for fans of Because of an Acorn and A Stone Sat Still.
When a tree falls, is its story over?
There are many ways a tree’s story could end: Gobbled up by a bird as a tiny seed. Damaged by wind or ice or fire. Chopped down and hauled away. But some trees—this tree—survives. And grows old. Riddled with scars, cracks, and crevices, it becomes a place creatures large and small call home.
One day, after standing tall for centuries, this tree will fall. But even then, is its story over? Or will it continue to nurture the forest and its creatures for many years to come? Complete with additional information about the role trees play in a forest ecosystem, this sweeping story invites readers of all ages to celebrate the incredible life cycle and afterlife of trees. -
I'm Afraid, Said the Leaf
A touching, playful exploration of empathy and interdependency from an acclaimed author and illustrator.
I’m afraid, Said the leaf. / You’re not alone, Said the tree. But who will comfort a nervous bird, a lonely crab, a lost wolf? How can a horse find warmth, a snail some cheer, a child some rest? Through a series of amusing and soothing exchanges, this deceptively simple and profound picture book depicts different pairings to celebrate interconnectedness and underlines the importance of caring for every living organism to ensure a strong and healthy natural world. I’m Afraid, Said the Leaf invites young readers to understand that we all need each other for support and survival — and that we're all stronger together. -
The Squish
The beach is a rough place for a sand castle, what with all the feet, Frisbees, and other hazards around. Created by two children--one brown-skinned, one tan-skinned--a small, bucket-shaped castle with googly eyes and a hopeful smile ("Hello, world! Here I am!") faces a string of disasters, from a stomping foot to a shower of rain. Dampened but undaunted, the sandy jumble rises up into even higher and more elaborate structures...only to be knocked down again and again. Then a nearby castle that was constructed in the background by two brown-skinned children, only to suffer a "squish" of its own thanks to a passing wave, prompts a proposal: "Let's pick ourselves up, / dust ourselves off, / and weather everything life throws at us... / TOGETHER!"
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Shake It Off!
The whimsical tale of a clever little goat who rises above everything that threatens to keep her down
Meet a sweet, curious little goat, who loves to sing and climb on everything. Some neighbors find her annoying, but nothing can keep her down—even when she gets stuck in a well and it looks like she’s doomed. When everyone has given up on her, the clever goat surprises them all by taking advantage of her precarious predicament to win the day!
Inspired by Vanessa Brantley-Newton’s own experiences with adversity, this playful story about persistence, determination, and thinking outside the box is sure to make readers cheer. -
Angelina's Cinderella
The classic bestselling Angelina Ballerina picture book about Angelina performing as Cinderella in a traveling tour is back in a beautiful, refreshed hardcover edition!
Angelina is playing the lead in the Cinderella Dance Tour traveling across Mouseland. The final stop on the tour is at the grand Von Whiskers Castle, but just before the performance, the scenery is ruined! Angelina and her friends know the show must go on, but how?
© 2024 Helen Craig Ltd and Katharine Holabird. The Angelina Ballerina name and character and the dancing Angelina logo are trademarks of HIT Entertainment Limited, Katharine Holabird, and Helen Craig. -
A Rainbow in Brown
Jo wants to paint all the wonderful things she loves. With a palette of red, yellow, and blue, Jo knows she can mix any colors together to create new ones. Her imagination takes flight as she explores painting with primary and by mixing her own secondary colors, each picture as beautiful as the last. But through her exploration of the colors of the rainbow, Jo finds that her favorite is a combination of them all: brown.
With stunning artistry from debut author/illustrator Pavonis Giron comes an illuminating story of self-love through color theory. -
Counting Cows
Chuck Dükman, a circus janitor, almost completes his job for the night when a cowcophony of clowns (really, a whole troop of cow clowns!) run amuck and make Dükman’s stage…yuck! Counting Cows is a 1 to 10 counting picture book with a new obstacle on every page. Who knew the midnight mayhem that circus cow clowns could create! Will Dükman get the stage clean… or is it all just a dream?
Count up to ten and down again with this fever dream of a tale! Chuck Dükman, our leading janitor of a theatrical stage, is ready to fall asleep but not until he finishes his janitorial duties. Chuck is roused by a cowcophony of clowns! Our rowdy friends romp around the stage as readers practice their numbers. Does Chuck Dükman find a way to get the theater clean or was it all just a dream?
Our troop of clown cows honk horns, tightrope walk, unicycle ride, toss pies & overall make a disastrous, hilarious mess until Chuck Dükman regains control and demands clean-up help. The cows are under great management... but will they succeed in making this playful establishment clean? These circus clowns will if Dükman has anything to say about it!
A bonus, Counting Cows is a “Get Ready for Bed” book in disguise! Rowdy playtime, clean-up, wash-up and then time for sleep? This is a story that belongs on the nightstand to read again and again! -
Friends Beyond Measure
A CCBC 2024 Choices for the Picture Books category!
A Chicago Public Library Best of the Best!
A 2023 Horn Book Best of the Year--Picture Book
"A loving tale inventively and informatively told." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"A uniquely told story that will delight all readers. Highly recommended." --School Library Journal (starred review)
"Clever, whimsical, and jam-packed with details." --The Horn Book (starred review)
"A friendship story chronicled through charts, graphs, and maps." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)
This is THE next book for fans of Mapping Sam and My Map Book! Told exclusively through charts and graphic illustrations, infographics designer Lalena Fisher explores the touching friendship of Ana and Harwin and how they work through their emotions when one friend learns the other is moving far away.
Friends Beyond Measure explores the world of infographics, including maps, diagrams, charts, timelines, and so much more! From the chart showing how to make fairy tea to the Venn diagram of the friends' personalities, every page is filled with delicious details for the reader to pore over.
Ana and Harwin's friendship has been off the charts since day one! But when Harwin learns her family is going to move far away, the duo isn't sure how their friendship can survive the move.
See how their friend-o-meters calibrate in this imaginative, heartwarming story by beloved picture book creator and infographic designer Lalena Fisher.
An ideal read-aloud for classrooms, libraries, and homeschooling, this book includes back matter that explains all about the different types of charts and graphics in the book and gives suggestions for readers to create charts of their own.
Readers will love all the fun details in this rich and visual story! And they'll engage in critical thinking while analyzing and evaluating the images.
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We're Having a Party (for Everyone!)
Send the invites, set the table, and prepare for all types of guests in author- illustrator Katie Vernon's rollicking good time picture book, We're Having a Party (for Everyone!).
How do you host a party for a chipmunk, a ghost, a vampire, an astronaut, a giraffe, a robot, a tooth, an octopus, a rockstar, a T. rex, a queen, Gramps, Paw Paw, and Bigfoot? Lana has a few tips for her nervous pup, Lemon, on how to make sure their first dinner party is a total success! First you must take guests' coats, thank those who bring gifts, and, most importantly, invite everyone to dance (after dessert, of course).
Bursting with color and quirky illustrations, We're Having a Party (for Everyone!) teaches young readers about social etiquette, accommodating others, and how much fun goes into planning a shindig. With funny details on every page and an imaginative double-twist ending, young readers will be eager to host an amazing dinner party of their own. -
How to Catch a Fairy Godmother
From the New York Times and USA Today bestselling How to Catch series comes a magical new adventure about a young Fairy Godmother!
After graduating from the academy, a shy new Fairy Godmother has been given the most challenging assignment yet-- to watch over the How to Catch Kids! Can she take care of these wacky kids as they prepare for show & tell without getting caught in their wildly inventive traps? Come along for a never-before-seen exciting adventure perfect to celebrate the special role aunts and godmothers play in your life!
This brand-new fantastical picture book is filled with silly rhymes, zany humor, and colorful illustrations sure to delight young readers and educators alike with STEAM concepts and classic hilarity and chaos. The perfect basket and stocking stuffer, summer reading, and gift for children 4-10.
I am a fairy godmother, you think you know my tale.
But this is all brand new to me - I'm blazing a new trail!
Also in the How to Catch Series:
- How to Catch a Unicorn
- How to Catch a Garden Fairy
- How to Catch a Loveosaurus
- How to Catch a Leprechaun
- How to Catch a Mermaid
- and more!
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Bad Men
Meet the most irresistible serial killer of the year . . . Award-winning author Julie Mae Cohen's twisty feminist thriller is lethal and wickedly fun.
"The feminist serial killer you didn't know you were waiting for. Sensational." --Claire Mackintosh, bestselling author of The Last Party
"Silence of the Lambs meets Sex and the City." --Financial Times
Saffy Huntley-Oliver is an intelligent and glamorous socialite; she also happens to be a proficient serial killer. For the past fifteen years, she's hunted down and dispatched rapists, murderers, domestic abusers--bad men all. But leading a double life has left her lonely--dating's tough when your boyfriend might turn out to be your next victim.
Saffy thinks she's finally found a truly good man in Jonathan Desrosiers, a true-crime podcaster who's amassed legions of die-hard fans for cracking cold cases and bringing justice to victims.
When a decapitated body shows up on Jon's doorstep the morning after his wife leaves him, he becomes the chief suspect for a murder he insists he didn't commit. Saffy's crush becomes an obsession as she orchestrates a meet-cute and volunteers to help Jon clear his name, using every trick up her sleeve to find the real killer and get her man--no matter the cost.
Darkly comic and addictively readable, Bad Men is a wild romp of a feminist thriller that asks if even a serial killer can have a happily ever after.
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A Novel Love Story
Most Anticipated by Parade · Buzzfeed · Harper’s Bazaar · Elle · She Reads · The Seattle Times · BookRiot and more!
A professor of literature finds herself caught up in a work of fiction…literally, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Seven Year Slip and The Dead Romantics.
Eileen Merriweather loves to get lost in a good happily-ever-after. The fictional kind, anyway. Because at least imaginary men don’t leave you at the altar. She feels safe in a book. At home. Which might be why she’s so set on going her annual book club retreat this year—she needs good friends, cheap wine, and grand romantic gestures—no matter what.
But when her car unexpectedly breaks down on the way, she finds herself stranded in a quaint town that feels like it’s right out of a novel…
Because it is.
This place can’t be real, and yet… she’s here, in Eloraton, the town of her favorite romance series, where the candy store’s honey taffy is always sweet, the local bar’s burgers are always a little burnt, and rain always comes in the afternoon. It feels like home. It’s perfect—and perfectly frozen, trapped in the late author’s last unfinished story.
Elsy is sure that’s why she must be here: to help bring the town to its storybook ending.
Except there is a character in Eloraton that she can’t place—a grumpy bookstore owner with mint-green eyes, an irritatingly sexy mouth and impeccable taste in novels. And he does not want her finishing this book.
Which is a problem because Elsy is beginning to think the town’s happily-ever-after might just be intertwined with her own. -
The Book of Thorns
"Betrayal, loss, love, redemption, and justice collide in this masterpiece of a novel. You won't want to miss The Book of Thorns." --Paulette Kennedy, author of The Devil and Mrs. Davenport
A spellbinding tale of secrets, betrayal, and magic from the author of The Heir to Blackwood Library!
Penniless and stranded in France after a bid to escape her cruel uncle goes awry, Cornelia Shaw is far from the Parisian life of leisure she imagined. Desperate and out of options, she allows herself to be recruited to Napoleon's Grande Armée. As a naturalist, her mysterious ability to heal any wound with herbal mixtures invites awe amongst the soldiers...and suspicion. For behind Cornelia's vast knowledge of the natural world is a secret she keeps hidden--the flowers speak to her through a mystical connection she has felt since childhood. One that her mother taught her to heed, before she disappeared.
As Napoleon's army descends on Waterloo, the flowers sing to her of a startling revelation: a girl who bears a striking resemblance to Cornelia. A girl she almost remembers--her sister, lost long ago, who seems to share the same gifts. Determined to reunite with Lijsbeth despite being on opposite sides of the war, Cornelia is drawn into a whirlwind of betrayal, secrets, and lies. Brought together by fate and magic at the peak of the war, the sisters must uncover the key to the source of the power that connects them as accusations of witchcraft swirl and threaten to destroy their very lives.
Look for these other gothic mysteries from Hester Fox:
- The Last Heir to Blackwood Library
- The Witch of Willow Hall
- The Orphan of Cemetery Hill
- The Widow of Pale Harbor
- A Lullaby for Witches
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North Woods
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW TOP TEN BOOK OF THE YEAR
A WASHINGTON POST TOP TEN BOOK OF THE YEAR • FINALIST FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD
A sweeping novel about a single house in the woods of New England, told through the lives of those who inhabit it across the centuries—“a time-spanning, genre-blurring work of storytelling magic” (The Washington Post) from the Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of The Piano Tuner and The Winter Soldier.
“With the expansiveness and immersive feeling of two-time Booker Prize nominee David Mitchell’s fiction (Cloud Atlas), the wicked creepiness of Edgar Allan Poe, and Mason’s bone-deep knowledge of and appreciation for the natural world that’s on par with that of Thoreau, North Woods fires on all cylinders.”—San Francisco Chronicle
New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice • A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: Time, The Boston Globe, NPR, Chicago Public Library, The Star Tribune, The Economist, The Christian Science Monitor, Real Simple, Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Bookreporter
When two young lovers abscond from a Puritan colony, little do they know that their humble cabin in the woods will become the home of an extraordinary succession of human and nonhuman characters alike. An English soldier, destined for glory, abandons the battlefields of the New World to devote himself to growing apples. A pair of spinster twins navigate war and famine, envy and desire. A crime reporter unearths an ancient mass grave—only to discover that the earth refuse to give up their secrets. A lovelorn painter, a sinister con man, a stalking panther, a lusty beetle: As the inhabitants confront the wonder and mystery around them, they begin to realize that the dark, raucous, beautiful past is very much alive.
This magisterial and highly inventive novel from Pulitzer Prize finalist Daniel Mason brims with love and madness, humor and hope. Following the cycles of history, nature, and even language, North Woods shows the myriad, magical ways in which we’re connected to our environment, to history, and to one another. It is not just an unforgettable novel about secrets and destinies, but a way of looking at the world that asks the timeless question: How do we live on, even after we’re gone? -
An Inconvenient Wife
This astonishing crime novel—inspired by the Tudor era—takes the reader into the world of Kate Parker, who has just married billionaire Hank Tudor when a headless body is discovered near their summer home . . .
Kate Parker knows what she’s getting into when she marries billionaire businessman Hank Tudor—she’s his sixth wife, after all, and was by his side (as his assistant) when his fifth marriage to actress Caitlyn Howard fell apart.
But honeymoon plans go awry when a headless body is discovered near Hank’s summer home, forcing Kate to contend with two more of his exes: Catherine Alvarez—the first—who lives as a shut-in with her computers, carefully following Tudor Enterprises; and Anna Klein—the fourth—who runs a bed-and-breakfast where she and her wife keep a steady eye on things—particularly Hank’s children, Lizzie and Teddy.
In this clever and suspenseful reimagining of Tudor era betrayals, these three women become entwined in a deadly game of cat and mouse—with each other, Hank, and Hank’s brilliant fixer, Tom Cromwell—as Kate seeks to solve the puzzle of who the murdered woman is, who killed her, and whether her death has any connection to the other headless body from eight years ago. -
The Good Little Mermaid's Guide to Bedtime
This little mermaid is too FIERCE and SCARY and FEROCIOUS to follow The Good Little Mermaid's Guide to Bedtime . . . well, except the part about snuggling her shark stuffie. A hilarious picture book for kids ages 3 to 7 who are experts at resisting sleep.
Once upon an evening, a good little mermaid begins to get ready for bed.
Once upon? No. Not once upon. I know what that means. And I'm NOT a good little mermaid. I am a PREDATOR!
Thus begins our story of a little mermaid who is anything but good.
Sleep? Sleep is for guppies! This little mermaid is a TERROR of the DEEP.
Cleaning up and putting toys away? This little mermaid doesn't need TOYS. The ocean is her playground, and everything in it is afraid of HER.
Brushing her teeth and flossing? Never! Well . . . maybe a little bit so they gleam like RAZOR-SHARP BLADES.
Cleverly told through a back and forth between The Good Little Mermaid's Guide to Bedtime and a mermaid who is resisting bedtime at every turn, this story will delight readers with its hilarious illustrations and adorable but VERY SCARY main character. Will she ever go to sleep? Read on to find out. -
Our Pool
On a hot day, people come from all over the city to spend the day at the pool in this joyful picture book that’s a love song to summer, the city, community, and staying cool!
Today is a pool day in the city! The sun is shining, so what are you waiting for? Friends and family. Kids and grandparents. Big bodies and small bodies. Everybody is welcome at our pool! Get ready for swimming and splashing, zigzagging and dunking, and racing and laughing. -
Pie-Rats!
A pirate’s sweetest treasure is dessert!
Pie-rats sail the starry night,
seeking treasures baked just right.
Pie-rats don't want gold doubloons—
their bounty comes on forks and spoons.
A band of swashbuckling pie-rats has only one goal: to find dessert! Whether it's banana cream, lemon meringue, apple, or cherry, these ravenous rodents will battle storms and scallywags to find the best pie. But will their adventures reveal that there is more than one way to satisfy a sweet tooth? With rollicking rhyme and lively illustrations, Pie-Rats is a hunger-inducing read-aloud that will have readers begging for another helping. -
The Minus-One Club
From the Coretta Scott King and Printz Honor-winning author of How It Went Down, Light It Up, and Revolution In Our Time comes a moving contemporary YA novel about the bonds between a group of teens whose lives have been upended by tragedy.
Fifteen-year-old Kermit Sanders knows grief and its all-encompassing shadows. After losing his beloved older sister in a tragic car accident, nothing quite punctures through the feelings of loss. Everywhere Kermit goes, he is reminded of her.
But then Kermit finds a mysterious invitation in his locker, signed anonymously with "-1." He has no idea what he's in for, but he shows up to find out. Dubbed the "Minus-One Club," a group of his schoolmates has banded together as a form of moral support. The members have just one thing in common—they have all suffered the tragic loss of someone they loved.
The usual dividing lines between high school classes and cliques don’t apply inside the Minus-One Club, and Kermit’s secret crush, the handsome and happy-go-lucky Matt (and only out gay student at school), is also a part of the group. Slowly, Matt's positive headstrong approach to life helps relieve Kermit of his constant despair.
But as Kermit grows closer to Matt, the light of his new life begins to show the cracks beneath the surface. When Matt puts himself in danger by avoiding his feelings, Kermit must find the strength to not only lift himself back up but to help the rest of the group from falling apart.
Praise for The Minus-One Club
★ "Magoon thoughtfully includes themes relating to depression, suicide, identity and religious expression as she compassionately builds Kermit's complicated, sensitive inner life and depicts the various ways people might respond to the loss of a loved one." –Shelf Awareness, starred review
"This evocative exploration of grief, sexual identity, and personal spirituality will be a boon to any teen grappling with these issues." –Horn Book -
Fate Be Changed
What if the witch gave Merida a different spell? This New York Times best-selling series twists Disney*Pixar's Brave into a fast-paced story in which Merida is sent back in time.
If you could change your fate, would you? Merida understands that as princess of Clan DunBroch, she has certain obligations--but that doesn't mean she has to like it. Especially when one of those obligations means losing her freedom by becoming betrothed to a man she has never met. Merida balks at this tradition, but her mother Queen Elinor insists that Merida must do this to embrace her role as future queen.
Determined to chart her own path, Merida follows magical wisps to a witch's cottage, where she is given a magic pastry and promised it will incite "a great transformation" in her mother. But instead of feeding Elinor the pastry, Merida eats it herself.
Merida awakens in the past, a now-teenage Elinor holding a knife to her throat and accusing her of espionage. She's been transported to a time when the Clans MacCameron and DunBroch are bitter enemies. And it just so happens that the timing of Merida's arrival has kept Elinor and Fergus from meeting.
Will Merida be able to bridge the rival clans, help her parents fall in love, and change her own fate? -
Off with Their Heads
Fans of Chloe Gong and Judy I. Lin will devour this Korean-inspired Alice in Wonderland retelling about two very wicked girls, forever bonded by blood and betrayal . . .
In a world where Saints are monsters and Wonderland is the dark forest where they lurk, it's been five years since young witches and lovers Caro Rabbit and Iccadora Alice Sickle were both sentenced to that forest for a crime they didn't commit--and four years since they shattered one another's hearts, each willing to sacrifice the other for a chance at freedom.
Now, Caro is a successful royal Saint-harvester, living the high life in the glittering capital and pretending not to know of the twisted monster experiments that her beloved Red Queen hides deep in the bowels of the palace. But for Icca, the memory of Caro's betrayal has hardened her from timid girl to ruthless hunter. A hunter who will stop at nothing to exact her vengeance: On Caro. On the queen. On the throne itself.
But there's a secret about the Saints the Queen's been guarding, and a volatile magic at play even more dangerous to Icca and Caro than they are to each other...
Lush, terrifying, and uncanny, Zoe Hana Mikuta--author of Gearbreakers and Godslayers--takes a delicate knife straight through the heart of this beloved surrealist fairytale.
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Puff
Breathe deep and prepare to sail like the wind, with the sweetest puff of air in all the atmosphere—from the creator of Drop: An Adventure through the Water Cycle
Look who just blew in! Meet Puff. He's air. And he's a gas! Puff has been here for billions of years, forming a blanket of protection around Earth to hold in heat and keep out cold. Puff is key to life—he's the air we breathe and the wind around us. And he's got talent! Have you ever incinerated a space rock? Traveled from the highest heights to the deepest depths of the sea? Or spun through a tornado? Puff has! He'll tell you all about it. With refreshing wit and breezy one-liners, Puff takes readers on an airy adventure through the atmosphere, earth, water, and you. Filled with irresistible artwork, funny asides, and a gentle current of kid-enticing facts, Puff is the breath of fresh air we’ve all needed.
"Fresh and breezy.” —Kirkus
"Cheerful [and] easy to understand." —Booklist -
The Great Lakes
A stunning picture book about the five largest lakes in North America - how they formed, the importance of their abundant freshwater, and how they've become a national treasure - in the latest book from the author of Caldecott Honor book The Noisy Paint Box.
The Great Lakes—Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior—are five blue jewels set a bit off center in a belt across North America’s middle. Bordered by eight states and part of Canada, the Lakes hold 21% of the world's fresh water. How did these incredible lakes get there? And what can we do to preserve such a treasure?
Follow along as a drop of water in this enormous system and uncover its dramatic journey from lake to rive to lake, over Niagara Falls to lake and river again, and finally into the Atlantic Ocean. -
Coyote Lost and Found
From #1 New York Times-bestselling author Dan Gemeinhart comes a standalone companion to the critically-acclaimed The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise about a father and daughter who venture on a moving, uplifting, and rollicking cross-country road trip.
It's been almost a year since Coyote and her dad left the road behind and settled down in a small Oregon town. . . time spent grieving the loss of her mom and sisters and trying to fit in at school. But just as life is becoming a new version of normal, Coyote discovers a box containing her mom's ashes. And she thinks she might finally be ready to say goodbye.
So Coyote and her dad gear up for an epic cross-country road trip to scatter the ashes at her mom's chosen resting place. The only problem? Coyote has no idea where that resting place is--and the secret's hidden in a book that Coyote mistakenly sold last year, somewhere in the country. Now, it's up to Coyote to track down the treasured book . . . without her dad ever finding out that it's lost.
It's time to fire up their trusty bus, Yager, pick up some old friends, discover some new ones, and hit the road on another unforgettable adventure.
"Your heart needs this joyful miracle of a book." --Katherine Applegate, acclaimed author of The One and Only Ivan and Wishtree, on The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise
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Sona and the Golden Beasts
From Newbery Honor and Walter Award-winning author Rajani LaRocca comes a gripping middle grade fantasy perfect for fans of The Serpent's Secret and The Last Mapmaker.
Though music is outlawed in the land of Devia, Sona hears it everywhere. Sona is a Malech, a member of the ruling class that conquered Devia centuries ago. Malechs forbade music to prevent the native Devans from using their magic, and Sona hides her abilities lest they put her in danger.
Then Sona discovers an orphaned wolf pup. She believes the pup, with its golden ears, might be related to one of the five sacred beasts of Devia, and she vows to keep it safe. That means bringing the pup in tow when Sona embarks on a perilous quest, along with a Devan boy, to secure the nectar of life for a loved one who has fallen gravely ill. On the journey, as Sona uncovers secrets about the Malechian empire and her own identity, she realizes that the fate of the sacred beasts, and the future of Devia, just might come down to her.
This captivating fantasy novel by award-winning author Rajani LaRocca will sweep readers into Sona's quest across the land of Devia as she grapples with the lasting impact of colonial rule and learns to fight for what she knows is right.
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Mother Doll
* A Most Anticipated Book of 2024 Selected By * The Millions * Chicago Review of Books * Hey Alma * Stylecaster * And Many More! *
Prize-winning author Katya Apekina's Mother Doll is a sharp and visceral nesting doll of a novel, about four generations of mothers and daughters and the inherited trauma cast by Russian history.
"A profoundly moving story . . . Strange, wild, offbeat, and hilarious. I absolutely loved it." --Lauren Groff
"Spellbinding, hallucinatory, and very funny . . . A rare achievement." --Elif Batuman
Zhenia is adrift in Los Angeles, pregnant with a baby her husband doesn't want, while her Russian grandmother and favorite person in the world is dying on the opposite coast. She's deeply disconnected from herself and her desires when she gets a strange call from Paul, a psychic medium who usually specializes in channeling dead pets, with a message from the other side. Zhenia's great-grandmother Irina, a Russian Revolutionary, has approached him from a cloud of ancestral grief, desperate to tell her story and receive absolution from Zhenia.
As Irina begins her confession with the help of a purgatorial chorus of grieving Russian ghosts, Zhenia awakens to aspects of herself she hadn't been willing to confront. But does either woman have what the other needs to understand their predicament? Or will Irina be stuck in limbo, with Zhenia plagued by ancestral trauma, and her children after her?
Ferociously funny and deeply moving, Mother Doll forces us to look at how painful secrets stamp themselves from one generation to the next. Katya Apekina's second novel is a family epic and a meditation on motherhood, immigration, identity, and war. -
Someone You Can Build a Nest In
A Most-Anticipated Book of 2024: LitHub, Polygon, Apple, Goodreads
⭐ "Wiswell raises the bar on the outcast as protagonist . . . the ultimate monster slayer story, if the monster is just a misunderstood creature searching for love.” — Kristi Chadwick, Library Journal (starred review)
Discover this creepy, charming monster-slaying fantasy romance—from the perspective of the monster—by Nebula Award-winning debut author John Wiswell
Shesheshen has made a mistake fatal to all monsters: she's fallen in love.
Shesheshen is a shapeshifter, who happily resides as an amorphous lump at the bottom of a ruined manor. When her rest is interrupted by hunters intent on murdering her, she constructs a body from the remains of past meals: a metal chain for a backbone, borrowed bones for limbs, and a bear trap as an extra mouth.
However, the hunters chase Shesheshen out of her home and off a cliff. Badly hurt, she’s found and nursed back to health by Homily, a warm-hearted human, who has mistaken Shesheshen as a fellow human. Homily is kind and nurturing and would make an excellent co-parent: an ideal place to lay Shesheshen’s eggs so their young could devour Homily from the inside out. But as they grow close, she realizes humans don’t think about love that way.
Shesheshen hates keeping her identity secret from Homily, but just as she’s about to confess, Homily reveals why she’s in the area: she’s hunting a shapeshifting monster that supposedly cursed her family. Has Shesheshen seen it anywhere?
Eating her girlfriend isn’t an option. Shesheshen didn’t curse anyone, but to give herself and Homily a chance at happiness, she has to figure out why Homily’s twisted family thinks she did. As the hunt for the monster becomes increasingly deadly, Shesheshen must unearth the truth quickly, or soon both of their lives will be at risk.
And the bigger challenge remains: surviving her toxic in-laws long enough to learn to build a life with, rather than in, the love of her life. -
Real Americans
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • READ WITH JENNA’S MAY BOOK CLUB PICK • From the award-winning author of Goodbye, Vitamin: How far would you go to shape your own destiny? An exhilarating novel of American identity that spans three generations in one family and asks: What makes us who we are? And how inevitable are our futures?
"Mesmerizing"—Brit Bennett • "A page turner.”—Ha Jin • “Gorgeous, heartfelt, soaring, philosophical and deft"—Andrew Sean Greer • "Traverses time with verve and feeling."—Raven LeilaniReal Americans begins on the precipice of Y2K in New York City, when twenty-two-year-old Lily Chen, an unpaid intern at a slick media company, meets Matthew. Matthew is everything Lily is not: easygoing and effortlessly attractive, a native East Coaster, and, most notably, heir to a vast pharmaceutical empire. Lily couldn't be more different: flat-broke, raised in Tampa, the only child of scientists who fled Mao’s Cultural Revolution. Despite all this, Lily and Matthew fall in love.
In 2021, fifteen-year-old Nick Chen has never felt like he belonged on the isolated Washington island where he lives with his single mother, Lily. He can't shake the sense she's hiding something. When Nick sets out to find his biological father, the journey threatens to raise more questions than it provides answers.
In immersive, moving prose, Rachel Khong weaves a profound tale of class and striving, race and visibility, and family and inheritance—a story of trust, forgiveness, and finally coming home.
Exuberant and explosive, Real Americans is a social novel par excellence that asks: Are we destined, or made? And if we are made, who gets to do the making? Can our genetic past be overcome? -
The Blues Brothers
The story of the epic friendship between John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, the golden era of improv, and the making of a comedic film classic that helped shape our popular culture
"They're not going to catch us," Dan Aykroyd, as Elwood Blues, tells his brother Jake, played by John Belushi. "We're on a mission from God." So opens the musical action comedy The Blues Brothers, which hit theaters on June 20, 1980. Their scripted mission was to save a local Chicago orphanage. But Aykroyd, who conceived and wrote much of the film, had a greater mission: to honor the then-seemingly forgotten tradition of rhythm and blues, some of whose greatest artists--Aretha Franklin, James Brown, John Lee Hooker, Cab Calloway, Ray Charles--made the film as unforgettable as its wild car chases. Much delayed and vastly over budget, beset by mercurial and oft drugged-out stars, The Blues Brothers opened to outraged reviews. However, in the 44 years since, it has been acknowledged a classic: it has been inducted into the National Film Registry for its cultural significance, even declared a "Catholic classic" by the Church itself, and re-aired thousands of times on television to huge worldwide audiences. It is, undeniably, one of the most significant films of the twentieth century.
The story behind any classic is rich; the saga behind The Blues Brothers, as Daniel de Visé reveals, is epic, encompassing the colorful childhoods of Belushi and Aykroyd; the comedic revolution sparked by Harvard's Lampoon and Chicago's Second City; the birth and anecdote-rich, drug-filled early years of Saturday Night Live, where the Blues Brothers were born as an act amidst turmoil and rivalry; and, of course, the indelible behind-the-scenes narrative of how the film was made, scene by memorable scene. Based on original research and dozens of interviews probing the memories of principals from director John Landis and producer Bob Weiss to Aykroyd himself, The Blues Brothers illuminates an American masterpiece while vividly portraying the creative geniuses behind modern comedy.
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Normal Women
"Lively, timely and gloriously energetic. Each page bursts with life, and every chapter swirls with personalities left out of traditional narratives of Britain's past. Philippa Gregory has produced something rare and wonderful: a genuinely new history of [Britain], with women at its beating heart." --Dan Jones, New York Times bestselling author of The Plantagenets
"You've devoured her novels, but now Gregory shows off chops as a historian. . . . An amazing read." --The Los Angeles Times
The #1 New York Times bestselling historical novelist delivers her magnum opus--a landmark work of feminist nonfiction that radically redefines our understanding of the extraordinary roles ordinary women played throughout British history.
AN INDIE BESTSELLER
Did you know that there are more penises than women in the Bayeux Tapestry? That the Peasants' Revolt of 1381 was started and propelled by women who were protesting a tax on women? Or that celebrated naturalist Charles Darwin believed not just that women were naturally inferior to men, but that they'd evolve to become ever more inferior?
These are just a few of the startling findings you will learn from reading Philippa Gregory's Normal Women. In this ambitious and groundbreaking book, she tells the story of England over 900 years, for the very first time placing women--some fifty per cent of the population--center stage.
Using research skills honed in her work as one of our foremost historical novelists, Gregory trawled through court records, newspapers, and journals to find highwaywomen and beggars, murderers and brides, housewives and pirates, female husbands and hermits. The "normal women" you will meet in these pages went to war, ploughed the fields, campaigned, wrote, and loved. They rode in jousts, flew Spitfires, issued their own currency, and built ships, corn mills and houses. They committed crimes or treason, worshipped many gods, cooked and nursed, invented things, and rioted. A lot.
A landmark work of scholarship and storytelling, Normal Women chronicles centuries of social and cultural change--from 1066 to modern times--powered by the determination, persistence, and effectiveness of women.
*INCLUDES ILLUSTRATIONS THROUGHOUT AND A FULL-COLOR INSERT*
"An expansive, inclusive and elegantly woven nonfiction account of the lives of women in England from the Norman Conquest to the modern day. To describe it as merely a retelling is to undermine a core principle: This is a history of women in England, yes, but it is also a history of England, full stop. . . . At more than 500 pages, with extensive endnotes and a 30-page index, Normal Women is a behemoth you may be inclined to skim, until you realize you're actually luxuriating in every word." --The New York Times
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Spin of Fate
In a world inspired by karma, three teens encounter magnificent beasts, unforgiving magic, and epic battles in this propulsive and wholly original young adult fantasy.
“Evocative of Sanderson, Pullman, and Fullmetal Alchemist, yet at the same time shockingly original.” —Rosaria Munda, author of Fireborne
Aina’s world is governed by Toranic Law, a force that segregates people into upper and lower realms. It’s said that if the sinful lowers commit themselves to kindness and charity, their souls will lighten, allowing them into the peaceful upper realms.
But Aina, one of the few lowers to ever ascend, just wants to go back home.
Aina is desperate to reunite with her mother, hoping she’s survived the beasts and wars of her homeland alone. After failing to weigh down her soul with petty crimes, Aina joins a rebel group defying the authorities and bringing aid to those condemned to a life of suffering in the lower realms. Alongside Aina are two new recruits: Meizan, a ruthless fighter trying to save his clan from extinction, and Aranel, a spoiled noble spying for the powers that be.
Before long, the rebels find themselves in the middle of a brewing war. On one side, a violent king of a lower realm is bent on destroying Toranic Law; on the other, the authorities of the upper realms will do anything to stay on top. Now the young rebels must face both sides head-on if they want to stop a conflict that could break not only Toranic Law—but the universe itself.
Fans of epic, propulsive fantasies like Six of Crows and innovative world-building like Avatar: The Last Airbender will delight in A. A. Vora's ambitious, unmissable debut. -
Liar's Test
A gripping YA fantasy with a deadly contest to win a crown, a fierce heroine determined to right the wrongs done to her people, and a smoldering love story that could change everything...
I didn’t want to rule the Risen. Wreak a little havoc upon them, though? That was something else entirely.
Bell Silverleaf is a liar.
It’s how she’s survived. It’s how all Treesingers have survived, after they were invaded by the Risen and their gods. But now—thanks to some political maneuvering—Bell is in the Queen’s Test. She’s one of seven girls competing in deadly challenges to determine who rules for the next twenty-five years. If Bell wins, she’ll use the power to help her people and get her revenge on the Risen.
But Bell doesn’t know how much she’s been lied to. She’s part of a conspiracy stretching back generations, and she’s facing much bigger dangers than the Queen’s Test. She’s up against the gods themselves.
Getting hold of that crown might just be the least of her problems.
Aboriginal writer Ambelin Kwaymullina has created a fast-paced, twisty narrative and an unforgettable heroine inspired by the strength and power of Aboriginal women. -
Have You Seen This Girl
Fans of Courtney Summers and Tess Sharpe will devour this standalone YA thriller following a nonbinary teen investigating a series of copycat murders targeting girls in their small town--murders based on their serial killer dad's MO.
Another girl has gone missing in Cardinal Creek.
Sid knows their dad didn't do it--this time. He's currently serving a life sentence for the five girls he murdered ten years ago. Girls whose bodies he dumped into the lake. The same lake where June Hargrove was just found. And while Sid's dad couldn't have done it, suspicion is now directed at Sid. The only person who doesn't suspect Sid is the new girl, Mavis--as long as Sid doesn't let her find out about their past.
But Sid has another secret: They're being haunted by the ghosts of the five girls their father killed. Except now there are six. And unlike the others, June isn't content to just whisper in Sid's ear. She wants them to find out who's killing again, especially as another girl goes missing. If Sid wants any chance of solving the current disappearances, they're going to have to face what their father did--or risk being haunted forever.
Critically acclaimed author of Who I Was with Her, Nita Tyndall delivers a page-turning thriller that will captivate fans of Sadie and Monday's Not Coming.
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Harley Quinn: Redemption
When girls in Gotham City go missing, Harley Quinn is determined to track down their kidnapper. But the only way to outsmart a villain is to engage in a little villainy herself. Don't miss the adrenaline-racing conclusion to the Harley Quinn trilogy.
In Gotham City even the heroes are wicked.
Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy can't wait to cross off the final items on their summer bucket list. They still need to:But their to-do list gets more dangerous when young girls vanish from the streets of Gotham City. The only clues left behind are the dolls on Harley's doorstep from a mysterious sender known as the Dollmaker. The message is clear: come find me…if you dare.
Award-winning author Rachael Allen delivers the fast-paced and fiercely feminist conclusion to the Harley Quinn trilogy. -
Sheine Lende
Shane works with her mother and their ghost dogs, tracking down missing persons even when their families can't afford to pay. Their own family was displaced from their traditional home years ago following a devastating flood - and the loss of Shane's father and her grandparents. They don't think they'll ever get their home back.
Then Shane's mother and a local boy go missing, after a strange interaction with a fairy ring. Shane, her brother, her friends, and her lone, surviving grandparent - who isn't to be trusted - set off on the road to find them. But they may not be anywhere in this world - or this place in time.
Nevertheless, Shane is going to find them.
Darcie Little Badger's Elatsoe launched her career and in the years since has become a beloved favorite. This prequel to Elatsoe, centered on Ellie's grandmother, deepens and expands Darcie's one-of-a-kind world and introduces us to another cast of characters that will wend their way around readers' hearts.
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The Lilies
One of Us Is Lying meets A Good Girl's Guide to Murder in this don't-dare-to-look-away dark academia thriller that explores how secrets can rot an institution--and the people who uphold it--from the inside out.
Everyone wants to be a Lily.
At Archwell Academy, it's the ticket to a successful future. But like every secret society, there is something much darker beneath the surface ... sometimes girls disappear.
When four Archwell students find themselves trapped in a time loop, they must relive their worst memories, untangling the Lilies' moldering roots and unraveling the secrets at the core of their school ... before they destroy their futures forever.
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Deep Is the Fen
Get lost in the newest fantasy from the author of A Hunger of Thorns, on a beguiling journey behind the closed doors of a sinister secret society. Featuring a steamy enemies-to-lovers romance and a fight for the witching world that will get your heart racing.
Merry doesn’t need a happily-ever-after. Her life in the charming, idyllic town of Candlecott is fine just as it is. Simple, happy, and with absolutely no magic. Magic only ever leads to trouble.
But Merry’s best friend, Teddy, is joining the Toadmen—a secret society who specialize in backward thinking and suspiciously supernatural traditions—and Merry is determined to stop him. Even if it means teaming up with the person she hates most: her academic archnemesis, Caraway Boswell, an ice-cold snob who hides his true face under a glamour.
An ancient Toad ritual is being held in the sinister Deeping Fen, and if Merry doesn’t rescue Teddy before it’s finished, she’ll lose him forever. But the Toadmen have been keeping dangerous secrets, and so has Caraway. The farther Merry travels into Deeping Fen’s foul waters, the more she wonders if she’s truly come to save her friend . . . or if she’s walking straight into a trap.
There’s nothing the Toadmen love more than a damsel in distress. -
Rules for Rule Breaking
Booksmart meets Never Have I Ever in this debut YA rom-com about two Korean American teens forced into a shared college visit road trip where they discover that the reasons they’ve been rivals their entire lives might actually be signs they’re a perfect pair.
Winter Park and Bobby Bae are Korean American high school juniors whose families have been friends since the kids were making crayon art. They, however, are repulsed by each other.
Winter is MIT-bound, comfortable keeping people at arm’s length, and known by others as responsible, though she has a desire to let loose. This probably comes from her rebel grandmother, who is constantly pushing boundaries and encouraging Winter to do so as well. Winter’s best friend is moving abroad and won’t be attending college at all, and Winter’s wrestling with what it means to be left behind. Bobby is as Type-A, anxious, and risk-averse as you can get. He’s also been recently dumped, which has him feeling disoriented and untethered.
That’s why, when Winter’s and Bobby’s parents insist that they go on a northeast college campus tour together, both teens find reasons to accept even though the idea of being stuck in a car together for 700 miles sounds unbearable. What awaits them is a journey of self-discovery, and the only rule on their road trip is to break all the rules. At first, this happens in hilariously calculated ways (using lists and reason and logic!), but they soon abandon that, challenging each other to dares in Virginia, getting high and wandering around Philly for food—and battling the subsequent digestive distress—and crashing a party in Cambridge. And, of course, realizing that they’re perfect together. -
Where the Dark Stands Still
A New York Times bestseller
A girl with dangerous magic makes a risky bargain with a demon to be free of her monstrous power in this “dark, devastating, and gothic” (Kirkus Reviews) young adult fantasy perfect for fans of An Enchantment of Ravens and House of Salt and Sorrows.
Liska knows that magic is monstrous, and its practitioners are monsters. She has done everything possible to suppress her own magic, to disastrous consequences. Desperate to be free of it, Liska flees her small village and delves into the dangerous, demon-inhabited spirit-wood to steal a mythical fern flower. If she plucks it, she can use its one wish to banish her powers. Everyone who has sought the fern flower has fallen prey to unknown horrors, so when Liska is caught by the demon warden of the wood—called The Leszy—a bargain seems better than death: one year of servitude in exchange for the fern flower and its wish.
Whisked away to The Leszy’s crumbling manor, Liska soon makes an unsettling discovery: she is not the first person to strike this bargain, and all her predecessors have mysteriously vanished. If Liska wants to survive the year and return home, she must unravel her taciturn host’s spool of secrets and face the ghosts—figurative and literal—of his past. Because something wakes in the woods, something deadly and without mercy. It frightens even The Leszy…and cannot be defeated unless Liska embraces the monster she’s always feared becoming. -
Otherworldly
A New York Times bestseller!
A skeptic and a supernatural being make a crossroads deal to achieve their own ends only to get more than they bargained for in this “irresistible elixir of romance and suspense” (Kirkus Reviews) from the New York Times bestselling author of Spell Bound and So This Is Ever After.
Seventeen-year-old Ellery is a non-believer in a region where people swear the supernatural is real. Sure, they’ve been stuck in a five-year winter, but there’s got to be a scientific explanation. If goddesses were real, they wouldn’t abandon their charges like this, leaving farmers like Ellery’s family to scrape by.
Knox is a familiar from the Other World, a magical assistant sent to help humans who have made crossroads bargains. But it’s been years since he heard from his queen, and Knox is getting nervous about what he might find once he returns home. When the crossroads demons come to collect Knox, he panics and runs. A chance encounter down an alley finds Ellery coming to Knox’s rescue, successfully fending off his would-be abductors.
Ellery can’t quite believe what they’ve seen. And they definitely don’t believe the nonsense this unnervingly attractive guy spews about his paranormal origins. But Knox needs to make a deal with a human who can tether him to this realm, and Ellery needs to figure out how to stop this winter to help their family. Once their bargain is struck, there’s no backing out, and the growing connection between the two might just change everything. -
One Last Breath
The New York Times bestselling author of Dark & Shallow Lies delivers another chilling supernatural thriller filled with murder, romance, and a decades-long mystery that haunts a small Florida town.
The perfect blend of Natasha Preston, Krystal Sutherland, and Delia Owens, with a paranormal twist.
Mount Orange, Florida, is famous for two things: cerulean freshwater springs, ideal for free divers who aren't afraid of lurking gators. And the gruesome cold case murder of best friends, Bailey and Celeste, twenty years ago.
Bailey and Celeste's murders cast a permanent darkness over sunny Mount Orange. Tru has always lived in that shadow. Now she's supposed to head to FSU in the fall with her boyfriend, but those unsolved murders—and the death of her own sister—invade her every thought. It’s only in the shadowy deep of Hidden Glen Springs that she can breathe.
When a strange girl named Rio rolls into town, hell-bent on figuring out who killed Bailey and Celeste, Tru can't resist entangling herself in the thrill of solving the decades old mystery any more than she can resist her familiar, aching attraction to Rio.
As the summer heat ignites, so does the spark between Tru and Rio…along with their otherworldy connection to Bailey and Celeste. But when someone begins stalking them, the girls become convinced the killer is back in town. And if they keep digging into the past, Tru and Rio know this time, it could be their blood that makes the springs run red. -
The Power of Mess
We are taught to hate mess, whether it's an untidy bedroom or a chaotic divorce. But mess is important, because, like it or not, it is a big part of our lives and who we are. Things go wrong all the time and life rarely goes to plan. How do we stop that from being a recurring negative point in our lives, though?
Life is messy, the process of cleansing and healing is hard, and the only way is through. But what if the process of 'sorting through' didn't have to feel as draining as it often does? What if there were a way of resolving life's mess that could set you upon a path of discovering deeper and truer versions of yourself? What if the mess that comes up along the way liberated you into living an integrated, wholesome, blossoming life?
In The Power of Mess Samantha Lourie offers a way of working through the messy aspects of life that develops a sense of resilience and a quiet assurance that we will be okay. She encourages us to own the mess and see our lives as an epic journey where we pick up the pieces along the way and make something authentic out of them. The loss, hurt and mess are still there, but our perception of their place in our lives has changed.
We've dropped the old maps and manuals behind and started paving our own path through the mess. We are empowered because of it. -
Money Talks
A feminist take on financial wellbeing which alleviates financial anxiety in millennials by tackling the areas in life where money and wellbeing intersect.
How can we handle the impact of comparison culture on our bank accounts? Should we want an engagement ring, or is that anti-feminist? How can we say no to events we can’t afford but we feel obliged to attend to please others?
Money has the power to shape, make or even break our lives, and can have a significant impact on our mental health – so why aren’t we treating it as an important part of our wellbeing? In each chapter of this book, financial influencer Ellie Austin-Williams tackles a major area in our life that might bring us financial anxiety, from friendship to love. Topics covered include:- The rise of girl boss culture
- How society has increasingly encouraged women to spend their way to happiness
- The role of privilege, race and class in our pursuit of financial "success"
- Why we feel we have to get ahead of others to be happy
- The impact of social media on our spending habits
- What we learned about work and money from our parents.
Insights from financial experts add to Ellie's own expertise, alongside relatable anecdotes from real people. Each chapter ends with some practical tips and tricks that you can use to empower yourself to improve your financial wellbeing.
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Islas
An intimate reflection on tropical island cooking's bold flavors and big stories, with 125 recipes, from celebrated food writer Von Diaz.
The islands spanning the Indian, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans are remarkable places, sharing dozens of ingredients and cooking techniques, including marinating, pickling and fermentation, braising and stewing, frying, grilling and smoking, and steaming and in-ground roasting. Bold flavors drip from the edges of each dish with tastes that represent stories of resistance, persistence, and wisdom passed down from generation to generation.
This narrative cookbook by writer, documentary producer, and author Von Diaz travels across oceans and nations to uplift the shared ancestral cooking techniques of these islands in more than 125 recipes, including intimate profiles of the historical context of each technique, stories from islanders, and step-by-step guides for recreating them at home.
Recipes include:
- Coco Bread from Jamaica
- Arroz con Jueyes (Stewed Crab Rice) from Puerto Rico
- Masikita (Papaya-Marinated Beef Skewers) from Madagascar
- Bebek Betutu (Roasted Duck in Banana Leaf) from Indonesia
- Lechon Kawali (Crispy Fried Pork Belly) from the Philippines
Bright citrus and vinegars, verdant herbs, slow-cooked and smoky grilled meats, fresh seafood, aromatic rice, and earthy root vegetables: These flavors, found in the meals and recipes across these island nations pair remarkably well together, despite distance and cultural differences. The ingredients and deep-rooted cooking techniques in each of these recipes typify the harmonious, synchronous spirit found in each culture's unique cuisines. Even amid environmental chaos and food insecurity, islanders cook in ways that are soul nourishing and flavorful.Islas is about preserving the wisdom, values, and resilience of the people who live in some of the most volatile, vulnerable places on this planet. Each recipe, an archive of strategies for persistence, creativity, and ingenuity, provides a path for cooking delicious food. But above all, these stories and recipes acknowledge that cooking delicious food for others is always a selfless act.
AN AUTHENTIC DEEP DIVE INTO UNDERREPRESENTED FOODWAYS: Amid environmental chaos and food insecurity, and with limited ingredients, islanders cook in ways that are soul nourishing and emphasize flavor. This book expertly and authentically presents the diverse recipes and techniques of the islands of the Indian, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans.
DETAILED RECIPES AND FULL-COLOR PHOTOGRAPHS: Each of the techniques and recipes are paired with lots of how-tos and step-by-step guides, including key historical and scientific background to help you master these delicious recipes--from quick pickles to soups, stews, and barbecues--at home.
EXPERT AUTHOR AND A LEADING VOICE: Von Diaz is a celebrated author and seasoned food researcher who has dedicated her life to bringing forth unique food stories and the people behind them.
Perfect for:
- Anyone interested in learning more about AAPI cooking and cuisine
- A great hostess gift or self-purchase for those who enjoy entertaining and exploring food cultures around the world
- An educational and practical resource for sustainable cooking enthusiasts
- Special occasion, holiday, or birthday present for foodies and cookbook collectors
- Those who enjoy Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat; Coconut & Sambal; Cook Real Hawai'i; and Ottolenghi cookbooks
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Container and Small-Space Gardening for the South
Vast flower beds and large summer vegetable gardens are many southern gardeners' pride and joy. But gardening on a large scale isn't--and doesn't need to be--for everyone. In an era when many people would like to grow plants but are challenged by time, space, and lack of other resources, this concise, easy-to-use guide introduces southern gardeners to the art, craft, and science of growing plants in containers and in small spaces. Through friendly, engaging text and beautiful, inspiring photographs, Barbara Ellis demonstrates how to create container and small-space gardens that can withstand southern heat and humidity while still looking gorgeous all season long. Written for gardeners of all ages and experience levels, this book will inspire southerners to add containers brimming with flowers, herbs, vegetables, or a mix of all things green to every yard, garden, and terrace.
- Features plants that everyone can grow throughout the southeast, with suggestions for overwintering tender plants indoors or replacing them annually.
- Covers key plant-care basics, including options on container selection, potting mediums, seasonal care, pest and disease control, and more.
- Identifies plants that support butterflies, hummingbirds, and pollinators.
- Offers comprehensive lists to help readers select the best plant options for their sites and objectives.
- Gives advice for readers on tight budgets and on how to create attractive containers from found materials.
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A History of Women in 101 Objects
Discover the hidden history of women—and the world—through this visual exploration of intimate objects and the surprising, sometimes shocking stories behind them.
“I adored this book!”—Olivia Colman
This is a neglected history. Not a sweeping, definitive, exhaustive history of the world but something quieter, more intimate and particular: a single journey, picked out in 101 objects, through the fascinating, manifold, and too often overlooked histories of women.
With engaging prose, compelling stories, and a beautiful full-page image of each object, Annabelle Hirsch’s book contains a curated and diverse compendium of women and their things, uncovering the thoughts and feelings at the heart of women’s daily lives. The result is an intimate and stirring alternative history of humans in the world. The objects date from prehistory to today and are assembled chronologically to show the evolution of how women were perceived by others, how they perceived themselves, how they fought for freedom. Some (like a sixteenth-century glass dildo) are objects of female pleasure, some (a thumbscrew) of female subjugation. These are artifacts of women celebrated by history and of women unfairly forgotten by it. With variety and nuance, A History of Women in 101 Objects cracks open the fissures of what we think we know in order to illuminate a much richer retelling: What do handprints on early cave paintings tell us about the role of women in hunting? How is a cell phone related to femicides? What does Kim Kardashian’s diamond ring have to do with Elena Ferrante?
Wide-ranging, subversive, witty, and superbly researched, this is a book that upends all our assumptions about, and presentations of, the past, proving that it has always been as complicated and fascinating as the women who peopled it. -
Millionaire Habits
Transform your financial present and future so you can give back to the people you care about the most
In Millionaire Habits: How to Achieve Financial Independence, Retire Early, and Make a Difference by Focusing on Yourself First, popular personal finance educator Steve Adcock delivers a fun, insightful, and hands-on discussion of how to build financial security, retire early, and give back to the community. You’ll learn to focus on yourself and your family first, creating personal wealth for the purpose of giving back to others.
In the book, the author explains that “saving money” isn’t a goal in and of itself, but rather the end product of the personal wealth equation: Wealth = Income + Investments – Lifestyle. You’ll discover how to pay yourself first with concrete guidance and practical advice drawn from people who built wealth on modest incomes.
You’ll also find:
- Strategies for maintaining your physical and financial fitness so you can maximize the value of your assets
- Ways to turn your existing wealth into even more valuable investments that generate continued, passive income
- Methods to help you retire early and enjoy your financial independence at a young age
Perfect for young professionals, working families, self-employed people, and anyone else seeking to increase their net worth and get more out of life, Millionaire Habits is the intuitive and engaging personal finance roadmap we’ve all been waiting for.
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The Gift of Limitations
"For anyone who struggles with the limits of life--such as time, energy, money, and opportunities--Sara Hagerty eloquently explores The Gift of Limitations as she guides readers to embrace limits as a way to draw closer to God"-- "Are you feeling stretched to your limits and wish those limits weren't there at all? Bestselling author Sara Hagerty asks: "What if your greatest weaknesses--the areas of your life you resent the most, the places where you feel the most overextended and unfulfilled--are your doorway to rich intimacy with God? What if your limitations were, in fact, your greatest gift?"It's all too much. Too much laundry and too many bills. Too many appointments, meetings, and open tabs on our browser. Yet in the midst of so much, we feel deprived. Limited. We make another family dinner while shelving our passion for art. We tend our tiny patch of grass while envying the time our neighbor has to garden. We go to bed exhausted, too tired to enjoy a few minutes with our own thoughts.As a writer, speaker, and mother of seven, Sara Hagerty knows what limitations feel like. Yet she has also seen how the boundaries of our life circumstances can bring about growth and satisfaction we'd never experience otherwise. With the poetic voice, gentle validation, and deep spiritual insights that have made Sara's books so popular, The Gift of Limitations explores how to: Name the limitations that haunt us and how we have unknowingly given them power; Open our eyes to what God can do with the weaknesses we resent; Discover what God's Word says about living within our limitations; Understand what embracing our limits looks like in everyday life; Recognize when we are pushing ourselves too far; Understand how God sees weakness and how He has used it in the lives of great believers; Dream again while remaining tethered to God's best story for us; Release the shame and frustration of our weaknesses. In The Gift of Limitations, you will learn to see the beauty and peace God provides in the midst of our life circumstances--and the deep spiritual growth we can experience through the limitations that we once thought held us back"--
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Meditation for the Real World
"No matter how busy you are, wherever you are, your age, or what you are going through, meditation offers simple, fast relief and can support you in your day-to-day life. Through science-backed, practical and accessible guidance, this book will show you how meditation can work for you. Balm your soul and body with over 75 can-do meditation techniques to build into your daily routine.
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The Serial Killer's Apprentice
"Elmer Wayne Henley, Jr. was only fourteen when he first became entangled with serial rapist and murderer Dean Corll in 1971. Fellow Houston, Texas, teenager David Brooks had already been ensnared by the charming older man, bribed with cash to help lure boys to Corll's home. When Henley unwittingly entered the trap, Corll evidently sensed he'd be of more use as a second accomplice than another victim. He baited Henley with the same deal he'd given Brooks: $200 for each boy they could bring him. Henley didn't understand the full extent of what he had signed up for at first. But once he started, Corll convinced him that he had crossed the line of no return and had to not only procure boys but help kill them and dispose of the bodies, as well. When Henley first took a life, he lost his moral base. He felt doomed. By the time he was seventeen, he'd helped with multiple murders and believed he'd be killed, too. But on August 8, 1973, he picked up a gun and shot Corll. When he turned himself in, Henley showed police where he and Brooks had buried Corll's victims in mass graves. Twenty-eight bodies were recovered -- most of them boys from Henley's neighborhood -- making this the worst case of serial murder in America at the time. The case reveals gross failures in the way cops handled parents' pleas to look for their missing sons and how law enforcement possibly protected a larger conspiracy. The Serial Killer's Apprentice tells the story of Corll and his accomplices in its fullest form to date. It also explores the concept of 'mur-dar' (the predator's instinct for exploitable kids), current neuroscience about adolescent brain vulnerabilities, the role of compartmentalization, the dynamic of a murder apprenticeship, and how tales like Henley's can aid with early intervention. Despite his youth and cooperation, Henley went to trial and received six life sentences. He's now sixty-five and has a sense of perspective about how adult predators can turn formerly good kids into criminals. Unexpectedly, he's willing to talk. This book is his warning and the story of the unspeakable evil and sorrow that befell Houston in the early 1970s"-
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Royal Audience
"From the moment she first enchanted the world as a youthful princess, Queen Elizabeth II found a unique place in American hearts-and she also played an unprecedented role in forging transatlantic ties. Over her seventy-year reign, she developed extraordinary and varied personal bonds with thirteen U.S. presidents-Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, both Bush Sr. and Jr., Clinton, Obama, Trump, and Biden-that other diplomats and leaders could only dream of. A fascinating, in-depth look at international relations and interpersonal intrigue, Royal Audience peels back the curtain on the "special relationship" between the U.S. and the U.K. as embodied by the Queen herself-charting Elizabeth II's distinctive brand of one-to-one diplomacy through the eyes of those who experienced it firsthand. From horse-riding with Ronald Reagan, to sharing her recipe for scones with Dwight D. Eisenhower, to striking up a kinship with the Bushes and the Obamas, the Queen's interactions with her U.S. counterparts often acted as a restorative tonic for relations between two nations, even when political tensions ran high. Not all royal encounters with U.S. presidents went smoothly, though. Between Jackie Kennedy's complaints about Elizabeth and the Queen Mother's shock at being kissed on the lips by Jimmy Carter, there was never a dull moment. Throughout the years, Queen Elizabeth II's sense of duty and service remained steadfast, and her iconic legacy is unlikely to be repeated"--
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Indulge
Beloved actress and New York Times bestselling author Valerie Bertinelli returns with her most indulgent cookbook yet; a collection of 100 recipes to nourish the body and the soul.
in·dulge: to allow oneself to enjoy the pleasure of.
When Valerie Bertinelli turned 60, she said “Enough already!” and ended her battle with the scale for good. She stopped counting calories. She stopped thinking of certain foods as good or bad. She quit saying no and began saying yes, finally learning how to enjoy the pure pleasure of being alive – starting in the kitchen.
In short, she learned how to indulge.
With this gorgeous cookbook, Valerie shares her secrets for indulging so you can start living your best, most fulfilling life too. Whether it’s splurging on fresh produce at the farmer’s market, cooking an extravagant steak dinner for one, or serving an ice cream sundae bar at a dinner party, this book is a reminder that indulging can take many shapes and forms.
You’ll discover the delicious recipes she cooks for her friends and family, including favorites like Garlic Confit BLT, Oven “Fried” Okra, Sausage and Olive Cheese Bites, Spaghetti al Limone, Salmon Burgers With Quick-Pickled Vegetables, Filet Mignon with Béarnaise Sauce and Chocolate Peanut Butter Dates, and more.
Written in Valerie’s warmhearted and intimate style—including heartfelt essays about how to savor moments big and small—this cookbook is a permission slip to enjoy food, and more importantly, enjoy life.
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Family Unfriendly
"Washington Examiner columnist Timothy P. Carney explains why parenting is harder and children are less happy than a generation ago"--
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The Art of Playful Lettering
"This comprehensive guide from professional lettering artist Dawn Nicole Warnaar, perfect for beginners and experienced lettering artists alike, begins with three foundational lettering styles and then expands to 10 playful variations. Each style comes complete with a full alphabet of letters, detailed instructions, tracing practice, and creative worksheets. But that's not all! Dawn also includes lessons showing how to embellish your lettering with cute elements to creative expressive word art"
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The Cookie That Changed My Life
"A cookbook full of Nancy Silverton's staple baking recipes"-- Biting into a particularly delicious peanut butter cookie, Silverton had an epiphany: everything-- sweet or savory-- should taste this good. She set to work perfecting the rest of the American baking cannon. Here she shares recipes for the platonic ideals of our most beloved baked goods. From buttermilk biscuits to key lime pie, her recipes are sure to become fixtures of everyone's pastry repertoire. -- adapted from inside front cover
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How to Walk Into a Room
A Podcast host, spiritual director and best-selling author offers guidance to help readers recognize when to leave situations that are no longer useful, including how to navigate endings without closure and differentiate between peace and discomfort avoidance.
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The Amish Wife
"In 1977, in an Ohio Amish community, pregnant wife and mother Ida Stutzman perished during a barn fire. The coroner's report: natural causes. Ida's husband, Eli, was never considered a suspect. But when he eventually rejected the faith and took his son, Danny, with him, murder followed. What really happened to Ida? The dubious circumstances of the tragic blaze were willfully ignored and Eli's shifting narratives disregarded. Could Eli's subsequent cross-country journey of death--including that of his own son--have been prevented if just one person came forward with what they knew about the real Eli Stutzman? The questions haunted Gregg Olsen and Ida's brother Daniel Gingerich for decades. At Daniel's urging, Olsen now returns to Amish Country and to Eli's crimes first exposed in Olsen's Abandoned Prayers, one of which has remained a mystery until now. With the help of aging witnesses and shocking long-buried letters, Olsen finally uncovers the disturbing truth--about Ida's murder and the conspiracy of silence and secrets that kept it hidden for forty-five years"--
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The Design of Books
"Of all the aspects of making a book, design is perhaps the most mysterious. Authors and readers surely realize that covers are designed objects that, like it or not, books are commonly judged by. But a book's interior is also the product of a designer's careful attention to such matters as where the page numbers go or how wide the margins are. Even publishing professionals-editors, agents, marketing staff-often have only the vaguest idea of how designers use type, color, space, and other elements to turn manuscripts into visually distinctive and compelling books. This is the first book that explains what designers do for the benefit of all the "word people" involved in making (and enjoying) books. By demystifying how she and her fellow design professionals approach their tasks, Debbie Berne seeks to make authors and publishing colleagues informed partners in design decisions and to ensure the process is collaborative from start to finish. She considers self-published as well as traditionally published authors in her advice. And along the way, she offers delightful reflections on how each part of a book functions and how they ideally come together as a package for the ultimate benefit of the reader"--
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How to Be the Love You Seek
"A groundbreaking guide to strengthening relationships, beginning with the one you have with yourself"-- "In How to Be the Love You Seek, #1 New York Times bestselling author Dr. LePera--whose integrative, holistic approach to psychology has attracted an international audience of millions--offers a new path to healing our relationships. Harnessing the latest scientific research, she teaches us to recognize how unmet needs from our earliest relationships create our current, dysfunctional relationship patterns, and leave us in a state of constant internal threat, even with those closest to us. This book, the last in her "How To" trilogy, illuminates the way out of trauma bonds and into relationships rooted in mutual respect and compassion. In it, you will learn how to create safety in your own body and mind; identify your unmet needs; develop emotional resilience; cultivate heart coherence to build deep emotional connections with others; and maintain healthy interdependence in our communities." --
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All You Need Is Love
"An oral history of The Beatles from never-before-seen interviews. All You Need Is Love is a groundbreaking oral history of the one of the most enduring musical acts of all time. The material is comprised of intimate interviews with Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, their families, friends and business associates that were conducted by Beatles intimate Peter Brown and author Steven Gaines in 1980-1981 during the preparation of their international bestseller, The Love You Make, which spent four months on the New York Times bestseller list in 1983 and remains the biggest selling biography worldwide about the Beatles Only a small portion of the contents of these transcribed interviews have ever been revealed. The interviews are unique and candid. The information, stories, and experiences, and the authority of the people who relate to them, have historic value. No collection like this can ever be assembled again. In addition to interviews with Paul, Yoko, Ringo and George, Brown and Gaines also include interviews from ex-wives Cynthia Lennon, Pattie Harrison Clapton, and Maureen Starkey, as well as the major social and business figures of the Beatles' inner circle. Among other sought-after information the interviews contribute definitively as to why the Beatles broke up"--
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Goon with the Spoon
"The long-awaited followup to Snoop's breakout bestseller From Crook to Cook, Snoop Presents Goon with the Spoon features Bay Area rapper E-40's favorite recipes, from Cornbread Rice to Short Rib Adobo to Banana Lumpia with Caramel"--
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Rich AF
"From TikTok star and your (favorite) rich BFF Vivian Tu, the definitive book on personal finance for a new generation"--
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The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians
To be a bookseller or librarian... You have to play detective. Be a treasure hunter. A matchmaker. An advocate. A visionary. A person who creates "book joy" by pulling a book from a shelf, handing it to someone and saying, "You've got to read this. You're going to love it." Step inside The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians and enter a world where you can feed your curiosities, discover new voices, find whatever you want or require. This place has the magic of rainbows and unicorns, but it's also a business. The book business. Meet the smart and talented people who live between the pages--and who can't wait to help you find your next favorite book. --
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Forever Barbie
A cultural critic and investigative journalist uncovers the full history of the Barbie doll, from her introduction in 1959 through countless transformations, makeovers and career changes to its emergence as an international pop culture icon.