Children’s / Teenage fiction and true stories

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Book SynopsisIn 1910, the two sisters, eleven- and twelve-year-old Maud and Addie, are eagerly anticipating their Summer Social in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia. However, the event does not quite go according to plan, and the two girls are swept out to sea as they are rowing home at the day’s end. They find themselves adrift in the unforgiving North Atlantic with only the contents of a picnic hamper to sustain them and a carriage blanket to keep them warm. Finding their way through stormy seas, the girls finally make landfall on a deserted island. With string and a jackknife recovered from Maud’s pockets and a parasol and novel contributed by Addie, the girls create a world for themselves among the island dunes, keeping company with sea birds and other sea creatures. Their ensuing adventures test their wits and, in the process, forge a bond that enables them to survive.Trade Review" Maud and Addie is an enchanting and timeless tale about two girls who get lost at sea and go on an adventure of a lifetime!"Ellen E. Sutherland, Nova Scotia author of The Jamie Poole Books Series"Filled with adventure, discovery, and a splash of sibling rivalry, Maureen Buchanan Jones's historical novel Maud & Addie includes sweet messages about the importance of family. [...] Sure to enchant, Maud & Addie is a touching novel complete with old skeletons, new friends, and the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood." Vivian Turnbull, Foreward Reviews"An absorbing tale of two young sisters from Halifax, Nova Scotia, who are swept out to sea and their trials and risk-taking as castaways. [...] With confident pacing that rises and falls like the waves, the book charts the girls' progress as they enter survival mode, growing more resilient and resourceful with each test." Kirkus Reviews

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Book SynopsisYoung paleontologists will travel 66 million years back in time to explore the fascinating world of the T. rex. This charming board book teaches little ones fun and interesting facts about the world''s greatest predator including T. rex diet, the Cretaceous period and prehistoric environment, mother and baby T. rex, hunting techniques, teeth, bite size, speed, fossils, scientists, and more. Come join the dino fun.This book is part of the bestselling Good Night Our World series, which includes hundreds of titles exploring iconic locations and exciting themes.Young dino lovers will be introduced to the world''s most famous dinosaur.

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Book SynopsisFrom fossils to spectacular hikes, young adventures will take a personal and educational tour of the amazing Badlands National Park, including Badlands Loop Road, Pinnacles Overlook, Yellow Mounds, Conata Basin Overlook, Panorama Point, White River Valley Overlook, Notch Trail, Fossil Exhibit Trail, the visitors center, wildlife, park rangers, and more. This book is part of the bestselling Good Night Our World series, which includes hundreds of titles exploring iconic locations and exciting themes.Young explorers will explore Badlands National Park’s most visited natural landmarks and attractions.

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Book SynopsisAunts are the greatest! What could be more fun than spending time with your favorite aunt? This charming board book brings young children and their aunts together for a magical experience including going for bike rides, playing in the park, eating ice cream, making arts and crafts, cooking, storytime, and more.This book is part of the bestselling Good Night Our World series, which includes hundreds of titles exploring iconic locations and exciting themes.Nothing is more fun than spending time with your beloved aunt.

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Book SynopsisWhat could be more magical than spending time with Santa’s Christmas elves? Young readers will tour Santa’s Village and explore the fascinating world of elves including toy making, assisting Santa, preparing the sleigh, feeding the reindeer, having hot chocolate and candy canes, wrapping presents, baking Christmas goodies, and more. This book is part of the bestselling Good Night Our World series, which includes hundreds of titles exploring iconic locations and exciting themes.The charming Christmas board book explores the magical world of Christmas elves. 

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Book SynopsisCalling all firefighters! Little ones will squeal with delight as they count their way through a fire station, featuring a fire pole, firefighters, firefighting gear and equipment, fire trucks and ladders, dalmations, dispatchers, and more.  This book is part of the bestselling Good Night Our World series, which includes hundreds of titles exploring iconic locations and exciting themes.Come join the fun as little firefighters count their way around a fire station.

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Book Synopsis Welcome to one of the most visited national parks in the county. Little ones will squeal with delight to visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s most celebrated attractions and iconic landmarks, including Clingmans Dome, Cades Cove, Sugarland Visitor Center, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Laurel Falls, Alum Cave Trail, camping, fishing, hiking, wildlife, and more. This book is part of the bestselling Good Night Our World series, which includes hundreds of titles exploring iconic locations and exciting themes.Grab your hiking boots and fishing pole, it’s time to visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

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Book SynopsisEvery Saturday morning Noah and Grampa take a special walk. It’s the best time to find Shabbat shalom, some Sabbath peace, Grampa explains. Noah loves their time together, but he’d love it even more if his puppy, Mazel, could join them. That wiggly, waggly, wet-nosed puppy? says Grampa. He’s just too noisy. But Noah keeps asking, and one day Mazel proves that he, too, can find Shabbat shalom. Jaime Zollars stunning illustrations, prepared with graphite and digital paint, show that peace can be experienced, even with a lively puppy nearby.

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Book SynopsisPerfect for fans of Mo Willems and Jon Klassen, award-winning author Sharon G. Flake’s story about a very serious cat and a very silly duck will inspire giggles with every reading.Best friends Duck and Cat have a problem—Cat makes Duck sneeze! “I think—achoo!—I’m allergic to you,” Duck declares. Hilarity ensues as Cat keeps trying to solve the problem—but Duck keeps sneezing! Is Duck really allergic to Cat or is something else going on? Written completely in dialogue, this text is fun to read aloud and easy enough for newly independent readers to enjoy on their own. Humorous illustrations highlight the characters' personalities, emphasizing Duck's quirky humor and Cat's earnestness. This dynamic duo will charm readers as the sly friendship tale keeps them laughing.Trade Review"Told entirely in dialogue using color-coded speech bubbles, this is the tale of a dynamic duo whose friendship is full of silly bickering, consternation, and smiles....Readers who enjoyed You Are Not a Cat! (2016) will be pleased to see more from this pair. Comparable to a series about a famous elephant and pig...this is a close second." —Kirkus Reviews"The creators’ comic follow-up to You Are Not a Cat! finds pals Cat and Duck in a touchy quandary...Digitally assembled ink, pen, and pencil illustrations by Raff contrast the sylvan setting—depicted in soft textures, grassy tones, and simple shapes—with the characters’ escalating, and very sibling-like, interplay." —Publishers Weekly"Raff’s illustrations are soft but colorful, filled with movement and speech bubbles interspersed with Duck’s numerous achoos.... children (will) enjoy the colorful illustrations along with the actions and discussions the two friends share." —Booklist

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Book SynopsisDuck and the gang want to build a cool hangout in the second book in this graphic chapter book series perfect for fans of Narwahl and Jelly.When the gang decides to build a hangout where everyone can chill together, there are supplies to gather, the puuurrrfect tree to find, and of course: an awesome name to pick! (Turkey wonders: What about the Doozy Den?) But when Cat tells the gang that tree forts aren’t cool, everybody’s feathers get ruffled—especially Duck’s. In three short chapters, perfect for readers just gaining confidence, Duck and his friends once again show Cat that being cool is never about being mean!Hippo Park graphic chapter books are ideal for beginning and newly independent readers, with approachable page counts, easy-to-follow paneling, and artwork that supports text comprehension.Trade Review"Kid-friendly with a rad edge…..Young readers [will] appreciate the sick vibes and smooth wordplay..Totally sweet!” -- Kirkus Reviews"A fun adventure....Recommended for raders ages 5-7 looking for a silly beginner chapter book graphic novel. Great for fans of the Pea, Bea, and Jay series." -- Youth Services Book Review"The fun continues as these characters search for a place to hang out together....the artwork is full of details for readers to flesh out the dialogue. I appreciate the ending leading to the next book. A fun read for mid-elementary level." -- Pamela Gombert, Librarian, Bowen Elementary"... the second book in an already super cool series. Kids will love the quirky expressions of the animal friends, as well as their unique personalities. They will wonder in anticipation with the other friends as they decide what to name the fort....Children will be drawn to the colorful illustrations and fun characters. A fantastic addition to the series!" -- Rebecca Band, educator"This book was ace! Highly recommended." -- Dona Maguire, Goodreads

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Book SynopsisDuck and the gang want to build a cool hangout in the second book in this graphic chapter book series perfect for fans of Narwahl and Jelly.When the gang decides to build a hangout where everyone can chill together, there are supplies to gather, the puuurrrfect tree to find, and of course: an awesome name to pick! (Turkey wonders: What about the Doozy Den?) But when Cat tells the gang that tree forts aren’t cool, everybody’s feathers get ruffled—especially Duck’s. In three short chapters, perfect for readers just gaining confidence, Duck and his friends once again show Cat that being cool is never about being mean!Hippo Park graphic chapter books are ideal for beginning and newly independent readers, with approachable page counts, easy-to-follow paneling, and artwork that supports text comprehension.Trade Review"Kid-friendly with a rad edge…..Young readers [will] appreciate the sick vibes and smooth wordplay..Totally sweet!” -- Kirkus Reviews"A fun adventure....Recommended for raders ages 5-7 looking for a silly beginner chapter book graphic novel. Great for fans of the Pea, Bea, and Jay series." -- Youth Services Book Review"The fun continues as these characters search for a place to hang out together....the artwork is full of details for readers to flesh out the dialogue. I appreciate the ending leading to the next book. A fun read for mid-elementary level." -- Pamela Gombert, Librarian, Bowen Elementary"... the second book in an already super cool series. Kids will love the quirky expressions of the animal friends, as well as their unique personalities. They will wonder in anticipation with the other friends as they decide what to name the fort....Children will be drawn to the colorful illustrations and fun characters. A fantastic addition to the series!" -- Rebecca Band, educator"This book was ace! Highly recommended." -- Dona Maguire, Goodreads

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Book SynopsisWant an adorable Halloween appropriate picture book that's not scary at all? Addie and the Amazing Acrobats is your book!Will Addie choose fame or friendship when she gets invited to join the Big Bat Circus? Perfect for fans of Aaron Blabey and Ryan T. Higgins.Addie was born to be a STAR. Just look at her—she loves attention! “Ehem! Can we please continue?” (Of course!) Addie and her best friends, Ben and Jude, are three peas in a pod. Besties since birth! And together, they learn to perform spellbinding moves in the air (check out the spinzarella and the bonkers bug out!), forming a trio called Addie and the Acrobats! They love the crowds, the cheers, and most of all the attention! One night after a spectacular show, Addie receives an invitation to join the Big Bat Circus. “We’ll start packing right away,” says Addie. But when the friends arrive, suitcases packed, there's only room for the star. Only Addie? Addie loves her friends, but she loves the spotlight, too! Will she have to choose? Shauna Cagan’s delightful debut picture book is a story that both entertains and encourages conversation. Fame or friends? Competition or community? Smart and off-beat with delightful illustrations, readers will fall in love with Addie.Trade Review“A high-flying authorial debut … Cagan makes the characters’ journey fun, with meta-interplay between the narrator and protagonist, and crisply outlined cartooning that evokes a lively nocturnal world.”—Publishers Weekly"Creative...and the bats’ acrobatics provide inspiration for a colony’s worth of vivid verbs.”—Kirkus ReviewsI can’t think of a CUTER story to read!! What do you do when you’re a part of an amazing acrobatic team (who just happen to be your best BEST friends) that dazzles onlookers every night, but then someone comes along and only wants one of you?? You’ll just have to read this adorable book to find out!!”—@squarepegroundworld

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Book SynopsisWelcome to the show! Bienvenidos! This rags-to-riches tale of a doggy mother-daughter singing act in the Nuevo Wild West will enchant dog lovers, music lovers, and anyone looking for new Latinx voices. This spellbinding original story opens in a cantina crowded with desert animals, cowboys, and cowgirls all excited to see the glamorous Luna Ranchera mother-daughter singing duo. Long ago, Luna was down on her luck, starving and struggling to feed her pups, reduced to thieving from nearby ranchers. One day, escaping another heist, Luna has to hide in the worst possible place: on top of a beehive! She howls in pain so loudly, it carries all across the desert. It turns out Luna's musical wails are something special, captivating creatures far and wide. Her most rebellious pup, Ranchera, joins her, and soon the two become the famous howling singing act with the flea-bitten souls, Luna Ranchera! Immersive and unforgettable, with knockout, whimsical art, the tale ends with the lyrics to Luna Ranchera's most famous song. Perfect for fans of Coco and Soul.Trade Review"A strikingly original story of overcoming the odds.....This rags-to-riches story of a mother-and-daughter pair making it big will pull at readers’ heartstrings....the writing has an appealingly folksy, tall-tale feeling. Reminiscent of Raul the Third’s artwork" -- Kirkus Reviews

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Book SynopsisA moving story for any child who has felt lonely, worried, or anxious and found solace in friendship with a beloved pet.Summer is here and Tyra spends many happy days lying in the warm grass with her new cat, Vivaldi. What could be better than staring up into the blue sky with a purring kitten on your tummy? But soon it''s September, and while getting her backpack ready for the first day of school, Tyra feels everything she is going back to and a hard painful lump forms in her throat. School is a place of no words for Tyra, a place where the girls stare at her and stop talking when she walks by, a place where she feels completely alone. Only music can put an end to this feeling, music and her cat. Maybe, just maybe, things will be different this year now that it''s not Tyra alone anymore, but Tyra and her cat.Vivaldi is a book for anyone who''s ever felt alone, anyone who''s ever worried or been anxious, and anyone who knows what a difference one friend can make.

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Book SynopsisMonster is curious about making friends, finding a home, and exploring his city. This book collects six Monster stories?written by educators Ellen Blance and Ann Cook, who worked with children to write the books?brought to life by Quentin Blake''s charming illustrations. Have you met Monster? He?s not scary or mean like other monsters. He?s kind of tall and his head is skinny, and he?s purple. He?s curious about everything: the city, the river, houses, cars, trains, and what people look like, the park, the kids, the swings, the stores and clothes and stuff. It is all new to him. ?Monster thinks the city is fine so he thinks he will live here.? So begins the story of gentle, playful Monster, who conducts himself with grace and courtesy, and in short order finds a home, a best friend, and a bunch of kids to play with. First introduced in 1973, Monster returns in this omnibus edition of the first six stories of an extended emerging-reader series written not only for children, but also by them. Educators Ellen Blance and Ann Cook worked with schoolchildren to write stories a child would want, and be able, to read. While most children?s books are meant to be read by adults to children, these are stories children can read to themselves or to adults. The book includes illustrations by the illustrious Quentin Blake, and a new letter to children (and one to parents) by the authors.

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Book SynopsisNow back in print, a sweet picture book about a little girl''s love for her pet lamb.M. B. Goffstein was a master of the art of children’s books. With the fewest possible words in the best possible order accompanied by precise line drawings, Goffstein created picture books of elemental simplicity, subtle humor, and undeniable charm.Brookie and Her Lamb is a classic tale of reciprocated love between a little girl and her lamb, as memorable as the nursery rhyme about another little lamb and a girl named Mary. Brookie wants to teach her lamb to sing, but all he sings is Baa, baa, baa; she tries to teach him to read, but all he can read is Baa, baa, baa. A bit discouraged, but undeterred, Brookie takes her lamb for a head-clearing walk. She gazes at the lamb grazing, and a smile returns to her face. Back at home, she reconsiders her lesson plan and arrives at a creative solution, a happy ending for both lamb and girl.An ideal read-aloud for young children, Brookie and Her Lamb is a tender tale of mutual love and appreciation and a lasting achievement in storytelling and illustration.

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Book SynopsisSelected as a Caldecott Honor Book in 1977, andnow back in print for the first time in a decade,this is a charming picture book about a grandmother and her simple, idyllic daily routine.Fish for Supper is M.B. Goffstein?s Caldecott Honor story of a grandmother and her regular routine in summer: waking at five o?clock in the morning to make the most of a day on the lake, ?with cans of worms and minnows, some fruit for lunch, bobbers, lines, hooks, and sinkers.? Delightfully and wittily, Goffstein departs from the usual fisherman?s tale to give us a day in the life of this no-nonsense, patient fisherwoman who catches ?sunfish, crapper, perch, and sometimes a big northern pike,? who capably cleans her catch, and who can bake to boot. She relishes every bite of her well-earned supper, and the pleasure she takes in her self-sufficiency and graceful work becomes the reader?s as well. Based on Goffstein?s own childhood summers at her grandparents? house on Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota, Fish for Supper transforms her indelible memories into a story that is as honed and gratifying as its heroine?s days.

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Book SynopsisStep into New York City''s 777 Garden Avenue, the building where Chris Raschka''s charming and funny The Doorman''s Repose takes place. Filled with unforgettable characters that bring the city to life, this book is perfect for anyone who has ever wondered what happens in those big, storied New Yor apartment buildings.Some of us look up at those craggy, mysterious apartment buildings found in the posher parts of New York City and wonder what goes on inside. Now in paperback, The Doorman''s Repose collects ten stories of the doings of 777 Garden Avenue, one of the craggiest. The first story recounts the travails of the new doorman, who excels at all aspects of his work except for perhaps the most important--talking baseball. Other stories tell of a long-forgotten room, a cupid-like elevator, a poisoned boiler, and the unlikely romance of a cerebral psychologist and a jazz musician, both mice. Because the animals talk and the machinery has feelings, these are children''s stories. Otherwise they are for any child or adult intrigued by what happens when many people, strangers or kin, live between shared walls and ceilings, under one high, gargoyled, turreted roof.

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Book SynopsisWhile it is difficult for adults to understand the extent of changes in the world brought about by the 2020 pandemic, it must be so much more confusing to children. Waiting and spending time indoors while a favorite park is closed or school is shut down has been a constant companion for children in 2020. While I Wait shows children waiting for bits of life to re-open and return to normal, while at the same time having fun and using their creativity indoors. With each page featuring a different style of artwork from a unique artist, While I Wait displays lessons in patience, creative thinking, and hope that children will carry into 2021 and for the rest of their lives.

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Book SynopsisLogan searches for carrots in his wheelchair-accessible greenhouse in this vibrant exploration of gardening and healthy eating, from the Where in the Garden? picture book series.Logan is organizing a pet playdate at his greenhouse for all of his friends, and his treats won?t be the same without his carrots. He?s searched and searched, but his greenhouse is filled with plenty of plants and Logan needs our help to identify them. What do we know about carrots? They?re long, orange, and have bushy leaves at the top?and, wait a moment, is that a carrot? No, that?s a turnip. Where, oh, where could those carrots be? Can you help Logan find them in time for his playdate?The third title in JaNay Brown-Wood and Samara Hardy?s Where in the Garden? picture book series stars Logan, a young boy who uses a wheelchair and accessible tools while gardening in his greenhouse. Playful text guides young readers to hunt for visual clues and compare and contrast the unique characteristics of carrots against sweet potatoes, leeks, turnips, and other produce that grows in Logan?s greenhouse.Artist Samara Hardy brings this multi-layered story to life with vivid, cheerful illustrations created from layers of hand painted ink and watercolor texture. Back matter includes a delicious winter carrot soup recipe for little chefs and their adult helpers to try together.

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Book SynopsisDo you believe in impossible things? Cutie Grackle does. She has to. Otherwise, she’ll never be more than a lonely 10 year old in a cursed family. Cutie Grackle is used to being different—she lives alone on a mountain with her feeble-minded uncle, and when she’s not sucking pebbles to trick her stomach into feeling full, she’s chatting with a weathered garden gnome for company. But having a flock of ravens follow you is more than just different. Cutie worries the birds are connected to the curse Uncle Horace tends to mutter about. And she’s right. The ravens present her with a fortune from a cookie, and when she touches it she’s pulled into a vision from her family’s past. It involves the curse and her long-lost mother. The birds offer up a series of objects, each imbued with memories that eventually reveal Cutie must do what her mother could not: break the curse. Part outdoor survival adventure, part fantastical quest, Shawn K. Stout’s The Impossible Destiny of Cutie Grackle is a journey of hope, heart, and a willingness to believe in the impossible. 

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Book SynopsisOne small kitten learns about the great big world as he sets sail with his fellow shipmates, animal and human, in this historical fiction intermediate reader.Trim is eager to do a good job on his first day as ship?s cat?but what is his job? All around him, members of the crew are busy with their responsibilities?too busy to notice a small kitten looking for an opportunity to contribute. Jack the parrot directs Trim to the hold, to patrol for rats. But Jack neglects to tell Trim exactly what a rat is. Surely Princess Bea, the new friend he meets below deck, isn?t a rat. She doesn?t resemble the creepy, scary-looking creature that Jack warned Trim about and she?s happy to have an assistant to fetch her biscuits from the galley.

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Book SynopsisTwo recently orphaned siblings embark on an unforgettable cross-country road trip in search of their place in the world.When her mother dies, fifteen-year-old Mari is desperate to avoid being caught up in the foster system....again. And to complicate matters, she is now the only one who can take care of her super-smart and on-the-spectrum nine-year-old stepbrother, Conor. Is there anyone Mari can trust to help them? Certainly not her mother's current boyfriend, Dennis. Not the doctors or her teachers, who would be obliged to call in social services. So in a desperate move, Mari takes Conor and sets out to find their estranged grandmother, hoping to throw themselves at the mercy of the only person who might take them in. On their way to New England, the duo experiences the snarls of LA traffic, the backroads of the Midwest, and a monumental stop in Missouri where they witness the solar eclipse, an event with which Conor is obsessed. Mari also learns about the inner workings of her stepbrother's mind and about her connections to him and to the world...and maybe even a little about her own place in it. This heartwarming, fast-paced, and engaging middle grade novel is a beautiful exploration of identity and family.

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