Search results for ""astra publishing house""

Now in paperback, the second novel of the galaxy-spanning Sun Eater series merges the best of space opera and epic fantasy, as Hadrian Marlowe continues down a path that can only end in fire.Hadrian Marlowe is lost. For half a century, he has searched the farther suns for the lost planet of Vorgossos, hoping to discover a way to contact the elusive alien Cielcin. He has pursued false leads for years among the barbarian Normans as captain of a band of mercenaries, but Hadrian remains determined to make peace and bring an end to nearly four hundred years of war. Desperate to find answers, Hadrian must venture beyond the security of the Sollan Empire and among the Extrasolarians who dwell between the stars. There, he will face not only the aliens he has come to offer peace, but contend with creatures that once were human, with traitors in his midst, and with a meeting that will bring him face to face with no less than the oldest enemy of mankind. If he succeeds, he will usher in a peace unlike any in recorded history. If he fails, the galaxy will burn.

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Best Book of 2015 by Amazon | Barnes and Noble | BuzzFeed • “Promises to be breathtaking.” —Robin Hobb The Song of the Shattered Sands: Book OneSharakhai, the great city of the desert, center of commerce and culture, has been ruled from time immemorial by twelve kings -- cruel, ruthless, powerful, and immortal. With their army of Silver Spears, their elite company of Blade Maidens and their holy defenders, the terrifying asirim, the Kings uphold their positions as undisputed, invincible lords of the desert. There is no hope of freedom for any under their rule.Or so it seems, until Çeda, a brave young woman from the west end slums, defies the Kings' laws by going outside on the holy night of Beht Zha'ir. What she learns that night sets her on a path that winds through both the terrible truths of the Kings' mysterious history and the hidden riddles of her own heritage. Together, these secrets could finally break the iron grip of the Kings' power...if the nigh-omnipotent Kings don't find her first.

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In this nature-inspired poetry picture book, contemplative poems and photos about water combine allowing young readers to see the world in new ways. Nature's beauty is captured in twelve thoughtful poems and breathtaking pictures in this winner of the John Burroughs Nature Books for Young Readers Award. Watery reflections provide an appropriate backdrop for author Jane Yolen's musings on nature, such as a raccoon swimming with his reflected self, the water-jagged legs of a snowy egret, and the double danger of a hungry alligator at the edge of a swamp. Jason Stemple's photographs offer whimsical peeks at the natural world we rarely chance to see. This artistic collaboration gives a unique opportunity to think about the world.

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Say "I love you!" to this rhyming board book that features photographs of adorable babies and animals plus a shiny Mylar mirror. Every sturdy page in this board book engages children. With simple, repetitive phrases to say aloud, the book encourages vocabulary development. The Mylar mirror at the very end adds extra play value. A perfect gift for a baby shower or for a new little one!

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When it comes to fun surprises and visual puzzles, once is never enough! You never know what you’ll find when you turn the die-cut pages for a second look at the animals in this ingenious board book. A field of flowers hides a playful lion cub, buzzy bees turn out to be chasing a curious pig, two mice sneaking some cheese must creep around a sleeping cat. And what is that mysterious creature at the end? A child in disguise! The animals in this clever board book will have children looking twice—and more! —as they turn each die-cut page to see the scene transform. Here is a great way to have fun while practicing paying attention and looking closely.

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Do you know where your name comes from? Growing up in Germany, like so many children around the world, Diane Kruger felt like she didn't fit in with the other kids. There was the pet bunny she talked to like a friend, her love of books, and even her name, which was unusual for her country. But when Diane’s mother tells her the origin of her name—everything changes! Inspired by Diana, goddess of the hunt and magical protector of animals, Diane learns that she, too, will find her own special powers someday. On a trip to England, Diane and her mother visit the theatre, and she is spellbound, realising she’s meant to be an actress. This warm and relatable autobiographical story comes full circle when Diane explains how she chose her own daughter’s name, and invites readers to learn the meaning behind their own name and discover their own special powers. Illustrated in a classic storybook style by fine artist Christa Unzner, this book is sure to instil wonder as it inspires children to follow their dreams and passions.

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Revolutionary Road meets What Belongs to You, a novel about suburban malaise, following Andres, a gay Latinx professor, returning to his hometown for a twenty-year high school reunion. Crafted with masterful narrative detailing the struggles of life in suburbia, our protagonist, Andres - a distinguished gay Latinx professor, returns home to mend familial bonds as he nurses his ailing father. Challenged by the echo of his husband's unfaithfulness, Andres attempts to pick up the pieces of his shaken marriage and, at the same time, grapples with the ghostly remnants of his youth. Rekindling relationships with his past, he reunites with Jeremy, his first love, now leading a conventional life after wrestling with past incarceration and addiction. He finds an unexpected transformation in Paul, previously suspected of a homophobic hate crime, who has become an Evangelical minister. And to his dismay, he finds his childhood best friend Simone confined within the walls of a psychiatric institution battling schizophrenia. This short yet transformative visit impels Andres to confront these stirring relationships, the haunting loss of his brother, and his parents' countless sacrifices to provide him with a promising future. The Town of Babylon is an emotionally charged narrative, reflecting the intricacies of queer, racial, and class identity. It further advocates the indispensable role of a supportive community in preserving individual wellbeing. Join Andres on his profound journey of introspection, unveiling a tender homage to societal ties.

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"A feverish story of young adulthood, exploring how fandom and obsession shape how we relate to the world . . . Dreaming of You navigates the complexities of Latinx identity, self-loathing, love, and the loneliness of drifting into adulthood." —Miguel Salazar, Vulture"At the center of this exploration of insecurities, joys, and identity stands Melissa Lozada-Oliva—an unapologetic poet who isn’t afraid of the rawness of the mind and is resilient in her writing— so much so that it feels like we’re talking to our best friend." —Bianca Pérez, Porter House ReviewA macabre novel in verse of loss, longing, and identity crises following a poet who resurrects pop star Selena from the dead.Melissa Lozada-Oliva's Dreaming of You is an absurd yet heartfelt examination of celebrity worship. A young Latinx poet grappling with loneliness and heartache decides one day to bring Tejano pop star Selena Quintanilla back to life. The séance kicks off an uncanny trip narrated by a Greek chorus of gossiping spirits as she journeys through a dead celebrity prom, encounters her shadow self, and performs karaoke in hell. In visceral poems embodying millennial angst, paragraph-long conversations overheard at her local coffeeshop, and unhinged Twitter rants, Lozada-Oliva reveals an eerie, sometimes gruesome, yet moving love story. Playfully morbid and profoundly candid, an interrogation of Latinidad, womanhood, obsession, and disillusionment, Dreaming of You grapples with the cost of being seen for your truest self.

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Revolutionary Road meets What Belongs to You, a novel about suburban malaise, following Andres, a gay Latinx professor, returning to his hometown for a twenty-year high school reunion. When his father falls ill, Andres, a professor of public health, returns to his suburban hometown to tend to his recovery. Reevaluating his rocky marriage in the wake of his husband's infidelity and with little else to do, he decides to attend his twenty-year high school reunion, where he runs into the long-lost characters of his youth. Jeremy, his first love, is now married with two children after having been incarcerated and recovering from addiction. Paul, who Andres has long suspected of having killed a man in a homophobic attack, is now an Evangelical minister and father of five. And Andres discovers his once best friend Simone in a psychiatric institution following a diagnosis of schizophrenia. During this short stay, Andres confronts these relationships, the death of his brother, and the many sacrifices his parents made to offer him a better life. A novel about the essential nature of community in maintaining one's own health, The Town of Babylon is an intimate portrait of queer, racial, and class identity, a call to reevaluate the ties of societal bonds.

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Starting with the viral poem "Crossing Half of China to Fuck You," Yu Xiuhua's raw collection chronicles her life as a disabled, divorced, single mother in rural China. Yu Xiuhua was born with cerebral palsy in Hengdian Village in the Hunan Province, in Southern China. Unable to attend college, travel, or work the land with her parents, Yu remained home where she could help with housework. Eventually she was forced into an arranged marriage that became abusive. She divorced her husband and moved back in with her parents, taking her son with her. In defiance of the stigma attached to her disability, her status as a divorced single mother, and as a peasant in rural China, Yu found her voice in poetry. Starting in the late 90's, her writing became a vehicle with which to explore and share her reflections on homesickness, family and ancestry, the reality of disability in the context of a body's urges and desires. Then, Yu's poem "Crossing Half of China to Fuck You" blew open the doors on the patriarchal and traditionalist world of contemporary Chinese poetry. She became an internet sensation, finding a devoted following among young readers who enthusiastically welcomed her fresh, bold, confessional voice into the literary canon. Thematically organized, Yu's essays and poems are in conversation with each other around subjects that include love, nostalgia, mortality, the natural world and writing itself.

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Discover Math Matters! With over 15 million books sold worldwide, this award-winning series of easy-to-read books will help young readers ages 5-8 approach math with enthusiasm. Great for fans of MathStart or Step into Reading Math. A day at a Renaissance fair? Pippa isn’t so sure. First she gets stuck with the jester costume, then the fair runs out of turkey legs. But after she becomes a game piece in a living board game, positive and negative take on all new meanings. Steps forward could take her to Unicorn Falls. Steps backward to Stinky Swamp. Think positive, Pippa! With engaging stories that connect math to kids’ everyday lives, each book in the Teachers’ Choice Award-winning Math Matters series focuses on a single concept and reinforces math vocabulary and skills. Bonus activities in the back of each book feature math and reading comprehension questions, and even more free activities online add to the fun! (Math topic: Positive and negative numbers).

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Each read-aloud book in the Mouse Math series focuses on a single, basic math concept and features adorable mice, Albert and Wanda, who live in a People House. Entertaining fiction stories capture kids’ imaginations as the mice learn about numbers, shapes, sizes and more. Albert has high hopes for the new squeak ball season. He wants to score lots of goals! Then he gets his uniform number--a big, round zero. He runs and passes and makes lots of assists, but goals? Zero. His sister says zero is a secret superhero. Albert is sure it's cursed! Every Mouse Math title includes back matter activities that support and extend reading comprehension and math skills, plus free online activities. (Math concept: The number zero) Beautifully illustrated with stunning pictures and cute characters

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The Many Half-Lived Lives of Sam Sylvester explores healing in the aftermath of trauma and the fullness of queer joy. In this queer contemporary YA mystery, a nonbinary autistic teen realizes they must not only solve a 30-year-old mystery but also face the demons lurking in their past in order to live a satisfying life. Sam Sylvester has long collected stories of half-lived lives—of kids who died before they turned nineteen. Sam was almost one of those kids. Now, as Sam’s own nineteenth birthday approaches, their recent near-death experience haunts them. They’re certain they don’t have much time left. . . . But Sam's life seems to be on the upswing after meeting several new friends and a potential love interest in Shep, their next-door neighbour. Yet the past keeps roaring back—in Sam’s memories and in the form of a thirty-year-old suspicious death that took place in Sam’s new home. Sam can’t resist trying to find out more about the kid who died and who now seems to guide their investigation. When Sam starts receiving threatening notes, they know they’re on the path to uncovering a murderer. But are they digging through the past or digging their own future grave? “Look no further for your next favourite read, because The Many Half-Lived Lives of Sam Sylvester has it all: a gripping murder mystery that will keep you turning pages, ghosts, romance, and a treasure trove of queer characters with depth and heart. Here’s something rare—a suspenseful story that also feels like a hug.” —Sarah Glenn Marsh, author of the Reign of the Fallen series

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Kenzie turns her fierce love for the ocean into action, resourcefully cleaning up the beach after her mermaid-tail swimsuit tangles in floating plastic bags. When Kenzie slips on her mermaid tale, she becomes Mermaid Kenzie, protector of the deeps. One day as Kenzie snorkels around a shipwreck, she discovers more plastic bags than fish. Grabbing her spear and mermaid net, she begins to clean up the water and the shore--inspiring other kids to help. Beautifully written in African American Vernacular English, this poetic picture book includes back matter with information about how plastic winds up in our oceans and examples of people--some of them kids, like Kenzie--who have worked to protect the sea. Mermaid Kenzie celebrates the ways that all of us, no matter how small, can make a difference.

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When Astrid's first space mission goes disastrously wrong, she realizes she needs a bit more training than she thought!Astrid is training to go to space! But as she builds her shuttle, cooks astronaut food, and practices floating in zero gravity, Dad tells Astrid that the ship's construction is too dangerous, she's too little to cook alone, and she's not allowed to flood the bathroom. That night, when Astrid dreams she's an astronaut, the challenges she encounters are overwhelming. Astrid realizes she isn't as ready as she thought. Back on Earth, Astrid turns to her loving and supportive Dad, who helps Astrid continue her astronaut training.

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What is infinity? Explore this fascinating and complex math concept and its purpose in our world in this picture book that both demystifies and explains. Perfect for kids who grew up on Baby University books like Quantum Physics for Babies. Defining infinity is difficult. But there is one thing people do every day that leads to infinity—counting. No matter what large number you name, there is always a larger number. By reading this book, kids can begin to think about this and other powerful ideas involving infinity, including how infinity relates to rocket science. Featuring clear text and beautiful photographs, this is an excellent choice for kids who want to delve deeper into math and science and for those ready to look at the world in a new way.

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Here is an accessible and comprehensive introduction to dolphin species from all over the world; this title is the latest installment in the popular Strange and Wonderful series and a terrific STEM choice. With fascinating facts and detailed, illuminating artwork, DOLPHINS! Strange and Wonderful introduces readers to dolphin species -- from the well-known bottlenose dolphin to several species of "blackfish" (including orcas) that most people believe are whales. Author Laurence Pringle's clear, informative text describes dolphins' habitats, physiology, communication, intelligence, parenting, what and how they eat, and much more. The book also discusses conservation and how dolphins can be protected from hunting, pollution, and other threats. Accompanied by Meryl Henderson's beautiful and illuminating paintings, this book is a great STEM title that perfectly hits the mark for children interested in marine life. Includes a glossary, index, and further resources.

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The attributes of 28 different lizards are revealed in this STEM nonfiction picture book, while the story provides a subtle message encouraging children to be true to their own nature. The actions of 28 lizard species--the flying dragon that swoops through the air, the shingleback that sticks out its blue tongue to scare predators, the basilisk that can race across the surface of water--invite readers to act like a lizard themselves. The text by noted author April Pulley Sayre asks: "Can you run like a lizard? Sun like a lizard? Bob your head like a lizard?" Featuring brilliantly colorful, textured artwork by illustrator Stephanie Laberis, the book also includes extensive back matter with further information about the featured lizard species--their size, geographical range, why they perform the various actions introduced in the text--as well as details about lizards in general.

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This gorgeous and lyrical picture book from renowned science author Laurence Pringle and debut illustrator Kate Garchinsky follows a year in the life of a red fox named Vixen as she finds food, hunts, escapes threats, finds a mate, and raises her kits-all the way to the day that she and her mate watch their kits head off to lead their own secret lives. Stunning, realistic illustrations celebrate the beauty of these mysterious creatures as readers learn important facts through an engaging and fascinating story. The book also includes back matter with more in-depth information, a glossary, and further resources.

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A NSTA Best STEM BookExplore the extraordinary achievement of Cyrus Field and one of the greatest engineering feats of the 19th century: laying a transatlantic telegraph cable to create instant communication between two continents.Cyrus Field had a big dream to connect North America and the United Kingdom with a telegraph line, which would enable instant communication. In the mid-1800s, no one knew if it was possible. That didn't dissuade Cyrus, who set out to learn about undersea cables and built a network of influential people to raise money and create interest in his project. Cyrus experienced numerous setbacks: many years of delays and failed attempts, millions of dollars lost, suspected sabotage, technological problems, and more. But Cyrus did not give up and forged ahead, ultimately realizing his dream in the summer of 1866. Mary Morton Cowan brilliantly captures Cyrus's life and his steadfast determination to achieve his dream.

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This classic holiday book that brings together nature, the nativity, and the celebration of the first Christmas, Jesus's birth, makes a perfect gift or stocking stuffer for toddlers, boys and girls from 3 to 5 years old, and the young at heart!“Let there be peace on Earth.” A timeless message of how peace can spread from one person to another, ideal for Christmas time, and throughout the year.Long ago a special child was born, and the animals heard a song of blessing and good will for all the creatures of the earth. But now the birds wonder why no one sings the song anymore. And so they fly far and wide, singing the song of joy and peace. Here is a beautiful story about the powerful role we all play in passing on the timeless message: “Let there be peace. Peace on Earth.”

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When Leah and Alan awaken in an enchanted forest, they have only each other and their wits to guide them. In a world full of pet bees and giant rabbits, they befriend foppish lions and stone frogs. Learning to overcome danger, they find their way home- and their independence.

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Discover the man behind everyone's favorite call to action, "Full speed ahead!" in this inspiring and engaging biography about the first Admiral of the United States Navy, David Glasgow Farragut.At the age of nine, David Glasgow Farragut was appointed a midshipman in the US Navy by President James Madison. It was the start of a celebrated career. Farragut sailed aboard ships along the Delaware River, in the Caribbean, and across the Atlantic Ocean, even rounding the tip of South America, all while rising through the naval ranks from midshipman to admiral. When the Civil War began, Captain Farragut dedicated his life to protecting the United States as it was being torn in two. When President Lincoln asked him to capture New Orleans, the city Farragut once called home, and later to take Mobile Bay, the officer had only one order for his fleet: Full speed ahead! Noted nonfiction writer Louise Borden's in-depth research uncovers a man dedicated to his country -- a man who earned the title of America's first admiral.

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A perfect Valentine’s Day gift for young puzzlers, this collection of Hidden Pictures puzzles offers a unique puzzling experience! Kids can use the included neon pink highlighter to find over 300 valentine-themed hidden objects and create fluorescent scenes.This Valentine’s Day activity book with inverted white-on-black puzzles combines the fun of coloring with highlighters and the enduring popularity of intricate Hidden Pictures puzzles. From scenes of classroom parties to a polar bear family's igloo, the reverse-image puzzles will glow with fun as kids illuminate bouquets, cards and more Valentine's Day surprises!This Hidden Pictures book offers kids tech-free entertainment and age-appropriate challenges. At home or on the go, puzzling helps kids improve their attention to detail, persistence and focus. For over 75 years, Highlights has inspired children to become Curious, Creative, Caring and Confident individuals. With products that encourage thinking, creativity and self-expression, Highlights helps kids build essential skills, all while having fun.

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Ten-year-old Fritz's tranquil life on the family farm is about to end--the Russians are near, Hitler has died, and known Nazi sympathizers like the Friedrich family brace for the Bolsheviks to take over their town -- in this historical novel for middle-grrade readers. At the end of April 1945 in a small village in eastern Germany, the front is coming closer -- and ten-year-old Fritz knows that the Soviet Army's invasion of his family's home can be only a few days away. Grandpa Karl, a Nazi sympathizer, takes Fritz into the forest that surrounds the family farm to show him a secret. Under a tall pine tree, Grandpa Karl has dug a pit and covered it with branches. The hole is to hide Fritz's family when the Russians invade their village. Grandpa Karl is convinced that he and Fritz will defend the Friedrich family to the death. But when the Russian soldiers arrive, Fritz and his sister and mother find themselves alone. Separated from his home, his family, and foreced into a life as a refugee, Fritz has to find his own way in a crumbling world.

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Fourteen poems compiled by award-winning poet and anthologist Lee Bennett Hopkins introduce readers to the various construction people who collaborate to create a high-rise hotel building, from architect to crane operator to glaziers and more.How does an empty lot transform into a new hotel? This anthology begins with a busy construction site, and an architect's (and her daughter's) dreams drawn on blueprint paper. Next, workers with huge machines--backhoes, dump trucks, cement mixers, etc.--roll in. Poems full of noise and action describe every step of the construction process. From welders and carpenters building the skeleton of the building to plumbers and electricians making its insides work, this book celebrates people and equipment working together to build something magnificent.

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The latest from acclaimed author Gail Jarrow reveals how magicians—including Harry Houdini and his team of investigators—exposed fake mediums who exploited the vulnerable and gullible in the early twentieth century.After millions of people died during World War I and from the 1918 influenza pandemic, the popularity of Spiritualism soared. Desperate to communicate with their dead loved ones, the bereaved fell prey to extortion by fraudulent mediums and fortune-tellers. But magician Harry Houdini wasn't fooled. He recognized the scammers' methods as no more than conjurer's tricks. Angered by the way people were exploited, Houdini set out to expose the ghost hoaxes. In his stage show, he revealed the fraudsters’ techniques, and he used a team of undercover investigators to collect proof of séance deceptions. His head secret agent was a young New York private detective and disguise expert, Rose Mackenberg—a

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Hidden Figures meets Rosie Revere, Engineer in this STEM/STEAM picture book about Edith Clarke, the innovator who solved an electrical mystery and built the first graphing calculator—from paper!Long before calculators were invented, little Edith Clarke devoured numbers, conquered calculations, cracked puzzles, and breezed through brainteasers. Edith wanted to be an engineer—to use the numbers she saw all around her to help build America.When she grew up, no one would hire a woman engineer. But that didn’t stop Edith from following her passion and putting her lightning-quick mind to the problem of electricity. But the calculations took so long! Always curious, Edith couldn’t help thinking of better ways to do things. She constructed a “calculator” from paper that was ten times faster than doing all that math by hand! Her invention won her a job, making her the first woman electrical engineer in America. And because Edith shared her knowledge with others, her calculator helped electrify America, bringing telephones and light across the nation.

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For fans of Richard Scarry and Busytown, here is a funny and informative picture book all about firefighters that features lively animal characters, a rollicking story, and detail-packed illustrations.Firefighters to the rescue! The officers of Breezy Valley answer the call to protect their beloved town. Ladders, axes, and water hoses take center stage as the firefighters rescue the tabby cat twins, put out blazes, and save not only lives—but also the town ice cream parlor! Lively action, equipment details, cross-section pictures and more will keep young firefighter fans engaged throughout this delightful story.“This is great fun and works so well. Full of life, humor and real information. The perfect combination. I had a smile on my face from the very beginning. It only disappeared a couple of times… when I was laughing.”—Caldecott Medalist David Macaulay, author of The Way Things Work, Cathedral, Pyramid, Castle, and Mosque

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Discover Math Matters! With 15 million books sold worldwide, this award-winning series of easy-to-read books will help young readers ages 5–8 approach math with enthusiasm. Great for fans of MathStart or Step into Reading Math.Charlie is eager to participate in Shopping Spree Showdown, her favorite TV game show. With the help of her grandma, she has the chance to enter. With five short minutes and $100 to spend on game-show goodies, she has to choose what to buy—but if she goes over $100, she’s out! Charlie uses her newfound skills in rounding to speedily track her budget. And when the clock runs out, it’s time for victory dinner with grandma—courtesy of Charlie’s winnings!With engaging stories that connect math to kids’ everyday lives, each book in the Teachers’ Choice Award–winning Math Matters series focuses on a single concept and reinforces math vocabulary and skills. Bonus activities in the back of each book feature math and reading comprehension questions, and even more free activities online add to the fun!

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Blow, wind, blow! The newest addition to the nonfiction Eureka! series is a “biography” of wind power, which is green energy that can help the planet.People have harnessed the power of the wind for thousands of years, to travel by sailboat, to cool homes, to grind grain into flour, and even to make music. But when someone hooked a wind mill to a generator, wind went electric, unlocking the secret to a clean, renewable energy source! Wind Power is an entertaining and informative look at the development of an idea with huge benefits for a greener future. This STEAM nonfiction title is part of the Eureka! series, with each book focusing on one groundbreaking, world-changing discovery that millions of people use every single day.

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Kirkus ReviewsBest Book of the Year School Library JournalBest Book of the Year This emotionally resonant novel in verse by award-winning author Nikki Grimes celebrates choosing to be true to yourself. Garvey's father has always wanted Garvey to be athletic, but Garvey is interested in astronomy, science fiction, reading-anything but sports. Feeling like a failure, he comforts himself with food. Garvey is kind, funny, smart, a loyal friend, and he is also overweight, teased by bullies, and lonely. When his only friend encourages him to join the school chorus, Garvey's life changes. The chorus finds a new soloist in Garvey, and through chorus, Garvey finds a way to accept himself, and a way to finally reach his distant father-by speaking the language of music instead of the language of sports.

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This playful collection of poems--peppered with an astounding variety of animal sounds--is meant to be read aloud together.These poems for two or more voices explore the myriad sounds animals make--from a frog's jug-o-rum to a fish's boom! to an elephant's bark. Laced with humor, the poems are a delight to read aloud and cover all major classes of animals: mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, insects, even a crustacean! Readers will learn how to estimate the temperature by counting a cricket's chirps and see how creatures make sounds at specific pitches and frequencies, so that they can be heard despite other noise around them. Extensive end notes provide more information on the animals and how and why they make the sounds they do. Written by noted children's poet Georgia Heard, this is an ideal collection for parents and children to share, or for a fun, interactive classroom read-aloud.

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Introducing Tiny Bear, the star of a new board book series from Yosuke Yonezu! Climbing is fun, but Tiny Bear must learn to watch where—and who—he climbs in this sweet story that ends with a cuddle from Mama.Tiny Bear loves to climb, even when he isn’t sure what’s up there. In this fun and sweet story kicking off a new board book series full of social-emotional learning for toddlers, Tiny Bear meets several animals of the forest as he clambers up all sorts of trunks and legs. He climbs up a flamingo’s neck, an elephant’s trunk, a giraffe’s legs, and a snake’s body—and oh no! The snake is hungry. It’s Mama bear to the rescue in the book’s only lift-the-flap moment, when Tiny Bear learns that climbing up to snuggle a parent can be the best adventure of all.

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Some Do, Some Don’t How do families live together, and why are they sometimes apart? This profound and moving book will inspire reflection and conversation about what unites us and what makes us distinct individuals. Colombian creator Dipacho explores the many ways we live with other people—or, at times, apart from them—with striking illustrations of the jabiru, the largest member of the stork family of birds. In spare, poetic text and stunning watercolours, Dipacho honours family togetherness as well as families whose members choose to live apart, or are separated by circumstances. Moving spreads pay tribute to family members who have died, and those just born. This ingeniously conceived book gives equal weight to the conventional and the unconventional arrangements in which we live, sparking conversations about what it means to be a family. The book ends with informational back matter about the fascinating jabiru stork, grounding it in the world of facts.

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When Max Mouse discovers that all the apples on the tree have been picked by his friend Rico, who does not want to share, Max has to improvise to make treats for his party. Here is a delightful and important story about how a group of friends learns that sharing-and working together-can bring them all closer together.Max Mouse is planning the most wonderful apple party for all his friends. That is, until he discovers that his friend Rico has picked all the apples, and he doesn't want to share. The animals are so upset-what can they do? With a little cleverness, they can work together to show Rico that everything really is more fun when you share. Here's an important story about how a group of friends learns that sharing can bring them all closer together.

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Who's to blame when a vain, heedless king meets his comeuppance? He is, of course! Fans of Tomi Ungerer's mischievous humor and Jon Agee's sly morality tales will be delighted by this hilarious read-aloud about a long, long beard and its short-sighted royal owner, by a popular Belgian illustrator, designer, and animation whiz.The lush, golden royal beard is a wondrous thing - especially to the king himself. He spends his days admiring and grooming it, and passes laws making it a crime punishable by death for anyone else's face to sport even a single hair. As the people of the kingdom nervously shave daily, the royal beard grows and grows until it appears at the palace's back gate. What happens next will have readers laughing along -- and cheering for the astronomers who, unlike the tyrannical king, know that the earth is round.

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★ WINNER of the 2024 Stonewall Book Award, American Library AssociationPerfect for fans of The Girl from the Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag, HeartStopper by Alice Oseman, and Jen Wang's The Dressmaker and the Prince.In this fresh, sensitive, diary-style graphic novel, 12-year-old Tuva's questions about becoming a teenager are confusing—so when her first crush turns out to be on another girl, it feels absolutely wonderful--so why does it become so complicated?Tuva is starting seventh grade, and her checklist of goals includes: writing out a diary, getting a trendy look, building the best fort in the woods with her BFFs, and much more. But when she starts school, nothing is how she hoped it would be.Seventh grade has split her friends into rival factions: TEAM LINNEA and the girls who fall in love and TEAM BAO and the girls who NEVER fall in love. Linnea has a BOYFRIEND, Bao hates everything related to love. Worst of all, Linnea and Bao expect Tuva to choose a side!In this delighfully hand-lettered coming-of-age graphic diary, Tuva gets caught between feeling like a kid and wanting to know HOW to become a teenager. Then Miriam shows up and suddenly Tuva feels as if she’s met her soulmate. Can you fall in love with a girl, keep it from your friends, and survive? For Tuva, it may be possible, but it's defintely not easy.

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Herbert loves the slide, and in this first of four irresistible miniature full-length picture books, the littlest readers are introduced to new friends and the charming world of the Hippo Park playground. Herbert loves the slide! Climbing up the ladder, sitting himself down, sending Teddy down first—it's all the best part. Herbert imagines sliding down into a magical underwater world and being chased up a mountain by a bear—pre-schoolers will love Herbert's adventures playing on the slide, and thrill to this first visit to Hippo Park. All four Hippo Park Pals mini picture books are set in the playground, where the animals play, imagine, and have lots of feelings—just like pre-schoolers do.

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An Andre Norton Nebula Award for Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction Nominee“Look no further for your next favorite read, because The Many Half-Lived Lives of Sam Sylvester has it all: a gripping murder mystery that will keep you turning pages, ghosts, romance, and a treasure trove of queer characters with depth and heart. Here’s something rare—a suspenseful story that also feels like a hug.” —Sarah Glenn Marsh, author of the Reign of the Fallen seriesIn this queer contemporary YA mystery, a nonbinary autistic teen realizes they must not only solve a 30-year-old mystery but also face the demons lurking in their past in order to live a satisfying life. Sam Sylvester has long collected stories of half-lived lives—of kids who died before they turned nineteen. Sam was almost one of those kids. Now, as Sam’s own nineteenth birthday approaches, their recent near-death experience haunts them. They’re certain they don’t have much time left. . . .But Sam's life seems to be on the upswing after meeting several new friends and a potential love interest in Shep, their next-door neighbor. Yet the past keeps roaring back—in Sam’s memories and in the form of a thirty-year-old suspicious death that took place in Sam’s new home. Sam can’t resist trying to find out more about the kid who died and who now seems to guide their investigation. When Sam starts receiving threatening notes, they know they’re on the path to uncovering a murderer. But are they digging through the past or digging their own future grave?The Many Half-Lived Lives of Sam Sylvester explores healing in the aftermath of trauma and the fullness of queer joy.

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In this story about Día de los Reyes, or Three Kings’ Day, a girl and her family discover new ways to celebrate their Puerto Rican heritage in Ohio.It’s eleven days after Christmas and Lucía yearns to be in lush Puerto Rico celebrating Día de los Reyes with family and friends. But this year, instead of dancing and singing in the parrandas of her Puerto Rican neighborhood, she is surrounded by cold and silence in snow-blanketed Ohio. How will she ever be able to guide the Three Kings to her new home in the frosty Midwest? This picture book is a celebration of Puerto Rican culture, heartwarming family tradition, and a reminder that we all carry a piece of home with us wherever life may take us.

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A Best Novel of 2023 - Electric Literature and Largehearted Boy "The novel is a magical-realist office drama infused with millennial anomie, and McGhee’s canny, often bittersweetly hilarious prose reads as if George Saunders infiltrated the Severance writers’ room." —Rafael Frumkin, Washington Post "This laugh-out-loud debut is a wildly imaginative, tender and piercing critique of the squeeze of capitalism."—Xochitl Gonzalez, Good Morning America"A scathing critique of capitalism that holds onto the humanity of its characters." —Laura Zornosa, TIMEJonathan Abernathy is a self-proclaimed loser. . . he’s behind on his debts, has no prospects, no friends, and no ambitions. But when a government loan forgiveness program offers him a literal dream job, he thinks he’s found his big break. If he can appear to be competent at his new job, entering the minds of middle class workers while they sleep and removing the unsavory detritus of their waking lives from their unconscious, he might have a chance at a new life. As Abernathy finds his footing in this role, reality and morality begin to warp around him. Soon, the lines between life and work, love and hate, right and wrong, even sleep and consciousness, begin to blur.Molly McGhee touches on themes most people know all too well—the relentlessly crushing weight of debt, the recognition that work won’t love you back and the awkwardness of finding love when you are without hope. A workplace novel, at once tender, startling, and deeply funny, Jonathan Abernathy You Are Kind is a stunning, critical work of surrealist fiction, a piercing critique of late-stage capitalism, and a reckoning with its true cost.

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A New York Times Best Crime Novel of 2023A Wall Street Journal Best Mystery Book of 2023A CrimeReads Best Historical Fiction and International Crime Novel of 2023A Best Book of 2023 - Chicago Review of Books and Marie Claire"An eerily lyrical tour de force . . . [A] horrific, sustained portrait of a traumatized human soul." —Tom Nolan, The Wall Street Journal"Kielland plumbs Belle’s inner life through jaggedly rhythmic prose, where what should be obvious is sometimes opaque and what’s often shrouded — female rage — takes center stage."—Sarah Weinman, The New York Times"This fascinating, off-kilter novel about a female serial killer is an unexpectedly thrilling read.”—Karl Ove Knausgård, author of My Struggle and The Morning StarBased on the true story of Norwegian maid turned Midwestern farmwife Belle Gunness, the first female serial killer in American history. My Men is a fictional account of one broken woman's descent into inescapable madness.Among thousands of other Norwegian immigrants seeking freedom, Brynhild Størset emigrated to the American Upper Midwest in the late nineteenth century, changing her name and her life. As Bella, later Belle Gunness, she came in search of not only fortune and true faith but, most of all, love.From Victoria Kielland, a rising star of Norwegian literature, comes My Men, a literary reimagining of the harrowing true story of Belle Gunness, who slowly but irreversibly turned to senseless murder for release from her pain, becoming America’s first known female serial killer. In pursuit of her American Dream, Kielland’s Belle grows increasingly alienated, ruthless, and perversely compelling.Raw, visceral, and altogether hypnotic, My Men is a brutal yet radically empathetic glimpse into the world of a woman consumed by desire.

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It's Halloween night, also known as Meowl-o-ween! Cats are on the prowl, ready to give trick-or-treaters a fright. But one lost kitten is scared--will she find her way and join the fun?On frightful, delightful Meowl-o-ween, cats slink by carved pumpkins and prepare to spook the trick-or-treaters parading the streets. But not all of the cats are enjoying the flashing lights and costumes. A lone kitten is overwhelmed by the crowds and doesn’t know which way to turn! This fresh Halloween tale is a rhyming read-aloud that shows even the smallest scaredy-cat can find the courage to overcome their fears and anxieties.

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"[A] firecracker of a debut."—The New York Times"Andrea Abreu’s debut novel about two girls in the summer heat of Tenerife is perfect for these dog days."—Shreya Chattopadhyay, The New York Times Book ReviewMy Brilliant Friend meets Blue is the Warmest Color in this lyrical debut novel set in a working-class neighborhood of the Canary Islands—a story about two girls coming of age in the early aughts and a friendship that simmers into erotic desire over the course of one hot summer. High near the volcano of northern Tenerife, an endless ceiling of cloud cover traps the working class in an abject, oppressive heat. Far away from the island’s posh resorts, two girls dream of hitching a ride down to the beach and escaping their horizonless town. It’s summer, 2005, and our ten-year-old narrator is consumed by thoughts of her best friend Isora. Isora is rude and bossy, but she’s also vivacious and brave; grownups prefer her, and boys do, too. That's why sometimes she gets jealous of Isora, who already has hair on her vagina and soft, round breasts. But she's definitely not jealous that Isora’s mother is dead, nor that Isora's fat, foul-mouthed grandmother has her on a diet, so that she is constantly sticking her fingers down her throat. Besides, she would do anything for Isora: gorge herself on cakes when her friend wants to watch, follow her to the bathroom when she takes a shit, log into chat rooms to swap dirty instant messages with strangers. But increasingly, our narrator finds it hard to keep up with Isora, who seems to be growing up at full tilt without her—and as her submissiveness veers into a painful sexual awakening, desire grows indistinguishable from intimate violence.Braiding prose poetry with bachata lyrics and the gritty humor of Canary dialect, Dogs of Summer is a story of exquisite yearning, a brutal picture of girlhood and a love song written for the vital community it portrays.

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