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Staff Picks for Kids
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The House with No Keys
This exhilarating sequel to the #1 New York Times bestseller The Mystery of Locked Rooms follows the famous Deltas as they race to complete the most challenging escape room they've ever faced...and confront their fears in order to save their friendship.
It's been just over a year since Sarah, Hannah, and West made it through the epic funhouse that changed their lives forever. Since then, the three best friends have been working for Mr. William Taters, the owner of that very funhouse, renamed The Delta Game, and completing every challenging escape room they can.
But then a strange invitation shows up from the ominous and cryptic owner of a new funhouse--The Mystery Mansion.
The Mystery Mansion claims to be the biggest and best escape house ever, and it's opening just miles away from The Delta Game. The mysterious owner has invited the trio to come test it on opening day, offering a ten-thousand-dollar prize if they successfully escape. The prize is exciting, but the three friends don't want to be a walking advertisement for a competitor to their beloved The Delta Game.
But maybe the only way to keep their funhouse in business is to accept the invite, escape the mansion in record time, and show just how boring and easy it is by comparison. The trio arrive on opening day, armed with their "fortune favors the bold" attitude. Unfortunately, their plan quickly goes awry. Secrets threaten their friend group, nothing in the house is as it seems, and this time, not everyone is playing fair...
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I Am Not Happy!
In the vein of Grumpy Monkey and Unicorns Are the Worst!, this hilarious picture book introduces the adorable quokka, who—despite his ever-present smile—is definitely not as happy as he looks!
With its bright eyes, puffy cheeks, and beaming smile, the quokka is clearly the happiest animal on earth. Or is it? This quokka is here to tell you…he is not happy! At least not all the time. Just like everyone else, he can be sulky, or sorry, or sad; but you’d never know from the look on his face! So, what’s a moody marsupial to do when he’s being misunderstood? Teach every other animal from kangaroos to koalas not to judge a critter by its cover! -
The Planet, the Portal, and a Pizza
Mystery and adventure collide in this humorous and heartfelt multiverse adventure from beloved, award-winning authors Wendy Mass and Nora Raleigh Baskin.
Twelve-year-old Piper's life has always been unusual: her parents are clockmakers whose inventions are anything but ordinary, and she's the only kid she knows with a robotic talking dog. But her life takes a turn for the truly bizarre when she discovers her parents are in jeopardy and the key to saving them is a book full of strange equations.
When Raisa and Lev travel through the portal to Piper's world, Raisa can finally prove that her mother's multiverse project worked. Now, she just needs the book containing her mother's equations to get back to her world...if only she can find it! As Raisa and Piper adventure to the bounds of the multiverse, they'll need to discover their place in the world if they ever want to find their way back home.
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The Essential Grimm's Fairy Tales
Delight in the fantasy world of The Brothers Grimm with these 59 of their best-loved bedtime stories for children (and adults!) worldwide, in an elegantly designed hardcover edition.
Originally collected by the Brothers Grimm, Jacob and Wilhelm, these German linguists and cultural researchers gathered legendary folklore and aimed to share the stories exactly as they heard them. The Essential Grimm’s Fairy Talesfeatures all of your favorite tales, including:
- Cinderella
- Rapunzel
- Hansel and Gretel
- Snow White
- Rumpelstiltskin
- Little Red Riding Hood
- The Golden Goose
This handsomely designed faux-leather and foil-embossed hardcover edition features an introduction by fantasy literature scholar Lori Campbell, a timeline of the life and times of the Brothers Grimm, and more than 100 illustrations by Arthur Rackham. This gorgeous, heirloom-quality collection is an ideal edition for classic book lovers to acquire for their home library.
Essential volumes for the shelves of every classic literature lover, these deluxe classics editions include beautifully presented works from some of the most important authors in literary history. Other deluxe classics from Chartwell include Little Women, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, The Essential Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe, Frankenstein, Anne of Green Gables, The Inferno, Dracula, The Republic, The Iliad, Meditations, and Irish Fairy and Folk Tales. -
Ember the Fire Dragon: an Acorn Book (Dragon Hill #1)
Ember the Fire Dragon and Gus the Mushroom Dragon search for a magic jewel in the first installment of this full-color, fantasy, beginning-reader series written by the New York Times bestselling author of Dragon Masters!
Pick a book. Grow a Reader!
This series is part of Scholastic's early reader line, Acorn, aimed at children who are learning to read. With easy-to-read text, a short-story format, plenty of humor, and full-color artwork on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and fluency. Acorn books plant a love of reading and help readers grow!
Dragon Hill is in trouble! The magic jewel that protects Dragon Hill has gone missing, and best friends Ember the Fire Dragon and Gus the Mushroom Dragon work together to find the jewel. But they are young dragons and they don't yet know how to use their dragon powers. The two friends follow squirrel paw prints and meet a helpful Tree Dragon. Will they be able to find the magic jewel?
Gus and Ember's adventure is told through five full-color short stories with easy-to-read text throughout! This series is set in the same fantasy world as Tracey West's New York Times bestselling Dragon Masters series, making Dragon Hill a perfect choice for budding readers who aren't quite ready to read Dragon Masters yet!
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Cracking the Code
Humans have been keeping secrets for generations and using cryptology to make sure those secrets don't fall into the wrong hands.
From the development of ancient Greek ciphers, to the creation of the Enigma and today's CRISPR technology, codes and codebreakers have changed the course of history. Today cryptology addresses cybersecurity and the ethics of hacking our own genetic code.
Cracking the Code reveals the history of codes, explores why humans keep secrets and introduces us to coding heroes like the Navajo Code Talkers from World War II. Codes have defined human history and will map our digital future. Will you be the next codebreaker to unlock the mysteries behind the codes that shape our world?
The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
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Cowboys and Cowgirls
Saddle up-it's time for adventure! Cowboys and Cowgirls captures all the excitement of the Old West, from cattle drives to roping, rustling, and rodeos. Celebrated nonfiction children's book creator Gail Gibbons's cheerful watercolors and clear text deftly detail the cattle farmers' clothing, equipment, and lifestyle, while the lively back matter highlights famous Wild West personalities and historical facts. Embellished with helpful labels, cattle brands, a trail map, and even a campfire song, Cowboys and Cowgirls will delight, excite, and inform every young buckaroo. YIPPEE-YAY!
Don't miss these other favorite nonfiction books by Gail Gibbons:
Knights in Shining Armor
Recycle!
Tell Me, Tree -
The Vanishing of Lake Peigneur: a Graphic Novel Based on a True Story
"A riveting page-turner that will have readers eager to learn more about the topic." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
The strange, true tale of a Louisiana lake that vanished--taking with it every fish below and every boat and barge above--told in a gripping and accessible graphic format.
Home to catfish and crawdads, shrimp and spoonbills, even a gator or two, Lake Peigneur--pronounced "your pain," only backward--bustles also with human life. Each day, the bean-shaped freshwater lake and its shores hum with folks going about their work: a devoted gardener's apprentice and his dogs, fishermen, oilmen drilling at Well P-20, and the fifty-one miners employed by the Diamond Crystal Salt Mines. For most, November 20, 1980, began as "just another day on the lake." But as the lake itself reflects, humans had, over time, left behind a honeycomb of salt highways deep beneath its surface, and water and salt mix all too well. Bracing, suspenseful, and packed with dramatic illustrations and dense end matter, this story of a catastrophic accident--narrated with the homespun voice of a "tall" tale, but true nonetheless--will amaze science and history buffs alike. -
If You Make a Call on a Banana Phone
"This delightfully silly story subtly guides kids through the art of broaching new friendships and careful listening." -- The Washington Post
A love letter to making friends from unexpected places, If You Make a Call on a Banana Phone is silly, wise, and surprising all at once.
If you make a call from a banana phone, who will answer What will you talk about Will you share secrets or ask questions No one knows what will happen, really. This very silly story is full of the joy and wisdom that comes from making new friends from unexpected places.
Go ahead, pick up a banana and make a call. You'll be glad you did.
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Pocket Bear
Thimble-born from tip to toe, Pocket Bear remembers every moment of his becoming: the glimmering needle, the silken thread, the tender hands as each careful stitch brought him closer to himself. Born during the throes of WWI, he was designed to be a mere 3 1/2 inches tall, perfectly sized to fit into the pocket of a soldier's jacket, eyes sewn a bit higher than normal so that he always gazed upward. That way, glancing at his pocket, a soldier would see an endearing token of love from someone back home, and, hopefully, a good luck charm. Now, over a century later, Pocket serves as unofficial mayor of Second Chances Home for the Tossed and Treasured, where stuffed toy animals are refurbished and given a fresh opportunity to be loved. He and his best feline friend Zephyrina, a Maine Coon known far and wide as "The Cat Burglar," have seen it all, and then some. But when an ancient-looking stuffed bear named Berwin arrives at Second Chances, even worldly-wise Pocket is astounded. Berwin, it soon becomes clear, is worth millions of dollars. Part of the first lot of stuffed bears ever created--then apparently lost at sea-- collectors all over the world would stop at nothing to possess him. Pocket knows Berwin's sale could solve many problems for his struggling family at Second Chances. But he also knows Berwin, comically naive and long-sheltered, pines desperately for the things Pocket's already seen in abundance: real life, with all its adventures and trials, and true love, with all its heartbreak and joy. When Berwin ends up at auction, it's up to Pocket and Zephyrina to rescue their new friend from a bleak future, forever trapped in a glass display case. Real life and true love may well await. But so do difficult choices, the hardest Pocket has ever faced. An unforgettable tale of bravery, loyalty, and kindness, Pocket reminds us all that love comes in many forms (sometimes filled with fluff), and that second chances are always possible.
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Counting to Bananas
A hilarious, mostly-rhyming picture book about a banana and narrator who can't quite agree on what their book is about. Perfect for fans of Mo Willems' We Are in a Book and Adam Rex's Nothing Rhymes With Orange!
"Mo Willems fans will give this book one, two, three, four, five stars!" --Parents
"Tillotson's rib-tickling debut is not to be missed!"--Kirkus
When a narrator starts filling this story with fruit, Banana can’t wait to step into the spotlight. The book is called Counting to Bananas, after all. But as more and more fruits (and non-fruits) are added to the story, Banana objects. When will it be time for bananas?!
With laugh-out-loud text from debut author Carrie Tillotson and brought to life by illustrator Estrela Lourenço this is the story of a banana and narrator who have very strong opinions about what should (and should not!) be in this book.
The perfect next read for fans of Jory John and Pete Oswald's The Bad Seed series, as well at Ryan T. Higgins' Hey, Bruce!
Praise for Counting to Bananas:
A 2022 Oregon Spirt Book Award Honor Book
A Texas Library Association 2×2 Reading List Selection
A 2024 Beehive Book Award Nominee
An Oregon Book Award Finalist
A School Library Journal 2022 Undies Case Cover Award Winner
A 2023 Red Bud Read Aloud Award Nominee
An Amazon Best Children’s Books of 2022 So Far pick
An Amazon Editor’s Pick
An Oregon-authored Great Summer Read
"In the tradition of Mac Barnett’s Count the Monkeys, Tillotson’s rib-tickling debut is not to be missed . . . Lourenço’s digitally created illustrations of cartoon fruit with faces and expressive animals are bright, dynamic, and foolish. Fruity fun for everyone." --Kirkus -
Piranhas Don't Eat Bananas
Find out what piranhas eat -- and don't eat -- in this new, irresistibly funny picture book from Aaron Blabey, the bestselling creator of Pig the Pug
Everyone knows that piranhas don't eat bananas -- except for Brian. This little fish loves to munch not only on bananas, but on fruit of all kinds Brian's piranha friends think he's crazy. Piranhas don't eat bananas -- their sharp teeth are for eating meat And there's a scrumptious pair of feet dangling in the water nearby...Rich with author-illustrator Aaron Blabey's hysterical text and unforgettably wacky illustrations, Piranhas Don't Eat Bananas is a hilarious story about trying new things -- no matter how strange they seem
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Cake
In the tradition of I Want My Hat Back, this delicious story from Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet tells the story of a cake who’s about to attend his very first party—but he has no idea what’s coming!
Cake has been invited to his very first birthday party!
He buys just the right outfit—including the PERFECT hat.
But as the candles on his perfect party hat begin to burn, and the other party guests start to sing, Cake starts to think that this is one party he’d rather not be at… -
Don't Trust Fish
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • An absurdly laugh-out-loud funny picture book about the villainy of fish, illustrated by National Book Award-winning creator Dan Santat
"A ribald and uproarious warning to those unschooled in fishy goings-on." —Kirkus, starred review
Why, dear reader, must you NEVER EVER trust fish?
1) They spend all their time in the water where we can’t see them.
2) Some are as big as a bus—that is not okay.
3) We don't know what they're teaching in their "schools."
4) They are likely plotting our doom.
This nature-guide-gone-wrong is a hilarious, off-the-rails exploration of the seemingly innocent animals that live in the water. -
Not a Dog
The Mexican prairie dog is not a dog at all! It's part of the rodent family and is an endangered species.
A fun and engaging nonfiction picture book for kids ages 3-7 that includes Spanish vocabulary, a shapes concept, and the life cycle of the Mexican prairie dog.
A Mexican prairie dog may look like a dog, but it is certainly not a dog. This adorable mammal is actually part of the rodent family.
Not a Dog explores the life cycle of the Mexican prairie dog, the species' contribution to a healthy ecosystem, and the ways farming has destroyed their habitat and made them an endangered species.
Perfect for preschoolers and pre-readers, this charming and informative read-aloud introduces curious kids to one unique animal that is NOT a dog!