preteen reading

by Kelly Yang

Winner of the Asian / Pacific American Award for Children's Literature!

Mia Tang has a lot of secrets.

Number 1: She lives in a motel, not a big house. Every day, while her immigrant parents clean the rooms, ten-year-old Mia manages the front desk of the Calivista Motel and tends to its guests.

Number 2: Her parents hide immigrants.  And if the mean motel owner, Mr. Yao, finds out they've been letting them stay in the empty rooms for free, the Tangs will be doomed.

Number 3: She wants to be a writer.  But how can she when her mom thinks she should stick to math because English is not her first language?

It will take all of Mia's courage, kindness, and hard work to get through this year. Will she be able to hold on to her job, help the immigrants and guests, escape Mr. Yao, and go for her dreams?

Featuring exclusive bonus content.

Recommended for readers ages 8-12 years old (grades 3-7).

Softcover, 320 pages.  5.43 x 7.7 inches.

Scholastic Canada.

Reviews

"Many readers will recognize themselves or their neighbors in these pages." -- Kirkus Reviews

Four starred reviews and over ten best-of-year lists

by Kelly Yang

Winner of the Asian / Pacific American Award for Children's Literature!

Featuring exclusive bonus content.

Recommended for readers ages 8-12 years old (grades 3-7).

Softcover, 288 pages.  5.2 x 7.6 inches.

Scholastic Canada.

Reviews

"Many readers will recognize themselves or their neighbors in these pages." -- Kirkus Reviews

Four starred reviews and over ten best-of-year lists

by Kelly Yang

Raves & reviews:

by Kelly Yang

Winner of the Asian / Pacific American Award for Children's Literature!

The Women's World Cup coming to Southern California, everyone is soccer-crazy -- especially Mia Tang! The U.S. is playing China in the finals, and Mia feels like her two identities are finally coming together. Less exciting, though? The fact that her P.E. teacher wants Mia to get out of the soccer field, too -- or fall short of the grade she needs to earn a spot at journalism camp. But as always, Mia Tang is ready with a plan: she'll track down the two women's teams, interview them, and write an A-grade article for P.E. instead!

It's not so easy, though, finding professional athletes in Pasadena -- or bringing two identities together, even during a game. As Mia aims for her goals, she'll have to face prejudice, discrimination, and her own fears. But if anyone can find a way to win, it's Mia Tang!

Recommended for readers ages 8-12 years old (grades 3-7).

Hardcover, 288 pages.  5.7 x 8.4 inches.

Scholastic Canada.

Reviews

"Many readers will recognize themselves or their neighbors in these pages." -- Kirkus Reviews

Four starred reviews and over ten best-of-year lists

by Christy Jordan-Fenton & Margaret-Olemaun Pokiak-Fenton

10th Anniversary Edition

Softcover, 6.97 x 8.89 inches.

University of Toronto Press.

by Tae Kellar

• Winner of the 2021 Newbery Medal 
• NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
  
• WINNER OF THE ASIAN/PACIFIC AMERICAN AWARD FOR CHILDREN'S LITERATURE

Would you make a deal with a magical tiger? This uplifting story brings Korean folklore to life as a girl goes on a quest to unlock the power of stories and save her grandmother.

Some stories refuse to stay bottled up...

When Lily and her family move in with her sick grandmother, a magical tiger straight out of her halmoni's Korean folktales arrives, prompting Lily to unravel a secret family history. Long, long ago, Halmoni stole something from the tigers. Now they want it back. And when one of the tigers approaches Lily with a deal--return what her grandmother stole in exchange for Halmoni's health--Lily tempted to agree. But deals with tigers are never what they seem! With the help of her sister and her new friend Ricky, Lily must find her voice...and the courage to face a tiger.

Recommended for young readers ages 8-12 years.

Hardcover, 304 pages.

Random House Books for Young Readers.

About the Author:

Tae Keller, the award-winning author of The Science of Breakable Things, shares a sparkling tale about the power of stories and the magic of family. Think Walk Two Moons meets Where the Mountain Meets the Moon!

Reviews:

"If stories were written in the stars ... this wondrous tale would be one of the brightest." --Booklist, Starred Review

by Veera Hiranandani

5.14 x 7.78 inches.

Penguin Books.

Reviews

A 2019 NEWBERY HONOR BOOK

“A gripping, nuanced story of the human cost of conflict appropriate for both children and adults.” - Kirkus, starred review

About the Author

Veera Hiranandani, author of the Newbery Honor-winning The Night Diary, earned her MFA in creative writing at Sarah Lawrence College. She is the author of The Whole Story of Half a Girl, a Sydney Taylor Notable Book and a South Asia Book Award finalist. A former editor at Simon & Schuster, she now teaches creative writing at Sarah Lawrence College’s Writing Institute.

by Victoria Jamieson & Omar Mohamed

A National Book Award Finalist, this remarkable graphic novel is about growing up in a refugee camp, as told by a former Somali refugee to the Newbery Honor-winning creator of Roller Girl.

Omar and his younger brother, Hassan, have spent most of their lives in Dadaab, a refugee camp in Kenya. Life is hard there: never enough food, achingly dull, and without access to the medical care Omar knows his nonverbal brother needs. So when Omar has the opportunity to go to school, he knows it might be a chance to change their future . . . but it would also mean leaving his brother, the only family member he has left, every day.

Heartbreak, hope, and gentle humor exist together in this graphic novel about a childhood spent waiting, and a young man who is able to create a sense of family and home in the most difficult of settings. It's an intimate, important, unforgettable look at the day-to-day life of a refugee, as told to New York Times Bestselling author/artist Victoria Jamieson by Omar Mohamed, the Somali man who lived the story.

Recommended for readers ages 9-12 years (grades 4-7).

Read the first three chapters here.

Link to Educator Resources from the publisher here.

Softcover, 264 pages.  5.81 x 8.29 inches.

Penguin Random House Books.

Additional Resources:

Refugee Strong This is the website of Omar Mohamed's non-profit organization. He works to deliver school supplies and other resources to kids living and attending school in Dadaab.

Muzamil's Day In this special audio episode for kids, FRONTLINE follows a day in the life of Muzamil, a 12-year-old Somali boy growing up in Kenya’s Dadaab Refugee Camp. Producer Bianca Giaever and Reporter Roopa Gogineni bring him questions from American kids about what it’s like growing up in a refugee camp. Are there dentists? A fire department? What is your dreamland? Muzamil takes us through his daily life, answering questions from American kids along the way. (22 minutes)

Dreams From Dadaab A clip from the Dadaab Animation project. A short film featuring young students from Dadaab and their animation work. (3 1/2 minutes)

Educational Challenges A glimpse into a primary school in Dadaab, and the challenges facing young people who want an education. (2 minutes)

Dagahaley Tour A tour through some of the streets, homes, and markets in Dadaab. (3 1/2 minutes)

Ifo Market A tour through the market in Ifo camp (where the story takes place) (3 minutes)

Dadaab Stories A collection of films made by residents of Dadaab. 

A Conversation with Omar Mohamed and Victoria Jamieson A presentation filmed for our virtual book launch. (48 minutes)

Kwame Alexander’s New York Times bestseller and Newbery Medal–winning The Crossover is vividly brought to life as a graphic novel with stunning illustrations by star talent Dawud Anyabwile.

New York Times Bestseller · Newbery Medal Winner · Coretta Scott King Honor Award · 2015 YALSA Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults · 2015 YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers · Publishers Weekly Best Book · School Library Journal Best Book · Kirkus Best Book

“A beautifully measured novel of life and line.” —New York Times Book Review

The Crossover is now a graphic novel!

“With a bolt of lightning on my kicks . . . The court is SIZZLING. My sweat is DRIZZLING. Stop all that quivering. ’Cuz tonight I’m delivering,” raps twelve-year-old Josh Bell. Thanks to their dad, he and his twin brother, Jordan, are kings on the court. But Josh has more than basketball in his blood—he’s got mad beats, too, which help him find his rhythm when it’s all on the line.

See the Bell family in a whole new light through Dawud Anyabwile’s dynamic illustrations as the brothers’ winning season unfolds, and the world as they know it begins to change.

Recommended by the publisher for ages 8-12 years.  Recommended by Nest for ages 10 and up through to adult.  This is an incredible read that stays with you long after.

Softcover, 224 pages.

Clarion Books.

by Janae Marks

#1 Kids Indie Next List * Parents Magazine Best Book of the Year * Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book of the Year * SLJ Best Book of the Year * Kirkus Best Book of the Year * Junior Library Guild Selection * Edgar Award Nominee * Four Starred Reviews * Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year * An Indie Bestseller *

From debut author Janae Marks comes a captivating story full of heart, as one courageous girl questions assumptions, searches for the truth, and does what she believes is right—even in the face of great opposition. 

Zoe Washington isn’t sure what to write. What does a girl say to the father she’s never met, hadn’t heard from until his letter arrived on her twelfth birthday, and who’s been in prison for a terrible crime?

A crime he says he never committed.

Could Marcus really be innocent? Zoe is determined to uncover the truth. Even if it means hiding his letters and her investigation from the rest of her family. Everyone else thinks Zoe’s worrying about doing a good job at her bakery internship and proving to her parents that she’s worthy of auditioning for Food Network’s Kids Bake Challenge.

But with bakery confections on one part of her mind, and Marcus’s conviction weighing heavily on the other, this is one recipe Zoe doesn’t know how to balance. The only thing she knows to be true: Everyone lies.

"When Marcus tells Zoe he is innocent, and her grandmother agrees, Zoe begins to learn about inequality in the criminal justice system, and she sets out to find the alibi witness who can prove his innocence." (Publishers Weekly, "An Anti-Racist Children's and YA Reading List")

Plus don't miss Janae Marks's A Soft Place to Land!

Recommended for readers ages 8-12 years old (grades 3-7).

Softcover, 320 pages. 

Katherine Tegen Books.

Critical Praise

“This powerful debut packs both depth and sweetness, tackling a tough topic in a sensitive, compelling way. An extraordinary, timely, must-read debut about love, family, friendship, and justice.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"This exceptionally sweet debut from Marks illustrates profound cracks in the American criminal justice system while telling an affecting story grounded in the middle-grade experience. The troubling ways race affects the characters…will facilitate important conversations about racial profiling and incarceration rates for people of color. Fortunately, Marks’ capable storytelling and engaging characters also combine into a wondrous confection of a book, full of heart and hope and promise.”  — Booklist (starred review)

"Debut author Marks seamlessly weaves timely discussions about institutionalized racism into this uplifting and engaging story that packs an emotional punch." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“A smart, necessary, and hopeful middle grade debut that expertly balances a gentle, heartwarming tone with searing insight into systemic racism.” — School Library Journal (starred review)

“Marks delivers a spirited central character whose determination to get to the truth is admirable. An involving family story, this novel could also serve as an introduction to social justice for elementary schoolers." — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

"Never heavy-handed, Marks’ prose is as sweet as one of Zoe’s confections. And as the icing on the cake, From the Desk of Zoe Washington imparts important lessons about judging other people, whether by the color of their skin or by their presumed guilt or innocence." — BookPage

“Marks tackles the complex costs of the pursuit of justice and motivates readers to feel equipped—and energized—to stand up for what’s right, right now. Readers will recognize that, like Zoe Washington, they need not wait until they grow up to make their actions count.” — Tanita S. Davis, author of Mare’s War

“A delightful confection of a novel! Zoe is a wondrous heroine who inspires a deeper love for food, family, and friends. Advocating for social justice, she creates a new recipe for a better, sweeter world. An enticing and enthralling debut from Janae Marks.” — Jewell Parker Rhodes, New York Times bestselling author of Ghost Boys

“A touching, tender, and absorbing read!” — Jodi Kendall, author of The Unlikely Story of a Pig in the City

“With a dash of mystery, sprinkle of passion, and whole lot of heart, From the Desk of Zoe Washington has found a winning recipe.” — Coe Booth, author of Kinda Like Brothers

"[A] marvelous debut novel by Janae Marks for middle-grade readers... a compelling mystery... Marks has managed to write a middle-grade novel that explores racial justice issues and addresses the routine bias Zoe faces while also dealing with coming-of-age issues... The book serves as a valuable introduction to The Innocence Project for its target audience." — Buffalo News

by Kelly Yang

Winner of the Asian / Pacific American Award for Children's Literature!

An instant #1 New York Times bestseller!

This “timely and compelling” (Kirkus Reviews) middle grade novel about courage, hope, and resilience follows an Asian American boy fighting to keep his family together and stand up to racism during the initial outbreak of the coronavirus.

When the coronavirus hits Hong Kong, ten-year-old Knox Wei-Evans’s mom makes the last-minute decision to move him and his siblings back to California, where they think they will be safe. Suddenly, Knox has two days to prepare for an international move—and for leaving his dad, who has to stay for work.

At his new school in California, Knox struggles with being the new kid. His classmates think that because he’s from Asia, he must have brought over the virus. At home, Mom just got fired and is panicking over the loss of health insurance, and Dad doesn’t even know when he’ll see them again, since the flights have been cancelled. And everyone struggles with Knox’s blurting-things-out problem.

As racism skyrockets during COVID-19, Knox tries to stand up to hate, while finding his place in his new country. Can you belong if you’re feared; can you protect if you’re new? And how do you keep a family together when you’re oceans apart? Sometimes when the world is spinning out of control, the best way to get through it is to embrace our own lovable uniqueness.

Recommended for readers ages 8-12 years old (grades 3-7).

Hardcover, 368 pages.

Scholastic Canada.

Reviews

by R. J. Palacio

Over 15 million people have read the #1 New York Times bestseller Wonder—the book that inspired the Choose Kind movement—and have fallen in love with Auggie Pullman, an ordinary boy with an extraordinary face.

The internationally beloved novel Wonder, the treasured collection of companion stories Auggie & Me, and the paperback edition of the inspirational 365 Days of Wonder: Mr. Browne's Book of Precepts are now available in a boxed set edition. This is the perfect gift for the millions of readers who have fallen in love with Auggie Pullman, his friends, and their teacher Mr. Browne, and also for readers who have yet to be introduced to the wonder of Wonder. 

Recommended for readers 8-12 years old.

Praise for Wonder:
"A beautiful, funny and sometimes sob-making story of quiet transformation." --The Wall Street Journal
"A crackling page-turner filled with characters you can't help but root for." --Entertainment Weekly
"Rich and memorable." --The New York Times Book Review

Praise for 365 Days of Wonder:
"A big collection of inspiring words that will appeal to the legions of fans awaiting more wonder in their lives." --Kirkus Reviews
"Palacio has an uncanny grasp of the minds and hearts of 8- to 12-year-olds, and the people who used to be them." --The New York Times

Praise for Auggie & Me:
"Not only a companion to Wonder, but a wonder in itself." --Kirkus, starred review

by Christina Soontornvat

A 2021 Newbery Honor Book

A boy on the run.  A girl determined to find him.  A compelling fantasy looks at issues of privilege, protest, and justice.

All light in Chattana is created by one man — the Governor, who appeared after the Great Fire to bring peace and order to the city.  For Pong, who was born in Namwon Prison, the magical lights represent freedom, and he dreams of the day he will be able to walk among them.  But when Pong escapes from prison, he realizes that the world outside is no fairer than the one behind bars.  The wealthy dine and dance under bright orb light, while the poor toil away in darkness.  Worst of all, Pong’s prison tattoo marks him as a fugitive who can never be truly free.

Nok, the prison warden’s perfect daughter, is bent on tracking Pong down and restoring her family’s good name.  But as Nok hunts Pong through the alleys and canals of Chattana, she uncovers secrets that make her question the truths she has always held dear.  Set in a Thai-inspired fantasy world, Christina Soontornvat’s twist on Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables is a dazzling, fast-paced adventure that explores the difference between law and justice — and asks whether one child can shine a light in the dark.

Recommended for readers ages 8-12 years.

Softcover, 384 pages.

Candlewick Press.

Praise

It’s a novel—a stand- alone, no less—that seems to have it all: a sympathetic hero, a colorful setting, humor, heart, philosophy, and an epic conflict that relates the complexity and humanity of social justice without heavy-handed storytelling. Soontornvat deftly blends it all together, salting the tale with a dash of magic that enhances the underlying emotions in this masterfully paced adventure. An important book that not only shines a light but also shows young readers how to shine their own. Luminous.
—Booklist (starred review)

Set in a fantasy analogue of Thailand, all characters are presumed Thai, and Thai life and culture permeate the story in everything from the mangoes Pong eats in prison to the monks he meets beyond the prison's walls. It's also a retelling of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables, and Soontornvat has maintained the themes of the original while making the plot and the characters utterly her own. Pong's and Nok's narratives are drawn together by common threads of family, loyalty, and a quest to define right and wrong, twining to create a single, satisfying tale. A complex, hopeful, fresh retelling.
—Kirkus Reviews

Soontornvat artfully builds up to a triumphant confrontation, weaving in important themes about oppression and civil disobedience along the way.
—Publishers Weekly

Nuanced questions of morality, oppression, and being defined by one’s circumstances are compounded with exciting action in this novel inspired by Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables. The characters are resonant, and the action is enhanced by the fantastical Thailand-like setting. The original storyline and well-developed characters make this a standout novel. ­Highly recommended.
—School Library Journal

Combining themes of coming-of-age, protest, and the power of freedom, this book will inspire young readers to stand up for their own beliefs as well as those of all people. This is a thought-provoking adventure that will cause readers to ask themselves whether being safe or having freedom is the better option, and if that needs to be a choice at all.
—School Library Connection

The rich, atmospheric Thai-inspired settings ground Pong and Nok’s journeys toward self-understanding, from bleak Namwon to the peaceful temple Wat Singh to Chattana’s bustling, colorful Light Market...The novel offers satisfying meditations on moral choices as well as age-friendly openings into conversations about prison pipelines, autocracy, and socio-political action.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Alternating between Pong's and Nok's stories, Soontornvat tells a satisfyingly intricate tale of escape and chase while raising questions about institutionalized injustices of privilege and want. Her Thai-inspired world is fully engaging, but perhaps most winning is the innocence, hope, and humor she conveys in the context of the struggle for social justice and with respect to the children's growth.
—The Horn Book

A thrilling fantasy, set in a fresh, original world, with a vital message at its heart. A Wish in the Dark is incandescent.
—Adam Gidwitz, Newbery Honor–winning author of The Inquisitor’s Tale

At once timeless and timely, Christina Soontornvat’s A Wish in the Dark is a richly imagined portrait of the power of hope, courage, and compassion to shine a light in dark times and the ability of small people to effect great change. Ingenious, captivating, and utterly gorgeous.
—Anne Ursu, National Book Award–nominated author of The Real Boy

Do you hear the people sing? Christina Soontornvat’s Les Misérables-inspired A Wish in the Dark will have readers cheering for Pong, the young boy who escapes a life of unfair imprisonment, discovers the powers of friendship and forgiveness, and raises his voice against oppression. I was swept away by the Thai setting, the Buddhist teachings of Father Cham, and the sheer grit and determination of these young characters. At the heart of this novel, like Victor Hugo’s, are the struggle for justice and the power of marginalized communities to change our world for the better. Young readers will be rooting for Pong and his band of revolutionary friends and inspired to spread more light in their own communities.
—Sayantani DasGupta, New York Times best-selling author of the Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond books

by Kathleen Fidler

Set in the Stone Age village of Skara Brae on Orkney.  A strange boy arrives in the village with a sharp axe of a type never seen before.  Conflict soon arises, and a deadly storm threatens the village.

Kathleen Fidler's classic story is set in the ancient Stone Age village of Skara Brae on Orkney. This is a fascinating and vividly portrayed story of life nearly 3,000 years ago.

Kali and Brockan are in trouble. They have been using their stone axes to chip limpets off the rocks, but they've gone too far out and find themselves trapped by the tides. Then, an unexpected rescuer appears, a strange boy in a strange boat, carrying a strangely sharp axe of a type they have never seen before.

Conflict arises as the village of Skara must decide what to do with the new ideas and practices that the boy brings. As a deadly storm threatens, the very survival of the village is in doubt.

Step back into the Stone Age and learn about the daily life and rituals of the ancient village of Skara Brae in this compelling, fictional account of the famous Orkney settlement. Vivid descriptions and accurate historical details bring the village to life and make this an ideal choice for those studying the Stone Age curriculum.

Recommended for young readers 8-12 years old.

Softcover, 176 pages.

198 x 130 mm.

Floris Books.

About the Author:

Kathleen Fidler (1899-1980) was the author of over eighty books for children, many of which were broadcast on BBC Radio Children's Hour and Schools programmes. She had a long-standing affection for Scotland, and was inspired to write The Boy With the Bronze Axe after a visit to Skara Brae on Orkney. The Fidler Award stood as a memorial to her deep interest in children and writers.

Reviews:

'This is a fascinating story about a stone-age village on Orkney and their struggle to deal with new technology and ways of thinking. An ideal read for history fans.'
-- Fiona Petrie, Waterstone's Guide to Children's Books

'As stories about the Stone Age communities are not that plentiful, teachers of the Y3 UK new national curriculum might struggle to find something that will appeal. This is a good story about Skara Brae and the changes that affect a community as it moves from one type of culture base to another. It is not a 'horrible history' type of book but a genuine fiction that children enjoy following. Thumbs up from Year 3 so far!'
-- Teacher review (via Amazon.co.uk)

'10 to 14-year-olds will get excited about The Boy With the Bronze Axe, set in prehistoric times.'
-- Greenock Telegraph, June 2005

'A brilliant story.'
-- Jack, age 8, Education Otherwise

'A classic children's tale -- a new generation of readers will enjoy this story.'
-- The Scots Magazine, June 2005

'I work at Skara Brae here in Orkney and my most frequently asked question is "Do you have The Boy with the Bronze Axe?"'
-- Diana Potter, Skara Brae

'I lived 45 minutes from Skara Brae and read this book as a kid. It's a book that conjures up so many different emotions for a young reader. Four stars.'
-- amazon.com reader review

'I read this book at the age of 10. It was my first novel about prehistoric times and lead me to buying many more as I got older. Great for children with an interest in archaeology or history. Five stars.'
-- amazon.com reader review

'Excellent details of prehistoric life are presented. Honor, gratitude and hatred combine to create an interesting read for middle-school students.'
-- amazon.com reader review

by Kathleen Fidler

Ten-year-old twins Kirsty and David Murray love their crofting life in the north of Scotland.  They collect shellfish, milk the cows and help their father grow oats and vegetables.  Then one day the Countess's men come and burn their house, saying they must leave.

The family travel across Scotland to Glasgow.  City life is dirty and overcrowded, and work in the mills is hard and dangerous.  The chance comes to join a ship sailing for Hudson Bay in Canada, and once again they start a long, perilous journey.

Will they survive the treacherous Atlantic crossing, and what will they find in the strange new land?

Kathleen Fidler had a gift for bringing characters from history to life for today's children.  The Desperate Journey is her best-known story, a true Scottish classic whose thrilling plot will keep children gripped from start to end.

Recommended for ages 8-12 years.

Softcover, 169 pages.

198 x 130 mm.

Floris Books.

Reviews

'This is a Scottish children's classic... A real must-read.'
Wendy McCusker, Waterstone's Guide to Children's Books

'A stirring tale of adventure, hardship and new beginnings.'
-- Shelf Life, Summer 2002

'What an action-packed tale!'
-- Education Otherwise, June 2002

'Kathleen Fidler's well-paced narrative skilfully conveys the Murray's epic journey and the historical settings are convincingly portrayed. David and Kirsty Murray are spirited and resilient characters who engage the interest and sympathy of the reader.'
-- Treasure Islands: A guide to Scottish fiction for young readers aged 10-14, Summer 2003

by Lauren Wolk

Echo Mountain is an acclaimed best book of 2020! 

An NPR Best Book of the Year • A Horn Book Fanfare Selection • A Kirkus Best Book of the Year • A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year • A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year • A Chicago Public Library Best Book of the Year

After losing almost everything in the Great Depression, Ellie’s family is forced to leave their home in town and start over in the untamed wilderness of nearby Echo Mountain.  Ellie has found a welcome freedom, and a love of the natural world, in her new life on the mountain.  But there is little joy after a terrible accident leaves her father in a coma.  An accident unfairly blamed on Ellie.

Ellie is a girl who takes matters into her own hands, and determined to help her father she will make her way to the top of the mountain in search of the healing secrets of a woman known only as “the hag.”  But the hag, and the mountain, still have many untold stories left to reveal.
 
Historical fiction at its finest, Echo Mountain is celebration of finding your own path and becoming your truest self. Lauren Wolk, the Newbery Honor– and Scott O'Dell Award–winning author of Wolf Hollow and Beyond the Bright Sea, weaves a stunning tale of resilience, persistence, and friendship across three generations of families.

Recommended for readers ages 10 years and older.

Softcover, 368 pages.

Dutton Books for Young Readers.

Praise

“Historical fiction at its finest.” –The Horn Book

“There has never been a better time to read about healing, of both the body and the heart.” –The New York Times Book Review

“Soothing and exquisitely written.” –People

“This is a book that will soothe readers like a healing balm.” –The Wall Street Journal

“Brilliant.” –Lynda Mullaly Hunt, bestselling author of Fish in a Tree

Author Kate DiCamillo

Illustrated by Sophie Blackall

A 2021 People Magazine Best Books of Fall Winner!

From two-time Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo and two-time Caldecott Medalist Sophie Blackall comes a fantastical meditation on fate, love, and the power of words to spell the world.

We shall all, in the end, be led to where we belong. We shall all, in the end, find our way home.

In a time of war, a mysterious child appears at the monastery of the Order of the Chronicles of Sorrowing. Gentle Brother Edik finds the girl, Beatryce, curled in a stall, wracked with fever, coated in dirt and blood, and holding fast to the ear of Answelica the goat. As the monk nurses Beatryce to health, he uncovers her dangerous secret, one that imperils them all—for the king of the land seeks just such a girl, and Brother Edik, who penned the prophecy himself, knows why.

And so it is that a girl with a head full of stories—powerful tales-within-the-tale of queens and kings, mermaids and wolves—ventures into a dark wood in search of the castle of one who wishes her dead. But Beatryce knows that, should she lose her way, those who love her—a wild-eyed monk, a man who had once been king, a boy with a terrible sword, and a goat with a head as hard as stone—will never give up searching for her, and to know this is to know everything. With its timeless themes, unforgettable cast, and magical medieval setting, Kate DiCamillo’s lyrical tale, paired with resonant black-and-white illustrations by Caldecott Medalist Sophie Blackall, is a true collaboration between masters.

Hardcover, 256 pages.

Candlewick Press.

Recommended for readers 9-12 years old.

Scottish Traveller Tales for Children

by Duncan Williamson; Edited by Linda Williamson

Recommended for young readers ages 8-12 years.

Young readers will explore a land of folklore and magic inhabited by friendly fairies, wicked ogres, majestic birds and shining unicorns in captivating tales, full of colour, humour and life. 

These timeless stories have been passed down the generations through oral tradition and are now retold for today's children in Duncan's unique storytelling voice.

One of Scotland's Travelling People, Duncan spent a lifetime journeying the country's highways and byways, collecting stories along the way.  This beautifully presented treasury includes insight into Duncan's life and cultural heritage alongside a curated collection of his best-loved stories and classic tales.

Captivating tales full of colour, humour and life.

A selection of these stories has previously appeared in The Coming of the Unicorn and The Flight of the Golden Bird

Hardcover, 224 pages.  216 x 138 mm.

Floris Books.

Table of Contents

09. Foreword by Donald Smith
11. Introduction by Linda Williamson
19. Hedgehog’s Race
25. The Twelve White Swans
46. The Broonie’s Farewell
52. The Tramp and the Boots
62. Jack Goes Back to School
67. The Kings’ Gardens
73. Fox and the Two Cat Fishers
77. The Broonie on Cara
82. The Singing Leaves
95. The Twelve Seasons
102. Thomas the Thatcher
106. The Three Presents
114. Death in a Nut
127. The Dog and the Fox
132. Legend of the White Heather
135. Two Ravens

Reviews

Praise for Duncan Williamson:

'One of the world's best-known storytellers.'
-- The Times

'Scotland's greatest contemporary storyteller.'
-- The Guardian

'The story-teller and singer Duncan Williamson was one of the greatest voices of Scots traveller culture.'
-- The Independent

'Scotland's greatest traditional storyteller.'
-- The Scotsman

Praise for The Coming of the Unicorn:

'A fine collection to share, whether read aloud or told.'
-- Kirkus Reviews

'This engaging collection of Scottish folktales opens with a splendid bit of scene-setting in the introduction.'
-- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

'Thae stories hae been fashiont frae the claith buttons o fowk memory. They are as auld as the hills an, lik Jack, wha fun the Keeng's keys tae the "Garden of Youth", they are eildless.'
-- Lallans, Journal of The Scots Language Society

Praise for Flight of the Golden Bird:

'Storytellers and those who enjoy reading aloud will find this an excellent resource filled with lively language.'
-- Kirkus Reviews

About the Authors

Duncan Williamson (1928-2007) was a Scottish storyteller, singer and author. One of Scotland's Travelling People, Duncan spent sixty years journeying around the country and collecting stories, songs and oral history. Described as 'one of the world's best-known storytellers' (The Times) and 'Scotland's greatest contemporary storyteller' (The Guardian), Duncan's extraordinary legacy includes a library of recordings and books of folk tales. Silver Unicorns and Golden Birds is his most significant collection of stories for children.

Linda Williamson is an American folklorist, musician and editor. Linda grew up in the Great Lakes region of America and moved to Scotland, where she received a PhD from Edinburgh University. During her studies Linda met and married Scottish storyteller Duncan Williamson, whom she worked with for many years while collecting his songs and stories. Under the auspices of the Traditional Arts and Culture for Scotland, Linda now engages with international audiences as a storyteller, ballad singer, and author. She currently lives in Edinburgh, Scotland.

by Shirley Hughes

Italy, 1944: Florence is occupied by Nazi forces.  The Italian resistance movement has not given up hope, though — and neither have thirteen-year-old Paolo and his sister, Costanza.  As their mother is pressured into harboring escaping POWs, Paolo and Costanza each find a part to play in opposing the German forces.  Both are desperate to fight the occupation, but what can two siblings — with only a bicycle to help them — do against a whole army?

Recommended for readers ages 10 years and up.

Softcover, 224 pages.

Candlewick Press.

Read a sample chapter from the publisher's website here.

by Lesa Cline-Ransome

When eleven-year-old Langston's father moves them from their home in Alabama to Chicago's Bronzeville district, it feels like he's giving up everything he loves.

It's 1946.  Langston's mother has just died, and now they're leaving the rest of his family and friends.  He misses everything— Grandma's Sunday suppers, the red dirt roads, and the magnolia trees his mother loved.

In the city, they live in a small apartment surrounded by noise and chaos.  It doesn't feel like a new start, or a better life.  At home he's lonely, his father always busy at work; at school he's bullied for being a country boy.

But Langston's new home has one fantastic thing.  Unlike the whites-only library in Alabama, the Chicago Public Library welcomes everyone.  There, hiding out after school, Langston discovers another Langston — a poet whom he learns inspired his mother enough to name her only son after him.

Lesa Cline-Ransome, author of the Coretta Scott King Honor picture book Before She Was Harriet, has crafted a lyrical debut novel about one boy's experiences during the Great Migration.  Includes an author's note about the historical context and her research.

Recommended by the publisher for ages 8 - 12 years old; recommended by Nest for reader ages 9 years and up.

Also in the Series

Praise

• Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book
• Winner of the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction
• Junior Library Guild selection
• CLA Notable Children's Book in Language Arts
• Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year, with 5 Starred Reviews
• School Library Journal Best Book of 2018

by Lesa Cline-Ransome

A companion novel to Finding Langston, recipient of a Coretta Scott King Writing Honor and winner of the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction.

Behind every bad boy is a story worth hearing and at least one chance for redemption.  It's 1946 and Lymon, uprooted from his life in the Deep South and moved up North, needs that chance.

Lymon's father is, for the time being, at Parchman Farm--the Mississippi State Penitentiary--and his mother, whom he doesn't remember all that much, has moved North.  Fortunately, Lymon is being raised by his loving grandparents.  Together, Lymon and his grandpops share a love of music, spending late summer nights playing the guitar.

But Lymon's world as he knows it is about to dissolve.  He will be sent on a journey to two Northern cities far from the country life he loves -- and the version of himself he knows.  In this companion novel to the Coretta Scott King Honor wining Finding Langston, readers will see a new side of the bully Lymon in this story of an angry boy whose raw talent, resilience, and devotion to music help point him in a new direction.

Recommended for readers ages 8-12 years.

Softcover, 112 pages.

Holiday House.

A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year
A Junior Library Guild Selection!
Named a Best Multicultural Children's Book by the Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature
A Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year!
A Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Blue Ribbon Book

The Wrinkle in Time and Polly O'Keefe Quartets

by Madeline L’Engle; edited by Leonard S. Marcus

A Wrinkle in Time was only the beginning: rediscover an American classic with all seven of its sequels in this deluxe, two-volume collector's edition boxed set.

Here, for the first time, in a newly-prepared authoritative text, Madeleine L'Engle's iconic classic A Wrinkle in Time, one of the most beloved and influential novels for young readers ever written, is presented with all seven of its sequels--what L'Engle called the Kairos (or "cosmic time") novels--in a deluxe two-volume boxed set, complete with never-before-seen deleted passages from A Wrinkle in Time. L'Engle's unforgettable heroine, Meg Murry, must confront her fears and self-doubt to rescue her scientist father, who has been experimenting with mysterious tesseracts capable of bending the very fabric of space and time. Helping her are her little brother Charles Wallace and her friend Calvin O'Keefe, and a trio of strange supernatural visitors called Mrs Whatsit, Mrs Who, and Mrs Which. But A Wrinkle in Time was only the beginning of the adventure. 

In A Wind in the Door, Meg and Calvin descend into the microverse to save Charles Wallace from beings called Echthroi, who are trying to erase existence. In A Swiftly Tilting Planet, when a madman threatens nuclear war, Charles Wallace must save the future by traveling into the past. And in Many Waters, Meg's twin brothers are accidentally transported back to the time of Noah's ark. The final four books center on Calvin and Meg's daughter Polly. In The Arm of the Starfish, Polly disappears, and Calvin's research assistant is implicated in her kidnapping. In Dragons in the Waters, Polly and her brother Charles are on a ship sailing to Venezuela when they help solve a murder connected to a stolen portrait of Simon Bolivar. Polly receives an education in different kinds of love in A House Like a Lotus. And in An Acceptable Time, Polly is lured through a tesseract by a friend who may be hoping to sacrifice Polly in order to save himself.

Ideal for readers 9-12 years old.

2 book set.  Hardcover books in a cardboard boxed set.

Published by Library of America.

LIBRARY OF AMERICA is an independent nonprofit cultural organization founded in 1979 to preserve our nation’s literary heritage by publishing, and keeping permanently in print, America’s best and most significant writing. The Library of America series includes more than 300 volumes to date, authoritative editions that average 1,000 pages in length, feature cloth covers, sewn bindings, and ribbon markers, and are printed on premium acid-free paper that will last for centuries.

Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog

by Adam Gidwitz; illuminated by Hatem Aly

Recommended for ages 10-14 years.

A Newbery Honor Book
Winner of the Sydney Taylor Book Award

An exciting and hilarious medieval adventure from the bestselling author of A Tale Dark and Grimm. Beautifully illustrated throughout by Hatem Aly! 

★ A New York Times Bestseller ★ A New York Times Editor’s Choice ★ A New York Times Notable Children’s Book ★ A People Magazine Kid Pick ★ A Washington Post Best Children’s Book ★ A Wall Street Journal Best Children's Book ★ An Entertainment Weekly Best Middle Grade Book ★ A Booklist Best Book ★ A Horn Book Fanfare Best Book ★ A Kirkus Reviews Best Book ★ A Publishers Weekly Best Book ★ A School Library Journal Best Book ★ An ALA Notable Children's Book

“A profound and ambitious tour de force. Gidwitz is a masterful storyteller.” —Matt de la Peña, Newbery Medalist and New York Times bestselling author
 
“What Gidwitz accomplishes here is staggering." —New York Times Book Review

Includes a detailed historical note and bibliography

1242. On a dark night, travelers from across France cross paths at an inn and begin to tell stories of three children. Their adventures take them on a chase through France: they are taken captive by knights, sit alongside a king, and save the land from a farting dragon. On the run to escape prejudice and persecution and save precious and holy texts from being burned, their quest drives them forward to a final showdown at Mont Saint-Michel, where all will come to question if these children can perform the miracles of saints.
 
Join William, an oblate on a mission from his monastery; Jacob, a Jewish boy who has fled his burning village; and Jeanne, a peasant girl who hides her prophetic visions. They are accompanied by Jeanne's loyal greyhound, Gwenforte . . . recently brought back from the dead. Told in multiple voices, in a style reminiscent of The Canterbury Tales, our narrator collects their stories and the saga of these three unlikely allies begins to come together. 

Beloved bestselling author Adam Gidwitz makes his long awaited return with his first new world since his hilarious and critically acclaimed Grimm series. Featuring manuscript illuminations throughout by illustrator Hatem Aly and filled with Adam’s trademark style and humor, The Inquisitor's Tale is bold storytelling that’s richly researched and adventure-packed.

Hardcover, 384 pages.

Penguin Random House.


“It’s no surprise that Gidwitz’s latest book has been likened to The Canterbury Tales, considering its central story is told by multiple storytellers. As each narrator fills in what happens next in the story of the three children and their potentially holy dog, their tales get not only more fantastical but also more puzzling and addictive. However, the gradual intricacy of the story that is not Gidwitz’s big accomplishment. Rather it is the complex themes (xenophobia, zealotry, censorship etc.) he is able to bring up while still maintaining a light tone, thus giving readers a chance to come to conclusions themselves. (Also, there is a farting dragon.)”—Entertainment Weekly, “Best MG Books of 2016

"Puckish, learned, serendipitous . . . Sparkling medieval adventure." —Wall Street Journal

★ "Gidwitz strikes literary gold with this mirthful and compulsively readable adventure story. . . . A masterpiece of storytelling that is addictive and engrossing." —Kirkus, starred review

★ "A well-researched and rambunctiously entertaining story that has as much to say about the present as it does the past." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ "Gidwitz proves himself a nimble storyteller as he weaves history, excitement, and multiple narrative threads into a taut, inspired adventure." —Booklist, starred review

★ "Scatological humor, serious matter, colloquial present-day language, the ideal of diversity and mutual understanding—this has it all." —The Horn Book, starred review

★ "I have never read a book like this. It’s weird, and unfamiliar, and religious, and irreligious, and more fun than it has any right to be. . . . Gidwitz is on fire here, making medieval history feel fresh and current." —School Library Journal, starred review

by Elizabeth Janet Gray; illustrated by Robert Lawson.

Awarded the John Newbery Medal as "the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children" in the year of its publication. "A road's a kind of holy thing," said Roger the Minstrel to his son, Adam. "That's why it's a good work to keep a road in repair, like giving alms to the poor or tending the sick. It's open to the sun and wind and rain. It brings all kinds of people and all parts of England together. And it's home to a minstrel, even though he may happen to be sleeping in a castle." And Adam, though only eleven, was to remember his father's words when his beloved dog, Nick, was stolen and Roger had disappeared and he found himself traveling alone along these same great roads, searching the fairs and market towns for his father and his dog.

Here is a story of thirteenth-century England, so absorbing and lively that for all its authenticity it scarcely seems "historical." Although crammed with odd facts and lore about that time when "longen folke to goon on pilgrimages," its scraps of song and hymn and jongleur's tale of the period seem as newminted and fresh as the day they were devised, and Adam is a real boy inside his gay striped surcoat.

Softcover, 320 pages.

Puffin Books.

Recommended by the publisher for readers ages 8-12 years.  Recommended by Nest for ~12 years of age (grade 7).

By John D. Fitzgerald

This first book in the series is a great combination of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Terrible Two series, and is perfect for fans of Roald Dahl.

The best con man in the Midwest is only ten years old.  Tom, a.k.a., the Great Brain, is a silver-tongued genius with a knack for turning a profit.  When the Jenkins boys get lost in Skeleton Cave, the Great Brain saves the day.  Whether it's saving the kids at school, or helping out Peg-leg Andy, or Basil, the new kid at school, the Great Brain always manages to come out on top-and line his pockets in the process.…

Softcover, 208 pages.

Recommended for children aged 8-12 years old.

Puffin Books.

by Kate DiCamillo

A story of friendship and freedom.

Walking through the misty Florida woods one morning, twelve-year-old Rob Horton is stunned to encounter a tiger—a real-life, very large tiger—pacing back and forth in a cage.  What’s more, on the same extraordinary day, he meets Sistine Bailey, a girl who shows her feelings as readily as Rob hides his.  As they learn to trust each other, and ultimately, to be friends, Rob and Sistine prove that some things—like memories, and heartache, and tigers—can’t be locked up forever.  Featuring a cover illustration by Stephen Walton.

Recommended for readers ages 10-12 years.

Softcover, 121 pages.  5-1/8 x 7-5/8".

Candlewick Press.

National Book Award Finalist.

"DiCamillo is masterful at creating setting and ... mixing sorrow with humor and despair with hope." - San Francisco Chronicle

About the Author:

Kate DiCamillo is the author of Because of Winn-Dixie (a Newbery Honor book), The Tiger Rising (a National Book Award finalist), and The Tale of Despereaux (a Newbery Medal Winner). She recently completed a series of early chapter books about a pig named Mercy Watson. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane was the winner of the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award. Kate lives and writes in Minneapolis, Minnesota, but she spent much of her childhood in Florida.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Read an excerpt from the book here:

"That morning, after he discovered the tiger, Rob went and stood under the Kentucky Star Motel sign and waited for the school bus just like it was any other day. The Kentucky Star sign was composed of a yellow neon star that rose and fell over a piece of blue neon in the shape of the state of Kentucky. Rob liked the sign; he harbored a dim but abiding notion that it would bring him good luck.

Finding the tiger had been luck, he knew that. He had been out in the woods behind the Kentucky Star Motel, way out in the woods, not really looking for anything, just wandering, hoping that maybe he would get lost or get eaten by a bear and not have to go to school ever again. That’s when he saw the old Beauchamp gas station building, all boarded up and tumbling down; next to it, there was a cage, and inside the cage, unbelievably, there was a tiger--a real-life, very large tiger pacing back and forth. He was orange and gold and so bright, it was like staring at the sun itself, angry and trapped in a cage.

It was early morning and it looked like it might rain; it had been raining every day for almost two weeks. The sky was gray and the air was thick and still. Fog was hugging the ground. To Rob, it seemed as if the tiger was some magic trick, rising out of
the mist. He was so astounded at his discovery, so amazed, that he stood and stared. But only for a minute; he was afraid to look at the tiger for too long, afraid that the tiger would disappear. He stared, and then he turned and ran back into the woods, toward the Kentucky Star. And the whole way home, while his brain doubted what he had seen, his heart beat out the truth to him. Ti-ger. Ti-ger. Ti-ger.

That was what Rob thought about as he stood beneath the Kentucky Star sign and waited for the bus. The tiger. He did not think about the rash on his legs, the itchy red blisters that snaked their way into his shoes. His father said that it would be less likely to itch if he didn’t think about it.

And he did not think about his mother. He hadn’t thought about her since the morning of the funeral, the morning he couldn’t stop crying the great heaving sobs that made his chest and stomach hurt. His father, watching him, standing beside him, had started to cry, too.

They were both dressed up in suits that day; his father’s suit was too small. And when he slapped Rob to make him stop crying, he ripped a hole underneath the arm of his jacket.

"There ain’t no point in crying," his father had said afterward. "Crying ain’t going to bring her back."

It had been six months since that day, six months since he and his father had moved from Jacksonville to Lister, and Rob had not cried since, not once.

The final thing he did not think about that morning was getting onto the bus. He specifically did not think about Norton and Billy Threemonger waiting for him like chained and starved guard dogs, eager to attack.

Rob had a way of not-thinking about things. He imagined himself as a suitcase that was too full, like the one that he had packed when they left Jacksonville after the funeral. He made all his feelings go inside the suitcase; he stuffed them in tight and then sat on the suitcase and locked it shut. That was the way he not-thought about things. Sometimes it was hard to keep the suitcase shut. But now he had something to put on top of it. The tiger.

So as he waited for the bus under the Kentucky Star sign, and as the first drops of rain fell from the sullen sky, Rob imagined the tiger on top of his suitcase, blinking his golden eyes, sitting proud and strong, unaffected by all the not-thoughts inside straining to come out."

The Tiger Rising. Copyright (c) 2001 Kate DiCamillo. Candlewick Press, Inc. Cambridge, MA

by Sharon Creech

Winner of the Newbery Medal and the Children's Book Award, this is a breathtaking book, a modern classic in the making.

Don’t judge a man until you’ve walked two moons in his moccasins.

What is the meaning of this strange message left on the doorstep?  Only Sal knows, and on a roadtrip with her grandparents she tells the bizarre tale of Phoebe Winterbottom, Phoebe’s disappearing mother and the lunatic.  But who can help Sal make sense of the mystery that surrounds her own story . . . and her own missing mother? 

In her own singularly beautiful style, Newbery Medal winner Sharon Creech intricately weaves together two tales, one funny, one bittersweet, to create a heartwarming, compelling, and utterly moving story of love, loss, and the complexity of human emotion.

Thirteen-year-old Salamanca Tree Hiddle, proud of her country roots and the "Indian-ness in her blood," travels from Ohio to Idaho with her eccentric grandparents. Along the way, she tells them of the story of Phoebe Winterbottom, who received mysterious messages, who met a "potential lunatic," and whose mother disappeared.

As Sal entertains her grandparents with Phoebe's outrageous story, her own story begins to unfold—the story of a thirteen-year-old girl whose only wish is to be reunited with her missing mother.

Recommended for young readers ages 9-13 years.

Softcover, 256 pages.

MacMillan Publishing.

Printed in the United Kingdom.

by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Mary Lennox is sent from India as an orphan to live at Misselthwaite Manor.  She arrives as a sour-faced, sickly and ill-tempered little madam but becomes friends with local lad Dickon and her poorly cousin, Colin.  In their restoration of a secret garden all their lives are changed for the better.

With an Afterword by Anna South.

Hardcover, 288 pages.

Pan MacMillan.

Recommended for readers ages 8-12 years old.

About the Author:

Frances Hodgson Burnett was born in Manchester, England, in 1849, the third of five children. When her father died in 1853 the family was plunged into poverty, and the young Fanny began writing to escape the grim realities of life. In 1865 the family moved to America where she met her future husband, Dr Swann Burnett. Her book Little Lord Fauntleroy was published in 1886 and was an instant success, launching a career that would produce over forty books. It was followed by the publication of A Little Princess in book form in 1905 and The Secret Garden in 1911. Frances Hodgson Burnett died in 1924.

By Christopher Paul Curtis

"We are a family on a journey to a place called wonderful" is the motto of Deza Malone's family.  Deza is the smartest girl in her class in Gary, Indiana, singled out by teachers for a special path in life.  But it's 1936 and the Great Depression has hit Gary hard, and there are no jobs for black men.  When her beloved father leaves to find work, Deza, Mother, and her older brother, Jimmie, go in search of him, and end up in a Hooverville outside Flint, Michigan.  Jimmie's beautiful voice inspires him to leave the camp to be a performer, while Deza and Mother find a new home, and cling to the hope that they will find Father.  The twists and turns of their story reveal the devastation of the Depression and prove that Deza truly is the Mighty Miss Malone.

Softcover, 320 pages.

Yearling.

Recommended for 9-12 years.

Publisher's Weekly Best Children's Book of 2012

Kirkus Reviews Best Teen's Book of 2012


Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews, December 15, 2011:
“Deza is one great heroine in her own right, a fitting literary companion to Bud Caldwell.”

Starred Review, Publishers Weekly, December 12, 2011:
“Though the resolution of the family’s crisis is perhaps far-fetched, some readers will feel they are due a bit of happiness; others will be struck by how little has changed in 75 years for the nation’s have-nots.”

by Sharon M Draper

A New York Times bestseller!

Melody faces her fears to follow her passion in this stunning sequel to the acclaimed, New York Times bestselling middle grade novel Out of My Mind.

Melody, the huge-hearted heroine of Out of My Mind, is a year older, and a year braver.  And now with her Medi-talker, she feels nothing’s out of her reach, not even summer camp.  There have to be camps for differently-abled kids like her, and she’s going to sleuth one out.  A place where she can trek through a forest, fly on a zip line, and even ride on a horse!  A place where maybe she really can finally make a real friend, make her own decisions, and even do things on her own—the dream!

By the light of flickering campfires and the power of thunderstorms, through the terror of unexpected creatures in cabins and the first sparkle of a crush, Melody’s about to discover how brave and strong she really is.

Recommended for young readers ages 10-15 years of age.

Softcover, 368 pages.

Simon & Schuster Canada.

Printed in the United States.

by Lari Don

Winner of a Scottish Children's Book Award.

When Yann the injured centaur clip clops into Helen's life she decides to help him even though she's not exactly a vet.

But that's just the beginning ... Helen's first aid kit comes in very handy when she meets Yann's friends -- a gang of fabled beasts with a habit of getting into trouble. Together they must solve riddles, fight fauns and defeat the dangerous Master of the Maze before midwinter and the end of the world.

First Aid for Fairies and other Fabled Beasts is the first book in the bestselling Fabled Beast Chronicles, an exciting four-book adventure series starring creatures from myth and legend.

Recommended for 8 - 12 years old.

Softcover, 224 pages. 198 x 130 mm.

Floris Books.

by Lari Don

• The bestselling Fabled Beast Chronicles series is relaunched with a dramatic new design to appeal to new, and existing, readers
• Helen and the fabled beasts must prepare for battle against an old, powerful enemy
• Boys and girls alike will enjoy Lari's skilful blend of fable and fiction, fantasy and fast-paced adventure

As Helen practises her violin for a special Midsummer's Eve concert, her friends, the fabled beasts, prepare to go to war.

Helen soon joins their perilous quest against the evil Faery Queen. She battles with brownies, wrangles with wolves and tries to trick faeries. But will it be enough to help her friends and save herself?

Second book in the bestselling Fabled Beast Chronicles, an exciting four-book adventure series starring creatures from myth and legend.

Recommended for 8 - 12 years old.

Softcover, 256 pages. 198 x 130 mm.

Floris Books. Sept 2014.

by Lari Don

A centaur, a selkie, a fairy and a phoenix -- Helen has unusual friends.  And in this incredible quest, they face some even stranger opponents, from mermaids to angry killer whales.

Helen must help Rona the selkie to win the most important contest of the ocean world, and stop the deep sea powers from going to war.  But who is trying to sabotage the competition and why?

Can Helen and the fabled beasts find the real villain, and prevent the most devastating storm the world has ever seen?

The third thrilling instalment of the bestselling Fabled Beast Chronicles, an exciting four-book adventure series starring creatures from myth and legend, introduces new fabled beasts from the wild north of Scotland.

• Boys and girls alike will enjoy Lari's skilful blend of fable and fiction, fantasy and fast-paced adventure
• 'a refreshingly different quest tale.' -- The Scotsman
• Set in the wild north of Scotland, this exciting book introduces yet more fabled beasts inspired by terrifying sea creatures and folklore

Helen and her fabled-beast friends help Rona the selkie in a storm singing contest which leads to greater things. The third installment of Helen's adventures of the bestselling Fabled Beast Chronicles.

Recommended for 8 - 12 years old.

Softcover, 256 pages. 198 x 130 mm.

Floris Books. Sept 2014.

by Lari Don

One of Helen's friends is dying, stabbed in the heart by the Master, and this life-threatening injury needs a magical remedy. Helen and her fabled-beast friends unite, with the help of the dragons, to find a magical token with the power to cure. But they only have until tomorrow night.

On their quests through Scotland for the enchanted healing tokens, they battle with magical lizards, monstrous goats, and a vengeful giant. Fighting together, can they cure their friend and finally defeat the power-crazed Master of the Maze?

Don't miss the heart-stopping climax to the bestselling Fabled Beast Chronicles.

Recommended for 8 - 12 years old.

Softcover, 288 pages. 198 x 130 mm.

Floris Books. Sept 2014.

By Ross MacKenzie

Winner of the Blue Peter Best Story Award 2016 and the Scottish Children's Book Award 2016, and the North East Book Award 2015 (so far…).

• Scottish Children's Book Award winner Ross MacKenzie unleashes a riot of imagination, colour and fantasy in this astonishing adventure
• Perfect for fans of Philip Pullman, Cornelia Funke and Neil Gaiman

When the mysterious Nowhere Emporium arrives in Glasgow, orphan Daniel Holmes stumbles upon it quite by accident. Before long, the 'shop from nowhere' -- and its owner, Mr Silver -- draw Daniel into a breathtaking world of magic and enchantment.

Recruited as Mr Silver's apprentice, Daniel learns the secrets of the Emporium's vast labyrinth of passageways and rooms -- rooms that contain wonders beyond anything Daniel has ever imagined.

But when Mr Silver disappears, and a shadow from the past threatens everything, the Emporium and all its wonders begin to crumble.

Can Daniel save his home, and his new friends, before the Nowhere Emporium is destroyed forever?

Ross MacKenzie unleashes a riot of imagination, colour and fantasy in this astonishing adventure, perfect for fans of Philip Pullman, Cornelia Funke and Neil Gaiman.

Recommended for ages 8-12 years.

Softcover, 288 pages. 198 x 130 mm.

Floris books, 2015.

By Ross MacKenzie

The Nowhere Emporium has been stolen.

• Return to the Nowhere Emporium and experience another astounding fantastical adventure
• Multi-award-winning author Ross MacKenzie imagines a wonderous world akin to the work of Philip Pullman, Cornelia Funke and Neil Gaiman.
• Long-awaiting sequel to the Blue Peter Book Award winner

Highly anticipated sequel to the Blue Peter Book Award winner, "the Nowhere Emporium". The Emporium has been stolen. Will it ever reappear? Return to a magical world where imagination is power and anything is possible.

The shop from nowhere has vanished without a trace. Will it ever reappear?

As they search for the lost Emporium, Daniel and Ellie encounter magical bookshops, deserted islands, and an array of magicians (both dead and alive). Meanwhile a dangerous force is attacking the Emporium from the inside, waiting for a chance to break free.

In this highly anticipated sequel to the award-winning The Nowhere Emporium, readers will once again be transported into a magical realm where imagination is power and anything is possible. Loyal fans will be astonished by the new wonders beyond the Emporium's doors as the gripping mystery unfolds.

Recommended for children 8-12 years.

Softcover. 198 x 130 mm. 288 pages.

Floris books, 2018.

by Alex McCall

Winner of a 2015 Scottish Children's Book Award

Why did the chicken cross the road? TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD!!!

The city of Aberdeen is being terrorised by giant robot chickens who want to peck out every last sign of human resistance. The streets are empty, the adults have vanished -- and those left behind are fighting for survival.

Jesse and his friends are desperate to save their families and stop the feathered fiends. They hatch a master plan... but can a gang of kids REALLY defeat an army of angry robot chickens?

A hilarious, weird and wonderful adventure from a cracking new author.

Softcover, 208 pages.

Published Feb, 2014, by Floris Books. Recommended for 8 - 12 years old.

'Ticks lots of the boxes smart pre-teens look for in a satisfying read; a slump-free fast-moving plot; funny, stupid jokes (including a record number of egg-based puns); heroic globe-saving kids; a total absence of adults (they've disappeared), and some giant robot chickens. It's adorably daft, but it also has believable, sympathetic characters and a big heart. And it's fun to read aloud to an appreciative, perpetually speculating audience.' -- The Big Issue, Kids' Books of the Year 2014 'Fans of action will enjoy the fast-paced skirmishes and fully-realized setting, while fans of comedy will appreciate the satirical elements, corny chicken jokes, and even cornier chicken puns. Despite the silliness of the premise, McCall treats his characters with surprising frankness: Jesse and Rayna cope with being displaced in Aberdeen, a city neither are from, and worry about their missing siblings, who have disappeared during the invasion. With humor, action, and layered characters, this title will be a hit with readers looking for a solid-albeit goofy-science-fiction story.' -- School Library Journal 'Attack of the Giant Robot Chickens is simply the most enjoyable children's book I have read this year so far... I cannot recommend this book highly enough - and of course, it appeals equally to boys and girls.' -- The School Librarian 'The story is full of timely action but not everything goes eggs-actly to plan. The plot is very engaging for both younger and older audiences. In my opinion, this is very well written for a debut published book. It's zany, fun and full of many laugh-out-loud moments to keep you on your claws. This is one of the best chick flick books that I've read. At least this is what I would describe as a chick flick read to be enjoyed. It is cool, easy to read and will transport you to a world of pure fantasy.' -- Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books 'A great twist on an end of the world apocalypse story! ... This story should appeal to both sexes. I would recommend Robot Chickens for both Year 5 and 6. This would also be a good class read because it is exciting and would be a good text to use for the discussion of survival.' -- Armadillo Magazine 'McCall's debut won publication with the Kelpies Prize, which seeks new Scottish fiction for young readers. The totally foolish premise is made believable through strong writing and realistic characters. The swift pace and at-times goofy action sequences will charm readers who like their action with a few laughs. Kids saving themselves from the egg-pocalypse: priceless.' -- Kirkus Reviews 'Attack of the Giant Robot Chickens is a good book! It is well written with some good jokes and twists.' -- Johnny, Balerno Community High pupil, Teen Titles