KidFest 2024 Authors - Morristown Festival of Books (2024)

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Heather Alexander

Heather Alexanderis the author of numerous fiction and nonfiction books for children, including the Wallace and Graceearly chapter book series, The Good Luck Book,Eat Bugs: Project Startup,A Child’s Introduction to Egyptology, and Only in America. She also works as a children’s book editor and scout. Born and raised in New Jersey, she now lives in Los Angeles.

Featured title: Wallace and Grace and the Owl-O-Ween Mystery

Two owl detectives solve a Halloween mystery in this installment of a charming early reader series, perfect for fans of the Owl Diaries. In this fourth book in the Wallace and Grace series, the two owl detectives are confronted with a Halloween costume contest catastrophe when three contestants all claim credit for the same idea. These best friends are partners in the Night Owl Detective Agency and work together to solve mysteries!

When Lukas the fox, Ava the opossum, and Mateo the squirrel all show up to the Owl-o-ween party with the same costume, no one knows whooo had the idea first or whooo should win the delicious boo-berry pie. Can Wallace and Grace uncover clues to solve this costume mystery?

Young readers will delight in this funny, accessible story—the perfect pathway to chapter books.

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Kari Allen

Kari Allen is an award-winning author and a teacher from New Hampshire. Her books, the Maddie and Mabel series, The Boy Who Loved Maps and Whose Prints? have been selected as a Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2022, Cybils Award finalists and winners, and Junior Library Guild Gold Standards. Kari has authored two Little Golden Books biographies. When not writing or teaching, Kari might be found reading at the lake, beekeeping, or cooking for family and friends.

Featured title: The Boy Who Loved Maps

The Mapmaker loves maps. He loves to collect them, to study them, and most of all, he loves to make them. But when a girl asks for a map of a perfect place, the Mapmaker is perplexed. She wants a map to a toes-in-the-sand-warm, X-marks-the-spot-place filled with treasures, where it smells like her birthday and she can zip around like a dragonfly. Surely, a place that isallof these things can’t exist…can it? Well, after a fun-filled day of exploring the neighborhood, the Mapmaker will discover that the perfect place–home–has been right in front of him all along.

Here is a picture book, as creative as it is charming, that celebrates home, and is a gentle reminder to look around and appreciate what surrounds you.

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Anne Appert

Anne Appert (they/them) is a nonbinary author/illustrator who spent their childhood with their nose stuck in a book while their wild imagination transformed their New Jersey backyard into faraway places. Now, their imagination turns their dreams into words and pictures for children. Anne’s picture books include Blob and What if You Wish? They teach digital painting at Montclair State University.

Featured title: What If You Wish

A gentle child embarks on a magical journey and transforms their worries into wonder by simply asking “What if?”. When a spring breeze blows, a quiet promise whispers, “What if?”. What if you close your eyes and make a wish? In this sweet and inspiring book, one child learns the true power of positive thinking, perseverance, and wonder.

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Katherine Battersby

Katherine Battersby is the critically acclaimed author and illustrator of fourteen children’s books, includingthe popular Cranky Chicken series and the picture books Perfect Pigeons and Trouble. Her books have received glowing reviews in the New York Times, starred Kirkus reviews, and have been named Children’s Book Council (CBC) Children’s Choice books. In another life, Katherine worked for many years as a children’s counselor. She grew up by the beach in Australia and now lives in Ottawa, Canada.

Featured title: Cranky Chicken

Narwhal and Jelly meet The Bad Guys in Cranky Chicken, a heartwarming, brightly illustrated, and downright hilarious chapter book about what happens when a very cranky chicken is befriended by a very cheerful worm.

Cranky Chicken is, well, cranky – with one cranky eyebrow, cranky eyes, and even cranky, scratchy feet. But then one day, Cranky meets a very friendly worm named Speedy who wants nothing more than to be friends. Young readers will love seeing the mismatched friendship grow over the course of three charming and laugh-out-loud short adventures as Cranky and Speedy become BFFs (Best Feathered Friends) and Speedy shows Cranky how to look on the bright side.

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Jenna Beatrice

Jenna Beatrice is a children’s author, lawyer, and mom.Her debut picture book TheLoud Librarian was voted as aChildren’s Book Council’s 2024 Favorite – Children’s Favorites Award List; named toMrs. Laura Bush’s 2023 Summer Reading List; and chosen to the2024 Redbud Read-Aloud Book Award Masterlist.She lives in New Jersey with her husband and two young sons.

Featured title: The Loud Librarian

Penelope is perfect for the job of student-librarian. Friendly? Check. Helpful? Check. Book lover? Check. There’s just one snag. Penelope is…LOUD. Bookcases may topple and the ground may quake at the sound of her voice, but Penelope is determined to prove she’s perfect for the jobandstay true to herself. Can a little librarian with a big voice find a place where she belongs?

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Artie Bennett

Artie Bennett is the proud author of several award-winning, beloved children’s books, including the hilarious rhyming picture books The Butt Book, Poopendous!, Peter Panda Melts Down!, Belches, Burps, and Farts—Oh My!, and What’s Afoot! He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Featured title: The True Story of Zippy Chippy: The Little Horse That Couldn’t

The True Story of Zippy Chippy: The Little Horse That Couldn’t is the humorous, inspirational, and heartwarming story of a racehorse descended from the greatest horses to ever run, including Man o’ War, who wants nothing more than to follow in their hoofbeats. But there’s only one problem: Zippy Chippy isn’t terribly good at it. Narrowly avoiding the glue factory, the horse is acquired by Felix Monserrate, a horse trainer from Puerto Rico, who believes he can turn Zippy’s fortunes around. When his young daughter, Marisa, develops a frolicsome friendship with the unpredictable, mischievous horse, Zippy’s fortunes do turn around, though not necessarily on the racetrack.

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Ariel Bernstein

Ariel Bernstein (she/her/hers) is the author of I Have a Balloon and Where Is My Balloon?, both illustrated by Scott Magoon, as well as We Love Fishing! and You Go First, both illustrated by Marc Rosenthal. I Have a Balloon received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Reviews, and it was a Junior Library Guild Selection. Where Is My Balloon? was a Bank Street Best Book of the Year, and We Love Fishing! received a starred review from Publishers Weekly. You Go First was a Junior Library Guild Selection, named a Charlotte Zolotow Highly Commended Title, and received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews. Ariel lives in Livingston, New Jersey with her family.

Featured title: Mabel Wants a Friend

From the creators of We Love Fishing! and You Go First comes a new humorous and earnest picture book about a fox named Mabel who learns that making a new friend takes more than just wanting one.

Meet Mabel. She always gets what she wants. No matter what it takes. Meet Chester. He’s Mabel’s new friend, but…he doesn’t always agree with Mabel’s methods. After a disagreement, Mabel decides she’s better off alone. But when Mabel starts to miss Chester, she realizes that to get what she wants most of all, she’ll have to learn what it means to be a good friend.

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Sophie Blackall

Sophie Blackall is one of the most lauded children’s book creators of our day. Her work has twice been awarded the Caldecott Medal, as well as the Ezra Jack Keats Award and the Society of Illustrators Founder’s Award. Originally from Australia, Sophie now lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Featured title: Stella & Marigold

Generations of readers have fallen in love withIvy + Bean, which has sold over 8 million copies and been adapted into a popular Netflix Original Film series. Now, bestsellingauthor Annie Barrows and illustrator Sophie Blackall are back with the first book in a bright new series about a pair of sisters named Stella and Marigold.

Stella, who’s seven, is kind, a good storyteller, and ponders big questions like, what do animals think of people? Marigold, at four, tells imaginative stories (her mother calls them “fibs”) and likes to wear her favorite Halloween costume year-round.Stella and Marigold do all the regular things—like going to school, playing, getting sick sometimes, and visiting the zoo—but even the most regular things have a secret side.

Sure to delight fans of Ivy and Bean, these adventure tales—animated with full-color illustrations of the sisters’ encounters with magical bathrooms, snow monkeys, dream lions, howling wolves, a lost Vice President, and much more—are filled with vibrant characters, creative storytelling, and a whole lot of laughs.

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Alex Boniello & April Lavalle

Alex Boniellois an actor, musician, singer, writer, and Tony Award–winning producer from New York City. Most recently, he starred as Connor Murphy in Broadway’sDear Evan Hansen, and has also appeared as the voice of Moritz in Deaf West’s revival ofSpring Awakeningand in numerous TV shows and films. AlongsideApril Lavalle, he’s also a producer onHadestown, for which they both received Tony Awards. Boniello is a passionate advocate for mental health, having worked closely with some of the most prolific organizations in the country.April Lavalleis an actor, comedian, writer, and Tony Award–winning producer living in New York City. As an actor, Lavalle has appeared on television and on stages throughout the world, and as a writer, she has been featured in publications such asReductress,McSweeneys,Medium, andVulture. She is also a director for the Story Pirates, which celebrates the imaginations of children worldwide.

Featured title: Feeling Boo

It’s OK to feel a little bit BOO, especially if you have friends to help you through.

Ollie and Ellie have been friends for hundreds of years. They love taking long midnight floats through the graveyard, going on haunting sprees, and playing dress-up. But when Ollie wakes up feeling boo, Ellie isn’t quite sure what to do. She tries everything she can think of to cheer Ollie up, but nothing seems to do the trick. Finally, Ellie learns that just being present with her friend is all he really needs.

Told with equal parts humor and heart, this picture book is a kid-friendly, not-so-scary conversation-starter about mental health and the joy of friendship.

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Rachelle Burk

Rachelle Burk writes fiction and nonfiction books for kids. Her newest releases include:The Story of Taylor Swift,Space Torah: Astronaut Jeffrey Hoffman’s Cosmic Mitzvah(with an afterword by the astronaut),A Mitzvah for George Washington,She’s a Mensch! Jewish Women Who Rocked the World,andA Gift of Life: A Story of Organ Donation & Transplant. Rachelle enjoys inspiring children with her School Author Visit Programs.

Featured title: The Story of Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift is one of the most famous musical artists in the world! Before she became a big star, she was a little girl who loved country music and writing stories. Explore how she went from growing up on a Christmas tree farm in Pennsylvania to being an international role model and the youngest person ever to win the Entertainer of the Year award.

• Independent reading―This Taylor Swift biography for kids is broken down into short chapters and simple language so young readers 6 to 9 can learn on their own.
• Critical thinking―Kids will learn the Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How of Taylor’s life, and find definitions of new words, discussion questions, and more.
• A lasting legacy―Find out how Taylor’s kindness, ambition, and talent for storytelling have made her an incredible figure in music and pop culture.

How will Taylor’s creativity and dedication inspire you?

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Gabi Burton

Gabi Burton grew up reading and writing in St. Louis, Missouri. She graduated from Bowdoin College where she majored in English and Government. She works as a paralegal and author on the East Coast. When she’s not working, writing, or reading, she’s probably watching Netflix, mindlessly scrolling on TikTok, or finding beautiful places to walk—preferably near a body of water.

Featured title: Sing Me To Sleep

Saoirse is a siren in hiding in this YA fantasy book, Sing Me to Sleep. By day, she’s disguised as a fae in her kingdom’s army. By night, she’s an assassinfor dangerous mercenaries. When Saoirse is forced to accept a job guarding the crown prince, she expects to hate him. Instead, she finds herself increasingly drawn to him—especially when they’re forced to work together to stop a deadly killer plaguing the city. The only problem: Saoirse is that deadly killer.

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Alyssa Satin Capucilli

Alyssa Satin Capucilli is the author of over 100 books for young readers including Biscuit, about the beloved yellow puppy. Once a professional dancer, Alyssa’s love of dance is embodied in her series, Katy Duck, illustrated by Henry Cole. Her picture books include The Library Fish and The Library Fish Learns to Read. Alyssa is excited and honored to share her newest project, Willow the White House Cat, co-written with U.S. First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden, with readers of all ages.

Featured title: The Library Fish Learns to Read

Library Fish is very happy in her bowl on Mr. Hughes the librarian’s desk. From there, she listens to story time and watches Mr. Hughes teach children the alphabet. He says the alphabet is made of letters, letters make sounds, blending those sounds together makes words, and words make stories.

Library Fish wants to read, too! She starts jumping out of her bowl to practice when the library closes at night. Can Library Fish become a reader all on her own?

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Melanie Conklin

Melanie Conklin grew up in North Carolina and worked as a product designer before she began her writing career. She is the author of middle grade novels Counting Thyme, Every Missing Piece, A Perfect Mistake, Crushed (2024), and her debut picture book, When You Have to Wait. Her books have won awards suchas the International Literacy Association Teacher’s Choice Award, Bank Street Best Children’s Book, and nominations to seven state reading lists. When she’s not writing, Melanie spends her time doodling and dreaming up new ways to be creative. She lives in Massachusetts with her family.

Featured title: When You Have to Wait

A mindful, gentle picture book about patience and learning to find beauty in the act of waiting.

Sometimes, you have to wait.

For the line at the public pool on a hot summer day.
For mom to come home after being away.

For your legs to grow just a bit longer to ride a new big kid bike.

The seconds drag on… each one feels like forever. Why can’t you have itnow?

But while you wait, you might notice things: a possible new friend who is also in line, why homecoming hugs are extra special, and how beautiful the world is when you’re not racing by.

Sometimes, when you have to wait, you find the good in the moments between now and later.

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Lindsey Daly

Lindsey Daly grew up in Andover, New Jersey and graduated from Ramapo College. She is a middle school social studies teacher and the author of the best-selling Would You Rather? series and card deck. She lives in Morristown, New Jersey.

Featured title: Would You Rather? Made You Think!

Laugh and learn with 160+ questions designed to make kids giggle, think, and figure out who’s the wittiest (and silliest) of all! Would You Rather? Made You Think! Edition provides endless hours of fun for 8- to 12-year-olds who love a challenge—and a good laugh.

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Beth Ferry

Beth Ferry is the author of numerous picture books for children including The Scarecrow, Swashby and the Sea, and the New York Times best seller, Stick and Stone. She lives with her family by the beach in New Jersey where she finds inspiration in the salty air. In addition to writing picture books, Beth writes graphic novels for emerging readers.

Featured title: A Moving Story

In A Moving Story, brothers Tiny and Pete will move anything anywhere with the utmost care because they know that nothing is too small or too light to wrap up tight and treat just right. But during their biggest move yet, a young panda’s pet turtle goes missing, and even the brothers’ efforts might not be enough to save the day.

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Chris & J.J. Grabenstein

Chris Grabenstein is an award-winning, #1 New York Times best-selling author of over six dozen books, including the Lemoncello, Smartest Kid, and Dog Squad series for kids. He and his wife J.J., an award-winning audiobook narrator, co-authored the acclaimed middle grade novel Shine! and have now teamed up to create Stinky’s Stories, a series of early reader chapter books featuring a skunk stuffy named Stinky who brings library fun to the K-2 crowd.

Featured title: The Boy Who Cried Underpants

Underwear has never been so much fun to wear! It’s story time at the Hickleberry Elementary School Library with Stinky the stuffed skunk! You have probably heard of the boy who cried wolf, but do you know what happenedafterno one believed him? According to Stinky, the boy moves away to The Big City where he gets a job crying wolf for The William D. Wolfe Company, Makers of All Sorts of Fine and Fancy Stuff. But when the boy gets bored again, he uses his talents to cry “UNDERPANTS” instead. When the Queen hears his cries, she takes great offense—how dare he???—and suddenly, The Big City is in total chaos! Will the boy be able to save the day before it all gets too smelly?

The Boy Who Cried Underpants is the first story in the chapter book series, Stinky’s Stories.Filled with page after page of hilarious illustrations, it is the perfect series for young reluctant and emergent readers—or any kid who just loves to laugh.

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John Patrick Green

Born and raised on Long Island, New York, John Patrick Green attended the School of Visual Arts and now lives and works in Brooklyn. John is the writer and artist of the InvestiGators middle-grade graphic novel series, as well as the early reader graphic novels Hippopotamister and the Kitten Construction Company duology. He co-writes the InvestiGators spin-off, Agents of S.U.I.T., with writer Christopher Hastings and artist Pat Lewis. John is also the co-creator and illustrator of the Teen Boat! series with writer Dave Roman. John grew up reading comic strips and comic books, and loves to draw cartoon animals. As a human whose job is to write about animals who have human jobs, he especially enjoys writing puns and anything silly. When he’s not writing and drawing, John loves to bake sourdough bread, make pizza, stare at the boxes of LEGO sets he still hasn’t gotten around to building, and play video games.

Featured title: The Investigators: Class Action

The InvestiGators are back…to school?! Mango and Brash have always been a class act but can these alligator detectives convincingly go undercover as average middle-school students? Why has the super-spy organization S.U.I.T. been assigned protection detail for a small-town team mascot? Is it a coincidence that the school happens to be the same one that Agent Mango (just barely) graduated from? Is Mango’s family in danger? Will Brash pass home economics? Is Friday still pizza day? Find out in Class Action, the A+ return of the New York Times best-selling series by John Patrick Green! Read up, because there just might be a pop quiz later!

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Lee Harper

Lee Harper is an illustrator, author, and painter best known for illustrating the Turkey Trouble series written by Wendi Silvano.

Lee has four children and lives on a small farm in Bucks County Pennsylvania with his wife Krista, three sheep, twelve chickens, two pigs, one dog, one cat, a gulp of barn swallows and a murder of crows.

His most recent book is Turkey’s Birthday Bash, the eighth book in the Turkey Trouble Series.

Featured title: Turkey’s Birthday Bash

It’s Turkey’s birthday, but no one is celebrating. In fact, no one even seems to know about it. Even stranger, Farmer Jake and his family are up to something in the backyard. And Turkey isn’t allowed to see what it is. Good thing he knows how to be sneaky―and that his friends help him put together the best disguises. Turkey dresses up as everything from a candle to a cupcake, but try as he might, he can’t get past the family. It just may be that Turkey is in for a birthday surprise or two…

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Maureen Johnson

Maureen Johnsonis the best-selling author of several novels, including13 Little Blue Envelopes, theTruly Deviousseries, theSuite Scarlettseries, and theShades of Londonseries. She has also written collaborative works such asLet It Snowwith John Green and Lauren Myracle and theBane Chronicleswith Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan. Maureen lives in New York.

Featured title: Death At The Morning House

The fire wasn’t Marlowe Wexler’s fault. Dates should be hot, but not hot enough to warrant literal firefighters. Akilah, the girl Marlowe has been in love with for years, will never go out with her again. No one dates an accidental arsonist.

With her house-sitting career up in flames, it seems the universe owes Marlowe a new summer job, and that’s how she ends up at Morning House, a mansion built on an island in the 1920s and abandoned shortly thereafter. It’s easy enough, giving tours. Low risk of fire. High chance of getting bored talking about stained glass and nut cutlets and Prohibition.

Oh, and the deaths. Did anyone mention the deaths?

Maybe this job isn’t such a gift after all. Morning House has a horrific secret that’s been buried for decades, and now the person who brought her here is missing.

All it takes is one clue to set off a catastrophic chain of events. One small detail, just like a spark, could burn it all down—if someone doesn’t bury Marlowe first.

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Bess Kalb

Bess Kalb is an Emmy-nominated comedy writer and the best-selling author of Nobody Will Tell You This but Me, a New York Times Editor’s Choice. She wrote for eight years on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and has written for the Emmy Awards, the Academy Awards, and the 2020 Democratic National Convention. She is the head writer and executive producer of the WGA Award-nominated Yearly Departed, an Amazon Comedy Special, and is currently adapting Nobody Will Tell You This but Me into a feature film with Sight Unseen Pictures. She lives with her husband and two boys in Brooklyn. This is her debut picture book.

Featured title: Buffalo Fluffalo

I’m the Buffalo Fluffalo

I heave and I huffalo

Leave me alone because

I’ve had enuffalo.

Buffalo Fluffalo arrives on the scene puffed up with self-importance. Stomping around and raising billows of dust, Buffalo Fluffalo proclaims his superiority to the other creatures — the ram, the prairie dog, and the crow — who just want to be his friend. So Buffalo Fluffalo, who has had enuffalo, heads off to grumble to himself. Suddenly, a rain shower pours down from the clouds and — what’s this? All of his fluffalo is a soggy mess! There Fluffalo stands, a drenched pip-squeak without his disguise. The other animals, who could see through Fluffalo’s bravado from the start, circle around to comfort him. As prairie dog says with a smile in his eyes, You’re great how you are, no matter your size.

Readers will find Buffalo Fluffalo’s insecurity endearing and will be moved to reassure him. Buffalo Fluffalo encourages self-acceptance with a lighthearted touch.

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Alan Katz

Alan Katz has written 50+ highly acclaimed books for kids, including Take Me Out of the Bathtub and Other Silly Dilly Songs and I’m Still Here in the Bathtub, Where Did They Hide My Presents?, the Society of Substitutes series, the Lieographies series, Got Your Nose!, Don’t Say That Word!, and Stinky Thinking. His poetry books include OOPS! and Poems I Wrote When No One Was Looking. Alan is also a six-time Emmy-nominated writer for TV series including The Rosie O’Donnell Show, animated shows Pinkalicious, and network specials including the Grammy Awards, and the Tony Awards. The Funniest Joke Book Ever For Kids! is his latest book. Alan lives in Connecticut with his wife and their four kids.

Featured title: The Funniest Kids’ Joke Book Ever

Try not to laugh! Jokes for kids so funny you they’ll have you on the ground in no time!

I crossed a fish with an elephant.What did you get?
Swim trunks!

Who’s a golfer’s favorite wizard?
Harry Putter!

Careful, the jokes in this book are so funny you might just laugh your socks off! From knock knocks to puns a plenty, The Funniest Kids’ Joke Book Ever is positively overflowing with funny! It even has activities and fill-in-the-blanks for making your very own jokes. Can you read the whole thing without laughing? Bet you can’t! It’s all brought to you by author and funny man Alan Katz.

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Nancy Krulik

Nancy Krulik is the international best-selling author of more than 200 books for children. Her series, including Katie Kazoo, Switcheroo; George Brown, Class Clown; Magic Bone; Princess Pulverizer; and Ms. Frogbottom’s Field Trips, are beloved around the world. Nancy lives in Manhattan with her husband. When she’s not writing, Nancy can be found reading, going to concerts, traveling or running around Central Park with her Llasa Apso rescue-pup, Scooby.

Featured title: Sing High, Sing Crow

Chirpy the chicken is not feeling very chipper when a group of birds calling themselves the Crow Family Band keeps the coop awake with their loud singing. She’s supposed to be the Great Mathemachicken, but math can’t solve their sleep problems. Or can it?

At school, Chirpy and Quackers are singing a new tune as they take a trip to the music classroom. There, they learn about musical notes, which seem to work an awful lot like fractions.

And when she sees how Mrs. Zoober’s students, singing high and low, together make one wonderful tune, she gets a egg-stra good idea how the chickens might join forces . . . and even add some feathered new friends to the mix, to make something truly special.

The third book in the Great Mathemachicken chapter book series, combines Krulik’s trademark humor and clever wordplay with hilarious and lively two-color artwork from the incredibly talented Charlie Alder, to create an engrossing and charming STEAM-based adventure that will have young readers clucking for more.

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Emeline Lee

EmelineLee grewuphearingstoriesabouthergrandfather’sworkontheApollo11 moonlanding,whichinspiredherownfascinationwithscience.ShestudiedEnglish literatureandenvironmentalsustainabilityatColumbiaUniversity,andshenowworksin thesolarenergysectorinNewYorkCity.Thisisherfirstpicturebook.

Featured title: Bonnie’s Rocket

Bonnie’s father is an engineer for the Apollo 11 space mission. Bonnie is an engineer too, developing a rocket ship that she plans to shoot high into the sky. While Baba works on the moon-landing module at the space center in far-off Florida, Bonnie designs, builds, and tests her own rocket — with sometimes disastrous results! Throughout the process, Baba’s letters encourage her in her work, and after the astronauts return from the moon, Baba comes home in time to see Bonnie launch her amazing rocket. Inspired by the experiences of the author’s grandfather, who helped design the space suits and life-support systems for the Apollo 11 mission, Bonnie’s Rocket reminds us of the importance of the contributions of people of color in the United States’ greatest achievements. It’s also a heartwarming father-daughter story, and a terrific gift for budding engineers of all kinds.

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Claire Legrand

Claire Legrand is the New York Times best-selling author of several novels for children and young adults, most notably the Empirium Trilogy, Sawkill Girls, Some Kind of Happiness, and A Crown of Ivy and Glass. She lives in New Jersey.

Featured title: A Song of Ash and Moonlight

A Song of Ash and Moonlight is the second in the enchanting, sexy, “romantasy” series from the New York Timesbest-selling author Claire Legrand, and perfect for readers of Sarah J. Maas and Jennifer Armentrout. The old war is over. A new one is just beginning. The curse plaguing the Ashbourne and Bask families has finally been broken, but Farrin, the eldest Ashbourne daughter, still struggles to find peace. Unflappable and tireless, her composure masks a seething sorrow. Since her mother abandoned the family, Farrin has been their rock—managing her father’s temper, running the estate, keeping tight control over her dangerous musical power, and ignoring her own need for rest, distraction, and most of all, love. In Ryder Bask, Farrin’s stubborn strength has met its match. The man infuriates her. He’s coarse, arrogant, annoyingly handsome. He’s as tired of their feuding parents as she is, and he brims with some secret anger that mirrors Farrin’s frustrated rage. But Farrin must work with every ally she can—even the man she has been raised to hate. With every rising dawn, the Middlemist weakens further. Anointed magicians are disappearing. A fiery Olden creature is stalking Farrin. Strange visions haunt the High Queen Yvaine. And as Farrin and Ryder race to find stolen loved ones, they begin to realize a horrifying truth: The gods are not dead. They’re waking up. And someone is hunting them.

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Julie Leung

Julie Leung is an award-winning author of numerous children’s books. Her picture book, The Truth About Dragons is a 2024 Caldecott Honor, winner of the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature, as well as A School Library Journal Best Book of 2023. By day, she works in publishing. By night, she writes. She was raised in the sleepy suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia, though it may be more accurate to say she grew up in Oz and came of age in Middle-earth.

Featured title: The Truth About Dragons

Lean in close,

my darling bao bei,

and I will whisper

a most precious secret

about a powerful magic

that lives inside you.

Brought to life with lavish and ornate illustrations, The Truth About Dragons follows a young child on a journey guided by his mother’s bedtime storytelling. He quests into two very different forests, as his two grandmothers help him discover two different, but equally enchanting, truths about dragons.

Eastern and Western mythologies coexist and enrich each other in this warm celebration of mixed cultural identity. The Truth About Dragons is an unforgettable lyrical picture book that celebrates biracial identity from the award-winning author of Paper Son: The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist.

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Priti Birla Maheshwari

Priti Birla Maheshwari was born in India and moved to Montreal and Toronto. She graduated from the University of Toronto, completed AMI CASA training, and earned a master of education degree from Cleveland State University. She taught at Princeton Montessori, Red Oaks School, and St. John’s-Kilmarnock. Her book Chaiwala! won multiple awards. She now writes, teaches French, tutors, and presents to students. Her Queen Bee chapter book series will be released in fall 2024 and 2025. Priti is married and has a daughter at university.

Featured title: Chaiwala

When their train makes a ten-minute stop at the station in Jaipur, a young girl and her mother hurry to get in line for a cup of chai. The girl orders two cups, and then delights in watching the chaiwala at work-grinding the spices, adding scoops of tea leaves and sugar to the bubbling, boiling milk, then cooling the chai by pouring it from high, back and forth, back and forth-the girl is mesmerized. With a biscuit and a rusk added to their order, mother and child find a spot in the crowded station to rest and enjoy the moment. And that first sip … aaaahhh. Then it’s time to wave goodbye to the chaiwala and hurry back to their train to continue their journey.

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Daniel Mahoney

Daniel J. Mahoney has been writing and drawing stories since he was a kid. When he’s not creating books for young readers, he can be found riding his bike, chasing waterfalls with his hiking club, and zapping people with X-rays at the hospital where he works. He is the author of Monstergarten, as well as the writer and illustrator of other books for children. Mahoney enjoys long walks on the beach, contemplating the meaning of life, dollar bills, and eating oysters. He grew up in Albany, New York, where he still resides with his amazing offspring, Shay.

Featured title: We Don’t Eat Our Neighbors

In this laugh-out-loud picture book perfect for fans of Lyle the Crocodile and Dragons Love Tacos, an alligator family runs into trouble when their son can’t seem to curb his appetite for their new human neighbors.

After Libby and Herbert Alligator’s mom lands her dream job as a pastry chef, the family is moving on up out of the slimy swamp and into the bustling town filled with houses, restaurants, schools … and people. Libby can’t wait to meet the neighbors. Herbert can’t wait to eat them.

And that’s not okay with the folks in the neighborhood, who most certainly do not want to become alligator food. Is there a way for Herbert to fit in while remaining who he really is? With a little help from his mom, maybe he can have his friends …. and eat them, too.

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Niña Mata

Niña is an illustrator and sometimes writer who has created many books for kids including the #1 New York Times Best Seller, I Promise, by LeBron James. She is also the illustrator of the Theodor Seuss Geisel Honored series Ty’s Travels by the incomparable Kelly Starling Lyons.Born in the Philippines and raised in Queens, New York, Niña’s childhood was filled with drawing while her parents attended night school. She believes that everyone deserves to see themselves reflected in the stories they read and that we should all be celebrated. Inspired by her diverse upbringing, she’s all about celebrating everyone through her vibrant storytelling.When Niña is not illustrating or writing, she is singing karaoke, napping with her cat, dancing at a hip hop class, or on a beach people-watching with her husband and daughter by the Jersey shore.

Featured title: I Am More Than

A follow-up to the #1New York Times best-selling and critically acclaimed picture book,I Promise, this second slam-dunk picture book from NBA champion and cultural icon LeBron James motivates readers to rememberthey can accomplish their goalswhenthey believe in themselves. Written in fun rhyming verse and illustrated by award-winning and bestselling artist Niña Mata, this book will help little dreamers dream BIG.

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Rachel Menard

Rachel Menard is an author of fantastical stories for teens. Her work has been in Writer’s Digest and on Cast of Wonders, and her short story, Blame it on the Bees, was chosen as a “Best of 2019” by Diabolical Plots. Her novels include Game of Strength & Storm and Clash of Fate & Fury, both Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selections. Game of Strength & Storm also won a Silver IPPY Medal in 2023.

Featured title: Clash of Fury and Fate

In Clash of Fate and Fury, seventeen-year-old Gen may have rescued her beloved father from prison, but she hasn’t saved him yet. If she fails her end of a bargain with the Olympian Empresses, they will send him right back to his cell. To keep the Empresses happy, Gen must bring them the legendary golden apples of Hesperides and the monstrous Cerberus. But both are rumored to be in the neighboring Elysium Empire, which has a long history of war with Olympia. Making matters worse, Gen’s former enemy and newly designated heir to the isle of Arcadia Castor invites herself on the journey, hoping a golden apple could end Arcadia’s reliance on Illumium for storm vials. And Castor’s twin brother, Gen’s StormMaker boyfriend Pollux, has been pulling away from Gen due to troubles stemming from her mind magic.

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Riss M. Neilson

Riss M. Neilson is a magna cum laude graduate of Rhode Island College, where she won the English department’s Jean Garrigue Award for creative writing. Her debut young adult novel, Deep in Providence, was a 2022 finalist for the New England Book Awards. She has two daughters, a cat, a dog and a bunny named Michael Myers. She was born and raised in Providence. When she’s not writing, she’s watching anime or playing video games with her kids.

Featured title: Deep in Providence

Deep in Providence tells the story of best friends Miliani, Inez, Natalie, and Jasmine, for whom Providence, Rhode Island has a magic of its own. From the bodegas and late-night food trucks on Broad Street to The Hill that watches over the city, every corner of Providence glows with memories of them practicing spells, mixing up potions and doing séances with the help of the magic Miliani’s Filipino grandfather taught her.

But when Jasmine is killed by a drunk driver, the world they have always known is left haunted by grief…and Jasmine’s lingering spirit. Determined to bring her back, the surviving friends band together, testing the limits of their magic and everything they know about life, death, and each other.

And as their plan to resurrect Jasmine grows darker and more demanding than they imagined, their separate lives begin to splinter the bonds they depend on, revealing buried secrets that threaten the people they care about most. Miliani, Inez and Natalie will have to rely on more than just their mystical abilities to find the light.

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Mary Pope Osborne

Mary Pope Osborne is an ardent advocate and supporter of child literacy, and the award-winning author of more than 100 books for children and young adults, including novels, retellings of mythology and folklore, picture books, biographies, mysteries, and the New York Times #1 best-selling Magic Tree House series. From 1993 to 1997, Mary served as president of the Authors Guild, the country’s leading organization for published authors. Mary also co-authors nonfiction research guides with her sister and husband. She has traveled extensively in the U.S. and abroad, visiting schools and speaking on issues related to children’s literacy, including at the United Nations. She and her husband, writer Will Osborne (author of Magic Tree House: The Musical), live in northwestern Connecticut with their three dogs.

Featured title: Sunset of the Sabertooth

The Ice Age is super cool…for two kids in bathing suits! Jack and Annie nearly freeze when the magic tree house whisks them back to the time of cave bears, early humans, and woolly mammoths. But nothing can stop them from having another wild adventure —-not even a sabertooth!

Magic. Mystery. Time-travel. For the first time in graphic novel—live the The Magic Tree House adventure again with new full-color vibrant art that brings the magic to life!

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James Preller

While writing promotional flyers for Seesaw Book Club, James Preller fell in love with children’s books. He’s worked in children’s publishing ever since, as an author, editor, book packager, and consultant. In 1986, he published his first book, an out-of-print picture book about super-powered trucks, Maxx Trax: Avalanche Rescue! By 1990, James went freelance and has continued to write a wide variety of children’s books, most recently an easy-to-read story for emerging readers, Two Birds and a Moose!, to a middle grade wilderness thriller, Blood Mountain. James is best known for the Jigsaw Jones Mystery series, the Scary Tales series, The Courage Test, Six Innings, Better Off Undead, and Bystander. James has earned more than a dozen starred reviews, four Library Guild Selections, an ALA Notable, 2 NYPL “Best Books for Reading and Sharing,” a YALSA award, a Bank Street College Selection, a CYBIL Award, been named to numerous state lists, and more. James lives with his wife and family in Delmar, New York. One of his most joyful activities has been visiting and presenting at schools around the country.

Featured title: Shaken

For 7th-grader Kristy Barrett, soccer is life. It has always been at the center of Kristy’s world. Her friendships and self-worth, her dreams and daily activities, all revolve around the sport. Until she suffers from a serious concussion and has to set soccer aside for an uncertain amount of time. Kristy begins to struggle in school, experience stress, anxiety, and panic attacks which ultimately bring her to some questionable decisions . . . and the care of a therapist as she suffers from post-concussion syndrome. Shaken is a story about identity, art therapy, new friendships, making mistakes and, finally, coming true to one’s ever-evolving self.

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Dave Roman

Dave Roman is the author/illustrator of the new graphic novel, Unicorn Boy and the acclaimed Astronaut Academy series. He’s worked as a writer on Teen Boat! Race for Boatlantis and Agnes Quill: An Anthology of Mystery and as an illustrator for Goosebumps Graphix: Slappy’s Tales of Horror. Dave teaches at the School of Visual Arts, is a former editor at Nickelodeon Magazine, and is currently series editor for First Second’s History Comics and the InvestiGators by John Patrick Green. He draws a webcomic called Pup & Duck, lives in New York City, and is always on the lookout for the perfect waffle.

Featured title: Unicorn Boy

Go on a magical journey with this quirky, young reader’s graphic novel about a boy who sprouts a unicorn horn and uses his newfound powers to help those in need! The first few years of Brian Reyes’ life were unremarkable―nothing weird about this kid, no sir. Then, one day, a bump appeared on his head, and it grew…and grew…and grew until it was a full-blown, sparkling, SINGING unicorn horn. That’s absolutely the last thing a shy kid like Brian wants, but destiny waits for no unicorn boy. Luckily, Brian has his reassuring pal Avery to keep him grounded as weird occurrences start stacking up, like Brian’s breakfast muffin talking to him, or a bizarre black cat offering him a business card. But when shadowy creatures from another realm kidnap Avery, Brian has to embrace his fate to rescue his best friend.

In the pages of Unicorn Boy, Dave Roman has created a cast of charming oddballs reckoning with normal, everyday problems―like heroic destinies and the fate of all magic in the universe. Readers of Narwal and Jelly, Grumpy Unicorn, and InvestiGators will endear themselves to these lovable characters.

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Meredith Rusu

Meredith Rusulives in New Jersey with her husband and two young sons. She is the author of more than one hundred children’s books, notablyThere’s a Yeti in my TummyandThere’s a Robot in My Socks,the first two picture books in her award-winningMighty Moodsseries. She has also written for many popular licenses including LEGO, Disney/Pixar, Bluey, and Star Wars.

Featured title: There’s a Robot in My Socks

Jamie has a robot in her socks that makes sure things go just right! But when a trip to Grandma’s house messes up Jamie’s routine, will her robot start to fritz and fight? Filled with catchy rhymes and lively illustrations, this Mighty Moods story is the perfect read-aloud for parents and kids who might discover they have their own robots that get nervous about change—and that’s okay! The Mighty Moods series is a delightful collection of picture books that explores the many ways children express big emotions.

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Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Laura Vaccaro Seeger is the author and illustrator of nearly two dozen acclaimed picture books, including Why? and Red (each the recipient of four-star reviews), The Hidden Alphabet, and the popular Dog and Bear series, the first of which won the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award. She has been awarded a Caldecott Honor twice, for First the Egg and Green, and a Geisel Honor twice, for First the Egg and One Boy.

Featured title: Animal Countdown

Young animal lovers and budding ecologists will delight in flexing their counting skills with each turn of the page. In each spread, animals peek through cutouts—guess who? Lift the flap to reveal some of earth’s most dazzling endangered creatures, from leatherback sea turtles to giant pandas to snow leopards and more. When you’re done counting the animals, check out the back to learn more about how you can help protect them. express big emotions.

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Aimee Sicuro

Aimee Sicuro knew at an early age she wanted to make things, and spent many years trying to figure out how.She is the creator ofIf you Find a Leaf, andDancing Through Fields of Colorby Elizabeth Brown. Her work has appeared inthe New York Times,Parent Magazineand other publications. She now lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and two children. This is her second book as both an author-illustrator.

Featured title: If You Spot a Shell

A warm summer breeze and the gentle waves of the ocean wash ashore many different types of shells. In this story a girl collects shells and thinks of all the magnificent things they can be turned into with a little creativity. She imagines one shell as a swimming cap for diving into the crashing waves, another as a magical kaleidoscope, one as a rocket ship to take her way up high, and another as a submarine for exploring the wonders of the world below. The girl draws inspiration from the unique beauty of each and every shell.

In this joyous celebration of a day at the beach, artist Aimee Sicuro uses real shells that she’s hand selected to make her oh-so-charming illustrations. Any young reader who turns the pages of this beautiful book will be inspired to use their own imagination as they comb the beach for shells this summer.

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Rick Stromoski

Rick Stromoski is an award-winning cartoonist/ humorous illustrator and graphic novel author with his Schnozzer & Tatertoes series Take a Hike and Shoot the Moon published by Union Square Kids. Rick has had three syndicated newspaper comic strips from 1987-2018, illustrated several children’s books for various publishers, designed hundreds of greeting cards for several national card companies, and has also worked in advertising, licensing and network television. Stromoski was also President of the National Cartoonists Society from 2005-2007.

Featured title: Shoot the Moon

It’s the weekend, and best-friend dogs Schnozzer and Tatertoes decide to take an educational trip to the NationalAir and Space Museum. But when the dogs tumble into an active capsule in pursuit of a stray yo-yo, they soon launch themselves into outer space. Along their free-wheeling intergalactic journey, they experience the ups and downs of zero gravity, make contact with moon dwellers who want someone to clean up the junk left behind by the Apollo missions, and even discover an asteroid heading directly for Earth!

It’s up to Schnozzer and Tatertoes to save their planet. Will they return as Earth’s greatest heroes, or will this bad dream go down in cosmic comic history?

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Rebecca Syracuse

Rebecca Syracuse is a full-time children’s book designer and illustrator based in Morristown, New Jersey. She received a BFA in illustration from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.Harold the Iceberg Melts Down,her picture book debut,was a longlist selection for the 2024 Green Earth Book Award. When she isn’t drawing faces on vegetables, you might find her playing hockey, or trying to befriend stray cats.

Featured title:Harold the Iceberg is Not a Superfood

When Harold first meets Kayla, he’s in awe. She’s tall and strong, has glorious, full leaves and isalwaysready to help with a smile. But the more Harold thinks about how super Kayla is, the more he feels like he’s not good enough, no matter how much he wants to help others. Harold isnota super food.

As his worries continue to grow, it’ll be up to his friends to show Harold that not only is he enough, but that he’s a super helper in his own special ways.

Written by Lisa Wyzlic and whimsically illustrated by Rebecca Syracuse, Harold the Iceberg’s second adventure is about finding ways to lift up your community by first lifting up yourself and those closest to you.

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Susan Verde

Susan Verdeis the best-selling author ofI Am Yoga,I Am Peace,I Am Human,I Am Love,I Am One,I Am Courage,I Am Me,Who I Am, andThe Museum, all illustrated byPeter H. Reynolds, as well as the Feel-Good Fairy Tales books, illustrated by Jay Fleck, andRock‘n’Roll Soul, illustrated by Matthew Cordell. She teaches yoga and mindfulness to children and lives with her three children in East Hampton, New York.

Featured title: I Am We

Sometimes we may wonder,how does caring for ourselves help anyone else?But then we realize that the better we feel inside, the more we can be there for others—our friends, families, and communities. We are part of something bigger than ourselves, and when we each turn our goodness and compassion outward, we can create, learn, and love.

From theNew York Timesbest-selling team behind the I Am series comes a celebration of caring for ourselves AND others with open hearts and minds. Whether it’s listening to a friend, welcoming newcomers with open arms, or standing up against injustice,I Am Weshows us what true community looks like—and the amazing things that can happen when we come together.

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Tracey West

Tracey West is the author of theNew York Timesbest-selling series Dragon Masters, for Scholastic Branches. She has written more than 400 books for children, including the Underdogs series, illustrated by Kyla May; the Pixie Tricks series, illustrated by Xavier Bonet, and the perennially popular Pokémon chapter books. She lives with her husband, adopted dogs, and chickens in the western Catskill mountains of New York State.

Featured title: The Epic Guide to Dragon Masters

Kids love reading all about the Dragon Masters’ adventures in Tracey West’sNew York Timesbest-selling Dragon Masters early chapter book series. Now fans can own the official guide to Dragon Masters. This epic, 256-page, full-color special edition features maps, information about Dragon Masters and their dragons, notes from wizards, the history of Dragon Masters, and more! This book has everything a future Dragon Master needs to know!

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Dan Yaccarino

Dan Yaccarino is the author and illustrator of more than 50 books for children, including The Luna Sisters and Big Jobs, Bold Women series, as well as the creator and producer of three animated series. He is also the character designer for the animated series The Backyardigans. Awards and honors include the Bologna Ragazzi Award, the New York Times 10 Best Illustrated Children’s Books, ALA Notable Children’s Books, and the Parents’ Choice Award.

Featured title: The Luna Sisters

The Luna sisters live on the moon. Lucy lives on the bright side. She loves being creative. Nera lives on the dark side. She is always building new machines. The sisters never share anything, until they get a new pet for their birthday–Moona the fish. The girls set aside their differences to take care of their fish.

But when a strange man comes to the moon, Nera sells Moona to the Aquarius Aquarium without a thought. It is only when Nera arrives at the aquarium does she realize her mistake! But is it too late? Can Lucy help her sister rescue their beloved Moona?

From Nickelodeon character designer and award-winning children’s book writer Dan Yaccarino, this funny and action-packed adventure is perfect for first graders and second graders to read on their own.

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