Middle Grades
- How to Survive on the Moon : Lunar Lessons from a Rocket Scientist
How to Survive on the Moon : Lunar Lessons from a Rocket Scientist
Sold outA humorous guide to living on the Moon by astrophysicist Joalda Morancy, timed to coincide with the NASA Artemis Moon missions
An illustrated guide to lunar survival for kids from astrophysicist Joalda Morancy, timed to coincide with the NASA Artemis Moon missions.
Humans are heading back to the Moon. But once we get there, how on the Moon will we stay alive? In this practical guide, future astronauts will learn how to dodge meteorites, shield themselves from dangerous radiation, and grow the food they’ll need to survive life away from our home planet.
As well as practical tips, Morancy lifts a lid on some of the coolest developments in lunar science—including the possibility of building underground cities in lava tubes and the giant catapult that could be used to get stuff back to Earth.
Like Andy Weir’s The Martian everything in this space book is based on real, groundbreaking science. And no one is better placed to write it: when they’re not writing kids’ books, Joalda Morancy is building the lunar lander the Artemis missions will use to take astronauts—including the first woman and first person of color —to the surface!
Hilarious illustrations by award-winning artist Aaron Cushley, including graphic novel elements, convey the wonder and excitement of future space travel and give this book a key point of difference from other solar system books.
Don’t leave Earth without it! - Gamer Girls: Retro Rhythms
Gamer Girls: Retro Rhythms
by Andrea Towers, Briana Lawrence, Alexis Jauregui (Illustrated by)
Sold outJess, Celia, Nat, and Lucy are the Gamer Girls—four BFFs who game together. In this fourth book of the exciting series, the friends discover a new game at a local arcade, Dance Dance Rhythms. (Okay, maybe it's not that new. In fact, it's a little retro.) But mistakes happen and it's up to Jess to put them right, or else her mom's dreams could be CRUSHED. This is the fourth book in the popular Gamer Girls series, for fans of The Babysitter's Club AND Pokemon!
Jess never thought she'd be a gamer. The posters in her bedroom are dedicated to Naomi Osaka and Misty Copeland, not video game streamers. But ever since joining the Gamer Girls squad, Jess has learned a TON about video games.
One evening, Jess discovers something wonderful . . . sitting in her parents’ guest room is a brand-new, sealed Dance Dance Rhythms game from the ‘90s! What's more, if she trades it in at the local game store, she can get a NEW game. But trading it might not have been the best idea . . . and Jess might have to risk it all in order to get it back.
Can Jess keep going at her fast pace, or will she need a new rhythm?
In this fourth book of the popular Gamer Girls series, four friends navigate the video game world and the middle school world . . . if only they could solve drama as easily as they defeat monsters! Gamer Girls: Retro Rhythms celebrates history, family, Black Girl Magic, and the 10th anniversary of legalized queer and gay marriage in the United States (Jess has two moms). This series is perfect for readers who love video games. Retro Rhythms includes 30 black-and-white illustrations throughout. - PRE-ORDER: Hide: Poems
PRE-ORDER: Hide: Poems
$17.00A reinvention of visual poetry and personal history charting exile’s impact on memory, identity, and futurity
Intellectual and intimate, Carolina Ebeid's Hide gathers shreds of memory, dream, and the ordinary artifacts of diaspora, as the poet casts a sounding line into her patrilineal and matrilineal histories in Palestine and Cuba. With the hum of cassettes and the glow of projectors, these poems superimpose voice upon voice, image upon image, a here upon a there, to disclose the choral noise inside postmemory.
Hide is a restless innovation of form and multimodal expression breaking open words across Arabic, English, and Spanish to release hidden meanings. Poems trace the letter M back to the Phoenician pictograph of waves, while technological “glitches” are portals that summon oracular voices across the family archive. In swirling “spell” poems, Ebeid conjures Cuban American artist Ana Mendieta, whose Siluetas write the human shape upon the earth.
Ebeid’s title is prismatic: Hide as in concealment, as in animal skin, as in to secret oneself away. Hide commands attention like a whispering voice, prompting readers to lean in, to listen for transmissions from ancestors and futurity both.
- PRE-ORDER: Olive Oakes and the Haunted Carousel
PRE-ORDER: Olive Oakes and the Haunted Carousel
$17.99The first book in a new middle-grade mystery series by Kalynn Bayron.
- PRE-ORDER: Destiny of the Diamond Princess
PRE-ORDER: Destiny of the Diamond Princess
$18.99The Princess Diaries meets From the Desk of Zoey Washington in this story about a girl who is reconnected with her birth family, only to discover that she is an African princess and the key to unlocking an ancient curse.
For her twelfth birthday, the only thing Zahara-Grace wants is to figure out who she is. She knows she has the best mom and grandpa around, she knows she loves her friends, and she knows she likes to make a difference in her community. But she also knows she's adopted, and she wants to learn more about that side of herself. Zahara-Grace is thrilled when her mom let's her take a DNA test, but she never could have imagined that her biological grandfather would find her. And she definitely never imagined he'd be the king of a small African country!
Now torn between two worlds, Zahara-Grace is even less sure of who she is. Her worlds collide when a mummy exhibit opens at the local museum, showcasing the history and legends of her biological family's country-including an ancient cult who believes with the help of a living heir, they can awaken the mummified remains of a powerful king and conquer the world. Learning she's a princess may have turned Zahara-Grace's life upside down, but now her life is in actual danger. And in order to survive, she must find a way to embrace both sides of herself.
- PRE-ORDER: Legacy: Women Poets of the Harlem Renaissance
PRE-ORDER: Legacy: Women Poets of the Harlem Renaissance
$12.99A Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year | A Book Page Best Book of the Year, Middle Grade | An NCTE Best Poetry Book of the Year | A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, Poetry | A Kirkus Prize Finalist, Young Readers' Literature
At a time of rapid change in the early 20th century, women writers carved out their space as artists and intellectuals. During the Harlem Renaissance, African-American writers made some of the most lasting contributions to American literature. However, a century later, the gifted women poets of this time period are little known compared to their male counterparts.
In this poetry collection, bestselling author Nikki Grimes uses “The Golden Shovel” method to create wholly original poems based on the works of these groundbreaking women--and to introduce readers to their work.
Each poem is paired with one-of-a-kind art from today's most exciting female African-American illustrators, alongside a foreword, an introduction to the history of the Harlem Renaissance, author's note, and poet biographies.
- PRE-ORDER: Auntie's Baby
PRE-ORDER: Auntie's Baby
$18.99In this heartwarming celebration of familial love, Auntie's favorite nephew has to navigate the growing pains of becoming a big cousin.
Auntie's baby boy knows he's the king of her heart--until the day she brings home someone new. Suddenly, his blankie is shared, his snuggle spot is different, and his big feelings are hard to handle. How can Auntie's love stretch far enough for them both?
But just when it seems like baby cousin is totally taking over, one sweet smile changes everything.
Bursting with heart and humor, Auntie's Baby is a tender reminder that love doesn't get smaller when families grow--it only gets bigger.
- PRE-ORDER: Where the Black Flowers Bloom
PRE-ORDER: Where the Black Flowers Bloom
$9.99A gripping, richly imagined fantasy set in an alternate ancient African world in which a Black girl finds her power and saves her people from evil, by the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Award-winning author of Black Panther: The Young Prince.
In the land of Alkebulan, twelve-year-old Asha is an orphan, raised by Madame S, the proprietor of a traveling carnival. When Madame S is attacked by ghoulish creatures, she manages to tell Asha before she dies, “Seek the Underground Kingdom, where the black flowers bloom.”
Asha doesn’t understand the mysterious words, but they launch her onto a page-turning quest to protect her people and stop an ancient evil. Along the way, she uncovers shocking secrets about the family she never knew and begins to find her place in the world as she discovers her own untapped powers.
- PRE-ORDER: Tough Times: El Toro & Friends: A Graphic Novel (World of ¡Vamos!)
PRE-ORDER: Tough Times: El Toro & Friends: A Graphic Novel (World of ¡Vamos!)
$12.99“Outrageously creative! Kids will drink in every imaginative detail in El Toro’s wild world!” —Jeff Kinney, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series
From the Eisner Award Nominated World of ¡Vamos! series, Tough Times finds everyone’s favorite young luchador fighting a losing streak in an action-packed, graphic-novel-style El Toro & Friends paper-over-board reader by New York Times bestselling, three-time Pura Belpré Award–winning author-illustrator Raúl the Third.
The rookie Kid Toro hasn’t won a match in a long time. He loses to every wrestler he fights, from Al “the Crane” Scorpio to Prickly Pear to Burrobot. It feels like he’ll never win again!
Luckily, his coach, Ricky Raton, won’t let him give up so easily. As he reminds his young fighter what he does best, Kid Toro starts to realize that, when you get knocked down, getting back up makes all the difference.
Tackling Spanish phrases and packed full of humor, these Eisner-nominated early reader graphic novels are essential for readers who want an action-packed story and lots of laughs.
For more fun with El Toro & Friends, check out:
* Tag Team
* Tacos Today
* Team Up
* Training Day - PRE-ORDER: The Dream & the Hope: The Historic Rise of Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Nation's Highest Court
PRE-ORDER: The Dream & the Hope: The Historic Rise of Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Nation's Highest Court
$19.99This powerful biography follows Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s road to the Supreme Court as the first Black woman to be confirmed, for middle grade readers from New York Times bestselling author Garen Thomas and The Washington Post reporter Lori Rozsa. This inspiring story features key childhood moments and all those who influenced and encouraged her along the way.
Before becoming the first black woman on the Supreme Court Ketanji Brown Jackson was a bright and happy kid with big dreams and determination. Guided by her parents, whose own stories influenced her, and who helped her navigate the obstacles she might face as a Black child, Ketanji’s spirit, drive, and belief in herself blossomed. She was popular in school and excelled in academics, debate, and theater, but it wasn’t always smooth sailing. Over the decades, she’d run up against a backdrop of people and Supreme Court rulings that sometimes opened doors for her . . . and sometimes shut them. By remaining true to herself and fighting for what’s right, Ketanji became an inspiration to children everywhere, accomplishing her lifelong goals and ascending to the nation’s highest court, where she now helps decide the direction of our country.
From New York Times bestselling author Garen Thomas and Washington Post reporter Lori Rozsa comes this empowering biography that proves that with perseverance, dreams can come true!
- Clock Striker, Volume 2: The Sharing Society (Saturday AM TANKS / Clock Striker, 2)
Clock Striker, Volume 2: The Sharing Society (Saturday AM TANKS / Clock Striker, 2)
$13.99Clock Striker, Volume 2, is the exciting follow-up to the acclaimed first volume, featuring shonen manga’s first Black female lead character!
*2024 School Library Journal Best Manga of the Year*
*2025 CBC Librarians Favorites Winner*Combining sci-fi, steampunk, action-adventure, and insightful humor, this new volume explores teenage hero Cast’s desire to (once again) save her friend Klaus while dealing with an entire town that confounds her with its unique sharing culture. Something is off—and Cast and her mentor, Ms. Philomena Clock, engineer-warriors called SMITHS, are determined to find out what it is before it’s too late.
Klaus is a runaway prince who has been captured by cybernetic outlaws, the Demon Bandits. Cast has almost never ventured past her hometown, so the demanding trek, including rough terrain and the strange kingdom of Alter, will test her beyond anything she has encountered before.
With a rival SMITH and STRIKER on their tails, as well as the mysterious King of Alter—who seems to have a powerful kingdom despite rejecting cutting-edge technology—can our female dynamic duo save the day?
Clock Striker is rated T for Teen, recommended for ages 13 and up.
Saturday AM, the world’s most diverse manga-inspired comics, are now presented in a new format! Introducing Saturday AM TANKS, the new graphic novel format similar to Japanese Tankobons where we collect the global heroes and artists of Saturday AM. These handsome volumes have select color pages, revised artwork, and innovative post-credit scenes that help bring new life to our popular BIPOC, LGBTQ, and/or culturally diverse characters.
Join in even more adventures with the other action-packed Saturday AM TANKS series:Apple Black, Gunhild, Hammer, Henshin!, The Massively Multiplayer World of Ghosts, Oblivion Rouge, Orisha, Saigami, Soul Beat, Titan King, Underground, and Yellow Stringer.
Awards for Clock Striker 1: "I'm Gonna Be a SMITH!"
*2024 YALSA Great Graphic Novel for Teens*
*2023 Texas Library Association Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List Winner - Starred Selection*
*2023 Virginia Library Association Graphic Novel Diversity Award Honor Book*
*2022 Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics Finalist*Praise for Clock Striker 1: "I'm Gonna Be a SMITH!"
* “ . . . evokes the energy and exhilaration of classic shonen manga . . . promises deeper lore and mysteries in subsequent volumes”—Publishers Weekly
* “Readers will eagerly anticipate more entries. A fantastic, refreshing series opener.”—Kirkus Reviews
* A “fast-paced story of self-discovery and altruism.”—Sara Smith, Booklist
* “This action-packed graphic novel adventure featuring tenacious female leads will leave shonen manga fans counting down to future volumes”—Amanda Melilli, School Library Journal
- Minor Detail
Minor Detail
$15.95A searing, beautiful novel meditating on war, violence, memory, and the sufferings of the Palestinian people
Finalist for the National Book Award
Longlisted for the International Booker PrizeMinor Detail begins during the summer of 1949, one year after the war that the Palestinians mourn as the Nakba―the catastrophe that led to the displacement and exile of some 700,000 people―and the Israelis celebrate as the War of Independence. Israeli soldiers murder an encampment of Bedouin in the Negev desert, and among their victims they capture a Palestinian teenager and they rape her, kill her, and bury her in the sand.
Many years later, in the near-present day, a young woman in Ramallah tries to uncover some of the details surrounding this particular rape and murder, and becomes fascinated to the point of obsession, not only because of the nature of the crime, but because it was committed exactly twenty-five years to the day before she was born. Adania Shibli masterfully overlays these two translucent narratives of exactly the same length to evoke a present forever haunted by the past.
- Sasquatch in the Paint (Streetball Crew, 1)
Sasquatch in the Paint (Streetball Crew, 1)
Sold outTheo Rollins is starting eighth grade six inches taller, and his new height is making everyone expect more from him. Coach Mandrake wants to transform him from invisible science geek into star basketball player, even though Theo has little experience with the game. When Theo tries to hone his skills by playing pick-up ball in the park, kids are eager to include him at first; then they quickly see that he has no control of his gangly body. A girl named Rain even dubs him "Sasquatch." To make matters worse, all his time spent on training is starting to hurt his science club's chances of winning the "Aca-lympics," the school's trivia competition. Just when Theo thinks he can't handle any more pressure, he's accused of stealing. Can he find the real thief before he is kicked off the basketball and science club teams, or will his attempt at sleuthing be yet another air ball?
Loosely based on challenges that NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar faced while growing up, Sasquatch in the Paint is a slam dunk for fans of basketball action and absorbing mysteries. Praise for Sasquatch in the Paint"A crisp tale of sports, smarts and what it means to be your own man or woman-or boy or girl, if you happen to be 13...It seems to be an embarrassment of riches to be, say, one of the best basketball players in history and also write tightly entertaining novels for kids, but there you have Abdul-Jabbar. Fearless, caring sports fiction."
--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)"A humorous novel that delivers a heartwarming story about growing up, facing down bullies, and learning what true friendship is all about."
--School Library Journal
"The depth and realism Abdul-Jabbar and Obstfeld bring to the novel keep it from being a run-of-the-mill sports story...Readers will feel a kinship with Theo as he maneuvers through tough but realistic choices."
--Publishers Weekly
"This smart, sensitive novel is full of simple truths that extend far beyond the court."
--Booklist
"This funny and inspirational novel based on Kareem's sudden growth spurt as a middle-schooler captures the excitement of playing basketball and the anxiety of growing up--while growing tall, which I know a little something about. Kids will learn about the wonderful world of basketball and the importance of friendship and following your dreams."
--Magic Johnson A Junior Library Guild SelectionSelected for the Texas Library Association's Lone Star List - Stealing the Game (Streetball Crew, 2)
Stealing the Game (Streetball Crew, 2)
Sold outChris Richards has always looked up to Jax, his older brother and his parents' "golden child." Lately, though, Jax has been full of surprises. First he dropped out of law school; then he started hanging out with some shifty-looking friends. One day Jax asks Chris to recruit his best middle school teammates for a pick-up basketball game in the park. Chris doesn't think much of it until the wrong team wins and Jax goes ballistic. It turns out that Jax bet on the game, hoping to earn enough money to repay a debt to someone who doesn't forgive easily. While Chris tries to walk a thin tightrope between helping his brother and staying out of trouble, his friend Theo does some behind-the-scenes detective work to learn what Jax has been up to. The day Chris is roped into a police investigation is the day he realizes he made the wrong play. Praise for Sasquatch in the Paint
"A crisp tale of sports, smarts and what it means to be your own man or woman-or boy or girl, if you happen to be 13...It seems to be an embarrassment of riches to be, say, one of the best basketball players in history and also write tightly entertaining novels for kids, but there you have Abdul-Jabbar. Fearless, caring sports fiction." -Kirkus Reviews (starred review)"A humorous novel that delivers a heartwarming story about growing up, facing down bullies, and learning what true friendship is all about." -School Library Journal "The depth and realism Abdul-Jabbar and Obstfeld bring to the novel keep it from being a run-of-the-mill sports story... Readers will feel a kinship with Theo as he maneuvers through tough but realistic choices."-Publishers Weekly
"This smart, sensitive novel is full of simple truths that extend far beyond the court."--Booklist
"This funny and inspirational novel based on Kareem's sudden growth spurt as a middle-schooler captures the excitement of playing basketball and the anxiety of growing up--while growing tall, which I know a little something about. Kids will learn about the wonderful world of basketball and the importance of friendship and following your dreams." -Magic Johnson - Front Desk (Front Desk #1) (Scholastic Gold)
Front Desk (Front Desk #1) (Scholastic Gold)
$8.99Four starred reviews and over ten best-of-year lists!* "Many readers will recognize themselves or their neighbors in these pages." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Winner of the Asian / Pacific American Award for Children's Literature!* "Many readers will recognize themselves or their neighbors in these pages." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred reviewMia 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!
- The True Definition of Neva Beane
The True Definition of Neva Beane
Sold outFrom the author of Riding Chance comes the story of a girl whose dictionary is helping make sense of the world, her changing body, friendships, and a family that's struggling to stay strong amidst the turbulent backdrop of activism, across generations.
Being twelve isn't easy, especially when you're Neva Beane. Neva feels beautiful wearing her new bra, but she's confused by how others respond to the changes taking place in and out of her body. Her best friend, Jamila, is getting all the attention. Her brother, Clayton, is becoming an activist. And Mom and Dad are gone working-again. Grandad and Nana aren't much help, either, with their old ways and backward views.Neva struggles to find her place in a world that, like the political landscape that's always shifting around her in her West Philadelphia neighborhood, is uncertain, at times scary, but most always, filled with unanswered questions. Neva is left with what comforts her most-words and their meanings, which she chronicles herself. While the pages of her beloved dictionary reveal truths about what's happening around her, Neva must discover the best way to define herself. In this wholly original story by the author of the NAACP Image Award nominee Riding Chance, a girl finds her voice in unexpected ways.
- My Fate According to the Butterfly
My Fate According to the Butterfly
Sold out* "Villanueva's debut is a beautiful #ownvoices middle-grade novel. Tough topics are addressed, but warmth and humor... bring lightness to Sab's story. This immersive novel bursts with life." –Kirkus Reviews, starred review
When superstitious Sab sees a giant black butterfly, an omen of death, she knows that she's doomed! According to legend, she has one week before her fate catches up with her―on her 11th birthday. With her time running out, all she wants is to celebrate her birthday with her entire family. But her sister, Ate Nadine, stopped speaking to their father one year ago, and Sab doesn't even know why.
If Sab's going to get Ate Nadine and their father to reconcile, she'll have to overcome her fears―of her sister's anger, of leaving the bubble of her sheltered community, of her upcoming doom―and figure out the cause of their rift.
So Sab and her best friend Pepper start spying on Nadine and digging into their family's past to determine why, exactly, Nadine won't speak to their father. But Sab's adventures across Manila reveal truths about her family more difficult―and dangerous―than she ever anticipated.
Was the Butterfly right? Perhaps Sab is doomed after all!
- PRE-ORDER: Fros, Fades, and Braids: A Brief History of Black Hair in America
PRE-ORDER: Fros, Fades, and Braids: A Brief History of Black Hair in America
Sean Qualls
$19.99PRE-ORDER: ON SALE DATE: January 20, 2026
From Coretta Scott King Honor artist Sean Qualls comes his author debut: a captivating and hip, brief history of Black hairstyles, the people who made those one-of-a-kind styles look so good, and the Black hair movements that would influence each generation. Black hair may change, but it will never cease to leave its mark on the world. Quall’s star is rising as he just illustrated Questlove’s The Idea In You, which was recommended by Michelle Obama.
Hair—that wavy, wooly, kinky, curly, knotty, and nappy stuff.
From Coretta Scott King Honor illustrator Sean Qualls comes a vibrant, captivating, and hip history of the most well-known Black hairstyles, the incredible people who made those one-of-a-kind styles look and feel so good, and the revolutionary hair care products and movements that would influence each generation, reminding us that Black hair may change, but it will never cease to leave its mark on the world.
Ever since Madam C. J. Walker created some of the first hair care products for Black hair, styles like the juicy Jheri curl, buzzing beehive, and the fresh fades and braids we know and love today have cemented their coily, kinky, curly, and rightful place in hair history. Black hair has a rich and detailed past that is celebrated in style by Qualls, with dynamic full color art and design throughout!
- Brown Girl in the Snow
Brown Girl in the Snow
Yolanda T. Marshall
$19.95Perfect for kids aged 4-8 comes a stunning picture book about persistence, being creative in the garden, and adapting to a new place.
When Amina moves from the Caribbean to a new snowy home, she misses growing her favorite foods. There are no coconut trees to climb, no gardens full of sweet potatoes and callaloo—only ice and snow. As Amina looks out her frosted window, she sings a traditional children’s song from back home, adding her own twist: “There’s a brown girl in the snow, tra la la la la, where none of her plants will grow.”
Determined to find a way to make her favorite plants grow in a new climate, she comes across a possible solution after discovering a library book about gardening and greenhouses. Perhaps there is a way to grow sweet potatoes, after all!
This stunning picture book written by a Guyanese-born author features:
* An introduction to gardening and greenhouses
* A note from the author about the inspiration behind the storyWith gorgeous images by Marianne Ferrer, and moving text by Yolanda T. Marshall, Brown Girl in the Snow is inspired by a traditional Caribbean children’s song and captures a child’s unwavering persistence and passion, as she grows into her new home.
- Piggy: Traitor
Piggy: Traitor
Terrance Crawford
Sold outBrave the terrifying world of PIGGY in this official illustrated novel based on the hit ROBLOX game!
Diego was separated from his family in the early days of the Infection. Since then, he has moved from town to town and place to place -- getting by as best as he can.
Recently, he has met and joined up with a motley crew of other survivors. After an encounter with a pack of the Infected, members of the group begin to disappear in mysterious and macabre ways.
It's becomes clear that not everyone in the group is telling the whole truth.
Can Diego and his new friends discover the traitor amongst them before it’s too late?
- Down Came the Spiders
Down Came the Spiders
Ally Russell
$8.99Arachnophobia meets Five Nights at Freddy’s in this middle grade horror novel perfect for fans of K.R. Alexander and Mary Downing Hahn.
Can you outrun eight legs?
Twelve-year-old Andi loves everything about spiders ― they’re endlessly fascinating creatures. So when she finds a species she’s never seen before at a classmate’s Halloween party, she’s over the moon. Until the spiders start to behave in unusual and threatening ways, that is. They can camouflage themselves incredibly well, they can jump higher than she’s ever seen, and their webs are strong. Maybe even strong enough to trap a person . . .
Andi and her friends Carly and Devon try to find an adult to help, but make a terrifying discovery: the parent chaperones have been immobilized by the spiders. As the only ones who know what’s going on, Andi, Carly, and Devon will have to take on the spiders themselves ― before it’s too late!
- Overlooked Creations of Black Art and Culture (From the Archives)
Overlooked Creations of Black Art and Culture (From the Archives)
Jay Leslie
$7.99A perfect book for young readers to discover lesser-known works of art and culture that have shaped Black history in the United States.
The Banjo Lesson. The Brownies Book. "Rapper's Delight." Throughout history, Black people have performed, created art, and broken barriers that helped propel the fight for equality forward. Celebrate little-known groundbreaking contributions to art and culture like these and learn about their social impact on American history in Overlooked Creations of Black Art and Culture.
ABOUT THIS SERIES:
This brand-new series is rooted in a profound commitment to shedding light on some of the important -- and often lesser-known -- aspects of Black history. From the Archives features landmarks, events, people, and artistic endeavors that have played a significant role in the Black experience in America and offers a chance to celebrate them. Written in a vivid, engaging style and featuring a colorful combination of photos and illustrations, each title serves as a powerful vehicle for education, inspiration, and empowerment for young readers.
- From the Notebooks of Melanin Sun
From the Notebooks of Melanin Sun
Jacqueline Woodson
$8.99A Coretta Scott King Honor Book
Three-time Newbery Honor author Jacqueline Woodson explores race and sexuality through the eyes of a compelling narrator
Melanin Sun has a lot to say. But sometimes it's hard to speak his mind, so he fills up notebooks with his thoughts instead. He writes about his mom a lot--they're about as close as they can be, because they have no other family. So when she suddenly tells him she's gay, his world is turned upside down. And if that weren't hard enough for him to accept, her girlfriend is white. Melanin Sun is angry and scared. How can his mom do this to him-- is this the end of their closeness? What will his friends think? And can he let her girlfriend be part of their family?
- J.D. and the Great Barber Battle (J.D. the Kid Barber)
J.D. and the Great Barber Battle (J.D. the Kid Barber)
J. Dillard
Sold outEight-year-old J.D. turns a tragic home haircut into a thriving barber business in this hilarious new illustrated chapter book series
J.D. has a big problem--it's the night before the start of third grade and his mom has just given him his first and worst home haircut. When the steady stream of insults from the entire student body of Douglass Elementary becomes too much for J.D., he takes matters into his own hands and discovers that, unlike his mom, he's a genius with the clippers. His work makes him the talk of the town and brings him enough hair business to open a barbershop from his bedroom. But when Henry Jr., the owner of the only official local barbershop, realizes he's losing clients to J.D., he tries to shut him down for good. How do you find out who's the best barber in all of Meridian, Mississippi? With a GREAT BARBER BATTLE!
From the hilarious and creative mind of J. Dillard, an entrepreneur, public speaker, and personal barber, comes a new chapter book series with characters that are easy to fall for and nearly impossible to forget. Akeem S. Roberts' lively illustrations make this series a must-buy for reluctant readers.
2021 New York Public Library Best Books
2021 Chicago Public Library Best Books
2021 School Library Journal Best Books
2022-2023 Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List
2022 NCTE Charlotte Huck Award Honor - Dork Diaries 1: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life (1)
Dork Diaries 1: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life (1)
Rachel Renée Russell
Sold outNikki Maxwell is starting eighth grade at a new school—and her very first diary is packed with hilarious stories and art in this SUPER SQUEE updated edition of the first book in the #1 New York Times bestselling Dork Diaries series!
Nikki confesses all in her first diary ever: her epic battle with her mom for an iPhone, meeting her new soon-to-be BFFs Chloe and Zoey, falling for adorably sweet crush Brandon, dealing with her zany little sister Brianna’s antics—and the immediate clashes with mean girl MacKenzie, who becomes Nikki’s rival in a school-wide art competition.
Nearly 30 million books in print worldwide!
- Sophie Washington: Class Retreat
Sophie Washington: Class Retreat
Sold outAn entertaining story that celebrates friendship, diversity, environmental awareness, and anti-racism. This engaging, illustrated, middle grade chapter book is a great addition to classroom and homeschool libraries and should appeal to fans of Ramona Quimby, Jada Jones, Judy Moody, and Junie B. Jones.
There is no such thing as Big Foot! Or is there...
Sophie Washington and her classmates are on their way to Camp Glowing Spring for a class retreat. It'll be two full days of swimming, eating s'mores around a campfire, tug-of-war, archery, and more! Sophie's been looking forward to the trip all school year and can't wait to spend extra time with her friends. It will also be great to get away from her bratty younger brother, Cole, and his constant stories about Big Foot. If Cole warns her about what to do if she sees the hairy ape man on the retreat one more time, she'll put in ear plugs. Everybody knows Big Foot is a hoax!
Once the kids arrive at the retreat site things are as exciting as Sophie imagined. She has fun exploring nature with her besties, Chloe, Valentina, Toby, Nathan, and Mariama, and meeting new friends too. Then the kids see a giant footprint during a nature hike in the woods and the adventure really begins!
Here's what Goodreads reviewers say about Sophie Washington: Class Retreat:
* A nice, fun read for kids!
* I loved the characters and the value lessons the author brings into a fun story.
* If you have a young reader, or just happen to enjoy middle-grade fiction (a young-at-heart adult), check out the Sophie Washington series. They're great reads.
This is the eleventh book in the Readers' Favorite five star rated Sophie Washington series. Books can be read in any order. Other titles include:
1. Queen of the Bee (Book 1)
2. Sophie Washington: The Snitch (Book 2)
3. Sophie Washington: Things You Didn't Know About Sophie (Book 3)
4. Sophie Washington: The Gamer (Book 4)
5. Sophie Washington: Hurricane (Book 5)
6. Sophie Washington: Mission: Costa Rica (Book 6)
7. Sophie Washington: Secret Santa (Book 7)
8. Sophie Washington: Code One (Book 8)
9. Sophie Washington: Mismatch (Book 9)
10. Sophie Washington: My BFF (Book 10)
11. Sophie Washington: Class Retreat (Book 11)
12. Sophie Washington: Lemonade Day (Book 12)
13. Sophie Washington: Treasure Beach (Book 13)Kids Ages 8-12
Click above to get your copy today! - Onyeka and the Heroes of the Dawn
Onyeka and the Heroes of the Dawn
Tolá Okogwu
Sold outOnyeka and her superpowered friends set off to England on a rescue mission in this third and final installment of “well-crafted fantasy fun” (Kirkus Reviews) in the Onyeka middle grade trilogy, perfect for fans of Rick Riordan, The Marvellers, and X-Men.
Solari—children with superpowers—have always been native to Nigeria, but Onyeka and her friends have been alerted to one hidden in England. Tasked with retrieving the young Solari, they successfully complete their mission, arriving safe and sound back at the Academy of the Sun with Tobi in tow.
Tobi’s identity and superpower remain a mystery, until a breadcrumb trail leads Onyeka to the truth. But someone else has uncovered the secret, and unlike Onyeka, they don’t have Tobi’s best interests at heart. Can our superhero save the day once again?
- Everything Interesting Keeps Happening to Ethan Fairmont
Everything Interesting Keeps Happening to Ethan Fairmont
Nick Brooks
$8.99Nick Brooks, award-winning filmmaker and acclaimed author of Promise Boys, presents the thrilling conclusion to the Ethan Fairmont trilogy in which Cheese the alien returns to Earth to warn Ethan and his friends of an impending alien invasion.
Before last summer, Ethan’s life was rather uninteresting. Now, Ethan can’t stop interesting things from happening . . .
After a small, six-eyed alien crash landed into his life, Ethan made a new otherworldly best friend. Now Cheese has returned to Earth, bringing his family and a warning of the Light Thieves’ plans to invade. Ethan is already reeling from the kidnapping of his beloved guinea pig, Nugget, and a dangerous reality sets in after one bold Light Thief sheds its disguise to attack Ethan on his front lawn.
Ethan needs his friends now more than ever, but as he and RJ continue to clash, tensions continue to rise within the group. On top of all that, he still hasn’t figured out how to deal with his feelings for Di. With an alien invasion on the horizon, and The Bureau for Weird Happenings indisposed, can Ethan and his friends work together to save Earth once and for all?
E.T. meets Stranger Things in the final chapter of this remarkable middle grade sci-fi adventure series, perfect for readers ages 8 to 12.
- Too Many Interesting Things Are Happening to Ethan Fairmont
Too Many Interesting Things Are Happening to Ethan Fairmont
Nick Brooks
$8.99Nick Brooks, award-winning filmmaker and author of Promise Boys, mixes out-of-this-world sci-fi with contemporary themes of friendship, community, and social justice in this hit middle-grade series.
Ferrous City is suddenly a lot more interesting—in fact, a little too interesting for Ethan Fairmont.Ethan’s beloved neighborhood is full of new faces. Lifelong residents are being priced out of their homes, and new businesses are replacing old favorites. At school, Ethan finds a rival in new-kid Fatima, an inventor who is just as science savvy as him. She even has TWO patents! Then there’s the mysterious real estate agent with way too many questions for Ethan. Not to mention the extraterrestrial-obsessed Jodie and his “Aliens Are Here” club.
It’s all too much for Ethan and he begins to miss Cheese, his adorable six-eyed alien pal, even more. Fortunately for Ethan and his friends Kareem and Juan Carlos, distraction comes in the form of a top-secret project. Cheese left a communication device under Ethan’s bed before exiting the planet. There’s just one problem: they can’t figure out how it works!
As Ferrous City continues to change and eyes are everywhere, will the trio be able to keep their secret and reach Cheese, or is something nefarious brewing right next door?
E.T. meets Stranger Things in the second title of this unforgettable sci-fi adventure series, perfect for readers ages 8 to 12. - Adventures with Claudie Paperback (American Girl® Historical Characters)
Adventures with Claudie Paperback (American Girl® Historical Characters)
Brit Bennett
$7.99Follow along for more of Claudie’s story as she goes to Georgia to learn the truth about her family. This poignant and powerful sequel by New York Times bestselling author, Brit Bennett, is set in the Harlem Renaissance and celebrates Black artistic expression and achievement.
Claudie is thrilled to be on the road with Mama and Cousin Sidney, traveling from Harlem to Georgia to meet her grandmother and cousins for the first time. Claudie hopes this trip will inspire her to write a play that will raise money to save the boardinghouse her family lives in. In Georgia, Claudie's grandma tells her a legend from slavery times called "The People Could Fly." In it, and old man whispers magic words, and the enslaved people grow wings and fly home to Africa. This story gives Claudie a great idea for her play--but will her creativity be enough to save the home she loves?
- A Kids Book About First Generation Immigrants
A Kids Book About First Generation Immigrants
Travis Mien Hsing Chen
$19.99Every first-generation immigrant has a unique story to tell – and is part of a large community that knows just what it’s like, too.
This is a kids’ book about first-generation immigrants. When you're a first-generation immigrant, a lot of things feel different from what you know: a new place to live, a new school, new foods, new smells, new noises.
This book was made to help kids aged 5-9 understand that they’re thankfully not alone in this experience. This author immigrated to a new country with his family when he was a kid. He has been there, understands, and wants you to know that all the experiences that make you who you are…are amazing!
A Kids Book About First Generation Immigrants features:
* A large and bold, yet minimalist font design that allows kids freedom to imagine themselves in the words on the pages.
* A friendly, approachable, empowering, and child-appropriate tone throughout.
* An incredible and diverse group of authors in the series who are experts or have first-hand experience of the topic.Tackling important discourse together!
The A Kids Book About titles are best used when read together. Helping to kickstart important, challenging, and empowering conversations for kids and their grown-ups through beautiful and thought-provoking pages. The series supports an incredible and diverse group of authors, who are either experts in their field, or have first-hand experience on the topic.
A Kids Co. is a new kind of media company enabling kids to explore big topics in a new and engaging way, with a growing series of books, podcasts, and blogs made to empower. Learn more about us online by searching for A Kids Co.
- PRE-ORDER: Minecraft: Adventure School
PRE-ORDER: Minecraft: Adventure School
Monica Sanz
Sold outPRE-ORDER: ON SALE DATE: March 3, 2026
A young adventurer must test their skills as a hero while navigating new challenges, friendships, and rivalries in the next blockbuster Minecraft novel. Welcome to Adventure School!
Hero Crowe’s Adventure School is the stuff of legends. Every year, aspiring heroes across the Overworld wait to see where the mysterious school will pop up this time. But before students can even make it to the front steps, they must pass a dangerous admissions test.
Belinda knows she can pass. She has to pass. She needs to prove to everyone (most of all herself) that she’s not a coward, and she is certain that winning the school’s glorious chest of rare, valuable items is the way to do it. She just needs to make sure she wins without revealing too much about her past.
Belinda has competition, though. She and countless other students are up against hair-raising mobs, secret rooms, and saboteurs, facing challenge after challenge as they battle their way through Hero Crowe’s unusual “lessons.” While some students think working together is the best strategy, others prefer the whole lone wolf thing. After all, Hero said there could be only one victor.
Navigating new friendships, rivalries, and plenty of danger, Belinda discovers just what it takes to be a hero. But in the end, will she win the prize and become the school’s one true hero?
Stay Informed. We're building a community committed to celebrating Black authors + artisans. Subscribe to keep up with all things Kindred Stories.