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The Midnight War of Mateo Martinez
Synopsis: Life is confusing for Mateo Martinez. He and Johnny Ramirez don't hang out anymore, even though they used to be best friends. He and his new friend Ashwin try to act like brave, old-time knights, but it only gets them in trouble. And last night, two skunks stole Mateo's old trike.

Wait two skunks stole his trike?

Mateo is too big for that rusty kid toy. He has a cool, shiny new bike anyway. But Mateo also has a neighborhood to protect. And he's about to begin a big, stinky quest to catch the thieves in the middle of the night!

As Mateo protects his neighborhood, he also learns a few things about growing up and letting go.
Publication Date: 03/01/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Adventure
The Bolds
David Roberts, Julian Clary
Synopsis: A Shelf Awareness Best Book of the Year 2016



The Bold family seems fairly normal: they live in a nice house, the parents have good jobs, and they all love to have fun. One slight difference: they're hyenas. That's right they're covered in fur, have tails tucked into their clothes, and really, really like to laugh.



For years, the Bolds have kept their true identities under wraps. But now the neighbors are getting suspicious, and the Bolds are getting homesick. During a trip to the local wildlife park, they meet an old hyena who is going to be put down, and the Bolds have to act fast to save him without revealing their secret!
Publication Date: 03/01/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Humor
Wonder Woman at Super Hero High
Random House, Lisa Yee
Synopsis: Get your cape on with the DC Super Hero Girls™—the unprecedented new Super Hero universe especially for girls! Readers of all ages can fly high with the all-new adventures of Wonder Woman™, Supergirl™, Batgirl™, and some of the world’s most iconic female super heroes as high schoolers!
 
Wonder Woman isn’t like most high school students—but Super Hero High isn’t like most high schools!
 
Wonder Woman is an Amazon Warrior and Princess. She has never left her home on Paradise Island. But she wants to be a super hero—the very best super hero she can be. In order to train at the most elite school in the galaxy, she has to juggle acing her classes, forging new friendships, trying to make the team for the Super Hero Super Triathlon, and her insane suite-mate sharing her every embarrassing moment on social media. Not to mention . . . Wonder Woman has never seen a boy before. High school is going to be harder than she thought.
 
Award-winning author Lisa Yee brings this edge-of-your-seat adventure to life with mystery, thrills, and laughs. Move over Batman™ and Superman™—the DC Super Hero Girls are ready to save the day and have fun doing it!
 
Praise for DC Super Hero Girls:
“Sure to have wide appeal, this book is a solid option to balance collections saturated with male superheroes.” —School Library Journal

"If you have a middle grader in your life looking for super-sized action, or a superhero enthusiast who isn’t sure where to turn to get more of the superheroes they might see on TV or in movies… Or if you just want to dive into a good book that shows young readers—especially young female readers—that girls can be the super heroes of their own stories, look no further: Super Hero High is for you." - Kirkus 
Publication Date: 03/01/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Adventure
The Secret of Grim Hill, Book One
Linda DeMeulemeester
Synopsis: The new kid at Darkmont High, Cat Peters is already desperate to get out. So when she hears that Grimoire, the private school nearby, is offering scholarships to the winners of a Halloween soccer match, Cat jumps at the chance to apply, despite her sister Sookie’s warnings that there’s something creepy about the old school on the hill. Sookie’s worries are confirmed when they uncover a mystery about an entire soccer team that disappeared many years ago. Further investigation leads Cat to a book about ancient Celtic mythology, and she soon realizes that there is something truly wicked at work inside the walls of Grimoire.
Publication Date: 02/01/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Paranormal
The Cat Who Came In Off The Roof
David Colmer, Annie M. G. Schmidt
Synopsis:

A charming Dutch classic that withstands the test of time worldwide and will appeal to readers young and old—and dog and cat lovers alike!
 
“A charming, refreshing, and funny treat.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred

Shy reporter Mr. Tibble is close to losing his job because he only writes about cats. But when an act of kindness brings him into contact with the unusual Miss Minou, his luck suddenly begins to change.

Minou provides Tibble with juicy news. But it's who is giving her the gossip that's newsworthy. Minou claims that the tips come from her local feline friends, who are the eyes and ears of the neighborhood. Tibble is appreciative but can't help wondering: How could this be? And why is Minou so terrified of dogs and so skilled at climbing trees and rooftops?

It's almost as if she’s a cat herself.

More praise for THE CAT WHO CAME IN OFF THE ROOF
 
“Schmidt raises questions about what it is to be human, what it is to be a cat . . . and what it means to accept someone for who she is.” —Shelf Awareness, Starred

Publication Date: 01/19/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Humor
The Goblin's Puzzle
Andrew Chilton
Synopsis: Brimming with dragons, goblins, and logic puzzles, this middle-grade fantasy adventure is perfect for readers who enjoyed The Princess Bride or Rump.

THE BOY is a nameless slave on a mission to uncover his true destiny.
THE GOBLIN holds all the answers, but he’s too tricky to be trusted.
PLAIN ALICE is a bookish peasant girl carried off by a confused dragon.
And PRINCESS ALICE is the lucky girl who wasn’t kidnapped.
 
All four are tangled up in a sinister plot to take over the kingdom, and together they must face kind monsters, a cruel magician, and dozens of deathly boring palace bureaucrats. They’re a ragtag bunch, but with strength, courage, and plenty of deductive reasoning, they just might outwit the villains and crack the goblin’s puzzle.

"An adventure bursting with wit and charm. The characters are fresh, the story is thrilling, and the puzzles are downright diabolical. A wonderful book." —Jonathan Auxier, author of The Night Gardener

"Brimming with sarcastic, cheeky, laugh-out-loud humor, this is a smart, original, and completely engaging adventure." —School Library Journal, starred review
Publication Date: 01/19/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Humor
The Many Worlds of Albie Bright
Synopsis: When Albie's mum dies, it's natural he should wonder where she's gone. His parents are both scientists and they usually have all the answers. Dad mutters something about Albie's mum being alive and with them in a parallel universe. So Albie finds a box, his mum's computer and a rotting banana, and sends himself through time and space to find her...
Publication Date: 01/14/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Science Fiction
Chloe in India
Kate Darnton
Synopsis: A poignant and delightful story involving class, race, social customs, and a unique friendship that questions them all.
 
Though they’re divided by class, language, appearance—you name it—Chloe and Lakshmi have a lot in common. Both girls are new to Class Five at Premium Academy in New Delhi, India, and neither seems to fit in. But they soon discover how extraordinary an ordinary friendship can be and how celebrating our individuality can change the world.


"Whether describing the heat of a Delhi summer or the emotions of a homesick preteen in a strange land, Darnton gets the details right, bringing characters and story to life and also educating readers about the economic discrepancies rampant in India. Blonde American Chloe's perspective gives Western readers a way into this tale of inequality in a foreign culture."--Kirkus 

"A solid multicultural offering for middle grade collections."--SLJ 


"The heart of the story—standing up for others, despite social or economic class—can offer a good discussion for readers and hopefully get them thinking about those around them."--Booklist 

"An informed and informative work of fiction that incorporates eye- opening facts about poverty and social systems outside of the United States while never losing the protagonist’s authentic and relatable voice. Evocative in setting, sympathetic in character, and noble in intent, this story is for armchair travelers and seekers of fairness and friendship."--The Bulletin 
Publication Date: 01/12/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Educational
The Terrible Two Get Worse
Kevin Cornell, Jory John, Mac Barnett
Synopsis: New York Times Bestseller

On their own, pranksters Miles and Niles were pretty devious. Now that they’ve formed a pranking duo, they’re terrible! But their powers will be tested when their favorite nemesis, Principal Barkin, is replaced by his stern and cunning father, Former Principal Barkin. Now Miles and Niles will do just about anything to get their old antagonist back—including pranking alongside him.

Authors and friends Mac Barnett and Jory John “are in perfect comic harmony” (Publishers Weekly) in this series that celebrates inventiveness, friendship, and the power of teamwork—for good, or for terrible.
Publication Date: 01/12/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Humor
The Left Behinds
David Potter
Synopsis: Percy Jackson fans will embrace this humorous time-travel adventure that sends Mel and his friends right into the Civil War’s Battle of Gettysburg.
 
Mel, Bev, and Brandon—the Left Behinds—are at it again. When the iTime app on their phones sends them to Washington, D.C., in 1863, they find themselves smack dab in the middle of the Civil War. They sit in on a séance with First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln and are shown every inch of the White House by Tad, the youngest Lincoln. But when they meet President Abe Lincoln himself, he is preoccupied with the fateful battle at Gettysburg, which is just under way.
 
The kids receive their marching orders—they must somehow travel to Gettysburg, make sure what’s supposed to happen does happen, save the Union, and be home in time for dinner. No biggie. After all, it’s only the entire future of the country at stake. 
 
Includes an author’s note and information on Civil War reenactments and living history sites around the nation.
 
Praise for the Left Behinds series:
“The narrative is pure fun. . . . History made silly for readers who can’t get into it straight.” —Kirkus Reviews
 
“This is Magic Tree House all grown up, and kids who once loved that time travel conceit will be delighted all over again.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
 
“Readers will charge through these super-short chapters like a Revolutionary soldier on the run.” —BookPage
Publication Date: 01/12/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Humor
Sir Princess Petra's Mission  (series)
Synopsis: Book #3 in the Multi-Award-Winning Humorous Fantasy Series for Kids.

Sir Princess Petra has already attained her knighthood in the Kingdom of Pen Pieyu and her non-princess-like talent certificate from Talent School, neither of which pleases her father and mother, the king and queen. The king writes up more silly rules in the royal rule book to deter Sir Princess Petra from her knightly ways and useless talent, and turn her into a real princess once and for all. Will the king finally succeed with this newly written, ridiculous mission for Petra?
Join Sir Princess Petra, the endearing dragon Snarls, and the other quirky Pen Pieyu characters on their zany adventures in this fun-loving fantasy series for kids.  Life lessons of courage, friendship, and standing up for what is right will charm and entertain in these dragon stories for kids 7 - 11 years.

Books in The Pen Pieyu Adventure series:
Sir Princess Petra - The Pen Pieyu Adventures (book #1)
Sir Princess Petra's Talent - The Pen Pieyu Adventures (book #2)
Sir Princess Petra's Mission - The Pen Pieyu Adventures (book #3)
Publication Date: 01/12/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Series
Hanna's Suitcase
Karen Levine
Synopsis: This award-winning true Holocaust story, newly updated, connects generations through one woman’s quest to find the truth behind a mysterious suitcase.
 
In March 2000, Fumiko Ishioka, the curator of a small Holocaust education center in Tokyo, received an empty suitcase from the museum at Auschwitz. On the outside, in white paint, were the words “Hana Brady, May 16, 1931, Orphan.”
 
Fumiko and the children at the center were determined to find out who Hana was and what happened to her all those years ago, leading them to a startling and emotional discovery.
 
The dual narrative intertwines Fumiko’s international journey to find the truth about Hana Brady’s fate with Hana’s own compelling story of her life in a quiet Czech town, which is shattered by the arrival of the Nazis, tearing apart the family she loves. This suspense-filled work of investigative nonfiction draws in young readers and makes them active participants in the search for Hana’s identity.
 

Praise for Hana’s Suitcase
• “Hana wanted to become a teacher, and surely through this little book her dream is being realized.” —Archbishop Desmond Tutu, from his new foreword to Hana’s Suitcase
• “The account . . . is part history, part suspenseful mystery . . . with an incredible climactic revelation.” —Booklist
Publication Date: 01/05/16
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Mystery
Halito Gianna: The Journey Continues (Series)
Synopsis: Halito means hello in Choctaw but Gianna was not to find that out for a long time.  This feisty young girl has  been searching for her family in what seems like forever.  In this story she finds out more about her family than she ever envisioned and can't wait to share what she has found out! Come along for the journey!
Publication Date: 12/27/15
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Fiction
Prissy Little Chloe (series)
Synopsis:

Prissy Little Chloe: Time of the Year - Puppy Action-Adventure Cartoon Novel
FREE Audiobook Inside!
Welcome to a very different kind of dog book.

For starters, this is not some made-up "say 'd' for 'dog'" book written for preschoolers. My dog seriously has it in for me! 

At first she's all nipping and playing cute little chasing games with her puppy toy collection - then an hour later, when I try to teach her new tricks with little treats on the puppy's first Christmas, I realize there's no internet search for "naughty Yorkie puppy" that could do justice to raising, training, dealing with and trying to control this troublesome terrier! 

Prissy Little Chloe: Time of the Year is a Bestselling, funny cartoon novel about my blonde Yorkie Chloe and all the trouble she gets herself into! This book in the series centers on how I ended up with a rambunctious little troublemaker for Christmas, after four years of begging for a puppy for my birthday and a puppy for Christmas - obsessing over "puppy images", "puppy photos", "puppies for sale" and "puppy breeds" like Malteses, Chihuahuas and Yorkies (see what I mean? Puppy everything!) - and after the puppy's first night home, her evolution from nice to naughty over the course of a few days!
What am I supposed to DO? If I had named my journal Chloe's Crazy Antics, its blurb would be:

"Chloe is a mischievous little puppy, as troublesome as she is precious. Come and see what she's been up to in these anecdotal and oddball days of trying to handle this little golden Yorkie pup!"

Yeah, right. I made that word bold for a reason.

That story actually sounds cute.

"Prissy Little Chloe is a humorous, helpful read for any youngsters who want a puppy of their own. It introduces children to the responsibilities of caring for a dog as well as the purely fun parts of dog ownership. Kids will enjoy the author's cartoon-like drawings of Chloe and the author's family, and the book even includes a chapter titled "How to Draw Chloe & Blue Bear in 5 Steps" for kids to try out their own drawing skills."

- Jim Chambers #3 Amazon Hall of Fame Top Reviewer

Be on the lookout for Prissy Little Chloe: Terrier Trouble! Chloe always wants to be the center of attention; she makes up her own rules everyday - and gets herself into problems running through the neighborhood - setting me on a (literal!) wild goose chase, every single day, without fail. She slips through the gate in the yard or runs through the door when she gets the chance and then runs across the street into peoples' backyard, homes ... or into their car.

Featuring:FREE Audiobook included - told straight by the author - to listen to this funny story on-the-go or for young readers to laugh along with the book! $10 value!
New words to teach developing readers! - $40 value!
Fantastic coloring book (especially in print!) $20 value!
100 original cartoon illustrations! $55 value!
BONUS how-to-draw Chloe in five steps to easily take up your cartooning! 
$25 value!Bonus Value = $150.00!


I'm going to take all the risk here and offer this cute, little ebook with a big message, for a small fraction of that - as a special thank-you for being here!
Get ALL this for a limited time, today for $2.99!
From hilarious, to adorable - this cartoon novel is perfect to read together as a read-aloud or a first novel for junior readers to open all on their own!

In a clever way, this cartoon novel teaches kids (and their parents!) to set out after what they want and become determined to never give up on what you dream about; for if you want something badly enough, no matter the scope and do everything you can to make it happen, it will.
This book will keep children fixated on reading, all while focusing on adopting a driven, successful mindset in an amusing and engaging way!
Publication Date: 12/26/15
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Series
¡HOLA! Let's Learn Spanish
Synopsis: Easy and Fun Introduction to Spanish for your child.
Fasten your seatbelts! Your child 6-10 is about to take a trip of adventure, fun and learning.Your child-and you-will be speaking Spanish in no time!Easy to use, whether or not you know Spanish.Free downloadable audio version at polyglotkidz.com. Download before using book.Your child's guide is Pete the Pilot. Kids take a pretend flight to Mexico. There, they meet Panchito, Mexico's #1 Jumping Bean, meet his friends, follow his adventure, and learn Spanish effortlessly.Also featuring:fun activities to use SpanishSkitCulture CornerCatchy songDirections for making a traditional Mexican mask
Publication Date: 11/30/15
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Educational
Trish's Team (Lady Tigers Series)
Synopsis: Being part of the Lady Tigers is about more than playing fastpitch softball. It’s about being part of a team. Trish learns what that really means when she tries to pull a fast one to get what she wants without thinking through the consequences. Her decision could affect the game, but more importantly—her friends. Through the Lady Tigers' series, young readers will learn about softball, but also about friendship, consequences, disappointment, bullying, and other modern-day issues that are confronted during the tween and teen years.
Publication Date: 11/15/15
Age Level: 8 - 12
Genre: Sports

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