Synopsis: Travel out west to explore a state known for its extraordinary terrain and rich history. This book highlights the states’, official symbols, famous sites and historical attractions through 32 easy-to-color images paired with fun facts. It also includes state trivia activities, sure to entertain and educate visitors and Californians of all ages.

Synopsis: Auma loves to run. In her small Kenyan village, she's a track star with big dreams. A track scholarship could allow her to attend high school and maybe even become a doctor. But a strange new sickness called AIDS is ravaging the village, and when her father becomes ill, Auma's family needs her help at home. Soon more people are getting sick even dying and no one knows why. Now Auma faces a difficult choice. Should she stay to support her struggling family or leave to pursue her own future? Auma knows her family is depending on her, but leaving might be the only way to find the answers to questions about this new disease.

Synopsis: Are you a dog lover? Do you enjoy dog books? Meet Lord Banjo. From humble family dog to Royal Pooch, what a difference a doggie DNA test makes. When Banjo discovers he's descended from royalty, he knows he's destined to rule. With gentle barks and a touch of the royal paw, he informs his mum that her highest priority is to help him tell his story. The short chapters and sweet illustrations in this tale of a lovable, huggable dog will appeal to adults and children alike. You'll laugh out loud as Lord Banjo describes his adventures with the Royal Mum and Dad and the Royal Critter Sitter. You'll meet Puddin' the cat and learn what she thinks about her brother's royal status. Dog lovers of all ages will appreciate Lord Banjo's antics, and if you're a pet parent, his behavior will seem strangely familiar. Have you ever wondered what your dogs and cats are thinking? Find out when you read this humorous book, destined to become one of your favorites.

Synopsis: In this epic new adventure series that "is sure to keep lovers of Rick Riordan running to the shelves" Sam London is recruited by the Department of Mythical Wildlife and sent on a covert mission when the secret that legendary animals are real is in danger of being exposed (School Library Journal)!
 
    Haunted by a dream of a mythical gryphon, Sam London uncovers an ancient secret that will change the way he sees the world forever. Recruited by Dr. Vance Vantana, an eccentric zoologist and park ranger sent by the government, Sam is whisked away on an adventure that takes him to the farthest reaches of the globe. Along this journey, Sam learns an incredible truth: mythical creatures are real and living among us in our national parks. A special department in the U.S. government ensures that their existence remains hidden.
   But Sam’s dream is an omen that the secret may now be in danger. Someone seeks the power to expose these creatures and overthrow humankind—and that power can only be found in a magical talisman known as the gryphon’s claw.

"A death-defying, globe-spanning adventure, packed with creatures out of folklore and myth....[Guardians of the Gryphon's Claw is] a solid series opener and debut for Gallicano, who stocks his story with engaging characters, human, and otherwise."-Publishers Weekly

“So original and exciting. This is the best fantasy-adventure novel I have read in some time.”—Martin Olson, New York Times bestselling author of The Adventure Time Encyclopaedia

Synopsis: “An excellent addition to middle grade shelves, with a differently-abled main character that readers will root for.” —School Library Journal

“Vaught makes Max the brash, bold star of the book, exchanging stereotypes and sympathy cards for a well-drawn character whose disability is part of who she is but not her complete identity; hopefully Max will roll ahead as the advance guard of a literary cadre.” —BCCB

Parents’ Choice Recommended

It’s going to take more than a knack for electronics and a supercharged wheelchair for twelve-year-old Max to investigate a haunted mansion in Edgar Award–winning author Susan Vaught’s latest middle grade mystery.

Max has always been a whiz with electronics (just take a look at her turbo-charged wheelchair). But when a hacker starts a slanderous Facebook page for her grandpa, Max isn’t sure she has the skills to take him down. The messages grow increasingly sinister, and Max fears that this is more than just a bad joke. Here’s the thing: Max has grown up in the shadow of Thornwood Manor, an abandoned mansion that is rumored to be haunted by its original owner, Hargrove Thornwood. It is said that his ghost may be biding his time until he can exact revenge on the town of Blue Creek. Why? Well, it’s complicated. To call him a jerk would be an understatement. When the hacking escalates, suddenly it looks to Max like this could really be Thornwood’s Revenge. If it is, these messages are just the beginning—and the town could be in danger.

Synopsis: Charlie looked at Fire, then to the burning logs, and back to her again. Finally, he spoke. “If you were taken by the LRA, why can you not say it just?” Fire glanced at Charlie and sighed. “Because when you are a girl, there is more to lose.” Charlie has much to fear since escaping the Lord’s Resistance Army. If recaptured by Joseph Kony, he faces torture and death at the hands of his fellow soldiers. If he returns to his own village, many will seek revenge at the end of a hangman’s rope for killing and maiming his own people. But it is the ajiji he fears most—the haunting flashbacks and tormented nightmares of the evil deeds he has committed. When he meets Fire, the village witch doctor, Charlie sets out on a journey where he must learn to face the sun and leave the shadows of his past behind him. But many secrets can’t be revealed. And Fire, a beautiful young girl who has recently escaped from the LRA, holds the darkest secret of them all. “Arrows, Bones and Stones compellingly reveals the struggle faced by those trying to overcome childhood trauma. For youth abducted and forced to fight as child soldiers, escape is not the end of the story, but just the beginning. The shadow of their past haunts them, and the physical scars and psychological wounds cut deep. But even in the darkest hour, there is always the promise of new light. Yes, this is a story of despair, guilt, and shame, but it’s also one of resilience and hope.” - Patrick Reed, Director/Producer, Fight Like Soldiers, Die Like Children “In this second installment in the trilogy, Charlie, Fire and Sam, provide us with the necessary human contexts to the plight of girl child soldiers but also the harsh reality of losing a loved one at a young age. The gripping tale reminds us that even in the midst of inhumanity, we all have the ability to be hopeful, and have the will to survive. An incredibly well written book! I can't wait for the next one.” - Michel Chikwanine, former child soldier and author of Child Soldier: When Boys and Girls are Used in War

Synopsis: Alex is angry and miserable. He has lost his mum, his Dad has packed him off to live in Cornwall with Great Aunt Mary for a year, and his most treasured possession has vanished. He hates the countryside after the noise and bustle of London, and there’s the Gnarly Man in Tappers Wood to worry about. Can the down-to-earth love of Aunt Mary, the friendship of a mysterious young girl, and a little bit of magic help Alex to turn his life around?