Tuesdays with Tundra is an ongoing series featuring our new releases. This title is now available in stores and online!
Troop Esme Written by Lourdes Heuer Illustrated by Marissa Valdez 80 Pages | Ages 7-10 | Hardcover ISBN 9780735269460 | Tundra Books Esme lives with her grandparents on the uppermost floor of the topmost best building. She has just met a future friend named Wendall who came to her door selling Troop Badger cookies. He is hoping to earn his Cookie Empresario badge. Esme thinks she would like to earn a Cookie Empresario badge too! One small problem: she is not in Troop Badger. But Esme is a problem solver! She decides to start her own troop: Troop Esme. It will include all the neighbors in the topmost best building. And her first act as troop leader? Help Wendall sell all his cookies, of course! A funny and delightful story about cookies, badges and most importantly, friendship.
We can’t wait to see you reading this title! If you share this book online, remember to use #ReadTundra in your hashtags so that we can re-post.
At Tundra Books, we want you to get to know and love our authors as much as you know and love their books. Our creator spotlight series will introduce you to the people behind some of your favorite titles . . . this week, say hello to Christina Uss!
About the Author:
CHRISTINA USS is the author of the middle-grade novels The Adventures of a Girl Called Bicycle, The Colossus of Roads, Erik vs. Everything and A Few Bicycles More, which have received many accolades, including multiple starred reviews; JLG selections; numerous state lists, including the Texas Bluebonnet list, Maine Student Book Award and Vermont’s Dorothy Canfield Fisher list; a Kirkus Best Book of the Year and more. She lives in Massachusetts.
Fast Five with Christina Uss:
If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
In a little tiny place on a beach where I can ride my bike to a library.
What’s one thing that can instantly make your day better?
Listening to my favorite music! I have a “Moodboosting Playlist” that includes everything from Queen to Megan Trainor to Beethoven.
Which meal is your favorite: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
ALL OF THEM, yes please, thank you. I love to eat so very much. Food – especially food someone else cooked for me – is one of the great joys of my life.
What’s your “dance like nobody’s watching” song?
“Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and the Waves. If it comes on, you know I’m jumping up to dance.
What’s something you always say “yes” to? And what’s something you always say “no” to?
I always, always, always say yes to hot buttered popcorn, even if I’ve just eaten a whole bowl. And I always, always, always say no to waking up one single minute earlier than I have to.
Books by Christina Uss:
The Island Before No Written by Christina Uss Illustrated by Hudson Christie 56 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover ISBN 9780735272415 | Tundra Books When you’re a walrus living on an island where the answer to every question is YES, life is pretty simple, especially when that’s all you’ve ever known. It’s great when you want a slice of birthday cake for breakfast . . . and not so great when someone asks you to wear an itchy shirt. But one day, a kid shows up, brandishing an entirely new word: NO. NO is heavy like a bookcase, solid as a boulder. It’s not shaped like YES, but somehow, it’s still an answer. The kid calls his friends to come visit the island too, and it’s not long before they’ve eaten up all of the yummiest food without sharing. What’s worse, none of them bring their own toothbrushes . . . It becomes clear that what the walruses all need is to find their own NO . . . not only to hold back the rampaging horde of children – but for their own sakes as well. The Island Before No is a hilarious new picture book that blends its zany fun with an important message about respecting and setting boundaries.
The Adventures of a Girl Called Bicycle By Christina Uss 336 Pages | Ages 8-12 | Paperback ISBN 9780823445738 | Margaret Ferguson Books Introverted Bicycle has lived most of her life at the Mostly Silent Monastery in Washington, D.C. – and she likes it that way. But when her guardian, Sister Wanda, announces that Bicycle is going to attend a camp where she will learn to make friends, Bicycle says no way. Determined to prove she can make friends on her own, she sets off on her bike for San Francisco to meet her idol, a famous cyclist, certain he will be her first true friend. Who knew that a ghost would haunt her handlebars and that she would have to contend with bike-hating dogs, a bike-loving horse, bike-crushing pigs, and a mysterious lady dressed in black. Over the uphills and downhills of her journey, Bicycle discovers that friends are not such a bad thing to have after all, and that a dozen cookies really can solve most problems.
A Few Bicycles More By Christina Uss 272 Pages | Ages 8-12 | Paperback ISBN 9780823455904 | Margaret Ferguson Books Bicycle has been back from her cross-country adventure with her robot-like bike, named Fortune, for just a month when it starts malfunctioning, insisting that they pedal away from their home in Washington D.C. to Harpers Ferry in West Virginia. Once there, they discover a scrapyard where bicycles are being crushed and recycled – and it appears they are too late to save them. Bicycle and Fortune head to a convenience store so Bicycle can drown her sorrows with a chocolate bar. Much to her astonishment, she meets her long-lost family there. Bicycle learns that they have been looking for her since she disappeared as a toddler and that she is a quintuplet. She is happy to go live with them except for one thing: her family doesn’t share her passion for cycling. In fact, her sisters have never even ridden a bike. Then Fortune acts up again, leading Bicycle back to the scrapyard where she discovers that there are four bicycles left and they were all made by the same inventor who created her Fortune. Four seems too coincidental to ignore – the perfect number to bring her sisters up to speed. She sets a plan in motion to rescue the bikes, a plan that if it works will help her fit into her family and still stay true to her cycling self.
The Colossus of Roads By Christina Uss 208 Pages | Ages 9-12 | Paperback ISBN 9780823449897 | Margaret Ferguson Books Rick Rusek’s stomach has a lot to say. It’s got opinions on tasty foods, not-so-tasty foods, and driving in traffic-jammed Los Angeles makes it roil, boil, gurgle, and howl. It’s doing the best it can. It never meant to earn its owner the nickname Carsick Rick or make him change schools for fifth grade. And Rick’s stomach isn’t the only one dealing with terrible traffic. His family’s catering service, Smotch, is teetering on the verge of ruin after a rash of late deliveries and missed appointments. Fortunately, Rick has the solution. Unfortunately, no one wants to listen to a kid. Absolutely certain that he could fix the constant, endless traffic snarls, Rick hatches a plan. But he’ll need help from his unicorn-loving Girl Scout neighbor, a famous street artist, and the best driver in L.A. Together they’ll take on the stream of stalled cars – and a secret conspiracy or two, too. It’s going to be tough, but Rick won’t give up. If he can successfully move the 330,000 slow-moving cars standing in the way of his family’s future, maybe everyone will see that he’s not Carsick Rick. He’s one of the seven wonders of Los Angeles.
Tuesdays with Tundra is an ongoing series featuring our new releases. These titles are now available in stores and online!
Anne Dreams Written by Kallie George Illustrated by Abigail Halpin 72 Pages | Ages 6-9 | Hardcover ISBN 9780735272132 | Tundra Books Anne is starting to grow up, but she’s still disappointed with her red hair – it’s one of her lifelong sorrows. One day, she buys a bottle of hair dye in order to have raven black hair like her best friend and kindred spirit, Diana. Unfortunately, the dye ends up turning her hair green! This upset causes Anne to start focusing on improving herself inside, rather than her looks . . . and leads to a new dream taking shape: Anne wanting to become a teacher! She joins a club for students studying to get into Queen’s College. But can Anne overcome her fear of failing? And how can she study hard when pesky Gilbert is distracting her?
The Sleeping Giant: The Misewa Saga #5 By David A. Robertson 216 Pages | Ages 10+ | Hardcover ISBN 9781774881828 | Tundra Books Eli, Morgan and Emily embark on their most dangerous mission yet, to save the kidnapped animal beings of Ministik. But before they can reach the heavily guarded Land of the Sleeping Giant, Eli must rally more help, not just from old friends, but from surprising new allies. And he must rely on a new way to travel: on the back of the leader of the Bird Warriors himself, Pip. Together they will journey across the North Country, on a mission to reconnect the Bird Warriors, as well as confront old enemies. But even as he must fight for his life – and the lives of his friends and new family – Eli must also come to terms with his newfound knowledge: What does it mean that he is only part human?
The Sleeping Giant is also available today in audiobook!
We Are Definitely Human By X. Fang 48 Pages | Ages 4-8 | Hardcover ISBN 9781774882023 | Tundra Books When three mysterious visitors from “Europe” crash-land in Mr. Li’s field, he does what any good host would: he invites them back to his farmhouse and offers to help fix up their “car”. No, there’s nothing strange about these guests at all. Just like other humans, they “make business”, “play sportsball” and “wear hat”. As the townsfolk also come to the aid of the visitors and the gathering turns into a little party, interplanetary relations reach an all-time high. A sweetly funny extraterrestrial offering that explores surprising acts of kindness and acceptance, X. Fang’s second picture book is truly out of this world.
We can’t wait to see you reading these titles! If you share these books online, remember to use #ReadTundra in your hashtags so that we can re-post.
Tuesdays with Tundra is an ongoing series featuring our new releases. This title is now available in stores and online!
Into the Goblin Market Written by Vikki VanSickle Illustrated by Jensine Eckwall 48 Pages | Ages 4-8 | Hardcover ISBN 9780735268562 | Tundra Books Millie loves her quiet life on the farm, but Mina longs for adventure. When the Goblin Market comes to town, Millie knows it’s a bad idea. They’ve been told stories their whole lives about the dangers of the Goblin Market. But Mina just can’t resist . . . When Mina doesn’t come back, it’s Millie’s turn to brave the market to bring her home. She will use all her smarts and all her courage to try to outwit the goblins and save her sister . . . but will it be enough? This gorgeous and intriguing tribute to both “Goblin Market” by Christina Rossetti and classic fairy-tale villains is also a story about the bond between sisters and a celebration of courage, intelligence and resilience.
We can’t wait to see you reading this title! If you share this book online, remember to use #ReadTundra in your hashtags so that we can re-post.
At Tundra Books, we want you to get to know and love our authors as much as you know and love their books. Our creator spotlight series will introduce you to the people behind some of your favorite titles . . . this week, say hello to Chris Baker!
About the Author:
CHRIS BAKER is an author, professional mushroom lover, and founder of Chicory Naturalist, a nature shop and community space rooted in Kingston, New York. Baker is also a certified forager and enthusiastic guide to the realm of fungi, leading forays in the Hudson Valley bioregion. Running through all of Baker’s professional endeavors is a passion for reconnecting broken chains of generational knowledge about the natural world. She lives a few blocks from the Hudson River with her spouse, child and two calico cats.
Fast Five with Chris Baker:
If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
I would rather live here in the Hudson Valley than anywhere in the world. I’m in a deep, committed love with this ecosystem and community and plan to live here for the rest of my life. That said, if my family could house swap with someone in France or Italy, I wouldn’t mind spending a year hunting ceps . . .
What’s one thing that can instantly make your day better?
Paying attention to nature always does the trick. Of course going for a walk in the woods is wonderful, but even just taking five minutes to listen to the birds chit-chat and watch leaves dance can really turn my mood around.
Which meal is your favorite: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Dinner is my favorite meal because it’s when I get to reconnect with loved ones at the end of the day. In the summertime, we try to eat dinner outside as much as we can, which makes even boring meals feel special.
What’s the best concert you’ve ever been to?
Patti Smith’s 25th anniversary tour for Horses was a pretty transcendent concert experience! But honestly, the best shows were probably the ones I got to see in bars and little venues when I lived in New Orleans. Little Freddie King, Hurray for the Riff Raff, and King Khan come to mind.
What is your favorite mushroom?
So hard to pick just one! But the first mushroom I really imprinted on was the golden chanterelle. I don’t think there’s a better smell in the world, and my heart always seizes up with excitement when I find them.
Books by Chris Baker:
On a Mushroom Day Written by Chris Baker Illustrated by Alexandra Finkeldey 40 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover ISBN 9781774882580 | Tundra Books A mushroom day is a day of exploring together and discovering some of the most incredible lifeforms on earth: fungi. In this lyrical, informational picture book structured around a walk through a summertime wood, a child and their caregiver share the sights, sounds and smells of the forest as they observe and identify different varieties of mushrooms. On a Mushroom Day encourages curiosity and a love of fungi in young children and normalizes safe, chaperoned joyful exploration of the fungal queendom all around us. Filled with fun, fascinating fungi facts and a visual catalogue of mushroom species so that kids can enjoy their very own mushroom day in the pages of this book!
