Hoppy Reading: Books for Easter

Easter is coming up soon and we have some egg-cellent reading suggestions – even if you don’t celebrate! We have books featuring cuddly and fluffy spring animals to flowers and friendship.

A Lamb Called Lucky
By Helen Peters
Illustrated by Ellie Snowdon
144 Pages | Ages 7-9 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781536210286 | Walker Books
It’s lambing season at Oak Tree Farm! When a little lamb loses his mother, Jasmine names him Lucky and steps in to bottle-feed him and patiently help him learn to walk. With a sheepdog to train and two helpless baby birds to raise, it’s hard work for Jasmine to juggle all of her animals, even with the help of her best friend, Tom. But when sheep rustlers strike her family’s flock, taking Lucky with them, Jasmine will have to summon the courage for her most daring rescue yet. From author Helen Peters and illustrator Ellie Snowdon comes an especially thrilling story about Jasmine Green, a girl with a talent for taking care of animals.

Bunny Roo and Duckling Too
By Melissa Marr
Illustrated by Teagan White
32 Pages | Ages 1-3 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780525516040 | Nancy Paulsen Books
It’s hard to keep up with an energetic toddler, and as an adoring mom tries to, she describes all the frisky young animals her little one reminds her of – from a hopping frog and a squirming snake, to her adorable cuddly bunny. A loving mama has fun sharing the various animals her growing child resembles, in this delightful companion to Bunny Roo, I Love You.

Easter, Here I Come
By D. J. Steinberg
Illustrated by Emanuel Wiemans
32 Pages | Ages 4-6 | Paperback
ISBN 9780593224014 | Grosset & Dunlap
D. J. Steinberg is back with more playful poems, and this time, they are all odes to Easter and springtime. From making an Easter bonnet to enjoying an egg-squisite Easter brunch, this book – with its sheet of stickers – is a perfect gift to put in any child’s Easter basket!

Five Little Ducks
Illustrated by Yu-Hsuan Huang
10 Pages | Ages 0-2 | Board Book
ISBN 9780763699338 | Nosy Crow
Join a mother duck as she counts her five ducklings in this interactive board book based on the beloved children’s song. A QR code inside links to both instrumental and vocal versions of the song. Simply scan the code to listen and sing along – Quack! Quack! Quack! Quack!

How Big Is Love
By Emma Dodd
24 Pages | Ages 2-5 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781536215441 | Templar
Does love have a size? A family of ducks celebrates the boundless affection between them in Emma Dodd’s gentle rhyming ode to unconditional love.

How Do Bunnies Take Baths?
By Diane Muldrow
Illustrated by David Walker
24 Pages | Ages 2-5 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780593127773 | Golden Books
This delightful rhyming Little Golden Book shares fun facts about how bunnies, zebras, cats, elephants, and many other animals keep themselves clean. Young boys and girls will love comparing their bath time to those of the adorable animals in this new book from New York Times bestselling author Diane Muldrow and beloved illustrator David Walker.

Meet the Matzah
By Alan Silberberg
36 Pages | Ages 3-5 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780593118115 | Viking BFYR
Meet Alfie Koman. He’s a matzah who really likes to hide. But Alfie also has a great story to tell his class of how the Hebrews fled Egypt to freedom. Too bad Loaf, the school sourdough bully, turns Alfie’s Passover story upside-down. A pharaoh who is a giant cockroach? Moses as a mighty superhero? And Ten Plagues that include “No Wi-fi” and “Chocolate-turned-to-broccoli”? Looks like it’s up to Alfie and his best friend Challa Looyah to get the Passover story right. Alfie just has to come out of hiding first. . . .

More Than Fluff
By Madeline Valentine
40 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780593179055 | Knopf BFYR
Daisy happens to be fluffy – she’s a young chick after all. Her friends can’t help but want to pet her, squeeze her, and tell her how cute she is. But Daisy doesn’t want to be hugged or kissed. She’s not just fluff; Daisy has substance! But how can she tell everyone to give her some space without hurting their feelings? A timely and funny book that encourages kids to establish and respect boundaries – perfect for reading aloud and shared story time!

Mustache Duckstache
By Amy Young
Illustrated by AJ Young
32 Pages | Ages 3-5 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780593205587 | Viking BFYR
When a mustachioed rabbit spots a mustache contest, he’s sure he has the competition beat. That is, until a pesky frog hops up with his own fine mustache. And a duck waddles up with a. . . duckstache? Soon, the competition is full of moosestaches and mousestaches, whalestaches and tailstaches – and every kind of ‘stache in between. Readers will love following this simple tale of hirsute havoc with a laugh-out-loud twist ending. Plus, there’s a fun guide at the end to every kind of mustache imaginable!

Peep and Ducky Sleepover
By David Martin
Illustrated by David Walker
32 Pages | Ages 0-3 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781536204544 | Candlewick
When Poppa leaves Ducky at Peep’s house for a sleepover, the little visitor is a bit teary at first. But Peep and his momma give Ducky a hug, making him feel better. Then comes playtime (and getting momentarily stuck in a truck), brushing teeth, and snuggling with Momma for bedtime stories. But will her wish for “sweet dreams” coax the two excited friends straight to sleep? With sing-song rhythms, winsome illustrations, and the most infectious sort of good-natured charm, Peep and Ducky’s latest adventure will be the bedtime read-aloud choice for mischievous toddlers everywhere.

Raindrops to Rainbows
By John Micklos, Jr.
Illustrated by Charlene Chua
32 Pages | Ages 3-5 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780593224090 | Penguin Workshop
Raindrops are falling outside, but there’s still a world of color to experience! Delightful rhymes and brilliant illustrations detail how a gloomy, rainy day might not actually be so gloomy after all when you get to spend time with Mom, Brown Bear, and the colors around you. And when a “beaming rainbow, bold and bright” cuts through the sky, everyone gets to experience the joy of all the colors that can only come after the rain.

Spring Cakes
By Miranda Harmon
40 Pages | Ages 4-8 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780823447534 | Holiday House
It’s springtime! Mama Cat is ready to bake her famous spring cakes, enchanted cupcakes heaped with sparkling frosting. Can kittens Nutmeg, Cinnamon, and Ginger find all the magical ingredients she needs? The quest begins! This imaginative and adventurous graphic reader comes from rising comics star Miranda Harmon, co-creator of Mayor Good Boy.

The Passover Guest
By Susan Kusel
Illustrated by Sean Rubin
40 Pages | Ages 4-8 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780823445622 | Neal Porter Books
It’s the Spring of 1933 in Washington D.C., and the Great Depression is hitting young Muriel’s family hard. Her father has lost his job, and her family barely has enough food most days, let alone for a Passover Seder. They don’t even have any wine to leave out for the prophet Elijah’s ceremonial cup. With no feast to rush home to, Muriel wanders by the Lincoln Memorial, where she encounters a mysterious magician in whose hands juggled eggs become lit candles. After she makes a kind gesture, he encourages her to run home for her Seder, and when she does, she encounters a holiday miracle, a bountiful feast of brisket, soup, and matzah. But who was this mysterious benefactor? When Muriel sees Elijah’s ceremonial cup is empty, she has a good idea.

The Secret Fawn
By Kallie George
Illustrated by Elly MacKay
40 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780735265165 | Tundra Books
A little girl is always missing out on the wonderful things her family gets to see and do, just because she is the youngest and smallest. She misses seeing shooting stars because she goes to bed too early; she can’t pick the first apple of autumn because she’s too short; and, this morning, everyone else got to see a deer . . . except her. She goes into her backyard in search of the deer, a sugar cube tucked in her pocket. She sees a flick of brown in the orchard – is that the deer? No, it’s just the neighbor’s friendly dog (shhhhh, Nala!). Is that it by the pond? No, that’s just a bird, playing in the water. Just when she’s about to give up, she spots a fawn, beautiful, quiet and small . . . just like her. The Secret Fawn beautifully captures the power of nature to inspire children and shows how connecting with animals can help kids who feel left out or overlooked.

The Tale of the Mandarin Duck: A Modern Fable
By Bette Midler
Illustrated by Michiko Kakutani
40 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780593176764 | Random House BFYR
How do you get people to appreciate what is right in front of them? In The Tale of the Mandarin Duck, it takes a mysterious, beautiful duck and a clear-eyed kid to point out the obvious! Bette Midler’s distinctive voice joins striking photos of the real duck by Michiko Kakutani and charming black-and-white drawings by Joana Avillez. This book will have readers of all ages coming back to visit the fantastical interpretation of New York City and its odd ducks – both feathered and human. 

We  Adopted a Baby Lamb
By Lori Joy Smith
48 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780735266537 | Tundra Books
Ila is excited about her family’s move to the country – mostly because it means she can have more pets! But no one expected their next addition to be a lamb. When Albert first comes home, he sleeps a lot, he eats a lot . . . and he pees on the floor a lot. Ila and her sister and parents quickly learn how to care for a baby sheep – they must feed him and protect him. It’s not easy because Albert gets into everything! He eats the tulips from the flower bed, chews on car bumpers, chases the dog (and hides from the cats). Ila and her family does everything to make Albert happy and healthy, but she can’t help feeling like her little lamb might be missing something from his life. Maybe he needs a friend? But Ila soon realizes that she doesn’t need to look for a friend for Albert – he already has his flock.

Welcome Flower Child: The Magic of Your Birth Flower
By Brigette Barrager
42 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781984830395 | Random House BFYR
Welcome to this celebration of nature and babies from New York Times bestselling illustrator of Uni the Unicorn, Brigette Barrager. A gorgeous gift book reveals the qualities of babies born in each month of the year, and the accompanying flower that blooms in each birth month. This text is sweet, and soft, and everyone who opens it can find the special personality traits of individuals born in their month revealed.

What’s Inside a Flower: And Other Questions About Science & Nature
By Rachel Ignotofsky
48 Pages | Ages 4-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780593176474 | Crown BFYR
Budding backyard scientists can start exploring their world with this stunning introduction to these flowery show-stoppers – from seeds to roots to blooms. Learning how flowers grow gives kids beautiful building blocks of science and inquiry. In the launch of a new nonfiction picture book series, Rachel Ignotofsky’s distinctive art style and engaging, informative text clearly answers any questions a child (or adult) could have about flowers.

Will You Be My Friend?
By Sam McBratney
Illustrated by Anita Jeram
32 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781536217476 | Candlewick Press
Little Nutbrown Hare is out exploring on his own. Off he hops along the path and through the grass until he reaches Cloudy Mountain, where something extraordinary happens: he discovers a new friend! Now the fun can really begin. Twenty-five years after we met the Nutbrown Hares, this enchanting new tale about friendship is bound to capture the hearts of Guess How Much I Love You fans – and everyone else – the world over.

You Are Always Loved
By Madeleine Dean and Harry Cunnane
Illustrated by Holly Clifton-Brown
32 Pages | Ages 4-8 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780593309247 | Random House BFYR
An evergreen message about hope and unconditional love is told through the story of a bunny separated from its parent during a rainstorm and all the forest friends who come together to offer help. This lyrical book will touch children who have experienced deep loneliness or isolation, and is crafted especially for those who know the unique heartache of witnessing a family member suffer from addiction.

Valentine’s Day Reading

This Valentine’s Day, spend some quality time with your littlest reader and a good book – here are some suggestions!

Bunny Roo and Duckling Too
By Melissa Marr
Illustrated by Teagan White
32 Pages | Ages 1-3 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780525516040 | Nancy Paulsen Books
A loving mama has fun sharing the various animals her growing child resembles, in this delightful companion to Bunny Roo, I Love You. It’s hard to keep up with an energetic toddler, and as an adoring mom tries to, she describes all the frisky young animals her little one reminds her of – from a hopping frog and a squirming snake, to her adorable cuddly bunny.

Crocodiles Need Kisses Too
By Rebecca Colby
Illustrated by Penelope Dullaghan
40 Pages | Ages 2-5 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780451480071 | Viking BFYR
Fun-to-read-aloud, rhyming text describes prickly porcupines, roaring tigers, and slithery snakes – not the most cuddly creatures, but still worthy of hugs and snuggles from their mamas! With a luscious and colorful palette, Crocodiles Need Kisses Too shows that animals (and children) don’t have to be warm and fuzzy to be totally lovable.

Elmo Loves You
By Sarah Albee
Illustrated by Maggie Swanson
26 Pages | Ages 2-5 | Board
ISBN 9780399552182 | Golden Books
In this Sesame Street Little Golden Book, Elmo tells in a rollicking, rap-like rhyme how everybody has something special to care about. And Elmo reminds his readers that, yes, “Elmo loves you!” Though this humor-laced poem is a natural for Valentine’s Day, toddlers will love it year-round.

Guess How Much I Love You: Blush Sweetheart Edition
By Sam McBratney
Illustrated by Anita Jeram
32 Pages | Ages 2-5 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781536216806 | Candlewick
It’s a sentiment shared across the world – and a classic book treasured from one generation to the next. Now the droll tale of a big and little hare vying to love each other as high as they can hop, as far as they can reach, up to the sky and beyond, receives a captivating new treatment. With shiny rose-gold lettering, a pearlescent pale-pink cover frames Little Nutbrown Hare inside a cut-out heart – an endearing design sure to charm anyone who adores somebody more than they can measure.

Huggy Kissy
By Leslie Patricelli
26 Pages | Ages 0-3 | Board
ISBN 9781536211351 | Candlewick
When you’re an adorable bald baby, your family finds lots of ways to show you how much they love you: Mommy lifts you uppy, Daddy kisses you on the tummy, and everyone wants to snuggle. What’s not to love? With comedy and warmth, Leslie Patricelli offers a universal tribute to love and affection in a board book full of instant appeal for little valentines everywhere.

I Love You to the Moon and Back
By Amelia Hepworth
Illustrated by Tim Warnes
28 Pages | Ages 2-5 | Board
ISBN 9781589255517 | Tiger Tales
The sun rises, and a bear and cub begin their day together. They splash in the water, climb mountains, watch the colorful lights in the shimmering sky, and play with friends. They show their love for each other by touching noses, chasing each other, and, of course, hugging and snuggling before bed. A sweet, gentle rhyme, perfect for sharing with a special little one that also includes a “To” and “From” personalization page in the front of the book, making this heartwarming book an ideal gift.

I Love You With All My Heart
By Jane Chapman
32 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781680101898 | Tiger Tales
With a wonderfully strong message of unconditional love, this book is perfect for little ones who need reassurance from time to time. Little Bear has broken Mommy’s favorite sunflower plant. What if her mom won’t love her anymore? Luckily, Mommy knows just what to do. . . . “Put your paw on your heart,” she smiles, “and you’ll feel my love going on and on forever!”

Love
By Matt de la Peña
Illustrated by Loren Long
40 Pages | Ages 4-8 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781524740917 | Putnam BFYR
In this heartfelt celebration of love, Newbery Medal-winning author Matt de la Peña and bestselling illustrator Loren Long depict the many ways we experience this universal bond, which carries us from the day we are born throughout the years of our childhood and beyond. With a lyrical text that’s soothing and inspiring, this tender tale is a needed comfort and a new classic that will resonate with readers of every age.

Love from the Crayons
By Drew Daywalt
Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
32 Pages | Ages 5-8 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781524792688 | Penguin Workshop
Ring in Valentine’s Day – and love – with the New York Times Best-Selling Crayons! This charming new title featuring everyone’s favorite coloring crew is the perfect gift for that special someone on Valentine’s Day – or any day of the year. This special gift book, featuring all the The Crayons from The Day the Crayons Quit, explores the bright colors and subtle shades of love. This is a must-have for fans of The Crayons, and the perfect gift for that special someone.

Love from the Very Hungry Caterpillar
By Eric Carle
32 Pages | Ages 3-5 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780448489322 | World of Eric Carle
“You are the cherry on my cake; you make the sun shine brighter; you make my heart flutter.” Using a range of images from the World of Eric Carle, and featuring the Very Hungry Caterpillar, this special gift book gives all the reasons why someone special makes the world a better and brighter place. Perfect for that someone special any day of the year!

My Love Is All Around
By Danielle McLean
Illustrated by Sebastien Braun
32 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781680101942 | Tiger Tales
Mommy Bear shows Baby Bear how love is all around them no matter where they go and what they do! Join Mommy Bear and Baby Bear as they discover that love is all around them.

Sharon, Lois & Bram’s Skinnamarink
By Sharon Hampson, Lois Lilienstein, and Bram Morrison, with Randi Hampson
Illustrated by Qin Leng
40 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780735264069 | Tundra Books
What does “skinnamarink” mean? You may not find its definition in a dictionary, but the meaning is clear to the generations of children who sang along: friendship, happiness, sharing, community and, ultimately, love. This song has been sung in weddings and in classrooms. It can be fun and silly – especially with the accompanying actions! And it has a way of bringing people together. Through Qin Leng’s wonderfully imaginative illustrations, this delightful picture book tells the story of a community coming together. Young and old, from little mice to a big elephant, people and animals gather into a spontaneous parade as they follow the sound of music.

The Boy Who Loved Everyone
By Jane Porter
Illustrated by Maisie Paradise Shearring
32 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781536211238 | Candlewick
Dimitri may be small, but his heart is as big and as open as a cloudless blue sky. “I love you,” Dimitri tells his new classmates at preschool. “I love you,” Dimitri tells the class guinea pig and the ants on the ground. “I love you,” Dimitri tells the paintbrushes and the tree with heart-shaped leaves. So why doesn’t anyone say “I love you” back? Could love also be expressed in unspoken ways? In a familiar story of navigating the social cues of new friendship, author Jane Porter and illustrator Maisie Paradise Shearring offer a thoughtful tribute to the tender ones – those who spread kindness simply by being, and who love without bounds.

Vintage Valentines
By Golden Books
12 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Paperback
ISBN 9780375875144 | Golden Books
This nostalgic Little Golden Book will conjure up memories of dollies, glitter, and shoeboxes full of homemade valentines! A very special collection of vintage-style press-out cards and envelopes with red flocking on the cover that will make consumers long for the simpler times when these cards were originally created.

Holiday Spotlight: Candlewick Press

Here at Penguin Random House Canada Young Readers, we’re lucky to work with so many different lists. This holiday season, we’ll be highlighting each one with a dedicated post to help you find the perfect gift (or your next read). Today’s post spotlights Candlewick Press.

A Polar Bear in the Snow
By Mac Barnett
Illustrated by Shawn Harris
40 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781536203967 | Candlewick Press
Follow a magnificent polar bear through a fantastic world of snow and shockingly blue sea. Over the ice, through the water, past Arctic animals and even a human . . . where is he going? What does he want? Acclaimed author Mac Barnett’s narration deftly balances suspense and emotion, as well as poignant, subtle themes, compelling us to follow the bear with each page turn. Artist Shawn Harris’s striking torn-paper illustrations layer white-on-white hues, with bolts of blue and an interplay of shadow and light, for a gorgeous view of a stark yet beautiful landscape. Simple and thought-provoking, illuminating and intriguing, this engaging picture book will have readers pondering the answer to its final question long after the polar bear has continued on his way.

Guess How Much I Love You?
By Sam McBratney
Illustrated by Anita Jeram
24 Pages | Ages 0-3 | Board
ISBN 9781536210637 | Candlewick Press
Celebrate twenty-five years of love right up to the moon and back! A new board-book edition is perfect for little hands. How much does Little Nutbrown Hare love his daddy? And how much does Big Nutbrown Hare love him back? The cherished tale of boundless affection is ready for boundless sharing in a durable board-book edition for the younger set.

In the Half Room
By Carson Ellis
32 Pages | Ages 4-8 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781536214567 | Candlewick Press
The half room is full of half things. A half chair, a half cat, even half shoes – all just as nice as whole things. When half a knock comes on half a door, who in the world could it be? With inventive flair, Caldecott Honor winner Carson Ellis explores halves and wholes in an ingenious and thought-provoking picture book. Ink and gouache illustrations featuring wry detail and velvety textures conjure a dreamlike mood while leaving space for imagining. A celebration of the surreal and the serendipitous and the beauty of the two together, this brilliant picture book will have readers seeing halves with whole new eyes.

Julián at the Wedding
By Jessica Love
40 Pages | Ages 4-8 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781536212389 | Candlewick Press
Julián and his abuela are going to a wedding. Better yet, Julián is in the wedding. Weddings have flowers and kissing and dancing and cake. And this wedding also has a new friend named Marisol. It’s not long before Julián and Marisol set off for some magic and mischief of their own, and when things take an unexpected turn, the pair learns that everything is easier with a good friend by your side. Jessica Love returns with a joyful story of friendship and individuality in this radiant follow-up to Julián Is a Mermaid.

Love is Powerful
By Heather Dean Brewer
Illustrated by LeUyen Pham
32 Pages | Ages 5-8 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781536201994 | Candlewick Press
Mari is getting ready to make a sign with crayon as the streets below her fill up with people. “What are we making, Mama?” she asks. “A message for the world,” Mama says. “How will the whole world hear?” Mari wonders. “They’ll hear,” says Mama, “because love is powerful.” Inspired by a girl who participated in the January 2017 Women’s March in New York City, Heather Dean Brewer’s simple and uplifting story, delightfully illustrated by LeUyen Pham, is a reminder of what young people can do to promote change and equality at a time when our country is divided by politics, race, gender, and religion.

Maps: Deluxe Edition
By Aleksandra Mizielinska
Illustrated by Daniel Mizielinski
160 Pages | Ages 10+ | Hardcover
ISBN 9780763695569 | Big Picture Press
Explore the world anew with this lavish extended edition from the incomparable Mizielinskis. This book features new and updated material on every spread and twenty-four entirely new maps. In addition to geographic features like borders and cities, this volume features places of historical and cultural interest, eminent personalities, cultural events, and iconic animals, allowing you to explore the globe without leaving your couch.

The Hanukkah Magic of Nate Gadol
By Arthur A. Levine
Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes
40 Pages | Ages 5-8  | Hardcover
ISBN 9780763697419 | Candlewick Press
Nate Gadol is a great big spirit with eyes as shiny as golden coins and a smile that is lantern bright. He can make anything last as long as it is needed, like a tiny bit of oil that must stretch for eight nights, a flower that needs to stay fresh to cheer up someone ailing, or a small lump of chocolate that grows to allow the Glasers to treat their children over the holiday and, during a harsh winter when medicine is needed more than sweets, spurs them to share what little they have with the O’Malleys. In this charming holiday hybrid story, well-known children’s author and editor Arthur A. Levine pairs with award-winning illustrator Kevin Hawkes to offer a mythical, magical take on the way Jewish families came to give and receive gifts over Hanukkah, just as their Christian neighbors do at Christmas, thanks to a loving spirit named Nate Gadol working behind the scenes – together with a certain jolly old soul.

The Princess in Black and the Giant Problem
By Shannon and Dean Hale
Illustrated by LeUyen Pham
96 Pages | Ages 5-8 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781536202229 | Candlewick Press
The Princess in Black is ready for her snowy playdate with the Goat Avenger and the Princess in Blankets. It’s a perfect day to build snow monsters and battle them for practice. But just when they’re about to wage battle, a huge foot smashes their snow monster. “SQUASHY!” It’s a giant, and it’s smashing everything in its path! The giant is too strong for the three friends, so the Princess in Blankets has an idea: it’s time to light the Sparkle Signal and summon help. With a rising crescendo of a plot and a delightfully surprising ending, the latest adventure in the New York Times best-selling series features all the Princess in Black’s friends as heroes for the first time.

The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel
By Sheela Chari
304 Pages | Ages 8-12 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781536209563 | Walker Books
Mars Patel’s friend Aurora has disappeared! His teachers are clueless. His mom is stressed out about her jobs. But Mars refuses to give up – after all, his own dad disappeared when Mars was a toddler, before he and Ma moved to Puget Sound from India. Luckily, Mars has a group of loyal friends eager to help – smart Toothpick, strong and stylish JP, and maybe-telepathic Caddie. The clues seem to point toward eccentric tech genius (and Mars’s hero) Oliver Pruitt, whose popular podcast now seems to be commenting on their quest! But when the friends investigate Pruitt’s mysterious, elite school, nothing is as it seems – and anyone could be deceiving them. Slick science, corporate conspiracies, and an endearingly nerdy protagonist make this first book in the series a fresh, exciting sci-fi adventure based on a Peabody Award-winning podcast.

Will You Be My Friend?
By Sam McBratney
Illustrated by Anita Jeram
32 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781536217476 | Candlewick Press
Little Nutbrown Hare is out exploring on his own. Off he hops along the path and through the grass until he reaches Cloudy Mountain, where something extraordinary happens: he discovers a new friend! Now the fun can really begin. Twenty-five years after we met the Nutbrown Hares, this enchanting new tale about friendship is bound to capture the hearts of Guess How Much I Love You fans – and everyone else – the world over.

Tundra Book Group