Sophie’s Squash (Miller)
©2013 by Anne Wilsdorf

BECKER, Aaron. Journey. illus. by author. 40p. Candlewick. July 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-6053-6. LC 2012947264.
Gr 1-4–In this auspicious debut picture book, a lonely girl escapes the boredom of a sepia-toned world by drawing a doorway to a magical realm. Harkening back to Crockett Johnson’s Harold, this child uses a red crayon and a lot of imagination to venture across a Venice-like kingdom, fly among a fleet of steampunk airships, and take off on a magic carpet ride. When an act of compassion and bravery lands the heroine in a cage, it’s her magic crayon and a bit of help from a new friend that save the day. This captivating wordless story has all the elements of a classic adventure: unknown lands, death-defying stunts, and a plucky lead. Finely detailed pen-and-ink line drawings combine with luminous washes of watercolor to create a rich and enchanting setting. Becker builds a sense of suspense by varying colorful full-page spreads with smaller vignettes that feature the girl and her red crayon surrounded by ample white space. The final page shows the youngster and her new friend riding a tandem bicycle pointing onward. Endpapers spotlight all manner of transportation: ships, trains, cars, and even space shuttles. The strong visual narrative makes this an appealing choice for a wide range of ages. By the turn of the last page, children will immediately begin imagining the next adventure.–Kiera Parrott, Darien Library, CT

DAYWALT, Drew. The Day the Crayons Quit. illus. by Oliver Jeffers. 32p. Philomel. July 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-399-25537-3. LC 2012030384.
K-Gr 2–In this delightfully imaginative take on a beloved childhood activity, a young boy’s crayons have had enough. Fed up with their workload and eager to voice their grievances, they pen letters to Duncan detailing their frustrations. Energetic and off-the-wall, the complaints are always wildly funny, from the neurotically neat Purple (“If you DON’T START COLORING INSIDE the lines soon… I’m going to COMPLETELY LOSE IT”) to the underappreciated White (“If I didn’t have a black outline, you wouldn’t even know I was THERE!”). Daywalt has an instinctive understanding of the kind of humor that will resonate with young children, such as Orange and Yellow duking it out over which of them represents the true color of the sun or Peach’s lament that ever since its wrapper has fallen off, it feels naked. Though Jeffers’s messily scrawled crayon illustrations are appropriately childlike, they’re also infused with a sophisticated wit that perfectly accompanies the laugh-out-loud text; for example, a letter from Beige, in which he bemoans being tasked with drawing dull items like turkey dinners, is paired with an image of the crestfallen crayon drooping over beside a blade of wheat. Later on, Pink grumbles about constantly being passed over for less-feminine colors while the opposite page depicts a discomfited-looking pink monster and cowboy being derided by a similarly hued dinosaur. This colorful title should make for an uproarious storytime and may even inspire some equally creative art projects.–Mahnaz Dar, Library Journal

HENKES, Kevin. The Year of Billy Miller. illus. by author. 240p. HarperCollins/Greenwillow. Sept. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-226812-9; PLB $17.89. ISBN 978-0-06-226813-6; ebook ISBN 978-0-06-226815-0. LC 2012050373.
Gr 1-3–The beginning of a new school year brings anxious moments for Billy Miller, a typical second grader at Georgia O’Keeffe Elementary School in a small Wisconsin town. His new teacher, Ms. Silver, uses chopsticks to hold her hair in place and know-it-all Emma Sparks is unfortunately one of his desk mates. Just as a school year is divided into quarters, the book is divided into four parts–”Teacher,” “Father,” “Sister,” and “Mother”–each offering a new perspective on Billy’s personality and development through his interactions with these well-developed characters. He begins the school year with a lump on his head from a family-vacation incident and navigates glitter homework fiascos, canceled sleepover plans, and sibling annoyances as readers see the year unfold through funny and often poignant situations. Billy himself might have been daunted by a book with more than 200 pages, but eager young readers will find this a great first chapter book to share or read solo.–Cheryl Ashton, Amherst Public Library, OH

MILLER, Pat Zietlow. Sophie’s Squash. illus. by Anne Wilsdorf. 40p. Random/Schwartz & Wade. Aug. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-307-97896-7; PLB $19.99. ISBN 978-0-307-97897-4. LC 2012006438.
K-Gr 2–“Good friends are hard to find,” says Sophie to her best buddy, Bernice. This must be so, because Bernice is a farmers’ market squash. The fruit is supposed to be for supper, but all bets are off when Sophie gives it a face and a name. The two friends are inseparable, visiting the library and other squash at the market, practicing somersaults on the hill…and every night Sophie gives Bernice a baby bottle and tucks her into a cradle. (“Well, we did hope she’d love vegetables,” Sophie’s mother observes.) Countless stories exist about girls’ exploits with their dolls or stuffed animals. Few, if any, feature healthy produce. But the tale of Sophie and Bernice is charming and even suspenseful as the title character reluctantly realizes that her squash will not last forever. Miller’s sweet and lively story is perfectly matched by Wilsdorf’s expert ink and watercolor illustrations. With lessons on life, love, and vegetable gardening, this tale will be cherished by children, and their parents will be happy to read it to them often.–Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NY

KELLER, Laurie. Bowling Alley Bandit. illus. by author. 128p. (The Adventures of Arnie the Doughnut). Holt/Christy Ottaviano. 2013. Tr $13.99. ISBN 978-0-8050-9076-5.
Gr 2–4–Arnie the doughnut returns in a “who-donut” chapter book that will appeal to fans of Dav Pilkey’s “Captain Underpants” (Scholastic) and Lincoln Peirce’s “Big Nate” (HarperCollins) series. Iced with chocolate and covered with sprinkles, the “doughnut dog” catches readers up-to-date since he debuted in his own picture book, Arnie the Doughnut (Holt, 2003). The first chapter recaps how he became a doughnut dog and beloved friend to Mr. Bing, who instead of eating Arnie decides to adopt him as his pet. Readers then follow adventures that occur during Arnie’s favorite Tuesday-night outings to the bowling alley with Mr. Bing and his buddies. Comic-style drawings fill the pages, providing abundant humor and tons of spoofy comedy for reluctant readers. Children will stay engaged as Arnie and friends try to discover why Mr. Bing keeps throwing gutter balls during the tournament when he usually is a high-scoring bowler. Does the opposing team, the Yada-Yadas, have something to do with it? With zany, quirky characters (talking pizza, break-dancing bowling pins, animated shoes) and a fast-paced, silly story line, the book will have readers looking for Arnie and Mr. Bing’s next adventure.–Melissa Smith, Royal Oak Public Library, MI

SEEGER, Laura Vaccaro. Bully. illus. by author. 40p. Roaring Brook/Neal Porter. Aug. 2013. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-630-5. LC 2012012991.
PreS-Gr 2–On the cover, bold black lines on an angry tomato-red background depict the scowling title character. Seeger sets the emotional tone from the very start: this is one mean bull. Front endpapers offer a clue to his behavior as readers see a larger, adult bull shout, “Go away!” The rejected little guy hangs his head, and, as many real-life bullies do, turns his hurt into anger. When he comes upon a group of animals who want to play, he puffs himself up in a near-identical pose to his adult counterpart and shouts, “No!” He proceeds to insult them with literal names (“CHICKEN!” “PIG!”) that lend a bit of levity and humor to an otherwise serious story. With each insult, the bull’s bravado makes him larger and larger, filling and then expanding outside the frame of the pages. Children will recognize and respond to this powerful visual depiction of rage. By the time he yells “YOU STINK!” at the skunk, only his two giant front hooves and enormous snout are visible. When the bull is finally forced to confront what he has become, viewers see him deflate like an overinflated balloon and become small. Again, Seeger lightens the mood with this touch of cartoon whimsy. Spare text and simple drawings allow the antibullying message to come across clearly without being heavy-handed or didactic. The arc of the bull’s experience engenders discussion and encourages the quest for satisfying solutions.–Kiera Parrott, Darien Library, CT

WISSINGER, Tamera Will. Gone Fishing. illus. by Matthew Cordell. 120p. bibliog. glossary. Houghton Harcourt. 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-547-82011-8. LC 2012032796.
Gr 1-4–This novel in verse successfully builds a story filled with anticipation, family humor, and sibling rivalry. Wissinger adroitly uses a variety of poetic forms to express nine-year-old Sam’s excitement about an upcoming outing with his father: “Hip-hip, hooray!/It’s fishing day./Yo-ho yippee!/Just Dad and me.” To Sam’s consternation, his annoying little sister decides that she wants to go, too. She packs for the trip by filling Sam’s tackle box with her toys. “Where’s my stringer?/Something’s wrong!/The princess doll does not belong!” Sam is even more despondent when her singing helps her catch a handful of fish even before he has caught one. The trip vastly improves when he lands a sizable catfish, leading Lucy to gush with pride for him. “You caught one Sam!/Lucy scoots close to me./A big one, too!/I didn’t even look/when she caught/her first fish./But she cheered for me/Maybe I was wrong/about bringing her along.” Teachers will appreciate the seamless introduction to different poetic forms including rhyming lists, concrete poems, ballads, and haiku. Wissinger deftly plies her craft to ensure that the use of poetry enhances the readability of the story. She includes a “Poet’s Tackle Box” to complete this solid introduction to poetic form. Cordell’s whimsical line drawings complement the poetry by capturing the adventurous spirit and humor that this story demands. Hearing it aloud, children will appreciate the rollicking tale and the lyrical verse, while young readers will be able to enjoy the book independently. This book might inspire some to pursue an interest in fishing, but it will surely encourage all of them to delve into the world of poetry.–Carole Phillips, Greenacres Elementary School, Scarsdale, NY

WOODSON, Jacqueline. This Is the Rope: A Story from the Great Migration. illus. by James Ransome. 32p. Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Bks. Aug. 2013. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-399-23986-1.
K-Gr 3–A utilitarian rope–now a toy, now a clothesline, now a fastening cord–ties together this lyrical multigenerational story of one family’s experience leaving the South for greater opportunities up North. Woodson’s text and Ransome’s warm, lived-in oils begin in the sweet expanse of South Carolina, the rich rural landscape contrasted with the busy, populous images of the family’s new stone-and-concrete neighborhood in Brooklyn. Every page turn reveals the titular phrase again, but the repetition does not weary as the family thrives and evolves in great leaps and short steps. Significant episodes like the arrival of a baby or the beginning of college unfold in meaningful text and blend with fine splashes of humor; one surprisingly dynamic and evocative spread shows a teenager’s room–Prince poster on the wall, Michael Jackson albums scattered on the bed–and the shadow of a mischievous younger brother dashing down the hallway with the rope, needed for “some crazy game that little boys play.” An author’s note offers a brief familial history as well as a few lines about the Great Migration and supports the text as a resounding affirmation of the journey made by more than six million African Americans in search of change. With characteristic grace and a knack for the right detail, Woodson and Ransome have provided a pleasing portrait of one loving family in the midst of a movement.–Robbin E. Friedman, Chappaqua Library, NY

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The following titles are reviewed in the July print issue. Visit Book Verdict for the full reviews.

Preschool to Grade 4 Fiction

ASQUITH, Ros.Letters from an Alien Schoolboy. illus. by author. 192p. Sky Pony. 2013. Tr $12.95. ISBN 978-1-62087-536-0.

BERGER, Samantha.Crankenstein. illus. by Dan Santat. 40p. Little, Brown. Aug. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-316-12656-4.

BEST, Cari. When We Go Walking. illus. by Kyrsten Brooker. 32p. Amazon. 2013. RTE $17.99. ISBN 978-1-4778-1648-6; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4778-6648-1.

BÉZIAT, Julien. Mäko. tr. from French by Evan Jones. illus. by author. 36p. Fitzhenry & Whiteside. 2013. pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-1-55455-275-7.

BROCKENBROUGH, Martha. The Dinosaur Tooth Fairy. illus. by Israel Sanchez. 32p. Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine. July 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-545-24466-4. LC 2012013235.

AKIYAMA, Bruce & Ken Scarborough. Campfire Stories. ISBN 978-0-547-97024-0; ISBN 978-0-547-97021-9.
––––.So You Want to Be a Dog? ISBN 978-0-547-97483-5; ISBN 978-0-547-97018-9.
ea vol: 96p. (Martha Speaks Series). glossary. Houghton Harcourt. 2013. Tr $14.99; pap. $5.99.

BUZZEO, Toni. But I Read It on the Internet! illus. by Sachiko Yoshikawa. 32p. (A Mrs. Skorupski Story). websites. UpstartBooks. 2013. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-1-60213-062-3.

BYRNE, Richard. Penguins Can’t Fly! illus. by author. 32p. Barron’s. 2013. pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-1-4380-0254-5. LC 2012943294.

BYUN, You. Dream Friends. illus. by author. 32p. Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Bks. 2013. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-399-25739-1. LC 2012011082.

CABATINGAN, Erin. Musk Ox Counts. illus. by Matthew Myers. 40p. Roaring Brook/Neal Porter. Sept. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-798-2. LC 2012046936.

CALLEN, Sharon. Anna Goes to Zambia. illus. by Bettina Guthridge. ISBN 978-1-4333-5495-3.
––––.Safari Camp. illus. by Jane Wallace-Mitchell. ISBN 978-1-4333-5494-6.
CARTHEW, Mark. Speak Up! illus. by Annie White. ISBN 978-1-4333-5496-0.
EDWARDS, Amelia. It’s Good Enough to Eat! illus. by Mike Brownlow. ISBN 978-1-4333-5493-9.
WEAVER, Jo. Paul Bunyan: A Very Tall Tale. illus. by Loretta Krupinski. ISBN 978-1-4333-5497-7.
ea vol: 20p. (Fiction Readers Series). Teacher Created Materials. 2013. pap. $4.99.

CORDEROY, Tracey. I Want My Mommy! illus. by Alison Edgson. 32p. Tiger Tales. 2013. RTE $12.95. ISBN 978-1-58925-130-4.

CRUM, Shutta. Dozens of Cousins. illus. by David Catrow. 32p. Clarion. July 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-618-15874-4. LC 2012005010.

DAVIES, Katie. The Great Dog Disaster. illus. by Hannah Shaw. 208p. (The Great Critter Capers Series). S & S/Beach Lane. 2013. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-4517-8; ebook ISBN 978-1-4424-4519-2. LC 2012041868.

DAVIES, Nicola. Escape from Silver Street Farm. illus. by Katharine McEwen. 65p. (Silver Street Farm Series). Candlewick. 2013. RTE $12.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-6133-5. LC 2012942620.

DEAN, James. Pete the Cat: Pete at the Beach. illus. by author. ISBN 978-0-06-211073-2; ISBN 978-0-06-211072-5. LC 2012952453.
LIN, Amy Hsu. Splat the Cat: A Whale of a Tale. illus. by Robert Eberz. ISBN 978-0-06-209024-9; ISBN 978-0-06-209022-5. LC 2012949618.
ea vol: 32p. (I Can Read! Series). HarperCollins/Harper. 2013. Tr $16.99; pap. $3.99.

DEAN, James. Pete the Cat: Pete’s Big Lunch. ISBN 978-0-06-211070-1; ISBN 978-0-06-211069-5.
––––.Pete the Cat: Play Ball! ISBN 978-0-06-211067-1; ISBN 978-0-06-211066-4.
ea vol: illus. by author. 32p. (I Can Read! Series). HarperCollins/Harper. 2013. Tr $16.99; pap. $3.99.

DICMAS, Courtney. Harold Finds a Voice. illus. by author. 32p. Child’s Play. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-84643-550-8.

DIPUCCHIO, Kelly. Crafty Chloe: Dress-Up Mess-Up. illus. by Heather Ross. 40p. websites. S & S/Atheneum. Aug. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-2124-0. LC 2011042345.

DOWNER, Ann. Shark Baby. illus. by Shennen Bersani. 32p. Sylvan Dell. 2013. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-1-60718-622-9; pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-1-60718-634-2; ebook $9.95. ISBN 978-1-60718-646-5.

DRUMMOND, Ree. Charlie the Ranch Dog: Where’s the Bacon? illus. by Diane deGroat. 32p. (I Can Read! Series). HarperCollins/Harper. July 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-221909-1; pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-0-06-221908-4. LC 2012949619.

DUNBAR, Joyce. Puss Jekyll Cat Hyde. illus. by Jill Barton. 32p. Frances Lincoln. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-84780-369-6.

EMBERLEY, Ed. Nighty Night, Little Green Monster. illus. by author. 32p. Little, Brown. Aug. 2013. pap. $8.99. ISBN 978-0-316-21041-6.

FARLEY, Brianne. Ike’s Incredible Ink. illus. by author. 32p. Candlewick. Aug. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-6296-7. LC 2012947261.

FEDER, Jane. Spooky Friends. illus. by Julie Downing. 40p. (Spooky Friends Series). Scholastic. Aug. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-545-47815-1; pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-0-545-47816-8. LC 2012014786.

FORD, Bernette. No More Biting for Billy Goat! illus. by Sam Williams. 32p. Boxer Bks. 2013. Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-1-907967-31-3.

FOX, Mem. Good Night, Sleep Tight. illus. by Judy Horacek. 32p. Scholastic/Orchard. Aug. 2013. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-545-53370-6.

GEORGE, Patrick. I Hear…. ISBN 978-1-908473-07-3.
––––.I See…. ISBN 978-1-908473-04-2.
––––.I Smell…. ISBN 978-1-908473-05-9.
ea vol: illus. by author. 36p. Trafalgar Square. 2013. RTE $12.99.

GERARDI, Jan. The Little Recycler. illus. by author. 16p. (Teenie Greenies Series). Random. 2013. BD $6.99. ISBN 978-0-375-86172-7. LC 2012001910.

HALL, Marcellus. Everyone Sleeps. illus. by author. 32p. Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Bks. 2013. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-399-25793-3. LC 2012023258.

HARDY, Edward. Where Is Fred? illus. by Ali Pye. 32p. Egmont USA. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-4052-5402-1; pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4052-5403-8.

HODGMAN, Ann. That’s My Mommy! illus. by Laura Logan. 22p. Tiger Tales. 2013. BD $8.95. ISBN 978-1-58925-645-3.

JAMES, Helen Foster. Grandma Loves You! illus. by Petra Brown. 32p. Sleeping Bear. July 2013. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-1-58536-836-5. LC 2013002582.

JOYNER, Andrew. Boris on the Move. Bk. 1. 80p. illus. by author. (Boris Series). ISBN 978-0-545-48442-8; ISBN 978-0-545-48443-5; ISBN 978-0-545-48782-5. LC 2012034254.
LUBAR, David. Stranger Things. Bk. 1. 96p. illus. by Matt Loveridge. (Looniverse Series). ISBN 978-0-545-49601-8; ISBN 978-0-545-49602-5; ISBN 978-0-545-49685-8. LC 2012024838.
ea vol: Scholastic/Branches. 2013. Tr $15.99; pap. $4.99; ebook $4.99.

KASZA, Keiko. My Lucky Birthday. illus. by author. 32p. Putnam. 2013. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-399-25763-6. LC 2011037119.

KLEIN, Adria. Sammy Saw and the Campout. ISBN 978-1-4342-4022-4; ISBN 978-1-4342-4234-1. LC 2011049284.
––––.Sophie Screwdriver and the Classroom. ISBN 978-1-4342-4021-7; ISBN 978-1-4342-4235-8. LC 2011049285.
ea vol: illus. by Andy Rowland. 32p. (Tool School Series). Stone Arch. 2013. PLB $21.32; pap. $5.95.

KURTZMAN-COUNTER, Samantha. When Miles Got Mad. 30p. illus. The Mother Company. 2013. RTE $12.95. ISBN 978-0-615-69965-3. LC 2012949929.

LEE, Mark. 20 Big Trucks in the Middle of the Street. illus. by Kurt Cyrus. 32p. Candlewick. 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-5809-0. LC 2012943654.

LEHRHAUPT, Adam. Warning: Do Not Open This Book! illus. by Matthew Forsythe. 40p. S & S/Paula Wiseman Bks. Aug. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-3582-7; ebook ISBN 978-1-4424-3583-4. LC 2012014432.

LIU, Julia. Gus, the Dinosaur Bus. tr. from Chinese by Jamie White. illus. by Bei Lynn. 32p. Houghton Harcourt. July 2013. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-0-547-90573-0.

LLOYD, Jennifer. The Best Thing About Kindergarten. illus. by Qin Leng. 36p. Simply Read Books. 2013. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-897476-82-6.

LOBEL, Anita. Lena’s Sleep Sheep: A Going-to-Bed Book. illus. by author. 24p. Knopf. Aug. 2013. Tr $10.99. ISBN 978-0-449-81025-5; PLB $14.99. ISBN 978-0-449-81026-2; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-449-81027-9. LC 2012028378.

LUCAS, David. The Skeleton Pirate. illus. by author. 30p. Candlewick. 2013. RTE $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-6107-6. LC 2012942674.

MACLACHLAN, Patricia. The Truth of Me. 128p. HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen. Aug. 2013. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-0-06-199859-1; PLB $15.89. ISBN 978-0-06-199860-7.

MAHY, Margaret. The Green Bath. illus. by Steven Kellogg. 40p. Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine. July 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-545-20667-9.

MAIZES, Sarah. On My Way to Bed. illus. by Michael Paraskevas. 40p. Walker. Sept. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8027-2366-6; RTE $17.89. ISBN 978-0-8027-2367-3. LC 2013001363.

MANCEAU, Édouard. Windblown. tr. from French by Sarah Quinn. illus. by author. 32p. websites. Owlkids. 2013. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-926973-77-7. LC 2012945653.

MINOR, Wendell. How Big Could Your Pumpkin Grow? illus. by author. 32p. Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Bks. Aug. 2013. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-399-24684-5.

Monster, Be Good! illus. by Natalie Marshall. 24p. Blue Apple. 2013. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-1-60905-314-7.

MONTIJO, Rhode. Gum Girl!: Chews Your Destiny. illus. by author. 128p. Hyperion/Disney. July 2013. RTE $14.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-5740-3.

MOSER, Lisa. Cowboy Boyd and Mighty Calliope. illus. by Sebastiaan Van Doninck. 40p. Random. Aug. 2013. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-375-87056-9; PLB $20.99. ISBN 978-0-375-97056-6; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-375-98079-4. LC 2012025379.

MYRACLE, Lauren. Penguin Problems. illus. by Jed Henry. 128p. (The Life of Ty Series). Dutton. 2012. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-0-525-42264-8.

OHORA, Zachariah. No Fits, Nilson! illus. by author. 32p. Dial. 2013. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8037-3852-2. LC 2012021514.

Peppa Pig and The Muddy Puddles.32p. illus. Candlewick. 2013. RTE $12.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-6523-4. LC 2012942611.

PERL, Erica S. King of the Zoo. illus. by Jackie Urbanovic. 40p. Scholastic/Orchard. Aug. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-545-46182-5.

PIPPIN-MATHUR, Courtney. Maya Was Grumpy. illus. by author. 32p. Flashlight. 2013. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-9362611-3-0. LC 2012946228.

PRITCHETT, Andy. Stick! illus. by author. 32p. Candlewick. Aug. 2013. RTE $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-6616-3. LC 2012947824.

RANSOM, Candice. Iva Honeysuckle Meets Her Match. illus. by Heather Ross. 192p. (Iva Honeysuckle Series). Hyperion/Disney. 2013. RTE $14.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-3514-2. LC 2012035111.

ROBINSON, Nicola L. The Monster Machine. illus. by author. 32p. Pavilion. 2013. pap. $8.99. ISBN 978-1-84365-200-7.

ROCK, Brian. The Deductive Detective. illus. by Sherry Rogers. 32p. Sylvan Dell. 2013. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-1-60718-613-7; pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-1-60718-625-0; ebook ISBN 978-1-60718-637-3. LC 2012030120.

RYLANT, Cynthia. Mr. Putter & Tabby Drop the Ball. illus. by Arthur Howard. 44p. Houghton Harcourt. Sept. 2013. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-0-15-205072-6.

SCILLIAN, Devin. Memoirs of a Hamster. illus.by Tim Bowers. 32p. Sleeping Bear. 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-1-58536-831-0. LC 2012033693.

SHANNON, David. Bugs in My Hair! illus. by author. 32p. Scholastic/Blue Sky. Sept. 2013. RTE $17.99. ISBN 978-0-545-14313-4. LC 2012042220.

SHANNON, George. A Very Witchy Spelling Bee. illus. by Mark Fearing. 32p. Houghton Harcourt. Aug. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-15-206696-3.

SITTNER, Nechama. What Did Pinny Do?: An Upsherin Story. illus. by Tova Leff. 32p. glossary. Hachai. 2013. PLB $12.95. ISBN 978-1-929628-72-8. LC 2012921267.

SLONIM, David. Patch. illus. by author. 32p. Roaring Brook. July 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-643-5.

SMITH, Alex T. Claude in the City. illus. by author. 96p. Peachtree. 2013. Tr $12.95. ISBN 978-1-56145-697-0. LC 2012028081.

SMITH, Peter. Monsieur Albert Rides to Glory. illus. by Bob Graham. 32p. Allen & Unwin. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-74237-680-6.

SOBRINO, Javier. Night Sounds. tr. from Spanish by Elisa Amado. illus. by Emilio Urberuaga. 36p. Groundwood. 2013. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-55498-332-2.

STEFFENSMEIER, Alexander. Millie and the Big Rescue. tr. from German. illus. by author. 40p. (Millie’s Misadventures Series). Walker. Aug. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8027-3402-0.

SULLIVAN, Dana. Ozzie and the Art Contest. illus. by author. 32p. Sleeping Bear. July 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-1-58536-820-4.

TABBY, Abigail. The KnitWits Make a Move! illus. by Lee Wildish. 32p. S & S/Little Simon. Aug. 2013. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-5342-5; ebook ISBN 978-1-4424-5343-2. LC 2012040111.

TOBIN, Jim. The Very Inappropriate Word. illus. by Dave Coverly. 40p. Holt/Christy Ottaviano. Aug. 2013. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-8050-9474-9. LC 2012021084.

ULUADLUAK, Donald. Kamik: An Inuit Puppy Story. illus. by Qin Leng. 32p. Inhabit Media. 2013. pap. $10.95. ISBN 978-1-9270-9511-9.

UNGERER, Tomi. Fog Island. illus. by author. 48p. Phaidon. 2013. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-7148-6535-5.

WATSON, Stephanie. The Wee Hours. illus. by Mary GrandPré. 40p. Hyperion/Disney. Aug. 2013. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-4038-2.

WATT, Mélanie. Scaredy Squirrel Goes Camping. illus. by author. 32p. Kids Can. 2013. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-894786-86-7.

WILLEMS, Mo. A Big Guy Took My Ball! illus. by author. 64p. (Elephant & Piggie Series). Hyperion/Disney. 2013. RTE $8.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-7491-2. LC 2012010899.

YOLEN, Jane. Romping Monsters, Stomping Monsters. illus. by Kelly Murphy. 32p. Candlewick. July 2013. RTE $14.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-5727-7. LC 2012943655.

YOUNG, Jessica. My Blue Is Happy. illus. by Catia Chien. 32p. Candlewick. Aug. 2013. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-5125-1. LC 2012950616.

YUM, Hyewon. This Is Our House. illus. by author. 40p. Farrar/Frances Foster. Aug. 2013. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-374-37487-7.

ZIEFERT, Harriet. Goodnight Underwear. illus. by Todd H. Doodler. 36p. (Bear in Underwear Series). Blue Apple. 2013. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-1-60905-363-5.

Spirit Animals is set in the fantasy world of Erdas, where children who come of age go through a ritual to determine if they have a “spirit animal,” a rare bond between human and beast that bestows great powers to both. The series focuses on four kids from different cultures who undergo an annual ritual and discover that they have been chosen for a greater destiny. Each book in the series will unlock expanded gameplay on the immersive Spirit Animals online game site, where kids can customize unique heroes, choose spirit animals, and go on quests to help save Erdas.

“Readers are transported into a whole new fantasy realm with Spirit Animals,” says Ellie Berger, president of Scholastic Trade. “This is 21st century storytelling at its best. We cannot be more excited about introducing this epic series to kids everywhere.”

Brandon Mull is the bestselling author of the Beyonders and Fablehaven series. Award-winning Maggie Stiefvater is bestselling author of The Shiver Trilogy, The Scorpio Races, and The Raven Boys.

Spirit Animals joins Scholastic’s first forays into the multi-platform space, The 39 Clues, a mystery series of books, collectible cards, and an online game that debuted in September 2008, and Infinity Ring, a travel adventure series for readers ages 8–12 that debuted in August 2012. The 39 Clues: Unstoppable, a spin-off cycle from the original series, launches in October.