A Preview of What's to Come: 2013 Books

New years are a time for new resolutions, new beginnings, new relationships, new... everything. For us, 2013 is going to be an exciting year. After all, this past year was full of exciting changes for us, including a new website, new logos, new staff members, and new imprints. This year, as we may have mentioned before, we are expanding our list and publishing more titles than we ever have. And instead of keeping it all to ourselves, we thought we'd share a bit about what's coming out soon and what we're working on for later in the year. Take a look and let us know which one you're most excited about!

SPRING 2013

Nalah and the Pink Tiger (March 12)
By Anne Sawyer-Aitch



Nalah and the Pink Tiger is about a rambunctious little girl who lives so intensely in her imagination that grown-ups view her as a troublemaker. Things come to a head when, in addition to all the exotic animals that Nalah has “placed” in the house, a pink tiger “follows” her home from the zoo and creates havoc. 

Nalah and the Pink Tiger also takes the form of a puppet show put on by the author/illustrator in both English and Spanish versions.

Find out more from the book's website, download the app, or keep up to date by liking the Facebook page. 







A Day at the Lake (March 20)
by Stephanie Wallingford and Dawn Rynders, illustrated by Erica Pelton Villnave 



Flippity flop and splash your way through this colorful trip to the lake. Jump in with your senses and play with rhymes as you experience the waves, the boats, and the many animals. This cheery book follows three children as they enjoy the simple pleasures and rare glimpses that nature offers us around the lake.

A Day at the Lake is told using all five senses, and teaches children vowels and sound effects. Contemporary, large, and brightly colored illustrations bring this story to life. Simple, short text leaves much to the reader's imagination as they experience their own day at the lake.

Like the book's Facebook page for all sorts of lake facts and fun!











Betsy's Day at the Game (April 9)
by Greg Bancroft, illustrated by Katherine Blackmore



Betsy loves hanging out with her grandfather, especially at the ballpark. Today is another game day, and Betsy is ready to show her grandpa all she's learned about keeping score. Best of all, some exciting things are about to happen at today's game. As the anticipation builds, Betsy keeps track of it all—foul balls, home runs, and favorite players.

This heartwarming story about a family tradition and America's favorite pastime includes a fully illustrated scorecard. With great illustrations, Betsy's Day at the Game teaches kids how to fill out a scorecard, and encourages them to share their memories with their families.

And if you love baseball, the Betsy's Day at the Game Facebook page is for you.







The Mighty Quinn (May 14)
By Robyn Parnell, illustrated by Katie and Aaron DeYoe



Quinn Andrews-Lee feels anything but mighty, and faces a dismal school year. His little sister outshines him athletically and socially, and he yearns for a service award his peers disdain. Not to mention charismatic bigot Matt Barker's goal in life is to torment Quinn and lure his friends to the dark side. When Quinn reports an act of vandalism, he finds himself accused of injuring Matt. Neally Standwell, a free-spirited new kid in Quinn's class, helps Quinn deduce who hurt Matt, but Matt would probably die—and would definitely lie—before admitting the truth.

Through events both comical and poignant, Quinn and Neally solve the right mystery just as everything seems to go wrong and thwart a bully without becoming one in turn. And at the end of the day, the fabled ability to belch the entire alphabet might very possibly trump any award ever presented at Turner Creek School.

Book comes complete with discussion questions and activities, but you can also find more information on Robyn's website, her blog, and the book's Facebook page. 








Determined to Matter (June 1)
By Jen O'Hara



Shannon O'Hara, skating down the ice chasing after the puck, comes face to face with a larger-than-life opposing team player. Never one to back down from anything, barely five feet tall, Shannon tangles with the player and ends up with a penalty. As she sits in the penalty box—only thinking about getting out in two minutes—no one would ever imagine that this beautiful, vibrant, and competitive young spirit will be gone in 54 days. The devastating news that 12-year-old Shannon is diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor is unfathomable, surreal, and unimaginable. This is the raw and emotional story of the O'Hara's as they prepare for the fight of their lives, and their ultimate loss.

Written and inspired by a blog that Dan and Jen O'Hara wrote to keep in touch with their family, friends, and supporters near and far, the story follows the yearlong battle from diagnosis to death and exemplifies how to live the "new normal" every day, no matter what it entails. Shannon's struggle reveals why family, faith, and hope are so important in our daily lives and how the support of a community plays such a vital role through the good times and especially the bad.








Cool World Cooking (July 9)
By Lisa Wagner

Give up-and-coming chefs a chance to explore the foods of the world! This international cookbook has over 50 recipes from six different cultures and introduces readers to world geography, math, science, and authentic, easy-to-make recipes that taste great. Learn about African, French, Italian, Mexican, Middle Eastern, and Japanese and Chinese cooking. Each kid-tested recipe includes step-by-step instructions, how-to photos, and tips, along with pronunciation guides when needed. Tools and ingredients lists are also provided, along with pronunciation guides when needed. So grab an apron and prepare for a tasty adventure!

Book includes: ingredients & tool lists, visual index of cooking terms, world map with highlighted areas, step-by-step instructions and photos, and allergy & safety information.

FALL 2013

(covers to come)

My Brother's Name (September 3)
By Laura Krughoff

Jane Fields has idolized her older brother, John, since they were children. She follows in his footsteps as a drummer, and when he suffers a psychotic break as a young man, she follows him into the bewildering landscape of mental illness. 

Surrendering to John’s schizophrenic and elliptical logic, Jane assumes her older brother’s identity, and begins to make a life for herself as a young man named John. Every day, Jane interacts with the world as John, and then comes home to tell her brother the stories of his own life, under the naïve and perhaps mad hope that these stories will help John remember and return to the self he lost. But in the act of being John, Jane runs the risk of becoming him. Jane soon identifies more strongly with the man she’s become than the overshadowed woman she once was. When John begins to demand that Jane give up certain aspects of the life she’s built under her assumed identity, particularly a romance, Jane’s double life becomes a house of cards that threatens to collapse. Jane and John are forced to confront the limits of their ability to control each other, and the world around them, through the stories they tell—but just how deep into mental illness can Jane slide?


Ghost Detectors Volume 1 (September 3)
By Dotti Enderle, illustrated by Howard McWilliam

Malcom and Dandy are best friends. But these two boys aren’t your average ten-year-olds. When the boys get their hands on an Ecto-Handheld-Automatic-Heat-Sensitive-Laser-Enhanced Specter Detector, their adventures as Ghost Detectors begin. In this first volume, Malcom and Dandy thwart a practical-joking poltergeist, rid the Miller house of a ghost, and get to the bottom of some unusual paranormal activity in their elementary school. It may sound strange, but it’s just the everyday work of a Ghost Detector!

Readers will love the humorous detecting adventures, and learn a number of ghost-detecting tips!


Monster Needs a Costume (September 3)
By Paul Czajak, illustrated by Wendy Grieb

Growing up with Monster is fun! He has all sorts of things to learn and experience for the first time, and the young boy who takes care of him will help him along the way. Written in humorous, read-aloud verse, the Monster & Me series makes growing up a whole lot easier and a lot more interesting. 

Monster Needs a Costume is the first book in this new series, Monster + Me.


The Best Saturday Ever (September 16)
By Gary Cook, illustrated by Adam Sward

On a rainy Saturday, the power goes out. With no TV and no chance of going outside, Robbie wonders how he could possibly have fun. Well, he’ll just have to make it up! As the rain comes down outside, Robbie uses only his imagination and manages to save a city from a terrifying monster, captain a space shuttle, and tame a fearsome lion as the ringmaster of a circus. With all these adventures, will he even notice when the rain stops and the lights come back on?

Through fun rhymes and exciting illustrations, this book will remind kids of the power of their own imaginations, and prove that rain—and a lack of power —just might make for THE BEST SATURDAY EVER.


The Kids' Book of Simple Everyday Science (October 1)
By Kelly Doudna

No laboratory required! These simple science activities will have young kids searching the house for everyday items to learn about temperature, pressure, water, balloons, bubbles, and plants! Each easy and fun activity includes how-to photos, easy instructions, short explanations, and introduces beginning math principles. Kids will be thinking like scientists in no time at all.

Book includes: supply & tool lists, visual and text-based explanations, step-by-step instructions and photos, and safety information.


Trash to Treasure: A Kid's Upcycling Guide to Crafts (November 1)
By Pam Scheunemann 


Get crafty & help save the planet too! With easy step-by-step instructions, kids can get creative by turning their trash into handmade treasures. All projects feature common everyday items to reuse in a fun new way. From bottle-top pop art to felted tin-can organizers, kids will love making useful crafts and helping the environment. So start your upcycling with these fabric, paper, metal, glass and ceramic, and odds & ends projects. 

Book includes: visual supply & tool lists, step-by-step instructions and photos, fun advice & tips, book links, and safety information.