#Literature

Big Nate: From the Top (Volume 1)

Author: Lincoln Peirce Genre: Comics

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES! Big Nate is taking it from the top—the top of the troublemaker's list! This spunky 11-year-old holds the school record in detentions, but that won’t stop his big dreams or determination. Nate Wright is eleven years old, four-and-a-half feet tall, and the all-time record holder for school detentions in school history. He's a self-described genius and sixth-grade Renaissance man juggling classes, family, soccer, and school crushes. The Big Nate comic series has become a longtime reader favorite. Kids everywhere can relate to Nate's daily battle against overzealous teachers, backbreaking homework, wimpy cafeteria food, and all-around conventionality. Join him as he runs for student government, becomes the school sleuth, and relaxes over zingers (and a dash of philosophy) with his friends. Big Nate: From the Top is the volume that started it all. This first book in the series introduces Lincoln Peirce's signature comic strips packed with vintage flair and timeless school humor. Perfect for reluctant readers ages 8-10! Read more

Coco and Stephen, Together Forever: How a Kitten and Bunny Became Best Friends

Author: Beth Stern Genre: Adventure Illustrator: Joanie Stone

From New York Times bestselling author, proud animal foster parent, and spokesperson for the world’s largest no-kill rescue and adoption organization Beth Stern comes the heartwarming story of an abandoned bunny and a discarded kitten who each found their forever home and became best friends. Coco is a kitten who was surrendered to a shelter. Stephen is a bunny who has been abandoned in the forest. All they both want is a forever home. When the two see each other for the first time through a glass door in Beth’s foster room—Coco has never seen ears so fuzzy, and Stephen’s never seen eyes so golden!—it’s friendship love at first sight. Soon their days are filled with hide and seek, the zoomies, and snuggling in the sunlight. They have found not only their forever home, but also a forever friend. This sweet and simple meet-cute is inspired by the unlikely friendship between a heartbroken kitten and an optimistic bunny whose love captured the attention of thousands of people on Instagram. New York Times bestselling illustrator Joanie Stone fills every page with warmth as this adorably irresistible pair find each other against all odds. In an author’s note at the end of the book, Beth shares her experiences rescuing animals and offers information about fostering or adopting pets. Read more

Dracula Doesn't Drink Lemonade

Author: Debbie Dadey Genre: Adventure

The Bailey School kids are starting to wonder if they will ever have a normal teacher. Mr. Drake, the new guidance counsellor, wants to stop the fighting around school. But he has some strange habits. Could he really be a vampire? Read more

Hot Mess: Diary of a Wimpy Kid (19)

Author: Jeff Kinney Genre: Comedy

The pressure is building for Greg Heffley, who discovers that when you mix heaps of family, a tiny beach house, and sweltering heat, it’s a recipe for disaster. Speaking of recipes—the secret ingredients behind Gramma’s famous meatballs have been closely guarded for years. Can Greg unpack all of his family’s mysteries before their vacation is over? Or will he just stir the pot? This sidesplittingly relatable summer story is the funniest Wimpy Kid book yet! Read more

Mac and Cheese

Author: Sarah Weeks Genre: Adventure Illustrator: Visiting Professor Jane Manning

Mac likes to pounce and bounce and jump, but Cheese just sits there like a lump. Two cats that are as different as night and day are nevertheless best friends! Turtleback binding is a highly durable alternative to a hardcover or paperback book. The comprehensive cover reinforcement process will drastically combat wear and tear, keeping your favorite books in great condition for years to come! Turtleback books are ideal for any reader, or for use in schools or libraries. Read more

New Kid: A Story About Fitting In, School Diversity, and Friendship

Author: Jerry Craft Genre: Comics Illustrator: Jerry Craft

Winner of the Newbery Medal, Coretta Scott King Author Award, and Kirkus Prize for Young Readers’ Literature! Perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Gene Luen Yang, New Kid is a timely, honest graphic novel about starting over at a new school where diversity is low and the struggle to fit in is real, from award-winning author-illustrator Jerry Craft. Seventh grader Jordan Banks loves nothing more than drawing cartoons about his life. But instead of sending him to the art school of his dreams, his parents enroll him in a prestigious private school known for its academics, where Jordan is one of the few kids of color in his entire grade. As he makes the daily trip from his Washington Heights apartment to the upscale Riverdale Academy Day School, Jordan soon finds himself torn between two worlds—and not really fitting into either one. Can Jordan learn to navigate his new school culture while keeping his neighborhood friends and staying true to himself? This middle grade graphic novel is an excellent choice for tween readers, including for summer reading. New Kid is a selection of the Schomburg Center's Black Liberation Reading List. Plus don't miss Jerry Craft's Class Act ! Read more

Rourke Educational Media I Can Share―Children's Book About Learning to Share With Others, PreK-Grade 2 (16 pgs) Reader (Kid Citizen)

Author: Marla Conn Genre: Early Readers

Book Features: •16 pages, 8 inches x 8 inches • Ages 4-7, PreK-Grade 2, Guided Reading Level A, Lexile BR60L • Easy-to-read pages with full-color photos • Includes a reading comprehension activity • Photo glossary and high frequency word list included Sharing Is Caring: I Can Share, part of the Kid Citizen series, helps emerging preschool―2nd grade readers develop basic literacy skills while learning important social concepts such as learning to share in a fun and engaging way. Inspiring Students: Sharing helps us get along with one another. What can you share with someone? The 16-page leveled text encourages beginning readers to practice sharing in the world around them. Learning Made Fun: More than just an engaging read about sharing with others, this kids book features a reading comprehension activity, photo glossary, and a list of high frequency words for added reading engagement. Leveled Books: Vibrant, full-color photos and leveled text work together to engage children and promote reading comprehension skills while fostering an interest in sharing in young learners. Why Rourke Educational Media: Since 1980, Rourke Publishing Company has specialized in publishing engaging and diverse non-fiction and fiction books for children in a wide range of subjects that support reading success on a level that has no limits. Read more

The Amazing Generation: Your Guide to Fun and Freedom in a Screen-Filled World

Author: Jonathan Haidt Genre: Comics Illustrator: Cynthia Yuan Cheng

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Inspired by the award-winning phenomenon The Anxious Generation, this new book for kids and tweens is a comprehensive guide for living a happy and exciting life that isn’t hijacked by a smartphone. A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year! Jonathan Haidt’s blockbuster book, The Anxious Generation, has sparked a global conversation about the effects of smartphones and social media on young people’s development, and has inspired millions of parents, teachers, and leaders to take action. Now, Haidt and Catherine Price, author of the bestselling How to Break Up with Your Phone , have teamed up to create a new book that speaks directly to kids. Their goal? To empower young people to stand up for themselves by choosing a life not dominated by screens and social media. Whether or not kids already have smartphones or social media accounts, this engaging guide is packed with surprising facts, a graphic novel, interactive challenges, secrets that tech leaders don’t want kids to know, and real-life anecdotes from young adults who regret getting smartphones at a young age and want to help the next generation avoid making the same mistakes. But this isn’t just a book about what not to do. It’s a bold, optimistic, and practical guide to growing into your most authentic, confident, and adventurous self. Readers won’t just discover how to avoid becoming the next Anxious Generation. They’ll learn how to become amazing. Read more

The Nature Kid's Guide to Dragonflies: A Level 2 Reader for Curious Young Kids Who Love Dragonflies! (The Nature Kid's Guide to Animals! - Level 2 Readers)

Author: David Anderson Genre: Literature

Snap! A dragonfly spots a mosquito 30 feet away and intercepts it mid-air. It catches 95 out of every 100 bugs it chases. It's a dragonfly, and nothing on Earth hunts more accurately. There's way more to dragonflies than a shimmery blur near the pond. These ancient insects have been on Earth for over 300 million years, can fly backward, hover like a helicopter, and see in almost every direction at once through 30,000 tiny lenses per eye. "The Nature Kid's Guide to Dragonflies" is written for curious kids ages 7 to 12 who want to know what makes these glittering hunters so extraordinary. How does a dragonfly predict where a bug will be before it gets there? Why do nymphs spend years lurking underwater before they ever grow wings? And how do Wandering Gliders cross 3,700 miles of open ocean? Short sentences and jaw-dropping facts fill every page. Your child will discover that ancient dragonflies had wings wider than a hawk's, that some migrate thousands of miles following monsoon rains across continents, and that a Blue Dasher can eat hundreds of mosquitoes in a single day. They'll meet Flame Skimmers that glow red like fire over the water, Halloween Pennants bold enough to land right on your finger, and Emerald dragonflies that hunt in figure-eight patterns at dawn like tiny green helicopters. A book for kids who love cool bugs and incredible facts! Sparkling wings, perfect aim, and a whole book full of wild facts your child will want to share. Thousands of young readers have explored the Nature Kids Guide series. Your child's next favorite insect is waiting at the water's edge. Read more

Travel Far and Mad Libs: World's Greatest Word Game

Author: Anthony Casciano Genre: Classics

Mad Libs is the world’s greatest word game and a great gift for anyone who likes to laugh! Write in the missing words on each page to create your own hilariously funny stories all about travel and adventure. No matter where life’s journey takes you, don’t forget to VERB your Mad Libs! With 21 “fill-in-the-blank” stories about cars, buses, taxis, hot air balloons, and more, Travel Far and Mad Libs is the perfect companion for any trip, long or short. Play alone, in a group, or with friends you meet along the way. Mad Libs are a fun family activity recommended for ages 8 to NUMBER. Read more

Big Nate: I Can't Take It!

Author: Lincoln Peirce Genre: Comics

The second collection of all-color Sunday Big Nate cartoons! Life can be stressful for Nate Wright. At school, Mrs. Godfrey makes every day a nightmare. At home, he's stuck between Ellen, his incredibly annoying older sister, and Dad, perhaps the most clueless parent of all time. And don't get him started on Gina, the ultimate teacher's pet, or Artur, the unassuming exchange student who bests him at every turn. It's enough to make even a can-do kid like Nate scream: "I CAN'T TAKE IT!" Read more

Communication Is My Superpower: A Kid’s Book About Listening, Speaking Up and Getting Along with Friends for Ages 4–8 (My Superpower Books)

Author: Alicia Ortego Genre: Literature

Do your kids sometimes struggle with conversations, sharing feelings, or solving conflicts with siblings and friends? Communication Is My Superpowe r is a warm, engaging children’s story that helps kids discover how powerful their words and listening skills can be. Through relatable moments and gentle guidance, young readers learn how to pause, practice active listening, express their feelings, and build stronger relationships at home, at school, and with siblings and friends. Perfect for families, teachers, counselors, and classroom libraries, this book uses story-based social stories to support learning, emotional growth, and positive behavior. In this book, children will learn how to: Practice active listening and understand others during a conversation Express feelings and needs in healthy ways Develop emotional intelligence and empathy for friends and siblings Follow simple social rules that help everyone get along Build essential life skills for communication and cooperation Balance talking and listening to create meaningful connections Navigate everyday situations using gentle social stories With colorful illustrations and a positive message, Communication Is My Superpower helps children understand that kindness, listening, and thoughtful words can make the world a better place. Whether read at bedtime, used in the classroom, or shared during family time, this book supports children’s social skills, conversation confidence, and emotional development in a way that feels fun, safe, and encouraging. A wonderful addition to any home library, school classroom library, or social-emotional learning collection. Read more