A discussion guide inspired by It Came from the Sky by Chelsea Sedoti. About the book: From the author of The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett and As You Wish comes the unforgettable story of the one small town’s biggest hoax and the two brothers who started it all. This is the absolutely true account of how Lansburg, Pennsylvania was invaded by aliens and the weeks of chaos that followed. There were sightings of UFOs, close encounters, and even abductions. There were believers, Truth Seekers, and, above all, people who looked to the sky and hoped for more. Only…there were no aliens. Gideon Hofstadt knows what really happened. When one of his science experiments went wrong, he and his older brother blamed the resulting explosion on extraterrestrial activity. And their lie was not only believed by their town—it was embraced. As the brothers go to increasingly greater lengths to keep up the ruse and avoid getting caught, the hoax flourishes. But Gideon’s obsession with their tale threatened his whole world. Can he find a way to banish the aliens before Lansburg, and his life, are changed forever? Told in a report format and comprised of interviews, blog posts, text conversations, found documents, and so much more, It Came from the Sky is a hysterical and resonant novel about what it means to be human in the face of the unknown.

A Common Core aligned educator guide inspired by Rebecca Behrens’ Alone in the Woods. From the author of The Disaster Days comes a thrilling survival story about two former best friends who must work together to stay alive after getting lost in a remote national forest.

A discussion guide inspired by Rebecca Behrens’ Alone in the Woods. From the author of The Disaster Days comes a thrilling survival story about two former best friends who must work together to stay alive after getting lost in a remote national forest.

A discussion guide inspired by The Girl Who Wasn’t There by Penny Joelson. About the book: For fans of Karen M. McManus and Kara Thomas comes this riveting new young adult crime thriller packed with mystery and suspense, from the acclaimed author of I Have No Secrets Nothing ever happens on Kasia’s street. And Kasia would know, because her chronic illness keeps her stuck at home, watching the outside world from her bedroom window. So when she witnesses what looks like a kidnapping, she’s not sure whether she can believe her own eyes… There had been a girl in the window across the street who must have seen something too. But when Kasia ventures out to find her, she is told the most shocking thing of all: There is no girl. Emotional and full of twists, The Girl Who Wasn’t There is perfect for readers looking for: •    teen mystery books •    diverse, complex characters •    chronic illness representation from an #ownvoices author •    books for teens that deal with social issues •    young adult suspense novels

Discussion & Activity Guide for Grades K, 1, 2 and 3 Prepared by We Love Children’s Books About the Book Giraffe and Zebra meet every day under their favorite tree to walk to the watering hole. But today, Giraffe isn’t there! Where could he be? Zebra spots him hiding in the tree; Giraffe has seen a spider and is scared silly. Zebra patiently talks to Giraffe and does the very best thing: supports Giraffe for as long as Giraffe needs it. About the Author Lisa Katzenberger started writing for a creative writing assignment in third grade—and she hasn’t stopped since then! She has a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and worked as a technical writer, but then she started writing short stories, novels—and now picture books! Visit her at lisakatzenberger.com. About the Illustrator Jaclyn Sinquett grew up playing in her dad’s garden, feeding worms to box turtles, and tossing french fries to seagulls at the Jersey shore. She now spends her time painting shells with her little daughter, dancing in the living room with her husband, and illustrating books for children. Her favorite color is yellow ocher. Visit her at jaclynsinquett.com. Reviews “Katzenberger tells the tale simply and directly, emphasizing the friends’ kindness and patience… Sinquett’s brightly hued cartoons delightfully express the characters’ emotions and personalities, lightening the message of the text without diminishing it.” —Kirkus Reviews

A hilarious, heartwarming picture book with subtle lessons about the importance of sharing, home, and friendship. Gil the Goldfish lives in a fishbowl with 138 pebbles—he counts them every day—and a castle. It feels TOO CROWDED! When Gil leaves his bowl in search of open spaces, he finds a world full of many interesting…and loud … and possibly dangerous creatures. It turns out that life outside the bowl might not be right for a fish. Thank goodness for Turtle, a citizen of the not-so-great outdoors who comes to Gil’s rescue! Will Gil make peace with his home sweet home, and maybe even find room for a friend in the process? “The story is a satisfying balance of familiar and fresh, with an endearing protagonist and an especially timely message about isolation and connection… Utterly delightful.”** —Kirkus Reviews, STARRED review**

**Perfect for fans of You comes a classic sort of love story…except somebody may wind up dead. Logan thinks he and Delilah are meant to be. Delilah doesn’t know who Logan is. Logan believes no one knows Delilah like him. He makes sure of it by learning everything he can by watching her through a hidden camera. Some might call him a stalker. Logan prefers to be called “romantic”. Delilah is keeping secrets though, deadly ones. There’s so much more to her than meets the eye. Logan is determined to make Delilah the heroine in his twisted fantasy and he’ll do anything to get what he wants. Delilah is done with the men in her life controlling her. If Logan won’t let her go…she’ll make him. “Sutanto has crafted a page-turning work of suspense that questions the line between romantic “research” and stalking in the age of the internet, analyzing the roles played by abuse, misogyny, racism, and violence in contemporary relationships.” -Booklist “Set against a Northern California private school backdrop, the sensational plot is riddled with twists that come at a furious pace…A suspenseful page-turner.” -Kirkus Reviews “This tense, quick-moving thriller is also a thought-provoking story about the different shapes of abuse. Fans of high-drama fiction with a dark edge, like Karen McManus’s One of Us Is Lying or Gretchen McNeil’s #murdertrending, will be hooked.” -School Library Journal

With pictures from the illustrator behind Last Week Tonight’s A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo, this delightfully punny story about ocean life, conservation, and cooperation is perfect for sparking conversations in the classroom and at home. Walt is a proud lobstah whose greatest dream is winning the annual Swell Gahdens contest. But year after year that honor always goes to his chowdah-head neighbor Milton. One day, when heaps of gahbage show up in their yahds, the rival lobstahs must join forces to save their beloved gahdens from the trash floating down from above. Our oceans are beautiful, colorful, diverse ecosystems that are home to over a million species of underwater creatures. Unfortunately, humans are putting our friends under the sea at risk by polluting Earth’s oceans daily. Lobstah Gahden will help kids understand the importance of conservation, and additional backmatter about sea life and pollution will give readers practical ways they can help preserve our oceans.

Story Thieves meets Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library in this wacky, hilarious, and fast-paced middle-grade series starter, with the perfect combination of magic, imagination, and adventure. Javi Santiago is trying his best not to fail sixth grade. So, when the annual “invite any three people to dinner” homework assignment rolls around, Javi enlists his best friend, Wiki, and his sister, Brady, to help him knock it out of the park. But the dinner party is a lot more than they bargained for. The family’s mysterious antique table actually brings the historical guests to the meal…and Blackbeard the Pirate is turning out to be the worst guest of all time. Before they can say “avast, ye maties,” Blackbeard escapes, determined to summon his bloodthirsty pirate crew. And as Javi, Wiki, and Brady try to figure out how to get Blackbeard back into his own time, they might have to invite some even zanier figures to set things right again…

An adorable rhyming Halloween book with educational nonfiction elements woven in, perfect for classrooms and libraries! Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me lots of BUGS to eat! Follow along as a young bat takes flight on Halloween night and eats lots of delicious bugs along the way! Includes educational backmatter with lots of fun facts about bats and their favorite insects.

“A tale that is chilling on more than one level… Zombie rats and ghastly ghosts galore—but the haunting comes from more than the spectral cast” — Kirkus When 13-year-old Glennon McCue, his mom, and his fragile sister are left with their uncle at his lighthouse on Isle Philippeaux, Glennon desperately wants leave the desolate isle and return home. But his father is away, so Glennon is forced to spend his break surrounded by fog, rats, and chilling myths. Nothing seems quite right… with the island or with his family. A storm rocks the island and a ship crashes near the lighthouse, leaving behind a group of sailors. Something is off about the survivors, who seem more monster than human. Soon it becomes clear that there won’t be boats to take anyone home, and Glennon and his family are trapped. It will take all Glennon’s courage to save his family from the curse of the isle and the real monster in his life. Pick up Monsters in the Mist if you are looking for: A book for middle school students, 5th grade to 9th grade Mystery books for kids 9-12 Chilling ghost stories and ghost books for kids (perfect for Halloween!) Praise for The Wolf of Cape Fen: “Brandt’s striking debut is eerie and intriguing, set in a deftly built world that feels both cozily familiar and unsettlingly odd. A stunning seaside fairy tale that will absorb readers until the very end.”—Booklist “Unfolding gradually as Eliza relentlessly pieces the past together, this intriguing mystery culminates in a startling, literally transforming climax.”—Kirkus Reviews “Atmospheric…this fabulist middle grade effectively employs a dream-fueled magic system that reckons with consequences.”—Publishers Weekly Praise for A Wilder Magic: “Readers who enjoyed the Savvy series by Ingrid Law and Drizzle by Kathleen Van Cleve will love this little gem.” —Rebecca Williams, Portland Book Review “The relationship between magic, nature, and intent adds a thoughtful level of complexity and cost to this sophomore novel by Brandt…a poignant blend of loss and optimism as readers empathize with Sybaline’s rebellion against inevitable change.” —Publishers Weekly “[Kids] expecting a big move may find comfort in Sybaline’s eventual acceptance of her need to leave the valley.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

From the New York Times and USA Today bestselling How to Catch series comes an all-new, hilarious school adventure!** The class pets escaped from their cages and are running loose in your school! Lizards, hamsters, rabbits, and birds are on the loose… and a bearded dragon is leading the hilarious escape. Join the fun and find out if YOU have what it takes to catch these riotous pets on their wild field trip! Featuring an approachable school theme that kids will relate to plus cute animal characters and clever rhymes, this silly story will inspire repeat reads again and again. Perfect for young readers and educators alike and a delight for fans of the bestselling series, this fun-filled picture book blends STEAM concepts with hilarity and chaos to encourage reading, learning, and imagination. Great for children ages 4-10, this book makes a delightful first day of school gift, appreciation gift for teachers, holiday stocking stuffer, graduation gift, or for read-aloud fun anytime of year! All the class pets are on the loose, and each critter must be found! We need your help setting traps before the school bell sounds! Also in the How to Catch Series: How to Catch a Unicorn How to Catch a Dinosaur How to Catch a Mermaid How to Catch a Monster How to Catch a Snowman and more!

Three characters with their own agendas converge in a town filled with mediums, where most residents make their living speaking to the dead…and there’s no such thing as resting in peace. Russ Griffin has always wanted to be a fantastic medium. Growing up in the town of St. Hilaire, where most residents make their living by speaking to the dead, means there’s a lot of competition, and he’s always held his own. But Russ knows the town he loves is corrupt, and he’s determined to save it before the sinister ruling body, The Guild, ruins all he’s ever wanted. Willow Rogers is St. Hilaire royalty. An orphan, raised by The Guild, she’s powerful and mysterious. But she has secrets that might change everyone’s fate. She’s done with St. Hilaire, done with helping spirits move on. She wants to end the cycle for good and rid the town of ghosts, even if that means destroying the only home she’s ever known. Asher Mullen lost his sister, and his parents can’t get over her death. They sought answers in St. Hilaire and were turned away. Now they want revenge. Asher is tasked with infiltrating the town, and he does that by getting to know Russ. The only problem is, he might be falling for him, which will make betraying him that much harder. Russ, Willow, and Asher all have their own agendas for St. Hilaire, but one thing’s for certain, no one will be resting in peace.

This captivating book explores the real connection and communication that runs underground between trees in the forest. The well-researched details about trees’ own social network will help readers see that the natural world’s survival depends on staying connected and helping others—just like us! Parents, teachers, and gift givers will find: a beautiful story about our forests with scientifically accurate information educational backmatter about this underground web of communication a nature book that supports social emotional learning The fascinating mycorrhizal fungi network runs underground through the roots of trees in the forest allowing for connection and communication. Readers will discover that trees have their own social network to help each other survive and thrive.

Learn how to welcome new neighbors into your community, particularly when they might be far from home, in this uplifting and diverse picture book that champions human connection and inclusivity. After all, the world is everyone’s home and we’re one big family! * When we see someone new in our neighborhood, how can we help them feel safe and loved and important? How can we tell them, you’re not alone? There are so many ways!* From the creators of Miry’s List, the nonprofit that has helped thousands of refugees, Our World is a Family is an all-ages picture book exploring the complicated topic of human migration in a gentle, loving, and affirming way. It lightly touches on the reason people might leave their homes, like climate change or lack of safety, and inspires children to welcome their new neighbors into their communities with love.

Learning is fun while discovering one of the most beautiful ecosystems in the world! Begin to appreciate the adorable baby animals in and around the coral reef like pufferfish that puff, gruntfish that grunt, and seahorses that flutter. Explore the world around you, and inspire a bond with nature through curiosity and wonder! Parents, teachers and gift givers will find: a book filled with baby animals from the coral reef. educational backmatter about this habitat and the animals that live there. a nature book to explore new and beautiful habitats! The creative art will inspire many projects at home and at school! Kids will explore the coral reef habitat and learn about baby animals like octopus, clownfish, and more creatures around the ocean habitat in this bestselling book for young explorers!

From the award-winning author of Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna, Alda P. Dobbs, comes a compelling new novel about building a new life in America. Strong and determined, Petra Luna returns in a story about the immigrant experience that continues to be relevant today.** Petra Luna is in America, having escaped the Mexican Revolution and the terror of the Federales. Now that they are safe, Petra and her family can begin again, in this country that promises so much. Still, twelve-year-old Petra knows that her abuelita, little sister, and baby brother depend on her to survive. She leads her family from a smallpox-stricken refugee camp on the Texas border to the buzzing city of San Antonio, where they work hard to build a new life. And for the first time ever, Petra has a chance to learn to read and write. Yet Petra also sees in America attitudes she thought she’d left behind on the other side of the Río Grande—people who look down on her mestizo skin and bare feet, who think someone like her doesn’t deserve more from life. Petra wants more. Isn’t that what the revolution is about? Her strength and courage will be tested like never before as she fights for herself, her family, and her dreams. Petra’s first story, Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna, was a New York Public Library Book of the Year and a Texas Bluebonnet Master List Selection.

**The Hate U Give meets Internment in this pulse-pounding thriller about an impenetrable dome around Baltimore that is keeping the residents in and information from going out during a city-wide protest. ** Jamal Lawson just wanted to be a part of something. As an aspiring journalist, he packs up his camera and heads to Baltimore to document a rally protesting police brutality after another Black man is murdered. But before it even really begins, the city implements a new safety protocol…the Dome. The Dome surrounds the city, forcing those within to subscribe to a total militarized shutdown. No one can get in, and no one can get out. Alone in a strange place, Jamal doesn’t know where to turn…until he meets hacker Marco, who knows more than he lets on, and Catherine, an AWOL basic-training-graduate, whose parents helped build the initial plans for the Dome. As unrest inside of Baltimore grows throughout the days-long lockdown, Marco, Catherine, and Jamal take the fight directly to the chief of police. But the city is corrupt from the inside out, and it’s going to take everything they have to survive.

Mysterious disappearances. An urban legend rumored to be responsible. And one group of friends determined to save their city at any cost. Stranger Things meets Jordan Peele in this utterly original debut from an incredible new voice. For over a year, the Bronx has been plagued by sudden disappearances that no one can explain. Sixteen-year-old Raquel does her best to ignore it. After all, the police only look for the white kids. But when her crush Charlize’s cousin goes missing, Raquel starts to pay attention—especially when her own mom comes down with a mysterious illness that seems linked to the disappearances. Raquel and Charlize team up to investigate, but they soon discover that everything is tied to a terrifying urban legend called the Echo Game. The game is rumored to trap people in a sinister world underneath the city, and the rules are based on a particularly dark chapter in New York’s past. And if the friends want to save their home and everyone they love, they will have to play the game and destroy the evil at its heart—or die trying.

About Too Many Bubbles: Help children master the skill of mindfulness in this new series focused on social-emotional growth! Izzy the Mouse wakes up one day with a grumpy thought bubble hanging over her head. But instead of going away on its own, it multiplies. Soon, the thought bubbles are getting in the way of every part of Izzy’s life. Something has to be done, though Izzy doesn’t know what. When she sees a bear blowing bubbles and realizes that a deep breath helps them float away, she tries a deep breathing exercise—and it helps her get rid of her grumpy thoughts for good. About Brave Like Me: Teach children to embrace their inner roar and become their bravest selves with the new Books of Great Character series that focuses on social-emotional growth! Wyatt is a lion, which everyone knows means one things: he’s incredibly brave, like all lions. He performs daring acts of bravery all the time! But none of the other animals realize that Wyatt actually does have a fear; he’s scared of the stage. When his friend’s hat is blown away by a gust of wind, Wyatt bravely offers to go save it. And when the hat blows onto a stage mid-performance, Wyatt must decide if he is capable of facing his fears for a good cause.