**Teach kids about cross-cultural communication and reaching out to others with this simple, heartwarming story Perfect for those looking for:** stories about connection colorful, engaging art books about communication and respecting others classroom picture books When a boy comes across a fish and says hello, the fish does not respond. The boy is shocked. What a rude fish! But soon he realizes that it isn’t up to the fish to speak Boy. Rather, if he wants to communicate, it’s up to the boy to take the time to learn how to speak Fish. Celebrate the connections we have to those different from us with* Do You Speak Fish!*

The first book in Duck & Cluck, a brand new funny graphic novel series for beginning readers—perfect for fans of Mo Willems and Elephant and Piggie. Meet Duck and Cluck. They are friends. Mostly. But they do not always agree. Duck has found an egg. Cluck thinks the egg belongs to her instead. And sharing? Out of the question! This simple but hilarious read-aloud follows the two friends as they make their case for why the egg belongs to them. And in the end, they both learn important lessons about manners and sharing. That Egg is Mine is the perfect laugh-out-loud purchase for any kindergarten or first-grader learning to read, or for anyone searching for comic books for ages 6-8.

**This empathetic and inclusive picture book empowers kids to love themselves and their identities, stand up to hate, and have each others’ backs no matter what. When I say something is unfair to me, but it’s fair for you, what does that make it?** When I meditate, it all gets clear. And if you listen, you will really hear. I am not alone. I am enough. It can be scary to feel like you’re all on your own, especially in the face of prejudice. But always remember: you are not alone! Based on the Grammy award nominated hip-hop group Alphabet Rockers’ empowering song, “Not Alone,” this uplifting picture book reminds kids that they always belong. Encouraging words invite readers to love their beautiful selves, celebrate their identities, and use their voices against hate, You Are Not Alone asks us to step up for each other and have each others’ backs, no matter what.

A heartwarming celebration of all skin shades, from sun-browned to autumn-leaf-gold! Amrita and Kiki are best friends and sunflower sisters. Amrita’s older sister is getting married, but when the elder relatives arrive, they start dispensing some old-fashioned and dubious advice. Luckily, Amrita’s mother has a lesson or two to teach about that! With the support and empowerment of their moms, the sunflower sisters are two strong, confident girls—one South Asian the other Nigerian—finding joy in their own skin.

A new page-turning thriller from USA Today bestselling author David Bell.** When a girl disappears, who do you suspect? When 17-year-old Hunter Gifford wakes in the hospital on the night of homecoming, he’s shocked to learn he and his girlfriend, Chloe Summers, have been in a terrible car accident. Hunter has no memory of the crash, and his shock turns to horror when he is told Chloe’s blood has been found in the car—but she has disappeared. Back at school, his fellow students taunt him, and his former best friend starts making a true-crime documentary about the case—one that points the finger directly at Hunter. And just when things can’t get any worse, Chloe’s mother stands in front of the entire town at a candlelight vigil and accuses Hunter of murder. Under mounting pressure from the police, Hunter takes matters into his own hands by questioning anyone who might know the truth and posting videos to prove his innocence. When Hunter learns he and Chloe were seen arguing loudly outside the dance, he faces a sickening possibility. Was he angry enough to kill the person he loved? Praise for David Bell: “David Bell is a top-notch storyteller and Layover is his best book yet. I flew through this twisty, riveting psychological thriller at breakneck speed, hooked from the first page right up through the book’s breathless conclusion.”—Cristina Alger, New York Times bestselling author of Girls Like Us “With hints of Patricia Highsmith’s THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY, this is a riveting thriller.” —Palm Beach Daily News “Readers will find themselves thoroughly immersed in this riveting thriller…both compelling and surprising.”—Booklist “Bell is a brilliant craftsman as well as storyteller.”—The Providence Journal

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.

From the author/illustrator team behind The Snatchabook comes a music-filled journey to bedtime. * “Orange moon, blue baboon. Blue baboon spies bassoon.”* Blue baboon is eager to play the bassoon with her new friends. But a monsoon threatens to spoil the fun. Fortunately a big balloon arrives in time to carry them to a dune where they can all play in tune together!

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.

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!

**A timely book that introduces important concepts of social justice and equality to elementary-school children. A Is for Ally, Advocate, Anti-Racist, Ancestors, and Assembly** Using simple explanations and appealing illustrations in a familiar A-to-Z format, The Young Activist’s Dictionary of Social Justice will teach kids the new vocabulary of change. Vetted by an anti-bias, anti-racism educator, this essential new resource is packed with easily understandable definitions of timely concepts. Each beautifully designed spread represents a letter and provides concise, age-appropriate definitions for 10 or more terms, with subject matter spanning issues like racial justice, climate change, gender equality, LGBTQ+ rights, income disparity, voter engagement, and immigration. In addition to information, the pages are also full of inspiration: Bite-sized bios accompany key terms, illuminating the stories of justice advocates who got involved with a cause at a young age. Infographics and sidebars bring complementary concepts to life. And with the rich resource section in the back, kids can read more about how to take action on the cause that’s meaningful to them. Read on, and let’s work together for a more equal world for all.

*Dear boy, Black boy, I believe in you so. Let’s start your story—ready, set, go.* From athlete and activist Colin Kaepernick to musician Fela Kuti, and from explorer Matthew Henson to writer Chinua Achebe, there are so many inspirational men in Black history. Imagine what you can be and the great things you can do with the strength of people throughout history that have paved the way for Black boys. This inspiring, lyrical picture book combines an uplifting, motivational text with references to wonderful figures throughout history. The combination is both encouraging and educational, prompting boys to imagine what they can be and the great things they can do in their own lives.

The end is coming. How do you live, and how far would you go to save yourself and the ones you love? A compelling dystopian novel for anyone who’s ever felt like their life—their world—is on the brink of imploding. Alexandra Lucas’ anxiety disorder was enough to deal with, then mysterious holographic doors suddenly appeared throughout the world, heralding the end of the earth. A recording plays on loop: Heed the warning and step through a portal-like vertex to safety…or stay and be destroyed by a comet that is on a collision course with the planet. The holograms claim to be humans from the future offering the promise of safety. But without the ability to verify their story, Alex is forced to consider what is best for her friends, her family, and herself. Stay or go—everyone must make their own choice. With the deadline of the hologram’s prophecy fast approaching, Alex feels as though she’s living on a ticking time bomb. But the truth is much, much worse. And every decision comes at a price.

Based on a true story, the tale of one girl’s perilous journey to cross the U.S. border and lead her family to safety during the Mexican Revolution It is 1913, and twelve-year-old Petra Luna’s mama has died while the Revolution rages in Mexico. Before her papa is dragged away by soldiers, Petra vows to him that she will care for the family she has left—her abuelita, little sister Amelia, and baby brother Luisito—until they can be reunited. They flee north through the unforgiving desert as their town burns, searching for safe harbor in a world that offers none. Each night when Petra closes her eyes, she holds her dreams close, especially her long-held desire to learn to read. Abuelita calls these barefoot dreams: “They’re like us barefoot peasants and indios—they’re not meant to go far.” But Petra refuses to listen. Through battlefields and deserts, hunger and fear, Petra will stop at nothing to keep her family safe and lead them to a better life across the U.S. border—a life where her barefoot dreams could finally become reality.

In this clever picture book tale about the power of representation, a red panda decides to write her own story when she realizes that none of the other panda books include pandas that look like her. When Red discovers a new book about pandas, she can’t wait to read it! Except it’s about only one kind of panda, and red pandas are completely left out. Red never gets to read stories about pandas like herself! So she decides to take matters into her own paws and write her own book. But when Red looks around, it seems like the only kind of pandas the world cares about are the black and white kind. Will anyone want to read about red pandas? It’s up to Red to finish her story and share it with the world!

The newest addition in the New York Times and USA Today bestselling How to Catch series—can YOU catch Santa Claus on the biggest night of the year? From the New York Times and USA Today bestselling How to Catch series comes the Catch Club Kids’ biggest Christmas adventure yet! It’s Christmas Eve and jolly old St. Nicholas is getting ready to deliver presents to children around the world, but he’ll have to dodge traps to try to deliver presents on time, with the help of a couple of familiar faces! Poised to become a new holiday tradition, this festive tale blends STEAM concepts with hilarity and chaos to encourage reading, learning, and imagination. It’s Christmas Eve! I am almost there! I know you’ve hatched a plan. So when you hear my HO! HO! HO! Try to catch me, if YOU can!

The true story of José Andrés, an award-winning chef, food activist, and founder of World Central Kitchen, a disaster-relief organization that uses the power of food to nourish communities after catastrophe strikes. When a terrible earthquake hit Haiti in 2010, chef José Andrés knew he needed to help. Within a few hours of the disaster, he had gathered friends, they flew to the island, and they began cooking rice and beans for the hungry locals. This trip changed the life of the successful chef and led him to found World Central Kitchen, a disaster-relief organization that has fed more than 200 million people affected by natural disasters, the COVID pandemic, and war. This beautifully illustrated book tells the story of a passionate chef who uses the power of food to nurture people in need, one plate at a time.

Maya has something special – a glow that pushes her to create a brighter world. By learning about Black women throughout history, Maya is inspired by their glowing feelings of love, anger, and justice to change the world for the better! Maya feels two types of glowing—a warm glow when she picks strawberries in the community garden or hears music in her neighborhood, and a different kind of glow when she gets pushed down on the playground or sees her favorite cousin get stopped by the police. Sometimes that glowing seems like too much to carry… But then Maya learns that others feel the same light she does—Black women like Ida B. Wells, Nina Simone, and Maya’s own ancestors—and they always found ways to honor their glow. They were all guided by their light to make a difference, so Maya decides to share her own light and work toward a brighter world.

From the New York Times bestselling author Raj Haldar comes a hilarious picture book explaining how books get banned – including this one! THIS BOOK IS BANNED! *PLEASE DON’T EVEN TRY TO READ IT. IF YOU DO, * YOU’LL FIND OUT WHY WE DON’T WANT ANYONE TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END… With each page, characters are erased from the story, cut out, and taped over. This book playfully discourages readers from turning the page, even to throw the book away, but when readers finally get to the end they find an absurd surprise ending - one that shows the importance of free speech.

Curiosity and coziness shine in this modern picture book about the pumpkin life cycle. A picture book full of heart and hominess, The Pumpkin Seed’s Secret reveals the life cycle of a pumpkin with clever and cozy rhyme. With each page turn, the pumpkin becomes something new – it’s a seed, a flower, a house, a face, and more! Extensive back matter on pumpkin life cycle stages, other fun pumpkin facts, and a recipe are included. A perfect book for home and school libraries! A pumpkin is a seed. A plain little seed with a secret inside, A pocket, a pip with a new life to hide. To hide and to hold As springtime unfolds, A pumpkin begins as a seed. A pumpkin is a sprout. A curious sprout with one leaf and then two, A budding, a nudging, a slow peekaboo. Happy for rain And sunshine again, A pumpkin pops out as a sprout.

Join the animals and follow the clues in this rollicking, rhyming, nature-inspired whodunit story full of fun collective nouns! A mischief of mice has gone missing on a blustery fall day. Now a scurry of squirrels is scared, while a band of coyotes howls nearby. Did an unkindness of ravens do something mean? Could a prickle of porcupines possibly help? Luckily, a sleuth of bears comes along to help solve the mystery.