Check out May new releases from Lerner Publishing Group!
Picture Books
Sasquatch and Squirrel by Chris Monroe
Strawberry the Sasquatch lives alone deep in the forest. Most animals are afraid of her, but she doesn’t mind. She’s happy doing all the alone things a sasquatch does—things like hiking and foraging as well as dance moves and logger pranks. Then one day, an extremely friendly squirrel named Nutty shows up. After a series of hilarious mishaps, Strawberry isn’t sure she and Nutty can get along. But thanks to some cloud watching, seed portraits, and stale marshmallows, the two find a way to be friends.
Praise for Sasquatch and Squirrel
“Plainly the beginning of a beautiful, if ouchy, friendship.” — Kirkus Reviews
Free Educator Resource
Download the free character sheets from the Lerner website. Students can make their own wacky characters!
Graphic Novels
Strange Alliances: Book 2 by Nie Jun
Xinyue, a treasure hunter turned guardian of a baby deity, has escaped death—and awakened in a strange new land. Qiliu, the boy he once called brother, has been captured by enemies—and must tamp down his rage long enough to make his next move. Faced with wolf raiders, frog royalty, and killer plants, both young men will have to choose allies carefully as powerful forces emerge.
Praise for Strange Alliances
“Light background washes of color are pleasing to the eye, while pops of more saturated tones add emphasis.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Nie Jun’s striking gray washes and warm watercolors add to the story’s serious and humorous beats; but more so, they once again invite readers to delve into a unique, dreamy fantasy world ripe with redemption arcs and its own mythology.” — Booklist
YA
The Weight of Everything by Marcia Argueta Mickelson
Six months ago, Sarah’s beloved mother died in a car accident. Her dad fell apart, and Sarah had to leave her fine arts boarding school to take care of him and her little brother. Now, her dad’s drinking and spending have gotten out of control, and Sarah is trying to hold everything together at home while adjusting to the local public high school. She’s sure she doesn’t have the time or emotional energy for a relationship with her sweet, handsome classmate, David Garza. But when a school project leads her to delve into her mother’s Mexican and Guatemalan roots and rediscover her love of art, her perspective shifts.
Praise for The Weight of Everything
[L]ovingly conveys the pivotal role older siblings can play after a parent’s death and weaves in Sarah’s new interest in Guatemalan history and social activism in an organic manner. A thoughtful and substantive story about loss, cultural discovery, and first love.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Through Sarah’s tentative steps toward healing, Mickelson (Where I Belong) attentively showcases the mending power of tenderness, patience, and love in this moving read. Ages 12–up. (May)” —Publishers Weekly
“A beautifully told, breathtaking story.” — Francisco Stork, author of On the Hook
Free Educator Resources
This title has not one, but two resources to use in the classroom to help students engage with the story beyond the text. Start a conversation with the discussion guide and introduce the history of the U.S. overthrow of the Guatemalan President in the 1950s-60s with a designed poster. Both of these resources can be found on the Lerner website.
Nonfiction
Men of the 65th: The Borinqueneers of the Korean War by Talia Aikens-Nuñez
It was the largest mass court martial of the Korean War, with one of the most decorated regiments in the US Army tried for willful disobedience. Nicknamed the Borinqueneers, the 65th Regiment was the envy of generals and the pride of Puerto Rico. How could a regiment known for honorable service in two world wars lay down their arms and refuse to fight? From their founding in 1901 to their service in the Global War on Terrorism, author Talia Aikens-Nuñez tells the stories of these soldiers, their successes, their failures, and the discrimination they faced in their service of the United States.
Praise for Men of the 65th
★”An excellent choice for those interested in military or Puerto Rican history; a great pick for U.S. history courses or research.” — starred, School Library Journal
“[E]xtensive background information, numerous sidebars, maps, and archival photos help make the action historically and politically accessible. . . . A fitting tribute to the Borinqueneers . . .” — Booklist
“[T]old in a riveting narrative style enhanced by maps, historical photographs, and eyewitness quotes. . . . Powerful stories from the battlefield illuminate courage and struggles for recognition.” — Kirkus Reviews
“An important read about an often forgotten piece of U.S. military history that celebrates its subject by forefronting their bravery in overcoming obstacles both foreign and domestic.” — Publishers Weekly
Free Educator Resources
Don’t let the learning stop on the last page! Download the free discussion guide from the Lerner website for in-depth questions on The Men of the 65th.
In case you missed it, here are some extra announcements from the Lerner blog!