Happy Book Birthday: August New Releases

Light the candles and slice the cake! We have a whole new slate of incredible titles arriving on shelves this August. Grab your bookmark and join us in celebrating these incredible new picture books, middle grade, nonfiction and more as they officially make their way into the hands of young readers everywhere!

New Picture Books

Cass and the Beast by Claire Mabey and illustrated by Jill Calder

• Interest Level: PreK – 2

When a fearful beast arrives in the township, Cass finds her courage and takes a thundering ride through a forested landscape. This sweeping picture book celebrates choosing not to be afraid and being rewarded with a wild, magical journey.

Praise for Cass and the Beast

“A picture book that affirms the introverted, misunderstood or compassionate child who relishes an imaginative adventure or is brave enough to take risks in real life.”—Books+Publishing

A House with No Door: A Sukkot Story by Amy Fellner Dominy and illustrated by Rotem Teplow

• Interest Level: PreK – 2

What kind of house is this? One with three walls and no door? It’s called a sukkah. In this poetic tale, family and friends (and a couple cats!) gather to decorate a backyard sukkah in observation of Sukkot.

Praise for A House with No Door

“Sukkot celebrants will appreciate the affectionate reflection of their traditions in this perceptive picture book. A solid, soulful addition to an autumn holiday collection.”—School Library Journal

Red Snake Blue Snake by Olivier Tallec and illustrated by Antony Shugaar

• Interest Level: PreK – 2

Two snakes out for a day’s slither in the countryside find there’s more than one way to see the world in this oversize picture book about the pleasure of a day spent with a friend, even if you agree on nothing.

Praise for Red Snake Blue Snake

“In this tale of a complicated friendship, these two titular snakes may seem similar, but they can also be massively different personalities. As such, the book really leans into the idea of different perspectives.”—Betsy Bird

“Red Snake Blue Snake never asks its friends to become more alike. Instead, it quietly shows that a lifetime of paying attention to another person can make difference itself a form of intimacy.”—Mat Tobin

Stella’s Special Recipe: A Rosh Hashanah Story by Melissa Stoller and illustrated by Valerya Milovanova

• Interest Level: PreK – 2

Taking things apart may seem destructive at first glance. But a closer look reveals the many benefits―from finding spare parts for fixing things to learning math and spelling to recycling and more!

Praise for Stella’s Special Recipe

“Milovanova’s mixed-media illustrations feel attractively simple as they capture the essence and excitement of Stella’s cooking project.”—Booklist

Take It Apart by Katey Howes and illustrated by

• Interest Level: PreK – 3

Taking things apart may seem destructive at first glance. But a closer look reveals the many benefits―from finding spare parts for fixing things to learning math and spelling to recycling and more!

Praise for Take It Apart

★”Playful and original, this book will inspire readers to start their own “investigation stations” and explore the art of taking things apart.”—starred, School Library Journal

“An enthusiastic endorsement of learning through disassembly.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Undoing gleams as a pathway to discovery in this inventive work.”—Publishers Weekly

New Chapter Books

The Monster and the Clown by Mats Strandberg and illustrated by Sofia Falkenhem, translated by Julia Marshall

• Interest Level: 1 – 4

Frank must outwit the ringleader of the monstrous circus in this new story in the just-scary-enough illustrated chapter book series about a warm-hearted boy-turned-werewolf trying to find his pack.

Praise for The Monster and the Clown

★”Readers will be caught up in this fantasy adventure that’s neither too scary nor too simplistic; a tale that will leave them wanting more of Frank and his monster pack’s adventures.”—starred, School Library Journal

New Middle Grade

Paloma Joins the Circus by Lupe Ruiz-Flores

• Interest Level: 5 – 8

In 1939, twelve-year-old Paloma travels with la carpa, her Mexican American family’s tent show, and sets out to show her father that she has what it takes to be a tightrope walker like her mother.

Praise for Paloma Joins the Circus

★”A daring story of family and finding balance.”—starred, Kirkus Reviews

“Explores the timeless theme of belonging and the ever-present tension between appeasing family and pursuing one’s own dreams.”—Booklist

“An illuminating offering about the compromises and personal discoveries made when pursuing one’s dreams.”—Publishers Weekly

“An inspiring choice for kids with big dreams.”—School Library Journal

New Graphic Novels

Amazing Inventions series

• Interest Level: 2 – 5

Discover true stories of invention behind coveted pop-culture objects—from sneakers to drones. With high-interest graphic novel art, these books profile the products’ creators and subsequent innovators, as well as social history, revealing how people’s needs in a particular period led to creative solutions.

Hedgehog Rolls Over: In Autumn (Book 3) by Raymond McGrath

• Interest Level: PreK – 2

As Bird, Spider, and Worm enjoy fall together, a strange, spikey pile of leaves snuffles about. But once uncovered, the pointy creature rolls up into a ball. Can the gang find a way to help this shy, new hedgehog friend?

Praise for Hedgehog Rolls Over

“A warm, consistent continuation of a sweet seasonal series.”—Kirkus Reviews

New in Paperback

Dear Wandering Wildebeest: And Other Poems from the Water Hole by Irene Latham and illustrated by Anna Wadham

• Interest Level: 3 – 6

Spend a day at a water hole on the African grasslands. From dawn to nightfall, giraffes gulp, wildebeest graze, vultures squabble, and elephants wallow. Factual sidebars provide more information about the animals and their environment.

Praise for Dear Wandering Wildebeest

★”Latham’s finely crafted verse, at once humorous and serious, dazzlingly opens the imagination to the wilds of the world. Enlightening and engaging, a thrilling panorama of the diversity to be found throughout the animal kingdom.” —starred, Kirkus Reviews

★”This will be a much-sought-after book for teaching reading and inquiry skills…. A strong choice.” —starred, School Library Journal

“A fine volume of verse for independent reading or sharing with a class.” —Booklist

“An assured and often amusing grouping of verse that informs as it entertains.” —Publishers Weekly

Little Killers: The Ferocious Lives of Puny Predators by Sneed B. Collard III

• Interest Level: 3 – 6

Meet some of the world’s most impressive predators! Small creatures can make a huge impact, changing ecosystems, controlling pests, and even taking down much larger creatures. Discover the amazing lives of these voracious killers.

Praise for Little Killers

“Young browsers will still devour this, and budding zoologists will relish the heaping helpings of specific species names and natural detail.”—Booklist

Sensational Senses: Amazing Ways Animals Perceive the World by Rebecca E. Hirsch

• Interest Level: 3 – 8

Humans have five senses. Some animals have extraordinary senses and can perceive things we can’t. Discover how animals including star-nosed moles, elephants, and mantis shrimp use their senses to find food, navigate, and communicate.

They Thought They Buried Us by NoNieqa Ramos

• Interest Level: 9 – 12

Horror movie fan Yuiza gets a scholarship to a prestigious boarding school that isn’t what it seems. Yuiza must uncover the school’s sinister secrets and try to get out alive.

Praise for They Thought They Buried Us

“A reflection of colonization and current society so real, it is unclear where the truth ends and the horror begins. This book will make you rethink everything you thought you knew and channel the power of ancestors into your soul with a calling to rise up in power. Unforgettable.”—Joanna Ho, author of The Silence That Binds Us

“Fans of horror movies in particular will appreciate this creepy story that centers survival for queer, BIPOC characters in the face of white supremacy.”—Booklist

“Ramos explores the struggles and complexities of being BIPOC in a mostly white and affluent environment with nuance and sensitivity. Reviewer Rating: 5″—Children’s Literature

When Plants Attack: Strange and Terrifying Plants by Rebecca E. Hirsch

• Interest Level: 4 – 8

Science writer and plant expert Rebecca E. Hirsch presents fun and gross facts about a plants such as the Venus Flytrap and a “vampire vine,” explaining the science behind why they do what they do.

Praise for When Plants Attack

“Curious readers will be eager to learn more about these creepy plants.”—Booklist

“This will be fun for both report writers and browsers.”—BayViews

When the Sun Shines on Antarctica: And Other Poems about the Frozen Continent by Irene Latham and illustrated by Anna Wadham

• Interest Level: 3 – 6

Experience summer like never before by traveling to Antarctica with evocative poetry. Additional facts and whimsical illustrations accompany each poem about the animals and environment at the bottom of the world.

Praise for When the Sun Shines on Antarctica

“The creators of Dear Wandering Wildebeest: And Other Poems from the Water Hole (2014) here offer poetry and art focused on the Antarctic summer. . . . [This] will be welcomed by classrooms combining poetry and science.”—Booklist

“The gentle illustrations excel at balancing both the frigid iciness and the blossoming hope of spring. Though playfulness abounds, this is not a romanticized portrait of life in the polar south. . . . A tender, lively, and mostly thoughtful tour through summer on the frozen continent.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Wadham’s paintings adeptly match the whimsical and mysterious notes in Latham’s poems, making for a fascinating study of the Antarctic’s singular creatures and features.”—Publishers Weekly

​”Latham does a compelling job of presenting facts alongside verse. . . . Through stunning, evocative artwork, Wadham brings the hues of the Antarctic to life. . . . A delightful assortment of verse that is enhanced by stimulating information and charming illustrations.”—School Library Journal

Where Have All the Bees Gone?: Pollinators in Crisis by Rebecca E. Hirsch

• Interest Level: 6 – 12

Bumblebees are the main pollinators for many of our food products, and they are disappearing. Examine the history of bees, the role of wild bees in food production and habitats, and the serious threats they are facing—and how we can help.

Praise for Where Have All the Bees Gone?

★”An important resource for all libraries.”—starred, Booklist

“Accessible and concise . . .”—Kirkus Reviews

“An informative survey for students of biology and environmental science . . .”—School Library Journal

“Readers will walk away not only more informed about the topic, but concerned and ready to act as well.”—School Library Connection

New Nonfiction

After the Towers Fell: America in the Wake of 9/11 by Matt Doeden

• Interest Level: 6 – 12

The horrific terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, permanently altered the United States, rocking the nation’s sense of security. Yet Americans came together to help, mourn, protect, and rebuild. Learn what happened on 9/11 and explore the short- and long-term impacts.

Praise for After the Towers Fell

“Provides valuable insights into a turning point whose repercussions continue to reverberate today.”—Booklist

“A brief, critical view of a traumatic time that’s well suited to student use.”—Kirkus Reviews

“A comprehensive book, with sidebars that take a deeper dive into events, locations, and concepts.”—School Library Journal

An Astonishing Circle: The Discovery and Denial of the Circulatory System by Maria Parrott-Ryan

• Interest Level: 6 – 12

In 1628, a controversial medical pamphlet challenged previous scientific beliefs by claiming that blood moved in a circle through the body. Discover the people who changed our understanding of the circulatory system.

Praise for An Astonishing Circle

★”Parrott-Ryan turns a seemingly dull topic into a fascinating look at early medicine. . . . [a] refreshingly absorbing and original resource.”—starred, Booklist

★”Stimulating, absorbing, and informative.”—starred, Kirkus Reviews

“A thorough, entertaining, and contextual look at one of the most remarkable discoveries in medicine and beyond.”—School Library Journal

Building Relationships with Sesame Street ® Series

• Interest Level: PreK – 2

Young readers learn different social and emotional skills alongside their friends from Sesame Street. From how to disagree with kindness to working through disappointment, readers are guided through strategies to help navigate everyday interactions and feelings.

Tomorrow’s Technology with TryEngineering ® , Powered by IEEE Series

• Interest Level: 3 – 6

Engineering gives us exciting inventions ranging from artificial intelligence to ocean technology. Explore different branches of engineering and learn how these innovative discoveries can improve our world. Developed in partnership with TryEngineering, an education-focused website supported by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), this series aims to inspire future engineers.

New in Spanish

Los inicios del béisbol (Béisbol Begins): Cómo Nemesio Guilló llevó el béisbol a Cuba (How Nemesio Guilló Brought Baseball to Cuba) by Ramon Olivera and translated by Alberto Rojas Pinto

• Interest Level: 1 – 4

When Nemesio Guilló traveled from his home in Havana, Cuba, to school in Alabama, he didn’t know he was going to fall in love with a new sport—baseball! Discover how he brought baseball to Cuba. Now in Spanish!

Praise for Los inicios del béisbol 

★”An informative and inspirational picture book biography for all Spanish-language nonfiction collections.”—starred, School Library Journal

El poder de la palabra todavía (The Power of Yet) by Whitney Sanderson

• Interest Level: PreK – 2

Yet is a powerful word. It tells us we can learn new things. Young readers join Sesame Street friends in discovering new skills. Learn the importance of practice, dealing with feelings of frustration, and more. Now in Spanish!

Praise for El poder de la palabra todavía 

“An encouraging title reminding readers to be kind with themselves when learning new things and of the importance of thinking in terms of todavía, this Spanish title is an excellent addition to all children’s collections.”—School Library Journal

Lightning Bolt Books ® en español — ¡Eso es aterrador! (That’s Scary!) Series

• Interest Level: 1 – 3

Treat young readers to this delightfully scary yet fun and kid-friendly series about ghosts, haunted places, mummies, and more. Each book takes a nonfiction approach to these spooky, high-interest topics. Now in Spanish!