Skipper the Skunk and the Song that was Almost Lost
When Melodyville falls silent, one small aviator skunk sets out on a big adventure to fix what everyone else says cannot be fixed. Skipper is curious, quick on his paws, and determined to help his city. When the joyful sounds fade, he follows a trail of clues through hidden tunnels, echoing halls, and windswept hills. Along the way he meets helpers and tricksters, solves problems step by step, and makes brave choices done with heart.This is a funny, high-energy animal adventure for ages 8-12 and grades 2-6. Skipper is not a detective with a badge. He is a skunk who cares enough to act. That single choice pulls him into a journey full of tight spots, clever escapes, and hopeful surprises. Short scenes, clear stakes, and lively pacing keep readers engaged while the humor and warmth make the story easy to share aloud.Perfect for independent reading and classroom read-alouds. Teachers and parents will appreciate a clean, upbeat story with natural hooks for discussion: paying attention, helping your community, trying again after a mistake, and noticing details others miss. Librarians will find it a fit for readers who enjoy animal adventure, gentle mystery, and fast-moving chapter books that keep pages turning.Why kids will love itA lovable skunk hero who feels small but acts bigReal stakes without harsh contentClever obstacles, playful wordcraft, and plenty of forward motionA satisfying ending that rewards persistence and teamworkBuilt for discovery. If your reader searches for children's chapter books, middle grade adventure, animal adventure, animal mystery, funny chapter book, skunk character, animal hero, kid adventure mystery, chapter books for ages 8-12, books for grades 3-6, reluctant readers, chapter book series, animal chapter book, funny animal book for kids, adventure books for 9-12 year olds, animal detective book for kids, chapter books for 9 year olds, or funny adventure books for kids, this title belongs on their list.For fans of classic, character-first quests like The Tale of Despereaux and The Mouse and the Motorcycle, this story blends heart, humor, and momentum. Skipper's voice is bright and hopeful, the set pieces are cinematic, and each chapter pushes the journey forward toward a city-sized payoff.What you can expect insideClear, friendly prose designed for confident young readersChaptered structure that supports nightly reading goalsPositive relationships and helpful side charactersProblem solving that rewards curiosity and careful thinkingA stand-alone adventure with series potentialFor readers who ask for animal-led stories, funny adventures, gentle mysteries, and quick, satisfying chapters that feel like a race you can win. This book meets kids where they are and invites them to take the next step with a hero who refuses to give up.Skipper the Skunk and the Song that was Almost Lost delivers a courageous journey with big heart and bigger fun. If your young reader loves smart animals, lively action, and feel-good endings, Skipper is ready to lead the way.
Hettie Nettle's Handbook for Hedgewitches
Wherever there's a patch of nature, children can find the Wild Wood, and wherever there is the Wild Wood, a little hedgewitch is needed! Hettie's Nettle's month-by-month guide opens the door on a hidden world--one that only children can see. Full of secrets, top tips, and funny, magical friends, this handbook is an essential guide for imaginative young guardians of nature. - Learn each month's secret Whisper Name (January's is The Dreaming--shh!)- Enjoy celebrity interviews with celebrities from the Wild Wood (such the Sun and Jack Frost)- Help organize the seasonal celebrations of the Wheel of the Year (the wedding of Jack-in-the-Green and the Queen of the May at Beltane is the event of the season!)- Have fun with the Spell of the Month (make a wish with a dandelion clock charm)- Enjoy seasonal tales from Flittermouse (Hettie's favourite is The Hare and the Moon!) Filled with watercolor illustrations from Hettie's enchanted paintbox and details about the fascinating folk she meets in her daily life, this secret notebook will connect you with the magic that lives inside and around us every day.
The Dark Times of Nimble Nottingham
Set during World War II, a twelve-year-old orphan who accidentally unleashes a shadow monster onto the streets of London must team up with unlikely allies to hunt it down. Surviving on the streets of World War II London alone certainly hasn't been easy, but Nimble Nottingham has perfected the art of going it alone--and that's just how he likes it. The only friend he needs is his beloved dog, Winnie. To pass the time between rolling blackouts and bombs falling through the air, Nim spends his days fence-climbing, roof-jumping, and gargoyle-perching...that is when he's not scrounging for food to stave off the ever-present hunger the war has brought to London. So when opportunity strikes in the form of a bomb falling onto the notoriously creepy Gravenhurst Manor, Nim knows he has to get inside and find whatever spoils he can get his hands on to sell for food. Get in. Get out. Quick as a flash. At least, that was the plan until Mouse--a member of a local street gang called the Dead End Kids--shows up and invites himself along for the heist. Inside, Mouse and Nim encounter far more than just crumbling walls and shattered windows. Beneath Gravenhurst Manor lies a secret room and inside that room is a locked safe. Nim, inspired by the Hardy Boys adventures he used to read at Waifs and Strays orphanage, knows that something this protected has to be valuable, and so he cracks the safe and unknowingly unleashes a monster. A shadow creature is now loose on the streets of London, and it's up to Nim, Mouse, and a band of unattended children to end its reign of terror.
The School for Thieves
For the first printing only! This hardcover features vibrant sprayed edges while the special edition supply lasts. A young pickpocket gets recruited into an elite group of thieves in this "page-turning, edge-of-the-seat" (Publishers Weekly, starred review) upper middle grade boarding school adventure full of heists, danger, and secret plots perfect for fans of Spy School and Keeper of the Lost Cities. Tom Morgan's life on the streets of London consists of shining shoes, picking pockets, and keeping his group of street kids out of the hands of snatchers. When he fails at the last and their home is raided, Tom is the only one not carted off to the workhouse. He's determined to rescue his friends, but breaking into the workhouse is a nearly impossible task, let alone breaking back out. Tom is at a loss until he's approached by a mysterious figure claiming to be an accomplished thief and Tom's ticket to the best training in the clandestine arts in the world: an elite international boarding school that would teach him all the skills necessary to help his friends. Without any better ideas--and his curiosity piqued--Tom accepts the invitation. Whisked away to the snowy Alps, Tom enters a thrilling world of intrigue and heists. But the deeper he gets into the Shadow League, the harder it becomes to leave. Tom has to learn fast and uncover the nefarious secrets within the league to have any chance of saving himself, his friends--and maybe even the world.
Grin
Full of chills and twists, a twelve-year-old boy is thrilled that he'll get to play endless games at his family's arcade, but soon realizes he's in the fight of his life when he's forced to save himself and his possessed Uncle from a sinister video game. Danny is spending a week with his Uncle Bill who runs a massive retro arcade called PixelWorks. His only plan is to play as many games as possible from open to close, but he wasn't expecting to find the Holy Grail of arcade collectors, a gruesome looking game titled Grin. Anyone who plays the game becomes surprisingly violent, and soon with the help of his friend Jodi and a knowledgeable videogame streamer, Danny realizes that Grin holds the soul of a dead serial killer. Soon, the killer makes the jump into Bill's body, and it's up to Danny to figure out a way to stop him for good.
The Wild Girl of Catahoula
Every Sunday, Mike and Yvette could be found sitting on the porch listening to Pop recount stories of growing up near the Catahoula swamp. Tall tales of creatures that could only live in nightmares...an old hag with long, boney fingers, a tree that comes to life, and a wild girl who keeps "toe-kens" from her human encounters. Tall tales, yes, and none of them true...right?! Yet when the family outing to visit Tante Nana, deep in the backwoods of Catahoula goes awry, Yvette soon discovers that strange things happen where the black trees grow.
Tales from Cabin 23: The Visitors
Few campers at Camp Apple Hill Farm have found the mysterious cabin rumored to be hidden deep in the woods--but those who have whisper of a mysterious woman who tells tales of horrors beyond imagination. Are you brave enough to visit Cabin 23?When Gen Far穩as's brother, Lorenzo, is arrested, everything changes. Gen's neighbors look at him and his family with suspicion, his parents are distraught, and no one will tell Gen what's happening. But the worst part is what only Gen knows: It's all his fault. If he hadn't forgotten to leave their bedroom window unlatched the night of Lorenzo's arrest, maybe his brother would have never been caught. Guilt haunts Gen--guilt, and a terrifying shadow that crouches each night on the tree branch outside his window, watching him with penetrating eyes.Gen's parents decide to move to Los Astros, a beautiful village nestled in the mountains, to try to regain some sense of normalcy. But Los Astros, Gen soon discovers, is no ordinary town. There are creepy wicker figures on every lawn and strange stories of children who go missing. Beneath its idyllic facade, Los Astros has a secret--one Gen must uncover if he doesn't want to go missing himself.And don't miss the other books in the hit Tales from Cabin 23 series: The Boo Hag Flex and Night of the Living Head!
Reptil & Ghost-Spider Join Forces!
Ghost-Spider and Reptil from Spidey and His Amazing Friends team up to defend the Stark Center in this original Marvel chapter book with black-and-white illustrations throughout! The supervillain Rhino is after one of Tony Stark's inventions, threatening young super heroes at the Stark Center. To thwart his plan, Ghost-Spider teams up with Reptil. Can they defeat Rhino? Find out in this chapter book that's perfect for Marvel fans beginning to read on their own or for reading aloud! (c) 2025 MARVEL
Welcome to the Ghost Show
The Ghost Show is coming . . . are you ready? Three friends must face their deepest fears in this spine-tingling horror novel by USA Today bestselling author J.W. Ocker that's perfect for fans of R.L. Stine and Mary Downing Hahn.When mysterious ads for the Ghost Show appear around town, nobody can tell what it is. A band? A movie? A game? But that magic word--ghost--excites Hazel Gold, or Zel to her friends. As founder of her school's Creepy Club (three members strong!), she's always looking for paranormal activity.Turns out the Ghost Show is a black, five-story skull that appears on the edge of town as a supernatural attraction. Stepping inside, the Creepy Club is greeted by the eccentric Amadeus Everest Mancer, a self-proclaimed ghost catcher who guides them through an aquarium full of vaporous floaty things--sheets that cover gobs of dripping red goo.Then Mancer offers Zel what she's always wanted: the chance to see a real ghost. But it turns out to be more than she bargained for. To stop him, the Creepy Club must fight a massive ghost infestation and free the trapped souls within, culminating in chilling battle that blurs the line between reality and the supernatural.
Stinetinglers 3
From R.L. Stine, the master of horror for young readers, comes ten brand new stories that are sure to have you keeping the light on at bedtime tonight. A boy thinks that a dream factory will help him make his slumber more fun...but what's the line between dream and nightmare? Two kids find an abandoned shack on the side of the road and are determined to make it their new treehouse... but is it as abandoned as it seems? A boy wants to impress a birthday party with his amateur magician skills...but how far will he go to wow the crowd? And each story comes with a personal introduction from Stine himself, adding even more chills. Laced with Stine's signature humor and a hefty dose of nightmarish fun, Stinetinglers 3 is perfect for fans of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and Stine's own Goosebumps books who want even more scares. These chilling tales prove that Stine's epic legacy in the horror genre is justly earned. Dive in, and beware: these stories will stick with you long after you've turned the final page.
Peek & Boo Time for Bed!
Help Peek find her best friend Boo as she gets ready for bedtime in this brand-new adorable peek-a-boo adventure! It's almost bedtime, but baby bunny Peek can't find her best friend Boo anywhere in the house. Is he hiding in the bath? Is he eating a snack? Can you help Peek find Boo in time for bed? Little ones will love exploring the house with Peek and searching for her guinea pig best friend on every page as Boo gets up to all sorts of hijinks before he makes a special appearance at the end!Why Readers Will Love Peek & Boo: Features two adorable best friends baby animalsCozy settings to explore and exciting adventures to go onBright, colorful art and fun simple text keep little ones engaged again and again!Introduces new routines and early-language vocabularyMakes a wonderful baby shower, birthday or Valentine's Day gift; holiday stocking stuffer or Easter basket stuffer
Runaway Robot
Runaway Robot is a funny and heartwarming adventure about two best friends helping put themselves back together, from the award-winning author and UK Children's Laureate 2024-2026, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, illustrated by Steven Lenton. 'A funny, charming, life-affirming book' Richard Osman What if your best friend was a robot? When Alfie goes to Airport Lost Property, he finds more than he bargained for. A lot more. Because there's a giant robot called Eric hidden away on the shelves. Eric has lost one leg and half his memory. He's super strong, but super clumsy. He's convinced that he's the latest technology, when he's actually nearly one hundred year's old and ready for the scrap heap. Can Alfie find a way to save Eric from destruction - before Eric destroys everything around him?
Sona and the Golden Beasts
From Newbery Honor and Walter Award-winning author Rajani LaRocca comes a gripping middle grade fantasy perfect for fans of The Serpent's Secret and The Last Mapmaker. Though music is outlawed in the land of Devia, Sona hears it everywhere. Sona is a Malech, a member of the ruling class that conquered Devia centuries ago. Malechs forbade music to prevent the native Devans from using their magic, and Sona hides her abilities lest they put her in danger.Then Sona discovers an orphaned wolf pup. She believes the pup, with its golden ears, might be related to one of the five sacred beasts of Devia, and she vows to keep it safe. That means bringing the pup in tow when Sona embarks on a perilous quest, along with a Devan boy, to secure the nectar of life for a loved one who has fallen gravely ill. On the journey, as Sona uncovers secrets about the Malechian empire and her own identity, she realizes that the fate of the sacred beasts, and the future of Devia, just might come down to her.This captivating fantasy novel by award-winning author Rajani LaRocca will sweep readers into Sona's quest across the land of Devia as she grapples with the lasting impact of colonial rule and learns to fight for what she knows is right.
Achievement Unlocked
Book 8 of Code Breakers: State Championship series continues the action-packed adventure with decodable text for older readers. Text in Books 7 and 8 includes multisyllabic words along with word parts such as affixes and root words. The accelerated phonics sequence allows older readers to fill in the gaps in their foundational skills while enjoying a fun and exciting story. Join Max, Liz, and Chen for the conclusion of their championship weekend and find out if their efforts were enough to save the day one again.
Midnight Madness
Book 2 of the second Code Breakers series continues the action-packed adventure with decodable text for older readers. 80% of the text in Books 1 and 2 features single syllable short vowel words. The accelerated phonics sequence allows older readers to fill in the gaps in their foundational skills while enjoying a fun and exciting story. Max, Liz, and Chen are loading up on snacks late at night when they stumble into yet another mystery at the hotel. And now it seems that the state championship is at the heart of this midnight madness.
Double Booked
Book 3 of the second Code Breakers series continues the action-packed adventure with decodable text for older readers. 80% of the text in Books 3 and 4 features single syllable short and long vowel words. The accelerated phonics sequence allows older readers to fill in the gaps in their foundational skills while enjoying a fun and exciting story. Max, Liz, and Chen must help their Code Breaker coach (and school librarian) Miss Graph make sure the tournament can happen when another group claims the rooms they need.
First Round Frenzy
Book 4 of Code Breakers: State Championship series continues the action-packed adventure with decodable text for older readers. 80% of the text in Books 3 and 4 features single syllable short and long vowel words. The accelerated phonics sequence allows older readers to fill in the gaps in their foundational skills while enjoying a fun and exciting story. Max, Liz, and Chen must race to make it to the first round of the tournament when an unexpected familiar face pops up with more information on the ongoing shenanigans at the hotel.
Chaperones Unleashed
Book 5 of Code Breakers: State Championship series continues the action-packed adventure with decodable text for older readers. 80% of the text in Books 5 and 6 features single syllable short, long, and irregular vowel words. The accelerated phonics sequence allows older readers to fill in the gaps in their foundational skills while enjoying a fun and exciting story. Liz's dad and the other chaperones aren't where they are supposed to be. Where could they have gone, and how can the tournament survive without enough adult supervision? Max, Liz, and Chen rush between rounds to find out.
Divide and Conquer
Book 6 of Code Breakers: State Championship series continues the action-packed adventure with decodable text for older readers. 80% of the text in Books 5 and 6 features single syllable short, long, and irregular vowel words. The accelerated phonics sequence allows older readers to fill in the gaps in their foundational skills while enjoying a fun and exciting story. The same strategy Max, Liz, and Chen use to win code breaking rounds might just help them solve this mystery and stop the state code breaking league from being disbanded for good.
Operation #Hashtag
Book 7 of Code Breakers: State Championship series continues the action-packed adventure with decodable text for older readers. Text in Books 7 and 8 includes multisyllabic words along with word parts such as affixes and root words. The accelerated phonics sequence allows older readers to fill in the gaps in their foundational skills while enjoying a fun and exciting story. Max, Liz, and Chen have a plan, but they need more help than they can find just in the hotel. Luckily, making friends--even famous ones--is one of their specialties.
The Memory Spinner
A luminous fantasy debut about a young girl who must choose between staying immersed in a magical past with her deceased mother, or saving those she loves most in the complicated, yet real present. Since her mama died, thirteen-year-old Lavender has a disastrous memory problem. She forgets her lessons with her papa, an apothecary. She develops elaborate evasions to hide her lack of memory of the herbs and remedies she must learn to attain her dream of being an apothecary apprentice. Worst of all, she forgets memories of her mama. Despite her papa's disdain for magic, Lavender seeks a memory remedy from a clothing enchantress named Frey. As the two develop a friendship, Frey uses her spinning magic to help Lavender re-experience past moments with her mama. Lavender hears her mama's laughter again, her singing voice, and how it felt to be wrapped in her hugs. But when Lavender discovers the truth about Frey's magic and its vengeful purpose she must decide whether to stay immersed in beloved memories with her mama or save the people she loves most in the present.
Grandma finds an Egg
In Grandma Finds an Egg, Grandma and Bart find an egg beside the pond. They take it home to hatch. If you found an egg, what would you do? Would you take it home to hatch? What could it be? Children love guessing what Grandma found in this lively illustrated sequel to Grandma and the Bat that ends with an important lesson about nature. Everyone loves Grandma and so will you. The inclusion of "Facts About Alligators" adds to the education of the reader.
When Fairies Go Too Far
The fourth book in this hilarious chapter book series about an incorrigible underwear fairy, full of bright purple text and illustrations. Has Oona Bramblegoop's magical mayhem finally gone too far sideways? Oona is thrilled to be a Fairy Council Member and her assignment is so much fun--making new rules for the fairy binder. She has tons of ideas! But her friends aren't so sure these rules are needed, and then Oona finds out they're causing a dangerous magical crisis. She'll have to find a way to stand up for what really matters if she wants to save her friendships and Blackberry Bog. Packed with Fun Fairy Facts, humor, and lots of heart, this magical series celebrates finding friendship and your place in the world, even if you fit in a little sideways.
Chatty Aimon and the Town Far Far Away ... but Close
Chatty Aimon is based on a beloved character from her son's childhood, a curious little boy with boundless energy and a big imagination. In this enchanting adventure, Chatty sets out to discover the mysteries of the Town Far, Far Away ... but Close. A magical place just beyond the cobblestones where possibilities bloom and dreams help guide you when you're caught between here and there, far and close.
Gloam
For fans of Coraline comes a delightfully creepy tale of a girl who must defend her family home from a babysitter with a monstrous secret! Gwen doesn't want to admit that everything has been different since her mom died. There's no time for all these feelings now that she has her younger brother and twin sisters to look after. Especially not after the move into their late grandmother's creaky old house on a tiny, damp island where someone--or something--is waiting for them. Esme Laverne. Gwen isn't fooled by the beautiful babysitter with the hungry eyes and too-sharp teeth, even though everyone else is. How does no one notice the sinister threats beneath her sickly sweet words? It quickly becomes clear that if Gwen wants Esme gone, she'll have to handle it herself. In order to protect her family, Gwen will have to fight off terrifying creatures and literal nightmares come to life. But as rot begins to eat away at the house's walls and Esme's power grows, Gwen must face everything she's been running from and embrace what she's truly scared of before she can defeat the monster in her home . . . for good.
