Nina Soni, Halloween Queen
by Kashmira Sheth
illustrated by Jenn Kocsmiersky

Middle grade favorite Nina Soni returns for a brand-new STEAM adventure that’s perfect for Halloween reading! The fourth installment in Kashmira Sheth’s award-winning series, join charming and distractible Nina Soni for more laugh-out-loud misadventures with her family and friends.

Every year Nina Soni is ready for Halloween well before October 31st arrives. But this year is different. Her family’s Diwali celebration pushed thoughts of costumes and trick-or-treating out of Nina’s brain, so now it’s Friday and Halloween is on Sunday and Nina isn’t prepared. That doesn’t stop this spooky holiday from bringing out her competitive spirit, though. Nina’s best friend Jay already has the perfect costume planned, so naturally, Nina has to come up with something even better.

But what could be better than the perfect costume? The scariest haunted house, of course! So with a bunch of old boxes as the perfect building material and the bright idea to charge admission, Nina’s ready to open her haunted house. What could possibly go wrong for this lovable Halloween Queen?

Just in time for Halloween read alouds with chapter book fans and STEAM enthusiasts, don’t miss this new addition to a must-read series featuring stories of family, friendship, and Nina Soni’s slightly scatterbrained efforts to manage her life with lists, definitions, and more.

Explore the Nina Soni series.

Can’t wait to dive in to Nina Soni’s newest adventure? Read an excerpt!

Praise for the third book in the series, Nina Soni, Master of the Garden

“As in previous books in this series, Nina’s sincere and circumspect narratorial voice—and her beautifully illustrated lists and asides—renders this story a delight to read. Sheth expertly weaves in details about Nina’s Indian heritage together with her pride in being a Wisconsinite…. Plants aren’t the only things that grow in this book about perseverance, friendship, and personal growth.” —Kirkus Reviews

Find Nina Soni, Halloween Queen this September at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble, and be sure to check out the rest of our brand-new picture books and middle grade and YA titles coming to Peachtree this season!

Lillian lives in a big house with her mother and father, her aunt and uncle, and her seven brothers. It’s tradition in her big family for each child to receive a pet on their sixth birthday, so when Lillian turns six, she gets a fish! This is no ordinary fish. This particular fish ripples and shimmers with all the colors of the rainbow. Lillian loves her birthday gift until one day, the little fish disappears!

Lillian is devastated, so she and her brothers begin to work together to solve the mystery. Meanwhile, the other family pets―the horse, the goat, the dog, the cat, the turtle, the spider, and the bird―secretly band together to crack the case of the missing birthday fish. They soon discover a trail of clues leading them along the river, deep into the woods, and on a fantastic adventure filled with new places and strange creatures!

Now available in paperback, author James Menk’s delightful, lively tale of discovery and friendship will enchant readers of all ages. Louisa Bauer’s captivating drawings bring this charming story of children and their pets to life for an immersive summer middle grade read aloud.

Dive into this thrilling middle grade tale in this excerpt, and lead a summer book club with this free discussion guide!

Order your copy of Lillian’s Fish today from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, or IndieBound!

King and Kayla are on the case, and newly independent readers are in for a mystery-filled treat!

Dive into your summer reading list with King & Kayla and the Case of the Unhappy Neighbor! The sixth installment in the lovable beginning reader series featuring everyone’s favorite dog-and-human duo, this new adventure is sure to keep any young bookworm on the edge of their seat as they work to solve the case alongside lovable King and his human Kayla.

Someone is digging up Mr. Gary’s garden and getting into his trash, and—uh-oh! Jillian’s dog, Thor, is the lead suspect. King and Kayla quickly put their detective skills to work to clear Thor’s name, gathering clues at the scene of the crime. Kayla notices the mess in Mr. Gary’s yard looks way too big for a tiny dog like Thor to make, and King learns from Cat with No Name that the culprit is a “new guy” and not Thor after all! Can King and Kayla find this mystery new guy, and do they have enough evidence to clear Thor’s name?

With simple, straightforward language and great verbal and visual humor, this laugh-out-loud tale from Geisel Honor Award-winning team Dori Hillestad Butler and Nancy Meyers is perfect for younger readers transitioning from easy readers to beginning chapter books. Great for introducing mysteries and the important concepts of fact gathering, list making, clues, and analytical thinking, explore the whole King & Kayla series today!

Download a free King & Kayla poster so you can always have this adorable duo by your side. Plus, check out the series activity kit and teacher’s guide for more mystery-filled fun!

“Meyers invests all her characters with lots of personality… Beginning readers will like the spacious typeset and thought bubbles that clue readers in to King’s thinking. This is a great story to help emerging readers strengthen their comprehension skills, and caregivers can easily discuss what young readers already know and what they are discovering along the way to piece together for a final conclusion… Entertaining reading for the newest generation of detectives.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Meyers’s illustrations invite opportunities for the developing reader to investigate alongside King and Kayla, and provide support and intrigue as the case progresses. The text also invites playful read-alouds… This newest addition to the Kayla and King series continues the good work of the sleuthing duo, offering readers an opportunity to test their mystery-solving skills and laugh along the way.” —The Horn Book Magazine

Order your copy of King & Kayla and the Case of the Unhappy Neighbor today from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, or IndieBound!

King & Kayla and the Case of the Unhappy Neighbor
by Dori Hillestad Butler
illustrated by Nancy Meyers

When Jillian’s dog, Thor, is accused of digging up Mr. Gary’s garden, King and Kayla put their detective skills to work to clear his name. A witness to the crime tells King that the culprit is a “new guy” who likes to fight. But who could that be? And can they track down this new guy and clear Thor’s name? The King & Kayla series from Geisel Honor Award-winning team Dori Hillestad Butler and Nancy Meyers is perfect for readers transitioning from easy readers to beginning chapter books and great for introducing important concepts of fact gathering, list making, clues, and analytical thinking.

Explore more King & Kayla with the series teacher’s guide and activity kit, and download a free poster!

Lillian’s Fish
by James Menk
illustrated by Louisa Bauer

When Lillian turns six, her favorite gift is an extraordinary, shimmery, and colorful fish. But when the brand-new birthday fish disappears, the other family pets secretly band together to help unravel the mystery. A trail of clues soon leads the animals on a fantastic adventure along the river and deep into the woods, where they encounter new places and strange creatures. James Menk’s delightful, lively tale of discovery and friendship will enchant readers of all ages. Louisa Bauer’s captivating drawings bring this charming story of children and their pets to life.

Dive deeper into Lillian’s Fish with a free discussion guide.

Homer on the Case
by Henry Cole

Homing pigeon Homer and his parrot friend Lulu learn something is afoul when they witness a four-legged crime-spree in their neighborhood. Can Lulu and Homer track down the bandits and lead their human keepers to the culprits’ hideout to stop the thieves? Award-winning author-illustrator Henry Cole delivers a fun, action-packed middle grade mystery that will keep readers guessing if the crime-solving pigeon will get his guy. A supporting cast of animals and humans forms a community that will have every reader wishing they could join in the hunt.

Download this discussion guide for middle grade summer book clubs!

The Girl Who Stole an Elephant
by Nizrana Farook

Chaya, a nobleman’s rebellious, outspoken, no-nonsense daughter, just can’t resist the shiny temptations the king’s palace has to offer. But playing Robin Hood for her impoverished community doesn’t come without risks, and after leaving her village as a thief, can she return as a hero? Or will Chaya’s sticky fingers be the beginning—or the end—of everything for her and her intrepid gang? Own Voices debut author Nizrana Farook spins a page-turning middle grade tale in a lush, fictional Sri Lankan setting. Just right for adventure fans, the book explores themes of friendship and loyalty, risk and reward, and heroism.

Continue your jungle adventure with a free discussion guide!

Nina Soni, Master of the Garden
by Kashmira Sheth
illustrated by Jenn Kocsmiersky

Everyone’s favorite Indian-American middle grade series star Nina Soni returns in the newest laugh-out-loud addition to the award-winning, relatable Nina Soni series! Nina’s done science experiments and school projects, and she’s come up with elaborate plans (that don’t always work out), and now she’s back to become a master of the garden!

It’s Take Your Child to Work Day, and Nina, Kavita, and Jay are all going to work with Mom, a landscape architect, to learn how to start a garden. At first, everything goes according to plan, but soon enough, unwelcome bugs, slugs, and rabbits and some screechy singing ukulele-playing from her little sister quickly derail Nina’s plans to grow enough tasty veggies to start her own vegetable-selling business. Through trial and error—and a few mosquito bites—Nina, Kavita, and Jay learn how to care for their gardens and, of course, make some delicious meals with what they’ve grown to share with friends and family.

Just in time for Earth Day reading and planning spring gardens, this third installment in the Nina Soni series is sure to be a fan favorite with STEAM enthusiasts and young bookworms looking to test out their green thumbs. From Own Voices author Kashmira Sheth, Nina Soni, Master of the Garden will make the perfect addition to diverse book collections.

Get to know Kashmira Sheth and her inspiration for Nina Soni, Former Best Friend—the first title in the series—with our author Q&A, and use this discussion guide to answer fun questions about food, family, and the power of friendship.

Q: What inspired you to write Homer on the Case?

A: I like the idea of different species communicating. For example, I wonder what the different birds on my bird feeder say to each other. “Quit shoving!” “Move over!” “You take all the peanuts!” When I thought of a homing pigeon learning to read because of the daily newspaper under his feet, and then thought of a parrot learning to speak human …one thing led to another. Imagination took over.

Q: You’ve worked on nearly 150 books for children. What makes Homer on the Case different from your past projects? What makes it similar?

A: I’ve really enjoyed working on my chapter book projects: one can really try to get into the mind and spirit of the characters. I’m lucky because I can also draw the illustrations, which add personality and expression to those characters. Homer on the Case takes place in a city, unlike my usual stories, and although humans play a big part, it’s the animal characters that move the story around.

Q: You’re an author and illustrator. When you come up with ideas for stories, do you usually think of the story in text or drawings first?

A: I’ve been asked that many times, and I think the best reply is “both”! While I’m imagining and outlining a story in my head or on paper, I can’t help but picture the setting and the characters and how they look and act during different parts of the story. I’m a constant doodler. I doodle all the time. I’ll doodle ideas for a story and those doodles can be very helpful for a book dummy.

Q: How did you choose a homing pigeon for the main character?

A: I think pigeons and doves have an expression that some other birds don’t have; they have a more sensitive and thoughtful look. And I liked the idea that homing pigeons are so skillfully able to always return home. Home is often a theme in my stories, and something very important to me.

Q: You really brought the setting of Keeler Park to life. Was Keeler Park inspired by a real place?

A: Well, yes, sort of. Years and years ago I had some time on my hands as I was waiting for an appointment with an editor. It was late summer. I sat on a bench in a small park near the publisher and watched the city go about its business, people and pigeons mostly. There was a scent to the air of sycamores, and a tranquil feel of the park, nestled among tall buildings. When I was writing about Keeler Park in the story, I was imagining myself on that bench that day.

Q: Grandad keeps a photo of Otto’s grandmother inside his gold pocket watch. Do you have a special keepsake that reminds you of a loved one?

A: Several! Many! A wooden stool my grandfather made, my 3rd grade lunchbox (my mom wrote my name on it) that looks like a barn (I grew up on a farm), a string of brass bells my aunt gave me, two little ceramic pigs that sat on the kitchen window sill of the my childhood home….many more! Don’t get me started!

Q: Communication is an important aspect to this story. How did you come up with the idea to incorporate the challenge of the birds in the story trying to communicate with their humans?

A: I wish I spoke a hundred languages. If I could start over, I’d take every language course I could. Right now I’m barely fluent in English! Years ago, I lived in Egypt for a while, and the best part of my experience there was the joy in learning to communicate with people who didn’t speak English, and the only Arabic I knew was “thank you”! I was learning to read and speak and write as an adult. It was a challenge, but with great rewards. I made so many friends that way, learning to communicate. I loved it. I was hoping to get that joy across as Homer and Lulu communicate with their human friends.

Q: If you could choose to be any animal, what would it be?

A: Probably something really useful and cared for, like a police service dog or a therapy animal. I’d like to say something wonderful like a bobcat or a chickadee, but wildlife these days have it rough: they have to contend not only with natural predators and disease, but also with human interference and reduced habitat. I don’t think I’d last long as a chickadee. I’d be in the talons of a sharp-shinned hawk within an hour!

Q: What’s your favorite type of bird, and why?

A: Really?!?! Are you asking for only ONE type of bird?? That’s tough. If I HAD to limit myself, I’d say the American robin, because the song of a male robin singing in early spring has to be one of the best sounds on the planet. And I love hole nesters (woodpeckers, nuthatches, etc.) because I love the idea of nesting in a hole in a tree while the wind gently blows. I’d say “no” to any bird that has to exist in cold water to survive (northern ducks, grebes, gannets etc.) because I hate being cold and wet.

Q: Did any real or fictional detectives inspire Homer?

A: No…Homer is an original, at least in my mind.

Q: Which chapter did you enjoy writing most? Did any of your favorite scenes not make it into the final version of the book?

A: I enjoyed the last chapter the most. I love happy endings! I love the idea of Snaps being out in the sun and lounging in the warm mud. I love the idea of Otto and Charlotte getting credit for something courageous. I like having the characters coming together.

Q: What do you think happens next for Homer and his fellow detectives?

A: Hmmm. I think a dog is involved. Maybe a dog that is just a teensy weensy bit sinister…

Q: What do you hope young readers take away from this story?

A: Collaboration. Adventure. Independence. Caring.

Q: What’s next for you?

A: Currently working on four picture books. Looking forward to a post-Covid world where I can visit schools again…in person!

Homer on the Case
by Henry Cole

Meet Homer: a smart homing pigeon who has taught himself to read with the newspaper detective comic strips that line his birdcage. He spends most days testing his homing skills with his owner Otto, that is, until one day Homer witnesses sneaky cat and rat criminals stealing valuables from both the animal and human communities.

Knowing something is afoot—especially when Otto’s grandfather becomes the newest victim—Homer and his new parrot friend Lulu set out to investigate this unsettling animal crime spree. Using the sleuthing techniques Homer has learned from his favorite mystery comics, he and Lulu track down the bandits but realize they need human help to stop the crimes for good. Can they find a way to communicate with their owners and lead them to the culprits’ hideout?

Celebrated author and illustrator Henry Cole returns with a fun, action-packed middle grade mystery adventure that will keep readers turning the page to find out if the crime-solving pigeon will get his guy. A supporting cast of animal and human characters forms a community that will have every reader wishing they could join in the hunt.

Can’t wait to solve the mystery with Homer? Read an excerpt!

Learn to draw your own Homer in this video.

“Cole’s gentle animal fantasies can always be depended upon, and this light mystery is just right for young readers…. Cole mixes humor with intrigue to keep the narrative bouncing along, and readers will get a kick out of the unusual detective team… Hand this to fans of Chris Riddell’s Ottoline and the Yellow Cat (2008) and A. B. Greenfield’s Ra the Mighty: Cat Detective (2018).” —Booklist

Solve the mystery with Homer and his friends when Homer on the Case arrives April 1st at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble. And don’t forget to check out the rest of our brand-new picture books and middle grade and YA titles coming to Peachtree this season!

Q: What was your inspiration for The Girl Who Stole an Elephant?

A: I started writing The Girl Who Stole an Elephant one wintry December, and it was an escape to another world for me. As I wrote, I imagined a world of sunshine, warmth, action and color, and put all of that into the story.

Q: Is the setting of the story based on a real place?

A: Yes, it is. It’s a fictionalized version of Sri Lanka in the past. I’ve used some real places and some made-up and taken some liberties with the geography of things; but the setting is unmistakably Sri Lankan for anyone who knows the country.

Q: Chaya is a very bold, no-nonsense protagonist with a strong personality. How did you come up with Chaya as a character?

A: She came to me fully formed, so was my easiest character to create. I think she was aspirational to me in the sense that she would have been everything I wanted to be as a child. I would have found her really cool to have as a friend.

Q: If you were Chaya, and you had access to the royal palace, what would you steal?

A: Ironically for someone who created Chaya, nothing! She would have thought it a wasted opportunity, but I would just enjoy the sights and sounds without taking anything.

Q: Do any of Chaya’s qualities remind you of yourself when you were her age?

A: Perhaps her readiness to address injustice. I think as children we’re all generally full of incredulity and anger when we learn about injustice. As we grow older we sadly accept that the world is an unfair place and become desensitized to it.

Q: What is your writing process like?

A: I have to do a lot of thinking when I’m not writing. It’s part of my writing process that lots of the work happen inside my head when I’m cooking or walking or driving. When I haven’t had a chance to do that, I get stuck. So, I spend a few hours every day at the desk (generally school hours) and I’m immersed in and mulling over whatever I’m working on at regular intervals during the day as well.

Q: What do you like most about writing for middle grade readers?

A: I think it’s a fantastic age because children are ready for (and relish!) peril and knife-edge tension. I think it’s also a time when readers are made. I think if they’re interested in books at this age and are choosing their own, they will be readers for life.

Q: Which part of this story was your favorite to write? Was there a scene you loved that didn’t make it into the final version of the book?

A:  There were some scenes I loved, like the waterfall one, but I think my favorite to write was the very beginning. I can remember the excitement I felt when I thought, this is it, this might be the one!
In an earlier version Chaya and Nour spent more time in the jungle by themselves without Neel. Chaya falls ill and Nour learns to make a fire and makes Chaya a herbal concoction. It showed Chaya at her most vulnerable and Nour taking control of the situation. This part didn’t make it into the final book in the end.

Q: In The Girl Who Stole an Elephant, we’re limited to Chaya’s perspective. If you could tell the story from another person’s point of view, whose would it be? Why?

A: That’s an interesting question! Probably Nour because she was an outsider and might have given a fairly different account of things.

Q: What do you think happens next for Chaya and her friends?

A: I think Chaya gives up stealing forever. Nour joins Chaya’s school and starts lessons at the temple too. Neel comes back to school but keeps up his apprenticeship at the carpenter’s as well.

Q: What do you hope readers take away from Chaya’s story?

A: That there’s always room for others no matter how established you are in your friendships. That friendship and loyalty is everything, and it’s easier to be brave when you want to protect the people that are important to you.

Q: As an Own Voices debut author, why do you think it’s important for young readers to be exposed to diverse books written by people who share those identities?

A: I think young readers deserve to see themselves in books, and they deserve to have access to books about all people they share the world with. There’s a richness and authenticity in stories by people with lived experience of the places or topics they’re writing about.
I think it’s in everyone’s interest to get those books out there.

Q: What’s next for you?

A: I am currently writing my third book, which is set in the same world as The Girl Who Stole an Elephant. It will have another animal as well!

The Girl Who Stole an Elephant
by Nizrana Farook

Chaya, a nobleman’s rebellious, outspoken, no-nonsense daughter, just can’t resist the sapphires, star rubies, and other jeweled temptations the king’s palace has to offer. But playing Robin Hood for her impoverished community doesn’t come without risks, and when Chaya’s caught stealing from the queen’s bedside table, a messy getaway jeopardizes the life of a close friend. As though one close call isn’t enough, an equally haphazard prison break leaves Chaya barely escaping on the king’s prized elephant! There’s still plenty of danger to come, however, once Chaya and her friends enter the jungle. With leeches and bandits lurking around every corner, Chaya leads her companions on a thrilling adventure. But after leaving her village as a thief, can she return as a hero? Or will Chaya’s sticky fingers be the beginning—or the end—of everything for the intrepid gang?

Own Voices debut author Nizrana Farook spins an exciting, page-turning tale in a lush, vibrant, fictional Sri Lankan setting that features themes of friendship and loyalty, risk and reward, and heroism. Escape to Serendib with Chaya and her adventurous companions—and perhaps stumble upon some treasure of your own—in this must-read new middle grade readaloud! Sure to be a thrill for adventure-seekers and fans of a good cliffhanger.

Dive into Nizrana Farook’s thrilling middle grade debut in this excerpt, and keep the adventure going with this discussion guide!

“Farook’s debut is a perfect example of how to keep a novel action-packed while simultaneously developing characters and coloring the world…. Inspired by Farook’s own early roots in Sri Lanka, the vibrant island-country setting is so lush you can practically picture the greenery and taste the tropical breadfruit….lovers of animals and adventure are in for an entertaining ride.” —Booklist

“The lush descriptions of the dense, beautiful jungle and a South Asian–inspired kingdom that evokes Sri Lanka shine through. The elephant, in particular, is a delight…. A lush wilderness adventure story.” —Kirkus Reviews

“One of the many delights of this novel is the sparkling description of Chaya’s rural Sri Lankan village, including the many references to colorful fruits and trees. More rewarding is Chaya’s growth…. A rich and joyful adventure story for those who enjoy daring escapades in a fairy-tale setting.” —School Library Journal

“The setting of jungle island Serendib, a multicultural trade hub closely based on historical Sri Lanka, adds interest and will be useful for collections seeking to broaden #ownvoices South Asian representation.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Embark on an epic middle grade adventure when The Girl Who Stole an Elephant arrives this March at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble, and be sure to check out the rest of our brand-new picture books and middle grade and YA titles coming to Peachtree this season!

It Can’t Be Done, Nellie Bly
A Reporter’s Race Around the World
by Nancy Butcher
illustrated by Jen Singh

Nellie Bly was a newspaper reporter for The New York World who wrote about the social problems of her day, like poor job conditions, dilapidated housing, and dishonest politicians. If someone told her “It can’t be done, Nellie Bly,” she went right ahead and did it anyway. But when Nellie read Jules Verne’s novel, Around the World in Eighty Days, she was inspired to circle the globe even faster herself. Did the plucky young reporter go too far? Young readers will cheer for Nellie as she embarks on her 22,000-mile trip equipped only with one sturdy travel dress, a small satchel, and a pet monkey she picks up in Singapore as her traveling companion.  This delightful true story of a woman with an indomitable spirit will inspire a new generation of young readers and adventurers.

Lillian’s Fish
by James Menk
illustrated by Louisa Bauer

When Lillian turns six, her favorite gift is an extraordinary fish whose body shimmers with all the colors of the rainbow. But when the brand-new birthday fish disappears, Lillian is devastated. While she and her brothers try to unravel the mystery, the other family pets secretly band together to find out what has happened to the little fish. A trail of clues soon leads the animals on a fantastic adventure along the river and deep into the woods, where they encounter new places and strange creatures. James Menk’s delightful, lively tale of discovery and friendship will enchant readers of all ages. Louisa Bauer’s captivating drawings bring this charming story of children and their pets to life.

Nina Soni, Sister Fixer
by Kashmira Sheth
illustrated by Jenn Kocsmiersky

A long rainy stretch during spring break has Nina restless and hungry for a new project and aggravated with little sister Kavita’s embarrassing behavior. A fresh pile of dirt just delivered to the neighbor’s house for a landscaping project ends up being too tempting to resist. Can Nina fix Kavita and create something amazing at the same time? With her sister’s help, Nina launches a grand engineering project—with unexpected consequences. Readers are sure to relate to author Kashmira Sheth’s endearing, distractible Nina Soni and her slightly scatter-brained efforts to manage her life with lists, definitions, and real-life math problems.

What I Like About Me
by Jenna Guillaume

The last thing sixteen-year-old Maisie Martin thought she’d be doing over vacation is entering a beauty pageant, but Maisie’s got something to prove. As she writes down all the ways this vacation is going from bad to worse in her school-assignment journal, what starts as a homework torture-device might just end up being an account of how Maisie didn’t let anything, or anyone, hold her back. Jenna Guillame’s American debut features a plus-size protagonist with a compelling, funny, and authentic narrative voice. This relatable and charming novel about friendship, confidence, and self-love will draw readers in as Maisie’s realistic emotional journey unveils the importance of embracing one’s body and celebrating one’s self.