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 & 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!

King & Kayla and the Case of the Gold Ring
by Dori Hillestad Butler
illustrated by Nancy Meyers

Everyone’s favorite golden retriever King and his resourceful human Kayla are back in a brand new  mystery perfect for newly independent readers!

In this seventh addition to the acclaimed King & Kayla series, King, Kayla, and their friends Mason and Asia spend a fun day playing in the snow, and Asia shows off her new gold ring passed down from her grandma. Later, as everyone warms up indoors, King has a hankering for a liver treat and Asia notices her special ring is missing! King and Kayla take the case—in their own unique ways—and retrace Asia’s steps, gather clues, and figure out what they know and don’t know. But when King’s enthusiasm is misinterpreted as bad-dog behavior, he finds himself on the list of suspects…will they get to the bottom of this mystery in time to clear King’s name?

Told through King’s energetic and distracted perspective, this laugh-out-loud easy reader will delight animal- and mystery-lovers as the lovable dog-and-human duo work through mishaps and misunderstandings. Geisel Honor Award-winning team Dori Hillestad Butler and Nancy Meyers have created yet another engaging mystery in simple, straightforward language for newly independent readers. King’s animated facial expressions and dog-specific predicaments add another level of visual humor that’ll keep readers hooked to the end. With added opportunities to practice critical thinking and problem-solving skills, King & Kayla and the Case of the Gold Ring is a natural pick for budding detectives craving a liver treat—I mean, sidesplitting read.

Don’t miss the rest of the King & Kayla series, including Geisel Honor Award winners King & Kayla and the Case of the Missing Dog Treats and King & Kayla and the Case of the Lost Tooth!

Meet the detective duo and their friends Mason and Asia in this excerpt!

Be a problem-solver like King and Kayla! Find classroom and at-home activities, games, and DIYs in our series activity kit!

Also, learn more from Peachtree’s Vice President Kathy Landwehr, editor of the King & Kayla series, about the world of early readers, and the gap in book selection that King & Kayla fills, in this post.

Can you solve the mystery? Help King and Kayla crack the case in King & Kayla and the Case of the Gold Ring this February 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!

New Illustrated Chapter Book

King, Kayla, Mason, and Asia are playing in the snow. Later, Asia discovers her new gold ring is missing. What happened to it? Detective team King & Kayla are on the case! With simple, straightforward language and great verbal and visual humor, the King & Kayla series from Geisel Honor Award-winning team Dori Hillestad Butler and Nancy Meyers is perfect for introducing mysteries and the important concepts of fact gathering, list making, clues, and analytical thinking to newly independent readers.

Preorder King & Kayla and the Case of the Gold Ring today through your local bookstore, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, or on Amazon.

New Middle Grade

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… After leaving her village as a thief, can Chaya return with her friends as a hero? Or will her 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 and featuring themes of friendship and loyalty, risk and reward, and heroism. A great middle grade escapist novel and readaloud!

Preorder The Girl Who Stole an Elephant today through your local bookstore, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, or on Amazon.

Homing pigeon Homer and his parrot friend Lulu learn something is afoul when they witness four-legged criminals stealing valuables from both the animal and human communities. Using the sleuthing techniques he’s gathered from his favorite mystery comics, Homer and Lulu track down the bandits, but need human help to stop them for good. Can they find a way to communicate with their human keepers and lead them to the culprits’ hideout to stop the thieves? Award-winning author and illustrator Henry Cole delivers a fun, action-packed middle grade novel that will have every reader wishing they could join in the hunt.

Preorder Homer on the Case today through your local bookstore, Barnes & Noble, or Bookshop.org.

In the third installment of the award-winning Nina Soni series, 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. Naturally that’s not enough for Nina, who quickly develops big plans for a business selling the vegetables she plans to grow. But her plans don’t include managing the problems that inevitably arise, including rabbits, slugs, mosquitos, and more! Readers are sure to relate to Sheth’s endearing Nina Soni, her family and friends, and her slightly scatter-brained efforts to manage her life with lists, definitions, and real-life math problems. A great read for STEAM enthusiasts!

Preorder Nina Soni, Master of the Garden today through your local bookstore, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, or on Amazon.

Preorder Spi-Ku: A Clutter of Short Verse on Eight Legs today through your local bookstore, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, or on Amazon.

New YA

“They can’t send you away. What will we do? We need us. I stop your angry, Jack. And you make me strong. You make me Rosie.”

Rosie loves Jack. Jack loves Rosie. So when they’re separated, Rosie will do anything to find the boy who makes the sun shine in her head. Even though people might think a girl like Rosie, who has Down syndrome, could never survive on her own. Introducing a strong and determined protagonist, debut author Mel Darbon gives readers an underrepresented but much-needed point of view with a voice-driven, heartfelt story of fighting for little freedoms, tolerance, and love and finding your place an often big and intimidating world.

Preorder Rosie Loves Jack today through your local bookstore, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, or on Amazon.

Sixteen-year-old Katie Camilleri can’t believe she’s accidentally created a teenage boy. A boy completely devoted to Katie. But it turns out the consequences of fumbling a human being into existence are rather complicated. More importantly, does Guy, the golden Adonis Katie’s created, like her because he wants to, or because he has to? And will he be Katie’s very first kiss? From the author of What I Like About Me comes a hilarious and modern twist on a classic narrative, loaded with laughs, mishaps, and plenty of 80s and 90s pop-culture callbacks. Jenna Guillaume’s entertaining romantic comedy novel features a humorous and relatable voice and will appeal to fans of Jenny Han.

Preorder You Were Made for Me today through your local bookstore, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, or on Amazon.

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

Lovable dog King and his human girl Kayla have solved the cases of some missing dog treats, a lost tooth, and a poor dog who’s been separated from his human family. They’ve also cracked a secret code and hunted down a mysterious mouse, and now they’re back in a brand-new mystery from Geisel Honor award-winning author and illustrator team Dori Hillestad Butler and Nancy Meyers!

In King & Kayla and the Case of the Unhappy Neighbor, the sixth installment in the King & Kayla series, Thor has been accused of wrecking Mr. Gary’s yard—knocking over trash cans, eating the vegetables out of the garden, and pooping. But King and Kayla, with the help of some other neighbors, are determined to clear his name, using a wide variety of familiar and new detecting skills. This adorable new King & Kayla adventure features simple, easily understood language and the perfect amount of humor for newly independent readers beginning their transition to chapter books. The enjoyable mysteries in each book will have your young readers hooked and ready to do some detective work of their own! Head on over to the series page for the full list of King & Kayla titles and some fun activity sheets!

“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

Also, learn more from Peachtree’s Vice President Kathy Landwehr, editor of the King & Kayla series, about the world of early readers, and the gap in book selection that King & Kayla fills, in this post.

Add King & Kayla and the Case of the Unhappy Neighbor to your series collection this March at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble, and be sure to check out the rest of our brand-new Spring 2020 titles as well as our picture books and middle grade titles coming to Peachtree this season in paperback!

Little Tigers
Written and illustrated by Jo Weaver

As hunters approach their home in the jungle, Mother Tiger and her cubs must venture to find a new home away from danger. Together, they explore different homes, but the ones they find aren’t suited for tigers. Some are too wet, some are too dry, and some are just downright unwelcoming. But with their mother’s help, they may be able to find one that’s just right.

Jo Weaver’s gentle text and stunning monochromatic illustrations reveal the wonder of nature, the excitement of discovery, and the strength of familial bonds.

Buy Little Tigers through your local bookstore, Barnes & Noble, or on Amazon.

Madeline Finn and the Shelter Dog
Written and illustrated by Lisa Papp

Madeline Finn asks her mother for a puppy every single day. Finally, Mom says yes, and Madeline Finn chooses Star, one of the puppies born to Mrs. Dimple’s dog Bonnie. Then Mrs. Dimple tells Madeline Finn about animal shelters―a place many other pets come from. After a visit to their local shelter, Madeline Finn has some questions. These questions lead to answers, and ideas, and soon Madeline Finn and her human and animal community discover that there are lots of ways for small people to make a big difference.

In this companion to the award-winning Madeline Finn and the Library Dog, author-illustrator Lisa Papp offers a heartwarming exploration of life in an animal shelter in this inspiring and endearing book for young readers eager to help their communities.

Buy Madeline Finn and the Shelter Dog through your local bookstore, Barnes & Noble, or on Amazon.

Pipsqueaks, Slowpokes, and Stinkers
Celebrating Animal Underdogs
Written by Melissa Stewart
Illustrated by Stephanie Laberis

Puny? Poky? Clumsy? Shy? Written with a lively, playful voice, Pipsqueaks, Slowpokes, and Stinkers introduces young readers to a variety of “animal underdogs” and explains how characteristics that might seem like weaknesses are critical for finding food and staying safe in an eat-or-be-eaten world.

Award-winning author Melissa Stewart offers readers a humorous and informative nonfiction picture book with a gentle message of understanding and celebrating differences. Stephanie Laberis’s bright, bold―and scientifically accurate―illustrations add to this fun, lighthearted look at the surprising traits that help some animals survive.

Buy Pipsqueaks, Slowpokes, and Stinkers through your local bookstore, Barnes & Noble, or on Amazon.

King & Kayla and the Case of the Missing Dog Treats
King & Kayla series
Written by Dori Hillestad Butler
Illustrated by Nancy Meyers

King is here to help his human girl solve mysteries in this easy-to-read and fast-paced series. Eager to solve any puzzle from some missing dog treats to a lost tooth, this lovable dog-and-human duo provides a great introduction to mysteries for young readers.

With simple, straightforward language and great verbal and visual humor, the King & Kayla series from Geisel Honor Award-winning team Dori Hillestad Butler and Nancy Meyers is perfect for young animal lovers and newly independent readers.

Buy King & Kayla and the Case of the Missing Dog Treats through your local bookstore, Barnes & Noble, or on Amazon.

Bird Count
Written by Susan Edwards Richmond
Illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman

Young Ava is ready to participate as a “citizen scientist” in the Christmas Bird Count, and she gets to record the tally this year. Using her eyes and ears and the birding ID techniques she’s learned, Ava eagerly identifies and counts the birds she and her mother observe on their assigned route around the town. This informative story is the perfect book to introduce young readers to birdwatching. The text offers simple explanations of the identification methods used by birdwatchers and clear descriptions of bird habitats, and a section in the back provides more information about the birds featured in the book and the Christmas Bird Count.

Izzy Gizmo
Written by Pip Jones
Illustrated by Sara Ogilvie

Izzy Gizmo’s inventions are marvelous, magnificent―and they often malfunction. But when she finds a crow with a broken wing, she just has to help! Izzy tries again and again to build a new pair of wings, but nothing is working. And that makes Izzy really cross! Can Izzy overcome her failures? Or is her friend destined to live as a crow who can’t fly? Izzy’s story is a feisty tale of determination, ingenuity, and friendship, that’s sure to capture the imaginations of aspiring young inventors.

Izzy Gizmo and the Invention Convention
Written by Pip Jones
Illustrated by Sara Ogilvie

Izzy Gizmo is back, and she’s been invited to Technoff Isle’s annual convention where the inventor of the best machine will win coveted admittance to the Genius Guild. Great inventors produce gadgets that can be put to good use, so Izzy Gizmo decides to build a recycling machine that mends broken tools. But with fearsome foe Abi von Lavish getting the best of her at every turn, can Izzy Gizmo and her crow friend Fixer create the winning invention? This wonderfully exuberant companion to the award-winning Izzy Gizmo features a much-loved heroine of color learning about the importance of make do and mend.

King & Kayla and the Case of the Missing Dog Treats
Written by Dori Hillestad Butler
Illustrated by Nancy Meyers

Kayla made peanut butter treats for Jillian’s new puppy Thor. But now the treats are missing. What does Kayla know? ―There are three treats missing. King was in the kitchen. King’s breath doesn’t smell like peanut butter. What does King know? ―There’s an intruder in the house.  How will they solve the mystery?

With simple, straightforward language and great verbal and visual humor, the King & Kayla series is perfect for newly independent readers.

Nina Soni, Former Best Friend
Written by Kashmira Sheth
Illustrated by Jenn Kocsmiersky

Nina Soni is a lovable, distractible Indian-American girl who tries as hard as she can, but still somehow she forgets about her school project. Fortunately, a class lesson about Alexander Fleming suggests how she might make a great discovery—and thus a great project! After many lists and lots of shredded red cabbage, Nina may be on track with an awesome science experiment, but with little sister Kavita’s birthday party right around the corner, and her longtime friendship with Jay on the rocks, Nina might have too much to keep track of.

New Board Books

Spirited, rhyming text and colorful, graphic art reveal an energetic cast of babies having an action-packed day of play in the park on a cheerful spring day. The Babies in the Park series by Kathryn O. Galbraith and Adela Pons has two new titles coming in March.

Featuring diverse characters and highlighting early concepts like shapes and repetition, books in the Babies in the Park series encourage an appreciation of nature and outdoor imaginative play. Spring Babies and Summer Babies will be the last two books in the Babies in the Park series.

New Picture Books

From an award-winning author Deborah Hopkinson and award-winning illustrator Don Tate, this first-ever picture book biography of Carter G. Woodson, the father of Black History Month, emphasizes the importance of pursuing curiosity and encouraging a hunger for knowledge of stories and histories that have not been told.

In this companion to the award-winning Madeline Finn and the Library Dog, author-illustrator Lisa Papp offers a heartwarming exploration of life in an animal shelter in this inspiring and endearing book for young readers eager to help their communities.

In this rich and moving celebration of history, culture, and ritual, Kelly Starling Lyon’s eloquent text explores the power of family traditions. Stunning illustrations by Coretta Scott King Honor-winner Daniel Minter reveal the motion and connections in a large, multi-generational family.

This dashing picture book biography from author Lori Mortensen and illustrator Kristy Caldwell about the first female member of the Royal Geographic Society takes readers around the world with the daring Isabella Bird, a nineteenth-century female explorer and best-selling travel writer.

Now available in Spanish, this beginner’s guide offers a first glimpse into the diverse and natural world of mammals. This addition to the acclaimed About… series is the first Spanish-only edition, and is also available in English and bilingual editions.

The second Spanish-only edition in the About… series is another beginner’s guide that offers a first glimpse into the natural world of birds.

New Illustrated Chapter Book

The fifth book in the Geisel Honor Award-winning King & Kayla series is here! King, Kayla, and Grandma find a dog who has lost his human family. Can they figure out who he is and where his family is? Dori Hillestad Butler and illustrator Nancy Meyers use simple, straightforward language and great verbal and visual humor in this series that is perfect for newly independent readers.

New Middle Grade Books

Explore the fascinating world of superlative birds―from the bee hummingbird, the tiniest bird in the world, to the peregrine falcon, the fastest creature on Earth. Witty drawings by Robert Meganck add another layer of fun to author Leslie Bulion‘s humorous and informative gallery of the world’s most accomplished birds.

From Alex T. Smith, the author-illustrator of the popular Claude series, this quirky and hilarious page-turner is sure to thrill young readers looking for a good adventure.

In this latest installment to the fun series for young readers from Grammy Award-winning author Bill Harley, Charlie is cooking up some wacky plans to keep his friend Hector from returning to Chile, but when he learns that some classmates are bullying Hector, he turns all his energy to solving that problem.

Pre-order these titles at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble.