Tales of Standing Out and Fitting In


The Adventures of Connor and Sparky

David Armitage

ISBN 978-1-03-580597-6

Author statement: “A young boy is sad, confused, and feels disconnected due to events around him. It's only when a new addition to the family comes along that his smile begins to return. My son, like many, was not coping well during lockdown, and this was compounded by the loss of his grandmother. Since he was born I had read him a bedtime story virtually every day, so one evening when he was sad and said he did not want a story, I said I would write him one.”


Sophia and Sinclair Get Lost!

Colleen Olle, illus. by Marcy Tippmann

ISBN 978-1-73613-663-8

Author statement: “In this engaging autumnal adventure, best friends Sophia, a tireless rabbit, and Sinclair, a thoughtful turtle, discover that their bothersome differences can not only help them overcome obstacles but also strengthen their friendship.”


The Strange Tail of Oddzilla

Lori R. Lopez

ISBN 978-1-5413-9874-0

Author statement: “The Strange Tail of Oddzilla follows a Soup Monster as he crawls from the pot and dreams of fitting in, something many kids will relate to. It isn’t easy for Odd, encountering rejection and eventually being abducted by scheming pirates to star in their carnival. He befriends a small girl who, like me, is a big monster fan. The story is humorous, touching, and designed for all ages.”

Holiday Books


Allie’s Howling Halloween Adventure

Shawna James and Alexandria R. James

ISBN 978-1-77768-469-3

Author statement: “The mysterious, creaking house in Allie’s neighborhood has always been a source of fear and curiosity. When Allie, her sister Marie, and her best friend Ryan are swept away on a wild Halloween night, they uncover a startling truth about the grouchy man who lives there. Will they survive the night and make it out unscathed, or will they be caught in the midst of a terrifying discovery?”


Cora’s Christmas Challenge: A Magical Story of Friendship, Festive Fun, and the Spirit of Giving

Sally Kashner

ASIN B0D5KM5CKC

Author statement: “As a former English teacher who began writing in my 70s, I’ve always cherished the magic of Christmas and the importance of teaching children about generosity. Writing this book allowed me to blend my love for storytelling with the timeless lessons of the holiday season, creating a story that I hope will resonate with families for years to come.”


Santa’s Holiday Mix-Up

Renita Bryant

ISBN 978-1-957092-92-8

Author statement: “Santa’s Holiday Mix-Up is the first book in the Holidayville Adventures series. The multi-book series includes holiday mashups across Christmas, Easter, St. Patrick’s Day, Thanksgiving, Valentine’s Day and more! The idea came to me while working on a Halloween story. However, the original manuscript felt limiting. So, I decided to step outside of the norm and create a series that integrates two holiday seasons instead of only highlighting one.”

Inspirational Stories


The Dandelion’s Dream

Scott Metcalf, illus. by Judith Robinson

ASIN B0CV1CSCLP

Author statement: “I wrote a story years ago, when my now 22-year-old daughter was a little girl, about her picking a dandelion to give to her mother as a flower. Overnight, it transformed into a puffball that we took outside and blew for wishes. Two years ago, I turned that story into the poem ‘The Dandelion’s Dream.’ I shared the poem with friends. One of those friends was Judith Robinson, an artist in London. She loved the poem and asked if she could paint it.”


Nya’s Shining Star

Quiana M. Shamsid-Deen

ISBN 978-1-957092-86-7

Author statement: “The story centers on Micah, a young boy who, on the anniversary of his sister Nya’s passing, finds a magical book that takes him on a journey to reconnect with her spirit. I was inspired by the life of my daughter, Nya Iman Shamsid-Deen, who blessed our lives for three short days. Her spirit continues to guide our family, and I have poured this enduring love into the pages of Nya’s Shining Star.”

Science, Nature, and the Environment


The Child and The Tree: A Tale for Better Times

Nohra Bernal

ISBN 978-1-954548-08-4

Author statement: “This heartwarming
story about a child who finds a tree in the wilderness touches on migration, resilience, forest regeneration, and individual empowerment. I wanted to convey in one
story both social and environmental themes that inspire hope—even in unlikely circumstances–and highlight the beauty of our truest nature.”


Needle in a Haystack: How Clyde W. Tombaugh Found an Awesome New World

Diane Phelps Budden

ASIN B0CNVB77J1

Author statement: “Pluto was discovered at Lowell Observatory in 1930 by a self-educated young man who built his own telescopes. Clyde’s passion for astronomy began in fourth grade and filled the rest of his life. His perseverance to reach his dream of becoming an astronomer is an example for everyone.”


What’s So Special About a Tree?

Susan Polk Van Dusen

ASIN B0CYF2SB4K

Author statement: “What’s So Special About a Tree? is a labor of love, as it contains a simple, gentle rhyming verse set alongside original artwork by my late father. My dad was a talented visual artist who specialized in watercolor, oil, and charcoal. As a longtime professional writer, I was inspired to incorporate some of his artwork into a children’s picture book.

Anxiety and Emotions


Baby Worries

Frances Mackay

ISBN 978-0-646-86022-0

Author statement: “This story was inspired by my nephew’s new baby. Every time my nephew brought his baby to our family gatherings, the baby had this very serious look on his face as if he was thinking, ‘Who on Earth are these people?’ and ‘Why am I here?’ It was so funny, it made me wonder what babies might think when they meet their extended family for the first time. So the story is about a baby’s hilarious imaginings as he meets each family member—will he have the huge bushy eyebrows of his uncle Max when he grows up?”


Petunia the Perfectionist

Marissa Bader

ASIN B0D343YCQ4

Author statement: “Petunia does not like to make mistakes. So instead of enjoying her jam sessions on her guitar, Petunia practices until her fingers ache. And rather than creating art with her crayons, she color codes them. When my last book, Stella’s Brave Voice, was initially published, it contained an error. Many people reassured me that everybody makes mistakes. A friend even suggested this could be the inspiration for my next book. And so it was!”


Ready, Set, It’s Time for Bed: An Easy Nighttime Routine

Teneil Brown, illus. by Pei Jen

ASIN B0C7JRCQNX

Author statement: “Ready, Set, It’s Time for Bed is my debut picture book, created during the pandemic as I navigated teaching my daughter about the time of day and her bedtime routine. Through this journey, I connected with other parents facing similar bedtime struggles; this solidarity became the catalyst for making my story come to life. My goal is to help children of all ages overcome difficult concepts and learn about other cultures.”