For every kid who’s ever come in second place, this is a middle grade story about chasing your dreams.
Eleven-year-old Annie Brown is used to being on the losing end of comparisons to her almost-always best friend Savannah. Savannah is MVP of the track team, has straight As, and, predictably, wins the most coveted school spirit award on the last day of 5th grade. Fortunately, Annie does have one very specialized skill.
Inspired by As Seen on TV commercials, Annie likes to invent products and write clever sales pitches to go along with them. So when an opportunity arises to audition for a local web show called The Cat’s Meow, Annie knows her future is set. She’s going to wow those producers with her fabulous writing and made-for-TV announcer voice. Of course, things don’t happen quite according to plan, and soon Annie is worried about losing both the opportunity she’s been training for her whole life, and her best friend.
―-Kirkus Reviews
“Annie’s narration is so irrepressible, genuine, and laugh-out-loud funny that she’s sure to carve out an audience with young readers…. Hand to fans of the Dork Diaries.”―-Booklist
Beasts roar! Beasts destroy! But not Maurice.This frightfully unbeastly tale about staying true to yourself is for everyone who’s just a little bit different.
With his melodious voice, fondness for kale, and unfailing politeness, Maurice isn’t quite like other beasts. So his concerned Mama and Papa send their ridiculously photogenic beastie to the Abominable Academy for Brutish Beasts to learn how to behave badly. Will Maurice master growling, scowling, snarling, and howling? Or will he prove that being different is a good thing after all? This frightfully unbeastly tale about staying true to yourself is for everyone who’s just a little bit different.
Dixon’s effervescent writing delivers a message about individuality with a light touch and Mountford’s illustrations bring an appropriately creepy-cute atmosphere to the pages. –Publisher’s Weekly
Just as the story celebrates differences, so do Mountford’s cartoon illustrations, which surround Maurice…with an array of fellow student monsters, no two of whom look even remotely alike. An urbane take on the “nice monster” theme. -Kirkus
Mama calls it Sophie’s imagination, but Sophie calls it magic. Everything Sophie draws comes to life, and one day when Sophie feels lonely, she decides to draw a friend. But the polar bear cub isn’t very happy in Sophie’s room, where it is much too warm. So Sophie tries again. But the duck wants to swim in a pool full of water. And the giraffe is too tall for the tiny room! It isn’t long after the elephant shows up that things begin to get a little too wild and Sophie must demand that everyone go outside. In the backyard, with all her new friends, Sophie meets someone new—someone who happens to be an expert lion trainer. It looks like Sophie’s magic may have worked after all.
Featuring a charming crew of animals and two children who believe in magic, this sweet and funny picture book teaches children to combat loneliness with creativity, persistence, and a little imagination. Filled with the lovely watercolor illustrations of Katia Wish, Amy Dixon’s Sophie’s Animal Parade takes children on a journey toward friendship.
“Wish’s watercolors have an appealing retro cuteness…and for all that Dixon’s story revels in imaginary (or magical) fun, the takeaway is that real relationships are what matter.” -Publisher’s Weekly
The mice of New York City dread the day of the New York City Marathon more than any other—the crowds, the large shoes, the noise. All of them, that is, except for Preston. He and his family live underneath the starting line on the Verrazano Bridge and every year Preston has dreamed of joining all the other runners in the marathon. This year, Preston is determined to make his dream come true, even though his family tells him that mice are not fit to run marathons. He trains hard leading up to the big day and when the race starts, he successfully dodges sneakers and crosses the finish line, showing his family that mice can do much more than just scurry.