New Releases by Christine Dzidrums

Cinderella. Evita. Millie. Glinda. Elle. Fifteen-year-old Lyric Teague sings like an angel and has already played all the great musical theater roles—in the privacy of her bedroom. Haunted by her mother’s death, she is too timid and insecure to chase her dreams or form any friendships. After Alto High School announces a fall production of Les Misérables, the shy teenager finally steps into the spotlight and auditions for the role of the neglected, impoverished Eponine. After all, she’s perfect for the part, having felt unwanted and unseen her whole life. When others hear Lyric’s lovely voice, their reactions confuse her. Les Misérables’ director sees her as a pretty ingenue. Her longtime crush, Nick Bowman, starts flirting with her, and the enigmatic Cai Shipley delights in pushing her buttons. She must also contend with castmates who resent a newbie like her for landing a lead role. Lyric is suddenly receiving a lot of attention for a girl who’s always felt invisible. With opening night approaching, she wonders how anyone can see her as the beautiful, desirable Cosette when she feels like the plain, unwanted Eponine. But I’m Eponine marks the first book in the Altoverse series.

Emmy Ashford, the "New Girl" from Iowa, thinks she will never make a friend in California - until she meets Allie Cassidy, Evergreen's other "New Girl.". The pair quickly become best friends and begin exchanging notes during class. Over the course of one semester, the girls share everything with each other from silly jokes to their most-guarded secrets. All the while, Emmy and Ellie encourage one another to become the best versions of themselves.

Against unbelievable odds, Sloane Stephens rebounded from a serious injury to win the 2017 US Open. Her astounding comeback stunned and captivated the sports world. Now young readers can learn all about the newest superstar of tennis. Filled with exciting photographs, Sloane Stephens: A Children’s Biography is a must read for sports fans. Follow the popular athlete’s rise to the top echelon of tennis from her introduction to the sport as a young girl to her first Grand Slam victory.

Elise must learn to shelve her dissapointment and help her teammates in an unexpected way. Filled with adorable illustrations and armed with straightforward storytelling, Winning Gold stresses the importance of being a team player. Anyone who has ever duelt with a competitive injury will relate to Elise’s initial disappointment and acceptance of her new role on the team.

Meet four-and-a-half-year-old Timmy Martin. He’s the biggest baseball fan in the world. Imagine Timmy’s excitement when he gets invited to his cousin’s birthday party. Only it’s not just any old birthday party... It’s a baseball birthday party! Timmy and the Baseball Birthday Party is the first book in a series of stories featuring the world’s most curious little boy!

Five young girls want to know why there's never been a female president. Ready to change the world, the inspired six-year-olds create a special girls-only club - the Future Presidents Club. These girls are ready to make a difference! In the second book in the Future Presidents Club series, Charlotte takes center stage. When the future President Ballerina learns that her dance recital may be canceled, she convinces her friends to put on a talent show to help her musical friends. Can the Future Presidents Club’s new singing group, The Rainbow Tutus, help save their school’s band program?

Ashley Moore wants to know why there's never been a girl president. Before long the inspired six-year-old girl creates a special girls-only club - the Future Presidents Club. Meet five enthusiastic young girls who are ready to change the world. Future Presidents Club is the first book in a series about girls making a difference!

At age seventeen, Soviet gymnast Olga Korbut captured hearts everywhere at the 1972 Olympics. From Moonbeam-winning author Christine Dzidrums, Olga Korbut: Gymnastics Trailblazer describes the gymnast’s trek from her cartwheeling as a young girl to capturing four Olympic gold medals in gymnastics. Accompanied by beautiful illustrations and thrilling photographs, the children’s biography narrates Olga’s early life, her inspiring athletic journey, and her enormous impact on the sport of gymnastics.

"Stronger," "Since U Been Gone," "Behind These Hazel Eyes," "Breakaway," "Because of You," and "Mr. Know It All" For over a decade now, singer Kelly Clarkson has dominated the airwaves with countless smash hit singles. The down-to-earth Texan first won hearts as the original American Idol winner. Since that historic victory, she's continued to impress music lovers with her soaring voice and astounding range. Kelly Clarkson: Behind Her Hazel Eyes is the singer's most thorough biography to date. Young readers will find inspiration reading about the superstar's rise from a broke waitress with big dreams to becoming one of the recording industry's top musical acts.

“I play the 'What If?' Game all the time.It's a cruel, vicious cycle.” Meet free spirit Kaylee McMathews, the most popular girl in school. But when the teenager suffers a devastating loss, her sunny personality turns dark as she struggles with debilitating panic attacks and unresolved anger. Can Kaylee repair her broken spirit or will she forever remain a changed person?

Musical theater fans first fell for Sutton Foster in her triumphant turn as the title character in Thoroughly Modern Millie. Since then the heralded triple threat performer has charmed Broadway audiences in a wide variety of memorable roles, playing a writer, a princess, a movie star, a nightclub singer and a Transylvania farm girl. Now the two-time Tony Award winner is conquering television as the lead in the critically acclaimed series Bunheads. A children's biography, Sutton Foster: Broadway Sweetheart, TV Bunhead details the role model's rise from a tiny ballerina to the toast of Broadway and Hollywood.

19-year-old Charity Graff engages in self-harm. More specifically she cuts herself to numb emotions. In a series of raw journal entries, the confused teenager writes to her estranged father, filling him in on what's happened in her life since he left her nearly 18 years ago. Throughout the course of her letter writing, Charity chronicles her penchant for cutting, a serious struggle with depression and her inability to vocally express her feelings.

At just 14 years old, gymnast Gabby Douglas left behind her close-knit family in Virginia Beach, Virginia, to train under Liang Chow, famed coach of Olympic legend Shawn Johnson. The move to Iowa was not an easy decision for the focused teenager. For many months, she suffered serious bouts of homesickness. Still, the girl with the golden smile believed her sacrifice would someday lead her to Olympic gold. A children's biography and Moonbeam Children's Book Award Winner, Gabby Douglas: Golden Smile, Golden Triumph will grab readers as they experience the thrilling path the popular gymnast from the Fierce Five took on her way to becoming Olympic Champion and America's Sweetheart.

Meet the five gymnasts who will represent the United States at the 2012 London Olympics. The Fab Five: Jordyn Wieber, Gabby Douglas and the U.S. Women's Gymnastics Team tells each team member's life story as they rose from young gymnasts with big dreams to become international superstars of their sport. Discover the stories of Jordyn Wieber, Gabby Douglas, McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman and Kyla Ross as they aim for gold in London!

Shawn Johnson, the young woman from Des Moines, Iowa, captivated the world at the 2008 Beijing Olympics when she snagged a gold medal on the balance beam. Shawn Johnson: Gymnastics' Golden Girl chronicles the life and career of one of sport's most beloved athletes.

Jennie Finch fell in love with baseball as a four-year-old when her mother took her to Dodger games. A year later, her parents signed her up for softball lessons and the young girl was instantly smitten. As a youngster, Jennie dominated travel softball and later became a star player at La Mirada High School in Southern California. During her time at University of Arizona, she set an NCAA record with 60 consecutive wins. Blessed with remarkable pitching ability, good looks and role-model sportsmanship, Jennie became a breakout celebrity at the 2004 Athens Olympics, where she captured gold with Team USA. A children’s biography, Jennie Finch: Softball Superstar details the California native’s journey as she transitioned from a shy youngster playing in a t-ball league to become softball’s most famous face, a devoted mother of three and a legend in women’s sports.

From the popular new series, Classical Reboots: Rapunzel updates the Brothers Grimm fairy tale with hilarious and heartbreaking results. Rapunzel has been locked in her adoptive mother's attic for years. Just as the despondent teenager abandons hope of escaping her private prison, a mysterious tablet computer appears. Before long, Rapunzel's quirky fairy godmother, Aiko, has the conflicted young girl questioning her place in the world.

Idina Menzel's career has been “Defying Gravity” for years now! With starring roles in Wicked and Rent, the Tony-award winner has become one of theater's most beloved stage performers. The powerful vocalist has also branched out successfully in other mediums! She has filmed a recurring role on television's smash hit Glee and lent her amazing talents to the Disney films, Enchanted and Frozen. A children's biography, Idina Menzel: Broadway Superstar narrates the actress' rise to fame from a Long Island wedding singer to overnight success!

Can the little blue Creeper convince his parents that not all cats are bad? Will he realize that being blue is not the end of the world. Filled with delightful illustrations, The Creeper and the Cat will delight young Minecraft fans. The winning story also explains the timeless importance of not judging others based on their looks.

Meet Princess Dessabelle, a spoiled, lonely princess with a quick temper. When she meets a classmate, she orders him to be her friend and soon learns the true value of friendship.