New Releases by Jacqueline Jules

Can Freddie's superpowers help him catch a beach monster? Freddie takes his first trip to the beach, where his superpowered shoes make him bounce on the sand. While Freddie’s mom hangs out with her boyfriend, David, and gets to know his family, Freddie investigates the giant monster tracks that mysteriously appear on the beach. When David’s sister and baby niece disappear, can Freddie find them before the monster does?

When a small lamb scampers away from her flock, the young shepherd Moses wonders whether he should chase after her or let her fend for herself in the wilderness. He decides to go after her, not knowing that God is watching.

Mr. Vaslov is building a drone to help him take care of Starwood Park—but that's Freddie's job! And when Freddie finds out his mom has a new boyfriend, he's worried about their relationship too. How can his Zapato Power help with all this change?

Inspired by Jewish folklore, The Generous Fish is the story of a young boy named Reuven who takes a verse from scripture to “cast your bread upon the waters” (Ecclesiastes 11:1) quite literally. The result of his daily act is a giant talking fish with golden scales! Boy and fish spend idyllic days together until the villagers realize those scales are real gold. Every villager has good reason to ask for one. Devorah needs clothes for her children. Old Joseph needs money for a cane. The fish says he has plenty to share. But he grows weak from giving away too much, too fast. Can Reuven stand up to the village and save his friend? Through a unique friendship between a boy and a magic fish, award-winning author Jacqueline Jules has created an environmental fable sure to generate discussion in the classroom and at home. What happens when we want something that depletes another's resources? Frances Tyrrell's finely detailed illustrations delightfully capture a child's innocent love for the natural world. An author's note provides biblical sources on human interaction with the environment.

It's time to go school shopping, and Sofia is extra excited about her new supplies. But that excitement turns to panic when her cousin Manuel goes missing. With Sofia's entire family on the case, Manuel won't be missing for long. This early chapter book includes writing prompts, discussion questions, an English/Spanish glossary, and a table of contents.

It's almost Thanksgiving, and Tuyet is excited about the holiday and the vacation from school. There's just one problem: her Vietnamese American family is having duck for Thanksgiving dinner—not turkey! Nobody has duck for Thanksgiving. What will her teacher and the other kids think? To her surprise, Tuyet enjoys her yummy thanksgiving dinner anyhow, and an even bigger surprise is waiting for her at school on Monday. Dinners from roast beef to lamb to enchiladas adorned the Thanksgiving tables of her classmates, but they all had something in common—family! Kids from families with different traditions will enjoy this warm story about "the right way" to celebrate an American holiday.

Pluto is peeved. And who can blame him? He was once considered one of the Solar System’s nine planets but was unceremoniously demoted. “Why do scientists think it is all right to change things?” Is just one question Pluto asks as he roams the science museum in search of answers. Pluto Is Peeved!, a comic-book-style picture book, takes you on a scientific journey side-by-side with Pluto, who speaks with other museum inhabitants—such as a dinosaur, a germ, and the Earth—and learns what exactly scientists are interested in. The answer is: everything, including him!

When Sofia is around, every moment of every day is exciting. This spunky 7-year-old can even make having the hiccups fun! Can you imagine what kind of fun Sofia will have at her first quinceañera or when the lights go out? No matter what happens, it will be memorable if Sofia is involved! This early chapter book from the Sofia Martinez series includes Spanish words in the text and a Spanish glossary.

Sofia is on a mission to make a family time capsule. The whole family contributes pictures and special items. Abuela even writes a letter to each of her grandchildren to be opened in fifteen years. Can Sofia really wait fifteen years to find out what that letter says? Adorable art, a table of contents, writing prompts, discussion questions, and an English/Spanish glossary are all included in this early chapter book.

Sofia has brand new white shoes for family friend Liliana's quinceañera, but when she gets grape juice on them her mother makes her wear them anyway, even though they no longer match her white dress.

Sofia's Abuela is taking her and Sophia's cousin Hector to the movies, but when Hector develops hiccups, their movie plans are put on hold until the children get their hiccup problem under control.

Akiva is just a poor shepherd living an ordinary life, until he falls in love with Rachel. Rachel thinks her husband could become a great man of learning—but Akiva can't even read! Is he too old to be a scholar or can he follow the example of the water in the nearby brook? Water is soft, yet drop by drop, it can soften the hardest stone.

Sofia Martinez loves her familia! Her cousins, aunts, uncles, and abuela are a huge part of her life. Whether they are at a sunny beach or stuck in a dark house without electricity, the Martinez family knows how to make the best of every situation. Join Sofia and her fant‡stica familia on three fun adventures in this early chapter book, which includes a Spanish glossary.

Long ago, when the world was brand new, all birds were naked. It wasn’t fair. Foxes had fur. Turtles had shells. Birds deserved warm coats, too. Disgruntled, they approach the first full spring moon for advice. Birds of all shapes and sizes attend the meeting. Everyone except Peacock. He arrives on the scene late, to find his friends covered with warm, colorful feathers. “Look at Peacock! He’s still naked!” All the birds stare at poor Peacock trembling in the cold night air. What will Peacock and his friends do? Find out in this beautiful and charming pourquoi story about kindness. Award-winning author Jacqueline Jules blends folktale motifs from around the world to offer an original explanation for why the peacock has such beautiful feathers.An appendix provides more information about peacocks. Helen Cann’s stunning illustrations give young readers fun opportunities to identify the colors and plant life of spring. Feathers for Peacock is a gently humorous tale of generosity and friendship.

"Who made the clouds?" Abraham asks. "Who made the flowers?" Even as a child, he knows there must be something greater than idols of clay and stone. As he observes and questions the world around him, Abraham comes to the conclusion that there is one God. A creative midrash about the father of the world's religions.

Sofia's adventures and disasters continue in this compilation of three previously published books.

The Martinez family is headed for a weekend at the beach, along with their friends, but Sofia has packed so many games that she does not have room for clothes.

Sofia helps her grandmother make her special rice pudding, but there is a mix-up in the recipe.

NUMBER 13, AUTUMN 2015 . . .all men and women are created equal in rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. —Elizabeth Cady Stanton, revision of the American Declaration of Independence, 1848 Evening Street Review is centered on the belief that all men and women are created equal, that they have a natural claim to certain inalienable rights, and that among these are the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. With this center, and an emphasis on writing that has both clarity and depth, it practices the widest eclecticism. Evening Street Review reads submissions of poetry (free verse, formal verse, and prose poetry) and prose (short stories and creative nonfiction) year round. Submit 3-6 poems or 1-2 prose pieces at a time. Payment is one contributor’s copy. Copyright reverts to author upon publication. Response time is 3-6 months. Please address submissions to Editors, 2881 Wright Street, Sacramento, CA 95821. Email submissions are also acceptable; send to the following address as Microsoft Word or rich text files (.rtf): [email protected].

Follow 7-year-old Sofia Martinez as she deals with her family and daily adventures.

Sofia gets to watch the class pet, a mouse named Snowflake.

Sofia and her cousins are making a piñata for their grandmother's birthday party, but when Bella the cat gets involved chaos ensues.

When Sofia washes the car, she ends up ruining her mom's marigolds and making a muddy mess.

A young child says the "Motzi," a traditional prayer of thanks.

No one ignores the grand vizier. The most important advisor in the royal court, he was considered the wisest man in the kingdom. He was also Samuel’s father. “Make sure Hamza never says a mean word to you again,” he had ordered Samuel. What should Samuel do? He couldn’t disobey his father. But how would he make sure that Hamza never insulted him again? Perhaps train a monkey to hold Hamza’s lips closed, or give him some lemon juice to make his mouth pucker? Inspired by a powerful legend of conflict resolution in Muslim Spain, Never Say a Mean Word Again is the compelling story of a boy who is given permission to punish an enemy. What will he do?

The Ziz is back! The loveable but clumsy Ziz, giant king of the birds, tries to help Noah round up the animals for the ark. Ziz fans will also enjoy The Hardest Word and The Ziz and the Hanukkah Miracle.

Beginning the New Year in a new city isn’t easy, and it definitely isn’t starting out very well for Dina and her family! But when they’re welcomed by warm and generous hosts in their new community it becomes a very happy New Year for all.

Things are not going well at Starwood Elementary! A squirrel is running through the halls. A tree fell on the gym. The principal is acting weird! Can Freddie save the day with his Zapato Power?

At summer camp, Carlie and Sara quickly bond over a love of singing and other shared interests, but Sara mistakes Carlie excitement over her surname as teasing, not knowing that it gives them something else in common.

A family celebrates Hanukkah by lighting candles, opening gifts, and eating latkes.