New Releases by James Kwan

A charming, sci-fi twist on the first day of school genre, featuring a young astronaut whose new classmates are literal aliens From author-illustrator James Kwan comes an affirming picture book to soothe first day of school jitters—and celebrate what makes us different. Hello, friends. I am writing this little book to document my discoveries from outer space. Things are very different here . . . James is far away from his home planet of Earth, and in this galaxy, he’s the alien. He has no idea how to fit in with his classmates, who all have googly eyes, slimy tentacles, or noodle arms. No one here knows how to pronounce his name, the school bus is a UFO, and don’t even get him started on the bathroom! But when it comes time for show and tell, James realizes that he has something special to share.

Sometimes being a boat is full of adventures and it's nothing but smooth sailing on the high seas, but sometimes arguing passengers can take you off course. When you run aground, will their teamwork give you the strength to make it through? Offbeat and imaginative, James Kwan gives us a glimpse of what it’s like to not only be a boat, but what it is to be human in both gentle and rough waters. Perfect for life’s transitions, this book tackles taking on change and indecision with grace, humor, and heart. It’s a reassuring reminder to stay the course through all kinds of stormy weather. Ahoy, ahoy!

Two young hikers set out to look for Yeti one day, and with the help of a bird friend, they trek further and further into the woods, sending letters to coax the shy creature out of hiding. But as their trip goes on, the hikers find that they have not prepared very well, and though their morale is high, food supplies are low, the forest is getting darker, and a snowstorm looms. Luckily Yeti is a friend they can rely on, and though he's not ready to come out of hiding, he sneakily finds a way to get the hikers exactly what they need when they need it. A sweet and whimsical story of a perfect kid-sized winter adventure, Dear Yeti is the debut picture book of an author/illustrator to watch.