New Releases by Catherine Hapka

An Advent Novel: Count down to Christmas in twenty-four sealed chapters! They may live in Poinsettia, "the Most Christmassy Town in the U.S. of A.," but the Kerstman kids have never had a Christmas like this! When Chris discovers a puppy wedged in his family's chimney on Christmas morning, he knows exactly how it got there because the dog tells him. Jingle stowed away in Santa's sleigh, got left behind accidentally, and he can talk! Can Chris, his big sister, Holly, and her best friend, Ivy, find a way to help Jingle return to the North Pole? With full-color artwork and one sealed chapter to open each day, Jingle, All the Way Home is the perfect gift to bring festive cheer to your Christmas countdown! Catherine Hapka has published many books for children of all ages. As a kid she always wanted Santa to bring her a pony for Christmas. These days, she's lucky enough to live on a small farm in Chester County, Pennsylvania, with three oversize ponies (also know as horses) along with several rascally goats, a small flock of chickens, and too many cats. Kathryn Selbert is an award-winning freelance illustrator, author, and designer currently living in Montclair, New Jersey, with her tea-loving husband and grumpy French bulldog, Margot. She has so much Christmas spirit, she decorates her tree in November.

Set in Pennsylvania, the fifth book in the American Horse Tale series follows the story of a young girl who moves to a small rural town and begins a friendship with the horse next door. Nat is a city girl through and through. She loves playing in open fire hydrants, laughing with her friends during block parties, and making trips to her local comic book shop to grab the latest copy of her favorite graphic novel series. So she's heartbroken when her mom says they're moving to a rural town hours away from Philadelphia. Who wants to live in the middle of Nowheresville? But getting used to her new small-town life might not be as bad as Nat thought now that she's met the boy next door and his beautiful horse, Ghost. Nowheresville is part of a series of books written by several authors highlighting the unique relationships between young girls and their horses.

Take a charming, sentimental journey through the Hundred-Acre Wood with Winnie the Pooh. Nearly a century ago, A.A. Milne created the Hundred-Acre Wood and the cast of curious creatures who delight us to this day with their humorous quirks, endearing friendships, and contemplative wisdom. Winnie the Pooh has a finer-than-most appreciation of the simple things--a satisfying snack, a warm and cozy chair, or a long walk with a friend. Come along with Pooh on a journey to share his simple yet profound observations of the natural world. Each page inspires the reader to stop and take a moment to observe and consider the joy that The Little Things in Life can bring.

Welcome to Dolphin Island, where the tropical sun shines, the dolphins play, and friendship is always just down the beach! Abby's family has just moved to the Florida Keys to run an island resort. She's excited to feel the surf, sand, and ocean breeze every day! And when Bella, a visitor to the island, discovers a hidden cove that's home to a pod of dolphins, Abby knows she's right where she should be. But Bella makes Abby swear to keep the dolphins a secret. Can Abby keep her promise or will their friendship be over for good?

The producers of Junior Ninja Champion announce a wildcard episode, throwing the team from Fit Kidz Gym off balance and forcing them to accept a new competitor on their team.

Shares the story of how a plow horse about to go to slaughter became a champion show jumper and the winner of the 1958 show jumping Triple Crown.

A secret cove, a special dolphin, and two girls with dolphin dreams . . . Avery comes to the cove to imagine swimming with dolphins -- and to avoid thinking about her parents' divorce. Maria comes to draw pictures of the special creatures. Pictures she'll never show to anyone.When a sweet dolphin brings two girls from very different worlds together, it looks like they might make their dreams come true . . . together. Maria helps Avery battle her fear of the ocean. And Avery encourages Maria to share her art with the world. But family expectations could tear their new friendship apart. Then the girls discover their special dolphin is in trouble. Can they overcome their differences to help the dolphin -- and each other -- before it's too late?

When Haley falls off Wings during an event and loses to her rival Riley, she vows to practice continually to make sure it doesn't happen again.

Going to dolphin school under the sea is a magical experience for Pearl and her friends! When Splash doesn't show up to dolphin school on time, Pearl, Echo, and Flip are worried. It's the season of the annual shark migration, and he could be in danger! Later, they learn he's hiding a big secret. He's made a new friend -- who's a shark!Everyone is shocked. But the shark is young, and lost from his family. Will Pearl and her friends defy the rules and help a scary creature home?

Going to dolphin school under the sea is a magical experience for Pearl and her friends! Pearl and her friends Echo, Splash, and Flip are preparing for their first test at dolphin school! It's in Magic class, which is Echo's best subject, so she's helping them study.But then Echo loses her lucky shell necklace. She's very upset -- and, even worse, she's barely able to do any magic! Can Pearl and her friends help Echo find her necklace and regain her skills before their big test?

Going to dolphin school under the sea is a magical experience for Pearl and her friends! It's time for dolphin school's annual Show Off Day! It's a chance for students to perform what they've learned for the whole dolphin community. Pearl and her friends Echo, Splash, and Flip are excited to come up with the best group routine ever! But they all have different interests, and they can't agree on what to show off. Can the dolphin friends come up with a compromise, or will they end up looking silly in front of everyone?

While out walking a dog one day, Adam notices a shaggy, tiny pony standing alone in a field. Each day he sees the same lonely pony. Has she been abandoned? Looks like another case for the Pet Rescue Club! Will Adam, along with his friends Janey, Lolli, and Zach find a way to help? Welcome to the Pet Rescue Club! Collectible bookmarks with every book feature the real-life stories! The series begins when Janey starts a blog where people can share cute pet photos and stories. She never imagined she’d receive a heartbreaking photo of a skinny, abandoned dog. She callson her friends Lolli, Zach, and Adam to help – and that’s just the start! When these animal-loving fourth graders discover how many animals need help in their suburban hometown, they can’t just sit by and do nothing… Read a book and help save a life: 5-7% of the purchase price of every ASPCA® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Pet Rescue Club book goes directly to the ASPCA® so they can continue their mission of helping the helpless, with a minimum donation of $50,000 through December 2019.

For all lovers of horses and history, the beloved Horse Diaries series is heading to the circus! A beautiful Friesian horse and the younger sister of a circus star develop a heartwarming friendship in this sweet and lively story told straight from the horse’s mouth. The Netherlands, 1855 Luna is a black Friesian mare with one small white crescent- moon marking on her forehead. She lives a quiet life on a farm . . . until the circus comes to town! Luna bonds with a girl named May, who dreams of starring in the show, just like her older sister. And together, Luna and May just might be able to shine. Here is Luna’s story . . . in her own words.

A teenage girl begins to believe she is being haunted.

Fifteen-year-old, science loving Bailey experiences what it is like to fall in love for the first time when new boy Logan Morse arrives into town.

To celebrate the tenth anniversary of LOST's debut on ABC, delve back into the excitement and mystery through the eyes of three new characters stranded on the island! This three-book compilation of compelling, original stories features your favorite characters—Jack, Kate, Sawyer, Hurley, and more. Perfect for fans of the hit TV series, the books—Endangered Species, Secret Identity, and Signs of Life—add even more depth to the show.

Disappointed when she is not accepted by the wealthier campers at her sleepaway riding camp, Brooke learns that the camp may be shutting down permanently and asks her online Pony Post friends for help saving it.

Maddie is desperate to keep her favorite horse from being sold in this first book in a contemporary middle grade series in the tradition of Marguerite Henry’s Misty of Chincoteague. Madison “Maddie” Martinez loves her weekly riding lessons, and she loves working with her favorite horse, Cloudy, every time. So she is shocked when she finds out Cloudy’s former owners might want to buy her back! Maddie desperately concocts various plans to stop the sale: maybe she can raise money to buy Cloudy herself, or what if she can make the potential buyers lose interest? Maddie’s online Pony Post friends—Brooke Rhodes, Hayley Duncan, Nina Peralt, who all share a love of Chincoteague ponies—can tell something is up, but at first Maddie is afraid to tell them what’s happening. If she loses her only connection to Chincoteague, will they even want to be friends with her anymore?

Read along with Disney! While visiting the Kingdom of Wei-Ling, James and Prince Jin set off to search for the legendary treasure of the Jade Jaguar but soon find themselves trapped in the jaguar's den! It's up to Sofia, Amber, and Princess Jun to rescue their families! Follow along with word-for-word narration to see if Mulan can help the princesses save the day in time!

For the campers and the horse lovers in your home or school! It's the first day of summer vacation and time to go camping with the ponies! Meg discovers there's a lot she doesn't know about camping—but learning is part of the fun in the end. The Pony Scouts series is full of all the rich details young horse lovers devour, from pony-centric plots to a "Pony Pointers" vocabulary page at the end of each book. Go camping with the Pony Scouts! Author Catherine Hapka is a lifelong horse lover. She rides several times per week and keeps three horses on her small farm in Pennsylvania. If you're looking for horse books for girls 4-8, don't miss the Pony Scouts books. Pony Scouts: The Camping Trip is a Level Two I Can Read book, geared for kids who read on their own but still need a little help. Whether shared at home or in a classroom, the engaging stories, longer sentences, and language play of Level Two books are proven to help kids take their next steps toward reading success.

From the creators of Ice Age and Epic, Rio 2 flies into theaters in April 2014. Join Blu, Jewel, and all your favorite Rio characters for a wild adventure in this retelling of the movie, perfect for young fans! When a wild blue Spix's Macaw is spotted in the Amazon jungle, Blu and Jewel head off to search for more of their kind. But who they meet is the biggest surprise of all. Based on the movie, Rio 2: One Big Blue Family is a Level 2 I Can Read book, perfect for kids who read on their own but still need a little help.

Read along with Disney! A snowstorm prevents King Roland from returning home in time for the holidays. Sofia bravely leads her family on an expedition to find him, and she shows Amber that spending the holiday with loved ones is better than any present. This beautifully illustrated story is perfect for holidays and includes word for word narration as well as a special appearance by Princess Aurora!

Walk with the dinosaurs in this I Can Read book based on the motion picture. In this story, Patchi and Juniper get separated from their herd during the great migration. Will they make it to the Winter Ground, where their families are waiting? Walking with Dinosaurs: The Winter Ground is a Level Two I Can Read book, geared for kids who read on their own but still need a little help. Walking with Dinosaurs, a six-part documentary on the BBC, is now the most watched cable documentary ever, as well as a long-running live stage show. The long-awaited 3D motion picture comes out this December, and is sure to thrill fans.

Read along with Disney! Sofia meets Princess Ariel in this adorable mermaid tale! During her family vacation on a floating palace, Sofia befriends a mermaid, and through their friendship, helps save the mermaid's kingdom and brings their two worlds together. Follow along with the word-for-word narration in this storybook based on the Disney Junior movie event featuring Princess Ariel!

In Pony Scouts: Blue Ribbon Day, the eighth book in the Pony Scouts series, horse-loving Meg, Jill, and Amy are thrilled to be going to the county fair. They get to help Jill's mom prepare the ponies for the driving class competition. And they’ll have plenty of time to enjoy lots of fair fun and try the yummy treats. Lovely watercolor illustrations on every page add to the story's charm, and a page of pony pointers explaining horse terms is a fun bonus for riding enthusiasts. Pony Scouts: Blue Ribbon Day by Catherine Hapka is an I Can Read level 2 book, perfect for beginning readers who are gaining confidence in their reading skills but still need some help.

Lindy doesn't want to move to the bug house. That's what she calls her family's new beachfront house on stilts. She misses her best friend and her life back in Chicago. But her feelings change during a storm when Lindy hears a cry for help . . . from a mermaid! Are there really mermaids in Lindy's backyard? And if so, what can one clumsy girl do to help them? Fans of Hamster Magic and The Very Little Princess books will love this heartfelt and accessible Stepping Stones fantasy.

Read along with Disney! Sofia is excitedly awaiting the arrival of a visitor at the castle: a beautiful baby unicorn named Pearl. Sofia and her step-siblings want to play with their special guest, but Pearl ruins their games and makes a mess. Follow along with the word for word narration as Sofia tries to find an activity they can all enjoy together.

The Pony Scouts are becoming better at riding with every lesson. But just when they think they've seen it all, a new horse arrives on Jill's farm—one who hasn't been ridden before! Taffy is a beautiful palomino pony that needs Jill's help. With a little patience and a lot of love, Jill and the Pony Scouts will make Taffy a member of the family. The Pony Scouts series is full of all the rich details young horse lovers devour, from pony-centric plots to a "Pony Pointers" vocabulary page at the end of each book. Go camping with the Pony Scouts! Author Catherine Hapka is a lifelong horse lover. She rides several times per week and keeps three horses on her small farm in Pennsylvania. If you're looking for horse books for girls 4-8, don't miss the Pony Scouts books. Pony Scouts: The New Pony is a Level Two I Can Read book, geared for kids who read on their own but still need a little help. Whether shared at home or in a classroom, the engaging stories, longer sentences, and language play of Level Two books are proven to help kids take their next steps toward reading success.

Sofia was a little girl who lived a rather ordinary life. But everything changed when her mother married the king. Now she must learn everything there is to know about being a princess before the royal ball . . . which is tomorrow night! Follow along with the word-for-word narration as Sofia becomes Princess Sofia the First!

Meg, Jill, and Annie know how to ride their ponies. But when they decide to go out on the trail alone, will they be able to find their way home? The Pony Scouts series is full of all the rich details young horse lovers devour, from pony-centric plots to a "Pony Pointers" vocabulary page at the end of each book. Go camping with the Pony Scouts! Author Catherine Hapka is a lifelong horse lover. She rides several times per week and keeps three horses on her small farm in Pennsylvania. If you're looking for horse books for girls 4-8, don't miss the Pony Scouts books. Pony Scouts: The Trail Ride is a Level Two I Can Read book, geared for kids who read on their own but still need a little help. Whether shared at home or in a classroom, the engaging stories, longer sentences, and language play of Level Two books are proven to help kids take their next steps toward reading success.