New Releases by Colleen AF Venable

Meet the teacher day? Check! Fun, new classroom? Check! Shiny new first day of school shoes? Check! Meet Junie B. Jones! The B. Stands for Beatrice. Except she doesn''t like Beatrice. She just likes B. And that''s all. Junie B. is almost six. Almost si

Calling all graphic novel fans! Meet Katie the Catsitter--some heroes have capes...Katie has cats! (Lots of cats!) This collectible kitty carrier boxed set includes books 1-4 in the acclaimed, bestselling graphic novel series! "Readers will revel in the heroic antics." -The New York Times "Ideal for readers seeking the whimsy of Dav Pilkey''s ''Dog Man'' tempered with the reassuring tone of Raina Telgemeier''s work."--School Library Journal Book 1: Katie the Catsitter Katie is dreading the summer without her best friends, until she gets a job catsitting for a mysterious neighbor who has 217 cats! (And they''re not exactly . . . normal cats!) Is Katie''s neighbor really a supervillain? Book 2: Katie the Catsitter: Best Friends for Never School''s starting and all of Katie''s friends are mad at her! With the help of 217 out-of-the-ordinary cats, can Katie fix things and be the friend she''s always meant to be? Book 3: Katie the Catsitter: Secrets and Sidekicks Katie can''t wait to have Beth join her for sidekick training but Beth might be a way better sidekick than Katie! Plus giant robots are attacking the city! Can Katie and the cats save the city (and seventh grade)? Book 4: Katie the Catsitter: The Purrfect Plan Katie is rocking seventh grade and being a superhero sidekick, so when a new threat puts the whole city in danger she''s ready to spring into action! Can Katie pull off the plan of the century?! Perfect for cat lovers and graphic novel readers looking for their next great girl power super hero!

Katie is rocking 7th grade and being a superhero sidekick, so when a new threat puts the city in danger she''s ready to spring into action. She''ll just need one super secret plan, a little help, an invitation to the fanciest party, 217 slightly unusual cats, and a new superhero outfit.

Katie the Catsitter is back with her next adventure, and this time she may need the help of an . . . elephant? This irresistibly fun, bestselling, girl—and cat—power graphic novel series is perfect for fans of Sweet Valley Twins and the Babysitters Club! "A little evil and a whole lotta fun." --Kirkus Reviews WANTED: TOP SECRET PLAN Katie is rocking 7th grade and being a superhero sidekick, so when a new threat puts the whole city in danger she''s ready to spring into action! She''ll just need one super secret plan, a little help from her friends (okay a lot of help!), an invitation to the city''s fanciest party, 217 slightly unusual cats, and . . . maybe a new superhero outfit. Can Katie pull off the plan of the century?! Get ready for more drama, more disguises, more fun, more friends, more secrets and more surprises than ever before! (Plus cats, definitely more cats!) Bonus: Don''t miss the Which Cat Are You Quiz inside!

Mr. Venezi has put up a "help wanted" sign in the pet shop. He needs someone to keep track of the animals. But more help might mean he sells more pets, and the animals will have to leave their home. Sasspants, PI(G)— fluffy-but-reluctant detective—is on the case. She fixes the signs on all the cages, but then a vandal turns turtle into turnip and fish into knish! Are the crazy ferrets behind it? The game is afoot for Sasspants and her sidekick Hamisher!

"Before Cat Ninja grew up and became Metro City''s greatest defender, he was tiny, adorable Kitten Ninja and he battled much tinier foes. (Hey, everybody has to start somewhere, right?) In this spin-off prequel to the ... Cat Ninja series, our favorite feline hero takes on everything a kitten-size ninja has to battle on the way to his heroic destiny: a sun spot that won''t stay put, an irresistible ball of yarn, and--every cat''s archenemy--snow"--

Calling all graphic novel fans! Get ready for sidekick training (and friendship drama!) with Katie the Catsitter in book 3 of the purr-fectly irresistible, bestselling middle-grade graphic novel series about growing up, friendship, heroes, and cats (lots of cats)! “Readers will revel in the heroic antics.” --The New York Times “Ideal for readers seeking the whimsy of Dav Pilkey’s ''Dog Man'' tempered with the reassuring tone of Raina Telgemeier’s work.”—School Library Journal What’s better than BFFs? Super sidekick BFFs! Katie can’t wait to have Beth join her for sidekick training! Until . . . it turns out Beth might be a way better sidekick than Katie! And now Beth and Marie are hanging out all the time, Jess is acting super weird, and Katie still needs to tell her mom about being a sidekick. Oh yeah, and giant robots are attacking the city. So. That’s not great. Can Katie and 217 super-unusual cats work together to save the city (and seventh grade)? Or is Katie about to be in super trouble? Bonus: includes instructions to make your own friendship bracelet! Looking for more cats and more fun?! Don''t miss Katie the Catsitter and Katie the Catsitter: Best Friends for Never!

Over 500 pages of sweet, slimy fun! Enjoy the complete My Pet Slime series in this gift-worthy box set. Piper Maclane wants a pet so badly, but she''s allergic to everything. So she creates her own . . . out of slime! From Epic! Originals, My Pet Slime is a heartwarming series about a girl who makes the most of a challenging situation and is rewarded with a bit of magic! Book 1: My Pet Slime Piper wishes she could have a pet to care for and snuggle with and take to school for show-and-tell. All of the other kids have one. But she''s allergic to every animal imaginable! So instead, she makes her own pet out of slime, with big eyes, a little mouth, and two arms just long enough for hugs. It would be the perfect pet for Piper, if it were real. When a strange turn of events brings her slime to life, Piper learns how fun, challenging, and messy it can be to care for a pet . . . especially one made out of slime! Book 2: Cosmo to the Rescue Piper was beyond surprised when her slime magically came to life and became her adorable pet, Cosmo. Now she must deal with an even bigger shocker: Her grandma has gone missing. With the help of their new friend Claire, it''s up to Piper and Cosmo to save Grandma Sadie! Book 3: Saving Cosmo After her pet slime came to life and her grandma got kidnapped, Piper didn''t think life could get any stranger. But then she found herself trapped in the headquarters of the mysterious MaLa corporation with her Grandma Sadie, her enemy-turned-friend Claire, and Cosmo, her pet slime. Luckily, Piper has an out-of-this-world plan to escape from MaLa and make sure sweet, cuddly Cosmo stays safe forever!

Dive whiskers-first into the hit graphic novel series about a new breed of superhero! In this action-packed box set, join Cat Ninja and his friends as he faces a variety of challenges, from scheming villains to babysitting and boredom. Raised from a kitten by a kindly old ninja master, Claude now spends his days as the pampered house cat of an eleven-year-old boy. But when trouble arises, he dons his mask and springs into action as Cat Ninja--Metro City''s secret protector! Follow Cat Ninja, Master Hamster, and a colorful cast of friends and foes in volumes 1-3 of the Kirkus-starred series: Book 1: Cat Ninja Follow our feline hero''s early exploits as he tries to keep his secret identity under wraps while thwarting the evil plans of slimy crooks, rampaging robots, and a certain rodent nemesis who lives under the same roof! Book 2: Time Heist When Leon brings a mystery egg home from school, Cat Ninja and Master Hamster face their biggest challenge yet: babysitting! And while they''re pretty sure they can keep an egg out of trouble, they know they''re in over their heads when that egg hatches into a high-energy ball of feathers and cuteness. It''s baby''s first superhero adventure when they decide to bring their newest family member along as they uncover the identity--and nefarious motives--of Metro City''s latest foe. Book 3: Wanted Metro City''s favorites and newcomers share the spotlight in tales that include a nearly cat-astrophic case of stolen identity, the not-so-villainous adventures of Master Hamster, and Adonis''s first mission as one of the good guys. Enjoy six hilarious, stand-alone stories, plus a five-part Cat Ninja special miniseries!

El verano ha llegado y Caty se queda en la ciudad mientras su amiga se va decampamento. Para reunir el dinero suficiente para ir con ella, Caty encuentra trabajo cuidando a los gatos de su vecina Madeline, ¡sus 217 gatos! Y no son gatos normales, que digamos. Además, Madeline parece que siempre trabaja cuando La Ratonatriz, la supervillana de la ciudad, comete sus crímenes. ¿Es posible que Madeline sea La Ratonatriz? ¿Logrará Caty desvelar el misterio?

"Cat Ninja created by Matthew Cody and Yehudi Mercado"--Title page verso.

In Book 3 of the hugely popular Cat Ninja series, small-time crooks, sidekicks, and the wannabe supervillains who made our heroes who they are all get a chance to tell their stories--and their stories are hilarious! Cat Ninja: Wanted features Metro City''s favorites and newcomers in tales that include a nearly cat-astrophic case of stolen identity, the not-so-villainous adventures of Master Hamster, and Adonis''s first mission as one of the good guys. Enjoy six stand-alone stories, plus a five-part Cat Ninja special miniseries! The stories in Cat Ninja: Wanted teach readers that: People (and villains!) can change Everyone deserves a second chance You don''t need superpowers to be a hero!

Calling all Raina Telgemeier fans! It''s back to school for Katie the Catsitter in this purr-fectly irresistible graphic novel series about friendship, heroes, and cats (lots of cats)! “Readers will revel in the heroic antics.” --The New York Times Katie loves skating with the Wheelas and the fact that she’s officially a superhero sidekick. But now that school’s starting, everything’s changing. The Mousetress is getting blamed for things Katie knows she didn’t do. Sidekick training is NOT as exciting as she’d hoped. Katie’s best friend Beth is back in town and Beth’s new boyfriend is always hanging around (ugh!). Not to mention that all of Katie’s friends are mad at her. Fixing this will be harder than any skateboarding trick. But with the help of 217 slightly out of the ordinary cats, Katie’s going to try! Can she clear the Mousestress’s name, uncover the real supervillain, and become the sidekick (and the friend) she’s always dreamed of being? Don''t miss more Katie the Catsitters—Katie the Catsitter 1 and Katie the Catsitter 3: Secrets and Sidekicks! “Readers will revel in the heroic antics.” –The New York Times

Calling all Raina Telgemeier fans! It''s back to school for Katie the Catsitter in this purr-fectly irresistible graphic novel series about friendship, heroes, and cats (lots of cats)! Katie loves skating with the Wheelas and the fact that she’s officially a superhero sidekick. But now that school’s starting, everything’s changing. The Mousetress is getting blamed for things Katie knows she didn’t do. Sidekick training is NOT as exciting as she’d hoped. Katie’s best friend Beth is back in town and Beth’s new boyfriend is always hanging around (ugh!). Not to mention that all of Katie’s friends are mad at her. Fixing this will be harder than any skateboarding trick. But with the help of 217 slightly out of the ordinary cats, Katie’s going to try! Can she clear the Mousestress’s name, uncover the real supervillain, and become the sidekick (and the friend) she’s always dreamed of being? “Readers will revel in the heroic antics.” –The New York Times

"When the lunch bell rings at Newville Elementary, you can bet that things are about to get WEIRD! Welcome to the Cafetorium! It''s a cafeteria, a gymnasium, and possibly a portal to a world where cube-shaped mashed potatoes are plotting against the almost-definitely-robotic lunch staff. Join Liz Dawson, Declan, Remy, and the rest of Newville Elementary as they learn that when you have plans in the Cafetorium, the Cafetorium has plans for you, too!"--

NOMINATED FOR MULTIPLE STATE AWARDS! Calling all Raina Telgemeier fans! Introducing an irresistible new middle-grade graphic novel series about growing up, friendship, heroes, and cats (lots of cats!)--perfect for fans of Guts, Awkward and Real Friends (not to mention anyone who loves cats!) “Readers will revel in the heroic antics.” --The New York Times Katie is dreading the boring summer ahead while her best friends are all away at camp--something that''s way out of Katie and her mom''s budget, UNLESS Katie can figure out a way to earn the money for camp herself. But when Katie gets a job catsitting for her mysterious upstairs neighbor, life get interesting. First, Madeline has 217 cats (!) and they''re not exactly . . . normal cats. Also, why is Madeline always out EXACTLY when the city''s most notorious villain commits crimes?! Is it possible that Katie''s upstairs neighbor is really a super villain? Can Katie wrangle a whole lot of wayward cats, save a best friendship (why is Beth barely writing back? And who''s this boy she keeps talking about?!), AND crack the biggest story in the city''s history? Some heroes have capes . . . Katie has cats! Don''t miss the next Katie the Catsitters—Katie the Catsitter 2: Best Friends for Never and Katie the Catsitter 3: Secrets and Sidekicks! A Florida Sunshine State Reader Award nominee A South Carolina Book Award nominee A Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award nominee A Vermont Golden Dome Book Award nominee A Maine Student Book Award nominee A North Carolina Children''s Book Award nominee An Indiana Young Hoosier Book Award nominee An Illinois Bluestem Readers’ Choice nominee And more!

Katie is dreading the boring summer ahead while her best friends are all away at camp--something that''s way out of Katie and her mom''s budget, UNLESS Katie can figure out a way earn the money for camp herself. But when Katie gets a job catsitting for her mysterious upstairs neighbor, life get interesting. First, Madeline has 217 cats (!) and they''re not exactly ... normal cats.

A 2019 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature Longlist Selection A 2019 New York Public Library Best Books for Kids A 2020 Tayshas Reading List Selection A 2020 Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List Selection Mads is pretty happy with her life. She goes to church with her family, and minor league baseball games with her dad. She goofs off with her best friend Cat, and has thus far managed to avoid getting kissed by Adam, the boy next door. It''s everything she hoped high school would be... until all of a sudden, it''s not. Her dad is hiding something big—so big it could tear her family apart. And that’s just the beginning of her problems: Mads is starting to figure out that she doesn''t want to kiss Adam... because the only person she wants to kiss is Cat. Kiss Number 8, a graphic novel from writer Colleen AF Venable and illustrator Ellen T. Crenshaw, is a layered, funny, sharp-edged story of teen sexuality and family secrets.

First Second''s graphic novel sampler for Winter 2019, including excerpts from award-winning authors and artists such as Gene Luen Yang, Box Brown, Ellen T. Crenshaw, and more!

Sasspants, Hamisher, and company have never had it so good. Now that Mr. Venezi''s Pets and Stuff doesn''t actually sell pets, everybody has time to explore other interests. There''s scuba diving in the fish tank with the Steves, theatrical performances with the mice, and walrus toothbrushes and aardvark neckties for everyone! It''s not all good times, though. Mr. Venezi''s been mistaking his bills for fan mail and a dragon may have moved into the shop. Can Sasspants and Hamisher ensure that a "happily ever after" is in store for the animals, Mr. Venezi, Viola?and even that nice lady from the bookshop next door?

It''s a dark and stormy afternoon when Sasspants, PI(G), leaves Mr. Venezi''s pet shop to live with a new owner. Soon there''s a mystery afoot back at the shop: the cat from the bookstore next door has disappeared. All the pet shop animals are putting on their detective hats, but their fluffy-but-faraway guinea pig detective can''t help them follow the clues! Can Hamisher the hamster solve this cat-napping without Sasspants? He''s going to try his furry best not only to crack the case, but to reunite with his best friend and fellow sleuth too.

The animals in Mr. Venezi''s pet shop are used to how forgetful he is. Then he hires the perfect assistant, Viola. She does her job so well that Mr. V hardly needs to be there. In fact, one day, Mr. V doesn''t come back at all! But then Viola starts ignoring the animals. Has Mr. V given the pet shop to a villain? Or is some other mystery afoot? Sasspants, PI(G)—fluffy-but-determined guinea pig detective—and junior detective Hamisher the hamster—will soon fish out the answers!

Sasspants, PI(G), the world''s fluffiest detective, is back on the case or she will be, if her sidekick Hamisher can convince her there''s really a mystery afoot. Hamisher has made up so many stories, Sasspants doesn''t believe him. But one by one the mice in Mr. Venezi''s pet shop are going missing, and all the spooky clues point to...a ghost! Once our shaggy Sherlocks start digging for answers, they will stop at nothing to ferret out the truth!