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

Junie B. Jones is going to have a new baby at her house. Only that is not a very good surprise. Because babies smell like P.U. (Junie B. smelled one once). But good news! Grandma Miller tells Junie B. the new baby is a little monkey! Now Junie B.''s t

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!

Before Cat Ninja grew up and became Metro Citys greatest defender, he was tiny, adorable Kitten Ninja and he battled much tinier foes. (Hey, everybody has to start somewhere, right?) Here, our favourite feline hero takes on everything a kitten-size ninja has to battle on the way to his heroic destiny: a sun spot that wont stay put, an irresistible ball of yarn, and - every cats archenemy - snow!

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!

There''s a sandwich thief in Mr. Venezi''s pet shop. But never fear! The world''s fluffiest detective is on the case: Sasspants, PI(G). By day, Sasspants is your average book-loving, gizmo-inventing guinea pig. By night she solves pet shop mysteries with the help of her sidekick, Hamisher the hamster. Our furry little heroes will stop at nothing to find the sandwich thief! This is the first book in the Guinea PIG, Pet Shop Private Eye series. "Absolutely adorable drawings, blended with witty dialogue in a way that makes this comic a perfect read for all ages . . . and Owly would like to add that ''little Hamisher and his drawings are equal to awesome.''" —Andy Runton, author of Owly "Move over Miss Marple, never mind the No. 1 Ladies'' Detective Agency, here''s the real mistress of the whodunit. She''s sharp. And she''s furry. This one''s a keeper." —Mark Siegel, author of the 5 Worlds series "[A] humorous mystery. Children who are just beginning to read graphic novels independently will enjoy solving the case with Sasspants." — School Library Journal "Children can look and guess for themselves about the clues and red herrings the book presents. The humor in the characters'' personalities and dialogue makes this a lively and entertaining book." — Publishers Weekly "Yue''s graphic panels, colored by Hi-Fi Design, make the most of the comic potential and extend it with plenty of visual slapstick. Middle graders will close this and ask right away for Detective Pants''s next caper." — Kirkus Reviews "Young readers will appreciate the zaniness of the pet shop and the fun mystery." — Booklist

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!

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!

Did you know that Patrick Swayze was 35 when he got his big break in Dirty Dancing? The Swayze Year is an entertaining and inspiring humor book that proves you''re never too old to reach your potential. The Swayze Year celebrates later-in-life wins with short profiles of one person for every year from age 35 to age 100 who climbed mountains--metaphorical and literal--wrote their own storylines, and found their happy little trees at a more mature age. With wit, humor, and warmth, The Swayze Year proves that no matter how old you are, you''re not done yet. Featured profiles include: Toni Morrison published her debut novel, The Bluest Eye, at age 39 At 41, Bob Ross became the beloved host of The Joy of Painting Judi Dench first achieved international fame for her role in Goldeneye at age 61 At 84, Iris Apfel and her unique style were showcased by the Metropolitan Museum of Art Pinetop Perkins became the oldest person to win a Grammy at age 97

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!

"Still training to be a sidekick, Katie protects the city against mysterious robot attacks--while trying not to feel like an outsider within her own friend group"--

From Epic Originals comes an even spookier, sillier, slimier collection of illustrated stories guaranteed to make you laugh so loud you''ll wake the monster under the bleachers! The Cafetorium is open for lunch--and play rehearsal, gym class, and unintentional interdimensional travel! Join comic book fan Dee Dee, master gamer Jackie, and the rest of the crew (including everyone''s favorite goat) in this brand-new set of wonderfully weird tales. These charming stories present kids'' everyday school and friendship challenges in unexpected ways, letting kids laugh while they build empathy, resilience, social skills, and more.

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

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 ex

"The ultimate DIY guide with 6 robot projects"--Cover.

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.

An exuberant, hilarious guessing game about storytelling, creativity, friendship, and patience—with the most adorable animal menagerie you’ll find anywhere! Amy the Red Panda starts to tell her best friend Mervin the Sloth a story when—uh-oh—a rainstorm of letters pours down! When it stops, Amy reads a sentence in the sky: Amy the Red Panda is writing the best story in the world. The BEST story in the WORLD? That’s a tall order. Especially when all of the other animals have their own opinions on what the story should be about. Big animals or small ones? Acrobats? A pirate bird flying the Seven Seas? Oh, dear! Luckily, Mervin is there to give Amy just the right inspiration. A companion to Mervin the Sloth Is About to Do the Best Thing in the World, this funny-bone–tickling picture book brings back a cast of zany, irresistible animal friends and an inventive, playful format. Pitch-perfect, full of imagination, and just right for fans of Dragons Love Tacos, The Book with No Pictures, and The Monster at the End of This Book.

Mervin the Sloth is just standing there quietly when giant letters drop onto the page: “Mervin the Sloth is about to do the best thing in the world.” But what is the best thing in the world? What is Mervin about to do? It doesn’t take long for all of Mervin’s exuberant animal friends to barge in with their own ideas. Flying! Digging! Gazelling! Wait, gazelling? Is that even a word? If only sloths weren’t so slow! Because maybe it’s something even better. But only Amy the red panda sticks around to see it. This inventive picture book balances zany, pitch-perfect humor with warmth and heart—and irresistibly huggable animal characters. Fans of The Book with No Pictures and The Monster at the End of This Book will delight in the way it plays with form, makes you laugh out loud, and introduces us all to our new, very slow-moving best friend.

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.

"Sasspants, Hamisher, and company have never been so raucous at the Mr. Venezi''s Pets And Stuff pet supplies shop. This time, there''s scuba-diving in the fish tank with the Steves, what appears to be a dragon hiding behind the counter, and Mr. Venezi''s insistence that the store has been robbed of exactly sixty-four dollars and forty-two cents"--

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!