New Releases by Elise Primavera

From New York Times bestselling author-illustrator Elise Primavera comes an imaginative young middle grade fantasy adventure bubbling with wit and whimsy. Marigold Star is destined for greatness. Everyone in Bramblycrumbly thinks so, her parents and pet dragon included. There's just one problem. Marigold can't do magic! Then one day she tries a new spell written in a very old book. It's called the Invis-O-Friend Spell, and it makes Marigold invisible to all but the friend who needs her most. To Marigold's surprise, the spell works! But now there's another problem. The spell sent Marigold to the human world. And to return home, she'll have to befriend a host of human children who are struggling to make friends. Marigold will have to hurry, or the line between her magical world and the human one might crumble until she has no home left to go back to.

When a baked potato–loving lady adopts a dog, she adores him unconditionally—and given the pup's small, round frame and warm, brown coat she can't help but call him "Baked Potato"! But what happens when a dog who thinks he's a baked potato gets lost? Will he find his lady? And more importantly, will he find himself? I'm a Baked Potato! is a fun, bighearted story about the names we're given, the names we choose, and how both can help us find our way home. Full of heart and laugh-out-loud moments, this story will leave readers giggling—and looking at pets in a whole new way.

Students at a whimsical school for children of busy parents learn silly lessons about manners, friendship, and going far in life, in book two of the series that’s tailor-made for a new generation of Mary Poppins fans Great Rapscott School for Girls of Busy Parents is not your typical boarding school. Students arrive in boxes, birthday cake is served for breakfast, and two very talented corgis assist the rather quirky headmistress. This semester, the girls will learn how to get to The Top, but the semester is not off to a good start. One of the girls doesn’t make it back to school and when her friends try to rescue her, they wind up at the Bottom of the Barrel. Luckily, Ms. Rapscott knows that learning to fail is the secret to Going Far in life. Complete with charming black-and-white illustrations, this sequel to Ms. Rapscott’s Girls is full of, warmhearted lessons, spirited adventure, and good cheer.

"At Great Rapscott School for Girls of Busy Parents, Ms. Rapscott teaches her students How to Get Lost on Purpose, resulting in a series of fantastical adventures that makes each learn a little something about courage, strength, bravery, and teamwork"--

After a tangle with a rotten-to-the-core witch, Scarlett Starlett and Simon Greensnout discover that the talking cypress tree was right--love lasts forever.

“High hopes finally pay off for a horse-loving girl” (Kirkus Reviews) in this charming chapter book from New York Times bestselling author and illustrator Elise Primavera. Ten-year-old Libby Thump loves two things: her dog, Margaret, and horses. She dreams about them, draws them all the time, and more than anything she wants to take lessons and learn to ride. Everyone tells Libby to live up to her potential, but her mother decides to give the lessons to her older sister, Brittany, instead, and Libby can’t believe it. Libby’s mom says Brittany needs the lessons more, to cure her “boy crazy phase.” Then Libby stumbles upon High Hope Farm and meets a horse named Princess who has been put out to pasture. Now Libby can live up to her potential, and so will everyone around her, too. With text and illustrations from Elise Primavera, author of Auntie Claus and Louise the Big Cheese acclaim, this first in a series will appeal to anyone interested in horses—or who knows the value of having a good friend. “The well-written story teaches the gentle lesson that life can be unfair, but persistence and passion ultimately pay off” (School Library Journal).

Angelina Neatolini came from a long line of neat and tidy people. In fact, her great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather invented the garbage can. Her mother ironed her linguini and her father vacuumed the grass. But Angelina liked to roll in the dirt whenever she could. And like most kids, Angelina wanted a pet, but pets are messy and the Neatolini parents did not allow mess in their new house at the end of Ladybug Lane, where they recently moved from the dirty city. Enter a hard-of-hearing and very daffy fairy godmother ladybug—and magic, mess, and mayhem ensued in the house at the end of Ladybug Lane, which became anything but neat. This magical, funny story has messages of tolerance, "it's OK to be different," and unrealistic parental pressure, and it features the spot-on whimsical art of newcomer Valeria Docampo.

Louise, who wants nothing more than to be important, jumps at the chance to attend a charm school run by Claire Eclaire, who is from Paris. Full color.

Louise the Big Cheese is determined to make the grade in school this year and that means straight As. But she's stuck with the toughest teacher ever. Will Louise make the grade?

Let's face it. Every girl has a little big cheese in her. Louise Cheese is no different. Night and day, Louise dreams of the limelight, lots of fuss, the red carpet, and more than anything to be the one and only "Big Cheese." Finally, Louise gets her chance when her teacher, Mrs. Little, announces a casting call for the role of Cinderella in the school play. It's Louise's chance to be a star...or is it? With humor and heart and just a little attitude, Elise Primavera and Diane Goode tell a story that will inspire the inner big cheese in all who read it.

There’s nothing like a pair of sparkly, shiny, and pretty la-di-da shoes to bring out the Big Cheese in a girl. But Louise’s mother doesn’t quite see it that way. Instead Louise has to wear the dull and drab brown tie shoes she has worn for years. They are practical, Louise’s mother says. They are better in the rain, the shoe salesman says. It doesn’t matter that Louise doesn’t see it that way. Then Louise’s best friend Fern comes to school with shiny new patent leather shoes from Paris with sparkles on the toes! Are the bonds of friendship greater than shoe envy? Only Louise can say…

When Chris expresses doubt about the existence of Santa Claus, his older sister Sophie reveals that their aunt is really Santa's sister and helper and then sends him on a strange journey.

Unable to kick her thumb-sucking habit, Lulu develops a twelve-step program to help.

When Sophie is cast as the Sugar Plum Fairy in her school's performance of the Nutcracker, her Auntie Claus forgoes her usual fall business trip and transforms New York City into the North Pole, with some unpleasant consequences.

Horror has never been so absurd. After a bloodcurdling summer at camp, Fred and Anthony are eager to get back to watching horror movies and slacking off at school. But on their first day back, the boys' plans are dashed by some chilling changes at Sunny Babbling Brook Elementary. Their nicest teachers have been replaced by maniacs, and the cafeteria now serves nothing but organic health food. Then worse, a new kid named Billy Bob Bomzie, son of the infamous Mr. Bomzie, shows up to torment the boys. Right away Fred and Anthony are framed for a rash of weird accidents at school. Clearly Billy Bob is guilty, but the whole school is suddenly in love with him. Not only that, he's rolling in awards and dough for his hit picture book, which is thirty-two blank pages. How can this be? The boys suspect he is receiving help from some being in the Netherworld in charge of making dreck popular. Now it's up to Fred and Anthony and their new ally, the Phantom of the Mop Closet, to defeat the dark forces at Sunny Babbling Brook. While they're at it, maybe they can find the supernatural force to make their own dreck popular and rake in some dough!

When Fred and Anthony are faced with their unfinished history project, they come up with a great idea: pay someone else to do it. There's just one problem: they have no money. Luckily, they have plenty of schemes for making quick dough. So, after a paralyzing case of writer's block forces them to abandon careers as best-selling authors, they ride around town on their skateboards, trying to get "old people" to hire them. But Fred and Anthony never imagined that in their quest to avoid work, they would stumble into a portal to the Netherworld, where terrifying (or just plain wacky) encounters with ghosts, monsters, and other paranormal creatures eerily echo the plots of their favorite horror movies . . . We're launching with two titles and following with one a season thereafter.

In order to save the town of Sherbet, four girls with very little in common become involved with some people and events that seem to bear a resemblance to "The Wizard of Oz."

When her eccentric Auntie Claus leaves for her annual business trip, Sophie Kringle stows away in her luggage, travels with her to the North Pole, and discovers that her aunt is really Santa's sister and helper. Beautiful illustrations add warmth to a delightful storyline.

Three dotted animals, a frog, duck, and moose, enjoy playing together and form a band, but their friendship is endangered as the fortunes of their band rise and continue to change.