Most Popular Books by Eric Walters

Today Is the Day is a celebration of new beginnings and belonging. This is the third book from celebrated author Eric Walters set in his Kenyan orphanage. A great resource for teachers, librarians and parents to introduce children to life in less secure areas of the world. Mutanu is excited. As she goes about her chores, she thinks about the day to come and what surprises it might bring. For today is no ordinary day at the orphanage she lives in. Every year, the orphanage honors its newest arrivals by creating a birthday day especially for them. From that moment forward, the orphans have a day that they know is theirs--a day to celebrate, a day to enjoy, a day to remember. And today is the day! Based on real children in an orphanage in Kenya, this lovely story shows how something as simple as a birthday, something most of us take for granted, can mean so much in another part of the world.

When Nick and his pals suddenly find themselves short a man for the NBA-sponsored three-on-three tournament they plan to enter during the summer holidays, the solution seems simple enough. Nick, Kia and Mark are the key players on the team, so the fourth, though mandatory according to the rules, doesn''t really have to be good at the game. A surprise visit from Nick''s mother''s cousin brings Ned, who is exactly Nick''s age but not exactly an athlete, into the picture and onto the team. The other three teammates figure that as long as they don''t actually have to use Ned in a game they will be fine. Then Mark sprains his ankle and can''t play in the tournament. Suddenly Nick and Kia must find a way to make Ned an integral part of the team. This turns out to be no small task!

The city is cracking down on graffiti and guerilla art. Between that and cutbacks to the local art gallery it seems like nothing is safe. But Oswald, masquerading as a graffiti artist known as The Wiz, is fighting back—by painting elaborate murals in public places and planting art in the galleries, and then by taking on the mayor himself. As the fight escalates and the stakes become higher, Oswald gets in deeper than he meant to and needs to rely on his friends to get him out of his latest mess. This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for teen readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!

It''s December 2004 and Sam and his parents are leaving frostbitten Ontario for a vacation in lush, sun-soaked Thailand. Sam''s sister Beth is staying behind. She drives her family to the airport to bid them farewell, not knowing that what awaits them is a natural disaster of unimaginable proportions. Over the next few days, Sam will find himself thrust into the very centre of a crisis he could never have anticipated, one that will test his instinct to survive.

When Nick and Kia arrive for try-outs for the basketball team they played on the previous year, they are surprised to meet their new coach. Coach Barkley is a former college star known for his fierce desire to win. Though the coach has been away from the game for many years, his competitive instincts are as strong as ever and his aggressive coaching techniques are a new experience for these kids. Suddenly making the rep team no longer seems the sure thing that Nick and Kia expected when they came to try-outs. This is hard on Nick and Kia, but especially difficult for the coach''s son, L.B., who is also trying out for the team. When the coach matches them up against a team of older players and then refuses to accept their loss, the kids begin to wonder if they even want to make this team. Nick, Kia and L.B. finally have to decide whether to play for a tyrant or to take a stand on principle and face the consequences.

Nick, Kia and their Mississauga Magic teammates are on the road, heading off to an elite hoop tournament in the Midwest. Feeling outmatched by many of the high-profile teams, the kids are still looking forward to a good time. However, Coach Barkley, who played college ball in the area and is still regarded as a hero, has other ideas. As usual, nothing but winning will be good enough for Coach. As the tournament progresses, the Magic players learn to believe in themselves and come to realize that they can hold their own against the opposing teams. The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.

Key Selling Points Ali is an eighth-grade student trying to to do it all—get good grades, fit in with his friends, get the girl and satisfy his parents—all while struggling to deal with the anti-Muslim racism around him. Writing poetry helps. If only his father wasn''t set against it. Call Me Al deals with what it''s like to be an immigrant (Ali and his family immigrated from Pakistan when he was little), racism (from peers and the world at large), balancing family versus friends'' expectations, first crushes, being from a lower-income household, being Muslim and finding forgiveness for those who hurt you. Features a relatable male protagonist who discovers spoken-word poetry as an outlet for his feelings. Also makes clear the relationship between poetry and hip-hop. Co-authored by the power duo of veteran writer Eric Walters and renowned poet and motivational speaker Wali Shah, who has based this character''s struggles with choosing between studying science (for his parents) and writing poetry (for himself) on his own experiences.

The stars come out, cubs snuggle, kittens nestle, and chicks cuddle as all the babies go to sleep.

Key Selling Points A young teen earns a scholarship to go to space camp. The first in the Teen Astronauts series featuring Houston at space camp. Examines themes of perseverance, leadership and growth mindset. This is an adventure story with an exciting setting: astronaut training camp. Eric Walters is very well known to librarians and booksellers.

A gripping adventure about what happens in the first hours, days, and weeks after the world goes dark

In this middle-grade novel, DJ travels with his grandfather to Central America and ends up hunted by armed gunmen.

The first flash mob Ian puts together himself is a sixty-plus person, four-minute pillow fight in a department store. Ian''s friend Oswald is thrilled with the event, but Julia, the one Ian really wants to impress, is still convinced that flash mobs are stupid. While Ian tries to prove Julia wrong by initiating flash mobs with political impact, Julia is busy waging war with the strict new principal at school. When Julia goes too far and gets herself suspended, Ian sees an opportunity for a relevant and persuasive flash mob. This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!

Eric Walters'' timeless series about the zoo next door is now available from Scholastic Canada! In this sequel to Tiger by the Tail, Sarah and Nicholas Fraser are off to zoo camp for the week. Once they arrive, however, they quickly learn that the camp is not what it seemed. The siblings sleep in a rundown cabin with no running water; Vladimir, the gruff zookeeper, is more at home with his animals than with other people; and the owners are more interested in making a profit than in the well-being of the animals. When Sarah overhears a conversation late one night and learns about the sinister plans for Kushna the tiger, she and Nicholas once again must spring into action to save an endangered animal.

What is the true meaning of friendship? Follow along as a boy meets up with his friend—a dog who faithfully waits for him every day so they can ride out to the beach together to surf. The boy doesn''t own the dog and he doesn''t know who does, but their daily routine has created a special bond. Award-winning author Eric Walters navigates the waters of a unique friendship alongside the vibrant illustrations of Eugenie Fernandes, who brings the bumpy roads, rugged beach paths and rolling waves of the tropics to life. Sometimes the most poignant relationships in a child''s life are the ones between friends.

Key Selling Points Harmony''s finally allowed to leave foster care and go home to her mother, who struggles with drug addiction and alcoholism, but Harmony feels like the only one trying to make it work. The book''s wise-beyond-her-years narrator, Harmony, shows us a child''s experience of the foster care system and of living with a parent struggling so hard with their own mental health issues and addictions that the child essentially raises herself. Yet, the book also demonstrates how kids can resist and persevere in even the direst circumstances. Harmony finds helpers throughout her story—including her supportive friends at her new school, her principal (who also grew up in foster care) and the owner of the corner store, Mr. Khaled, who is a Syrian refugee—giving readers a sense of hope and faith in community. The multigenerational friendship between Harmony and Mr. Khaled shows two people who have survived difficult circumstances finding common ground and sheds light on the immigrant experience. This book is a prequel to the Governor General''s award-winning The King of Jam Sandwiches, focusing on Robbie''s friend Harmony.

Skye’s wish comes true when her parents plan a Costa Rican adventure that includes zip-lining, parasailing and snorkeling.

For Alexandria Hyatt having a fabulous life is easy: she knows what she wants and she knows how to get it. Being glamorous and rich is simply what she was born to be. When Alexandria is arrested for shoplifting, having to drag herself into court to face a judge just seems like a major inconvenience. But Alexandria has been in trouble before–and this time she can’t find a way to scheme out of the consequences. Before she knows it, she’s on a plane headed to Kenya where she has been ordered to work for an international charity. Over 7,000 miles away from home with no hot water, no cell phone reception, no friends or family, Alexandria is confronted with a land as unfamiliar as it is unsettling. Over the course of her month in Africa, Alexandria will face a reality she could never have imagined, and will have to look inside herself to see if she has what it takes to confront it.

Nick and Kia struggle to gain the acceptance of the other members of their basketball team.

Inspired by a story told to the author while on safari in 2015, The Wild Beast describes the creation of one of Africa''s most unusual animals, the wildebeest. According to oral tradition, the Creator built this unique beast out of leftover parts from other magnificent animals found on the continent. Horns from buffalos and stripes meant for zebras. Tails from giraffes and bumps meant for camels. This creative retelling will introduce little ones to a story rich in both imagery and in lesson: Take what you need to live. Take no more. Waste nothing.