New Releases by Erin Soderberg

The Babysitters Club meets Puppy Place in this heartwarming and fun middle grade series about a unique animal sanctuary, the full-time family (of both human and animal variety) who live there, and the rotating stable of animal guests who will come to the farm with an injury or challenge but will leave knowing what it really feels like to be loved and cared for. Siblings Ruby and Henry have an unusual kind of home life compared to their friends. At their house on the outskirts of town, their family operates an animal sanctuary with a unique collection of full-time pet residents living on the property: two pigs, three chickens, a dog, two cats, and a goat who thinks he’s a human. Not to mention, Ruby and Henry’s mom is also a vet at the animal clinic in town. Let's just say, when it comes to animals, it's hard for Ruby and Henry's family to say no. But a couple months ago, their parents decided that the farm is full. No additional resident farm animals. No more fosters. Of course, rules are meant to be broken... When a scared puppy arrives at their mom's clinic, they soon discover that he's lost mobility in his back legs because of an injury. What's worse is that the newly named Arlo clearly knows he's been abandoned. The puppy has hardly eaten since their mom brought him home, retreating to a dark corner of the barn where even Herbert the goat, try as he might, can’t seem to cheer him up. But with Ruby's builder brain, Henry's heart, and a little bit of kindness from their ragtag group of animals on the sanctuary, they might just be able to teach Arlo how to trust again.

In this alternating narrative by bestselling author Erin Soderberg Downing, a decades-old family secret is buried within the sand, water, and woods... waiting for cousins Avery and Jax to find it and uncover the truth. Avery is a firecracker. In a crayon box of colors, she’s the shocking pink and laser lemon, when all she wants is to be a quiet tan or soft cornflower blue. Her cousin, Jax, is a wall flower, because sometimes it’s better to stay quiet when the alternative is to be told that you’re doing or saying everything wrong. They seem to be the only ones who don’t know what happened years ago when their family shattered and went off in different directions. When their beloved Aunt Robbie summons the large, estranged family together for a gathering at their broken-down family cabin on Crooked Lake, instead of getting the answer, Aunt Robbie delivers some devastating news. And by the end of the summer, Avery and Jax learn that the island that’s been a part of their family for generations is going up for sale. Forced to stay in this string of cabins with their estranged family to get it into shape to sell, Avery and Jax begin to dig through the history of the long-abandoned house and its contents... including a sprinkling of diary pages that were hidden around the island decades ago, the summer their family was torn apart. In this alternating narrative by bestselling author Erin Soderberg Downing, two cousins are finally beginning to understand the joy of family--however cracked and imperfect theirs might be. But if they have any chance of gluing their broken family back together, they’ll have to first figure out what happened then.

Wild meets Gilmore Girls on the trail in this story of resilience and the healing and restorative power of the nature. "A fun, heartfelt tale of adventure, family, and determination that will make you just keep reading." -- Dan Gemeinhart, award-winning author of The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise Two years after her parents’ surprising and painful split, twelve-year-old Jo and her mom find themselves on the 100-mile hike on the Superior Hiking Trail along Lake Superior’s north shore—a journey that Jo had always looked forward to hiking with her dad. It’s not a situation that either of them ever predicted they’d find themselves in, yet here they are in the wilderness with their entire lives stuffed into a pair of thirty-pound packs. Along the trail, they’ll suffer through endless aches and pains, scorching heat, and crippling self-doubt. They’ll encounter bears, moose, and other wildlife and meet and collect an assortment of unlikely friends. Day after day, Jo will battle the incessant thoughts that come in and out of her head. But as one obstacle after the next continue to test her strength and ultimate survival, Jo will have to confront her greatest fears head on and learn how to be alone. What begins as a journey to prove to her father that she and her mom can make it on their own turns into a quest to rediscover their strength, build resilience, and prove that they can survive—both for themselves and for each other.

A frozen family “business trip” to Sweden’s Ice Hotel sets the Peaches on a new grand adventure. The third book in The Great Peach Experiment, great for fans of The Penderwicks and The Vanderbeekers. Cashing in on his family’s recent good-luck streak, ten-year-old Freddy Peach has been entering his family in a bunch of sweepstakes, but he doesn’t really expect to win. And then he does—a free family trip to the Ice Hotel in Sweden! Since the Peaches are now the proud owners of their own bed-and-breakfast, they decide they can’t pass up on the opportunity. It’s research. They'll learn more about what it takes to operate a successful hotel from one of the most famous tourist destinations in the world. But what the Peaches don’t know is that five families from five frozen locations have been brought together to compete for the honor of frozen best. They’ll face-off in a series of challenges from dog sled racing to ice carving to an ice-cold cook out. But when the going gets tough, the Peaches have always come together in the past? Why should this time be any different? The third book in the Great Peach Experiment series, Frozen Peaches is a sweet treat, mixing humor, adventure, warmth (despite the cold) and a lot of heart to make another great book readers will be delighted to devour. A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

From acclaimed middle-grade and chapter-book author, Erin Soderberg Downing, Controlled Burn is a story that blends family, friendship, fire, and the rocky path toward healing our deepest fears. Twelve-year-old Maia’s parents say she’s lucky she noticed something as early as she did. Lucky to have smelled the smoke, lucky to have pulled her sister, Amelia, out of their burning house. But is it really “lucky” when Amelia’s stuck in the hospital, covered in burns? And is it “lucky” when Maia knows it was her candle, left unattended, that started the fire in the first place? When she’s sent to spend the summer with her grandparents in Northern Minnesota while her sister heals, Maia discovers that her anxieties and demons are intent on following her wherever she goes...unless she can figure out how to overcome them. But what if she can’t? Maia barely knows her grandparents, she desperately misses her sister and home, and she’s not thrilled to be spending the summer with Grandpa Howard on his daily motorcycle rides out to the middle of the woods, where he spends all day keeping watch for forest fires. There are no kids her age in Gram and Pop’s small town at “the end of the road”—just the chatty nine-year-old neighbor who is intent on getting his Bear Scout badge at all costs, and a friendly, stray dog who’s been lurking around. But Maia will soon learn that nature is a powerful teacher, and sometimes our greatest strengths show themselves when we have to be there for someone else. As she begins to figure out how to face her guilt and paralyzing fears, she’ll discover there’s a fine line between fear and adventure. And when danger strikes again, Maia must summon all her bravery and overcome her self-doubt if she wants to save those she loves most.

Let the magical adventures begin with three popular chapter books--Unicorn Academy, Mermicorns, and Puppy Pirates--all in one collection! What if your best friend was a unicorn? Do you long to set sail on a pirate ship where puppies are the crew? Do you believe in mermaids . . . and unicorns? Then the magic really does start here! This special collection contains the first book in three fantastic series, including New York Times bestselling Unicorn Academy, that are proven to hook kids on reading. Find out which one is your favorite! In Unicorn Academy #1: Sophia and Rainbow, a girl and her unicorn friend must save the unicorns' magic. In Mermicorns #1: Sparkle Magic, Serena--part unicorn and part mermaid--starts Magic School! In Puppy Pirates #1, adventurous pup Wally finds out whether he has what it takes to sail the seas with the puppy pirates!

Hammer together a mission to turn a crumbling mansion into a cozy bed-and-breakfast, a treasure map, and a family trying to figure out their new normal to build this charming middle grade bursting with humor, heart, and hope. Much to their surprise, the Peaches had a great summer running their food truck business selling their pies across the Mid-West, but they’re happy to be back home in Duluth, Minnesota, where they can settle back into a routine just in time for the new school year. That is until Great Aunt Lucinda drops a big surprise on them: She wants to gift them her historic mansion. But there are conditions: they’re to turn it into a cozy and welcoming bed-and-breakfast, something the Peach kids’ mom always dreamed of before she passed away. And they only have until Thanksgiving to do the renovations and prove they can make the business work. It looks like it’s a new chapter of The Great Peach Experiment. But as the Peaches roll up their sleeves, they quickly realize the house is more of a pit than a welcoming escape. And as the family juggles builders, possible hauntings, doggie obedience training, a treasure hunt, and the demands and worries of work and school, they soon realize that there are wonderful secrets hidden within the house’s walls, if only they can take the time to see them. Interspersed with sketches, recipes, lists, and more, The Peach Pit is a delicious sequel to When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Peach Pie, combining humor, heartache, a little mystery, and a lot of love, to build another incredible read.

Ahoy, mateys! Set sail for fun and adventure on a pirate ship full of puppies. SOS! Wally and the Puppy Pirates know the legends and mysteries about the Grr-muda Triangle, but could all those strange stories be true? There's only one way to find out: the Salty Bone is going to sail straight through the Grr-muda Triangle! Will the crew make it out alive? Or will they be lost at sea forever . . . ?

Frozen paws and Santa Claus! The Puppy Pirates are back with this exciting holiday special. Dashing through the snow, in a puppy pirate sleigh . . . Captain Red Beard has always wanted to compete in the Great Ice Race at the North Pole. After all, the prize is rumored to be the biggest treasure ever! But can a bunch of warm-weather pirate pups really win a snowy sled race? This magical holiday special edition contains extra pirate adventure and a holiday treasure of an ending that will warm young readers' hearts!

Ahoy, mateys! Jump start your Puppy Pirates collection with the first four adventures in the series! Meet Wally, his human friend Henry, the pugs Piggly and Puggly, and the rest of the puppy pirate crew in their first four adventures on the high seas. From treasure hunts to kitty-cat pranks, these puppies know just what it means to be a pirate--and have lots of fun! Books in this bindup include: Stowaway! (#1), X Marks the Spot (#2), Catnapped! (#3), and Sea Sick (#4).

Ahoy, mateys! Set sail for fun and adventure on a pirate ship full of puppies. It’s pug-o’-war! Piggly and Puggly are usually too busy playing pranks to argue. But when the puppy pirates get stranded on a cold, rainy island, the twin sisters can’t agree on anything. Wally and the others are forced to choose sides in an all-out pug showdown! Which pug’s team will win this dogfight and survive the night? Two perennial kid favorites—dogs and pirates—combine in this chapter book series perfect for fans of Rainbow Magic, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, and Paw Patrol.

Go back to school with the puppy pirates! Welcome aboard! There is a new pup joining the crew of the Salty Bone. She is super excited, but she doesn’t know the first thing about being a pirate. Luckily, Wally and the other pups will teach her—at pirate school! Mast climbing, map reading, survival skills . . . there is a lot to learn. Will the puppies pass the test? This second super special is filled with fun and games, including how to draw a puppy pirate!

Ahoy, mateys! Set sail for fun and adventure on a pirate ship full of puppies. It’s hide-and-seek . . . with a sea monster?! The puppy pirates are embarking on a quest to find a mysterious monster far out at sea. This epic adventure takes bravery and smarts—and no one suspects that their quiet new crewmate, Einstein, could be the hero of the day. But then again, you can’t judge a pup by his fur!

Ahoy, mateys! Set sail for fun and adventure on a pirate ship full of puppies. Oh no! Captain Red Beard can’t get out of bed. He’s got the chills and a fever! Without their captain to bark out orders, will the puppy pirates run into trouble? Or will First Mate Curly keep everything shipshape? Two perennial kid favorites—dogs and pirates—combine in the new chapter book series perfect for fans of Rainbow Magic, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, and Paw Patrol.

Ahoy, mateys! Set sail for fun and adventure on a pirate ship full of puppies. Fighting like cats and dogs? Exactly! The puppy pirates played a prank on the kitten pirates, and meow! The kittens sure are mad. Can the pups escape the kittens’ claws? It’s dog vs. cat, and may the best pirates win. Two perennial kid favorites—dogs and pirates—combine in the new chapter book series perfect for fans of Rainbow Magic, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, and Paw Patrol.

Ahoy, mateys! Set sail for fun and adventure on a pirate ship full of puppies! Wally and his human friend, Henry, have passed the test. They are now officially puppy pirates—and just in time for an exciting new adventure. A treasure hunt! The puppies sail to a deserted island with treasure map in paw, ready to dig. But uh-oh! This island isn’t deserted after all. . . . Two perennial kid favorites—dogs and pirates—combine in this new chapter-book series perfect for fans of the Rainbow Magic series and all things piratey!

Ahoy, mateys! Set sail for fun and adventure on a pirate ship full of puppies! Wally is a pup with a nose for adventure. So when he stumbles onto a ragtag group of puppies who sail the seven seas, he knows he has to join the fun! But if pirates are supposed to be gruff and tough, this furry little guy isn’t exactly first-mate material. Does he have what it takes to become a full-fledged puppy pirate? Two perennial kid favorites—dogs and pirates—combine in this new chapter-book series perfect for fans of the Rainbow Magic series and all things piratey!

With its cookie cutter houses, welcoming committees, and all-town competitions, Normal, Michigan, seems like a perfect fit for nine-year-old new resident Molly, the only non-magical person in her family.

Just as the Quirk family was settling into Normal, the circus comes to town! At school, Molly, Penelope, and Finn are all learning circus skills in gym class and solving a school-wide scavenger hunt. Meanwhile at home, they are putting similar skills to good use; it takes fancy footwork and stellar detective work to keep their nosy neighbor from snooping around and uncovering the Quirk family secrets. One thing's for sure: Life in Normal is a high-flying adventure!

After listening to a young boy describe his life, Willa the monkey escapes from her zoo home and, together with some friendly chipmunks, goes in search of him in the human city.