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.

The fourth Great Peach book finds the family back in Duluth, Minnesota for a summer filled with mystery, competition, pie, and . . . the World’s Largest Rubber Duck. School’s out soon, and the Peaches are looking forward to some quiet, especially now that the family’s B&B (aka the "Peach Pit") is finally running smoothly. But quiet and normal aren’t really the Peach way. When a massive Festival of Ships sails into their town, of course the Peaches have to dive in head-first. Ships of all kinds start rolling in: pirate ships, tall sailboats, tug boats, snazzy speed boats. And the highlight of the whole show: The WORLD’S LARGEST RUBBER DUCK. Suddenly the Peachtree B&B is sold out, and the Peaches are cooking up other tasty solutions. But then the World’s Largest Rubber Duck goes missing! Stolen? Sunk? Airlifted by aliens? The hunt is on for the famous icon, and the Peaches are leading the search. Using all their skills—on land and water—they are determined to find the missing duck and bring it back to its home in the harbor. The fourth book in the Great Peach Experiment series, Duck, Duck, Peach serves up a major mystery along with more challenges, humor, and family mis-adventures. A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

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.

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.

Mix together a used food truck, a road trip that doesn't exactly go as planned, and a lot of pie, and you have the recipe for this sweet middle grade series starter brimming with humor, heart, and a family you'll fall in love with. Perfect for readers who gobbled down The Penderwicks and The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street. Sweet summer has taken a rotten turn . . . After a tough year, Lucy, Freddy, and Herb Peach are ready for vacation. Lucy wants to read all of the books on the summer reading list. Freddy wants to work on his art projects (when he isn't stuck in summer school). Herb wants to swim every day. Then their dad makes a big announcement: one of the inventions their mom came up with before she passed away has sold, and now they're millionaires! But Dad has bigger plans than blowing the cash on fun stuff or investing it. He's bought a used food truck. The Peaches are going to spend the summer traveling the country selling pies. It will be the Great Peach Experiment--a summer of bonding while living out one of Mom's dreams. Summer plans, sunk. And there's one more issue Dad's neglected: none of them knows how to bake. . . . A perfect blend of humor, heart, and family antics, When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Peach Pie is a delectable treat to be gobbled down or savored slowly. (Slice of pie on the side, optional, but highly recommended.) A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection Named to the Iowa Children's Choice List Named to the Minnesota Maude Hart Lovelace List

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!

When you follow your dreams, the possibilities are endless! Milla loves nothing more than imagining grand adventures in the great wide somewhere, just like Belle. She dreams of traveling the world and writing about her incredible discoveries. Unfortunately, there is nothing pretend about the fifth-grade overnight and Milla's fear that her moms won't let her go. Enter Piper, Mariana, Zahra, and Ruby. Together with Milla, they form the Daring Dreamers Club and become best friends. But can they help Milla believe she's ready for this real grand adventure? Diverse, talented, and smart--these five girls found each other because they all had one thing in common: big dreams. Touching on everyday dramas and the ups and downs of friendship, this series will enchant all readers who are princesses at heart.

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!

Fans of PAW Patrol and Rainbow Magic and those looking for Halloween chapter books will want to climb aboard this PUPPY PIRATES SUPER SPECIAL! Ahoy, mateys! Set sail for fun and adventure on a pirate ship full of puppies! Boo! When Wally is pranked by a couple of pugs, they accuse him of being more puppy than pirate. How can Wally prove he’s as fearless as the rest? Spending the night on an abandoned pirate ship should do the trick! But when Wally and his human friend, Henry, climb aboard, they soon discover the ship might not be so empty after all. . . . This super edition features exciting content like: - How to Draw a Puppy Pirate! - Puzzles! - Instructions for how to play the "Puppy Pirates vs. Kitten Pirates" game! And don't miss the other adventures of the Puppy Pirates!

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!

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.