New Releases by James Preller

Moose dances like no one’s watching in this second book in the Level 1 Ready-to-Read series from award-winning author James Preller! Moose wants to dance gracefully like the two ballerinas he meets. He may not have ballet slippers, but he will not give up! Find out how he makes it work in this delightfully silly story about a moose on a mission.

Famous landmarks, moving memorials and quirky culture all await in Only in Washington, D.C., your go-to guide to the capital city of the United States.

From award-winning author James Preller comes the first book in a Level 1 Ready-to-Read series about a moose looking for birds of a feather! Moose really wants to join two birds at the top of a tree. But how does a moose climb up a tree, and what will he do when he gets to the top? Find out in this delightfully silly story about a moose on a mission…and the birds that are in for a pleasant, moonlit surprise!

Welcome to the EXIT 13 Motel! Pets welcome! And don't worry, we've been waiting for you, so stay as long as you like. With black-and-white comic pages throughout, EXIT 13 is perfect for mystery and horror loving kids everywhere! The McGinns were supposed to be going on a perfectly normal family vacation. Sure, Ash's older sister Willow was a pain, their dog Daisy was a whiny scaredy cat, and their parents were being kind of lame. All of that was to be expected. Perfectly normal! But when the family decides to make an unplanned stop one night, it quickly becomes clear that this family vacation is about to get more than a little weird, because there is nothing normal about the EXIT 13 Motel.Rooms and hallways that don't go where they're supposed to, a receptionist that looks like he came straight out of a horror movie, and creepy woods that Ash swears have some kind of monster lurking in them - maybe even more than one. Something has been going on ever since the McGinns checked in to this motel, and if Ash and Willow can't get to the bottom of it, they might never be able to check out.Explore the weird and creepy world of EXIT 13 in this spine-chilling series. Whether you're a fan of mystery, a lover of horror, or even a graphic novel super reader, EXIT 13 is sure to grab you. This illustrated novel -- the first in a new series -- includes black-and-white comic pages throughout!

With gorgeous multimedia paintings-and-collages by acclaimed artist Mary GrandPre, James Preller''s All Welcome Here promises to be an evergreen gift picture book for children about to take the big leap into their first days of school. The bus door swishes Open, an invitation. Someone is not sure . . . The first day of school and all its excitement, challenges, and yes, anxieties, are celebrated here in connected haiku poems. A diverse cast of characters all start—and finish—their first days of school, and have experiences that all children will relate to.

"Perfect for fans of adventure novels by Jean Craighead George, Peg Kehret, and Gary Paulsen." Carter and his older sister Grace thought the hike with their dad and their dog would be uneventful. If anything, they figured it was Dad’s way of getting them off their screens for a while. But the hike on Blood Mountain turns ominous, as the siblings are separated from their father, and soon, battling the elements. They are lost. They are being hunted, but who will reach them first? The young ranger leading the search? Or the mysterious mountain man who has gone off the grid?

Jigsaw Jones is back! A brand new original mystery, The Case of the Hat Burglar is the newest installment of the Jigsaw Jones chapter book series by James Preller. Someone’s been stealing from the lost and found. But the strangest part of this mystery is what they’ve been stealing. Not mittens, or books, or water bottles—only hats! Just when Jigsaw comes up with a plan to catch this hat burglar in the act, the mystery thief strikes again right under his nose! Will this be the first case Jigsaw and Mila can’t solve? Sure to delight and intrigue young minds in equal measure, this never-before-published mystery chapter book is full of charming illustrations and James Preller's signature humor and warmth.

Featuring friendship, school, family, and a diverse community, these early illustrated chapter book Jigsaw Jones Mysteries from James Preller have it all. Jigsaw Jones and Mila Yeh have solved many cases involving stolen or missing items. But when the search for Kim's necklace turns up more than they bargained for, Jigsaw can't trust his eyes. Did the scarecrow on Ms. Rigby's lawn just . . . move? Find out more in The Case of the Haunted Scarecrow. James Preller's wry, witty, Jigsaw Jones books are once again available to inspire the next generation of young readers, featuring both new titles and classroom classics!

Featuring friendship, school, family, and a diverse community, these early illustrated chapter book Jigsaw Jones Mysteries from James Preller have it all. It's the biggest—okay the most stressful—night of the year . . . Parents' Night! And Geetha Nair's painting has just gone missing. The stakes are high, but Jigsaw Jones and Mila Yeh have never encountered a mystery they couldn't solve. Can they track down their friend's art in time for the most important show of the year in The Case of the Vanishing Painting? James Preller's wry, witty, Jigsaw Jones books are once again available to inspire the next generation of young readers, featuring both new titles and classroom classics!

Third-graders Deon, Kym, Lizzy, and Connor, armed with Miss Zips'' persuasive tips, set out to convince the PTA to use their cash surplus to put a "buddy bench" on the playground.

The Big Idea Gang is buzzing with excitement! They''re going to show Clay Elementary just how important bees can be in this chapter book series about making a case--and making a difference--by the author of Jigsaw Jones. After Kym and Lizzie get the awesome opportunity to visit a bee colony, they realize all the wonderful things bees do! But how can it be that these amazing insects are disappearing? And what will happen to our food chain without the great pollinators buzzing about? If only everyone else at Clay Elementary could understand how important the bees are for the environment! Now that''s a big idea that needs to be shared! With the help of Connor and Deon, Kym and Lizzie set out to show their school the beauty of bees, and use their powers of persuasion to make a difference in the world.

Four friends inaugurate their Big Idea Gang by starting a campaign to convince their principal and school to get a new mascot.

Second-grade detectives Jigsaw and Mila are hired by their classmate, Solofsky, who was accused of stealing a prize medal from a pet store.

Includes an excerpt from The case from outer space.

Second-grade detectives Jigsaw, Mila, and their friends follow clues found in a Little Free Library suggesting that aliens are coming to Earth.

Jigsaw and friends have a clue, but is there really life in outer space?

Second-grade detectives Jigsaw, Mila, and their friends follow clues when a girl reports seeing a glow-in-the-dark ghost dancing at night in their school.

James Preller's wry, witty, Jigsaw Jones chapter book mysteries are once again available to inspire the next generation of young readers, featuring both new titles and classroom classics! The Case of the Mummy Mystery It all started with a dare. . . . Only Joey Pignattano would agree to eat a worm in exchange for a dollar. Problem is, he doesn't trust Bobby Solofsky to hold up his end of the deal. So he's hired Jigsaw Jones and Mila Yeh to make sure Bobby keeps his word. But when the worm goes missing and the primary suspect is a mummy—on Halloween of all days!—Jigsaw Jones is the only one who can solve the case!

James Preller's wry, witty, Jigsaw Jones chapter book mysteries are once again available to inspire the next generation of young readers, featuring both new titles and classroom classics! The Case of the Bicycle Bandit Why would anyone steal an old hunk of junk? Ralphie Jordan loves his beat-up bike, Old Rusty. The tires are bent, spokes are missing, and the chain keeps falling off. But Ralphie wouldn't trade it for any other. Then Old Rusty goes missing just outside the library, and Ralphie is devastated. It's up to Jigsaw and Mila to find out who stole it—and the thief may be closer than anyone would have guessed!

Will has no choice. His father drags him along on a wilderness adventure in the footsteps of legendary explorers Lewis and Clark--whether he likes it or not. All the while, Will senses that something about this trip isn''t quite right. Along the journey, Will meets fascinating strangers and experiences new thrills, including mountain cliffs, whitewater rapids, and a heart-hammering bear encounter. It is a journey into the soul of America''s past, and the meaning of family in the future. In the end, Will must face his own, life-changing test of courage. This title has Common Core connections.

In writing in his journal about middle school classmate Morgan Mallen''s suicide from bullying, Sam explores whether he was a friend, or one of the bullies who ignored her at school and tormented her online.

Welcome. Pull up a chair. Don''t worry about the watching eyes. Let us tell you a story. But be warned. Swamp Monster isn''t just any tale. This is a Scary Tale. The brothers have been dreaming of a new pet for a while, but the monster they find in the swamp might not be the best choice . . . and the creature''s mother agrees. Prepare yourself for the next installment of James Preller''s heart-poundingly scary chapter book series filled with dark and creepy illustrations from acclaimed artist Iacopo Bruno.

Malik and his sister Tiana find a creepy doll in a locked box buried behind an abandoned house.

Welcome. Have a seat. The wolves will wait. Let us tell you a story. But be warned. Nightmareland isn''t just any tale. This is a Scary Tale. Meet Aaron Wheeler, who just got a strange, new video game. A game that sucks Aaron right in. All alone, caught in a snowstorm, a howl comes from the nearby woods. And there is no way out.... Prepare yourself for the next installment of James Preller''s heart-poundingly scary chapter book series filled with dark and creepy illustrations from acclaimed artist Iacopo Bruno.

Welcome. Have a seat. Let us tell you a story. But be warned. Home Sweet Horror isn''t just any tale. This is a Scary Tale. Meet Liam Finn, who''s just moved into a new home with his father and sister. But this old house that seems empty, isn''t . . . Bloody Mary is here. Called back from the dead by a game, she''s just dying to talk.

Welcome. Take a seat. Buckle up, nice and tight. We've got a story to tell. But be warned. I Scream, You Scream! isn't just any tale. This is a Scary Tale, from James Preller. Meet Sam Carver, an ordinary kid with a very special ticket in her pocket. This ticket will send her and her new friend Andy on a most unusual ride—one that will leave them screaming for more.

Shiver me timbers—it''s a sequel to A Pirate''s Gudie to First Grade! Ahoy, mateys! It''s time for recess, and the schoolyard is teeming with young pirates who are ready for action. Who will rule the stormy seas of the playground? Recess has never been such an adventure!

Meet Carter, Esme, and Arnold, three students accidentally locked together inside an almost deserted school. They are not friends. They scarcely know each other. But In the basement, a mysterious night janitor waits. And outside, moving in the mist, dark shapes shuffle closer.

The summer before his senior year, Jude (yes, he''s named after the Beatles song) gets his first job, falls in love for the first time, and starts to break away from his parents. Jude''s house is kept dark, and no one talks much—it''s been that way since his little sister drowned in a swimming pool seven years ago when Jude was supposed to be watching her. Now, Jude is finally, finally starting to live. Really live. And then, life spins out of control. Again. Acclaimed author James Preller explores life, death, love, faith, and resilience in his first young adult novel that will grip readers from the book''s dramatic first few pages to its emotional end.

Fifth-grader Spider Stevens -- nicknamed for his climbing ability -- wrestles with his loyalty to his best friend versus friendship with the popular crowd.