New Releases by Jennifer Swender

A coming-of-age story about a boy who is used to flying under the radar, and the classroom of kids determined to help him stand out. This touching friendship tale is the perfect read for fans of Fish in a Tree and Song for a Whale. If Austin picked a color to describe his life, it would be tumbleweed brown. Austin doesn''t like standing out. He’s always the new kid, and there''s no hiding his size. Plus, Austin has a secret: he struggles to read. Then Austin meets Bertie, who is razzmatazz. Everything about Bertie is bursting! But the best part of his newest school is the Safety Squad, with their laser lemon vests. Their easy confidence and leadership stand out in the coolest way. Even when things are not so vibrant and life at home makes Austin feel pacific blue, for the first time, he wants to leave a mark. And the more Austin speaks up, the more he finds he may not be that different after all.

Mack Rhino searches for the school’s missing lost and found in this fourth mystery of this silly, fun-to-read Aladdin QUIX chapter book series that’s perfect for emerging readers! It’s Career Day at Coral Cove Elementary School! Mack and his assistant Redd Oxpeck have been invited to participate and Mack is extra excited to be this year’s honorary speaker. But soon after Mack and Redd arrive, they discover that the school’s Lost-and-Found is…lost! Luckily Mack and Redd are on the job.

Mack Rhino—a private detective, who just happens to be a rhinoceros—investigates foul play at the fair in this third mystery of this silly, fun-to-read Aladdin QUIX chapter book series that’s perfect for emerging readers! Mack Rhino is a private eye whose latest case finds him at the Coral Cove Fair, where someone has been winning game after game after game, taking all the prizes! It’s up to Mack to figure out if the winning streak is a case of fair—or foul—play.

Mack Rhino—a private detective, who just happens to be a rhinoceros—uncovers sugary secrets in this second mystery of this silly, fun-to-read Aladdin QUIX chapter book series that’s perfect for emerging readers! Mack Rhino is a private eye who has just finished solving his 100th case and is ready to embark on his 101st with his trusty sidekick, Redd Oxpeck. A new candy cart in town is stealing business from other sweets shops, and surrounding establishments have had their alarms go off, only for nothing to appear to be missing. Does Mack have a new case on his hands or just a bunch of false alarms?

Mack Rhino is a private detective—who just so happens to be a rhinoceros—in this silly, fun-to-read Aladdin QUIX chapter book that’s perfect for emerging readers! Mack Rhino is a private eye who has just finished solving his 99th case. With his trusty sidekick, Redd Oxpeck by his side (or on his back) he’s about to embark on his 100th. There’s a big race in town, but all the runners are missing the laces to their sneakers! Who’s run off with the goods, and why?

Perfect for fans of Raymie Nightingale and The Fourteenth Goldfish, this heartfelt middle-grade novel seamlessly melds STEAM content with first loss in an honest and striking debut. When Mika starts fifth grade at the middle school, her neat life gets messy. Separated from old friends and starting new classes, Mika is far from her comfort zone. And math class is the most confusing of all, especially when her teacher Mr. Vann assigns math journals. Art in math? Who''s ever heard of such a thing? But when challenges arise at home, Mika realizes there are no easy answers. Maybe, with some help from friends, family, and one unique teacher, a math journal can help her work out problems, and not just the math ones. Debut author Jennifer Swender delivers poignant prose and illustrator Jennifer Naalchigar brings Mika''s journal to life in this perfect equation of honesty plus hope that adds up to a heartwarming coming-of-age story.

The animals deal with a hair-raising haunting in this fifth zany novel in a chapter book series where the fur—and fun—flies at an animal spa and hotel. The Animal Inn is an all-inclusive pet resort/hotel/center/spa for animals from dogs to rabbits, cats to ducks, parrots to lizards. From doggie and kitty daycare, to grooming, and group play—you name it, and the Animal Inn has it. The Inn is run by the Tyler family along with their pets Leopold, the Macaw; Fuzzy and Furry, the gerbils; dogs Dash and Coco; felines Shadow and Whiskers; and a rollicking horde of animal visitors. There are spooky shadows, creepy crawling critters, and spine chilling sounds all around the Animal Inn! Could it be haunted? The animals are in for a fur-raising adventure!

The first three novels in the Animal Inn chapter book series, where the fur—and fun—flies at an animal spa and hotel, are now available together in a fur-tastic paperback edition! The Animal Inn is an all-inclusive pet resort and spa for animals from dogs to rabbits, cats to ducks, parrots to lizards. From doggie and kitty daycare, to grooming, and group play—you name it, and the Animal Inn has it. The Inn is run by the Tyler family along with their pets Leopold, the Macaw; Fuzzy and Furry, the gerbils; dogs Dash and Coco; felines Shadow and Whiskers; and a rollicking horde of animal visitors. In A Furry Fiasco, when the animals hear that a new boarder—a Komodo Dragon—will be coming to the Inn, they panic! Will it gobble them all up and then devour their family? In Treasure Hunt, the animals are convinced a pirate with a glittering treasure is visiting the Animal Inn. Will the animals have to walk the plank in order to survive? Arghhh! And in The Bow-Wow Bus, Cassie Tyler’s first grade class takes a field trip to Animal Inn for a meet and greet. And it’s a furry good time for all—even for the newest kid in class, a goldfish named Blub.

Invited to New York to participate in a morning television interview when a hilarious online post of Whiskers goes viral, the Tylers rent a camper and bring the whole furry family, including a proud but nervous Whiskers.

Cassie Tyler''s first grade class visits the Animal Inn for their field trip and has a wild time meeting the residents, which include gerbils, dogs, cats, and birds.

The pets of the Animal Inn are convinced a pirate with a glittering treasure is coming to stay, and are worried they will be forced to walk the plank.

Contains excerpt of the next Animal Inn series "Treasury Hunt."

1 MetroCard, Momma and me. Down 2 flights—to catch the 3. 4 turnstiles, singers 5. A rumble, a screech . . . the train arrives! This bright, young counting book is a delightful trip through the New York City subway system. Hand in hand, child and mother see colorful subway signs and funny passengers, watch trains screeching by, and make new friends. With bold illustrations and a playful, rhyming text, this is not only a counting book, but also a tribute to New York and a sweet story of a child and parent navigating the city together.

In this story told in brief rhyming text, students in a class follow the proper procedures during a fire drill.

This book teaches counting skills by using NASCAR themes and images

Rhyming text introduces A to Z terminology associated with NASCAR.

Contains everything you need to put on your own play with your friends, including how to write a script, design a set, make costumes, and act a part.

Relates the sights and sounds of a subway ride through the boroughs of New York City.