New Releases by Kersten Hamilton

Cordelia may look like a goat, but on the inside she knows she is a tugboat--or tuggoat--no matter what anybody tells her.

The creators of the beloved board book, Red Truck, are back for a heartwarming Christmas story. It's Christmas Eve, but not everyone can make it home to celebrate. Red truck, wrapped in festive lights, must get through heavy flurries, slippery roads, and piles of snow, all before Christmas Day! Merry Christmas, Red Truck, perfect for longtime fans and new readers alike, is a fantastic addition to the beloved Red Truck and Friends series by Kersten Hamilton and Valeria Patrone. And it's just in time for the holidays!

This rollicking rhyming picture book by Kersten Hamilton, What's Up, Pup?, features lively illustrations from Lili Chin, and explores all the ways that dogs express themselves, perfect for pup lovers of all ages. Dogs are communicating with us all the time—even without words, they can tell us that they want to play, get scritches, or say I love you! From sniffers and ears to muzzles and rears, from tail wags to tongue flicks and everything in between...what is your pup trying to say? Maybe, if you watch very closely . . . you'll see your pup talk!

From the creators of Red Truck, Yellow Copter, Blue Boat, and Green Tractor comes a delightful new story about an orange excavator who saves the town of Tumberton again and again! It's clean-up day in Tumberton and there's lots of hard work to be done. Orange excavator will need to gobble up all the trash in sight, help fix the broken water line, and dig a hole to plant a tree, all before the day is done! Kersten Hamilton and Valeria Patrone are back to add a new color and friendly helper vehicle to their beloved book series.

From the creators of Red Truck, Yellow Copter, and Blue Boat comes a delightful new story about a helpful tractor getting ready for Harvest Day just in time for fall! It's Harvest Day at the farm, but before the kids arrive Green Tractor has to help their farmer friend get everything ready. They have to move big boulders using the hayfork and plow the land for the pumpkin races. And when the kids get there, it's time for Green Tractor to shine by pulling the wagon for the hayride! Kersten Hamilton and Valeria Patrone are back to add a new color and friendly helper vehicle to their beloved book series.

With lyrical text by Kersten Hamilton and luminous illustrations by Jaime Kim, First Friend is an exploration of how the wild wolves became dogs, and how we learned to communicate and grow alongside the creatures we love. Long, long ago, when the world was new. . .a girl met a pup. In those days, everyone knew that wolves and children could not be friends. Still, they learned from each other—how to hunt, how to trade, how to survive, how to play. And years and years went by, and the world spun and changed. And then—a boy fished with a wolf, and a girl traded with a wild dog, and animal and human grew up side by side. . .into the best friends we are today.

By the critically acclaimed author of Tyger Tyger, a warm, magical story of a girl’s struggle to keep a promise to her dead mother. Glorieta Magdalena Davis Espinosa is happy that Papi married Alice. She’s happy that he can smile again after years of mourning Mamá. But the urn containing Mamá’s ashes disappeared into a drawer the day Alice moved in. If everything about Glorieta’s life is going to change, then she wants one thing to go her way: She wants to hear stories about her mamá when the family gathers on the last night of los Días de los Muertos. And that can only happen if Tia Diosonita will allow Mamá to be buried with the Espinosas in holy ground. If she will allow people to speak Mamá’s name. With the help of her best friend, River, and her cousin Mateo, Glorieta sets out to convince Diosonita that Mamá is not burning in Hell. To do so, she’ll have to learn to let hate go—and to love the people who stand in her way. In prose that sparkles with magical undertones, author Kersten Hamilton weaves a tender story about grief, faith, and the redemptive power of love.

"When a family is stranded at sea, there is only one rough, tough tugboat that can save them. Blue Boat!"--

When a teacher gets stuck at the top of the Ferris wheel at the fair, cranes and planes can’t reach her. The only one who might have a chance is Yellow Copter! With a rollicking rhyme and candy-colored illustrations, this is the perfect read-aloud for any fan of machines that are big, make loud noises, or fly—or all three at once.

"The daring and loyal dachshund Noodles, the boy inventor Wally Kennewickett, and his scientific genius family and staff of automatons join forces with Nikola Tesla to defeat sky pirates, cross Europe in a giant mechanical spider, and defy the evil Mesmers"--

The first book in a fast-paced historical fantasy series narrated by a daring dachshund and brimming with mad science.

Can Red Truck make it up the hill? Red Truck can! Red Truck will! ZOOOM! Truck fans of all ages but especially the littlest ones will love cheering on the hardworking red tow truck that stars in this high energy picture book. Mighty Red Truck splashes and zooms through mud and rain to rescue a stalled school bus on the side of the road, and becomes the hero of a rainy day. Eye-popping quirky illustrations and the fast-paced rhyming text will make this truck story a fast favorite.

Teagan, Finn, and Aiden have made it out of Mag Mell alive, but the Dark Man's forces follow them to Chicago, where Tea's goblin cousins cause all sorts of trouble while she is torn between the life she wants and the future she is drawn to as a wild Stormrider, born to reign.

The goblins are coming!

Caleb’s new life as the son of Guillaume Pascal is so wonderful . . . why, it’s almost enough to make Caleb believe there is a heavenly Father who has a plan. But Twin Nightshade has plans too–evil plans. And he’s not working alone. Kids ages 8–12 will enjoy this action-suspense series set in the late 1800s. When the circus comes to town, Caleb finds adventure, encounters strange creatures (and even stranger people), and meets a heavenly Father who welcomes all orphans into his family.

Being adopted was Caleb’s lifelong dream. Being taken home by Mr. Groeger was a nightmare. When the circus comes to town, Caleb’s world changes again. An old circus clown and a heavenly Father hear the cry of an orphan—and answer in a dangerous and delightful way. Kids ages 8–12 will enjoy this action-suspense series set in the late 1800s. When the circus comes to town, Caleb finds adventure, encounters strange creatures (and even stranger people), and meets a heavenly Father who welcomes all orphans into his family.

Firefighters race to a fire and rescue a little boy's pet.

Explores the process of precipitation from raindrop to ocean.

Where can your 4th, 5th, and 6th graders go for answers? Your 4th, 5th, and 6th graders are looking for a place of their own. A place that gets beyond simple solutions, pat answers, and slogans. A place that is filled with people who listen to them, challenge them, and support them as they follow God. Your students are looking for their domain. domain.456 will help your 4th, 5th, and 6th graders navigate through a sometimes confusing world. It gives them a place to talk about the complex issues they face every day. Issues like The Invisible World, My Values, and Sin. And most importantly, your students will find out what God and His Word say about these tough issues. In this book you'll find three units for a total of 13 lessons over 20 reproducible activity sheets (no student books to buy!) three reproducible parent newsletters to involve families in the topics being discussed Other books available in the domain.456 series Substance Abuse/Communicating with Others/Who Is Jesus? Problems in Society/Making Choices/Friendship The Invisible World/My Values/Sin Peer Pressure/Pain and Death/Heroes Self-Esteem/Differences/Authority Growing as a Christian/School/Leisure Time Families/The Environment/Sports and Competition