New Releases by Megan McDonald

A-roo-ga-roo! Stink and his friends can’t wait to learn wilderness survival skills. But first the pack of friends will have to survive scouting . . . and one another! Brushing your teeth with a stick! Pooping in the woods! Stink and his friends are raring to learn all that and more in Survival Scouts. Wait! What? Survival Scouts is for boys only? No fair! So with Riley Rottenberger (aka the Great Golu) at the helm, Stink and his friends decide to form their own troop of nature explorers: the Big Bad Badgers. There will be badges to earn, climbing-up ceremonies, and awards to win. But never did these squabbling scouts imagine survival would be much harder than tying knots, reading animal tracks and scats, or even eating an insect. Ack! The Golden Honey Badger Award is starting to feel like an impossible dream to this pack of (bickering) badgers! What do they have to do to earn the coveted prize? Fans of wild backyard nature hunts—and champions of cooperation—will be hot on the trail of this quintessential Stink adventure, with fun extras at the end of each chapter. Cricket pancakes, anyone?

From the beloved author of the Judy Moody and Stink series comes the first in a sparkling series of chapter books about a girl whose love for magic and fairy folk takes her on enchanting adventures Imagine a door. A teeny-tiny fairy door. Now imagine it is magic. Open the door. To some, the low door in Eliza’s bedroom might look like an ordinary entrance to a crawl space under the stairs. But to a believer like Eliza of the Elves, it’s the door to the Land of UnderStair, a secret hideout all her own. In that crawl space, festooned with twinkling lights, Eliza keeps her favorite book, her collections of precious items, her stuffed animals, and her new diary. And in that crawl space is another door, a teeny-tiny one that can transport Eliza to a world of tangerine sun and lemon-pudding sky, a place where flower fairies perch on every bloom and a new flower springs up whenever you pick one. But in a far corner of that world, Eliza tries to pick a strangely beautiful flower—“Nooooo!” cries her friend Poppy—and things soon go terribly awry. Can a brave, wilting Poppy rescue Eliza from beyond the hedgerow before the Demon Wind steals all the flower fairies’ scents, leaving the snapdragons with no snap? In this launch of a new series, Megan McDonald brings her well-honed flair for wordplay to delicious villains like the witches Wolfsbane and Belladonna as she follows a child with a big imagination to a different fairy realm in each book. Lenny Wen’s delightful, richly colored artwork brings Eliza’s world to life with fanciful details sure to have readers creating their own cozy retreats—and visiting magical lands beyond the door.

Sometimes you just have to find the good news, as Judy Moody discovers when she creates her very own newspaper—featured as a bonus at the end of the book. Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow! Mr. Todd has Class 3T looking for the Five Ws in the newspaper, but all Judy can see is how much bad news there is. Climate change! Deadly virus! Sea turtles endangered by straws stuck in their noses! The good news is that Judy is taking all the bad news as a call to action. She gets out her notebook, clicks her six-year pen, transforms into a Kid Reporter, and goes out in search of happier stories. Rare bird sighting in Virginia Beach! Escaped bearded dragon found! Plastic straws banned at Virginia Dare School! There’s even a scoop that Judy overhears while ordering a scoop at Screamin’ Mimi’s—about someone who found real buried treasure. Kids intrigued by the first edition of Judy’s Sunny-Side-Up News—offering stories, a word search, a comic, a recipe, and more—may just be inspired to create their own second edition. After all, there’s no telling how much good news is out there until you start looking . . . and acting!

When fifth-grader Julie discovers that girls aren’t allowed on the basketball team at her new school, she’s determined to change the rules . . . but making new friends is harder, now that her parents are (shhh!) divorced. Julie isn''t thrilled about moving to an apartment above her mom''s shop in San Francisco. She misses her old bedroom, her best friend, Ivy--and her dad, now that her parents are divorced. Then she discovers that her new school has a basketball team! But when Julie tries to sign up, the coach says the team is for boys only. Talk about unfair! Maybe she can''t do anything about the move, but Julie''s determined to find a way to change the coach''s mind.

A trove of vintage comic books and a few forensic tips turn Stink into a super sleuth in an adventure that honors classic superheroes and mystery-solving. Cheek! Chack! Chirp! At a Moody family yard sale, Stink uncovers a box of old comics about a hero he’s never heard of: Super Gecko. What could be more fantastic than a superhero with lizard superpowers? Hello, fun! Even better, Super Gecko is making a comeback, and Stink quickly becomes his number-one fan. Stink starts receiving mysterious notes signed by Super Gecko himself. But Super Gecko isn’t real, is he? Using his own powers of deduction—thanks to all the cool stuff he’s learning at Saturday Science Club—can Stink figure out who is writing the letters?

When her teacher Mr. Todd makes Monday special by celebrating Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day, Judy Moody''s frown is turned upside down, prompting her to come up with the perfect idea to make this the best week ever.

Books, books, books! Judy’s got books on the brain as she prepares for a totally RARE trivia competition. Has reading always been this exciting? Judy Moody is in it to win it. Win the Book Quiz Blowout, that is. Judy and her brother, Stink, are two-fifths of the Virginia Dare Bookworms, and they’ve been reading up a storm to prepare for Saturday’s face-off against second- and third-grade readers from the next town. Judy’s trying out all kinds of tactics, from hanging upside down like Pippi Longstocking to teaching herself to speed read The Princess in Black, and Stink has fashioned a cape of book trivia sticky notes to help him remember all the penguins in Mr. Popper’s Penguins. But when Judy, Stink, and their fellow teammates discover the other group has a fourth-grader (no lie!), they get a bit nervous. Are the Bookworms up to the challenge?

An American girl doll kit which includes: 1 paperback book of The Big Break: Julie, 1974, 1 Julie American girl doll, 1 set of doll outfit, 1 laminated card of outfit item list, 1 American girl doll carrying case.

This book explores family economic decision-making in the United States from the nineteenth century through present day, specifically looking at the relationship between family resource allocation decisions and government policy. It examines how families have responded to incentives and constraints established by diverse federal and state policies and laws, including the regulation of marriage and of female labor force participation, child labor and education policies—including segregation—social welfare programs, and more. The goal of this book is to present family economic decisions throughout US history in a way that contextualizes where the US economy and the families that drive it have been. It goes on to discuss the role public policies have played in that journey, where we need to go from here, and how public policies can help us get there. At a time when American families are more complex than ever before, this volume will educate readers on the often unrecognized role that government policies have on our family lives, and the uncelebrated role that family economic decision-making has on the future of the US economy.

When Judy Moody gets serious about protecting the environment, her little brother Stink thinks she''s overdoing it, but she manages to inspire her third grade class to undertake an award-winning, environment-saving project.

"Based on the theatrical motion picture"--Copyright page.

Includes readers'' extras and a page of stickers.

Includes 1 detachable sheet of color stickers.

Includes readers'' extras and a page of stickers.

Includes readers'' extras and a page of stickers.

It’s April Fools'' Day — and Judy’s birthday — and Mr. Todd has a trick or two of his own planned in the latest Judy Moody tale for newly independent readers. April Fools'' Day just happens to be one of Judy Moody’s favorite days of the year. And this year she’s got one thing on her mind: the perfect prank she’s going to play on Mr. Todd, thanks to an awesome present from her brother, Stink. Gotcha, Mr. Todd! But in all the excitement over spaghetti trees, April fish, and fools'' errands, Judy worries that something else will be forgotten by Mr. Todd and Class 3T altogether: April 1 also happens to be Judy’s birthday! Gulp! Will her friends remember in time, or will Judy be the fool this year? And just what might Mr. Todd have up his sleeve?

Judy’s unusual pets—Jaws, Mouse, and Toady—are the center of attention in a new Judy Moody® book for newly independent readers. Dr. Judy knows a sick pet when she sees one, and Jaws the Venus flytrap is for-sure sick. Time for some urgent care and first aid! Judy Moody, pet vet, will never rest in her efforts to nurse Jaws back to health. In her quest for a medical miracle, Judy finds herself wrangling an unruly toad and seeking help from Mouse, the mind-reading cat. Nothing will stand in the way of Judy’s search for a cure. Not even the fearsome Carnivoria vampira! From Megan McDonald comes this selection of three mini-stories just right for luring young readers into the Moody universe.

On your mark, get set, Gobblers-a-Go-Go! Judy swears she’ll win the race for a Thanksgiving turkey (though Stink has his doubts) in this full-color Moody adventure. The town’s annual Turkey Trot race and festival is coming up, and Judy and Stink are training to win. Judy has decided that she is going to take home the big prize: a fat, juicy turkey. They can taste it already: the moist turkey, the hot gravy, the savory stuffing, the cranberry sauce! Beep! Beep! Beep! That’s the sound of Stink’s Rapidfire Ultra XE611M25 stopwatch going off as Judy and Stink hop, crawl, and climb toward race day. But what if they don’t win a mouthwatering bird? What then? Flying turkey gizzards! Will the Moody family end up starving on T-day, like ye pilgrims of olde, or will Grandma Lou cook up a tasty Franksgiving solution?

Stink takes a star turn—and helps stave off cosmic calamity—in a new Judy Moody & Friends adventure just right for newly independent readers.u003c/bu003e Look up! Look out! A comet is coming, a comet is coming! Stink is camped out in the backyard with his sister, Judy, and he can’t wait to lay eyes on P/2015 OZ4, also known as the Sherman-Holm Comet. But then news of an asteroid hitting Russia reaches Stink, and suddenly he’s feeling squeamish (and squash-ish) about close encounters of the outer-space kind. Will donning an aluminum-foil cape and building a bunker in the basement help keep him safe? Can this fearless Asteroid Boy save Earth from disaster?

Stink takes a star turn—and helps stave off cosmic calamity—in a Judy Moody & Friends adventure just right for newly independent readers. Look up! Look out! A comet is coming, a comet is coming! Stink is camped out in the backyard with his sister, Judy, and he can’t wait to lay eyes on P/2015 OZ4, also known as the Sherman-Holm Comet. But then news of an asteroid hitting Russia reaches Stink, and suddenly he’s feeling squeamish (and squash-ish) about close encounters of the outer-space kind. Will donning an aluminum-foil cape and building a bunker in the basement help keep him safe? Can this fearless Asteroid Boy save Earth from disaster?

Pee! Gee! Wee! Gee! What’s that sound? With her birthday coming up, Jessica hopes that, just maybe, her present will be a real-live potbellied pig. Jessica can hardly wait for her party with Judy Moody and all their friends. But Judy Moody is acting like a pig-head, and Jessica UN-invites her from the party. To make matters worse, Jessica has snooped around the house and has found zero sign of a pig present. Could her birthday be any more of a disaster? Geared to newly independent readers, this story will have Judy Moody fans in pig heaven.

Amy Namey is chasing a news story in this Judy Moody® story for newly independent readers. Amy Namey, Ace Reporter, is on the hunt for a good news story. But not a lot happens in the town of Frog Neck Lake. So what’s a budding reporter to do? Team up with Judy Moody! With Judy along to sniff out a story, anything can happen. Like maybe a close encounter with the famed Great Virginia Sea Serpent, Taboo! Are Amy and Judy about to stumble upon the scoop of the century?

When Stink''s parents win an aquarium sleepover, he and his two friends enjoy a scavenger hunt before trying to fall asleep while worrying about the frankensquid on the loose.

In honor of Judy Moody''s younger "bother," Stink, the creators of the award-winning series have brought back the boy wonder with a bold new design for all his Stink-y adventures—no lie! Simultaneous.

After second-grader Stink gets an unsatisfactory grade in physical education, his parents tell him he must play a sport and so he masters thumb wrestling, as seen on a sports channel.

The shortest kid in the second grade, James Moody, also known as Stink, learns all about the shortest president of the United States, James Madison, when they celebrate Presidents'' Day at school.

Reading is UNdead — and everyone has zombies on the brain — as Stink''s school and a local bookstore cook up a frightfully fun Main Street event. Guts! Brains! Eyeballs! There’s only one week before the new book in the Nightmare on Zombie Street series comes out. Of corpse Stink will be first in line at the Blue Frog Bookstore to buy his copy and join the town’s Midnight Zombie Walk! Until then, Stink and his friends keep busy making ketchup-stained zombie costumes, trying to raise money to buy the book, and racking up points for Virginia Dare School’s race to one million minutes of reading. But with all that talk about the undead, Zink — that is, Stink — starts to wonder: is he being hunted by zombies? He does have a very delicious — er, superb — brain, after all. Readers will just have to open ze book and zee! Mwa-ha-ha-ha!

Judy Moody is making a list and checking it twice, but all her brother, Stink, wants this year is snow. It hasn’t snowed on Christmas in Virginia in more than a hundred years, so what are the chances that that will change? Enter the new mailman, Mr. Jack Frost, who not only looks like a jolly old elf but also seems to know a lot about weather patterns, has a fondness for the cold, and works looooooong hours during the holiday season. Plus it’s the best time of the year, when strange packages and lots of surprises are swirling around, so isn’t it possible that Stink might get his wish? Fans who curl up with this new Moody comedy can be sure that their bellies will shake like a bowlful of jelly.

From the author of the Judy Moody books, this exciting novel captures the warmth, humor, and squabbles of three spunky sisters. Meet the Sisters Club: twelve-year-old Alex, aspiring actress and born drama queen; eight-year-old Joey, homework lover and pioneer wannabe; and smack in the middle, ten-year-old Stevie, the glue that holds them together -- through dinner disasters, disputes over stolen lucky sweaters, and Alex’s going gaga over her leading man. Playfully weaving Stevie’s narration with Alex’s scripts, Joey’s notebook entries, and hilarious elements such as "How to Swear in Shakespeare" and "Dear Sock Monkey" letters, this hugely engaging novel showcases Megan McDonald’s ear for dialogue, comic timing, and insight into the ever-changing dynamics of sisterhood.

A few sessions with a college-age math tutor turn Judy into a jargon-spouting polygon princess. Crucial! Judy Moody is in a mood. Not a good mood. And definitely NOT a math mood. The substitute teacher in Class 3T thinks Judy''s math skills need improving. So Judy has to start meeting with a math tutor. Does this mean flash cards? Does this mean baby games? Does this mean school on weekends? But when Judy meets her tutor — a sick-awesome college student with an uber-funky sense of style — and gets a glimpse of college life, Judy''s bad math-i-tude turns into a radical glad-i-tude. Pretty soon, Judy''s not only acing her math class; she''s owning it. Time to say good-bye to Judy Moody, old skool third-grader, and say hello to Miss College! Small-tall upside-down backward non-fat capp with extra whip, anyone?