Best Selling Books by Robin Stevenson

★ “Awash in messages of love and the celebration of individuality... A rare treat for both Pride Day and everyday sharing.”—School Library Journal, starred review ★ "A good thing comes in a small, rainbow package...A joyful, affirming, pride-filled read."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review Through gentle rhymes and colorful photographs of adorable children, Pride Colors is a celebration of the deep unconditional love of a parent or caregiver for a young child. The profound message of this delightful board book is you are free to be whoever you choose to be; you'll always be loved. Celebrated author Robin Stevenson ends her purposeful prose by explaining the meaning behind each color in the Pride flag: red = life, orange = healing, yellow = sunlight, green = nature, blue = peace and harmony, and violet = spirit.

Key Selling Points When Sam’s grandmother tells him she’s going away for the winter, Sam worries about how much he’ll miss her—but she reassures him she can send a hug on the wind or with a beam of sunshine, kisses in the raindrops and snowflakes, and a "goodnight" with the evening stars. A comforting read for kids whose loved ones aren’t close by, to remind them that their connection is still strong, no matter the distance; could also be a helpful resource for readers whose family member or friend has passed away. Depicts a child’s separation anxiety as he queries each of his grandmother’s reassurances, and shows his transition from his worry to his acceptance that all will be okay. Illustrations by Kristina Jones are painterly and warm, showcasing Sam and his grandmother’s close relationship and evoking the magic of their bond across the distance. Robin Stevenson is the award-winning author of over thirty books of fiction and nonfiction for kids and teens.

Dante thinks high school is an earthly version of hell. She hates her new home in the suburbs, her best friend has moved away, her homeroom teacher mocks her and her mother is making her attend a social skills group for teenage girls. When a stranger shows up at school and hands Dante a flyer that reads: Woof, woof. You are not a dog. Why are you going to obedience school?, Dante thinks she's found a soul mate. Someone who understands. Someone else who wants to make real changes in the world. But there are all kinds of ways of bringing about change...and some are more dangerous than others.

It's an ordinary nightmare of a family trip until Theo realizes that the beautiful girl beside the hotel pool is his childhood babysitter—and his first crush. Theo hasn't seen Ronnie for five years, but when she invites him to go with her—and her toddler son, Zach—on a road trip, he leaps at the opportunity to ditch his parents and head to Hollywood. They've only gone a few miles before Theo begins to regret his impulsive decision. Zach cries nonstop, and when they get pulled over by the police, Ronnie is clearly terrified. She says her ex-boyfriend is a cop and that he is looking for her. Theo wants to trust her, but he suspects she is hiding something. And when they reach Los Angeles and she disappears, leaving him to look after Zach, he needs to find out the truth—and decide where his loyalties lie. This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for teen readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!

A girl must wrestle with frightening choices when she learns she’s lived almost her entire life inside a cult. Thirteen-year-old Ara lives in an isolated community called Jupiter Station with her family. They abide by the strict rules of Father Jupiter, their self-appointed leader, and await his prophecy that the family will become stardust and “Ascend to the planet Jupiter,” where they’ll live together forever. But one day, Ara’s brother Leo tells her of his doubts about Father Jupiter, particularly his story about how they joined the family. And now Ara must decide what to do, as she realizes he may be right. A chilling tale of awakening that readers won’t be able to put down!

It's 1963, and Jack's family is still reeling from the SIDS death of his baby sister. Adrift in his own life, Jack is convinced that setting a world record will bring his father back to his senses and his mother back to life. But world events, including President Kennedy's assassination, threaten to overshadow any record Jack tries to beat—from sausage eating to face slapping. Nothing works, and Jack is about to give up when a new friend suggests a different approach that involves listening to, not breaking, records.

A sailing trip to the Caribbean might sound great, but sixteen-year-old Rachel can't stand being trapped on a small boat with her family. She misses her best friend and feels guilty about leaving her older sister Emma, who lives in a group home. Her father is driving her crazy with his schedules and rules, her brother is miserable, and there is never anyone her own age around. Worst of all, there is nowhere to go when her parents fight. While their boat is being repaired, the family spends a few weeks in a small Bahamian community, where Rachel and Tim discover a secret which turns their world upside down and threatens to destroy the fragile ties that hold their family together.

Eight teens are dropped off on a remote west-coast island for a week-long treatment program called INTRO (Into Nature to Renew Ourselves). The story is told by two of them: Alice, whose police-officer mother believes Alice might have a substance-abuse problem, and Caleb, who assaulted his abusive stepfather. They are joined by six other miscreants and three staff: a psychologist, a social worker and an ex-cop. On the first night, one of the girls disappears from her cabin. There is a panicked search of the island, but she is nowhere to be found. The adults seem oddly ineffectual in dealing with the crisis—and then the ex-cop gets sick and dies. The radio has been sabotaged, and there is no way to call for help. When the social worker also becomes ill, the kids decide to take matters into their own hands and track down the killer.

Key Selling Points An LGBTQ+ inclusive picture book where identity is not the focus of the story but queer community is centered. The family is intentionally not gendered. The author is part of the LGBTQ+ community and has spoken extensively about Pride with kids of all ages. The busy, bright, dynamic illustrations will keep even the littlest readers poring over the page of this alphabet primer and search-and-find picture book. The author’s nonfiction bookPride: Celebrating Diversity & Community (2016) won a Stonewall Honor, and her board bookPride Colors garnered starred reviews fromSLJ and Kirkus , was shortlisted for the Lambda Award and was on ALA's Rainbow List.

Sixteen-year-old Dylan has never met her father. She knows that her parents were just teenagers themselves when she was born, but her mother doesn't like to talk about the past, and her father, Mark, has never responded to Dylan's attempts to contact him. As far as Dylan is concerned, her family is made up of her mother, Amanda; her recently adopted younger sister, Karma; and maybe even her best friend, Toni. And then, out of the blue, a phone call: Mark will be in town for a few days and he wants to meet her. Amanda is clearly upset, but Dylan can't help being excited at the possibility of finally getting to know her father. But when she finds out why he has come – and what he wants from her – the answers fill her with still more questions. What makes someone family? And why has her mother been lying to her all these years?

What do you do when someone you care about wants you to follow him to a really dark place? Do you pull away? Do you help plan the trip? Or do you put your own life on the line in the hope that love will coax your friend away from the precipice? When Mel meets Jeremy, she thinks she has finally found someone who understands her, someone who will listen to her, someone who cares. But Jeremy has secrets that torment him, and Mel isn’t sure she can save him from his demons. All she knows is that she has to save herself.
   Set in Florida, against a backdrop of anti-death-penalty activism, The World Without Us examines one girl’s choices in a world where the stakes are very high and one misstep can hurt—or even kill—you.

When Cameron rescues a baby abandoned in the woods, everyone says it is a miracle. A stroke of luck that he just happened to be there, riding his bike along that trail, and heard the baby's cry. But Cameron has a secret: It wasn't just luck. He was there because his twin sister Katie begged him to go. Did Katie know about the baby? Is she covering for someone? At first Cameron just wants some answers but once he knows the truth he has to decide what to do with it. This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for teen readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read! Available in Spanish as En el bosque.

Inventors invent inventions! That's what Ben and his best friend Jack like to say. So when Ben discovers that Jack's family is planning to move to another city, he decides they should put their inventions to work. The boys figure that if no one buys Jack's house, Jack won't have to move away, so all they need is a plan to scare off potential buyers! Inventors are good at coming up with plans. But when Plans A, B and C fail to bring the results the boys had hoped for, Ben discovers that not everything in life stays the same—and that while change can be hard, sometimes it isn't all bad.

Moving, relatable, and totally true childhood biographies of Martin Luther King Jr., Susan B. Anthony, Helen Keller, Malala Yousafzai, and 12 other inspiring activists. Before Martin Luther King Jr. inspired millions, he argued with his father about dancing. Before Helen Keller became one of the world's most influential disability-rights advocates, she faced the extraordinary challenge of learning language without being able to see or hear. Before Malala Yousafzai became a global symbol of girls' education, she was simply a child who loved learning. Through surprising stories, fascinating facts, and humorous moments, award-winning author Robin Stevenson reveals the relatable childhood experiences that helped shape these extraordinary lives. Kid Activists tells readers 8 to 12 years old these childhood stories and more through kid-friendly texts and full-color cartoon illustrations on nearly every page. The diverse and inclusive group encompasses Susan B. Anthony, James Baldwin, Ruby Bridges, Frederick Douglass, Alexander Hamilton, Dolores Huerta, Helen Keller, Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Iqbal Masih, Harvey Milk, Janet Mock, Rosa Parks, Autumn Peltier, Emma Watson, and Malala Yousafzai. Inside you'll discover: Sixteen colorfully illustrated childhood biographies of influential activists Surprising facts that make history's most influential figures feel relatable Kid-friendly nonfiction perfect for independent reading, classroom and school libraries, and homeschool families Stories of courage, perseverance, empathy, and leadership, balancing humor, historical facts, and meaningful life lessons An engaging introduction to history, biography, and civic responsibility Perfect for young history enthusiasts and kids who want to learn how ordinary people can create extraordinary change Meet the kids behind history's greatest changemakers—and discover how curiosity, compassion, and courage can inspire the leader within you.

Before they filled stadiums, topped the charts, and changed music history, they were kids discovering the joy of making music. Kid Musicians introduces young readers to the surprising childhood stories of 16 legendary performers, revealing how curiosity, creativity, and determination helped shape some of the world's most influential artists. A 2025 National Parenting Product Awards Winner Long before Taylor Swift wrote hit songs, she grew up on a Christmas tree farm. Before Beyoncé became a global superstar, she and her friends played truth or dare after rehearsals. Louis Armstrong marched through the streets of New Orleans playing music in neighborhood parades, while Dolly Parton entertained classmates with stories she invented herself. Through funny, fascinating, and inspiring true stories, award-winning author Robin Stevenson shows how ordinary childhood experiences helped extraordinary musicians find their voices. Featuring kid-friendly text and lively full-color illustrations by Allison Steinfeld, Kid Musicians celebrates artists from many musical traditions. Whether readers ages 8-12 dream of performing on stage, writing songs, or simply love music, these engaging biographies will inspire them to express themselves and march to the beat of their own drum. Inside you'll discover: True childhood biographies of 16 influential musicians, performers, and songwriters Inspiring stories featuring Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Dolly Parton, Ella Fitzgerald, Harry Styles, Mariah Carey, Paul McCartney, Yo-Yo Ma, Louis Armstrong, and more Full-color illustrations throughout Kid-friendly nonfiction perfect for independent and reluctant readers An engaging introduction to music history through memorable childhood experiences Short chapters ideal for classrooms, libraries, homeschooling, and family reading Meet the kids behind the music and discover how imagination, perseverance, and a love of performing can inspire your own creative journey.

Follow cousins on a road trip to Pride as they dive into family secrets and friendships in this contemporary novel—perfect for fans of David Levithan and Becky Albertalli. As kids, Mark and his cousin Talia spent many happy summers together at the family cottage in Ontario, but a fight between their parents put an end to the annual event. Living on opposite coasts—Mark in Halifax and Talia in Victoria—they haven't seen each other in years. When their grandfather dies unexpectedly, Mark and Talia find themselves reunited at the cottage once again, cleaning it out while the family decides what to do with it. Mark and Talia are both queer, but they soon realize that's about all they have in common, other than the fact that they'd both prefer to be in Toronto. Talia is desperate to see her high school sweetheart Erin, who's barely been in touch since leaving to spend the summer working at a coffee shop in the Gay Village. Mark, on the other hand, is just looking for some fun, and Toronto Pride seems like the perfect place to find it. When a series of complications throws everything up in the air, Mark and Talia—with Mark's little sister Paige in tow—decide to hit the road for Toronto. With a bit of luck, and some help from a series of unexpected new friends, they might just make it to the big city and find what they're looking for. That is, if they can figure out how to start seeing things through each other's eyes.

Inspiring, relatable, and totally true biographies tell the childhood stories of a diverse group of trailblazers including Kamala Harris, Greta Thunberg, Ai Weiwei, Benazir Bhutto, Elliot Page, and John Lewis, along with 10 other powerful figures. Leadership often begins with small acts of curiosity, compassion, and courage. Featuring kid-friendly text and full-color illustrations, Kid Trailblazers highlights contemporary figures who have led the way in government, social activism, environmental justice, and the arts. Readers 8 to 12 years old will learn how these influential people got their start as kids just like them, with impactful stories and fun facts such as: Angela Merkel once won a trip to Moscow, where she bought a Beatles album. Stacey Abrams and her siblings played pretend as librarians for fun. Al Gore lived in a hotel as a kid and liked to drop water balloons off the roof! Written by award-winning author Robin Stevenson and brought to life with lively full-color illustrations by Allison Steinfeld, Kid Trailblazers explores the childhood stories of leaders who have taken on the most pressing issues of our time by expressing themselves and challenging the world. Inside you'll discover: Sixteen illustrated childhood biographies of influential changemakers and leaders Inspiring stories featuring Kamala Harris, Greta Thunberg, John Lewis, Ai Weiwei, Stacey Abrams, Angela Merkel, Elliot Page, Marley Dias, Mari Copeny, and many more Full-color illustrations throughout Kid-friendly nonfiction perfect for independent and reluctant readers An engaging introduction to contemporary history through memorable childhood experiences Short chapters ideal for classrooms, libraries, homeschooling, and family reading Rediscover today's most inspiring leaders as kids—and explore how your own ideas, determination, and compassion can help shape a better future.

"This nonfiction book for teens examines the ongoing fight for abortion rights and reproductive justice"--