New Releases by Sophie Blackall

Ivy and Bean are always up to something. Whether they re playing tricks on Bean s older sister, doing good deeds that turn bad, or even trying to solve global warming, their adventures are always hilarious and filled with surprises! Now fans can reenact the duo s escapades (or create new ones!) with these Ivy and Bean stand-up paper dolls. Also included are two sturdy play scenes for displaying the dolls or acting out their adventures, plus reusable vinyl stickers of colorful clothes, silly hats, and all kinds of items for getting into mischief like an octopus in a bucket! WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.

In her first book for adults, the artist Sophie Blackall creates a deeply felt, poignant book about love—a book that captures the mystery, the yearning, at times the cosmic humor behind the “what if?” of a missed connection. Like a message in a bottle, a “missed connection" classified (usually posted on a website) is an attempt however far-fetched, by one stranger to reach another on the strength of a remembered glance, smile, or blue hat. The anonymous messages are hopeful and hopeless, funny and sad. Ms. Blackall, award-winning illustrator of Ruby’s Wish and Big Red Lollipop, has turned some of the most evocative (or hilarious) of them into exquisite paintings. Missed Connections is a collection of illustrated love stories. There’s “We Shared a Bear Suit.” “If Not for Your Noisy Tambourine.” “Hairy Bearded Swimmer.” Each is told in the shorthand of a “missed connection,” and then illustrated in Chinese ink and watercolor. The paintings are extraordinary: delicate yet full of feeling, each springing from one little detail of the post into a fully imagined world. Each brings the voyeuristic pleasure of watching love at first sight, and the pleasure of watching an artist discover a fresh new way to tell a story. And not all the connections are missed. Hidden in the book are three pieces that conjure up the magic of love found.

Edward can’t fall asleep, and like most children, he has a million questions burning to be answered even though it’s way past his bedtime. In this funny picture book about the all-familiar bedtime negotiations between child and parent, Edward and his mother talk about everything from yellow dogs to corn on the cob. Most children (and parents) will recognize themselves in this gentle ode to bedtime.

In this seventh entry in the New York Times–bestselling series, two unlikely best friends get creative as they prepare for the Science Fair. It''s the Science Fair, and the second grade is all over it! Some kids are making man-eating robots. Some kids are holding their breath for a very, very long time. Some kids are doing interesting things with vacuum cleaners. The theme, obviously, is global warming. But what should Ivy and Bean do? Something involving explosions? Or ropes? Something with ice cubes? Or maybe . . . maybe something different. Praise for What''s the Big Idea? "This seventh episode about unlikely best friends Ivy and Bean may be the most ambitious and triumphant yet . . . . Barrows and Blackall know just how to expose situations that are familiar to second-graders—with empathy and a light touch." —Shelf-Awareness

Provides instructions for performing such tricks as floating the needle, the rising pushpin, exchanging wine for water, and bottling a hard-boiled egg.