New Releases by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen

A joyful picture book about a young alpaca’s first day back at school, from powerhouse team Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen and Leeza Hernandez The first day back to school is always a little scary, but Alpaca is ready to face the new year! With shoes tied and snack-a all packed-a, Alpaca’s first day back-a is filled with classroom fun. Working together. / Learning each rule. You’re getting the KNACK-a / of being at school. You’ll dream of tomorrow / when you hit the SACK-a Your school will be waiting . . . / get ready, Alpaca! From singing new songs to making new friends (and a paint spill here and there—no worries, Alpaca! Ms. Yak-a has more!), Alpaca will help young readers feel prepared for their first day, easing their anxieties and getting them excited for school. Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen’s inventive rhyme, paired with Leeza Hernandez’s bright, graphic art, is perfect for read-aloud fun, as well as school and family libraries.

An original illustrated chapter book adventure by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen about girl power, self-expression, and friendship—based on the Netflix series Princess Power and inspired by the #1 New York Times bestselling picture book Princesses Wear Pants (from TODAY show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie and educator Alli Oppenheim). The adventurous Princess Bea of the Blueberry Kingdom usually loves being in the middle of the action. Hang gliding? No problem! Zip-lining? Easy-peasy! But when Bea has to lead the annual Harvest Hullabaloo on horseback, she’s embarrassed to admit that she’s actually pretty scared of horses. Can she open up to her friends and still find a way to save the parade? Sharing your fears and asking for help—that’s the princess way! This original tale, illustrated in full-color, features beloved characters and explores the world of Princess Power, a new children’s Netflix series inspired by the instant #1 bestselling picture books Princesses Wear Pants and Princesses Save the World. These curious, kindhearted, can-do princesses learn that as long as they stay true to themselves and work together, there’s no challenge they can’t face—and there’s nothing sweeter than friendship! Princess Power series Princess Kira’s Kiwi Jubliee (#1)

Chapter book readers' favorite kitten mermaids are shell-ebrating the Olympics with a school field day. The Purrmaids series is known for having readers paw-sitively hooked from page one! It's time for the summer Olympics and Kittentail Cove is ready to celebrate! A hometown Olympic hero will be hosting a field day at Sea School and best friends Coral, Shelly, and Angel are excited to try all kinds of fun sports. But when Coral makes the swim-nastics team and Shelly and Angel don't, she'll have to overcome her fears and learn to work with her new team if they want to win.

The purrmaids are taking a trip to Flamingo Island! The adorable mermaid-kittens in this chapter book series will have readers paw-sitively hooked from page one! Shelly’s parents visit Flamingo Island to collect shrimp for their restaurant—and this time, Shelly gets to go! Even better, her best friends, Angel and Coral, are coming, too! Shelly can’t wait to see the flamingos and find a keepsake to bring back home. But when she accidentally takes something she shouldn’t, the purrmaids have to figure out how to make things right! Don’t miss any of the purrmaids’ adventures, including The Scaredy Cat, Search for the Mermicorn, Party Animals, and more!

From the author of the Purrmaids series comes the picture book Roxie Loves Adventure, a rollicking read all about a spoiled pug and her unexpected run-in with the great outdoors. Roxie the pug lives a life of luxury. She loves fizzy drinks and fluffy pillows. She keeps her treats and chew toys close and never has to lift a paw. One night, Roxie’s humans are fast asleep when she has to GO! She scurries out of her doggy door to do her business, only to find . . . the door has locked behind her. Will Roxie be stuck outside forever? Without toys, treats, and tummy rubs?! Soon enough, Roxie finds her grit and her way back inside. A changed pup, she dreams sweet dreams of the adventures tomorrow might hold. A perfect read-aloud tale, this fresh and funny picture book from writer Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen and illustrator Leeza Hernandez encourages readers to venture out of their comfort zone to nurture the adventurer inside us all.

Chapter book readers' favorite kitten mermaids can't wait to celebrate a birthday with their unicorn mermaid friends and a very special guest...a manatee! It's Angel's birthday and she can't wait to celebrate with her purrmaid and mermicorn best friends! But the girls don't seem very excited to celebrate with her. They keep sneaking off to be alone. Angry and hurt, Angel swims out in the ocean by herself and finds Minnie -- a manatee who needs help! Can the girls all work together to save Minnie? Or are Angel's friends too busy with their secret plans? The adorable mermaid-kittens in this chapter book series will have readers paw-sitively hooked from page one!

Let the magical adventures begin with three popular chapter books--Unicorn Academy, Mermicorns, and Puppy Pirates--all in one collection! What if your best friend was a unicorn? Do you long to set sail on a pirate ship where puppies are the crew? Do you believe in mermaids . . . and unicorns? Then the magic really does start here! This special collection contains the first book in three fantastic series, including New York Times bestselling Unicorn Academy, that are proven to hook kids on reading. Find out which one is your favorite! In Unicorn Academy #1: Sophia and Rainbow, a girl and her unicorn friend must save the unicorns' magic. In Mermicorns #1: Sparkle Magic, Serena--part unicorn and part mermaid--starts Magic School! In Puppy Pirates #1, adventurous pup Wally finds out whether he has what it takes to sail the seas with the puppy pirates!

Part unicorn, part mermaid, and totally magical! Don't miss this exciting new chapter book series from the author of the popular Purrmaids series! Mermicorns Sirena and Lily are learning amazing magic at school. When they take a field trip to the library, they learn how to make things disappear! Sirena is excited to try some new spells. But turning invisible isn’t just fun . . . it’s dangerous! Especially when you don’t read all the rules first. Are the two friends ready for such powerful magic? The Mermicorns chapter book series is perfect for readers who love magic and adventure in series like Unicorn Academy, Purrmaids, and more.

A spooky and kooky tale about a lonely duck and his unexpected new friend—now in an 8 x 8 trim size and paperback Told in rollicking rhyme, this picture book introduces Quackenstein, a lonely duck in his “lair” at the zoo. One day, Quack is inspired to adopt an egg from the nursery and—much like his inspiration, Dr. Frankenstein—he’s shocked by what emerges from the egg. The “monster” chases him throughout the zoo in a fast-paced and funny parody of monster movies. In the twist ending, the monster (actually an adorable platypus) and Quack resolve their differences and settle down as a not-so-spooky family.

Help the purrmaids clean up the ocean--and save a mermicorn friend--in this sixth book in the popular chapter book series perfect for fans of Magic Kitten and Mermaid Tales! Ms. Harbor has a fun new project for the purrmaids: a scavenger hunt! The purrmaids must search Kittentail Cove to find items around the ocean. Some are rare, like a special piece of coral. And some are too plentiful--like plastic human garbage. When Coral, Shelly, and Angel visit their mermicorn friend, Sirena, they discover that Sirena's younger brother is caught in plastic soda rings. It's up to the purrmaids to help their friend and clean up the ocean! Ocean conservation, recycling, and the environment are important topics that kids feel passionate about. This new Purrmaids adventure purr-fectly pairs the fun of a scavenger hunt with these important educational themes!

Let the adventure begin with four popular series--Magic Tree House, Junie B. Jones, A to Z Mysteries, and Purrmaids--all in one collection! Has a book ever made you laugh so hard milk came out of your nose? Do adventure and mystery keep you turning pages? Do you love a good story about friendship? Then the fun really does start here! This special "starter set" contains the first book in four fantastic series, including New York Times bestselling Magic Tree House and Junie B. Jones, that have hooked millions of kids on reading. Find out which one is your favorite! --In Magic Tree House #1: Dinosaurs Before Dark, a mysterious tree house whisks Jack and Annie to the time of the dinosaurs! --In Junie B. Jones and the Stupid, Smelly Bus, the world's funniest kid is so afraid of the school bus that when it's time to go home . . . she doesn't. --In A to Z Mysteries: The Absent Author, Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose's favorite author is missing. Can they crack the case? --In Purmaids #1: The Scaredy Cat, Coral, Shelly, and Angel are Purrmaids--part kitten, part mermaid. Will Coral ever be as brave as her best friends?

Part kitten, part mermaid, the Purrmaids series is purrfect for chapter book readers and for fans of the Magic Kitten and Fairy Animals of Misty Wood series! And the purrfect class pet for the Purrmaids? A sea horse! But what happens when he goes missing? Ms. Harbor's classroom has a new pet. A sea horse! The students are excited to take care of the little guy during the week. And on weekends, someone gets to bring the sea horse home for a visit! Shelly is the first purrmaid to bring him home . . . and he gets lost! Shelly asks her friends to help her find him before they have to be back at school. Can the purrmaids find the little seahorse in time? The adorable mermaid-kittens in this chapter book series will have readers paw-sitively hooked from page one!

Read & Bloom offers high interest, character driven stories for newly independent readers that feature full-color illustrations throughout and will transition kids from leveled readers to a lifetime of reading. Caveboy is just like any other boy. One of his absolute favorite things to do is playing baseskull, so one day, Caveboy decides to join a baseskull team! But when his best friend Mags wants to try out as well, he learns that she isn't very good. Caveboy is faced with a tricky problem--should he stay with his friend and be stuck on a losing team, or leave her to be on the better team?

Get totally smitten with mermaid kittens in the first book in this new chapter book series! It’s purrfect for fans of Magic Kitten and the Fairy Animals of Misty Wood series. Coral, Shelly, and Angel are best friends. They love exploring their home in Kittentail Cove. On the first day of sea school, their teacher asks everyone to bring in something special to share with the class. Shelly and Angel can’t wait to visit Tortoiseshell Reef to find an extra-special treasure. But the reef is all the way on the edge of the cove and Coral is scared to swim that far away from home. Can this scaredy-cat learn to be brave? These adorable purrmaids will have young readers paws-itively hooked from page one!

Get totally smitten with mermaid kittens in book two of this new chapter book series! It’s purrfect for fans of Magic Kitten and the Fairy Animals of Misty Wood series. Coral, Shelly, and Angel are best friends, and school is always paw-some as long as they have each other! So when their teacher assigns an art project, the girls can’t wait to get up to their whiskers in paint and glitter! But three other students—the Catfish Club—are trying to ruin the fun. They’re three tough kittens who think they’re the best at everything. Will Angel and her friends dive headfirst into trouble with the Catfish Club? These adorable purrmaids will have young readers paws-itively hooked from page one!

Perfect for newly independent readers this hilarious, boy-friendly series great for fans of Fly Guy! Meet Caveboy! Ooga booga! Caveboy is just like any other boy . . . he loves playing base-skull, running really fast, and especially whacking things with his club. But when his club breaks, he will need to find a new one . . . which just might lead him to a new friend. In this first book, Caveboy will find the perfect club, meet his best friend, and learn to be brave! Don't miss the other books in Bloomsbury's Read & Bloom line! Agnes and Clarabelle Celebrate! The Adventures of Caveboy Caveboy is Bored! Caveboy is a Hit! Wallace and Grace and the Cupcake Caper Wallace and Grace Take the Case Wallace and Grace and the Lost Puppy Stinky Spike the Pirate Dog Stinky Spike and the Royal Rescue

Two simple words—rutabaga and boo—tell a clever, playful, and heartfelt story celebrating the special bond between a mother and her son. Mom isn’t always nearby…but she’s never too far away. Through their “Marco Polo”–inspired back-and-forth of “Rutabaga?” and “Boo!,” a mother and son spend a day full of fun. Whether they’re bouncing out of bed, playing in the park, or keeping in touch while Mom is on a trip, one constant is the comforting reassurance that even when they’re physically apart, they’re always connected by the love they share.

"The purrmaids' homework assignment is to find something special to bring to class. Will they be brave enough to swim far away from Kittentail Cove and explore Tortoiseshell Reef to find the perfect thing? Or will they be scaredy cats?"--

Merida loves archery, but she's never had a friend who can shoot as well as she can--until now. She's thrilled to welcome her visitor, Cat, to Castle DunBroch. The only problem is that her new friend is also great at sewing, singing, and everything Merida is not. But when a dark force tries to harness the magic of the highlands, Merida must set aside her envy to help Cat--and follow her fate.

When Merida makes a hasty wish and causes the arrogant Young Macintosh to lose his memories, they must embark on an adventure to drink from the Fire Falls and break the spell.

In this spirited reworking of the classic song “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” Joy has to deal with her first Christmas with a new baby brother—and nothing could be worse. He drools on the ornaments and ruins the presents, he eats all the cookies and smashes the snowmen, and he’s on the verge of taking over the whole holiday. Joy’s patience runs out as the baby’s mishaps pile up. A sweet surprise turns the tables on Joy, who eventually appreciates what her baby brother adds to the holiday. Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen and Ryan Wood pair perfectly for this funny holiday book with a sibling-appreciation message that will make readers laugh and sing along with every reading.

A timely true tale for the 2008 presidential election In 1884, when men were the only people allowed to vote in national elections, Belva Lockwood took a bold but legal step: She ran for president! Women did not have the same rights as men, but Belva went on undeterred—and she got votes! Her run for office was based on experience and merit: Unlike many women of the time, she went to college, then to law school, and even argued cases before the Supreme Court. Though her campaign was difficult, Belva never wavered in her commitment to equality, earning the respect of many fellow citizens. A little-known but richly deserving American historical figure, Belva is an inspiration for modern-day readers. Despite all the changes in society since Belva’s time, there is still a lot to fight for, and Belva shows the way. The book also includes a glossary and a timeline of women’s suffrage events. F&P level: Q

A charming and humorous board book from Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen and Noah Z Jones! Duck and Duck are preparing for a party, and each step of the way, Moose inadvertently messes things up. When he disappears in shame, Duck and Duck must go find him so he can join in the party -- which was for him! The slapstick physical humor of Duck, Duck, Moose will have little ones overcome with the giggles.

In this read-along picture book, a classroom full of young dinosaurs plays with toys, does art projects, and reads books. But each activity is another opportunity for the over-enthusiastic Tyrannosaurus Rex to wreak havoc. Parents and young children will love the call-and-response nature of the book, and young dinosaur fans will appreciate the listing (and pronunciation guide) for a dozen different dino species. The format is extra vertical in order to accommodate T. Rex’s biggest messes. Praise for Tyrannosaurus Wrecks "Punchy writing, an equally in-your-face palette, and OHora’s characteristically brash painting style make this as much a stompalong as a readaloud." --Publishers Weekly "Along with the pleasure of pronouncing those multisyllabic dino names, young audiences may find food for thought in the behavioral dynamics on display." --Kirkus Reviews "Warmly colored with childlike bodies and emotive faces, Ohora’s dinosaurs are among the cutest you will come across in children’s books." --Booklist "The brief rhyming text, which scans well, tells a story with child appeal. There is a good balance of two-to-three word sentences with large, uncluttered illustrations, making the book a good choice for reading aloud. In their simplicity, the brightly colored pictures have the look of children’s art, but they enhance the classroom setting appropriately with interesting details." --School Library Journal "The shapely dinos, whose rough charcoal-style outlines and strong colors vividly contrast with the white or sometimes black backgrounds, are chunky and friendly in an eight-crayon-box color scheme and snazzy Peanuts-reminiscent outfits." --Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books "Together the chanting rhythm, ragged lines, and setting of an un-chaperoned dinosaur class create a satisfyingly high-energy, primal read-aloud strongly reminiscent of Bob Shea’s 'Dinosaur vs.' series." --The Horn Book Magazine

On the farm, the critters knew, At night while they were sleeping, Past barn and pens, Past lambs and hens, A HAMPIRE went out creeping. One dark night when Duck can’t sleep, he ventures out in search of the perfect midnight snack. But when he runs into the dreaded Hampire, the chase is on, all across the farm! Will Duck—and his snacks—make it safely back to bed? From author Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen and illustrator Howard Fine comes this madcap barnyard adventure, perfect for reading aloud.

Tired hunter, must succeed. Baby hungry mouth to feed. Flying eagle, soaring high. Blazing sunset, crimson sky. The sun is setting, and the weary tawny eagle continues to soar and search over the vast Serengeti Plain. He has been hunting all day, and he will not stop until he finds food for his young chick. As the sky darkens and nighttime approaches, predators and prey emerge on the land below. Hippos lounge, cobras slither, lions prowl, zebras gallop, rhinos graze, dik-diks scurry?and still the eagle searches. Poetic text and stunning illustrations depict a father tawny eagle on his evening flight. Back matter provides additional information about the tawny eagle and the Serengeti Plain. FLYING EAGLE is an intriguing introduction to the African landscape of the Serengeti, which is rich in wildlife but in danger of being damaged by poachers.

Up Close: Jane Goodall by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen Up Close: Thurgood Marshall by Chris Crowe A trailblazing scientist made famous by her favorite primates. Jane Goodall will forever be linked with the chimpanzees that she?s studied for over fifty years. A pioneer in scientific research, she revolutionized longstanding views about chimps, forest conservation, and women in scientific fields. This Up Close biography tells the story of how a demure young woman from London went to Africa and changed the world.

Investigates the appearance of vampires, mummies, werewolves, zombies, ghosts, witches, and other monsters many claim are real.

The greedy Mino-o-saur learns the hard way that he needs to share the toys in order to make friends.

With these 100 proven projects, students will have a really winning science fair experience--and hone their analytical skills, too. Best of all, the author makes even the most complicated subjects--such as DNA research--marvelously clear. The wide range of topics offers something for everyone: the many faces of acids and bases, the science of life (cells, enzymes, algae), perfect plant projects, the nature of hot and cold, chemical conundrums, and lots more. Students can construct a solar oven in a pizza box, figure out how many phone books can balance on a couple of eggshells, concoct a "snail salad,” and other blue-ribbon ideas.