New Releases by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen

Colorful cats in conductor hats are on the move on this train ride with an unexpected twist! Kids will delight in learning about colors and directions while giggling at the hilarious antics of these train conductor kitties. Every cat grabs a hat. All aboard, climb on that. Up the bridge. Stay on track! Clickety, clickety, clickety clack! Colorful cats drive a train on a journey up, down, over, and around...until something on the tracks trips them up! Can they work together to herd a young cow out of the way and keep their train schedule on track? Young readers will be delighted by train sounds, silly cats, and a very stubborn cow in this new installment in the Cats in Hats series!

Colorful cats in construction hats are on the job to build a house in this adorable, bouncy, rhyming picture book! Kids will delight in learning about colors while giggling at the hilarious antics of these forklift driving kitties. Yellow cat. Green hat. Dig this. Clear that. Green cat. Orange hat. Mix this. Pour that. Six colorful cats work together to build a house...with just a little help (and mischief) from some tiny rat friends. Little readers will delight in following along with the simple rhyming text, big construction vehicles, and the failures and triumphs that come with a big project! Bulldozers, cement trucks, excavators, and even a giant crane feature in this story, but each read through also offers smaller details to discover!

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.

Chapter book readers'' favorite kitten mermaids learn all about voting during a contest in this 14th book in the series that will have readers paw-sitively hooked from page one! There''s a contest happening at Kittentail Cove Library! Only one lucky purrmaid will have their poster displayed in the brand new reading room, and Angel is excited to help count the votes! All the art is amazing...but Angel really wants her friend Coral to win. When she finds some ballots that weren’t counted, Angel isn’t sure what to do. Is the contest ruined? Or is there a surprise in store? Don’t miss any of the purrmaids’ adventures, including The Scaredy Cat, Search for the Mermicorn, Party Animals, and more!

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!

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.

Part unicorn, part mermaid, and totally magical! Don''t miss this exciting new chapter book series from the author of the popular Purrmaids series! When a mermicorn''s horn starts to sparkle, that means she''s ready for Magic School! Sirena can''t wait to learn how to do ALL kinds of magic around the ocean! But magic isn''t as easy to learn as she''d hoped. And to make matters worse, her school partner, Lily is way better at magic than she is! It''s not fair! Turns out, it''s hard to do magic when you''re jealous or angry. Can Sirena learn to be a good friend and master her first magic lesson? The Mermicorns chapter book series is perfect for readers who love magic and adventure in series like Magic Pony, Unicorn Academy, Purrmaids, and more.

Can the purrmaids win a cooking competition? Find out in this seventh book in the popular chapter book series perfect for fans of Magic Kitten and Mermaid Tales! It''s time for another field trip! The purrmaids are off to one of Kittentail Cove''s farms to learn about new kinds of food. As the daughter of two chefs, Shelly can''t wait to make up new recipes with food from the field trip! It''s time for a cooking challenge! But when the girls forget to set a timer, all their food is overcooked. Can the kittens fix their recipes before it''s time to serve their teacher, Ms. Harbor? Kids who love cooking shows like Chopped Junior, Kids Baking Championship, and more will love seeing our favorite purrmaids experimenting in the kitchen!

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!

Part kitten, part mermaid and TOTALLY purrfect! Meet the purrmaids, the CUTEST kitten-mermaids you''ve EVERseen! The purrmaids have a new class pet and it''s a sea horse! Shelly is the first purrmaid to take the sea horse home, but - disaster! - she LOSES him. What on earth will Shelly and her friends do?

The adorable mermaid-kittens (and unicorn-mermaid!) in this chapter book series will have fans of Magic Kitten and the Fairy Animal series paw-sitively hooked from page one! What''s better than a purrmaid? A mermicorn! Coral, Angel, and Shelly can''t wait to work on their school project about creatures in the ocean. There are so many animals to choose from! How do you pick just one? Then Angel remembers something she read about in a book--a mermicorn! It''s perfect...but are mermicorns real? Angel thinks so! And a student at the Science Center just might help her prove it!

A moving and inspiring nonfiction picture book about Jackie Robinson’s court martial trial—an important lesser-known moment in his lifetime of fighting prejudice with strength and grace—from author Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen and award-winning illustrator R. Gregory Christie. Perfect for fans of Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, The Story of Ruby Bridges, and Martin’s Big Words. Jackie Robinson broke boundaries as the first African American player in Major League Baseball. But long before Jackie changed the world in a Dodger uniform, he did it in an army uniform. As a soldier during World War II, Jackie experienced segregation every day—separate places for black soldiers to sit, to eat, and to live. When the army outlawed segregation on military posts and buses, things were supposed to change. So when Jackie was ordered by a white bus driver to move to the back of a military bus, he refused. Instead of defending Jackie’s rights, the military police took him to trial. But Jackie would stand up for what was right, even when it was difficult to do.

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!

Even Caveboy gets bored sometimes! This new adventure in this funny series is perfect for newly independent readers and fans of the bestselling Fly Guy books. Ooga booga! Most days, Caveboy has lots of fun things to do, like taking care of his pet rock and playing baseskull. But today, he''s bored. Mama is hunting, Papa is repainting their cave, and his friend Mags is busy. He could play with Sister, but sisters smell like burps! Will Caveboy ever find someone to play with 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

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

The Brobots have had a long day, and it is time to recharge and enter sleep mode. Buzz and Crash have no problem falling asleep, but Beep’s got a case of the flick-ups. Luckily, Buzz knows just the trick: scare Beep with a monster mask! Does it work? Affirmative. No more flick-ups. But Beep still can’t sleep. He’s afraid of monsters! Plan of action: turn on the lights. Problem solved? Negative. Now it’s too bright. Block the light with blankets? Too hot. Add a fan? Too loud. Can the Brobots power down before Beep has a breakdown? This hilarious bedtime romp explores the universal experience of siblings settling in for the night—with a clever robot twist.

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.

When Merida''s best friend Cat visits, she brings a new friend with her and Merida feels jealous of their friendship.

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.