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The Cookie Book of Colors by Holly Fox
Amazon Editor’s Pick Best Books Baby-Age 2
If you could taste color, this cookie book would have all the flavors of the rainbow. From social media "cookie-gram" master Holly Fox comes a delicious board book of colors that looks good enough to eat.
Based on the beautiful royal-icing cookie designs that have garnered her hundreds of thousands of followers on Instagram, Holly Fox presents the colors of the rainbow one--well, several cookies at a time in this adorable board book for young readers.
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Unchosen by Katharyn Blair
"Fast-paced action and romantic tension make up the bulk of the story . . . Blair deftly uses her dystopian framework to amplify issues of sexism, classism, and racism, as well as explore the tension between moral responsibility and survival. The Crimson lays bare many of this society’s flaws, as the rich and powerful are able to escape its worst consequences at the expense of the vulnerable. Strengthened by a female protagonist whose insecurities ring true and whose growth is hard-won, this relevant adventure is sure to interest socially conscious fantasy fans." — Publishers Weekly
“Sometimes a novel comes around at just the right time. Charlotte’s struggle throughout Unchosen to find herself in the chaotic world she lives in feels like the story we need right now. If you are looking for a book to give you hope, adventure, sisterhood, and romance, look no further than Unchosen.” — The Nerd Daily
"The worldbuilding is well thought out . . . A fun and action-packed read. " — Kirkus Reviews
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Ghost Girl by Ally Malinenko
"A girl who delights in the macabre harnesses her inherited supernatural ability. The creepy supernatural current continues throughout, intermingled with very real forays into bullying (Zee won’t stand for it or for the notion that good girls need to act nice), body positivity, socio-economic status and social hierarchy, and mental health. This debut from a promising writer involves a navigation of caste systems, self-esteem, and villainy that exists in an interesting world with intriguing characters . . . Warning: this just might spurn frenzied requests for Frankenstein." — Kirkus Reviews
"Zee is a likable character, and readers will root for her . . . This is a chilling story that will delight upper elementary readers who enjoy truly creepy books." — School Library Journal
". . . Raising themes of body positivity and feminism, debut author Malinenko writes an atmospheric tale that is rife with chilling moments and an affecting exploration of grief . . . " — Publishers Weekly
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How to Date a Superhero by Cristina Fernandez
Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year 2023
" . . . through Astrid’s keenly developed and fiercely independent voice, Fernandez adeptly examines the collateral damage and extraordinary stressors of living in a superhuman world, and resulting underlying trauma and anxieties." — Publishers Weekly
"This fun and funny take on superheroes goes back and forth in time, looking at the evolution of Astrid and Max’s relationship . . . Cuteness abounds in this charming story. A romantic, breezy, delightful take on superheroes." — Kirkus Reviews
" . . . this accessible book will appeal to fans of superhero worlds, as well as over-scheduled and overworked teens preparing for college." — School Library Journal
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This Appearing House by Ally Malinenko
Bram Stoker Award Finalist
Junior Library Guild Selection
Best Books of 2022 School Library Journal
★ "Readers will be gripped not only by the terror of a truly haunted house, but also the brutal honesty of Jac on her path to becoming whole. VERDICT Highly recommended; not only for those who have experienced trauma, but for those who love them as well. A gripping, poignant addition to juvenile fiction collections." — School Library Journal (starred review)
★ "Plenty of imaginative frights to creep out even the most fearless young connoisseur of scary stories. Through Jac, Malinenko also offers a vital corrective to narratives of disease and disability still commonplace in children’s literature. At once an inventive and satisfying haunted house story and a powerful exploration of coming to terms with and beginning to heal from trauma, This Appearing House is a triumph." — BookPage (starred review)
"A tale of survival, friendship, and the strength that comes from overcoming fears. Delightfully nightmarish visions chase Jac, offering the feel of a thrilling game with twisted and terrifying imagery, as she navigates the house, seeking to understand her connection to this unusual place in this emotionally resonant story. Offers a hauntingly truthful view of secrets and strength." — Kirkus Reviews
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There Is a Flower at the Tip of My Nose Smelling Me by Alice Walker
★ "Each richly hued full-page spread celebrates the joys and delights of the world. The simple poetic text is often enhanced by its visual layout. The connection the poet feels between the small flower and the concluding expanse of the sky at book’s end should inspire children to see how they can interact with their surroundings and create their own poetry to express the beauty of the universe and their place within it." — Booklist (starred review)
"Walker shares a vision of oneness with the world in this evocative picture book filled with centering imagery. Walker’s rich poetic conceit juxtaposes with Monyei’s spare aesthetic; working in concert, text and image build to a conclusion that neatly invites the reader to feel connected by embracing the experiential." — Publishers Weekly
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The Song of Us by Kate Fussner
"Two seventh grade Boston girls meet in poetry club, fall in love, fight, and find their way back to each other in this verse novel. Their personalities shine through their beautifully crafted poems, full of aches, worries, and joys. Thirteen-year-old love at its finest." — Kirkus Reviews
"Immediate-feeling verse traces painful self-discovery and heady first love in Fussner’s debut, a queer retelling of “Orpheus and Eurydice.” Snappy verse embodies the girls’ achingly real alternating voices while thoughtfully considering topics such as coming out, mental health, parental abuse, and peer pressure. Hand this yearning-tinged slice-of-life romance to fans of Ashley Herring Blake and K.A. Holt." — Publishers Weekly
In this gorgeous tale, Fussner delivers what feels like…a song. Of us. Of anyone who has ever been in love. Or anyone transformed by it. An impressive debut!” — Jason Reynolds, #1 New York Times bestselling author
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Murder on a School Night by Kate Weston
"Mean Girls meets Midsomer Murders with a dash of Louise Rennison in this genre-blending story that centers girls’ friendships and two ambitious best friends. Kerry and Annie are self-absorbed friends whose obsession over their lack of popularity results in hysterically funny dialogue and a lighthearted tone. Kerry’s crush on newcomer Scott offers sweet diversions. However, what really elevates the goofy capers and over-the-top scheming is how well Kerry and Annie know both themselves and each other. Secrets add depth and complexity to this insightful parody of teenage life. A nuanced, hilarious page-turning romantic mystery." — Kirkus Reviews
"Channeling the 1980s cult classic Heathers right down to the croquet set, Weston (Diary of a Confused Feminist) flaunts cozy English charm and puerile slapstick comedy in this propulsive mystery . . . The girls’ chemistry as best friends and partners-in-crime-solving is energizing. Refreshing attention to sex positivity and period politics combined with Weston’s timing—both comedic and plot driven—ensure a laugh-out-loud romp." — Publishers Weekly
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The Library of Shadows by Rachel Moore
★ “Perfectly mixes gothic elements with romance and mystery. Moore incorporates the enemies-to-lovers trope wonderfully, penning rapid and engaging banter between the sassy Mateo and curious Este as they try to ignore their connection. This unique novel blends different genres in a magical way, and readers will happily lose themselves in its twisting passages. Recommend to lovers of gothic tales.” — Booklist (starred review)
"Lyrical prose builds a complex plot featuring a sympathetic protagonist. A lively enemies-to-lovers romance offers a sweet counterpoint to Este’s poignant grief over her father’s death . . . A compelling, ghostly tale interweaving romance and mystery with a thread of horror." — Kirkus Reviews
"Debut author Moore entwines fairy tale horrors and heady romance to craft an eerie boarding school mystery . . . the swoony paranormal courtship between Este and Mateo burns brightly in this dark-academia adventure." — Publishers Weekly
"The characters deal with grief and loss in a genuine manner . . . VERDICT Fans of ghost stories and dark academia will embrace this debut novel. Recommended." — School Library Journal
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Bee Bakshi and the Gingerbread Sisters by Emi Pinto
"Full of twists, genuine scares, and satisfying reveals, this debut is sure to please readers in search of a thrill. Gingerbread is plentiful in this spooky “Hansel and Gretel” retelling, but the lessons about friendship are sweeter still." — Kirkus Reviews
"Part fairy-tale retelling, part ghost story, part haunted house Bee Bakshi and the Gingerbread Sisters adds up to one magical thing: A story that is all heart. A fun adventure with a loveable cast of characters that reminds you the only way to fit in is to just be yourself. That is the true gingerbread magic." — Ally Malinenko, author of Ghost Girl and This Appearing House
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Why Do We Sing by Sam Tsui and Casey Breves
From YouTube creators and married musicians Sam Tsui and Casey Breves comes an adventure around the world to celebrate the role of music throughout cultures after one girl asks, Why do we sing?
Lullabies, love songs, caroling, karaoke—
have you ever wondered . . . why do we sing?
Travel the world and learn about the reasons we sing—to have fun and share our stories; to pass the time and remember times past; and to come together and celebrate! With gentle rhyming text, this musical adventure around the globe is the perfect introduction to the magical world of singing—from Bollywood to Broadway to your own backyard!
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The Science of Friendship
A friendship hypothesis—and one failed experiment—leads one girl to investigate the science of middle school friendship makeups and breakups in this hopeful and heartwarming story from Tanita S. Davis, author of Partly Cloudy and Serena Says.
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Death at Morning House
From the bestselling author of the Truly Devious books, Maureen Johnson, comes a new stand-alone YA about a teen who uncovers a mystery while working as a tour guide on an island and must solve it before history repeats itself.
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Us in Ruins
Margot is on the quest to uncover and reassemble an ancient—and cursed—vase, with the help of a boy who went missing in 1932, because it's the only way to put back together her broken heart in this standalone adventure rom-com, perfect for fans of What the River Knows and The Lost City.
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Murder on a Summer Break
Amateur sleuths and wannabe influencers Kerry and Annie are back on the case when a social media festival inspires some killer content—and several on-camera influencer deaths—in this page-turning and sidesplitting sequel to Murder on a School Night from author and comedian Kate Weston.
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Chai Jinxed
Trouble is brewing at Margaret's Academy of Tea and Brewing, and unlucky Misha has one chance to fix it with the recipe for the perfect enchanted cup of chai, in this magical, heartfelt, and funny adventure about the power of believing in yourself, perfect for fans of A Taste of Magic and The Marvellers.
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Night Owls
In this thrilling paranormal YA romance debut steeped in folklore, two estries—owl-shifting female vampires from Jewish tradition—face New York's monstrous underworld to save the girl one of them loves with help from the boy one of them fears before they are, all of them, lost forever.