Young Adult Authors Unplugged From Arroe Collins

Thanks for being part of the conversation I am the Poet In The Forest. A children series I penned out in the 1990s. None of it would be possible if it wasn’t for this forest in South Charlotte, NC. I talk about it so much that I thought maybe it’s time you get to meet all that inspires me. Thanks for being part of the conversation

Thank you for being part of the conversation. This is Play It Forward. Real people. Real stories. The struggle to Play It Forward Episode 598 With Stephanie Warren Drimmer From National Geographic’s Jurassic Smarts Inside, they’ll discover game-changing fossil finds, surprising dinosaur stats, and a fascinating variety of prehistoric creatures in all shapes and sizes—some totally bizarre! Encounter gentle, long-necked giants; toothy carnivores; and dinosaurs with all sorts of incredible adaptations, like vibrant feathers, massive horns, spikey battle-ax tails, and beyond! Get answers to burning dinosaur questions, like… How do we know what colors dinosaurs were? And, gulp, could you have outrun a T. rex? Meet paleontologists digging up incredible discoveries in the field today, explore dino-themed travel destinations, find out which prehistoric creatures would win big in an eating competition, and way, WAY more. This quirky, info-packed book is a feast for the eyes, with stunning illustrations and fossil photos on every page, a colorful design, and bonus fun facts sprinkled throughout. It’s the perfect book for experienced dino devotees and newcomers alike. For more dinosaur awesomeness from National Geographic Kids, check out these books: Weird But True! Dinosaurs; Ultimate Dinopedia, 2nd Edition; Dinosaur Atlas; and How to Survive in the Age of Dinosaurs.

Award-winning author Eddie Chuculate shares an evocative memoir, bringing his experience from boyhood to young manhood with unflinching prose in THIS INDIAN KID: A NATIVE AMERICAN MEMOIR. Growing up impoverished and shuttled between different households, it seemed life was bound to take a certain path for Eddie Chuculate. Despite the challenges he faced, his upbringing was rich with love and bountiful lessons from his Creek and Cherokee heritage, deep-rooted traditions he embraced even as he learned to live within the culture of white, small-town America that dominated his migratory childhood. THIS INDIAN KID is at once a love letter to his Native American roots and an inspiring and essential message for young readers everywhere, who are coming of age in an era when conversations about acceptance and empathy, love and perspective are more necessary than ever before.

Nina's Familia is the newest CoComelon spinoff series starring JJ’s lovable, sporty classmate and friend Nina Reyes who debuted on CoComelon in 2019. As a fan favorite, she’s now ready to take on the world with all new adventures full of excitement, fun, friends and of course, familia.Nina's Familia marks the first bilingual series from the franchise. Through the same style of 3-minute songs and nursery rhymes that made CoComelon a worldwide phenomenon, children will now experience stories of family, learning, positivity and healthy habits through the lens of a multigenerational Mexican-American family, including some episodes fully in Spanish. The series will also feature culturally significant storylines and songs that Mexican-American kids and their families are certain to recognize and enjoy, like ¡Dale, Dale, Dale!, Estrellita Dónde Estás and more.The goal of Nina’s Familia is for Latin kids to see themselves represented on screen every day and to be able to share this family's culture with the world. We hope you can help us spread the word, especially with National Hispanic Heritage Month upon us.With roles in front of and behind the camera, Emmy-winning host and TV personality Lilliana Vazquez has built an inspiring career watched by millions across numerous platforms. Most recently, Vazquez was the host of E! Entertainment's daily morning shows E! News and Pop of the Morning, the first and only Latina to hold the role in the show's 30 year history. She currently contributes to select programs like CBS Mornings and Amazon Live, while focusing on her newest role as a founding partner at Curated Productions.

Thanks for being part of the conversation. The flight of the golden leaf.I am the Poet In The Forest. A children series I penned out in the 1990s.None of it would be possible if it wasn’t for this forest in South Charlotte, NC.I talk about it so much that I thought maybe it’s time you get to meet all that inspires me. Thanks for being part of the conversation

Corazon Lopez yearns to finally start training as a babaylan (a mystical healer and spirit guide) under her powerful guardian, Aunt Tina. As soon as her magic awakens, Corazon plans to bring her parents back from the dead and no longer have to rely on a soul key to allow visits with their ghosts for a few hours every Saturday night.But when a vengeful ghost steals Corazon’s precious key, the fragile balance between the human world and the spirit world is thrown out of whack. Aunt Tina reveals that if Corazon wants her magic to awaken, then she can just lay the ghost to rest by fashioning a new soul key.With her rather bloodthirsty gecko companion, Saso, Corazon embarks on a quest through the spirit realms. But they must move quickly, for if the ghost gets through the spirit glass, all hope will be lost.

Monster High 2 follows Clawdeen Wolf (Miia Harris), Draculaura (Nayah Damasen) and Frankie Stein (Ceci Balagot) as they enter sophomore year at Monster High. The power of three is put to the test as they face even bigger challenges this year - new students, new powers, evolving friendships, and an even bigger threat that could not only tear their friendship apart, but could change the world forever. The movie will also introduce new character Toralei (Salena Qureshi), a feisty British were-cat, back after a year abroad in Scaris, France.The sequel follows the success of Monster High The Movie, which debuted on Oct. 6, 2022 and became the #1 kids and family movie on Paramount+ during its launch week.TODD HOLLAND has directed five feature-length films, including the cult-gamer classic THE WIZARD starring Fred Savage, and more than 200 episodes of television. His work has earned him three Emmy-Awards, eight Emmy-nominations, five CableAce Awards, a DGA award, six DGA nominations and a WGA nomination. As a producer and director, he was a key creative force behind THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW, MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE, and was co-creator of FOX’s critically acclaimed WONDERFALLS.

Thanks for being part of the conversation I am the Poet In The Forest. A children series I penned out in the 1990s. None of it would be possible if it wasn’t for this forest in South Charlotte, NC. I talk about it so much that I thought maybe it’s time you get to meet all that inspires me. Thanks for being part of the conversation

“I hope people feel a different perspective on life after reading my book,” says Howell. “I inject a lot of philosophy and satire into my work. I consider myself an absurdist, which is basically a nihilist with a goofy mustache. My concoctions offer a made-up world so people can be happy and feel free to debate the ideas put forth in my work. I love to engage the reader with humor.”“I’ve always been creating and making art,” says Howell. “In elementary school, I doodled in class and did not take notes. Schoolmates weighed in on how I should develop the characters and storylines. I love consuming and sharing stories, and to express myself in a very visual medium is great for getting certain ideas across.”Howell was discovered by his employer, Pencilmation, an online cartoon channel, after it saw his popular Jolly Biscuit comic drawings. He now storyboards for cartoons geared to children ages 6-12.

Thanks for being part of the conversation I am the Poet In The Forest. A children series I penned out in the 1990s. None of it would be possible if it wasn’t for this forest in South Charlotte, NC. I talk about it so much that I thought maybe it’s time you get to meet all that inspires me. Thanks for being part of the conversation

Directed and written by Jim Capobianco (the Academy Award®-nominated screenwriter of "Ratatouille") and co-directed by Pierre-Luc Granjon, THE INVENTOR is a stop-motion adventure film about the life of Leonardo da Vinci featuring the voices of Stephen Fry, Daisy Ridley, Marion Cotillard, Gauthier Battoue, and Matt Berry. The insatiably curious and headstrong inventor/artist Leonardo da Vinci (Fry) leaves Italy to join the French court where he can freely experiment, invent flying contraptions and incredible machines, and study the human body. Joined in his adventure by the audacious Princess Marguerite (Ridley), Leonardo attempts to uncover the answer to the ultimate question: "What is the meaning of life?" Here's the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7k95b1s6XoE

The New York Times bestselling Front Desk series, which takes inspiration from the author’s childhood when her family immigrated to the United States from China to manage a motel in California, continues with TOP STORY (FRONT DESK #5) by KELLY YANG. Beloved protagonist, Mia Tang, achieves her dream of attending journalism camp, but when the gatekeepers don't like her story ideas about Chinatown, she must find another way to share her voice with the world! Mia Tang is at the top of her game! She’s spending winter break with Mom, Lupe, Jason, and Hank in San Francisco’s Chinatown! Rich with history and hilarious aunties and uncles, it’s the place to find a great story—one she hopes to publish while attending journalism camp at the Tribune. But this trip has as many bumps as the hills of San Francisco…Mia's camp is full of older kids, with famous relatives, fancy laptops, and major connections! Can she compete with just her pen and passion?Lupe’s thinking about skipping ahead to college! Will Mia ever get a chance to just chill with her best friend?Jason’s crushing hard on a new girl. For the first time ever, Mia is speechless…and jealous. Can she find the courage to tell Jason—gulp—that she has a crush on him?Even for the best writers, it’s not always easy to find the right words. But if anyone can tell a top story, it’s Mia Tang!

Thanks for being part of the conversation I am the Poet In The Forest. A children series I penned out in the 1990s. None of it would be possible if it wasn’t for this forest in South Charlotte, NC. I talk about it so much that I thought maybe it’s time you get to meet all that inspires me. Thanks for being part of the conversation

Fifteen years after the release of acclaimed fan-favorite novel Suicide Notes, MICHAEL THOMAS FORD bring us his much-anticipated sequel in a funny, touching look at what happens when you give up trying to be someone people want you to be and become exactly who you are. Jeff spent forty-five days in the psych ward of a hospital after a suicide attempt. Now that he’s home and has accepted that he’s gay, he’s ready to reenter his life feeling stronger and more comfortable being his true self than ever before. But it’s hard to come back to an old life when you have a new perspective on it. Returning to school is complicated, and his mother’s anxiety isn’t helping. Jeff will also have to figure out how to reconnect with his best friend, Allie, whose boyfriend he kissed before he went to the hospital. To make things even more complicated, a fellow patient from the ward suddenly appears at school, which brings up all kinds of mixed emotions for Jeff. Luckily, he’s got new friends from a local community center for queer youths to help him through it all. And some may turn out to be more than just friends…

Thanks for being part of the conversation I am the Poet In The Forest. A children series I penned out in the 1990s. None of it would be possible if it wasn’t for this forest in South Charlotte, NC. I talk about it so much that I thought maybe it’s time you get to meet all that inspires me. Thanks for being part of the conversation

Australian author and illustrator Aaron Blabey is the creator of the globally popular book series - The Bad Guys (click on this for funny reading of book on YouTube) -- which has spent well over 100 weeks on The New York Times Bestseller list and has been adapted into a thrilling animated movie by DreamWorks on which he served as an executive producer. Here’s the trailer, which can be used as broll. The movie is coming out April 22 and stars the voices of Sam Rockwell and Awkwafina. See below for other broll clips. Featuring several animal main characters, who have a reputation for being bad (a wolf, a shark, a piranha, and snake), but who actually want to do good. They sound like bad guys; they look like bad guys…and they even smell like bad guys. But Mr. Wolf, Mr. Piranha, Mr. Snake, and Mr. Shark are about to change all of that. Buckle up for the funniest, naughtiest, and coolest series.

Our planet is packed with the weird and wonderful, strange and peculiar, funny and outrageous. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS WEIRD BUT TRUE! 2024 brings us the latest collection in this annual volume of the block buster kid-favorite series. Discover Earth’s strangest natural wonders, animals, festivals, ancient architecture, news and more in this annual compendium of everything WEIRD BUT TRUE! fans love…and then some. Journey across the seven continents, dive into the ocean and even blast off into space to discover a whole wide world of weird. From volcano-surfing in Nicaragua to a beach in Japan when the sand is shaped like stars to extreme ironing competitions in the United Kingdom, WEIRD BUT TRUE! WORLD offers an unparalleled adventure filled exploration of our world’s amazing uniqueness. This BIG, BOLD annual extravaganza is updated each year with NEW ‘world’s weirdest’ winners from around the globe, weird news, fresh facts and strange sites, animals, and events for every continent. With lots of photos, wow-worthy facts, stats and infographics. A perfect choice for any curious kid -or kid at heart- willing to embrace the quirky side of life.

Thanks for being part of the conversation I am the Poet In The Forest. A children series I penned out in the 1990s. None of it would be possible if it wasn’t for this forest in South Charlotte, NC. I talk about it so much that I thought maybe it’s time you get to meet all that inspires me. Thanks for being part of the conversation

CARINA FELINA is a retelling of a hilarious folktale set in Havana, where Deedy was born. Inspired by a story that she first heard as a child, CARINA FELINA puts a Caribbean twist to “The Cat and the Parrot;” a folktale retold across the world including the Czech Republic and Denmark and with origins traced to India. It is a wickedly funny and inspiring picture book that proves the smallest of creatures can sometimes possess the most surprising strength!

Thanks for being part of the conversation I am the Poet In The Forest. A children series I penned out in the 1990s. None of it would be possible if it wasn’t for this forest in South Charlotte, NC. I talk about it so much that I thought maybe it’s time you get to meet all that inspires me. Thanks for being part of the conversation

Horses are popular all over the world, as pets, participants in competitions, farm animals, and more. In fact, they’re one of humankind’s oldest animal companions. This fascinating, fun-filled book introduces you to different horse breeds; how horses became our stalwart companions; life in the herd; adorable foals; horse coloration, markings, and manes; and so much more. For kids who are absolutely obsessed with everything horses, this book has it all: tons of mind-blowing facts, all the breeds, superfun games, hands-on activities, hilarious jokes, and fascinating research. You’ll whinny with delight as you run with the last breed of wild horses, discover new ways horses are helping humans, and meet some of the most incredible and record-setting horses in history. Fancy a ride around the ring? Giddyap! From telling jokes to impressing family and friends with awesome facts, kids will love sharing what they’ve learned and will want to horse around with this book again and again.

YouTube Slime Queen Karina Garcia teams up with writer Kevin Panetta and artist Niki Smith for a fun, colorful adventure featuring three friends, Bailey, Sophia, and Jayden, who run the BSJ slime shop. What the three slime makers don't know is that when they're not around, the slimes come to life! When the creators start shipping slimes off to who-knows-where, the slimes left at the shop start to worry that they're next. Even as Polly tries to convince her friends that everything is fine, Boris, a grumpy green slime, starts taking things into his own hands. Then slimes start disappearing and suddenly the shop is full of zombie slimes.With half the shop zombified and the other half scared silly, Polly has no choice but to go on a quest, along with her friends Max and Karma, to discover the truth about the slimes being shipped off and a way to save her friends before it's too late. Will they be able to turn everyone back into themselves? Or will the slime shop get shut down for good?Karina Garcia is the California-based Queen of Slime, expert on all things DIY and crafting. She has amassed over 15 million followers across social media and has written three bestselling books about slime and crafting. Karina also has extensive TV experience, most recently with AwesomenessTV’s DIY Dash and her family’s reality show, Going Garcia. Karina has been featured on Good Morning America, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and The Today Show as well as in the New York Times, Business Insider, and Forbes.

Authors Jason June, Sonora Reyes, and Abdi Nazemian are popular frontlist authors with new books on-sale in May, timed for Pride month. They are an eclectic mix of New York Times bestsellers, major awards winners and honors, and they all have a powerful backlist of titles that speak to the power of queer people and their communities. Jason June’s new book, Riley Weaver Needs A Date to the Gaybutante Ball, explores how labels can simultaneously limit and liberate us.Sonora’s new book, The Luis Ortega Survival Club, tells us that many young people still face challenges due to their orientation.Abdi’s new book, Only This Beautiful Moment, is about three generations of teenage boys in the same Iranian family. Aspects of Iranian, American, and queer identity play into the novel.

Put on your lab coat and grab hold of your stethoscope as you embark on a scientific mission to boost your brainpower on all topics about the human body! Explore anatomy and find out why bones break. Look into the sense and discover why sour foods make your mouth pucker. Get acquainted with genetics to find out why your hair changes over time. Be boggled by the power of your brain as you decipher why you can hear yourself think. Get grossed out- in a good way- as you uncover why snot and boogers have an important job to do. Discover how scientists study new diseases and ponder if humans will one day be able to live forever. This compact and focused little sibling of the best-selling WHY? OVER 1,111 ANSWERS TO EVERYTHING is the second title in a series of fun-packed books designed to supercharge and satisfy your curiosity while keeping you entertained for hours. Figure out what makes you you, as you marvel over hundreds of fun facts, stunning photographs, explorer interviews, and activities such as matching games and quizzes. With succinct, funny text, eye-popping color photos and illustrations, and mind-boggling facts, WHY/ THE HUMAN BODY is sure to please the Q&A -loving crowd! while keeping them entertained for hours.

Boom, boom, BOOM… That’s a T. rex coming your way! You’ve been transported back in time to the age of the dinosaurs. WHAT DO YOU DO???? Test your chops and discover if you have what it takes to survive at a time when Earth looked, well, a tad different in this ultimate survival guide to the prehistoric age. Find out how to make it through exploding volcanoes and mega monsoons- while dodging giant Permian bugs! See how to fend off an angry pterosaur and learn what to do if you’re caught in a stampede of enormous titanosaurs. Discover what you could eat ( spoiler alert: You better like the taste of insects!) and find out which hungry creatures just might try to eat you!

I ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY LOVE MY SPOTS by inspirational speaker, Lid’ya C. Rivera is a lyrical celebration of self-esteem, perseverance, and loving the skin you're in. Inspiring all children to appreciate their spots. Lid’ya’s love letter to kids with vitiligo is fun and empowering, featuring stunning artwork of a young girl who loves her skin, and can appeal to anyone who has something that makes them stand out. Vitiligo (pronounced Vi•ti•lie•go), a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes patches of skin to lose pigment or color, affects 200,000 Americans annually, Vitiligo is never contagious — kids can't "catch" it from someone else but for some kids, being different can cause feelings of low self-esteem. I ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY LOVE MY SPOTS is Lid’ya’s ode to beauty of those with vitiligo. In a rhyming picture book, she creates a sense of joy and celebrates the beauty within all children.

With 1,000 new residents moving to Florida every day, and more than 100,000 acres of habitat lost to development each year, the window to save the natural habitat of Florida’s Panthers is closing quickly. The panther is the state animal of Florida, the last big cat surviving east of the Mississippi River, an emblem of the Endangered Species Act. A subspecies of the puma, the panther was driven to extinction throughout the rest of its range in the Eastern United States, except for a small remnant population that persisted in Florida’s Everglades. Panther numbers had dwindled to fewer than 20 individuals by the 1980s, but heroic conservation efforts have helped panthers come back to nearly 200 today. The biggest obstacle for the panther’s continued recovery is access to enough of its historic territory throughout Florida and beyond. Rising north out of the Everglades, the tale of the Florida panther has grown from the unlikely survival of a rare cat to a story of hope for all of wild Florida. PATH OF THE PANTHER is now a call to action to recognize and protect the Florida Wildlife Corridor- a network of public and private and that connects the panther’s current range in south Florida to suitable habitat throughout the state of Florida and adjoining states. The Florida Wildlife Corridor is the panther’s path to recovery and a western-scale conservation opportunity that remains largely hidden in the east. It is now a Last Wild Places partnership with the National Geographic Society. With 27 percent of Florida already protected as public land, this project aims to inspire the additional one million acres of conservation needed over the next decade so that Florida can be a leader in the goal of protecting 30 percent of the planet by 2030.

Steeped in ancient Korean mythology, driven by a plucky young heroine, and filled with action, suspense, and the possibilities of magic all around us, THE LAST FALLEN REALM is a work of fantasy and the perfect end to Graci Kim’s Gifted Clans saga. New York Times best-selling author, Kim, is a Korean-Kiwi diplomat turned author who writes about the magic that is inside all of us. Riley Oh wasn’t born into her family. Okay, so she’s not the first Korean American girl to be adopted. But she wasn’t born in Korea—or even on this planet. Though she might look and act like a typical ‘tween, Riley tumbled down to the earth as the last fallen star. Riley also wasn’t born to be a witch—she’s just a saram, a person without any magic. And she certainly wasn’t born to be a leader. But now, the entire magical community believes that she and her recently adopted brother, Dahl Oh, were chosen to save the world. They’re only thirteen years old, for crying out loud. They can’t even drive yet, let alone lead an army of witches in a war against five vengeful goddesses destined to do something epic. Even though he looks a boy (despite his shockingly white hair) and acts like one too (he’s obsessed with toilets), Dahl is the last fallen moon and Riley’s soul-twin. To Dahl, it all seems like a great big adventure. But Riley feels as if the weight of three realms is on her shoulders. To win against the evil wrath of the goddesses, Riley must work together with her friends and find the strength to believe in herself.

Everyone loves turtles. And no wonder: long-lived, unhurried, and ancient, these shelled reptiles are fascinating. Turtles are also endlessly surprising. There are turtles with soft shells, turtles with googly eyes, turtles with necks longer than their bodies, and turtles whose shells glow in the dark! Now, readers can meet more than 300 types of turtles in the beautiful new compendium, THE BOOK OF TURTLES by New York Times bestselling wildlife author Sy Montgomery and illustrator Matt Patterson. On site at the Santa Barbara Zoo - Sy and Matt can answer your questions about turtles and share the wisdom these long-lived animals can offer. Turtles, who evolved at the same time as the dinosaurs, are some of the most diverse, fascinating, and beloved species on the planet, though they now face the deadliest dangers of their more than 240-million-year history.

From the author of The Summer Prince, Love is the Drug and Trouble the Saints comes a kaleidoscopic YA novel about the power of stories and their power to heal. THE LIBRARY OF BROKEN WORLDS follows Freida, born in The Library, AI considered to be Gods in a world of high technology. As she struggles to find the purpose of her creation by The Library, she discovers the peaceful world she’s a part of is only peaceful for the privileged. When Freida meets Joshua, a Tierran boy desperate to save his people, and Nergüi, a disciple from a persecuted religious minority, Freida is compelled to help them. But in order to do so, she will have to venture deeper into The Library than she has ever known. There she will discover the atrocities of the past, the truth of her origins, and the impossibility of her future. With the world at the brink of war, Freida embarks on a journey to fulfill her destiny, one that pits her against an ancient war god. Her mission is straightforward: Destroy the god before he can rain hellfire upon thousands of innocent lives -- if he doesn't destroy her first.

Two brothers. One Good. One Evil. In exchange for power and immortality, they watch over the Endless Woods and rule the School for Good and Evil. Yet all School Masters must face a test. Theirs is loyalty. But what happens when loyalty is corrupted? When the bonds of blood are broken?Who will survive? Who will die? And what will become of the school and its students?The journey that started a hundred years ago throttles toward its end. This final chapter in the duology that began with the Rise of the School for Good and Evilbrings the tale of the twin School Masters to the brink of war and a shocking conclusion that will change the course of the school forever.- HIGH-STAKES CONCLUSION TO AN EPIC DUOLOGY: Rise of the School for Good and Evil introduced us to School Masters Rhian and Rafal as their rule over the School for Good and Evil was tested, and left readers on a shocking cliff-hanger. In Fall of the School for Good and Evil, we come to the Great War, when brother battles brother, students’ loyalties and courage are tested, and the school is changed forever, just in time for the arrival of two best friends named Sophie and Agatha and the new future they bring.- PERFECT BRIDGE FROM NETFLIX MOVIE TO BELOVED SERIES: Rise of the School for Good and Evil and Fall of the School for Good and Evil cast a wide net to draw in movie fans as well as devotees of the series and bring a new generation of readers to the world of the School for Good and Evil. Speak with Soman about his experience having his book made into a movie starring Charlize Theron and Kerry Washington.- SUMMER READING: Every year, Soman visits schools around the world to speak to kids and share his secret: that reading is the path to a better life. Soman can give summer reading tips and recommendations to kids and parents!Soman Chainani’s debut series, THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL, has sold more than 3.5 million copies, been translated into 32 languages across six continents, and has been adapted into a major motion picture from Netflix that debuted at #1 in over 80 countries. His book of retold fairytales, BEASTS & BEAUTY, also debuted on the New York Times Bestseller List, his seventh book in a row to do so, and is slated to be a limited television series from Sony 3000, with Soman writing and executive producing. Together, his books have been on the New York Times Bestseller List for 44 weeks.

In this inspiring collection of essays, acclaimed author David Quammen journeys to places where civilization meets raw nature and explores the challenge of balancing the needs of both. For more than two decades, award-winning science and nature writer David Quammen has traveled to Earth’s most far-flung and fragile destinations, sending back field notes from places caught in the tension between humans and the wild. This illuminating book features 20 of those assignments: elegantly written narratives, originally published in National Geographic magazine and updated for today, telling colorful and impassioned stories from some of the planet’s wildest locales. Quammen shares encounters with African elephants, chimpanzees, and gorillas (and their saviors, including Jane Goodall); the salmon of northeastern Russia and the people whose livelihood depends on them; the lions of Kenya and the villagers whose homes border on parks created to preserve the species; and the champions of rewilding efforts in southernmost South America, designed to rescue iconic species including jaguars and macaws.

To the mortal world—at least, to most people in Brooklyn—Mateo Matisse and Chela Hidalgo are simply two teenagers in love. Mateo is a brilliant pianist, but he’s also a typical, chaotic guy. And Chela, the short, fierce girl he met while playing piano at her bat mitzvah, is a terrific dancer and a terrible singer, who doesn’t get shook by bullies. As teenagers, the way they fell in love was dramatic. But their love for each other goes back centuries—and not only poetically speaking. Mateo and Chela were once spirits, just spirits. At some point, Galanika the Healer became one with the boy Mateo. Chela’s goddess roots are even more complicated—she’s part Okanla the Destroyer and part Madrigal the Creator. Imagine experiencing the thrill and angst of first love while grappling with confounding divine powers and serious godly responsibilities. And oh, battling demons. In LAST CANTO OF THE DEAD, award-winning author Daniel José Older continues the story of Mateo and Chela that began in BALLAD & DAGGER. In Book One of the Outlaw Saints duology, our young couple of very old souls pulled off the incredible feat of raising their once-sunken native island of San Madrigal—a vibrant, multicultural homeland to both Cuban Santeros and Sephardic Jews—from the sea and saving their Brooklyn diaspora community from the wrath of an ancient enemy. In Book Two, the culmination to their epic story, Mateo and Chela are faced with saving San Madrigal from an army of demons in the thrall of a 200-year-old maniac named Archibaldo, who happens to be Mateo’s ancestor. Meanwhile back in Brooklyn, their beloved neighborhood is being threatened by hideous creatures best described as bambarúto, or bogeyman in Ladino, and the fear is dividing the once tight-knit community, with the two sides at each other’s throats.

Alex Segura, the Anthony Award -winning author of Secret Identity and Star Wars Poe Dameron: Free Fall, brings two fan-favorite Spider-Verse heroes together in prose for the first time in ARAÑA AND SPIDER-MAN 2099:DARK TOMORROW. Araña. It means spider- and it also means Anya Corazon. She was a normal Brooklyn teenager with normal Brooklyn problems – until a few months ago, when she was gifted with amazing spiderlike abilities, from super-strength and heightened agility to web-slinging. A powerful mentor guided her on how best to use these new powers for good- until Anya lost him, just as she lost her mother, just as she’s about to lose everything she knows. Nueva York. It is the future of New York City, the home of the Spider-Man of 2099 and where Anya finds herself stranded, tossed across the century. And Nueva York’s Spider-Man billionaire CEO Miguel O’Hara is Araña’s only hope of getting home. But Araña and Spider-Man are about to discover that the enemies they face have dark and powerful connections to both heroes- and that this unlikely team across time will need to save much more than each other.

Warrior Princess. That’s what 17-year-old Nigeria Jones’ father calls her. He has raised her as part of the Movement, a Black separatist group based in Philadelphia. Nigeria is homeschooled and vegan and participates in traditional rituals to connect her and other kids from the group to their ancestors. But when her mother—the perfect matriarch of their Movement—disappears, Nigeria’s world is upended. She finds herself taking care of her baby brother and stepping into a role she doesn’t want.As Nigeria searches for her mother, she starts to uncover a shocking truth. One that will lead her to question everything she thought she knew about her life and her family. From award-winning author Ibi Zoboi comes a powerful story about discovering who you are in the world—and fighting for that person—by having the courage to be your own revolution.IBI ZOBOI is the New York Times bestselling author of American Street, a National Book Award finalist; Pride; My Life as an Ice Cream Sandwich; Star Child; Okoye to the People; the Walter Award–winning Punching the Air, cowritten with Exonerated Five member Yusef Salaam; and the Coretta Scott King Honor–winning picture book The People Remember. She is also the editor of the anthology Black Enough. Born in Haiti and raised in New York City, she now lives in New Jersey with her family. You can find her online at ibizoboi.net.

Ellie Engle doesn’t stand out. Not at home, where she's alone with her pet fish since her dad moved away and her mom has to work around the clock . Not at the bakery, where she helps out old Mr. Walker on the weekends. And definitely not at school, where her best friend Abby—the coolest, boldest, most talented girl in the world—drags Ellie along on her never-ending quest to “make her mark.” To someone else, a life in the shadows might seem boring, or lonely. But not to Ellie. As long as she has Abby by her side and a comic book in her hand, she’s quite content.Too bad life didn’t bother checking in with Ellie. Because when a freak earthquake hits her small town, Ellie wakes up with the power to bring anything back to life with just her touch. And when a video of her using her powers suddenly goes viral, Ellie’s life goes somewhere she never imagined—or wanted: straight into the spotlight. Surviving middle school is hard enough. Surviving middle school when paparazzi are camped out on your front lawn and an international pop singer wants you to use your powers on live tv and you might be in love with your best friend, but she doesn’t know it? Absolutely impossible. Leah Johnson always wanted to be a superhero, but she became a writer instead, which she thinks is the next-best thing. Her best-selling debut novel, You Should See Me in a Crown, was a Stonewall Honor Book, the inaugural Reese’s Book Club YA Pick, and named one of Time’s 100 Best Young Adult Books of All Time. Leah lives in Indianapolis, where she writes books about Black girls with big hearts, plays fetch with the best dog in the world, and talks about Miles Morales to anyone who will listen. Ellie Engle Saves Herself is her middle grade debut.

Solitaire introduces fan favorites Nick and Charlie from Heartstopper -and the unforgettable Tori Spring. Tori isn’t sure how to be happy again. Then she meets Michael Holden, and they try to unmask the mysterious Solitaire (and survive high school) in Oseman’s stunning, unflinchingly honest debut novel.

Inspired by Kai Shappley’s own life, the new novel for young readers Joy, to the World is a timely story of living life to the fullest, celebrating and centering trans joy, courage, and resilience. In the book, Joy, a twelve-year-old trans girl, just moved to Texas with her mother and older brother. Her family has accepted Joy as the girl she is early in her transition, with little fuss, leaving Joy to explore her love of sports, competition, teamwork, school spirit, and worship. But when she is told she’s off the cheerleading team, Joy wants to fight for her right to cheer. As her battle with the school board picks up momentum, Joy attracts support from kids all around the country . . . she even gets the attention of her hero, trans activist Kai Shappley. Kai Shappley is a young American actress and activist. When she was in fourth grade, she stood up to the Texas State Legislature against their attack against trans kids. Her journey was recorded in the Emmy winning documentary, Trans in America: Texas Strong. She has also guest starred in the first season of the Babysitters Club on Netflix. She loves her family, friends, pets, and Dolly Parton!

Perry Firekeeper-Birch has always known who she is - the laidback twin, the troublemaker, the best fisher on Sugar Island. Her aspirations won't ever take her far from home, and she wouldn't have it any other way. But as the rising number of missing Indigenous women starts circling closer to home, as her family becomes embroiled in a high-profile murder investigation, and as greedy grave robbers seek to profit off of what belongs to her Anishinaabe tribe, Perry begins to question everything. In order to reclaim this inheritance for her people, Perry has no choice but to take matters into her own hands. She can only count on her friends and allies, including her overachieving twin and a charming new boy in town with unwavering morals. Old rivalries, sister secrets, and botched heists cannot - will not - stop her from uncovering the mystery before the ancestors and missing women are lost forever.

In The Sun and the Star, co-authors Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro present an action-packed story to grip fans of Percy Jackson and all their favorite demigods—and monsters. At its heart is a story of first love, with all its excitement and anguish, and exceptional courage. As Rick Riordan shares, “It was really important to me that writing a book entirely from the perspective of two queer characters, I collaborated with a great queer author who could bring perspective, authenticity, and a different set of writing strengths to the project. Mark Oshiro is someone whose writing I greatly admire, and who also knows the Percy Jackson world intimately. MORE ABOUT THE SUN AND THE STAR: As the son of Hades, Nico di Angelo has been through so much, from the premature deaths of his mother and sister to losing his friend Jason during the trials of Apollo—and, of course, being outed. But there is a ray of sunshine—literally—in his life: Will Solace, the stunningly beautiful son of Apollo, who happens to be his boyfriend. With his radiant energy, Will melted through the iciness to reveal that Nico actually had a heart. They’ve been a couple for nearly a year and have not only come to believe but proven, again and again, that together they can overcome any obstacle or foe. For Nico, epic battles are normal. Now, he’s about to face a formidable one—and because he adores Will, he’d rather face it alone.

A propulsive social justice adventure by renowned activist and award- winning documentarian Ruchira Gupta, I Kick and I Fly is an inspiring, hopeful story of triumph about a girl in Bihar, India, who escapes being sold into the sex trade when a local hostel owner helps her to understand the value of her body through kung fu. On the outskirts of the Red Light District in Bihar, India, fourteen-year-old Heera is living on borrowed time until her father sells her into the sex trade to help feed their family and repay his loans. It is, as she's been told, the fate of the women in her community to end up here. But watching her cousin, Mira Di, live this life day in and day out is hard enough. To live it feels like the worst fate imaginable. And after a run-in with a bully leads to her expulsion from school, it feels closer than ever. But when a local hostel owner shows up at Heera's home with the money to repay her family's debt, Heera begins to learn that fate can change. Destiny can be disrupted Heroics can be contagious. It's at the local hostel for at risk girls that Heera is given a transformative opportunity: learning kung fu with the other girls. Through the practice of martial arts, she starts to understand that her body isn't an object to be commodified and preyed upon, but a vessel through which she can protect herself and those around her. And when Heera discovers the whereabouts of her missing friend, Rosy, through a kung fu pen pal in the US, she makes the decision to embark on a daring rescue mission to New York in an attempt to save her.

No doubt about it, water is fascinating! It’s also essential. Every living thing on Earth needs it, from big blue whales to teeny, tiny bacteria. But our planet is facing some serious water problems: Drinkable water isn’t easily accessible to everyone, the demands for water around the globe are increasing while the supply is limited, and some human actions are causing disastrous ripple effects downstream for ecosystems and the animals that live in them. Fortunately, there is hope! By learning the ins and outs of important water issues and making small but powerful changes in our daily life, we can help protect the water that connects us all on our beautiful blue planet.

A black mermaid and a black pirate build a friendship through kindness, empathy, and shared adventure in this heartwarming picture book by New York Times bestselling author Tracey Baptiste. Colorful and expressive illustrations by Leisl Adams dazzle on each page as the titular due get into trouble, share some laughs, and form a bond despite their differences. Baptiste who authored the indie-beloved middle grade “Jumbies” series and “African Icons” – wanted to bring to the spotlight that Black mermaids have long existed in African and Caribbean fairy tales and lore. Yet, these characters have been noticeably absent in American popular culture. So in 2019, Baptiste wrote a magnificent op-ed for The New York Times entitled “Mermaids Have Always Been Black” and then, the first draft of the manuscript that would become Mermaid and Pirate. Then last year, Disney announced the LIVE action remake of THE LITTLE MERMAID with Halle Bailey starring as the first and only black Ariel. Bailey is the 20-something singer and one half of the R&B duo Chloe x Halle, a protégé of Beyoncé, and a star on Freeform's Grown-ish.

Inspired by Kloots's own bedtime rituals with her son, Tell Me Your Dreams is a heartwarming picture book that's perfect for any parent who wants their child to know that anything is possible if you just dare to dream. "I could not be more excited to share this story in my first children's book," says Kloots. "This bedtime ritual has become my favorite part of the day. A chance to interact with Elvis and encourage him to dream. It's amazing how our children can inspire us!" It's bedtime and time to settle in for the night. But before we go to sleep, it's time to talk about all the things there are to dream about. It's an adventure in imagination and a reminder that when we close our eyes everything is possible. With its lyrical prose and heartfelt, soft-textured art from award-winning illustrator Alex Willmore, Tell Me Your Dreams is sure to become a favorite part of every family's bedtime ritual. "What I love most about Tell Me Your Dreams is how Amanda has transformed her story into this positive, life-affirming bedtime tale," says HarperCollins Executive Editor David Linker. "It's a timeless message told with heart and humor, and no small amount of wonder, that's perfect for any family."

Founded by Sartore more than 16 years ago, the National Geographic Photo Ark is a multi-year effort to raise awareness of and find solutions to some of the most pressing issues affecting wildlife and their habitats. The project aims to document every species living in the world’s zoos, aquariums, and wildlife sanctuaries; inspire action through education; and help protect wildlife by supporting on-the-ground conservation efforts. His latest collection is Photo Ark Insects. When the pandemic hit, Sartore explored his very own Lincoln, Nebraska home – including his backyard. As a result, a book of bugs was born revealing more than 100+ species of insects, spiders, and related animals ―some exotic, but many common – all depicted in Sartore’s signature photography and entertaining text to explain the basics of insect bodies, lives, and behavior.

The Middle Ages come to life in this latest installment in the hit Weird But True Know-It-All series, featuring stories of legendary rulers, epic castles, menacing weaponry, and more! Vikings are known for being fierce warriors. But did you know that they used tug-of-war to train for battle—and that the losing team was pulled into a pit of fire? Europe was ravaged by the plague during the Middle Ages. But did you know that the secret ingredient in one cure concocted by medieval doctors was … “dragons’ blood”?! Jest in case you were wondering—you could actually get paid in medieval times for playing the fool. But only a few wealthy nobles and kings hired fools, or jesters, so getting into that business wasn’t easy. One lucky jester named Roland le Pettour received land when he retired. Roland’s skills included whistling—and farting! Go beyond the Middle Ages of Europe to explore great empires around the globe, including Ottoman, Shona, Aztec, and the Song dynasty. From Joan of Arc to Genghis Khan, incredible inventions to eyebrow-raising medieval medicines, you’ll know it all by the time you finish this book. Packed with important historical information along with the wackiest and weirdest facts ever about the Middle Ages!

After an earthquake rocks the Aegean Sea, Zeus and Demeter set sail in a not-so-seaworthy vessel to find out what really happened. When their ship is capsized by a slithering sea monster, the duo find themselves trapped in a mystifying underwater realm. The other Olympians mount a rescue mission, only to encounter enchanting mermaidlike creatures with hypnotic songs and a tentacled shape-shifter who tells tales of the future. His uncanny abilities make the Olympians question themselves―and each other. Can the god squad stick together, or will the strange currents of this underwater world tear them apart? Join Zeus the overconfident hamster, Athena the wise cat, Ares the treat-loving pug, Poseidon the proud pufferfish, Demeter the loyal grasshopper, and Hermes the daring chicken on another laugh-out-loud adventure through Greek mythology.

Wild Wonders With Brooke Carter is the EarthXTV series where Brooke Carter learns about what it takes to protect animals and the planet. Watch as she learns from conservation experts and travels the world on unimagined adventures!Even before her show Wild Wonders with Brooke, she loved talking to people about her adventures and especially educating kids about conservation. The show has allowed her to expand on her passion and meet other conservationists around the world. Some of her favorite experiences have been the elephant capture and Costa Rican rainforest where she was ecstatic to see poison dart frogs and some very interesting creatures.Brooke simply loves anything that grows or moves! She has 27 chickens, an orange canary “Oros” which serves as her alarm clock, dogs, cats, and two African ball pythons named Snowy and Fasthouse. She’s also a keen beekeeper with 4 hives which she paints and sells honey locally.

National Geographic Kids serves up tons of incredible facts and mind-boggling tidbits to wow your friends and family!Did you know that a giraffe’s eye is as big as a Ping-Pong ball? Or that about 19 million hot dogs are sold at major league baseball games every year? Or that there is only one bone in your body that’s not connected to another one? There's a lot to know, and National Geographic Kids is here to help. Based on a favorite department in National Geographic Kids magazine, this book is chock-full of fascinating facts, silly stats, and catchy little knowledge nuggets in all kinds of awesome categories, from amphibians to black holes to the gold rush. Special features include Extreme Weirdness, Strange Places, What's the Difference, and more. Bold, colorful photographs in a supersize format and spectacular information create a winning combination for curious kids who can't wait to learn more about the world.

Twelve award-winning and bestselling East and Southeast Asian American authors explore themes of identity and belonging in You Are Here: Connecting Flights, edited by Ellen Oh. With interwoven stories all taking place in a teeming Chicago airport, the book details the entwined experiences of young people whose family roots may extend to East and Southeast Asia, but who are themselves distinctly American. An incident at a TSA security check point sows chaos and rumors, creating a chain of events that impacts twelve young Asian Americans in a crowded and restless airport. As their disrupted journeys crisscross and collide, they encounter fellow travelers—some helpful, some hostile—as they discover the challenges of friendship, the power of courage, the importance of the right word at the right time, and the unexpected significance of a blue Stratocaster electric guitar. With stories from Linda Sue Park, Erin Entrada Kelly, Randy Ribay, Grace Lin, Traci Chee, Mike Chen, Meredith Ireland, Mike Jung, Minh Le, Ellen Oh, Christina Soontornvat, and Susan Tan, YOU ARE HERE: CONNECTING FLIGHTS is the premier release from HarperCollins Children’s Books’ new imprint, Allida. Created to publish books for children and teens, the imprint’s mission is to encourage marginalized writers and artists to explore the stories they are most passionate about and to craft narratives that defy expectations.