Scholastic Book Fairs Podcast

Seventeen pounds. That’s the difference between Abigail Walker and Kristen Gorzca. Between chubby and slim, between teased and taunting. Abby is fine with her body and sick of seventeen pounds making her miserable, so she speaks out against Kristen and her groupies and becomes officially unpopular. Embracing her new status, Abby heads to an abandoned lot across the street and crosses an unfamiliar stream that leads her to a boy who’s as different as they come. Anders is homeschooled, and while he’s worried that Abby’s former friends are out to get her, he’s even more worried about his dad, a war veteran home from Afghanistan who is dangerously disillusioned with life. But if his dad can finish his poem about the expedition of Lewis and Clark, if he can effectively imagine what it is to experience freshness and innocence, maybe he will be okay. As Abby dives into the unexpected role as research assistant, she just as unexpectedly discovers that by helping someone else find hope in the world, there is plenty th

Baby seals can swim soon after they are born, but they also need to rest on shore. How can they stay safe if the beach is full of dogs and people? This adaptation of the picture book LEOPARD and SILKIE is just right for new readers who love animals. My Reader Level 2.

Dive deep with one of the most fascinating predators of the sea. Filled with underwater photography and awesome facts you can really sink your teeth into, this Discover More Level 2 reader also includes a free, downloadable digital book featuring fun text-based questions and activities plus audio and video enhancements.

Lori Chase doesn't know what to think about ghosts. She may have seen a few in the past, but those were just childish imaginings, right? Only now that she’s living in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, spirits seem to be on everyone's mind. The town is obsessed with its bloody Civil War history, and the old inn that Lori's parents run is supposedly haunted by the souls of dead soldiers. Then Lori meets one such soldier, the devastatingly handsome Nathaniel Pierce. Nathaniel's soul cannot rest, and he desperately needs Lori's help. Because Nathaniel was not killed in the famous battle. He was murdered. Lori begins to investigate the age-old mystery, stumbling upon shocking clues and secrets. At the same time, she can't help falling for Nathaniel, just as he is falling for her.

Rex is bigger than all the other kids in class. He's bigger than his teachers! His gym clothes don't fit. His desk is too small. And he is horrible at playing hide-and-seek. But worst of all, everyone thinks he's super scary! But that doesn't get Rex down! Instead he teaches everyone exactly why being different is great in this hilariously heartwarming story about making friends, getting along, and learning to say RAWR!

Randy Riley likes space, robots, and baseball, but he can't ace everything . . . or can he? Chris Van Dusen knocks one out of the park with a comical ode to ingenuity. Randy loves two things: science and baseball. When it comes to the solar system, the constellations, and all things robot, he's a genius. But on the baseball diamond? Not so much. He tries . . . but whiffs every time. Then one night, Randy sees something shocking through his Space Boy telescope: it’s a fireball, and it’s headed right for his town! Randy does the math, summons all of his science smarts, and devises a plan that will save the day in a spectacular way. Once again, Chris Van Dusen winds up his visual humor, dizzying perspectives, perfect pacing, and rollicking rhyme to deliver a hit that will make readers stand up and cheer.

This exciting new book is organized by chapters that cover broad topics, such as the Physics and Chemistry of Color, the Universe, the Earth, Flora, Animals, and Humans. These chapters alternate with chapters devoted to each hue in the visible spectru--Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Violet--presenting them in singular and in-depth detail. It also includes dozens of information graphics and visual exercises that clearly demonstrate the amazing principles behind the science of color.

On a momentous visit to the aquarium, Elliot discovers his dream pet: a penguin. It's just proper enough for a straight-laced boy like him. So, he asks his father if he may have one (please and thank you), and his father says yes! Elliot should have realized that Dad probably thought he meant a stuffed penguin and not a real one. Clever illustrations and a wild surprise ending make this sly, silly tale of friendship and wish fulfillment a kid-pleaser from start to finish.

Jake and Lily are twins. Despite their slightly different interests and temperaments, they feel exactly the same, like two halves of one person. But the year they turn eleven, everything changes. Their parents announce it’s time for separate bedrooms. Jake starts hanging out with a pack of boys on the block. And Lily is devastated, not to mention angry. Who is she without Jake? And as her brother falls under the influence of the neighborhood bully, he also must ask himself who is the real Jake?

The stubbornly hilarious Lulu has decided it’s time to buckle down and earn some cash. How else can she save up enough money to buy the very special thing that she is ALWAYS and FOREVER going to want? After some failed attempts at lucrative gigs (baking cookies, spying, reading to old people), dog walking seems like a sensible choice. But Brutus, Pookie, and Cordelia are not interested in making the job easy, and the infuriatingly helpful neighborhood goody-goody, Fleischman, has Lulu at the end of her rope. And with three wild dogs at the other end, Lulu’s patience is severely tested. Will she ever make a friend—or the money she needs?

Kendall Williams sees dead people. Not only can she see them, she can speak to them and they can speak to her. It’s that last little detail that really causes all kinds of problems. The dead don’t have much in the way of boundaries and they tend to pop up whenever and wherever they please. They want Kendall to help them move on by resolving any remaining issues from when they were alive. Unfortunately, they’re not too great at explaining what those issues might be. Kendall must become a psychic sleuth and figure it out for them. This time around, there’s a really annoying blonde gymnast who can’t stop popping up at the worst moments and demanding that Kendall help her.

The second collection of all-color Sunday Big Nate cartoons! Life can be stressful for Nate Wright. At school, Mrs. Godfrey makes every day a nightmare. At home, he's stuck between Ellen, his incredibly annoying older sister, and Dad, perhaps the most clueless parent of all time. And don't get him started on Gina, the ultimate teacher's pet, or Artur, the unassuming exchange student who bests him at every turn. It's enough to make even a can-do kid like Nate scream: "I CAN'T TAKE IT!"

Abraham Lincoln's legacy is everywhere, but who was he, really? The little girl in this book wants to find out. Among many other things, she discovers that our sixteenth president was a man who believed in freedom for all, had a dog named Fido, loved Mozart, apples, and his wife's vanilla cake, and kept his notes in his hat. Captivate young readers with this story of Lincoln's remarkable life, from his boyhood in a log cabin to his famous presidency and untimely death.

Award-winning author Pam Munoz Ryan brings us another adventure starring Tony Baloney, a macaroni penguin. Tony Baloney is so excited to have a pen pal named Sam. They seem to like all of the same things. But Tony is in for a surprise when they finally meet!

Davy Crockett, the King of the Wild Frontier, is a man of legend. He is said to have killed his first bear when he was three years old. His smile alone killed another, and he skinned a bear by forcing him to run between two trees. Fact or fiction? Readers will find out the real story of this folk hero, who did love to hunt bears, served as a congressman for Tennessee, and died at the Alamo.

Dr. Catalyst has finally come unhinged. Twice the crazed scientist has released his super predators into the wild to combat invasive species, and twice Emmet Doyle and his best friend Calvin Geaux have exploded his efforts. Now he's out for something more than just snakes and fish. Dr. Catalyst wants revenge. It's a quiet night when Emmet takes his dog, Apollo, out for a walk in the backyard. Until the noise begins. Part batlike screech, part insect buzz - it seems to be coming from the roof. Suddenly the sky is full of dark, beating shapes, and they're all headed straight for Emmet. Dr. Catalyst's newest creations - monstrously engineered vampire bats - are hungry, and only one thing will satisfy them. Blood.

Annabelle has tamed the wild boys, mastered the social hierarchy of catty mean girls, and bugged out over her first school dance. But now it's time for the school talent show. Annabelle's been asked to be a judge. Which is perfect, until her friends accuse Annabelle of playing favorites because her boyfriend Oliver asked for special treatment. Can Annabelle remain an impartial judge without hurting anyone's feelings?

The Boston Tea Party stands as an iconic moment in the buildup to the American Revolution. Readers may be surprised to learn that many of the hundred or so rebels were only teenagers and that they risked their lives by dumping forty-six tons of tea into Boston Harbor. Illustrated with eighty black-and-white drawings, this turns history into a thrilling adventure.

If you had a polar bear's double coat, you would never have to wear a hat when playing in the snow. If you had reindeer hair, it could help you stay afloat in water. And if you had a porcupine's hair, no bully would ever bother you again! WHAT IF YOU HAD ANIMAL HAIR? is a follow-up to the adorable and award-winning WHAT IF YOU HAD ANIMAL TEETH?. Each spread features a photographic image of the animal and its hair on the left and an illustration of a child with that animal's hair on the right.

This fun, informative, and photographically driven book helps kids understand what their dog is trying to tell them through body language and behavior. Super-engaging dog photography, along with NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS' signature bold and bouncy design, helps illustrate the key canine concepts. Quick-hit tip boxes, fun facts about mankind's best friends, and informative sidebars from the experts enliven the text. This delightful book is a must-have in every home where pups are looking for love and understanding.