FRANK AND BEAN sneak peek!!!!!

Superstar librarian and blogger Margie Myers-Culver recently revealed the cover of the funny new early reader FRANK AND BEAN (Candlewick Press, October 2019)! It's written by our very own Cottager Jamie Michalak and illustrated by Bob Kolar.

Find out if you're a Frank or a Bean on Margie's popular blog Librarian's Quest!

THE LOVE LETTER sneak peek!!!

ICYMI, librarian extraordinaire Margie Myers-Culver recently revealed the cover of THE LOVE LETTER (HarperCollins, October 2019) by our very own Anika Aldamuy Denise and illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins!

Check out the full interview on Margie's booktastic blog Librarian's Quest!

COVER REVEAL! The Infamous Ratsos Are Not Afraid

Lucky reader, behold! You're the first to feast your eyes on the cover of THE INFAMOUS RATSOS ARE NOT AFRAID! 

In this follow-up to the Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book The Infamous Ratsos, written by our very own Kara LaReau and illustrated by Matt Myers, Louie and Ralphie Ratso set out to transform a cluttered lot into an arcade, they end up conquering a few surprising fears along the way.

Creeping your way September 2017!

Louie and Ralphie Ratso have a genius idea: if they clear out the lot down the street, they can use all the junk lying around to build makeshift games for a Big City FunTime Arcade! With their friends to help, they’ll be able to recycle all the old abandoned stuff into whack-a-mouse, a high-striker, a fortune-telling booth, and more. Everyone says the house next to the lot is haunted, but if Louie just pretends it’s not there, maybe he can ignore the goose bumps he gets every time he looks at it. Ralphie’s head’s not exactly in the game, either, because of some rumors that have been swirling around school. But they’re Ratsos, and like their dad, Big Lou, Ratsos aren’t afraid of anything — right? 

Kara LaReau and Matt Myers team up for a second surprisingly touching chapter book proving that sometimes the things you fear the most aren’t at all what you thought — and might be exactly what you need to feel better.

COVER REVEAL: Bulldozer Dreams + GIVEAWAY

Today, we have the honor of revealing the cover of a follow-up to one our favorite books of 2016, RACE CAR DREAMS by Sharon Chriscoe.

Make way for BULLDOZER DREAMS (illustrated by John Joven), coming October 3, 2017 from Running Press!

Sharon stopped by the Cottage to tell us a bit more about the book — and generously offered a signed copy of RACE CAR DREAMS, to one lucky reader!

Leave a comment below to enter to win. Winner will be announced next week!

What it's all about...
“After a day at the construction site, pushing and piling dirt, a bulldozer is tired and ready for sleep. He scrubs clean his track, sips up some supper, and chooses a book to read with his cone. Underneath the stars, he drifts off to sleep, he lowers his blade . . . and dreams of finishing his important work!”

My favorite line(s)…
Of course, as the author of each line, I love them all. But I think my favorite lines are “He pulls in the station, sipping each slurp. His belly pan swells, and up comes a burp.” The idea of a bulldozer’s belly pan swelling until he lets out a burp is simply hilarious. And the illustration for those lines is equally funny and cute.

A sneak peek inside the book...

(c) 2017 John Joven;  from Bulldozer Dreams published by Running Press

Why kids will love it…
Kids will love how bulldozer is just like a kid. From his friendly smile to his funny burps and sleepy yawns, kids will understand that even bulldozers need a little shut eye.

Why grown-ups will love it…
Grown-ups will love the gentle, rhythmic text and vivid illustrations as they snuggle with their little ones to enjoy this special bedtime story.

Sharon Chriscoe never saw a bulldozer clearing the way for a new playground, but she did enjoy doing a little dozing of her own in the sandbox. She is the author of Race Car Dreams and forthcoming Fire Truck Dreams, both illustrated by Dave Mottram, and The Sparrow and the Trees, illustrated by Susan Detwiler. Sharon and her husband live in Pilot Mountain, NC. They have three children and one grandchild, and a large variety of pets. In addition to her books, she has been published in Highlights High Five, Highlights Hello, The Old Farmers Almanac for Kids, The Mailbox, and more. She is represented by Jessica Sinsheimer of the Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency. Please visit her online at sharonchriscoebooks.com.
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Pre-order Bulldozer Dreams online.

At an indie book store near you. 

Comment below to enter to win a signed copy of Race Car Dreams, race flag swag and bookmark! 

Race Car Dreams
by Sharon Chriscoe
illustrated by Dave Mottram
(Running Press, 2016)

"The story unfolds in rhythmic four-line stanzas and is composed with a calm, soothing tone that makes this perfect for reading aloud before bed. Largely bathed in a cool nighttime palette of greens, blues, and violets, Mottram's colorful cartoon illustrations bring charming expressions to anthropomorphized vehicles and tools. VERDICT This sweet bedtime offering is ideal for vehicle and auto-racing enthusiasts." —School Library Journal

"Chriscoe's crisply rhyming text is enlivened by lots of punny expressions and colorful language...All in all, clever, bouncy fun." —Kirkus

COVER REVEAL! The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters: The Jolly Regina

Ahoy, readers! Feast your eyes on the cover of Cottager Kara LaReau's hilarious new middle grade novel, illustrated by Jen Hill! Sailing into bookstores January 10, 2017 . . .

In the spirit of A Series of Unfortunate Events and the Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series, The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters: The Jolly Regina will captivate middle-grade readers looking for humor, hijinks, and a swashbuckling good time. Meet Jaundice and Kale Bland, two sisters who avoid excitement at any cost. Together, they patiently await the return of their parents, who left on an errand years ago and have never returned.

One day, the Bland sisters are kidnapped by an all-female band of pirates. They’re unwillingly swept into a high-seas romp that might just lead to solving the mystery of what happened to their parents. With whimsical illustrations and Roald Dahl–esque wit, The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters: The Jolly Regina is the visually stunning, laugh-out-loud funny start to a new series for readers who are looking for an anything-but-bland adventure.

Be sure to plunder the Abrams booth and pick up this booty-ful galley at BEA (booth 1801), ALA (booth 1226), and ILA (booth 2307), or check it out via NetGalley!

The Little Crooked Bookshelf. . . COVER REVEAL of BEAUTIFUL by Stacy McAnulty!

Today on the Little Crooked Bookshelf: A COVER REVEAL for BEAUTIFUL! And author Stacy McAnulty is here to tell us why kids (and grown-ups) are going to love this book...

BEAUTIFUL
By Stacy McAnulty
Illustrated by Joanne Lew Vriethoff

Available September 6, 2016
Running Press Kids

What it's all about . . .
"This book highlights those moments when girls are most beautiful like when being creative, playing sports, learning, and making friends.  I wanted to look at beauty as a byproduct of confidence and not as an external attribute."

A favorite line…

"Each line works best with Joanne’s gorgeous illustrations. So, if I may cheat, I’d like to use the line we have on the back cover:

It’s all about your clothes, your hair, your style WHO YOU ARE."

Why kids will love it…
"Kids will love it because of the colorful, action-packed illustrations, and it shows girls being strong and awesome and, ultimately, beautiful."

Why grown-ups will love it…
"The book will remind grown women that mirrors are not just for putting on makeup. Mirrors are for making silly faces too."

Sounds fabulous, Stacy! We can't wait to add it to our Little Crooked Bookshelf! 

Stacy McAnulty is the gummy-worm-eating, coffee-guzzling, zillion-ideas-a-minute children’s book author of The Dino Files chapter books, illustrated by Mike Boldt; 101 Reasons Why I’m Not Taking a Bath, illustrated by Joy Ang; Excellent Ed, illustrated by Julia Sarcone-Roach; and Dear Santasaurus, illustrated by Jef Kaminsky. She lives in Kernersville, NC, with her family and two dogs. You can find her online at stacymcanulty.com and via Twitter @stacymcanulty.