THE WINDEBY PUZZLE de Lois Lowry

Newbery Medalist and New York Times bestselling author Lois Lowry transports readers to an Iron Age world through the suspenseful dual narrative of a boy and girl both battling to survive. In an utterly one of a kind blend of fiction and history, a master storyteller explores the mystery and life of the 2,000 year old Windeby bog body.

THE WINDEBY PUZZLE
by Lois Lowry
Clarion/HarperCollins, February 2023

Lois Lowry transports readers to an Iron Age world through the suspenseful dual narrative of a boy and girl both battling to survive. In an utterly one of a kind blend of fiction and history, a master storyteller explores the mystery and life of the 2,000 year old Windeby bog body. Estrild is not like the other girls in her village; she wants to be a warrior. Varick, the orphan boy who helps her train in spite of his twisted back, also stands apart. In a world where differences are poorly tolerated, just how much danger are they in? Inspired by the true discovery of the 2,000 year old Windeby bog body in Northern Germany, Newbery Medalist and master storyteller Lois Lowry transports readers to an Iron age world as she breathes life back into the Windeby child, left in the bog to drown with a woolen blindfold over its eyes. This suspenseful exploration of lives that might have been by a gifted, intellectually curious author is utterly one of a kind. Includes several arresting photos of archeological finds, including of the Windeby child.

Lois Lowry has been awarded the Newbery Medal twice, first for Number the Stars, then for The Giver. The author of more than forty books for children and young adults, including the New York Times bestselling Giver Quartet and popular Anastasia Krupnik series, she has received countless honors, among them the Boston Globe Horn Book Award, the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award, the California Young Reader’s Medal, and the Mark Twain Award.

OH, SAL de Kevin Henkes

A stand-alone companion to the bestselling Newbery Honor Book The Year of Billy Miller and the acclaimed Billy Miller Makes a Wish. This short, humorous, and accessible novel for emerging readers focuses on Billy’s younger sister, Sal, and an eventful holiday season at the Miller house. A must have for fans of Ramona , Ivy and Bean , and Dory Fantasmagory. Features black and white illustrations by the author on every page.

OH, SAL (Book 1 of 2)
by Kevin Henkes
‎ Greenwillow/HarperCollins Children’s, September 2022

It’s Christmas and the Miller family is celebrating their first holiday with the new baby. Uncle Jake is visiting which makes Billy very happy. But Sal? Not so much. In fact, nothing about this holiday is making Sal happy. The baby is a noisy nuisance and is hogging all of Mama’s attention. Plus, the baby doesn’t even have a name yet. And to make matters worse, Sal has lost her favorite pair of brand new underpants one of the very special set of seven Santa gave her for Christmas! Will Sal find her present? Will the Millers find a name for the baby? Will Billy always be an obnoxious big brother? Will Uncle Jake constantly put his foot in his mouth? The holiday season is full of surprises and warmth, kindness, family, celebration, and love in the hands of award winning house author Kevin Henkes . Oh, Sal is an excellent choice for younger middle grade readers, as well as a terrific family and classroom read aloud. Illustrated throughout with black and white art by the author.

Kevin Henkes has been praised both as a writer and as an illustrator and is the recipient of the Children’s Literature Legacy Award for his lasting contribution to literature for children. He received the Caldecott Medal for Kitten’s First Full Moon; Caldecott Honors for Waiting and Owen; two Newbery Honors—one for Olive’s Ocean and one for The Year of Billy Miller—and Geisel Honors for Waiting and Penny and Her Marble. His other books include Sun Flower Lion, A Parade of Elephants, Chrysanthemum, and the beloved Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse. Kevin Henkes lives with his family in a house in Madison, Wisconsin.

WAR OF THE WIND de Victoria Williamson

A middle grade eco-thriller that offers delightfully diverse disability representation.

WAR OF THE WIND
by Victoria Williamson
‎ Neem Tree Press, September 2022
Ages 10-12
(via Randle Editorial & Literary)

On a remote Scottish island, fourteen-year-old Max’s life changes forever when he loses his hearing in a boating accident. Struggling to make sense of his new life and resenting having to attend the ‘special class’ at his local high school, he begins to notice strange changes that take place when a new wind farm appears off the island’s coast.
Soon it becomes clear the islanders are acting odd. In a few short weeks they become irritable, bad tempered and unpredictable. As the strange behaviour spreads to the children, acts of violence threaten to tear the community apart.
Unaffected by the changes due to his hearing loss, Max discovers that a sinister scientist, Doctor Ashwood, and the government are using the wind turbines to test a new sound-wave weapon on the island population. With the help of three school friends with additional support needs, Max must find a way to shut down the wind farm’s signals and stop Doctor Ashwood’s plan before the out-of-control experiment has tragic consequences.

Victoria Williamson is an award-winning children’s author who grew up in Glasgow, Scotland. After studying Physics at the University of Glasgow, Williamson set out on her own real-life adventures, which included teaching math’s and science in Cameroon, training teachers in Malawi, teaching English in China and working with children with additional support needs in the UK. Victoria is a qualified primary school teacher with a degree in Mandarin Chinese from Yunnan University and a Master’s degree in Special Needs in Education. She is passionate about creating inclusive worlds in her novels where all children can see a reflection of themselves in a heroic role.

IMAGINE A WOLF de Lucky Platt

This beautifully illustrated fable engages readers directly, reminding them to challenge expectations.

IMAGINE A WOLF
by Lucky Platt
Page Street Kids/SMP, January 2021

What do you see when you imagine a wolf? Sharp, pointy teeth? Big, hungry eyes? A soft sweater and a friendly smile?
Wait a minute!
The wolf in this story would rather knit than huff, puff, or blow anyone’s house down. But that doesn’t stop the townsfolk from crying wolf anyway. What’s a kind-hearted wolf to do when everyone keeps running and screaming at “Hello?” It’s time to show the world that this wolf is the furthest thing from Big and Bad.

Lucky Platt is a visual artist who loves finding art in unexpected places. Her work often explores themes of healing and inclusion with humor. She lives with her artist husband on a lake in rural Maine. This is her debut picture book.

THE LEGEND OF THE STORM GOOSE de Fiona Halliday

“This poignant story with its evocative prose (‘Two birds danced through burning puddles of sun’) is amplified by luscious and textured illustrations in which swirling blues conjure the stormy sea … Lovely and delicate.” —Kirkus

THE LEGEND OF THE STORM GOOSE
by Fiona Halliday
Page Street Kids/SMP, February 2022

With his great sheltering wings and crown of stars that lights the Scottish skies, Erin knows the heroic Storm Goose from her favorite legend will always guide Papa home from sea. But when a terrible storm strikes, it’s not Papa that comes ashore, but an injured white bird. Over the next few weeks, Erin helps the Storm Goose heal in hopes he can save Papa, but comes to accept that Papa will never come home and must instead oversee the Storm Goose’s triumphant return to the skies to save other sailors. But first, in a twist both heart-wrenching and inspiring, the legendary bird saves her from her grief.

Fiona Halliday’s love of birds spans back to her childhood growing up in Scotland. She works as a graphic designer and is the author-illustrator of Numenia and the Hurricane and illustrator of Hello, Little One (by Zeena M. Pliska), both from Page Street Kids. She lives in Austria, but the stormy Scottish coastline still inspires much of her work.