Archives de catégorie : Middle Grade

SWAN LAKE: QUEST FOR THE KINGDOMS de Rey Terciero, illustré par Megan Kearney

Frozen meets The Wizard of Oz in this swashbuckling graphic novel reimagining of a beloved classic, perfect for fans of Amulet and The Okay Witch, from the acclaimed author of Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy.

SWAN LAKE: QUEST FOR THE KINGDOMS
by Rey Terciero
illustrated by Megan Kearney
HarperAlley, March 2022
(via Writers House)

Odette and Dillie are supposed to be enemies. Their kingdoms have been feuding since before they were born. But when the two princesses meet each other at the lake that separates their castles, it’s clear they were destined to be best friends. Odette—who lives with a curse that magically transforms her into a swan when the sun rises— is happy to find someone who treats her like everyone else. And Dillie has finally met someone who understands her dream of having an adventure instead of sitting on a throne. When they discover that Odette’s curse is the reason for the tension between their families, they decide to follow an ancient legend that could lead them to someone who can set every thing right. As they travel through enchanted lands, meet new allies, and fight terrible foes, Odette and Dillie are put to the ultimate test. But when the time comes, will they choose their deepest wishes or the fragile fate of their world?

The book will be published in partnership with American film and television production company Temple Hill Entertainment which is attached to the project to produce a TV/Film adaptation.

“Nonstop adventure and colorfully illustrated panels keep the pages of this Swan Lake reimagining turning, while quieter moments underscore the budding friendships among the three heirs. . . A fun, ballet-inspired hero’s journey, full of heart, trials, and good humor.” – Kirkus, starred review

Rey Terciero, also known as Rex Ogle, has written and edited hundreds of books and comics for children and young adults. He is a queer writer who has always been drawn to strong female protagonists, including Elizabeth Bennet, Princess Leia, Jean Grey, and Hermione Granger. Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy was his debut graphic novel.
Megan Kearney is a Canadian cartoonist, illustrator, and educator.

FALLING SHORT d’Ernesto Cisneros

In his sophomore novel, Pura Belpré Award-winning author Ernesto Cisneros brings laughs, real-world issues, and tons of heart in equal measure to the story of two close friends who must rely on each other to become the versions of themselves they want to be.

FALLING SHORT
by Ernesto Cisneros
HarperCollins, March 2022

Best friends Isaac and Marco already know sixth grade is going to change their lives. But it won’t change things at home—not without each other’s help.
This year, athletically gifted Isaac plans on finally keeping up with his schoolwork. Better grades will surely stop Isaac’s parents from arguing all the time. Meanwhile, academically gifted Marco plans on finally winning his father’s approval by earning a spot on the school’s basketball team.
But will their friendship and support for each other be enough to keep the two boys from falling short?

Ernesto Cisneros was born and raised in Santa Ana, California, where he still teaches. His first novel, Efrén Divided, won the Pura Belpré Children’s Author Award. He holds an English degree from the University of California, Irvine; a teaching credential from California State University, Long Beach; as well as a Masters in Fine Arts in Creative Writing from National University. As an author, he believes in providing today’s youth with an honest depiction of characters with whom they can identify. The real world is filled with amazing people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives. His work strives to reflect that.

COURTNEY LITTLE #1: SECRETS & SPELLS de Aleesah Darlison

Welcome to Mixton Bay and the sparkling, magical Courtney Little series from popular children’s author, Aleesah Darlison. ‘Courtney is a fabulous role model for young girls and very relatable. A very cool new series’. – Kids Book Review

COURTNEY LITTLE Book 1: SECRETS & SPELLS
by Aleesah Darlison
Big Sky Publishing (Australia), August 2021

Courtney Little never knew her grandmother but it seems Delia wants to make her presence felt. Dad isn’t saying why he left Mixton Bay years ago, and now strange things are happening in her grandmother’s old house. When Courtney finds a mystical ”Book of Spells” with her name on the box, and she meets Ink the talking cat, and Justice, the surfer boy with a secret of his own, her boring holiday starts to get a lot more interesting.
The Courtney Little series has received acclaim across publications such as CBCA Reading Time, News Limited Funday Section, Magpies Magazine, Oz_Lit and more.

Book 2 : HAUNTINGS & HEXES – pub. August 2021
Book 3: PLOTS & POTIONS – pub. February 2022

Aleesah Darlison is a multi-published, award-winning Australian children’s author. She has written over fifty books for children including picture books, chapter books, novels, and series. In January 2021, Aleesah received an Australia Day Award from the Sunshine Coast Council. Aleesah has also won numerous awards for her writing including the 2015 Environment Award for Children’s Literature (Our Class Tiger – Non-Fiction) and an Australian Society of Authors (ASA) Mentorship. Her picture book, Warambi, was a 2012 CBCA Notable Book and was shortlisted for the Eve Pownall Award and the Environment Award. Her picture book, Emerald: The Green Turtle’s Tale was shortlisted for the 2018 Speech Pathology Book of the Year Awards. Aleesah travels extensively, delivering talks and workshops to children and adults at preschools, schools, libraries, literary festivals, and writers’ centres. She also works as a writing mentor and tutor.

KID YOUTUBER by Marcus Emerson

Following the major self-publishing success of Diary of a 6th Grade Ninja – which has now sold over half a million copies to date! – Marcus Emerson launched KID YOUTUBER, a hilarious new 4-book series (with potential for more!) about a wannabe YouTube star.

KID YOUTUBER
by Marcus Emerson
Independantly published in 2020
Rights handled by Writers House

Davy Spencer might be the new kid in school, but that doesn’t mean he can’t start as the most POPULAR kid. With the help of his two best friends, Chuck and Annie, Davy throws himself into making viral YouTube videos with hilariously disastrous results. If he can pull this off, then everybody at his new school will know his name before even meeting him. Davy’s YouTube channel has everything – awesome pranks? Check! School lunch reviews? Check! Undercover detention missions? Check! Getting duct taped to the wall? Check – wait, what? Becoming a rockstar Youtuber isn’t easy, but Davy won’t give up… no matter how crazy things have to get.

Marcus Emerson is the author of the popular Diary of a 6th Grade Ninja series, Kid Youtuber, and the Super Life of Ben Braver. His goal is to create children’s books that are engaging, funny, and inspirational for kids of all ages.

THE FIRST CAT IN SPACE ATE PIZZA de Mac Barnet, illustré par Shawn Harris

A brand-new middle-grade graphic novel series from New York Times bestselling author Mac Barnett and illustrator Shawn Harris, based on the live cartoons for the shelter-in-place Instagram show, Mac’s Book Club Show. It follows an unlikely trio—a bionic cat, toenail-clipping robot, and moon queen—as they race to save the moon from the rats who want to eat it… and maybe find some pizza along the way.

THE FIRST CAT IN SPACE ATE PIZZA
by Mac Barnett
illustrated by Shawn Harris
Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins, Summer 2022

At the beginning of the pandemic, lifelong best friends Mac and Shawn experimented with a new animation format: they made a « live » cartoon, done entirely over Zoom. It was a hit and they serialized it weekly, following the (mis)adventures of a cat who is sent to space to stop rats from eating the moon. He teams up with a stowaway robot and the moon queen and the result is something truly hilarious and special. People (from all 7 continents!) connected deeply with it and Mac & Shawn made their own merchandise, with proceeds going to the Book Industry Charitable Foundation. Publication of the first book is set for summer 2022, with volume 2 to follow in Summer 2023.

Mac Barnett is the New York Times bestselling author of many picture books, including Extra Yarn and Sam and Dave Dig a Hole, both illustrated by Jon Klassen and both Caldecott Honor Award winners. He is also the co-author of the bestselling Terrible Two series with Jory John. Mac lives in Berkeley, California.

Shawn Harris is an artist and musician who lives and works in Half Moon Bay, California. His first picture book, Her Right Foot, by Dave Eggers, was the recipient of seven starred reviews and was an Orbis Pictus Award Honor Book. He is also the illustrator of Dave Eggers’s What Can a Citizen Do? and Colin Meloy’s Everyone’s Awake.