New Titles

Rat attack

Avatar, Ari,


"An unofficial Roblox book"--Cover. "When Ari, Jez and Zeke visit the army base with Zeke's dad, they find themselves in Professor Gilford's laboratory once again. But when a certain sneaky rat activates one of the inventions, the gang ends up in an unexpected location...the rat's own cage! Now Ari and his friends are shrunk, scared, and trapped! Can they find a way out and survive the rat attack?"--Provided by publisher.
Date Published:2026

"An unofficial Roblox book"--Cover. "When Ari, Jez and Zeke visit the army base with Zeke's dad, they find themselves in Professor Gilford's laboratory once again. But when a certain sneaky rat activates one of the inventions, the gang ends up in an unexpected location...the rat's own cage! Now Ari and his friends are shrunk, scared, and trapped! Can they find a way out and survive the rat attack?"--Provided by publisher.

Date Published:2026

The bad luck house

Newton, A. I.


Extraterrestrial Zeke struggles to understand the difference between good and bad luck, but it's only after he and his friends are dared to enter the haunted house on their block that Zeke grasps the concept.
Date Published:2026

I survived the night of the lions, 2025

Tarshis, Lauren,


"Wildlife adventure"--Cover. "Eleven-year-old Dylan is still reeling from the injury that shattered his all-star Little League dreams back home in Boston. His film-maker older sister offers him the trip of a lifetime: to travel with her as she films a world-famous lion expert in the heart of southern Africa. Dylan's days in the wilds of Botswana are filled with awe and wonder -- elephants splashing in lagoons, leopards growling under star-lit skies, herds of zebras racing through golden grasslands, glittering snakes basking on tree branches -- until disaster strikes. A plane crash hurls Dylan into the unforgiving wilderness, where deadly creatures are on the prowl. Alone, injured, and terrified, Dylan must summon every ounce of strength and as he faces the deadliest predator of all: the African lion."--
Date Published:2026

"Wildlife adventure"--Cover. "Eleven-year-old Dylan is still reeling from the injury that shattered his all-star Little League dreams back home in Boston. His film-maker older sister offers him the trip of a lifetime: to travel with her as she films a world-famous lion expert in the heart of southern Africa. Dylan's days in the wilds of Botswana are filled with awe and wonder -- elephants splashing in lagoons, leopards growling under star-lit skies, herds of zebras racing through golden grasslands, glittering snakes basking on tree branches -- until disaster strikes. A plane crash hurls Dylan into the unforgiving wilderness, where deadly creatures are on the prowl. Alone, injured, and terrified, Dylan must summon every ounce of strength and as he faces the deadliest predator of all: the African lion."--

Date Published:2026

Flight : a story of seeking refuge /

Gratz, Alan, 1972-


Separated from their parents, thirteen-year-old Daniela López and her younger brother, Carlos, are headed north on a dangerous train ride from Honduras, hoping to find their family at the Mexico-United States border.
Date Published:2026

Battle of the Super Rabbit Boys!

Flintham, Thomas,


When King Viking accidentally clones him, Super Rabbit Boy competes with different versions of himself to see who can destroy the machine first.
Date Published:2026

Stars of world soccer

Illugi Jökulsson,


What does it take to be at the top of the game? Learn how today's best players made it in this exciting book, which features short biographies of twenty-eight of the greatest soccer players on the field--from superstars like Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé to exciting newcomers like Lamine Yamal and Désiré Doué, and other goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and attackers. With the colorful graphics and key stats that fans have come to expect from the critically acclaimed Abbeville Sports series, Stars of World Soccer will be sure to captivate all young soccer devotees.
Date Published:2026

What does it take to be at the top of the game? Learn how today's best players made it in this exciting book, which features short biographies of twenty-eight of the greatest soccer players on the field--from superstars like Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé to exciting newcomers like Lamine Yamal and Désiré Doué, and other goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and attackers. With the colorful graphics and key stats that fans have come to expect from the critically acclaimed Abbeville Sports series, Stars of World Soccer will be sure to captivate all young soccer devotees.

Date Published:2026

Axolotls

Gish, Ashley


Amazing Axolotls -- Lake Life -- This Axolotl Snacks-olotl -- From Egg to Adult -- Super Special Amphibians -- An Axolotl Tale. "Unveil the secrets of axolotls with this intriguing zoology title for elementary-aged readers. Discover axolotls' unique features, habitats, and life cycle, and delve into the fascinating myths surrounding these extraordinary amphibians"-- Provided by publisher.
Date Published:2026

Stonehenge

Lilley, Matt,


Huge Stones -- Flat, Grassy Land -- A Time Long Ago -- Ancient Peoples -- Measuring Time -- Moving Stones -- Amazing Site -- Wonder spotlight : bluestones. "An elementary-level introduction to Stonehenge, covering how, when, and why England's ancient wonder was created. Includes captions, on-page definitions, additional resources, and an index"--
Date Published:2025

How to hatch : a gosling's guide to breaking free /

Ackerman, Sara Holly,


Discover how a gosling hatches into the world, step by step, in this irresistibly cute and funny nonfiction picture book. Is it getting stuffy in there? Has your yolk dwindled to a smidge? Is the beak in your wingpit cramping your style? Gosling, it's time to HATCH! With humorous, spare text that reads as an instructional "how to", this story is a delight to read aloud and walks children through every step of the hatching process. Includes bonus facts on gosling hatching and growth, as well as an author's note from the author, an experienced librarian and educator who has done many hatching projects with chicks and quails in both the classroom and library.
Date Published:2026

Discover how a gosling hatches into the world, step by step, in this irresistibly cute and funny nonfiction picture book. Is it getting stuffy in there? Has your yolk dwindled to a smidge? Is the beak in your wingpit cramping your style? Gosling, it's time to HATCH! With humorous, spare text that reads as an instructional "how to", this story is a delight to read aloud and walks children through every step of the hatching process. Includes bonus facts on gosling hatching and growth, as well as an author's note from the author, an experienced librarian and educator who has done many hatching projects with chicks and quails in both the classroom and library.

Date Published:2026

Animals at risk

Kosara, Brenda,


"Sadly, there are many animals in the world that are at risk of becoming extinct. This means there aren't many of them left. But which animal is the most endangered? Let's count down from 10 to 1 and discover some of the rarest animals in our wild world!"--
Date Published:2025

Scariest animals

Maloney, Brenna,


Includes index. World of scary -- Fangtooth fish -- Fangtooth fish close-up -- Hammer-headed bat -- Goblin shark -- Goliath birdeater -- Sarcastic fringehead -- Cassowary -- Asian giant hornet -- Mozambique spitting cobra -- Tasmanian devil -- Wolverine frog -- Wolverine frog close-up -- Sizing them up -- Glossary. "There are so many scary animals! Some of them are fierce predators. Some have giant fangs or teeth. Some sting. Some even spit venom. Learn all about the scary amphibians, birds, insects, mammals, and reptiles in our wild world. Countdown from 10 to 1 and discover which one is the absolute scariest!" --publisher's website.
Date Published:2025

Includes index. World of scary -- Fangtooth fish -- Fangtooth fish close-up -- Hammer-headed bat -- Goblin shark -- Goliath birdeater -- Sarcastic fringehead -- Cassowary -- Asian giant hornet -- Mozambique spitting cobra -- Tasmanian devil -- Wolverine frog -- Wolverine frog close-up -- Sizing them up -- Glossary. "There are so many scary animals! Some of them are fierce predators. Some have giant fangs or teeth. Some sting. Some even spit venom. Learn all about the scary amphibians, birds, insects, mammals, and reptiles in our wild world. Countdown from 10 to 1 and discover which one is the absolute scariest!" --publisher's website.

Date Published:2025

Lucy Lancaster is totally in control

Coven, Willow,


Lucy Lancaster is determined to have the perfect weekend with her cousin Skye, but when her magical hiccups start, Lucy worries that Skye will discover Lucy is a witch.
Date Published:2025

Megabat megastar

Humphrey, Anna,


Megabat wants to help his Daniel earn some money. But how? Easy! Become a STAR. The next laugh-out-loud book in this sweet and funny chapter book series featuring a talking bat.
Date Published:2023

Death by whoopee cushion

Grant, Vicki,


Most kids would love it if their parents owned a joke store. But twelve-year-old Manya isn't like most kids. She's not interested in the cheap laughs at Pranks a Million. She loves science. She wants to save the world. The only thing she finds even vaguely interesting about her parents' shop is the science behind the pranks. After all, there's chemistry at work even in itching powder and stink bombs. Manya and her best friend Isaac are thrilled when their parents agree to sign them up for Serious Science, an after-school course. It's everything Manya has dreamed of: the class is fascinating, and their teacher, Dr. C. Michaels, is both smart and charming. She can just about forget that her parents drive a bright yellow Volkswagen Beetle with a red clown nose on the hood and headlights that look like googly eyes. Maybe. But one day Manya comes back from their Serious Science class to see two police in the store. A trick cigar bought at Pranks a Million blew up in a customer's face and burnt off his eyebrows. Then there's a poisoning incident. And when a whoopee cushion explodes, actually killing an innocent bystander, things become very serious indeed: Manya's parents are arrested for murder. It's up to Manya to prove their innocence -- and she may have to use some of the science behind the pranks to do so.
Date Published:2025

Most kids would love it if their parents owned a joke store. But twelve-year-old Manya isn't like most kids. She's not interested in the cheap laughs at Pranks a Million. She loves science. She wants to save the world. The only thing she finds even vaguely interesting about her parents' shop is the science behind the pranks. After all, there's chemistry at work even in itching powder and stink bombs. Manya and her best friend Isaac are thrilled when their parents agree to sign them up for Serious Science, an after-school course. It's everything Manya has dreamed of: the class is fascinating, and their teacher, Dr. C. Michaels, is both smart and charming. She can just about forget that her parents drive a bright yellow Volkswagen Beetle with a red clown nose on the hood and headlights that look like googly eyes. Maybe. But one day Manya comes back from their Serious Science class to see two police in the store. A trick cigar bought at Pranks a Million blew up in a customer's face and burnt off his eyebrows. Then there's a poisoning incident. And when a whoopee cushion explodes, actually killing an innocent bystander, things become very serious indeed: Manya's parents are arrested for murder. It's up to Manya to prove their innocence -- and she may have to use some of the science behind the pranks to do so.

Date Published:2025

The city of lost cats

Kyi, Tanya Lloyd, 1973-


A feisty young girl named Fiona stumbles upon an old house, the middle of three abandoned mansions, full of stray (and runaway) cats (and two budgies). Naming it the City of Lost Cats, Fiona feels a great deal of sympathy for the animals; she understands wanting to run away. Ever since her parents died, she's been struggling to adjust to the new, smaller apartment she and her older sister, Tannis, now live in. Tannis has even less time to spare for Fiona, as her job at City Hall has her working more hours than ever. Cot (short for Cottonball Fluffikins Magnificent III, but he refused to answer to that name when he lived with his family) has lived in the house for two years and is the self-proclaimed leader of the cats. But lately, he's been worried about a challenge to his leadership. When a giant excavator rolls up to the houses, it's going to take some quick thinking on the part of Fiona, not to mention the cooperation of all the cats to give The City a future.
Date Published:2025

A feisty young girl named Fiona stumbles upon an old house, the middle of three abandoned mansions, full of stray (and runaway) cats (and two budgies). Naming it the City of Lost Cats, Fiona feels a great deal of sympathy for the animals; she understands wanting to run away. Ever since her parents died, she's been struggling to adjust to the new, smaller apartment she and her older sister, Tannis, now live in. Tannis has even less time to spare for Fiona, as her job at City Hall has her working more hours than ever. Cot (short for Cottonball Fluffikins Magnificent III, but he refused to answer to that name when he lived with his family) has lived in the house for two years and is the self-proclaimed leader of the cats. But lately, he's been worried about a challenge to his leadership. When a giant excavator rolls up to the houses, it's going to take some quick thinking on the part of Fiona, not to mention the cooperation of all the cats to give The City a future.

Date Published:2025

No purchase necessary

Marianayagam, Maria.


"What if you stole a million dollars ... by accident?"--Cover. "Ajay Anthonipillai has a million-dollar problem. Ajay has lived his life dutifully following the rules set by his Tamil parents. Rules like, "straight A's only" (rule #3), "no such thing as a no-homework day" (rule #5), and "never watch scary movies" (rule #10). But moving to a new school gives Ajay a new rule to follow: get on seventh grade all-star Jacob Underson's good side. When Jacob asks him to steal a Mercury bar from Scary Al's convenience store, Ajay feels this is his chance to finally "get cool" and gain real friends. Maybe even stop eating lunch alone. But Jacob rejects the stolen chocolate bar, leaving Ajay to unwrap it and discover that it contains Mercury's 25th Anniversary Grand Prize: one million dollars! Faced with an extreme dilemma, Ajay will have to bear the weight of his actions and battle his conscience in deciding whether or not to claim the prize that may change the life of his family forever."-- from publisher.
Date Published:2025

"What if you stole a million dollars ... by accident?"--Cover. "Ajay Anthonipillai has a million-dollar problem. Ajay has lived his life dutifully following the rules set by his Tamil parents. Rules like, "straight A's only" (rule #3), "no such thing as a no-homework day" (rule #5), and "never watch scary movies" (rule #10). But moving to a new school gives Ajay a new rule to follow: get on seventh grade all-star Jacob Underson's good side. When Jacob asks him to steal a Mercury bar from Scary Al's convenience store, Ajay feels this is his chance to finally "get cool" and gain real friends. Maybe even stop eating lunch alone. But Jacob rejects the stolen chocolate bar, leaving Ajay to unwrap it and discover that it contains Mercury's 25th Anniversary Grand Prize: one million dollars! Faced with an extreme dilemma, Ajay will have to bear the weight of his actions and battle his conscience in deciding whether or not to claim the prize that may change the life of his family forever."-- from publisher.

Date Published:2025

One beaded earring

Skene, Pat, 1945-


A title in the Indigenous Collection at VPL. In this illustrated early chapter book, Delia loses one of her mother's treasured beaded earrings, leading her to learn about her Métis heritage when she asks her grandmother to help her replace it.
Date Published:2025

Butter Tart Island

Dalvay, Hope,


Twelve-year-old Jane Smith isn't surprised when her parents announce they're relocating. This is nothing new. Every few years, they move to a different street in their city, in search of the perfect home. But even Jane is shocked when her parents rely on a dart thrown at a map of Canada to determine their next move. Just where is Fare Thee Well, Prince Edward Island, anyway? Never mind. The Dart of Destiny has spoken. It's far away, and that's all that matters. Jane arrives on Prince Edward Island at the worst possible time: the horrible, terrible, dreadful winter of 2015. Historic blizzards transform Canada's smallest province into one long snowbank. Living there is like being trapped in a snow globe. Not to mention, it's the middle of the schoolyear. Not exactly the best time to make new friends. That all changes when Jane becomes pen pals with Random Radcliff. He hails from the micronation of Butter Tart Island, and he has the goofiest sense of humour. So what if Butter Tart Island doesn't show up on any map? And it shouldn't bother her that Random Radcliff is cagey about revealing anything about his life? Right? Maybe Jane isn't the only one with secrets.
Date Published:2024

Twelve-year-old Jane Smith isn't surprised when her parents announce they're relocating. This is nothing new. Every few years, they move to a different street in their city, in search of the perfect home. But even Jane is shocked when her parents rely on a dart thrown at a map of Canada to determine their next move. Just where is Fare Thee Well, Prince Edward Island, anyway? Never mind. The Dart of Destiny has spoken. It's far away, and that's all that matters. Jane arrives on Prince Edward Island at the worst possible time: the horrible, terrible, dreadful winter of 2015. Historic blizzards transform Canada's smallest province into one long snowbank. Living there is like being trapped in a snow globe. Not to mention, it's the middle of the schoolyear. Not exactly the best time to make new friends. That all changes when Jane becomes pen pals with Random Radcliff. He hails from the micronation of Butter Tart Island, and he has the goofiest sense of humour. So what if Butter Tart Island doesn't show up on any map? And it shouldn't bother her that Random Radcliff is cagey about revealing anything about his life? Right? Maybe Jane isn't the only one with secrets.

Date Published:2024

A storm unleashed

Matas, Carol, 1949-


"After losing her mother as a young girl, twelve-year-old Mia is living in Berlin with her veterinarian father and beloved German shepherd, Max. Mia tries to focus on her hobbies, her studies and her trips to her grandparents' farm where she cares for the animals she loves. But it's 1935, and life has changed radically for Mia and her Jewish father over the last two years. Antisemitism is now official state policy. At school, Mia is vilified and treated cruelly by her teachers and fellow students. Outside of school, she witnesses violence against her friends and family. And then suddenly a girl from the Nazi Youth tries to take Max. From that moment on, life becomes more and more dangerous for Mia and her father -- who is now being forced to help the Nazis train Hitler's army of dogs. Mia and her best friend, Frieda, must come up with a plan to navigate this new reality. But could it cost Mia more than she realizes?"-- provided by publisher.
Date Published:2025

"After losing her mother as a young girl, twelve-year-old Mia is living in Berlin with her veterinarian father and beloved German shepherd, Max. Mia tries to focus on her hobbies, her studies and her trips to her grandparents' farm where she cares for the animals she loves. But it's 1935, and life has changed radically for Mia and her Jewish father over the last two years. Antisemitism is now official state policy. At school, Mia is vilified and treated cruelly by her teachers and fellow students. Outside of school, she witnesses violence against her friends and family. And then suddenly a girl from the Nazi Youth tries to take Max. From that moment on, life becomes more and more dangerous for Mia and her father -- who is now being forced to help the Nazis train Hitler's army of dogs. Mia and her best friend, Frieda, must come up with a plan to navigate this new reality. But could it cost Mia more than she realizes?"-- provided by publisher.

Date Published:2025

Plant attack! : the fascinating ways flora defends itself /

Silver, Erin, 1980-


This illustrated nonfiction picture book explores the unique and disgusting ways plants protect themselves.
Date Published:2025