Scholastic Canada | Dewey Diva Picks

Dewey Diva Picks - Summer 2017

I Am Canada: A Celebration

A beautiful picture book featuring artwork by Canada's finest illustrators — a true-north tribute to our nation and its children, from coast to coast to coast! Simple text describes the ample space available to our children in this country, and the freedom they have to grow and dream and share. Each page of this book is a celebration and a reminder of the infinite variety of our home and native land.

Twinkle

By Nick Bland | ISBN 9781443100984
Ages 3-8 | HC | Picture Books | May 2017

Penny Pasketti stared into space and pretended the stars were her friends. She imagined that every twinkle was a smile or a secret or some such wonderful thing.

Suddenly, a shooting star lands in her garden, and in a twinkle the night is filled with friendship and fun. Eventually it is time for Little Star to go home — and for Penny to go to bed but how do you make a star fall up? One resourceful little girl comes up with a plan . . . and we find she's not the only one with a little smile and a wonderful great big secret. Nick Bland's luminous artwork brings this charming story to life. With an ending that all is right in the world, it's a perfect bedtime story to get little ones and stars alike tucked in for the night.

Twig

By Aura Parker | ISBN 9781443157933
Ages 3-6 | HC | Picture Books | August 2017

One, two, three. One, two three.
Why won't someone play with me?

Twig is a stick insect, long and thin like the twig of a tree. It's her first day at Bug School, where she hopes to learn lots and make new friends. But no one will talk to her . . . and no one will play with her at lunch. No one notices her at all — not even her teacher Miss Orb. Perhaps she's blending in with the branches a little too well! Finally, Twig speaks up for herself and Miss Orb comes up with a plan to help Twig stand out.

Princess Truly in I am Truly

Princess Truly is strong and confident, beautiful and brave, bright and brilliant. She can do anything she sets her mind to...

I can fly to the moon
And dance on the stars.
I can tame wild lions...
And race fast cars.

Brimming with warmth and colour, Princess Truly's rhythmic rhyming adventures are a celebration of individuality, girl power, and diversity. Her heartfelt story is a reminder to young girls everywhere that they can achieve anything if they put their minds to it...and dream big!

Plantkon is Pushy

By Jonathan Fenske | ISBN 9781338098969
Ages 3-5 | HC | Picture Books | May 2017

In this funny, underwater picture book, Plankton says hello to Mussel, but Mussel doesn't say anything back. Plankton tries everything to get quiet Mussel to talk. In fact, Plankton gets VERY pushy about it! Will Mussel ever open his mouth? Kids will relate to Plankton's frustration with Mussel, and they will be anxious to see what happens when Mussel finally does open his mouth... Geisel Award Honoree Jonathan Fenske delivers a laugh-out-loud ocean story, and this is the perfect follow-up to Barnacle is Bored.

The Queen’s Handbag

By Steve Antony | ISBN 9781338032932
Ages 3-5 | HC | Picture Books | June 2017

A very naughty thief has stolen the Queen's handbag! There's only one thing to do: chase the thief all over the landmarks of Great Britain! Hold on to your hats and join the Queen in this epic wild goose chase after one sneaky swan by car, motorbike, plane, boat, and more to get her handbag back! Young children will love the search-and-find fun of the story, the hysterical mayhem that breaks loose, and Steve Antony's winning art style. The Queen's Handbag celebrates some of Great Britain's most famous sites, like Stonehenge and Edinburgh Castle, and back matter explains their significance.

Super Slug of Doom: A Super Happy Magic Forest Story

By Matty Long | ISBN 9781338054354
Ages 4-8 | HC | Picture Books | July 2017

The Super Happy Magic Forest is once again thrown into disruption and chaos when Blossom the unicorn accidentally releases the super slug of doom from his hibernation beneath an ordinary rock. Can our five reluctant heroes — Hoofius, Blossom, Twinkle, Trevor, and Herbert once again save their beloved forest from slimy, sludgy, yucky evil? We sure hope so. . .

A delightful, riotous, laugh-out-loud follow-up to Super Happy Magic Forest that lovers of silliness, fantasy, and lots and lots of slime won't get enough of!

Back to School with Bigfoot

Starting a new school year can be hard, especially if you're seven feet tall. But there's plenty to look forward to! The first day of school is right around the corner! And everything is bigger for Bigfoot — especially back-to-school problems like getting a haircut, trying on new clothes, and finding new shoes that fit! Told from a giant and very hairy point of view, Back to School with Bigfoot deftly tackles the worries kids face as that first day of school draws closer, and ends on a colossal high note!

Monsters New Undies

These are my undies!
A sweet work of art!
Uh-oh! My undies!
They just fell apart.

Monster is JUST FINE with his old undies, thank you very much. But when his undies fall apart, what's a monster to do? His mommy takes him shopping, of course! But finding the perfect pair of undies is not going to be easy. . . Will monster ever find the perfect pair of undies? With hilarious rhymes from the celebrated author of Crankenstein, Samantha Berger, and bright and innovative illustrations from Tad Carpenter, this bouncy tale of self-reliance is full of warmth and humour.

Mama Lion Wins the Race

By Jon J Muth | ISBN 9780545852821
Ages 3-5 | HC | Picture Books | August 2017

Start your engines: the race is on! And Mama Lion and Tigey are off — with their cool goggles and snazzy sports car! Racing teams gather from far and wide for this madcap race. But who will win the trophy cup? Will it be the playful Flying Pandinis? The mischievous Knitted Monkey Crew? Or will Mama Lion and Tigey speed past the finish line in first place? As Tigey says, winning is winning, but sometimes the journey itself — filled with ineffable moments of mystery, beauty, and joy is even more fun than getting the prize. With cars inspired by the early days of Italian motor-racing and characters based on his children's beloved toy animals, Jon J Muth has created a uniquely spellbinding book young readers will return to again and again.

Jack and the Beanstalk and the French Fries

By Mark Teague | ISBN 9780545914314
Ages 3-5 | HC | Picture Books | August 2017

FEE FI FO FUM! When Jack trades the family cow for a handful of magic beans, he gets more beans than he ever expected or wanted. It's bean porridge for breakfast! Bean salad for lunch! Bean chowder for dinner! It doesn't take long before Jack is tired of eating nothing but beans — no matter how nutritious! But just as he's about to chop down his magic beanstalk, he meets a grumpy giant, who is just as sick and tired of beans as he is. Together, Jack and the giant cook up a plan to plant a vegetable garden full of tomatoes, corn, carrots, and russet potatoes that's bound to satisfy everyone.

A deliciously zany retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk from author Mark Teague that ends with one happy boy, a satisfied giant, and a large plate of French fries.

Tool School

Get ready young builders to twist and turn with laughter! Join a hammer, screwdriver, tape measurer, saw, and pair of pliers on their first day of school. Together, they make puzzles and play games, but when it's time to build something it's suddenly every tool for itself. Working alone, each tool soon realizes that to make something great all need to cooperate!

Young children will love the irresistible bold artwork and fun rhyming text as they learn that a little teamwork can make a big difference. Tool School introduces some of the most basic household tools, and cool tips explain how to successfully use them with the help of a grown-up!

Restart

By Gordon Korman | ISBN 9781338053777
Ages 8-12 | HC | Middle Grade | June 2017

Chase Ambrose forgets everything after falling off a roof and losing consciousness. He forgets his name. He forgets his parents. He forgets what he was doing up there on that roof. And he forgets that he's the biggest bully at Hiawassee Middle School, along with his two best buddies Aaron and Bear.

Chase is shocked to learn how he bullied and tormented kids at school. He ruined lives. One kid left town because of him. And worst of all, even his little half-sister is terrified of him. Was he really such a monster? Determined to reinvent himself, Chase joins video club and befriends some of the kids who used to consider him a number-one enemy. But some people aren't so quick to forgive and forget. Can Chase really change who he is? Or will the old him merely come back over time?

The Bad Guys #3: The Bad Guys in The Furball Strikes Back

By Aaron Blabey | ISBN 9781338087499
Ages 7-10 | PB | Middle Grade | May 2017

The Bad Guys are about to have a very BAD day! Mr. Wolf and his bad buddies have messed with the wrong guinea pig — one who is secretly an evil mad scientist. And the nasty little furball wants revenge! Will they survive? Will they be heroes? And will they ever stop trying to eat each other?!? It's time for the Bad Guys to spring into action!

Wings of Fire Book 10: Darkness of Dragons

By Tui T. Sutherland | ISBN 9780545685474
Ages 8-12 | HC | Middle Grade | August 2017

A young NightWing may have had the first true prophecy in generations . . .

Something is coming to shake the earth. Something is coming to scorch the ground. Jade Mountain will fall beneath thunder and ice, unless the lost city of night can be found. Will the return of Darkstalker bring a horrible future to Pyrrhia? Or can five young dragons save the world — again? Don't miss the thrilling conclusion to the new prophecy in the epic, bestselling Wings of Fire series!

Stealing Our Way Home

By Cecilia Galante | ISBN 9781338042962
Ages 8-12 | HC | Middle Grade | July 2017

Saying goodbye is never easy. Everything changed after Pippa and Jack's mother died last spring. Pippa stopped speaking, Jack started picking fights, and their father's struggling business began to fail. Now, with school starting again, Pippa doesn't know how she'll manage a class presentation on Spartan warriors when she can't even find the words to tell her father that she wishes he were home more. And Jack is struggling to understand his feelings for the mysterious girl next door. But when Jack and Pippa realize that their dad is getting so desperate for cash to keep the family afloat that he might be going to extreme and illegal lengths to make ends meet, they are faced with the biggest decision of their lives. How far are they willing to go to keep their family together?

Stealing Our Way Home is a poignant, deeply affecting novel about falling apart, finding your voice, and the power of letting go.

This Is Just a Test

David Da-Wei Horowitz has a lot on his plate. He would have enough to do preparing for his upcoming bar mitzvah even if the planning didn't involve trying to please both his Jewish and Chinese grandmothers, who argue about everything. They even have a cook-off battle of the latkes. But David just wants everyone to be happy. That includes his friend Scott, who is determined to win their upcoming trivia tournament but doesn't like their teammate — and David's best friend — Hector. Scott and David begin digging a fallout shelter just in case this Cold War stuff with Russia turns south... but David's not so convinced he wants to spend forever in an underground bunker with Scott anymore. Maybe it would be better if Hector and Kelli Ann came with them. But that would mean David has to figure out how to stand up for Hector and talk to Kelli Ann first. Some days, surviving nuclear war feels like the least of David's problems.

Magisterium Book 3: The Bronze Key

The third installment in the New York Times bestselling series that defies what you think you know about the worlds of good and evil.

The Apprentice Witch

By James Nicol | ISBN 9781338118582
Ages 8-12 | HC | Middle Grade | August 2017

Will Arianwyn ever become a real witch? Arianwyn has flunked her witch's assessment: She knows she's doomed. Declared an apprentice and sent to the town of Lull in disgrace, Arianwyn may never become a real witch like everyone else — much to the glee of her arch-rival, Gimma. But the remote Lull is not as boring as it seems. Strange things are being sighted in the woods, and a dangerous infestation of hex creeps throughout the town. Then the worst thing Arianwyn can imagine arrives in Lull: Gimma turns up on vacation determined to make her life miserable. Despite being a little over her head, Arianwyn starts to get the hang of being a witch, even if she's only an apprentice. But there's one thing she's wrong about: The worst is still to come. For a mysterious darkness has begun to haunt her spells, and there may be much more at stake than just her pride...

Beanstalker and Other Hilarious Scarytales

By Kiersten White | ISBN 9780545940603
Ages 8-12 | HC | Middle Grade | August 2017

Once upon a time, a girl skipped into the forest and became a zombie.
Wait, no, that's not how this story is supposed to go. Let's try again.
Once upon a time, a boy did a horrible job as a sheep-sitter and burned his tongue on stolen pie.
No, children in these stories are always good and virtuous. From the top.
Once upon a time, a king and queen tried to find a princess for their son to marry, and he wound up fleeing from a group of very hairy vampires.

Hmmm. . .

What about, once upon a time, a bunch of fairy tales got twisted around to be completely hilarious, a tiny bit icky, and delightfully spooky scarytales... in other words, exactly what fairy tales were meant to be. Grab some flaming torches, maybe don't accept that bowl of pease porridge, and get ready for a wickedly fun ride with acclaimed author Kiersten White and fairy tales like you've never heard them before.

The Adventures of John Blake: Mystery of the Ghost Ship

Trapped in the mists of time by a terrible research experiment gone wrong, John Blake and his mysterious ship are doomed to sail between the centuries, searching for a way home. In the ocean of the modern day, John and the crew rescue a shipwrecked young girl his own age, Serena, and promise to help.

But returning Serena to her own time means traveling to the one place where the ship is in most danger of destruction. The all-powerful Dahlberg Corporation has an ambitious leader with plans far greater and more terrible than anyone has realized, and he is hot on their trail. For only John, Serena, and the crew know Dahlberg's true intentions, and only they have the power to stop him from bending the world to his will . . .

Cleopatra in Space #4: The Golden Lion

By Mike Maihack | ISBN 9780545838726
Ages 8-12 | PB | Graphic Novels | July 2017
Also available in HC: ISBN 9780545838719

Cleo is back at Yasiro Academy, recovering from the tragic events that occurred on planet Hykosis. She feels responsible for the death of her friend Zaid, and trains nonstop. And when she learns that the Golden Lion — a star with immeasurable energy that could destroy them all if weaponized — has been located, she goes alone to the snowy, icy planet Cada'duun to find it. There, she faces off with a new enemy who has been instructed to destroy the Golden Lion... and her.

Nnewts #3: The Battle for Amphibopolis

By Doug TenNapel | ISBN 9780545676700
Ages 8-12 | PB | Graphic Novels | July 2017
Also available in HC: ISBN 9780545676649

In the final, epic installment of the Nnewts trilogy, the fate of all Nnewts hangs in the balance! Herk, falling under the influence of Blakk Mudd, is slowly turning into a Lizzark and abandoning his Nnewt friends. Herk's siblings, Sissy and Zerk, have been corrupted by evil and the Lizzark army is still threatening Amphibopolis with total destruction. Now the Nnewts need a true hero to step up and save the day before it's too late!

The Way Back Home

By Allan Stratton | ISBN 9781443148382
Ages 12 & up | HC | Young Adult | May 2017

Zoe's straitlaced and narrow-minded parents don't understand her — they are shocked by her swearing and believe that she's a bad girl. They also want to put Zoe's Granny in a seniors home, despite Zoe's objections. Sure, Granny has become a bit odd and her memory is spotty, but she's outspoken and funny, and Zoe loves her. Granny still mourns her favourite son, Teddy, who was also a troublemaker, and who died before Zoe was born. Or did he?

After a series of disastrous incidents, including a school suspension and a near-death experience, Zoe decides to liberate herself and her grandmother from their respective prisons, taking them on an unforgettable journey to Toronto, where Zoe learns the truth about her uncle and discovers strengths of her own that just might help her find a way back home. From award-winning storyteller Allan Stratton comes a moving story of unresolved family conflicts, and a young girl's awakening to the things that matter most.

Umberland (Everland, Book 2)

By Wendy Spinale | ISBN 9780545953184
Ages 12 & up | HC | Young Adult | May 2017

Gwen, Pete, and the others have escaped from Everland. But the safe haven they hoped to find at Alnwick Castle doesn't exist. With the Queen of England on her deathbed, Duchess Alyssa has stepped in to lead, but things have gotten worse as the cure Doc created for the Horologia virus has mutated, accelerating the disease. The only possible solution he can think of is to go back to the virus's origin: an extinct poisonous apple. Legend has it a tree bearing the apple might be found at the center of a deadly labyrinth hidden deep within Germany. A place that no one in their right mind enters. Leaving Pete in charge of the survivors, Alyssa sets out with only her sword, her wits, and the help of Maddox Hadder, a wild boy who oversees the castle gardens. To get to the center of the maze, she'll be forced to battle monsters more terrifying than her darkest nightmares. But can anyone truly survive the madness of the maze? And what if there's no apple to be found there?

The Lines We Cross

By Randa Abdel-Fattah | ISBN 9781338118667
Ages 12 & up | HC | Young Adult | May 2017

Michael usually concerns himself with basketball and hanging out with his friends, but every once in a while, his parents drag him to meetings and rallies with their anti-immigrant group. And it all makes sense to Michael. Until Mina, a beautiful girl from the other side of the protest lines, shows up at his school, and turns out to be funny, smart — and a Muslim refugee from Afghanistan. Suddenly, his parents' politics seem much more complicated. Mina has already had a long and arduous journey leaving behind her besieged home in Afghanistan, and the frigid welcome at her new school is daunting. She just wants to settle in and help her parents get their restaurant up and running. But nothing about her new community will be that easy. As tensions increase, lines are drawn. Michael has to decide where he stands. Mina has to protect herself and her family. Both have to choose what they want their world to look like.

No Good Deed

By Goldy Moldavsky | ISBN 9780545867511
Ages 14 & up | HC | Young Adult | June 2017

He's not asking for much. All Gregor Maravilla wants to do is feed all of the starving children on the planet. So when he's selected to join Camp Save the World, a special summer program for teenage activists from all over the country to champion their cause, Gregor's sure he's on the path to becoming Someone Great. But then a prize is announced. It will be awarded at the end of summer to the activist who shows the most promise in their campaign. Gregor's sure he has the prize in the bag, especially compared to some of the other campers' campaigns. Like Eat Dirt, a preposterous campaign started by Ashley Woodstone, a famous young actor who most likely doesn't even deserve to be at the camp. Everywhere Gregor goes, Ashley seems to show up ready to ruin things. Plus, the prize has an unforeseen side effect, turning a quiet summer into cutthroat warfare where campers stop focusing on their own campaigns and start sabotaging everyone else's.

Dark Breaks the Dawn

By Sara B. Larson | ISBN 9781338068696
Ages 12 & up | HC | Young Adult | June 2017

On her eighteenth birthday, Princess Evelayn of Eadrolan, the Light Kingdom, can finally access the full range of her magical powers. The light looks brighter, the air is sharper, and the energy she can draw when fighting feels almost limitless. But while her mother, the queen, remains busy at the war front, in the Dark Kingdom of Dorjhalon, the corrupt king is plotting. King Bain wants control of both kingdoms, and his plan will fling Evelayn into the throne much sooner than she expected. In order to defeat Bain and his sons, Evelayn will quickly have to come into her ability to shapeshift, and rely on the alluring Lord Tanvir. But not everyone is what they seem, and the balance between the Light and Dark comes at a steep price.

In the first book of a remarkable duology, Sara B. Larson sets the stage for her reimagining of Swan Lake — a lush romance packed with betrayal, intrigue, magic, and adventure.

Eden Summer

By Liz Flanagan | ISBN 9781338121209
Ages 12 & up | HC | Young Adult | July 2017

It starts like any other day for Jess. Get up, draw on eyeliner, cover up tattoos, and head to school. But soon it's clear that this is no ordinary day, because Jess's best friend, Eden, isn't at school . . . she's gone missing. Jess knows she must do everything in her power to find Eden. Before the unthinkable happens. So Jess decides to retrace the life-changing summer she and Eden have just spent together. But looking back means digging up all their buried secrets, and she soon begins to question everything she thought the summer had been about, and everything she thought she knew about her best friend.

A tense and moving journey through friendship, loss, betrayal, and self-discovery, Eden Summer, will plunge its way into your heart and stay there.

Do Beavers Eat Poutine? Cool Canadian Quizzes

By H. Becker | ISBN 9781443157629
Ages 8-13 | PB | Non-Fiction | June 2017

Are you an expert on all things Canuck, or do you need to brush up on your basics? Test your knowledge and find out:

In what province will you find the largest snake dens in the World?
Where in Canada will you find a UFO landing pad?
How many official languages are spoken in Canada - by Canada Geese?

In this 100-percent-True-North-strong-and-free quiz-opedia, you'll find out how you rate when it comes to Canadian trivia. You'll also find dozens of facts, jokes and puzzles that celebrate the splendour of our nation — in totally cool Canadian style, of course.

Haunted Canada 7: Chilling True Tales

By Joel A. Sutherland | ISBN 9781443148818
Ages 9-12 | PB | Non-Fiction | August 2017

In this terrifying collection of all new haunted stories, author Joel A. Sutherland has put together the creepiest, most bone-chilling tales from coast to coast, including:

A river wraith that kills anyone who sets eyes upon it in Stony Rapids, Saskatchewan
The ghost of a boy who plays pranks and terrifies theatre staff in the basement of the Centaur Theatre in Montreal, Quebec
Supernatural, inexplicable encounters in deserted hallways and empty holding cells at Old City Hall in Toronto, Ontario

Moody black-and-white illustrations and archival photos throughout are sure to shock even the most cynical readers into believers!