Scholastic Book Fairs Podcast

From courageous cavalry rides deep into enemy territory to harrowing covert missions undertaken by spies and soldiers, the events of the American Civil War come to life by history buff, Civil War reenactor, and popular blogger Ben Thompson.

INSPECTOR FLYTRAP introduces kids to the humorous and wacky world of Inspector Flytrap’s Detective Agency, home to the world-renowned solver of BIG DEAL mysteries. The plant detective works tirelessly with his assistant Nina the Goat on his community’s unsolved cases. There’s no case too big, but there are definitely cases too small for this endearingly self-important plant detective.

New from the creator of CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS, it's DOG MAN, the crime-biting canine who is part dog, part man, and ALL HERO! George and Harold have created a new hero who digs into deception, claws after crooks, and rolls over robbers. When Greg the police dog and his cop companion are injured on the job, a life-saving surgery changes the course of history, and Dog Man is born. With the head of a dog and the body of a human, this heroic hound has a real nose for justice. But can he resist the call of the wild to answer the call of duty?

When a woman's body is found in a Portland park, suspicion falls on an awkward kid who lives a few blocks away, a teen who collects knives, loves first-person shooter video games, and obsessively doodles violent scenes in his school notebooks. Nick Walker goes from being a member of Portland's Search and Rescue team to the prime suspect in a murder, his very interest in SAR seen as proof of his fascination with violence. How is this even possible? And can Alexis and Ruby find a way to help clear Nick's name before it's too late?

A gorgeous collection about American presidents filled with fun facts and sparkling with personality from nonfiction master Ken Burns.

In simple, rhythmic prose and ingenious pictures, Brendan Wenzel takes readers on a walk alongside a cat. But whereas the child sees a cat that is soft and fuzzy, the dog sees a cat that is long and skinny and scratchy, and the fox sees a cat that is mouthwateringly plump. Each creature encountering the cat sees something different, making the reader wonder: is this really a story about a cat, or is it about the animals that see it? Poised to become a new classic, this book is a glorious celebration of observation, curiosity, and imagination from a bright new talent on the picture book scene.

Azalea is not happy about meeting the new sixth graders in town, but these strangers seem much preferable to the ones in Paris Junction. Troubled Willis DeLoach? Gossipy Melinda Bowman? Who needs friends like these! And then there's Billy Wong, whose great-aunt and uncle own the Lucky Foods grocery store, where days are long and some folks aren't friendly. For Azalea, whose family and experiences seem different from most everybody she knows, friendship has never been easy. Maybe this time, it will be.

We are not alone. They are here. And there’s no going back. Five days ago, a massive UFO crashed in the Midwest. Since then, nothing - or no one - has come out. If it were up to Alice, she’d be watching the fallout on the news. But her dad is director of special projects at NASA, so she’s been forced to enroll in a boarding school not far from the crash site. Alice is right in the middle of the action, but even she isn’t sure what to expect when the aliens finally emerge. Only one thing is clear: everything has changed. Perfect for fans of THE FIFTH WAVE and the I AM NUMBER FOUR series!

Catrina and her family are moving to the coast of Northern California because her little sister, Maya, has cystic fibrosis and will benefit from the cool, salty air that blows in from the sea. As the girls explore their new home, a neighbor lets them in on a secret: There are ghosts in Bahía de la Luna. Maya is determined to meet one, but Cat wants nothing to do with them. As the time of year when ghosts reunite with their loved ones approaches, Cat must figure out how to put aside her fears for her sister's sake - and her own. Raina Telgemeier has masterfully created a moving and insightful story about the power of family and friendship, and how it gives us the courage to do what we never thought possible.

"First man in, last man out" had always been Tommy's dad's motto, yet he never said anything about leaving in an ambulance. Now Tommy's biggest battle has nothing to do with a football field.

Inspired by the author's own experience with his teenage son, this captivating, heartfelt, and powerful novel addresses tough mental health issues and lingers long beyond the last page. MATURE THEMES: This book contains language or subject matter that may be considered objectionable. We believe this book makes a valuable contribution to literature and should be available to young adult readers, but it may not be appropriate for every student.

The thrilling true adventure story of Allied efforts to destroy the Nazis’ nuclear production facility in Norway.

As a lethal plague sweeps through the land, Ani Mells is shocked when she is unexpectedly captured by the governor's wardens and forced to submit to a test for the deadly Scourge. She is even more surprised when the test results come back positive, and she is sent to Attic Island, a former prison turned refuge—and quarantine colony—for the ill. The Scourge’s victims, Ani now among them, can only expect to live out short, painful lives there. However, Ani quickly discovers that she doesn’t know the whole truth about the Scourge or the Colony. She’s been caught in a devious plot, and, with the help of her best friend Weevil, Ani means to uncover just what is actually going on. But will she and Weevil survive the Scourge—and the governor’s wardens—long enough to make their escape and expose the cruel plan?

The extraordinary and long forgotten story of Irena Sendler - the "female Oskar Schindler" - who took staggering risks to save 2,500 children from death and deportation during World War II. Adapted from the adult biography for a younger audience.

On the farm where Otis the tractor lives, it hasn't rained in a long time and farmers all over the valley have grown anxious with water in such short supply. One hot afternoon, Otis sees something else that causes his engine to sputter . . . a swirl of smoke coming from the barn. As Otis races toward the fire with his friends in tow, he spots an orange tabby cat mewing in alarm. When Otis discovers that the source of the cat's worries are her little kittens perched up on the hayloft, it's up to him to save the day. But will the friend everyone can count on be able to count on his friends when he is trapped inside?

Magic is real - and it runs in the family - in this charming fantasy adventure about a boy who must balance his magical education with the demands of big-brotherhood. Henry Leach the Eighth doesn't know it yet, but he's descended from a long line of wandmakers. That means he has inherited mysterious powers, a trunk full of strange artifacts... and a whole host of problems. His biggest problem at the moment, however, is his little sister, Brianna. She's always had a special talent for getting in his way. And she takes troublemaking to new heights when she's caught in the crossfire of Henry's first major spell! Heartfelt, funny, and imaginative, WANDMAKER is sure to leave young readers spellbound.

Max is about to face the scariest place he’s ever been: South Ridge Middle School! He has been home-schooled by his grandmother until now, and he’s begged his parents to finally let him start attending public middle school. He’s starting to question that choice, though, with the “Thomas Silver Problem”. As in, Thomas Silver keeps stuffing Max in his locker. If only Max could be like the hero in all the comics he likes to read, or the ones he draws, and magically escape the locker and defeat Tommy. Unfortunately, Max’s uncanny, almost superhuman ability to smell pizza from a block away won’t exactly save any lives or foil bad guys. But that doesn’t mean Max won’t do his best to be the hero his school needs!

This adventurous, hands-on activity kit and book is for the fan-boy or –girl, ages 8 and up, who go crazy over fantastical worlds and magical universes. Designed for optimal engagement, Mythical Beasts will teach kids about otherworldly creatures and provide them a rare opportunity to use the included skeleton figures, modeling clay, and metallic paint to create and customize their own mythical beasts and stage them for an epic battle of the ages!

A little myth. A little magic. A lot of hope, joy, and inspiration. A magical world where snowballs talk and sing and winter’s chill is welcomed with a ring. In Winter’s Song, a fanciful winter wonderland adventure deep in the most northern reaches of the Arctic, we join two sibling snowballs, Puff and Pearl, in the frosty town of Snowfall. Every year the residents of Snowfall make preparations for their biggest celebration—the Winter Solstice Festival, where “Winter’s Song” is song by one special snowball. “Winter’s Song” is a special invitation to North Wind to come and blow on the town a fresh layer of pure white snow, signifying his blessing and provision for them all year long. It’s been a few years since anyone has sung “Winter’s Song” well enough to bring in North Wind, and Snowfall has been slowly melting away. Will Puff and Pearl find the courage to sing for North Wind and save Snowfall, or will the little town be lost forever?

Come face-to-face with enormous eyes, huge noses, poisonous fangs, fluffy cheeks, and colorful beaks in ANIMAL FACES. Most animals have many features in common with one another--eyes, noses, ears, mouths--so it's amazing that there are so many different-looking faces in the world! ANIMAL FACES is a completely original way to look at all the animal groups on Earth. By looking at some familiar animal faces--and some that are very rarely seen--young readers will learn about the main animal groups: hairy mammals, scaly reptiles, feathered birds, goggle-eyed amphibians, creepy bugs, and extraordinary fish! Why do birds have differently shaped beaks? Why do some spiders have eight eyes? How do some animals use their faces to scare off other animals? How well can an elephant smell? All these questions, and many more, are answered in a simple, fun way, accompanied by amazing photographs. Includes an adorable panda plush.