Illustrator Profile
Karen De la Vega
5 Books
Karen De la Vega is a talented illustrator and comic artist whose dynamic artwork brings children's graphic novels and illustrated series to life. She has provided the visuals for exciting sequential-art adaptations of popular stories, including The Lemonade War, The Boxcar Children, and the I Survived historical fiction series.
A magnet clicks onto the refrigerator, a compass needle turns, and Earth itself acts like a giant magnetic force. In Max Axiom's lab, those everyday wonders become a hands-on science adventure. This graphic nonfiction book introduces magnetism in a clear, visual way, explaining how magnets attract, repel, and interact with certain materials. Max guides readers through the big ideas with comic-style panels, friendly explanations, and simple experiments that can be tried at home with safe, common objects. Young scientists will come away with a stronger sense of why magnets behave the way they do and where magnetism appears in daily life. Understanding Magnetism in Max Axiom's Lab is a lively pick for curious readers who like science facts, experiments, and learning through comics.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
36 Pages
Light is everywhere: in sunshine, shadows, lamps, mirrors, and the tiny glow of fireflies. Inside Max Axiom's lab, readers get to slow it down and ask how it actually works. This graphic nonfiction book explores what light is, how it travels, and why it makes sight possible. Comic-style panels help explain key ideas in a bright, approachable way, while Max demonstrates simple experiments that connect science to things you can observe at home. The book keeps the explanations clear without taking away the wonder, making it a good fit for readers who enjoy visual learning and hands-on discovery. Exploring Light in Max Axiom's Lab turns an everyday part of the world into an inviting first look at physics, observation, and scientific thinking.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
32 Pages
A quiet summer on the coast turns into an Alden mystery almost overnight. Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny are helping Aunt Jane settle into her seaside home when a boat named Alden Explorer washes ashore. The name is strange enough, but the clues that follow are even stranger: a journal, rumors of buried treasure, and a puzzle that reaches far back into the past. The Aldens do what they do best, asking questions, comparing clues, and working together as a family to uncover what is really going on. X Marks the Spot is a classic-style Boxcar Children chapter book mystery with treasure-hunt excitement, a coastal setting, and enough suspense to keep young detectives turning the pages.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
128 Pages
Aunt Jane's attic is supposed to hold old belongings, not the start of a treasure hunt. But when the Alden children find a mysterious chest and a letter written in riddles, they cannot resist following the clues. The trail points toward a legend of hidden treasure on the island, and soon Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny realize they may not be the only ones searching. Every clue raises new questions, and every answer seems to lead deeper into the mystery. Legend of the Hidden Treasure gives young readers a classic Boxcar Children adventure with riddles, teamwork, and just enough danger to make the hunt exciting. It is a good pick for chapter book readers who enjoy clever clues, family mysteries, and stories where curiosity opens the door to adventure.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
144 Pages
A missing friend, an old legend, and a mountain full of secrets send the Aldens west. When Cousin Joe needs help finding someone who has disappeared, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny follow the trail to Arizona's Superstition Mountains. There they hear stories of a lost gold mine that has drawn treasure hunters for more than a century. Is the legend only a story, or is it connected to the mystery in front of them? As the Aldens search for clues, they must sort history from rumor and stay alert in unfamiliar territory. Secret of Superstition Mountain is a fast-moving Boxcar Children chapter book mystery with desert adventure, family teamwork, and the excitement of a puzzle rooted in the past.
6-8 Years
9-12 Years
144 Pages
