Erin Entrada Kelly

Meet Felix Powell! He's not just any kid; he can actually talk to animals! His best friend, Mary Puppins the dog, knows all his secrets. But one day, something truly amazing (and a little bit wacky!) happens. Felix wakes up to find himself... a dog! Can you imagine waking up with a tail that just won't stop wagging? Now Felix sees the world in a whole new way. What's it like to only see black and white? How will he handle Gumbo, the neighborhood's very snobby cat? And the biggest question of all: Will Felix ever turn back into a boy, or is he stuck as a dog forever? Join Felix and Mary Puppins on a funny, magical adventure filled with unexpected twists and turns. This exciting chapter book, filled with black-and-white drawings on almost every page, is all about friendship, imagination, and learning what it's like to be someone (or something!) else. Get ready for a barking good time as Felix discovers the ups and downs of life on four paws!

Eight-year-old Marisol Rainey has a truly spectacular imagination, but she also has a lot of very real worries. Her mother was born in the Philippines, and her father spends most of his time living and working on an oil rig far away in the Gulf of Mexico. This leaves Marisol feeling like she is the only girl in her small Louisiana town with such a complicated family setup. While she loves giving names to the inanimate objects around her, there is one thing in her own backyard that completely terrifies her. It is a large, sturdy tree she calls Peppina, and Marisol is entirely too frightened to climb its inviting branches. As the long summer stretches out ahead of her, Marisol must figure out how to handle the neighborhood bully, spend quality time with her best friend Jada, and maybe, just maybe, find the inner bravery to finally conquer that tree. This deeply relatable and funny story is a beautiful celebration of quiet courage, the ups and downs of deep friendships, and the slow, steady triumph of facing your everyday fears.

There is a dangerous beast currently roaming loose in the neighborhood, and Marisol Rainey is absolutely terrified. She has never actually been formally introduced to the neighbor's massive German shepherd, but she and her best friend Jada have appropriately nicknamed him Daggers. When missing posters suddenly appear all over town, Marisol learns the dog's real name is Gregory. But knowing his real name does not make her feel any better. As long as he is wandering around without a leash, he will always be the frightening Daggers to her. She is so worried that she cannot sleep, and she refuses to even ride her bicycle outside. What if he jumps out from the bushes? Strangely, no one else in town seems to be nearly as panicked about the situation as she is. To restore peace to her summer, Marisol must dig deep to find her confidence. This warm, funny, and highly relatable adventure shows exactly what happens when you decide to stand up, step outside your comfort zone, and face down the things that scare you the most.

The Big Problem Almost everyone loves playing sports, except for Marisol Rainey. She generally tries to avoid physical education class at all costs. Her strategy usually works out fine, until Coach Decker makes a completely dreadful announcement: the entire class is going to learn how to play kickball. The Worst Case Scenario In Marisol's anxious mind, there are a million different ways that a game of kickball can go terribly wrong. What if she runs up to kick the heavy rubber ball and falls flat on her face? What if she tries to catch a pop fly and gets smacked right in the nose? She is absolutely convinced she is going to be the worst athlete in the history of the school. The Unlikely Coach Desperate to avoid total embarrassment on the field, Marisol and her best friend Jada realize they need some serious help. They turn to the most unlikely and annoying source possible: Marisol's older brother, Oz. This hilarious and heartwarming story captures the anxiety of trying new things and the wonderful triumph of giving it your absolute best shot.

Under normal circumstances, language arts is Marisol Rainey's absolute favorite class of the day. Her teacher, Mrs. Ruby, always goes out of her way to make her feel smart and special. But everything changes when Mrs. Ruby makes a completely dreadful announcement to the classroom: every student must write their very own original haiku. Writing a poem is difficult enough, but there is a horrifying catch. Every single kid has to stand up and read their short poem out loud in front of the entire class. Marisol would rather swim through a giant tank filled with stinging jellyfish than step up to the front of the room. Her mind races with wild escape plans. Maybe she can pretend to be sick, transfer to a brand new school across town, or suddenly discover a magic spell that makes her invisible. As the dreaded presentation day draws closer, Marisol has to decide if she will run away from her stage fright or finally figure out a way to take her turn. This joyful and reassuring story highlights the everyday bravery it takes to simply believe in yourself.

Have you ever wanted a robot friend? For Zuzu Santos, a robot is the last thing she wants! She and her best friends, the Valleycats, love exploring their home in Bright Valley. It's a dusty place with a bright sun, but it's *their* home. One day, Zuzu's dad brings home an old robot named Snap. Snap is a bit of a know-it-all, but he soon becomes a special part of their family. There's just one problem: Snap's battery is running low, and there's no easy way to charge him up. Zuzu can’t imagine losing her new friend. She'll do whatever it takes to help Snap stay with them. But Snap cares about Zuzu too, and he's ready to do anything to protect her and the Valleycats. Join Zuzu and Snap on an unforgettable adventure about friendship, family, and what it means to truly care for someone, even if they're made of metal!

The year is 1999, and twelve-year-old Michael Rosario is dealing with normal middle school problems: a massive crush on his teenage babysitter and the looming anxiety of the Y2K computer bug. But his ordinary life in a Delaware apartment complex is turned upside down when a strange, highly confident boy named Ridge suddenly appears out of nowhere. Ridge is fascinated by payphones, microwaves, and shopping malls—things that shouldn't be exciting to a normal teenager. The truth is, Ridge is not from around here. He is the world's very first time traveler, accidentally stranded two hundred years in the past. As Michael helps his new friend navigate the strange landscape of the late nineties, he discovers that Ridge carries a book detailing the next twenty years of history. Michael desperately wants to read it to prepare for his own future, but he soon faces an impossible choice. Should he help Ridge find a way back to his own time, or keep his only true friend hidden in 1999 forever? This brilliant adventure explores the powerful bonds of friendship, the fear of the unknown, and the magic of living in the present moment.

Meet Sol and her little sister, Ming! They moved all the way from the Philippines to Louisiana, but life hasn't been easy. Their dad is gone, and they live with their strict stepmother, Vea. It’s up to Sol to protect Ming, even when things get tough. Sol loves to tell stories, just like her mother did. These stories are a special way for her to escape when the world feels hard. Ming has her own big dreams, too. She believes their mythical, world-traveling Auntie Jove will come rescue them. Can Sol keep Ming's hope alive without letting her down? Join Sol and Ming on their journey to find strength, happiness, and the real meaning of family. This heartwarming story is about the unbreakable bond between sisters, the power of imagination, and how even in difficult times, you can always find a way to hope.

In just one day, four completely different kids will find their lives tangled together in the most unexpected way. Virgil Salinas is shy, kindhearted, and feels totally out of place in his loud, sports-obsessed family. Valencia Somerset is smart, brave, and deaf, spending her days exploring nature while secretly feeling lonely. Kaori Tanaka is a confident, self-proclaimed psychic who never goes anywhere without her little sister. And Chet Bullens is the neighborhood bully who just wishes everyone would stop being so weird. These four are not friends, until a cruel prank goes terribly wrong, trapping Virgil and his beloved pet guinea pig at the bottom of an abandoned well. This sudden disaster sparks an epic, neighborhood-wide quest. Guided by Kaori's psychic visions and Valencia's sharp instincts, the kids must race against time to perform a daring rescue. Told from four unique points of view, this award-winning story is a funny and deeply moving adventure about bravery, standing up to bullies, and the strange, wonderful ways the universe brings true friends together.

Meet Felix Powell. He is not your average everyday kid. In fact, he happens to be a squirrel. Navigating the unpredictable world is tricky enough when you are just trying to figure out exactly who you are, but it becomes even more complicated when you are dealing with a bushy tail and the daily challenges of being a little bit different from everyone else around you. Join Felix on a hilarious, heartfelt, and unforgettable journey of self-discovery. As he leaps from one unexpected situation to the next, he slowly learns that making loyal friends and standing tall means fully embracing the unique traits that make you stand out. Blending bright humor with gentle fantasy, this captivating story explores the universal ups and downs of growing up. Whether you are climbing the tallest trees or simply trying to find your place in the crowd, Felix will show you that being true to yourself is the greatest adventure of all.

The year is 1986, and the whole country is holding its breath for the launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger. But for the three Nelson Thomas siblings, the biggest challenges are happening right on the ground in their own tense household. Cash loves basketball, but a newly broken wrist and the threat of failing seventh grade for the second time have him feeling totally lost. His brother Fitch spends every afternoon at the arcade, battling an explosive temper he cannot seem to control. Meanwhile, twelve-year-old Bird dreams of becoming the first female shuttle commander for NASA, yet she feels like she is slowly disappearing inside her own family. The three siblings exist in their own separate orbits, until their science teacher assigns a special project that groups them into spacecraft crews. As the highly anticipated launch day approaches, Cash, Fitch, and Bird must learn to navigate their personal struggles and figure out how to work together. This unforgettable and deeply moving novel explores the complex bonds of family, the power of science, and what it truly means to find your place in the universe.

Twelve-year-old Lila had the perfect summer planned: win back the friends who called her too dramatic and prove she has completely changed. But when her estranged Grandpa Clem suddenly passes away, Lila is dragged to Ohio to help her parents deal with his creepy Victorian Inn. Things get weird almost immediately. Lila starts seeing people in old-fashioned clothes that nobody else can see. She tries to brush it off as her overactive imagination, until the day of the funeral when she spots her own grandfather sitting in his favorite chair. Grandpa Clem reveals a shocking secret: he did not die of a heart attack. He was murdered. Even wilder, his bed and breakfast is actually a portal between the living and the dead, a hotel for ghosts! Now, Lila must team up with her skeptical brother and a ghost-obsessed neighbor to uncover the truth behind her grandfather's death. Together, they have to stop evil spirits from crossing into the human world before the inn's dark secrets trap them forever.

Jump In Every single day in the small factory town of Fawn Creek, Louisiana, feels exactly the same. There are only twelve kids in the seventh grade, and they have known each other their entire lives. Everyone knows everything about everyone else, and the tightly knit social groups are impossible to escape. Even though the school's former queen bee has moved away to a bigger city, she still manages to pull everyone's strings from afar. The New Girl Everything shifts the moment Orchid Mason walks into the classroom and claims the empty thirteenth desk. Orchid is completely different from anyone else in Fawn Creek. She claims to have just moved from Paris, she wears long dresses that sweep the floor, and she always tucks a flower behind her ear. Suddenly, the established cliques are thrown off balance. Why You Will Love It As the various groups rush to claim the mysterious new student as their own, the town's outsiders begin to wonder if they have finally found a true friend. This captivating and emotionally rich story beautifully captures the struggles of middle school drama, the heavy weight of peer pressure, and the quiet courage it takes to discover who you really are.

Twelve-year-old Charlotte Lockard and eleven-year-old Ben Boxer live more than a thousand miles apart, but they share a secret connection. Charlotte lives in Pennsylvania and dreams of becoming a geologist, while Ben lives in Louisiana and is completely obsessed with presidential history and recycling. On the surface, their lives look totally different. However, these two highly gifted kids have much more in common than they realize. Both are dealing with sudden family turmoil, and both know exactly what it feels like to sit completely alone in the middle school cafeteria. Their only real escape is the online Scrabble game they play together. Over the course of a single, challenging week, Charlotte and Ben will find their lives intersecting in unexpected and meaningful ways. You will easily relate to this heartfelt story about the complicated world of middle school friendships, bullying, and finding your place. Step into a journey of resilience and discover how a simple word game can build a bridge between two lonely kids who just need someone to understand them.

Life on the island of Sanlagita is incredibly difficult, especially while living in the dark shadow of a towering, unforgiving mountain. Twelve-year-old Lalani Sarita considers herself to be just an ordinary girl, but when a fateful wish accidentally puts her entire village in terrible danger, she knows she must be the one to fix it. Determined to save her home, Lalani takes on a nearly impossible task. She sets sail across the vast and mysterious distant sea to seek out life's good fortunes. It is a legendary journey that even the bravest villagers have never completed. Along the way, she encounters a breathtaking landscape filled with extraordinary magical creatures inspired by Filipino folklore, from massive bird-women to wondrous beasts. This beautifully woven fantasy adventure tests Lalani's courage at every turn, proving that you do not need to be a mighty warrior to choose your own destiny and become the hero your world needs.

An Unlikely Hero When World War II reached the Philippines, Josefina Guerrero was facing a devastating personal battle after being diagnosed with a serious illness. Believing she did not have much time left, Joey decided to dedicate her life to fighting for freedom. She courageously joined the resistance movement, stepping up to help complete dangerous, highly secretive missions. Behind Enemy Lines Because of her medical condition, enemy soldiers rarely stopped or searched her. Joey used this to her advantage, working as an undercover courier to transport vital information. She even managed to smuggle an invaluable map of explosive minefields by bravely taping it directly to her back. A Lasting Legacy This remarkable true story traces Joey's incredible journey from a fearless spy to a recognized war hero who eventually moved to the United States. Despite facing immense discrimination and health struggles, her powerful perseverance never faded. Discover the inspiring, little-known history of a legendary woman whose breathtaking courage helped change the course of history.

When Pacy Mercado and Cecil Holloway lock eyes during their first week of freshman year, it is practically love at first sight. Unfortunately, that perfect moment is immediately shattered by an epic display of clumsiness and a highly inconvenient bout of stomach issues. Despite having absolutely zero romantic game, Pacy and Cecil cannot deny they are drawn to one another. What starts as seven seconds of intense eye contact quickly spirals into days of chaotic stress. Desperate to make a good impression, you watch them follow the worst possible relationship advice from well-meaning friends, eccentric family members, and entirely unqualified strangers on the internet. Fate intervenes when both teens are forced onto the Wakeville Awesome Decor Society committee to plan the upcoming freshman dance. Forced into close quarters surrounded by streamers and party planning disasters, Pacy and Cecil must figure out how to stop pretending. If they can embrace their hilariously awkward mishaps and endless mistakes, they just might stumble their way into an imperfectly perfect romance.

Starting fresh at a brand new school is always intimidating, and Lewis is just hoping to finally make a good friend. He definitely never expected that friend to be a hyper-intelligent, incredibly cuddly stuffed panda bear. Gifted by his father, his new toy is an exclusive, kids-only artificial intelligence device with a mind entirely of its own. When other students at school start showing up with their own robot pandas, Lewis suddenly finds himself at the center of a popular friend group. Everything seems completely perfect until his adorable robotic companion begins suggesting highly risky and alarming tasks. Desperate to keep his new social status, Lewis plays along, ignoring the nervous feeling in his stomach. But as the boundary between cute and creepy starts to blur, Lewis realizes there is something deeply sinister hiding behind his toy's glowing eyes. This fast-paced and thrilling technological mystery will keep you guessing about what happens when the gadgets we trust decide they want to rewrite the rules.

Twelve-year-old Apple has always felt like she does not quite fit in with her classmates. After moving to Louisiana from the Philippines when she was little, she constantly feels caught between two worlds. Her mother still cooks traditional Filipino foods and often scolds Apple for becoming too American, making her feel even more out of place. Things go from bad to worse when her middle school friends suddenly turn their backs on her. With everything in her life feeling weird and embarrassing, Apple decides to turn to her biggest passion: music. She believes that if she can just save up enough money to buy a guitar and learn how to play, she can completely change who she is. But as she dives into her musical dreams, she meets two new friends who might just change her perspective entirely. You will root for Apple as she navigates the painful sting of middle school drama, discovers the healing power of music, and learns that true friends will love you exactly the way you are.

Eleven-year-old Sofia Mendoza is a dedicated gamer who thrives behind a screen, not an outdoorsy camper who enjoys roughing it in the woods. She would much rather be safely at home building digital landscapes and battling pixelated monsters in her favorite sandbox game. Instead, she finds herself dropped deep into the dense, unsettling woods with five other kids for a bizarre summer camp experience. Right from the start, Sofia can tell something is terribly wrong with Camp Forestjaw. The trees are heavily patrolled by creepy mechanical drones, mysterious cloaked figures silently wander the grounds, and the only adult in charge is an intimidating woman who runs the camp like a strict military base. Then, a terrifying game of elimination officially begins. Trapped in this high-stakes nightmare, Sofia realizes the forest operates under a twisted set of rules where every mistake you have ever made comes back to haunt you. To survive this glitchy reality, she will have to level up her courage and play the hardest game of her life.