Elana K. Arnold

Starla Jean is officially a chicken expert, which means she knows firsthand that walking a chicken on a leash is no simple task. However, a little difficulty has never stopped the intrepid Starla Jean from doing what she wants. Accompanied by her beloved pet chicken, Opal Egg, and her baby sister, Willa, Starla sets out for a seemingly ordinary stroll through the neighborhood. But this walk quickly transforms into an exciting investigation when they stumble upon a mysterious, out-of-place bead glittering on the sidewalk. When they spot another bead shortly after, Starla realizes they have a genuine conundrum on their hands! A trail of clues is unfolding right beneath their feet. Now, it is entirely up to Starla, Opal Egg, and their friends to track down the evidence, piece together the puzzle, and discover exactly who is losing these colorful beads. Armed with sharp observation skills and her signature moxie, Starla Jean is ready to crack the case in this hilarious and charming neighborhood adventure.

Bixby Alexander Tam, known to everyone as Bat, thrives on routine and predictability. However, the approaching summer threatens to upend everything he holds dear. The end of third grade means saying a difficult goodbye to his favorite teacher and worrying about who will take care of Babycakes, the beloved class pet, over the break. To make matters worse, his best friend is leaving for an extended vacation in Canada, leaving Bat feeling isolated. The biggest and most heartbreaking change of all involves Thor, the adorable skunk kit Bat has been painstakingly caring for. Thor is growing up rapidly and the day for his release back into the wild is quickly approaching. Bat knows it is the right thing to do, but letting go of his animal best friend feels impossible. Amidst the swirling anxieties of these major transitions, the summer does hold some bright spots. Bat looks forward to spending more time working alongside his mother at her veterinary clinic and hanging out with his older sister, Janie. As he navigates the overwhelming feeling that his world is ending, Bat must learn to process his deep emotions, adapt to uncomfortable changes, and discover that saying goodbye to one chapter simply makes room for a new one to begin.

Starla Jean is a girl full of endless moxie and razor-sharp cleverness. When she spots a scrawny, wandering chicken at the local park, she feels an instant and undeniable connection. Starla Jean just knows in her heart that she and this unusual bird are absolutely destined to be best friends. Her father, highly skeptical of the situation, issues a clear challenge: if she can manage to catch the speedy chicken, she is allowed to keep it. Anyone who knows Starla Jean knows she has never backed down from a dare in her entire life. What follows is a hilarious and determined pursuit as Starla utilizes all her wits to capture her feathered prize. This charming story introduces a highly spirited young heroine who knows exactly what she wants and will go to great, comedic lengths to achieve her goals, proving that sometimes the best friendships come from the most unexpected places.

Harriet Wermer is absolutely, positively thrilled to be spending her entire summer vacation far away from her parents and the meticulously planned schedule she had been looking forward to all year. Alright, so maybe she is not telling the complete truth. Lying is something Harriet occasionally struggles with, alongside her intense frustration that her father shipped her off to Marble Island without asking for her opinion. Now, she is stuck at her grandmother Nanu's cozy bed-and-breakfast, accompanied only by her perfect cat, Matzo Ball, and Nanu's droopy old basset hound, Moneypenny. Despite her initial resentment, Harriet quickly realizes that the small California island is not the boring exile she expected. The quirky bed-and-breakfast is filled with unusual guests and endless nooks to explore. The real excitement begins when she accidentally uncovers a genuine mystery deeply connected to her father's own childhood spent on the island. Armed with her sharp wit and a burning curiosity, Harriet decides that getting to the bottom of this decades-old secret is the perfect way to spend her summer. She is going to solve the case, uncover the facts about her dad, and have a real adventure. And that is the honest truth.

Riley knows exactly how to dress for every single occasion, trusting inner feelings rather than societal rules. When Monday morning brings a wave of shyness, Riley bravely faces the school day wearing a full bunny costume with floppy ears. On Tuesday, a highly intimidating trip to the dentist's office absolutely requires the courage provided by a superhero cape. Later in the week, a fancy outing with Otto and Oma calls for the most elegant ball gown in the closet. Throughout a bustling week filled with family, friends, and everyday adventures, Riley confidently wears whatever clothing feels right in the moment. This heartwarming and vibrant story celebrates the pure joy of creative self-expression. It gently encourages young readers to embrace their authentic selves, play with their imagination, and proudly wear what makes them feel comfortable and strong, regardless of what anyone else might expect.

When everything fun is canceled and the whole family is stuck at home feeling bored, a simple walk outside turns into an incredible surprise. Resting alone in the grass are two abandoned duck eggs, waiting for someone to care for them. Dad decides to bring them home, and suddenly, the boring days are over. Your whole family will love following along as everyone works together to keep the eggs warm and safe. You will read, learn, and wait right alongside them until the very best day arrives and Pip and Zip finally hatch! This comforting and joyful story reminds you that even during the longest, quietest days, amazing new life and wonderful surprises are just waiting to be discovered.

While walking on a sweltering day, a young girl named Kiki makes a startling discovery: a dry, gasping fish stranded right in the middle of the hot asphalt. Thinking quickly, Kiki scoops the creature up and rushes it home, gently placing it in her bathtub. As the cool water revives it, the fish begins to swim, rapidly grow in size, and miraculously, starts to speak. Grateful for being rescued, the magical creature offers to grant Kiki a single wish as a reward. However, there is a distinct catch. This particular creature is only a fish of small wishes, and the grand dream Kiki holds in her heart is far too big for it to fulfill. Faced with this magical limitation, Kiki must use her creativity and empathy. Together, the girl and the magical fish must figure out a clever way to collaborate, ensuring that both Kiki's deepest desires and the fish's own needs can beautifully come true.

The highly determined Starla Jean is back, and she is entirely focused on executing the most important mission of the year: throwing the ultimate first birthday party for her baby sister, Willa. Starla has a comprehensive checklist to guarantee success. She needs to string up beautiful decorations, keep her beloved pet chicken Opal Egg out of trouble, and gather all the necessary ingredients to bake a spectacular cake. She also desperately hopes Opal Egg will finally lay a real egg in time for the celebration. With invitations sent and the new neighbor Nate's mischievous kitten thrown into the mix, the stage is set for a wild afternoon. Naturally, nothing goes exactly according to Starla's meticulous plan. In true Starla Jean fashion, a series of hilarious and unexpected surprises threatens to completely derail the festivities. Between wrangling farm animals in the house and attempting to bake a masterpiece, Starla must learn to go with the flow and discover that sometimes the most chaotic surprises make for the absolute best birthday memories.

It appears to be a completely average morning in a quiet, bustling neighborhood. Children are happily playing outside, beautiful rose bushes are being carefully watered, and a watchful crow observes the peaceful routines from high above. But today, this typical neighborhood is about to experience the profound depth of the circle of life. Two very important visitors pull up to two different houses on the very same street. At one home, a family gathers with overwhelming joy to welcome a precious new baby into the world. Just a few doors down, another family comes together in quiet sadness to say a tender, final goodbye to a deeply beloved pet. This moving and sensitive story gently explores the intertwined realities of beginnings and endings. It beautifully illustrates how the deepest bonds of family and the most extraordinary, life-changing moments quietly unfold right in the middle of our most ordinary days.

Bixby Alexander Tam, who prefers to be called Bat, knows that life is full of unexpected surprises. As a boy on the autism spectrum, he greatly prefers routines and animal facts over loud noises and unpredictable changes. Some surprises are difficult to handle, but today happens to be an incredibly good-surprise day. His mother, a dedicated veterinarian, arrives home from work carrying a tiny, orphaned baby skunk. She explains that the kit only needs temporary care until he is strong enough to be transferred to a wild-animal rescue shelter. However, the very second Bat locks eyes with the little skunk, he feels an instant and unbreakable bond. He names the kit Thor and immediately declares him the best pet in the entire world. Now, Bat is on a strict deadline. He has exactly one month to prove to his skeptical mother that a skunk can be a perfectly well-behaved and loving addition to their household. Along the way, Bat navigates the everyday challenges of school, connects with his older sister Janie, and discovers that caring for another creature might just be the key to opening up his own world.

Harriet Wermer has made a major life change: she no longer tells lies. After a rocky start to her summer vacation, she has fully embraced her new policy of absolute honesty. What began as a dreaded trip to Marble Island has turned into a summer she never wants to end. With her mother and new baby brother finally back home from the hospital, Harriet's time at her grandmother Nanu's bed-and-breakfast is drawing to a close. She is preparing to pack her bags and say goodbye to the wonderful friends she has made. The peaceful end to her vacation is abruptly interrupted when she makes a terrible discovery. Moneypenny, Nanu's beloved and adorable basset hound, has been poisoned. Harriet knows instantly that the culprit must be one of the eccentric guests staying at the bed-and-breakfast. Teaming up with her best friend Clarence, Harriet dives headfirst into a brand new investigation. When another mysterious illness strikes the island, the stakes are raised even higher. Harriet must sharpen her sleuthing skills, practice her sneakiest spying techniques, and confront the difficult reality that the truth is sometimes much more complicated than a simple fact.

Life is going exceptionally well for Bixby Alexander Tam, better known as Bat. He has settled into a comfortable routine as the primary caretaker for Thor, the absolute best baby skunk in the world. Even his older sister, Janie, has started to show a soft spot for the adorable animal. However, Bat's carefully structured world is thrown into chaos when Janie lands a role in the upcoming school play. With play practice consuming her afternoons, she can no longer watch Bat after school, and she begins spending her weekends having sleepovers with her new theater friends. Bat strongly dislikes these unexpected disruptions to his schedule. Someone else has to step in to help care for Thor, and the house feels strangely empty without Janie around. Navigating these uncomfortable changes forces Bat to step outside his comfort zone. He begins spending more time with his classmate Israel, slowly figuring out the complicated rules of making a real friend. Bat just has to survive the agonizingly long wait until the opening night of Janie's performance, hoping that once the curtain falls, his life can finally return to the normal he so deeply craves.