The Mysterious Messenger is a rich middle grade urban fantasy debut starring young psychic Maria de la Cruz, by the award-winning artist Gilbert Ford. Eleven-year-old Maria de la Cruz is trapped under the thumb of Madame Destine, her pseudo-psychic mother. Destine is a bona fide con artist who will stop at nothing to swindle her customers into believing she can communicate with the dead. But Maria, unlike her mother, has a big secret--she reallycan communicate with the dead, most frequently with a ghost named Edward who has been her only friend since she was a child. It's not long before this clairvoyant young sleuth gets wrapped up in an epic journey that combines bookish mystery with the literary movement of the Beat poets and art and jazz history. Maria may have the power to unlock extraordinary secrets, but can she find the treasure Edward sends her clues about? More importantly, can she find true friendship? This smart, big-hearted debut novel is perfect for fans ofBook Scavenger,Winterhouse, andThe Vanderbeekers of 141st Street. Christy Ottaviano Books

The Mysterious Messenger

Children's Books

Ford, Gilbert

Science Fiction & Fantasy

Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

Macmillan Young Listeners

Mysterious Messenger, The

Square Fish

<div>* "These innovations in transportation should inspire readers to go far." - Kirkus Reviews, starred review Celebrating the invention of vehicles, this collective biography tells the inspiring stories of the visionaries who changed the way we move&nbsp;across air, water, and land. Perfect for fans of Mistakes that Worked and Girls Think of Everything. In a time when people believed flying was impossible, Joseph and Etienne Montgolfier proved that the sky wasn't the limit. When most thought horseback was the only way to race, Bertha and Karl Benz fired up their engines. From the invention of the bicycle and&nbsp;the passenger steam locomotive, to the first liquid-fuel propelled rocket and industrial robot, inventors across the world have redefined travel. Filled with informative sidebars and colorful illustrations, this collective biography tells the story of the experiments, failures, and successes of visionaries who changed the way the world moves.</div>

From Here to There: Inventions That Changed the Way the World Moves

Kirkfield, Vivian

Biographies

Clarion Books

The doves flock together, nest together, and sing together. In the winter they travel south, in the spring they return north. Then one day a new bird flies on the scene. A big, noisy bird with twin engines and lots of legroom. The strange new bird ruffles the flock's feathers. But even as the doves turn their backs on him, their unwelcome companion makes himself quite useful. He might even teach them a new way to fly. . . . Gilbert Ford's debut picture book combines the right amount of silliness with a heartwarming message about finding one's place in the world.

Flying Lessons

Animals

Hyperion Book CH

With magnificent dioramic illustrations, Gilbert Ford captures the joy, creativity, and determination behind the invention of an iconic, one-of-a-kind toy: the Slinky! One day, a spring fell from the desk of Richard James, an engineer and a dreamer. Its coils took a walk…and so did Richard’s imagination. He knew right away that he had stumbled onto something marvelous. With the help of his wife, Betty, Richard took this ordinary spring and turned it into a plaything. But it wasn’t just any old trinket—it was a Slinky, and it would become one of the most popular toys in American history.

The Marvelous Thing That Came from a Spring: The Accidental Invention of the Toy That Swept the Nation

Atheneum Books for Young Readers

In this unique and clever picture book, Gilbert Ford sheds a little light on everyone’s favorite sweet treat—the chocolate chip cookie—and reminds readers everywhere that just because a story is told doesn’t mean it’s true. Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! Mmmmm! Everyone loves chocolate chip cookies! But not everyone knows where they came from. Meet Ruth Wakefield, the talented chef and entrepreneur who started a restaurant, wrote a cookbook, and invented this delicious dessert. But just how did she do it, you ask? That’s where things get messy! So sit back and grab a cookie to read a story—or three—about how this round, crispy, chocolatey piece of perfection came to be. Which tale is true? Well, what do you think?

How the Cookie Crumbled: The True (and Not-So-True) Stories of the Invention of the Chocolate Chip Cookie

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Books by Ford, Gilbert