Winner of the 2015 Westchester Fiction Award Changers Book One: Drew is a New York Public Library summer reading pick! "Changers should appeal to a broad demographic. Teenagers, after all, are the world’s leading experts on trying on, and then promptly discarding, new identities." --New York Times Book Review "'Selfie' backlash has begun: The Unselfie project wants to help people quit clogging social media with pictures of themselves and start capturing the intriguing world around them." --O, The Oprah Magazine, on the We Are Changers Unselfie project "This is more than just a "message" book about how we all need to be more understanding of each other. The imaginative premise is wrapped around a moving story about gender, identity, friendship, bravery, rebellion vs. conformity, and thinking outside the box." --School Library Journal "A thought-provoking exploration of identity, gender, and sexualityan excellent read for any teens questioning their sense of self." --Publishers Weekly (starred review) Changers Book One: Drew opens on the eve of Ethan Miller's freshman year of high school in a brand-new town. He's finally sporting a haircut he doesn’t hate, has grown two inches since middle school, and can't wait to try out for the soccer team. At last, everything is looking up in life. Until the next morning. When Ethan awakens as a girl. Ethan is a Changer, a little-known, ancient race of humans who live out each of their four years of high school as a different person. After graduation, Changers choose which version of themselves they will be forever--and no, they cannot go back to who they were before the changes began. Ethan must now live as Drew Bohner--a petite blonde with an unfortunate last name--and navigate the treacherous waters of freshman year while also following the rules: Never tell anyone what you are. Never disobey the Changers Council. And never, ever fall in love with another Changer. Oh, and Drew also has to battle a creepy underground syndicate called Abiders” (as well as the sadistic school queen bee, Chloe). And she can't even confide in her best friend Audrey, who can never know the real her, without risking both of their lives. Fans of the books of John Green, the Joss Whedonverse--and empathy between humans--will find much to love in this first of a four-part series that tracks the journey of an average suburban boy who becomes an incredible young woman...who becomes a reluctant hero...who becomes the person she was meant to be. Because, while changing the world can kinda suck, it sure beats never knowing who you really are.

Changers Book One: Drew

Children's Books

Glock-Cooper, Allison

Cooper, T.

Science Fiction & Fantasy

Black Sheep

"The Narnia for the Social Media Generation." --The Wall Street Journal
"By the time of Farley's Game World, gaming had gone digital, and while his book is more fantasy-adventure than puzzle-mystery, there are parallels worthy of discussion, from the nature of the games to the depictions of disabled." --Booklist, included in "Conversation Starters: Recontextualizing the Classics"
"Drawn from both video gaming culture and the rich tapestry of Jamaican myth and folklore, blending pointed social satire and mystical philosophy, this exuberant, original hero's journey is a real trip...Exhilarating, thought-provoking and one of a kind." --Kirkus Reviews
"Adult author/Wall Street Journal editor Farley's middle-grade debut draws from Jamaican mythology and beliefs, as well as from other cultures, to weave a fast-paced, whimsical mixture of magic and action...the setting lends itself well to memorable imagery and a fun experience." --Publishers Weekly
"Farley blends video gaming and Jamaican folklore in this intense, fast-paced middle-grade fantasy that is sure to quickly grab readers." --Booklist
"Here (finally!) is a middle-grade action novel that showcases West Indian mythology and features protagonists of color." --School Library Journal
"Game World is unique in that its fantasy world, as its name suggests, is built upon characters and stories from actual Jamaican folklore." --Philadelphia Review of Books
One of This Spring's Hottest Teen Books, Huffington Post
"I found it very hard to set down this excellent novel and do something else without thinking about it....I highly recommend his book to fans of fantasy. Because you will love it!!" --Middle Shelf (reviewed by Teak, age 13)
"Farley writes in a straightforward way that is both accessible to younger readers but still interesting to adults." --Persephone Magazine
"In his metaphorical world, Farley spares neither the dubious machinations of high finance nor the heartbreak of an orphan." --Center for Fiction
"I highly recommend Game World for kids in 4th-12th grade. Parents can read it too and love the characters and story just as much as the kids." --The Family Coach
Dylan Rudee's life is an epic fail. He's bullied at school and the aunt who has raised him since he was orphaned as a child just lost her job and their apartment. Dylan's one chance to help his family is the only thing he's good at: video games. The multibillion-dollar company Mee Corp. has announced a televised tournament to find the Game-Changers: the forty-four kids who are the best in the world at playing Xamaica, a role-playing fantasy game that's sweeping the planet. If Dylan can win the top prize, he just might be able to change his life.
It turns out that Dylan is the greatest gamer anyone has ever seen, and his skills unlock a real-life fantasy world inside the game. Now actual monsters are trying to kill him, and he is swept up into an adventure along with his too-tall genius sister Emma, his hacker best friend Eli, and Ines Mee, the privileged daughter of Mee Corp.'s mysterious CEO and chief inventor. Along the way they encounter Nestuh, a giant spider who can spin a story but not a web; Baron Zonip, a hummingbird king who rules a wildly wealthy treetop kingdom; and an enchantress named Nanni who, with her shadow army, may be bent on conquering Xamaica and stealing its magic.
In order to save his sister and his friends, Dylan must solve a dangerous mystery in three days and uncover secrets about Xamaica, his family, and himself. But will he discover his hidden powers before two worlds--Xamaica and Earth--are completely destroyed?

Game World

Christopher John Farley

Pills and Starships

Winner of the 2015 Paterson Prize for Books for Young PeopleNamed a 2015 Green Earth Honor Book by the Nature Generation"Pills and Starships, the first young adult novel by Lydia Millet, offers one thrillingly scary scenario...There is much here to enjoy."--Washington PostNamed a Best Book of 2014 by Teaching for ChangeOne of The Independent's Best Books for Children This Christmas"A deep read, but fast; it lingers in your mind long after it's been read."--New York Journal of Books"In the remaining wilderness of the Big Island, though, lurk people and terrain that may or may not spell constructive revolution and optimism for Sam, Nat and the planet's leftovers. Risk-takers both, they have decisions to make."--Center for Fiction, Junior editionNamed a "Book that Buzzed at ALA" by Library Journal's Barbara HoffertOne of The Airship/Black Balloon Publishing's 50 Must-Reads for Summer!One of Missoulian/Corridor's Summer Reading Guide picks!"Millet's dense novel has more in common with philosophy than with fantasy...Millet, never a writer to settle into predictable patterns, manages to find beauty in ugly places...this is the best thing about Millet's work: it makes you notice the small details of the natural world, makes you recognize those details as holy."--The Rumpus"Lydia Millet offers a brilliant dystopian novel that eclipses all others written for Young Adults with this beautifully written, dark but ultimately hopeful tale."--The Buffalo News"If your summer goal is to start taking better care of the environment (a goal inspired, perhaps, by a trip to one of New York's trash-laden beaches), grab a book that explores a world devastated by global warming: Pills and Starships by Lydia Millet."--The Airship/Black Balloon Publishing"Dark apocalyptic reading at its best...vivid, moving saga that will attract mature teen fans of Divergent, Hunger Games, and similar apocalyptic survival stories."--Midwest Book Review"The details are terrific...and as the tension mounts it becomes a real page turner."--The Independent (UK)In this richly imagined dystopic future brought by global warming, seventeen-year-old Nat and her hacker brother Sam have come by ship to the Big Island of Hawaii for their parents' Final Week. The few Americans who still live well also live long—so long that older adults bow out not by natural means but by buying death contracts from the corporates who now run the disintegrating society by keeping the people happy through a constant diet of "pharma." Nat's family is spending their pharma-guided last week at a luxury resort complex called the Twilight Island Acropolis.Deeply conflicted about her parents' decision, Nat spends her time keeping a record of everything her family does in the company-supplied diary that came in the hotel's care package. While Nat attempts to come to terms with her impending parentless future, Sam begins to discover cracks in the corporates' agenda and eventually rebels against the company his parents have hired to handle their last days. Nat has to choose a side. Does she let her parents go gently into that good night, or does she turn against the system and try to break them out?But the deck is stacked against Nat and Sam: in this oppressive environment, water and food are scarce, mass human migrations are constant, and new babies are illegal. As the week nears its end, Nat rushes to protect herself and her younger brother from the corporates while also forging a path toward a future that offers the hope of redemption for humanity. This page-turning first YA novel by critically acclaimed author Lydia Millet is stylish and dark and yet deeply hopeful, bringing Millet's characteristic humor and style to a new generation of young readers.

Millet, Lydia

Action & Adventure

Winner of the 2015 Paterson Prize for Books for Young People Named a 2015 Green Earth Honor Book by the Nature Generation "Pills and Starships, the first young adult novel by Lydia Millet, offers one thrillingly scary scenario...There is much here to enjoy." --Washington Post Named a Best Book of 2014 by Teaching for Change One of The Independent's Best Books for Children This Christmas "A deep read, but fast; it lingers in your mind long after it's been read." --New York Journal of Books "In the remaining wilderness of the Big Island, though, lurk people and terrain that may or may not spell constructive revolution and optimism for Sam, Nat and the planet's leftovers. Risk-takers both, they have decisions to make." --Center for Fiction, Junior edition Named a "Book that Buzzed at ALA" by Library Journal's Barbara Hoffert One of The Airship/Black Balloon Publishing's 50 Must-Reads for Summer! One of Missoulian/Corridor's Summer Reading Guide picks! "Millet's dense novel has more in common with philosophy than with fantasy...Millet, never a writer to settle into predictable patterns, manages to find beauty in ugly places...this is the best thing about Millet's work: it makes you notice the small details of the natural world, makes you recognize those details as holy." --The Rumpus "Lydia Millet offers a brilliant dystopian novel that eclipses all others written for Young Adults with this beautifully written, dark but ultimately hopeful tale." --The Buffalo News "If your summer goal is to start taking better care of the environment (a goal inspired, perhaps, by a trip to one of New York's trash-laden beaches), grab a book that explores a world devastated by global warming: Pills and Starships by Lydia Millet." --The Airship/Black Balloon Publishing "Dark apocalyptic reading at its best...vivid, moving saga that will attract mature teen fans of Divergent, Hunger Games, and similar apocalyptic survival stories." --Midwest Book Review "The details are terrific...and as the tension mounts it becomes a real page turner." --The Independent (UK) In this richly imagined dystopic future brought by global warming, seventeen-year-old Nat and her hacker brother Sam have come by ship to the Big Island of Hawaii for their parents' Final Week. The few Americans who still live well also live long—so long that older adults bow out not by natural means but by buying death contracts from the corporates who now run the disintegrating society by keeping the people happy through a constant diet of "pharma." Nat's family is spending their pharma-guided last week at a luxury resort complex called the Twilight Island Acropolis. Deeply conflicted about her parents' decision, Nat spends her time keeping a record of everything her family does in the company-supplied diary that came in the hotel's care package. While Nat attempts to come to terms with her impending parentless future, Sam begins to discover cracks in the corporates' agenda and eventually rebels against the company his parents have hired to handle their last days. Nat has to choose a side. Does she let her parents go gently into that good night, or does she turn against the system and try to break them out? But the deck is stacked against Nat and Sam: in this oppressive environment, water and food are scarce, mass human migrations are constant, and new babies are illegal. As the week nears its end, Nat rushes to protect herself and her younger brother from the corporates while also forging a path toward a future that offers the hope of redemption for humanity. This page-turning first YA novel by critically acclaimed author Lydia Millet is stylish and dark and yet deeply hopeful, bringing Millet's characteristic humor and style to a new generation of young readers.

"Drawn from both video gaming culture and the rich tapestry of Jamaican myth and folklore, blending pointed social satire and mystical philosophy, this exuberant, original hero’s journey is a real trip . . . Exhilarating, thought-provoking and one of a kind."--Kirkus Reviews"Adult author/Wall Street Journal editor Farley’s middle-grade debut draws from Jamaican mythology and beliefs, as well as from other cultures, to weave a fast-paced, whimsical mixture of magic and action...the setting lends itself well to memorable imagery and a fun experience."--Publishers Weekly"Farley blends video gaming and Jamaican folklore in this intense, fast-paced middle-grade fantasy that is sure to quickly grab readers."--Booklist"Here (finally!) is a middle-grade action novel that showcases West Indian mythology and features protagonists of color."--School Library JournalOne of This Spring's Hottest Teen Books, Huffington Post"Farley writes in a straightforward way that is both accessible to younger readers but still interesting to adults."--Persephone Magazine"In his metaphorical world, Farley spares neither the dubious machinations of high finance nor the heartbreak of an orphan."--Center for Fiction"I highly recommend Game World for kids in 4th-12th grade. Parents can read it too and love the characters and story just as much as the kids."--The Family Coach"A mixture of fantasy, reality, Jamaican folklore, and history. A great read for all, we love it! My kids and I can relate to the themes and characters in this wonderful adventure. Finally! Thank you, C.J. Farley!”--Ziggy Marley"Fast-paced, fun, and exciting, Game World kept me--and more importantly my twelve-year-old son--turning the pages. It's a unique, refreshing breath of Caribbean-accented fantastical storytelling."--David Anthony Durham, author of the Acacia Trilogy"If William Gibson wrote The Hunger Games, it might feel something like this. Cyberpunk for a new generation of readers!"--Kazu Kibuishi, author of the best-selling Amulet series and Harry Potter cover artist"There are real children here, who blunder, quarrel, pop blisters, get pissed, suffer bullying, and fart--things almost guaranteed to freak out parents, teachers, librarians, and children's book reviewers. There are mysteries and challenges galore. In sum, there's some adult-level mind stretching here."--Piers Anthony, author of the Xanth seriesDylan Rudee's life is an epic fail. He's bullied at school and the aunt who has raised him since he was orphaned as a child just lost her job and their apartment. Dylan's one chance to help his family is the only thing he's good at: video games. The multibillion-dollar company Mee Corp. has announced a televised tournament to find the Game-Changers: the forty-four kids who are the best in the world at playing Xamaica, a role-playing fantasy game that's sweeping the planet. If Dylan can win the top prize, he just might be able to change his life.It turns out that Dylan is the greatest gamer anyone has ever seen, and his skills unlock a real-life fantasy world inside the game. Now actual monsters are trying to kill him, and he is swept up into an adventure along with his too-tall genius sister Emma, his hacker best friend Eli, and Ines Mee, the privileged daughter of Mee Corp.'s mysterious CEO and chief inventor. Along the way they encounter Nestuh, a giant spider who can spin a story but not a web; Baron Zonip, a hummingbird king who rules a wildly wealthy treetop kingdom; and an enchantress named Nanni who, with her shadow army, may be bent on conquering Xamaica and stealing its magic.In order to save his sister and his friends, Dylan must solve a dangerous mystery in three days and uncover secrets about Xamaica, his family, and himself. But will he discover his hidden powers before two worlds--Xamaica and Earth--are completely destroyed?

Farley, C.J.

"Fantastic." --John Green "A gender-fluid, John Hughes-style fantasy plus all the feels." --Salon "This is an excellent sequel....This installment raises the stakes, making the story not just about physical and emotional transformation, but about survival." --School Library Journal "Oryon's humor and insight will keep readers turning pages." --Kirkus Reviews "This series is addicting...as soon as I started reading I was immersed into the book, unable to put it down....The series is just getting better and better." --I'd So Rather Be Reading "I really enjoy these books....If you are looking for books--these are great." --Yellow Porcupines Praise for Changers Book One: Drew: "This is more than just a 'message' book about how we all need to be more understanding of each other. The imaginative premise is wrapped around a moving story about gender, identity, friendship, bravery, rebellion vs. conformity, and thinking outside the box." --School Library Journal "Changers should appeal to a broad demographic. Teenagers, after all, are the world's leading experts on trying on, and then promptly discarding, new identities." --New York Times "A thought-provoking exploration of identity, gender, and sexuality...an excellent read for any teens questioning their sense of self or gender." --Publishers Weekly (starred review) Part of Akashic's Black Sheep YA imprint. Changers Book Two: Oryon in the four-part Changers Series for young adults finds our hero Ethan/Drew on the eve of her second metamorphosis--into Oryon, a skinny African American skater boy with more swagger than he knows what to do with. Enter a mess of trouble from the Changers Council, the closed-minded Abiders, the Radical Changers (RaChas), and his best friend Audrey--at least she was his best friend when Oryon was Drew--and now, it's complicated. But that's life (and life, and life, and life) for Changers, an ancient race of humans who must live out each year of high school as a completely different person. Before next summer, Oryon will learn what it means to be truly loved, scared spitless, and at the center of a burgeoning national culture war. Most of all, he will learn again how much the eyes of the world try to shape you into what they see--and how only when you resist do you clearly begin to see yourself.

Changers Book Two: Oryon

Winner of the 2016 Paterson Prize for Books for Young People "It's easy to empathize with [Lily]....Throughout, first-time author Scofield creates striking images that will stay with readers." --Publishers Weekly "This is a painful and poignant story that is not for every reader; but for those ready to deal with complex realistic fiction, it has much to offer." --Booklist "Dynamic...[Protagonist Lily Asher] comes to glorious, heartbreaking, embraceable, vibrant life courtesy of the experiences, heart and immense imagination and talent of Eugene author Chris Scofield." --The Register-Guard "Chris Scofield has written a young adult novel that doesn't compromise integrity for trendiness....It's complex and quirky...there can be no doubt as to its uniqueness." --LitReactor "The Shark Curtain is worth a read by teens and adults alike." --Eugene Weekly "Absolutely bewitching....Scofield has crafted a dense, poignant book, filled with extraordinarily beautiful language....In exploring themes such as art, sex, and self-acceptance, Scofield examines the trade-offs we all make to be included in the tribe." --KLCC "Those who prefer edgy period fiction with truly original characters will be fascinated by this glimpse into the mind of an unmedicated non-neurotypical teen struggling to come of age in the '60s." --The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books "The Shark Curtain...is believable and real." --What Is Much "Brilliant, engaging, engulfing, fulfilling, beautiful. The Shark Curtain will turn you inside out and make you see the world differently. As well you should. As well we all should. Because life isn't about having the answers, it's about grappling with the questions. Chris Scofield's fantastically fantastic novel pins the tail on the donkey with a pneumatic nail gun--I absolutely insist that you read this book!" --Garth Stein, New York Times best-selling author of The Art of Racing in the Rain Set against the changing terrain of middle-class values and the siren calls of art and puberty, The Shark Curtain invites us into Lily Asher's wonderful, terrible world. The older of two girls growing up in suburban Portland, Oregon, in the mid-1960s, her inner life stands in quirky contrast to the loving but dysfunctional world around her. Often misunderstood by her flawed but well-intentioned parents, teenage Lily orbits their tumultuous love affair, embracing what embraces her back: the ghost of her drowned dog, a lost aunt, numbers, shoe boxes, werewolves, rituals, and stories she pens herself (including one about a miscarried sibling she dubs "Frog Boy"). With "regular" visits from a wisecracking Jesus, an affectionate but combative friendship is born--a friendship that strains Lily's grasp of reality as much as her patience. From the violence of a Peeping Tom and catching Mom in flagrante delicto with the neighbor, to jungles in her closet, butlers under her bed, and barking in public, Lily struggles to balance her family's expectations with the visions that continue to isolate her.

The Shark Curtain

Scofield, Chris

Literature & Fiction

One of The Globe and Mail's Best Books of 2015"A punk primer for the youngest set....Yi's incredibly detailed clay figures are a kinetic and inspired art choice. Their crazy creativity matches the expressive spirit of punk....As [Morse] points out, the best way to learn about punk it just to listen....If invested adults love the topic, a shared reading experience can't be beat." --Kirkus Reviews
"Clay artist Yi molds...fantastically detailed Plasticine figures to create scenes of the birth of punk. Using a benign craft-project material for the skinny bodies and ragged clothing of Joey Ramone, Sid Vicious, and their rowdy, fist-waving audiences is very much in the spirit of punk (Plasticine is especially good for mohawks), and readers will spend long stretches inspecting her painstakingly modeled guitars, amplifiers, and safety pins." --Publishers Weekly
"Why It's Wild: A history of punk music for kids illustrated in Gumby-esque claymation (minus the mation)." --School Library Journal, 100 Scope Notes's "Wildest Children's Books of 2015"
"What is Punk? is fun, sophisticated and beautifully illustrated introduction to the music genre for kids--or adults." --New York Daily News
"Reading What is Punk? to [my kids] made me feel as if I was passing on something truly significant. Morse and Yi have created a comprehensive and articulate...documentary about the roots of punk rock." --The Globe and Mail
"An essential way to pass down to your son or daughter the lesson that pop culture can be political." --The Globe and Mail, 100 Best Books of 2015
"A cool book of punk history for kids by Eric Morse, with great clay illustrations by Anny Yi." --Slate, Mom and Dad Are Fighting podcast
"Eric Morse's book What Is Punk? explains the envelope-pushing genre to the younger set, and perhaps some adults, as well." --St. Louis Public Radio
"Think Wallace and Grommet with liberty spikes and anarchy patches...While [Anny Yi's] images of Johnny Rotten and Henry Rollins are cute, they're presented as live action dioramas that are adorable, accurate and engaging." --San Diego City Beat
"While What Is Punk? is undeniably a children’s book, it can serve as a history lesson for potential fans of any age....What Is Punk? exposes the reader to the rebellious sub-culture in a friendly, educative manner." --Alternative Press
"A fun little book intended to serve as (rhyming) curriculum for little punks learning their Punk History 101....Sid, Glenn, and Milo meet Wallace and Gromit." --Razorcake
"Pairing Yi's Wallace &amp; Gromit-style clay pictorials with Morse's rhyming ride through the history of punk music across the globe, the children’s book is ready to raise the next generation of riot grrrls....You're going to want to give What Is Punk? as a gift at every baby shower this year. Just don't be surprised if your niece ends up bleaching her hair blonde and tearing up her leather jacket at age 6." --Bustle
"Written by Trampoline House founder Eric Morse in classically Suessical iambic, the book is lusciously illustrated with photographs of Play-Doh recreations of all mommy's and daddy's favorite punk heroes: the Ramones, Iggy and the Stooges--and Debbie Harry, David Byrne, David Johansen, Tom Verlaine, and Lou Reed all standing in front of CBGBs." --Bedford &amp; Bowery
What Is Punk? is a must-read pop-culture primer for children--an introduction to the punk revolution, recreated in vivid 3-D clay illustrations and told through rhyming couplets.
From London's Clash and Sex Pistols to the Ramones' NYC protopunk, from Iggy Pop to the Misfits, this volume depicts some of our culture's seminal moments and iconic characters. A delightful read for kids and parents alike, illustrated in a truly unique visual style, What Is Punk? lays the groundwork for the next generation of little punks.

What Is Punk?

Morse, Eric

Yi, Anny

Arts, Music & Photography

Named to Kirkus Reviews' Best Books of 2016! A Mississippi Clarion-Ledger best seller! "Miéville and Smith's dialogue is fantastic: witty, smart, with great rhythm that doesn't sacrifice artful turns of phrase to reach for an internal rhyme...Smith's artwork keeps pace with the text, which the artist sets into little rectangles to contrast with the jaggedly flamboyant paintings that get increasingly manic as the girl goes on, incorporating tentacles and pterodactyls as well as piled-high foodstuffs...This should be in the hands of all kids who aren't easily satiated by tamer picture books and who would engage with a real work of art that they can revisit over and over. None of the artwork is too gross to behold, even for the squeamish, but it does perfectly illustrate the culinary horrors the girl is trying to convey to her sister. A brilliant, original, infinitely rereadable book that can sit alongside Sendak and Dahl." --Kirkus Reviews, Starred review "Miéville lets it rip in this stomping, howling rant about a bad meal of legendary proportions . . . Punk artist Smith’s neatly framed dialogue boxes and crisp black contours have a buttoned-up look, but no: tentacles wave from inside bowls, monsters smile amid mountains of vile sausages, and a blue alien juggles cherry tomatoes. As the pages turn, the towers of bad food grow ever loftier. In the end, a simple tea strainer saves the sisters from another terrible meal. This one’s for families enamored of new words, exotic foods, and strong opinions." --Publishers Weekly "Miéville, known for his genre-defying fantasy novels for adults, makes a splash with his picture book debut. Smith’s illustrations, filled with geometric shapes and patterns, are the perfect complement to the text...This is a subversive delight." --School Library Journal "Deftly written by the exceptionally talented China Miéville and shockingly but gifted illustrated by Zak Smith, The Worst Breakfast is a unique picture book that will be enduringly popular...Very highly recommended." --Midwest Book Review "This is a child’s imagination come to life, where a good thing can be the greatest thing in existence and a minor inconvenience snowballs into the most horrendous, atrocious, appalling, not good, very bad meal you’ve ever had." --San Francisco Book Review "Imaginative and fun, The Worst Breakfast is perfect for any picky eater out there. A rhyming scheme and inventive text kept up the giggles and the pace. The text is best read aloud going along with all of the suggestions, with emphasis placed on capitalized words and pauses between syllables when they are spaced out. The illustrations are very different than what you typically see in children’s books; they are bright and fun, but edgier and begged to be looked at deeper. You can spend time on each page trying to find each food and a series of silly little monsters." --100 Pages a Day "This book is just too much fun to read by yourself . . . This will be a storytime mainstay for me. This would be great for a food storytime . . . I was reminded of Sendak . . . This is a fun tale that’s sure to get the kids interacting during a storytime. If you’ve got readers who enjoy gross humor and who doesn’t? this will build their vocabularies and make them howl with disgusted delight." --Mom Read It Part of Akashic's Black Sheep imprint. Two sisters sit down one morning and begin describing all of the really gross things that were in the worst breakfast they ever had, until all they can picture is a table piled sky-high with the weirdest, yuckiest, slimiest, slickest, stinkiest breakfast possible. And then they have the best breakfast... almost.

The Worst Breakfast

Mieville,China

Humor

"Irresistible...playfully existential." -- O, The Oprah Magazine
"Bear's search for himself doesn't matter so much as the charm of Lavie's storytelling voice as he narrates it...Erlbruch gives the bear big, puzzled-looking eyes and a lovable grin. He lives in a forest made of ornate trees seemingly lifted from vintage engravings, whose delicate lines play off Bear's dumpy figure. Bear's encounters with various characters--the Turtle Taxi, the Penultimate Penguin--feature gentle wordplay and Lewis Carroll-like paradoxes...Everything is new to Bear, and his discoveries will delight readers." --Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
"Erlbruch's playful, distinctive illustrations...are sublime." --Kirkus Reviews
"The volume is filled with surreal gags about prepositions and adverbs, cheerful absurdity, and down the rabbit hole-style musings." --School Library Journal
"The book is filled with the bear's paradoxical, enigmatic, and sometimes Zen-like musings as he meets various creatures in the forest who assist him...This one would make for a thought-provoking read-aloud at story time. Get those children settled--it's a lengthy text--and present to them this gloriously left-of-center tale. Watch their heads spin. It'll be memorable." --Kirkus Reviews, new children's books feature
"A lovable entertainment and quest venture that veers back and forth into existential territory without missing a beat of its adorable nature." --Center for Fiction
"Young readers with a philosophical nature and an appreciation for provocative silliness will be especially gratified by Bear's self-discovery...Erlbruch's illustrations, which look like etchings, fit the story well. The Fabulous Forest effectively evokes a fairy tale feel, and Bear, a portly fellow with huge eyes, a bright red mouth, and colorful flecks in his black fur, is loveable at first sight." --New York Journal of Books
"Imaginatively written by Oren Lavie and beautifully illustrated by Wolf Erlbruch, The Bear Who Wasn't There: And the Fabulous Forest is classic fable in the making and will prove to be an original and enduringly popular addition." -- Midwest Book Review
"This cheeky book...is a melding of Phantom Tollbooth logic, Alice in Wonderland whimsy, and peppered with a cast of unforgettable Little Prince like characters...You can't help fall into the imaginative world of this delightfully clever picture book." --BookBloom
One day, a few minutes after Once Upon a Time, a bear awakes to find he has lost something very important: himself! He sets out into the Fabulous Forest to find himself, using only a few clues scrawled on a piece of paper: the bear he's looking for is a nice bear; he is a happy bear; and he's very handsome too! These sound like pretty good qualities to Bear, and so begins his memorable journey. With the help of Fabulous Forest critters like the Convenience Cow, the Lazy Lizard, and the Penultimate Penguin, Bear finds that he himself is just what he's been looking for all along: a nice, happy bear--and handsome too!
As whimsical as Winnie-the-Pooh and as wryly comic as Klassen's bear who wants his hat back, The Bear Who Wasn't There joins a select crew of unusual bears who have captured the imagination of children for generations.

The Bear Who Wasn't There: And the Fabulous Forest

ERLBRUCH, Wolf

Lavie, Oren

Animals

See the best price to sell, buy or rent books by the Black Sheep publisher. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Black Sheep

See the best price to sell, buy or rent books by the Black Sheep publisher. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Changers Book One: Drew

Game World

Pills and Starships

Pills and Starships

Game World

Changers Book Two: Oryon

The Shark Curtain

What Is Punk?

The Worst Breakfast

The Bear Who Wasn't There: And the Fabulous Forest