Book Spotlight

Series Spotlight: Hilo

PRAISE FOR THE HILO SERIES

٭ “A wholeheartedly weird and wonderful tale of friendship, acceptance, and robots.”—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

٭ “A must-have.”—School Library Journal, Starred Review

“An action-packed page turner with heart!”Dav Pilkey, author of the Dog Man series

“Every kid would love a pal like HILO, and every kid will love this book!” —Lincoln Peirce, bestselling author of the Big Nate series

“A perfect book for any kid who ever needed a friend and then had one with superpowers fall from space.” —Seth Meyers, actor, comedian and writer

“A story that can be enjoyed by the entire family.“—The New York Times

“A Total BLAST.” —Miami Herald

“My students are obsessed with this series. OBSESSED!”—Colby Sharp, teacher, blogger, and co-founder of Nerdy Bookclub

 

NEW!

Hilo Book 11: The Great Space Iguana

Hilo Book 11: The Great Space Iguana By Judd Winick

Get ready for adventure, friendship, and lots of laughs with the New York Times bestselling graphic novel series kids love! Hilo may be the boy who crashed to earth…but when a Space Iguana shows up D.J.s backyard, it turns out it’s D.J. who might be the key to saving the universe!

AHHHHH! A GIANT SPACE IGUANA has landed in D.J.’s backyard. Where did she come from? And why is the whole universe out to get her?! D.J., Hilo, and Gina will have to RACE through space to get her home! If they don’t, the whole universe will be in DANGER! But there’s a galaxy of TROUBLE—(not to mention one super annoyed alien dad, some very cranky monsters, and a warrior match combat challenge (um, what?!?!)—in their way. Can they make it?! (And how is D.J. at driving a spaceship, anyway?)

START FROM THE BEGINNING

Hilo Book 1: The Boy Who Crashed to Earth

Hilo Book 1: The Boy Who Crashed to Earth By Judd Winick

Take off on an action packed adventure with HILO Book 1! Dog Man meets Big Nate in this hilarious New York Times bestselling graphic novel series that kids love!

BOOM! CLANG! CRASH! D.J. and Gina are totally ordinary kids. But Hilo isn’t! Hilo just fell out of the sky and doesn’t know where he came from, or what he’s doing on Earth. (Or why going to school in only your underwear is a BAD idea!) . . . But UH-OH, what if Hilo wasn’t the only thing to fall to our planet? Can the trio unlock the secrets of Hilo’s past? Can Hilo survive a day at school? Find out in HILO-a laugh-out-loud, epic story of friendship! Adventure! (And the occasionally mutant space robot).

Hilo Book 2: Saving the Whole Wide World

Hilo Book 2: Saving the Whole Wide World By Judd Winick

Everyone’s favorite space boy, Hilo, is just settling into life on earth (Bowling? Knock-knock jokes? OUTSTANDING!) when strange portals begin opening up all over town. And HOLY MACKEREL! Even STRANGER creatures are coming through them! But it will take more than a GIANT MUTANT CHICKEN, A VIKING HIPPO, A MAGICAL WARRIOR CAT, or even a few MILLION KILLER VEGETABLES to stop Team Hilo . . . er, WON’T IT? Can Hilo, DJ, and GINA figure out how to send these creatures back to their worlds before they DESTROY the earth?

Hilo Book 3: The Great Big Boom

Hilo Book 3: The Great Big Boom By Judd Winick

Aah!!!! Everyone’s favorite space boy is BACK! Hilo may look like an ordinary kid, but he’s DEFINITELY not! When we last saw Hilo, DJ, and Gina, Gina had been sucked into a mysterious portal! But friends don’t let friends disappear into NOWHERE! It’s up to D.J. and Hilo to follow her. Will there be danger? YES! Will there be amazing surprises? OF COURSE! Will Gina end up being the one to save them? DEFINITELY! The trio will have to battle bad guys and face disgusting food, an angry mom, powerful magic, and more! Will they survive . . . and make it back to Earth before the portal closes again?!

Hilo Book 4: Waking the Monsters

Hilo Book 4: Waking the Monsters By Judd Winick

When Mega Robot Monsters start to wake up, Hilo gets brand new SUPER POWERS! Chock full of MORE MONSTERS! MORE ACTION! MORE LAUGHS! MORE FUN!

DJ and Gina are TOTALLY ordinary kids. But Hilo isn’t! ALERT! ALERT! ALERT! Has our favorite space boy finally met his match? Not if D.J. and Gina can help it! Mega Robot Monsters are suddenly waking up all over and they’re TOO BIG and TOO STRONG for Hilo to fight on his own! Luckily, he doesn’t have to! He has GINA and some brand new SUPER POWERS on his side! Being heroes can be super fun-but it can also be SUPER dangerous! And the closer Hilo and Gina get to saving their world from the monsters–the closer Hilo gets to the dark secret of his past. Does he really want to know? Do WE?!

Hilo Book 5: Then Everything Went Wrong

Hilo Book 5: Then Everything Went Wrong By Judd Winick

Take off on a new adventure and find out more about what really happened on Hilo’s world with HILO–the hilarious, action-packed New York Times bestselling graphic novel series that kids love!

MORE ACTION! MORE FUN! MORE LAUGHS! MORE ROBOTS! What REALLY happened in Hilo’s world before he came to Earth? D.J. and our favorite space boy, Hilo, take a DANGEROUS trip to Hilo’s home planet to find out! But everything Hilo thinks he knows about his past is about to be turned inside out and UPSIDE DOWN! Hilo was supposed to save everyone…but what happens if it’s Hilo that needs saving?! Is ANYONE who we think they are? Can Hilo and his friends figure out how all the pieces fit…before it’s too late?!

An ILA – CBC Children’s Choice

Hilo Book 6: All the Pieces Fit

Hilo Book 6: All the Pieces Fit By Judd Winick

For five books, Razorwark has chased Hilo through the Universe. Now the chase is over. Find out how the epic war between Razorwark and Hilo ends and get ready to start the next adventure with the New York Times bestselling graphic novel series that kids and critics love!

Being a hero isn’t easy. But Hilo had no idea it would be this hard. Hilo came to earth because he was running from Razorwark. But he’s done running. Razorwark has come to earth. And the time has come for one final face to face showdown. What happens will decide the fate of the robot world . . . and Hilo’s future. The sacrifice will be great. But with Izzy’s help, Hilo finally knows what he has to do. Because THIS is how all the pieces fit.

Hilo Book 7: Gina---The Girl Who Broke the World

Hilo Book 7: Gina---The Girl Who Broke the World By Judd Winick

Hilo’s back! Introducing an exciting, BRAND NEW epic story arc starring GINA in the New York Times BESTSELLING GRAPHIC NOVEL SERIES that kids and critics love!

Hundreds of years ago, MAGIC disappeared from Earth. At least…UNTIL NOW. Because suddenly, giant magical beings are appearing and only GINA can see them. Not to mention, Gina can somehow do magic herself. Magic is powerful. But it can also be DANGEROUS. With DJ and HILO’s help, can Gina figure out how to protect the magical beings from the creatures who are after them? AND how to use her magic to become who she was always meant to be? And can she do it WITHOUT putting the entire PLANET in JEOPARDY?! Find out in Hilo 7–a laugh-out-loud, action packed adventure filled with epic battles! friendship! annoying older brothers! annoying older sisters! good guys! bad guys! inappropriate jokes! mangoes! magic! and much, much more!

Hilo Book 8: Gina and the Big Secret

Hilo Book 8: Gina and the Big Secret By Judd Winick

The world’s timeline has been turned upside down, and now magical creatures are EVERYWHERE. Gina has to fix things–FAST!

With DJ and HILO’s help, can Gina find the key to turn the world back to what it was? Find out in Hilo 8–a laugh-out-loud, action-packed adventure filled with epic battles! True friendship! Good jokes! Bad jokes! Giant (hilarious) monsters! Spoiled royals! Prophecies! Good! Evil! And much, much more!

Hilo Book 9: Gina and the Last City on Earth

Hilo Book 9: Gina and the Last City on Earth By Judd Winick

Is Gina the hero the world needs? Gina, D.J., and Hilo are back with an epic time-turning adventure in the New York Times bestselling graphic novel series that kids and critics love!

Sometimes the world needs to be saved and there’s only one person brave enough to do it. This time . . . that person is Gina. With the help of D.J., Hilo, one warrior cat, one warrior cat’s annoying little brother, one flying Bearacat, lots of magic, lots of action, lots of laughs, and a whole world that believes in her, Gina is ready to save the world once and for all!

Prepare for a Hilo with more twists, more turns, more monsters, and more shocking surprises than ever before–because sometimes we all need to be reminded who we’ve always been.

Hilo Book 10: Rise of the Cat

Hilo Book 10: Rise of the Cat By Judd Winick

Get ready for another epic Hilo adventure in the laugh-out-loud funny New York Times bestselling graphic novel series— this time Hilo’s favorite magical warrior cat, is going to boarding school!

Welcome to the Wombatton Academy of Better Magic!

Hilo’s favorite warrior-cat-friend, Polly’s adventures with Hilo have landed her in trouble! So when Polly breaks one too many rules, she gets sent to Wombatton–the magical boarding school for bad kids. But something strange is going on at Wombatton–why does everyone pick on Polly’s roommate? And why have students started disappearing? Can Polly get to the bottom of this magical mystery and reunite with Hilo and her friends on Earth?!

Full of action, humor, and lots of heart— The New York Times calls Hilo, “A story that can be enjoyed by the entire family.” Don’t miss out on the latest installment of this beloved series that kids and grownups love!

HILO BOXED SETS

Series Spotlight: Scarlett and Browne

The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne by Jonathan Stroud

Action! Humor! Fantasy! “Kicking off a new series with a bang (several bangs, in fact), Stroud sends two young fugitives with murky pasts fleeing murderous pursuers across a fractured future Britain.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred

Scarlett McCain is a shoot-first ask-questions-later kind of outlaw. She scrapes by on bank heists, her wits—and never looking back.

She’s on the run from her latest crime when she comes across Albert Browne. He is the sole survivor of a horrific accident, and against her better judgement, Scarlett agrees to guide him to safety.

This is a mistake. Soon there are men with dogs and guns and explosives hot on their heels. Scarlett’s used to being chased by the law, but this is extreme. It was only a little bank she’d robbed . . .

As they flee together across the wilds, fighting off monstrous beasts, and dodging their pursuers, Scarlett comes to realize that Albert Browne is hiding a terrible secret. And that he may be the most dangerous threat of all.

In this fast-paced, quick-witted whirlwind of a story, Jonathan Stroud introduces two unlikely allies—the outlaws Scarlett and Browne—who are about to become the most notorious renegades in all that’s left of Britain.

The Notorious Scarlett and Browne

The Notorious Scarlett and Browne By Jonathan Stroud

"Stroud is a genius." —Rick Riordan

The now notorious outlaws Scarlett and Browne are back in their second death-defying adventure—and this time it’s not just their own lives on the line. . . .


Albert and Scarlett are a formidable pair. With his ability to read minds and her way with a weapon, no bank can keep them out and no jail can keep them in.
     But their notoriety may have spread a bit too far. Now old enemies from Scarlett’s past and a sinister new threat from Albert’s world are boxing them in—and holding their friends hostage.
     To win their freedom, the outlaws Scarlett and Browne are charged with pulling off an impossible mission.
     And the clock is ticking . . .

Fans of Jonathan Stroud's The Outlaws Scarlett and Browne won't want to miss their next adventure.

The Legendary Scarlett and Browne

The Legendary Scarlett and Browne By Jonathan Stroud

The death-defying conclusion to the "audacious," "razor-sharp," and "raucous" exploits of the notorious outlaws Scarlett and Browne from the bestselling author of Lockwood & Co., Jonathan Stroud.

Throughout their lawless careers, Scarlett McCain and Albert Browne have gotten out of trouble by shooting first, then running away. Now that's no longer an option. 

In this non-stop thrill-ride of a novel, we witness Albert’s return to the terrifying Stonemoor prison, follow Scarlett’s search for her long-lost brother, see a town besieged by the cannibal Tainted, and join the final confrontation against the cruel forces of the Faith Houses.

Along the way, our rebellious anti-heros will have to face up to the secrets of their past, and accept the challenge of shaping a better future.

Jonathan Stroud

Jonathan Stroud is the author of the New York Times bestselling Bartimaeus trilogy, the Lockwood & Co. series, and the stand-alone titles Heroes of the ValleyThe LeapThe Last Siege, and Buried Fire. He lives in England with his wife, Gina, and their three children. To learn more, visit jonathanstroud.com.

Series Spotlight: THE MISFITS

A Royal Conundrum (The Misfits)

A Royal Conundrum (The Misfits) By Lisa Yee; illustrated by Dan Santat

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • When a notorious thief is out for priceless treasure (gems! cats! general decorum!)—who're you gonna call? An elite team of crime-fighting underdogs, that's who! The Misfits are on the case in this hilarious illustrated series from Newbery Honoree Lisa Yee and Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat!

“For any kid who’s felt like a misfit, this crackling adventure packs a wallop!” —Lincoln Peirce, creator of Big Nate and Max & the Midknights

Olive Cobin Zang has . . . issues. And they mostly aren’t her fault. (No, really!) Though she often slips under the radar, problems have a knack for finding her. So, imagine her doubts when she’s suddenly dropped off at the strangest boarding school ever: a former castle turned prison that's now a “reforming arts school”!

But nothing could’ve prepared Olive for RASCH (not “rash”). There, she’s lumped with a team of other kids who never quite fit in, and discovers that the academy isn’t what it seems—and neither is she. In fact, RASCH is a cover for an elite group of misfits who fight crime . . . and Olive has arrived just in time.

Turns out that RASCH is in danger of closing, unless Olive’s class can stop the heist of the century. And as Olive falls in love with this wacky school, she realizes it’s up to her new team to save the only home that’s ever welcomed them.

A Copycat Conundrum (The Misfits)

A Copycat Conundrum (The Misfits) By Lisa Yee; illustrated by Dan Santat

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • When San Francisco is under strange attacks—like earthquakes affecting only two city blocks at a time—who're you gonna call? An elite team of crime-fighting underdogs, that's who! The Misfits are on the case in this hilarious illustrated series!

“For any kid who’s felt like a misfit, this crackling adventure packs a wallop!” —Lincoln Peirce, creator of Big Nate

Oof! After solving the case of the Royal Rumpus, Olive Cobin Zang and her elite team of underdogs are on top of the world. As the awkward, crime-fighting Misfits, they’re acing every mission thrown at them from NOCK (aka No One Can Know, the covert agency they work for).

But when their classmate Zeke starts receiving threatening notes, the Misfits are stumped. They’re no strangers to danger, but this case is a total head-scratcher. Who would target kind, friendly Zeke . . . unless he’s not what he seems to be?

At the same time, unusual earthquakes start shaking up San Francisco just as priceless art goes missing, and the Misfits are called to investigate. Is it a coincidence that the city is under attack while Zeke is getting mysterious messages? Or is it all just a cover for a scheme bigger than any they’ve faced before?

For other Misfit adventures from Newbery Honoree Lisa Yee and Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat, don't miss The Misfits #1: A Royal Conundrum!

Lisa Yee

Lisa Yee is a Newbery Honoree and National Book Award finalist for Maizy Chen’s Last Chance. She is also the author of over 21 books for young people, including the groundbreaking Millicent Min, Girl GeniusStanford Wong Flunks Big-Time; and the DC Super Hero Girls novel series. Lisa is a frequent contributor to NPR’s Books We Love. A third-generation Chinese American, Lisa divides her time between Western Massachusetts and Los Angeles.

Dan Santat

Dan Santat is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of over a hundred books. His picture book The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend received the Caldecott Medal. He also illustrated The Blur, Lift, and Drawn Together, both written by Minh Lê, which received critical acclaim. Dan is also the creator of the Disney animated hit The Replacements. He lives in Southern California with his family.

Book Spotlight: To See An Owl by Matthew Cordell

★ “A title easily summed up in a single word: magic.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

 

★ “Taut, suspense-heightening sentences combine with deliberate pacing as well as tender observations of earnest efforts and mentorship.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

 

★ “A particularly pleasurable exploration of the magic that the world reveals to those who approach it with patience.” —Booklist, starred review

 

★ “Having experienced the buildup of tension through Janie’s repeated attempts to spot the creature she adores, readers end To see an Owl by sharing in her joy.” —BookPage, starred review

To See an Owl

To See an Owl By Matthew Cordell

An endearing story about a girl’s efforts to spot an owl from the Caldecott Medal winning creator of Wolf in the Snow. This gorgeous picture book that encourages patience and perseverance will resonate with readers of all ages who have longed to see one of these elusive creatures in the natural world.

When will I find you?
Where could you be?
What will it take?
To see an owl.

Silent and wide-eyed, owls are hidden creatures of the night. Janie has always dreamed of finding one. She searches everywhere for signs of an owl – on the open prairie for short-eared owls, on the beach for snowy owls, and for great horned owls in the woods near her home. But months go by, and she sees no owls. She wonders, what will it take to see an owl?

Her teacher, Mr. Koji, a fellow bird-lover, shares that he, too, waited a long time to see an owl. He assures her, “If you are very quiet and very patient, and if you look very close, you might just find them.” 

When the snow begins to fall, Janie and her mother head into the woods again, and as she looks carefully, hidden high up in the trees, what she sees is pure magic.

From Matthew Cordell, the creator of Wolf in the Snow that was awarded the Caldecott Medal, comes this beautiful story about quiet perseverance that will resonate with anyone who has experienced the anticipation of discovering a rare treasure in the wild.

About the author-illustrator

Matthew Cordell is the author and illustrator of many celebrated picture books for children, including the Caldecott Medal winner Wolf in the Snow, Evergreen, a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, Hello Neighbor!: The Kind and Caring World of Mr. Rogers, a Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year, and the Cornbread and Poppy series, which Booklist in a starred review has called “a rewarding choice for young readers.” Matthew lives outside of Chicago with his wife, author Julie Halpern, and their two children.

Download the free activity guide for To See an Owl!

Featuring discussion questions and extension activities, this is the perfect way to get the conversation and creativity flowing.

Anyone who follows you on social media knows you have a passion for owls. What first sparked your interest?
I think the first thing that led to my owl obsession is the fact that they are so difficult to find in the wild. Most owl species are nocturnal, so right off the bat, they are most active at the opposite time that we humans are. But they are also incredibly quiet and incredibly camouflaged. If you were to look for them during the day, you could literally walk past a tree where one is roosting and never know it. They stay very well hidden, and their feathers blend in with the foliage astonishingly well. And if you are deliberately looking for an owl at night—when it’s already difficult for us to see—their flight is nearly silent, so one could fly by and you might never know. They are just so, so hard to find, which makes seeing one all the more special!

Janie starts an owl journal to organize her owl facts and findings. What are some of your favorite owl facts?
Oh wow . . . so many. Their feathers are extremely soft, which is how they manage to be such silent fliers. But their feathers aren’t waterproof like so many other bird feathers are, so if they get caught in the rain, they end up looking like miserable, wet cats! Owls eat their prey whole, even though not all of it is desired or digestible. The parts that they can’t digest (rodent hair, bones, teeth, etc.) fuse together into a “pellet,” which is eventually regurgitated back up. Their large eyes—that allow them to see in the dark—are not round like human eyes, but rather a long bell-shape, and they are fixed into their skulls in one position. Because their eyes cannot move, they have to swivel their head to see anything that is not directly in front of them. This is why an owl can turn its head nearly completely around on its body. And if they want to look up or down, they bob their heads up and down. It’s quite fun to watch. Honestly, I could go on and on with favorite owl facts!

Mr. Koji tells the class that sometimes you have to wait a long time to see an owl, that you need to have patience. How long had you been a birder before you saw your first owl?
I’ve had a casual love for birds of prey ever since I was a kid. I wouldn’t seek them out, but seeing a hawk or vulture in the sky has always stopped me in my tracks. As far as dedicated birding and identification goes, I’m really just a baby birder in the grand scheme of things. I’ve only been a real-deal birder for about five years now. I gave in and bought bird guidebooks and downloaded the birding apps on my phone when I saw my first bald eagle fly overhead on one of my daily forest preserve walks. I just really started to take notice of all the birds around me and I was instantly hooked! Not long after that, I realized I’d never seen an owl in the wild. Like, ever. Most people haven’t, unless by chance or luck, because they are just that well hidden.

So I became obsessed with trying to find one. I started waking up before dawn and walking several times a week to try and find one. I went out at night and walked randomly. I never heard any calls or saw anything. Still, being a baby birder, I didn’t know anything about owl behavior or habitat or anything, so it was all a bit of a shot in the dark. After, like, two or three months of trying to go at it on my own, I started going out with a far more experienced birder friend I had made in that time. He had more knowledge and experience—what I really needed all along. Within about five times out together, I saw my very first owl on a cold, snowy winter night. There was a full moon, and a great horned owl flew up from the ground and perched on a tree right in front of us. It was breathtaking and surreal. I still get goose bumps thinking about that night.

To See an Owl follows Janie’s journey to spot her first owl, but the lessons in the book can be applied to many situations. What message do you hope readers will take from the book?
A few things. I hope readers will find a new respect and curiosity for the natural world—or reinforce or grow these feelings if they already exist. I am so inspired by the world that exists beyond our human life. In many ways it is far purer and more honest than the life we live. Humanity is inspiring, too, of course, but it can also be terribly frustrating and disappointing. It has become necessary and rejuvenating for me to step away from our world and into one that exists alongside ours, that we often are too busy to stop and notice.

Secondly, I hope readers will get a sense of how special, charismatic, and—as I say in the book—magical owls are. I hope that my love, respect, and fascination come across. Owls are almost otherworldly. There are so many living creatures that almost defy reality and logic, and, to me, an owl is one of those creatures.

Lastly, I hope that readers will see the value and ultimate reward of waiting. We are living in a time, now more than ever, where we don’t have to wait for the things we want. Want to read a new book by your favorite author? Download it or order a hard copy and have it the next day. Want to see a new TV show everyone’s talking about? Stream it now. Want to hear the new album by your favorite band? It’s just a click away. There are still things in life that you simply cannot have right away, no matter how badly you want them. It’s important to understand this, and to experience the uncomfortable feeling that is to wait—for sometimes an excruciatingly long time. When what you are waiting—and have worked—so long to see, experience, or have, is finally realized, it is so cherished and loved. And the journey you went on to achieve that thing is all the more rich and enduring.

Download the full Q&A with Matthew Cordell, author-illustrator of To See An Owl.

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