Articles

June 5th is National Doughnut Day

By Weezie Prescott on June 5, 2026 / Articles / Leave a comment

This may be a silly question, but … are you a doughnut lover? Because today is National Doughnut Day, a time to celebrate those soft, sweet, breakfast treats. It always takes place on the first Friday of June and although it’s not technically a National holiday, we can celebrate it just the same.

So, if you’re longing for a doughy delight, go to your favorite bakery, pick out your favorite doughnut (also spelled donut), and nibble away while reading a book in which doughnuts are the main course (or characters) of the story.

Batter Splatter (Dollars to Doughnuts series) by Catherine Daly (64 pp)

National Doughnut Day After a batter disaster, Julian and Lucy’s cooking class needs a kitchen cleanup, including a new paint job. Luckily, they have a plan to make things right—they’ll simply throw the bake sale of the century! But their sweet dreams dissolve like sugar when faced with the b-word: Budget. What is a budget and how are they ever supposed to stay within it? In this chapter book designed to help kids decipher finance facts and fallacies, Lucy and Julian discover the ins and outs of budgeting.

Donut Go Breaking My Heart: A Wish Novel by Suzanne Nelson (288 pp) National Doughnut Day

Sheyda is a behind-the-scenes girl. She loves helping out in the kitchen of Doughlicious, the donut shop run by her best friend’s family. And Sheyda loves designing stage sets while others performs in the spotlight. Then lights, camera . . . surprise! Tween heartthrob Cabe Sadler is filming his next movie in Doughlicious!

Sheyda’s outgoing BFF, Kiri, is sure this will lead to stardom. But somehow it’s Sheyda who gets picked for a small role in the film. To make matters worse, Cabe seems spoiled and rude. Too bad he’s so cute. Can Sheyda overcome her stage fright, get to know the real Cabe, and find her own kind of stardom?

Donut Squad: Take Over the World! by Neill Cameron, releasing on 10/6/26 (192 pp)

National Doughnut Day Ever wondered what donuts get up to when they’re not being eaten? No, because that would be silly! But it turns out, donuts have BIG PLANS FOR WORLD DOMINATION!!!

Meet Sprinkles, the leader of the squad; Jammyboi, who spreads stickiness EVERYWHERE; Dadnut and Lil’ Timmy, who explain obscure facts, and Spronky, who is bizarrely unconventional! But don’t mention the arch-nemeses of the donuts… the bagels, who are secretly plotting Donut Squad’s doom!

Perfect for fans of InvestiGators, Dog Man, and Max Meow!

The Doughnut Fix (Doughnut Fix series) by Jessie Janowitz (336 pp) National Doughnut Day

Tristan isn’t Gifted or Talented like his sister Jeanine, and he’s always been okay with that because he can make a perfect chocolate chip cookie and he lives in the greatest city in the world. But his life takes a turn for the worse when his parents decide to move to middle-of-nowhere Petersville―a town with one street and no restaurants. It’s like suddenly they’re supposed to be this other family, one that can survive without bagels and movie theaters.

His suspicions about his new town are confirmed when he’s tricked into believing the local general store has life-changing chocolate cream doughnuts, when in fact the owner hasn’t made them in years. And so begins the only thing that could make life in Petersville worth living: getting the recipe, making the doughnuts, and bringing them back to the town through his very own doughnut stand. But Tristan will soon discover that when starting a business, it helps to be both Gifted and Talented, and it’s possible he’s bitten off more than he can chew.

The Doughnut Whodunit (The Boxcar Children Mysteries) by Gertrude Chandler Warner (128 pp)

National Doughnut Day A hip new doughnut shop known for its bizarre recipes is opening up in Greenfield. At first, the owners of the other doughnut shop in town, Delilah’s, aren’t worried. But when the new shop starts making doughnuts that look just like some of Delilah’s greatest hits, the Boxcar Children must figure out if it’s just a coincidence or if someone from the new shop is stealing Delilah’s recipes.

Invasion of the Ufonuts (Arnie the Doughnut series) by Laurie Keller (129 pp) National Doughnut Day

Arnie finds himself in trouble when his neighbor, Loretta Schmoretta, begins telling news reporters that she was the victim of an alien abduction. And not just any aliens—alien doughnuts from outer spastry, who will continue the abductions until people stop eating doughnuts! Although Arnie thinks this is a ridiculous story, he notices that everyone is treating him differently, as if he is an alien doughnut rather than just a doughnut-dog. And then Arnie gets abducted! Arnie must think fast in order to rescue his fellow doughnuts and the townspeople from the alien invaders.

Monster Doughnuts by Gianna Pollero (256 pp)

National Doughnut Day Ten-year-old Grace likes doughnuts and cakes as much as the next kid – but they are also her secret weapon. Grace is a monster hunter who owns a bakery … and everyone knows how much monsters LOVE any kind of sweet treat! Just don’t tell them about the secret exploding baking powder inside the doughnuts and the cookies. When Grace’s Monster Scanning Machine alerts her to the doughnut-loving, people-eating, board-game-playing cyclops Mr Harris, she realizes she’s about to face her biggest challenge yet.

Owl’s Outstanding Donuts by Robin Yardi (232 pp) National Doughnut Day

Ever since Mattie Waters lost her mother, she’s been sharing a trailer with her Aunt Molly, the proud owner of Owl’s Outstanding Donuts. This hoot of a donut shop serves up delicious snacks to people driving down California’s Highway One―treats like the Turkey Talon, the Banana Slug Bar, and the Strawberry Iced Classic.

Mattie loves her aunt and the shop, even if she’s still dealing with a life without her mom. But not everybody is a fan of Owl’s Outstanding Donuts.

When an owl taps on Mattie’s window one night, Mattie looks out to see suspicious activity not far from the shop. A shady duo is dumping gloop near the highway. And soon people want to blame Aunt Molly! With help from her friends, Mattie sets out to find the real gloopers. Along the way, she’ll face fears that have followed her since her mother’s passing―and get to know Alfred, a stuffy, donut-loving owl who’s also on the case.

Six Thousand Doughnuts by Thomas Tosi (264 pp)

National Doughnut Day Why would anyone need six thousand doughnuts?

Big family … little house. Fifth-grader Abe Mitchell is fed up with sharing. All he wants is something to call his own. And he just might get it when he finds a loophole in the fine print of a doughnut shop coupon. Abe thinks it entitles him to a fresh-baked mountain of crullers, dunkers, and chocolate-frosteds. But cashing in means war with Marlene Paczki, the daughter of the doughnut shop owner and Abe’s new crush.

So Jelly! (Donut Dreams series) by Coco Simon (160 pp) National Doughnut Day

Happy-go-lucky Kelsey hasn’t been so happy-go-lucky lately. She’s starting to feel pretty jealous of her cousin Lindsay and all the extra time Lindsay is spending with her aunt, who just happens to be Kelsey’s mom. The worst part is it seems like Kelsey’s mom wants to spend time with Lindsay instead of her! But once Kelsey adds a pinch of patience to the batter, and Lindsay stirs in her own special brand of silly fun to the mix, Kelsey realizes she’s come up with the perfect recipe for spending time with her cousin and her mom. Kelsey discovers that the love she and her family have for one another is like a box of donuts—there’s always enough to share!

Stick Dog Tries to Take the Donuts (Stick Dog series) by Tom Watson (208 pp)

National Doughnut Day It’s morning. The dogs are hungry. It’s time to take the donuts!

Stick Dog and his team of strays are off on another outrageous canine caper. To snatch some breakfast treats for his hungry pals, Stick Dog will need to stop a moving truck, outfox a man on a telephone pole, and calm down a very caffeinated Karen. But that’s not all. He’ll also need to manage the greatest confrontation in history when his good friend Poo-Poo comes face-to-face with the ultimate enemy: a squirrel!

With Stick Dog’s smarts, daring, loyalty—and patience—he just might lead his buddies to the best breakfast ever … donuts.

Click here to learn fun facts about doughnuts. And, if you’d like to try making your own doughnuts, here’s a cookbook dedicated entirely to … you guessed it … DOUGHNUTS.

The Easy Baked Donut Cookbook by Colin Robinett

National Doughnut Day Are you tired of the hassle of frying and the guilt of indulging in your favorite donuts? Look no further! The Easy Baked Donut Cookbook is here to revolutionize your donut experience. Say goodbye to the mess and the excess calories. Say hello to the joy of guilt-free, homemade baked donuts.

In this book, you’ll find irresistible flavors from classic cinnamon sugar to inventive matcha glaze. You’ll find healthier choices that prioritize your well-being without compromising on taste. Our donut recipes are baked, not fried. The recipes are easy-to-follow. No more kitchen disasters! Our step-by-step instructions ensure that even beginners can master the art of baking perfect donuts.

Our book also provides time-saving tips so you can whip up a batch of mouthwatering donuts in no time, leaving you with more time to nibble. And, our creations are kid-friendly, turning baking into a delightful and yummy family activity.

National Donut Day

Interview with Author/Illustrator Maddie Frost

By Melissa Roske on June 3, 2026 / Articles, Author Interviews / Leave a comment

Today, let’s give a hearty Mixed-Up Files welcome to Maddie Frost. An award-winning author and illustrator, Maddie has been praised as a “powerhouse creator,” making over a dozen books for kids. Her first middle-grade novel, Really Rubie, which Kirkus hailed as: “Humorous, frank, and guaranteed to reassure,” is out now from Aladdin.

Really Rubie: A Summary

Eleven-year-old Rubie Fox can’t wait to go to sleepaway camp for the first time with her best friend, Riley. She and Riley will be at Camp Pineview for an entire month, and Riley’s crush, Owen Griffon, will be across the lake at the boys’ camp. But when Riley can’t go to camp because she broke her ankle, Rubie has to go by herself. How can she survive without Riley? But camp might be more eventful, and more exciting, than Rubie ever thought, including her first-ever crush on a boy.

Q&A with Maddie Frost

MR: Welcome to the Mixed-Up Files, Maddie. Huge congrats on the publication of Really Rubie. I went to sleepaway camp as a kid, so of course I loved your book. I gobbled it up in two sittings!

MF: That’s amazing. I hope it didn’t give you any gas.

MR: Um… 🙂

Getting Campy with Rubie

MR: Your book is based on your own experience at sleepaway camp. How is Rubie’s experience similar to yours? How is it different? Also, what are the similarities and differences between you and Rubie?

MF: The biggest difference between me and Rubie’s camp experience is that my best friend came with me. Looking back, I always sort of wondered what kind of experience I would have had if I went alone. Rubie was the product of that curiosity.

All the fears, insecurities, and discomfort Rubie goes through at camp, I felt too. It was the first time I had left home for that long, and same for Rubie. It was like being flung onto another planet (with tons of woodchips). We both realized that a whole other world exists beyond the bubble of home. Amazing, and terrifying.

Rubie and I are both emotional and anxious, and we both try to find the humor in life’s struggles. Humor has always been a coping mechanism for me, especially in art. Rubie’s diary entries and doodles reflect that too. But we’re also super aware, and we take in everything all at once. Our feelings, our friends feelings, vibes and moods, exciting moments, awkward moments, people’s energy. I think all great writing comes from being hyper-aware to life.

MR: As a follow-up, what advice would you give to 11-year-old Maddie?

MF: “Hey Maddie, it’s Maddie from the future. Listen, I know it’s rough seas out there in middle school. You’re probably feeling A LOT of things right now and it’s okay. What doesn’t make sense now will later. I promise. Oh, BTW, you turn it all into a book series. I know, right?! Keep going, you got this.

Dear Diary

MR: Really Rubie is written in diary form. What informed this stylistic decision? Did you keep diaries as a tween?

MF: Um, of course I did! I don’t know how you didn’t as a tween girl. There’s so much going on internally and you CAN’T talk to your parents about it. No way! A diary was the safest place to let my thoughts and feelings out. I’ve always wanted to try and make a middle-grade diary. My drawing style and personality lends itself well to this age group. I’m forever a tween at heart. I wrote in a diary at camp, so there was some “research” to be done before I started outlining this book.

I have always considered myself an artist first, author second. I came to writing books by illustrating them. The two art forms have operated like best friends throughout my career. They riff off of each other. What one lacks, the other makes up for. So I knew that if I wrote a middle grade novel, there 100% would be art. Ergo, a diary was the perfect format for me. Also it’s just so fun to write a stream of chaotic conscious and time travel back into my eleven-year-old brain.

Tween Friendships

MR: After Rubie’s BFF, Riley, breaks her ankle and has to withdraw from camp, Rubie is forced to navigate the experience on her own. Did something similar happen to you at Rubie’s age? Also, what were you trying to say about the nature of tween friendships?

MF: Often times, we stay “close to the pack” because we feel safe. But there isn’t much personal growth that happens when we are afraid to venture outside of our comfort zone. If I look back, my biggest personal growth happened when I was EXTREMELY uncomfortable; aka, trying anything new alone. There’s a big world out there, and when you’re a kid, it’s sooo hard to grasp that. Friendships will grow and change because you grow and change. It’s all part of your process and progress as a human. I wish what happened to Rubie happened to me much earlier in my life. I wish I had made a friend like Eliza back then, who proved that the Universe will always meet you halfway.

The Art of Creating a Graphic Novel

MR: In addition to writing the novel, you created the illustrations. What was the process like for you? Did you do both at the same time or add the illustrations later? Also, how does being an artist influence your writing—and vice-versa?

MF: I write the manuscripts for all my books before I do any art. This goes for picture books and graphic novels too. If the story stinks, it doesn’t matter how good the art is. Kind of like if the plot of a movie is horrible but the actors are award-worthy. Does not matter. The writer in me always trusts the artist in me. I never try to avoid writing something for the sake of having to draw it. Unless of course it’s something I don’t like drawing. Like large crowds, or realistic horses.

Jane of All Trades

MR: In addition to Rubie, you have written and illustrated a slew of popular picture books. What prompted your decision to write for a middle-grade audience? Did the creative process differ from your experience as a picture-book author/illustrator?

MF: I’m always craving the next challenge. The same thing happened when I went from picture books to graphic novels. I asked myself if I could do it, and then I tried. I’m not afraid of failing, so it makes the attempt super relaxed. Rubie came from a combination of that, plus being bored with the genre I had been working in for almost a decade. As artists, sometimes it feels like we need to put ourselves in a box to get more “recognized.” Like, oh this girl is a mystery writer, that guy only does THIS type of graphic novel. Ugh, it’s so suffocating as a creator to limit yourself. I don’t want to be type-casted! I want to be a Jane of all Trades, Master of all. I mean, all women are, right? Wink, wink.

Sharing the (School Visit) Love

MR: Rumor has it you enjoy doing school visits. Can you tell MUF readers more about this?

MF: The rumor is true. I love making it to the other side and sharing my work with readers. Authors work in a hole, we need the reward of humans engaging with us and our stories. We also have sensitive egos. It’s the best feeling when you connect with an audience.

Maddie’s “Aha!” Moment

MR: What has your path to publication been like? Smooth sailing or bumpy seas?

MF: My road to publication was an unexpected one, let’s say that. I really never thought about it when I was younger. I knew there we authors and illustrators that made books, but had no idea that it could be a career choice. I went to college for Animation because I loved cartoons. I’m a 90’s kid and grew up watching Nickelodeon in it’s prime. While I was there, I won a freelance contest to illustrate a picture book for a local hotel. It paid nothing but it was an aha moment for an alternate job path. It was everything I loved about cartoons, just in book format. After I graduated, I wanted to work at Disney. But being a New Englander, I had no idea how one does that. Do you just call up Mickey Mouse? “Yo, Mickey, you got a job for me?” (Said in Boston accent.)

So I started teaching elementary art until I couldn’t ignore the itch to make my own art any longer. I followed a few book illustrators on social media and reached out to find out how to get an agent. Long story long, I got an agent and took on small, boring book projects for babies (literally) while honing my craft, and my voice. I worked my way from the bottom up with zero training or direction. The only thing I knew I had to do was work hard. And I haven’t stopped working hard.

The Magic of Writing

MR: What is your writing and illustrating process like, Maddie? Do you have a specific routine or word-count goals? Any rituals? Also, are you a plotter or a pantser?

MF: Writing process for Rubie always takes place somewhere in the morning after my daughter goes to school. I can’t write Rubie on anything else but my tablet (I have a laptop and computer) but it MUST be on the tablet or the magic isn’t there. So weird, I know. I think I just like the sound of my keyboard, it must make me write better. Tap, tap, tap.

For illustrating, I work in my office at all/any times of the day on my computer. I make my art in Photoshop with a Wacom and stylus pen. No specific routine, since I have a three year old. What is a routine again? And when I’m cleaning it means I’m procrastinating.

What’s Next for Maddie

MR: Really Rubie is the first in a series. Would you mind sharing a bit about what readers can expect in the books that follow?

MF: In Really Rubie book two, she turns twelve and starts sixth grade. There’s a new girl in town and also the person Riley has spent half the summer with in secret. She also happens to be super annoying. Meanwhile, Mom is acting a little *sus* and Rubie is convinced she’s dating. I don’t want to say too much, but there’s a big art scandal, a new crush, breaking and entering a classroom, more sneaking out at night, and a whole lot more awkward drama.

Lightning Round!

MR: Last thing: No MUF interview is complete without a lightning round, so…

Preferred writing snack? Is coffee a snack?

Coffee or tea? Coffee because it’s a snack?

Zombie apocalypse: Yea or nay? Live it? Nay. Write it? Yea.

Favorite camp activity? Making friendship bracelets.

Most embarrassing moment at camp? Oh no not an MEM! Okay, this is true. I took sailing at the camp Rubie is based on, and one time I capsized the boat and it completely turtled over. Like it went upside down in the water. The “Hot Ben” in my situation had to come out on a motor boat and rescue me. Mega embarrassment viiiiibes.

Superpower? Flying

Favorite place on earth? My home. And maybe Disney World I guesssss.

You’re stranded on a desert island, with only three items in your possession. What are they? A sketchbook, pencil, and water. What more do you need?

MR: Thank you for chatting with me, Maddie—and congratulations on the publication of Really Rubie. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I know MUF readers will too.

MF: Thanks for having me! Happy Reading! <3 Maddie

June 2026 New Releases!

By Landra Jennings on June 1, 2026 / Articles, Book Lists, New Releases / Leave a comment

The Cat Prophecies: Claw Quest

A thirteen-year-old boy holds the fate of his family, his neighborhood, and the world in his hands when he discovers that his cat is from a secret realm of warrior cats facing a dangerous enemy.

The walls between worlds are wearing thin. On one side is the bustling neighborhood of San Antonio—home to thirteen-year-old Tito Rodríguez.On the other is a mythical realm where forces of darkness are looking for a way out. Standing between worlds are the guardians of humankind—a race of fierce warrior cats, who appear in our world as cute and furry companions.

When Tito follows a stray cat through a hidden portal, he finds himself at the center of this cosmic battle between the warrior cats and evil spirits that feed on negative emotions. And according to an ancient prophecy, Tito is the Chosen One who will lead the fight against the forces of darkness . . . probably.

It turns out that there are three possible Chosen Ones—Tito and his new friends and fellow outsiders Luisito and Isa, who have their own furry sidekicks (or wise mentors, if you ask the cats). And with the darkness slipping through the cracks to the human world, all three will have to train for the ultimate fight and prove who is the true hero.

Roxie in Color

By Diane Debrovner and Stacy Cervenka

Roxie wants to blend in at a new school, which is hard to do when your parents are blind, in this remarkable novel about friendship, misperceptions, and family—plus a dog’s view of the world.

Roxie loves her parents, but other people can’t seem to see past the fact that they’re blind—and they don’t really see Roxie, either. To them, she’s just “the girl with the blind parents.” So when her family moves to a new town and Roxie starts seventh grade at a new school, she’s determined to be known for the other parts of who she is: an artist, an animal lover, and the kind of person who bakes cookies for people she cares about for no special reason. But that means keeping her parents’ blindness a secret from the kids at school and definitely not telling anyone that she might inherit the eye condition that caused her mother’s vision loss—at least until they get to know her.

For a while, Roxie is happier than she’s ever been. But when her lies and omissions lead to a visit from Child Protective Services, will Roxie find the courage to be fully honest with her friends, her parents, and herself? This heartfelt depiction of a girl establishing her own identity, with some chapters told from the perspective of her mother’s loyal guide dog, is an authentic portrayal of the joys, challenges, and everyday ordinariness of being raised by parents who have a disability.

Note: The novel is typeset in Atkinson Hyperlegible, a font developed by Braille Institute specifically for low-vision readers.

Glow

By Nancy Stone

Cordelia believes in facts. Frano believes in destiny. They’re as different as storm clouds and sunshine—until they discover three baby white storks that glow with mysterious light.

No one else can see the glow, just Cordelia and Frano—and she wants nothing to do with the new boy. Yet with a massive hurricane barreling toward Florida, the birds’ very survival depends on this unlikely pair.

Glow pulses with light and unforgettable characters. A magical realism story that aims for and captures the heart.

For anyone who loved Haven Jacobs Saves the Planet or Willodeen.

Sol Goes for Goal!

It’s back to school for the Hillside Valley kids! Sol’s trying out for the middle school soccer team but will a crush on the team captain distract her from her goals? Find out in this new Hillside Valley graphic novel—filled with friendship, first crushes, and some impressive soccer skills!

Welcome back to Hillside Valley-this time it’s Game On for Sol!

Twelve-year-old Sol is a great friend, a model student, a beloved daughter and a star soccer player. At least that’s what everyone always expects of her. But when the soccer team captain Lily walks by, Sol starts to lose focus. What’s with this heart fluttering feeling she has around Lily?! And how can she stay the star player–the star everything–that people see her as if she can barely remember her name (much less how to play soccer) around Lily? Is Sol destined to let everyone down, including herself? Or can she figure out how to be the Sol she wants to be…on and off the field. Settle back into the cozy community of Hillside Valley in this second irresistible graphic novel! And don’t miss the first Hillside Valley Graphic Novel, Speak Up, Santiago!

Midsummer Sisters

By Niki Smith

Kenzie and Quinn aren’t just stepsisters – they’re best friends. They’re spending the summer with their grandmother, kayaking in the marshy coastal islands she calls home. The Outer Banks are also home to a herd of wild ponies, and the girls fall in love with a fragile newborn foal that they name Starling.

But even blue skies and sandy beaches can’t distract from what’s going on back home. Things between their parents aren’t the way they used to be, and the constant fights have left Kenzie and Quinn anxious and confused. They can’t remember a time when they weren’t a family. If their parents divorce and Quinn and her mom move away, will they even still be sisters . . . or will they be nothing?

As their world shifts around them, the girls swear to do the one thing they can: keep Starling safe.

Award-winning cartoonist Niki Smith delivers a stunning story set during a summer of change. Filled with gorgeous and expressive illustrations, Midsummer Sisters is a celebration of the beauty of wild horses, as powerful as the unbreakable bond between sisters.

Lightmare

Book #2 of The Incorruptibles

By Lauren Magaziner

Fiora’s world has been turned upside down in this second book in the exciting upper middle grade fantasy series The Incorruptibles, for fans of Keeper of the Lost Cities and The Marvellers.

Still reeling from recent tragedies, Fiora and her Thistle teammates are on the run and living in seclusion. Times are difficult, and the Thistles are more vulnerable to the sorcerer threat than ever. But all is not lost. The Thistles are forming a plan to fight back.

But when terrible truths are revealed, deep fractures form within the team. When one of their own makes a choice Fiora never saw coming—and cannot possibly understand—Fiora and her friends are forced to reexamine what is good and what is evil…as well as the gray space between.

Just Ask Elsie

By: Ari Koontz

Elsie Parker is having a totally normal fifth grade year.

Fractions and conjunctions—check.
Stressing about middle school—check.
Body-positive puberty class at church that also covers feelings and identities—check.

Okay, maybe that last one isn’t so normal. It’s a little weird (and awkward) to spend her Sundays talking periods, B.O., and pimples. But Elsie’s also learning a lot more than she’s heard in her public-school health class — like the difference between sex and gender, and what consent is, and what it might mean that she can’t stop blushing around a certain cute girl at her school.

When her puberty lessons become the school’s latest gossip, Elsie’s totally humiliated… until she finds an anonymous note in her locker from a classmate who wants to know more, and realizes that other kids might have embarrassing questions of their own.

Starting an underground advice board wasn’t exactly in her plans, but Elsie won’t pass up a chance to turn her reputation around — or to share words and labels that have not-so-accidentally been left off their curriculum. But when the principal tries to shut down the unauthorized puberty talk, Elsie has to decide what she’s willing to risk to tell the truth to kids who really need to hear it.

Stream

By Aida Salazar

It’s finally summer—heck, yeah!

With eigth grade done, Elio Solis plans to lock in on his gaming and show the fellas what he’s got.

Celi Rivera and her bestie are headed to Hawaii to sun, skate, and search content for her channel.

But those dreams end when a catfishing incident rocks their Oakland community. Suddenly, parents are nosing in posts, taking phones, and laying down lectures about screen-time safety and well-being. Suddenly, Celi and Elio find themselves sent to rural Mexico, without internet, electricity, or even running water save for a dying stream that could wipe out the whole pueblo in the coming summer rains.

Helping curanderas in a healing clinic…
carting sticks to rehabilitate the arroyo…
turn summer dreams to misery!

But day by day, in nature, beauty, and community, with crushes blooming, can they find their way to each other—and slowly back to themselves?

The Replay Trap

By Juliana Brandt

A girl stuck in a time loop repeatedly relives an awkward sleepover at a wildlife center with a wolf-like monster in the woods in this fun and creepy middle grade adventure.

When Sydney heads to a sleepover birthday party at a wildlife center, she’s sure it’s a terrible idea. Not only because she’ll be staying in a creepy cabin surrounded by wolf enclosures, but because she wasn’t actually invited to the party. Instead, her mom asked Ari’s mom if Sydney could join, and now she’s crashing the event with a group of kids she barely knows. Ugh.It turns out she isn’t the only party crasher when a strange, wolf-like creature bounds out of the woods and throws the night into chaos. In the rush to escape, Sydney hits her head, is knocked out cold…and wakes up back in the car, headed to the party.

Sydney realizes she’s living the same night again and again and again. Why is the evening stuck in a loop, and what is the creature prowling around the center? And—most importantly—how can she break the loop and finally see the morning?

Fifth Grade Top Dogs

By Jerry Spinelli

George, aka “Suds,” is about to start the fifth grade, where he, his best friend Joey, and the rest of his classmates will be the top dogs of the whole school. They are ready to collect on the respect they now deserve and leave their lasting legacy at Gotwals Elementary . . . but that’s easier said than done.

Between bullies on the playground and a prankster sister, Suds is being undermined, ignored, and even challenged everywhere he turns.

Suds knows this could finally be his year, if only he works on his walk, perfects his image, and his annoying little sister stays out of his way. He has been preparing to be a top dog his whole elementary school career. Does he now have what it takes?

Hope you enjoy these exciting new releases. Have a great Summer!

Articles

June 5th is National Doughnut Day

Like this: