New Releases by Catherine Hapka

A heartwarming Clydesdale chapter book for the holiday season! For all lovers of horses, history, and the holidays, here’s a very special Horse Diaries book. Wisconsin, 1915. Jingle Bells is a strong Clydesdale gelding. He enjoys his work on the farm, pulling the hay wagon in the summer and a sleigh in the winter, and he loves his human friend, Kari. But when Kari’s older brother comes home for Christmas with a new Model T Ford, will the family still need Jingle Bells?

When high school sophomore Lauren takes her new Sheltie to "puppy kindergarten," she finds herself attracted to the class instructor, Adam, but he may not be the perfect boyfriend candidate she believes him to be.

Disappointed when she is not accepted by the wealthier campers at her sleepaway riding camp, Brooke learns that the camp may be shutting down permanently and asks her online Pony Post friends for help saving it.

Maddie is desperate to keep her favorite horse from being sold in this first book in a contemporary middle grade series in the tradition of Marguerite Henry’s Misty of Chincoteague. Madison “Maddie” Martinez loves her weekly riding lessons, and she loves working with her favorite horse, Cloudy, every time. So she is shocked when she finds out Cloudy’s former owners might want to buy her back! Maddie desperately concocts various plans to stop the sale: maybe she can raise money to buy Cloudy herself, or what if she can make the potential buyers lose interest? Maddie’s online Pony Post friends—Brooke Rhodes, Hayley Duncan, Nina Peralt, who all share a love of Chincoteague ponies—can tell something is up, but at first Maddie is afraid to tell them what’s happening. If she loses her only connection to Chincoteague, will they even want to be friends with her anymore?

Based on the bestselling game, Plants vs. Zombies: Save Your Brains! introduces young readers to Crazy Dave and the fun-dead. The zombies are coming! If you want to save your brains, you''ll need to know which plants to use in your garden. Don''t worry—Crazy Dave is here to help guide you. I Can Read books are designed to encourage a love of reading. Plants vs. Zombies: Save Your Brains! is a Level Two I Can Read book, geared for kids who read on their own but still need a little help.

For the campers and the horse lovers in your home or school! It''s the first day of summer vacation and time to go camping with the ponies! Meg discovers there''s a lot she doesn''t know about camping—but learning is part of the fun in the end. The Pony Scouts series is full of all the rich details young horse lovers devour, from pony-centric plots to a "Pony Pointers" vocabulary page at the end of each book. Go camping with the Pony Scouts! Author Catherine Hapka is a lifelong horse lover. She rides several times per week and keeps three horses on her small farm in Pennsylvania. If you''re looking for horse books for girls 4-8, don''t miss the Pony Scouts books. Pony Scouts: The Camping Trip is a Level Two I Can Read book, geared for kids who read on their own but still need a little help. Whether shared at home or in a classroom, the engaging stories, longer sentences, and language play of Level Two books are proven to help kids take their next steps toward reading success.

From the creators of Ice Age and Epic, Rio 2 flies into theaters in April 2014. Join Blu, Jewel, and all your favorite Rio characters for a wild adventure in this retelling of the movie perfect for young fans! Blu and Jewel are taking the kids on a trip to the Amazon jungle. Jewel wants the kids to know what it was like for her growing up in the wild, but Blu is missing the comforts of home. Will this vacation be one to remember? Based on the movie, Rio 2: Vacation in the Wild is a Level 2 I Can Read book, perfect for kids who read on their own but still need a little help.

Fifteen-year-old, science loving Bailey experiences what it is like to fall in love for the first time when new boy Logan Morse arrives into town.

Read along with Disney! When Sofia''s stepbrother, James, asks her to be his partner in the carriage race at the annual Tri-Kingdom Picnic, Sofia hopes she''ll be up to the task. Even though she tries her best, their carriage comes in last. But in the end, Sofia winds up teaching James a little something about the value of being a good sport.

It is time for the Enchanted Science Fair, and Sofia must convince her fellow students that friendship and teamwork are more important than winning.

Read along with Disney! A snowstorm prevents King Roland from returning home in time for the holidays. Sofia bravely leads her family on an expedition to find him, and she shows Amber that spending the holiday with loved ones is better than any present. This beautifully illustrated story is perfect for holidays and includes word for word narration as well as a special appearance by Princess Aurora!

Walk with the dinosaurs in this I Can Read book based on the motion picture. In this story, Patchi and Juniper get separated from their herd during the great migration. Will they make it to the Winter Ground, where their families are waiting? Walking with Dinosaurs: The Winter Ground is a Level Two I Can Read book, geared for kids who read on their own but still need a little help. Walking with Dinosaurs, a six-part documentary on the BBC, is now the most watched cable documentary ever, as well as a long-running live stage show. The long-awaited 3D motion picture comes out this December, and is sure to thrill fans.

This I Can Read story is perfect for beginning readers and pony lovers alike! In this charming story, the Pony Scouts are helping throw a pony party for a little girl''s birthday. But when the birthday girl isn''t having fun, it''s up to the Meg, Jill, and Annie to save the day. Like all I Can Read books, Pony Scouts: Pony Party is designed to encourage a love of reading. It is a Level 2 book, geared for kids who read on their own but still need a little help.

Read along with Disney! It''s Halloween, and the Buddies are going on a brand-new original adventure! The pups are excited to go trick-or-treating in their awesome costumes, but when a black cat keeps appearing, their luck starts to turn. Follow along with the word for word narration as the Buddies track down this mysterious Halloween visitor, and get to the bottom of this spooky situation!

Sofia meets Princess Ariel in this adorable mermaid tale! During her family vacation on a floating palace, Sofia befriends a mermaid, and through their friendship, helps save the mermaid''s kingdom and brings their two worlds together. Based on the Disney Junior movie event featuring Princess Ariel airing in mid-November 2013!

Read along with Disney! Sofia meets Princess Ariel in this adorable mermaid tale! During her family vacation on a floating palace, Sofia befriends a mermaid, and through their friendship, helps save the mermaid''s kingdom and brings their two worlds together. Follow along with the word-for-word narration in this storybook based on the Disney Junior movie event featuring Princess Ariel!

Qualifying for an elite series of horse shows that coincide with the start of a new school year, talented riders Tommi, Kate and Zara find their efforts complicated by overconfidence, a love triangle and cultural misunderstandings. By the authors of Off Course. Original.

Lindy doesn''t want to move to the bug house. That''s what she calls her family''s new beachfront house on stilts. She misses her best friend and her life back in Chicago. But her feelings change during a storm when Lindy hears a cry for help . . . from a mermaid! Are there really mermaids in Lindy''s backyard? And if so, what can one clumsy girl do to help them? Fans of Hamster Magic and The Very Little Princess books will love this heartfelt and accessible Stepping Stones fantasy.

Read along with Disney! What''s better than a slumber party? A Royal Slumber Party! When Sofia invites her friends from the village to her very first royal slumber party, she''s excited but nervous, too. What if her old friends don''t get along with her new ones? Advice from a Disney Princess comes at just the right moment, and Sofia''s slumber party winds up being a royal blast in this storybook featuring word for word narration and Sofia the First.

Read along with Disney! Sofia is excitedly awaiting the arrival of a visitor at the castle: a beautiful baby unicorn named Pearl. Sofia and her step-siblings want to play with their special guest, but Pearl ruins their games and makes a mess. Follow along with the word for word narration as Sofia tries to find an activity they can all enjoy together.

The Pony Scouts are becoming better at riding with every lesson. But just when they think they''ve seen it all, a new horse arrives on Jill''s farm—one who hasn''t been ridden before! Taffy is a beautiful palomino pony that needs Jill''s help. With a little patience and a lot of love, Jill and the Pony Scouts will make Taffy a member of the family. The Pony Scouts series is full of all the rich details young horse lovers devour, from pony-centric plots to a "Pony Pointers" vocabulary page at the end of each book. Go camping with the Pony Scouts! Author Catherine Hapka is a lifelong horse lover. She rides several times per week and keeps three horses on her small farm in Pennsylvania. If you''re looking for horse books for girls 4-8, don''t miss the Pony Scouts books. Pony Scouts: The New Pony is a Level Two I Can Read book, geared for kids who read on their own but still need a little help. Whether shared at home or in a classroom, the engaging stories, longer sentences, and language play of Level Two books are proven to help kids take their next steps toward reading success.

Sofia was a little girl who lived a rather ordinary life. But everything changed when her mother married the king. Now she must learn everything there is to know about being a princess before the royal ball . . . which is tomorrow night! Follow along with the word-for-word narration as Sofia becomes Princess Sofia the First!

Meg, Jill, and Annie know how to ride their ponies. But when they decide to go out on the trail alone, will they be able to find their way home? The Pony Scouts series is full of all the rich details young horse lovers devour, from pony-centric plots to a "Pony Pointers" vocabulary page at the end of each book. Go camping with the Pony Scouts! Author Catherine Hapka is a lifelong horse lover. She rides several times per week and keeps three horses on her small farm in Pennsylvania. If you''re looking for horse books for girls 4-8, don''t miss the Pony Scouts books. Pony Scouts: The Trail Ride is a Level Two I Can Read book, geared for kids who read on their own but still need a little help. Whether shared at home or in a classroom, the engaging stories, longer sentences, and language play of Level Two books are proven to help kids take their next steps toward reading success.

Tommi, Kate, and Zara are well established in the world of elite horse showing. But being a pro in your sport doesn''t mean you''re a pro in your social life. Tommi, the billionaire heiress, is training a young horse to prove to her father that she can make horses a real career. But when her new beau, Alex, convinces her to skip a horse show in order to party in the Hamptons, the results could be disastrous. Meanwhile, Zara, the celebutante wild child is finally taking her riding seriously. Until the new "nanny" her dad hires while he''s touring in Europe threatens to upstage Zara''s party girl status. And then there''s Kate. She doesn''t have money to burn like the other girls, but she does have Fitz, the barn''s resident hot guy. But Kate''s perfectionist tendencies threaten to get in the way of her relationship and her riding when her friends suspect she has an eating disorder. The parties are hot, the riding is intensely competitive, and the social drama spills from the parties right into the show ring.

The Pony Scouts are having a sleepover at Jill’s house! They get to tend to the ponies day and night. But when one of the girls forgets to latch a stall, it’s the Scouts to the rescue!

Cozy up to a double dose of winter-themed romantic comedy with two books in one bind-up. Lexi has come up with a master plan to make Cameron break up with her: get him to fall for another girl so she’ll be free (and guilt-free, too). But when the plan goes well—too well—Lexi starts to wonder if she hasn’t made a terrible mistake. Has she let the perfect guy get away? And is it too late to get him back? Meanwhile, Hayden and Nick’s steamy relationship has ended in a frosty breakup, and now they’re just friends. But when they decide to go head-to-head in a boarding contest, the friendly competition gets heated….Will sparks start to fly on and off the slopes?

Lexi is feeling a little holidazed this winter in this cute and hilarious holiday romance. Lexi has been going out with Cameron for way too long. Sure, he''s a nice guy, but there''s a spark missing between them. So she comes up with the perfect plan: get him to fall for another girl so she''ll be free—and guilt-free, too. But when Lexi sees Cameron looking awfully cozy with Jaylene, her heart melts and she realizes she has made a terrible mistake. She needs to find a way to get Cameron back—and before he goes out on twelve dates with her. According to her budding psychologist best friend, once a new couple has gone out a dozen times, their relationship is pretty much set. With dinner, the movies, ice skating, and other dates down, it looks like the Christmas Ball will likely be Cameron''s and Jaylene''s 12th date (but who''s counting?). Can Lexi find a way to rekindle her relationship with Cameron in the (saint) nick of time?

She''s ready to catch the bouquet, not steal the guy! When Ava gets dumped by her boyfriend, she''s pretty upset. He wasn''t the love of her life or anything, but with her sister''s wedding - a.k.a. the social event of the season - just two weeks away, Ava''s got to save face by finding someone cute and fun to bring as her date. With the clock ticking and no dates in sight, Ava asks her best friend if she can "borrow" her boyfriend, Jason, for the night. Ava''s never been a big Jason fan, but he''ll look great in a tux, and at least she''ll have someone to dance with. But it doesn''t take long for Ava to realize she''s got him all wrong... What do you do when Mr. Right is wrapped up in a package that belongs to your best friend?

With a riding lesson and a sleepover all planned out, the Pony Scouts couldn''t be any happier . . . until they discover a big surprise! The Pony Scouts series is full of all the rich details young horse lovers devour, from pony-centric plots to a "Pony Pointers" vocabulary page at the end of each book. Go camping with the Pony Scouts! Author Catherine Hapka is a lifelong horse lover. She rides several times per week and keeps three horses on her small farm in Pennsylvania. If you''re looking for horse books for girls 4-8, don''t miss the Pony Scouts books. Pony Scouts: Really Riding! is a Level Two I Can Read book, geared for kids who read on their own but still need a little help. Whether shared at home or in a classroom, the engaging stories, longer sentences, and language play of Level Two books are proven to help kids take their next steps toward reading success.