New Releases by Eric Walters

Key Selling Points Harmony''s finally allowed to leave foster care and go home to her mother, who struggles with drug addiction and alcoholism, but Harmony feels like the only one trying to make it work. The book''s wise-beyond-her-years narrator, Harmony, shows us a child''s experience of the foster care system and of living with a parent struggling so hard with their own mental health issues and addictions that the child essentially raises herself. Yet, the book also demonstrates how kids can resist and persevere in even the direst circumstances. Harmony finds helpers throughout her story—including her supportive friends at her new school, her principal (who also grew up in foster care) and the owner of the corner store, Mr. Khaled, who is a Syrian refugee—giving readers a sense of hope and faith in community. The multigenerational friendship between Harmony and Mr. Khaled shows two people who have survived difficult circumstances finding common ground and sheds light on the immigrant experience. This book is a prequel to the Governor General''s award-winning The King of Jam Sandwiches, focusing on Robbie''s friend Harmony.

Key Selling Points Ali is an eighth-grade student trying to to do it all—get good grades, fit in with his friends, get the girl and satisfy his parents—all while struggling to deal with the anti-Muslim racism around him. Writing poetry helps. If only his father wasn''t set against it. Call Me Al deals with what it''s like to be an immigrant (Ali and his family immigrated from Pakistan when he was little), racism (from peers and the world at large), balancing family versus friends'' expectations, first crushes, being from a lower-income household, being Muslim and finding forgiveness for those who hurt you. Features a relatable male protagonist who discovers spoken-word poetry as an outlet for his feelings. Also makes clear the relationship between poetry and hip-hop. Co-authored by the power duo of veteran writer Eric Walters and renowned poet and motivational speaker Wali Shah, who has based this character''s struggles with choosing between studying science (for his parents) and writing poetry (for himself) on his own experiences.

Jax meets Liv, the new girl at school who shares his love of music, but that’s not all they have in common … Jax has big plans for grade eight: seeing if his maybe-girlfriend, Samantha, will become his actual girlfriend, and being first trumpet in the school band. Enter Liv, the new girl Jax meets at band auditions. Liv’s a star on the trumpet too. In fact, she might be better than Jax. When Jax and Liv start rehearsing together, they go from duet partners to fast friends. Soon, they learn that they share something more than a love of music — something that will change their whole world and make them rethink what it means to be “family.”

Key Selling Points Flight Plan examines what would befall the world if all modern technology failed...and how human civilization would falter. It unflinchingly shows both how dangerous people can be and how capable and kind as well. Its overarching message is how much we need each other, no matter what. The book also has a coming-of-age theme, in that Jamie starts out a privileged young kid who has only read about hardship but grows to become a self-sufficient person with a strong will to survive and the ability to defend himself and his friends. The story takes place in the world of Eric Walters''s Rule of Three series (a trilogy released by Macmillan, starting in 2015). Eric Walters ceaselessly visits schools; he''s an expert at engaging school-age kids in reading, and he continues to write thrilling books to keep them turning pages.

Teen astronaut Houston Williams is now the pilot on a mission to Mars. Houston Williams was thrilled to win a scholarship to attend a space program at NASA. What he didn’t realize was that organizers were recruiting people for a top-secret research project aimed at studying how space travel affects people of different ages. After months spent on the International Space Station conducting a variety of experiments, Houston is surprised to learn that he and his two friends Ashley and Teal have been chosen to join a highly political mission to Mars. But after tragedy strikes, the teens are forced to continue the mission on their own. This is the third book in the Teen Astronauts series, following Houston, Is There A Problem? and Boldly Go. The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.

Becky James lives in a small town where nothing ever changes. But there’s something very different about the new student, Gene Newman. Brilliant, talented, and socially awkward, Gene is like nobody else Becky has ever known. Little does she know just how different he actually is. Gene confides in Becky that he has a secret. More than that, he is a secret. And, apparently, it’s a secret worth killing for.

Key Selling Points This story was inspired by the author’s visit to the Northern Lights Wildlife Shelter in Northern British Columbia. This book examines the importance of wildlife rehabilitation by trained professionals. Introduces young readers to the devastation caused by wildfires in a safe and accessible way. The author’s High and Dry, another Orca Echo book about animal rescue, received a starred review in School Library Journal. The author is one of the founders of “I Read Canadian Day,” which will be celebrated on February 16, 2022. Features several black-and-white illustrations by Olga Barinova.

Key Selling Points In On the Line, a basketball star struggles to make sense of things when he learns his father is gay. Veteran children’s author Eric Walters has teamed up with rising star Paul Coccia to bring their expertise together into a single POV. This book explores the themes of family dynamics and divorce. Paul Coccia''s book Cub was a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection and was commended as a CCBC Best Books for Kids and Teens. Eric Walters has written more than 10 books featuring basketball, including Triple Threat, co-written with NBA fan-favorite Jerome Williams. Eric Walters founded the I Read Canadian Day movement and the day is now celebrated annually on February 17th.

Key Selling Points A young teen earns a scholarship to go to space camp. The first in the Teen Astronauts series featuring Houston at space camp. Examines themes of perseverance, leadership and growth mindset. This is an adventure story with an exciting setting: astronaut training camp. Eric Walters is very well known to librarians and booksellers.

This call-and-response board book with animals is perfect for your bedtime routine. A young child imagines all of his animal friends have come to life as he says good night to each of them before tucking in to sleep. “Moo,” says the cow. “Good night, cow,” says Noah. With hints on each page of the animal featured on the following page, the simple, repetitive text will encourage your little reader to wish their own stuffed animals sweet dreams as they snuggle down for the evening.

★ “This simple story of discovery, sport, and friendship is filled with likable characters and innocently joyful moments...Delightful.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review Kenyan orphans, Kitoo and Nigosi, spend their days studying, playing soccer, helping their elders with chores around the orphanage and reading from the limited selection of books in their library. When the librarian gives Kitoo a copy of Sports Around the World he becomes fascinated by an image of the Canadian national men''s ice hockey team. Then one day the fates align and Kitoo finds a pair of beat-up old roller blades. He teaches himself to skate and dreams of one day playing hockey like the men in his book. But you can’t play ice hockey in Kenya, can you?

Key Selling Points In The King of Jam Sandwiches , ayoung teen is afraid to let anyone know what is going on at home. This book examines the effects of mental illness, poverty and parental neglect. This is a very personal story for Eric Walters, informed by his own experience. Eric Walters has written over 100 books and is an avid presenter visiting thousands of students each year.

What makes bath time fun for baby? Bath toys! From parading penguins and splashing seals to frolicking frogs and bathing beavers, these joyful animal toys are ready to play. Join the splashy party in the tub...you may even get wet too! Bright, vibrant illustrations from Christine Battuz match the energy of a baby in the bath as you’re introduced to Eric Walters’s animal alliterations across each page. It’s just good clean fun!

What makes bath time fun for baby? Bath toys! From parading penguins and splashing seals to frolicking frogs and bathing beavers, these joyful animal toys are ready to play. Join the splashy party in the tub...you may even get wet too! Bright, vibrant illustrations from Christine Battuz match the energy of a baby in the bath as you’re introduced to Eric Walters’s animal alliterations across each page. It’s just good clean fun!

Key Selling Points In this book, a young boy works with his grandfather to save an orca calf stuck in the shallows of an island. This book explores a child’s loneliness living on a remote island and the bond between him and his grandfather, with themes of multigenerational friendship, wildlife rescue, building self-esteem and perseverance. Author Eric Walters has published over 100 books, including several in the Orca Echoes series. This book features several black-and-white illustrations, which add to this engaging chapter book.

Co-written by Eric Walters and Godfrey Nkongolo, Light a Candle weaves non-fiction with fiction to tell the story of a boy coming of age in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro. The son of the village''s chief climbs the mountain against his father’s wishes to fulfill a request of the country’s first leader, Julius Nyerere, to light a candle on the top of the mountain and unify the mainland of Tanganyika and the islands of Zanzibar as one country, the United Republic of Tanzania. This bilingual book includes full text in both English and Swahili.

A violin and a middle-school musical unleash a dark family secret in this moving story by an award-winning author duo. For fans of The Devil''s Arithmetic and Hana''s Suitcase. It''s 2002. In the aftermath of the twin towers -- and the death of her beloved grandmother -- Shirli Berman is intent on moving forward. The best singer in her junior high, she auditions for the lead role in Fiddler on the Roof, but is crushed to learn that she''s been given the part of the old Jewish mother in the musical rather than the coveted part of the sister. But there is an upside: her "husband" is none other than Ben Morgan, the cutest and most popular boy in the school. Deciding to throw herself into the role, she rummages in her grandfather''s attic for some props. There, she discovers an old violin in the corner -- strange, since her Zayde has never seemed to like music, never even going to any of her recitals. Showing it to her grandfather unleashes an anger in him she has never seen before, and while she is frightened of what it might mean, Shirli keeps trying to connect with her Zayde and discover the awful reason behind his anger. A long-kept family secret spills out, and Shirli learns the true power of music, both terrible and wonderful.

From the bestselling coauthor of Broken Strings, “a sensitive and supportive approach to . . . the universal, ageless experiences of love and loss” (Quill & Quire). A heartfelt new picture book from bestselling children’s author Eric Walters (From the Heart of Africa) and Halifax-based artist Carloe Liu. In this poignant story, we follow young Emily who has recently lost her grandfather. As she grows, she discovers a series of letters he left behind for her, offering grandfatherly advice at life’s most pivotal moments: first day of high school, graduation day, wedding, and ending with the birth of her own child. With gentle watercolors and letters for sharing with loved ones, Always With You is a timeless story about grief, growing up, and finding that those we love never truly leave us. Praise for Broken Strings One of Kirkus Reviews’s Best Middle Grade Books of 2019 One of the Globe and Mail’s 100 Books That Shaped 2019 One of Quill & Quire’s Honorable Mentions for 2019 Books of the Year for Young People One of CBC Books Best Canadian YA and Middle Grade Books of 2019 “A beautiful, painful, heartfelt reminder that the past is with us still.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “Walters and Kacer pull off this impressive feat of complex storytelling and make it look easy . . . [an] honest, open and unflinching [story] about some of the more dark and traumatic aspects of history.” —Quill & Quire (starred review) “A book with heart, and one that will definitely be added to my school library collection.” —CM Magazine

Inspired by a story told to the author while on safari in 2015, The Wild Beast describes the creation of one of Africa''s most unusual animals, the wildebeest. According to oral tradition, the Creator built this unique beast out of leftover parts from other magnificent animals found on the continent. Horns from buffalos and stripes meant for zebras. Tails from giraffes and bumps meant for camels. This creative retelling will introduce little ones to a story rich in both imagery and in lesson: Take what you need to live. Take no more. Waste nothing.

What is the true meaning of friendship? Follow along as a boy meets up with his friend—a dog who faithfully waits for him every day so they can ride out to the beach together to surf. The boy doesn''t own the dog and he doesn''t know who does, but their daily routine has created a special bond. Award-winning author Eric Walters navigates the waters of a unique friendship alongside the vibrant illustrations of Eugenie Fernandes, who brings the bumpy roads, rugged beach paths and rolling waves of the tropics to life. Sometimes the most poignant relationships in a child''s life are the ones between friends.

What is the true meaning of friendship? Follow along as a boy meets up with his friend—a dog who faithfully waits for him every day so they can ride out to the beach together to surf. The boy doesn''t own the dog and he doesn''t know who does, but their daily routine has created a special bond. Award-winning author Eric Walters navigates the waters of a unique friendship alongside the vibrant illustrations of Eugenie Fernandes, who brings the bumpy roads, rugged beach paths and rolling waves of the tropics to life. Sometimes the most poignant relationships in a child''s life are the ones between friends.

In a world with no power, chaos soon descends. A powerful look at the disintegration of society in the wake of a massive and mysterious outage that has knocked out all modern amenities. Fifteen-year-old Emma has moved house with her ex-Marine mother and younger brother. It''s a brand-new condo building, which explains the semi-regular power outages, as workers complete the units around them. So Emma isn''t particularly concerned when the latest blackout hits just as they are preparing to leave town on a long weekend camping trip. But then the car won''t start, and their cellphones appear dead -- and all the cars outside their building seem to be stalled in a long traffic jam ... In the midst of what appears to be a massive power outage, with their camping gear packed and ready, Emma and her family canoe over to the islands, just offshore, to wait it out. But while they land on an isolated island, with a relatively hidden site, they are far from safe, as people become increasingly desperate to find food and shelter. And as the days pass, and the power remains out, the threat of violence becomes all too real.

Okay, Sophie, you''ve got ninety days to step out of your comfort zone.

From aardvark to zebra and all that''s in between, little ones will love learning their alphabet with these colorful creatures. An African Alphabet is a vibrant ABC book that introduces babies and toddlers to the unique variety of animals found in Africa. An alphabet for all ages, the stunning linocut-influenced artwork brings an uncommon selection of critters to life in this lively concept book.

The Canadian Arctic Expedition of 1913 is not meant for children, so it doesn''t look like bookish Helen or her squirmy little brother, Michael, will be having any fun. To fight off the boredom, Helen plans to keep her nose in her favourite books. But on their way to the Arctic, the ocean freezes over early, catching the captain and crew by surprise. The boat becomes trapped in ice and everyone is forced to abandon ship before it sinks. It''s a long and treacherous road to solid land and many dangers lie ahead. Helen could not have predicted that instead of reading about adventures, she would soon be living an extraordinary one of her own.

In this early chapter book, Nathan learns to care for seven orphaned baby squirrels with help from a stray neighborhood cat.

In this middle-grade novel, DJ travels with his grandfather to Central America and ends up hunted by armed gunmen.

The seven grandsons from the bestselling Seven (the Series) and The Seven Sequels return in The Seven Prequels, along with their daredevil grandfather, David McLean. In these thrilling origin stories Eric Walters, John Wilson, Ted Staunton, Richard Scrimger, Norah McClintock, Sigmund Brouwer and Shane Peacock and their signature writing styles take readers from the heat of the jungles of Central America to the mysterious streets of Stockholm to one very dangerous kayaking trip in Florida. These linked novels can be read in any order. Discover all seven books in this action-packed collection: Barracuda Jungle Land The Missing Skull Separated Slide Speed Weerdest Day Ever!

Having the ability to speak confidently; engage the audience; make a clear, well-argued case; and handle any tricky situations, is rarely a natural talent, but it can be learned through application and practice. Scientists Must Speak, Second Edition, helps readers do just that.At some point in their careers, the majority of scientists have to stand