New Releases by Sara Varon

A graphic novel classic — and now an Oscar-nominated animated feature! After best friends Robot and Dog spend a happy day at the beach, Robot''s joints freeze up—they''ve become rusted through by the water. Dog is powerless to help Robot, who can''t move an inch and is too heavy for Dog to carry. Eventually, Dog makes the difficult decision to leave Robot there, and return alone to the life they shared. The memory of their friendship lingers, and as the seasons pass, Dog makes (and loses) new friends, from a melting snowman to epicurean anteaters. But Robot, lying rusting on the beach, finds solace in dreams. A masterwork in wordless cartooning, Sara Varon''s Robot Dreams is a whimsical and poignant meditation on the power and fragility of relationships.

Can Detective Sweet Pea sniff out the suspect and crack the case? From the creator of Robot Dreams, now an Oscar-nominated feature film, comes a new graphic novel series for young readers! Sweet Pea’s got a pretty sweet life. The animals in her hometown of Parkville have always gotten along with one another, and she’s free to spend her days doing what she loves best: making art, hanging out with friends, and digging through the trash for tasty treats. When two new dogs move to town, Sweet Pea is eager to show them the sights and smells of Parkville . . . especially its most famous attraction, the one-of-a-kind GOLDEN CHEW BONE! But . . . the Golden Chew Bone has VANISHED! Parkville needs a detective, and Sweet Pea’s spectacular sense of smell makes her the perfect pup to crack the case.

Sara Varon''s My Pencil and Me is a playful picture book that’s perfect for young artists, writers, and makers—especially if they struggle with confidence or writer''s block. Sara loves to draw and tell stories, but sometimes it can be difficult to get started. What if she doesn''t have any good ideas or her drawings turn out terrible?! Lucky for Sara, she has a friend who is always by her side—her pencil. With a little help from Pencil, Sara learns it''s okay if her story isn''t perfect, as long as she''s using her imagination and having fun.

NYT Book Review 2019 25 Best Children''s Books In Hold Hands, beloved graphic novelist and children''s book author Sara Varon offers a sweet rhyming story for toddlers about friendship and connection. Hold hands each time you cross the street. Hold hands on the bus if you don’t have a seat. Hold hands when you say goodbye. And also when you’re jumping high. Everybody holds hands. You can hold hands with your little brother or your best friend. You can hold hands with your classmate or even your favorite doll! Gather up your little ones, hold their hands, and share this heartwarming book.

From Sara Varon (Robot Dreams, Bake Sale) comes New Shoes, a heartwarming graphic novel about a donkey on a quest to make the perfect pair of shoes. Francis the donkey is the best shoemaker in the village. He uses only the finest materials: coconut wood for the soles, goat’s wool for the insoles, and wild tiger grass for the uppers. One day he receives a special order from his favorite singer: Miss Manatee, the queen of calypso. But he’s all out of tiger grass! To make the perfect pair of shoes, Francis must journey deep into the jungle . . . and that means leaving his village for the first time. In New Shoes, Sara Varon takes us on a vivid journey into the jungles of South America. From the capybara to the jaguar to the three-toed sloth, Francis meets a variety of animals outside his neighborhood. They’re not so scary when you get to know them!

In graphic novel format, this volume includes short stories, essays, and journal entries, revealing the whimsical world of Sara Varon, where anthropomorphic animals walk the streets of Brooklyn.

Cupcake runs a successful bakery with his best friend, Eggplant, but dreams of going abroad to meet his idol, Turkish Delight, who is the most famous pastry chef in the world.

Chickens makes his friend Cat a partner in his housecleaning business, but, after his business suffers when Cat turns out to be too clumsy to help, Cat unexpectedly saves the day when he apprehends a mouse trying to rob a ladybug on the street.

When Cat feels sad about living in the hustle and bustle of the city, Chicken finds colorful ways to make Cat feel better.