New Releases by Stephanie Spinner

Follow the amazing journey of Pope Francis, whose warmth and humility have made him beloved around the world. Jorge Mario Bergoglio, aka Pope Francis, from Argentina, is the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, and the first from the Southern Hemisphere. Since being elected pope he has shown a humbler, less formal approach to his office than his predecessors: a warm style that has been referred to as "no frills." His common touch and accessibility, as well as his insistence that the church be more open and welcoming, has quickly endeared him not only to Roman Catholics but to millions of others around the world. This title in the New York Times best-selling series includes eighty illustrations that help bring Pope Francis''s amazing story to life.

No one knew the boy they called “Jumping Badger” would grow to become a great leader. Born on the banks of the Yellowstone River, Sitting Bull, as he was later called, was tribal chief and holy man of the Lakota Sioux tribe in a time of fierce conflict with the United States. As the government seized Native American lands, Sitting Bull relied on his military cunning and strong spirituality to drive forces out of his territory and ensure a future homeland for his people.

Clarissa “Clara” Barton was a shy girl who grew up to become a teacher, nurse, and humanitarian. At a time when few women worked outside the home, she became the first woman to hold a government job, as a patent clerk in Washington, DC. In 1864, she was appointed “lady in charge” of the hospitals at the front lines of the Union Army, where she became known as the “Angel of the Battlefield.” Clara Barton built a career helping others. She went on to found the American Red Cross, one of her greatest accomplishments, and one of the most recognized organizations in the world.

While other kids played sports, Steven Spielberg was writing scripts and figuring out camera angles. He went from entertaining his Boy Scout troop with home movies to amazing audiences around the world with epic blockbusters. He has directed four of the most successful films of all time and has won two Academy Awards for Best Director. From Jaws to Lincoln, young readers and aspiring filmmakers will be fascinated by the life of this famous director.

This book examines how Alex the African grey parrot changed our knowledge of the intelligence of these beautiful birds.

Paddywack is a petite nine hands high, and every pony inch is packed full of spunk. It hasn’t been easy, but he now has his rider, Jane, well trained. He’ll trot. He’ll canter. He’ll jump the jumps. He’s a perfect pony . . . when she gives him treats. But on the day of the big horse show, Jane is so nervous she forgets his treats. Will Paddywack dig in his hooves? Or can he rise to the occasion? This sweet story is sure to capture young horse-lovers’ hearts.

Richard Bickerstaff and his friend Henry are prisoners on Grax, a hostile planet. Aric, their tiny alien friend, has been taken from them--perhaps forever. And now they''re eating lunch in a Graxian jail, face to face with a Turinga Death Machine! Can life get any more dangerous? Kids will love this very funny Stepping Stones HUMOR title!

Christmas just isn’t Christmas without The Nutcracker! This beautiful book, which includes a fully orchestrated CD of the score, invites children to dance, prance, and relive the ballet long after the tree comes down. Peter Malone’s exquisite illustrations capture all the magic of The Nutcracker’s most memorable scenes: the Christmas Eve party, Godfather Drosselmeyer’s spellbinding visit, and the ferocious battle between the Mouse King and the Nutcracker. Marie’s journey to the Land of Sweets, where the Sugar Plum Fairy welcomes her with exuberant dancers from around the globe—and toothsome desserts—springs to life as never before. Stephanie Spinner’s lyrical text, Peter Malone’s jewel-like artwork, and a sparkling performance of Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s unforgettable music make this a gift to inspire even the very youngest dancer.

In the days of knights and castles, one man knew all the secrets of magic. His name was Merlin. Merlin saw the future. He cast powerful spells. He brought King Arthur to the throne and helped him rule England. Together Merlin and Arthur made history—and became legend. Kids who love magic won’t want to miss this story of Merlin, the greatest magician ever, and his friendship with the once and future king, Arthur, with its beautiful full-color illustrations of Camelot, magic objects, and knights in shining armor. Stephanie Spinner is the author of the popular early chapter book trilogy Aliens for Breakfast, Aliens for Lunch, and Aliens for Dinner, as well the well-reviewed novel for children, Quiver. The author lives in New York, NY. Russian-born Valerie Sokolova is finding a new home in the American publishing industry with her elaborate illustrations, such as the ones in the Golden Treasury of Christmas Joy. She lives in Brooklyn, NY.

WATER SPIRIT DAMOSEL, the Lady of the Lake, glides through Arthurian legend like a glamorous wraith, shimmering and shifting between the worlds of fairies and humans. Her knowledge is vast (magic, metal, men’s hearts) and leads to her greatest honor—and worst mistake. Damosel makes a promise to the wizard Merlin to protect young King Arthur, and then dares to break it—with devastating results. All the while, 17-year-old Twixt—a dwarf in a world where difference can be deadly—finds himself freed from his cruel masters and moving closer to the one place he never expected to see: King Arthur’s court at Camelot. Stephanie Spinner intertwines the two narratives of Damosel and Twixt to draw us straight into the rich Arthurian land of enchantment.

Every night of Hanukkah Grandma tells a story at bedtime. Includes the Hanukkah legend.

Hermes—also known as Mercury, Wayfinder, and Prince of Thieves—has many talents. Wearing his famed winged sandals, he does the bidding of his father Zeus, leads the dead down to Hades, and practices his favorite arts of trickery and theft. He also sees the future, travels invisibly, loves jokes, and abhors violence. And he’s an entertaining and ideal narrator on a fast-paced journey through ancient Greek mythology—from Medusa’s cave to Trojan War battlefields to the mysterious Underworld. Stephanie Spinner brings the famous messenger—and the best-known gods and mortals of mythology—to life with high action and spare, powerful prose.

Greek gods and mortals spring to life in this riveting retelling of the myth of Atalanta, the fleet-footed girl warrior who could outrun any man in ancient Greece. Cast off and abandoned at birth, Atalanta– saved by a she-bear and raised by hunters–proves herself to be a superior archer and the fastest runner in the land. But her skills and independence anger many, including her father, the Arcadian King, who suddenly reclaims her and demands that she produce an heir to the throne. Atalanta has pledged herself to Artemis, goddess of the hunt, who has forbidden her to marry. Unwilling to break her promise, Atalanta suggests a grim compromise: she will marry the first man to beat her in a race, but everyone she defeats must die. All the while, Artemis, Apollo, Aphrodite, Eros, and Zeus himself watch–and interfere–from on high.

Long ago, in the days of knights and castles, one king became a legend—King Arthur, ruler of all England. Everyone knew of his famous Round Table, but few people knew about his half-sister and her wicked plot against him. Fighting Morgan le Fay’s dark magic was the true test of King Arthur’s courage.

Their alien friend Gemini Jack tries to help twins Tod and Tessa but his actions backfire when he turns the evil Gneiss twins super-nice and removes drummer Nigel Throbber''s celebrity by spraying him with permanent Fame Ban.

You want girl power? Meet Annie Oakley! Born in 1860, she became one of the best-loved and most famous women of her generation. She amazed audiences all over the world with her sharpshooting, horse-riding, action-packed performances. In an age when most women stayed home, she traveled the world and forged a new image for American women.

"Il était une fois, à l''époque des chevaliers et des châteaux, un homme qui connaissait tous les secrets de la magie. Il s''appelait Merlin. Il prévoyait l''avenir. Il jetait des sorts très puissants. Il a aidé le roi Arthur à accéder au trône et à gouverner l''Angleterre. Ensemble, Merlin et Arthur sont passés à l''Histoire et ont engendré une merveilleuse légende."--Page 4 de la couverture

While staying with their hippie grandparents, ten-year-old twins, Tod and Tessa, discover an unusual shop at the nearby mall, where they find a lie-detecting electronic pet, a Do-Right machine, and other alien gadgets which help them foil their nemeses, the evil Gneiss twins.

A dashing prince and a brave princess must join forces to defeat the monster in the maze and save the children of Athens. This exciting Greek legend comes to life in this easy-to-read version of the ancient legend. Full-color illustrations.

Cursed by the gods for her vanity, Medusa becomes a monster with snakes for hair--and the ability to turn all whose gaze upon her to stone. Full color.

Garth, who can talk to animals, becomes separated from his pet gerbil Weebie while visiting a ranch in Texas, and Weebie must find his way alone across the dry, dangerous range.

Garth, who can talk to animals, searches for his lost gerbil at a cat show in New York City.

A boy who can talk to animals and his pet gerbil team up to reunite a runaway bunny with its distraught owner.

Aided by a talking gerbil and a talking parrot, Garth and his new friend Marcus devise a plan to expose a nasty substitute teacher.

Don: BWI Book Seller.

When Garth takes the class gerbil home for the summer, he discovers that he can talk not only with Weebie but also with other animals.

Having deduced the double identity of Count Dracula, a wealthy Transylvanian nobleman, a small group of people vow to rid the world of the evil vampire.

When his fortune cookie cracks open and a tiny pink alien steps out, Richard Bickerstaff knows that he''s in for more than a Chinese dinner. And he''s right! Aric, that bossy extraterrestrial, needs Richard''s help. He''s got to keep pollution-loving aliens from turning Earth into a Toxic Waste Theme Park. The trouble is, they''ve already started, and they''re moving fast! Can Richard and Aric stop the total trashing of the planet? Kids will love this very funny Stepping Stones HUMOR title!

Illus. in full color. Travel back to the era of Buffalo Bill and the Wild West and meet the most famous sharpshooter of all time, Annie Oakley, who could shoot backward by looking in a mirror--or a knife blade!