A SAKURA MEDAL BOOK 2025 (Chapter Book) Publisher Marketing: A touching and lyrical tale about a remarkable sea otter, from Newbery Medalist Katherine Applegate, author of Wishtree. Meet Odder, the Queen of Play: Nobody has her moves. She doesn't just swim to the bottom, she dive-bombs. She doesn't just somersault, she triple-doughnuts. She doesn't just ride the waves, she makes them. Odder spends her days off the coast of central California, practicing her underwater acrobatics and spinning the quirky stories for which she's known. She's a fearless daredevil, curious to a fault. But when Odder comes face-to-face with a hungry great white shark, her life takes a dramatic turn, one that will challenge everything she believes about herself--and about the humans who hope to save her. Inspired by the true story of a Monterey Bay Aquarium program that pairs orphaned otter pups with surrogate mothers, this poignant and humorous tale told in free verse examines bravery and healing through the eyes of one of nature's most beloved and charming animals. Author: Katherine Applegate Illustrator: Charles Santoso ISBN: 9781250147424 Publisher: Feiwel & Friends Binding: Hardcover Pub Date: September 20, 2022 Target Age Group: 08 to 12

A SAKURA MEDAL BOOK 2023 (Chapter Book) A New York Times Notable Book, 2017 A National Public Radio Best Book of 2017 A Publishers Weekly Bestseller A Washington Post Best Book of 2017 A Chicago Public Library Best Book of 2017 A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2017 San Francisco Chronicle 2017 Gift Guide Los Angeles Times 2017 Gift Guide Autumn 2017 Kids' Indie Next List "Top Pick" Title Winner, E.B. White Read Aloud Award 2018 ALSC/ALA Notable Children's Book Publisher Marketing: The earth is old and we are not, and that is all you must remember . . . Eleven-year-old Willodeen adores creatures of all kinds, but her favorites are the most unlovable beasts in the land: strange beasts known as "screechers." The villagers of Perchance call them pests, even monsters, but Willodeen believes the animals serve a vital role in the complicated web of nature. Lately, though, nature has seemed angry indeed. Perchance has been cursed with fires and mudslides, droughts and fevers, and even the annual migration of hummingbears, a source of local pride and income, has dwindled. For as long as anyone can remember, the tiny animals have overwintered in shimmering bubble nests perched atop blue willow trees, drawing tourists from far and wide. This year, however, not a single hummingbear has returned to Perchance, and no one knows why. When a handmade birthday gift brings unexpected magic to Willodeen and her new friend, Connor, she's determined to speak up for the animals she loves, and perhaps even uncover the answer to the mystery of the missing hummingbears. A timely and timeless tale about our fragile earth, and one girl's fierce determination to make a difference. Author: Katherine Applegate Illustration: Charles Santoso ISBN: 9781250327970 Publisher: Square Fish Binding: Paperback Pub Date: July 30, 2024 Target Age Group: 08 to 12