In this modern supernatural middle grade retelling of the beloved classic Little Women, the March sisters have a monstrous secret Meg will do anything to protect—especially with another beast lurking in the woods threatening to expose them.

Meg March and her three sisters are monsters. No, really. Meg has teeth that are a little too sharp. Jo gets furry under the full moon. Beth goes night flying on wings that are impossible to hide under her sweaters. And Amy? Well, don’t let her near a body of water or she’ll start sprouting her mermaid’s tail.

Meg is sure their foster mom, Marmee, wouldn’t like any of this if she knew. And Jo’s best friend Laurie, the nice boy next door, would run screaming. To make matters worse, Meg’s small town outside of Salem is on edge. A vicious beast has been spotted in the forest, and Farmer Bhaer believes it’s responsible for his missing chickens. Meg is sure to be blamed if anyone realizes she’s a monster in disguise. And the closer it gets to Halloween, the surer the town is that something evil is hiding in the forest.

Meg doesn’t always remember what she gets up to at night, and sometimes, she wakes alone in a mossy part of the forest and has to find her way back. With John Brooke determined to find out just what Meg is hiding and locals working to uncover the monsters in their midst, Meg must find the culprit herself—or risk losing the little home she’s found with her sisters.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Máire Roche is a former elementary and pre-k teacher who now writes stories full of magic, mystery, and wonder. When she isn’t teaching or imagining fictional worlds, Máire enjoys running, teaching martial arts, and baking too many cookies. She lives in the Midwest with her spouse and their very disagreeable cat, Lulu.

Babies: A Photicular Book by Dan Kainen 
On sale 8/11/26, ISBN: 9781523532094 
Calling all animal lovers! Babies: A Photicular Book spotlights an adorable selection of baby animals, from a litter of puppies to a sea lion pup lounging in the sun to a playful little chimpanzee. Through immersive 3D images and fun facts about each animal, learn how these lovable creatures grow and survive in the wild.  This is such a beautiful book!

America: A Photicular Book by Dan Kainen 
On sale 6/2/26, ISBN: 9781523536207 
America: A Photicular Book celebrates the unique beauty of the USA with immersive 3D images that move as you turn the page. From the bright lights of Time Square to a roaring river in Yosemite National Park to the majestic aurora over Alaskan skies, this book is a stirring ode to the beauty of America on its 250^th anniversary (and beyond).  

The Little Frog Sticker Book by Maybell Eequay  
On sale 8/11/26, ISBN: 9781523536078 
Maybell Eequay’s beloved Little Frog is now spreading joy in sticker form! Get ready to bedeck your items with “hoppiness” as you move the mushroom-wearing, fabulous-shoed dancing and prancing amphibian from 72 pages of landscapes of fabulous stiletto boots, lily pads, and friendly gerbils to any item for a reminder of the encouragement and compassion that Little Frog has come to represent.   

The Eclectic World of Julia Rothman Wrapping Paper Book by Julia Rothman 
On sale 8/4/26, ISBN: 9781523535293 
This curated collection of wrapping paper sheets and matching gift tags features a wide variety of Rothman’s charming designs, from ballerinas to bakeware to the beach. I can’t wait to use this one!

Paint by Sticker: Portraits by Workman Publishing 
On sale 8/25/26, ISBN: 9781523533442 
Re-create 12 historic paintings one sticker at a time. Featuring select pieces from the renowned collection at London’s National Portrait Gallery, re-create historically significant British figures of Shakespeare, Ira Alridge, the Brontë sisters, Mary Seacole, and more. Plus the card-stock pages are perforated, so every finished picture can easily be removed for framing. This is great for both older kids and even adults!

The Little Frog Wrapping Paper Book by Maybell Eequay 
On sale 8/11/26, ISBN: 9781523536085 
The Little Frog is here to help you gift in style! Nature-inspired patterns and accessorized amphibians hop around gleefully on 12 perforated wrapping paper sheets that detach and unfold.  Perfect for wrapping up The Little Frog sticker book!

I Love the South Sticker Book by Workman Publishing, illustrated by Joanna Dee 
On sale 9/1/26, ISBN: 9781523533299 
600 stickers celebrate everything Southern, from magnolias in bloom to natural wonders like the Blue Ridge Mountains to cornbread in a cast iron pan or the twang of country bluegrass. Declare your love for the great American South with stickers featuring phrases like “bless your heart” and “dadgummit” and odes to okra, lightnin’ bugs, fishin’, and sweet tea.  

The Eclectic World of Julia Rothman Sticker Book by Julia Rothman 
On sale 8/4/26, ISBN: 9781523535286 
Take a romp through renowned illustrator Julia Rothman’s eclectic world with over 1,000 stickers! From patterned socks & undies to ornate teacups to handsome dogs to half-finished toothpaste tubes, there’s a sticker for the animal lover, the foodie, the bookworm, and anyone looking to decorate their world in Julia Rothman’s signature charming style. 

Cowgirl Wisdom by Workman Publishing 
On sale 9/1/26, ISBN: 9781523533411 
This collection of quotes by strong women is full of motivating pep talks and reminders to stay grounded. A fitting companion for every girl’s journey, from graduations to bachelorette parties to 90^th birthdays, it’s truly meant for anyone who needs to channel their inner cowgirl. 

About the book:

Whiz Kids: Human Body

Play-Along STEM Concepts for Little Learners

By Ellen Philpott, illustrated by Danielle Mudd

On sale 8/25/26 | $12.99

Workman Kids | ISBN 9781523536382

Ages 3 and up

Get hands on with STEM! Filled with surprises that keep young learners engaged, this interactive novelty board book explores the fascinating world inside the human body.

What’s going on inside our bodies? How do we move, eat, think, and breathe? Curious toddlers will love looking inside the human body to discover the answers with this engaging novelty board book. Seven novelty spreads, plus a novelty element on the cover, help satisfy children’s curiosity about how their bodies work. Lift the flap to explore the digestive system, spin the wheel to move the skeleton, pull the lever to reveal the nervous system, and more!

With bright, colorful illustrations and sturdy moving pieces, this book is a perfect gift and a valuable addition to a child’s library.

About the creators:

Ellen Philpott is a UK-based children’s writer and editor, with over 20 years of experience in educational and early-years publishing. Danielle Mudd, also UK-based, is a children’s book illustrator passionate about the important role of books in early years development.

American Idol meets The Hunger Games in this campy, dystopian satire about a teen betting her life that her singing talent can make her a star from the celebrated author of This Book Is Gay, Juno Dawson. This sapphic, rivals-to-lovers romance also grapples with real-life issues the world is facing now, like climate disasters, rising international tension, and anti-LGBTQ policy.

Recommended for older kids only!

A Kid’s Guide to Backyard Stargazing
By Eliza Berkowitz • Illustrated by Nicole LaRue

Packed with captivating facts about planets, stars, constellations, and other celestial objects—all visible from North America— this brightly illustrated guide is perfect for young nature lovers.

Learn all about the amazing night sky in a handy, easy-to-carry guidebook for explorers ages 6 to 8 that shows you how to identify 28 celestial objects that are commonly visible in the Northern Hemisphere. The book has chapters on the Sun and the Moon (including solar eclipses and lunar eclipses), the planets (including Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune), the stars (including the movement of stars, the types of stars, Polaris, Sirius, Arcturus, Vega, Capella, and Rigel), the constellations (including Ursa Major, Cassiopeia, Orion, Canis Major, Centaurus, The Northern Cross, and Ursa Minor), and other celestial objects such as the Milky Way, comets, galaxies, meteoroids, and meteorites.

$14.99 U.S. • Paperback
5 x 7 in, 96 Pages
Full-Color Illustrations
Ages 6 to 8

Mermaid Sleepover

Your little one will count down from 10 to 0, as each little mermaid goes to sleep (and disappears from the page!) at the mermaid sleepover.

Colorful illustrations of mermaids having fun at their sleepover engage toddlers and preschoolers as they learn to count down from ten at bedtime. Mermaids have a dance party, paint seashells, do each other’s hair, and take their seahorses for a walk in this magical, underwater, fairy-tale world. With the clever die-cuts in the book, the mermaids disappear from the page one by one as they swim off to go to bed.

$9.99 U.S. • Board Book
9 x 8 in, 10 Pages
Full-Color Illustrations
Ages 0 to 3
On Sale: 6/16/2026
9781423669968
Rights: Worldwide

Some Dinos
Illustrated by Lydia Nichols

An ode to the different sizes and unique body-type characteristics of dinosaurs, this colorful, chunky board book is a work of art meant to be displayed face-out.

Perfect for dinosaur lovers of all ages, Lydia Nichols’ charming layered artwork with the rhyming story is a celebration of our favorite prehistoric friends. The dinos in this bright, engaging board book come in many different sizes and shapes, and feature special parts that make them recognizable as their unique dinosaur selves. Some are tiny, some are big, some have horns, spikes, flippers, or wings, but to those who love them, every dino is the best of all.

$17.99 U.S. • Board Book
8 1/2 x 8 1/2 in, 12 Pages
Full-Color Illustrations
Ages 0 to 3
On Sale: 8/4/2026
9781423669920
Rights: Worldwide

It’s Time for Red, White, and Blue
Illustrated by Kathrin Fehrl

An ode to the 4th of July, parades, and celebrating with friends, this colorful, chunky board book is a work of art meant to be displayed face-out on nursery bookshelves.

Every page turn reveals a new layer to Kathrin Fehrl’s adorable illustrations of kids getting ready to celebrate the 4th of July by having a cookout, attending a parade, and celebrating with family and friends at the big fireworks display, complete with a fun seek-and-find for each scene. Perfect for holiday lovers of all ages, this sweet story is a celebration of one of the best times of the year.

$17.99 U.S. • Board Book
8 x 10 in, 12 Pages
Full-Color Illustrations
Ages 0 to 3
On Sale: 5/5/2026
9781423669722
Rights: Worldwide

 Little People, BIG DREAMS — the internationally bestselling children’s biography series that introduces young readers (and their grown-ups!) to the lives of incredible women and men who changed the world.

              

From trailblazers in science and activism to champions in arts and sports, these beautifully illustrated stories make powerful role models accessible to children while also offering adults a fresh way to talk about resilience, identity, and leadership:

• Trailblazers in Science & Creativity: Sets and individual titles featuring figures like Marie Curie, Frida Kahlo, Audrey Hepburn and more showcase women whose curiosity and courage reshaped their fields.
• Voices of Courage & Justice: Biographies of Maya Angelou and Rosa Parks bring to life the journeys of women who stood firm for civil rights and self-expression.
• Modern Icons & Changemakers: Recent and upcoming titles — including Simone Biles, Oprah Winfrey, and Rihanna — reflect a diverse spectrum of achievements in sports, media, activism, business, and beyond.

Self Disclosure: I received free copies of the above books and they are highly recommended! Cover images were also provided.

Washed up former tennis prodigy Dusty Boyd (Jake Johnson) has been reduced to coaching unruly children at his father Chuck’s (Ed Harris) suburban country club. Desperate for his father’s approval, Dusty blindly supports Chuck’s vendetta against the new craze taking over the club: pickleball. But when Dusty reaggravates an old injury, taking away his ability to play tennis, he resorts to the unthinkable in the name of rehab. He not only tries pickleball, but, thanks in part to his enchanting new partner, Candace (Mary Steenburgen), he finds himself actually enjoying it. Torn between two worlds, Dusty is forced to finally face the ghosts of his past athletic failures, including his childhood nemesis, Andy Roddick (Andy Roddick). Ultimately, Dusty is drawn into a desperate battle for the future of the club, his father’s affection and his very identity.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Julie O. comments, “The Dink Is A Hilarious, Action-Packed Movie That Uses Humor To Deal With Heavy Issues Like Self-Identity, Accepting Changes, And Difficult Relationships with parents. I laughed throughout the entire film and found myself constantly rooting for Dusty.” See her full review below

The Dink
By Julie O. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13

The Dink is a hilarious, action-packed movie that uses humor to deal with heavy issues like self-identity, accepting changes, and difficult relationships with parents. I laughed throughout the entire film and found myself constantly rooting for Dusty.

Dusty, aka “The Hammer” (Jake Johnson) grew up as a tennis prodigy. Encouraged by his coach, who is also his father (Ed Harris), Dusty suffers an accident preventing him from playing tennis. After his accident, Dusty becomes a pretty bitter person. Now, as a 40-year-old who still works for his dad, Dusty finds himself having to make a difficult choice and accept new challenges if he wants to make his dad proud. PJ (Aaron Chen) is Dusty’s best friend and number one fan who provides comic relief in every scene. On his journey, Dusty also forges a new friendship with Candace (Mary Steenburgen) who challenges Dusty to try new things.

I really enjoy how the story centers on one character, Dusty, and how he is managing his relationships with family, friends, and himself while using the rivalry between tennis and pickleball as a subplot. The conflict between the two sports is hilarious. I love that the film shows how everyone is good at something, regardless of age and perceived ability. I also like the pacing of the film and how it primarily focuses on the main character over a short period of his life. Most of the scenes are set at the tennis club or the pickleball courts.  My favorite part is all of the celebrity cameos and how Dusty gets his new nickname.

The film’s message is that it is never too late to create the version of yourself that you want to be. The film also focuses on the importance of being open-minded and willing to try new things. Parents should be advised that the film contains profanity and some sexual references.

I give The Dink 4 out 5 stars and recommend the film for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. The Dink releases on Apple TV July 24, 2026.