Ivy is the beloved houseplant of young Jillian Tupper of Number 3 Ramshorn Drive, much to the constant dismay of Toasty the goldfish, who is technically the family pet—swimming in his special place of honor, the antique octagonal fish tank—and should be the most loved. It seems that’s how the cookie (or cheese puffs, in Toasty’s case) crumbles in the curious Tupper household, but soon a sequence of thrilling and magical events challenges that way of life forever.
First, there’s the arrival of Arthur, a knowledgeable spider with a broken leg and a curious mind, hidden in an old typewriter. Then Jillian throws everyone for a loop when she brings home dear, sweet Ollie, a school houseplant who just wants to be friends and sing. When Toasty splashes the plants with his tank water out of frustration, the friends learn that they can do magical things—like lift heavy objects and turn things invisible!
It turns out Toasty’s fish tank isn’t just for fish; it was made by a curious inventor who gave it special powers that, in the wrong hands, could disrupt everything forever. And a curious man with purple shoes just so happens to want that tank at any cost. Can Ivy, Toasty, Arthur, and Ollie grow to be friends in time to work together to save their beloved Tupper family from utter ruin?
About the Author
Beth Ferry is the author of numerous picture books for children including Roar for Reading, Prunella, and the New York Times bestseller Stick and Stone. She is an avid reader who believes that any day spent with a book is a perfect day. Beth lives with her family by the beach in New Jersey where she finds inspiration in the salty air. In addition to writing picture books, Beth also writes chapter books and graphic novels. You can learn more at BethFerry.com.
About the Illustrators
Terry Fan received his formal art training at Ontario College of Art and Design in Toronto, Canada. His work is a blend of traditional and contemporary techniques, using ink or graphite mixed with digital. He spends his days (and nights) creating magical paintings, portraits, and prints. Terry is the cocreator of The Night Gardener, It Fell from the Sky, and Lizzy and the Cloud. Born in Illinois, he now lives in Toronto. Visit him online TheFanBrothers.com.
Eric Fan is an artist and writer who lives in Toronto, Canada. Born in Hawaii and raised in Toronto, he attended the Ontario College of Art and Design, where he studied illustration, sculpture, and film. He has a passion for vintage bikes, clockwork contraptions, and impossible dreams. Eric is the cocreator of The Night Gardener, It Fell from the Sky, and Lizzy and the Cloud. Visit him online TheFanBrothers.com.
The RATNIP series by Cam Higgins and illustrated by Allison Steinfeld has returned just in time for summer reading! In Right on Your Tail!, the third book of the chapter book series, Ratnip goes for the gold in a citywide race (on-sale May 27, 2025).
Written to encourage younger readers, these younger chapter books are the perfect stepping stones to move from Ready-to-Reads to Chapter Books. Now kids between the ages of 5 and 9 can get excited about chapter books tailer-made for their level of reading comprehension. The Ratnip Series makes readers feel like they are reading a “big-kid” format, while keeping the subject, type size, and illustrations geared specifically for their own age groups!
Ratnip goes for the gold in a citywide race in this third book of the chapter book series from the author of Good Dog.
Ratnip is entering the City Race, where critters race through the streets by climbing up poles, scurrying along telephone wires, and jumping across fences. Ratnip has his eye on the prize, but his competition is tough—especially the REAL gym rat! Can Ratnip prove himself fastest critter in the city?
With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, the Ratnip chapter books are perfect for emerging readers.
THE AUTHOR
Cam Higgins wrote her very first book about a cat who lived in an alleyway when she was eight years old. As a child, she loved visiting a neighboring farm and seeing all the animals. Now Cam has a pup of her own, who is very mischievous, and she still loves writing about animals. Cam lives in New York City with her two children, her husband, and Laila the dog.
THE ILLUSTRATOR
Allison Steinfeld grew up in Connecticut where she spent hours getting lost in her library books. She currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her two very fluffy cats. When not providing essential head scratches and belly rubs, she finds time to illustrate books like the Wait! What? series and the Kid Legends series.
Discover the Magic of Storm Singer: A Mythical New Middle Grade Fantasy by Sarawat Chadda.
In a land ruled by fierce winged warriors known as eagle garudas, twelve-year-old Nargis is just a poor, lowly human, a Worm who hates the garudas that killed her parents. But even though she can’t fly—and her childhood attempt left her walking with a crutch—she is far from powerless. Nargis is a spirit singer: able to coax small bits of wind, water, fire, and earth to do her bidding through song…well, sometimes.
When Nargis loses control of her power in a high-stakes kite fight, she is exiled. Cast into the desert, she discovers Mistral, an injured boy who turns out to be an eagle garuda, the prince of her enemies! He’s on a mission to take back his throne from a terrible vulture garuda. In spite of their mutual distrust, the two have no choice but to forge an unlikely alliance if they want to escape the desert alive.
And as Nargis and Mistral battle dangerous assassins, befriend crafty sky pirates, and sneak into the mysterious sky castle of Alamut, Nargis discovers she carries a family secret, one that could bring Monsoon’s rains back to the desert, but only if she’s willing to risk her life in the bargain…
About the Author:
Sarwat Chadda is the New York Times bestselling author of the City of the Plague God duology, the Spiritstone Saga, the Ash Mistry trilogy, the Shadow Magic trilogy, and the Devil’s Kiss duology. He has written for Star Wars and Minecraft as well as the 39 Clues and Spirit Animals series. Sarwat is a first-generation Muslim immigrant of South Asian descent who loves writing over-the-top adventures. His work has received numerous starred reviews and was a Goodreads Choice Best Middle Grade Award Nominee. He has been published in over a dozen languages. Outside of novels, he’s written plays, comic books, and TV shows, including The Legend of Hanuman for Disney+ Hotstar. Sarwat lives in London. Feel free to drop him a line on X (previously known as Twitter) at @SarwatChadda and Instagram at @Sarwat_Chadda or visit him at SarwatChadda.com.
TOGETHER, A FOREST by Roz MacLean (Henry Holt and Co. (BYR), Ages 4-8): Explore a forest with a curious classroom in this breathtaking new picture book by the author of the beloved More Than Words, and experience the essential beauty of diversity in humanity and nature.
An educational and engaging book for children!
THE SECRET LIFE OF A SEA TURTLE by Maddalena Bearzi; illustrated by Alex Boersma (Roaring Brook Press, ages 4-8): Follow the captivating yet perilous life of one sea turtle in this dazzling nonfiction tale by the co-founder of the Ocean Conservation Society, perfect for fans of Jason Chin’s ISLAND.
This is an educational and engaging way to learn about sea turtles!
Self Disclosure: I received free copies of the above books to feature in this post. Cover images were also provided.
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