by Philip C. Stead

  Louis wants a dog, but his Grandma insists, “There are enough dogs in the neighborhood already.”  But how many dogs are in the neighborhood?  Surely a sternly worded letter to City Hall will clear this up.  When it turns out that City Hall doesn’t keep an official count of this essential demographic, Louis and Grandma do their civic duty and take matters into their own hands.  Together they meet all sorts of dogs with hilarious names and personalities.  When they’re done, Louis’s grandmother is sure he’s missed one particualryly lovable dog, a mutt named Baklava in need of a new home. 

by Jacqueline Woodson

It’s getting hot outside, hot enough to turn on the hydrants and run through the water–and that means it’s finally summer in the city!  Released from school and reveling in their freedom, the kids on one Brooklyn block take advantage of everything summertime has to offer.  Freedom from morning till night to go out to meet their friends and make the streets their playground–That is, till their moms call them home for dinner.  But not to worry–they know there is always tomorrow to do it all over again–because the block belongs to them and they rule their world. 

by Jamie Michalak

Frank likes peace and quiet.  He likes his tea, his book, and his yoga mat.  He is just settling in to enjoy them, when…honk!honk!honk!  Here comes Bean with his new food truck!  It is fun on wheels!  It’s a rolling party!  Bean is going to Food Truck Friday to sell his donuts.  Bean’s donuts have zip.  They have zing.  They are sure to win the competition!  Frank has something to sell, too.  He has oatmeal.  Oatmeal is boring.  It needs zip.  It needs zing.  What if Bean’s donuts could help Frank’s oatmeal?  What if donuts and oatmeal could work together, just like friends?  

by Annie Barrows

Grownups are always changing the rules!  When grown-ups make money, it’s good.  But when Iggy makes money, all of a sudden it’s bad.  When grown-ups find something interesting on the sidewalk, it’s finders keepers.  But when Iggy finds something (very) interesting, finders keepers turns into You’re in Trouble.  Why is Iggy blamed for something they never said he couldn’t do?  

by Kate Messner & Gwendolyn Hooks

Before the Civil War, there was a crack team of abolitionists who used quilts and signal lanterns to guide enslaved people to freedom.  Right? Wrong!  The truth is , the Underground Railroad wasn’t very organized and most freedom seekers were on their own. 

With a mix of sidebars, illustrations, photos, and graphic panels, acclaimed author Kate Messner and coauthor Gwendolyn Hooks deliver the whole truth about the Underground Railroad.