During the Mexican Revolution, when a troop of hungry soldiers comes to a town where all the food has been hidden, they charm the townspeople into helping make a soup from water and a cactus thorn.

Celebrated artist and lead character designer of Brave, Ratatouille, and Despicable Me, Carter Goodrich, shows that sometimes, even the prickliest people—or the crankiest cacti—need a little love. Hank is the prickliest cactus in the entire world. He sits in a pot in a window that faces the empty desert, which is just how he likes it. So, when all manner of creatures—from tumbleweed to lizard to owl—come to disturb his peace, Hank is annoyed. He doesn’t like noise, he doesn’t like rowdiness, and definitely does not like hugs. But the thing is, no one is offering one. Who would want to hug a plant so mean? Hank is beginning to discover that being alone can be, well, lonely. So he comes up with a plan to get the one thing he thought he would never need: a hug from a friend.

“High School. Two words that struck fear into the heart of every armless middle schooler I knew. Which was me. And like two people online.” The sequel to the critically acclaimed Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus follows Aven Green as she confronts yet another challenge: high school. “Those preparing to ‘slay the sucktastic beast known as high school’ will particularly appreciate this spirited read.” —Kirkus (Starred review) Just as Aven starts to feel comfortable in Stagecoach Pass, with her friends and schoolmates accustomed to her lack of “armage,” everything changes once again. She’s about to begin high school . . . with 3,000 new kids to stare at her. And no matter how much Aven tries to play it cool, nothing prepares her for the reality. In a year filled with confusion, humiliation, and just maybe love, can Aven manage to stay true to herself?

From bestselling author Rebecca Katz comes this collection of 60 recipes for pure, cleansing soups intended to renew and restore. Soup has a unique ability to nourish and heal the body. In Clean Soups, author Rebecca Katz shows you how to use wholesome stocks and soups to naturally detox and stay energized year-round. She also explains the building blocks for creating deliciously balanced soups, such as Moroccan carrot soup, kale soup with coconut and lime, and simplest chicken pho. With foundational broths, blended soups, and traditional healing soups, as well as a two-day cleanse, Clean Soups shows how one simple bowl can make a huge difference in how you feel.

When a forest traveller knocks at a lonely cottage, hoping to scrounge a bed for the night, a scowling woman appears and says he can sleep on the floor, but declares that she hasn't a morsel of food in the place. "In that case," says the traveller, "I'll have to share what I've got with you." And, taking an old, rusty, four-inch nail from his pocket, he starts to make . Nail Soup. In his delightful retelling of this trickster tale known throughout Scandinavia and Eastern Europe, Eric Maddern shows how a merry fellow can soften the heart of even a mean and grumpy woman. Paul Hess's post-modern illustrations combine to make a book that will bring a smile to the face of everyone who reads it.

In this West Indian version of "Stone Soup, " an old woman claims to have found a magic shell that can make kallaloo, a popular Caribbean gumbo.

What do you do when an octopus captures Grandma? Put on your superhero cape and rescue her! This clever picture book tells two stories in one, from award-winning Afro-Latino artist Eric Velasquez. The octopus Grandma is cooking has grown to titanic proportions. "¡Tenga cuidado!" Ramsey shouts. "Be careful!" But it's too late. The octopus traps Grandma! Ramsey uses both art and intellect to free his beloved abuela. Then the story takes a surprising twist. And it can be read two ways. Open the fold-out pages to find Ramsey telling a story to his family. Keep the pages folded, and Ramsey's octopus adventure is real. This beautifully illustrated picture book, drawn from the author's childhood memories, celebrates creativity, heroism, family, grandmothers, grandsons, Puerto Rican food, Latinx culture and more. With an author's note and the Velasquez family recipe for Octopus Stew! A Bank Street Best Book of the Year

Penniless Slim and his grandson Luis ride into the unwelcoming western town of Skinflint, and manage to rustle up a delicious meal for all its citizens out of one lone bean.

In a quite possibly not-so distant future, the universe is wreathed in utter chaos. An intergalactic tyrant by the name of King Brainiac, seeking the ultimate power contained within the mythical Gem of the Universe, attacks and destroys the peaceful planet, Stupin, home to the Stupinians, a people who are really, REALLY stupid. In a ginormous twist of fate, however, a young Stupinian and his dog escape from the destruction with the Gem in tow. Landing on the planet Earth, these new heroes, Stuper Man and Stuper Dog, dedicate themselves to defending the Gem from Brainiac and his evil forces. Little do they realize that there is much more to the story than they know: a sinister conspiracy, an ancient bloodline, and a dark power so fearsome that it could engulf the entire universe and still have enough room for dessert. The Dumbbell Duo may not have much of it, but through their trials they prove that knowledge has been, is, and will always be the most powerful weapon that you can wield. The fate of the universe is in his hands...feel pity for the universe.