In the quiet village tucked between hills and forests, a fascinating story arose. It was a story of great friendship, unrestricted imagination, and the power of stories that last. It was about three best friends who could not be separated: Lily, a child with a special gift; Oliver, her naughty friend; and Elara, a character from a book who came to life. Lily had always been able to bring book characters to life in a special way. People from all over the town came to see the magic, and her gift shocked them. Along with Oliver and Elara, they went on many adventures with their literary friends, blurring the lines between fantasy and reality. Things turned upside down for them when a strange firefly led Lily to an old, dusty book in the town library. The protector of all stories lived in a magical forest deep in the mountains, as this book explained. Someone who had never been outside of a book had to come to life so they could go to this strange place. Their trip was dangerous, but they were determined and kept going until they reached the magical forest's hidden valley. As the guardian of stories, the Storykeeper showed up as a beautiful creature and gave them a wonderful gift. They could now call on figures from any book, so they didn't need to carry around a real copy. When they got back to their town, they showed off their newfound power by making characters appear out of thin air, which made the people there very happy. When stories came to life, the neighborhood, which had been quiet, became very lively. Lily, Oliver, and Elara were careful and quiet with their gift, which kept the purity of stories safe. People looked forward to their storytelling meetings in the village square, where they told stories of bravery, wisdom, and adventure. The three people's friendship stayed strong over time. Oliver's bravery, Elara's interest, and Lily's loyalty all showed that their partnership would last. They kept traveling the world together, connecting the fictional and real worlds. Their story was a celebration of the power of stories that doesn't change, a lesson that stories are what make up our lives. The story would live on through many generations of dreamers who would rediscover the magic of fantasy and start their own amazing journeys in the world of stories. The Story's Start: Lily was a girl who lived in a cute town tucked away among peaceful hills and bright, lush trees. In this quiet neighborhood, Lily's presence was always there, keeping things calm. By most measures, she wasn't a special child, but she had a unique skill that made her stand out from the other kids in the village. Her special skill was being able to bring personalities from books to life. For as long as she could remember, Lily's skill to charm people had made her life magical. She had seen it for the first time when she was just a baby, which shows how naturally connected she was with stories. Her folks didn't understand what she was doing when they found her buried in her favorite books. What came next was nothing less than magical. Characters that were only ever seen in pen and paper were now free to move around her room and dance as if they were real. Her parents will never forget that day because they knew from then on, that their daughter was meant for great things. Lily's one-of-a-kind gift quickly got around the town. There were people from all over the neighborhood who came to see this amazing event. With their favorite books in hand, they would wait in anticipation as Lily's sweet voice brought the words to life. The figures would suddenly come to life after being stuck in the pages for a long time, filling the air with shock and energy. Lily had become the thing that it was because the town had never seen anything like it before. Despite all the beauty and wonder, there was one person who was always with Lily on her amazing journey: the ever-watchful Oliver. Oliver, her best friend, was always looking for thrills and trouble. He loved every chance to see the characters come out in all their bright glory to cross the meadows that surrounded their beloved town. Lily and Oliver had many experiences with their book friends. They sailed with pirates on the high seas and tamed dragons in remote areas. One bright, sunny morning, Lily was reading a book under the shade of a big oak tree. Suddenly, a rush of wind blew through the leaves, and a voice asked her something. The voice said, " Lily, would you like to join the biggest adventure of all?" Lily looked all around for the voice, but she couldn't find it. The source stayed elusive, and its presence was tantalizingly mysterious. She answered with both interest and fear, "Who are you, and where can I find you?" The voice, which was hidden, laughed in a sly way. "I am here, right within this very tree," It went off. When Lily looked up, she was shocked to see a bright firefly curled up among the trees. Lily said, "You are a firefly!" The firefly was very bright and noticeable. "Indeed, I am! And there's something I know, something that you don't." Lily asked, "Tell me, what is it?" She was interested. The firefly's secret was told with even more brilliance. "Deep in the village library, there is an old, forgotten book that tells the story of a mythical forest that lies in the heart of the dangerous mountains. Whispers say that this forest is home to a magical creature that protects all stories. But to find this creature, one must bring to life a character that has never been outside the pages of a book." Lily and Oliver looked at each other with excitement, knowing that the pages were as thin as butterfly wings, and the cover was worn from being touched by time over and over again. They kept the promise of an unforgettable trip. Lily picked out Elara, a smart and brave girl from an old fairy tale, from the worn-out pages. As Lily spoke, Elara walked up in front of them, her eyes filled with shock. Oliver yelled, "Welcome to our world, Elara!" with happy tears in his eyes. Elara blinked and looked around with wide eyes. Elara quickly agreed because she was naturally eager to move when Lily asked, "Where am I?" To which Elara replied, "Where am I?" The adventure began with the group going through dense woods, climbing steep hills, and crossing raging rivers. During their journey, they met strange creatures and got through many trials, but their desire never changed. Their resolve was fueled by the single goal of finding the magical forest. After days of hard work, they finally found a hidden valley tucked deep into the mountains. In front of them was the door to the magical forest. The old trees there were so tall that they were scary, and the air was filled with magic. It was a place where stories could go beyond the limits of written words and figures from many stories could roam freely. As I went deeper into the forest, the guardian of stories appeared. It was an ethereal being with wings that sparkled, and its eyes were filled with the knowledge of many ages. The thing called itself the Storykeeper, which means it kept the world's stories. Lily, Oliver, and Elara talked to the Storykeeper about their journey and how they wanted to bring more characters to life. Because they loved the art of talking so much, the Storykeeper gave them a magical gift. They could now make any book character come to life without having to find a real person to play the part.

Captivate the hearts and minds of young adult readers! Writing for young adult (YA) and middle grade (MG) audiences isn't just "kid's stuff" anymore--it's kidlit! The YA and MG book markets are healthier and more robust than ever, and that means the competition is fiercer, too. In Writing Irresistible Kidlit, literary agent Mary Kole shares her expertise on writing novels for young adult and middle grade readers and teaches you how to: • Recognize the differences between middle grade and young adult audiences and how it impacts your writing. • Tailor your manuscript's tone, length, and content to your readership. • Avoid common mistakes and cliches that are prevalent in YA and MG fiction, in respect to characters, story ideas, plot structure and more. • Develop themes and ideas in your novel that will strike emotional chords. Mary Kole's candid commentary and insightful observations, as well as a collection of book excerpts and personal insights from bestselling authors and editors who specialize in the children's book market, are invaluable tools for your kidlit career. If you want the skills, techniques, and know-how you need to craft memorable stories for teens and tweens, Writing Irresistible Kidlit can give them to you.

Everyone has something to be proud of. In this new, hilarious picture book, Alfonso the Alpaca will set out to prove just that. Alfonso the Alpaca loves nothing more than relaxing with a good book. Until one day it dawns on him that there is not a single alpaca in any of them - just wall-to-wall bears!Something must be done, so Alfonso takes it upon himself to write a story about alpacas. But before long he realizes that it's not so easy (especially when you only have feet) and soon he has to enlist the help of his friend Colin. A bear!

The first ever picture book addressing how a disabled child might want to be spoken to.What happened to you? Was it a shark? A burglar? A lion? Did it fall off?Every time Joe goes out the questions are the same . . . what happened to his leg? But is this even a question Joe has to answer?A ground-breaking, funny story that helps children understand what it might feel like to be seen as different.'A revolutionary book on disability.' Inclusive Storytime'Catchpole's beautifully judged, child-friendly words ably evoke the fatigue and wariness of repeatedly being asked the same question rather than simply being accepted and allowed to play, while George's warm images amplify the delight of shared imagination.' The Guardian'Wonderful, delightful and important. [...] Not only will it help nondisabled adults and children understand what it is like to be singled out for being different, but it will empower disabled children and help them realise they don't have to justify themselves to people they don't know.' Jen Campbell, bestselling author of Franklin's Flying Bookshop'With beautifully characterful illustrations and plenty of calming white space, it exudes gentle energy and humour to appeal to every child. This is a stunningly clever book.' BookTrust'The beauty of What Happened to You? is its focus on empathy... a brilliant book to open up the conversation with pre-school kids.' Disability Arts Online'A groundbreaking picture book reflecting the world of a visibly disabled child... a funny and very enjoyable read that will nevertheless perform an urgently needed task and generate very useful discussion at home and school.' LoveReading4Kids

Maisy's brother's Ed won't let her play with his toys. He says, 'Dinos are for boys!' But Ed hasn't met T. Rex's BIGGER sister ... She Rex is a big and burly, multi-coloured dino girly. And Maisy is about to show her brother that stomping, chomping She Rex is as fierce and as loud as any boy dinosaur. Watch out, Ed, you may just discover that dino toys are for girls and boys! The perfect picture book for all dino-fans.

What would happen if you showed a T-Rex a book? Well, she wouldn't know what to do with it . . . would she? A madcap, super silly adventure story rooted in the transformative power of books, created by incredible new picture-book duo Rashmi Sirdeshpande and Diane Ewen

An international bestseller and one of The Times’ “Top 50 Novels Published in the 21st Century,” Claire Keegan’s piercing contemporary classic Foster is a heartbreaking story of childhood, loss, and love; now released as a standalone book for the first time ever in the US It is a hot summer in rural Ireland. A child is taken by her father to live with relatives on a farm, not knowing when or if she will be brought home again. In the Kinsellas’ house, she finds an affection and warmth she has not known and slowly, in their care, begins to blossom. But there is something unspoken in this new household—where everything is so well tended to—and this summer must soon come to an end. Winner of the prestigious Davy Byrnes Award and published in an abridged version in the New Yorker, this internationally bestselling contemporary classic is now available for the first time in the US in a full, standalone edition. A story of astonishing emotional depth, Foster showcases Claire Keegan’s great talent and secures her reputation as one of our most important storytellers.

National Book Award Winner, PEN America Award Winner, and New York Times Bestseller! Perfect for fans of This Is Us, Robin Benway’s beautiful interweaving story of three very different teenagers connected by blood explores the meaning of family in all its forms—how to find it, how to keep it, and how to love it. Being the middle child has its ups and downs. But for Grace, an only child who was adopted at birth, discovering that she is a middle child is a different ride altogether. After putting her own baby up for adoption, she goes looking for her biological family, including— Maya, her loudmouthed younger bio sister, who has a lot to say about their newfound family ties. Having grown up the snarky brunette in a house full of chipper redheads, she’s quick to search for traces of herself among these not-quite-strangers. And when her adopted family’s long-buried problems begin to explode to the surface, Maya can’t help but wonder where exactly it is that she belongs. And Joaquin, their stoic older bio brother, who has no interest in bonding over their shared biological mother. After seventeen years in the foster care system, he’s learned that there are no heroes, and secrets and fears are best kept close to the vest, where they can’t hurt anyone but him. Don't miss this moving novel that addresses such important topics as adoption, teen pregnancy, and foster care.

Join Bobo the Orangutan on his quest to find the perfect pillow and ensure a good night's sleep. Bobo is sure one of his jungle friends will be able to help. He plucks a feather here and a tuft of hair there but only causes upset! Bobo is left despondent and still without a pillow. But when Elsie the elephant enthusiastically strokes Bobo and wraps him up in her trunk in an effort to play, Bobo gets very upset indeed. Will Bobo and Elsie both learn an important lesson about asking permission? Beautifully illustrated, QEB's Storytime series introduces young children to the pleasures of reading and sharing stories. Featuring charming animal and human characters, the books explore important social and emotional themes like friendship, gratitude, perseverance, and overcoming fears. A Next Steps page at the back provides guidance for parents and teachers.