Lighthearted and honest, Cruzita and the Mariacheros explores music, family, heritage, and legacy with a touch of sweetness from delicious treats. Cruzita dreams of becoming a pop star, but for now she has to help out at her family’s struggling bakery, where nothing’s been the same since her beloved great-uncle’s death. And when she’s not rolling uneven tortillas or trying to salvage rock-hard conchas, she has to take mariachi lessons, which she dreads even more—until she and her fellow mariacheros come up with a plan to save her family’s struggling bakery and to let Cruzita shine. Today autho ..read more

In the vibrant world of middle-grade literature, every book is a doorway to adventure, a mirror of real-life experiences, and a window into the imagination. In this blog post, we delve into the heart of middle-grade books, exploring their transformative power and highlighting new titles that promise to captivate, challenge, and cherish the curious minds of our young adventurers. Join us as we uncover the treasures of middle-grade literature, fostering a lifelong love for reading and discovery. New Titles: Cruzita and the Mariacheros Cruzita wants to be a pop star. She doesn’t want to take ma ..read more

In The Color of Sound violin prodigy Rosie desperately wants the chance to experience a “normal” life and refuses to play her instrument for a summer. Upset, her mother sends her to her grandparents’ house where she meets another girl her age hanging out on the property. The girl is familiar, and Rosie quickly pieces it together: somehow, this girl is her mother, when her mother was twelve. Rosie begins to understand her mother, herself, and her love of music in new ways. Today author Emily Barth Isler joins us to talk about her inspiration for this middle grade novel, her experience with syne ..read more

Spring is a time of new beginnings, new adventures, and new books! Peruse our March titles and find the perfect story for readers of every age. New in Picture Books The Rock in My Throat by Kao Kalia Yang, Illustrated by Jiemei Lin Interest Level: Grade K – 4 In this moving true story, Kao Kalia Yang shares her experiences as a Hmong refugee child navigating life at home and school in America while carrying the weight of her selective mutism. Praise for The Rock in My Throat ★”A heartfelt story that teaches children about diversity and reflects difficulties with being different, under ..read more

Lerner Publishing Group is proud to celebrate another year of literary excellence in 2023, with our titles receiving 34 starred reviews and numerous awards with even more across our publishers and imprints. Reflecting on a year filled with high-quality nonfiction and fiction for children and young adults, we’re excited to share our list of acclaimed books. Join us as we showcase these exceptional publications, the cream of the crop in children’s and young adult literature. From the inspiring titles that kicked off the year to the captivating works that rounded out these twelve months, each of ..read more

What would you do if you found a strange tunnel in the woods behind your house? Investigate of course! In The First Invasion: Book 1 Cousins Truly and Kaz discover a hideout full of treasures and slip on wristbands that summon a space knight named Trinn Cyclo. And he arrives just in time to help them fight Maximo Skulldigg, an alien set on conquering planet Earth! Today author and artist Zack Soto joins us to share his inspiration for the Power Button series, the relationship between the characters, his artistic process, and more! Keep reading to see an excerpt from this new graphic novel. Wh ..read more

The weather is turning colder and that mean’s hockey season has begun! Strikers: A Graphic Novel takes readers back to the season of 1986 in Flint, Michigan where one team of underdogs will learn how to stay on their skates when they only see Ls in the future. Even though they may not understand each other they find reasons to keep taking the ice together. Today author Kiel Phegley joins us to discuss his favorite characters, what he loves about Jacques Khouri’s illustrations, and more. Read on to watch the official book trailer! What is Strikers all about, and why did you write this book? St ..read more

Heartfelt and magical, A Pocketful of Stars follows Safiya who has never seen eye-to-eye with her mother. When her mother falls into a coma, Safiya comes to terms with their complicated relationship and discovers more about herself through dreams that transport her to her mother’s childhood in Kuwait. Author Aisha Bushby joins us on the Lerner blog to discuss the research she did for this middle grade novel, her favorite video games, and more. Keep reading to download the free educator guide! What sort of research did you do for the book? This book required quite a bit of research, and I was ..read more

There’s nothing more satisfying than an epic conclusion to a fan-favorite series. Jack, Ari, and Becka have been through a lot since their school catapulted across the galaxy into the clutches of aliens. In Last Summer in Outer Space the friends face a final showdown against the aliens who kidnapped the rest of humanity. With help from their teachers, their classmates, their cranky schoolship, some robot allies, and one very resilient pet hamster, they take on the evil Minister one last time to rescue their fellow humans and make the galaxy safer for everyone. Today author and mastermind ..read more

With the sun shining brighter and the days growing longer, there’s no better time to dive into a collection of thrilling books that will take you to far-away destinations and extraordinary experiences. To enhance your summer reading experience, we have a special surprise in store for you! We’ve created a checklist of topics to guide your reading adventures. Simply check off each topic as you delve into a book that aligns with it, and let the checklist inspire you to delve into new titles. So, grab your summer gear, find a cozy spot, and get ready to explore with our handpicked selection of adv ..read more