Detective LaRue: Letters from the Investigation
By Mark Teague
0-439-45868-4, $15.95, Scholastic Press, Ages 4-8

Ike LaRue—the devilish dog hero of Mark Teague's runaway hit, Dear Mrs. LaRue—goes from obedience school dropout to shrewd sleuth in this exceedingly funny sequel.

Ike is now in prison! The Hibbins' cats are missing, and Ike is being blamed. With Mrs. LaRue vacationing in France, he must take matters into his own paws and mount an investigation to prove his innocence. Expect more madcap comedy in Ike's daring escapades (both real and imagined), as well as ingenious split-screen visuals from the incomparable Mark Teague.

"Teague's innovative approach to storytelling is fun, but educational as well, skillfully imparting some valuable lessons in point of view and reading between the lines."
-Kirkus Reviews, August 15^th, 2004

Also available:
Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters from Obedience School 0-439-20663-4, $15.95

The Cats in Krasinski Square
By Karen Hesse, illus. by Wendy Watson
0-439-43540-4, $16.95, Scholastic Press, Ages 7-10

When Newbery Medalist Karen Hesse came upon a short article about cats out-foxing the Gestapo at the train station in Warsaw during WWII, she couldn't get the story out of her mind. The result is this stirring account of a Jewish girl's involvement in the Resistance. At once terrifying and soulful, this fictional account, born of meticulous research, is a testament to history and to our passionate will to survive, as only Karen Hesse can write it.

"Simple, graceful words and pictures make this adventure story a taut and moving one."
--The Horn Book, September 1st, 2004

Also available by Karen Hesse:
Come On, Rain! 0-590-33125-6, 16.95
Out of the Dust 0-590-37125-8, $16.95 HC; 0-590-37125-8, $5.99 PB
Witness 0-439-27199-1, $16.95 HC; 0-439-27200-9, $5.99 PB

Ella the Elegant Elephant
By Carmela and Steven D'Amico
0-439-62792-3, $16.95, Arthur A. Levine Books, Ages 4-8

She's younger than Babar, shyer than Lily, and every bit as cute as Olivia. Hang on to your hats, here comes Ella!

Ella has moved to a new neighborhood and has to start a brand new school. At least she has her grandmother's smashing red hat to wear for good luck. But Belinda Blue, the playground bully, doesn't like Ella. And she doesn't like the hat. It looks like trouble's brewing on the playground…until Ella discovers just what a good heart (and great fashion sense) can do.

"The D'Amicos' tale offers a gentle reassurance to readers that despite the trials of grade-school dilemmas, it will all turn out well in the end. Ella is a stand-out."
--Kirkus Reviews, August 15th, 2004

Boy
By James Mayhew
0-439-65106-9, $15.95, The Chicken House, Ages 5 and Up

A gorgeously illustrated prehistoric fable about family, love, and the importance of sharing.

A little cave boy wakes up in his cold cave and wishes he were warm. The warmest place for Boy is in bed with his mother and father, but he doesn't want to share. When Boy goes off to explore the world outside his cave, the warm places he finds all belong to creatures who don't want to share with him!

The Guild of Geniuses
By Dan Santat
0-439-43096-8, $16.95, Arthur A. Levine Books, Ages 4-8

Introducing the most appealing monkey since Curious George!

The Guild of Geniuses has created many fantastic inventions to satisfy humanity's most pressing needs. So when Fred's best monkey friend, Mr. Pip, seems a little down, Fred enlists the help of The Guild to cheer him up. But it turns out Fred may hold the solution himself -- and he doesn't have to be a genius to be a good friend.

Can You See What I See? Cool Collections
By Walter Wick
0-439-61772-3, $13.95, Cartwheel Books, Ages 3-5

Amazing photographs and search-and-find fun from the creator of Can You See What I See? and the photographer of the I Spy series!

Photographer Walter Wick has created his best photographs ever for this highly collectible book that features blocks, beads, buttons, toys, and more! Readers are invited to search for fascinating objects in colorful compositions that reach a new level of aesthetic excellence!

Also available:
Can You See What I See? Seymour and the Juice Box Boat 0-439-61778-2, $8.99
Can You See What I See? Dream Machine 0-439-39950-5, $13.95
Can You See What I See? 0-439-16391-9, $13.95
Walter Wick's Optical Tricks 0-590-22227-9, $13.95

Penelope At School
By Anne Gutman, illus. by Georg Hallensleben
0-439-67357-7, $12.95, Cartwheel Books, Ages 3-5

Pull the tabs to help Penelope on her first day of school in this beautiful, interactive storybook!

Meet Penelope, an adorable blue koala who loves to play and learn. But, like all preschoolers, she can't do everything by herself. Children can pull the tabs on every spread and help Penelope get ready for school, paint a picture, slide in the playground, and more! Vibrant paintings, simple text, and interactive fun make this the perfect preschool book.

Little Owl
By Piers Harper
0-439-59703-X, $15.95, Cartwheel Books, Ages 3-5

Featuring generous amounts of flocking on every page, this oversized book is a follow-up to Little Lamb, Snow Bear, and Fluffy Bunny.

Little Owl wants to fly all by himself. First, he practices flying with his mommy up to the treetops and through an open field. But each place is too high or too big. Will Little Owl find the courage to fly on his own?

Also available:
Little Lamb 0-439-54429-7, $15.95
Snow Bear 0-439-54426-2, $15.95
Fluffy Bunny 0-439-57825-6, $15.95

Dragon Rider
by Cornelia Funke
0-439-45695-9, $12.95 HC, The Chicken House, Ages 8 and Up

Once again, master storyteller Cornelia Funke casts an enchanting spell, creating an exciting, heartwarming, and ultimately triumphant tale about the power of belief and the true meaning of home.

Firedrake, a young dragon, receives a frightening warning one night: Humans are planning to destroy the valley in which he lives! All the dragons must flee to the Rim of Heaven --- which may not even exist. Firedrake boldly volunteers to go ahead first. As he embarks on his journey, he meets Ben, a runaway boy. Together, they make their way toward the Rim of Heaven, all the while running a step ahead of Nettlebrand, an evil dragon hunter.

Email BookUpdate to request a Dragon Rider poster while supplies last!

Also available:
The Thief Lord 0-439-40437-1, $17.95 HC; 0-439-42089-X, $6.99 PB
Inkheart 0-439-53164-0, $19.95

Becoming Naomi León
By Pam Muñoz Ryan
0-439-26969-5, $16.95 HC, Scholastic Press, Ages 9-12

From the Pura Belpré and Jane Addams Peace Award winning author of Esperanza Rising comes a riveting novel about family and identity, drawn from Pam Muñoz Ryan's own Mexican and Oklahoman heritages.

Naomi Soledad León Outlaw has had a lot to contend with in her young life. But according to Gram's self-prophecies, most problems can be overcome with positive thinking. Life with Gram and her little brother, Owen, is happy and peaceful until their mother reappears after 7 years of being gone, stirring up all sorts of questions and challenging Naomi to discover who she really is.

"With its quirky characterizations and folksy atmosphere, this engrossing family drama resembles a Sharon Creech novel on the surface, but it has its own uniquely affecting emotional core."
--The Horn Book, September 1st, 2004

Also available:
Esperanza Rising 0-439-12041-1, $16.95; 0-439-12042-X, $5.99
Riding Freedom 0-590-95766-X, $16.95; 0-439-08796-1, $4.99

Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane,
Book 2 in the Underland Chronicles
By Suzanne Collins
0-439-65075-5, $16.95 HC, Scholastic Press, Ages 9-12

The highly anticipated sequel to Gregor the Overlander, one of last year's most lauded fantasy adventures!

Gregor is summoned back to the Underland by the terms of a second prophecy, this time about the Bane, an ominous white rat whose survival may come at the cost of Gregor's dearest treasure—his little sister, Boots. The Bane is destined to bring a World War to the Underland. But when Gregor comes face to face with the Bane, he finds he is unable to kill this creature. His heart tells him he's making the right decision. Will it be a decision he lives to regret?

Also available:
Gregor the Overlander 0-439-43536-6, $16.95 HC; 0-439-67813-7, $5.99 PB

My Guardian Angel
By Sylvie Weil, translated from the French by Gillian Rosner
0-439-57681-4, $16.95 (HC), Arthur A. Levine Books, Ages 9-12

This unforgettable story about a Jewish girl in medieval France during the First Crusade is the winner of the Prix Sorcières, France's most prestigious award for children's literature.

Feisty and smart, Elvina is not your average 12-year-old. She adores reading, writing, and studying like the boys. She is also skilled in the art of healing, a skill that ultimately gets her into trouble. The Crusades are on a campaign to rid France of the Jews. One night, while Elvina is alone in her house, she hears a rap on the door. Can her guardian angel keep her safe?

Starfall: Phaeton and the Chariot of the Sun
By Michael Cadnum
0-439-54533-1, $16.95 (HC), Orchard Books, Ages 9-14

From acclaimed author Michael Cadnum comes the first volume in a trilogy of stories based on the legends from Ovid's Metamorphoses.

In a time when gods ruled the heavens and the earth, there lived a young man named Phaeton, who desperately wanted to believe that his father was the mighty Apollo, god of the sun. Phaeton resolves to undertake the long and dangerous journey to the gates of dawn in order to confront his father and uncover the truth.

Scholastic Atlas of Oceans
0-439-56128-0, $18.95, Scholastic Reference, Ages 7-10

Every spread of the Scholastic Atlas of Oceans provides children with vibrant, detailed, full-color illustrations of the ocean world and its inhabitants. Concise captions provide middle-grade readers with valuable information to help them understand this environment.

O, Say Can You See? America's Symbols, Landmarks, and Inspiring Words
By Sheila Keenan, illus. by Ann Boyajian
0-439-42450-X, $16.95, Scholastic Nonfiction, Ages 4-8

This quirky, fun-filled book, with zany illustrations, celebrates twenty of America's important places, interesting objects, and inspiring words. Plymouth Rock, the White House, Ellis Island, Mount Rushmore, the flag, the eagle, Uncle Sam, the national anthem, and the Pledge of Allegiance are only a few of the symbols covered. Additional information includes a spread on important American holidays, a map showing the location of the landmarks, and a list of other books to read. Includes index.

The Royal Diaries: Kazunomiya, Prisoner of Heaven
By Kathryn Lasky
0-439-16485-0, $10.95, The Royal Diaries, Ages 9-14

Intrigue and danger increase as Princess Kazunomiya's once-sheltered life in nineteenth-century Japan changes when a Japanese general signs a treaty with the white-faced men from America. Uncertainty and turmoil erupt in the kingdom. But the external threats do not compare to the tangled intrigue, romance, and politics that dominate the imperial palace, as wives and queens plot to destroy Kazunomiya.

Half-Human
Compiled and Edited by Bruce Coville
0-590-95588-8, $4.99 (PB), Scholastic Paperbacks, Ages 9-12

A remarkable collection of fantasy tales by amazing authors, including Bruce Coville, Tamora Pierce, Jane Yolen, and Gregory Maguire.

These are the stories about the people who are not wholly human and the animals that are not purely animal--beings that stand between the two worlds feeling the emotions, thrills, and confusions of both. Their struggle will be to find their true forms, and then meaning and purpose in their lives after the choice.

The Bar Code Tattoo
by Suzanne Weyn
0-439-39562-3, $6.99, POINT, Ages 12 and Up

The bar code tattoo. Everybody's getting it. It will make your life easier, they say. It will hook you in. It will become your identity.

But what if you say no? What if you don't want to become a code? For Kayla, this one choice changes everything. She becomes an outcast in her high school. Dangerous things happen to her family. There's no option but to run . . . for her life.

Dragons of Deltora #2: Shadowgate
by Emily Rodda
0-439-63374-5, $4.99, Scholastic Paperbacks, Ages 9-12

Sinister twists and exciting turns await Lief, Barda, and Jasmine as they head to the haunted mountains to continue their dragon-aided quest.

Visit www.scholastic.com/deltora for more information on this exciting new series!

Shadow of the Red Moon
By Walter Dean Myers
0-439-63616-7, $5.99, POINT, Ages 10 and Up

"Myers masterfully creates a world in which adults are nearly nonexistent and children struggle to establish a life for themselves." - School Library Journal

City of Light, City of Dark
By Avi, illus. by Brian Floca
0-531-07058-1, $8.99, Scholastic Paperbacks, Ages 9-12

"First rate science fiction in comic-book form…Against backdrops of neon lights, circling pigeons, abandoned subway stations and storefronts, Avi and Floca dynamically convey a timeless tale of good versus evil…Sure to be a hit with reluctant readers and advanced readers alike." -Publishers Weekly

The Eddie Dickens Trilogy, Book Three: Terrible Times
By Philip Ardagh
0-439-53761-4, $5.99, Scholastic Paperbacks, Ages 8-12

The riotous, raucous, and all-round inspirational conclusion to the rousing Eddie Dickens Trilogy (stoat and all!)

As you know, some families are awfully funny. Eddie Dickens's family is no exception. The Eddie Dickens Trilogy by Philip Ardagh introduces you to his crazy relatives and his unbelievable adventures.

Also available:
Eddie Dickens #1: A House Called Awful End, 0-439-53759-2, $5.99
Eddie Dickens #2: Dreadful Acts, 0-439-53760-6, $5.99

Visit www.scholastic.com/eddiedickens for more information and activities related to this series.

Keeping you informed about major highlights of the author visit program in the school and library markets.

BLUE BALLIETT-Chicago Public Library, Chicago, Illinois

September 15, 2004

Blue Balliett will be making her third appearance with the Chicago Public Library System.  Library patrons who didn't already stop by her appearances in May and June will have another chance to purchase copies of Chasing Vermeer - Balliett's wildly popular and critically acclaimed debut novel- and have them signed

ANN M. MARTIN, Kentucky Bluegrass Award, Lexington, Kentucky

September 17, 2004

Approximately 200 people will be on hand as Ann M. Martin makes a rare appearance when she accepts the Kentucky Bluegrass Award for A Corner of the Universe. Ann will read from this title as well as from her new novel Here Today. She will be signing copies of these books, along with her other critically acclaimed title, Belle Teal.

DEBBIE DADEY, NC/NE Texas SCBWI Conference, Arlington, Texas

September 11, 2004

Aspiring children's authors will hear Debbie Dadey give a keynote address at this 21^st annual conference.  They will also line up to receive signed copies of titles from her popular Ghostville Elementary and The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids series.

To find out about Scholastic authors and illustrators, please visit Authors & Books.

We hope that you have enjoyed reading our monthly newsletter. We welcome your comments and suggestions. We would appreciate hearing what you think!

To order Scholastic books, you may:
Visit your local bookstore,
Order through a wholesaler, or
Call Scholastic @ 1-800-SCHOLASTIC (in the U.S.) or
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You can also snail-mail your order:
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P.O. Box 7502
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In Canada
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Don't forget to look for the October BookUpdate. Until then, Happy Reading!