A Sunday Times Best Book for Children 2023

A hilarious and heart-warming new adventure from Sara Pennypacker, the best-selling author of Pax, with illustrations by Caldecott Medal-winner Matthew Cordell

Leeva Thornblossom loves to learn: her local newspaper teaches her a new word every day, and soap operas show her the many shades of human expression. And when she comes across the announcement that all children are required to go to school, Leeva sees an opportunity to do something that newspapers and television alone can’t provide: the chance to meet people.

But Leeva’s parents, the insufferable mayor and selfish tax collector of their small town, don’t want to send her to school, and they certainly don’t want her to meet other people. And so, with the help of the town’s librarian and her son, Leeva sets out to finds answers: what have her parents been hiding from her?

With hilarious writing and an unforgettable hero, Leeva at Last is perfect for fans of Matilda, Flora and Ulysses, and A Series of Unfortunate Events.

New York Times Bestseller * National Book Award Longlist 

From bestselling and award-winning author Sara Pennypacker comes a beautifully wrought, utterly compelling novel about the powerful relationship between a boy and his fox. Pax is destined to become a classic, beloved for generations to come. 

Pax and Peter have been inseparable ever since Peter rescued him as a kit. But one day, the unimaginable happens: Peter's dad enlists in the military and makes him return the fox to the wild.

At his grandfather's house, three hundred miles away from home, Peter knows he isn't where he should be—with Pax. He strikes out on his own despite the encroaching war, spurred by love, loyalty, and grief, to be reunited with his fox.

Meanwhile Pax, steadfastly waiting for his boy, embarks on adventures and discoveries of his own. . . .

Pax is a wonderful choice for independent reading, sharing in the classroom, homeschooling, and book groups.

Plus, don't miss Pax, Journey Home, the sequel to the award-winning and modern classic Pax.

From bestselling and award-winning author Sara Pennypacker comes the long-awaited sequel to Pax; gorgeously crafted, utterly compelling with stunning illustrations by award-winning author and illustrator Jon Klassen.

It’s been a year since Peter and his pet fox, Pax, have seen each other. Once inseparable, they now lead very different lives. Pax must protect his litter of kits in a dangerous world. Meanwhile Peter, orphaned after the war, has left his adopted home and joined the Water Warriors, a group determined to heal the land from the scars of the war.

When one of Pax's kits falls desperately ill, he turns to the one human he knows he can trust. And no matter how hard Peter tries to harden his broken heart, love keeps finding a way in. Now both boy and fox find themselves on journeys toward home, healing – and each other.
A breathtaking novel about chosen families and the healing power of love.

Flat Stanley is taking over the world, one city at a time! In this thrilling third installment in the renowned Flat Stanley’s Worldwide Adventures chapter book series, Stanley Lambchop ships himself to Japan!

Stanley and his brother, Arthur, are such huge fans of the movie star ninja Oda Nobu that they decide to send him something even better than fan mail—Stanley himself! Soon enough, Flat Stanley is in Japan, seeing the country with his idol. But when trouble surprises them, it will take a real hero to save the day.

This unforgettable adventure features fun, fascinating facts about Japan! And for parents and teachers, each Flat Stanley book is aligned to the Common Core State Standards, like multicultural adventure, plot and character development story elements, and compare and contrast! Don’t miss any of Flat Stanley’s worldwide adventures!

Flat Stanley is taking over the world, one city at a time! In this exciting second installment in the renowned Flat Stanley’s Worldwide Adventures chapter book series, Stanley Lambchop travels to Egypt!

Ever since Stanley was flattened by a bulletin board, there are places he can get to that no one else can. So when Stanley receives a letter from an archaeologist, he travels by airmail to Egypt to help find an ancient treasure deep in the heart of a great pyramid. But what if even the flattest boy on Earth can't wriggle out of this dark tomb—and the terrible mess he finds himself in?

This unforgettable adventure features fun, fascinating facts about Egypt! And for parents and teachers, each Flat Stanley book is aligned to the Common Core State Standards, like multicultural adventure, plot and character development story elements, and compare and contrast! Don’t miss any of Flat Stanley’s worldwide adventures!

Flat Stanley is taking over the world, one city at a time! In this very first installment in the renowned Flat Stanley’s Worldwide Adventures chapter book series, Stanley Lambchop and his family visit one of America’s most famous monuments, Mount Rushmore!

Ever since Stanley Lambchop was flattened by a bulletin board, every trip is an adventure!

The whole Lambchop family is off to see Mount Rushmore. But when Flat Stanley and his brother, Arthur, team up with a scrappy cowgirl named Calamity Jasper, their vacation turns into the Wild West experience of a lifetime. Pretty soon, they find themselves in a real tight spot—even for a flat boy like Stanley!

This unforgettable adventure features fun, fascinating facts about Mount Rushmore! And for parents and teachers, each Flat Stanley book is aligned to the Common Core State Standards, like multicultural adventure, plot and character development story elements, and compare and contrast! Don’t miss any of Flat Stanley’s worldwide adventures!

¿Qué hay que tener para ser un héroe?

La primera novela Middle Grade de la autora de PAX.

Una emotiva oda a los introvertidos, a los soñadores y a los marginados.

El plan de verano de Ware es que lo dejen en paz para poder pasarlo en su mundo.

Pero sus padres tienen otros planes para él.

Por ejemplo, mandarlo a un campamento donde tendrá que relacionarse con chicos de su edad, como se supone que hacen los muchachos normales.

Pero Ware no es normal.

Afortunadamente para él, Jolene tampoco.

Esa chica reservada y su huerto en el solar de una iglesia en ruinas serán su salvación. Juntos, la terrenal Jolene y el soñador Ware construirán un castillo que se convertirá en su refugio.

Y ambos serán capaces de lo que sea para evitar que nada ni nadie les arrebate el único lugar del mundo real que realmente les importa.

Der Junge Peter und der Fuchs Pax: Sie waren einst unzertrennlich, heute leben sie weit voneinander entfernt. Doch die Erinnerung an den jeweils anderen lässt beide nicht los. Und so brechen sie auf: auf eine Reise durch die Wildnis, die ihre Wege abermals zueinander und näher zu sich selbst führt.

Ein Roman über Freundschaft und Liebe und die unverzichtbare Fähigkeit, auch nach großer  Verletzung vergeben zu können.

Mit schwarz-weiß Illustrationen von Jon Klassen

Die Presse über die amerikanische Originalausgabe:

»Dies ist ein geschickt nuancierter Blick auf die Zerbrechlichkeit und Stärke des menschlichen Herzens. Eine beeindruckende Fortsetzung.« Kirkus Reviews

»(...) Eine würdige Fortsetzung und gleichzeitig eine herzzerreißende und wunderbar lebensbejahende Erkundung der Konzepte von Heimat, Familie und der Liebe, die alles lohnenswert macht.« Booklist

Die Presse über »Mein Freund Pax«:

»Ein großartiges Plädoyer für Menschlichkeit.« Süddeutsche Zeitung 

»Eindrücklich und mit einem ungewöhnlichen Sog.« NZZ am Sonntag

»Eine wundervoll poetische Geschichte.« Stuttgarter Zeitung

»Der Roman berührt ebenso eindringlich wie unaufdringlich die großen Fragen, vor denen junge Leser [...] ein erstes Mal stehen könnten.« Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

»Ein sehr besonderes Buch, das nahe geht und lange nachwirkt.« Norddeutscher Rundfunk

»Einfühlsam und anspruchsvoll erzählt, ohne kitschig zu sein, für Jungs und Mädchen gleichermaßen geeignet.« Buchmarkt

Von Sara Pennypacker außerdem bei FISCHER Sauerländer erschienen:

»Mein Freund Pax«

»Hier im echten Leben«

From the author of the highly acclaimed, bestselling novel Pax comes a gorgeous and moving novel that is an ode to introverts, dreamers, and misfits everywhere, ideal for readers aged 9–12.

Ware can’t wait to spend summer ‘off in his own world’ and generally being left alone. But then his parents sign him up for dreaded Rec camp, where he must endure Meaningful Social Interaction and whatever activities so-called ‘normal’ kids do.

On his first day Ware meets Jolene, a tough, secretive girl planting a garden in the rubble of an abandoned church next to the camp. Soon Ware starts skipping Rec, creating a castle-like space of his own in the church lot.

Jolene scoffs, calling him a dreamer – he doesn’t live in the ‘real world’ like she does. As different as Ware and Jolene are, though, they have one thing in common: for them, the lot is a refuge. And when their sanctuary is threatened, Ware vows to save the lot.

But what does a hero look like in real life? And what can two misfit kids do?