Our fearless tiny hero conquers another common childhood fear—swim lessons!—in this epic follow-up to his origin story, Tiny Barbarian. After admiring the new movie poster for Bob the Barbarian Conquers The Kraken, Tiny wants to battle a kraken in the choppy seas, too! There’s just one problem: Tiny doesn’t know how to swim! Off to the community pool for Tiny’s first swim lesson! With a swim cap stretched over his signature barbarian “helmet” and some cool new gear, Tiny learns to blow bubbles, float, dog paddle, kick, and build his confidence in the water. Just in time, because… A tentacled fearsome foe rises from the deep end of the pool! Can Tiny use his new skills to defend his realm, protect his family, and save the day? Once more, Ame Dyckman (You Don't Want A Unicorn!) and Ashley Spires (The Most Magnificent Thing) show that with a little bravery and a big imagination, tiny barbarians really can “CONQUER EVERYTHING!”

This utterly unique book for kids 4 to 8 explores super-small creatures with astounding abilities through rhyming and comic-style spreads. Did you know that some of the smallest creatures on Earth have real-life superpowers? The minute oribatid mite can lift more than 1,000 times its own weight. A tiny type of salamander (called an axolotl) can regrow body parts. And the almost microscopic tardigrade? It can survive practically anywhere, even in outer space! Acclaimed author Tiffany Stone combines comic panels and zany rhymes to share incredible facts about our world's miniature marvels, while illustrator Ashley Spires' cartoon-style illustrations make these itty-bitty superheroes (and supervillains) pop from the page. From glow-in-the-dark sharks to immortal jellyfish and tiny cats with lethal aim, Super Small shows readers that just because you are small, it doesn't mean you aren't super-and sometimes being small can be super in and of itself.

Award-winning author and illustrator Ashley Spires has created a charming picture book about an unnamed girl and her very best friend, who happens to be a dog. The girl has a wonderful idea. "She is going to make the most MAGNIFICENT thing She knows just how it will look. She knows just how it will work. All she has to do is make it, and she makes things all the time. Easy-peasy " But making her magnificent thing is anything but easy, and the girl tries and fails, repeatedly. Eventually, the girl gets really, really mad. She is so mad, in fact, that she quits. But after her dog convinces her to take a walk, she comes back to her project with renewed enthusiasm and manages to get it just right. For the early grades' exploration of character education, this funny book offers a perfect example of the rewards of perseverance and creativity. The girl's frustration and anger are vividly depicted in the detailed art, and the story offers good options for dealing honestly with these feelings, while at the same time reassuring children that it's okay to make mistakes. The clever use of verbs in groups of threes is both fun and functional, offering opportunities for wonderful vocabulary enrichment. The girl doesn't just "make" her magnificent thing -- she "tinkers and hammers and measures," she "smoothes and wrenches and fiddles," she "twists and tweaks and fastens." These precise action words are likely to fire up the imaginations of youngsters eager to create their own inventions and is a great tie-in to learning about Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

Lou and her friends are BRAVE adventurers. But one day, when they're looking for a ship to play pirates in, Lou's friend has an idea: 'Up there! The tree can be our ship'. This is something new. Lou has never climbed a tree before, and she's sure she can't do it. So she tries to convince her friends to play a not-up-a-tree game. When that doesn't work, she comes up with reasons for not joining them - her arm is sore, her cat needs a walk, you shouldn't climb so soon after eating. Finally, she tells herself she doesn't want to climb the tree. But is that true, or is this brave adventurer just too afraid to try?

Binky the Space Cat, star of this junior graphic novel series, has been assigned an important mission: to train a new space cadet recruit. But when the youngster named Gordon shows up at Binky's house, he's not the kitten Binky expected. In fact, he's not a kitten at all. He's a dog! Because of a new diversity program, dogs are now allowed into P.U.R.S.T. --- Pets of the Universe Ready for Space Travel (formerly Felines of the Universe Ready for Space Travel). Ever dutiful, Binky and his colleague Gracie give it their best effort to train him, but Gordon just seems too simpleminded to be up to the task. It's not until they've nearly given up in exasperation that the two cats learn the surprising truth about Gordon --- he's not the dimwitted dog they thought he was! Author-illustrator Ashley Spires has created a hilarious premise for this unique series. The artwork, with its limited palette of soft neutral colors, keeps the focus on the animals' antics. The dialogue is mainly in cat- or dog-speak (?roooph!?), but Spires also includes many other sound effects (including ?pssssssss? for peeing and ?poot? for gas passing). This book is clever and funny, with lots of action, melodrama and laugh-out-loud physical comedy, making it enormously appealing to emerging readers. In addition, the inclusion of the topic of diversity here provides an opportunity for classroom discussions about differences and our expectations about others. The book also speaks to the character education concepts of initiative, responsibility and teamwork.

?Lou and her friends are BRAVE adventurers. They run FASTER than airplanes. They build MIGHTY fortresses. They rescue WILD animals.? But one day, when they're looking for a ship to play pirates in, Lou's friend has an idea: ?Up there! The tree can be our ship!? ?Ummm ...? says Lou. This is something new. Lou has never climbed a tree before, and she's sure she can't do it. So she tries to convince her friends to play a not-up-a-tree game. When that doesn't work, she comes up with reasons for not joining them --- her arm is sore, her cat needs a walk, you shouldn't climb so soon after eating. Finally, she tells herself she doesn't want to climb the tree. But is that true, or is this brave adventurer just too afraid to try? This delightful picture book from Ashley Spires, bestselling author of The Most Magnificent Thing, perfectly depicts what children go through when confronted with something difficult. With humor and endearing artwork, Spires sensitively portrays Lou procrastinating, making excuses, imagining alternatives and denying she cares. Ultimately, Lou faces her fear, and although she fails, the effort empowers her, encouraging a growth mindset. All the while, Lou's friends model compassionate friendship by offering to teach her how to climb and then moving the game. This book makes a perfect choice for a character education discussion about courage or resilience, or a life-skills lesson on facing challenges. The story also promotes the joy of imaginative play in the outdoors.

Two sworn enemies learn that they have more in common than meets the eye, and it's never too late to make a new friend-even if it takes decades! Ever since they were little hatchlings, Turtle and Tortoise decided that they'd forever be separated due to their different shells. As years and years go by, the two reptiles stay on opposites side of the pen and embark on their own adventures, while holding an everlasting grudge. Until one day, Turtle and Tortoise get into a bit of pickle and need each other's help! This hilarious and heartwarming picture book from Merry Un-Christmas author Mike Reiss and The Most Magnificent Thing creator Ashley Spires is perfect for fans of unlikely pairs such as Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel, Duck and Bear from Jory John's Goodnight Already!, and Boy + Bot by Ame Dyckman. Turtle has a smooth shell. Tortoise has a rough shell. Goodness gracious! How can they possibly be friends?!

Binky is a space cat - at least in his own mind. He's really a house cat who has never left the family "space station." Unlike other house cats, Binky has a mission: to blast off into outer space (outside), explore unknown places (the backyard) and battle aliens (bugs). Binky must undergo rigorous training so he can repel the alien attacks that threaten his humans. As he builds his spaceship, he must be extremely careful with his blueprints - the enemy is always watching. Soon Binky is ready to voyage into outer space. His humans go out there every day and he's sure they need a certified space cat to protect them. But just as he's about to blast off with his co-pilot, Ted (stuffed mousie), Binky realizes that he's left something very important behind ? and it's not the zero-gravity kitty litter. In the first book in the Binky Adventure series, graphic-novel readers will delight in watching where this lovable and quirky cat's imagination takes him.

Binky the Space Cat along with fellow space pets Gordie and Gracie have been left at the pet hotel while their humans go on vacation. Only it's not a hotel at all --- it's the vet! ?No way are they staying, ? Binky thinks. ?They are an elite space team. There is no chance that a 'pet hotel' will contain the likes of them.? So the trio hatch a plan to escape through the building's vents. But along the way, their mission takes a precarious turn when they stumble upon the secret lab of the notorious Professor Tuffy in the vet's basement. A former space pet, Tuffy switched allegiances years ago to work with the aliens. Since then, she's been perfecting the ultimate anti-human weapon, and it's finally complete! Does the team have what it takes to thwart the evil fugitive before she unleashes her ingenious creation on the world? This is the final book in the popular graphic novel adventure series starring the irresistible Binky, beloved for his deadpan humor and unwavering dedication to the cause. With high drama, unexpected twists and loads of physical comedy --- punctuated with comical animal sound effects throughout --- bestselling author and illustrator Ashley Spires's series provides hilarious, page-turning fun. It's perfect for beginning readers who are looking for lively stories without too much text. The mission-oriented perspective of the team also lends this title to character education lessons on courage, initiative and teamwork.