“A sunny, smart, tongue-in-cheek tale.” The New York Times Book Review “Sweet and affirming.” Kirkus Reviews “With a gentle message of inclusion and helping others, this title reaches beyond a mere friendship story.”School Library Journal “Heartening.”Booklist In this bestselling and internationally beloved picture book, the local Pet Club won’t admit a boy’s tiny pet elephant, so he finds a solution—one that involves all kinds of unusual animals. Today is Pet Club day. There will be cats and dogs and fish, but strictly no elephantsare allowed. The Pet Club doesn't understand that pets come in all shapes and sizes, just like friends. Now it is time for a boy and his tiny pet elephant to show them what it means to be a true friend. Strictly No Elephants has been sold around the world and is heralded as a pitch-perfect book about inclusion. Imaginative and lyrical, this sweet story captures the magic of friendship and the joy of having a pet.

Weird Tales is the original storytelling magazine of the dark and fantastic. This issue: our Spring Steampunk Spectacular features Cherie Priest on her airships-and-zombies epic Boneshaker; an exclusive excerpt from Boilerplate, the biography of a 19th-century robot soldier; an unforgettable novelette from Lisa Mantchev & James L. Grant; awesome cover art by Molly Crabapple; and much more

FICTION: "Love, Must" by Kurt Kirchmeier -- "Hungry Ghosts" by Jay Lake -- "The Gingerbread House" by Kater Cheek -- "Dedalus and the Labyrinth" by J.M. McDermott -- "As Recorded on Brass Cylinders: Adagio for Two Dancers" by James L. Grant & Lisa Mantchev

FEATURES: "Book of the Century" -- Cherie Priest breaks down the whys and wherefores of a Civil War-era steampunk Seattle. "The Secret Mechanical Man" - Meet Boilerplate, the robot who rode with Teddy Roosevelt Creators Paul Guinan & Anina Bennett give us the scoop in this exclusive from their new book.

All Beatrice Shakespeare Smith has ever wanted is a true family of her own. And she's close to reuniting her parents when her father disappears. Now Bertie must deal with a vengeful sea goddess and a mysterious queen as she tries to keep her family--and the Theatre Illuminata--from crumbling. To complicate it all, Bertie is torn between her two loves, Ariel and Nate.

Growing up in the enchanted Theatre Illuminata, Bertie learned everything about every play ever written. She knew the Players and their parts--but she didn't know that she had a role to play, too. Now that she's discovered her own magic, she is the Mistress of Revels, the Teller of Tales. And she's ready to write her own story, outside the protective walls of Theatre. But which way will her story go? Toward Nate, who's being held captive by the Sea Goddess, and loves Bertie dearly? Or should she write Ariel into her narrative? He's by her side every day, and she's finding his charms so very hard to resist. . . .

All her world's a stage.

Bertie Shakespeare Smith is not an actress, yet she lives in a theater.

She's not an orphan, but she has no parents.

She knows every part, but she has no lines of her own.

That is, until now.

Enter Stage Right

NATE. Dashing pirate. Will do anything to protect Bertie.

COBWEB, MOTH, MUSTARD SEED, and PEASEBLOSSOM. Four tiny and incredibly annoying fairies. BERTIE'S sidekicks.

ARIEL. Seductive air spirit and Bertie's weakness. The symbol of impending doom.

BERTIE. Our heroine.

Welcome to the Theatre Illuminata, where the actors of every play ever written can be found behind the curtain. They were born to play their parts, and are bound to the Theatre by The Book--an ancient and magical tome of scripts. Bertie is not one of them, but they are her family--and she is about to lose them all and the only home she has ever known.

Lisa Mantchev has written a debut novel that is dramatic, romantic, and witty, with an irresistible and irreverent cast of characters who are sure to enchant the audience.

Open Curtain