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HAPPY Reading Guide

At turns funny and poetic, sunny and tragic, Happy is a daring feat of postmodern literature, a polyphonic novel about the urgent, lovely coping mechanisms created by generations of diasporic people. Download the free reading group guide and book club kit below, and order your copies of the book today. “Leaping, chattering, dancing atop this conundrum [of global migration] comes the hero... Read More

SHACKLED Q&A WITH AUTHOR CANDY J. COOPER

Shackled: A Tale of Wronged Kids, Rogue Judges, and a Town that Looked Away is the explosive story of the Kids for Cash scandal in Pennsylvania, a judicial justice miscarriage that sent more than 2,500 children and teens to a for-profit detention center while two judges lined their pockets with cash. Author Candy J. Cooper,... Read More

8 Poetry Picture Books with “Elementary Energy” (updated 3/2024)

Perfect for elementary school age readers... readers of all ages will enjoy the whimsical artwork and rhymes. Wordsong, an imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers, has picture books for kids at every age & every stage! Read More

7 Moving MG/YA Poetry Picks

This collection is perfect for more sophisticated young readers who love to dive deeply into beautiful, touching, sometimes painful, sometimes joyful stories. Wordsong, an imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers, has picture books for kids at every age & every stage! Read More

4 Perfect Poetry Picture Books for Preschool & Kindergarten! (updated 3/2024)

These picture books are perfect for independent reading or classroom and storytime read-alouds. Wordsong, an imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers, has picture books for kids at every age & every stage! Read More

6 Books for the Folklore & Fairytale Fans

March 17 – 23 marks Folktales & Fables week! Here are six recommendations for the fantasy-loving young readers in your life. Folklore-Inspired Graphic Novels Also available in Spanish! ON SALE May 6! “Spine-tingling, enlightening, and fun.” —Kirkus Reviews Eisner Award winner Liniers brings his exuberant cartooning style and irrepressible sense of humor to the spooky... Read More

TRUE COLORS Q&A

True Colors is a new and spellbinding middle grade novel about a girl whose emotions manifest in a colorful haze. Kirkus Reviews calls the book “(I)ntriguing… an absorbing treatise on living fully and truthfully.” Author Abby Cooper reveals why she wrote the book in this informative Q&A! What was the inspiration behind True Colors? What... Read More

Build an Easter Basket Your Toddler Will Love (and You’ll Feel Great About) in 30 Minutes or Less

Skip all the plastic and junk this year and help the Easter Bunny out by building a basket your kids will love and you'll feel great about. Read More

YOU MAKE ME SNEEZE! Q&A

Meet the creators of You Make Me Sneeze, the second book featuring dynamic duo, Cat and Duck! In this Q&A, author Sharon G. Flake and illustrator Anna Raff answer questions about their new book. Sharon, YOU MAKE ME SNEEZE! is your second book featuring the hilariously charming duo, Duck and Cat, who we first meet... Read More

A Mother-Daughter Valentine’s Day Book Club

An exclusive look at a very special book club event, hosted by Astra Books for Young Readers. Last week, we celebrated Valentine’s Day in the best possible way–with a mother-daughter book club. It was a joy to host friends-of-Astra tweens and their moms for an evening of fizzy drinks (with glasses they personalized with googly eyes) and... Read More