Books published by publisher Purple Piglet Press

A wallet, a thief, and a brilliant plan--what could possibly go wrong? At least that's what Stella thinks--until she and Pin Pin get caught with the goods, that is, and all heaven, hell and whatever's-in-between breaks loose, forcing the best friends to hit the road. Tag along as Stella and Pin Pin runaway to midtown Manhattan, all the while battling archrival Teresa Como for the title to SOHO's Annual Food Drive, their ticket to Regis Academy--a posh high school for girls, hidden far, far away in the Catskills. Oh-la-la, for the chance to leave home--for good!Problem is... the road isn't much safer than home, especially when the runaways attract the attention of police, museum officials and--worst of all--Stella's unforgiving father. Also pitted against their extravagant dream is the threat of Pin and her family's deportation, including baby sister, Audrey, who lies at the heart of this quirky coming-of-age novel--STELLA BELLAROSA: Tales of an Aspiring Teenage Superhero, a serious MG with a funny-bone.Read this excerpt from the novel to see how Stella and Pin Pin deal with the many social issues they face, including the challenges of immigrating to a foreign city, bullying, making friends, and teens and preteens coming of age. “So … how was your day? Anything new?” I was surprised at Pin’s perkiness, considering how glum she’d been this morning. “Nope. Nothing’s new. No thing what-so-ever.” Ha. That’s when I knew she was lying. Pin Pin’s always emphatic when she lies.“Oh,” I replied coolly. The best way to get info from Pin’s to act disinterested. It drives her nuts. “Well, ‘nothing’s’ better than ‘something bad’ I guess.” Pin looked at me sharply. “What do you mean? Did you hear something?” Hmmm. Now she was being cagy, so I baited her. “Nah. Well, yeah, nah. Not really. You know—no big deal.” When she didn’t bite, I tried a more direct approach. “Oh, well. Okay. You know what my day was like—regurgitated eggs, chunks of….”“Okay, okay. I… confess…. Because you are making me sick, Stella Bellarosa. Sick in my gizzards.” Heheh. Pin’s word choice killed me. But the second way to make her talk was to gross her out. Which I’d done, at least in part. So I prodded some more. “Confess, Pin? Confess to what?” “Oh. Didn’t I tell you?” She tried to act blasé, but her right eye kept blinking. Pin had a tic or something that twitched when she was upset. Like when she talked about China. Or home. Or Audr—. Suddenly I knew this had something to do with her family. “Tell me what?” I said. “Oh, yeah… you were probably puking when it happen.”“When what happened?” I said in a clipped voice. Pin’s coyness was starting to irritate me.“It,” she said, shrugging. “I take it.”“Take what?” “Mrs. Tucci’s wallet.”I needed a calming breath, but gulped in a mouthful of rancid city air instead and choked. Shock does that to a person. And, believe me, 'shock' is mild for describing how I felt. “What do you mean you took Mrs. Tucci’s wallet?” “It was easy,” she continued, shifting her weight in a decidedly uneasy way. Easy? Yeah, I could believe it. We’d known Mrs. Tucci forever. She was the oldest substitute at Holy Infant Elementary School—maybe in the world. She wore pointy glasses with rhinestones in the corners and carried a purse as big as a dumpster. Must’ve eaten truckloads of spumoni as a kid, because she had three gold teeth. “So?” A lump of mucous formed in my throat, but I ignored it. “How? And, oh my god… why?”“Well. Mrs. T’s a rich woman, right?” Pin explained. “You’ve seen her pocky-book. It’s huge. She has gold in her mouth and diamonds everywhere. She’s probably a millionaire. No big deal.”“No big deal?” I could feel another lump rising in my gullet. Continue reading to see how 13-year-olds Stella and Pin Pin struggle to come of age in the midst of challenges as diverse as immigration, growing up in a

Join award-winning children's book author, Julie Krantz, in her celebration of the sights and sounds of fall. Poems for the young, the very young and the very old alike, Ms. Krantz's poetry has a universal appeal that transcends the generations. Her colorful, original artwork invites children to peek into the mysteries of the natural world, all the while enhancing their understanding of it with these sweet and gentle rhymes.

Award-winning author Julie Krantz's newest release is, arguably, one of her best. Set on the west coast and illustrated with colorful, iconic landmarks, Ms. Krantz takes us on a journey from the quaint coastal town of Half Moon Bay to northern California's biggest metropolis. Join Yoshi as he travels from his mother's cozy nursery to the wilds and wonders of San Francisco. Ten years old, he's delivering his grandfather's unique birthday gift--a yucca plant raised especially for him on Happy Hat Flower Farm. See what happens when Yoshi's trip is complicated by Grandpa Hatakayama's boisterous young neighbor, Holly Tamura, a happy-go-lucky tomboy who drives Yoshi out of his comfort zone by challenging him to a (fateful) game of hide-n-seek in his grandfather's beloved garden. A heartwarming story with a timeless message, Yoshi's Yucca will appeal to children as well as adult readers.

Tip vs. Oliver: Basketball Madness Strikes Again! reprises the rivalry between Tip and Oliver, the legendary duo from Tip & Oliver: BFFs. Still best buds, that doesn't stop them from having different opinions--especially when it comes to basketball. See what happens when Tip and Oliver hit the boards in this year's American Canine Championship--Oliver in his royal blues, Tip sporting his signature whites (with baby blue trim).Will their friendship survive the final tournament? Or will this year's tourney be a game-changer that goes far beyond the basketball court?

The newest collection of children's poetry by award-winning author, Julie Krantz, debuts on Kindle in the soft, splashy colors of a summer sunset--yellows, pinks, reds and green. Join Ms. Krantz as she explores this hot and muggy season with a delightful set of rhyming poems about summer, sunshine, birds and beaches. Children as well as adults will enjoy not only Ms. Krantz's sweet and sensitive lyrics, but the whimsical and enchanting illustrations that accompany them.

Who doesn't love a snowy day? Well . . . lots of people. But not little ones! Purple pie press is especially pleased to present its new literary romp through the chilliest of seasons by award-winning author, Julie Krantz. Chock-full of poems about everything from snow to cold, feathers, feet and fur, Ms. Krantz's latest offering is sure to warm the hearts of young and old alike. Comprised of eighteen delightful poems and illustrations, SLEDDING DOWN THE HILL handily introduces even the youngest readers to the time-honored conventions of poetic form and function. Teachers and librarians will be especially pleased with this winning collection's facile way of amusing and informing children even while it introduces them to the basics of meter, rhyme, image and metaphor. Recalling the work of revered children's poets--from the likes of Robert Louis Stevenson and A. A. Milne through to contemporary greats like Joyce Sidman, Shel Silverstein, and Jack Prelutsky, Ms. Krantz's poetry is sure to surprise and delight even the most reluctant of readers. Sledding down the Hill is a lively complement to the many other children's books published by purple pie press, including several of Ms. Krantz's most recent works--Isabel Plum: Ichthyologist, Tip & Oliver: BFFs, Blueberry Moon, Yogabets: An Acrobatic Alphabet, One Charming Cat--Counting in French from One to Ten, and Sweet Feet: Love Poems for Little Peeps.

A wallet, a thief, and a brilliant plan--what could possibly go wrong? At least that's what Stella thinks--until she and Pin Pin get caught with the goods, that is, and all heaven, hell and whatever's-in-between breaks loose, forcing the best friends to hit the road. Tag along as Stella and Pin Pin runaway to midtown Manhattan, all the while battling archrival Teresa Como for the title to SOHO's Annual Food Drive, their ticket to Regis Academy--a posh high school for girls, hidden far, far away in the Catskills. Oh-la-la, for the chance to leave home--for good!Problem is... the road isn't much safer than home, especially when the runaways attract the attention of police, museum officials and--worst of all--Stella's unforgiving father. Also pitted against their extravagant dream is the threat of Pin and her family's deportation, including baby sister, Audrey, who lies at the heart of this quirky coming-of-age novel--STELLA BELLAROSA: Tales of an Aspiring Teenage Superhero, a serious MG with a funny-bone.Read this excerpt from the novel to see how Stella and Pin Pin deal with the many social issues they face, including the challenges of immigrating to a foreign city, bullying, making friends, and teens and preteens coming of age. “So … how was your day? Anything new?” I was surprised at Pin’s perkiness, considering how glum she’d been this morning. “Nope. Nothing’s new. No thing what-so-ever.” Ha. That’s when I knew she was lying. Pin Pin’s always emphatic when she lies.“Oh,” I replied coolly. The best way to get info from Pin’s to act disinterested. It drives her nuts. “Well, ‘nothing’s’ better than ‘something bad’ I guess.” Pin looked at me sharply. “What do you mean? Did you hear something?” Hmmm. Now she was being cagy, so I baited her. “Nah. Well, yeah, nah. Not really. You know—no big deal.” When she didn’t bite, I tried a more direct approach. “Oh, well. Okay. You know what my day was like—regurgitated eggs, chunks of….”“Okay, okay. I… confess…. Because you are making me sick, Stella Bellarosa. Sick in my gizzards.” Heheh. Pin’s word choice killed me. But the second way to make her talk was to gross her out. Which I’d done, at least in part. So I prodded some more. “Confess, Pin? Confess to what?” “Oh. Didn’t I tell you?” She tried to act blasé, but her right eye kept blinking. Pin had a tic or something that twitched when she was upset. Like when she talked about China. Or home. Or Audr—. Suddenly I knew this had something to do with her family. “Tell me what?” I said. “Oh, yeah… you were probably puking when it happen.”“When what happened?” I said in a clipped voice. Pin’s coyness was starting to irritate me.“It,” she said, shrugging. “I take it.”“Take what?” “Mrs. Tucci’s wallet.”I needed a calming breath, but gulped in a mouthful of rancid city air instead and choked. Shock does that to a person. And, believe me, 'shock' is mild for describing how I felt. “What do you mean you took Mrs. Tucci’s wallet?” “It was easy,” she continued, shifting her weight in a decidedly uneasy way. Easy? Yeah, I could believe it. We’d known Mrs. Tucci forever. She was the oldest substitute at Holy Infant Elementary School—maybe in the world. She wore pointy glasses with rhinestones in the corners and carried a purse as big as a dumpster. Must’ve eaten truckloads of spumoni as a kid, because she had three gold teeth. “So?” A lump of mucous formed in my throat, but I ignored it. “How? And, oh my god… why?”“Well. Mrs. T’s a rich woman, right?” Pin explained. “You’ve seen her pocky-book. It’s huge. She has gold in her mouth and diamonds everywhere. She’s probably a millionaire. No big deal.”“No big deal?” I could feel another lump rising in my gullet. Continue reading to see how 13-year-olds Stella and Pin Pin struggle to come of age in the midst of challenges as diverse as immigration, growing up in a foreign city, and bullying.

Award-winning author Julie Krantz’s new children’s picture book, YOGABETS, introduces the time-honored English alphabet with a contemporary twist—yoga.Written in verse, YOGABETS is the charming story of two young siblings’ jam-packed day told by way of ideograms, pictures that illuminate the shape of each letter of the alphabet. Lovers of contemporary children's poets--Joyce Sidman, Jack Prelutsky, Ken Nesbit and Shel Silverstein--will especially enjoy Ms. Krantz's work.YOGABETS not only entertains and informs children about the ABCs, it also manages to captivate parents, teachers and librarians with its delightful tale and innovative illustrations. Especially interesting is the way Ms. Krantz interprets each letter of the alphabet with a unique yoga pose. A must-read for any library or home collection of abecedarians—one that’s guaranteed to spend more time off than on the shelves!Fans of timeless picture books such as Kay Thompson's Eloise and Eloise in Paris, and Ludwig Bemelman's Madeline, Madeline at Christmas and Mad About Madeline to name a few, as well as readers of Kevin Henkes' Julius: The Baby of the World, Chrysanthemum and Lily will find much to enjoy and admire in Ms. Krantz's offerings. Fans of contemporary writers such as Ian Falconer (Olivia, Olivia and the Fairy Princesses, Olivia Saves the Circus, etc.) and Jane O'Conner (Fancy Nancy, Fancy Nancy: Budding Ballerina, Fancy Nancy: Tea for Two, etc.) will also be charmed my Ms. Krantz's new additions to the picture book world. The following works by Julie Krantz can be found on Amazon at these URLs -ISABEL PLUM: Ichthyologist http://www.amazon.com/Isabel-Plum-Ichthyologist-childrens-friendship-ebook/dp/B00HPC7TCS/ref=la_B00996YNZ4_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426523325&sr=1-3#reader_B00HPC7TCSTIP & OLIVER: BFFshttp://www.amazon.com/Tip-Oliver-beginner-friendship-feelings-ebook/dp/B00SA9UD7I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426523885&sr=8-1&keywords=tip+and+oliverBLUEBERRY MOONhttp://www.amazon.com/Blueberry-Moon-childrens-bedtime-story-ebook/dp/B00SNP6NPA/ref=pd_rhf_dp_p_img_1#reader_B00SNP6NPASTELLA BELLAROSA: Tales of an Aspiring Teenage Superhero http://www.amazon.com/Stella-Bellarosa-immigration-discrimination-Historical-ebook/dp/B00I0GB5I2/

What could be sweeter than sharing quiet time with your very own little person? That's just what award-winning children's author, Julie Krantz, invites you to do in this new collection of 'Love Poems for Little Peeps' from purple pie press. Comprised of seventeen charming poems and illustrations, SWEET FEET introduces children to the magic of rhythm, meter, diction and rhyme while entertaining them with fresh images and ideas about love--love of family, friends, nature, and self. Following the tradition of great children's poets--from Robert Louis Stevenson to AA Milne--Sweet Feet will appeal to lovers of contemporary practitioners Joyce Sidman, Jane Yolen, Alice Shertle, Lee Wardlaw and others. Addressing a host of subjects from feet to flowers and sunrise to snowflakes, children will be delighted with Ms. Krantz's unique take on the many familiar images and ideas of their burgeoning worlds. Exploring and understanding these subjects with the people closest to them is just one of the ways in which children will experience the joy of poetry. Mother, teacher, artist and writer, Ms. Krantz's poems and illustrations will appeal as much to parents and grandparents as to children themselves. Opportunities for interactive teaching abound in this volume of Ms. Krantz's work as well as in her many other titles published by purple pie press...Isabel Plum: IchthyologistTip & Oliver: BFFs Blueberry MoonYOGABETS: An Acrobatic AlphabetSledding Down the Hill: Poems for WinterBLOOM TUNES: Poems for Spring, forthcoming in March of 2016.