Books in Candlewick Sparks series

“Good pacing and appealing artwork. . . . Engaging fare for young readers.” —BooklistPoppy the dalmatian can’t wait to go on a seaside vacation with her family; she thinks it will be fun to be a pirate dog. But she’s afraid of boats! After trying—and failing—to be brave on a fishing boat, a seal-spotting cruise, a pedal boat, and a speedboat, Poppy has almost given up. Will she manage to find her pirate ship before the family heads back home? From New York Times best-selling author Liz Kessler comes a full-color early reader for adventurous young scalawags and their pirate pooches.

“This engaging book works equally well as a choice for independent readers or for reading aloud to younger children.” —BooklistPoppy the pirate dog is lonely. Now that summer is over, Suzy and Tim have gone back to school, Mom and Dad are back at work, and there is no one around to help her bury treasure. When her family decides to get Poppy a friend to keep her company, she is thrilled. But her tiny new shipmate is not at all what she expected—or wanted! In her second full-color early reader, best-selling author Liz Kessler steers a course through the sometimes tumultuous waters of sibling rivalry through the eyes of a very funny and slightly neurotic pup.

Poppy the Pirate Dog is in charge of keeping the treasure safe, so what happens when some jewelry goes missing?It’s Mom’s birthday, so Tim and Suzy are planning a special pirate show for her. Poppy’s job is to guard the treasure, but while on duty, she hurts her eye and has to go to the vet. Worse yet, she comes home not with a pirate eye patch, but with a big plastic cone around her neck! While the rest of the family searches for Dad’s missing present—a sparkly necklace for Mom—Poppy sulks alone outside. But then Poppy catches sight of something twinkling in the grass. Is this her chance to redeem herself as the best pirate dog ever? This third early reader from Liz Kessler sparkles with warmth, humor, and a dash of pirate gold.

In a fresh and funny companion to the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award winner, the fox sisters team up with their friend Eugene in three spy-rific adventures.After Zelda, Ivy, and their best friend Eugene watch the new Secret Agent Fox movie (some more bravely than others), they are inspired to do a little detective work themselves. With top-secret agent names chosen and notebook in hand, they’re ready to get to the bottom of neighborhood mysteries. But when a rainstorm threatens to ruin the agents’ campout, can the three foxy friends come up with an undercover alternative? Sly humor, lively illustrations, and a genuine eye for the everyday dynamics among siblings make this a perfect choice for beginning readers, whether old fans or new.

“An entertaining kickoff to a series of adventures, whether Harold likes it or not.” — Publishers WeeklyPigsticks is the last in a noble line of explorers, and he’s decided it’s time for him to follow in his forepigs’ footsteps—with an assistant to do the heavy lifting, of course. When his help-wanted ad draws a motley crew of candidates, he chooses a hapless delivery hamster named Harold. After a long trek through jungles, over deserts, and up a giant ice-topped mountain, the last crumb of cake is stolen by a herd of thieving goats, and their goal is nowhere in sight. Will they ever discover the Ends of the Earth?

Shh! It’s Monkey’s birthday. But that’s a secret. Can Elephant keep the big news under his party hat for one whole day?Monkey lets Elephant in on a secret — it’s Monkey’s birthday, and Monkey does not like birthdays. But Elephant also has a secret: he has trouble keeping secrets. When Elephant learns that Clever Rat has made some party hats and is inviting friends over to see them, Elephant wants to turn their gathering into a party for Monkey. But how will he do it without giving away Monkey’s secret?

"Being in on a joke is a treat for young readers, and this little treasure is one that will get passed around." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)When fun-seeking Joe, a giraffe, takes a reluctant Sparky, a turtle, on a wild ride across the famous cageless zoo to see a mysterious box displaying a talent show, the two decide they must compete to be the next famous pair. But what are their talents? Joe can run fast, wiggle his ears, and touch his nose with his tongue (not to mention drive a car). But Sparky doesn’t know what his special skill is. Can the enthusiastic encouragement of Joe the World’s Best Talent Finder help the retiring Sparky become a star?

The endearingly mismatched duo has their hands full when a party for a friend goes comically awry.One day Joe, an exuberant giraffe, hears a commotion coming from another part of the famous cageless zoo he calls home. Joined by his small, green, slightly more serious turtle friend, Sparky, Joe discovers the source of the hullabaloo: a group of children — or noisy short people, as Joe and Sparky call them — having a party. Inspired, Joe decides to throw a party for his pet worm, Wiggy. There’s just one problem: Sparky is not entirely sure if Wiggy even exists! What will happen when every animal in the zoo shows up to Wiggy’s party with presents and cake? Worm or no worm, this silly, satisfying tale is sure to leave new readers smiling.

“Expressive faces, gestures, and words convey the interactions of true friends. . . . A great read-aloud.” — School Library JournalWhen Elephant starts to sneeze—achoo!—Monkey has her ideas of what will make him feel better. And when Monkey gets the sniffles, Elephant has his ideas of what will make her feel better. But Monkey is Monkey and Elephant is Elephant. They are not exactly the same. Maybe there’s more than one way to enjoy a soft pile of hay, some fresh water, and a bit of entertainment!

A chatty little girl and her patient older brother share an easy bond in a charming early chapter book filled with warmth and wry humor.Annie and Simon: little sister and big, big brother. Annie likes to talk — a lot — about what she’s going to be when she grows up, about the clouds and rain and umbrellas, about picnics in the park and meteors, about loons and canoes and turtles. And Simon is a very good listener. He knows a lot about the stars and the weather, how to fix bee stings, and where to look for loons. He knows a lot about being the kind of big brother that keeps a little sister smiling. Whether they are poking around the garden or paddling through a marsh, curious Annie and patient Simon are siblings who are clearly happy in each other’s company.

This Candlewick Sparks title offers newly independent readers the chance to experience early fiction from one of today's most talented author-illustrators.It’s springtime, and little sister Ivy wants to prove she can keep a secret, but there are some secrets that are too good to keep. Big sister Zelda longs to play the perfect April Fool’s Day prank, but can she outsmart the clever Ivy? And will opera star hopeful Zelda be upstaged by a butterfly in the final act? Fresh and funny, full of sugar and sass, this trio of tales about everyday life with siblings and friends—a companion to the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award winner Zelda and Ivy: The Runaways—is sure to strike a chord with young readers everywhere.

Hello, hello, hello! Meet frenetically helpful Squirrel and his patient animal friends in four funny, engaging stories for the early chapter-book crowd.Squirrel is a very, very, very good helper! He helps his tree grow, he helps the river flow, and he helps his three best friends, Mouse, Turtle, and Rabbit. He is such a good helper, in fact, that he helps his friends when they don’t even know they need help! It is a lot of work being such a caring squirrel, but there is much to do before sleep, sleep, sleep time. Prepare to fall in love with the utterly endearing — and undeniably exhausting — Squirrel in this sweet and funny chapter book from author Lisa Moser and illustrator Valeri Gorbachev.