Jessica Warrick – illustratör

“Looking for a fantastically fast-paced and funny read? Your wish is granted!” —Chris Grabenstein, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Twelve-year-old Ace’s life is about to change in the most unexpected and magical ways—all because of a peanut butter jar.When he opens it, he inadvertently releases a genie named Ridge. Now a Wishmaker, Ace is given a week to complete a seemingly impossible quest, and if he fails the world will end in the most tragic (but cuddly) way imaginable. Luckily, Ridge can help by granting Ace an unlimited number of wishes…as long as Ace is willing to accept the consequences. The bigger the wish, the greater the consequence. So, if Ace wants to avoid having pogo sticks for legs or his clothes turn invisible, he'll have to be careful what he wishes for and get a little creative.Perfect for fans of Dan Gutman and Max Brallier, this new middle grade series by Tyler Whitesides (author of the Janitors series) is a wonderful mix of unpredictable magic, zany humor, and daring adventure. You’ll wish it never ends!

"Looking for a fantastically fast-paced and funny read? Your wish is granted!" —Chris Grabenstein, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello''s LibraryTwelve-year-old Ace''s life is about to change in the most unexpected and magical ways—all because of a peanut butter jar.When he opens it, he inadvertently releases a genie named Ridge. Now a Wishmaker, Ace is given a week to complete a seemingly impossible quest, and if he fails the world will end in the most tragic (but cuddly) way imaginable.Luckily, Ridge can help by granting Ace an unlimited number of wishes…as long as Ace is willing to accept the consequences. The bigger the wish, the greater the consequence. So, if Ace wants to avoid having pogo sticks for legs or his clothes turn invisible, he''ll have to be careful what he wishes for and get a little creative.Perfect for fans of Dan Gutman and Max Brallier, this new middle grade series by Tyler Whitesides (author of the Janitors series) is a wonderful mix of unpredictable magic, zany humor, and daring adventure. You''ll wish it never ends!

Acting like an Earthling isn’t easy! Follow the adventures of Spork the alien in the How to Be an Earthling series. Each book covers a different character trait to help kids think about what they say and do.  CRASH! Trixie can’t believe her eyes—an alien just landed in the school playground! Spork is small and orange and weird. He eats crayons. He thinks the hamster is a second grader. And respect? Spork’s never even heard of the word! But Spork is the best thing to ever happen to school. Trixie has to get him to stay! Every How to Be an Earthling title includes fun back-of-book activities that build on story themes. (Character trait: Respect)

Acting like an Earthling isn’t easy! Follow the adventures of Spork the alien in the How to Be an Earthling series. Each book covers a different character trait to help kids think about what they say and do.  Special mission—field trip! Newton’s whole class is going to the aquarium, even Spork, the new alien at school. Newton just wishes he could keep Jack from teasing Spork. But when Jack tells a lie, Spork lands in deep water . . . deep water with SHARKS! Will Spork end his mission as a shark snack? Every How to Be an Earthling title includes fun back-of-book activities that build on story themes. (Character trait: Honesty)

Acting like an Earthling isn’t easy! Follow the adventures of Spork the alien in the How to Be an Earthling series. Each book covers a different character trait to help kids think about what they say and do.  Everybody loves the class vegetable garden—except Jack. He doesn’t want to pick beans. He doesn’t even want to take care of the class hamster over the weekend, and Jo Jo is more fun than a green bean! That’s when Jack has a great idea. He’ll get Spork, the new alien in school, to watch Jo Jo. What could possibly go wrong? Every How to Be an Earthling title includes fun back-of-book activities that build on story themes. (Character trait: Responsibility)

Acting like an Earthling isn’t easy! Follow the adventures of Spork the alien in the How to Be an Earthling series. Each book covers a different character trait to help kids think about what they say and do.  It’s showtime! Shy Grace has a secret—she loves to sing. She hasn’t told Spork or even her best friend, Trixie. Now the class talent show is coming up, and Trixie wants to do an act together. How can Grace tell Trixie she wants to go solo? And is she really brave enough to sing in front of everyone? Every How to Be an Earthling title includes fun back-of-book activities that build on story themes. (Character trait: Courage)

Acting like an Earthling isn’t easy! Follow the adventures of Spork the alien in the How to Be an Earthling series. Each book covers a different character trait to help kids think about what they say and do.  Step right up—the school is having a carnival! Rides, games, prizes. So why isn’t Trixie’s alien friend Spork excited? Maybe he’s homesick . . . for outer space! Luckily, Trixie knows the perfect way to make Spork feel at home. This school carnival will be a BLAST! Every How to Be an Earthling title includes fun back-of-book activities that build on story themes. (Character trait: Kindness)

Acting like an Earthling isn’t easy! Follow the adventures of Spork the alien in the How to Be an Earthling series. Each book covers a different character trait to help kids think about what they say and do.  Fifty states! The class has to learn them all, but Adam barely remembers five. Even Spork knows more—and he’s from a different planet! Luckily, Adam has baseball . . . and yubble, the cosmic new sport that Spork is teaching everyone. Why can’t learning the states be as easy as playing ball? Every How to Be an Earthling title includes fun back-of-book activities that build on story themes. (Character trait: Perseverance)

Acting like an Earthling isn’t easy! Follow the adventures of Spork the alien in the How to Be an Earthling series. Each book covers a different character trait to help kids think about what they say and do.  Piper wants to change the world—one classroom at a time! She's running against Jack for student council. Jack has razzle-dazzle . . . and hamsters . . . and sprinkles! Piper just has good ideas. Luckily, Spork has a plan for Piper that’s out of this galaxy. But is dazzling her friends really the best way to win? Every How to Be an Earthling title includes fun back-of-book activities that build on story themes. (Character trait: Citizenship)

Acting like an Earthling isn’t easy! Follow the adventures of Spork the alien in the How to Be an Earthling series. Each book covers a different character trait to help kids think about what they say and do.  Making money is easy! Jack gets two dollars to sweep the sidewalk, a dollar to take out recycling, five dollars to dust. Soon he’ll have enough to buy a special issue of his favorite comic book! Jack has it all under control, unlike Spork, who’s crazy for video games. But Jack forgot one thing. Making money may be easy. Keeping it is hard! Every How to Be an Earthling title includes fun back-of-book activities that build on story themes. (Character trait: Self-discipline)

Acting like an Earthling isn’t easy! Follow the adventures of Spork the alien in the How to Be an Earthling series. Each book covers a different character trait to help kids think about what they say and do.  Shhhh, Newton has a secret. He’s going to bring something special to Farm Day—a brand new baby chick! Or Newton hopes he’ll have a chick. Spork keeps asking when the egg is going to hatch. He even offers to speed it up. Newton is torn. . . .  Why is waiting so hard? Every How to Be an Earthling title includes fun back-of-book activities that build on story themes. (Character trait: Patience)

Acting like an Earthling isn’t easy! Follow the adventures of Spork the alien in the How to Be an Earthling series. Each book covers a different character trait to help kids think about what they say and do.  Going, going, gone! Spork kicks a ball over an old brick wall. Behind it, Trixie finds a secret, totally forgotten park! The fountain is broken. The benches are battered. But if Trixie can get her friends to give flowers, paint, and tools, maybe the mayor won’t lock the park up. Too bad Trixie has nothing to chip in . . . besides hard work! Every How to Be an Earthling title includes fun back-of-book activities that build on story themes. (Character trait: Generosity)

Acting like an Earthling isn’t easy! Follow the adventures of Spork the alien in the How to Be an Earthling series. Each book covers a different character trait to help kids think about what they say and do.  Grace can’t believe her luck. A real live author is coming to her school! Lucy Harper’s books are good, but in them, aliens are the bad guys. And Grace knows that’s not true—just look at Spork! Is there any way in this cosmos for a kind of shy kid to convince a grown-up, big-time author to see the other side? Every How to Be an Earthling title includes fun back-of-book activities that build on story themes. (Character trait: Acceptance)

Acting like an Earthling isn’t easy! Follow the adventures of Spork the alien in the How to Be an Earthling series. Each book covers a different character trait to help kids think about what they say and do.  Cosmic! Finally Spork has earned his Solo Explorer Badge! He just needs to fly back to his planet to get it. Thanks to Gloop, his wrecked spaceship is as good as new. But the tank is empty— he’s out of truzzle juice! Refilling it is too big a job for one little alien . . . but luckily, Spork’s not alone! Every How to Be an Earthling title includes fun back-of-book activities that build on story themes. (Character trait: Cooperation)

Saving Santa is a humorous and lightly satirical holiday fantasy for all ages, reimagining Santa Claus as the conflicted C.E.O. of a modern business enterprise. Written by Arun Narayanan and illustrated by Jessica Warrick, Saving Santa is published by Scout Comics. Lucy Goodshoe, an idealistic young elf from the North Pole inner city, just landed her dream job: assistant to Santa Claus, the CEO, founder, and face of the multibillion-dollar, global toy manufacturing and distribution empire known as North Pole Industries. But Lucy quickly discovers things are not so jolly on the top floor. While Santa has been distracted by fortune and fame, his bitter co-founder Rudy Rednose has pushed the company to ruthlessly focus on profit over everything else, firing hundreds of hardworking elves in favor of soulless robots. And this year before Christmas Eve, Rudy plans to replace Santa and his reindeer with a robot Santa and drones! But Lucy loves Christmas too much to let that happen, and now that she has access to the company's inner workings, maybe she can stop him! If she can remind Santa Claus of who he used to be before corporate interests sapped his Christmas spirit, then Lucy and Santa just might be able to take the company back and save Christmasbefore it's too late!

Nominee:Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy CLEL Bell Award, TALK2017-2108 Chickadee AwardDarcy has plans. She and her friend are going to play dress up, do each other’s hair, and polish their nails. Daddy has plans, too. He’s going to read the paper, mow the lawn, and fix the fence. When Darcy’s friend cancels and she’s sure her day is ruined, Daddy suggests that they tackle their to-do lists together with a Darcy-Daddy Day. Daddy dons a tutu, and Darcy gives him a fancy hair do. They groom the lawn with Her Majesty’s Mowing Service and face off in a Daddy-directed sock battle. But will Darcy want to hammer? Will Daddy do nails? Stepping outside their comfort zones, Darcy and Daddy opt to be open-minded and even a bit daring. As Daddy says, “Sometimes things you’ve never done end up being fun!” With a gung-ho attitude, Darcy masters the hammer, and Daddy goes for it with the nails.