Tag Archives: Murray Out of Water

New Releases

New Releases: May 21, 2024

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Picture Books

The Rainbow Parade by Shane Jordan & Rick Hendrix (text) and Jieting Chen (illustration)

Join the celebration at the Rainbow Parade and witness a heartwarming story of acceptance and friendship. In this joyful picture book, LGBTQ+ advocates Shane Jordan and Rick Hendrix take young readers on a colorful journey of self-expression and acceptance.

Set at a stormy pride parade, the story follows a child who is free to express their gender identity, celebrating with their father. But when they come across a non-binary child who doesn’t feel comfortable in their own skin, they lend a helping hand and show them that they are seen, accepted, and loved.

Gentle storytelling and stunning illustrations play on the magical experience of finding one’s community. Featuring expert back matter, The Rainbow Parade encourages children and gatekeepers to break down stereotypes and embrace diversity. This book offers a timely and important lesson on the power of love, friendship, and acceptance.

Perfect for children of all identities, The Rainbow Parade is a must-have addition to any bookshelf. Let your own rainbow shine with this wonderful story of celebrating who you are and accepting others for who they are.

Buy it: Bookshop | Amazon

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TBRainbow Alert!

Most Anticipated Queer Middle Grade: January-June 2024

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The Curse of Eelgrass Bog by Mary Averling (January 2nd)

Nothing about Kess Pedrock’s life is normal. Not her home (she lives in her family’s Unnatural History Museum), not her interests (hunting for megafauna fossils and skeletons), and not her best friend (a talking demon’s head in a jar named Shrunken Jim).

But things get even stranger than usual when Kess meets Lilou Starling, the new girl in town. Lilou comes to Kess for help breaking a mysterious curse—and the only clue she has leads straight into the center of Eelgrass Bog.Everyone knows the bog is full of witches, demons, and possibly worse, but Kess and Lilou are determined not to let that stop them. As they investigate the mystery and uncover long-buried secrets, Kess begins to realize that the curse might hit closer to home than she’d ever expected, and she’ll have to summon all her courage to find a way to break it before it’s too late.

Buy it: Bookshop | Amazon

Continue reading Most Anticipated Queer Middle Grade: January-June 2024 →

Cover Reveal

Exclusive Cover Reveal: Murray Out of Water by Taylor Tracy

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Today on the site, I’m delighted to welcome Taylor Tracy to reveal the cover of their debut Middle Grade fabulist novel in verse, Murray Out of Water, releasing from Quill Tree/HarperCollins on May 21, 2024! Here’s the story:

Twelve-year-old Murray O’Shea loves the ocean. It could be because it never asks her to be someone she’s not, something her mother refuses to do. But Murray also shares a secret magic with her beloved sea, which allows her to control its tides, hear the gorgeous sounds of its creatures, and feel as powerful as she wishes she could feel in her regular life.

But then a hurricane hits Murray’s Jersey shore home, sending the O’Sheas far inland to live with relatives. When Murray learns of the storm’s destruction, she loses her magic. Stuck in a house with her family, she can no longer avoid the truths she’s discovering about herself—like how she feels in the clothes her mom makes her wear, or how she may be more like her older brother who left the family than she thought.

Thankfully, it’s not all hurricanes and heartache. Murray befriends a boy named Dylan, who has a magic of his own. When Murray agrees to partner with him for a youth roller-rama variety show in exchange for help getting her magic back, the two forge an unstoppable bond that shows Murray how it’s not always the family you were given that makes you feel whole…sometimes it’s the family you build along the way.

And here’s the magical cover, designed by Celeste Knudsen with art by Sas Milledge!

In white and pale green bubble letters, the title: MURRAY OUT OF WATER against a background of dark blue, teal, and turquoise water. Across the bottom in white hand-written script, the name of the author: Taylor Tracy. In the upper right hand corner, a dark haired white girl swimming on the surface with her arms outstretched and legs kicking in navy shorts and a turquoise button-up covered in small seahorses. There are pinkish, beige clouds around her as well as two jellyfish. In the upper lefthand corner, a green sea turtle swimming alongside her. There are harbor seals peaking through the W as well as a bottlenose dolphin jumping between the W and the A as well as a humpback whale swimming up on the lower left corner. On the far lower left corner, there is a nurse shark swimming to the right. On the bottom right, there is a boardwalk with a roller coaster and ferris wheel.

Buy it: Bookshop | Amazon

Taylor Tracy writes books filled with humor and heart that explore the joys and hopes of queer kids, focusing on mental health, found family, and the importance of building a sense of community. She lives in New Jersey with her family, including a fluffle of mischievous rescue bunnies, and loves everything her home state has to offer: the best bagels, pizza, and beaches. When not writing, she can be found down the shore, in the rock gym, or next to her growing pile of books to read and love. Visit her online at www.taylorismyfirstname.com.