Arcadia Children's Books

With unexpected twists and compelling characters, Don’t Feed the Lion explores how young people grapple with antisemitism, prejudice, allyship, and the courage to speak up.

"This book . . . gives kids the tools to recognize and stand up to hate.” —Jake Tapper, CNN Anchor and New York Times Best-Selling Author

Annie and Theo Kaplan have a family ritual: every Friday night they celebrate Shabbat with their energetic, immigrant grandparents. But this Shabbat, which happens to fall on Annie’s eleventh birthday, isn’t like the others. Thirteen-year-old Theo’s soccer hero—Wes Mitchell—has posted an antisemitic message that quickly goes viral, leaving his parents disgusted, his sister enraged, and Theo himself clobbered by a torrent of confusion, anger, sadness, and a deep desire to just ignore it. 

Antisemitism quickly affects the entire Kaplan family in various ways. Theo’s teammates think Mitchell’s comments were no big deal, and Theo notices an uptick in anti-Jewish commentary around school. A rare act of rebellion draws Annie into the fray, and a new classmate shows that ignoring pain is no way to get through it.

Don’t Feed the Lion asks readers of all backgrounds: What will you do when it’s your turn to choose?

With historical photos and impeccable storytelling, this extraordinary book chronicles an astonishing moment in American history.

Starting Christmas Day, 1941, when transport trains on the Union Pacific Railroad stopped in North Platte to refill their water tanks, the local families of North Platte, Nebraska, came together to provide love, support, food, and morale to young soldiers involved in World War II—black and white—who briefly passed through their town. Troops poured into the North Platte Depot, The Canteen, to find homecooked meals, birthday cakes, hot coffee, cold milk, magazines, postcards, and the warmth of a grateful and loving community. The stops lasted only ten minutes, but the people of North Platte made sure that everyone in their midst was taken care of. This remarkable story will inspire readers of all ages, as The Canteen nourishes all who have the privilege to visit.

Ghostly adventures await! Dive into your favorite, SPINE-TINGLIEST tales from America's Haunted Cemeteries!

Welcome to America's Haunted Cemeteries! In this thrilling anthology, spooky stories and ghostly tales bring the nation's cemeteries to life! Discover wandering spirits, creepy crypts, and misty graveyards filled with secrets! From the infamous witch trial burial sights of Salem to the hauntingly beautiful, above-ground tombs of New Orleans, each tale will take you on a chilling adventure pulled right from history, changing the way you see America's Haunted Cemeteries forever.

Whether you’re a brave ghost hunter or just curious about the supernatural, the GHOSTLIEST TALES anthologies from ACB’s bestselling Spooky America series will give you goosebumps . . . and have you sleeping with the lights on! 

In the tradition of Little Legends and Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls comes The City We Built: Black Leaders of Austin, an illustrated children’s book honoring the extraordinary African American men and women who played a critical role in shaping Black Austin’s social, political, and cultural heritage. A collaboration between The Black Leaders Collective; The George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Center; and renowned Texas visual artist Sadé Lawson, The City We Built will take readers on an empowering and inspiring journey through Black Austin’s history, highlighting such local luminaries as:Ada Anderson, Charles Atkins, Berl Handcox, Johnny Holmes, Azie Taylor Morton, Velma Roberts, Dorothy Turner, Willie Wells, and more.

            Featuring full-page biographies and vibrantly illustrated, full-color portraits, The City We Built will not only educate young readers and inspire a new generation of Austin Black leaders—but celebrate the heroes who helped build this remarkable city.

In this middle-grade adaptation of Shark Attacks of the Jersey Shore, author Patricia Heyer dives into the history and lore of shark attacks along New Jersey’s coast. Every summer, thousands of people flock to the boardwalks and beaches of the Jersey Shore looking for fun and relaxation. But some come face to face with much more. A boy paid a gruesome price for teasing a trapped shark in the first recorded attack in 1842. Three bloody attacks of 1960 left one man’s limb amputated. The horrific summer of 1916 included seven attacks within two weeks, sparking the man-eating reputation that sharks still have today. These stories and more have been adapted for younger readers brave enough to dive in to our shark-infested waters.

Ghostly adventures await! Dive into your favorite, SPINE-TINGLIEST tales from America's Haunted Lighthouses!

Welcome to America's Haunted Lighthouses! In this thrilling anthology, spooky stories and ghostly tales bring the nation's coastal beacons to life! Discover phantom keepers, spectral shipwrecks, and misty shores filled with secrets! From the eerie lighthouses of New England to the fog-veiled towers of the Pacific Northwest, each tale will take you on a chilling adventure pulled right from maritime history, changing the way you see America's Haunted Lighthouses forever.

Whether you’re a brave ghost hunter or just curious about the supernatural, the GHOSTLIEST TALES anthologies from ACB’s bestselling Spooky America series will give you goosebumps . . . and have you sleeping with the lights on! 

Ghostly adventures await! Dive into your favorite, SPINE-TINGLIEST tales from Texas!

Welcome to Spooky Texas! In this thrilling anthology, spooky stories and ghostly tales bring the Lone Star State to life! Discover haunted cathedrals, phantom pirates, and eerie cities filled with secrets! From the "spirited" streets of Austin to the spooky shores of Galveston, each tale will take you on a chilling adventure pulled right from history, changing the way you see Texas forever.

Whether you’re a brave ghost hunter or just curious about the supernatural, the GHOSTLIEST TALES anthologies from ACB’s bestselling Spooky America series will give you goosebumps. . . and have you sleeping with the lights on! 

In this middle-grade adaptation of Shark Attacks of New York, author Patricia Heyer dives into the history and lore of shark attacks along New York's coast. Every summer, thousands of people flock to Coney Island, the Rockaway, and all along Long Island's southern coast for some of the most beautiful beaches on the east coast. But some come face to face with much more.