Polestar Family Calendar 2026

Edited By: Ruth Porter

For more than thirty five years, this award-winning agenda has proven indispensable for thousands of busy families. It provides a flexible, spacious format for recording the entire family’s daily activities.

Sam

Sam — redheaded, orphaned, temperamental — is sent to Johnson “Blue Gables” Juvenile Center after getting into a fight. Awaiting trial, Sam learns to process his emotions and becomes more hopeful about his future.

The Last Dance Of Mary Kelly

You think you know the history, but until you turn the final page you won't know the whole story. The lives of Jack the Ripper's final victim and an American Journalist intersect in Victorian London in this exploration of 19th century injustices.

Go, Sloth, Go!

In this cute rhyming picture book told in few words, a sloth tumbles from a tree onto a road and hurts its toe. A helpful truck driver brings the sloth to a wildlife vet, and soon enough the sloth is returning to its wilderness home.

A Hug on the Wind

Illustrated By: Kristina Jones

In this illustrated picture book, Sam’s grandmother is going away for the winter, and he worries about how they’ll keep in touch. She tells him that she can send a hug on the wind, kisses in the rain and fireflies to say good night—and Sam realizes his grandma will always be there for him no matter the distance.

Keep Our World Green

Illustrated By: Sara Theuerkauf

Part of the nonfiction Orca Timeline series for middle-grade readers, this illustrated book examines parks, gardens and public green spaces throughout history and shares why it’s important to protect them for future generations.

Microbes to the Rescue

Part of the nonfiction Orca Footprints series for middle-grade readers and illustrated with color photographs throughout, this book explores how microbes can help address some of the most pressing environmental challenges on Earth.

My Summer Camp Has Mega Sloths

In this follow-up to My Best Friend Is Extinct, Henry and his friends attend a summer camp led by a shady head counselor. Luckily, there’s still fun to be had: Henry reunites with Yarp, a prehistoric short-faced bear, and discovers a herd of gentle mega sloths. When a wildfire encroaches, everyone has to band together to escape.

The True Story of Vanilla

Illustrated By: Arden Taylor

Part of the Orca Biography series for middle-grade readers, this illustrated nonfiction book tells the story of how Edmond Albius, an enslaved boy, discovered how to hand-pollinate vanilla, a technique that is still used all over the world today.

You’re Out of Luck, Alina Butt

In this sequel to the critically acclaimed The Unlovable Alina Butt, after lots of friendship drama and not being able to attend a school trip to Paris, twelve-year-old Alina reluctantly travels back to Pakistan with her family, where she gains a new perspective on family, opportunity and what really matters in life.