Cora promises to keep Uncle JB's Bread Pet alive but didn't anticipate its exponential growth! She needs to come up with a solution - and fast! This whimsical STEM story of family, creativity and community will inspire young makers to experiment and share their gifts with others. Includes sourdough starter and sourdough bread recipes. AGES: 4 to 9 AUTHOR: A surprise visit from a funny friend and his sticky sourdough starter gave author Kate DePalma an idea. She spent a messy year learning about the frustrations and joys of baking sourdough bread with her family, and this story came to life. Kate has written many books for Barefoot Books, including the award-winning Barefoot Books Children of the World, which she co-authored with Tessa Strickland. She lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Nelleke Verhoeff started her career performing shows for children, but then discovered her passion for art. She has since illustrated several books and was a finalist in the Silent Book Contest at the 2018 Bologna Children's Book Fair. Giving personality to the Bread Pets and the other characters in this book was a fun challenge for her. Nelleke lives in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. This is her first project with Barefoot Books. SELLING POINTS: Incorporates mathematics concepts like exponential growth and measurement while introducing science topics such as fermentation. Presents sharing with the community as a solution to having "too much" and raises awareness about hunger. The protagonist of the story models creative problem-solving techniques like trial-and-error, mapping out mathematical concepts, and asking for help. The book portrays a same-sex family with two mothers as well as a protagonist with cochlear implants. Hilarity ensues as the Bread Pet threatens to take over the house. Humorous dialogue and whimsical illustrations add interest and pizzazz. Includes explanations of exponential growth and fermentation as well as recipes for a Bread Pet (sourdough starter) and sourdough bread.

Illustrated by: Nelleke Verhoeff