Ninja Nate

A boy adopting a ninja alter ego to cope with a new disability finds the courage to share all of himself in this action-packed and heartfelt picture book from the author of My Rainy Day Rocket Ship.

Nathaniel, or, as his friends call him, Ninja Nate, has been dressing like a ninja all summer long—even sleeping in his suit. And he doesn’t plan on stopping for his first day of fifth grade, especially when he has been hiding his robotic leg under his ninja costume. His friends may know about his accident, but they’ve never seen the new him. What if they treat him differently?

With the help of his brother, Sensei Charlie, and ninja mom, Mama Mary, maybe Ninja Nate can be part boy, part robot, all Nathaniel!

Markette Sheppard is an Emmy Award–winning journalist and children’s book author. Her bestselling debut book, What Is Light?, inspired children to discover the light within through everyday surroundings. Markette is also founder of The GLOW Brands, LLC, a media company aimed at illuminating perspectives around the world. She earned a master of arts degree in interactive journalism from American University in Washington, DC, and a bachelor’s in communications and French from California State University Dominguez Hills. Markette lives in Maryland with her husband and son.

Robert Paul Jr. has a love for people and everyone’s unique story, which feeds perfectly into his career as an illustrator and character designer. Born in St. Lucia and raised in St. Thomas in the United States Virgin Islands, Robert’s ultimate calling is to help children lead fun, positive, and enriched lives through storytelling. He lives with his wife and daughter in Houston, Texas, and enjoys mentoring young artists, experiencing ballet performances, and discovering delicious new recipes and restaurants. You can follow Robert on social media @RobertPaulJr.