In this second volume in Deborah Hopkinson's saga of a family's first year in Bleeding Kansas, Papa is off in Lawrence defending the town from Missouri border ruffians, and it's up to Charlie to take care of his family in their remote cabin--with a violent prairie blizzard blowing in. Illustrations.

Set in 1951 Tennessee, this story from an award-winning author is based on a real dog she knew when she was growing up. Leanne, Paul, and Jeannie wage a war against Tippy Lemmey, a dog who chases them. But when Tippy Lemmey is in trouble, the kids are the only ones who can help him. Should they help their sworn enemy? Illustrations.

When his best friend, Gloria, receives a new bicycle, seven-year-old Julian spends the summer avoiding her because of his fear of bikes.

Even though Tabby tries to keep him warm, Mr. Putter catches a cold in this cozy addition to the series.

Nate the Great is about to enter his dog, Sludge, in the smartest pet contest. But when the prize disappears, Nate and Sludge search for clues so the contest can go on.

Nate the Great must solve a case for his most important client yet--his mother--when the recipes for her famous Monster Cookies disappear. With his dog, Sludge, Nate gets to work Illustrations.

Nate depends on his dog, Sludge, to help him solve all of his cases. But Sludge can't help him this time because he's lost inside a big department store on a rainy day. Nate looks high and low, but every clue leads to a dead end--until Nate realizes that Sludge "can" help him. Illustrations.

In this gripping medieval page-turner, Roger and his sister Alice are kidnapped and held for ransom in an ancient tower. To escape and find their uncle, the children must summon all their courage and imagination. "Designed as easy-reading material for middle-graders, this has the virtues of an attractive format and illustrations, a fast plot, and even a feminist fillip: Alice is the more intrepid ...

All aboard the Owl Express! Nate, the great detective, and his dog Sludge, hit the rails on their latest case. Their mission: To guard an owl named Hoot. Hoot belongs to Nate's cousin, Olivia Sharp, and she thinks someone on the train might be out to get her feathered friend. But "whooo? Sludge keeps an eye on the owl's cage while Nate snoops for clues. Then Hoot disappears! With many suspects to ...

Bobby Quinn is shy. In fact, he's so shy, he has trouble making friends. But that changes when he gets a squirmy little puppy for his birthday. Unlike Bobby, Lucy isn't shy at all. And to his surprise, she keeps dragging him into all sorts of adventures--and friendships, too! In this heart warming story of a boy and beagle's friendship, Ilene Cooper begins the series that has charmed young readers ...

In 1867, while staying with her father in a small California mining town, ten-year-old Winnie meets a Chinese boy close to her age and discovers the role of his people in completing the transcontinental railroad.

MEET JAKE DRAKE, BULLY BUSTER. When Jake was three years old at Miss Lulu's Dainty Diaper Day Care Center, what did he know about bullies? Nothing. But he learned fast! Why? Because Jake was kind of smart and not a tattletale, and he had no big brother to protect him. He was a perfect bully magnet. But everything changed the year Jake was in second grade. That's when SuperBully Link Baxter move ...

Mrs. Snavin looked right past all those waving hands. She looked right at me and she smiled and said, I think I'll have Jake take it. Then Mrs. Snavin said, but be sure to hurry right back, Jake, because we're going to work on our number-line project, and you have to be my special computer helper, okay? And I could feel every kid in the class looking at me. They weren't saying anything. They weren ...

Jake discovers hes a natural comedian and sets out to make the stone-faced new student teacher crack a smile--with disastrous results. Illustrations.

Eleven-year-old Walter is best friends with the Spitzers--the three surviving members of a crack WWII rescue team. When the Spitzers saved General Britt's life, he left them his home. Now the General's nasty nephew is trying to evict them. It's up to Walter to come up with a battle plan. Illustrations.

In 1607, three English ships sail up the James River in Virginia and establish the first permanent English colony. Nine-year-old Elizabeth "Lizzie" Barker keeps a journal for her brother, Caleb, who stayed in England because of his weak lungs. In her entries, Lizzie describes the abundant forests, trading with and learning from the Indians, and adventures with her new friends.

Rich, descriptive terms fill these pages as fully as the flood that carries Hector away. Though threatened by a dangerous situation, Hector's can-do spirit and resourceful attitude send readers cheering for his success. Quality early chapter writing.

We the reader cheer our hero, the rat (is that possible??) as he weaves story after story to save his life. We cheer because he cleverly weaves tales we recognize, yet the cast of characters now resemble the rat's extended family. Hugely entertaining.