June’s whole concept of home is shaken when her widowed mother and younger sister must move into a homeless shelter. The embarrassment and the struggles are real. The girls must rise early to get to their school. Mother is noncommunicative and June’s greatest joy, playing the viola, is out of the question. So everything is left to June to navigate the waters of the homeless shelter. She alo ...

An imaginative and fun, often hilarious, fantasy adventure! Explores concepts of identity, family, and character while engaging the reader with witty narrator commentary and great storytelling.

Making friends in a new town is quite the chore for 12-year-old Trish who is both a math whiz and a girl baseball player. Being near perfect in both areas give her confidence but it also deters new relationships. However, team losses, baseball injuries and math competitions gone astray prevent Ben from liking her even though they have the very same interests and should be best buddies. Wise Abhi, ...

Princess Solimar’s favorite day of year is when thousands and thousands of monarch butterflies return to the nearby forest. This year she braves a trip into the forest where the butterflies land on her, too, covering her with their beautiful wings and soft humming. She promises to always protect the monarchs, and they leave behind a special magical power for Solimar. While trying to figure it ou ...

Talk about pre-teen girl angst! Nurah and her Muslim family choose to make a new life in Peachtree City, Georgia, a very long way their home in Karachi, Pakistan. They bring with them a love of family and a desire for American opportunities. While Owais, her older brother, fits in by making friends and winning swim meets, Nurah struggles with everything: lunchtime friendships, unfamiliar clothing, ...

Words with Wings is like a jewel box. Each free verse poem poses a thought, quandary, or observation and sparkles with precise word choice, exploration of emotion, irony, or contrast, and delightful metaphor. Each brief facet imaginatively unfolds this poignant story like a series of photographs, calling attention to important details otherwise unnoticed. Collectively these verses applaud teachers ...

Madalyn’s family life is stormy. Dad can only find work out of state, and Mom needs to work overtime just to make the ends meet. And Madalyn can’t stay home alone in their unsafe neighborhood or attend her unsafe school. It’s decided! Madalyn must go stay miles from home with her great uncle, Papa Lobo. She is lonely and must make new friends here; friends at school and friends in the neighb ...

Left winger Nolan Andrews thinks it's great that he can play hockey in Calgary, where his older brother, Nathan, is a star center for the Hitmen. When Nolan finds out that a lot of things about Nate's new life in Calgary don't make sense--or might not even be legal--Nolan has to make some difficult choices that will affect him and his brother for the rest of their lives.

Running, computer hackers, illegal immigrants

Call Across the Sea tells of Henny Sinding, a Danish girl who grew up piloting her father’s delivery boat across the inlet to the Baltic Sea. During the increasing NAZI occupation of 1943, she evades soldiers and distributes forbidden news while fearing for her Jewish neighbors. All of her skills and her courage will be needed to spirit Jewish families safely across the sea to Sweden. Her ingenu ...

The author of the critically acclaimed SO FAR FROM THE BAMBOO GROVE continues her autobiography, describing the hardships, poverty, tragedies, and struggles of life for her and her two older siblings, living as refugees in post-World War II Japan.

Set in 17th-century Korea, this story is of a young girl who yearns to see what lies beyond the walls of her family's home and enlarge her world. Illustrations.

Ten-year-old Willy needs to win the big dogsled race in order to pay the back taxes on his grandfather's farm--but that means beating the huge Indian mountain man, Stone Fox.

Ambitious young entrepreneur Ernie runs a pet funeral business that explodes when he hires tomboy Swimming Pool, who's a great crier. Illustrations.

After Jimmy is blinded in an accident with a firecracker, he has to relearn all the things he used to know. With the help of a determined therapist, he learns to read Braille and to use a cane. Then he's given the chance to have a guide dog. Learning to work with Leader is not easy, but Jimmy tries harder than he ever has before.

The Newbery Honor-winning book about prejudice and understanding is now available in this restored edition that recaptures the vivid artwork of Slobodkin. Includes a letter to readers from the author's daughter that relates the true story behind the book.

A classic of American humor, the adventures of a house painter and his brood of high-stepping penguins have delighted children for generations. "Here is a book to read aloud in groups of all ages. There is not an extra or misplaced word in the whole story."--"The Horn Book." Newbery Honor Book.

One of the best stories ever written, loaded with memorable characters, crazy adventures, and a heartwarming ending.