A single act of kindness creates a chain of events that transforms a community in this simple but powerful story. A beautiful tribute to the power of thoughtfulness!

Beautifully rendered in Lewis's striking, lifelike watercolor illustrations, this story by Woodson is a moving, lyrical narrative told in the hopeful voice of a child confused about the fence that divides the black side of town from the white side. Full color.

Otter wants to wisely choose a friend, but that is difficult. Just when he thinks he's got it, Otter Keeper helps him see his choice is not the best. Though Otter becomes discouraged, Otter Keeper rewards Otter's earnestness with a very best solution. These Otter stories and illustrations offer nothing but wholesome delight.

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 ...

Pearl and Wagner are back, and they are full of secrets: Wagner tells Pearl an embarrassing secret, Pearl tells Wagner a surprising secret, and Lulu tells Wagner a secret that turns out not to be a secret at all. Pearl and Wagner soon learn that some secrets can bring friends closer together, while others can cause all sorts of trouble. Full color.

Delightful story that shows friends can have different ideas but still enjoy each other's company.

On a soccer field, the goalie is the last line of defense. Does Pedro have what it takes to be his team's goalie? Perhaps skills he's learned off the field can help. Another great story with a likable main character.

In this Newbery Honor Book, a troublesome 12-year-old orphan, staying with an elderly artist who needs her, remembers the only other time she was happy in a foster home, with a family that truly seemed to care about her.

Winner of multiple awards, this novel follows three lonely foster children asthey learn to care about themselves and each other.

Drawing from the rich store of Civil War reminiscences handed down in her family, acclaimed author/illustrator Polacco tells the true story of a remarkable wartime friendship between a young white Union soldier and a young black Union soldier who are captured by Confederate soldiers and sent to Andersonville Prison.

Can loneliness make even pizza unappetizing? If so, can a new friend make any pizza taste great? With humor, this gentle story emphasizes the positive influence of friendship.

Level 2. Suzanne, Max, and Jake are making a pizza. First they mix the dough. Then they add the toppings and cheese. Soon it's ready. Yum!

This character-driven plot focuses on the emotions the daughter of mixed-race parents goes through when she receives a racist note at her new middle school. Anger, confusion, fear, frustration fog her steps to justice. Streamlined writing walks readers through Yasmin's difficult choices that ultimately lead to maturity and restoration within her community of friends, teammates, parents, and school ...

From stargazing to shopping to sailing, Poppleton knows how to live an adventurous life. The lovable main character and humor will make continue Poppleton's popularity with young readers.

From Newbery Medalist Cynthia Rylant and acclaimed illustrator Mark Teague comes Poppleton, a posh and persnickety pig with friends and adventure abound!Pick a book. Grow a Reader!This series is part of Scholastic's early reader line, Acorn, aimed at children who are learning to read. With easy-to-read text, a short-story format, plenty of humor, and full-color artwork on every page, these books w ...

Puppy Mudge has a new playmate--a fluffy, cuddly kitten. Pretty soon they prove that friends don't need to be alike in every way to have fun. Full color.

The story's magic-laden background and setting force the main character to face reality, find courage, and take action. An unforgettable, thought-provoking tale with plenty of material to consider and discuss.

In this sassy playground romp the irrepressible new kid dethrones the reigning recess bully by doing the unthinkable--she invites her to be her friend! Not only will kids relate to the all-too-common issue of bullying, but parents and teachers will appreciate the story's deft handling of conflict resolution (achieved without adult intervention). Full-color illustrations.

Through powerful use of metaphor, mood, setting, and character development, Wiles crafts this documentary novel for impact; readers cannot walk away from this unchanged. The book's construction, sections of black and white photographs depicting US events during 1964, establish the tone and visually settle readers in a certain era. Several pages with a solid black background demand attention� ...

The stars of "Jack and Rick" are back in another playful adventure. Rick learns that being sick isn't so bad when you have a helpful friend--especially when that friend is Jack. Full color.