Words can hurt! This sweet but powerful story gives a vivid reminder of the fact that words have the power to stop a dream and the power to revive it. Readers fall in love with the giraffe from the beginning of the story and mourn as mean, untrue words paralyze him. When words of truth and encouragement offer him the chance to believe again, readers cheer him on and celebrate his victory as those ...

Janie Samm's parents take a big gamble by moving to a more expensive town so Janie can attend a better school. She already feels different from her rich classmates, but when her parents' plans go awry, Janie comes up with an idea to save the day -- even if it makes her stand out more than ever. B&W illustrations.

Young athlete realizes that having the best players accomplishes little without authentic teamwork. Great for soccer fans and reluctant readers!

When Grace's teacher reveals that the United States has never had a female president, Grace decides to be the first. And she immediately starts off her political career as a candidate the school's mock election. But soon, she realizes that she has entered a tough race. Full color.

Brett Carter, the Wildcats' star forward, is a hotshot on his basketball team--or at least he was. After missing an easy layup shot at the buzzer in one of the most important games of the season, he feels like a total loser. And things only get worse from there... At his best friend's birthday party at a rock-climbing center, Brett freezes on the wall. Then he blows an easy question in the America ...

When normal-sized Hewitt is born into the Anderson family--a family of giants--the Andersons' lives are turned upside-down. It's up to Hewitt to show all the generations of the Andersons the power of being small. Full color.

Doors seem to close at every turn in this exciting basketball-based book. The Wasps' community center is closing. The team is disbanding. Money is gone. All these happen in the midst of a local championship tournament. Young sports fans will enjoy the play-by-play descriptions of the critical games while experiencing a story that illustrates that sometimes character overcomes resources.

This National Book Award-winning novel chronicles the story of a young Indian woman who dares to defy fate when she is forced into an arranged marriage.

A fearful little lisping rat finds his inner strength in this tale of overcoming shortcomings. Full-color illustrations.

Through the story of a little boy named Felix, this charming book explains to children how being kind not only helps others, it helps them, too. Illustrations.

Winner of the Schneider Family Book AwardBoston Globe-Horn Book Award Winner What if words got stuck in the back of your mouth whenever you tried to speak? What if they never came out the way you wanted them to? Sometimes it takes a change of perspective to get the words flowing. A New York Times Best Children's Book of the Year I wake up each morning with the sounds of words all around me. And ...

In this acclaimed, award-winning national bestseller, readers are introduced to Ida B, a fourth grader like no other, who's living a life like no other, with a voice like no other, and a family like no other. How does Ida B cope when outside forces attempt to derail her, her family, and her future?

Six-year-old Ben is very small for his age, and gets along better with animals than people. One June day in 1870, Ben wanders away from his home on Hawk's Hill and disappears into the waving prairie grass. This is the story of how a shy, lonely boy survives for months in the wilds and forges a bond with a female badger. ALA Notable Book. Newbery Honor Book.

This gentle story of a young boy seeking to belong among his friends, both tells and shows what feeling invisible looks like—drab grays against bright color. Soft illustrations attend to childhood facial expressions that reveal greater depths of feeling, both good and bad. A beautiful portrayal of the radical impact of kindness. Charming and rewarding.

Two girls form an unlikely friendship during their shared time in the school nurse's office in this heartfelt middle grade novel for fans of Save Me a Seat and Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus. Meg spends her days hoping no one thinks too hard about why she wears the same t-shirt and slippers to school every day. Luckily, the nurse's office provides a welcome escape from classmates who ...

Everything is poor Murdley Gurdson's fault, and young listeners will love theway the blame for his lost shoe passes from animal to animal--with a surpriseending! Illustrations.

Precious little Jillian suffers from extreme shyness and will talk to only a few, select friends and never in class. Her loving grandmother has always encouraged her to open up to others, but Grandmother died last year. Jillian’s shyness has only worsened. Enter a bold, but sensitive 5th grade teacher! Only she can see Jillian’s intelligence and sensitivity. Throughout the year she brilliantly ...

Precious little Jillian suffers from extreme shyness and will talk to only a few, select friends and never in class. Her loving grandmother has always encouraged her to open up to others, but Grandmother died last year. Jillian’s shyness has only worsened. Enter a bold, but sensitive 5th grade teacher! Only she can see Jillian’s intelligence and sensitivity. Throughout the year she brilliantly ...

Lighting up readers' hearts and imaginations since it was first published in 1942.

Donald Zinkoff is one of the greatest kids you could ever hope to meet. He laughs easily, he likes people, he loves school, he tries to rescue lost girls in blizzards, he talks to old ladies. The only problem is, he's a loser.