This is a beautiful story of transformation of one character and the kindness and gentle persistence that it took by friends. Change begins in the heart, and sometimes when it is set in its unhappy way, it takes a while to rethink, hope, and be courageous enough to try something new and even full of hope. A wonderful story.

A collection of 35 compelling true stories that illustrate the value of courage over fear, grit over disappointment, failure over not trying, and personal victory over outside accolade. Because these individuals live(d) all over this world, readers sense the reality of failure as a shared human experience and the hope and growth that can result from it. Convincing and a powerful tool for positive ...

At fourteen Langston is uprooted from his home in rural Alabama to post-war inner-city Chicago. He is utterly lost with no friends or family for comfort and only his overworked father to help him through the difficulties of city living. But one day running from ever-present bullies, he accidentally finds his first oasis, a public library, where he begins to find himself.

A refreshing story that presents teamwork, friendship, kindness, and generosity in an extremely positive light. An engaging ""light"" mystery underlies the importance of looking beyond the surface and to choose empathy when everything seems to give cause for blame.

A wish to be something he's not leads Fox's friends to wish the same. Soon they are all pretending to be something they aren't, only to discover that being themselves was the best idea all along. A fun story of self-acceptance.

This engrossing and thorough biography of an American legend reads like a great story. The author, a black woman who passed away in the 1990's, uses the term "Negro" throughout the book (originally published in 1955), so young readers may need instruction regarding the term's background and use. While many books relate Harriet Tubman's story, this one may retell it the best.

Driven by an overwhelming sense of faith, direction, and conviction, Harriet Tubman risked her life repeatedly for the causes of freedom and equality. An amazing life beautifully captured in this biography for developing readers.

Shetterly highlights an important segment in US History by focusing on four intelligent ladies whose skill earned them places in what is now NASA. Their acceptance into this program was blocked, at first, because misguided beliefs about their skin color and gender prohibited their participation. Context, setting, and a timeline of events is beautifully conveyed and displayed for readers to underst ...

A gentle story that begins with a miserable brother and sister longing for their lost dog. They decide a game of hide and seek might be the best distraction, until Poppy cannot find Cy. As fear creeps in, a familiar canine friend comforts all. A simple, beautifully illustrated tale.

Is there only one type of veterinarian? Gentle illustrations envelop the story in wonder and discovery as a young boy who is allergic to cats learns he has many options.

In the companion to Under Their Skin, Haddix does what she does best: tells an engrossing story and raises important questions. With plenty of material begging to be discussed, this conclusion to the 2-book series will engage young adult readers, even reluctant ones.

Izzy Gizmo loves to invent but gets frustrated when her inventions fail to work properly. So when she finds a crow with a broken wing her grandfather urges her to persist until she finds a way to help. A feisty tale of determination, ingenuity, and friendship. Full color.

Lily's life is changing fast and she is not happy—really not happy—hide-in-your-room-for-days not happy! Through the guidance of her beloved Poppy, Lily finds the courage to embrace change and find new friends in unexpected places. As she learns to accept all that makes her unique, Lily learns powerful lessons about love, letting go, and family. At the same time Lily's story is told, ...

Lovable characters and touches of humor make this a fun read for young mystery fans, dog lovers, and any reader who enjoys an occasional giggle.

Blamed for something he didn't do, canine King sets out to find the treat thief. When Kayla realizes it wasn't King's fault, she gets on the case, too. Two detectives with different perspectives and different ""knowns"" are hot on the trail. Are they on the same trail? Will either one find the culprit? Great fun with a winning detective team.

A game of fetch seems simple enough, but add in an easily distracted puppy, a fence, and yard full of look-alike balls and you end up with a mystery. Is a mouse really behind all this mayhem? Another fun mystery with a lovable detective team.

All King wants is a piece of cheese, but everything he tries gets misinterpreted by his human. And then a mystery arrives on the doorstep. Will what Kayla knows and what King knows lead to answers? Another fun mystery from a lovable human-canine pair.

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.

Science fair first, concert second. With the rules set, Maggie gets to work on her project. Try after try end up in disaster—some of them rather sticky! As tie grows short, Maggie begins to wonder if she and her partner will have a science fair project or not, and if not, will she be able to play with the band in the upcoming concert? Another winner in this enjoyable series!

A chance to meet her favorite basketball player by winning a free throw contest prompts Becca to practice. But the practice sessions start badly and get worse. Will she even have a chance at the contest, and if not, will she ever meet her hero of the hardwood? Another winner in this early chapter series.