Synopsis: The Newbery Award-winning author of Up a Road Slowly presents the unforgettable story of Jethro Creighton—a brave boy who comes of age during the turbulent years of the Civil War.In 1861, America is on the cusp of war, and young Jethro Creighton is just nine-years-old. His brother, Tom, and his cousin, Eb, are both of fighting age. As Jethro's family is pulled into the conflict between the North and the South, loyalties are divided, dreams are…

Synopsis: A modern-day classic underdog story to share with middle graders alongside such favorites as Wonder, Holes, and Bridge to Terabithia.Paul Fisher sees the world from behind glasses so thick he looks like a bug-eyed alien. But he’s not so blind that he can’t see there are some very unusual things about his family’s new home in Tangerine County, Florida.Where else does a sinkhole swallow the local school, fire burn underground for years, and…

Synopsis: Gail Gibbons, creator of beloved STEM picture books, presents an apple tree's changes through all four seasons, as witnessed by the child who loves it. In bright illustrations and simple text, Arnold collects apple blossoms in spring, builds a treehouse in summer, makes apple pie and cider in the fall, and hangs strings of popcorn and berries for the birds in winter, among other seasonal activities. Includes a recipe for apple pie and a…

Synopsis: This adventure novel about survival at sea by Newbery Honor author Gary Paulsen is now available in an After Words paperback edition!David thought he was alone, that the ocean around him was all there was of the world. The wind screamed, the waves towered, and his boat, the twenty-two foot fiberglass FROG, skidded and bucked and, each moment, filled deeper and grew heavier with sea water.David thought surely he was dead at fourteen. His uncle…

Synopsis: Traveling by VOYA-CODE, it takes Jack only a few seconds to get to the planet where his aunt lives, six million light years away. Jack has gone to Alpha I to help his aunt move to Earth. But Aunt Katherine is acting very strangely, not like herself at all. And Frank and Ruth Arbo, the couple who manage her fantastically wealthy mining company, seem downright sinister. What on Earth-or Alpha I -- is going on?

Synopsis: At last, Henry Huggins's father has promised to take him fishing, on one condition. Henry's dog, Ribsy, has been in all sorts of trouble lately, from running off with the neighbor's barbecue roast to stealing a policeman's lunch. To go on the fishing trip, Henry must keep Ribsy out of trouble -- no chasing cats, no digging up lawns...and no getting anywhere near little Ramona Quimby, the pest of Klickitat Street.

Synopsis: Don't let that frilly pink dress fool you. Bootsie Barker is one tough cookie, and she makes life miserable for another little girl whose mother said she has to learn to get along with all kinds of people. Any child who has ever been tormented by someone bigger, older, or meaner will recognize the shadow of Bootsie-the-terror and thrill to the underdog's toothsome victory. Full-color illustrations.

Synopsis: Read the simple words and rebus pictures to follow this story about Benny's Big Bubble! Easy vocabulary and included flash cards make learning to read easy and fun.

Synopsis: One fine day, from out of town--and without any warning at all--a magic hat appears in the sky. It tumbles and bounces through the air and makes magic wherever it lands. Everyone is delighted as, one by one, the townspeople are transformed into giant playful animals. And then a wizard arrives. . . . With irresistible rhyming language and bright, whimsical illustrations, this perfect read-aloud by internationally acclaimed author Mem Fox will…