Jake and his younger brother Tommy are visiting family at a beach house on the coast. Having already lost a race to his cousin Lexie, Jake can't resist a second chance at victory when she challenges him again. Only this time it's a boat race-to the legendary Smuggler's Cave and back. The ocean is deep and choppy, and the boat is harder to control than Jake thought it would be. When he and Tommy reach Smuggler's Cave, the unthinkable happens. The boat capsizes, and they are swept into the cave. Lexie comes to their rescue, but the rising tide prevents them from escaping, and the three of them soon realize they are trapped.
Reg and Keely are twins. Keely loves painting and bugs. Reg loves rocks. Keely sings crazy rhymes. Reg plays softball. Shawna and Burt are their friends. In this series of linked stories, the children's deep involvement with their daily activities never falters, from a bug walk, through incidents flying a kite and dividing labor at clean up time, to a chance to swim in the river on a hot summer's day.
Daddy takes Ben on a surprise trip to the pet store. Ben doesn't want a mouse, a snake, or even a cat. But when a certain puppy makes Ben laugh, a lasting friendship is formed. Three short chapters trace a day in the life of Ben and his new puppy, Tita. This book is good for your brain because: Early Reader, Chapter book, Responsibility, Friendship
SIT . . . STAY . . . FETCH! In this sequel to Aggie and Ben, the best friends are back for more boy-and-his-dog fun. Young readers will laugh out loud at Aggie's irrepressible antics and Ben's determined attempts to train her. Three short chapters, just right for beginning readers, follow Aggie and Ben on their adventures in doggie training, obedience, and friendship. This book is good for your brain because: Pets, Friendship, Early Readers
Two worms who are best friends have fun together as they tunnel their way through a garden. Includes facts on how worms help plants grow.
As a companion to her award-winning story collection Three Minute Tales, Margaret Read MacDonald has compiled another delightful collection of entertaining stories from around the world edited especially for the tastes and interests of young readers.
Bus 445 has a mind of its own--it honks for no reason! Is it a malfunction or a malicious ghost? Malcolm and Dandy open an investigation that has them colliding with a spiteful spirit. But can they steer him away from his mission of revenge? Their runaway adventure brings the reader along for a bumpy ride. Book 8 in the series.
The local movie theater is hosting Horrorfest--two days of backtoback monster movies. Malcolm and Dandy can't wait to see their favorite horror classics up on the big screen. But the spine tingling chills continue even after the movies end. The Wolfman, The Fly, and King Kong have escaped their black and white films and are after Malcolm and Dandy! After much ducking and dodging, the boys discover that it's more than cinema magic. The secret lies behind the small window of the theater's projection booth. Book 12 in the series.
When the local museum hosts the exhibit for the mummy of Egyptian king, Tuturtikum, Malcolm and Dandy want to be the first in line. But they soon learn there is more to the mummy than just a wad of rotting rags. They've both become victims of the Tuturtikum curse! It seems the only way to zap the curse is to zap the ghost of Tuturtikum. But can the curse be lifted or will they be jinxed for life? Book 10 in the series.
It's field trip day and Mrs. Goolsby is taking the class to the sugar factory. It seems like a sweet place, until they're all dodging the flying sugar beets! The tortured tour guide finally reveals the factory's secret . . . it's haunted. Can Malcolm and Dandy rid the refinery of the clinging ghost who vows she'll never! never! never! leave? Book 9 in the series.
Malcolm always thought the librarian at the Franklin County Library was cranky. She constantly shushed him and insisted the library was haunted. Boy was she right! When Malcolm and Dandy have school reports to research, Malcolm's library book keeps disappearing and returning to the library! Could it be a ghost? It is up to the Ghost Detectors to get the library back in order! Book 6 in the series.
Word of Malcolm and Dandy's work as ghost hunters has spread around the neighborhood! Mr. Gable from the local horse stables has put in a call to get the boys to rid his stables of a headless ghost. The boys consult Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow to see how to handle a situation like this. It'll take a little imagination and some help from Dandy's new girlfriend to zap this horse riding spirit! Book 11 in the series.
Malcolm's dad thinks it's time Malcolm and his best friend Dandy get out of the basement lab and started doing the things that other 10-year-old boys enjoy. So, they are going camping--in October! The best part of camping at Lake Itchyburr is the Legend of Wild Willy Wallace. The Ghost Detectors are ready to face the smelly, ghostly outlaw--it's a good thing Malcolm brought the specter detector and ghost zapper along! Book 5 in the series.
Malcolm and his best friend Dandy aren't like other 10-year-old boys. Malcolm would rather avoid his older sister, experiment in his lab, and read his science magazines than play sports. In one magazine, he comes across an advertisement for an Ecto-Handheld-Automatic-Heat-Sensitive-Laser-Enhanced Specter Detector. Its arrival is the beginning of the boys' new career as Ghost Detectors when they discover a practical-joking poltergeist! Book 1 in the series
Malcolm and Dandy may only be 10-year-old boys, but they've already experienced something most adults never do--a ghost! Malcolm's Ecto-Handheld-Automatic-Heat-Sensitive-Laser-Enhanced Specter Detector did its job at the McBleaky house. Malcolm is hoping his next gadget, the Ecto-Handheld-Automatic-Heat-Sensitive-Laser-Enchanced Ghost Zapper, will work on the ghost haunting the Millers' house! Book 2 in the series.
It's time again for the Franklin County Fair! Malcolm and Dandy can't wait to ride the rides and eat the fair food, even if they have to watch Malcolm's sister, Cocoa, compete for Fair Queen. But something strange is going on in the Screaming Mansion. When the carnival worker, Gus, dares them to enter, they discover more than just a stray cat. The Ghost Detectors never get time off! Book 4 in the series.
A Ghost Detector's job is never done--not even when school starts! Malcolm and Dandy spent their summer hunting ghosts with their trusty specter detector and ghost zapper. On the first day of school, Malcolm's digital camera captured some very strange paranormal activities in Waxberry Elementary School. Now they have to bring a message to an even bigger fright, their fifth-grade teacher Mrs. Goolsby! Book 3 in the series.
Acclaimed author Kathryn Lasky explores the nature of friendship in three delightful stories for beginning readers. Creative, impulsive Poodle and loyal, dependable Hound are an unexpected pair. Together they star gaze, plant a garden and prove that two very different individuals can not only be compatible, they can complement and help one another. This book is good for your brain because: Friendship, Helpfulness, Language Arts
Bear dreams of becoming a comedian. His jokes are unbearably funny, and he wants nothing more than to make his friends laugh. But Bear has a problem. He has stage fright. When Emmy, the comic hummingbird, discovers Bear's jokes, Bear learns that there's more than one way to achieve your dream. Told in seven short chapters.
Daddy takes Ben on a surprise trip to the pet store. Ben doesn't want a mouse, a snake, or even a cat. But when a certain puppy makes Ben laugh, a lasting friendship is formed. Three short chapters trace a day in the life of Ben and his new puppy, Aggie.
Aggie and Ben are back with another adventure in three short chapters just right for beginning readers. Ben and Aggie are playing fetch in the park. When Ben throws too far, Aggie doesn't come back! Ben looks and looks, but he cannot find her. It is the worst day ever. Ben's sadness turns into determination as he retraces his steps, makes posters, and enlists other people to help turn Aggie from a lost pup a found one.
George is back, more popular than ever. And Katie and Mackenzie are just one step behind him. But George will have an adventure or two of his own before the three will come together again.
