Pet-sitting sounds easy, but Hank's first customer is huge, homesick Otis. When Janie, Hank's pesky next-door neighbor, tries to help, things spin even more out of control. Book #1 in the series.
Middle graders will laugh and cry with thirteen-year-old Vanessa Martin as she tries to be like Vanessa Williams, the first black Miss America. In this semi-autobiographical debut novel set in 1983, Vanessa Martin's real-life reality of living with family in public housing in Newark, New Jersey is a far cry from the glamorous Miss America stage. She struggles with a mother she barely remembers, a grandfather dealing with addiction and her own battle with self-confidence. But when a new teacher at school coordinates a beauty pageant and convinces Vanessa to enter, Vanessa's view of her own world begins to change. Vanessa discovers that her own self-worth is more than the scores of her talent performance and her interview answers, and that she doesn't need a crown to be comfortable in her own skin and see her own true beauty.
Naima is a talented painter of traditional alpana patterns, which Bangladeshi women and girls paint on their houses for special celebrations. But Naima is not satisfied just painting alpana. She wants to help earn money for her family, like her best friend, Saleem, does for his family. When Naima's rash effort to help puts her family deeper in debt, she draws on her resourceful nature and her talents to bravely save the day. Includes a glossary of Bangla words and an author's note about a changing Bangladesh and microfinance.
In this early reader with five short chapters, emerging readers meet Pig and Goose. Pig is happy. She loves to dance. She loves to eat. But she cannot fly. And she cannot swim. Goose can fly like a bird. Goose can glide across the water beautifully. But he cannot tell stories or host a party like Pig can. Pig and Goose are very different. But what they do have in common is that they like each other. And they love springtime. Simple text and charming illustrations guide beginning readers throughout the story and encourage independent reading.
Ben Mason has always been the star player on East Grover Lake boys’ basketball team. But when a new transfer student takes away the spotlight, Ben is frustrated with his role on the team. After a visit from Sal, owner of Sal’s Used Sporting Goods, he learns about John Stockton, the NBA’s all-time assist leader. Will Ben learn the true meaning of leadership?
To prove she’s still the tech expert at Blue Lake Junior High, Bridget agrees to write a review of a secret cutting-edge tablet that her dad’s company is developing. When Bridget’s post goes viral, however, the secret’s out, and the trouble begins.
As the goalie for the girls’ hockey team, Annie Roger’s keen eyesight is crucial to snagging a speeding slap shot out of the air. On a visit to the eye doctor, she learns that she needs prescription glasses, and her confidence is shattered. But she then she receives a gift from Sal's Used Sporting Goods, a helmet once worn by Canadian double-gold medalist goalie Shannon Szabados. Will it help Annie see things differently?
Bridget and her friend Emma are surprised by the attention they receive at school after the launch of their e-zine, Cyber Hills Holler. So when a classmate starts up a competing site with edited photos of their classmates, they decide to fight back to retain their newfound popularity. Not everyone is happy with the results.
Golden Girl is excited for her first Family Day at Storm Cliff Stables. But where is her family? She looks right. She looks left. No luck! Luckily, her farmyard friends know just what to do! Aligned to Common Core standards and correlated to state standards.
Max’s mom is alive and recovering. But the demons are still out there. And the Scarlet Portal will open soon. Can Max stop the demons and close the portal to save humanity? What will he have to sacrifice? Aligned to Common Core standards and correlated to state standards. Book 8 in the series.
Max is so close to finding his missing mom. Following a demon, he and Poe arrive back at the abandoned gas station. There, he finds more than he bargained for. And, how can Poe leave him at a time like this? Aligned to Common Core standards and correlated to state standards. Book 7 in the series.
Max’s mom is still missing. When Poe flies in with a clue, Max follows him to an abandoned gas station. What lurks in the shadows? More clues? Or more demons? Aligned to Common Core standards and correlated to state standards. Book 5 in the series
Old Mrs. Jenkins calls the police to report a strange creature she’s trapped. But Max is convinced she’s caught a demon. He and Poe arrive before the police, hoping to get information about Max’s missing mom. Will the demon reveal all, or just leave Max with more questions? Aligned to Common Core standards and correlated to state standards. Book 6 in the series
Mark just can't settle into his new life. He misses his friends and has trouble connecting with new classmates. Walking through his neighborhood, he sees an open window. Instantly, everything changes. Maybe he can pretend to be someone else and live a different life ... if only for a moment.
Finally! Derek's Mom said he could go to summer camp. No parents allowed! But Camp Rainbow? It sounded girlie and lame. Time away from home was too awesome to turn down. And the crime he uncovered was epic.
Diego isn't scared easily. Not even when his parents buy the creepiest house in town. He's used to moving. A lot. His parents flip houses for a living. Then he finds something odd in the basement. And it's alive.
Girls rule! That's what Jasmine Le thinks. And girls can do anything boys can do. But can they play tackle football? Heck yes! Jasmine takes on her whole town to prove that girls can run, jump, and catch a pigskin just as well as boys.
Koji's world is like any boy's. He loves sports. Goes to school. Studies hard. Dreams big. But childhood ends quickly. Rebel forces enter his village. They ransack the school. Their teacher is beaten. Maybe even killed. The boys line up, guns to their backs. Koji's group goes one way. His best friend's another. What's happened to his family? They are all dead, says a rebel. And you will be too if you don't do what we say. They march for hours. Days. One boy drinks too much water. He is hit again and again. Then murdered. The boys watch and learn. That will not be their fate. It's kill or be killed. So they kill.
Deb has reading problems and is self-conscious about it. She doesn't think smart boys will like her. But she's hardworking, helpful, and a girl of her word. Deb turns down a date to rake her sick neighbor's leaves. Ed, smart and handsome, comes by to give her a hand and- perhaps- ask her out.
Terrell decides to expose the secret ritual that injured a new football player, Dylan, in spite of threats from Booth.
Oliver Twist is a penniless orphan. What chance has he got on the dangerous streets of 19th century London? Before long, he's taken in by a gang of thieves. The boy's future looks grim indeed, until a few kindly souls enter the picture.
Dale Curtis, the rookie on the Jackson Eagles basketball team, struggles between his commitment to the team and loyalty to his ex-con brother.
Raul and Juan set out for a few hours of kayaking. The weather is in their favor. It should be an easy ride. Raul, who is nicknamed the Cloud Warrior, prides himself on knowing good weather from bad. But once on the river, storm clouds appear. Their only choice is to keep moving and try to beat them. Soon they learn that a storm is the least of their worries. Some unexpected campers are in the area causing trouble not only for Raul and Juan, but for a girl Raul likes.
Kim and her best friend Fran are both interested in a new boy at school, but they don't realize that it's the same boy! Kim figures it out first, and has to decide if she is willing to risk her friendship with Fran.
Danny loves to visit Grandma Ruth. Danny spends a week at Grandma Ruth's house and meets a new friend, Frank.
