Toby is having the best birthday party ever until an ill-timed and unintended toot draws unwelcome attention and teasing. Poor Toby--he is so embarrassed! And now everyone is calling him "Tootles." To get out from under his cloud of shame, Toby goes to visit his grandmother, hoping to get some sympathy and understanding. But as it turns out, Grandma is a bit of a gasbag herself with her own windy issues. She toots not once, not twice, but THREE times during Toby's visit. And she's not even embarrassed about it! But Toby is. He's embarrassed by her and for her. It's only when Toby is facing another digestive episode that he realizes maybe it's time to follow Grandma's lead and not let little things get in the way of enjoying life. After all, gas happens! A sweet and funny lesson on how to handle life's hiccups and other unexpected "eruptions."
Life in 1880 Tenmile, Colorado, isn't easy. But it's all that 12-year-old Sissy Carlson knows. She's lived here her whole life, watching her father, the local doctor, tend to the town's citizens. And while the mountain setting is gorgeous, Tenmile is a rough gold mining town. It often feels like there's just a thin line between life and death. Mining is a hard job; men are hurt or even killed. Sissy sees the same thin line between the haves and the have-nots as she assists her father in his practice, seeing firsthand the personal and not-always-private struggles of his patients. Now that she's older, Sissy is starting to think of the world beyond Tenmile and where she might fit in. What opportunities might she find if she could just get away? What kind of future does Tenmile offer, especially for a girl? A poignant coming-of-age middle grade novel by New York Times-bestselling author Sandra Dallas.
father brings home a stuffed rabbit with red and blue polka dots on its ears, Jeremy is thrilled. Jeremy and Pershey go everywhere together. Find out what happens when Pershey is lost when the family goes to the beach on vacation. A happy ending adds interest to this special tale about a boy and his rabbit, and encourages a lifelong love for reading.
When the tsunami destroyed Makio's village, Makio lost his father . . . and his voice. The entire village is silenced by grief, and the young child's anger at the ocean grows. Then one day his neighbor, Mr. Hirota, begins a mysterious project—building a phone booth in his garden. At first Makio is puzzled; the phone isn't connected to anything. It just sits there, unable to ring. But as more and more villagers are drawn to the phone booth, its purpose becomes clear to Makio: the disconnected phone is connecting people to their lost loved ones. Makio calls to the sea to return what it has taken from him and ultimately finds his voice and solace in a phone that carries words on the wind. The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota's Garden is inspired by the true story of the wind phone in Otsuchi, Japan, which was created by artist Itaru Sasaki. He built the phone booth so he could speak to his cousin who had passed, saying, "My thoughts couldn't be relayed over a regular phone line, I wanted them to be carried on the wind." The Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in 2011 destroyed the town of Otsuchi, claiming 10 percent of the population. Residents of Otsuchi and pilgrims from other affected communities have been traveling to the wind phone since the tsunami.
With a new sister on the way, Roosevelt Banks has to give up his bedroom and move into the attic, which must be haunted because of all the squeaks and groans coming from the spooky place at the top of the stairs. After his plan to move into a fort in the woods fails, and a ghost-busting exercise goes terribly wrong, Roosevelt—with the help of Tommy, Josh, and Eddie Spaghetti—has to find the courage to defeat the biggest, spookiest ghouls ever and turn the Attic of Doom into a Room with a View.
Into the Wind is a middle-grade novel about the unlikely friendship between a boy and an elderly woman. Both moving and joyful, this is a poignant story about loss and love, and the surprising and sustaining bonds that can grow between the old and young.
When Polly's father goes overseas to fight in World War I, her whole world changes. Though the war is in Europe, its effects are felt on American soil. There are food, fuel, and other supply shortages everywhere. Even something as simple and enjoyable as a family Sunday car ride isn't possible anymore. Everyone must do their part to help the war effort. Victory gardens are planted and scrap metal is collected. "It's the biggest event in our history. And it involves every single adult, every single boy, and every single girl," says Polly's teacher. As Polly struggles to make sense of the war, she wonders how she can contribute. When the government puts out a notice requesting peach pits to be used in gas mask filters, Polly knows how she can help.
Reece's new dog, Ruckus, tears through life like a Tyrannosaurus rex. He bites everything that moves and drives Reece's mom nuts. The puppy was Dad's idea, to make things easier for Reece after his parents' separation, but Ruckus is not easy at all and Mom is getting fed up. When her diamond earrings go missing, it sends the family into a tailspin. What happens when a dog swallows something precious? Reece is about to find out. But they can't give up on this little Jack Russell terror, can they? He's family, after all. We first met Reece and his family in the Orca Echoes title Where's Burgess? by Laurie Elmquist.
Otis P. Oliver is taking a stand. He is NOT taking another bath--ever. But when your opinions matter to the rest of the family about as much as the opinions of the family dog (who, it's worth mentioning, only has to bathe once a month), you have to get serious. So Otis borrows a spiffy suit from his dad and rouses a rabble of neighbor kids to stand up for what the know is right: a bathtub ban. This hilarious story about standing up for what you believe in, compromise, and family will have readers of all ages ready to hit the pavement for their cause--whatever it may be.
Carlos and Carmen's Abuelita has come to visit. She joins the twins, Mamá, and Papá as they go from store to store, searching for the perfect piñatas. When they finally find them, the twins fall in love with their new piñata pets. They don't want to smash them! Luckily, Abuelita knows just what to do. Aligned to Common Core standards and correlated to state standards.
Fall leaves and pumpkins are everywhere. Carlos and Carmen are making plans to be in the costume contest. They both want to win, but neither of them wants the other to lose. It's a problem. A prize-winning problem! But with an old shirt, a pair of scissors, and a lot of creativity, the twins come up with a prize-winning solution. Aligned to Common Core standards and correlated to state standards.
Rusty's Grandma Margo is a writer. She and Rusty even write stories together. But when Rusty discovers that Margo sometimes suffers from writer's block, he worries. What can he do to help her? This unique story tackles an issue that not only affects grown-ups. Kids, too, suffer from writer's block and are often overwhelmed in their attempts to express themselves. Melissa Conroy's engaging story perfectly captures the frustrations and successes of the creative process and celebrate the relationship between grandparent and grandchild, as well as the imaginations of kids.
Rusty and his Grandma Margo--who's an author--like to write stories together. But when Rusty discovers that she sometimes suffers from writer's block, he worrie, and wonders what he can do to help her.
When a trip to the city includes a visit to the toy store, the ride seems to take forever. Along a country road, through the tunnel, and over a bridge, the excitement builds--but are we there yet? is the question two eager kids keep asking their dad.
Winicker Wallace is getting a baby brother! But Winicker dreads his arrival. She can't talk to anyone about how she feels, so Winicker runs away from home. Her mother finds Winicker at the very top of the Eiffel Tower. When they are finally safe at the bottom, Winicker realizes she is actually looking forward to her brother's birth.
Keith Evans is a talented player on Peabody's basketball team. His father was a great player too. When Keith stops applying himself on the court, his father scolds him. Is Mr. Evans pushing Keith to achieve just to relive his glory days? Or is it something else? Includes discussion prompts, a basketball quiz, and fun facts about basketball. Aligned to Common Core standards and correlated to state standards. Graphic Planet is an imprint of Magic Wagon, a division of ABDO.
Carlos and Carmen want to make this year's Father's Day really special for Papá. At first they don't know what to do, but working together, they come up with the perfect idea-a treasure hunt. Luckily for Papá, the twins are with him every step of the way making sure that he solves the clues, follows the map, and finds the sweet treasure. Aligned to Common Core standards and correlated to state standards. Calico Kid is an imprint of Magic Wagon, a division of ABDO.
The Garcia's new refrigerator comes in a big box. Carlos and Carmen turn the box into a rocket, then a submarine. Then the twins finally decide to make the box a fort. But it's a crumpled fort. It's a flat fort. Discover how Carlos and Carmen don't let a flattened box ruin their fun! Calico Kid is an imprint of Magic Wagon, a division of ABDO.
Ana & Andrew are expecting a sibling! The family is very excited. Mama's family arrives from Trinidad, and everyone helps to get ready. When the baby arrives, Ana & Andrew learn from Granny that in African American culture, a baby's name often tells an important story. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Calico Kid is an imprint of Magic Wagon, a division of ABDO.
Ana & Andrew are getting a new pet! They research different pets before choosing the best pet for their family. Then they pick a name for it! With the name Ana & Andrew choose, they learn from a famous African American that skin color does not affect a person's abilities. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Calico Kid is an imprint of Magic Wagon, a division of ABDO.
Every morning, a young girl walks her grandmother to the Aajibaichi Shala, the school that was built for the grandmothers in her village to have a place to learn to read and write. The narrator beams with pride as she drops her grandmother off with the other aajis to practice the alphabet and learn simple arithmetic. A moving story about family, women and the power of education—when Aaji learns to spell her name you’ll want to dance along with her. Women in countless countries continue to endure the limitations of illiteracy. Unjust laws have suppressed the rights of girls and women and kept many from getting an education and equal standing in society. Based on a true story from the village of Phangane, India, this brilliantly illustrated book tells the story of the grandmothers who got to go to school for the first time in their lives.
Brad taught his younger sister how plants grow from seeds but what about the pencil stub bits of crayons and the other things she's planted?
Victoria is certain she doesn't like tomatoes until she tries to prove that her younger brother doesn't like them either.
Amanda overcomes a language barrier and begins to relate to her newly adopted sister.
After saying they're all too busy these family members end up helping hem Papa's new pants a little too much.
