In this charming tale of two princess sisters, Charlotte is a perfect princess and Olive is, well, just Olive. She tries to be more like her older sister, but despite Olive's best efforts, she always seems to fall short. Will Olive ever shine like Charlotte? Readers will root for loveable Olive on her journey toward self-acceptance.
Luna's dad is having a birthday, and Luna has a lot of surprises planned to help him celebrate, including a pancake breakfast, a trip to the pet store, a treasure hunt, and a princess tea party. She keeps Dad busy all day with a string of fun surprises. But Luna gets a surprise herself when dad falls asleep during a late night movie. Kids who love to stay up late and sleepy parents will laugh out loud as they find out who gets the final surprise.
Elements of magical realism turn a grandmother/grandson day of fishing into an extraordinary experience. When this duo casts out their lines, they catch some fish and a snapping turtle. But with a little time and patience, they catch all sorts of unexpected things in Magic Lake--rollerblades, fuzzy slippers, a fire-breathing dragon, and a ferry that takes them to faraway places. The young boy learns that life is an adventure filled with the magic of possibility.
The Bean Family is taking a road trip. But they have a problem. They keep driving in circles and ending up right back where they started. Baby Bean suggests they use a map. But the rest of this illogical bunch comes up with their own zany solution.
It's movie night at the Bean House and they're watching a scary movie. But they have a problem--they're too scared to watch! Baby Bean suggests they watch a different movie. But the rest of this illogical bunch comes up with their own zany solution.
The Bean family is planting a garden. But they have a problem--it's no fun waiting for it to grow. Baby Bean suggests they practice being patient. But the rest of this illogical bunch comes up with their own zany solution.
The Bean family is going camping! But they have a problem. There are so many noises outside their tent, no one can sleep. Baby Bean suggests they sing a soothing song that will help them fall asleep. But the rest of this illogical bunch comes up with their own zany solution.
The Bean family is running in a race! But they have a problem. They can't smell the flowers if they're running. Baby Bean suggests they run first, smell later. But the rest of this illogical bunch comes up with their own zany solution.
The Bean family is building a house! But they have a problem. With a roof over their heads, they can't see the stars at night. Baby Bean suggests they go outside to see the stars. But the rest of this illogical bunch comes up with their own zany solution.
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.
