Tana has wanted a dog for years. Her parents have finally agreed. She loves her shelter dog, Storm. He's smart and loving. But wow, he is an ugly dog. That doesn't matter to Tana. Storm gives her more responsibility. When she enters him in an ugly dog contest, she learns about friendship, loyalty, and heroism.
Leo the Liar is in big trouble now. He has promised the toughest kid in school a photo of a real zombie, and now he has to deliver.
Winicker Wallace's best friend, Roxanne, is coming to spend Christmas in Paris! Winicker is thrilled. But she is worried when Roxanne doesn't want to do their traditional Christmas activities. Instead, Roxanne wants to sightsee in Paris! But when Winicker and Roxanne celebrate Christmas in a way neither of them expected, Winicker sees they haven't grown apart after all.
It's the school holiday break, and Iggy is going to Las Vegas to spend time with her dad and stepmom Tiffany. How exciting! Her dad must be planning something big. The Strip. Amusement parks. Thrilling roller coaster rides. But that's not what happens. Iggy is stuck at home in suburbia with Tiffany while her dad works. Then she meets Lucas. His mom is a showgirl, and his dad is an Elvis impersonator. Their house is loud. Colorful. One night Iggy sneaks out and goes with Lucas on an adventure. Her seemingly meek stepmother boldly rescues them when the kids' plan goes awry.
Shawn always runs late. Always. He even turns homework in late but never seems to get in trouble. His grades are great. He's smart. Well liked. Except by Amanda. She's furious that he gets away with everything. They were friends once, but no more. Especially not in their video production class. The class had a big summer assignment. Now it's time to turn it in. Shawn hasn't even begun editing. To cut corners he uses a downloaded freebie app. But it's been hacked. The morning the project is due, he wakes up in an alternate universe. A place where he doesn't exist and nobody recognizes him. Except for Amanda.
Mark is a city kid who has come to a small town to live with his grandmother after his mom goes into rehab. He has to take a school bus home for the first time. The long, noisy ride home is nothing like riding city transit. There’s some kind of secret code of knowing where you’re allowed to sit, the kids scream non-stop, and there’s pudding and cheese flying through the air. Someone even tries to set Mark’s seat on fire. Mark quickly decides that all these kids are nuts and does his best to avoid interacting with any of them. But when the bus is involved in a serious accident, Mark has to work with a couple of other students to get everybody to safety. He soon learns that he has more in common with these rural kids than he would ever have imagined. In turns funny and heartbreaking,
Darren Dirkowitz thought his life was over when his tippity-top-secret alter ego, Dirk Daring, Secret Agent, was outed to the entire Preston Middle School student body. If only he’d been so lucky. Now the Wolf Lords—a gang of teen thugs bent on wringing every last penny out of Preston students—are breathing down his neck. There’s only one solution: Dirk Daring must embark on his most daring mission yet. A mission so audacious, so cunning, so doggone crazy, that if it succeeds, the Wolf Lords will wind up begging for mercy. But first, Darren must bring his own disobedient “associates” to heel. Let Sleeping Dogs Lie is the sequel to the runaway bestseller Dirk Daring, Secret Agent.
Since moving hundreds of miles to a new school, Daria has become increasingly dependent on her cell phone. Texts, Facebook and phone calls are her only connection to her friends in Calgary, and Daria needs to know everything that is going on at home to feel connected to her old life. Her cell phone habit looks a lot like addiction to her mother and to her new friend Cleo. Daria dismisses the idea of technology addiction as foolish until her habit puts a life in danger.
Through twenty-six letters to her friend Nina, twelve-year-old Kasey chronicles the often humorous observations and impressions of her unexpected, month-long stay in a geriatric ward for the treatment of a rare but treatable bone disease ("osteo-something-something-itis"). Kasey tries to make her life less dull by wearing her own nightgowns, surrounding herself with her favorite stuffies and developing an unusual exercise routine. Hospital food, insomnia and the germy communal bath are enduring sources of dread, but some new (and unexpected) friends make her life bearable.
Camp out! Bryan and Syd are totally different, but they were put together as camp roommates and have to learn to get along. Tara and Shelly overcome their fears to become members of the camp's canoe squad. Tex and Indi make a blanket fort to pretend they're camping in the woods! Zach, Miguel, and Dad go camping. When they go to bed, they listen for animal noises, but all they can hear is Dad snoring! Stories by Highlights for Children, Carol A. McClelland, Lissa Rovetch, and Marianne Mitchell.
Little worms! Squirmy Wormy and Mortimer are three little worms who know how to have big fun! See what happens when they play jump rope, or when they enter a talent contest. What will they get up to next? Stories by David L. Roper.
Time for a nap! Spot tries to find a peaceful place to nap. On a sunny day, Spot naps in the shade. Playing with a new toy can be exhausting for a puppy like Spot. Spot wants to take a nap but Splinter wants to play. A fly disturbs Spot as he tries to nap. Stories by Marileta Robinson and Highlights for Children.
Stop and smell the roses! Arizona's cousin teaches her that she can experience the world in a whole new way if she just takes a moment to appreciate her surroundings. Arizona has to learn to relax and go with the flow when her vacation doesn't go the way she plans, and she even finds the fun in trying new food. Stories by Lissa Rovetch.
Challenging friendships! Arizona understands that friendships aren't always easy. Sometimes there are communication barriers, or jealous feelings. It can be difficult when friends argue and you feel like you have to pick a side. Arizona learns how to handle these challenges. Stories by Lissa Rovetch.
Friends! Catty Janes goes to the lake with her friends. Catty Jane shows her new trike to her friends. Catty Jane finds a way to play in the water without getting wet. Catty Jane's friends cheer her up on a bad day. Stories by Valeri Gorbachev and Highlights for Children.
Friends! Tex and Indi help their friend clean her pet bird's cage. Mole's friends find a way to help get rid of the clutter in his house. Indi sees Tex having fun with his friend and wishes she could be too. Tex Indi and their family meet their new neighbors. Tex and Indi's friends share their gingerbread house decorations. Stories by Lissa Rovetch.
Friends! Arizona uses an old trick to make a decision. Arizona learns that true friends like you for the person you are not for the things you have. Arizona helps a friend figure out what it means to be a true friend. Arizona discovers that her "fantastic" friend acts differently when other friends are around. Stories by Lissa Rovetch.
Explore with Spot and Splinter! Spot searches for Splinter in a game of Hide and Seek. Spot and Splinter go for a walk and discover that crossing the stream on a log is not easy. Splinter discovers a ball of yarn is fun to play with. Spot and Splinter surprise their friends. Splinter helps Spot remove burrs from his coat after a day of exploring in the woods. Stories by Marileta Robinson and Highlights for Children.
Friendship! Arizona discovers that friends can move away but still be close. Arizona and a former enemy realize that things are not always as they seem. Arizona learns the importance of making her own choices. Arizona helps her super-sensitive friend. Stories by Lissa Rovetch.
Summer Camp! Arizona learns the importance of paying attention to her instructors while riding a horse. During a scavenger hunt, Arizona discovers the importance of a positive attitude when working with a team. Arizona discovers that everyone is worried about going to camp for the first time. Stories by Lissa Rovetch.
Bonita's grandmother predicts that blood will soon be shed on the soil of Texas. But little does Bonita imagine how much blood there will be--or that the war that takes her brothers might also take away her best friend. Readers are brought back to the Mexican War through Bonita's story and learn about the causes and aftermath of the war, its racial politics, and its effects on one Mexican girl living in Texas.
A chance friendship with an elderly ex-magician helps Jared come to terms with the tensions in his own family.
Searching for a way to get revenge against school bullies, overweight Jared Springer develops a truth test that ultimately teaches him the truth about friendship
Two boys harassed by a group of rowdy kids at school get their revenge when they stumble into the school custodian's cleaning closet and find something very unusual.
Cassie, who is spending the summer with her aunt while her parents go through a divorce, becomes friends with Joey, a boy in a wheelchair who lives nearby with his grandmother.
