Life is delightful when a little pig escapes not only the big bad wolf but the entire story as well! He persuades the next little piggy to adventure into the unstructured space between drawings. Soon all three piggies, a dragon, and a wondering cat are safely enjoying one another's company in the red brick house whilst supping on alphabet soup with ingredients stolen from the text.
Prince Freddie is enjoying his vacation when his horse, Sir Rushington, informs him that a terrible dragon is attacking Castle Crumbly. They race off, but they haven't gone long when Prince Freddie realizes he needs to pee! They stop quickly so Prince Freddie can pee behind a boulder, but an ogre is there. They stop again to pee at a tree, but there's a terribly long line and...
Professor Tobin has traveled the world collecting exquisite and priceless artifacts. He has decided to donate a number of the artifacts to the British museum. The night before the crates are delivered to the museum, one of the artifacts is stolen, a one-of-a-kind feathered mask from the Amazon. Maisie Hitchins, Professor Tobin’s young house maid and friend, determines to catch...
Emerson Elementary is closing, which makes this the last group of fifth graders in Emerson Elementary history. Through poems that their teacher asks them to write throughout the year, the students in Ms. Hill’s fifth grade share who they are and what they care about. Some write only about the basics: their likes and dislikes or the interaction they have with other students in the...
As a young dragon, Grisha is ensorcelled into a porcelain teapot. Grisha the teapot is eventually purchased by a man with an eye for magic, who sees that the teapot is a real dragon. Grisha spends years learning love from this man and his family until the time comes that he is set free. The last of the world's dragons are being summoned to Vienna shortly after WWII where some are...
Elise didn't think that life could get any harder after losing her brother to war and moving to a new city, but then she met Mati. Mati is only in America for the summer and is from Afghanistan, which is painful for Elise because her brother was in Afghanistan when he was killed. Both of their families are against their friendship. Despite the obstacles, they fall in love and...
When Farmington South and Farmington East high schools are forced to merge due to an accidental fire, Eve Marshall and Jamie Abrams are dismayed to learn that each school's sports teams will be merging as well. Jamie is the captain of the East baseball team; Eve is the former star pitcher and only female member of the South baseball team. Their competitive natures dictate that...
When twelve-year-old Princess Andaryn's father reappears after being lost in the forest with a new and otherworldly wife, the princess and her six brothers are naturally suspicious. But within a matter of days, the new Queen has used her enchantments to take away everything that Ryn loves and holds dear: her father is enchanted and beyond her reach, her castle is burned to the...
It has been a long time since the Dinosaur Tooth Fairy had found a dinosaur tooth. But when she sees a girl lose her tooth, she is excited to collect another tooth. The Dinosaur Tooth Fairy has to chase down the girl, who leads her to her house. She then has to find the girl's bedroom and get the tooth to take. But when she finally gets there, there is someone else who wants the...
Marcos Rivas wants to share all the love he has, but in his neighborhood, emotions stay hidden. Marcos lives in poverty with his neglectful mother and her racist and abusive boyfriend. School isn’t a place where Marcos feels welcome either. It isn’t until he is chosen for a program that helps low-achieving students find their success that Marcos begins to find hope. The only...
Walking into his room, a little boy is surprised by a bear sleeping in his bed! And no, it’s not his teddy. The pair spend the evening getting ready for bed by picking up toys, brushing teeth, using the potty, having a bath, and putting their pajamas on. But bear doesn't quite seem to get the idea. Instead, he takes toys out of their box, puts his toothbrush up his nose, and puts...
When Leigh’s mother committed suicide, she turned into a bird—or so Leigh is convinced. At the bird’s urging, Leigh travels to Taiwan to meet the grandparents she has never known. There she learns about her mother’s past. In this incredible journey that mixes past and present, Leigh learns about her mother’s secrets, her family history, and the people and places that shaped her...
Hamweenie the cat knows exactly what he wants, thank you very much. What some would call a posh existence is not at all up to Hamweenie’s liking, and he’s determined to do something about it. His quest for fame and adoration leads him to escape and join the circus, where he has some hilariously misinterpreted encounters with the residents of New York City and, later, the animals...
Maria Costello has not seen her mother in four years, and has not lived in the same house with her since she was three. Instead, Maria has lived with her father in a sleepy South Carolina town. But eventually the small-town life starts to stifle Maria, and she convinces her dad to let her go live with her mother in New York City. Maria's mom is exciting and fun, and at first...
Young scientists, this one is for you! If you've ever wondered exactly how a volcano works, you will find the answers in the pages of this straightforward science book. This educational read is sure to inform as it provides a look at the internal formation of the different types of volcanoes. However, the most exciting part of this book has to be the six hands-on volcano projects...
Stuck in the Middle (Of Middle School): A Novel in Doodles features the story of Doreen, also known as Dodo or Doodlebug, a young girl attending middle school with her two best friends. Doreen has ADD and she doodles almost constantly in order to “survive” her school day. Her doodles are comparable to a journal as they detail the events of her life. Doreen finds herself trying to...
When a person thinks of a scientist, they usually consider the men that dominate the field. In reality, there were many important women who made a strong contribution in this area. Ada Lovelace is one of those women. Ada’s life is chronicled from birth to death in this book. The text focuses on her many contributions to science and mathematics in a time when women were not...
By Tessa McMillan, Published on 12/17/18
Sometimes, it takes courage to smile. After Raina knocks out her two front teeth, she embarks on a journey of surgeries, procedures, and orthodontia that will last for many years to make her teeth look “normal.” At every turn, some new development pops up and prolongs the amount of time she’ll have to wait for her “real” smile to be ready. Amidst drama with her teeth, Raina faces...
Alex is planning to create a rocket that will go all the way to space, so he makes recordings on his iPod about what life is like on Earth to send to space in the rocket. Alex first plans to go on a quick vacation to meet with other rocket enthusiasts, but then he meets people who are on their own journeys of self-discovery, and he prolongs his trip. Soon, Alex finds himself in...
In the exciting sequel to Robots Rule: The Junkyard Bot, George Gearing has landed his dream apprenticeship at TinkerTech Headquarters. He can’t believe his luck, but on his first day, he realizes that there is something sinister going on, and he worries that Dr. Micron might be behind it. With the help of his trusty robot friend Jackbot and his best friend Anne Droid, George...
Platypuses: Web-Footed Billed Mammals includes an introduction and four chapters, titled “Meet the Platypus,” “What Do Platypuses Look Like,” “Where Do Platypuses Live,” “Platypus Hunting Behavior,” and “The Life Cycle of Platypuses.” Each chapter opens with factual information on the chapter’s individual subject. The information is brief, to the point, easy to understand, and...
Ten-year-old Manami’s whole life changes when her family, along with other Japanese-Americans, are forced to move away from their homes to prison camps around the United States. Manami and her family end up in the California desert—a huge change from the beautiful island in Washington where she grew up. After Manami gets her precious dog, Yujiin, taken away during the relocation...
Finding themselves unjustly committed to afternoon detention in Mr. Avery’s class, Simon, Bronwyn, Addy, Cooper, and Nate share an experience that will change their lives together. Just when Mr. Avery steps out of the room, Simon has a sudden allergic reaction. The kids respond, but not fast enough, and Simon doesn’t make it. Now the police are saying that one of them caused the...
Great white sharks are plentiful near the Farallon islands outside of California. Their bodies are designed to successfully catch their prey, the northern elephant seals. Sharks lie in wait for seals to come into the water, and then with two thrusts of their powerful tail they reach speeds of up to twenty-five miles per hour and snatch their prey. Scientists study these sharks to...