Eleven-year-old Raisin enjoys doing odd jobs for old Ms. Effie Pfluggins. Ms. Effie is the church secretary, and she has fascinating stories to tell about the African American history and people of Gumbo Grove. When old Miss Pfluggins asks her to help clean up the church cemetery, Raisin discovers a real-life mystery that no one wants to talk about. There's a famous person buried in a forgotten plot, but the townsfolk seem to think that the past is better left buried. Now Raisin's parents are watching her every move and they don't want her nosing around in the cemetery anymore. How can she ignore a mystery that the whole town seems eager to forget? Eleanora E. Tate blends mystery, warmth, and humor into an unforgettable tale set in a small North Carolina town. Children of any age or race will identify with this spirited African-American girl who values truth and stands up for her beliefs.
In 1767, 11-year-old Nicholas Young stowed away on Captain James Cook’s "Endeavour." Cook’s three-year mission was secret: he was charged by the British Navy to search for a lost continent, believed to be located between the southern tip of South America and New Zealand. Young’s journal charts the voyage and with every port of call a new adventure awaits. This is the story of a great voyage of discovery seen through the eyes of a boy who was actually there.
The Great Brain is Tom D. Fitzgerald, aged ten. The story is told by J.D., a sometimes confounded but always admiring younger brother. Such people as Mr. Standish, the mean schoolmaster, regret the day they came up against The Great Brain. But others, like the Jensen kids lost in Skeleton Cave, Basil, the Greek kid, or Andy, who has lost his leg and his friends, know that Tom's great brain never fails to find a way home.From the Trade Paperback edition.
When he loses his left hand in an accident, Norm finds that the world becomes a complicated place. But he refuses to give up the things he loves-- after all, who says you need two hands to play sports or a musical instrument?
Although nine-year-old Claudia and Janice are neighbors, they call themselves twins. They have always been in the same class at school, and they are best, best friends. But when Janice moves away, Claudia must start fourth grade without her. It's not long before Janice's letters to Claudia fill with the names of new classmates. Poor Claudia wonders if she will ever find another friend as good as Janice. Join her as she discovers that she already has one--a friend who is closer than she thinks. Barbara Brooks Wallace is the best-selling author of many popular books for children, including the Edgar Award-winning Sparrows in the Scullery and the Miss Switch books. Young readers are sure to be drawn to the energetic, resourceful Claudia, and Christina Moore's lively narration provides the perfect voice for her.
Tyler Stewart knows he’s going to be a television star. He’s funny, and his uncle Pete is a writer for the most popular show on TV. Best of all, Tyler’s parents have just sent him to visit Pete in Hollywood. Talk about luck—no more of his mom’s worrying and his dad’s instructions, for the rest of his summer vacation. Everyone in show business needs a break, and Tyler is sure this is going to be his.
Now Tyler has two weeks to land an audition and impress the sitcom’s moody star. First he’ll have to learn everything there is to know about life on the set, from navigating the food cart to breaking a story. And that will mean spending as much time as possible at the studio—despite his parents’ objections. With the help of his new friend Samantha, Tyler’s dream just might become a reality. But the road to fame is paved with surprises, and the part of a lifetime is sometimes the one we least expect. . . .
Everybody's favorite rag dolls, Raggedy Ann and Andy, are in for an exciting day. Marcella's kindergarten class is having show-and-tell. Debbie brings her guinea pig named Petunia, and Marty brings his toy truck, Mac. When the students leave for lunch, Raggedy Ann and Andy explore the classroom. They meet Petunia, Gill the goldfish, and Leo the stuffed lion. Then they hop aboard Mac for a drive around the school. But they get lost, and lunch is almost over! To find their way back, the toys will have to put on their thinking caps. Author Patricia Hall is the perfect choice to continue the wonderful tradition begun by series creator Johnny Gruelle. She is a lifelong collector of Gruelle memorabilia and curator of a museum exhibition on his life and legacy. Christina Moore's delightful narration captures the charm of these classic characters.
When Merciless Marvin the Magnificent finds his way into Macy's department store, he thinks he's discovered the best deal a mouse could wish for. Soon Marvin and his pals Raymond the Rat and Fats the Fuse are cozily settled into a dollhouse in the toy department; before long they've even made friends with the store's beloved Santa. Then, to their dismay, Santa goes missing. The world outside the store is dark, cold, and dangerous. But that won't stop three brave mice. Marvin and his gang will risk whatever they must to crack the crime, rescue Santa, and save Christmas! Full Cast's first Marvin recording, The Great Cheese Conspiracy, won a Publisher's Weekly "Listen Up" Award and the 2005 Golden Headset Award for Children's Audio. Now our artistic director, Daniel Bostick, reprises his hilarious rendition of Marvin-and caps off the recording with a special bonus: the beloved poem "A Visit From St. Nicholas" as recited by Marvin himself!
Jerry, Jimmy, and Kathleen can't go home for their school holiday because their cousin is sick with measles there. Instead, they stay at Kathleen's school with the French teacher. One morning, they set out to find adventure. Instead, they find an enchanted place--and magic, too! Walking through a nearby forest, they discover an enormous mansion, where a girl lies asleep in the garden. Although she pretends to be an enchanted princess, she is Mabel, the housekeeper's niece. But she has a ring that really is magical. It can make the wearer invisible and grant wishes. It's not long before the four friends are surrounded by strange and wonderful things. E. Nesbit, born in 1858, was an unconventional woman whose home was a center for writers and artists, including George Bernard Shaw and H.G. Wells. When she was asked to try her hand at children's stories, she created a series of books that combined fantasy and memories of her own childhood. First published in 1907, The Enchanted Castle is a timeless story of friendship and magic.
An unforgettable story of a boy's adventures in the Mississippi Valley, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn will captivate listeners of all ages with its vivid recreation of the history, the people, and the language of the nineteenth-century American South.
Heaven is the perfect name for the small Ohio town where 14-year-old Marley lives. Or at least she thought so until the fateful day when the mysterious letter arrived. Now her life has been turned upside down. Twelve years ago Momma chose to live in Heaven because she liked the name of the town and the white picket fences and the little schoolhouse by the river. Pops agreed that it was a good place after he made sure it had a Western Union office. Ever since she can remember, Marley's been sent to Western Union to wire money to Uncle Jack. Now that she's learned the significance of those errands, life will never be the same.
This award-winning author introduces a likeable, believable young character. Listeners empathize with her search for identity and are edified by her choice to forgive the family who hid her adoption from her.
Henry Huggins' dog, Ribsy, is hopelessly lost in a huge shopping mall parking lot. It's raining hard, the pavement is slick, horns are honking, and drivers are shouting. When Ribsy thinks he has found the Huggins's new station wagon at last, he jumps in the open tailgate window and falls asleep, exhausted. When he wakes up to find himself in the wrong car, lots of little girls pet him and make plans to give him a bath. All Ribsy wants to do is go home to Henry. Instead, he's about to begin the liveliest adventure of his life.
