It's the week before Valentine's Day. All the students in Room 2B are thinking about wearing red, passing out valentines, and having a class party. With all the plans for fun, nothing horrible could happen, could it? But before the day is over, Sydney has made Harry mad. When he finds out why Sydney is bugging him, Harry hatches a big plan. It is silly, outrageous--and perfect for Valentine's Day! Students, teachers, and parents all love Suzy Kline's series about Horrible Harry and the other busy members of class 2B. Filled with fun and plenty of surprises, these chapter books are perfect for encouraging independent reading. Narrator Johnny Heller's performance of this series receives rave reviews.
Moving to an old Vermont farmhouse with his mom, his new stepfather and a new baby brother has been a terribly lonely experience for Josh Wilkinson. And to make things even worse, now the school bully and his gang have picked Josh as their main target. Then one day while trying to find his dog, Manch, in the woods behind his house, Josh discovers a secret. Manch and his friends can talk! Not only that, but they're also faced with a bully problem--a pack of dogs running wild in the area. Josh thinks he can solve the dogs' problem and his own with a single solution. The only hitch to Josh's plan is that it's dangerous. Like Katherine Paterson's award-winning books Bridge to Terabithia and Jacob Have I Loved, The Field of the Dogs is filled with taut suspense and compelling characters, all brought grippingly to life through Johnny Heller's remarkable narration.
A terrible secret is making the Ferocious Beast sit next to the River of Dreams and cry. Maggie and Hamilton Hocks want to help. "Tell us your secret and then you'll feel better," they urge their sad friend. "Sometimes I get scared," the Ferocious Beast finally admits. But what could frighten a big, ferocious beast? Is it something worse than sea monsters, ghosts, and spaceships from another galaxy? These are the things that scare Maggie and Hamilton--even though they've never seen them. But how can they get the Ferocious Beast to tell them his fears?
The basis for the popular, award-winning television series on Nickelodeon, the Maggie and the Ferocious Beast books teach children gentle, entertaining lessons. Narrator John McDonough's deep, friendly voice is reassuringly familiar as he leads listeners through this charming adventure.
In Dimwood Forest, all the mice know that moving beyond Grey House requires the permission of the great horned owl, Mr. Ocax. No one but Mr. Ocax can guarantee protection against the horrible porcupines who lurk in the forest, waiting to grab innocent creatures. He frequently reminds the trusting mice of his importance, as he snatches careless ones for his frequent meals. But Poppy is a curious mouse, and a little foolish. When she is caught dancing in the moonlight on Bannock Hill, she soon faces not only the great owl, but a huge porcupine, and an impossible challenge. Poppy, an ALA Notable Children's Book, is a warm and lively tale for young listeners and their parents. Through the award-winning talents of the master storyteller Avi, the tiny creature's far-ranging adventure provides a hearty lesson about bullies and celebrates the strength of a courageous spirit.
Wanda Petronski is different from all the other girls in Room 13. Every day she wears the same faded blue dress to school, and every day she tells about her hundred dresses at home. Her classmates joke about her imaginary clothes - until they learn the wonderful secret of the dresses.
Life on the Waller plantation is harsh and bleak. Twelve-year-old Sarny knows that it won't be long before she will be forced to leave Mammy and join the other young women who serve the master's household as breeders. Then one day a new slave arrives, bought from an overseer for a thousand dollars. He comes in a bad way, walking in front of the horses and Waller's ready whip. His back is covered with scars as thick as Sarny's hand, but he holds his head high and doesn't seem to mind that everyone is watching him. Sarny doesn't know yet, but Nightjohn's arrival is about to change everything. For that very night, in exchange for a plug of tobacco, Nightjohn begins to teach Sarny the letters of the alphabet. With enough time and tobacco, she will be able to read. Sarny has gotten as far as the letter J, when Waller catches her tracing the word BAG in the dust on the road. The punishment for teaching someone to read is severe. What will happen if Waller finds out who Sarny's teacher is? Will her precious gift of learning be lost forever? Newberry honor-winner, Gary Paulsen, offers a graphically realistic and historically accurate portrayal of slave society in mid-19th century America.
From the author of Dunk comes this sparkling new novel that covers a year in the life of high school freshmen Scott Hudson, who is sideswiped by the unexpected news that his mother is about to have another baby. In a hilarious and touching journal addressed to the unborn intruder, Scott bares his soul as he copes with the trials and tribulations of a life that is changing faster than he wants it to. Filled with Lubar's trademark wit, enlivened by unexpected twists and turns of plot, Sleeping Freshman is widely considered as one of the best YA novels of 2005.
