Amber, her parents, her best friend Justin and his family are all in the Poconos on vacation in It’s a Fair Day, Amber Brown. Amber is hopeful for a perfect day at the county fair, and the morning almost goes as planned. Then her mom and dad get into a fight, and a perfect day at the fair turns into just a fair day in this warm-hearted tale of family and friendship. Vacation time again in What a Trip, Amber Brown, and once again Amber and Justin are off to the Poconos with their families. They’re looking forward to loads of fun, until tempers flare when Justin teases Amber about her fear of the water. The ups and the downs are realistically conveyed and the story is as exuberant and fresh as the seven-year-old herself.
Sheila Rae believes that she is not afraid of anything. She steps on cracks, walks backward with her eyes closed, and teases her sister for her fears. But when Sheila Rae gets lost one day, she discovers maybe, just maybe, she isn't quite as brave as she thought she was.A Live Oak Media audio production.
He wasnt born with the name Maniac Magee. He came into this world named Jeffrey Lionel Magee, but when his parents died and his life changed, so did his name. And Maniac Magee became a legend. Even today kids talk about how fast he could run; about how he hit an inside-the-park frog homer; how no knot, no matter how snarled, would stay that way once he began to untie it. But the thing Maniac Magee is best known for is what he did for the kids from the East Side and those from the West Side.
Georgie Burgess has known only neglect and abuse during his seven and a half years of life. His alcoholic mother does little to prevent the bruises and scars inflicted on Georgie by her brutal boyfriend. With each blow, the little boy withdraws further into his dreams. When he wins a small rose bush in a lottery, it seems as if one of his dreams has finally come true. But after a particularly savage beating, he is taken from his mother and placed in a home for boys. Surrounded by strangers, and with the rosebush as his only link to the world, both the boy and his treasured plant must learn how to grow and thrive. Irene Hunt has written many books for young people; she has won both a Newbery Honor and a Newbery Medal for her work. Drawing on her professional background in psychology, she creates a heartwarming tale of emerging trust and hope in The Lottery Rose.
When you're a pinball, life is a risky game, especially for three adolescent children placed in a foster home. Their hard-won defenses are firmly in place as these three uneasy strangers meet their foster parents. For each of these children who were failed by their families, caring for others is so scary it hurts. No one has been in control. But as their daily lives become dotted with fried chicken dinners, puppies, and birthdays, they begin to hope that even pinballs can be winners. Betsy Byars, the National Book Award-winning author of McMummy, writes stories that are beloved by young listeners, their parents and teachers alike. Her thoroughly believable but quirky characters have captivated countless fans; The Pinballs was chosen by almost sixty thousand children in Georgia as their favorite book. The American Library Association agrees, designating it an ALA Notable Children's Book.
The sun beats down on 7th-graders Joel and his best friend as they pedal up and down the hills outside of town. Before leaving home, Joel had solemnly promised his father-on his honor-they would only go to the state park. He didn't explain they were planning a daring climb on the sheer river bluffs there. But on the way, when the boys reach the bridge over the raging Vermillion River, they change their minds. They will cool off in the water instead of pedaling so many miles. After all, isn't swimming safer than rock climbing? Critically-acclaimed author Marion Dane Bauer creates a compelling story of choices and their consequences. On My Honor is not only a soul-stirring novel, but an exciting adventure book as well. With his compassionate performance, narrator Johnny Heller provides the perfect voice for Joel as he struggles with his conscience.
No one would accuse eleven-year-old Caddie Woodlawn of being dainty and ladylike. In spite of her mother's best efforts, Caddie is as wild as the wind, playing freely and rambunctiously with her two brothers in the Wisconsin backwoods. There are rafts to build, and trees to climb, and pranks to play. Caddie especially likeds to watch her friend Indian John build birchbark canoes at the river. Everyday seems wide with possibility-as wide as the frontier. But living on the edge of civilization has its risks, too. And when Indians threaten to attack the settlers, it is Caddie's resourcefulness and bravery that save the day. The author, Carol Ryrie Brink-granddaughter of the real Caddie Woodlawn-based her book on the true stories her grandmother used to tell her about growing up on the frontier.
Pinky's parents have called a family meeting. They want to decide what kind of pet they will have. Pinky wants a dog; his little sister Amanda wants a cat. The parents also vote for a cat. So the very next day the family gets a kitten. Although Amanda gives the kitten hugs and says it is hers, the kitten has other plans. It's not long before Pinky and the playful kitten share a secret--one that could hurt Amanda's feelings. What should he do? James Howe's Pinky and Rex books are praised by parents and teachers alike for their ability to charm young readers. These chapter books teach gentle lessons about family relationships and friendship, and narrator Christina Moore brings just the right tone to each story.
Kids have been picking on 14-year-old Harold ever since he can remember. They stare at him and call him "maggot" or "ghost boy" because he's an albino. Even his mother seems angry and withdrawn when he's around. One day the circus comes to town, and Harold runs away to join it. When Fossil Man and Princess Minikin accept him into their family, he feels that he has at long last come home. As he gains the respect of the circus owner and the beautiful trick horseback rider, Harold suddenly finds himself straddling the line between the normal people and the "freaks." If only he could figure out the omniscient Gypsy Magda's warning about the high price of being "normal." Iain Lawrence builds an insightful metaphor with this story of a teenager facing his fear of being an outsider. Narrator George Guidall is the perfect guide for readers as they join Harold on his poignant journey toward self-discovery and acceptance.
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.
In 1290, her 14th year, Catherine begins a diary that quickly fills with the irrepressible joys and frustrations of her days. Always looking for ways to avoid drudging hours of embroidery, Birdy fills her time with pranks, celebrations of feast days, and local gossip. Wriggling out of her father's plans to find a prosperous husband for her proves to be Birdy's greatest challenge. As each prospective suitor appears, Birdy blacks her teeth, drools, and does her best to scare him off. These mischievous tricks work until Shaggy Beard, the richest one of all, arrives with his fat purse of silver. Karen Cushman does careful research for each of her books, so Birdy's lively journal is sprinkled with the vivid, personal details of life in medieval England. Catherine, Called Birdy is a Newbery Honor Book. It was chosen as an ALA Children's Notable Book, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, and an ALA Quick Picks for Young Adults.
A best-seller from the moment it was published, Anne of Green Gables is a joyful tale that is guaranteed to capture the hearts of today's young listeners. For over 75 years, this delightful story of a spirited, mischievous girl living in turn-of-the-century Canada has charmed girls around the world. As soon as Anne Shirley arrived at the snug, white farmhouse called Green Gables, she knew she wanted to stay forever... but would the Cuthberts send her back to the orphanage? Anne knows she's not what they expected -- a skinny girl with decidedly red hair and a temper to match. If only she could convince them to let her stay, she'd try very hard not to keep rushing headlong into scrapes or blurt out the very first thing she had to say. Anne was not like anybody else, everyone at Green Gables agreed; she was special -- a girl with an enormous imagination. This orphan girl dreamed of the day when she could call herself Anne of Green Gables.
