In a striking debut, Tomie dePaola finds just the right voice for his first chapter book about his adventures during the year the family built their house at 26 Fairmount Avenue. It all began when the “Big Hurricane of 1938″ roared into town…then his first day of school took an unexpected turn…so did Mr. Disney’s Snow White, the movie everyone had been waiting to see. These are only a few of the stories that will have readers racing from one episode to the next. Tomie fans, young and old, will …

Written for children, this book tells the story of a young boy who encounters a polar bear while they are both climbing a snow covered mountain. The boy and bear become friends and learn an important lesson. Young readers will enjoy the story and benefit from learning calming techniques to reduce stress, prepare for sleep, and improve self-confidence.

It’s graduation time for Hank and all his friends— time to move on from PS 87 to middle school. Trouble is, there are tests Hank has to pass to get into the same middle schools as his friends, and his learning differences might get in the way. Luckily, a life-altering audition at a performing arts middle school helps him find his true path.

Enjoy A Day in the Salt Marsh, one of the most dynamic habitats on earth. Fun-to-read, rhyming verse introduces readers to hourly changes in the marsh as the tide comes and goes. Watch the animals that have adapted to this ever-changing environment as they hunt for food or play in the sun, and learn how the marsh grass survives even though it is covered by salt water twice a day. An activity on adaptations is included in the For Creative Minds section.

Once there was a grand old tree, whose roots sank deep into the earth and whose arms reached high into the sky. Every spring the grand old tree flowered and bore cherries for the squirrels and birds that made their homes in her leafy branches. And every year, seeds from the tree scattered in the wind, along with many millions of leaves. Mary Newell DePalma creates an emotional tale of life and renewal, of nature’s bounty and quiet balance, illustrated with simple images made powerful with vivid colors and moving …

Lynne Cheney and Robin Preiss Glasser collaborated on America: A Patriotic Primer, which captured the imagination of American children and became a national best-seller. Now they turn their hands to A is for Abigail: An Almanac of Amazing American Women and bring the great women of American history to life. Filled to the brim with words and pictures that celebrate the remarkable (although often unmarked) achievements of American women, this is a book to relish and to read again and again.

Ostracized by the envious and less-privileged girls at Miss Minchin’s Select Seminary for Young Ladies, seven-year-old Sara Crewe is devastated when her adored, indulgent father dies, leaving her penniless and alone in the world. The story of how Sara’s fortunes change again, and how she discovers the true meaning of family, is a tale that has delighted children since its initial publication in 1905.

Turkeys around Squawk Valley just don’t jump into pots anymore — they are way too smart for that. So the townspeople hatch a clever plan. They host a turkey-themed arts and crafts fair and lure a vain bird into town by advertising for an artist’s model. Peter the Turkey, proud of his well-stuffed form, takes the bait but doesn’t fall for the trap.

Many tales handed down from one generation to the next are about “tricksters,” characters who get into trouble and rely on their wits to save themselves. This collection features some of the most popular trickster stories.

Before Scully can open her eyes and put in her hearing aids, her brother Leo begins a tease-torture campaign. Meanwhile Mom, who is studying for exams, has no patience to discuss anything. Scully sneaks out into the rain and turns her hearing aids all the way up to catch the whooshing sound. She is dragged back inside from this favorite activity by her wet, angry mother and grounded until dinnertime. Later, a more relaxed Mom and Scully go outside and wait for the stars to come out. The text is …