No one ever told Margaret Simon that eleven-going-on- twelve would be such a hard age. When her family moves to New Jersey, she has to adjust to life in the suburbs, a different school, and a whole new group of friends. Margaret knows she needs someone to talk to about growing up-and it’s not long before she’s found a solution. Are you there God? It’s me, Margaret. I can’t wait until two o’clock God. That’s when our dance starts. Do you think I’ll get Philip Leroy for a partner? It’s …

At the outset of this novel, the intrepid Jack and Annie are invited to come to Camelot for Christmas Eve. Without a research book for the first time ever, the two kids set off in the Magic Tree House. No sooner do they arrive at the castle, when a dark knight appears and freezes King Arthur and all his court- including Jack and Annie’s friend Morgan le Fay. Jack and Annie set off to the Otherworld to find the Cauldron of Poetry and imagination, which is the only thing that …

It is just before Christmas when an organ grinder and monkey appear on the street corner outside Frances’s apartment. Frances can see them from her window and, sometimes, when it’s quiet, she can hear their music. In fact, Frances can’t stop thinking about them, especially after she sees the man and his monkey sleeping outside on the cold street at midnight. When the day of the Christmas pageant arrives, and it’s Frances’s turn to speak, everyone waits silently. But all Frances can think about is the organ grinder’s sad eyes …

With a colorful and sometimes amusing language, the author makes this funny cat tell us about the life of the young Joseph all the way up to his election as Pontiff on April 19, 2005. It recounts the Nazi era in Germany when the Pope was a teenager, calling the war years “one of the most dramatic and shameful times in the history of man”. Later when he became Cardinal Ratzinger, Chico recounts how each time when the Cardinal returned to Germany from Rome for a vacation, the cat would …

Look! There is the new moon in the sky. It’s time for Ramadan to begin. Follow along with one young boy as he observes the Muslim holy month with his family. This year, the narrator is finally old enough to fast, and readers of all ages will be interested as he shares his experiences of this special holiday.

“Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse”

These familiar words have never before been illustrated with such style. Magnificent paintings by American artist Richard Jesse Watson infuse traditional images with pizzazz and flair. From cozy interiors to snowy landscapes, each scene is packed with the details of Christmas. Watch for the remarkable cast of elves who populate these pages. Best of all, see Santa Claus himself as you’ve never seen him before, complete with an exclusive interview.

Spilling over …

This adaptation of Margery Williams’s treasured childhood classic tells how a toy rabbit learns what it means to be loved by a child–and how toys become “Real.” This book will bring kids hours of fun as they read the engaging story and color in the pictures.

Zeesie sees a mitzvah (a good deed) on Delancey Street when her neighborhood holds a “package party” to auction their finest homemade Jewish dishes — kugel, tsimmes, and others. The money they raise brings Jewish emigrants to America. But when Zeesie peeks into a special “money room” she discovers that it isn’t filled with piles of money and treasures. People go in this room to leave spare shekels if they have them and take a bit of money when they need it. This book (which includes a Yiddish glossary) teaches …