When the Graves family goes camping, so do all their ghoulish sidekicks—bats, spiders, and even their Venus flytrap. Yet nothing can prepare them for their latest companion: a fire-breathing dragon. The Graves family knows they’ve got to get rid of the dragon—especially after the giant beast accidentally soaks all the town’s fireworks just before the big Fourth of July celebration. The explosive solution is pure fun.

“Dear Diary … I’ve never been higher than Aunt Clara’s porch, or farther than Yoder’s General Store, but this week my dream is coming true. I’m finally in a big city!” So begins the story of Hannah, an Amish girl, who visits Chicago for the first time. Each day she tells her “silent friend,” her diary, about the wondrous things she sees, including skyscrapers, an aquarium, and crowds of people wearing strange clothes. Each new city experience is contrasted with an illustration of Amish life.

This tale of an Atlantic voyage from Connecticut to England is told through the journals of Sophie and her cousin Cody. Sophie joins her uncles and cousins on the trip, and their unseaworthy sailboat takes them on a journey full of unplanned stops, extended stays, and hasty departures. Packed with family secrets and allusions to Sophie’s past, this novel combines moments of anticipation and foreboding to create an intriguing plot.

Toot and Puddle, two pigs, are best friends with different interests. When Toot sets off to see the world, Puddle prefers to stay home. Through the postcards Toot sends from Egypt, Spain, Antarctica, and other faraway places, Puddle learns about his friend’s travels. But Puddle has his own fun at home — ice skating, making maple syrup, and swimming in the pond. When Toot decides to return home, the friends celebrate being together again.

Ibn Battuta, a young Moroccan, was like other Muslims of the 14th century. He was a scholar who could recite the Koran, and he dreamed of a pilgrimage, or “hajj,” to Mecca. But unlike other Muslims and many other men, he made a 75,000-mile journey from Tangiers to China. During 29 years of traveling, Ibn Battuta saw amazing sights and learned a lot about the world. His travel sayings reflect more than places on a map. Ibn Battuta believed, “Traveling — it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a …

Vendela is fascinated by Venice, a “fairy tale city” where streets are canals, and cars are boats. On her trip there with her father, she wants to see everything, especially the gilded horses at St. Mark’s Church. Readers will learn about the arts, crafts, food, history, and culture of this fascinating city. Illustrated with paintings and photographs, Vendela in Venice is a young girl’s story, a history book, and a travel guide!