Daddy's Zigzagging Bedtime Story


Book Description

What do a truck-driving princess, space aliens who burp fire, and Kung-Fu pigs have in common? They're all a part of the most epic bedtime story ever! When Jake and Jenny turn down every book Daddy tries to read before bed, he decides to make up his own story. In his follow up to Daddies Do It Different, Alan Lawrence Sitomer spins an unexpected adventure that zigzags from hilarious, to heartwarming, to cupcake-making unicorns, and back.




Thomas Paine and the Dangerous Word


Book Description

"The mind once enlightened cannot again become dark." As an English corset-maker's son, Thomas Paine was expected to spend his life sewing women's underwear. But as a teenager, Thomas dared to change his destiny, enduring years of struggle until a meeting with Benjamin Franklin brought Thomas to America in 1774-and into the American Revolution. Within fourteen months, Thomas would unleash the persuasive power of the written word in Common Sense-a brash wake-up call that rallied the American people to declare independence against the mightiest empire in the world. This fascinating and extensively researched biography, based on numerous primary sources, will immerse readers in Thomas Paine's inspiring journey of courage, failure, and resilience that led a penniless immigrant to change the world with his words.




Daddies Do It Different


Book Description

Daddy sure doesn’t do things the way Mommy does! Just in time for Father's Day, this hilarious picture book takes a high-spirited look at the way dads put their own spin on different parts of a child's life--from going to a birthday party to bathtime. Alan Sitomer's debut picture book is inspired by his own experiences as a father and winningly complemented with delightful art by Abby Carter.




Daddy's Back-to-School Shopping Adventure


Book Description

What do glow-in-the-dark glue sticks, an electronic garbage truck pencil sharpener, and neon paper clips have in common? Not one of them is on the list and yet they all end up in the back-to-school cart when Daddy, Jake, and Jenny pick out school supplies while Mommy's off shopping in another part of the store. In this heartwarming and hilarious tale, Jake and Jenny surprise Daddy with one more special item that most definitely isn't on the list.




That's Not Bunny!


Book Description

From high above on his perch, Hawk searches for his next meal. When he spots a bunny he swoops down and snatches???a carrot!? He decides to try again; because after all, he isn't a Carrot Hawk. But when Hawk goes for his second attempt he comes up with a cucumber! And the third time he grabs a head of lettuce! How can Hawk be a hawk, if he can't catch a single bunny? As he surveys the assortment of vegetables in his nest, he gets a great idea for baiting the bunny. But will it work?




Dormouse Dreams


Book Description

As Dormouse dreams -- and snores -- his way from winter to spring, he imagines going on fantastical adventures with his best dormouse friend. Whimsical illustrations feature other animals entertaining themselves with dart games, cross-country skiing, flying airplanes, and more while Dormouse hibernates. Readers can also follow the friend's journey to Dormouse's house, where she wakes him up for some real life pleasures, including daydreaming. This is the perfect bedtime book to snuggle up with when spring isn't coming fast enough.




Chloe and the Lion


Book Description

Meet Chloe: Every week, she collects loose change so she can buy tickets to ride the merry-go-round. But one fateful day, she gets lost in the woods on her way home, and a large dragon leaps out from—"Wait! It's supposed to be a lion," says Mac Barnett, the author of this book. But Adam Rex, the illustrator, thinks a dragon would be so much cooler (don't you agree?). Mac's power of the pen is at odds with Adam's brush, and Chloe's story hangs in the balance. Can she help them out of this quandary to be the heroine of her own story?/DIVDIV Mac Barnett and Adam Rex are a dynamic duo, and two of the strongest contemporary voices in picture books today. In an accessible and funny way, Chloe and the Lion talks about the creative process and the joys and trials of collaboration.




The Downside of Being Up


Book Description

Thirteen-year-old Bobby Connor is a normal adolescent boy--at least he hopes he is--just trying to survive middle school. But it seems he's being foiled at every turn, and even his own body is conspiring against him. And when his math teacher is seriously injured from the shock and fright of witnessing just how out of control Bobby's changing adolescent body is getting, he starts to worry he's anything but normal. Faced with expulsion from school for violating the student handbook code, Bobby opts for therapy--Correctional Erectional Therapy. It's official: Bobby Connor is not normal. But in this uproarious and heartfelt novel, he's going to do his darndest to make it seem that he is . . . or maybe just try to make it through middle school.




Been There, Done that


Book Description

Kids are incredibly curious about where stories comes from. Where do authors get their ideas? And how do they turn those ideas into stories? This anthology gives readers an exclusive, "behind the scenes" look at the process of taking real-life experiences and turning them into works of engaging fiction. Each author will contribute two pieces: A narrative nonfiction account, which then serves as the inspiration for an original fictional short story. Subjects include a broad range-from an alien invasion to the realities of living during World War II-but are tied together with universal concepts, like dealing with change, fitting in, self-esteem, and relationships with friends and family. This collection is sure to inspire a new generation of writers. The contributing award-winning and bestselling middle-grade authors include Gary Schmidt, Linda Sue Park, Grace Lin, Matthew Kirby, Adam Rex, Jane Yolen, Heidi Stemple, Rita Williams-Garcia, Karen Cushman, Caroline Starr Rose, Claire Legrand, Lisa Yee, Nathan Hale, Julia Alvarez, Kate Messner, Margarita Engle, Alan Sitomer, Tracy Edward Wymer, and Dee Garretson.




Been There, Done That: Writing Stories from Real Life


Book Description

Award-winning and bestselling authors turn their own real-life experiences into captivating works of fiction! Where do authors get their ideas? And how do they turn those ideas into stories? This anthology looks at the process of taking real-life experiences and turning them into works of engaging fiction. The collection features award-winning and bestselling middle-grade authors who provide both original fictional short stories as well as the nonfiction accounts that inspired them. The contributing authors include Julia Alvarez, Karen Cushman, Margarita Engle, Dee Garretson, Nathan Hale, Matthew Kirby, Claire Legrand, Grace Lin, Kate Messner, Linda Sue Park, Adam Rex, Gary Schmidt, Alan Sitomer, Caroline Starr Rose, Heidi Stemple, Rita Williams-Garcia, Tracy Edward Wymer, Lisa Yee, and Jane Yolen.