"The brave tin soldier" also called "The Steadfast Tin Soldier" is a literary fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen about a tin soldier's love for a paper ballerina. On his birthday, a boy receives a set of 25 toy soldiers all cast from one old tin spoon and arrays them on a table top. One soldier stands on a single leg, as having been the last one cast there was not enough metal to make him whole. Nearby, the soldier spies a paper ballerina with a spangle on her sash. She too is standing on one leg and the soldier falls in love. That night, a goblin among the toys in the form of a Jack-in-the-box angrily warns the soldier to take his eyes off the ballerina, but the soldier ignores him. The next day, the soldier falls from a windowsill (presumably the work of the goblin) and lands in the street. Two boys find the soldier, place him in a paper boat, and set him sailing in the gutter...
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Today is Gregory's ninth and so far his very worst birthday. He isn't having a party or even a cake. His father has another job, so the family must move across town. When Gregory walks into a strange house that night, however, he finds a room of his own where he can hang his paintings. Maybe this is really his best birthday! But the very next day Uncle Max comes to stay. He sleeps in Gregory's room and even hangs posters over the paintings. To make matters worse, the boys at the new school won't play with Gregory. He wonders if he will ever make friends in the new neighborhood-until he discovers an abandoned chalk factory and something magical happens. Award-winning children's author Clyde Robert Bulla turns youngsters on to books with his powerful stories. In The Chalk Box Kid, he tells the poignant tale of a boy coping with his new surroundings. Narrator Johnny Heller perfectly voices Gregory's struggles to fit in and his final, joyous victory. For another entertaining story by Clyde Robert Bulla, try The Paint Brush Kid.
Acclaimed children's author Jacques Couvillon grew up on a Louisiana chicken farm just like the young protagonist in The Chicken Dance. Don Schmidt's birthday is coming fast! He can't wait to find out what kind of surprises his mom and dad are sure to have in store for him. But when Don's special day finally arrives, he is saddened when his weird parents get into another argument. What can Don do to make his mom see that he is a good son?
Sixth-grader Milo Neal plans to do a science project on "The Complete Life Cycle of a Link in the Food Chain." But when he brings his specimen-a baby chick-to class, everyone falls in love with the cute ball of fluff. Soon she has a name: Henrietta. Not only is Henrietta the class pet, she's even chosen as mascot for the school hockey team! How can Milo finish his project, which calls for frying up his specimen and serving it to the judges of the science fair? Each day, as Henrietta gets bigger, so does Milo's dilemma. And students are hatching plans to rescue their feathered friend. Gordon Korman, author of more than 20 books for middle school and young adult audiences, based this hilarious story on his own experiences while visiting a middle school classroom. Through the talented narrators' performances, Henrietta's adventures will have you cackling with laughter.
Two young orphans, Lucy Wolcott and her little sister Glory, have no one in the world but each other. Every day, they labor from dawn to dusk in the bleak, cold shelter of a public workhouse in old London Town where there is little to eat and the nights are cold and damp. The only light in their lives comes from the stories that Lucy invents-stories about a family she barely remembers-and a doll named Morning Glory, who, Lucy promises, is destined to return to them some day.
Then one day, Lucy finds an old, discarded doll, which Glory is certain is the long-lost Morning Glory. Morning Glory is no ordinary doll, however, and how she leads the girls to the most surprising turns of fortune makes for a heartwarming story that brims with love, hope, and the truest spirit of Christmas.
"[A] magical story....A 'dollightful' surprise for Santa to tuck under the Christmas tree...."-Kirkus Reviews
The cod is a large, ugly fish that spends its life with its big mouth wide open for food. For centuries, so many cod lived in the Atlantic Ocean they couldn't swim without bumping into each other. They were so plentiful that they became the most important fish in many cultures. Best-selling author Mark Kurlansky brings history to life with this entertaining story of how a single fish changed the world.
A charming little story about kindness and forgiveness and once again our favorite Miss Croc comes to the rescue for a little girl who is being bullied.
Silly Sleepy Santa falls asleep while delivering presents on Christmas Eve. And naughty Cheeky Chipmunk Chippa has a mischievous time gobbling up all the toys! Can Miss Croc save Christmas Eve for all the little creatures in her canal?
This is the story of a deliciously chubby old croc that lives in the murky waters of the Florida Everglades. The croc takes immense pride in her smelly rundown canal that she finds quite charming. In this story the croc tantalizes a pompous old walrus with her good fortune and undeniable love.
"I'll swap you my dad," I said. "Oh-oh," said my little sister.
What if you wanted your best friend's two goldfish so much that you'd swap anything for them, even your father?
What if your mother came home and found out what you'd done?
The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish is a hilarious adventure and was the first book for younger readers from the acclaimed author and illustrator of the New York Times best-sellers The Wolves in the Walls and Coraline. Chosen as one of Newsweek magazine's Best Children's Books of the Year, The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish is beloved by readers of all ages. This new edition features brand-new jacket art and an afterword by the author on the origins of this unique and wonderfully funny story.
Jean's world is turned upside down when he meets the Django. His new friend is so much fun and things are always exciting when the Django is around. But there's only one problem-ever since they met, Jean has found himself in heaps of trouble. What should Jean do? He doesn't want to send his special pal away, but he can't keep getting in trouble either. Finally Jean makes up his mind and does what he must: He sends the Django on his way. Soon Jean misses all the joy and crazy antics. Will he ever feel close to the Django again? Yes, for Jean finds the Django is near him every time he plays the banjo! Inspired by Levi Pinfold's love of jazz music and by jazz musician Jean "Django" Reinhardt, The Django is a story sure to delight and inspire young readers. A lively reading from narrator Steven Boyer adds just the right spark to this marvelous tale.
