"At sea, captains need to know their ships' location at all times or risk crashing into unseen dangers. Since people first took to the seas, the stars have been useful for measuring latitude-or position relative to north and south. But up until the 18th century, there was no accurate way to measure longitude-or position relative to east and west. Countless seamen were lost because they didn't know they had sailed into dangerous waters. To encourage the invention of an accurate method for measuring longitude, the British monarchy offered the Longitude Prize in 1714. Major scientists of the age-notably Galileo and Sir Isaac Newton-were convinced the only possible solution was mapping the heavens. But John Harrison, a clockmaker from a tiny village, thought differently. He was sure the answer was simply a matter of time. Over many years, he built a seafaring clock entirely from scratch. His design worked brilliantly, yet politics conspired to keep him from the prize he so rightly deserved. This fascinating book from Kathryn Lasky will interest children in science, math, and history through an accessible biography of a great innovator."
"When Pollyanna was published in 1913, it became an overnight success. It immediately sold over a million copies as young and old alike fell in love with the little freckled orphan girl and her spirited optimism. Many of Beldingsville's citizens are ill, misguided, and even despairing. The sparkling, ingenuous eleven-year-old who descends upon them with her 'glad game' gives them renewed hope and changes their lives forever. Then unexpected tragedy strikes, and Pollyanna can no longer find the silver lining in any cloud. Can a child's suffering possibly serve any purpose? Author Eleanor Porter wrote, ' I have never believed that we ought to deny discomfort and pain and evil: I have merely thought that it is far better to greet the unknown with a cheer.' With the added bonus of Barbara Caruso's skillful reading, even adult readers will be challenged to finish the book dry-eyed."
"When eleven-year-old Annie first started lying to her social worker, she had been taught by an expert: Gran. “If you’re going to do something, make sure you do it with excellence,” Gran would say. That was when Gran was feeling talkative, and not brooding for days in her room—as she did after telling Annie and her little brother, Rew, the one thing they know about their father: that he was killed in a fight with an angry man who was sent away. Annie and Rew spend their days under the birches and oaks of the Zebra Forest, telling stories about their father the pirate, or pilot, or secret agent. But then something shocking happens to unravel all their stories: a rattling at the back door, an escapee from the prison holding them hostage in their own home, four lives that will never be the same.
This deeply compelling, emotionally evocative, and grippingly suspenseful look at the complicated fallout from long-held family secrets is impossible to forget."
"They are four different people with four separate lives: Sue, a young woman distanced from her native roots; David, a traveler in search of a dream; Laura, a student seeking her parents’ understanding; and Peter, a rock star struggling to create a perfect sound.
One looming fate threatens them all. And everything they love may be taken away in one fleeting second…
“Paulsen is one of the best-loved writers alive.” – New York Times
“Powerful, simple stories…[Paulsen] writes clearly and honestly…” – Entertainment Weekly"
"In this rousing coming-of-age story set on the American frontier, one ornery twelve-year-old has a lot to learn if he's to survive his new life as a mountain man. Having run away after hitting Pa in a bout of rage, Jesse decides to fend for himself. Too much uncontrollable anger and inexplicable emotion since Ma went away have taken their toll. All he wants now is to be left alone. At first, every day on the mountain is a struggle. Beset by hunger and cold, fear and loneliness, Jesse stubbornly and defiantly refuses to concede defeat. Gradually, he learns to hunt, to skin and cure animal pelts, to build a cabin … all skills necessary to life in the wilderness. He takes on a mad mountaineer and even helps kill a bear. In so doing, Jesse slowly gains confidence and insight beyond his years. 'I was watching me turn myself into a mountain man.' An action-packed adventure proves a provocative voyage of self-discovery as one young boy observes the best and worst in nature, people, and himself."
"The New York Times–bestselling author of Rose Daughter reimagines the classic French fairy tale of Beauty and the Beast.
I was the youngest of three daughters. Our literal-minded mother named us Grace, Hope, and Honour. … My father still likes to tell the story of how I acquired my odd nickname: I had come to him for further information when I first discovered that our names meant something besides you-come-here. He succeeded in explaining grace and hope, but he had some difficulty trying to make the concept of honour understandable to a five-year-old. … I said: ‘Huh! I’d rather be Beauty.’ …
By the time it was evident that I was going to let the family down by being plain, I’d been called Beauty for over six years. … I wasn’t really very fond of my given name, Honour, either … as if ‘honourable’ were the best that could be said of me.
The sisters’ wealthy father loses all his money when his merchant fleet is drowned in a storm, and the family moves to a village far away. Then the old merchant hears what proves to be a false report that one of his ships had made it safe to harbor at last, and on his sad, disappointed way home again he becomes lost deep in the forest and has a terrifying encounter with a fierce Beast, who walks like a man and lives in a castle. The merchant’s life is forfeit, says the Beast, for trespass and the theft of a rose—but he will spare the old man’s life if he sends one of his daughters: “Your daughter would take no harm from me, nor from anything that lives in my lands.” When Beauty hears this story—for her father had picked therose to bring to her—her sense of honor demands that she take up the Beast’s offer, for “cannot a Beast be tamed?”
This “splendid story” by the Newbery Medal–winning author of The Hero and the Crown has been named an ALA Notable Book and a Phoenix Award Honor Book (Publishers Weekly)."
"Fancy Nancy is back in New York Times bestselling team Jane O'Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser's picture book Fancy Nancy: Fanciest Doll in the Universe, about the love little girls feel for their favorite dolls—and their favorite sisters!
Fancy Nancy's sister, JoJo, can really be a pest sometimes . . . like when she put Easter-egg dye in the kiddie pool and dunked Frenchy in it! But this time she's done something really bad, and Nancy is livid—that's fancy for tres angry and upset. JoJo drew a tattoo on Nancy's precious doll, Marabelle Lavinia Chandelier! Even worse, it's in permanent marker. That means it will never come out! When Mom suggests a fancy doll party to make Nancy feel better, Nancy is excited to accept. But what if the doll drama isn't over?
Fans of Fancy Nancy and fancy parties alike will delight in this story of how younger siblings can get on your nerves sometimes, but it always works out in the end. As always, the central theme of all the Fancy Nancy books shines through, showing how Nancy empowers girls with knowledge through her fascination with do-it-yourself fun!"
"Stay tuned for a brand-new show coming in winter 2018 to PBS Kids: Pinkalicious & Peterrific!
Pinkalicious has fun, fun, fun in all six books in Pinkalicious: The Pinkamazing Storybook Collection—and her readers will, too. Pinkalicious has a playdate with her friend Rosie. She has a slumber party with a dragon as a guest. She has an adventure with a monkey at the zoo. She takes a ride on her unicorn, Goldilicious, and visits soccer players all over the world. Pinkalicious and Peter enter a hat parade. And she gets to be the flower girl in a wedding.
Four I Can Read Books are included in the set: The Pinkerrific Playdate, Pinkalicious: The Princess of Pink Slumber Party, Pinkalicious and the Pinkatastic Zoo Day, and Pinkalicious: Soccer Star. Two 8x8 storybooks round out the package: Pinkalicious and the Pink Hat Parade and Pinkalicious: Flower Girl."
"For fans of smart romantic comedies, this is a clever Cinderella story with a tech twist.
When Public Corporation, a giant tech company, announces a contest for the best app developed by a high school student—with $200,000 in prize money—computer whiz Audrey McCarthy is all in. Audrey's been searching for her one ticket out of town ever since her dad died and her best friend, perfect and popular Blake Dawkins, turned into her worst nightmare—and this scholarship may be it.
Audrey comes up with an idea so simple, yet so brilliant, she can't believe it hasn't been done before: the Boyfriend App. With a simple touch of the screen, romance blooms among the unlikeliest couples at school—and people start to take notice. But it's not quite enough.
To beat out the competition, Audrey will have to dig deeper—right into a scandal that would rock Public to its core. Launched into unexpected fame and passionately kissed by the hottest guys in school, Audrey finds that her invention has thrown her life into complete chaos . . . but can it bring her true love?"
"Readers can watch Pinkalicious and Peterrific on the funtastic PBS Kids TV series Pinkalicious & Peterrific!
A fun Pinkalicious I Can Read story about puppy sitting from #1 New York Times bestselling author Victoria Kann
Pinkalicious is expecting to have a pinkatastic weekend puppy sitting. She’s sure she’ll have all kinds of fun with Pinky, the visiting poodle, until she realizes that Pinky is shy and doesn’t want to play. But if anyone can convince the puppy to have fun, it’s Pinkalicious!
Pinkalicious: Puptastic! is a Level One I Can Read adventure and is carefully crafted using short sentences, familiar words, and simple concepts for children eager to read on their own."
"The startling conclusion to Gordon Korman's adventure trilogy.FORMAT: 3 CDs, UnabridgedNARRATOR: Andrew Rannels & Christine Moreau
Aiden Falconer and FBI Agent Harris are closing in the people who kidnapped Aiden's sister, Meg. There's just one hitch: Meg is trying to escape from them on her own, and is never where she's supposed to be. As tension mounts and the net tightens, only one thing is clear: The kidnappers aren't going down without a fight. Before, it was Meg who was in trouble. Now both Meg and Aiden are in grave danger."
"Between 1854 and 1930, more than 200,000 orphaned or abandoned children were sent west on orphan trains to find new homes. Some were adopted by loving families; others were not as fortunate. In recent years, some of the riders have begun to share their stories. Andrea Warren alternates chapters about the history of the orphan trains with the story of Lee Nailling, who in 1926 rode an orphan train to Texas."
