Nikki wants to be a basketball star... but between school stress, friend drama, and babysitting woes, will she be able to make it on her new team? Judy Blume meets Mike Lupica in this pitch-perfect, action-packed, and funny novel.
Thirteen-year-old Nikki Doyle's dreams of becoming a basketball great feel within reach when she's selected to play on an elite-level club team. But in a league with taller, stronger, and faster girls, Nikki suddenly isn't the best point guard. In fact, she's no longer a point guard at all, which leaves her struggling to figure out who she is and how she fits in.
The stress piles on as Nikki's best friend spends more and more time with another girl on the team, and when her science teacher assigns a family tree project that will be impossible to complete unless Nikki reveals her most embarrassing secret. As if that's not enough to deal with, to cover the costs of her new team, Nikki has agreed to take care of her annoying younger brother after school to save money on childcare.
As the stakes rise on the basketball court, at school, and at home, Nikki's confidence plummets. Can she learn to compete at this new, higher level? And how hard is she willing to work to find out?
Fun at the beach! Alex packs toys for a beach trip. Duck and Goose have try a new sport at the lake. Emma realizes that the wild animals should be free, no matter how small. Learn a safe and easy trick for examining sea creatures up close. Stories by Larry Dane Brimner, Dagmar Kost, Marianne Mitchell, and Les Ewen.
A racoon awakes from his winter nap to find his tree being chopped down. An old frog decides that now is the time to see more of the world. A mouse gets upset because his tail is short – and because an owl wants to eat him for dinner. With his love and respect for nature and animals at his fingertips, Thornton W. Burgess‘ created some of the world‘s best children‘s stories with his first collection, `Old Mother West Wind‘ (1910). Each story has relatable characters and a subtle moral that is not at all preachy. This collection introduces some of Burgess‘ famous characters that would pop up in his later books, like Peter Rabbit and Bobby Raccoon.
Should Manny keep his promise -- even if it means putting his friend in jeopardy?
When the Grizzlies' first baseman is sidelined two days before the playoffs, catcher Manny Griffin and second baseman Stu Fletcher take it upon themselves to help his replacement, Sean Wilson, become a better player. The three practice together and all is going well -- until Sean unleashes a wild throw that hits Stu right in the head! Stu is dazed, but won't let Manny call for help. In fact, he makes Manny promise not to say anything about the injury. ""I'm perfectly fine,"" he insists. ""And the team needs me.""
A few days later, however, Stu starts acting funny. Manny realizes then that his friend is anything but fine. Now he faces a difficult decision: should he break his promise -- or keep silent and hope that he's not putting Stu in the danger's path?
Fourteen-year-old Matt Collier, a die-hard New York Yankee fan, gets a chance to time travel to any baseball game in history. Accompanied by the universe's guardian of Time, Matt becomes the batboy for his beloved team and tries to change the outcome of the 1960 World Series, the first ever to end with a homerun.
Bestselling author Gary D. Schmidt tells a coming-of-age story with the light touch of The Wednesday Wars, the heart of Okay for Now, and the unique presence of a wise and witty butler. Carter Jones is astonished early one morning when he finds a real English butler, bowler hat and all, on the doorstep-one who stays to help the Jones family, which is a little bit broken. In addition to figuring out middle school, Carter has to adjust to the unwelcome presence of this new know-it-all adult in his life and navigate the butler's notions of decorum. And ultimately, when his burden of grief and anger from the past can no longer be ignored, Carter learns that a burden becomes lighter when it is shared. Sparkling with humor, this insightful and compassionate story will resonate with readers who have confronted secrets of their own.
Through the eyes of a distinctly non-athletic protagonist-a fat high school journalist named Mitch-veteran sports novelist Deuker reveals the surprising truth behind a mysterious football player named Angel. When Angel shows up Lincoln High, he seems to have no past-or at least not one he is willing to discuss. Though Mitch gets a glimpse of Angel's incredible talent off the field, Angel rarely allows himself to shine on the field. Is he an undercover cop, wonders Mitch? Or an ineligible player? In pursuit of a killer story, Mitch decides to find out just who this player is and what he's done. In the end, the truth surprises everyone.
Two weeks of intense competition remain to decide the final teams for the Little League® World Series. This year, the anticipation is high as it's possible that both of the previous final two teams will return, a very rare occurrence. And those are the teams Carter and Liam now play for! These two players, one from each team, are thinking the same thought: How can I play against my best friend?
This is the fourth book in a five-book series that follows Liam and Carter as they work their way to the Little League® World Series. The final book in the series will coincide with the Little League® 75th Anniversary in 2014.
New York Times bestselling author and artist James Dean takes readers along for an outdoor adventure with Pete the Cat!
In Pete the Cat Goes Camping, Pete can't wait to go hiking, fishing, and eat s'mores by the campfire. But when he hears about the mysterious creature named Bigfoot, Pete can't help but wonder: Is Bigfoot real?
Pete the Cat Goes Camping is a Level 1 I Can Read book, which means it's perfect for shared reading with a child.
Pete and his mom and brother go to the beach! Pete has lots of fun collecting shells and building a sand castle. But he's very, very hot . . . and he isn't sure he wants to go in the water. The water looks scary! When his brother Bob offers to give him a surfing lesson, will Pete give it a try?
Rock and roll with Pete in this brand-new story about everyone's favorite groovy cat, perfect for beginning readers!
Pete is so excited to go scuba diving. Captain Joe tells him about the creatures he might see under the waves. Pete really wants to see a seahorse. But he has to search high and low to find one. His groovy adventure ends with a surprise-and a cool new friend for Pete!
Beginning readers will love floating along with Pete the Cat in his first undersea adventure.
