Child Esteem

A sleepy town on the coast of Maine is the last place where 13-year-old Manuel wants to spend his summer vacation. He'd give anything to be back in New Haven, with the greatest pizza in the world and a twelve-theater Cineplex around the corner from his house. So far the only thing that Manuel has found to do is watch Zeke, a cranky, old lobsterman, unload his boat, while a one-legged seagull perches nearby. But Manuel soon discovers that even sleepy New England towns can bring trouble.

Following the death of her mentally ill mother, 11-year-old Zoë moves to North Carolina to live with her uncle, a metal sculptor named Henry. It doesn’t take long for the sharp-tongued Zoë to warm to some of the town’s eccentric residents, including a woods dwelling teenager, who helps Zoë in unexpected ways.

This tender, contemplative book is about growing up. It's about parents giving their children the gifts, no matter how quiet or small, to succeed and to navigate the world on their own. And it's about the connection that binds a parent and child...because no matter how far they fly or who they become, they will always have home.

Madeline Finn asks her mother for a puppy every single day. Finally, Mom says yes, and Madeline Finn chooses Star, one of the puppies born to Mrs. Dimple's dog Bonnie. Then Mrs. Dimple tells Madeline Finn about animal shelters - a place many other pets come from. After a visit to their local shelter, Madeline Finn has some questions. Does anyone play with the shelter dogs, or snuggle with them, or read to them? Questions lead to answers, and ideas, and soon Madeline Finn and her human and animal community discover that there are lots of ways for small people to make a big difference.

This rhythmic, read-aloud title is an unbridled celebration of the self-esteem, confidence, and swagger boys feel when they leave the barber's chair - a tradition that places on their heads a figurative crown, beaming with jewels, that confirms their brilliance and worth and helps them not only love and accept themselves but also take a giant step toward caring how they present themselves to the world. Crown is a high-spirited, engaging salute to the beautiful, raw, assured humanity of black boys and how they see themselves when they approve of their reflections in the mirror.

Freddie Bonbon is the most amazing baker in town, and somebody loves his cakes so much they've stolen them! Who could have done such a thing? And when superstar cat Cookie goes missing too, it looks as though the town has a mystery on its hands...could Freddie's little dog, Flapjack, be the one to solve it? Freddie is a likable and positive character who promotes the idea that you don't need superpowers or magic to succeed - you just need to try hard and do your best.

A little too smart, a little too fat, Bobby Goodspeed has always been a go-along-to-get-along kind of guy. But when his friend Addie decides to tackle the student council elections, Bobby finds himself changing in ways he never could have imagined in this tender, touching, utterly hilarious novel of life as a middle school misfit.

In starred reviews, Booklist has described Gerber's novels as "highly empathetic" and "truly inspiring" - Taking Up Space promises to be a realistic and compelling story about overcoming struggles with body image and learning that true self-esteem comes from within.

Naomi is petrified of the talent show her school is putting on. She can't be out there alone in front of all those people... not without serious stage fright. How will she manage? The answer arrives in a mysterious box -- a ventriloquist's dummy that transforms Naomi from a shy girl into a natural performer. It all goes well... until Naomi starts to want the stage for herself. When the dummy strikes back it raises the question -- who's controlling who?

James Patterson's hilarious story of perseverance and courage shows everyone's favorite troublemaker, Rafe Khatchadorian, the star of the Middle School series, learning to become a leader at long last. After a rough summer, Rafe is heading back to the dreaded Hills Village Middle School, the site of the very worst years of his life. And as if that's not bad enough, he's learned that he's going to be held back a year unless he can prove himself on an outdoor survival excursion.

Fuchsia Fierce is a bold name for a bold girl. She is never afraid to stand up for herself and lives by a simple motto: "Though she be but little, she is fierce!" Fuchsia proves that you can be a tiny girl who is tough, smart, and confident.

Tricia is good at everything she does, but she wants to find her best talent. Tricia tries lots of activities. Will she find her best?

Alex is a marvelous little boy who is just like other people in some ways, such as getting angry sometimes, but also unique because of his special laugh, his grizzly hugs, and his own interesting thoughts.

Emma braids her hair. She curls it. She wears striped socks. She wears a pink dress and tights. But she still looks just like her dad. Emma needs a new look! Or does she?

Noah Green's teacher has assigned the class a project: They all have to do something to help the community. Noah comes up with a great idea. He decides to plant new trees at school. He can't do it alone. But will he be able to convince anyone help him?

After his broken arm heals, Andre is nervous to play quarterback in the next football game. Will his arm be ready to throw?

Fifi is the new grouper fish in the town, and Leon the eel is worried that she will eat him. After hiding for weeks, Leon must finally come out and find some food. What will happen when he faces Fifi?

With the start of seventh grade, Olivia's longtime friend, Beth, has found new interests and new friends. Now Olivia thinks if she could just afford the type of clothes that Beth now wears, maybe their friendship could be restored. Motivated by a need for cash, Olivia agrees to babysit for a family of four who recently moved to the neighborhood haunted house. Now she's not sure what's scarier: hearing countless creepy sounds or being responsible for four kids!

Kaitlyn is a top-notch babysitter: she's organized, disciplined, and efficient. And she needs her regular babysitting gigs to pay for new clothes, bedroom decor, and, of course, her cell phone. So when the Sweet family decides to replace her with a new, fun sitter named Doc, she's determined to beat her new competition…if only she could figure out who he is. As the story unfolds, Kaitlyn realizes that even an experienced sitter like her can learn a thing or two from the new guy on the block.

Jake is the best bull rider in his division. He's never been thrown from a bull and doesn't see that changing anytime soon. But when he takes a bad spill during competition, he hurts more than just his arm. His confidence takes a hit, as well. Jake has to learn to cowboy up and overcome his fear before he can ride again.