Family Chapter

Stanley and his family receive an unexpected phone call from Scotland Yard. Stanley has been invited to London to help with a top-secret case. One of the crown jewels was stolen years ago. The queen has long suspected Lady Laura, her distant cousin, of the theft, and Lady Laura will be in London to attend a formal ball at Buckingham Palace. If she has the jewel, this will be the perfect time to wear it. And that's where Stanley comes in. Stanley loves the idea of being a spy, even if being flat has nothing to do with his mission. Or so he thinks....

Louie and Ralphie Ratso's dad, Big Lou, always says that there are two kinds of people: those who are tough and those who are soft. Louie and Ralphie are tough, tough, tough, just like Big Lou, and they're going to prove it. But every time they try to show just how tough they are, the Ratso brothers end up accidentally doing good deeds instead. What'll Big Lou do when he finds out they've been acting like softies all over the Big City?

I gave Simon a little shove, but it was enough to start him moving, then he quickly picked up speed. Too quickly.

Timmy is a pine tree. His one goal is to become someone's Christmas tree. Every year, he sees other trees picked, but not him. People don't seem to notice that Timmy is special, until a little girl finds Timmy and insists that he is the only Christmas tree for their family. A fun, family Christmas story.

All her life, Boo has wanted a real live dinosaur to follow her home - and today, one did. There is only one problem - no one else can see Boo's dinosaur. Boo's older brother Sammy certainly won't put up with these crazy antics.

Talented children’s author Claudia Mills pens this inspiring story about one boy’s quest for independence. Oliver Olson’s teacher wants her students to come up with one idea to change the world. Oliver doubts he’ll think up anything great, since his overprotective parents never let him think for himself. But completing a science project—without his parents’ help—makes him realize that he may have one great idea after all.

It's not easy being the middle child, especially when your dad is a Navy chief. Meet Piper Reed, a spunky nine-year-old who has moved more times than she can count on one hand. From Texas to Guam, wherever Piper goes, adventure follows, inspired by her active imagination, free-wheeling spirit, and a bit of sister magic.

Nick and Teresa live on the beautiful garden island of Kaua'i. One particular day, the children's parents take them to the beach for a day of fun. They build a sandcastle and Nick decides to pretend that he is a king…in fact, king of the whole beach. His little sister, Teresa, uses her imagination to help his pretending seem more real. A story of imagination and cooperation.

What does a little bear wear as he dances and plays his way through a sunny summer day? Young listeners will be fascinated as John McDonough's upbeat narration perfectly delivers this book's lilting, musical rhyme and joyful, exuberant rhythm that make Jesse Bear's day a pleasure for everyone.

Thirteen-year-old Bosworth Hartie didn't think his parents could inflict much more mental torture on him. However, they get it into their heads to find him a wife, to keep him on the straight and narrow! And they match him up with the spiteful Veronica Melling.

When Timothy McDunn is accidentally left behind in the middle of Dinosaur World he has to rely on his wits, and the help of a baby duckbilled dinosaur, to escape the jaws of the most terrifying creature in the park!

The award winning King of the Beach is joined in this compilation by 4 other stories by Mark Huff: The Sheltering Place, Bernard the St. Bernard, Timmy the Tiny Christmas Tree, and The Toy. Five great stories for kids in one package...stories of sharing, cooperation and imagination and family values.

Mouse is desperate to be a superhero. To find that power that will make him stand out in the crowd. But his every attempt ends in failure. He can't even get any attention at home, as his five brothers (triplets and twins) take every second of Mum and Dad's attention. When Mum foils a bank robbery while on duty as a lollipop lady, she and Mouse are lauded as superheroes. Joining forces with Mouse are The Z List - a group of unlikely crime fighters. But in their midst is a traitor hell-bent on revenge.

Nick and Teresa from King of the Beach are back. When their father builds them a play house in the backyard and the children fight over it, Dad feels the kids need a lesson in sharing, so he tells them a story about 3 animals that live in a beautiful valley in the middle of their garden island of Kaua'i. Dad's story is about Pua'a the Pig, Kao the Goat and Moa the Rooster…and how they solved their selfishness problem. A story of sharing and the importance of friends and family.

Billie just knows she's going to be teased to death about her boring, bald stepdad. But worse than that, with a posh new stepsister and a mum who hardly seems to notice her now, Billie doesn't feel she belongs in her own family any more. So she comes up with a great idea: The Parent Plan. All she needs is to get adopted into a new family - easy! Or not.

Piper Reed and her fellow Gypsy Club members are in need of a clubhouse. Raising money to buy one proves a challenge. Piper, being the resourceful fifth grader that she is, launches her own party-planning business and gets her first job throwing young Brady's birthday celebration. But things don't go as expected on the day of the big event. Fortunately for Piper, her friends and family come to her rescue!

Hugo has to choose who to stay with while his mum’s having a baby. Who will care for him and his dog Henry the best? Will it be Granny? Mrs Mariposa next door? Or Uncle Jack?

Cam Jansen and her friend Eric are spending the day at the amusement park. They take Cam’s aunt and uncle with them through the scary haunted house. Plastic skeletons hang from the ceiling. A large black form jumps out of the shadows of a dark room. Everyone has a wonderful time until they get hungry and thirsty. When Cam’s aunt tries to pay for some snacks, she discovers her wallet is no longer in her purse. Will Cam be able to solve the mystery of the missing wallet with her amazing photographic memory?

In a heartwarming first-person account, dePaola retells his experiences at home and in school when he was a boy. 26 Fairmount Avenue is full of humor, drama, suspense and just the day-to-day ups and downs of a little boy's life.

Luke and Lucy's parents threaten to sell their golden retriever, Pistachio, since they don't take care of her as they promised. As soon as their parents' car is out of sight, Luke, Lucy and Pistachio go into the garage. Luke begins painting big white letters on a piece of dark cardboard: Parents for Sale.