Family Reader

This story is a gem representing the delightful stories from the Indian subcontinent which capture the simple essence of everyday life in India. The simple pleasures of life indicate a time gone by before the advent of cellphones and Facebook, a time which almost stood still, a time when children could revel in the rain, make paper boats and race them down a drain, play marbles and generally pass time.

Cam Jansen and her photographic memory help her friend's grandfather retrieve his missing bag with an important graduation gift in it.

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.

This is the charming story of a small girl and the family members she lives with, as she playfully charts them just the way a child learning to count might do.

This story is a gem representing the delightful stories from the Indian subcontinent which capture the simple essence of everyday life in India. The simple pleasures of life indicate a time gone by before the advent of cellphones and Facebook, a time which almost stood still, a time when children could revel in the rain, make paper boats and race them down a drain, play marbles and generally pass time.

Nick and Teresa's family are getting boxes out of the attic as they get ready to decorate for Christmas. They find an old, dusty box that no one remembers… until they open it and Dad remembers one of his childhood Christmases. The surprise in the box and the song that goes along with it make for very special holiday as Dad shares his favorite childhood toy with his children. A story of family and Christmas wonder.

Josh Higgins has an alien gizmo that lets him think his way to other planets - and he does not want to use it. But his sister Maggie won't stop bugging him, so he agrees to an off-world vacation. Josh dreams up a planet full of blue oceans, white beaches, and sunny weather. And he prepares for everything...well, almost. A parade of cranky creatures soon spoil Josh and Maggie's perfect getaway - including a one-horned beast, a sharp-toothed sea princess, and a two-tailed monkey.

Josh Higgins and his sister, Maggie, have vowed not to use the alien gizmo that lets them visit other worlds. But when Josh's favorite writer comes to town, the temptation is too much. Along with famous author P. L. Cuthbertson, Josh and Maggie prepare to visit the land of Cuthbertson's books: Wyrd World. As soon as the crew arrives, some of Wyrd World's thuggish locals mistake P. L. for a wizard - and that's not a good thing. Josh and Maggie begin a rescue mission, sneaking through fortresses and dungeons.

Josh Higgins loves to make up stories about other planets. At least he thought he was making them up. After Josh publishes his first book, sinister blue aliens visit Earth! Josh quickly learns that the worlds he wrote about in his stories are way too real. The outer space thugs take Josh and his kid sister, Maggie, all the way to the desert planet Yastol. And when Josh and Maggie refuse to aid the blue guys, a chase begins across Yastol's harsh landscape. Will the help of the planet's brave Prince Izor be enough to save Yastol from the bad blue aliens?

Head lice have invaded Edith B. Sugarman Elementary School, and George wants nothing more than to remain scotch-free from the vermin. Well, that and he wants his dad's booth at Career Day to be infinitely more popular than his enemy Louis Farley's dad's booth. He even bet his skull ring for Louis' wheelie sneakers to prove his dad's job is cooler. But when it comes to the day of the event, George isn't so confident he will win the bet or stay lice free!

Nine-year-old Amber Brown faces further complications because of her parents' divorce when her father plans to move back from Paris and she must decide which parent she will be with on Thanksgiving.

When the Lambchop family gets to Boston, Stanley is excited to go on a Duck Tour, eat lunch at Quincy Market, and see Fenway Park baseball stadium. Stanley even gets to be in a reenactment of American Colonist Paul Revere’s famous midnight ride. But Stanley has a problem. The Lambchops’ friend, Dr. Dan, is in town, too, and he’s giving a speech about his cure for flatness. And he wants Stanley to talk about being flat! But does Stanley want to change and be a regular kid, or would it be better to stay flat after all?

Rot is a mutant potato. Like most mutant potatoes, Rot loves mud. He plays games in it, he eats it, he even sleeps in it! So, when Rot sees the most magnificent, messy mud pit ever, he can’t wait to dive right in. But then, Rot’s big brother warns him: Watch out for the Squirm! The Squirm is slippery and slimy and gross and grimy, and it lives in the beloved mud. Now, Rot’s too scared to jump into the puddle. Can anything help him feel brave enough to take the plunge and face...the Squirm?

Watch out, Stanley! Ouch! Stanley accidentally caused twin acrobats Yin and Yang to take a tumble, right before their Chinese New Year show. Yang's foot is broken, but luckily Flat Stanley is flexible enough to take his place. To make up for his mistake, Stanley travels to China to help out, but can he learn all their amazing tricks in time?

Stanley and his brother, Arthur, have just won a trip to Australia! They fly down under on a private jet and go diving in the Great Barrier Reef. But when Arthur launches Stanley into the air for a game of boomerang, the flat kid is accidentally sent spinning into an amazing adventure deep in the heart of the Australian outback!

In the sixth book of the Calendar Mysteries, Bradley, Brian, Nate and Lucy are getting ready for Father's Day. They've decided that strawberry jam from the Pintos' strawberry patch would be a great gift. But something or someone has been taking bites out of the strawberrys! Polly the Pony, Pal and the dog, and the twins' brother Josh are all suspects. If the kids can't protect the strawberry patch from the mystery chomper, they might be in a real jam!

At school she's called 'Wimpy Wendy', but Wendy isn't afraid of Slinky, Grandpa's snake.

Katie is sick of her school's rules. But when she turns into the principal and announces that there are no rules, she creates a great big mess! Will Katie be able to get the school back in shape?