THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD Joe is the ultimate trophy kid. His adoptive parents are Hollywood’s favorite power couple, Academy Award–winning actress Greta Powell and actor/director/political candidate Robert Francis. Life with them has been one big photo-op since Joe became a war orphan at the ripe old age of three. And what better way for Greta and Robert to celebrate how far Joe’s come—and how much they’ve helped him—than for Joe to describe his experiences in a moving autobiography?Of cou...

Tyler Stewart knows he’s going to be a television star. He’s funny, and his uncle Pete is a writer for the most popular show on TV. Best of all, Tyler’s parents have just sent him to visit Pete in Hollywood. Talk about luck—no more of his mom’s worrying and his dad’s instructions, for the rest of his summer vacation. Everyone in show business needs a break, and Tyler is sure this is going to be his.Now Tyler has two weeks to land an audition and impress the sitcom’s moody ...

This book is part of our first sweet and sassy Candy Apple summer vacation trilogy! Each book focuses on one girl from a trio, and follows her summer adventure away from her friends. Three girls, three trips, one amazing summer! Willhelmina "Mina" Chestnut loves spending time with her BFFs, Samantha and Liza, in their New Jersey suburb. But this summer, the girls are splitting up, and Mina is attending an art camp in New York City! Mina is dazzled by all the Big Apple has to offer, and enj...

Trip Dinkleman hates to read. Hates, hates, hates it.All he wants to do is play lacrosse. So when the president of the PTA asks Trip to help her out on his way to tryouts, he is not happy. He is even more not happy when a stack of books tumbles onto his head and knocks him out cold. And he is even more not happy when he wakes up and has absolutely no idea where he is. Now all he wants to do is get home. But after encountering a haunted house, aliens, talking animals, and much, much...

Can Michael and Tom read each other's minds? Michael and Tom Curtis are identical twins who share a love of football. Unfortunately, because of a tragic accident, Michael must watch from the sidelines as his brother calls the plays on the football field. During one game Michael concentrates very hard on a play he thinks could help the team, and Tom calls the exact play a split second later! Is it coincidence, or can the boys communicate through ESP? The boys try a daring experiment in whic...

This is a short story about a girl who makes best friends with a guinea pig, but not all friendships are meant to be for life

Many things can pierce – sharpened stakes, fencing swords, cat's claws, short stories, ideas, earrings, and love, to name just a few. This collection of eleven penetrating stories, gathered from my contributions to YA anthologies, contains some of my favorite pieces, including a slapstick account of a young man sent on a mortifying mission by the girl he loves, a tale about the mysteries of faith and belief, and a comedy of errors where a Transylvanian immigrant arouses suspicion in the da...

"I wonder if something is wrong," Mr. Broderick asked as he headed across the room. He swung open the window and called. "Chris?" Officer Hall's head appeared at the window. "Kendall thinks you're watching us.""Actually he's right," Officer Hall said. "I was wondering if I could talk to the kids for a few minutes." Why did Officer Hall want to talk with Kendall and Jamie?See if you can solve this 15-minute mystery before the Brodericks do.LearningIsland.com believes ...

It’s not easy playing hockey when you can barely skate. But Frank and Chet are determined to keep Joe on the team. Even after Joe accidentally slams a slap shot straight into Jamie, a star figure skater. Jamie’s furious. Then she accuses Joe of stealing her good luck charm, a fuzzy white seal.Joe and Frank are determined to find the mascot—and the thief. If they don’t, Jamie can’t skate—and Joe’s in the penalty box for good!

On holiday in India, Chet and Adi have a close encounter with something large, stripy ... and wild!The Mystery Mob series has been created specifically to encourage boys to get reading and to support teachers with paired and guided reading sessions. The books have been written by Roger Hurn, bestselling author and primary school teacher, and feature a gang of boys getting into scrapes as they investigate strange mysteries!

For young and life experienced people alike.Its time to use the God-given superpowers of childlike enthusiasm and playtime. In an age when we increasingly use short words and letters to text conversations, we can all use practice observing, imagining, writing, finding, and speaking. Relax and create.YOU DRAW IT: Read the ten short stories and create the image that comes to mind.YOU SAY IT: Follow the instructions to read the story out loud or speak about something sp...

Something is shaking the people of Happy Town out of their nice, warm beds one spring morning, but it isn't an earthquake... it's a giant! Oh, don't run away just yet! This giant is not only friendly but extremely helpful. Discover what Ollie the giant does to save Happy Town and what the town's people do in return to thank him. Your child will enjoy this quaint little fairy tale and certainly come away with a more agreeable opinion about giants! (ages 4-8)