Starting school for the first time is a significant milestone in every child's life. But how do you know when your child is ready? And what can you do to help them prepare?Educational and parenting expert Kathy Walker explains how to assess your child's readiness, sets out all the factors to consider, and gives you the information you need to be confident you're making the right decision for your child. She also provides advice on how to pick a school, and explains the strategies s...

Ancient Egypt: The land of Pharaohs, The Valley of the Kings, and…kidnapped kitty cats, apparently.Since Bobby liked history and Carly didn’t, going on an adventure to Ancient Egypt seemed like a safe compromise. They have amazing temples and cool statues, so there should be something for everyone. What Bobby and Carly couldn’t have known is that a disgruntled priest had kidnapped the royal cat, and the Pharaoh’s sister would do anything to get her back. Now Bobby and Carly have to...

It turns out there’s more to dog sled racing than playing with cute, fluffy doggies.Carly was pretty sure the world of dog sled racing would be the best adventure ever. She loves dogs! What could be better than playing with them all the time? Soon Carly’s head is spinning with too much information…ganglines, and dog commands, and which dog gets to be lead dog. Maybe dog sledding isn’t the thing for her, after all. But when a musher friend goes missing during a race, Carly has to ma...

What could be more perfect at Halloween than talking to a ghost?Carly is convinced that a ghost lives in the spooky old house. Bobby not so much, but since ghost hunting sounds fun, he’s willing to go along for the ride. The house is full of mysterious noises and unexplained drafts, but the only one who can see anything that looks like a ghost is Carly. As they explore, it will be up to Carly to figure out if there really is a ghost, or if her imagination is running away with her.

After sailing the high seas, Carly decides she wants to do something different, so she uses her magical cave to transport her and her bears to a nice mountain. But it’s not all green meadows, singing birds, and fluffy mountain goats. Carly will have to navigate floods, cliffs, and ice to make it safely home again. Can Carly and her bears protect each other, or will someone get lost along the way?

Life is full of highs and lows and as our children grow up you can't always be there to help them navigate their emotions or situations. This book tells parents, in very practical terms, what you can do from birth to twelve to ensure your children have their best chance at coping with life.We are so intensely involved in keeping our children happy in the present that we don't consider what this means for their emotional state in the future. Teens and young adults are especially vuln...

It's a common tale… your child dreams of a memorable birthday party but the thought of planning such a party makes you want to run for the hills. Don't take off just yet! This book will give you the tips and tricks necessary to throw the party of the year without losing your savings or your sanity. How do you keep a houseful of children from getting bored and wreaking havoc on your house? Check. What's the best party structure for each age group? Check. How do you throw a great party witho...

Join Carly and her bears on their first three adventures!Captain CarlyCarly just wanted to play pirates, but her brother Bobby said that everyone knows girls can't be pirates. Carly stomped off, only to find a magical cave where she sails off on her own pirate adventure. But being a pirate is harder than Carly imagined. She’ll have to figure out how to keep her boat afloat, find the treasure, and defeat a rival gang of pirates, all by herself (and ...

After dodging Bobby and sneaking off to her cave without being seen, Carly decides she would make a great spy! When a local museum is targeted by a thief, Carly and her bears spring into action. But being a spy is harder than it looks, even with cool gadgets and her bears to help her. Can Carly find and capture the art thief, or will she end up being captured herself?

Why did it have to be the jungle? Carly really hates the jungle.When Carly’s brother Bobby wants in on her adventures, Carly reluctantly agrees. After all, how bad can it be? But then Bobby accidentally transports them to the jungle, complete with snakes and hippos and alligators. Carly wants to turn around and go home right then, but who would save a precious gem from treasure hunters if she wasn’t around? Carly has to balance her desire to help with her hatred of the jungle, and ...

The Prehistoric World isn’t as much fun as Bobby imagined.Bobby meant for his adventure to be nice and safe…as safe as the Prehistoric World could be, anyway. He would meet small plant eating dinosaurs, while the huge meat eaters stayed in the background. Sadly, his plan went off the rails immediately, when an exploding volcano left a small, injured baby dinosaur in the path of destruction. Now he needs to choose: Does he risk his life to find the baby’s family, or does he abandon ...

It turns out there’s more to dog sled racing than playing with cute, fluffy doggies.Carly was pretty sure the world of dog sled racing would be the best adventure ever. She loves dogs! What could be better than playing with them all the time? Soon Carly’s head is spinning with too much information…ganglines, and dog commands, and which dog gets to be lead dog. Maybe dog sledding isn’t the thing for her, after all. But when a musher friend goes missing during a race, Carly has to ma...