Family Reader

Katie can’t wait for the holidays. There are so many things to look forward to! Her motorcycle-riding grandma is coming to visit, class 4A is having a Secret Santa grab bag, and it’s almost time for Cherrydale’s annual holiday lights display contest. But even the busy holiday season doesn’t stop the magic wind!

Welcome to the Rotten School, a new series set in a boarding school that's rotten to the core. The school motto is Growth, Learning, Pizza. Meet charming conniver Bernie Bridges, his arch-rival Sherman Oaks, housemother Mrs. Heinie, Coach Bunz, Headmaster I. Will Upchuck, and the rest of the students and faculty in two stories that prove that while good is good and bad is better, rotten is the best of all!

In her people-smart way, Kimberly Willis Holt introduces us to a Louisiana family: touching, lyrical, and always intriguing, their stories reveal the powerful connections between four generations. The journey begins in 1939 with Rose, who moves with her mother and siblings from rural Texas to live with their estranged grandfather in the Louisiana bayou.

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

Arthur wants to enter a jingle in the Crunch Cereal Contest, but he can't seem to come up with anything. Just when he's about to give up he hears D.W. singing a catchy tune. But can he call that jingle his and enter it in the contest?

J.D. is a barber battle champion. He's graduated from home haircuts to having a regular chair at the neighborhood shop, Hart and Son, and he's making enough money to keep his candy jar stocked and his comic book collection growing. And yet, J.D. knows it's time for his next challenge. He doesn't just want to be the best barber in Meridian, Mississippi - he wants to be the best barber in the state...and maybe the country!

The Evil Nanasis has gone really bananas this time and wants her stuff back or the world is doomed (again). Worst of all, she's holding Nan's beloved pet ferret hostage! This time the POO-NAMI is really going to hit the wind farm! Against all the odds, it's up to the Listies to save the day.... Next stop in the interdimensional plumbing of time and space is The Maul, a sinister shopping centre that's surprisingly difficult to leave. Let's hope they don't shop till they drop!

Olivia is a vegetarian. Ivy is a vampire. And they're twins?!? Ever since Olivia discovered that her long-lost twin sister, Ivy, is a vampire, she's been soaking up everything Ivy will tell her about Franklin Grove's vampire community. It's all top secret, and Olivia's sworn that she'll never tell another soul. But now, nosy tabloid reporter Serena Star is snooping around. As she gets closer and closer to the truth, it's up to Ivy and Olivia to throw her off track. This is one fangtastic news story that can't get out!

All parents want the best for their children, and with education being at the top of the dream list, connecting with them at such a level can be quite challenging. Mind Mapping for Kids: As Simple as ABC will walk parents through easy techniques in understanding the minds of their kids, developing them to have higher thinking levels, and providing fun ways to study while stretching them to reach their full potential.

Peony Pinker is sick of: Mum and Dad arguing non-stop, big sister Primrose acting like a total drama queen, nobody listening (as usual) and Dennis the rabbit (the man promised he was house-trained…)Gran says you can’t change your family. Can Peony learn to live with them instead? The second book in a funny, fantastic series starring Peony and her crazy family from acclaimed author Jenny Alexander.

This wonderful collection of Christmas classics is a delightful way to enjoy the wit, wisdom, and warmth of the wonderful Christmas season. In "Susy's Christmas Present", a nanny tells her young charges of her fondest Christmas memory; "Santa Claus' Letter" is a charming tale of just what can happen when two young boys don't behave as they should at Christmas time.

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.

Juliet's a worrywart, and no wonder! Her little sister, Oaf, follows her around taking notes and singing 'The Irritating Song' all day long. Her parents are always arguing about Dad's junk. Nana's so tired of craft lessons that she starts barbecuing things in the middle of the night. And Juliet's friends, Lindsay and Gemma, are competing to see which of them is Juliet's best friend. Juliet can't fit in any more worries!

In this fun-filled trivia book for kids, navigate through 10 different quizzes and 260 different questions that cover an array of interesting topics. The kids will love this entertaining trivia game while also learning lots of interesting facts.

Piper's dad - the Navy Chief - might be gone again, but Piper's got plenty to keep her busy at home: new neighbors, a spaceship beach house, a trip to New Orleans, and most important, the upcoming Gypsy Club pet show. Piper is determined to win, but teaching tricks to her dog seems nearly impossible. Bruna is simply unteachable! Or is she? Join Piper as she embarks on new and exciting adventures!

The Road Trip Trivia Challenge is sure to transform your next drive into the best part of the trip! In this kindergarten edition, we will be exploring our brains with science and math, getting familiar with our furry friends of the animal kingdom, and traveling the world to test our geography skills! Without question, there will be lots of laughs, some great conversations, and most importantly, some lasting memories!

In this celebratory, reassuring rhyming story, a little girl with two mummies shares the magic of her family and discovers how magic all her friends' families are too. This is a warm, funny story that's perfect for opening up conversations about different families in a playful, creative way.

Cuando los padres de Stink ganan boletos para una pijamada en el acuario con toda la familia, ¿será un sueño hecho realidad para Stink, fanático de la ciencia, o su peor pesadilla? Miedo, mucho miedo, muchísimo miedo. ¡Ay!

Mrs. Z’s class is holding a variety show, and everyone has signed up to demonstrate their special skills! Everyone, that is, except Ayana Ndoum. She’s good at reading, but someone’s already reciting a poem. She’s good at synchronized swimming, but they can't get a pool onstage. What could her act be? Before she can figure it out, she has an even bigger problem to deal with: Why is her dad at school? Turns out her dad is a variety show volunteer! He talks to everyone and asks too many questions. It’s embarrassing for Ayana, who likes to be quiet and help from the sidelines.

A hilarious S.T.E.A.M. chapter book for fans of Wimpy Kid and Dork Diaries, this heartwarming story is perfect for any 7-12 year old. Mikey McKenzie is an expert at using the scientific method to solve problems in his neighborhood and school. The only problem he can't solve is that he's just 10-year-old and nobody takes any of his ideas seriously. But everything changes when the kooky Principal Walker appoints him as the new school principal when she gets called away, much to the chagrin of the stern Vice Principal Sherman.