Family Reader

Have you ever wondered why young children are so curious? Are you supportive of your child's or students' curious nature? Do you view their curiosity as something that would propel them toward greatness? If YES, nurture your child/student's curiosity because it may be their most important trait. When children are curious, they are eager to explore, discover and figure things out, just like Alice. In the underground town of the prairie squirrels is told the legend of a magic river that granted wishes. If the river was once real, it vanished generations ago. Now, the squirrels must stay in ...

Valentine's Day is Abby's least favorite holiday. Mushy stuff like valentines, red hearts, and a school dance turn her into a Valentine's Scrooge. When Ross Brown, a perfectly nice guy in Abby's English class, invites her to the dance, Abby tries to set him up with her twin sister, Anna.

Born in the picturesque town of Taxco, Mexico, Julissa Arce was left behind for months at a time with her two sisters, a nanny, and her grandma while her parents worked tirelessly in America in hopes of building a home and providing a better life for their children. That is, until her parents brought Julissa to Texas to live with them. From then on, Julissa secretly lived as an undocumented immigrant, went on to become a scholarship winner and an honors college graduate, and climbed the ladder to become a vice president at Goldman Sachs.

Sixteen-year-old Randy Kapplehoff loves spending the summer at Camp Outland, a camp for queer teens. It's where he met his best friends. It's where he takes to the stage in the big musical. And it's where he fell for Hudson Aaronson-Lim - who's only into straight-acting guys and barely knows not-at-all-straight-acting Randy even exists. This year, however, it's going to be different. Randy has reinvented himself as "Del" - buff, masculine, and on the market. Even if it means giving up show tunes, nail polish, and his unicorn bedsheets, he's determined to get Hudson to fall for him.

Nobel Peace Prize winner and New York Times best-selling author Malala Yousafzai introduces some of the people behind the statistics and news stories we read or hear every day about the millions of people displaced worldwide.

Rescue on Crescent River When fear meets faith, an unforgettable adventure begins! Nick is a 14-year-old boy who dreams of exploring the world by boat. Fearless and full of courage, he’s always ready for an adventure. Monica, also 14, is confident and popular, but there’s one thing she can’t face: water. She’s terrified of it. They couldn’t be more different, but when Monica’s beloved dog, Max, is swept into the dangerous waters of Crescent River, Nick is the only one who can help. To rescue Max, Monica must face her greatest fear and join Nick on his small boat. Together, they ...

Finding that singular person we are meant to be with is never easy, but for Trauma Surgeon Andrea Taylor, finding the right one had been as elusive as catching a falling star. Past relationships had all ended in heartbreak as the demands of her career took precedence and finding the “right one” was the last thing on her mind as she started a new life in Texas until fate stepped in and Andi met the man who would change her life. Tech entrepreneur Ryan Jacobs was smitten the moment he watched Andi save the life of an injured man and even her gentle rebuffs were not enough to dissuade Ryan...

In this heartwarming sequel to Laurel Snyder's beginning chapter book Charlie & Mouse, the two brothers enjoy a special visit from their grandpa, Grumpy. Follow along as they discuss being medium, pounce each other, sing the wrong songs, build blanket forts, and more. This touching, funny celebration of imagination and bonding will enchant listeners young and old.

As part of her exciting film course, Stacey is making a documentary about teen life in Stoneybrook. The movie creates a conflict with friendships when Stacey pursues tell-all interviews with her friends and enemies.

Things are going just swimmingly for EllRay. He's finally getting along with most of the kids at school. He's even getting along with his family. But then everything comes screeching to a halt when his younger sister accidently overfeeds the classroom goldfish EllRay was supposed to be taking care of over Spring vacation. What is EllRay going to tell his teacher and the kids in his third-grade class? Fortunately, most of them are sympathetic. But not bossy Cynthia.

Alvin, an Asian American second grader, is afraid of everything—elevators, tunnels, girls, and, most of all, school. He’s so afraid of school that, while he’ s there, he never, ever, says a word. But at home, Alvin is a very loud superhero named Firecracker Man, a brother to Calvin and Anibelly, and a gentleman-in-training, just like his dad. With the help of his family, can Alvin take on the outside world without letting his fears get the best of him?

“I am a recluse and I love books more than I love people.” – So begins Fiza Pathan, the self-proclaimed Reclusive Writer and Reader of Mumbai. In this charming collection of personal essays, Fiza recalls important phases of her life, along with the books she was reading at the time and where she read them. Revealed along the way are Fiza’s personal struggles, from the father who didn’t want a girl child to the years she believed she wanted to be a nun to the college friends who shamed her for gaining weight. Her greatest victories are found here as well, among them the publication...

Eva and her identical twin sister, Miriam, had a mostly happy childhood. Theirs was the only Jewish family in their small village in the Transylvanian mountains, but they didn't think much of it until anti-Semitism reared its ugly head in their school. Then, in 1944, ten-year-old Eva and her family were deported to Auschwitz. At its gates, Eva and Miriam were separated from their parents and other siblings, selected as subjects for Dr. Mengele's infamous medical experiments.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe meets I'll Give You the Sun in an exhilarating and emotional novel about the growing relationship between two teen boys, told through the letters they write to one another. Jonathan Hopkirk and Adam "Kurl" Kurlansky are partnered in English class, writing letters to one another in a weekly pen-pal assignment. With each letter, the two begin to develop a friendship that eventually grows into love. But with homophobia, bullying, and devastating family secrets, Jonathan and Kurl struggle....

Young listeners will love next installment of the award-winning beginning chapter book series, Charlie & Mouse. This time, the two brothers and their family are off on a new adventure: going camping! Follow along as they take a long drive, hike a short distance, defeat a big lion, hide in a small tent, and conquer the great outdoors - together.

My biggest worry used to be whether my rogue character would finally loot that stupid dagger after six weeks of grinding. Now? It’s surviving daycare pickup runs, cooking toddler-friendly meals without setting the house on fire, and not getting murdered by magical psychos. It all started when my sister dumped her five-year-old son Adam on me because of some "emergency." I figured I’d Netflix, babysit, and maybe teach the kid how to fake sick days like a pro. What I didn’t plan on? Finding out Adam’s got magic. The dangerous, world-shaking kind. The kind that paints a target on his ...

Charles and Lizzie Peterson love puppies. They have a puppy of their own named Buddy, but they also foster dogs that need help finding new homes. Charles and his friend Sammy are on their way home from school one day when they hear a puppy crying. His name is Patches, and he's tied up in a garage all by himself. His owners seem to care ABOUT Patches, but they don't know how to care FOR him. And it's up to Charles and Lizzie to show them!

What Shall We Do Today? - The Great Freedom Adventure A Magical Chapter Book That Teaches Children About Freedom, Friendship, and Finding Joy in Life's Simple Moments When all the clocks in the neighborhood mysteriously stop ticking, seven-year-old Imani and her best friends Tommy and Maya discover a magical box that transports them to the Land of Endless Celebration. But this isn't just any ordinary adventure – it's a heartwarming journey that teaches children valuable life lessons about freedom, mindfulness, and the importance of slowing down in our fast-paced world. Perfect for Early ...

It's summer at the shore, but someone wants to put a stop to all the fun! Who's ruining the rides at the amusement pier? The Aldens are on the case….

When the Boxcar Children help out in a local garden, they dig up one strange thing after another! First, the tomato plants seem to move every day. How can that be? Then the Aldens follow the clues to an unsolved bank robbery, and it's clear that a very big mystery is growing in Greenfield.