David de Vries

When well-mannered Elliot reluctantly visits the aquarium with his distractible father, he politely asks whether he can have a penguin - then removes one from the penguin pool into his backpack. The fun of caring for a penguin in a New England Victorian house is followed by a surprise revelation by Elliot's father.

A car wreck and a suspicious death offer a lead on a hired shooter FBI agent Paul Falcon is tracking. Midwest homicide investigator Ann Silver has his attention when she passes the case to him. Is he prepared for both the case's and her secrets?

Scaredy Squirrel never leaves his nut tree. It's way too dangerous out there! Day after day he watches and waits, and waits and watches, until one day... his worst nightmare comes true! Scaredy Squirrel suddenly finds himself out of his tree. As he leaps into the unknown, he discovers something really uplifting and surprising about himself.

Scaredy never sleeps - sleep might mean bad dreams about dragons, ghosts, vampire bats and polka-dot monsters. So he has a plan to stay awake all night and just in case he does nod off - a Bad Dream Action Plan! Scaredy Squirrel at Night tackles a fear everyone - especially the young - can relate to - what really happens in the dark.

What will the world be like when mankind is extinct? The pyramids may stand forever, but the cities will disappear. Our greatest masterpieces will fade and crumble. As global warming and the depletion of natural resources become ever more pressing issues it is critical to consider how we can reduce our impact on the planet. Journey to locations around the globe already going through the processes of a lack of human intervention. See the changes wrought...

Even dinosaurs make a fuss before their bedtime. Mischievous dinosaurs show that burping, spilling and playing with your food is not the best way to enjoy a meal. The outrageous antics of these dinosaurs will bring a smile to anyone who has ever sniffled, coughed or ached. When Danny visits the museum he makes a rather unusual friend and the two buddies spend a happy day together.

Stories include: The Story About Ping; The Most Wonderful Egg in the World; Goose; Duck on a Bike; and Rosie's Walk.

From a Pulitzer Prize winner, a powerful history that reveals how the twin strands of liberty and slavery were joined in the nation's founding. "Gut-wrenching. . . . While acknowledging that the study of liberty and slavery in the Revolutionary era remains a 'partisan minefield,' Mr. Larson plunges in, sparing none of the era's most prominent revolutionaries from scrutiny." -Harold Holzer, Wall Street Journal New attention from historians and journalists...

Celebrate American history and learn about the public and private lives of our Presidents; Senator Ted Kennedy and his dog, Splash, invite children on a typical whirlwind day on Capitol Hill; A little girl imagines what her day would be like if she were Madam President; The true story of Esther Morris, who started out life believing she could do anything, and then proved it. Supports early reading; leadership; history knowledge.

Live through a stinky night in the life of a New York City garbage truck that likes to eat alphabet soup. Follow Mr. Gilly around Trashy Town until his truck is full of glorious garbage. Big diesel engines threaten to run Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel out of business until he finds just the job to prove their worth. An old tricycle is mistaken for trash, but just before being crushed for scrap metal, it magically speeds away on an adventure through...