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Teens Jonah and Chip, adopted as babies, find out that they were discovered on a plane that appeared out of nowhere, full of babies, with no adults aboard. Authorities still have no idea where the plane came from, who the babies belonged to, or how the plane disappeared once the babies were off.

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Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix -- Trailer

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Are YOU one of the missing? Read FOUND, the beginning of a new series of suspense from master storyteller Margaret Peterson Haddix, author of the bestselling Shadow Children series. Available now wherever books are sold. From Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. http://www.SimonSaysKids.com

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Ever considered changing your name? Thunder Boy Jr. has. Lots. Named after his father, Thunder Boy Smith Sr.—known by many as “Big Thunder”—“Little Thunder” is determined to discover a name that not only suits him, but celebrates his many adventures (climbing a mountain, touching a wild orca, and powwow dancing, to name just a few).

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THUNDER BOY JR. by Sherman Alexie & Yuyi Morales

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August Pullman was born with a facial difference that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid—but his new classmates can't get past Auggie's extraordinary face.

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Bod is an unusual boy who inhabits an unusual place—he's the only living resident of a graveyard. Raised from infancy by the ghosts, werewolves, and other cemetery denizens, Bod has learned the antiquated customs of his guardians' time as well as their ghostly teachings—such as the ability to Fade so mere mortals cannot see him.

Can a boy raised by ghosts face the wonders and terrors of the worlds of both the living and the dead?

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THE GRAVEYARD BOOK by Neil Gaiman | Official Book Trailer

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Bird by Zetta Elliot and Shadra Strickland

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Bird by Zetta Elliot and Shadra Strickland

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Young Mekhai, better known as Bird, loves to draw. With drawings, he can erase the things that don't turn out right. In real life, problems aren’t so easily fixed.

As Bird struggles to understand the death of his beloved grandfather and his older brother’s drug addiction, he escapes into his art. Drawing is an outlet for Bird’s emotions and imagination, and provides a path to making sense of his world. In time, with the help of his grandfather’s friend, Bird finds his own special somethin’ and wings to fly.

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This picture book for older readers is a touching look at a family coping with addiction. When his beloved older brother starts acting strange, Bird turns to his elders for advice and learns that "you can't fix a broken soul." Readers will be heartened by Bird's quiet resilience, and moved by the healing power of putting pencil to paper.

More information on Bird available here.

Older Post ❱❰ Newer Post

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This picture book for older readers is a touching look at a family coping with addiction. When his beloved older brother starts acting strange, Bird turns to his elders for advice and learns that "you can't fix a broken soul." Readers will be heartened by Bird's quiet resilience, and moved by the healing power of putting pencil to paper.

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The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barn

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The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barn

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Every year, the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch who lives in the forest. They hope this sacrifice will keep her from terrorizing their town. But the witch in the forest, Xan, is kind and gentle.  One year, Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead of starlight, filling the ordinary child with extraordinary magic. Xan decides she must raise this enmagicked girl, whom she calls Luna, as her own.

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When I Was the Greatest by Jason Reynolds

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When I Was the Greatest by Jason Reynolds

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Ali’s got enough going on, between school and boxing and helping out at home. His best friend Noodles, though. Now there’s a dude looking for trouble—and, somehow, it’s always Ali around to pick up the pieces. But, hey, a guy’s gotta look out for his boys, right?

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Animoto turns your photos and video clips into professional video slideshows in minutes. Fast, free and shockingly simple - we make awesome easy.

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Whoosh: Lonnie Johnson's Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions by Chris Barton

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Whoosh: Lonnie Johnson's Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions by Chris Barton

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You know the Super Soaker. It’s one of top twenty toys of all time. And it was invented entirely by accident. Trying to create a new cooling system for refrigerators and air conditioners, impressive inventor Lonnie Johnson instead created the mechanics for the iconic toy.

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“Everybody is smart in different ways. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its life believing it is stupid.”

Ally has been smart enough to fool a lot of smart people. Every time she lands in a new school, she is able to hide her inability to read by creating clever yet disruptive distractions. She is afraid to ask for help; after all, how can you cure dumb? However, her newest teacher Mr. Daniels sees the bright, creative kid underneath the trouble maker. With his help, Ally learns not to be so hard on herself and that dyslexia is nothing to be ashamed of.

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Synopsis

The author of the beloved One for the Murphys gives readers an emotionally-charged, uplifting novel that will speak to anyone who's ever thought there was something wrong with them because they didn't fit in.

Everybody is smart in different ways. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its life believing it is stupid."

Ally has been smart enough to fool a lot of smart people. Every time she lands in a new school, she is able to hide her inability to read by creating clever yet disruptive distractions. She is afraid to ask for help; after all, how can you cure dumb? However, her newest teacher Mr. Daniels sees the bright, creative kid underneath the trouble maker. With his help, Ally learns not to be so hard on herself and that dyslexia is nothing to be ashamed of. As her confidence grows, Ally feels free to be herself and the world starts opening up with possibilities. She discovers that there's a lot more to her-and to everyone-than a label, and that great minds don't always think alike.
Read Chapter One here! Teachers - Share (and find!) Fish in a Tree ideas that you have enjoyed using with your kids. Printable Fish in a Tree Teacher's Guide!
Awards and Honors:

Schneider Family Book Award

SCBWI Crystal Kite Winner

ALSC Notable Book of 2016

New York Times Bestseller

Global Read Aloud choice, 2015

SLJ Best Book, 2015

Audible.com (Amazon) Kids Audiobook of Year Winner

Will be published in 15 different languages thus far

ALSC Notable Children's Recordings Nominee

ALSC Notable Children's Book Nominee

Indie Best Book Choice

Amazon Best Book of the month

Amazon Best Book of the Year (9-12 yo), 2015

Amazon bestseller re: books about disabilities

Barnes and Noble ~ Best books about bullying

ALSC Summer Reading List, 2016

SCBWI Summer Reading List, 2016

*State Lists:

Great Stone Face Award Book (New Hampshire)

Colorado State Book Award nominee

Golden Sower Award (Nebraska) nominee

South Carolina Junior Book Award nominee, 2016-2017

Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award (Illinois) nominee, 2016-2017

Iowa Children's Choice Award nominee, 2016-2017

Georgia Children's Book Award nominee, 2016-2017

North Carolina Battle of the Books, 2016-2017

Black-Eyed Susan Book Award (Maryland) nominee, 2016-2017

Maine Student Book Award Nominee, 2016-2017

Buckeye State Award List (Ohio), 2016-2017

William Allen White Award List (Kansas), 2017-2018

Visit Ally's Sketchbook of Impossible Things

Read (or add your own!) SUCCESS STORIES of people who struggled in school and later set the world on fire! (as Mr. Daniels would say ;-) Buy merchandise from a non-profit online store Help yourself to some Fish in a Tree badges
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SOLVING THE SECRET CODE:
HELLO! Below is the code that Mr. Daniels writes on the board for the students to solve. Unfortunately, I will not give you an answer for it. However, I will tell you a couple of things:

1. Yes, it can be solved.

2. Each letter stands for another letter in the alphabet and follows a pattern. So, for example, if I told you that every letter in this word < ALD > was really the letter that is three letters after it in the alphabet, <ALD > would really be < DOG >. This code below follows a pattern similar to this.

3. Writing out the entire alphabet for yourself and experimenting will make this easier to solve.

4. If you find this hard, don't quit! It's supposed to be hard and it feels AWESOME to solve something difficult.

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The videos below were done in conjunction with Global Read Aloud. Each video covers 8 chapters of the book. Video 1: Chapter 1 - 8 Video 2: Chapter 9 - 17 Video 3: Chapter 18 - 24 Video 4: Chapter 25 - 33 Video 5: Chapter 34 - 42 Video 6: Chapter 43 - end I begin each taping with a reading of the last chapter in the block and then answer questions form readers for that chapter block ONLY. The last video has a bit more of an overview.

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Synopsis The author of the beloved One for the Murphys gives readers an emotionally-charged, uplifting novel that will speak to anyone who's ever thought there was something...

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Jackson and his family have fallen on hard times. There's no more money for rent. And not much for food, either. His parents, his little sister, and their dog may have to live in their minivan. Again.

Crenshaw is a cat. He's large, he's outspoken, and he's imaginary. He has come back into Jackson's life to help him. But is an imaginary friend enough to save this family from losing everything?

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In her first novel since winning the Newbery Medal, Katherine Applegate delivers an unforgettable and magical story about family, friendship, and resilience. CRENSHAW by Katherine Applegate is on sale September 22! Crenshaw is imaginary. Childhood hunger isn't. Help us feed families in need. Join the nationwide CRENSHAW food drive.

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Voices from the March on Washington by J. Patrick Lewis and George Ella Lyon

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Voices from the March on Washington by J. Patrick Lewis and George Ella Lyon

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Voices from the March on Washington by J. Patrick Lewis and George Ella Lyon

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Voices from the March on Washington Written by J. Patrick Lewis and George Ella Lyon WordSong An Imprint of Highlights www.georgeellalyon.com Available at your local bookseller and online.

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JOSEF is a Jewish boy living in 1930s Nazi Germany. With the threat of concentration camps looming, he and his family board a ship bound for the other side of the world . . .

ISABEL is a Cuban girl in 1994. With riots and unrest plaguing her country, she and her family set out on a raft, hoping to find safety in America . . .

MAHMOUD is a Syrian boy in 2015. With his homeland torn apart by violence and destruction, he and his family begin a long trek toward Europe . . .

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7 Ate 9 by Tara Lazar and Ross MacDonald

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7 Ate 9 by Tara Lazar and Ross MacDonald

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Everyone knows that 7 is always after him. Word on the street is that 7 ate 9. If that's true, 6's days are numbered. Lucky for him, Private I is on the case. But the facts just don't add up. It's odd. Will Private I put two and two together and solve the problem . . . or is 6 next in line to be subtracted?

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The Bad Seed by Jory John and Pete Oswald

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The Bad Seed by Jory John and Pete Oswald

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This is a book about a bad seed. A baaaaaaaaaad seed. How bad? Do you really want to know?

He has a bad temper, bad manners, and a bad attitude. He’s been bad since he can remember! This seed cuts in line every time, stares at everybody and never listens. But what happens when one mischievous little seed changes his mind about himself, and decides that he wants to be—happy?

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THE BAD SEED | Book Trailer | A Bad Seed Gone Good

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Pinkalicious meets National Geographic in this nonfiction picture book introducing the weirdest, wildest, pinkest critters in the animal kingdom!

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Pink is for Blobfish - The Official Trailer

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Endling Series: The Last by Kathreen Applegate

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Endling Series: The Last by Kathreen Applegate

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Byx is the youngest member of her dairne pack. Believed to possess remarkable abilities, her mythical doglike species has been hunted to near extinction in the war-torn kingdom of Nedarra.

After her pack is hunted down and killed, Byx fears she may be the last of her species. The Endling. So Byx sets out to find safe haven, and to see if the legends of other hidden dairnes are true.

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ENDLING #1: THE LAST | Official Book Trailer

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Meet the good egg. He’s a verrrrrry good egg indeed.

But trying to be so good is hard when everyone else is plain ol’ rotten.

As the other eggs in the dozen behave badly, the good egg starts to crack from all the pressure of feeling like he has to be perfect.

So, he decides enough is enough! It’s time for him to make a change…

Dynamic duo Jory John and Pete Oswald hatch a funny and charming story that reminds us of the importance of balance, self-care, and accepting those who we love (even if they are sometimes a bit rotten).

Perfect for reading aloud and shared story time!

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THE GOOD EGG | Book Trailer | A Sure-to-Crack-You-Up Story

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Inspired by the evil villains and innocent damsels of silent movies, Author Mo Willems tells the tale of a hungry fox who invites a plump goose to dinner. As with the beloved Pigeon books, kids will be calling out the signature refrain and begging for repeated readings. The funny details in the full-color illustrations by three-time Caldecott Honoree Mo Willems will bring nonstop laughter to story time.

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Meet Nikki Maxwell! She’s starting eighth grade at a new school.

She confesses all in her first diary ever: her epic battle with her mom for an iPhone, meeting her new soon-to-be BFFs Chloe and Zoey, falling for adorably sweet crush Brandon, dealing with her zany little sister Brianna’s antics—and the immediate clashes with mean girl MacKenzie, who becomes Nikki’s rival in a schoolwide art competition.

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Dork Diaries Rachel Russell Book Trailer

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The sixth and penultimate book in the New York Times bestselling I Am Number Four series! For years the Garde have fought the Mogadorians in secret. Now all of that has changed. The invasion has begun. John is on the front lines of the fight in New York City. And just as the odds seem stacked against him, his best friend, Sam, a human, inexplicably develops a Legacy—and Sam isn't the only one.

While the pair try to track down Five and Nine amid the chaos, they encounter another teen who can wield abilities that were once only meant for the Garde. Whether she is a friend or a foe, however, remains to be seen.

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THE FATE OF TEN by Pittacus Lore | Official Book Trailer

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Raina wakes up one night with a terrible upset stomach. Her mom has one, too, so it's probably just a bug. Raina eventually returns to school, where she's dealing with the usual highs and lows: friends, not-friends, and classmates who think the school year is just one long gross-out session. It soon becomes clear that Raina's tummy trouble isn't going away... and it coincides with her worries about food, school, and changing friendships. What's going on?

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GUTS by Raina Telgemeier | Official Video Trailer

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Callie loves theater. And while she would totally try out for her middle school's production of Moon over Mississippi, she can't really sing. Instead she's the set designer for the drama department's stage crew, and this year she's determined to create a set worthy of Broadway on a middle-school budget. But how can she, when she doesn't know much about carpentry, ticket sales are down, and the crew members are having trouble working together? Not to mention the onstage AND offstage drama that occurs once the actors are chosen. And when two cute brothers enter the picture, things get even crazier!

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Catrina and her family are moving to the coast of Northern California because her little sister, Maya, is sick. Cat isn't happy about leaving her friends for Bahía de la Luna, but Maya has cystic fibrosis and will benefit from the cool, salty air that blows in from the sea. As the girls explore their new home, a neighbor lets them in on a secret: There are ghosts in Bahía de la Luna. Maya is determined to meet one, but Cat wants nothing to do with them. As the time of year when ghosts reunite with their loved ones approaches, Cat must figure out how to put aside her fears for her sister's sake -- and her own.

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Meet Yasmin! Yasmin is a spirited second-grader who's always on the lookout for those "aha" moments to help her solve life's little problems. Taking inspiration from her surroundings and her big imagination, she boldly faces any situation, assuming her imagination doesn't get too big, of course! A creative thinker and curious explorer, Yasmin and her multi-generational Pakistani American family will delight and inspire readers.

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From the day she was born, Nina was a ninja baby. She obliterated her applesauce. She concealed herself at bath time. And she was training herself in advanced infiltration (of movie night). Nina wants to do everything by herself, until the day her parents bring home a Kung Fu Master (a baby brother). Now with a sibling, Nina will face the one thing she cannot do alone: be part of a family. With verve and humor, David Zeltser and Diane Goode tell the story of an unusually gifted child, and the family that is more than a match for her.

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Ever since she got pregnant freshman year, Emoni Santiago’s life has been about making the tough decisions—doing what has to be done for her daughter and her abuela. The one place she can let all that go is in the kitchen, where she adds a little something magical to everything she cooks, turning her food into straight-up goodness.

Even though she dreams of working as a chef after she graduates, Emoni knows that it’s not worth her time to pursue the impossible. Yet despite the rules she thinks she has to play by, once Emoni starts cooking, her only choice is to let her talent break free.

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With The Fire On High by Elizabeth Acevedo | Official Book Trailer

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Raina just wants to be a normal sixth grader. But one night after Girl Scouts she trips and falls, severely injuring her two front teeth. What follows is a long and frustrating journey with on-again, off-again braces, surgery, embarrassing headgear, and even a retainer with fake teeth attached. And on top of all that, there's still more to deal with: a major earthquake, boy confusion, and friends who turn out to be not so friendly.

This coming-of-age true story is sure to resonate with anyone who has ever been in middle school, and especially those who have ever had a bit of their own dental drama.

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When the news reports are flooded with tales of hatred and fear, a girl asks her papa what she can do to make the world a better place. “Come with me,” he says. Hand-in-hand, they walk to the subway, tipping their hats to those they meet. The next day, the girl asks her mama what she can do—her mama says, “Come with me,” and together they set out for the grocery, because one person doesn’t represent an entire race or the people of a land. After dinner that night, the little girl asks if she can do something of her own—walk the dog . . . and her parents let her go. “Come with me,” the girl tells the boy across the hall. Walking together, one step at a time, the girl and the boy begin to see that as small and insignificant as their part may seem, it matters to the world.

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COME WITH ME by HOLLY MCGHEE and PASCAL LEMAÎTRE

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The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks by Cynthia Levinson

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The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks by Cynthia Levinson

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Meet the youngest known child to be arrested for a civil rights protest in Birmingham, Alabama, 1963, in THE YOUNGEST MARCHER by Cynthia Livinson, a moving picture book that proves you’re never too little to make a difference.

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Seventh grader Jordan Banks loves nothing more than drawing cartoons about his life. But instead of sending him to the art school of his dreams, his parents enroll him in a prestigious private school known for its academics, where Jordan is one of the few kids of color in his entire grade.

As he makes the daily trip from his Washington Heights apartment to the upscale Riverdale Academy Day School, Jordan soon finds himself torn between two worlds—and not really fitting into either one. Can Jordan learn to navigate his new school culture while keeping his neighborhood friends and staying true to himself?

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Meet Jordan Banks | NEW KID by Jerry Craft

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Everyone knows the cool beans. They’re sooooo cool.

And then there’s the uncool has-bean . . .

Always on the sidelines, one bean unsuccessfully tries everything he can to fit in with the crowd—until one day the cool beans show him how it’s done.

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Evelyn Del Rey is Moving Away by Meg Medina

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Evelyn Del Rey is Moving Away by Meg Medina

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A bittersweet story of two girls who will always be each other's numero uno, even though one is moving away.

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Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away by Meg Medina, Book Trailer

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Meet 9-year-old Iggy Frangi. He's not a bad kid, he's really not. Okay, so he's done a few (a few is anything up to 100) bad things. And okay, he's not very sorry about most of them. People make a big deal about nothing. What's a little pancake here and there? Is that something to get mad about? Iggy doesn't think so. No one got hurt, so there's no problem. No one got hurt except for that one time, that one time when the Best Idea Ever turned into the Worst Idea of All Time.

Iggy is sorry he did it. He is really, really, really sorry.

"For what?" you might ask. "What did he do?"

Well, you'll have to read the book to find out.

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THE BEST OF IGGY by Annie Barrows | Book Trailer

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In a time when a flower is so rare that it is the grand prize of an annual race, Rou's only wish is to win for her grandma, who is haunted by memories of when flowers were once abundant. But sometimes the real prize is not what's offered by others, but what we make for ourselves.

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Three-Minute Book Launch - ROU & THE GREAT RACE - by Pam Fong

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If there’s one thing seventeen-year-old Maverick Carter knows, it’s that a real man takes care of his family. As the son of a former gang legend, Mav does that the only way he knows how: dealing for the King Lords. With this money he can help his mom, who works two jobs while his dad’s in prison.  Mav’s got everything under control.

Until, that is, Maverick finds out he’s a father. But it’s not so easy to sling dope, finish school, and raise a child. So when he’s offered the chance to go straight, he takes it. In a world where he’s expected to amount to nothing, maybe Mav can prove he’s different.

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Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas | Official Book Trailer

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The 1619 Project: Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones

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The 1619 Project: Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones

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A young student receives a family tree assignment in school, but she can only trace back three generations. Grandma gathers the whole family, and the student learns that 400 years ago, in 1619, their ancestors were stolen and brought to America by white slave traders.
But before that, they had a home, a land, a language. She learns how the people said to be born on the water survived.

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The 1619 Project: Born on the Water | Book Trailer

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Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B Alston

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Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B Alston

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Amari Peters has never stopped believing her missing brother, Quinton, is alive. Not even when the police told her otherwise, or when she got in trouble for standing up to bullies who said he was gone for good.

So when she finds a ticking briefcase in his closet, containing a nomination for a summer tryout at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, she’s certain the secretive organization holds the key to locating Quinton—if only she can wrap her head around the idea of magicians, fairies, aliens, and other supernatural creatures all being real.

Now she must compete for a spot against kids who’ve known about magic their whole lives. No matter how hard she tries, Amari can’t seem to escape their intense doubt and scrutiny—especially once her supernaturally enhanced talent is deemed “illegal.” With an evil magician threatening the supernatural world, and her own classmates thinking she’s an enemy, Amari has never felt more alone. But if she doesn’t stick it out and pass the tryouts, she may never find out what happened to Quinton.

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Amari and the Night Brothers Book Trailer | B.B. Alston