Marilyn Singer 
(excerpt)
Howdy, you can count on us.
Morning, evening, I’m your bus.
Sweepers sweeping, bakers baking.
Dawn is barely even breaking.
Time for buses to be waking!
Hurry, hurry, now it’s eight!
Busy buses can’t be late.
In the morning we won’t wait!
Get on, Jamie, Carlos, Gus,
Casey, Lacey, I’m your bus.
(excerpt)
It’s a quiet crib.
It’s a bobbling boat.
It’s a private pond.
It’s a room with no view.
It’s walls to break through.
It’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
It’s an egg.
Every type of animal in the world needs to make more of its own kind. Dogs, cats, elephants, whales, bats and most other mammals, including people, give birth to live babies. So do garter snakes, great white sharks, scorpions and other animals. But most animals, including all birds and spiders, most insects, fish and amphibians, and even a few mammals, lay eggs instead.
(excerpt)
SPELLING
by Marisol
Test time, and I cannot spell beak,
climb, speech, November.
It’s the crazy words I remember–
the ones Ms. Mundy gives each week:
grunion, bunion, snooze, physique,
succotash, Zamboni, folderol, flounce–
wacky stuff that is fun to pronounce.
My parents don’t get it.
They think it’s absurd–
how do I get quetzal right,
but still mess up on bird?
(excerpt)
PURPLE SNEAKERS
You purple sneakers, eight months old,
I’ve loved with all my heart.
We walked, we danced, we ran for miles.
Too bad you fell apart.
Now Mama says, “Aww, don’t feel sad.
I’ve got exciting news.
We’ll take the bus, we’ll head downtown,
and you can choose new shoes!”
(excerpt)
Traffic jam, 10 horns beeping.
In the stroller, Baby’s sleeping.
Ice cream truck jing-a-linging.
9 annoying cell phones ringing.
Nine phones ringing, ten horns beeping.
In the stroller, Baby’s sleeping.
(excerpt)
INTRODUCTION
Don’t Eat, Don’t Touch, Don’t…Well, Just DON’T!
All over the world there are animals that can hurt or kill you with a bite, a stab, a sting, or a spit–and others that can hurt or kill if you bite them. These creatures can be found in many habitats. They ride the waves. They hide in the sand. They coil around branches. they buzz around the garden. They even sleep in your closet. And every one of them is toxic.
Some animals are poisonous. They can make you sick if you eat them or if you absorb their toxins through your skin. They use their poison purely as self-defense against predators, and that includes people. Sometimes a poisonous critter tastes bad enough to make a predator spit it right out. If your dog–or you–were to bite a toxic toad, yuck! but sample some puffer fish, and chances are you wouldn’t even know you could be consuming a poison that might kill you.
The most famed toxic critters are venomous. This means they must inject their poison–their venom–into a victim by means of fangs, teeth, spines, stingers, or spurs. These creatures include snakes, spiders, jellyfish, bees, wasps, scorpions, and a bunch of less familiar animals. But believe it or not, if they can avoid it, none of these creatures wants to waste their venom on inedible YOU!
(excerpt)
Let’s build a clubhouse,
a place where we can hide.
Eight feet long
and six feet wide.
Let’s build a clubhouse
with windows and shelves.
Let’s find the tools
to make it ourselves.
(excerpt)
There are twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac. The cat is not one of them. Here’s a legend about how this came to be. Cat and Rat were friends. So when the Buddha announced a contest to assign each animal an hour and a year, the two made a pact: Whoever got up earliest would rouse the other, and together they’d win the competition.
But the next day when Rat awoke he did not keep his word. He left Cat sleeping and hitched a ride with Ox. Just as they arrived at the Buddha’s gate, Rat jumped off and dashed in to gain first place. Cat slept on through the whole morning. When she finally did awaken, she let out a yowl and raced to meet the Buddha. But it was too late. The whole zodiac had been filled. That’s why there is no Year of the Cat and why cats and rats are now sworn enemies.
(excerpt)
INTRODUCTION
WHAT DO THESE THINGS HAVE IN COMMON?
They STINK! They don’t all smell the same way or for the same reason, but they all smell bad–at least to most of us humans.
Why do some plants and animals stink? What is the purpose of a bad smell? Can something that smells nasty to you smell good to another creature? Can something that smells nasty be good for you?
You’re about to go on a smelly adventure to find out not only what stinks, but also why. So, hold your nose and keep reading!
(Table of Contents)
SOME PEOPLE CALL ME MAURICE
by Joyce Sweeney
Michael (aka Maurice in French Club) has a thing for Amelia (aka Angelique)–but no nerve to tell her so. Until he becomes French for one blissful afternoon…
NOT MUCH TO IT
by Rene Saldana, Jr.
Chela and the cool girls let Becky into their circle because she was so good with their hair. Now she’s working at a salon. Has she changed? Has Chela?
BEDHEAD RED, PEEKABOO PINK
by Marilyn Singer
Can an ugly guy finally get a date? Well, maybe–if she’s blind and he lies a lot.. But even then things aren’t so simple for Tom who has a little thing called a conscience.
VISION QUEST
by Peni Griffin
Elizabeth sets out on a quest to find herself and her totem animal in the wilds of San Antonio, Texas with surprising results.
WABI’S EARS
by Joseph Bruchac
Can a young owl find happiness with a beautiful, but finicky Native American girl? Stranger things have happened!
HONESTLY, TRUTHFULLY
by Terry Trueman
One morning Kyle decides to make himself over from a liar to…well…NOT a liar–a path that lands him in more trouble he’d ever thought possible.
THE RESURRECTION
by Jess Mowry
Corey’s life and his neighborhood change dramatically when Sniffles, a street kid, moves in and the old funeral home next door reopens for business.
BAZOOKA JOE AND THE CHAOS KID
by Norma Howe
Chaos rules in Frank Marvelli’s house. Then along come Jenna and Mr. Shreve’s photography class. How long can disorder continue to reign?
THE PLAN
by Marina Budhos
Victor’s mother is constantly changing jobs and homes, and taking Victor along for the ride. But when she moves them to L.A. and has them pose as show biz siblings, it is the last straw.
LUCKY SIX
by Evelyn Coleman
Weekdays, Jamillah is a student. Weekends, she sings in the church choir. But at night, she’s an exotic dancer. She’s saving up money for a new makeover for herself and her five homeless siblings. Can she do it?
BUTTERFLIES
by Margaret Peterson Haddix
When Anna’s village is destroyed, she makes her way across the ocean to Ellis Island and to a childhood friend whom she may or may not marry.