Her mother's third marriage is only hours old when all hope for Clare's fifteenth summer fades. Before she knows it, Clare is whisked away to some ancient cottage on a tiny marsh island on Cape Cod to spend the summer with her father—a man she hasn't seen since she was three. Clare's biological father barely talks, and when he does, he obsesses about endangered turtles. The first teenager Clare meets on the Cape confirms that her father is known...

When her dog Lulu dies, a girl grieves but then continues with her life.

Two mice, who discover they are neighbors, bring their talents together to create a very special Christmas tree. Annamouse needs decorations for her Christmas tree but can't get to the store because of the deep snow. Willamouse needs a tree for her Christmas decorations, but she can't get to the store either. Will Santamouse know to come to their homes? These two mice seem destined to spend a lonely Christmas until Willamouse hears the sound of music...

A rhyming tale of pirates who go to school accompanied by their parrots, learn arithmetic and letters, and want to hear sea stories at storytime.

Even after attending obedience school, Emma's dog Toby misbehaves until she takes him back to become a "specially trained dog."