Washoe County Library System

A young student, who comes to love poetry through a personal understanding of what different famous poems mean to him, surprises himself by writing his own inspired poem. The Newbery Medal-winning author of Walk Two Moons, Sharon Creech, brings readers a story with enormous heart. Love That Dog shows how one boy named Jack finds his voice with the help of a teacher, a pencil, some yellow paper, and of course, a dog. Written as a series of free-verse...

As further evidence of his family's bad fortune which they attribute to a curse on a distant relative, Stanley Yelnats is sent to a hellish correctional camp in the Texas desert where he finds his first real friend, a treasure, and a new sense of himself. "Stanley Yelnats’s family has a history of bad luck, so he isn’t too surprised when a miscarriage of justice sends him to a boys’ juvenile detention center, Camp Green Lake. But there is no...

After living happily in a warm home with an eleven-year-old boy, a pit bull terrier is forced to survive on the streets, where its brave deeds surprise many residents who dislike or fear pit bulls.

Bear's friends awaken him the day before Christmas and help him to stay awake as they bake fruitcakes, fill stockings, and sing carols; then, while they sleep, he prepares his own surprise.

Richard Peck returns with a third tale starring his beloved and charming character, Grandma Dowdel. In 1958, a new family moves in next door to Grandma. As they get to know each other, Grandma becomes an essential part of this Methodist family. As the holiday season rolls in, they find comfort in each other and receive memorable gifts.

After Blue brings cupcakes to share with her class, she and her classmates make a sharing box as a present for their teacher, Miss Marigold.

It was Christmastime on Mouse Island, and I couldn't wait to celebrate with my friends and family. Until I learned that they were all traveling out of town for the holidays, and I'd be spending Christmas alone! I was depressed, down, despondent, and starting to feel like a real grinch! I wnadered the streets of New Mouse City, feeling sorry for myself. But then I discovered an amazing surprised that taught me the true meaning of Christmas.

On the eve of her twelth birthday, Beatrice Baily is surprised to find that the decision about her classification as a witch has not been made and that she must first perform a task involving the evil Dally Rumpe.

Ruddy is disappointed when his parents go on a cruise and he must stay with his fussy grandmother for a whole week, but an unexpected snowstorm reveals a surprising side of Grandmother Silk.

Gooney Bird Greene, an entertaining second grader who introduces challenging vocabulary words and tells "absolutely true" stories, finds a surprise room mother to bring cupcakes for the Thanksgiving pageant.