Kirjahaku

When eleven-year-old Diva Pankowski's family moves, she is horrified (but not surprised) that her mother's new dream home is a bright pink castle-themed house. She's used to her Mom's excesses; after all, she's lived her whole life with the name "Diva Cleopatra," and her nine-year-old brother deals with "Hero Augustus." But the pink palace is only the beginning of a series of new humiliations. While acting as a glitzy mermaid-mascot for her Mom's party planning business, Diva is spotted by the class mean girls. Then, when she works up the courage to audition for her new school's production of The Wizard of Oz, she's cast in the baffling role of The Yellow Brick Road. But it's DIVAPALOOZA!, the splashy, mammoth-sized, surprise, birthday party her family throws for her (inviting everyone in sixth grade) where things really lurch toward disaster. How on earth can Diva stay true to her quiet, introverted, under-the-radar self in an in-your-face, over-the-top world?

A kayak may seem an unlikely place for adventure, but that's exactly what you'll find in Paddling in Paradise. Author Alison Hughes has created the definitive guide to sea kayaking in Atlantic Canada. Whether she is describing the exhilaration of experiencing the world's highest tides in the Bay of Fundy, or the pure beauty of the coast of Cape Breton, Hughes shares her deep and genuine conviction that life is only truly lived with paddle in hand. In Paddling in Paradise, Alison Hughes describes eight multi-day trips off the coasts of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland, ranging from beautiful nature paddles that neophytes will dream about for the rest of their lives to adventures that will test the mettle of experienced sea kayakers and their guides. Photos and a map enhance each description, and each ends with a Fact File that includes contact information for outfitters, a list of special preparations or equipment, advice for travelling to nearby cities, detailed directions to put-in points, and suggestions for whale watching, cycling, and other activities that visiting kayakers would enjoy. Paddling in Paradise also includes an introduction to the region and the unique appeal of sea kayaking as well as a chapter on trip planning, safety, and all aspects of camping along the shore.

What happens when one small boy picks up one small piece of litter? He doesn't know it, but his tiny act has big consequences. From the miniscule to the universal, What Matters sensitively explores nature's connections and traces the ripple effects of one child's good deed to show how we can all make a big difference.

Three friends go to the park, where it seems like nothing is happening--but something is. The wind is stirring the trees and sending maple keys spiralling down through the air, inspiring the children to whirl and spin...which makes a baby laugh and clap, and a man tap a rhythm with his cane. Soon, the kids and those around them are part of a domino effect of creativity from painting and building castle forts to having daring adventures and sailing the imaginary seas, and finally staging a colorful parade and watching stories unfurl in the clouds. The kids follow this path of creativity, until finally it's nighttime and they think nothing more could possibly happen. But something does: their minds continue to create fantastical possibilities in their dreams.

Maya went into her box when a classmate teased her, and again when another hurt her feelings. Now she's there most of the time. It's safe and quiet and best of all it can be anything she wants it to be. She brings it on bike rides and to school, and while kids used to notice it, now they barely see her at all. But Maya can't help but wonder if there might be something she's missing. Yes, it's noisy and scary out there, but it's also exciting and fun. Finally, Maya bravely decides to step out into the sunshine and find her place in the world--outside her box.

A novel in free verse about a middle schooler who discovers he's not the only one grappling with the imperfections of the world. In this powerful novel in free verse, Felix Landon Yarrow (F.L.Y., or "Fly"), a fourteen-year-old boy with cerebral palsy, is captivated by the noble, chivalrous ideals of knighthood. So when he fears that a school villain, Carter, poses a danger to his lady love, Daria, he knows rescuing her must be his quest. Using his wits and his own unique powers, he constructs an elaborate plot meant to culminate with him on his wheeled "trusty steed" triumphantly conquering his enemy and saving his "damsel in distress." Alas, for this brave knight, as for most middle schoolers, plans often have a way of going awry. Alison Hughes has crafted a moving and unflinching story of courage, connection and self-discovery. In the spare first-person narrative, Felix's witty, often sarcastic and self-aware voice matter-of-factly reveals how it feels to be the kid in the wheelchair. Felix is a fully realized, funny character who defies labels, and who learns and grows as the story unfolds. For reluctant and avid readers alike, this book is a potent vehicle for engaging young people with a unique perspective and for encouraging empathy. It's an excellent choice to showcase the power of poetry and, in particular, novels in verse. It provides character education lessons in respect, courage and kindness.

How do you go on after making a life-altering discovery about yourself? Sophie St. John’s grandmother, a world-renowned writer, may be as talented as she is rude, but Sophie is just Sophie: clumsy, emotional, and prone to outbursts. When she stars in a class play based on her grandmother’s famous novel and then comes across an old legal case while doing research for homework, Sophie uncovers a profound, devastating, life-changing secret — a secret her parents have kept from her since birth. Faced with a revelation that changes her entire future, Sophie must confront her dysfunctional family, ponder her life goals, and summon the courage to finally start living on her own terms.

“We must get to the forests of the night!” Lora cried out after a nightmare. A year after her mysterious disappearance from Clearwood Home for Orphans, Lora’s words still haunt her best friend, Ellis. Everyone knows about the Blight that killed every forest in the world, but can there really be one last secret grove of trees? When Ellis, the orphanage’s new charge Pip, and their school friend Jasper become drawn to the eerie Ghost Tree, the last fossilized relic of the Blight left on their schoolgrounds, their connection to nature makes them targets of a sinister enemy. Can Ellis and her friends escape capture and find the rumored evergreen sanctuary? Or are they doomed to meet the same fate as Lora?

Que se produit-il lorsqu'un gar on ramasse un d chet ? Il ne s'en doute pas, mais ce simple geste aura plusieurs cons quences imm diates sur son environnement. Du microscopique jusqu' l'universel, Ce qui compte explore en douceur les connections entre nature, insectes et animaux, et les traces produites par un enfant. L'album illustre de mani re contrast et philosophique le concept de l'effet papillon.

An innocent game of hide 'n seek turns deadly when four friends witness something they were never meant to see. When Emily, Tess, Cam and Dylan decide to ignore the new town curfew during their Friday-night game of hide-and-seek, they get more than they bargained for. Down by the river, they witness a shady deal go down involving some criminal types who recently moved into their neighborhood. When the teens are discovered, they are hunted through the dark streets and back alleys. They will have to use all their hide-and-seek skills to save each other. Ultimately, Emily, the youngest of the group and the best hider, discovers that sometimes staying hidden is the best way to escape. This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for teen readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don't like to read The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.