William David Thomas

A chance encounter with an old llama astonishingly reveals a language Allen didn't know he could speak in this captivating and one-of-a-kind middle-grade novel. For fans of Katherine Applegate and the beloved classic Hatchet, comes an emotionally driven, magical-realism, outdoor survival story for 9-12-year-old readers. Now available in paperback 11-year-old Allen has a recurring nightmare, a persistent habit of humming, and difficulty connecting with other people. Making a fresh start, he and his grandmother move to a small village in northern New York. But when he meets an old llama at a winter festival, the encounter reveals a language Allen didn't know he could speak and unveils repressed memories that contradict what he has long believed about his earliest years and his parents' deaths. When the llama's life is threatened, Allen vows to free it. Together they begin a desperate trek through a snowy wilderness, a journey on which Allen must wrestle with lies about his past while struggling against the elements to survive. A fast-paced novel that's both emotionally captivating and steeped in survival, Hum is sure to resonate with middle-grade readers.

An overview of the dangerous job of a wilderness rescue pilot. Describes how these pilots fly to icy peaks and through forest fires to find missing people. Includes color photos and a glossary.

In what ways are the branches of government like a basketball game? How can a school yard game's rules liken themselves to a constitution? Through engaging analogies and introductions, our new Spanish-language government series gets English language learners ready for election 2008. Correlated to the fourth and fifth grade social studies curriculum, My American Government introduces students to how our government works. Students learn about the U.S. Constitution, the branches of government, citizens' basic rights, and how we elect our leaders.

In what ways are the branches of government like a basketball game? How can a school yard game's rules liken themselves to a constitution? Through engaging analogies and introductions, our new Spanish-language government series gets English language learners ready for election 2008. Correlated to the fourth and fifth grade social studies curriculum, My American Government introduces students to how our government works. Students learn about the U.S. Constitution, the branches of government, citizens' basic rights, and how we elect our leaders.

The first group of titles in an ongoing series introduces students to six amazing adventure careers. Geared for reluctant readers in upper elementary school and above, each high-interest title combines easy-to-follow text with engagin on-the-job photos to spark students' interest in reading and career exploration. Each book is filled with descriptive information about the career, along with the skills and requirements needed to pursue a job in the profiled field.

This state series, for Grades 2 and above, is designed for elementary students' first study of the United States. Each volume is a colorful, comprehensive portrait that features state facts and symbols and uses vivid text to describe the history, people, land, economy, and government of each state. Young readers will enjoy the "fun facts" sprinkled throughout the text and the chapter on "things to see and do." Each volume includes a timeline, biographies of notable people, and numerous maps and charts.