Cats to the Rescue

CATS TO THE RESCUE

(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.

What Stinks?

WHAT STINKS?

(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!

Make Me Over: 11 Original Stories About Transforming Ourselves

(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.

Monday on the Mississippi

MONDAY ON THE MISSISSIPPI

(excerpt)

MONDAY ON THE MISSISSIPPI
Lake Itasca, Minnesota

A little lake among so many lakes.
A little stream among so many streams.
A little girl wiggles her toes
in the shallow water and wonders,
How long before we’re big and strong, little Mississipi?
How many miles? How many days?

Central Heating: Poems about Fire and Warmth

CENTRAL HEATING: Poems about Fire and Warmth

(excerpt)

DRAGON
Who wouldn’t care to be
a dragon?
To be master of fire
and air?
To wander through a field or two
torching ricks of hay?
To take to the sky and declare you’re there
with a fireworks display?
In winter not to worry if it’s snowing
or it’s sleeting?
To snuggle in a pleasant cave
where you’re the central heating?

Face Relations: Eleven Stories About Seeing Beyond Color

Fiction for Young Adults

(Table of Contents)

PHAT ACCEPTANCE

by Jess Mowry

Brandon’s got that cool white surfer-dude look–even if he isn’t a surfer. He’s worried about fitting in at his new school when his day is turned upside down by the arrival of the one, the only, the fattest black classmate he’s ever seen.

SKINS

by Joseph Bruchac

Mitch, a football player of Native American and Scandinavian heritage, finds his strategy of “hanging back” challenged by the two new kids in town: Randolph, clearly African American, and Jimmy T., purely American Indian. Or are they?

SNOW

by Sherri Winston

When Noelle, a budding journalist, decides to fight against the mistreatment of Haitian students by fellow African-American classmates, she faces a dangerous enemy: the school principal.

THE HEARTBEAT OF THE SOUL OF THE WORLD

by Rene Saldana Jr.

PD was a promising Latino trumpet player. Now, he’s dead. But oh, what he left behind!

HUM

by Naomi Shihab Nye

Sami and his family are haunted by what they left behind in the Middle East, but hopeful about their new life in Texas. Then comes the day that changes everything: September 11, 2001.

EPIPHANY

by Ellen Wittlinger

Pining for her best friend Epiphany, DeMaris dares to ask: Why can’t a white girl sit with the black kids in the cafeteria?

BLACK AND WHITE

by Kyoko Mori

Born in Japan and growing up in rural Wisconsin, Asako wonders if being the misunderstood “foreigner” excuses her act of Halloween vandalism.

HEARING FLOWER

by M.E. Kerr

Bianca, rich and white, falls for Esteban, a handsome, hardworking Latino. What happens to their romance when her father hires him to fix the roof?

GOLD

by Marina Budhos

Jemma’s father was Indian. Her mother is black. In Trinidad that wasn’t a problem. So why, in N.J., does Mama disapprove of African-American boys?

MR. RUBEN

by Rita Williams-Garcia

No one can tell what race Mr. Ruben is. But poor Myra, she just can’t have a crush on the man unless he’s black–and she’ll drive herself and her friend Dee crazy until she finds out if he is or not.

NEGRESS

by Marilyn Singer

Vonny’s insistance that Beth participate in a school assembly performance of the Hottentot Venus–a woman exhibited as a sexual freak throughout Europe in the early nineteenth century–threatens to destroy their longtime friendship.

Block Party Today!

BLOCK PARTY TODAY!

(excerpt)

The first Saturday in June, the sun comes up smiling on Berkeley Place.

“Block party today.” Mr. Monte hums. “Time to sweep the sidewalk.”

“Block party today.” Steve and Ernie yawn. “Time to hang the banner.”

“Block party today.” Mercedes beams. “Time to bring out the tables and set out the grill.”

“Block party today!” shout Yasmin and Sue. “No cars! No trucks! Time to run in the street! Time to play double Dutch.”

“Isn’t Lola going to join us?” asks Yasmin.

“Maybe, if she ever stops being mad,” answers Sue.

But Lola doesn’t plan to stop being mad. Ever. She’s better than they are at jump rope. She’s better–and they should have let her jump first.

She will not leave her bedroom. She will not leave her bed. “Block party today, yuck!” she grumps. “Time to stay inside all day long.” She pulls the blanket over her head.

Creature Carnival

CREATURE CARNIVAL

(excerpt)

NESSIE
Thousands of miles
from the fair Loch Ness banks,
Swimming in one
of the world’s largest tanks,
(You can feed her some fishes,
but don’t expect thanks)
This way to our greatest attraction!
Is she chartreuse
or is she vermilion?
Is she amphibious?
Is she reptilian?
Is she just one–
or just one in a million?
She stirs up a major reaction!
Holding her breath?
She can do it with ease.
(Though there is some concern
if she happens to sneeze.)
Stay away from the edge
and no flash pictures, please.
You might glimpse the tiniest fraction.
(No refunds for dissatisfaction.)
This way to see Nessie in action!

How to Cross A Pond: Poems about Water

HOW TO CROSS A POND

(excerpt)

HOW TO CROSS A POND
You can swim
or you can float
on a raft
or in a boat.
You can skate
and you can row.
You can get
your dog to tow.
You can fly
if you’re a hawk.
And in the winter
you can walk.

Fireflies At Midnight

FIREFLIES AT MIDNIGHT

(excerpt)

FIREFLY
Come
(flash)
Choose me
(flash flash)
I am the
(flash)
summer romancer
In the night
(flash)
My light
(flash)
asks Are You the One?
Come
(flash)
flash me back
the answer