Most Popular Books by Claudia Mills

Dinah Seabrooke is in seventh grade and distraught at learning that the sun will vaporize the earth in about 5 billion years. Nothing matters anymore-not class elections, the school play, even her relationship with Nick. Then Dinah suffers her first loss and discovers the reasons to live fully even though nothing lasts forever. "Sensitively told and a pleasure to read."-Kirkus Reviews

Exploring the ethical questions posed by, in, and about children’s literature, this collection examines the way texts intended for children raise questions of value, depict the moral development of their characters, and call into attention shared moral presuppositions. The essays in Part I look at various past attempts at conveying moral messages to children and interrogate their underlying assumptions. What visions of childhood were conveyed by explicit attempts to cultivate specific virtues in children? What unstated cultural assumptions were expressed by growing resistance to didacticism? How should we prepare children to respond to racism in their books and in their society? Part II takes up the ethical orientations of various classic and contemporary texts, including ''prosaic ethics'' in the Hundred Acre Wood, moral discernment in Narnia, ethical recognition in the distant worlds traversed by L’Engle, and virtuous transgression in recent Anglo-American children’s literature and in the emerging children’s literature of 1960s Taiwan. Part III’s essays engage in ethical criticism of arguably problematic messages about our relationship to nonhuman animals, about war, and about prejudice. The final section considers how we respond to children’s literature with ethically focused essays exploring a range of ways in which child readers and adult authorities react to children’s literature. Even as children’s literature has evolved in opposition to its origins in didactic Sunday school tracts and moralizing fables, authors, parents, librarians, and scholars remain sensitive to the values conveyed to children through the texts they choose to share with them.

Kelsey is the best reader in her third grade class, and she is determined to lead her class to victory in the all-school reading contest. Illustrations.

In book number five in the popular Franklin School Friends series, Cody Harmon stars in this story about a class pet show!

Ideal for courses in ethics, moral problems, and public policy, this contemporary anthology encourages students to scrutinize normally unquestioned popular notions. All selections are drawn from CQ: "The Report From The Center For Philosophy And Public Policy" and refer to issues such as air pollution, human rights, and education, issues with which our country is currently formulating public policy. Blends real-life policy debates with otherwise empty ethical abstractions, prompting students to contribute opinions and ask questions. Grants flexibility to instructors by offering a wide variety of selections (more than 80) to choose from depending upon the focus of their courses.

While trying to decide on a science fair project, third-grader Wilson struggles with with fractions and, much to his embarrassment, his parents sign him up to work with a math tutor, in this long-anticipated sequel to "7 x 9 = Trouble." Illustrations.

The quest to save the words of a dying language - and to find the words to save what may be a dying friendship - lies at the heart of this exquisite verse novel. Sixth grader Betsy is the one who informs her best friend, Lizard, that thousands of the world''s languages are currently threatened by extinction; Betsy''s mother is a linguistics professor working frantically to study dying languages before they are lost forever. But it is Lizard who, gripped by the magnitude of this loss, challenges Betsy, "What if, instead of WRITING about dying languages, like your mom, you and I SAVED one instead?" As the girls embark on their quest to learn as much as possible of the near-extinct language of Guernésiais (spoken on the Isle of Guernsey, off the coast of France), their friendship faces unexpected strains. With Lizard increasingly obsessed with the language project, Betsy begins to seek greater independence from her controlling and charismatic friend, as well as from her controlling and charismatic mother. Then tragedy threatens Betsy''s life beyond what any words can express, and Lizard does something unthinkable. Maybe lost friendships, like lost languages, can never be completely saved. An NCTE Notable Verse Novel A Charlotte Huck Recommended Book A Mighty Girl Best Book of the Year A Bulletin of the Center for Children''s Books Blue Ribbon Book! A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

Seventh-grade honor student Sierra Shepard faces expulsion after accidentally bringing a paring knife to school, violating the school''s zero-tolerance policy.

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Soon-to-be fourth-grader Mason Dixon does not want a pet, but his parents think it will be good for him. Goldfish dies soon after his arrival (from overfeeding). Mason is relieved. Hamster escapes. Mason is relieved. Cat has to go back because best friend Brody is too allergic to ever be at their house while Cat is there. Mason is relieved. But when Dog comes, it takes a little dose of jealousy for Mason to realize he does want a pet, all of his very own. Claudia Mills introduces a new, hilarious character in Mason, and each of the three books about him will feature both boys as they cope with a new experience; pitch-perfect for 8- to 10- year-old newly independent readers, the books will maintain a consistent page count and feature black-and-while art throughout.

Chelsea learns she is perfectly human If Chelsea Garing likes anything better than school, it''s church, especially when she gets the chance to shine. Unfortunately, Chelsea can''t perform perfectly every time. One day, when she''s serving as acolyte, her candlelighter unexpectedly goes out. Another day, when she''s acting a role from the Good Samaritan story in Sunday school, annoying Danny Repetti plows into her. Why her friend Naomi Goldberg doesn''t find Danny unbearable is beyond Chelsea. During fourth-grade gym, Danny makes a remark about Hanukkah that Chelsea is sure has offended Naomi -- yet it hasn''t! A much more serious matter perplexes Chelsea: how can God let people die? Chelsea Garing may not always be at her best for God or man, but she learns to accept everyone''s shortcomings -- including her own -- in this thoughtful, funny portrait of a child who loves her life at church. Warm, lively drawings by Jacqueline Rogers complement the story.

Ethan Winfield may not be a star student or athlete like his brother, but he''s determined to make his mark when he falls for the new student teacher. Ethan Winfield has never been an academic or athletic standout like his older brother, Peter. But that doesn''t make him a failure. Ethan and his best friend, Julius Zimmerman, even decide to found an exclusive club: Losers, Inc. Everything changes when both boys fall for the new student teacher, Ms. Gunderson. Ethan realizes that to impress her, he needs to excel. He tackles the longest book for his report and aims to make the best science fair project—alone. But it''s not Ms. Gunderson who falls for Ethan; it''s Lizzie Archer, class nerd. Embarrassed by the teasing, Ethan hatches a hurtful plot to prove she''s not his girlfriend. Even as he strives to succeed in school, Ethan feels undeserving of anyone''s love—not Ms. Gunderson''s, Lizzie''s, Julius''s, or his own. In Losers, Inc., Claudia Mills, creator of overachiever Dinah Seabrooke, portrays a boy seeking a reason to thrive, only to learn that success alone isn''t enough. This smart, funny, down-to-earth story follows a relatable hero as he struggles to grow up.

The sequel to Losers, Inc. and You''re a Brave Man, Julius Zimmerman As seventh grade begins, Lizzie Archer knows she can''t endure another year of being derided as the class nerd. Maybe she can''t stop being smart -- does she want to? -- but at least she doesn''t have to look so different. Out of her Emily Dickinson dresses and into Gap jeans she goes, and the effect is amazing. The girls talk to her; the boys tease her. But her braininess remains an obstacle to her popularity, and Lizzie wants so to be liked, especially by Ethan Winfield. To her teacher''s amazement, Lizzie begins to make mistakes in math. Ethan is horrified -- he''s her math partner -- but no one is more unhappy, or confused, than Lizzie. Will she ever find herself? Through her sparkling Lizzie Archer, Claudia Mills extends a hand to girls, gently encouraging them to be all that they can and to feel confident that like will befriend like.

Riley O''Rourke is writing his report on President Teddy Roosevelt in preparation for the fourth-grade biography tea, but he has a far more important goal: to get a saxophone so he can take instrumental music. His mother can''t afford to rent him a sax, and he''s sure he''ll never save up enough money to buy one. But as Riley learns more about Roosevelt''s "bully" spirit, he realizes that there just might be a way to solve his problem after all. Claudia Mills'' sparkling story about the influence of important historical figures is enhanced by tender, insightful illustrations. Being Teddy Roosevelt is a 2008 Bank Street—Best Children''s Book of the Year.

Maggie McIntosh is crazy about her biology teacher and loves to impress him with her academic excellence. But when the dreaded day of the first class dissection arrives, Maggie has to disappoint Mr. O. There''s no way she can cut up a worm. Maggie''s best friend, Alycia, understands. Alycia is squeamish, too, and shares Maggie''s moral outrage. However, she''s willing to keep quiet and let her lab partner do the dirty work. Maggies'' own lab partner, Matt, completely disagrees. Then, after Maggie walks out on the dissection, he seems to respect her. And classmate Jake, who follows Maggie out the door, appears positively smitten. As she struggles to clarify her position about dissections, Maggie discovers that people and relationships are not always what they seem, and just as there are no perfect fathers (hers left years before), there are no perfect father figures - or even friends.

Izzy Barr is the star athlete of the third grade: she hits homeruns on her softball team and is one of the fastest runners in her class. But at home, her half-brother, Dustin, seems to be her father''s favorite athlete—why else would her dad go to all of his games and miss so many of hers? Izzy pretends that she doesn''t care, but as she, her friends Annika Riz and Kelsey Green, and the rest of their class are gearing up for class field day, she can''t help but hope her dad will be there to cheer her on in the big race against her rival, Skipper Tipton. Dad doesn''t make it to field day, but when he realizes how important it is to Izzy, he and all of her friends and family are there to watch her participate in the citywide 10K run.

Best friends Nixie and Grace spend every afternoon together . . . until Nixie''s mom gets a new job and Nixie must attend the after-school program, without Grace. Third graders Nixie Ness and Grace Kenny have been best friends since they were two-years-old. They have always spent every afternoon after school at Nixie''s house until Nixie''s mom announces that she has a job, which means she won''t be there to watch the girls after school, which means Nixie will have to go to the after-school program and Grace will be spending her afternoons at their classmate, Elyse''s, house. Nixie begrudgingly starts the after-school program, joining the cooking camp. And it turns out that the other children at cooking camp are nice, and the recipes they make are delicious. But Nixie can''t really enjoy being an after-school superstar until she finds a way to overcome her jealousy about Grace and Elyse''s budding friendship. Perfect for fans of Judy Moody, Ivy and Bean, and Clementine, this new chapter book series features recurring characters, and each book will highlight one activity they do at their after-school program. The books are illustrated in black and white and include a bonus activity that corresponds to the book''s plot. Nixie Ness: Cooking Star features a recipe for morning glory muffins. The next book in the After-School Superstars series, Vera Vance: Comics Star, is scheduled for release in Spring 2020.

Gus and Grandpa love to answer mail. Shortly after they enter the lottery, Grandpa has a heart attack. Gus is afraid to visit the hospital, but as soon as he arrives, Grandpa makes him feel right at home. Grandpa teaches Gus how to raise and lower the bed, and gives him quarters for the soda machine. Still, Gus is eager to have Grandpa back where he belongs. Then Grandpa does go home. There''s lots of mail, but no lottery prize. No matter, says Grandpa; being with his family again is better than ten million dollars. Gus agrees wholeheartedly. Once again, in gentle words and pictures, Claudia Mills and Catherine Stock celebrate an invaluable relationship. Gus and Grandpa love to answer mail. Shortly after they enter the lottery, Grandpa has a heart attack. Gus is afraid to visit the hospital, but as soon as he arrives, Grandpa makes him feel right at home. Grandpa teaches Gus how to raise and lower the bed, and gives him quarters for the soda machine. Still, Gus is eager to have Grandpa back where he belongs. Then Grandpa does go home. There''s lots of mail, but no lottery prize. No matter, says Grandpa; being with his family again is better than ten million dollars. Gus agrees wholeheartedly. Once again, in gentle words and pictures, Claudia Mills and Catherine Stock celebrate an invaluable relationship.

7X9 = Trouble!