Most Popular Books by Elise Broach

Peter''s been invited to go on a safari. He''s brought: 1. Uncle Nigel, who''s an explorer 2. hiking shorts 3. a canteen But what he will need most is a bit of gumption. (Gumption: n. Courage; spunk; fortitude; resourcefulness; good sense.) Oh, wait...there are crocodiles in the river? Then he might need a lot of it!

A charming picture book that cleverly captures a universal wish—to love and care for something—and shows that you''re never too little to share in that dream, by New York Times-bestselling author Elise Broach. Once there was a boy who wanted something to take care of. Something of his very own. He begged his mother for a puppy. Until she said YES! The boy loved his puppy. He fed him and played with him and cuddled him. But soon, the dog wanted something to take care of—something of his very own. So the dog gets a pet cat; then the cat gets a pet bird; the bird gets a pet worm; the worm gets a pet flea . . . and on and on it goes as utter chaos ensues. Christy Ottaviano Books

Imagine if instead of getting the usual lollipop or sticker everywhere you go, there was something bigger on offer… something much, much bigger! This is exactly what happens when a little boy accompanies his mum on a busy shopping trip. Just when the little boy thinks he''s going to die of boredom, something very unusual happens… shops everywhere are giving away a very special treat with every purchase ~ a free dinosaur! It''s a dream come true… except, what exactly do you do with these Jurassic treats? And how do you convince mum to let you keep them?

Join Marvin the beetle on a hilarious adventure in the tiny world of bugs! In this Masterpiece Adventure, James is going on vacation for a week, leaving his best friend Marvin at home. Marvin has to play with his annoying cousin, Elaine, and the two quickly find themselves getting into all sorts of trouble—even getting trapped inside a pencil sharpener! As Marvin starts to worry about his friendship with James, he wonders if James will still be his friend when he gets home or if he''ll have found a new best friend. Perfect for beginning readers, Miniature World of Marvin & James is the first book in a companion series to bestselling author Elise Broach''s Masterpiece Adventures. With engaging illustrations and relatable themes of friendship, this early chapter book will delight kids who love tiny worlds, beetles, bugs, and exciting adventures. A Christy Ottaviano Book

Hero changed into a T-shirt, grabbed a book, and padded barefoot into her sister''s room. The large windows overlooked the backyard. She could see the moonlight streaming over the trees and bushes, making long, crazy shadows across the grass. Was there a diamond hidden out there somewhere? She looked at Beatrice, already settled under the covers. She wanted to tell her about the Murphys, but at the same time, she didn''t. She wanted to keep the secret. To have something that belonged only to her. A missing diamond, a mysterious neighbor, a link to Shakespeare-can Hero uncover the connections? When Hero starts sixth grade at a new school, she''s less concerned about the literary origins of her Shakespearean name than about the teasing she''s sure to suffer because of it. So she has the same name as a girl in a book by a dusty old author. Hero is simply not interested in the connections. But that''s just the thing; suddenly connections are cropping up all over, and odd characters and uncertain pasts are exactly what do fascinate Hero. There''s a mysterious diamond hidden in her new house, a curious woman next door who seems to know an awful lot about it, and then, well, then there''s Shakespeare. Not to mention Danny Cordova, only the most popular boy in school. Is it all in keeping with her namesake''s origin-just much ado about nothing? Hero, being Hero, is determined to figure it out. In this fast-paced novel, Elise Broach weaves an intriguing literary mystery full of historical insights and discoveries. A JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD SELECTION

Marvin lives with his family under the kitchen sink in the Pompadays'' apartment. He is very much a beetle. James Pompaday lives with his family in New York City. He is very much an eleven-year-old boy.After James gets a pen-and-ink set for his birthday, Marvin surprises him by creating an elaborate miniature drawing. James gets all the credit for the picture and before these unlikely friends know it they are caught up in a staged art heist at the Metropolitan Museum of Art that could help recover a famous drawing by Albrecht Dürer. But James can''t go through with the plan without Marvin''s help. And that''s where things get really complicated (and interesting!). This fast-paced mystery will have young readers on the edge of their seats as they root for boy and beetle. In Shakespeare''s Secret Elise Broach showed her keen ability to weave storytelling with history and suspense, and Masterpiece is yet another example of her talent. This time around it''s an irresistible miniature world, fascinating art history, all wrapped up in a special friendship— something for everyone to enjoy. Masterpiece is a 2009 Bank Street - Best Children''s Book of the Year.

Book 4 in the Masterpiece Adventures chapter book series featuring Marvin the beetle and his best friend, James. James’s father, Karl, and Christina, his friend from the museum, are getting married! James is the ring bearer and he is excited but also nervous. He loves Christina yet he is worried about losing his dad to a different family and a different life. And what if, at the wedding, James drops the ring? His beetle best friend Marvin promises to help him, but Marvin ends up with an even more critical job when something goes wrong. Will the whole wedding be ruined? Not if Marvin and James and Elaine can help it. This young chapter book for emergent readers captures the miniature world and friendship of Marvin the beetle and James. Complete with charming illustrations on every page by Kelly Murphy. Christy Ottaviano Books

In the new Masterpiece Adventure Trouble at School for Marvin & James, the third in a series for younger readers from bestselling author Elise Broach, Marvin the beetle is off to school with James for the very first time! Everything runs smoothly on this big adventure until the bell rings after lunch and Marvin gets separated from James. In fact, he gets accidentally thrown away! Will Marvin make it back home to his family? How will James find him? This young chapter book for emergent readers captures the miniature world of Marvin the Beetle and his special friend James. A Christy Ottaviano Book

Little Bulldozer struggles to fall asleep in Bedtime for Little Bulldozer, a sweet and clever bedtime picture book by New York Times bestselling author Elise Broach with illustrations by Barry E. Jackson. Falling asleep isn’t always easy, especially for a loud and rumbling little bulldozer. Once he finally gets into bed, he can’t fall asleep no matter what he tries to do: has another drink of oil, gathers his favorite stuffies, and even reads his favorite book. Still, something’s not right, and only his sisters—a steamroller and a crane—can make it better. This reassuring and clever bedtime story is for young ones who need a bit of help “bull-dozing” off to sleep. Christy Ottaviano Books

There are some kinds of trouble you never see coming, like those thunderstorms that start from nothing at all. One minute the sky is bright blue and distant. Then, all of a sudden, it''s dark and thick with clouds, pressing down right on top of you. The leaves turn silvery and twist in the wind, the air starts to hum, and the rain comes, so heavy and fast you can''t even see. You almost never make it to the house on time. A dead body on the road—who is responsible and how will it affect the lives of three teens? For fourteen-year-old Lucy Martinez, the moment when everything changes comes one night during a long car trip with her older brother and his friend Kit. They are on their way to visit Lucy''s father for spring break, but never make it. While driving across northern New Mexico through a blinding rainstorm, their car hits something—an animal, they think. But when they backtrack, they find a dead body on the side of the road. With amazing insight and compelling prose, Elise Broach charts a suspenseful journey full of danger, loss, and painful self-discovery. What will happen to the lives of three teenagers who can suddenly no longer pretend innocence?

★ “Exceptional…. Rich with facts around goldfinches and music, vivid descriptions, unique characters, and carefully crafted suspense.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review ★ “Perfect for readers who, like Mirabelle, are sometimes spellbound by music.” —Booklistu00ad, starred review A musically gifted bird, a piano-playing boy, and a real-life mystery involving three artistic geniuses Welcome to the world of Mirabelle, a young goldfinch who loves to sing and dreams of becoming a musical star. She lives with her family in the backyard of a piano teacher, and she is quickly intrigued by Mr. Starek''s newest pupil. Michael Jin is an eleven-year-old keyboard sensation, but lesson after lesson, he refuses to play. With the prestigious Chopin Festival looming at summer’s end, how will he be ready in time? Mirabelle is responsible for Michael’s breakthrough—to her own astonishment, she sings the Chopin piece he is beginning to play at the piano. It is their first duet. Thus begins a secret adventure that will take Mirabelle and Michael further than they ever imagined—in music, in friendship, and in solving the mystery of a lost piano that could be worth millions. A house full of treasures holds the clues. There, Mirabelle, Michael, and their friend Emily will make an important discovery that links the great composer Frederic Chopin, the trailblazing author George Sand, and the French Romantic painter Eugene Delacroix. A fast-paced, history-rich mystery will have young readers hooked as they root for boy and bird in this beautifully told novel, full of emotion and suspense. A Bank Street College Best Book of the Year A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

From the award-winning team who created Masterpiece comes a charming chapter book about a young bulldozer who is nervous about making friends and starting school. ★ "Broach and Murphy rev up for a promising new series…. An enthralling tale about doing the heavy lifting of making friends." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review ★ "This sweetly simple story addresses sometimes-challenging issues surrounding meeting new people with a light and understanding touch, and expressive drawings with muted orange accents bring Bulldozer and his world to life.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review “Broach offers young readers a compassionate tale about the jitters that often accompany starting school and cultivating new friendships… A touching story of overcoming social fears, perfect for early chapter book readers or those younger to read with a loved one.” – School Library Journal Bulldozer is shy when it comes to making new friends and nervous about starting school. But when he meets his new neighbor Millie and her little brother Jay, Bulldozer embarks on a daring adventure to rescue a stranded cat. With the help of his own machinery—and a plate of freshly baked cookies—Bulldozer overcomes his fears just by being himself. The beloved team of Elise Broach and Kelly Murphy are back with a compelling new series about an endearing bulldozer living in a human world. Each book contains five chapters, perfect for emerging readers learning how to read on their own.

A Trip to the Country for Marvin & James is the fifth book in New York Times bestselling author Elise Broach''s Masterpiece Adventures chapter book series featuring Marvin the beetle and his best friend, James--featuring illustrations by Kelly Murphy. Marvin gets invited to spend a weekend with James visiting Karl and Christina in the country. And Marvin is bringing his cousin Elaine! Together, they partake in exciting outdoor activities. But a playful boat ride on a pond turns into an unexpected adventure. How will James and Marvin and Elaine find each other out in the wilderness? This fifth book in the Masterpiece Adventures series brings Marvin and James together in a celebration of friendship and family. Christy Ottaviano Books

A high-stakes middle grade historical adventure through Yosemite National Park by the New York Times-bestselling author of Masterpiece. Twelve-year-old Lizzie Durango and her dad have always had a zoo to call their home. Lizzie spends her days watching the animals and taking note of their various behaviors. Though the zoo makes for a unique home, it''s a hard place for Lizzie to make lasting friends. But all this changes one afternoon when she finds Tyler Briggs, a runaway who has secretly made the zoo his makeshift home. The two become friends and, just as quickly, stumble into a covert investigation involving the zoo wolves who are suddenly dying. Little do they know, this mystery will draw them into a high-stakes historical adventure involving the legend of John Muir as they try to navigate safely while lost in Yosemite National Park. A Christy Ottaviano Book

Read a sneak peek of THE WOLF KEEPERS! Twelve-year-old Lizzie Durango and her dad have always had a zoo to call their home. Lizzie spends her days watching the animals and taking note of their various behaviors. Though the zoo makes for a unique home, it''s a hard place for Lizzie to make lasting friends. But all this changes one afternoon when she finds Tyler Briggs, a runaway who has secretly made the zoo his makeshift home. The two become friends and, just as quickly, stumble into a covert investigation involving the zoo wolves who are suddenly dying. Little do they know, this mystery will draw them into a high-stakes historical adventure involving the legend of John Muir as they try to navigate safely while lost in Yosemite National Park.

It''s summer and the three Barker brothers—Simon, Henry, and Jack—just moved from Illinois to Arizona. Their parents have warned them repeatedly not to explore Superstition Mountain, which is near their home. But when their cat Josie goes missing, they see no other choice. There''s something unusually creepy about the mountain and after the boys find three human skulls, they grow determined to uncover the mystery. Have people really gone missing over the years, and could there be someone or some thing lurking in the woods? Together with their new neighbor Delilah, the Barker boys are dead-set on cracking the case even if it means putting themselves in harm''s way. Here''s the first book in an action-packed mystery series by a New York Times bestselling author. Missing on Superstition Mountain is a Publishers Weekly Best Children''s Fiction title for 2011.

Two children must find a way around their father''s "no pets" rule when a friendly dragon appears in their backyard.

"Marvin the beetle is going collecting with his family. All is good and well until Uncle Albert gets hurt. Marvin needs his human friend James''s help to save Uncle Albert before it''s too late"--

Bulldozer overcomes his anxieties before the first day of school in this second installment of the Bulldozer and Friends series, by the award-winning team who created The Masterpiece Adventure chapter book series. Bulldozer is nervous about his new school year and worried he won’t fit in. His friend Millie tries to reassure him, but Bulldozer isn’t convinced…especially when he gets to his classroom and things start going wrong. But just when he’s sure his day couldn’t get worse, something amazing happens! The first day of school proves to be special for everyone, all because of Bulldozer. Perfect for kids learning how to read on their own, the second book in this endearing series follows Bulldozer through the challenges and rewards of going to school.

Returning to Superstition Mountain, the Barker brothers, along with their friend Delilah, soon find themselves entangled in more danger and mystery as they uncover a treasure. Illustrations.