New Releases by Johanna Hurwitz

Maggie is dreading the new school year until she meets Scout, her science teacher's new guide dog. She soon discovers that her teacher, Mr. Carlson, isn't really used to letting Scout guide and protect him. So Maggie helps them adjust to each other as she learns to adjust to middle school. But just when the teacher and his guide dog seem to be working well together, they get hit by a car and Dr. Mac has to perform emergency surgery on Scout.

What do you do when you think your best friend is a liar and a thief? "In this engaging sequel to The Hot & Cold Summer, Hurwitz again demonstrates what makes her books so popular....The dialogue is natural, the humor unforced and the fifth-grade perspective controlled and right on target."--Bulletin of the Center for Children''s Books.

Fifteen-year-old Elaine suddenly finds her life very interesting, as her family deals with the death of a cat, her little brother gets five dogs for his birthday, and she begins a promising romance.

Two inseparable ten-year-old boys discover there is room in their friendship for another person and it really doesn''t matter that she is a girl.

When he and his family move to the suburbs, Aldo has difficulty finding new friends.

When his owner's parents let him go in Central Park, a young guinea pig learns to survive in the natural world with the help of a "park-wise" squirrel while trying to find his way back home.

Yard sales, ice-skating, and surprise parties are just a few of the things that make fourth grade fun. But Julio and his friends know it’s time to get serious when the class begins preparing for the big statewide test at the end of the year. Just thinking about it is enough to give anybody a stomachache! Julio and his best friend, Lucas, are going to try every superstition in the book to make sure they pass. They’ll wear their underwear inside out, use brand-new pencils, and even—gulp—study. But when test day comes, Julio finds out there are some surprises no one can prepare for! Whether one has read about Julio and Lucas and their other classmates before in class clown and class president or this is the first meeting, here is a story that will strike a familiar chord. With the warmth and realism she is known for, beloved author Johanna Hurwitz brings us the hardships and humor of Julio Sanchez’s fourth-grade year.

"Once again Hurwitz exhibits her talent for creating characters who talk, act, and think just like real kids. Realistic dialogue . . . and commonplace situations that sparkle with humor combine to make this a fine choice".--School Library Journal. Illustrated. Copyright © Libri GmbH. All rights reserved.

When a childhood illness leaves her blind and deaf, Helen Keller's life seems hopeless indeed. But her indomitable will and the help of a devoted teacher empower Helen to triumph over incredible adversity. This amazing true story is finally brought to the beginner reader level.