New Releases by Laurie Friedman

Maggie loves living on a farm, but she isn't happy when the cows move into her cozy house. They cook in her kitchen, play dress-up in her closet, take bubble baths in her tub, and have no interest in leaving! Can Maggie find a way to get the cows to go? In this humorous rhyming picture book, Maggie shows readers that anything is possible with a little out-of-the-box thinking. Features include author/illustrator biography, comprehension questions, full-color illustrations, and writing activity.

It's Valentine's Day and Ruby won't let anything spoil the celebration! In this follow-up to the popular Love, Ruby Valentine, Ruby's favorite day of the year rolls around again, and she and Lovebird work feverishly to plan the perfect party for everyone in Heartland. But when Valentine's Day arrives, an unexpected snowstorm threatens to ruin all of Ruby's plans. Will Ruby find a way to save the day, or will everyone in Heartland have to wait until next year to celebrate?

The world is a stage for Mallory McDonald! When Mallory tries out for a part in the school play and gets the lead, she is super excited. But not everyone shares her enthusiasm, especially her best friend Mary Ann. In fact, the more excited Mallory gets, the less excited Mary Ann becomes. Mallory can't understand why Mary Ann is acting so strange. Even though the lights are shining bright, is there something Mallory's not seeing? Can Mallory find a way to play the roles of leading lady and best friend?

Mallory is in Washington, D.C., with her fourth grade class. She can't wait to see the famous monuments and museums. But from the moment she sets foot in the nation's capital, there's one thing she doesn't see much of . . . her best friend. Mary Ann is spending so much time with the new boy in their class, she's forgotten all about being partners with Mallory. And when Mallory wanders off to wiggle her loose tooth, her tooth isn't the only thing that is lost! Will Mallory's trip to Washington turn out to be one she'll always remember or something she'd rather forget?

"Mallory is an appealing character who deserves a place alongside Junie B. Jones, Judy Moody, Amber Brown, and Clarice Bean." — School Library Journal When eight-and-a-half-year-old Mallory McDonald's parents tell her that they are moving, she's mad—really mad! It's not fair! How can they make her move away from Mary Ann, her best friend in the whole wide world? Who will she paint her toenails with, tell secrets to, and make scrapbooks with? When Mallory arrives at her new house on Wish Pond Road, things are terrible. Her room is too small and the girl next door is mean. But Joey lives next door, too. Even though he doesn't paint his toes, he tells jokes, helps teach her cat to do tricks, and shows her how to skateboard. Mallory's having so much fun she forgets the pact she made with Mary Ann never to make friends with a boy next door. But, when Mary Ann comes to visit, what will Mallory do? Will she have to choose between her best friend and her new friend? "Mallory is a lively, appealing character with a penchant for jokes (which are scattered throughout) and creative endeavors that have some comical, mixed results. Readers will relate to her thoughts and experiences, from familiar girlfriend activities and sibling issues to the rewards of friendships, old and new, near and far." — Booklist "Readers . . . [will] find her—and Joey—likable characters worth revisiting." — Publishers Weekly

It's summertime and the Wish Pond Road gang is getting ready to go to Camp Blue Lake. Mallory's not so sure she wants to go. What if she gets homesick or none of the other kids like her? Her best friends, Mary Ann and Joey, convince her how fun it will be to go swimming, boating, and roast marshmallows over a campfire. But when Mallory arrives at camp, nothing goes as planned. Will Mallory ever find a way to be a happy camper?

For Ruby Valentine, two pets means twice the love! There's a new addition in the Valentine house: a kitten! He's soft and sweet, and Ruby is happy to have him. But not everyone shares Ruby's enthusiasm. Lovebird's feathers are more than a little ruffled. And when Valentine's Day arrives, both animals try to outdo each other to show Ruby how much they love her. Ruby's favorite day quickly turns into a mess. Can Ruby find a way to show her pets that there's room in her heart for two?

Deep in the heart of Heartland lives Ruby Valentine and her trusty parrot Lovebird. Ruby's favorite day of the year is Valentine's Day—she loves to say "I love you" and make cards and treats to deliver to everyone in her town. But Ruby is so exhausted that she sleeps right through the holiday. Although Ruby is worried that she'll have to wait a whole year to tell everyone that she loves them, Lovebird convinces her to deliver her treats and messages of love even though they're a day late. To Ruby's surprise, no one minds.

Ling loves the balance beam and she's great on it, but she has a mental block when it comes to the vault. With some good advice from her older sister, who is also a gymnast, and the encouragement of her SUPER STARZ teammates, Ling is able to overcome her fears.

Homesick campers at Camp Creepy Lake go see Maude for help. But suddenly, they're all missing and no one knows where they have gone. Will, Chase, and Nelly work together to find them. But can they figure out what's going on in the Haunted Woods at Camp Creepy Lake?

Homesick campers at Camp Creepy Lake go see Maude for help. But suddenly, they're all missing and no one knows where they have gone. Will, Chase, and Nelly work together to find them. But can they figure out what's going on in the Haunted Woods at Camp Creepy Lake?

The Bean family is going camping! But they have a problem. There are so many noises outside their tent, no one can sleep. Baby Bean suggests they sing a soothing song that will help them fall asleep. But the rest of this illogical bunch comes up with their own zany solution.

Will and Chase are assigned to Bunk Five. Their counselor is a creepy skeleton named Bones, and their cabin is filled with his pet attack bats. With a little help from their friend Nelly, Will and Chase find a way to deal with the bats. But Bones has more in store for them!

With the help of her teammates, Grace finds the courage to speak up for herself when the stress of her father's expectations becomes too much. Includes support for caregivers and teachers.

When Rachel takes over planning a surprise for Coach Kim's birthday, her teammates help her learn what it means to be a team player.

"Diners are lined up outside of Chef Kate's restaurant on a cold day. ... Chef Kate is busy making her special Campfire Stew. When it's ready, Kate invites everyone to join her around the campfire for a warm bowl of stew and some fireside fun"--

Someone is leaving secret notes for Daisy's best friend, Justin. He turns to Detective Daisy to help solve the mystery.

The Bean family builds a house, but the roof keeps them from seeing the stars, so each member suggests a zany solution except Baby Bean.

Trainer Tom works with the animals at the zoo. Today, he's working with the flamingos and the ducks, who don't want to be friends! They tell Trainer Tom they're just too different. But Trainer Tom shows these two breeds of birds that making friends with those who are different can be lots of fun.

"Trainer Tom works with the animals at the zoo. Today, he's working with the flamingos and the ducks, who don't want to be friends! They tell Trainer Tom they're just too different. But Trainer Tom shows these two breeds of birds that making friends with those who are different can be lots of fun"--

"Milly loves to be silly! But it's picture day and Mom isn't happy when she and Jack have a bad case of the sillies. Milly loves to be silly, but recognizes there are times to be silly and times to be serious"--

"Trainer Tom works with the animals at the zoo. Today, he's working with the penguins to show them some good ways to be polite. But the penguins would rather swim. With Trainer Tom's help, the penguins learn their manners while still having fun. And Trainer Tom has fun too!"--

For readers interested in social and political justice comes a new middle grade fiction series about student council, elections, and running a fair and honest campaign Amanda Adams has always dreamed of running for class president. Her mom is a member of Congress and her dad is a political strategist who manages her mother's campaigns. Politics is in her DNA. She has the perfect VP in mind for the school ticket: her best friend Meghan Hart. But when Amanda finds out that Meghan has political ambitions of her own, these two best friends suddenly find themselves on opposite sides of the aisle, and, as each girl mounts her campaign, it's clear the gloves are about to come off. As the rest of their classmates begin to choose sides, the girls realize how they carry themselves over the coming weeks will have a lasting impact on the outcome.

Friendships are like flowers. If you take care of them, they grow and bloom until you have a beautiful garden! The Little Book of Friendship shows young readers what they need to know to make a friend and to be one too.

School's in session! When it comes to surviving school, Percy's at the head of the class. If you can follow his ten simple rules, making the grade will be a piece of cake (and school will be a lot of fun). But there's more to school than showing up on time and staying awake in class. If you have any doubts, Percy also shows exactly what not to do. No spitballs! No running in the halls! No bouncing off the ceiling! No crazy scheming! See what other trouble—and tips—Percy has in mind!

Everything in Mallory McDonald's life is changing! Fourth grade is over and summer is off to a shaky start. The Winstons are moving from Wish Pond Road to a bigger house across town, so Mallory's best friends, Mary Ann and Joey, won't be living next door anymore. And her friend Chloe Jennifer will be gone for the whole summer. On top of all this, Mallory's cat, Cheeseburger, suddenly gets sick! How will Mallory deal with all these changes? Will the vet help Cheeseburger get well? And will Mallory find new ways to have fun this summer?

Valentine's Day is approaching and everyone seems to be crazed with love-except for Mallory. She's been invited to a Valentine's party next door and rumor has it that her next-door neighbor's dad is going to propose to her best friend's mom. What will it mean if her two best friends become brother and sister' Where will she fit in' And to make matters even more confusing, Mallory is receiving presents from a secret admirer. Who could it be' Mallory feels like everything is changing and she has lots of questions about life, love, and friendship. Since her two best friends are preoccupied, Mallory turns to her diary to find the answers.

Now that April is officially going out with hot-boy-next-door Matt, she's head over heels. She loves how he makes her feel . . . most of the time. But one minute he's sweet and attentive, and the next, it's as if he's forgotten they're together. April just wants things to be great between them, like when they started going out. Now as summer approaches, she has to decide if she'll go to camp with her best friends, Billy and Brynn, or stay home and be with Matt. April wishes she could do it all―keep up with friends, have summer adventures, please her annoying family, and save her new relationship. But with Matt's affection running so hot and cold, she has some tough decisions to make.