New Releases by Mary Stolz

A sweet story for anyone who''s ever dreamed of having a pet pig Emmett loves pigs and has all the toy pigs any kid could dream of. But Emmett wants a real pig. He lives in a New York City apartment, so Emmett’s family says that he can’t keep one in the house. Instead, on his birthday, his dreams will come true in the most surprising way! This Level Two I Can Read book is geared for kids who read on their own but still need a little help. This digital edition of the classic Emmett’s Pig by Mary Stolz and Garth William is a special commemorative edition celebrating the 60th anniversary of I Can Read books for beginning readers. The book features an anniversary burst and eight pages of bonus material on the history of I Can Read—including a timeline, origin stories of favorite characters, and never-before-seen early sketches.

It is a long time ago in a village near Germany''s Black Forest, and Erich, a foundling, has been left in the care of the good and charitable Frau Goddhart. Or, at least the publicly good and charitable Frau Goddhart; at home it''s quite another story. Erich''s young life of work and little love changes when old Ula, the town''s most skillful clockmaker, offers him a job as his helper. Ula is a patient and very slow worker, which is why his cuckoo clocks are the best anywhere. Ula teaches Erich about clockmaking, playing the fiddle, and many other useful and wonderful things. One day as Ula works at his clockmaking and Erich looks on, Baron Balloon storms in demanding a clock. Ula refuses, and decided right then and there to make a clock for himself, a wondrous, beautiful clock that will be his last and best. The clock he makes - with Erich''s help-is wonderful, beautiful, and magical, with a cheerful enchanted cuckoo bird that knows all the thirty-six songs of the birds of the Black Forest. Mary Stolz''s story is alive with the magic of art, and creation and is sure to enchant, as are the warm pencil illustrations by Pamela Johnson.

After spending the day fishing in the Gulf of Mexico with Grandfather, eight-year-old Thomas has a quiet evening on the porch hearing more about his African heritage.

Though they still listen to baseball and go fishing, Thomas and his grandfather find life in their small house in Florida changed when Great-aunt Linzy comes to stay.

Can feline detective Eileen O''Kelly crack the case that has left the Boston police baffled and wringing their paws? Will she be able to track down the murderer who did away with celebrated chef Madame Jewel?

A Brother''s War Tom Rigby didn''t think that anything could ever come between him and his twin, Jack. But things begin to change when Tom learns that they are not allowed to play with their friend Aaron anymore because he''s a slave. Tom is upset, but Jack doesn''t seem to care. All Jack cares about is playing soldier. Eleven years later, when war breaks out, Jack joins the Confederation army. But Tom can''t bring himself to fight for a cause he doesn''t believe in -- slavery. So Tom rides north to join the Union army -- even though he knows he may one day have to face his brother on the battlefield.

In his old age Cezanne Pinto recalls his youth as a slave on a Virginia plantation and his escape to a new life in the North.

Chosen to design a magnificent monument for a vain and demanding Pharaoh, an Egyptian stone carver conceives of and begins work on the Sphinx which still stands in the Egyptian desert today.

Thomas talks his grandfather into driving across Florida to meet Coco Grimes, an old man who remembers the Negro Baseball League.

Mrs. Weed, a former teacher, and her dog and cat enjoy their daily routine--with occasional disruptions--throughout each season of the year.

Examines the varying emotions and confrontations of three siblings as they attempt to rebuild a family after their mother has deserted them.

While out on a fishing trip with his son, a father is asked to say something about the moon, night, sky, wind, caves, brooks, and many other things that surround us in nature.

Deputy Jack Shep, the laziest police dog to ever wear a badge, is called upon to investigate a wave of burglaries in the sleepy village of Canoville.

Storm in the night. Thunder like mountains blowing up. Lightning licking the navy-blue sky. Rain streaming down the windows, babbling in the downspouts. And Grandfather? . . . And Thomas? . . . And Ringo, the cat? They were in the dark. Too early to go to bed, and with only flashes of lightning to see by, Thomas and his grandfather happily find themselves re-discovering the half-forgotten scents and sounds of their world, and having a wonderful time learning important, new things about each other in a spirited conversation sparked by darkness. Mary Stolz and Pat Cummings have each brought their unique talents to this lyrical tale about a magical, stormy night and a special relationship.

Edward Frost is given Argess, a dog, who helps him come to terms with the local bully, Martin Hastings decides he must change his bad reputation, and Martin finally experiences success, as a baby-sitter.

Realizing his fate is to be spareribs, a pig disguises himself as a boy, runs away, finds employment, and becomes friends with a little girl.

Fifteen-year-old Cormac, longing to fulfill his artistic inclinations, leaves his family farm in ninth-century Ireland and joins a monastery, where he creates an illuminated manuscript to be treasured by generations to come.

While looking for employment, two scarecrows become separated from their cat child, finding each other again on Halloween.

Despite his struggles to improve his behavior at school and at home, an overweight, eleven-year-old bully''s efforts to reform seem doomed to fail.

Reformed bully Martin Hastings fantasizes about heroic adventures as an explorer and a sports star, until his new circle of friends and growing self-confidence at home make real life as exciting as his daydreams.

Describes the night-time activities of the hermit crab, horse conch, heron, loggerhead turtle, and other animals that inhabit the seashore.

Reformed bully Martin Hastings fantasizes about heroic adventures as an explorer and a sports star, until his new circle of friends and growing self-confidence at home make real life as exciting as his daydreams.

Polly spends the summer trying to fill the void created when her best friend moves to California.

Taylor, Jem, and B. J. each react differently to the breakup of their parents'' marriage.

A young girl''s persistent overtures to a new neighbor result in friendship.

An unhappy teenage girl, unable to cope with problems at home and at school, suffers an accidental blow on the head and is transported 3000 years back in time to another existence in ancient Egypt.