New Releases by Paul Fleischman

In this expertly crafted story from Newbery Medal–winning author Paul Fleischman, a fourth-grade class takes the journey of a lifetime from the comfort of their own classroom as they follow the flightpath of a small (but mighty) bird—with full-color illustrations by Hannah Salyer Every afternoon with their heads down and eyes closed, a fourth-grade class embarks on an imaginative migration journey alongside the bird they are studying. Guided by the voice of their teacher in the cool sanctuary of the classroom, the students travel all the way from Brazil to their hometown in Wisconsin. Along the way, they encounter weather, predators, setbacks, and loss. As their imaginations soar, the children begin to relate with their subject; they, too, need rest; have a hard time holding still; and have dodged a bully or two. At the journey''s end, the class has learned much more than science and geography—they have learned to fly. In this transcendent picture book, Newberry Medal–winning author Paul Fleischman weaves together a story rich with information, connection, and empathy.

"This fantastical picture book, like its hero, is bursting at the seams with creativity. . . . a vigorous shot in the arm to nonconformists everywhere" — Publishers Weekly (starred review) Enter the witty, intriguing world of Weslandia! Now that school is over, Wesley needs a summer project. He’s learned that each civilization needs a staple food crop, so he decides to sow a garden and start his own — civilization, that is. He turns over a plot of earth, and plants begin to grow. They soon tower above him and bear a curious-looking fruit. As Wesley experiments, he finds that the plant will provide food, clothing, shelter, and even recreation. It isn’t long before his neighbors and classmates develop more than an idle curiosity about Wesley — and exactly how he is spending his summer vacation.

“Instantly engrossing, free of self-pity, and resonant with resilience and gratitude . . . A powerful introduction to the American immigrant story.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review) When a little girl visits her great-grandfather, she asks about the collection of matchboxes harboring objects she can hold in her hand, each one evoking a memory. Together they tell of his journey from Italy to a new country, before he could read and write: the olive pit his mother gave him to suck on when there wasn’t enough food; a bottle cap he saw on his way to the boat; a ticket still retaining the thrill of his first baseball game. Newbery Medalist Paul Fleischman and acclaimed illustrator Bagram Ibatoulline tell a breathtaking immigration tale with appeal across generations.

Are you a word person? A curiosity seeker? An explorer? Take a look at these twenty-six extraordinary individuals for whom love of language is an extreme sport. Step right up and read the genuine stories of writers so intoxicated by the shapes and sound of language that they collected, dissected, and constructed verbal wonders of the most extraordinary kind. Jean-Dominique Bauby wrote his memoirs by blinking his left eyelid, unable to move the rest of his body. Frederic Cassidy was obsessed with the language of place, and after posing hundreds of questions to folks all over the United States, amassed (among other things) 176 words for dust bunnies. Georges Perec wrote a novel without using the letter e (so well that at least one reviewer didn’t notice its absence), then followed with a novella in which e was the only vowel. A love letter to all those who love words, language, writing, writers, and stories, Alphamaniacs is a stunningly illustrated collection of mini-biographies about the most daring and peculiar of writers and their audacious, courageous, temerarious way with words.

Mothers give birth in the borning room. The dying take their departure there. Outside the Lott family's Ohio farmhouse, the Civil War rages, slavery falls, and the world marvels at the wonder of electricity. Inside, within the walls of the borning room, Georgina Lott will experience her life's greatest turnings. Across the years, she discovers womanhood and first love, experiences the mourning that comes with loss, and, as did her mother and grandmother, at last takes her place in the room as another precious life is about to begin.

Welcome to Cliffside High, the school of your nightmares. It's run by the Huns, a ruthless clique of rich students—and, as poor Charity Chase discovers, messing with them can be murder. There's Tiffany, avid reader of every beauty magazine available; Brooke, desperate for a date; Danielle, Al Capone in Miss America's body, with her sights set firmly on a millionaire's son Drew. Unfortunately, like every other boy at Cliffside, Drew only has eyes for Helga, the ravishing new student from Norway ... wherever that may be. As far as Danielle is concerned, Helga could be from another world. In fact, if she doesn't lay off Drew—she just might be. Getting rid of her ought to be as easy as taking candy off a helpless old lady. Only something weird is happening to Danielle and her friends, something much nastier than the horror stories she loves to read, something that can only be described as a fate totally worse than death.

Seventeen-year-old Olivia hasn’t seen her father since she was eight months old. But when he summons her out of the blue, Olivia travels cross country to New Hampshire to meet him. That summer, she learns to adapt to rural life and to try to understand her reclusive father. The next summer, following high school graduation, she returns to recreate her father’s seventy-mile annual bike ride—reflecting on her own personal journey to understand the true meaning of love and kinship. When Olivia is summoned by her father, a man she barely remembers, to determine whether she is worthy of inheriting his legacy, she embarks on a personal odyssey that teaches her the true meaning of love and kinship.

Dunderheads, unite! A tyrannical teacher gets her just due in a delightfully subversive, outrageously funny tale by Newbery Medal winner Paul Fleischman. Miss Breakbone hates kids. Especially the time-squandering, mindwandering, doodling, dozing dunderheads in her class. But when she confiscates Junkyard''s crucial fi nd, she fi nally goes too far. Enter Wheels (and his souped-up bike with forty-eight extra gears), Pencil (who can draw anything from memory), Spider (look up and you''ll fi nd him), and their fellow misfi ts in a spectacular display of teamwork aimed at teaching Miss Breakbone a lesson she won''t soon forget. From the incomparable Paul Fleischman comes a winning cast of underdogs -- and one of the most terrifying teachers you''ll ever meet -- brought to vivid life in David Roberts''s quirky, hilarious illustrations.

Simplified Chinese edition of Weslandia, a classic by Newbery Medal winner Paul Fleischman. Wesley is not like other boys; he spent his summer inventing a myriad of things and effortlessly convinced people to believe in him. In Simplified Chinese. Distributed by Tsai Fong Books, Inc.

After being forced to sell the animals he loves, a farmer cuts his hedge to look like them and teaches his sons about following their hearts.

This National Book Award finalist is now in paperback. Growing up in foster care, Del pens a one-woman play about a Los Angeles traffic jam, providing readers with a backstage pass into a young playwright's psyche as her play parallels her own life.

Jack the B. April/03.

A grandmother tells a story about a young girl who uses her wits and what is available to her to help her survive when she is lost in the snow. Includes instructions for creating a number of string figures mentioned in the story.

Provides young readers with a colorfully illlustrated picture book of poems about conversation, talk, and gossip.

Sixteen-year-old Courtney, paralyzed in an accident, learns about the power of the mind from an elderly blind woman who takes her on an imaginary journey to Italy using a 1910 guidebook.

Miss Pym's class is in for a comic adventure beyond their wildest dreams. They've boarded the Rocky Mountain Unlimited, a mysterious train that's winding its way into the heart of prehistoric times. Join the class-and a horrified Miss Pym-as they scramble dinosaur egg for breakfast, go stegosaurus-back riding and pterodactyl gliding, and play soccer with their giant reptilian friends.

A creative guide to using copy machines to produce silhouettes, miniatures, decals, flip books, and other kinds of inexpensive artwork.

Lep''s consvinctions and his ability as a healer are put to the test during the Yellow Fever epidemic in Philadelphia in 1793.

An account of the 1834 cross-continental journey of naturalist John Townsend and his many discoveries, including the warbler that bears his name.

A twelve-year-old mute boy sets off to find his mother in a blizzard, and becomes the captive of an evil woman in the Half-a-Moon Inn. ‘A suspenseful tale with archetypal characters and a haunting atmosphere. . . . The brisk pace and steady accumulation of events build tension, while Fleischman's fine writing begs to be read aloud." —BL. 1980 Children's Reviewers' Choices (BL) Notable Books of the Year 1980 (NYT) 1980 Golden Kite Award Honor Book for Fiction (SCBW) Children's Books of 1980 (Library of Congress) 1980 Silver Medal for Literature (Commonwealth Club of California)

"I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT MY EYE IS UPON YOU". It is December 1681, and the words of Mr. Baggot, the tithingman, terrify young William. William is living a strange double life. By day he is a printer's apprentice living in a white man's house. By night, he is Weetasket of the Narraganset tribe who must risk Baggot's wrath to search for his lost brother. Then comes the winter celebration of the Saturnalia -- the ancient Roman holiday on which masters and slaves trade roles. Will William's secrets be revealed? And what dark deeds of others will be brought to light on this fateful night?

As a young piano student plays Beethoven''s Rondo in C at her recital, each member of the audience is stirred by memories.

Although his nearsightedness causes difficulties, Finzel the Far-Sighted is blessed with the ability to see into the future.