Best Selling Books by Sarah Ellis

Winner of the Mr. Christie''s Book Award and the Violet Downey Book Award When Megan finds out why her mother is acting so odd, she is shocked and overwhelmed. Suddenly she is expected to welcome a new half-sister as part of the family. This is a beautiful, compassionate novel that is both poignant and funny.

Winner of the Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature Prize and the TD CCBC Canadian Children''s Literature Award Kip is spending the summer with his grandmother and his five eccentric girl cousins, including Emily, who thinks she''s a dog. Gran''s house is about to be demolished, so anything goes, whether it''s drawing maps on the walls or sawing off the knob at the bottom of the banister for a smoother ride. When Kip bashes through an old closet, he discovers the binder his late father kept as a teenager. He''s bewildered by what he finds: puzzling lists, hair samples, old newspaper clippings and business cards -- all accompanying a confidential report written by a mysterious young operative who is carrying out a secret plan to infect teenagers with a cell-altering virus. This wonderful novel has all the Sarah Ellis hallmarks -- quirky characters, insight and wit -- underpinned by resonant themes of family, memory and the creative imagination. Upcoming from Sarah Ellis in May 2014 Outside In: Eight years after the publication of Odd Man Out, Sarah Ellis returns to Groundwood Books with a highly anticipated new novel about family, friendship, materialism and beauty.

Excited by the unexpected prospect of a new sibling, eleven-year-old Jessica and her family eagerly prepare for the changes the new arrival will bring to their lives. Reprint.

Who says little brothers can_t do anything?Poor Ben. He_s the little one - the youngest and smallest. His sister Robin is a big kid in grade five; his brother Joe is a big kid in grade two. Ben_s just a little kid in preschool. He can_t swim, he can_t use chopsticks, he can_t even see out the car window. And worst of all, today is report card day. More than anything, Ben wants to bring home a report like Robin_s and Joe_s. But there are no report cards in preschool.Guess what? Ben is about to discover that sometimes there are report cards - at home, written by older siblings! He_s about to get his very own report, grading him on all the activities that little brothers do best.Beloved children_s author Sarah Ellis has followed up her acclaimed picture book debut, Next Stop! (2000) with this irresistible tale of siblings who, every once in a while, remember what it was like to be the little one. Kim La Fave_s always-empathetic characters inhabit a child_s world with just the right touch of humor and joy. A perfect book for preschoolers, younger siblings and beginner readers.

His sister is a big kid in grade five. His brother is a big kid in grade three. Ben is a little kid in preschool. He can’t swim; he can’t use chopsticks; he can’t even see out of the car window. If only he could bring home a real report card like the older kids do, then Ben would be happy. But there are no report cards in preschool. Sometimes older siblings remember what it was like to be little, however, and Ben’s brother and sister are about to present Ben with his very own report card, grading him on all the activities that little brothers do best. Award-winning author and illustrator Sarah Ellis and Kim La Fave team up to produce a book that is a triumph for little siblings everywhere. The engaging text, lively illustrations, and board book format are perfect for eager readers with little hands, big hearts, and bigger dreams.

When, at the age of twelve, he is sent out from the Opportunities School for Orphans and Foundlings to be a bookkeeper''s apprentice, Jack finds his heretofore predictable life full of unusual adventures.

"The idea of training rarely crosses cat owners'' minds, and we often assume that cats can''t and don''t need to be trained. But in The Trainable Cat, bestselling anthrozoologist John Bradshaw and cat expert Sarah Ellis show that not only can cats be trained, but they absolutely must be in order to strengthen the bond between pet and owner, reduce their anxiety, and maximize their happiness, "--Amazon.com.

THE NO.1 SUNDAY TIMES BUSINESS BESTSELLER ''The Squiggly Career is about navigating work in a way that suits you, it''s a timely and brilliant handbook for now'' Stylist ''A brilliant guide. Read it and get the tools you need to thrive in your career now and in the future'' Marie Forleo, author of Everything is Figureoutable ''Logical, practical and based on tried and tested models'' Financial Times''s Book of the Month Career ladders and jobs for life are a thing of the past Today, we''re living in a world of squiggly careers, where moving frequently and fluidly between roles, industries, locations, and even careers, is becoming the new normal. Squiggly careers can feel stressful and overwhelming, but if you know how to make the most of them, they can be full of opportunity, freedom and purpose. And to make the most of our increasingly squiggly careers we need to answer some important questions: What am I good at? What do I stand for? What motivates and drives me? Where do I want to go in the future? In The Squiggly Career, you''ll learn how to: - Play to your super strengths - Discover your values - Overcome your confidence gremlins - Build better support networks - Explore your future possibilities Packed with insights about the changing shape of work and inspiration from highly successful people, this book will fuel your growth and help you be happier, and ultimately more successful in your career.

A blank book to help the young writer keep a journal or scrapbook, or start a novel or story.

Thirteen-year-old Polly''s rebellion against her unmarried, fiercely independent mother comes to a head when they must find a new apartment.

A warm and witty portrait of child prodigy and world-famous classical musician Glenn Gould. Glenn was a child who knew his own mind — he liked boats but did not like fishing; he enjoyed puns and pranks but did not like bullying; he loved learning but did not like school ... but more than anything else he loved to play the piano. Glenn had a professional performing career by the time he was fifteen; he gave concerts all over the world in his twenties. He became best known for his interpretation of Bach’s Goldberg Variations. But Glenn grew to dislike concerts — the hall was too cold, or he didn’t feel well, or the audience made too much noise (he didn’t even like their applause!). He discovered that when he played and recorded music in an empty concert hall, he could make it sound exactly the way he wanted. He could do what he loved best, while being completely himself. Sarah Ellis’s beautifully written portrait of Glenn Gould is complemented by Nancy Vo’s gorgeous illustrations, bringing the life and times of this extraordinarily talented musician to readers young and old. Includes a fascinating author’s note and resources for further information. Key Text Features additional information afterword author’s note bibliography biographical information biographical note explanation facts further information further reading historical context illustrations informational note photographs sources vignettes writing inspiration Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.7 With prompting and support, describe the relationship between illustrations and the story in which they appear (e.g., what moment in a story an illustration depicts). CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2 Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7 Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.

Her family''s move to a new town in Canada leaves shy twelve-year-old Peggy feeling lonely and uncomfortable, until she befriends the unconventional George and the Chinese servant of her imperious neighbor Mrs. Manning.

TO EVERY GOOD LOVE STORY, THERE IS A TWIST. Times Two is about two women meeting, falling madly in love, and realizing that they are so crazy about each other that they want to have a family together. The fact that they both get pregnant at the exact same time is where things start to get interesting. Sarah Kate Ellis, a high-powered magazine executive, and Kristen Henderson, a laid-back rock star, decide it’s time to start their family. After determining that Sarah should get pregnant first while Kristen works on her band’s new CD, they head to a fertility doctor to start the process. But after months of drug treatments, miscarriages, and heartbreak, Kristen decides to start trying, too. That’s when the utterly improbable happens: Sarah and Kristen find out that they are both pregnant—and are due three days apart. Overjoyed by the news that they are both expecting, Sarah and Kristen are also overwhelmed by all that lies ahead. Both have successful, demanding careers. Both have large, close-knit families nearby, including two strongly opinionated mothers who immediately want to be involved with everything. And both are completely clueless about the challenges they’re about to face. They soon realize that none of their previous accomplishments has prepared them for the highs and lows of impending motherhood: not Kristen’s stint touring with The Rolling Stones, nor Sarah’s march up the corporate ladder in the world of women’s magazines. They go through everything first-time parents-to-be experience—but twice over. They’re producing double the hormones, double the morning sickness, double the cravings, and have double the ups and downs. From the start, Sarah and Kristen think of their babies as twins, each woman carrying half of a set. But for two women who’ve always finished each other’s sentences, they suddenly find themselves on opposite ends of the mothers-to-be spectrum, with different opinions on almost everything. One wants a drug-free birth, while the other wants an epidural at the first sign of a contraction. One is dying to know the baby’s gender, but the other refuses to find out until she hears the baby’s first cry in the delivery room. The difficulties of having two pregnant women under the same roof are multiplied by the legal and social obstacles of being a gay couple. Told from Kristen and Sarah’s insightful and hilarious she said/she said perspective, this touching, modern family adventure will entertain, enlighten, and resonate with readers of all stripes.

From award-winning author Sarah Ellis comes the story of an American draft dodger who turns up to stay with thirteen-year-old Charlotte and her family. In 1970 Vancouver, thirteen-year-old Charlotte and her best friend, Dawn, are keen to avoid the pitfalls of adolescence. Couldn’t they just skip teenhood altogether, along with its annoying behaviors—showing off just because you have a boyfriend, obsessing about marriage and a ring and matching dining-room furniture? Couldn’t one just learn about life from Jane Austen and spend the days eating breakfast at noon, watching “People in Conflict,” and thrift-store shopping for cool castoffs to tie-dye for the upcoming outdoor hippie music festival? But life becomes more complicated when the girls meet a Texan draft dodger who comes to live with Charlotte’s Quaker family. Tom Ed expands Charlotte’s horizons as they discuss everything from war to civil disobedience to women’s liberation. Grappling with exhilarating and disturbing new ideas, faced with a censorship challenge to her beloved English teacher and trying to decode the charismatic draft dodger himself, Charlotte finds it harder and harder to stick to her unteen philosophy, and to see eye to eye with Dawn. Key Text Features historical context Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.3 Describe how a particular story''s or drama''s plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of a specific word choice on meaning and tone CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.6 Explain how an author develops the point of view of the narrator or speaker in a text.

Waiting is hard. Liam waited through half of kindergarten for his baby sister to be born. Then, when little Sophie finally comes home, he discovers she won''t be ready to play with him for a long, long time. As the months pass, everyone says that Liam is Sophie''s favourite. He is the best at making her laugh and burp, but laughing and burping are not enough for Liam. With the help of Nana-Downstairs, he designs and builds a Get Older Faster Machine. It doesn''t seem to work on Sophie, but maybe Sophie is not the only one doing some growing up. In Waiting for Sophie, multi-award-winning author Sarah Ellis, known for her winsome way with words, introduces a warm, funny, down-to-earth family gracefully navigating a time of change together. Illustrator Carmen Mok renders them sweetly in approachable color illustrations. Appealingly packaged in a hardcover book with a reinforced binding, Liam''s trials, mishaps, and triumphs will speak to young readers who are making the transition to chapter books.

Encouraging young people to grab their ideas "as they fly by, " author Sarah Ellis presents a complete guide to inspiring children to discover the joys of creative writing. Photos.

Ben was upset when his friend Peter moved away, but now the new neighbors are moving in across the street and Ben can’t wait to go say hello and make friends. That is, until he notices that this family has a pet dog; and unlike his sister and brother, Ben isn’t so sure around dogs. The big jaws and big teeth make him nervous. But what Ben doesn’t realize is that Max is an “old scaredy-dog” who feels nervous too. Can Ben overcome his fear and come to see eye-to-eye with a new kind of friend? The award-winning team that produced A+ for Big Ben and Ben Says Goodbye have come together once again in Ben and the Scaredy-Dog, a heart-warming story about a thoughtful yet anxious boy who overcomes his fear of dogs. Sarah Ellis highlights the all-too-common childhood dread of canines as she once again explores the world through the eyes of Ben, a boy who wants to be brave but just can''t help anticipating the worst when it comes to a new experience. Kim La Fave perfectly captures his characters'' thoughts and intentions through spot-on expressions and body language, as he contrasts Ben''s drawings of the creature he sees in his mind''s eye with the reality of the big and cuddly dog next door, who just happens to have his own fear issues. The result is a gently funny book that explores the courageous heart that can be found within an anxious child.

In one startling moment, ordinary people may catch a glimpse of a world they never knew existed. The expected happens to everyone, just as it happens to the characters in this spine-tingling collection of stories that deal with the unexplainable.