Hard to find

In this poem an old tin can becomes an urban conch shell when, held against a child's ear, it reveals the sounds of a bustling city.

Isaac Babel was born in 1894 in that part of Odessa called Moldavanka. A protege and friend of Maxim Gorky, Babel came to prominence in the early 1920's with the publication of Red Cavalry, but as Stalin's repressive regime made the position of the creative writer increasingly difficult during the next decade, Babel published less and less. In 1939, he was arrested, and his papers, which were seized by the police, vanished with him. The charge against him is not known. A certificate delivered to the family shortly after Stalin died gives March 17, 1941, as the data of Babel's death, but mentions neither its cause nor where it had occurred. He was "rehabilitated" in 1954. His complete works were re-issued in Moscow in 1957.

Great-aunt Celia leaves you in charge of her strange house. You open the door to a secret room where you find three boxes and a note. "Open one - but only one - of the boxes" it says.

When Jill's dog Fletcher disappears, she & pal, Gwen, know something is queer - Fletcher never even moves. They dog his trail until Fletcher is recovered, with wonderful consequences for all

Elizabeth is an only child, new in town, and the shortest kid in her class. She's also pretty lonely, until she meets Jennifer. Jennifer is...well, different. She's read Macbeth. She never wears jeans or shorts. She never says "please" or "thank you." And she says she is a witch.It's not always easy being friends with a witch, but it's never boring. At first an apprentice and then a journeyman witch, Elizabeth learns to eat raw ends and how to cast small spells. And she and Jennifer collaborate on cooking up an ointment that will enable them to fly. That's when a marvelous toad, Hilary Ezra, enters their lives. And that's when trouble starts to brew.

"A boy goes out looking for treats but only gets tricks. A girl discovers where candy corn really comes from. And a family finds out why they should always listen to the boy who cries 'Wool!' Join in the fun as the teeny weenies get into all kinds of hilarious trouble."--Page [4] of cover.

Based on the motion picture "The Prince of Egypt," this is the story of two brothers brought together by friendship and divided by fate.

Home alone Victor stays up late, visits the zoo, enjoys pizza with anchovies, and finally becomes one of the few people who know about a community of intelligent lizards which appears to have arrived from another planet

A mother explains to her son that in nature an end is also a beginning as day gives way to night, winter ends and spring begins, and, after it stops falling, rain makes clouds for other storms.

A year ago, he'd have been happy to see the end of Groosham Grange and its ghoulish teachers. Now, he's on course to win the Unholy Grail, a cup of magical power presented to the star pupil. But a series of mishaps sees the gap between David and Vincent King narrow alarmingly.

Two spine-chilling short stories by Anthony Horowitz, a master-storyteller and the best-selling author of the Alex Rider series. Jamie is pleased with the camera he finds at a car boot sale - that is until he realises everything he photographs breaks . . . or dies. Henry soon finds out that his new computer has a life of its own - and it's not afraid to gamble with people's lives.

A book for every patriotic American kid! Never before has the riveting American saga of "The Star-Spangled Banner" been so beautifully and thoroughly presented. This info-packed story of our national anthem includes: ★ Illustrated lyrics ★ The fascinating history of the War of 1812 and the battle that inspired Francis Scott Key to pen the words ★ Musical notation ★ Historical images ★ A reproduction of Key's original manuscript Caldecott Medalist Peter Spier's magnificent tribute takes readers from our anthem's turbulent origins at the Battle of Baltimore through the flag's significance in modern-day America. It's a must-have for every American family's library.

Splish-splosh, it's time for fun at the pond Make friends with Dimity Duck and her poolside buddies in their first frithy-frothy picture book.

Two girls become fast friends practicing witchcraft together. Just when they think they've perfected their special flying potion, Jennifer and Elizabeth quarrel over the main ingredient. Will it take a magic spell to make them friends again? A Newbery Medal winner.

During the struggle to create the state of Israel in 1947, Ruth Mendolsohn, who helped young refugees flee Poland in "After the War", is a member of the Haganah, a group of Israeli fighters that believes only in self-defense. Her brother thinks that terrorism is necessary to get results. War seems inevitable and both will have to fight. Will they find the security of a place they can call home?

‘Meltzer has produced [and updated] a single volume [a condensation of his three-volume In Their Own Words] that covers three and a half centuries of black life in the United States, consisting of source materials: letters, speeches, newspaper articles, and book excerpts. From this collage a vivid picture emerges of the power, passion, and pride of black life.’ —C. Notable Children's Books of 1984 (ALA) 100 Favorite Paperbacks of 1989 (IRA/CBC) Notable 1984 Children's Trade Books in Social Studies (NCSS/CBC) Children's Books of 1984 (Library of Congress)

"Though the words [in this collection of free-verse poems] are simple and the humor direct, there's an inner core of meaning for thoughtful readers to ponder, while the deft play with sounds is delightful. Cheerfully unassuming illustrations make a perfect complement." —K. Notable Children's Books of 1993 (ALA) 100 Books for Reading and Sharing 1992 (NY Public Library)

When twelve-year-old Arcady is sent to a children's home after his parents are declared enemies of the state in Soviet Russia, soccer becomes a way to secure extra rations, respect, and protection but it may also be his way out if he can believe in and love another person--and himself.

In this riveting account of the explosive relationship between Robert F. Kennedy and J. Edgar Hoover, renowned journalist and author Burton Hersh sets their highly publicized clashes in the context of Joe Kennedy's ongoing manipulation of Congress and his children's careers, and his lifelong connections to organized crime. Theirs was a unique triumvirate, marked by conflict and betrayal, and culminating in a near-Shakespearean tragedy. Based on compelling new research, and told in gripping anecdotal style, Hersh chronicles the complex relationship between the two antagonists, from their early brushes during the McCarthy years to their controversial deaths.