Christmas will be ruined for eight-year-old Penny and her cousin Matt if he doesn't get home from Australia before Christmas Eve is over.And where is Matt anyway? He was supposed to fly home in plenty of time, but he got lost on the way. Lost! Where, and why?Late on Christmas Eve, an elf named Finn visits sad, frustrated Penny, waiting in a strange house with her babysitter. He jollies her up by teasing her and telling her what happened.Matt's plane...

This is the story of the famous explorer Christopher Columbus, beginning with his childhood dream of being a sailor. Despite his incredible courage and determination, Columbus' greed caused many problems. His voyages never brought him the riches he sought, but what he did find was more important than he ever could have imagined.

CaliClaus and the Christmas Contraption Heads the list of four delightful Christmas storiesMOUNT DORA, Fla. Valerie Hart, author of The New Tradition Cookbook and The Bounty of Central Florida, Her new book for children and adults incorporates four delightful Christmas stories, with the title, CaliClaus and the Christmas Contraption (published by AuthorHouse). Harts entertaining story of a magical cat and her team of pedigree felines centers on the...

Amazing Annabelle Celebrates Black History During the month of February, Mrs. Mitchell's class celebrates Black History Month, Valentine's Day, and the 100th day of school. For Black History Month, the class is doing an Interactive Black History Museum, which requires research on famous African Americans. For Valentine's Day, each student will choose a classmate as their secret valentine and create a special card for them. A conflict on the bus arises...

Annabelle Celebrates Women's History and St. Patrick's Day During the month of March, there is a lot of talk about leprechauns, and Mrs. Mitchell does a short unit on Irish culture and traditions. In Drama Club, the girls are getting ready to audition for three short plays about famous women as they celebrate Women's History Month. A lot of research is taking place as well as anxious and nervous feelings about the outcome of the auditions. This book...

On June 19, 1865 – two years after the Emancipation Proclamation – Galveston, Texas became the last place in the country to learn the slaves were free. Today, Juneteenth is a joyful occasion with parades, speeches, music, and more! This engaging book teaches the fascinating origins and traditions of Juneteenth, honoring the freedom of African Americans.

The holidays are quickly approaching, but the kids in Sandro's class celebrate in many different ways: Jazzy celebrates Christmas, Ruben celebrates Hanukah, and Sandro's family celebrates el Día de los Reyes. The one thing most cultures have in common though is gift-giving! And who doesn't love to get gifts? The class decides to hold a secret swap, and when Sandro comes up with an amazing gift idea, he learns that sometimes giving gifts is even...

What happens when you combine a child's imagination, a beautiful balloon, and a bit of holiday magic? Come inside The Holiday Balloon to find out. Follow along with Benjamin as he leaves his warm, cozy home in Queens, New York, and travels across the world on a quest to discover how other children celebrate the holidays. There's plenty of food, sweets, and beautiful sights to go around. So, please join Benjamin on The Holiday Balloon. Adventure awaits......

Earth Day is a call to be "green." This means thinking like a conservationist about everything from what grocery bag to use to what type of transportation to take. Elementary students just might be inspired to clean up a park or plant a tree after this read.

It is fun to celebrate holidays. Most holidays have symbols. A heart is for Valentine's Day and a jack-o-lantern is for Halloween. Let's learn about other holiday symbols. Paired to the fiction title The Perfect Jack-O'-Lantern.