Thomas Edison's 1,093 patented inventions include the light bulb, the phonograph, and significant contributions to the fields of photography. Combining lively text, rare period photos, and Edison's own words, Delano paints a memorable portrait of this prolific American genius.
Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher by Bruce Coville JFIC COV
Small for his age but artistically talented, 12-year-old Jeremy Thatcher unknowingly buys a dragon's egg.
Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson JFIC IBB
Sent with her governess to live with the dreadful Carter family in exotic Brazil in 1910, Maia endures many hardships before fulfilling her dream of exploring the Amazon River.
The Land by Mildred Taylor JFIC TAY
Looking for excitement, Coraline ventures through a mysterious door into a world that is similar yet disturbingly different from her own, where she must challenge a gruesome entity in order to save herself, her parents, and the souls of three others.
Love Ruby Lavender by Deborah Wiles JFIC WIL
When her quirky grandmother goes to Hawaii for the summer, 9-year-old Ruby learns to survive on her own in Mississippi by writing letters, befriending chickens — as well as the new girl in town — and finally coping with her grandfather's death.
Mysterious Matter of I.M. Fine by Diane Stanley JFIC STA
Noticing that a popular series of horror novels is having a bizarre effect on the behavior of its readers, Franny and Beamer set out to find the mysterious author.
Parasite Pig by William Sleator JSF SLE
Sixteen-year-old Barney, infected by an alien parasite, and his friend Katie are taken to the planet J'koot by extraterrestrials intent on playing the dangerous game known as Interstellar Pig.
Phineas Gage by John Fleishman J 616.8F
Science writer John Fleischman uses a clipped, engaging expository style to tell the incredible story of the railroad worker who, in 1848, survived the piercing blast of a 13-pound iron rod as it entered below his cheekbone and exited the front of his skull.
Spring Pearl by Laurence Yep JFIC YEP
Called boyish by her new family for being able to read and write, 12-year-old orphan Spring Pearl's "odd ways" help save the family during the 1857 Opium War in Canton, China.
Summersaults by Douglas Florian J 811 F
Captures the nature of summer (bees, dandelions, seashores, heat) as well as its action (jump roping, baseball, camping) in 28 short poems.
This Gum for Hire by Bruce Hale JMYS HAL
To save his own skin, private eye Chet Gecko sets out to solve the mystery of Emerson Hicky Elementary School's disappearing football players.
The Victory Garden by Lee Kochenderfer JFIC KOC
Hoping to contribute to the war effort during World War II, 11-year-old Teresa organizes her friends to care for an ill neighbor's victory garden.
When My Name Was Keoko by Linda Sue Park JFIC PAR
With national pride and occasional fear, a brother and sister face the increasingly oppressive occupation of Korea by Japan during World War II, which threatens to suppress Korean culture entirely.
Wish Me Luck by James Heneghan JFIC HEN
While on an ocean voyage to Canada to escape the air raids in his Liverpool home, a 12-year-old boy must face danger again when his ship is torpedoed by a U-boat.
Youch! It Bites! Real-Life Monsters, Up Close by Trevor Day J591.65D
Full-color photos of "real life" monsters, including insects, spiders, and snakes, help readers recognize these and other small but possibly deadly animal and plant predators.