"The Great Death-Defying Signor Joseph Dobbinelli: Most Daring Animal Trainer in the World", the sign reads, and Sr. Dobbinelli is in need of a good, stout winter barn for his circus animals. Clay and his family have just the barn in Connecticut, but do they have what it takes to care for lions and tigers?  

Set in California in the 1870s, this story follows Mike O'Grady and his family as they leave their potato farm to settle in the redwood forest. Ten-year-old Mike is sad to leave his family's farm, but he soon finds his new home exciting and discovers a love of nature and of drawing. From being threatened by a wounded grizzly bear to discovering waterfalls, Mike's adventures combine in a fun, wholesome book packed with good messages.

One morning at breakfast, Mother said, "Freddy, the new house next door has been sold. A family with a six-year-old child is moving in today". The new girl's name is Linda, and the two children become fast friends, sailing boats in the pond, taking care of an injured hummingbird, and saving ducks from a waterfall.

Juddie lay for a while staring up at the twinkling stars overhead. Spread thickly across the dark, clear heavens, they looked close enough to touch. "Someday," Juddie thought, "when I can read, I'll find out more about the stars from books." Ever since Juddie can remember, he has wanted to learn how to read and write. The nearest school, however, is many miles away, and Pa needs Juddie to help work their farm. With wonderful, vivid writing, Florence Wightman Rowland tells a heartwarming story that explores the adventures of a hardworking, lively young man.

The two children watched and waved until the figures grew smaller and smaller. At last the big, white-topped wagon rolled slowly around a bend in the dusty road. Then they could no longer see their old farm. Daniel and Betsy blinked their blue eyes before they looked at each other. Daniel and Besty's family are some of the very first people to arrive on a little mountain in Oregon where gold was discovered. It's not long until a whole town of muslin tents pops up. Will the family find gold, and if they do, can they find a place to hide it?

Eighteen-year-old Anne is faced with two choices: enter into the security of a happy marriage, like the other young ladies around her, or fulfill her patriotic desire to fight for her country. Posing as a young man, she enlists in the United States Army and joins the fight for freedom amid harsh conditions, dangerous missions, and even betrayal. Through it all, Anne learns valuable lessons of love, courage, and the true meaning of patriotism. Will Anne's secret identity keep her safe, or will betrayal and the need to survive put her in harm's way?

Deep in a beautiful hill-town of southern India in the mid-1900s lives Raman, the son of an illiterate woodcutter. More than anything, Raman dreams of buying the beautiful book under a glass case in the marketplace and of one day becoming a scholar. His dreams come crashing down when his family faces hard times. Raman is forced to leave school and instead gather pinecones in the hills to sell for firewood.

From the author of the children's classic Heidi comes Trini, The Strawberry Girl and Little Miss Grasshopper. 

In the 17th century, a boy named Philippe travels from France to seek his father in the New World. Things do not go as planned, and Philippe finds himself in Quebec with no money and no idea where his father is...Follow the courageous steps of this young hero as he makes friends, learns about life in the harsh New World, and experiences exciting adventures.

When John Taylor and his parents move from their apartment in the big city to a house in the suburbs, the adventure has just begun. With a big backyard and woods to explore, he quickly finds that there is a whole exciting world to discover with his new friend, Jim. As the boys search for answers to the mystery that they uncover, they learn that treasured friendships can be found in the most unexpected of places.

An adventure awaited the six Murray children! They had been invited to stay with their relatives out of town while their mother recovered from an illness. Little did they know that an ancient feud, a charge against their uncle, and a mysterious stranger in the town would motivate them to unite as family and friends to unravel a mystery.

One beautiful day, Ching Lai and his cousin are surprised to find a riderless black donkey coming down the path. Trying to look courageous to his cousin, Ching Lai climbs on the donkey's back. When the donkey starts to trot away, Ching Lai does not dare get off. Trying not to worry, Ching Lai waits for the donkey to tire and stop, but it goes all day without stopping. Ching Lai soon finds himself far away from his mountain home and caught in a journey that takes him farther and farther away.  

If Wong Ting­­-a river boy in China-had extra coins, he would buy a copper kettle for his mother and a desperately needed new fishing net for his father. For himself, Wong Ting wanted something that money could not buy. In his heart was a secret wish. Only he knew what it was: Wong Ting wanted to walk on the land. This wish is kept hidden for a time as Wong Ting works hard with his family upon their sampan. A raging storm starts a series of exciting events, as the family's sampan is blown down the angry river out of control toward the open sea.

Eli Whitney is famous for having invented the cotton gin, but little is known about the trials he endured as he developed it, the never-ending legal battles he was forced to fight, and his remarkable character and determination throughout the process. The Story of Eli Whitney is an inspiring look at the life of a determined young boy who overcame many obstacles and ultimately helped his country grow and prosper. 

Tom drew back into the shadow of the wall, for at that moment, the gate opened, and two of the governor's black horses appeared, pulling a large wagon behind them. Tom could just make out the dark forms of several men crouching low on the seat. The horses' hooves must have been padded, for they scarcely made a sound, even on the cobblestones of the courtyard.