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.

Everyone knew that a tile roof was a precarious perch. Everyone saw, too, that the steadily rising water had reached a corner of the attic floor near the stairway and was beginning to spread, slowly but surely, toward them. Based on the great flood that swept over Holland in 1953, the gripping story When the Dikes Broke follows the tale of the van Rossem family as they are awakened by sirens and the clanging of church bells and soon realize that the dikes have broken. As the water rises to their roof, the family is separated, and a desperate and daring search is set in place.

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.

"The hush of a golden May afternoon lay on the peaceful, watery streets of Leyden." Thus begins the story of Jacqueline and her brother Gysbert, but things do not remain peaceful for long. Leyden, soon, lay completely encircled by the Spanish army. With wonderfully trained carrier pigeons, determination to find a way out of the city, and a lot of courage, the two siblings believe they can help free Leyden. 

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?

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.

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.

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.  

In the quiet little town of Canterbury, Connecticut, Prudence Crandall is living her dream as a teacher. She has opened her own school for young ladies and is enjoying great success from the start. Yet all of her good fortune is jeopardized when Prudence admits a young African American student named Sarah Harris. What unfurls is the true and stirring story of Prudence's faith and courage as she combats the deep-seated prejudices of the town and offers an opportunity for a life-changing education to eager African American female students.

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. 

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.

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. 

The Apple family lived in the city, but with so many new little Apples coming along, their home was becoming quite crowded. It didn't take long for them to find the perfect house in the country, but it required some ingenuity and cooperation to make it their own. Follow along with the Apple family as - with tenacity and some animal mischievousness - they achieve their dream of owning a home suited for their every need.

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. 

Daniel Chapelier and his family have traveled from France to England to America, fleeing religious persecution and seeking land to call their own. When they finally settle in the colony of Rhode Island, they hope their trials are over. All is well until their English neighbors start making trouble. Can Daniel and his new Indian friend, Netop, find a way to keep the peace between the angry settlers? 

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.

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.

Everyone knew that a tile roof was a precarious perch. Everyone saw, too, that the steadily rising water had reached a corner of the attic floor near the stairway and was beginning to spread, slowly but surely, toward them. Based on the great flood that swept over Holland in 1953, the gripping story When the Dikes Broke follows the tale of the van Rossem family as they are awakened by sirens and the clanging of church bells and soon realize that the dikes have broken. As the water rises to their roof, the family is separated, and a desperate and daring search is set in place.

Before dying, Pyesa, Black Hawk's father and chief of his people, commanded his son to defend their land from whites, who were trying to force the tribe off their land. Black Hawk, however, has no taste for killing and scalping and goes through great internal conflict. The story of this great-hearted leader shows how some whites and Native Americans were peaceful and kind, while others were not. Based on true events, this powerful book teaches about a difficult time period and shares profound, unique messages about love, faith, mercy, humility, friendship, forgiveness, and faith.

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.

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.

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. 

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?

"The hush of a golden May afternoon lay on the peaceful, watery streets of Leyden." Thus begins the story of Jacqueline and her brother Gysbert, but things do not remain peaceful for long. Leyden, soon, lay completely encircled by the Spanish army. With wonderfully trained carrier pigeons, determination to find a way out of the city, and a lot of courage, the two siblings believe they can help free Leyden. 

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?

The Apple family lived in the city, but with so many new little Apples coming along, their home was becoming quite crowded. It didn't take long for them to find the perfect house in the country, but it required some ingenuity and cooperation to make it their own. Follow along with the Apple family as - with tenacity and some animal mischievousness - they achieve their dream of owning a home suited for their every need.

In the quiet little town of Canterbury, Connecticut, Prudence Crandall is living her dream as a teacher. She has opened her own school for young ladies and is enjoying great success from the start. Yet all of her good fortune is jeopardized when Prudence admits a young African American student named Sarah Harris. What unfurls is the true and stirring story of Prudence's faith and courage as she combats the deep-seated prejudices of the town and offers an opportunity for a life-changing education to eager African American female students.

David was raised in an isolated mountain cabin by a devoted father who taught David to love beauty, nature, and music. When David's father becomes seriously ill, he decides to take David to relatives that the boy has never met. But partway into the journey, his father dies. David does not know the names of his relatives or even the name of his father, which his father had a reason for not telling him. This story is not just about what happens to David, but also what happens to all those who enter his life after this tragic event.