Big Nate and Friends

Big Nate and Friends
by Lincoln Peirce
Release Date: December 6, 2011

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Aspiring cartoonist Nate Wright is the star of Big Nate, the daily and Sunday comic strip distributed by Newspaper Enterprise Association since 1991. Nate is eleven years old, four-and-a-half feet tall, and the all-time record holder for detentions in school history. He's a self-described genius and sixth grade Renaissance Man. Equipped with only a #2 pencil and the unshakable belief that he is #1, Nate fights a daily battle against overzealous teachers, undercooked cafeteria food and all-around conventionality. He's the original rebel without a clue, alternately abrasive and endearing to classmates and teachers alike. Nate blazes an unforgettable trail through the sixth grade at P.S. 38, earning straight A's in laughs along the way. Read more

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How Oliver Olson Changed the World

How Oliver Olson Changed the World
by Claudia Mills, Heather Maione
(5)
Release Date: October 25, 2011

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Oliver Olson’s teacher is always saying that one person with a big idea can change the world. But how is Oliver supposed to change the world when his parents won’t let him do anything on his own—not his class projects or even attending activities such as the space sleepover at school. Afraid he will become an outsider like ex-planet Pluto, Oliver decides to take control of his corner of the universe!
In this irresistible chapter book featuring lively illustrations, Oliver Olson learns that before you can change the world, sometimes you need to change yourself. Read more

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Poison Apple #8: At First Bite

Poison Apple #8: At First Bite
by Ruth Ames
Publication Date: November 1, 2011

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Poison Apple Books: Thrilling. Bone-chilling. These books have bite!

Ashlee Lambert, the queen bee from THIS TOTALLY BITES, has had a tough time ever since she became a full-fledged vampire. But now that she's moving from New York City to sunny Los Angeles, she's excited to make a fresh new start.

But Ashlee never counted on a clique of popular mean girls or awful sunburns. Keeping her huge secret is suddenly harder than ever. And when something -- or someone -- starts attacking people at her school, Ashlee realizes she's not the only vampire in town. It's up to Ashlee to figure out who's behind the attacks before her cover is blown forever!

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Carl and the Kitten (My Readers)

Carl and the Kitten (My Readers)
by Alexandra Day
Release Date: November 8, 2011

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A kitten is stuck up in a tree. How is the kitten going to get down? Can Carl find a way to help the kitten get down from the tree safely? Read more

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Carl and the Kitten

Carl and the Kitten
by Alexandra Day
Release Date: November 8, 2011

Buy new: $15.99 $10.87

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A kitten is stuck up in a tree. How is the kitten going to get down? Can Carl find a way to help the kitten get down from the tree safely? Read more

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Pinkalicious: The Pinkerrific Playdate (I Can Read Book 1)

Pinkalicious: The Pinkerrific Playdate (I Can Read Book 1)
by Victoria Kann
Release Date: October 4, 2011

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Pinkalicious and her new friend, Rose, are having a playdate! With so many fun things to do, will the friends have enough time together?

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Llama Llama Misses Mama

Llama Llama Misses Mama
by Anna Dewdney
(90)

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Strange new teacher.
Strange new toys.
Lots of kids and lots of noise!

What would Llama like to do?
Llama Llama feels so new . . .

It's Llama Llama's first day of preschool! And Llama Llama's mama makes sure he's ready. They meet the teachers. See the other children. Look at all the books and games. But then it's time for Mama to leave. And suddenly Llama Llama isn't so excited anymore. Will Mama Llama come back?

Of course she will. But before she does, the other children show Llama Llama how much fun school can be! Read more

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The Carpenter's Gift: A Christmas Tale about the Rockefeller Center Tree

The Carpenter's Gift: A Christmas Tale about the Rockefeller Center Tree
by David Rubel, Jim LaMarche
(2)
Release Date: September 27, 2011

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Family, friendship, and the spirit of giving are at the heart of this inspiring picture book. Opening in Depression-era New York, The Carpenter's Gift tells the story of eight-year-old Henry and his out-of-work father selling Christmas trees in Manhattan. They give one of their leftover trees to construction workers building Rockefeller Center. That tree becomes the first Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, the finest Henry has seen when adorned with homemade decorations. Henry wishes on the tree for a nice, warm house to replace his family's drafty, one-room shack. Through the kindness of new friends and old neighbors, Henry's wish is granted, and he plants a pinecone to commemorate the event. As an old man, Henry repays the gift by donating to Rockefeller Center the enormous tree that has grown from that pinecone. After bringing joy to thousands as a beautiful Christmas tree, its wood will be used to build a home for a family in need.

Written by children's nonfiction author David Rubel, in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity, The Carpenter's Gift features charming, full-color illustrations by Jim LaMarche.

                      An essay about The Carpenter’s Gift from Jimmy Carter, 39th
                    president of the United States and dedicated Habitat volunteer
 
As president of the United States, Jimmy Carter was deeply committed to social justice and basic human rights. Each year, he and his wife Rosalynn give a week of their time — and their construction skills — to build homes and raise awareness of the critical need for affordable housing.
 
Rosalynn and I were privileged in 2008 to help build the first Habitat home constructed with lumber from the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. That house, built with two-by-fours milled from Rockefeller Center’s 75th annual Christmas tree, gave Tracey Davison and her four daughters a place to call home in Pascagoula, Mississippi, after Hurricane Katrina destroyed their former neighborhood.
The heartwarming tale told in The Carpenter’s Gift brings together — through beautiful illustrations and a moving, multi-generational story — two great traditions: the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree and the neighbor-helping-neighbor program of Habitat for Humanity. The tree annually brightens the Christmas season for millions who see it; Habitat houses brighten the lives of families all over the world — for those who live in them and those who help build them. — Jimmy Carter

                  An essay about The Carpenter’s Gift from Habitat for Humanity
                                                           CEO Jonathan Reckford
 
The story of The Carpenter’s Gift celebrates the magic of an American icon, the annual Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center. Each year, the tree is milled into lumber that Habitat for Humanity volunteers use to help build homes with families in need of housing, like the one in The Carpenter’s Gift. Habitat CEO Jonathan Reckford shares his thoughts on the book.
 
After reading the simple but powerful tale of hope and kindness in The Carpenter’s Gift, I couldn’t help but think of loved ones who have shown me the importance of thinking of others. Acts of kindness and community inspire young Henry to give back. I, too, have been influenced by the example of people in my life.
I am blessed to be able to look backward and forward in my life to see family members demonstrating what it means to serve others with love, compassion and a sense of justice. When I was young, my grandmother challenged me to “be useful” to those in need in our world. She delivered a pretty strong example. And today, I see my own children already taking interest in the welfare of their neighbors near and far.
Habitat is thrilled that the annual gift of the famous Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree has inspired such a warm and compassionate book. Each year, the tree is milled into lumber that volunteers and families use to help build Habitat homes. The Carpenter’s Gift captures the essence of that gift in a richly illustrated story that readers of all ages can appreciate. The story really is a humble reminder to us all that the best gifts really are the ones you don’t expect. — Jonathan Reckford

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Little Blue Truck Board Book

Little Blue Truck Board Book
by Alice Schertle, Jill McElmurry
(53)

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Beep! Beep! Beep! Meet Blue. A muddy country road is no match for this little pick up--that is, until he gets stuck while pushing a dump truck out of the muck. Luckily, Blue has made a pack of farm animal friends along his route. And they're willing to whatever it takes to get their pal back on the road.
Filled with truck sounds and animals noises, here is a rollicking homage to the power of friendship and the rewards of helping others. Read more

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The Magical Christmas Horse

The Magical Christmas Horse
by Mary Higgins Clark, Wendell Minor
Release Date: October 25, 2011

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Johnny’s Christmas wish has come true! The family will be together for Christmas at his grandparents’ home in Connecticut. He can’t wait to give his little brother, Liam, the wooden horse he rode when he was Liam’s age. When the family arrives at his grandparents’, everything is just as Johnny remembers it—except the wooden horse, which is broken, seemingly beyond repair. How can Johnny make this the Christmas he hoped for?

With heartwarming text from one of America’s most beloved authors and captivating illustrations by Wendell Minor, The Magical Christmas Horse is a book that will be part of Christmas traditions for years to come. Read more

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Big Nate Goes for Broke

Big Nate Goes for Broke
by Lincoln Peirce
Release Date: March 20, 2012

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Llama Llama Wakey-Wake

Llama Llama Wakey-Wake
by Anna Dewdney
Release Date: January 5, 2012

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Start a brand-new day the Llama way with the first of two new board books by Anna Dewdney. A good day starts with breakfast and brushing, kissing and hugging. Read more

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Llama Llama Mad at Mama

Llama Llama Mad at Mama
by Anna Dewdney
(116)

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Yucky music, great big feet.

Ladies smelling way too sweet.

Look at knees and stand in line.

Llama Llama starts to whine.

Does any child like to go shopping? Not Llama Llama! But Mama can’t leave Llama at home, so off they go to Shop-O-Rama. Lots of aisles. Long lines. Mama is too busy to notice that Llama Llama is getting m-a-d! And before he knows it, he’s having a full-out tantrum! Mama quickly calms him down, but she also realizes that they need to make shopping more fun for both of them. Parents and children are sure to recognize themselves in this fun-to-read follow-up to the popular Llama Llama Red Pajama. Read more

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Pooh's Library: Winnie-The-Pooh, The House At Pooh Corner, When We Were Very Young, Now We Are Six (Pooh Original Edition)

Pooh's Library: Winnie-The-Pooh, The House At Pooh Corner, When We Were Very Young, Now We Are Six (Pooh Original Edition)
by A. A. Milne, Ernest H. Shepard
(39)

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Stop everything! If at least one copy of each of these classics is not in a prominent place on your bookshelf, your home and your progeny's childhood is incomplete. Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends--blustery old Owl, bouncy Tigger, clever Christopher Robin, glum Eeyore, and the rest--have been a staple of children's literature for over 70 years in A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner. And Milne's immortal collections of children's verse, When We Were Very Young and Now We Are Six, have soothed many a savage beast at bedtime with such incomparable delights as "If I Were King" and "Us Two." All four of these classics, complete with Ernest H. Shepard's original illustrations, are gathered here in a handsome boxed set. These hardcover editions will most certainly be a cherished legacy to be handed down for generations to come. After all, as Rabbit says solemnly one day, "Without Pooh, the adventure would be impossible." (Ages 3 to 103) --Emilie Coulter Read more

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Eat Like a Dinosaur: Recipe & Guidebook for Gluten-free Kids

Eat Like a Dinosaur: Recipe & Guidebook for Gluten-free Kids
by Paleo Parents
Release Date: March 20, 2012

Buy new: $24.95 $16.83

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DonÆt be fooled by the increasing volume of processed gluten-free goodies on your grocery store shelf! In a world of mass manufactured food products, getting back to basics and cooking real food with and for your children is the most important thing you can do for your familyÆs health and well-being.

Eat Like a Dinosaur is a colorful childrenÆs story describing the paleo diet, chock-full of recipes without grains, dairy, soy or refined sugar. For those with food allergies, the top 8 allergens have been visually marked on each recipe for children to self-identify recipes that may contain eggs, nuts, fish, or shellfish.

Let Matt and Stacy, the Paleo Parents, show you how to make the transformation in your familyÆs life. With positivity, practicality and an appreciation for the fact that even the healthiest children sometimes want cupcakes and chicken nuggetsûthis book simply provides healthier ways to give kids the foods they love. Read more

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Freckleface Strawberry: Best Friends Forever

Freckleface Strawberry: Best Friends Forever
by Julianne Moore, LeUyen Pham
Release Date: September 13, 2011

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Freckleface Strawberry and Windy Pants Patrick are as different as can be-but that doesn't stop them from being the best of friends. After all, they have a lot of important things in common, like having families and liking recess and loving books. But the rest of the kids don't see it that way. They think that girls and boys are just too different to be friends. So one day, Freckleface decides NOT to play with Windy Pants Patrick. And he decides not to play with her. And nothing really changes . . . or does it? She still eats lunch and plays and reads books-and so does he. So why don't those things feel fun anymore?

Witty, warmhearted, and brought to life with LeUyen Pham's gentle hilarity, Julianne Moore's latest book celebrates the importance of recognizing-and keeping-a true friend.

A Look Inside Freckleface Strawberry: Best Friends Forever
(Click on Images to Enlarge)

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Liesl & Po

Liesl & Po
by Lauren Oliver, Kei Acedera
(10)
Release Date: October 4, 2011

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Liesl lives in a tiny attic bedroom, locked away by her cruel stepmother. Her only friends are the shadows and the mice—until one night a ghost appears from the darkness. It is Po, who comes from the Other Side. Both Liesl and Po are lonely, but together they are less alone.

That same night, an alchemist's apprentice, Will, bungles an important delivery. He accidentally switches a box containing the most powerful magic in the world with one containing something decidedly less remarkable

Will's mistake has tremendous consequences for Liesl and Po, and it draws the three of them together on an extraordinary journey.

From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Oliver comes a luminous and magnificent novel that glows with rare magic, ghostly wonders, and a true friendship that lights even the darkest of places.

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The Baby-Sitters Club #1: Kristy's Great Idea

The Baby-Sitters Club #1: Kristy's Great Idea
Ann M. Martin (Author)
(87)

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The hit series returns to charm and inspire another generation of baby-sitters! The first three classic BSC books are back, along with a brand-new prequel, The Summer Before.

It all began with a great idea ... and the inspiring original story of the Baby-sitters Club is back! Kristy Thomas's brilliant business plan gets off to a great start with the help of Claudia Kishi (vice-president), Mary Anne Spier (secretary), and Stacey McGill (treasurer). It all began with a great idea ... and the inspiring original story of the Baby-sitters Club is back! Kristy Thomas's brilliant business plan gets off to a great start with the help of Claudia Kishi (vice-president), Mary Anne Spier (secretary), and Stacey McGill (treasurer).

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Amazon Exclusive Inteview with Author Ann M. Martin

Q: It's been a decade since the last Baby-sitters Club books came out, and 24 years since the first book was published. What was it like to come back to the BSC after so many years away?

Martin: I had a great time re-visiting the characters. It was fun to explore their lives in the prequel, “"The Summer Before," and to figure out what led the girls to form The Baby-sitters Club, something that would eventually change their lives. It was like a reunion with friends--friends who haven’t changed a bit.

Q: Kristy, Claudia, Mary Anne, and Stacey are very different characters, which is in part why the series was and is still so popular. Every reader can relate to at least one of the characters. So, we have to ask you--which character are you most like?

Martin: I am most like Mary Anne who is the shy and quiet one. Like me, Mary Anne enjoys more solitary pursuits such as reading and needlework. My favorite character, however, is Kristy. I think she's my alter ego.

Q: Were you allowed to baby-sit when you were twelve? If so, were they any funny or awful stories you'd like to share?

Martin: Yes, I did a lot of baby-sitting when I was twelve. One of the worst and also funniest things that ever happened was when I was baby-sitting for our neighbors and the kids wanted to wash their parents' car. They started the job with much enthusiasm--using Brillo pads.

Q: More than 200 BSC books were published in the eighties and nineties. Are there any that you are particularly fond of and why?

Martin: My favorite Baby-sitters Club book is "Kristy's Great Idea," which is the first book and sets the series in motion. I also like the more serious books such as "Claudia and the Sad Good-bye," which deals with the death of Claudia’s grandmother. This book was written shortly after my own grandmother died. My other favorite BSC books include “Kristy and the Secret of Susan,” in which the members of the BSC baby-sit for a child with autism, and "Jessi's Secret Language" in which the girls learn American Sign Language in order to communicate with a sitting charge with profound hearing impairment.

Q: Why do you think that the series is so well-loved and has endured over so many years?

Martin: I think the characters in the BSC books are easily relatable. The books deal with timeless topics including friendship, family, and school. Also, the books tackle serious issues including racism, bullying, kids with disabilities (physical and mental), and death of a loved one. These issues were relevant to kids in the 1980s and 1990s, and are still relevant to kids today. In addition to being relatable, these are characters readers can aspire to. The kids run a business--in this case, a baby-sitting business. They are entrepreneurial, independent, creative, and confident. And at the heart of the series is the friendship--the "glue" that binds these characters. Sure, they have fights, but they're loyal and they support one another. I think a lot of us--even adults--can relate to that.

Q: "The Summer Before" takes place during the summer before the girls enter the seventh grade--where suddenly there's a ton of pressure to fit in. The months leading up to it can be filled with anxiety, excitement, and anticipation. Do you remember how you spent the summer before seventh grade?

Martin: I was nervous that summer because in the fall I would be going to a new school – the junior high (this was in the time before middle schools). Even the words "junior high" seemed terribly grown-up. My friends and I would be attending school with eighth-graders, who were one step away from high school. I spent that summer reading, going to the community pool, taking a family trip to Cape May, New Jersey, doing some baby-sitting, and also recovering from surgery. But the knowledge that I would soon be in junior high school colored every day and every activity and did lend the summer an air of both anxiety and anticipation.

Q: Despite the fun the girls have together in "The Summer Before," they're all dealing with pretty tough problems—moving away, an absentee father, a first crush. How did you choose the issues you wanted to focus on?

Martin:  One of my favorite things about writing a series was that the characters themselves generated plot ideas for later books. One of the themes that developed as the series progressed was that of Kristy's relationship with her father. It was an idea I enjoyed exploring, and when I had the opportunity to write the prequel I realized that this summer would be a charged time for Kristy, and that I could introduce the issues she had with her father here; then they could unfold in the later books. The same applied to Stacey. Her reasons for moving to Stoneybrook had been revealed in later books, but I realized that during this particular summer the reader could actually watch the events take place. The other issues – a first crush, wanting more independence yet still feeling like a kid--are themes that I felt would resonate with most "tween" readers.

Q: Even though the books have been out of print for ten years there are still some very devoted fans. Surely you must have received a ton of letters about the series over the years. Are there any that stick out in your mind?

Martin: The most memorable are stories of girls who have written to me and told me that I’ve made an impact on their lives, that The Baby-sitters Club books have turned them into readers. Some have also said that the BSC books made them aspire to become writers. I’ve also heard from a lot of the original fans who grew up to become teachers, librarians, editors, journalists, entrepreneurs, etc. To know that this series inspired a generation of readers and writers is very humbling.

Q: There’s been a lot of speculation in the blogosphere about where Claudia, Kristy, Mary Ann, and Stacey would be now, in 2010, had they grown up. Do you have any thoughts on what path each would have taken?

Martin:  I understand the fascination of the older BSC fans who would like to know what happened with the characters when they got older. It’s thrilling to realize that after all these years the fans remain passionate about the books and the characters in The Baby-sitters Club. I can see Kristy running a business--I can also see her being in politics. I think Mary Anne became a teacher. I imagine Stacey went into fashion--not as a designer, but maybe on the business side. And Claudia became an artist. I think fans can fill in for the rest of the characters!

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The hit series returns to charm and inspire another generation of baby-sitters! The first three classic BSC books are back, along with a brand-new prequel, The Summer Before.

It all began with a great idea ... and the inspiring original story of the Baby-sitters Club is back! Kristy Thomas's brilliant business plan gets off to a great start with the help of Claudia Kishi (vice-president), Mary Anne Spier (secretary), and Stacey McGill (treasurer). Read more

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The Cay

The Cay
Theodore Taylor (Author)
(621)

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Review & Description

Phillip is excited when the Germans invade the small island of Curaçao. War has always been a game to him, and he’s eager to glimpse it firsthand–until the freighter he and his mother are traveling to the United States on is torpedoed.

When Phillip comes to, he is on a small raft in the middle of the sea. Besides Stew Cat, his only companion is an old West Indian, Timothy. Phillip remembers his mother’s warning about black people: “They are different, and they live differently.”

But by the time the castaways arrive on a small island, Phillip’s head injury has made him blind and dependent on Timothy.


From the Trade Paperback edition.This award-winning novel remains a powerful classic of prejudice, love, and survival. In 1942, 11-year-old Phillip Enright lives with his parents on the Dutch island of Curaçao, but when the war moves too close for comfort, his mother decides to travel with him back to the safety of Virginia. When their boat is torpedoed, however, Phillip is blinded and finds himself adrift on a life raft with an old black man and a cat. They eventually land on a deserted island. Phillip is suspicious of "the large Negro," but soon grows to trust--and ultimately love--the patient and generous Timothy. Dedicated to "Dr. King's Dream," The Cay has a clear message that friendship is colorblind; it is also a terrific adventure story of a young, newly blinded man learning to survive on an uninhabited island. (Ages 12 and older) --Richard FarrPhillip is excited when the Germans invade the small island of Curaçao. War has always been a game to him, and he’s eager to glimpse it firsthand–until the freighter he and his mother are traveling to the United States on is torpedoed.

When Phillip comes to, he is on a small raft in the middle of the sea. Besides Stew Cat, his only companion is an old West Indian, Timothy. Phillip remembers his mother’s warning about black people: “They are different, and they live differently.”

But by the time the castaways arrive on a small island, Phillip’s head injury has made him blind and dependent on Timothy.


From the Trade Paperback edition. Read more

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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Book 2)

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Book 2)
by J. K. Rowling, Mary GrandPré
(2763)

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The Dursleys were so mean that hideous that summer that all Harry Potter wanted was to get back to the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. But just as he's packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange, impish creature named Dobby who says that if Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike.

And strike it does. For in Harry's second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new professor, Gilderoy Lockheart, a spirit named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girls' bathroom, and the unwanted attentions of Ron Weasley's younger sister, Ginny.

But each of these seem minor annoyances when the real trouble begins, and someone--or something--starts turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever? Could it possibly be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects...Harry Potter himself?It's hard to fall in love with an earnest, appealing young hero like Harry Potter and then to watch helplessly as he steps into terrible danger! And in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the much anticipated sequel to the award-winning Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, he is in terrible danger indeed. As if it's not bad enough that after a long summer with the horrid Dursleys he is thwarted in his attempts to hop the train to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to begin his second year. But when his only transportation option is a magical flying car, it is just his luck to crash into a valuable (but clearly vexed) Whomping Willow. Still, all this seems like a day in the park compared to what happens that fall within the haunted halls of Hogwarts.

Chilling, malevolent voices whisper from the walls only to Harry, and it seems certain that his classmate Draco Malfoy is out to get him. Soon it's not just Harry who is worried about survival, as dreadful things begin to happen at Hogwarts. The mysteriously gleaming, foot-high words on the wall proclaim, "The Chamber of Secrets Has Been Opened. Enemies of the Heir, Beware." But what exactly does it mean? Harry, Hermione, and Ron do everything that is wizardly possible--including risking their own lives--to solve this 50-year-old, seemingly deadly mystery. This deliciously suspenseful novel is every bit as gripping, imaginative, and creepy as the first; familiar student concerns--fierce rivalry, blush-inducing crushes, pedantic professors--seamlessly intertwine with the bizarre, horrific, fantastical, or just plain funny. Once again, Rowling writes with a combination of wit, whimsy, and a touch of the macabre that will leave readers young and old desperate for the next installment. (Ages 9 and older) --Karin Snelson Read more

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