Inventors invent inventions! That's what Ben and his best friend Jack like to say. So when Ben discovers that Jack's family is planning to move to another city, he decides they should put their inventions to work. The boys figure that if no one buys Jack's house, Jack won't have to move away, so all they need is a plan to scare off potential buyers! Inventors are good at coming up with plans. But when Plans A, B and C fail to bring the results the boys had hoped for, Ben discovers that not everything in life stays the same—and that while change can be hard, sometimes it isn't all bad.

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"A delightful story about best friends and shared visions...Stevenson's message provides comfort while demonstrating problem solving techniques to keep friendship alive even at a distance."

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"Humorous yet poignant, this story highlights the friendship and creativity of two endearing characters...Faithful to the hopes and fears of young children and enhanced with fine pencil drawings, Stevenson's second chapter book about Ben rings true for anyone who has had a friend move away."

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"This book gives early readers an extended reading experience; short chapters provide quick success in reading and make the book easy to read in installments...Children who face a move will find comfort in this enjoyable story of friendship. Young inventors might get some ideas too."

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"[The characters'] plans share a common feature, a quality of dreaming and scheming that seems perfectly age appropriate: Not too well thought out, but very imaginative...Ben and Jack exchange a lot of believable dialogue...Attractive, cheerful black-and-white full-page illustrations appear every few pages...Everything about this [book] is charmingly upbeat...Its winsome attitude makes it fun."

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Matt is desperate to fit in at summer camp. One night he gets lost when he goes off on his own to retrieve a forgotten life preserver. A wolf appears and Matt overcomes his fears and follows it. He finds a half-wolf, half-dog pup whose mother is dead. Is the big wolf who guides him the same wolf that his father rescued years before from a trap?

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"An exciting story that boys will love. Recommended."

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Sam and Nate tells the story of a developing friendship between two boys. Through letters, notes, school projects, a pregnant teacher and a substitute who has never taught children before, Sam and Nate support each other as best they can, but get into some funny scrapes while they're at it.

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Nell makes two wishes on her birthday, but the next day they show little sign of coming true. Everyone in her household is busy and wants her out from underfoot and no one is willing to help her find her lost cat. In the end she finds more than a cat and she makes her own wishes come true with the help of a row of tall, bright, smiling sunflowers.

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Googol and Googolplex have come back to earth to continue their scavenger hunt. Tutus, sand dollars and peacock feathers are on their list. Luckily Troy and Pippa are ready to help, and the ocean is nearby, but so is Martin Kelly, the boy next door, who will ruin everything if he gets a chance.

Under the Sea with Googol and Googoplex is the second of three books in the Googol and Googolplex series.

Book one is Down the Chimney with Googol and Googolplex.

Book three is Over the Rainbow with Googol and Googolplex.

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Shelley arrives at her aunt and uncle's cottage on Grey Rocks Lake and is excited to see her cousin Kyle. Her excitement quickly turns to disappointed when she discovers Kyle's friend Marcus is staying at the cottage too. Shelley feels left out of the boys' games. Then the fossil she found at the beach goes missing, and she thinks Marcus took it. But when Topper, Kyle's dog, loses her ball, Shelley and Marcus are given an opportunity to become friends.

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"Young readers seven to nine will relate to its messages about friendship and how it feels to be left out."

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"Perfect for a young reader...Many readers can put themselves in each character's place and think how they would have felt or reacted in the situation. I think this is a wonderful story for teaching about friendships and feelings. Recommended."

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With the help of his wild imagination and enthusiasm, DJ, the hero of Adventures at Camp Lots-o-Fun, deals with one disaster after another—Super Stackers, "weeding" his mom's garden, facing Tiger the Terrible and a misspelled sign. But when DJ mistakenly sells the wrong box of jewelry to his new friend Sam at his grandma's garage sale, those disasters seem minor. Riding his beloved skateboard, Speedwell, DJ sets out to search for Sam, which is a challenge in itself. When he finally finds Sam, DJ is not prepared for the enormous sacrifice he will have to make to get the jewelry box back.

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"Will appeal to newly independent readers. Short sentences, large font and good spacing between lines make this an accessible read. Many readers, and their parents, will connect with the adventures of DJ, an irrepressible ball of energy who tries desperately to do the right thing."

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"Children who are beginning to read chapter books will find this engaging."

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When an osprey nest atop an electrical pole catches fire, the whole town of Waterton loses power. Being a park warden’s daughter, Jenna (whom everyone calls Cricket) is there at the scene, where she finds three abandoned baby ospreys. Caring for the chicks proves to be challenging for Cricket. The birds are noisy, hungry and very picky eaters. But when she discovers that the power company is building a new anti-nesting device on the electrical pole, Cricket has an even bigger problem. How will she reunite the baby birds with their parents without a place for them to build a nest?

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"An exciting tale for young animal lovers."

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"McDowell has done of fine job of telling an interesting and immediate story to children who are becoming interested in environmentalism and who can connect to events in this story...Charko's illustrations add increased meaning to the text as they give readers more access to what an osprey looks like, what the environment looks like, and especially what a power pole looks like to make the problem in this book make sense."

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"This story fits well within the Orca Echoes theme of social responsibility, and teaches readers about osprey and what can happen when wild animals and human infrastructure intersect. There is also information about the true story that informed the book, and further information about osprey. Interesting and engaging, with a happy ending."

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"Would make a great tie-in to a class science study of environmentalism or wildlife habitats. For those practising reading skills it might be used as a read aloud to focus on inferring, predicting, problem solving and learning styles."

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"Children who are becoming interested in environmental and conservation issues will be drawn into Cricket’s conflict between wildlife and humans."

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One spring, a nine-year-old Cree boy is visited by a master soapstone carver named Lindy, who gives him four pieces of soapstone. The primary secret to carving, the boy learns, is recognizing that each piece of soapstone already holds its true form inside. Lindy teaches the boy to listen to the soapstone and look to the world around him for signs as to what to carve. As the seasons change, the young boy’s experiences lend him opportunities to develop his carving skills and become attuned to the signs around him. He eagerly awaits the following spring, which will bring Lindy’s return and a chance to show off his carvings.

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"Pinkney's] first work of fiction will be of value to young readers who are interested in learning about the rites of passage First Nations youngsters experience as they grow older. Each of the four chapters, one for each season, can stand on its own as a self-contained story, but each leads easily into another, making the book accessible for readers who are new to chapter books...Complementing Pinkney’s text are striking black and white illustrations by Darlene Gait, an internationally recognized First Nations artist. The pictures work harmoniously in breaking up the text in each chapter and provide support for the story without being distracting...An enjoyable read for young readers who are exploring first chapter books."

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"The book vicariously teaches the reader much about life in a Northern Cree community. Cree words for food and animals are introduced naturally in context, and the events of the story embed native values and teaching traditions."

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After Morgan’s backyard is flooded by the nearby river, her dog, Shire, finds a baby beaver that has been washed out of its den. Realizing that its parents aren’t coming back, Morgan must quickly learn to care for the beaver, which she names Sammy. Morgan’s parents warn her that he can’t stay with them forever. Will Morgan be able to find a safe home for Sammy?

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"The story gives children an invaluable message. No matter how young you are or what your situation is, there is always something you can do. One of the wonderful things about this book [is] the illustrations...,tactfully drawn in classic black and white...Walters’ writing style and choice of words make this book an excellent choice for beginning readers and also for reluctant readers...The suspense that the plot offers, as well as the message of empowerment, will ensure that children aren’t bored or disengaged...Sure to please any young reader as well as keep listening parents entertained. This book would be a wonderful addition to any children’s literature collection. It could be a very good choice for reluctant readers or for older children reading at a lower grade level."

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"A wonderful book that focuses on giving hope to those in need, whether they be human beings or animals that roam Earth...This short chapter book has easy to read text and is accompanied by illustrations that depict real life characters with rustic and rural appeal...Can be read by students who have a love for wildlife or by those who cherish and embrace the opportunity to make a difference for those that surround them. Within the classroom, teachers may find this book useful as a read aloud or a short novel study where concepts such as open and closed questions, personal connections and summarizing and visualizing can be strengthened and enhanced."

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"Morgan and her family, with their two dogs, are engaging, and their willingness to care for a small wild animal and make sure it has a safe future sets a good example for young readers. The story can also serve to introduce interactions with wild animals for children who live in larger urban centres and may not encounter wildlife regularly. Well-written, with a variety of vocabulary suited to the reading level."

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"Valuable information about [wildlife conservation] agencies is seamlessly woven into the story which flows smoothly. Characterization is good for such a short story and Sammy is adorable."

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"Young readers will be captivated with this adventure based on a true story. Not only does the book teach children what to do with a baby beaver that is found in one’s backyard, it also serves as a great introduction to animal shelters and wildlife conservation."

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