The Candymakers by Wendy Mass (2010)

Four children have been chosen to compete in a national competition to find the tastiest confection in the country. Who will invent a candy more delicious than the Oozing Crunchorama or the Neon Lightning Chew? Logan, the Candymaker's son, who can detect the color of chocolate by touch alone? Miles, the boy who is allergic to merry-go-rounds and the color pink? Daisy, the cheerful girl who can lift a fifty-pound lump of taffy like it's a feather? Or Philip, the suit-and-tie wearing boy who's always scribbling in a secret notebook? This sweet, charming, and cleverly crafted story, told from each contestant's perspective, is filled with mystery, friendship, and juicy revelations.

The Cow-tail Switch: And Other West African Stories by Harold Courlander (1947)

This collection of seventeen short stories gathered in the Ashanti region of Africa depicts the origins of folk sayings and customs, animal ingenuity and trickery, and clever, as well as not so clever, people. The coauthor is George Herzog.

First Ladies: Women Who Called The White House Home (First Ladies) by Beatrice Gormley (1997)

The term "First Lady" has been used to refer to the wives of the presidents of the United States since the Civil War Era. But what kind of people were the First Ladies? They were athletic and no-nonsense, like Bess Truman; sophisticated, like Jacqueline Kennedy, and pioneers, like Anna Harrison. They were lawyers, like Hillary Rodham Clinton, school librarians, like Laura Bush, and independent thinkers, like Abigail Adams and Eleanor Roosevelt.

Genies, Meanies, and Magic Rings by Stephen Mitchell (2007)

Master storyteller Stephen Mitchell brings three of the best loved stories from The Arabian Nights to independent young readers ready for adventure. All richly illustrated with lustrous line drawings throughout, they are here for young readers to rediscover: Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, Abu Keer and Abu Seer, and Aladdin and the Magic Lamp in its original setting of China. These stories will bring you to a whole new world; one where clever wit will save the day, thieves give chase with swords and spears, kings can kill with a glance, honesty is rewarded with a vast, unheard-of treasure.

Goosebumps Graphix #1: Creepy Creatures by R.L.Stine (2006)

Three of Goosebumps' creepiest creature books ever! Now in a cool, new GB Graphix anthology adapted and illustrated by acclaimed comic artists Scott Morse, Greg Ruth, and Gabriel Hernandez. Creepy creatures are howling, growling, and stalking through the artwork of the first Goosebumps Graphix anthology when three hot, talented comic artists adapt these bestselling Goosebumps books into a cool, new graphic novel format. *Additional books available in series

Jack Adrift: Fourth Grade Without a Clue by Jack Gantos (2005)

As the Henry family sets sail for a new life on Cape Hatteras, fourth-grader Jack is struggling to chart a course between his parents' contradictory advice on making friends and influencing people. Just tell people what they want to hear, Dad advises. Just tell the truth, Mom cautions. Jack finds there are no easy answers as he drifts through his crazy school year, falling desperately in love with his young teacher, getting suckered into becoming a bad-behavior spy for the principal, and being forced to make a presentable pet out of a duck with backward feet. Indeed, with an air-guitar-playing neighbor the closest thing to a friend, and a judgmental older sister his relentless enemy, it's all he can do to stay afloat.

The Mighty 12: Superheroes of Greek Myth by Charles R. Smith (2008)

Meet the most impressive of the gods and goddesses of Olympus-and even a few monsters-and see them revealed for what they really were: ancient superheroes with the power to shift shape, move mountains, and change fate. In this innovative introduction to Greek mythology, energetic poems and dynamic comic book style illustrations create a seamless blend of the ancient and contemporary that depicts the gods in all their super-human glory.Grab your portable time machine and set off on a guided tour through the most interesting parts of ancient history. Find out ancient secrets: How are mummies made? Where does Chinese silk come from? Learn forgotten rituals: Leap over a Minoan bull, vote in an ancient Greek election, and become a jaguar warrior. And finally, bring forgotten skills to life: Pass notes in your own form of Sumerian writing, dine on ancient Roman delicacies, and play Mayan football in your backyard. *Additional books available in series

The Time Travelers' Handbook: A Wild, Wacky, and Wooly Adventure Through History! by Lottie Stride (2009)

These true stories from Alma Flor Ada’s childhood are filled with family love and values. Told through the eyes of a child, a whole world comes to life for the reader: the blind great-grandmother who never went to school but whose wisdom and generosity overflowed to those around her; the hired hand Samoné whose love for music overcame all difficulties; her grandfather Modesto, who placed a higher value on human relationships than on his possessions. Eleven remarkable stories will move and inspire children and adults alike.

Where the Flame Trees Bloom by Alma Flor Ada (1994)

These true stories from Alma Flor Ada’s childhood are filled with family love and values. Told through the eyes of a child, a whole world comes to life for the reader: the blind great-grandmother who never went to school but whose wisdom and generosity overflowed to those around her; the hired hand Samoné whose love for music overcame all difficulties; her grandfather Modesto, who placed a higher value on human relationships than on his possessions. Eleven remarkable stories will move and inspire children and adults alike.

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More by Roald Dahl (1977)

Seven stories of fantasy and fun by the fantastic Roald Dahl.The Boy Who Talked With Animals - in which a stranded sea turtle and a small boy have more in common than meets the eye.The Hitchhiker - proves that in a pinch a professional pickpocket can be the perfect pal. The Mildenhall Treasure - a true tale of fortune found and an opportunity lost. The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar - in which a modern-day Robin Hood brings joy to the hearts of orphans.

What Color Is My World?: The Lost History of African-American Inventors by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (2012)

Did you know that James West invented the microphone in your cell phone? That Fred Jones invented the refrigerated truck that makes supermarkets possible? Or that Dr. Percy Julian synthesized cortisone from soy, easing untold people's pain? These are just some of the black inventors and innovators scoring big points in this dynamic look at several unsung heroes who shared a desire to improve people's lives. Offering profiles with fast facts on flaps and framed by a funny contemporary story featuring two feisty twins, here is a nod to the minds behind the gamma electric cell and the ice-cream scoop, improvements to traffic lights, open-heart surgery, and more - inventors whose ingenuity and perseverance against great odds made our world safer, better, and brighter