Sara has always loved cats. She surrounds herself with pictures of cats, stuffed cats, even cat-headed slippers. But she’s never been allowed to have a real cat of her own. Her father has always told her no, for reasons he won’t explain. So when a fluffy snowball of a kitten darts through their front door and into her life, Sara believes her dream might finally come true. But convincing her father to break his strict No Cats policy seems impossible. She has less than a week to persuade him that this kitten is exactly what their lonely, broken family of two needs to heal. Told in lyrical, spare verse, Serendipity & Me is a sparkling novel that elegantly handles the topic of loss for a middle grade audience.
On the northern slope of the island of Serendipity is a small, wonderful kingdom called the Land of Later. In this kingdom there lived a young, beautiful princess who everyone simply called Princess. The castle was governed by the king's simple rules. One of those rules was that when you woke in the morning, you cleaned your room and made your bed. Princess hated rules. Most of all, she hated doing anything at any time unless it was much, much later. This morning, as on others, she awoke, got dressed, and went outside and took a walk instead of cleaning her room. Princess walked into the forest near the castle. “I should start back before I get lost,” she whispered to a bunny on the path. Then she laughed, “I will go back but just, just a little later!” It was on the journey that Princess met a unicorn called Morgan. And it was on this journey, with the help of Morgan, that she learned that doing things now is always much better than later.
Louise Shaffer brings to life three generations of Italian American women in this stunning novel of surprises, secrets, and serendipity. A child of theatrical royalty, Carrie Manning is having a hard time getting her own act together. Thirty-seven, aimless, and having just buried a famous mother she never understood, she is desperate to uncover her family’s mysterious past in the hopes that it will help her understand herself. Carrie’s search reveals the fascinating life stories of her estranged grandmother Lu, a glamorous Broadway star whose dreams came with a price; her great grandmother Mifalda, who gave up everything to come to America as a sixteen-year-old Italian bride; and her father, Bobby, the charismatic Broadway genius who wrote some of Lu’s greatest musicals and died tragically young. At the heart of Carrie’s discoveries lies the reason for her mother’s complicated life, and a dark secret that has been buried for thirty years.
In this funny, genuine, and clever book, Allyson Apsey shares relatable stories and practical strategies for living a meaningful life regardless of the craziness happening around you. You'll discover that you really do have the power to choose the kind of life you live-every day.
A magical journey into the land where stories come from “[A] sweet-toned, summer-fun story.” —The New York Times Book Review When Tuesday McGillycuddy and her beloved dog, Baxterr, discover that Tuesday's mother—the famous author Serendipity Smith—has gone missing, they set out on a magical adventure. In their quest to find Serendipity, they discover the mysterious and unpredictable place that stories come from. Here, Tuesday befriends the fearless Vivienne Small, learns to sail an enchanted boat, tangles with an evil pirate, and discovers the truth about her remarkable dog. Along the way, she learns what it means to be a writer and how difficult it can sometimes be to get all the way to The End. This title has Common Core connections. Finding Serendipity by Angelica Banks, with illustrations by Stevie Lewis, is the first in a series. that continues with book two, A Week Without Tuesday. “This enchanting story . . . celebrates the imagination and the connection writers feel with their stories. Spunky characters; spot-on pacing, providing perfectly timed plot revelations; and fully imagined worlds make this a charming winner.” —Booklist, starred review “With cinematic imagery and keen wit, the authors construct an inventive novel.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review “Young writers will find inspiration in the tale—especially those who have a story within them but might be too shy to tell it.” —The New York Times Book Review
A new town, a new school, no friends . . . and now Kip has to deal with a bully. It's going to take more than luck to make it through sixth grade; it's going to take some serendipity. When Kip's dad loses his job, her family packs up and moves to Jackson. She misses her friends, her old school, and having her own room! Then, just when she thinks things can't get any worse, a boy at school tries to make her life miserable. Kip's Serendipity Journal is the one place where she can share how she really feels. And it's where she discovers that sometimes serendipity is even better than luck.
The bestselling author of Encyclopedia an Ordinary Life returns with a literary experience that is unprecedented, unforgettable, and explosively human. Ten years after her beloved, groundbreaking Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life, #1 New York Times bestselling author Amy Krouse Rosenthal delivers a book full of her distinct blend of nonlinear narrative, wistful reflections, and insightful wit. It is a mighty, life-affirming work that sheds light on all the ordinary and extraordinary ways we are connected. Like she did with Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life, Amy Krouse Rosenthal ingeniously adapts a standard format—a textbook, this time—to explore life’s lessons and experiences into a funny, wise, and poignant work of art. Not exactly a memoir, not just a collection of observations, Textbook Amy Krouse Rosenthal is a beautiful exploration into the many ways we are connected on this planet and speaks to the awe, bewilderment, and poignancy of being alive. “…a groundbreaking new twist on the traditional literary experience… Textbook is a delightful collection of interesting scenarios that directly point to life lessons. Rosenthal manages to spotlight grand moments and everyday moments with equal curiosity, proving that it can be both a privilege — and petrifying — to peek into one’s humanity.”—Associated Press “Rosenthal is a marvel… a talented storyteller with an experimental flair for formatting… This engaging, playful, and clever glimpse into one woman’s life offers lots of photographs, graphic illustrations, and diagrams, resulting in a book that will make readers smile as their notions of story delivery expand.” —Booklist
