Illus. in full color. "Timid Alex strives to be like his rugged cowboy stepfather, and the two find a common bond when Alex 'rescues' Jake from a wolf spider. Jukes' quiet observations are unfaltering in their perceptiveness. Radiant full-page pastel illustrations serve as a striking counterpoint. This is an uplifting celebration of a new family's understanding, acceptance and love that resonates with truth and humor."--(starred) School Library Journal. From the Trade Paperback edition.

"Austin's visit to his grandmother's is the first since Grandpa died. Austin notices Grandpa's things but feels the emptiness of his absence. This spare story vividly captures the emotions of painful times and shows how they ease with sharing and remembering. Boy and grandfather were close, but boy and grandmother seem destined to be just as close, with Grandpa's memory to bind them. Poignant and perceptive, this has impressive resonance, and readers won't easily shed its warm afterglow."--(starred) Booklist. From the Trade Paperback edition.

Newbery Honor Award--winning author Mavis Jukes is back with a lovable new character named Carson. His father moves him to a new town in Northern California, where he'll be the new kid in class--friendless and alone, except for his beloved stuffed moose (named Moose, of course). As Carson settles into his new surroundings, a series of delightful mishaps start to occur: the class pet, a rat named Mr. Nibblenose, gets lost to surprising results; the culprit of a mysterious lunch theft might actually be something that's not human at all; and when his beloved Moose goes missing, Carson makes his first new non-stuffed animal friend. Told with childlike charm and wit, The New Kid is perfect for newly independent readers.From the Hardcover edition.