Friendship

All summer, Jess pushed himself to be the fastest boy in the fifth grade, and when the year’s first school-yard race was run, he was going to win.But his victory was stolen by a newcomer, by a girl, one who didn’t even know enough to stay on the girls’ side of the playground. Then, unexpectedly, Jess finds himself sticking up for Leslie, for the girl who breaks rules and wins races. The friendship between the two grows as Jess guides the city girl through the pitfalls of life in their small, rural town, and Leslie draws him into the world of imaginations world of magic and ceremony called Terabithia. Here, Leslie and Jess rule supreme among the oaks and evergreens, safe from the bullies and ridicule of the mundane world. Safe until an unforeseen tragedy forces Jess to reign in Terabithia alone, and both worlds are forever changed. In this poignant, beautifully rendered novel, Katherine Paterson weaves a powerful story of friendship and courage.

What do a frisky dachshund and a slightly timid stuffed bear have in common? They’re best friends. In these three sweet, funny, and meltingly tender stories, Laura Vaccaro Seeger, creator of such distinctive concept books as The Hidden Alphabet, Lemons are Not Red, Walter Was Worried, and Black? White! Red? Night!, proves she is as fine a writer as she is an artist and designer. In “Bear in the Chair” Bear wants to go outside and play with Dog, but can’t seem to get down from a very high chair. Dog uses his long slinky back to come to Bear’s aid, and everything turns out fine…well, almost. In “Play with Me, Play With Me” Dog wants attention, but Bear is engrossed in a book (about a dog and a bear, of course) and wants time to himself. Or so he thinks. And in “Dog Changes His Name” Bear helps Dog choose the perfect new name, with surprising results. In this first of several books about the exploits of two best friends, Laura Vaccaro Seeger has created characters who follow in the distinguished footsteps of Frog and Toad and Henry and Mudge.

There was once a kitten so filled with love he wanted to give the whole world a hug! And so Jules the kitten (also known in the Mutts cartoons as “Shtinky Puddin’”) goes down the stairs to hug his friends, then all the birds in the park–and then he travels the world, hugging all those he meets! As Jules learns, a hug is the simplest–but kindest–gift we can give. And you can start giving right here, right now with the one who’s closest to you. A joyous story about sharing love with a gently environmental theme.

Bestselling picture book creator Mo Willems is making his debut in the early-reader arena with the Elephant and Piggie series. The books feature two lovable and funny characters: an optimistic (and sometimes reckless) pig, and a cautious, pessimistic elephant. Children who sat on their parents’ laps to have Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! read to them will eagerly take the plunge with these books to start reading on their own. With each text reviewed by an early-learning specialist, these sweet and surprising stories are a breath of fresh air in the early-reader category. In My Friend Is Sad, Gerald is down in the dumps. Piggie is determined to cheer him up by dressing as a cowboy, a clown, and even a robot! But what does it take to make a sad elephant happy? The answer will make even pessimistic elephants smile.

As children, Jennifer Harris and Cameron Quick were both social outcasts. They were also one another’s only friend. So when Cameron disappears without warning, Jennifer thinks she’s lost the only person who will ever understand her. Now in high school, Jennifer has been transformed. Known as Jenna, she’s popular, happy, and dating, everything “Jennifer” couldn’t be—but she still can’t shake the memory of her long-lost friend. When Cameron suddenly reappears, they are both confronted with memories of their shared past and the drastically different paths their lives have taken.

Gerald is careful. Piggie is not. Piggies cannot help smiling. Gerald can. Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to. Gerald and Piggie are best friends. In There Is a Bird on Your Head! Gerald discovers that there is something worse than a bird on your head — two birds on your head! Can Piggie help her best friend?