Birdy S Smile Book

Birdy starts every day by smiling at herself in the mirror. She says you can smile while doing just about anything--brushing your teeth, taking out the garbage, or eating broccoli. Okay, maybe not while eating broccoli. Even people with bad teeth (like our first president, George Washington) should show their toothy grins because there's no such thing as a bad smile. So heed Birdy's advice and practice your smile—you'll need it while reading this book! This title has Common Core connections

Birdie, Nell, Cass, and Izzy are prepping their coziest handiwork for a holiday gathering in Sea Harbor, Massachusetts. But as murder makes waves in their tightly knit coastal village, can the Seaside Knitters prevent a deadly trend from catching on? While the Seaside Knitters get ready to showcase their new Danish-inspired event, locals can’t stop talking about Tess Bean, a bright-eyed environmental activist with a way of charming both animals and humans alike—especially Birdie’s granddaughter, and Izzy’s old Irish setter. Except not everyone is a fan of Tess and her strong opinions, especially after she starts questioning the “clean” practices of small-business owners . . . When a popular bar owner whom Tess publicly calls out is found dead from a fall off his club’s deck, Tess soon tops the list of suspects. But in addition to a murderer walking their streets, the knitters are grappling with an unusual wave of local thefts. Now, as Birdie’s granddaughter struggles to protect her mentor’s reputation, the Seaside Knitters must solve a dangerous mystery that not only threatens to unravel the fabric of their community and the approaching holiday—but also the lives of those they care about the most . . . Praise for Murder Wears Mittens “A beautifully written mystery full of warmth and surprises.” —Nancy Pickard, New York Times bestselling author “I was utterly charmed by the Seaside Knitters and their cozy community.” —Bestselling author Laurien Berenson

A darkly compulsive tale of friendship and obsession. Frances Bird has been a loner for so long that she's given up on ever finding real friendship. But then she's asked to show a new girl around school, and she begins to think her luck could finally be changing. Eccentric, talkative and just a little bit posh, Alberta is not at all how Frances imagined a best friend could be. But the two girls click immediately, and it's not long before they are inseparable. Frances could not be happier. As the weeks go on, Frances finds out more about her new best friend - her past, her secrets, her plans for the future - and she starts to examine their friendship more closely. Is it, perhaps, just too good to be true?

To fifty thousand readers, Catherine Newman is the beloved author of “Bringing Up Ben & Birdy,” a weekly column on babycenter.com. Now in the delightfully candid, outlandishly funny Waiting for Birdy, Newman charts the year she anticipated the birth of her second child while also coping with the realities of raising a toddler. As she navigates life with her existentially curious and heartbreakingly sweet three-year-old, and her doozy of a pregnancy, she lends her irresistibly unique voice to the secret thoughts and fears of parents everywhere. Filled with quirky warmth and razor-sharp wit, Waiting for Birdy captures the universal wonder, terror, humor, and tenderness of raising a family. On the web: http://www.babycenter.com, http://www.parentcenter.com

Perfect for baseball lovers and fans of Mike Lupica, book three in the Triple Threat series by New York Times bestselling sports writer John Feinstein explores what happens when athletes break the rules. Alex Myers’s football and basketball seasons were mired in controversy, and his dad’s been MIA since his parents split up. All Alex wants this spring is to work on his fastball and hang out with his maybe-girlfriend, Christine. But he runs into unexpected competition on both fronts. Matt Gordon was suspended from sports after he admitted taking PEDs during football season, but the athletic board has decided to give him another chance. So he’s on the team—and he’s got something to prove. He’s also got his eye on Christine. The question this season—is all fair in love and baseball? Or are some things truly foul? Filled with action, intrigue, and intense rivalries, The DH and the other books in the Triple Threat series follow the ups and downs of one talented athlete’s year in sports. Praise for book one in the Triple Threat series, The Walk On: “All the goods for the sports enthusiast—and more.” —Kirkus Reviews “Full of refreshingly decent high school students, first crushes, a dose of dating drama, and a cliff-hanger ending, The Walk On will interest even non-football fans.” —School Library Journal Praise for book two in the Triple Threat series, The Sixth Man: “Suspenseful and well-dramatized sports action scenes. . . . Solidly drawn, both on and off the court.” —Kirkus Reviews

When a child smiles at a stranger, she sets off a chain of kindness that eventually comes full circle.

In the autumn of 1941, rumors of war whisper through Rosey Corner. The town practically vibrates in anticipation, as if it is holding its breath. But for Kate Merritt, it seems life is letting out a prolonged sigh. As Kate watches her sister marry the man Kate has loved since she was fifteen, her heart is silently breaking. And even the attentions of Jay Tanner, the handsome best man, can't draw her interest. Then suddenly, Pearl Harbor changes everything. Kate's friends are rushing to get married before the boys go off to war. The newspapers talk of women making airplanes and bombs. Everyone in town begins rolling bandages, planting victory gardens, collecting scrap metal. Kate finds herself drawn to Jay in surprising ways, and when he enlists she can hardly breathe worrying about him getting killed. Could she truly be in love with him? And if she is, will she ever see him again? In her gentle and textured style, Ann Gabhart tells a timeless story of love, sacrifice, and longing that will grip the heart and stir the spirit. Fans of Angel Sister will be thrilled to see Kate Merritt all grown up. New readers will find that Ann Gabhart weaves in Small Town Girl a beautiful story that will touch their hearts and win their loyalty.