Happy Birthday Hero

Mild-mannered Zoe Richards was just your average 6th grader, celebrating her 12th birthday, when an ear-piercing debacle convinced her grandfather to tell her the truth: she’s a superhero. And she’d better start training to use her superspeed and superstrength, because pretty soon she’s going to be called upon to save the world.

Just after her twelfth birthday, Zoe Richards, daughter of a police officer and a social activist, learns that her family tree holds an inheritance even more exciting.

"Batman created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger."

To each of us who has enjoyed a piece of birthday cake, the strains of "Happy Birthday to You" are as familiar to our ears as our own names. Yet how many people know the origin of the tune and its place in American history? In 1889 Patty and Mildred Hill, two Kentucky sisters, wrote the words and composed the melody of "Good Morning to All" for their kindergarten students. Initially written as a simple greeting and welcome, they later changed the words and birthday celebrations were forever altered. But it wasn't until 1935 that the sisters' song was fully copyrighted and their names duly credited. Margot Theis Raven, the author of such inspiring children's books as Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot and Let Them Play, relates the story behind one of the most famous and oft-sung songs in the world.Margot Theis Raven's award-winning books are often set against powerful historical backdrops such as America's civil rights period. Her books for Sleeping Bear Press include America's White Table and Let Them Play, which was named a 2006 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People. Chris Soentpiet's numerous books include My Brother Martin and Peacebound Trains and reflect his interest in people, history, and culture. He has won several prestigious awards such as the International Reading Association Children's Book of the Year. Chris lives in Flushing, New York.

Learn more than a dozen stamping techniques, with easy-to-follow instructions. You'll be able to make your own greeting cards to mark milestone occasions, celebrate holidays, or just say hello--

Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can't seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse-Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him.