High Five Mallory

Mallory starts fifth grade and has to adjust to a new teacher, a tough school project, and trouble with her best friend that involves her brother Max.

Mallory's new neighbors, the Goldmans, have twin five-year-old boys who need babysitters. Mrs. Goldman hires Mallory and her friend Chloe Jennifer to watch the boys while she works from home. Mallory can't wait! The boys are adorable, so this job will be tons of fun . . . right? Actually, the boys turn out to be a handful. Plus, Mallory has trouble balancing her babysitting duties with her schoolwork, friends, and preparation for an upcoming school poetry slam. Will she figure out how to prioritize the things that matter the most before her new career ruins her life?

Mallory has a new diary, and big news to write in it: a cute fifth-grade boy LIKES her! The only problem: Mallory's friends are more excited about it than she is. Mallory's not sure what to do, what to say on the phone, or even how she feels. Her best friend, Mary Ann, however, is sure about what Mallory should feel and do. But when Mallory follows Mary Ann's advice, she winds up hurting another friend—and gets in BIG trouble. Can Mallory make things right and learn to follow her own heart?

Includes excerpt from Diary of a 5th grade outlaw: The friend thief.

Chance, who struggles to connect with his new foster family, becomes excited about his new school when his third-grade science class begins to take care of a group of caterpillars until they become butterflies.

Readers will laugh along with all the misadventures—and sneak a peek behind the Hollywood curtain—in this sweet and funny novel. When Mitchell Mathis moves to Hollywood with his academic parents, he soon realizes he’s the only ordinary kid in a school of the powerful and famous. There’s Skywalker Wong, whose parents are special effects gurus. And Julia Jodie Schwartz, named after her agent father’s two highest-earning clients. And Dash Silverman, whose parents write the movies that everyone else seems to have memorized. In an attempt to feel like less of an outsider, Mitch goes to an open casting call, where he ends up being cast in a soda commercial that launches a popular catchphrase. Suddenly he’s on TV, signing autographs, and riding in limos. But when the ad starts getting negative attention and he doesn’t have time for his old friends and interests, fame doesn’t seem like so much fun anymore. He’ll need all his “acting” skills—and the help of his Hollywood-savvy classmates—to figure out how to go back to being a normal kid again. Praise for the work of Maiya Williams BookSense Pick International Reading Association Intermediate Fiction Award Southern California Booksellers’ Association Children’s Book Prize “The fast-paced plot and smooth transition from everyday life to fantasy adventure make this a good choice for reluctant readers.” —School Library Journal “Fast-paced historical hi-jinks . . .” —VOYA “Vivid . . . deftly combines fantasy and historical fiction . . . It’s a trip well worth the time.” —New York Times Book Review “Action-packed and laden with good-natured humor, Williams’s tale is a journey worth taking.” —Publishers Weekly Praise for The Fizzy Whiz Kid "Seriously committed film industry wannabes as well as erstwhile daydreamers will find a lot of good information here about how Hollywood magic gets made.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books “Williams’ breezy tale is as addictive and bubbly as a Fizzy Whiz itself, and her experience in the entertainment industry packs real value into her descriptions of auditions, movie sets, and agent negotiations.” —Booklist

Zoe mostly has it good. Her parents are nice, her brother isn‰Ûªt half bad, and her dog Ella is amazing. But Zoe thinks her life is boring ‰ÛÒ nothing ever changes. She‰Ûªs stuck in her wheelchair and her parents never let her do anything fun. And it really bugs her that some of the kids think she‰Ûªs not smart just because her body doesn‰Ûªt always do what she wants. Then in the midst of the holiday season, Zoe learns about the diverse cultures of her friends at school, and realizes she‰Ûªs not the only different one in class. While celebrating the traditions of Christmas, Hanukkanh, Kwanzaa, Divali and Eid, she realizes that excitement can arrive in weird and challenging ways. Will Zoe succeed when she needs to take charge for the first time? Or, is having adventures really not as great as she thought?

Up2U Adventures?where the ending is Up2U! When Vanessa starts school in the middle of the year, she is teased and ignored. Sara has gone through this before, and she doesn?t like what is happening. But, she doesn?t want to cause trouble with Courtney, the most popular girl in the class. What will Sara do? The ending is Up2U. Calico Chapter Books is an imprint of Magic Wagon, a division of ABDO Group. Grades 2-5.