- Table View
- List View
The Upside of Ordinary
by Susan LubnerEleven-year-old Jermaine wants to be famous: limo-riding, camera-flashing, crowd-waving famous. Since her family isn't likely to move from Maine to Hollywood so she can become a movie star, she decides she'll make a reality TV show about her family and friends. Jermaine quickly realizes that her everyday life is boring, so to kick up her show a notch, she starts staging events to elicit more humor, more drama, more excitement. This laugh-aloud debut novel takes a lighthearted look at unbridled ambition, the cult of celebrity, the reality behind reality TV, and the upside of being part of an ordinary family.
Upstaged (Zack Delacruz #3)
by Jeff AndersonZack is back—and taking on the school play! Bah humbug! Zack Delacruz wants to win the role of Scrooge in Davy Crockett Middle School&’s production of A Christmas Carol—and Abhi&’s admiration, too. But he&’s not the only one trying out for the play. So are José (El Pollo Loco), Marquis, and Janie, who dreams of being all three ghosts. What role will Zack end up playing on stage . . . and in his life? Bowling balls, gurgling stomachs, complete chaos, and quick detective work turn this year&’s drama into a spectacular scene that will have actors rising to new heights—literally—and leave readers rolling in the aisles.
Upstaged (Orca Limelights)
by null Patricia McCowanEllie is used to getting leading roles in her small-town school’s musicals, but her place at center stage disappears when her dad becomes the host of a breakfast TV show and they have to move to the big city. When Ellie auditions for—and lands—a spot with the Youth Works Theater Company, she comes up against a tight-knit group of talented, experienced and competitive triple-threat performers. Not only does she not get a lead, but she has to share a role with Marissa, a company veteran who seems determined to do all she can to outshine Ellie. Out of her depth and far from all that she’s known, Ellie wonders just what she has to do to stop feeling upstaged by everyone around her. This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read! The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
The Upstairs Room
by Johanna ReissA Life in Hiding<P><P> When the German army occupied Holland, Annie de Leeuw was eight years old. Because she was Jewish, the occupation put her in grave danger-she knew that to stay alive she would have to hide. Fortunately, a Gentile family, the Oostervelds, offered to help. For two years they hid Annie and her sister, Sini, in the cramped upstairs room of their farmhouse.<P> Most people thought the war wouldn't last long. But for Annie and Sini -- separated from their family and confined to one tiny room -- the war seemed to go on forever. <P> In the part of the marketplace where flowers had been sold twice a week-tulips in the spring, roses in the summer-stood German tanks and German soldiers. Annie de Leeuw was eight years old in 1940 when the Germans attacked Holland and marched into the town of Winterswijk where she lived. Annie was ten when, because she was Jewish and in great danger of being captured by the invaders, she and her sister Sini had to leave their father, mother, and older sister Rachel to go into hiding in the upstairs room of a remote farmhouse.<P> Johanna de Leeuw Reiss has written a remarkably fresh and moving account of her own experiences as a young girl during World War II. Like many adults she was innocent of the German plans for Jews, and she might have gone to a labor camp as scores of families did. "It won't be for long and the Germans have told us we'll be treated well," those families said. "What can happen?" They did not know, and they could not imagine.... But millions of Jews found out.<P> Mrs. Reiss's picture of the Oosterveld family with whom she lived, and of Annie and Sini, reflects a deep spirit of optimism, a faith in the ingenuity, backbone, and even humor with which ordinary human beings meet extraordinary challenges. In the steady, matter-of-fact, day-by-day courage they all showed lies a profound strength that transcends the horrors of the long and frightening war. Here is a memorable book, one that will be read and reread for years to come.<P> Newbery Medal Honor book<P><P> Jane Addams Children’s Book Honor Book
Upstream, Downstream: Exploring Watershed Connections (Orca Footprints #21)
by Rowena RaeDo you know your watershed address? We all have one, whether we live high up in a mountain, on an inland prairie or near the coast. A watershed is an area of land that channels rain and snowmelt into streams, rivers and oceans. Our lives are deeply intertwined with land and water and all the connections between them. Day-to-day activities—like brushing our teeth, eating a meal, getting a ride in a car or even using an electronic device—have consequences for our own or someone else's watershed. Over the centuries we've changed the land by farming it, cutting down the trees on it, digging into it and building on it. We've also learned how to control water—where it goes and how much flows. Upstream, Downstream explores the consequences of the pressures people place on watersheds and highlights some of the heroes making a difference for watersheds around world. The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
Urban Coyotes (Scientists in the Field)
by Mary Kay CarsonA new addition to the acclaimed Scientists in the Field series, Urban Coyotes follows the scientists of the Urban Coyote Research Project as they track, study, and care for coyotes living among humans in one of America's largest cities, Chicago.But that’s the thing about coyotes. They don’t necessarily do what’s typical or usual, nor what’s expected or predicted. Coyotes are rule breakers. The fourth largest metropolitan area in North America is home to more than nine million people and a surprisingly large population of coyotes. Join the wildlife scientists of the Urban Coyote Research Project as they carry on their twenty-five-year mission: Studying the coyotes of Cook County, Illinois, home to the city of Chicago. Explore questions such as "Where did the coyotes come from—and why?," "Are they a danger to Chicagoans?," and "Do predators create healthier urban ecosystems?" with real-life scientists in the field. Started by urban ecologist Stan Gehrt in the late 1990s when coyotes were first noticed entering the Chicago region, the Urban Coyote Research Project's mission is to help coyotes and human city dwellers live together in peace.With stunning up-close photography by Tom Uhlman, author Mary Kay Carson offers an in-depth look into how these mystifying wild creatures, and those dedicated to studying and protecting them, navigate urban spaces.
Urban Farming
by Thomas FoxIt doesn't take a farm to have the heart of a farmer. Now, due to a burgeoning sustainable-living movement, you don't have to own acreage to fulfill your dream of raising your own food. Hobby Farms Urban Farming, from Hobby Farm Press and the same people who bring you Hobby Farms and Hobby Farm Home magazine, will walk every city and suburban dweller down the path of self sustainability. Urban Farming will introduce readers to the concepts of gardening and farming from a high-rise apartment, participating in a community garden, vertical farming, and converting terraces and other small city spaces into fruitful, vegetableful real estate. This comprehensive volume will answer every up and coming urban farmer's questions about how, what, where and why-a new green book for the dedicated citizen seeking to reduce his carbon footprint and grocery bill.
Urban Outlaws (Urban Outlaws, Book #1)
by Peter Jay BlackDeep beneath the city live five extraordinary kids: world-famous hacker Jack, gadget geek Charlie, free runner Slink, communications chief Obi, and decoy expert Wren. Orphans bonded over their shared sense of justice, the kids have formed the Urban Outlaws, a group dedicated to outsmarting criminals and handing out their stolen money through Random Acts of Kindness (R. A. K. s). But the kids find themselves in serious trouble when they're caught in an epic battle to control Proteus, a genius super-computer. Proteus can crack any code in the world—and steal top-secret documents in nanoseconds. It's down to the Urban Outlaws to use their guile, guts, and skill to destroy the computer, avert world domination . . . and stay alive. Don't miss the global launch of this debut series from Peter Jay Black—the perfect mix of explosive action, cool technology, and characters with lots of heart.
Ursus
by David RandallThe final battle between Clovermead, a shape-shifting eighteen-year-old girl, and the demonic Lord Ursus.
US History Readers' Theater, Grades 5-8: Bring the Past to Life! (Readers' Theater)
by Robert SmithWhy use Readers' Theater in history classes? The format gives students a sense of involvement with the human dramas that make up history. Performers can relate to the tension of a young married couple escaping from slavery to freedom. They can imagine the terror of wading through the water at Omaha Beach as bullets strike their buddies. They can visualize Hugh Glass crawling across rocks and cactus on his 100 mile journey to safety. Each of 15 scripts is accompanied by background information, extension activities (including literature connections), and discussion questions.
Us, in Progress: Short Stories About Young Latinos
by Lulu Delacre★“Pura Belpré honoree Delacre’s chronicles—each different from the next—offer moving snapshots of family heartbreak, disadvantage, dysfunctionality, heartbreak, privilege, and joy.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)★ “Beautifully written with candor, honesty and perfect brevity. Delacre illustrates as well, providing a gorgeous mixed-media portrait of each story’s main character. A collection not to be missed.” — Booklist (starred review)“This welcome update to short story collections such as Gary Soto’s Baseball in April and prose alternative to Alma Flor Ada’s Yes!: We Are Latinos is a solid addition to libraries and would also add much-needed diversity to classroom study.” — School Library Journal“Portraits are indeed beautiful...will surely inspire discussion of current issues.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books“Delacre’s collection challenges existing misconceptions by giving readers an intimate and varied look into what it is like to be young and Latino in the United States today.” — The Horn Book“Middle grade readers will appreciate reading stories that reflect their lives, not their parents’ or grandparents’ stories” (from the “10 Exciting New Middle Grade Books with Latinx Main Characters”) — Brightly
Usagi Yojimbo: Yokai (Usagi Yojimbo)
by Stan SakaiYokai are the monsters, demons, and spirits of Japanese folklore, such as the shape-changing kitsune, the obakeneko demon cats, and the evil oni ogres. Usagi faces all these and more when a desperate woman begs for his help in finding her kidnapped daughter. Tracing the abducted girl deep into the forest, Usagi finds it haunted by creatures of Japanese legend and discovers that they are amassing for a great raid on the countryside! Fortunately, Usagi is joined by Sasuke the Demon Queller, who is also fighting to prevent the invasion, but things aren't always as they seem — especially when dealing with the supernatural!* The rabbit ronin turned twenty-five, and Dark Horse celebrated with the first-ever Usagi Yojimbo original graphic novel, fully hand-painted, written, and lettered by creator Stan Sakai!* Completely self-contained story.* Usagi Yojimbo is a 2009 Eisner Award nominee for Best Continuing Series.First ever, full color, original story!
Usain Bolt: Inspirational Lives
by Simon HartThe series focuses on the people who inspire children today. Each book looks at the background, life and achievements of a personality, their impact on popular culture as well as detailing the everyday facets of their job and how they have gained such success.
Using Math in Science
by Kathy Furgang Brett KellyMath is a powerful tool for communication. Without the language of math, science would cease to exist. Read this book to find out the many different ways we use math to understand and change the world around us. (Set of 10)
Using Rubrics for Performance-Based Assessment: A Practical Guide to Evaluating Student Work
by Todd StanleyWriting a rubric that can accurately evaluate student work can be tricky. Rather than a single right or wrong answer, rubrics leave room for interpretation and thus subjectivity. How does a teacher who wants to use performance-based assessment in this day and age of SMART goals find a way to reliably assess student work? The solution is to write clear rubrics that allow the evaluator to objectively assess the student work. This book will show classroom teachers not only how to create their own objective rubrics, which can be used to evaluate performance assessments, but also how to empower their own students to create rubrics that are tailored to their work.
The Usual Suspects
by Maurice BroaddusFans of Jason Reynolds and Sharon M. Draper will love this oh-so-honest middle grade novel from writer and educator Maurice Broaddus. Thelonius Mitchell is tired of being labeled. He’s in special ed, separated from the “normal” kids at school who don’t have any “issues.” That’s enough to make all the teachers and students look at him and his friends with a constant side-eye. (Although his disruptive antics and pranks have given him a rep too.)When a gun is found at a neighborhood hangout, Thelonius and his pals become instant suspects. Thelonius may be guilty of pulling crazy stunts at school, but a criminal? T isn’t about to let that label stick.
Utopia (Second Edition)
by Center for Gifted EducationA guide to take the students through language arts unit, Utopia, making the concept understandable, as it applies discussions, writing, listening, vocabulary study and research activities.
V Is for... Vampire (Vampire Island #3)
by Adele GriffinLexie might be the first vampire ever to run for ninth-grade class president, but she's determined to make dreamy Dylan notice her, even if it means running against perfect, popular Mina. And things would be going pretty well, if it weren't for those annoying pixie houseguests! Blix and Mitzi are wreaking backwards-speaking, house-pinkifying havoc, and now they want Lexie to run a smear campaign against Mina. But how will all this dirty campaigning affect Lexie, when she's trying to shed her evil vampire nature and become human?
Vacancy
by K. R. AlexanderThe latest chilling frightfest from horror master K. R. Alexander . . . this time centering around a spooky hotel where guests do NOT check out the way they check in.When Jasmine moves to Gold River after her mother's death, she finds herself powerfully drawn to the Carlisle, an abandoned hotel on the edge of town. It appears in her nightmares and calls to her during the day.It's a local tradition in Gold River for kids to try to stay a night in the Carlisle without being scared away. When Jasmine hears about this, she convinces her friends to join her. How hard can it be to stay up all night in an abandoned old building?Only... the building isn't abandoned. There are plenty of people staying there -- dead people. And once you walk into the hotel, they will do everything possible to stop you from checking out.
The Vacation
by Polly HorvathFrom the author of the Newbery Honor Book Everything on a Waffle<P><P> When his mother decides on a whim to be a missionary in Africa and drags his unwilling father with her, Henry is left in the care of his Aunts Magnolia and Pigg. Henry's sure they dislike him and he's trying to keep his distance, but that becomes more difficult when Mag decides they should take a destination-less road trip. Mag, convalescing from an illness that makes her look like death, is downright crabby. Pigg, tense from driving, is becoming more assertive and less willing to submit to Mag's whims. And while they poke each other - literally - Henry is finding it hard to keep his resolution.They go to Virginia Beach (it's too hot); try camping in the Everglades (Henry accidentally spends four days floating in a swamp); visit their daddy, Henry's granddaddy (Henry's never met him!); and lose Pigg to love in Oklahoma (what would the radio psychologist Daly Kramer say?) before they finally receive word that Henry's parents are coming back and will meet them in Tulsa to finish the trip with Mag and Henry. But his parents are bickering and Henry is in despair - until he surrenders to the road and decides to let whatever happens happen, but to be there in it all.<P> Complete with her signature cast of eccentric characters, absurd situations, and heartfelt moments, Polly Horvath writes an on-the-road epic like no other!
Vacation Under the Volcano (Magic Tree House #13)
by Mary Pope Osborne Sal MurdoccaJack and Annie are ready for their next fantasy adventure in the bestselling middle-grade series--the Magic Tree House! Who wants to vacation next to a volcano?Jack and Annie are about to find out when the Magic Tree House whisks them back to the days of the Roman Empire. They arrive in Pompeii and soon discover that it is the very day the city will be destroyed. Now Jack and Annie must race against time to find an ancient library before it is buried in ash! Visit the Magic Tree House website! MagicTreeHouse.comFrom the Trade Paperback edition.
Vaccination Investigation: The History and Science of Vaccines
by Tara HaelleVaccines are biological substances that cause the human immune system to build up its defenses against specific diseases. Public health officials recommend a series of vaccines for all children, as well as some vaccines for teenagers and adults. But not everyone gets the vaccines they need. Many poor nations don't have the resources to deliver vaccines to every community. Some parents refuse to have their children vaccinated because they don't believe the evidence proving that vaccines are safe. The effort to wipe out diseases using vaccines continues. Vaccine Investigation recounts the fascinating history of vaccines, their important role in protecting community health, and the excitement of cutting-edge research.
Valentina Salazar is not a Monster Hunter
by Zoraida Córdova“Monsters, mayhem, and a little family magic will have readers rooting for Valentina!” -- Kwame Mbalia, New York Times bestselling authorIt takes a special person to end up in detention on the last day of school.It takes a REALLY special person to accidentally burn down the school yard while chasing a fire-breathing chipmunk.But nothing about Valentina Salazar has ever been "normal." The Salazars are protectors, tasked with rescuing the magical creatures who sometimes wander into our world, from grumpy unicorns to chupacabras . . . to the occasional fire-breathing chipmunk.When Val's father is killed during a rescue mission gone wrong, her mother decides it's time to retire from their life on the road. She moves the family to a boring little town in upstate New York and enrolls Val and her siblings in real school for the first time.But Val is a protector at heart and she can't give up her calling. So when a mythical egg surfaces in a viral video, Val convinces her reluctant siblings to help her find the egg before it hatches and wreaks havoc. But she has some competition: the dreaded monster hunters who'll stop at nothing to destroy the creature . . . and the Salazar family.Praise for Valentina Salazar is Not a Monster Hunter:Middle grade fantasy at its finest, led by a protagonist who has as much spirit and fire as the monsters she’s sworn to protect.” -- Rena Barron, author of Maya and the Rising Dark “An action-packed, un-put-down-able, adventure filled with fun, family, and fabulous magical creatures! You’re in for a real treat!” -- Sarah Beth Durst, award-winning author of Spark “A wondrous journey, full of friendship, family, and self-discovery. It has everything I look for in a book—heart, humor, and an innovative magic system.” -- Alex Aster, award-winning author of the Emblem Island series
A Valentine for Patti (Sleepover Friends #32)
by Susan SaundersBe My Valentine? Patti has a lot on her mind these days. There's a new girl, Hope, who's in 5B and has joined the Quarks. Knowing how awful it is being new, Patti tries to make her feel at home--but Hope's even shyer than Patti! Is she hiding something, as Kate suspects? Meanwhile, Patti's little brother, Horace, has been moved up a grade, and he's having a hard time fitting in, too. But Patti's efforts to help him only make matters worse! And Valentine's Day is coming up! Should Patti make a special Valentine for a secret someone? Will she get one in return?
The Valentine's Day Disaster
by Brandi Dougherty[from the back cover] "There's one thing Maddy loves: SOCCER. And there's one thing Maddy doesn't love: VALENTINE'S DAY. So what happens when the two collide? DISASTER, THAT'S WHAT! When Maddy's soccer league fund-raiser is cancelled so the student council can throw a Valentine's Day Dance, Maddy is furious. She's ready to boycott the dance! Maddy soon realizes, though, that everyone wants to go to the dance, including her BFF Sarah and her super-popular (and super-annoying) older sister Monica. It's one hilarious disaster after another as Maddy tries to save the soccer fundraiser and her friendship (and, by the way, why is Maddy's cute friend Josh acting so weird around her?)!"