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Playing Atari with Saddam Hussein: Based on a True Story
by Jennifer Roy Ali Fadhil"What strikes are the mundane aspects of the brief war: going out to play and explore a familiar but ruined neighborhood, the boredom and fear of awaiting scheduled airstrikes, living with uncertainty about loved ones returning home. Still, there&’s room for optimism and humor despite Fadhil&’s harrowing experience."—Booklist "Roy (Jars of Hope) and Fadhil, an interpreter during Hussein&’s trial, offer a window into what Ali calls &“the true Iraq&” and a disturbing but accessible portrait of a civilian child&’s perspective on war."-Publishers Weekly "This blending of biography, historical fiction, and realistic fiction paints a vivid portrait of daily family life in Iraq and the trials many faced."--School Library Journal —
Playing Games
by Donna Jo Napoli Lauren Klementz-Harte Doron Ben-AmiImagine being a little angel... The Little Angel of Imagination loves to do creative things, like paint pictures and make up stories. And he always comes up with creative ways to help other people. But it will take a lot more than just imagination to help Louie.... Louie's little brother always wants to make up silly games, like pretending the family dog is actually a racehorse. But Louie won't play along -- he thinks make-up games are for babies. Besides, he'd rather watch TV after school than play outside. Is there a cure for this couch potato? The Little Angel of Imagination has a plan that just might work. Use your imagination!
Playing Juliet
by Joanne Stewart WetzelBeth Sondquist, age twelve and a half, dreams of playing the part of Juliet. For now she’s just the cat in Cinderella, but one day, she’s determined to become a real actress. But all her hopes for an acting career come crashing down when the Oakfield Children’s Theater is slated to be closed. Its new owner has decided to make it into an adult theater, a real theater. Beth and her best friend, Zandy, are willing to do whatever it takes to save the theater, but their plans quickly go awry. When Beth’s father catches her sneaking back into her bedroom window well past bedtime, Beth is in big, big trouble. With eviction looming, the children’s theater director decides to close the theater with the same play the theater opened with fifty years ago--Romeo and Juliet. But Beth’s grounded for the next two weeks, and she won’t be able to try out. How will Beth pull off playing Juliet if she can’t even make tryouts? Playing Juliet is funny and honest and celebrates bravery and doing the right thing even when it gets you into trouble. It’s about having the courage to go after what you want and making your dreams come true. It’s also about friendship and family. As an almost-thirteen-year-old, Beth has a unique bond with thirteen-year-old Juliet, and she eventually recognizes just how silly and immature Juliet’s decisions are. Only Beth can play Juliet as the kid that she is. With a little bit of luck, maybe she’ll get her chance.
Playing Like Pa
by Pam BachorzStella listens to her grandpa play piano at the Tulip Café for the final time before he retires.
Playing Through the Turnaround
by Mylisa LarsenIn a timely, insightful story told with sparkling wit and heart, young musicians protesting plans for budget cuts navigate miscalculations, indifferent adults, and unexpected loss as they discover the power of speaking out and the value of listening.“A brave and dazzling debut, this timely novel is a blueprint for hope.”—Katherine Applegate, Newbery Medalist and best-selling author of The One and Only Ivan“Keen and clear and fiercely funny.”—Linda Sue Park, Newbery Medalist and best-selling author of A Long Walk to Water“Brilliant, sharp, comic, poignant, and true.”— Gary D. Schmidt, two-time Newbery Honor-winning author of The Wednesday Wars“A splendid novel filled with honesty and heart.”—Karina Yan Glaser, best-selling author of the Vanderbeekers series.Fifth period is hands down the best time of day in Connor U. Eubanks Middle School, because that’s when Mr. Lewis teaches Jazz Lab. So his students are devastated when their beloved teacher quits abruptly. Once they make a connection between budget cuts and Mr. Lewis’s disappearance, they hatch a plan: stop the cuts, save their class.Soon, they become an unlikely band of crusaders, and their quest quickly snowballs into something much bigger—a movement involving the whole middle school. But the adults in charge seem determined to ignore their every protest. How can the kids make themselves heard?
Playing War
by Kathy BeckwithSkipping Stones Honor Award One summer day, Luke and his friends decide to play their favorite game of war, using sticks for guns and pine cones for bombs. But Sameer, who is new to their neighborhood, doesn’t want to join in. When the kids learn that Sameer lost his family in a real war, they realize that war is not a game. The gracefulness of their response and the power of friendship are the real stories here.
Playing for Pride (Laurie Bird Preston)
by Timothy TocherWith the girls' softball season about to start, fifth-grader Laurie Bird Preston can't decide what to do. Her friends are trying out for the team, but Laurie knows she's no softball player--basketball is her sport. She helped lead her middle school's girls' basketball team to a state championship just a few weeks earlier. What fun will she have playing a sport she's no good at and might not even like? But with patience, practice--and help from her friends and an eccentric old woman with a mysterious past--Laurie might just learn that she doesn't have to be the best player to be part of the team.
Playing the Cards You're Dealt
by Varian JohnsonThe author explores themes of toxic masculinity and family legacy in this heartfelt, hopeful story of one boy discovering what it really means to be a man. Ten-year-old Anthony Joplin has made it to double digits! Which means he's finally old enough to play in the spades tournament every Joplin Man before him seems to have won. So while Ant's friends are stressing about fifth grade homework and girls, Ant only has one thing on his mind: how he'll measure up to his father's expectations at the card table. Then Ant's best friend gets grounded, and he's forced to find another spades partner. And Shirley, the new girl in his class, isn't exactly who he has in mind. She talks a whole lot of trash -- way more than his old partner. Plus, he's not sure that his father wants him playing with a girl. But she's smart and tough and pretty, and knows every card trick in the book. So Ant decides to join forces with Shirley -- and keep his plans a secret. Only it turns out secrets are another Joplin Man tradition. And his father is hiding one so big it may tear their family apart...
Playing the Cards You're Dealt
by Varian Johnson“With a deft hand, Johnson shows us there's no such thing as "too young" when it comes to questioning big ideas like manhood, or even family.” –Jason Reynolds, New York Times bestselling author of Look Both Ways and StampedLiterary powerhouse and Coretta Scott King Honor- and Boston Globe / Horn Book Honor-winning author of The Parker Inheritance Varian Johnson explores themes of toxic masculinity and family legacy in this heartfelt, hopeful story of one boy discovering what it really means to be a man.SECRETS ARE ALWAYS A GAMBLETen-year-old Anthony Joplin has made it to double digits! Which means he's finally old enough to play in the spades tournament every Joplin Man before him seems to have won. So while Ant's friends are stressing about fifth grade homework and girls, Ant only has one thing on his mind: how he'll measure up to his father's expectations at the card table.Then Ant's best friend gets grounded, and he's forced to find another spades partner. And Shirley, the new girl in his class, isn't exactly who he has in mind. She talks a whole lot of trash -- way more than his old partner. Plus, he's not sure that his father wants him playing with a girl. But she's smart and tough and pretty, and knows every card trick in the book. So Ant decides to join forces with Shirley -- and keep his plans a secret.Only it turns out secrets are another Joplin Man tradition. And his father is hiding one so big it may tear their family apart...
Playing with Fire
by Phoebe RiversSara nervously prepares for a paranormal confession--and staying in a haunted hotel isn't helping!Sara has made a big decision: She's finally going to tell her best friend about her powers. When Lily's family invites Sara to come along with them on a trip to the Adirondacks, Sara thinks it will be the perfect opportunity to talk to Lily. After all, having a serious discussion about paranormal stuff will be a lot easier outside a haunted town like Stellamar. But when they arrive in the Adirondacks, Sara learns that they are staying in a very haunted hotel. So haunted, in fact, that a psychic has been called in to help drive the ghosts out. It seems that Sara can't avoid ghosts and psychics no matter where she goes! Can she escape the mayhem long enough to have her heart-to-heart with Lily? What will happen if Sara doesn't get the reaction she's hoping for?
Playing with Fire (A School for Spies Novel #1)
by Bruce HaleJuvenile delinquent and budding pyromaniac Max Segredo belongs in juvie hall. At least, that's what his most recent foster family would tell you. Instead, Max ends up on the doorstep of Merry Sunshine Orphanage-their very heavily guarded doorstep. As he begins to acclimate to his new home, Max learns a few things straightaway: first, cracking a Caesar Cipher isn't as hard as it seems; second, never sass your instructor if she's also holding throwing knives; and third, he may not be an orphan after all. Soon, Max and the rest of the students are sent on a mission to keep a dangerous weapon out of the hands of LOTUS, an international group bent on world domination. Of course, all Max cares about is finding out more about his father, the man he's now sure is still alive. As the stakes get higher, Max must make some difficult choices, including who to trust, and finally learns the true meaning of family.
Playoff Dreams (All-Star Sports Stories #14)
by Fred BowenBrendan is a star player on a team going nowhere. It looks as if his playoff dreams will never come true--at least not with his team! He feels almost as bad as Ernie Banks, the Hall-of-Famer who played in more games than any other major leaguer without ever going to the playoffs or World Series.But when his uncle takes him to a game at Wrigley Field, an unexpected event makes Brendan see his team in a new light. Could his playoff dreams come true?
Please Do Not Feed the Weirdo (Goosebumps SlappyWorld #4)
by R. L. StineGoosebumps now on Disney+!Robby and his sister Karla beg their parents to take them to a big carnival that has opened on the other side of town. When they arrive, the two kids are delighted by the rides, the sideshow, the interesting displays, and the great food booths. They wander away from their parents and find themselves at a less-trafficked area at the back of the carnival. Inside a large penned-in area, they see a dejected-looking boy about their age sitting on the grass. A sign on the tall metal fence reads: PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE WEIRDO.The kids are reluctant to disobey the sign, but the boy seems really nice. Karla hands him her cone through the fence. He thanks her very politely. He eats the ice cream, delicately at first, then ravenously, noisily-and as Robby and Karla stare in horror, he transforms into a raging, hairy beast.
Please Don't Eat Me
by Liz ClimoBeloved author-illustrator Liz Climo is back with a hilarious take on (reluctant) friendship that will appeal to fans of We Don't Eat Our Classmates and I Want My Hat Back!When a carefree bunny is approached by a voracious bear in the woods, Bunny has just one request: "Please don't eat me."But the bear has a never-ending list of requests, and Bunny realizes maybe Bear isn't as hungry as he'd let on...maybe he just wants his new friend's company for a while. This witty and poignant exploration of predator and prey will have children and parents alike roaring with laughter--and looking for their next meal.
Please Don't Feed the Vampire!: A Give Yourself Goosebumps Book (Give Yourself Goosebumps #32)
by R.L. StineChoose to be a vampire—or not—in this scary Goosebumps adventure that’s packed with more than twenty super spooky endings.You buy something called “Vampire in a Can.” At first you think it’s just a goofy vampire costume with a cape, plastic fangs, and a tattoo of teeth marks. But then you find a packet in the bottom of the can labeled: DANGER-KEEP AWAY!If you try to open the packet with your teeth, it rips in your mouth. Uh-oh. Looks like you’ve been transformed into a vampire—and you’re really thirsty. If you decide not to open the packet, your dog sinks his teeth into it. Now your cute little poodle has become a ferocious vampire dog! Can you save your pooch before he bites off more than he can chew? The choice is yours . . . Reader beware—you choose the scare! GIVE YOURSELF GOOSEBUMPS!
Please Don't Read This Book
by Deanna KizisIn this laugh-out-loud book that begs readers to break the rules, silliness and hilarity reign supreme! Perfect for fans of The Book with No Pictures.Wait--are you reading this book? Even though the cover asked you not to? Well, if you're going to read it, then you'll have to follow the rules, or you're going to have WAY too much fun. And you don't want to have FUN, do you? DO YOU?! That's what I thought. So definitely, positively, DO NOT read this book! Join along for zany antics, silly sounds, and endless fun in this breaks-the-fourth-wall book that will have readers coming back time and time again--regardless of what the title says.Praise for Please Don't Read This Book:"Inviting of energetic engagement and laughter." --Kirkus Reviews"A brilliant job of engaging even the most reluctant reader, showing how much fun a book can be." --New York Journal of Books"'Please Don&’t Read This Book!' is hard to resist — and that&’s clearly the plan." --The Virginian-Pilot
Plight of the Pelican: How Science Saved a Species (Books for a Better Earth)
by Jessica StremerA richly illustrated nonfiction picture book celebrating how scientists and activists can work together to create change and protect wildlife, making the world safer for creatures both big and small.How do you save a species? Start at the edges of the food chain.In the 1950s, the brown pelican went from thriving to barely surviving. The culprit was DDT: a harmful pesticide that seeped into soil, spread in the water, festered in small fish, and ultimately caused the pelican population to plummet. Scientists sounded the alarm, but faced pushback from farmers who relied on DDT to control pesky pests. It required many voices joining together, demanding change, before the government took action. Thanks to these efforts, we now have the EPA and the Endangered Species Act, which continue to protect wildlife threatened by climate change.This thrilling and inspirational nonfiction picture book introduces young readers to bioaccumulation, endangered species, and one of the biggest grassroots movements of our time. It connects the success of the pelican&’s regrowth with conservation efforts in place today, such as pollinator gardens, wildlife corridors, and much more.Sweeping illustrations depict the brown pelican&’s journey from near extinction to a robust, populous species. Back matter includes more details on the EPA, a glossary, and an index.
Plum Fantastic: Plum Fantastic And Toeshoe Trouble (Sugar Plum Ballerinas #1)
by Whoopi GoldbergAlexandrea Petrakova Johnson does not want to be a beautiful ballerina, and she does not want to leave her friends in Apple Creek. Unfortunately, that doesn't stop her ballet-crazy mother from moving them to Harlem, or from enrolling Al at the Nutcracker School of Ballet. Life is hard when you're the new ballerina on the block, and it's even harder when you're chosen to be the Sugar Plum Fairy in the school recital!
Plum to the Rescue!
by Matt PhelanIt’s baby animal season at the Athensville Zoo! Is Plum responsible enough to watch over five exuberant peachicks? From award-winning author-artist Matt Phelan—creator of Knights vs. Dinosaurs—Plum to the Rescue! is the fourth book about a young peacock whose adventures are funny, hopeful, and always kindhearted. A hilarious and highly illustrated novel perfect for reluctant readers and animal lovers everywhere.Plum is sure he can handle supervising five energetic—and mischievous—peachicks. How hard could it be? When one of the chicks ends up in the clutches of two notorious, badly behaved young zoo patrons, Plum will face his most thrilling adventure yet—a rescue mission outside the zoo walls!With short chapters and energetic black-and-white illustrations, these novels about Plum and his friends at the zoo are just right for newly independent readers, tackling an emotional theme relevant and accessible to the audience. Full of heart and humor, Plum to the Rescue! is a great choice for fans of the Mercy Watson and the Princess in Black series.
Plunked
by Michael NorthropWhen a young slugger gets hit by a pitch, he needs more than practice to get back his game.Sixth grader Jack Mogens has it all figured out: He's got his batting routine down, and his outfielding earns him a starting spot alongside his best friend Andy on their Little League team, the Tall Pines Braves. He even manages to have a not-totally-embarrassing conversation with Katie, the team's killer shortstop. But in the first game of the season, a powerful stray pitch brings everything Jack's worked so hard for crashing down around his ears. How can he explain to his parents and friends why he WON'T be playing? Readers will root for Jack as he finds the courage to step back up to the plate.Michael Northrop is the New York Times bestselling author of TombQuest, an epic book and game adventure series featuring the magic of ancient Egypt. He is also the author of Trapped, an Indie Next List Selection, and Plunked, a New York Public Library best book of the year and an NPR Backseat Book Club selection. An editor at Sports Illustrated Kids for many years, he now writes full-time from his home in New York City. Learn more at www.michaelnorthrop.net.
Plus One
by John HareWhen Agnes decides to host a tea party, she finds it hard to shake a most unlikely guest . . . and his even more unlikely friends.Agnes is new to town and wants to make friends, so she invites some girls in her class to a fancy tea party. When there is a knock at the door, she expects to see them—not Dave from next door. This isn't what she had in mind at all. . . "The invitation says plus one.This means you need to bring a friend.And since you don't have a friend with you—goodbye."Agnes is sure that will be the end of that, but Dave is persistent, and before long he's bringing one friend after another as his plus one. Pierre of the North, Esquire, a goose who Agnes deems too loud; Fred, a cactus that's too prickly; Dr. Scalywiggles, a legless lizard she mistakes for a snake; even his mom, who makes great French toast and lets him win at tag. Alas, no grownups are allowed at this tea party.But as the minutes pass and the other guests don't show up, Agnes is left with nothing but her tea set, watching Dave and his friends play tag. She works up the nerve to ask if she can join in and receives a resounding yes— and when the original guests arrive (late because of soccer practice) everyone heads inside for tea, no species excluded.In this fun and funny tale, John Hare, author and illustrator of Field Trip to the Moon, Field Trip to the Ocean Deep, and Field Trip to Volcano Island, uses his signature wit and buoyant illustrations to share the timeless message that sometimes new friends turn out to be someone unexpected.
Pluto Rocket: Full Blast! (Pluto Rocket)
by Paul GilliganPluto Rocket and Joe Pidge return with a blast in the third book of this hilarious new early graphic novel series, for fans of Narwhal and Jelly and Pizza and Taco!Joe Pidge, king of the neighborhood, and Pluto Rocket, an alien who's new in town, have left the safety of Joe's neighborhood to discover other places on Earth for Pluto's secret mission — to explore the planet and prove that Earthlings are nice. But Joe is way out of his comfort zone! What starts as a casual walk into a new town turns into a high-speed chase as Joe is convinced the duo is being pursued by a wolf (it's really a poodle).Later, Pluto's habit of helping people leads to the two being celebrated as heroes! But when their publicity makes its way back to Pluto's home planet, Joe and Pluto have to find a way to escape to the moon . . . and fast, in the third book of this hilarious graphic novel series from Paul Gilligan, creator of the syndicated comic strip Pooch Café!
Pluto Rocket: Joe Pidge Flips a Lid (Pluto Rocket #2)
by Paul GilliganPluto Rocket and Joe Pidge are back, with more hats and hijinks than ever before, in the second book of this hilarious new early graphic novel series, for fans of Narwhal and Jelly and Pizza and Taco!Joe Pidge, king of the neighborhood, and Pluto Rocket, an alien who's new in town, have become fast friends, with Joe acting as Pluto's guide on her secret mission to discover what life in the neighborhood is really like. But on Joe's tour (where he shows Pluto the best fire escape and the best garbage can in the world!), it becomes clear that Joe has never actually left his tiny slice of the planet . . .Pluto encourages Joe to get out of his comfort zone, but Joe delays by creating an outlandish list of supplies they'll need to get before they go! Is Joe Pidge afraid of leaving his safe little neighborhood? And if that's tough, imagine how Joe feels when his hat, his trademark super-flavio look that helps him stand out from the other pigeons, goes missing. Thankfully, Pluto is here to help save the day in the second book of this hilarious graphic novel series from Paul Gilligan, creator of the syndicated comic strip Pooch Cafe!
Pluto Rocket: New in Town (Pluto Rocket #1)
by Paul GilliganMeet Pluto Rocket, a friendly alien, and Joe Pidge, a wise-cracking pigeon, in the first book of this hilarious new early graphic novel series, for fans of Narwhal and Jelly and Pizza and Taco!Joe Pidge, not just a pigeon but also the stylish king of the neighborhood, is bobbing his way down the street one day when, all of a sudden, Pluto Rocket enters the scene. It turns out, Pluto is from another planet, and is disguising herself for her secret mission — to find out what life in the neighborhood is really like.Lucky for Pluto, Joe Pidge has seen it all before, eaten it all before, and pooped on it all before, so he takes her under his wing and the two become fast friends. But Joe is the one who actually learns a thing or two and whose mind is blown by the out-of-this-world Pluto in this hilarious graphic novel series from Paul Gilligan, creator of the syndicated comic strip Pooch Cafe!
Pluto Visits Earth!
by Steve MetzgerPluto is upset at not being considered a planet anymore and decides to pay Earth a visit.