Best Selling Books by Betsy Cromer Byars

Tom hates having to spend the summer on a farm . . . until he discovers the midnight fox. No one asked Tom how he felt about spending two months on his Aunt Millie’s farm. For a city boy, the farm holds countless terrors—stampeding baby lambs, boy-chasing chickens, and worst of all, loneliness. But everything changes when Tom sees the midnight fox. He can spend hours watching the graceful black fox in the woods. And when her life—and that of her cub—is in danger, Tom knows exactly what he must do. “An exceptional book.”—Booklist A Library of Congress Children’s Book of the Year

Three lonely foster children learn to care about themselves and about each other.

With a young brother in the hospital, a grandfather in jail, and their mother traveling with a rodeo, Maggie and Vern try to settle family problems.

With their mother dead and their father working nights, Retta tries to be mother to her two younger brothers.

Ant and his brother play a game, discuss growing up, hear a scary noise, and learn to be friends.

Lennie is addicted to television. Even reruns are more exciting than real life, and Lennie likes to pretend he''s the one experiencing the drama. But Lennie''s daydreams lead him into a real situation that could cost him his life''and suddenly he''s in trouble more terrifying and dangerous than anything he''s ever seen on TV.''Byars infuses the story with her special magic. Lennie is a likable, funny, moving, and always entertaining character.'' ?Publishers Weekly

While describing her humorous adventures with a blacksnake, Betsy Byars recounts childhood anecdotes and explains how she writes a book.

When Junior accidentally gets caught in his own coyote trap deep in the woods, he is rescued by the reclusive woman known as Mad Mary and begins an unforgettable adventure.

Abandoned by his political activist mother, who is hiding from the FBI, Warren dreams up outrageous horror movie plots in an effort to escape from reality. The young boy''s ambivalent feelings are reflected in his elaborate, often humorous fantasies. Text copyright 2004 Lectorum Publications, Inc.

One by one, the members of the Bean family repair to the roof of their apartment building to compose poetry, an exercise that brings joy to all, except George Bean.

An overweight, sensitive boy gains the insight and strength to overcome his problems through his search for and discovery of a friend''s grandfather, known as the Goat Man.

When he builds his raft, a twelve-year-old boy never dreams that it will serve as the sole means of escape for him and his grandmother when hostile Indians threaten their prairie cabin.

Mystery is in Herculeah''s blood with both of her parents working as detectives.

Jon finds his dream Palomino but despite months of attention and affection the animal refuses to recognize him as master.

Threatened with the loss of his private place in the attic of his crowded home, a young boy determines to keep it at all costs.

In the late 1800s in Kentucky, Amie McBee and her four sisters both fear and torment the reclusive and seemingly sinister Mr. Tominski, but their father continues to provide for his needs.

In the latest adventure of the happy and chaotic Blossom family, Junior creates the ultimate invention with the help, as usual, of the entire family. Only one problem crops up--Pap disappears.

Anna Glory, the one non-singing member of a gospel-singing family, feels left out, like her misfit Uncle Newt, until the day the family bus is involved in a terrible accident.

Level 3. This story presents a warm, funny relationship between a boy and his sweet, sometimes annoying, younger brother Ant (short for Anthony).

It was supposed to be a great vacation for everyone. Clara and Deanie were thrilled about spending time with their father now that the divorce was final. But they''re surprised and horrified at having to share Dad with his girl friend and her stuck-up son right in the same beach house! And for his part, John D. Jones can''t stand the arrangement either, especially the squabbling girls, whom he dubs the Animal and the Vegetable. When Clara falls asleep on her plastic raft and is washed out to sea, everyone is hopeful until the float turns up without her. It''s the first time they''ve all pulled together But is it too late to reveal their true feelings?

Teaching literature unit based on the popular children''s story, The summer of the swans.

When a doghouse landed in the backyard during a tornado, the family wasn''t really surprised. What did surprise themwas that there was a dog inside, whom they named Tornado. Each chapter of this gently humorous book by award-winning author Betsy Byars tells a different adventure, and together they chronicle how this unique dog becomes a special part of the family. 00-01 Minnesota''s Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award Masterlist 00 Natn''l Christian School Assoc. Children''s Crown Classic Award

Herculeah Jones and her best friend Meat set out to crack the case of the mysterious note which she finds in the lining of a second-hand coat.

Now she returns to solve the murder of a fortune-teller in a fresh, funny mystery.

When the toughest boy in school swears to kill him, twelve-year-old Mouse finds little help from friends and must prepare for this emergency alone.

In continued adventures, May-May and Rose take their traveling road show to more audiences.

May-May and Rose, the singing, dancing Golly sisters, travel west by covered wagon, entertaining people along the way.

Left with his grandfather until his parents are settled in Detroit, Sammy learns to respect and love the old man as they care for an injured crane together.

Will tries everything to quiet his crying baby brother.

Simon learns some hard lessons about good and bad friendships when his good friend Tony''s stories involve him in some very troublesome and complicated situations.

In the aftermath of a big flood in Alderson County, the Blossom family continues coping in their rare family style.

The return of a hopeless "romantic and a heart-breaker to boot--surely one of Byars''s most enduring characters".--Publishers Weekly. "If there is such a thing as a typical American kid, Bingo Brown is it. He is funny and bright and lovable without being precocious. . . ".--The New York Times Book Review. 11 line drawings. Copyright © Libri GmbH. All rights reserved.

At the eerie Hunt mansion, Herculeah Jones has been reading aloud to Lionus Hunt, an elderly stroke victim who can only communicate by blinking his eyes (once for yes, twice for no). Mr. Hunt seems to be trying to tell Herculeah something, but his gruff nurse wont allow her to ask any questions. What is Mr. Hunt trying to say? Is it related to a murder that took place in the mansions black tower years ago? And who is the creepy old lady who lives in the mansion? Herculeahs friend Meat thinks she may be asking for trouble, but Herculeah Jones wont quit until she gets to the bottom of this mystery.

A boy discovers that he doesn''t have to feel personally responsible for his uncle''s drowning.

Three lonely foster children learn to care about themselves and each other.