New Releases by Christopher Paul Curtis

Ein Klassiker der Schwarzen amerikanischen Literatur Die Watsons sind eine komische Familie – und Meister im Aufstellen schräger Rekorde: So ist Byron, der älteste Sohn, vermutlich der einzige Mensch der Welt, der schon mal mit den Lippen am vereisten Seitenspiegel eines Autos kleben geblieben ist. Und weil der Junge auch sonst nur Blödsinn im Kopf hat, fahren Momma, Dad, er, Bruder Kenny und die kleine Schwester Joetta zur Großmutter nach Birmingham, Alabama. Sie soll Byron zur Vernunft bringen. Doch für die schwarze Familie ist Alabama im Jahr 1963 lebensgefährlich, weil sie hautnah eines der dunkelsten Kapitel US-amerikanischer Geschichte erlebt.

With carefully adapted text, new illustrations, language practise activities and additional online resources, the Penguin Readers series introduces language learners to bestselling authors and compelling content. Titles include popular classics, exciting contemporary fiction, and thought-provoking non-fiction. Bud, Not Buddy, a Level 4 Reader, is A2+ in the CEFR framework. The text is made up of sentences with up to three clauses, introducing more complex uses of present perfect simple, passives, phrasal verbs and simple relative clauses. It is well supported by illustrations, which appear regularly. Bud Caldwell is an 11-year old boy who goes to live in a horrible foster home. After Bud escapes, he decides to find his father. Bud''s adventures take him across the United States of America during the Great Depression, a time when many people were very poor. Will Bud find a home and a family?

From the Newberry Medal and Corretta Scott King Award winning author, three bestselling novels that have been called “a modern classic” by NPR and “marvelous” by The New York Times are now available for the first time in one ebook collection! Included in this set are three cherished and unforgettable books about Black family life, important moments in history, and dealing with tough situations with determination and humor: The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963 features Kenny and his family on a road trip during the civil rights era; Bud, Not Buddy, a motherless boy on the run during the Depression (both books include special bonus content), plus The Mighty Miss Malone, which stars a character from Bud, Deza Malone, who is looking to get her family back together.

"Included in this set are three cherished and unforgettable books about Black family life, important moments in history, and dealing with tough situations with determination and humor: The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963 features Kenny and his family on a road trip during the civil rights era; Bud, Not Buddy, a motherless boy on the run during the Depression (both books include special bonus content), plus The Mighty Miss Malone, which stars a character from Bud, Deza Malone, who is looking to get her family back together." -- Amazon

La vie quotidienne de la famille Watson, dans l''état du Michigan au début des années 60, est celle d''une famille noire des plus normales, avec son lot de bons souvenirs, de chamailleries, de projets raisonnables et de serrages de vis. Joetta est une bonne petite, Kenny travaille si bien à l''école que tout le monde l''appelle Einstein. Mais Byron, le fils aîné, est en train de mal tourner. Alors, pour lui apprendre à vivre tant qu''il en est encore temps, les parents décident de l''envoyer en pension chez sa grand-mère du Sud, là où la vie est difficile pour les Noirs, là où leurs toilettes, leurs autobus, leurs écoles et leurs églises sont séparées de celles des Blancs. Tout le monde profite des grandes vacances pour l''accompagner, et pour que ce long voyage soit tout de même une partie de plaisir, Papa Watson équipe sa voiture, la Grosse Bombe, d''une électrophone dernier-cri où chacun peut jouer ses disques préférés. Et la famille prend la route, avec sandwiches au beurre de cacahuète et bagages. C''est l''été 1963. Dans le Sud, le mouvement pour les droits civiques bat son plein, les foules noires protestent pacifiquement contre la ségrégation, les racistes ripostent en posant des bombes jusque dans les églises. C''est l''été 1963. Il fait chaud. Dans quinze jours, le 15 septembre, Martin Luther King prononcera son immortel discours : J''ai fait un rêve...

Charlie, 12 ans, n''a pas de chance : son père métayer vient de mourir et Captain Buck – l''homme le plus redoutable de Possum Moan, Caroline du Sud – est venu collecter sa dette. Craignant pour sa vie, Charlie conclut un accord avec lui et accepte de retrouver des gens accusés d''avoir volé le Captain et son patron. Ce n''est pas une si mauvaise affaire pour Charlie... jusqu''à ce qu''il se retrouve confronté aux fugitifs et découvre leur véritable identité. Déchiré entre sa conscience et son instinct de survie, Charlie doit faire un choix, et vite. Car ce n''est qu''une question de temps avant que Captain Buck n’ait des soupçons.

During one of the most important times in the civil rights movement, one unforgettable family goes on a road trip in this Newbery and Coretta Scott King Honoree, from author Christopher Paul Curtis, recipient of the Coretta Scott King–Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement. This special edition makes a perfect gift and includes bonus content. When the Watson family—ten-year-old Kenny, Momma, Dad, little sister Joetta, and brother Byron—sets out on a trip south to visit Grandma in Birmingham, Alabama, they don’t realize that they’re heading toward one of the darkest moments in America’s history. The Watsons’ journey reminds us that even in the hardest times, laughter and family can help us get through anything. "A modern classic." —NPR “Marvelous . . . both comic and deeply moving.” —The New York Times "One of the best novels EVER." —Jacqueline Woodson, Newbery Honor and National Book Award–winning author of Brown Girl Dreaming Bonus Content • New foreword and afterword from the author • Map of the Watsons’ journey • Original manuscript pages and letter from the Newbery committee • Personal essays celebrating the book’s legacy by award-winning authors Jacqueline Woodson, Varian Johnson, and Kate DiCamillo

Three Newbery Medal winners—Christopher Paul Curtis’s Bud, Not Buddy, Clare Vanderpool’s Moon Over Manifest, and Rebecca Stead’s When You Reach Me—come together in this collection that’s perfect for catching up on old favorites and discovering new ones. Whether you’re looking for an escape or eager to catch up on some summer reading, the three award-winning titles in this collection will stay with you. Titles featured include: · Bud, Not Buddy: It’s 1936, in Flint, Michigan, and a motherless boy named Bud decides to hit the road to find his father in this Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Award-winning classic from Christopher Paul Curtis, author of The Watsons Go To Birmingham—1963. · Moon Over Manifest: Armed only with a few possessions, Abilene Tucker jumps off the train in Manifest, Kansas, aiming to learn about the boy her father once was. What she discovers sends her and some new friends on an honest-to-goodness spy hunt. · When You Reach Me: Shortly after a fall-out with her best friend, sixth grader Miranda starts receiving mysterious notes that seem to predict the future. If that''s the case, then Miranda has a big problem—because the notes tell her that someone is going to die, and she might be too late to stop it. Turn to this three-book collection for the classics you remember and the stories you’ll never forget.

The Newberry Medalist brings humor and heart to this story of a Civil War–era boy struggling to do right in the face of history’s cruelest evils. Twelve-year-old Charlie is down on his luck: His sharecropper father just died, and Cap’n Buck—the most fearsome man in Possum Moan, South Carolina—has come to collect a debt. Fearing for his life, Charlie strikes a deal with Cap’n Buck and agrees to track down some folks accused of stealing from the cap’n and his boss. It’s not too bad of a bargain for Charlie . . . until he comes face-to-face with the fugitives and discovers their true identities. Torn between his guilty conscience and his survival instinct, Charlie needs to figure out his next move—and soon. It’s only a matter of time before Cap’n Buck catches on. Praise for The Journey of Little Charlie A National Book Award Finalist “This is a compelling and ugly story for middle-grade readers told with genuine care. Little Charlie is a product of his Southern upbringing, yet in Curtis’s skillful hands he learns the world is not as he’d thought . . . Christopher Paul Curtis does it again.” —Historical Novel Society “A characteristically lively and complex addition to the historical fiction of the era from Curtis.” —Kirkus Reviews

Enter the world of ten-year-old Kenny and his family, the Weird Watsons of Flint, Michigan. When Momma and Dad decide it''s time for a visit to Grandma, Dad comes home with the amazing Ultra-Glide, and the Watsons head South to Birmingham, Alabama...toward one of the darkest moments in America''s history

"Entra en el hilarante mundo de Kenny y su familia, los extraños Watson de Flint, Michigan. Están su mamá y su papá, su hermanita Joetta y su hermano Byron, que tiene trece años y ya es ''oficialmente un delincuente juvenil''. Cuando mamá y papá deciden que es hora de hacerle una visita a la abuela, papá trae a casa un asombroso Ultra-Glide y los Watson emprenden un viaje increíble. Se encaminan al Sur, a Alabama, hacia uno de los momentos más oscuros de la historia de Estados Unidos"--Page [4] of cover.

In this poignant companion to Elijah of Buxton, two boys united by tragedy find friendship and adventure in the Canadian woods. Benji and Red couldn’t be more different. They aren’t friends. They don’t even live in the same town. But their fates are entwined. A chance meeting leads the boys to discover that they have more in common than meets the eye. Both of them have encountered a strange presence in the forest, watching them, tracking them. Could the Madman of Piney Woods be real? In a tale brimming with intrigue and adventure, Christopher Paul Curtis returns to the vibrant world he brought to life in Elijah of Buxton. Here is another novel that will break your heart—and expand it, too. This critically acclaimed story by National Book Award finalist Christopher Paul Curtis joins the Scholastic Gold line, which features award-winning and beloved novels. Includes extra bonus content! Praise for The Madman of Piney Woods “Humor and tragedy are often intertwined, and readers will find themselves sobbing and chuckling, sometimes in the same scene.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review “A delight, featuring the author’s obvious love for his characters, his skillful use of sentiment, and his often hyperbolic humor.” —Booklist, Starred Review “Heady stuff. Funny stuff. Smart stuff. Good stuff. Better get your hands on this stuff.” —School Library Journal “So suspenseful . . . Curtis deftly makes what might have been simply heart-rending hopeful and redeeming instead . . . A thrill ride of a plot.” —TheNew York Times

The dramatic and unforgettable story of a girl and a family caught up in the turbulent days of the Depression from Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott Kind Award-winner Christopher Paul Curtis. "We are a family on a journey to a place called wonderful." This is the motto of Deza Malone''s family, but the road is getting rocky. Deza is the smartest girl in her class, singled out by teachers for a special path in life. But the Great Depression hit Gary, Indiana hard, and there are no jobs for Black men. When her beloved father leaves to find work, Deza, Mother, and her older brother Jimmie go in search of him, and end up in a Hooverville outside Flint, Michigan. While Jimmie''s beautiful voice inspires him to leave the camp to be a performer, Deza and Mother continue on, clinging to the hope that they will find Father. The twists and turns of the Malone''s journey reveal not only the devastation of the Depression but also the enduring strength of family bonds and the mighty heart of young Deza Malone.

Master storyteller Christopher Paul Curtis''s Newbery Honor novel, featuring his trademark humor and unique narrative voice, is now part of the Scholastic Gold line! Elijah of Buxton, recipient of the Newbery Honor and winner of the Coretta Scott King Award, joins the Scholastic Gold line, which features award-winning and beloved novels. This edition includes exclusive bonus content!Eleven-year-old Elijah lives in Buxton, Canada, a settlement of runaway slaves near the American border. Elijah''s the first child in town to be born free, and he ought to be famous just for that -- not to mention for being the best at chunking rocks and catching fish. Unfortunately, all that most people see is a "fra-gile" boy who''s scared of snakes and tends to talk too much. But everything changes when a former slave steals money from Elijah''s friend, who has been saving to buy his family out of captivity in the South. Now it''s up to Elijah to track down the thief -- and his dangerous journey just might make a hero out of him, if only he can find the courage to get back home.

Kids. They think they got it so rough these days. But nobody has it worse than Papa Red did when he was a kid. And you better listen up when he talks. A short story from the acclaimed collection Guys Read: Funny Business, edited by Jon Scieszka.

Luther T. Farrell has got to get out of Flint, Michigan. As his best friend Sparky says, “Flint’s nothing but the Titanic.” And his mother, a.k.a. the Sarge, says, “Take my advice and stay off the sucker path.” The Sarge milked the system to build an empire of slum housing and group homes. Luther’s just one of the many people trapped in the Sarge’s Evil Empire—but he’s about to bust out. If Luther wins the science fair this year, he’ll be on track for college and a future as America’s best-known and best-loved philosopher. All he’s got to do is beat his arch rival Shayla Patrick, the beautiful daughter of Flint’s finest undertaker—and the love of Luther’s life. Sparky’s escape plans involve a pit bull named Poofy and the world’s scariest rat. Oh, and Luther. Add to the mix Chester X., Luther’s mysterious roommate; Dontay Gaddy, a lawyer whose phone number is 1-800-SUE’M ALL; and Darnell Dixon, the Sarge’s go-to guy who knows how to break all the rules. Bucking the Sarge is a story that only Christopher Paul Curtis could tell. Once again the Newbery Award–winning author of Bud, Not Buddy and The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963 gives us a whole new angle on life and a world full of unforgettable and hilarious characters. Readers will root for Luther and Sparky every step of the way. Praise for The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963: “An exceptional first novel.”—Publishers Weekly, Starred “Ribald humor . . . and a totally believable child’s view of the world will make this book an instant hit.”—School Library Journal, Starred Praise for Bud, Not Buddy: “Curtis has given a fresh, new look to a traditional orphan-finds-a-home story that would be a crackerjack read-aloud.” —School Library Journal, Starred

Steven and his best friend Russell are back! When Russell''s dog, Rodney Rodent, jumps into a mural to chase a demonic-looking gnome and disappears, the Flint Future Detectives are on the case. With the secret password (Bow-wow-wow yippee yo yippee yay!) Steven, Richelle, and Russell enter the mural too, only to find the mysterious Mr. Chickee on the other side. To find a way out, the detectives must complete a mission—finding Rodney Rodent. And that means they''re in some wild adventure! As Steven says, "I second that emotion."

Mr. Chickee, the genial blind man in the neighborhood, gives 9-year-old Steven a mysterious bill with 15 zeros on it and the image of a familiar but startling face. Could it be a quadrillion dollar bill? Could it be real? Well, Agent Fondoo of the U.S. Treasury Department and his team of Secret Government Agents are determined to get that money back! But Steven and his best friends, Russell and Zoopy the giant dog, are more than a match for the Feds. After all, Steven is the president of the Flint Future Detectives Club, and the inventor of fantastic spying and detecting equipment such as the Snoopeeze 9000!

A Literature Kit. A touching and humorous story about a ten-year-old boy on the run! Foster child Bud Caldwell, during the height of the Great Depression in 1936 leaves Flint, Michigan on a humorous adventure where he meets many interesting characters. When Bud eventually arrives in Grand Rapids, he meets Herman Calloway and all the members of the band who welcome him into their lives. As the story comes to a close, we learn that Calloway is Buds grandfather and Bud at last has a place to call home. A captivating story told in the first person (from Buds point of view), this novel is excellent to read aloud. The historical setting, intriguing cast of characters, and themes of racial and societal prejudice all provide excellent opportunities for teaching, learning and discussion.

Hit the road with Bud in this Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Award-winning classic about a boy on a journey to find his father—from Christopher Paul Curtis, recipient of the Coretta Scott King–Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement. It’s 1936, in Flint Michigan. Times may be hard, and ten-year-old Bud may be a motherless boy on the run, but Bud’s got a few things going for him: 1. He has his own suitcase full of special things. 2. He’s the author of Bud Caldwell’s Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself. 3. His momma never told him who his father was, but she left a clue: flyers advertising Herman E. Calloway and his famous band, the Dusky Devastators of the Depression!!!!!! Bud’s got an idea that those flyers will lead him to his father. Once he decides to hit the road to find this mystery man, nothing can stop him—not hunger, not fear, not vampires, not even Herman E. Calloway himself. “[A] powerfully felt novel.” —The New York Times

Ten-year-old Bud, a motherless boy living in Flint, Michigan, during the Great Depression, escapes a bad foster home and sets out in search of the man he believes to be his father -- the renowned band leader, H.E. Calloway of Grand Rapids.

Provides activities and discussion to be used with The Watsons go to Birmingham--1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis.

During one of the most important times in the civil rights movement, one unforgettable family goes on a road trip in this Newbery and Coretta Scott King Honoree, from author Christopher Paul Curtis, recipient of the Coretta Scott King–Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement. When the Watson family—ten-year-old Kenny, Momma, Dad, little sister Joetta, and brother Byron—sets out on a trip south to visit Grandma in Birmingham, Alabama, they don’t realize that they’re heading toward one of the darkest moments in America’s history. The Watsons’ journey reminds us that even in the hardest times, laughter and family can help us get through anything. "A modern classic." —NPR “Marvelous . . . both comic and deeply moving.” —The New York Times "One of the best novels EVER." —Jacqueline Woodson, Newbery Honor and National Book Award–winning author of Brown Girl Dreaming