New Releases by Claudia Mills

Here''s the third entry in Claudia Mills''s charming middle-grade series. Mason Dixon survived the school choir. He survived adopting his now-beloved dog named, uh, Dog. But now he faces his biggest challenge yet: joining the local basketball team. Not by choice, of course. Not only do his parents encourage it, but his dad even volunteers to be his coach. Now, with his best pal Brody and a team of misfits even worse at basketball than him (if that''s possible), Mason must try to rally to beat his arch-rival, the school bully Dunk. Just another day-in-the-life of a disaster-prone fourth grader.

Soon-to-be fourth-grader Mason Dixon does not want a pet, but his parents think it will be good for him. Goldfish dies soon after his arrival (from overfeeding). Mason is relieved. Hamster escapes. Mason is relieved. Cat has to go back because best friend Brody is too allergic to ever be at their house while Cat is there. Mason is relieved. But when Dog comes, it takes a little dose of jealousy for Mason to realize he does want a pet, all of his very own. Claudia Mills introduces a new, hilarious character in Mason, and each of the three books about him will feature both boys as they cope with a new experience; pitch-perfect for 8- to 10- year-old newly independent readers, the books will maintain a consistent page count and feature black-and-while art throughout.

While trying to decide on a science fair project, third-grader Wilson struggles with with fractions and, much to his embarrassment, his parents sign him up to work with a math tutor.

Here''s the second entry in veteran author Claudia Mills'' charming middle-grade series, which finds the lovably sardonic title character starting the fourth grade, which he''s dreading: everyone in fourth grade is expected to join the school choir. And sing. In front of everyone. Mason can''t think of many things he enjoys less than singing. But performing in front of other people might come close; Mason devises a foolproof plan that will keep him out of the spotlight on concert night. Of course, in the world of Mason Dixon, there is no such thing as a foolproof plan. There is only disaster.

How Oliver Olson Changed the World is an irresistible chapter book from Claudia Mills, featuring lively illustrations by Heather Maione. Oliver Olson learns that before you can change the world, sometimes you need to change yourself. Oliver Olson''s teacher is always saying that one person with a big idea can change the world. But how is Oliver supposed to change the world when his parents won''t let him do anything on his own—not his class projects or even attending activities such as the space sleepover at school. Afraid he will become an outsider like ex-planet Pluto, Oliver decides to take control of his corner of the universe!

While trying to decide on a science fair project, third-grader Wilson struggles with with fractions and, much to his embarrassment, his parents sign him up to work with a math tutor, in this long-anticipated sequel to "7 x 9 = Trouble." Illustrations.

Cooper''s grandfather gives him and his little sister, Carly, deeds to square inches of land in the Yukon. Carly uses them to invent her own imaginary kingdom of Inchland—far away from the silence of their home, where their single mother stays in bed all day. When their mom comes out of her season of sadness bursting with sometimes frightening energy, Carly retreats into Inchland, while sixth-grader Cooper tries to control the chaos. But can Cooper really keep Carly—and himself—safe? In One Square Inch, Claudia Mills weaves a story that is "Believable and deeply moving" (Publishers Weekly).

Amanda MacLeish might be the only student in Mr. Abrams''s fifth-grade class who doesn''t mind doing her homework. Now that her father has left home and moved into a motel, the only thing that brings Amanda any joy is writing her fictional diary entries about a young girl named Polly who lives amid the chaos of the Civil War. Polly would understand Amanda. With one brother fighting for the North and one fighting for the South, Polly knows just how it feels to have a family split in half. But if the North and the South could find a way to reunite despite their differences, can''t Amanda''s family do the same? In this touching novel by Claudia Mills, the heroine learns that enduring a split doesn''t have to mean losing a family. The Totally Made-up Civil War Diary of Amanda MacLeish is a 2009 Bank Street - Best Children''s Book of the Year.

Todd and Amy Davidson may be twins, but they''re complete opposites – Todd is organized and is the family "engineer," while Amy is outgoing and has been dubbed the "poet." So it would seem that for a fifth-grade economics project, Todd would come up with a master invention, and Amy would have a blast with her best friends as partners. To their surprise, Todd can''t think of a single idea, and Amy gets stuck working with the class crybaby. Then Todd begins writing poetry . . . But this is nothing compared to the switch their parents have made. Their father has been unemployed for months and their mother has started to work at a crafts store. Now there''s never enough food in the house, everybody is always on edge, and when Amy''s friends come over after school, they find Mr. Davidson, uncombed and unshaven, in his ratty old bathrobe. Will life ever return to normal? With chapters that alternate between Todd''s and Amy''s points of view, this novel is a realistic and sometimes funny portrayal of a family adapting to changing roles. Trading Places is a 2007 Bank Street - Best Children''s Book of the Year.

Pretty is as pretty does Pretty, popular Marcia Faitak is not her usual self. Over the summer she gained five pounds, and when school begins, Marcia, desperate for an invitation from Alex Ryan to the October dance, goes on a diet. In art class, she''s supposed to bring a red apple to life on paper, but all she wants to do is eat it. Mr. Morrison doesn''t like her work anyway: disdainfully, he calls her drawing of a beautiful girl "Barbie." Worse than art is social studies. This is the year that kids have to choose their community service project. When Ms. Williams signs up Marcia to work at the local nursing home, she''s aghast. What can she possibly do for a bunch of old people in wheelchairs? Since experimenting with makeup is Marcia''s favorite activity, her half sister suggests "Makeovers by Marcia." In the fifth and final story in Claudia Mills''s funny, philosophical series about the West Creek Middle School kids, Marcia discovers the nature of true beauty - and even learns to draw it.

After Gus, who would rather play outside than practice music, does not do too well at his piano recital, his grandfather shows him how music can be fun.

Wilson Williams worries about passing his times-table tests Wilson has a hard time with math, especially with Mrs. Porter''s timed multiplication tests. If only he were as quick as Laura Vicks, the smartest kid in third grade, or as quick as his brother, Kipper -- a kindergartner. Wilson''s mother and father try to help, but Wilson doesn''t appreciate having to do practice tests on a play date. Fortunately, his friend Josh Hernandez is a comfort, as is Squiggles, the class hamster. Wilson is sure that with his own little animal squeaking and cuddling beside him, he could learn anything. But his mom doesn''t like pets. So Wilson bravely struggles on, hoping that one day in the not-too-distant future he''ll pass all his times-table tests. Then, surprisingly, Kipper comes to the rescue. With sensitivity and gentle humor, Claudia Mills examines a common childhood fear and a common family experience. G. Brian Karas provides tender, funny pictures. 7 x 9 = Trouble! is a 2003 Bank Street - Best Children''s Book of the Year.

7X9 = Trouble!

A wise guy gets wise The school year is almost over, and Alex Ryan still has plenty of pranks to pull and jokes to tell. Then his dad attends the meeting about the seventh-grade outdoor education trip. Alex knows nothing good can come of this -- Mr. Ryan is a jester, too, and the butt of his funny stories is often Alex. Still, Alex is not prepared for the comment that mortifies him in front of pretty, popular Marcia Faitak, his friend Dave Barnett, and the rest of his classmates. When Marcia tries to comfort him, Alex pounces on her. Marcia crumples, and Alex sets out to make up for his remark, even as he struggles to understand what impelled it. When all his attempts at reconciliation fail, Alex conceives a plan, to be executed during the outdoor ed trip. A surefire attention-getter, this should bring Marcia around, entertain Dave, and impress Alex''s father. But is this really what Alex wants to do? In the fourth book about the kids at West Creek Middle School, readers will root for Alex Ryan as he discovers his true self, and the wisest way to handle the most oppressive person in his life -- his own father. A Junior Library Guild Selection

It''s Halloween, and Gus doesn''t know what to wear. His mom won''t let him have a store-bought costume; his dad thinks any old thing will do. Ryan Mason is going to be a vampire, with a cape, fangs, and fake blood. Gus wishes he could be a vampire, too, but, unfortunately, his mother thinks gory store-bought costumes are the worst of all. Gus''s only hope is Grandpa''s house. Readers will delight in what Gus finds (a fabulous costume) and finds out (Grandma made it for Daddy when nothing else would do), as once again Gus and Grandpa prove what "a perfect team" they are. Credit for the "superb job of illuminating [Gus''s] emotions and thoughts" goes to Claudia Mills, and for the "expressive illustrations" to Catherine Stock (The Horn Book).

The sixth book about this "perfect team." --School Library Journal Show-and-tell was a breeze in first grade, when Gus brought to school baseball cards and a plastic rattlesnake and a super-duper flashlight. Now, in second grade, he''s stumped. And wouldn''t you know it, rival Ryan Mason outshines him every time. When Gus brings a picture of a beaver lodge for his natural-habitat project, Ryan brings a huge, homemade model of a beaver lodge. When Gus brings a balloon for his solid, liquid, or gas, Ryan makes gas out of vinegar and baking soda. Will Ryan''s show-and-tell for Colorado history also be superior to Gus''s? No way -- not when Gus decides that his show-and-tell will be Grandpa, the best representative ever of Colorado history, and the best grandpa, bar none. Once again, Claudia Mills and Catherine Stock reveal the riches of "one of the nicest intergenerational relationships" (The Horn Book).

Third-grader Wilson struggles with his times-tables in order to beat the class deadline.

Gus enjoys basketball practice, but the noise and pace of real games bother him, until his grandpa gives him some good advice.

"More Gus and Grandpa books are promised, and kids will welcome them." -Booklist When Gus goes to Grandpa''s house at Christmas, they decide to bake cookies. But then they discover that they don''t have sprinkles. Off to the store they go. On the way, they pass a Santa collecting money for the poor. Gus summons the courage to contribute two quarters and is rewarded with a "God bless you." Returning home, Gus and Grandpa are visited by three neighbor ladies, one at a time, each bringing two dozen cookies. What are Gus and Grandpa to do with so many cookies? Gus knows! Give some to the poor! And when they do, he gets antoher taste--even better than the first-- of the joy of giving. In the second Gus and Grandpa book, Claudia Mills and Catherine Stock capture the very spirit of Christmas.

Gus and Grandpa is "a witty, warm offering." --Publishers Weekly When the train passes Grandpa''s house, Gus is so excited that he runs outside to wave at the cars. He forgets all about Grandpa''s dog, and Skipper escapes through the open gate. It takes Grandpa to get him back. Then, when Grandpa decides to look for Daddy''s old toy train, Gus leaps into the act, and they are so absorbed that they both forget Skipper. Together, they find him. Later, Gus and Grandpa plan to ride a real train. But when they get on, they realize that they''re in trouble-- Grandpa has forgotten where he put the tickets (but not for long). In the third Gus and Grandpa book, Claudia Mills and Catherine Stock evoke all the joy of trains--and of remembering.

Twelve-year-old Maggie comes to dread biology class because her favorite teacher is insisting that she dissect a worm, an assignment that makes her feel very squeamish and awakens her to the question of animal rights.

Gus must visit the hospital when his beloved Grandpa has a heart attack, and both are glad when Grandpa feels better and returns home to the family, in an easy-to-read addition to a popular series. Jr Lib Guild.

This fine monograph is the first all-color photo guide to the jellies, comb jellies, pelagic snails, salps and pyrosomes. This field guide covers animals that are found from Alaska to Baja California, many of which occur in most of the world''s seas. A total of 160 species are illustrated with a color photo-95 cnidarians, 28 ctenophers, 23 molluscs and 14 tunicates. The narrative for each species includes a detailed description, geographic range, and natural history. Also included are a glossary, selected references and an index.

Gus and Grandpa have a loving, warm relationship.

Dynamite Dinah finds her feelings about sixth-grade classmate Nick Tribble changing when they share involvement in a school play, a debate, and a sock hop.

Ideal for courses in ethics, moral problems, and public policy, this contemporary anthology encourages students to scrutinize normally unquestioned popular notions. All selections are drawn from CQ: "The Report From The Center For Philosophy And Public Policy" and refer to issues such as air pollution, human rights, and education, issues with which our country is currently formulating public policy. Blends real-life policy debates with otherwise empty ethical abstractions, prompting students to contribute opinions and ask questions. Grants flexibility to instructors by offering a wide variety of selections (more than 80) to choose from depending upon the focus of their courses.

A visit to her cousin Amy-Claire helps five-year-old Rachel discover the joys of being a big sister.

Grace MacInnis - daughter of J.S. Woodsworth, founding mother of the New Democratic Party, BC''s first woman Member of Parliament, universally respected social democrat who fought tirelessly for the rights of women, consumers and low-income Canadians. MacInnis worked some sixty years as a social reformer, as BC MLA and MP and as indispensable behind-the-scenes policy worker for the CCF and NDP. Many of the causes she campaigned for were unpopular at the time: family planning in the 1930s, when providing information on birth control was illegal; income and unemployment insurance for homemakers in the 1940s, when 85% of Canadians thought women''s place was in the home; voting rights for Native Canadians and Doukhobors in the 1950s; abortion rights in the 1960s, when abortion was punishable by life in prison. S.P. Lewis was a radio news reporter in 1987 when she first met Grace MacInnis. She was so impressed that she went back for another visit, and another. During the last few years of MacInnis''s life, the two women spent many a long afternoon together while Lewis worked on this book.

Dinah Seabrooke, now in her first year of middle school, struggles to become a big fish in what seems like an ocean--and in the process discovers the value of recycling and of friendship with the elderly.