New Releases by Johanna Hurwitz

Chronicles the life of the Swedish storyteller, discussing her unplanned development as an author and the creation of her beloved carrot-topped heroine, Pippi Longstocking.

Two weeks seems like forever to Dossi Rabinowitz, a poor Jewish orphan from New York City who is sent by the Fresh Air Fund to a small Vermont town during the summer of 1910. With her journal as her closest companion, Dossi reflects on her struggle to understand her Christian host family and their rural community

Margot is expecting a boring, shut-in summer. Instead, her new friend Bernie shows her one wonderful face of New York City after another while they plot out Margot''s ambitious summer project --- to entice her mother out of their apartment for the first time in nine years.

After spending a Fresh Air Fund vacation discovering a new world on a Vermont farm, Dossi thought that returning home to the bustling New York of 1910 would be simple. Little did she know that, even in. a familiar place, there are new things to experience.

At fifteen, Emma Meade is old enough for just about anything. Old enough to leave school, old enough to help around the farm, and old enough to notice when handsome Cole Berry takes an interest in her.

When Cricket Kaufman breaks her ankle just before her spring-break vacation trip to Washington, D.C., she''s stuck at home with prankster Lucas Cott instead of sightseeing with her best friend, Zoe. But when Cricket stirs up some mischief of her own, she learns that good friends can remain true even at the most unexpected times. Another winning installment in the ''Class Clown'' series.

When Adam''s mother promises a surprise, he is sure it will be the mountain bike he''s been pining for. The arrival of a llama-with the news that Mrs. Fine will start a trekking business from their Vermont home-comes as a bit of a blow.

Excited about the prospects of playing practical jokes on the non-English-speaking French girl who will be spending the summer in his house, Lucas gathers his friends together for the fun.

Cricket is looking forward to fourth grade. She is sure she will be the teacher''s pet again. But Cricket is no longer the smartest student in class--not since Zoe Mitchell moved to town. Zoe wants to be friends, but can Cricket make friends with the competition?

Fifth-grader Adam Fine thinks that his two llamas will be a hit at the grand reopening of the town''s library.

Here is an all-new Park Pals adventure from the author of PeeWee''s Tale and Lexi''s Tale. When Plush, a female guinea pig, ends up in Central Park, PeeWee thinks he''ll have a family soon. But at first, Plush would rather listen to classical music than explore the wild outdoors with him. Then PeeWee finds out that winter will be coming—something neither of them have ever faced. And for once, PeeWee''s best friend, Lexi, who always has something smart to say, doesn''t have much advice. Will PeeWee and Plush overcome their differences in time to prepare for the bitter cold? Full of surprises, and featuring an adorable cast of guinea pig babies, this action-packed tale about building friendship and conquering fear is sure to find a special place in readers'' hearts.

Lexi the squirrel doesn''t trust humans. After all, it was a human who abandoned PeeWee the guinea pig in Central Park. So Lexi is outraged when a strange-looking man swipes the apple that the friends were about to eat. But when the stranger rescues PeeWee from the jaws of a dog, Lexi has a change of heart. Can two rodents make a difference in the life of a man living hungry and friendless in Central Park? Welcome back the street-smart squirrel and the well-read guinea pig in this stand-alone companion to PeeWee''s Tale, which Publishers Weekly called "humorous and insightful."

Fearing that Edison-Armstrong School will close and force him into a school away from his closest friends, Julio rallies Lucas, Cricket, and Zoe into a campaign to save the school that tests his school spirit.

Kindergarten-age twins, Marius and Marcus Cott, may look alike, but they are very different and so are their teachers. When the boys trade places so they can figure out once and for all who has the better teacher, something happens that surprises them both!

Ali Baba is back as a fourth grader, still having adventures that only he could have. Who but Ali Baba could find the "real" Santa Claus? Or who could make such an incredible mess simply by staying at home alone for the first time?

Johanna Hurwitz invites readers into the world of the funny, lovable Kelly twins, who are truly two of a kind. Second-graders Arlene and Ilene Kelly are twins — identical twins to be exact — and they love being a pair. They love to dress alike, they have identical pet ferrets, and they do everything together. But being a twin is not always easy. When a set of triplets comes to school, Arlene and Ilene wonder whether triplets are more special than twins. At Halloween, on different streets in identical witch costumes, some neighbors think that the girls are one person trying to get extra candy. And when Arlene gets sick and has to visit the hospital, the twins each find out what it’s like to be one instead of two. But whether they’re together or apart, Arlene and Ilene know they’re lucky to have each other.

“Hurwitz writes in a tender, positive manner.” — School Library Journal A new sibling is just one of the surprises — some good, some not so much — awaiting Monty in another story for early chapter book readers. In this gently humorous adventure, Monty faces the unpredictable, everyday turns of a first-grader’s life with his usual lovable charm.

A shy boy with asthma starts first grade — and comes into his own — in this appealing story for early chapter book readers. Six-year-old Monty doesn’t have a brother, a sister, or a pet. What he does have is asthma, which sometimes makes it hard to breathe and often makes him feel like he’d rather be somebody else. And now that he’s starting first grade, he’s very nervous about being with all those kids he won’t know. Luckily, he loves to read — even really hard books — and has a talent for finding things, from a cocooning caterpillar to classmates who want to be in his very own club. With familiar situations and gentle humor, Johanna Hurwitz follows an endearing character as he discovers that being himself can be pretty great after all.

Monty is mighty enough to take karate in a funny, true-to-life sequel with surefire appeal for early chapter-book readers. (Ages 5-7) Monty Gerald Morris may be small and shy, but he''s a mighty smart kid and an A+ reader. In an endearing follow-up to Mostly Monty, the quiet first-grader continues to come into his own -- playing the part of a tree in a comically miscued school play, sharing his enthusiasm for ants at an outdoor birthday party, even signing up for karate class despite his asthma. Once again, Johanna Hurwitz finds gentle humor in everyday situations and offers a charming portrayal of a likable character many young readers will relate to.

Award-winning author Johanna Hurwitz is back with a new addition to the charming Park Pals Adventures series. Squirrels Lexington (Lexi) and Lenox decide to visit the New York City streets they were named after. Lexi is worried about leaving Central Park, but Lenox is confident that their streets will be beautiful places, maybe even better than the park! When the two squirrels venture into the city, they soon realize that the human world is stranger and more dangerous than they''d ever imagined. This exciting Park Pals tale brings back the fun, adventure, and favorite furry characters that this award-winning series is known for.

Rory and Derek were best friends but with Bolivia visiting next door would their friendship last?.

Now that she''s done with first grade, Elisa has lots of time to prove she can do anything her older brother, Russell, can do. With the family''s big vacation coming up, Elisa finds plenty of ways to show Russell that just because he''s older, doesn''t mean he''s better. But topping Russell is one thing. What will happen when it''s up to Elisa to save the day for the whole family?

When Rory and Derek go to their best friend Bolivia''s house for spring break, everyone gets sick, and the vacation does not turn out quite as they had planned it. Reprint.

Missing objects cause Derek, Rory, and Bolivia to accuse each other of lying and stealing. It isn''t until the three friends become snowed-in that they come to understand what trust and friendship are all about.

Bolivia, Rory, and Derek are back together again! When Bolivia''s parents head off to Turkey on an archaeological dig, Bolivia goes to stay with her aunt and uncle-in the same town where her two friends live. Whether they''re taking care of a litter of abandoned kittens, coping with poison ivy, or getting drenched in a simulated classroom rain forest, there''s always adventure afoot. But when Bolivia befriends a girl named DeDe and a boy named Aldo, watch out! Rory''s possessiveness may ruin everything, unless Bolivia can show him that it''s possible to make new friends and keep the old.

Russell''s enjoying his first year in school. The trouble is his baby sister, Elisa. She''s only a few months old, and she''s a pest! But sometimes, as Russell is about to discover, it''s not so bad to have a little sister. Because that also means he''s something special: a big brother!

Nora has made friends with all the people in her building--almost. Cranky Mrs. Ellsworth, whom Nora has nicknamed Mrs. Mind-Your-Own-Business, just won''t be friendly. Then one day Mommy needs a baby-sitter for Nora and Teddy. No one can take the job...except Mrs. Mind-Your-Own-Business! Teddy is scared, but Nora is curious. Will Mrs. Mind-Your-Own-Business become their friend at last?

Nora loves making new friends--but there aren''t many kids to play with in her New York apartment building. Apart from her little brother, Teddy, there''s only four-year-old Russell. The three of them have lots of fun--but what would happen if there were more kids around? More fun, that''s what!

"Have you ever heard the words "Sure, you can stay at home and be a baby today"" On a school day? Russell has. And, boy, is he in for a surprise!"

Seven-year-old Russell and his three-year-old sister Elisa have adventures with friends and family in their New York City apartment building. Another entry in the popular Riverside Kids series.