Best Selling Books by Johanna Hurwitz

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.

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?

The fifth-grade class election is shaping up as a close contest between class clown Lucas Cott and one time teacher''s pet Cricket Kaufman. It''s just possible that the student with the greatest leadership ability is Julio Sanchez, but Julio''s too busy running Lucas''s campaign to notice. Or is he? And how can Julio throw his hat into the ring without betraying his best friend? Johanna Hurwitz introduced Julio, Cricket, and Lucas in Class Clown and Teacher''s Pet, earning a ringing vote of confidence from Publishers Weekly: "Hurwitz masterfully demonstrates why she is one of the premier practitioners of the humorous school story genre."In Class President, she has backed these delightful characters with a winning ticket of humor and insight.

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.

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.

"Once again Hurwitz exhibits her talent for creating characters who talk, act, and think just like real kids. Realistic dialogue . . . and commonplace situations that sparkle with humor combine to make this a fine choice".--School Library Journal. Illustrated. Copyright © Libri GmbH. All rights reserved.

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.

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.

Ezra Feldman, almost ten, likes baseball more than anything else in the world. But his father cannot understand why his son would rather rot his brains watching men swinging big wooden sticks than read a book or play chess. Can an unwanted car trip, a grumpy old professor, and a surprising chess victory help father and son find a little common ground--and convince Ezra''s dad that cheering for the national pastime isn''t completely off base?Ezra Feldman, almost ten, likes baseball more than anything else in the world. But his father cannot understand why his son would rather rot his brains watching men swinging big wooden sticks than read a book or play chess. Can an unwanted car trip, a grumpy old professor, and a surprising chess victory help father and son find a little common ground--and convince Ezra''s dad that cheering for the national pastime isn''t completely off base?

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!

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?

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

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?

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.

For use in schools and libraries only. When his owner''s parents let him go in Central Park, a young guinea pig learns to survive in the natural world with the help of a "park-wise" squirrel.

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!

Noah struggles to impress the kids he meets when he and his family move to a new house.

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!

All Curtis wants is a dog. At the animal shelter, Curtis falls in love with Sammy, a friendly puppy with curly black fur, floppy ears, a wagging tail, and perfect white teeth. He''s the best dog in the whole world. At home, things are different-Sammy steals food and chews sneakers and toys-but Curtis loves him anyway. Then Sammy bites Curtis''s mom, and Curtis has to face the fact that Sammy''s not perfect after all. Will Curtis have to give Sammy up? Or will he do whatever it takes to keep his dog?

From July 1942 until August 1944, a young girl named Anne Frank kept a diary. Keeping a diary isn''t unusual. Lots of girls do. But Anne''s diary was unique. It chronicled the two years she and her family spent hiding from the Germans who were determined to annihilate all the Jews in Europe. In this sensitive and thoughtful introduction to the Holocaust and to the life of one of its best known victims, acclaimed author Johanna Hurwitz deftly evokes the background of World War II while capturing the unforgettable spirit and tragedy of Anne''s life. From July 1942 until August 1944, a young girl named Anne Frank kept a diary. Keeping a diary isn''t unusual. Lots of girls do. But Anne''s diary was unique. It chronicled the two years she and her family spent hiding from the Germans who were determined to annihilate all the Jews in Europe. In this sensitive and thoughtful introduction to the Holocaust and to the life of one of its best known victims, acclaimed author Johanna Hurwitz deftly evokes the background of World War II while capturing the unforgettable spirit and tragedy of Anne''s life.

When a childhood illness leaves her blind and deaf, Helen Keller''s life seems hopeless indeed. But her indomitable will and the help of a devoted teacher empower Helen to triumph over incredible adversity. This amazing true story is finally brought to the beginner reader level.

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.

"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!"

"What is your name?" That''s what Nora asks her neighbors as she rides up and down the elevator of her apartment house. She doesn''t mean to be a busybody. She just wants to be like doorman Henry and know all the people in her building--all 200 of them! And then one day Nora gets a great idea: they''ll have a giant party, for everyone in the building!

“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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The adventures of Russell, his family, and friends, as he gets ready to celebrate his sixth birthday.

Finally...first grade! Elisa is finally in a grade with a number -- just like her big brother, Russell. Elisa is old enough to take piano lessons, lose a tooth, or make a special Mother''s Day breakfast. Sometimes Russell treats her like a baby, but Elisa is making big plans! Elisa is finally in a grade with a number -- just like her big brother, Russell. Elisa is old enough to take piano lessons, lose a tooth, and make a special Mother''s Day breakfast. Sometimes Russell treats her like a baby, but Elisa has big plans!

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

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."

Silvia can''t wait to try on her present from Tia Rosita: new shoes as red as the inside of a watermelon. The shoes are too big for Silvia to wear -- but that doesn''t stop her from dinfing lots of ways to enjoy them while she waits for her feet to grow! "The excitement of the new shoes and the formidable task of waiting to grow into them are both conveyed beautifully through the story and the art....Watercolors fill each page with the details of life in Silvia''s home and small village....Hurwitz perfectly captures the pleasure of a special gifted the difficulty of waiting."--Horn Book Speaks universally to the imagination and emotions."--School Library Journal

Five-year-old Elisa has an older brother and a new baby brother, but her elderly neighbor says the middle is the best, just like the filling in a sandwich.

What’s the same about identical twins — and what’s different? Sleepovers, poetry projects, and new haircuts are in play as seven-year-old Arlene and Ilene start coming into their own. Arlene and Ilene love so many things about being identical twins. They like sharing a room, sharing friends, and wearing matching outfits. But they’re in different classes at school, and one twin has a scar that the other one doesn’t. One morning, their friends Monty and Joey point out a new difference that takes the sisters by surprise and gets them thinking: if they are identical twins, why are there differences between them at all? Their tongues must be the same, so why do they like different kinds of ice cream? Why does Arlene wear pink nail polish while Ilene thinks it’s silly? Why is Ilene sleeping soundly when Arlene is awake, wondering how she can be sure that she is Arlene, not Ilene? Revisit the funny, lovable characters from The Two and Only Kelly Twins and take a peek at the wonders — and puzzles — of being an identical twin.

Roddy and Derek wonder about their neighbor''s niece, who is spending the summer with her aunt.