New Releases by Laurie Lears

Tyler isn’t nice to the other kids at school. He doesn’t care about anyone...until he gets to know the class pet, a white rat named Snowball. Then Tyler tells everyone his new name is Rat Boy! Now all the kids are afraid of him. His teacher tries to talk to him about how he can be a better friend. But Bully Rat Boy doesn''t need any friend but Snowball. Then one day Snowball chews the string on his cage door and escapes. The children can’t find Snowball anywhere. Rat Boy feels awful. He even hangs reward posters around the school. When the cook finds Snowball in the storage closet, she tells Rat Boy to grab a friend and catch the rat. But who will help Rat Boy? He has no friends.

Nathan lives next door to Miss Sandy, a raptor rehabilitator. Nathan wishes he could help Miss Sandy with some of her chores, but he is confined to his wheelchair because of cerebral palsy. Then Fire, an owl with a broken wing, comes to Miss Sandy.

Megan is adopted, but she and her parents keep in touch with her birth mother, Kendra. Every year, Kendra decorates the tree she planted when Megan was born. Megan cherishes this Birthday Tree, for it ties her and Kendra together.

Becky is Sarah''s big sister. She is brave about going to a new school, about standing up to a big dog, and even about having epilepsy. But one day Becky has a seizure during class. Now Sarah must be brave for her sister.

Ben doesn''t talk much at school, but looks forward to telling his father about his day because his father won''t make fun of his stutter. At the nearby junkyard, Ben avoids talking to Mr. Wayne, but befriends his new guard dog, Spike. After a robbery, Mr. Wayne complains Spike didn''t even bark and he''ll take him to the pound. Will Ben speak up for Spike? This title is ideal in reaching out to children who stutter. Full-color illustrations.

Stephen, who has trouble sitting still and paying attention, surprises himself when he summons up the patience to catch and help an injured goose. Includes a note to adults about children who have difficulty staying focused, including those with ADHD.

Dolly Gray Children''s Literature Award 2002 Children''s Crown Gallery Award Master List Pick of the Lists, American Bookseller Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities 1999, IBBY Julie can''t wait to go to the park, But she''s not sure she wants to take her little brother, Ian, who has autism. Julie can''t wait to go to the park and feed the ducks with her big sister, Tara. There''s only one problem. Her little brother, Ian, who has autism, wants to go, too. Ian doesn''t have the same reactions to all the sights and sounds that his sisters have, and Julie thinks he looks silly. But when he wanders off on his own, she must try to see the world through his eyes in order to find him.