New Releases by Patricia Lee Gauch

Joseph called himself Little Donkey--such a clumsy, foolish fellow, or so everyone thought. That is perhaps why people of Cupertino did not notice what happened whenever Joseph was overjoyed. He did not merely smile or squeeze his sides or rub his hands together. Joseph flew. The late, beloved children''s book illustrator Tomie dePaola''s imaginative, colorful artwork, and Patricia Lee Gauch''s charming story, offer children a warm, humorous look at Saint Joseph of Cupertino, whose humility and joy made him light enough to float on air.

Joseph called himself Little Donkey -- such a clumsy, foolish fellow, or so everyone thought. That is perhaps why people did not notice what happened whenever Joseph was overjoyed. He did not merely smile or squeeze his sides or rub his hands together. Joseph flew.

A creative young girl breathes new life into a cardboard box in this “gleeful little story of imaginative play” for fans of Harriet the Spy and Harold and the Purple Crayon (School Library Journal) The day the refrigerator arrives in its large brown carton, Christina Katerina and her mother are both excited, but for very different reasons. Christina quickly claims the box, where she creates a castle, a clubhouse, and other fantastic playthings with her sometimes-friend and neighbor, Fats Watson. Together, they embark on countless hours of adventure, swearing their undying friendship—and waging furious battles, too! “One of the classic characters of children’s literature,” the spunky and playful Christina Katerina has inspired young readers to embrace their creativity since 1971 (Kirkus Reviews). A staple in classrooms and libraries, this classic children’s book is a timeless ode to the power of a child’s imagination—and to the beauty that can be found in even the most ordinary of objects.

Elizabeth Amelia, a knitted wool woman, marries and begins to knit children from strands of herself until she almost disappears.

Everyone knows Tempe Wick is a most surprising girl, but she exceeds even her own reputation when two mutinous Revolutionary soldiers try to steal her beloved horse.

A collection of three stories about Tanya from herfirst ballet lesson to her debut on stage.

Tanya wants to dance in toe shoes the way her sister does.

Poppy creates magical puppets whose personalities are determined by what Poppy ''hears'' in the wood before he carves it. When he takes his puppets on the road, their show becomes famous throughout the land. But one day Poppy impatiently shapes a ballerina puppet, Clarinda, from a piece of wood without listening carefully to the wood''s message. Clarinda will not perform--and almost ruins the show--until Poppy discovers her secret wish.

When she has trouble mastering her dance steps in the part of the Ugly Duckling for the spring ballet recital, Tanya is discouraged and fears that she has much in common with the character.

When Christina quits her family so she can do whatever she pleases, ignoring her brother and her parents, she finds total self-reliance can sometimes be lonely.

When Tanya, the smallest and wiggliest girl in her ballet class, makes friends with a talented newcomer, they both learn something.

Problems between best friends cause trouble for the whole neighborhood, but fortunately they don''t happen very often.

Now everyone''s favorite ballerina dances into a moving picture book! Even the youngest dancer will delight in following Tanya as she learns new positions by imitating animals--a cat, a frog, an antelope--in ballet class. As her sister tells Tanya which step to try to imitate, children can pull a tab to reveal a colorful illustration of the animal in the correct pose! Full color.

Momentarily disillusioned by the tricks of her magician uncle, a little girl learns to appreciate the value of being able to create magic.

In this fictional, but historically accurate account of a young girl''s involvement in the Battle of Gettysburg, Tillie Pierce Alleman tells of her experiences helping wounded soldiers. A Child Study Children''s Book Committee: Children''s Book of the Year.

Not happy that a new baby sister is coming home from the hospital, Christina Katerina takes her toy bears on a faraway train journey all over the neighborhood.

A private school English teacher divides his class into two competing teams, equips each with a map and five dollars, and sends them off on a two-hundred-mile bicycle journey to Washington, D.C.

Fourteen-year-old Erin feels left behind when her best friend''s attention turns to a boyfriend and a horse, so she tries learning to ride in order to win her friend back.

When Margaret, a wild city girl, loses her temper in the unit tent at a wilderness camp, her counselor and three tent mates learn the values and limits of friendship.

When 14-year-old Kate''s dog bites a friend of the family she knows she must make a decision about the dog''s future.

Corey Martin, an eighth grader looking for her first boyfriend, is swept into a circle of powerful friends and must decide whether to conform to peer pressure or follow her own heart.

A private school English teacher divides his class into two competing teams, equips each with a map and five dollars, and sends them off on a two-hundred-mile bicycle journey to Washington, D.C.

Seven men who don''t like to walk borrow an old mare to ride to the Widecombe fair.

On her way to keep an important date, seventeen-year-old Jennifer recalls events in her past life that have led to this journey.