National Network for Equitable Library Service

Barry McGee likes being the Hit-Away Kid, the star of the Peach Street Mudders neighborhood baseball team. In fact, he likes it so much that he's willing to cheat-just once in a while-to help his game. He tells the umpire that he touched a base when he didn't even come close. He even picks up balls that he's dropped in the outfield-and swears the ball never left his glove. So far, Barry has been able to get away with cheating.

As the captain of his little league baseball team, Jimmie Todd thinks he should be able to choose any position he wants. He wants to pitch, although the other players on the team would rather give that position to Paul Karoski, a left-hander with a talent for pitching strikeouts. But Jimmie wants a chance so badly that he takes the position for himself. It isn't long before his weak pitching sets the team on a losing streak that has everyone, especially, Paul, disappointed in him.

A long-undisturbed bedroom. A startling likeness. A mysterious friend. When twelve-year-old Prince Lev Lvov goes to live with his aunt at Falcon House, he takes his rightful place as heir to the Lvov family estate. Prince Lev dreams of becoming a hero of Russia like his great ancestors. But he'll discover that dark secrets haunt this house. Prince Lev is the only one who can set them free. Will he be the hero his family needs?

Jack was eleven when the berserkers loomed out of the fog and nabbed him. "It seems that things are stirring across the water," the Bard had warned. "Ships are being built, swords are being forged." "Is that bad'" Jack had asked, for his Saxon village had never before seen berserkers. "Of course. People don't make ships and swords unless they intend to use them." The year is A.D. 793. In the next months, Jack and his little sister, Lucy, are enslaved by Olaf One-Brow and his fierce young shipmate, Thorgil.

The #1 bestselling creator of "Otis "and "Little Tree" presents an homage to firefighters everywhere and to the many boys and girls who dream big of being heroes! On the farm where Otis the tractor lives, it hasn't rained in a long time and farmers all over the valley have grown anxious with water in such short supply. One hot afternoon, when Otis and his friends are resting beneath the shade of the apple tree, Otis spots something moving down in the valley: an orange tabby cat headed straight for the old barn. But then Otis sees something else that causes his engine to sputter ...

Pinky has gotten on the bad side of Kevin, the third grade bully. Kevin thinks Pinky is a sissy because he wears pink, rides a pink bike and plays with Rex-a girl. He even knocks Pinky off his bike. If that's not embarrassing enough, Mrs. Morgan-an old woman-has to rescue Pinky! Pinky is so upset, he decides to change his name to Billy and lets his sister Amanda take all his stuffed animals because they're all pink. Will Mrs. Morgan and Rex find a way for Pinky to be himself, or has he changed forever' James Howe's popular series is loved by children across the nation.

Best friends Pinky and Rex have been looking forward to this weekend for a long time. It's the weekend they're going camping alone with their dads. Everything is ready: the station wagon is stuffed with sleeping bags, cartons of food, cooking equipment, and a brand-new tent. Now all they need is nice weather. However, when rain starts to fall right after they leave, their plans for camping and hiking in the woods are washed out.

A trip to the museum with Pinky's dad and his sister, Amanda, puts Pinky and Rex's friendship to the test. Will their friendship survive when both youngsters set their sights on the same stuffed animal at the museum gift shop?

For years war has touched the Cambodian village where 12-year-old Dara lives. Bombs have gradually destroyed the huts and temple. Recently, soldiers marched into town and burned all the rice seed. Now with nothing to eat, Dara and her family are walking to the border. They have heard of a refugee camp near Thailand, far away from danger. The camp is even better than Dara expected. She has all the food she wants and makes wonderful new friends. Most of all, she finally feels safe. But when fighting breaks out near the settlement, she becomes separated from her family.

Thirteen-year-old Tyler loves spending the summer in New York with his cousin. Each day, they play baseball in a Central Park league. Tyler is a sharp hitter, so he hopes to become an All-Star. But he has a temper that is quicker than his swing. If he can't control it, he will lose his place on the team. There's trouble off the diamond, too. An awful accident has turned Tyler's dad into a distracted stranger. People tell Tyler that time will heal his father's wounds, but what about the hurt Tyler feels? He just wants to bat it away.