Pizza Party: The Carver Chronicles, Book 6
Third-grader Richard and his friends are just four days away from setting a record for excellent behavior and earning a classroom pizza party when disaster strikes—their beloved teacher is out sick, and the strictest, meanest substitute has taken her place! Will their dreams of pizza be dashed when the sub suspects that some of them have been cheating?
The New Kid: The Carver Chronicles, Book 5
Third-grader Gavin and his friends aren’t sure what to make of the new boy in their class, Khufu. He sure doesn’t look or act like the other kids . . . and they suspect that he stole Gavin's bike! Meanwhile, Gavin’s Great-Aunt Myrtle is coming to stay with his family again, and Gavin is sure she’ll be teaming up with his big sister to boss him around the whole time.
The Trouble Next Door: The Carver Chronicles, Book 4
Third grader Calvin is dealing with his next door neighbors moving away—and the school bully moving in. Meanwhile, competition at the school science fair is heating up, and Calvin must decide what to do when his data doesn't prove his theory. This lively installment in a chapter book series about a diverse group of elementary schoolers.
Don't Feed the Geckos! The Carver Chronicles, Book 3
Carlos isn’t sure how he feels about the news that his cousin Bernardo will be joining his class at Carver Elementary. But when Bernardo comes to live with him temporarily, taking over Carlos’s top bunk, his spot on the school soccer team, and even his Papi’s attention, Carlos knows he isn’t happy. Worse, Bernardo starts messing with Carlos’s pet geckos! Carlos tries to see past his cousin’s annoying ways, but Bernardo sure doesn’t make it easy. Will Carlos—and his geckos—survive Bernardo's visit? Can he keep the peace for his family’s sake?
The Skateboard Party: The Carver Chronicles, Book 2
Richard can’t wait to show off his flat-ground Ollies at a friend’s birthday party at the skate park, but a note home from his teacher threatens to ruin his plans. He really meant to finish his assignment on howler monkeys, but he just got . . . distracted. If only he could focus on his schoolwork, he wouldn’t get into this kind of trouble! Can Richard manage to put off getting the note signed (and facing the consequences) until after the party?
Dog Days: The Carver Chronicles, Book 1
Third-grader Gavin knows “you have to start over whenever you change schools.” He has made one new friend so far—Richard—but there is still so much his new classmates don’t know yet, like that he is practically a soccer star and really good at his times tables. Gavin’s attempts to fit in are further hampered when he has to spend a week walking his great-aunt Myrtle’s Pomeranian so he can pay back his older sister for the snow globe he and Richard broke. How Gavin survives the week—despite unwanted attention from the school bully, the undignified picking up of poop, bossy girls, a stolen chew toy, and a lack of snacks—makes for a tale of small triumphs.
Nikki and Deja: Substitute Trouble
Deja is dismayed to learn that her teacher has had an accident and a substitute will be taking her place. Under the new sub's care, nothing is the same in Room Ten. A few of the class troublemakers plot to take advantage of the clueless teacher, and soon other students join in. Should Nikki and Deja go along with the rest of the kids in tormenting him? Should they help him out by tattling on their classmates? Or is there another way to handle the situation?
Nikki and Deja: Wedding Drama
Ms. Shelby is getting married! As the girls in Nikki and Deja’s class compete over who can plan the best imaginary wedding for their teacher, Nikki excitedly throws herself into preparations for the real thing. But Deja is not so enthusiastic. Her Auntie Dee has been temporarily laid off from her job, and Deja is worried. What will happen now that she can no longer afford a new dress and special hairdo? Will Nikki leave her best friend behind while she shops and primps? Will Deja be able to get over her jealousy and enjoy the celebration anyway?
Nikki and Deja: Election Madness
When the students in Nikki and Deja’s class find out that their school is going to hold its first-ever election for student body president, some kids are more excited than others. But none is as excited as Deja, who figures she’s a shoo-in for the third grade nomination. Deja decides that Nikki will be her campaign manager, of course, and puts her to work right away. But will Deja’s tendency to rush into things and boss people around alienate her best friend when she needs her most, and spoil her chances of becoming president of Carver Elementary?
Nikki and Deja: The Newsy News Newsletter
Newsy news is not just regular news. It's news that's interesting and exciting. Nikki and Deja know that there's plenty of newsy news happening on their block and at Carver Elementary, just waiting to be reported. Luckily, Nikki has her special pen and notepad, Deja has the use of Auntie Dee's computer, and they both have lots of ideas. Before long, the Fulton Street Newsy News Newsletter is born. At first, everyone wants to read what the girls have written. But after just one issue everyone wants to read what the girls have written. But after just one issue, some unexpected problems arise. Will Nikki and Deja's plans to become celebrated journalists succeed?
Nikki and Deja: Birthday Blues
Deja’s birthday is coming up, and she’s been talking about it for weeks. But just before the big day, Auntie Dee gets called away on a business trip and Deja must stay with an elderly neighbor . . . who cooks turnips for dinner and doesn’t even have a color TV! Worse, the machinations of spoiled Antonia, Deja’s new nemesis, threaten to ruin Deja’s birthday party plans. Like the first book, this story captures with subtlety and humor all the small betrayals and triumphs of young girls’ relationships.
Nikki and Deja
Meet Nikki and Deja, who live next door to each other and are best friends. They do everything together—watch Saturday morning cartoons, play jacks, jump double Dutch at recess, and help each other with their homework for Mrs. Shelby's third-grade class. But when an arrogant new girl arrives and Nikki and Deja form a club that would exclude her, the results are not what they expect.
"In her first chapter book, English perceptively explores the undercurrent of insecurity and rivalry that threatens two African-American girls' friendship." —Publishers Weekly
Nadia's Hands
When Nadia is chosen to be a flower girl in Auntie Laila's traditional Pakistani wedding, her hands are decorated with beautiful designs made with mehndi, and she comes to understand the rich culture she has inherited.
Francie
“Set sometime during the Truman administration [1945-1953], this portrait of a 12-year-old black girl in Alabama is a model of economy. Karen English compresses worlds of feeling and experience into every sequence of her first novel, offering readers not just a good diversion but an opportunity to try on someone else's skin.” —The New York Times Book Review
The Baby on the Way
In an urban rooftop garden, a young African American boy named Jamal initiates an intriguing conversation with his grandmother when he asks her if she was ever a baby. Turns out Grandma was once the baby on the way. She proceeds to tell the story of her birth, the tenth child in a poor farming family. I’m sure children almost never think of their grandparents—or even their parents—as helpless little babies.
Speak to Me: (And I Will Listen Between the Lines)
In a series of candid free-form poems, the thoughts of six third-grade children in one day and one classroom at an inner-city public school, are rendered. Malcolm is the central observer, but also a dreamer. Rica has turned eight today, and her real father will be picking her up later. Briana is upset because Rica has given over "best friend" status to Neecy. There's Lamont, who aspires to be teacher's pet, and Tyrell, a kid bound for trouble from the moment he arrives.
Inspired by my own experience as an elementary school teacher. I hoped to capture captures voices that reflect a range of emotion and interest that children could easily identify with. I loved Amy Bates's watercolors. They seemed to breathe life into my characters.
Hot Day on Abbott Avenue
It's the hottest, stickiest day of the summer. A fat-sun-in-the-sky day. An eating-ice-pops-on-the-porch day. And for Kishi and Renée, it's a best-friends-breakup day. Each girl sits on her own front porch, waiting for the other to apologize, even though they know they'll never speak to each other again, no matter how bored they get. But then the sounds of feet slapping the pavement and voices chanting double-dutch rhymes drift lure the girls back together again.