LAUREN MCLAUGHLIN

A heartwarming tale about adoption, diversity, and acceptance thats perfect for all types of families!A lyrical adoption story that tenderly addresses a babys transition from the care of her birth mother to that of her adoptive parents. This lovely poem illuminates the role of an adopted childs birth mother, respecting her choice to give her child to a loving family. We follow a mothers journey as she carries her child, searches for deserving parents, and ultimately creates a new family. The story offers a version of the process that is full of warmth, care, and joy. An adoptive mother herself, author Lauren McLaughlin was glad for an opportunity to memorialize her familys own fairy tale, and Meilo Sos ethereal illustrations breathe magic into an already wondrous experience.

Mitzi Tulane may be only three years old, but she sure knows how to follow a trail of evidence and solve tough mysteries. From the strange happenings in the kitchen to the sudden arrival of every family member shes ever met, Mitzi pieces together the clues and (finally) realizes that shes . . . in the middle of her own surprise birthday party! Kids and parents will laugh along as Mitzi sorts through not-so-subtle hints and comes to her conclusions. Readers will love figuring out the surprise ahead of the private-eye protagonist! Debbie Ridpath Ohis bouncy illustrations bring an extra layer of fun to Lauren McLaughlins clever story.

A 21st century response to Walter Dean Myerss classic Lockdown, The Free takes a look inside juvie, where Isaac West is fighting for a second chance.In the beginning, Isaac West stole to give his younger sister, Janelle, little things: a new sweater, a scarf, just things that made her look less like a charity case whose mother spent money on booze and more like the prep school girls hes seen on the way to school.But when his biggest job to date, a car theft, goes wrong, Isaac chooses to take the full rap himself, and hes cut off from helping Janelle. He steels himself for 30 days at Haverland Juvenile Detention Facility. Friendless in a dangerous world of gangs and violent offenders, he must watch his every step.Isaacs sentence includes group therapy, where he and fellow inmates reenact their crimes, attempting to understand what happened from the perspective of their victims. The sessions are intense. And as Isaac pieces together the truth about the circumstances that shaped his lifethe circumstances that landed him in juvie in the first placehe must face who he was, who he is . . . and who he wants to be.

How do you grow up, if who you are keeps changing?Jill McTeague is not your average high school graduate, shes a scientific anomaly. Every month for four days she turns into Jack, a guycomplete with all the parts. Now everyone in her hometown knows that something very weird is up with her. So whats a girl (and a guy) to do? Get the heck out of town, thats what! With her kooky best friend, Ramie, Jill sets out for New York City. There both she and Jack will have to figure out everything from the usual (relationships) to the not so usual (career options for a cycler, anyone?).As in Cycler, the first book featuring Jack and Jill, author Lauren McLaughlin deftly weaves the downright mundane with the outright bizarre in a story that, while defying classification, is peopled with characters that readers can fully relate to.The sort of book that makes your eyes widen and that you dont want to put down.Bookavore

Not even the smallest clue gets past this preschool private eye!Just as Mitzi is about to enjoy a nice muffin her Dad made, her friend Max stops her in her tracks! He has a sneaking suspicion that there is something funny about this muffin -- so the two of them set off on an investigation...Kids and parents will laugh along as Mitzi, Max and their friends test the muffin for dodgy ingredients and come to their conclusion. What did Dad put in the muffin after all? Debbie Ohis bouncy illustrations bring an extra layer of fun to Lauren McLaughlins clever text.

AS FAR AS anyone at her high school knows, Jill McTeague is an average smart girl trying to get her dream date to ask her to the prom.What no one knows, except for Jills mom and dad, is that for the four days Jill is out of school each month, she is not Jill at all. She is Jack, a genuine boycomplete with all the parts. Jack lives his four days per month in the solitude of Jills room. But his personality has been building since the cycling began. He is less and less content with his confinement and his cycles are becoming more frequent. Now Jills question about the prom isnt who shell go with, but who shell be when the big night arrives.

Las cámaras de seguridad graban todos tus movimientos. Lo que dices. Te leen los labios. Tu expresión facial. Y en base a ello, te puntúan. Y según tu puntuación, tu vida será un sueño o…una pesadill