Patricia Lakin

Early one morning, a young boy wakes to the light of his alarm clock. He puts on his hearing aids and clothes, then goes to wake his father. Together they brave the cold as they walk down the dirt road that leads to the beach. Lakin's understated story reminds readers that sometimes the best way to communicate doesn't involve words, while Steele's watercolor illustrations show that beauty is never far away.

In the furthest corner of a long-forgotten junkyard, Roscoe lives a life that suits him. But when a disaster sends three visitors to his gate looking for a new home, he finds that he can create more with others than he ever could on his own-and that together they can build an environment that's better for everyone. In each story in this series, the Tinkerers put on their engineering caps to come up with creative solutions to help others in their...

When construction puts a friend's concert at risk, the Tinkerers agree: the show must go on! When road construction wakes Gus the groundhog from his hibernation a week early, the Tinkerers are more than happy to take him in. Before long, their new friend reveals that he has a special talent: he can play the ukulele! Every spring, Gus puts on a concert for his family and friends to celebrate the season, but this year, between the construction and...

When it starts snowing one school day, Max and Mo, the art room hamsters, watch the "Big Ones" outside making snowmen, and they decide to make one too. Includes instructions for making a paper snowflake and snowman.

A brief biography of the woman who overcame her shyness to become a teacher, a nurse during the Civil War, and founder of the American Red Cross.

When Max and Mo, two class hamsters, return to school and are placed in the Art Room, they use supplies found there to spell out their names for the students. Includes directions for making a name tag using household items.

"Mo the lovable tow truck likes to mambo while he works. When ten cars get stuck in a snowstorm, Mo has to mambo faster than ever before to get them out!" -- Provided by publisher.

Four crocodile friends have many adventures on the way to the beach.

"Mo the lovable tow truck always mambos while he works, but to rescue a sports car from a squelchy mud puddle, Mo's solo routine may have to become a duet." -- Provided by publisher.

Bud enters a race and gets so distracted by a mud puddle he finishes last, but still has fun because he loves to be muddy.