What happens when Joey and his sister, Mary Alice–two city slickers from Chicago–make their annual summer visits to Grandma Dowdel’s seemingly sleepy Illinois town?August 1929: They see their first corpse, and he isn’t resting easy.August 1930: The Cowgilll boys terrorize the town, and Grandma fights back with a dead mouse and a bottle of milk.August 1931: Joey and Mary Alice help Grandma to trespass, pinch property, poach, catch the sheriff in his underwear, and feed the hungry–all in one day.And there’s more–much more–as Joey and Mary Alice make seven summer trips to Grandma’s, each one funnier and more surprising than the year before. In the grand storytelling tradition of American humorists from Mark Twain to Flannelly O’Connor, Richard Peck has created a memorable world filled with characters who, like Grandma herself, are larger than life and twice as entertaining. And year round, you are sure to enjoy your stay with them.
United States
Materials from United States of America
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
Mrs. Frisby, a widowed mouse with four small children, is faced with a terrible problem. She must move her family to their summer quarters immediately, or face almost certain death. But her youngest son, Timothy, lies ill with pneumonia and must not be moved. Fortunately, she encounters the rats of NIMH, an extraordinary breed of highly intelligent creatures, who come up with a brilliant solution to her dilemma. And Mrs. Frisby in turn renders them a great service.
Thimble Summer
When Garnet finds a silver thimble in the sand by the river, she is sure it’s magical. But is it magical enough to help her pig, Timmy, win a blue ribbon on Fair Day?
The Little Island
A little island in the sea is at the heart of this award-winning picture book told in rhythmic prose. As the seasons change, lobsters, kingfishers, and even a kitten come to the island to explore and learn its secrets. Full color.
The Snowy Day
The adventures of a little boy in the city on a very snowy day.
Make Way for Ducklings
After raising her ducklings on a secluded island, Mrs. Mallard leads them to the Boston Public Garden to eat peanuts.
The Man Who Walked Between The Towers
A lyrical evocation of Philippe Petit’s 1974 tightrope walk between the World Trade Center towers.
Grandfather Tales
A collection of folk tales from North Carolina and Virginia for a slightly older audience than that for Chase’s Jack Tales. “The collector of the Jack Tales has brought new joy to children and storytellers in these twenty-four tales and a mummer’s play . . . richly humorous. Colorful mountain speech comes to life.” — School Library Journal, starred review
Talk That Talk: An Anthology of African-American Storytelling
Compilation of tales from Afro-American folklore. Among the storytellers included are Zora Neale Hurston, Nikki Giovanni, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Leadbelly.
Folklore From The Working Folk Of Americ
“This collection of fascinating lore derives from the occupations of American workers, including the farmer, hunter, trapper, prospector, fisherman, preacher, railroad man, teamster, cab driver, student, river pilot, soldier, cowboy, root doctor and many others.”