For an entire school year, Oscar the ant and Bill the octopus send letters to each other as part of a school project. Oscar loves table tennis, and Bill loves modelling clay. Oscar does judo, while Bill has a garden. Despite their differences, the two new friends find shared interests… all leading up to one final surprise!
Europe
Materials from Europe
Perijee And Me
Caitlin is the only young person living on Middle Island. On the first day of vacation, she finds a tiny alien on the beach. Caitlin becomes close to her secret friend, whom she names Perijee, teaching him everything about her world and treating him like a brother.
Peter and Lotta’s Adventure
Peter and Lotta need to find homes for some kittens. Washerwoman Wendy is always grumpy with them, but they hope that a gift will cheer her up and it does!
The Haunting Of Falcon House
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.
The Castrato
It is Florence, 1698, and Angelo Montegne has discovered the cost of having a beautiful voice. Soon, the young castrato is at the center of court intrigue as he struggles with his new reality and those who wish to use him and his soaring soprano singing for their own purposes. As he comes to terms with his altered future, Angelo must choose between a life of fame as the protege of the Prince de Medici or a very different, far humbler destiny with the lovely daughter of the court composer.
The Hammer Of Thor
Thor’s hammer is missing again. The thunder god has a disturbing habit of misplacing his weapon–the mightiest force in the Nine Worlds. But this time the hammer isn’t just lost, it has fallen into enemy hands.
Otto and the Secret Light of Christmas
One day Otto, an elfin adventurer, finds a postcard on the seashore showing pictures of beautiful sparkling lights in the night sky with the words, ‘The light of Christmas!’ If this ‘Christmas’ can brighten even the gloomiest Finnish winter, Otto decides he must find it.
Mr. Moon Wakes Up
Mr. Moon always sleeps. He naps during hide-and-seek, passes out on puzzles and dozes during adventure stories. But what would happen if Mr Moon ever woke up?
Not As We Know It
Twins Jamie and Ned do everything together, from watching their favorite show, Star Trek, to riding their bikes, to beachcombing after a storm. But Ned is sick with cystic fibrosis, and he may someday leave Jamie behind.
Longbow Girl
Sixteen-year-old expert archer Merry Owen is desperate to save her family’s farm in Wales, in the shadow of the Black Castle, and when she finds a buried chest containing an ancient and hopefully valuable Welsh text, she hopes it will be the key to a fortune–and so it is, but not in the way she expected, for it sends her and her friend James de Courcy into past.