Joe, a young boy who grows up under the protection and companionship of his family's cow dog, Maggie, and later with a stray puppy called Silky, must learn how to cope with loss when Maggie dies during a thunderstorm.

What is it that makes a killer? Long beard, dark glasses; stuffy clothes? No one really knows. "You may say I'm a dreamer but I'm not the only one. You think I'm a psychopath but I'm not the only one."

Caitlynn makes a deal with her grandfather to join a swim team if he'll stay and watch all of her practices. But after Grandpa has a stroke, Caitlynn doesn't want to keep up her end of the deal.

Growing Up With Literature, 2E, provides a comprehensive collection of the best children s book titles, with a multitude of practical hands-on activities for using the books in early childhood and primary grade educational programs. It provides a rationale for using literature, procedures for selecting books, explanations of how to use books in the classroom and a variety of steps to foster a love of reading in children.