Messy Bessey discovers that with proper care her garden will flourish.

When Messy Bessey starts to clean up her desk at school, she inspires the rest of the class to clean up the entire room.

Bessey and her mother bake cookies for Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Hanukkah, and after cleaning up the kitchen, they distribute the treats to their neighbors.

After having fun at their family reunion, Messy Bessey's family cleans up and leaves the park as beautiful as when they arrived.

Harriet and her pals are playing baseball in the park near Mrs. Hoozit’s house. When George hits a fly ball, Harriet’s determined to catch it. She’s concentrating so hard, she runs right into Mrs. Hoozit’s garden of prize flowers. Harriet panics and runs away. That night Harriet feels terrible—she can’t even eat the special treat her mom makes for her. What can she do?

A fun and engaging way for young children to figure out concepts and solving problems on his or her own. Rookie Readers (Ages 5-7) have provided entertaining, high-quality introductions to reading for more than a generation. Each title features full-color, often hilarious illustrations and engaging stories that always involve a young child figuring out concepts or solving problems on his or her own. Messy Bessey discovers that with proper care her garden will flourish.

In the strange, us-versus-them Christian subculture of the 1990s, a person’s faith was measured by how many WWJD bracelets she wore and whether he had kissed dating goodbye. Evangelical poster child Addie Zierman wore three bracelets asking what Jesus would do. She also led two Bible studies and listened exclusively to Christian music. She was on fire for God and unaware that the flame was dwindling—until it burned out. Addie chronicles her journey through church culture and first love, and her entrance—unprepared and angry—into marriage. When she drops out of church and very nearly her marriage as well, it is on a sea of tequila and depression. She isn’t sure if she’ll ever go back. When We Were on Fire is a funny, heartbreaking story of untangling oneself from what is expected to arrive at faith that is not bound by tradition or current church fashion. Addie looks for what lasts when nothing else seems worth keeping. It’s a story for doubters, cynics, and anyone who has felt alone in church.

Messy Bessey learns a lesson about sharing when she cleans out her closet.

Rookie Readers RM have provided entertaining, high-quality introductions to reading for more than a generation. Each title features full-color, often hilarious illustrations and engaging stories that always involve a young child figuring out concepts or solving problems on his or her own. Every new title contains a Word List and a color-coded reading-level key on the back cover.