"The Splendid Baron Submarine is delightfully absurd, imaginative, and fun—a wonderful book for middleschool children to read on their own, and an even better book for families to read aloud together." - Foreword Reviews, Starred Review Pirate treasure? A top secret mission? A terribly rude monkey with personal boundary and hygiene issues? Two out of three of those things sound like a dream come true to the young, clumsy, and terribly unscientific Waldo “W.B.” Baron, when his clever inventor parents are hired to go on a secret treasure hunt. The Baron family dives into adventure with their steam-powered submarine, but they aren’t prepared for the complications that occur during their trip, which include shark attacks, deep sea diving mishaps, and even a pirate’s curse, all of which W.B. is lucky enough to discover, one stumble, trip, and fall at a time.

W.B. is back and more disappointed than ever when he discovers a new series of popular books that depict the Barons as bumbling fools. His parents M and P, along with Rose Blackwood, laugh at the books until their plummeting reputation starts scaring off the buyers of their inventions, leaving the family without an income. As family members start disappearing one by one, P realizes that the author of the books is not out to ruin just their reputation, he’s determined to erase their past. All of the Barons must race to intercept their rival time-traveler and stop him from erasing the entire Baron family from existence before their time runs out.

Relates the adventures of eighth-grader Nick Dashaway, whose Christmas request does not go according to plan.

W.B. is up against the cleverest, deadliest, most dangerous villain he's ever faced--himself. Before we get to that, there's some good news: the new boy at school is the best friend W.B. has ever had! Of course, he is only the third friend W.B.'s ever had though, so... Anyway, his name is B.W. and he goes to the annual Pitchfork Fair with the Barons. W.B. loses his second ever friend, Rose Blackwood (who also works as his parents' assistant), after an exploding pie lands Rose in jail. Then W.B. is abducted during a walk in the desert. How was he ambushed where there's nowhere to sneak up on someone? Because whenever W.B. decides to exercise, it's bound to end in disaster or pink and purple squirrels. Maybe both. With a bit of backside surfing, he returns to the Baron Estate to find he's been replaced--by another W.B.! It's no surprise that one of his parents' brilliant inventions is to blame for his troubles (although we shouldn't discount the lingering effects of exercising). The delinquent doodad is the Doppelgänger Device, which transforms the user into anyone with the simple press of a button. Eager to get his comfortable life back, W.B. tries to expose the imposter. With his skin literally on the line, W.B. must prove himself by W.B.ing harder than he's ever W.B.ed before.

The history of the Confederate submarine H. L. Hunley is as astonishing as its disappearance. On February 17, 1864, after a legendary encounter with a Union battleship, the iron “fish boat” vanished without a trace somewhere off the coast of South Carolina. For more than a century the fate of the Hunley remained one of the great unsolved mysteries of the Civil War. Then, on August 8, 2000, with thousands of spectators crowding Charleston Harbor, the Hunley was raised from the bottom of the sea and towed ashore. Now, award-winning journalists Brian Hicks and Schuyler Kropf offer new insights into the Hunley’s final hours and recount the amazing true story of its rescue. The brainchild of wealthy New Orleans planter and lawyer Horace Lawson Hunley, the Hunley inspired tremendous hopes of breaking the Union’s naval blockade of Charleston, only to drown two crews on disastrous test runs. But on the night of February 17, 1864, the Hunley finally made good on its promise. Under the command of the heroic Lieutenant George E. Dixon, the sub rammed a spar torpedo into the Union sloop Housatonic and sank the ship within minutes, accomplishing a feat of stealth technology that would not be repeated for half a century. And then, shortly after its stunning success, the Hunley vanished. This book is an extraordinary true story peopled with a fascinating cast of characters, including Horace Hunley himself, the Union officers and crew who went down with the Housatonic, P. T. Barnum, who offered $100,000 for its recovery, and novelist Clive Cussler, who spearheaded the mission that finally succeeded in finding the Hunley. The drama of salvaging the sub is only the prelude to a page-turning account of how scientists unsealed this archaeological treasure chest and discovered the inner-workings of a submarine more technologically advanced than anyone expected, as well as numerous, priceless artifacts. Hicks and Kropf have crafted a spellbinding adventure story that spans over a century of American history. Dramatically told, filled with historical details and contemporary color, illustrated with breathtaking original photographs, Raising the Hunley is one of the most fascinating Civil War books to appear in years.

A hilarious, adorable graphic novel for younger readers about an Evil Emperor Penguin who wants to take over the world. Part Despicable Me, part Pinky and the Brain, part Happy Feet...all fun! Far away in the icy wastes of Antarctica lives a warm and cuddly, kind-hearted penguin who only wants to do good in the world . . . NOT! This is no ordinary penguin. This is . . . EVIL EMPEROR PENGUIN! And he wants to take over the world!Of course, every evil ruler needs a sidekick and a minion, and Evil Emperor Penguin is no different. That's why he has Number 8, a very polite and thoughtful octopus who knits, and Eugene, the incredibly cuddly abominable snowman who loves hugs.Join this fearsome team of Evil as they try to take over the world--and obviously, destroy it--but get waylaid by evil cats, rogue farts, killer plants, and visiting sisters.

Hugo Doppel finds a subway token and begins a wild adventure ride from Manhattan to the Kingdom of Menlo. At the Junkyard of Goofy Inventions, the curious boy discovers his deserted weather machine. Will the wacky invention rescue the Box Island prisoners held captive by a vengeful witch? Will it save New Yorkers pummeled by a walloping blizzard? And will Hugo finally become a famous inventor? ** An intriguing blend of what has made so many books classics, Marshmallows over Manhattan is great for ages 9 and up.