Facing his share of ordinary challenges, from local bullies to his father's failed expectations, eleven-year-old Jack Clark must also deal with the effects of the Dust Bowl in 1937 Kansas, including the rising tensions in his small town and the spread ofa shadowy illness.

This comical introduction to cause and effect is ideal for emergent readers, who look for cues in simple rhymed text and bright, bold art as they take their first steps toward reading independently. When a twister hits the pond near Farmer Brown’s farm, some very odd things happen. The fish and frogs take flight. They land in some unlikely places—like the barn and the pigs’ trough—setting off an uproarious chain of events that affects the entire farm. Once the weather subsides and the farmer and his family emerge from the storm cellar, they encounter a whole new world, including some unexpected (and four-legged) tenants in their house! Step into Reading is a complete literacy program with something for every child. The program offers five steps to reading success. Children can progress through the steps at their own speed, developing confidence in their reading, no matter what their grade. Every book’s step is printed on the cover and the spine. Each title contains a fun story and is filled with colorful art.

A stylized noir retelling of Snow White set against the backdrop of Depression-era Manhattan.

The second book in the critically acclaimed Obsidian and Blood trilogy: The year is Two House, and the Emperor of the Mexica has just died. The protections he afforded the Empire are crumbling, and the way lies wide open to the flesh-eating star-demons--and to the return of their creator, a malevolent goddess only held in check by the War God's power. The council should convene to choose a new Emperor, but they are too busy plotting against each other. And then someone starts summoning star-demons within the palace, to kill councilmen... Acatl, High Priest of the Dead, must find the culprit before everything is torn apart. REVIEWS: ‘Political intrigue and rivalry among a complex pantheon of divinities drive this well-paced murder mystery set at the height of the Aztec Empire in the late 15th century. De Bodard reintroduces the series hero Acatl, high priest of the dead, immediately following the death of the Tenochtitlan leader. One of the council members in charge of choosing a successor has been brutally murdered in what looks like an attempt to influence the decision. But the deaths continue and the political situation grows more complex, while the empire looks to be increasingly at risk of invasion by malignant powers. Acatl must go face-to-face with the most powerful god in his world and put the good of the empire above his antipathy for is rivals to achieve the uneasy succession. De Bodard incorporates historical fact with great ease and manages the rare feat of explaining complex culture and political system without lecturing or boring the reader.’ —Publishers Weekly ‘Another thing that intrigues me here is the whole fact that historically we know that the real empire died out mysteriously and completely and as such there is always that thought in the back of my mind that the author could choose to bring about the end of days. That highlighted sense of possible doom is something that is missing from too many novels. The way the story is told in this book is very impressive, the plot is both mature and seductive, twisting and turning like a weather vane in a force 9 gale while the action is both bloodthirsty and imaginative. The world building is fantastic and we get to learn even more of this rich culture and the many gods and creatures of the dark. I really can’t fault this book at all and recommend it to one and all but if you haven’t yet read Servant of the Underworld I suggest that you get them both and read them in order, you won’t be disappointed.’ —SF Book Reviews ‘Bodard’s writing is polished and striking, as she convincingly fills in the colorful elements of the Aztec culture–even if those colors tend to be of blood and bile as well as flowers and hummingbirds... beautiful, grimy, breathtaking, and morbid. 5*’ —Examiner ‘Aliette de Bodard has done it again. Harbinger of the Storm is an action packed Aztec mystery opera with magic, interventions from the gods and more twists and turns than the first book. It even has a love story with amusing snippets here and there... The story is self contained and can be enjoyed standalone, but you will not want to miss out on the first. I wish it was 2012 already even if the world is going under while I read the final Obsidian & Blood.’ —Cybermage

The animals misunderstand the farmer's "Storm" warning and expect someone scary and mean.

The moment Jessica lays eyes on the wild black-and-white paint filly, she knows it was meant to be Jessica’s life at Wild Hawk Ranch is happy, if a bit quiet. But everything changes when her father and brother drive the latest herd of wild young quarter horses into the pen at the family ranch. There, she spots the most beautiful black-and-while paint filly she’s ever seen. She just knows . . . this is the year, and that is the horse. Her moment has come—she’ll finally get to join her father and brother in the family business of breaking wild horses, if only she can convince her father she is old enough. But after a difficult turn, the family has no option but to keep the ranch afloat by turning it into a dude ranch for vacationing city folk. At first, Jess is thrilled by the idea. It will be fun to have new people around—and maybe the extra work will convince her father to give her Storm Chaser, the beautiful paint. But things get complicated when the guests begin arriving. Will Jess be able to salvage her old, happy life and save Storm Chaser from an uncertain future?

The first book in an exciting new series about Native American and European first contact by the Gears.

Thunderstorm follows the course of a storm through midwestern farm country minute-by-minute, hour-by-hour, from late morning into late afternoon. As always with Arthur Geisert, it is a meticulously executed and visually stunning piece of work. Other than the timeline that runs along the bottom border of the illustrations, there is no text, and the illustrations are continuous. Through keen observation, Geisert beautifully captures the nuances and details of a midwestern thunderstorm, from the ever-changing color of the sky, to the actions of the human inhabitants, to the reactions of the natural world to the wind and rain. America's heartland is somewhat unfamiliar territory in the realm of picture books, but in Thunderstorm, Geisert has provided readers with valuable, breathtaking insight into one of its most natural occurrences. Arthur Geisert grew up in Los Angeles, California, and claims not to have seen a pig until he was an adult. Trained as a sculptor in college, Geisert learned to etch at the Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles. Geisert has published just about a book a year for the past thirty years. Every one of his books has been illustrated with etchings. His work has appeared in The New Yorker and The Horn Book Magazine. In 2010 his book Ice was selected as a New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated book of the year. Geisert currently lives in a converted bank building in Bernard, Iowa.

Children and adults alike will be transported to beachside holidays of long ago, feel the wind in their hair and taste the salt spray, as the girls battle against huge odds to save something precious and vulnerable --

Have you heard the one about Grandpa walking through three feet of snow—uphill both ways—just to get home when he was a kid? Well, you haven't heard it like this! During one sudden and relentless blizzard, lively Walt gets stuck for days in a barn by himself. "Awful!" Meanwhile, shy Fred is trapped in an inn full of people. "Horrible!" They both have to dig their way out. "The worst." "You said it." What a terrible storm! But what a terrific—and funny—story!