This unexpected journey lit a fire in me that would carry me through the next 23 years of nursing.I’ve witnessed births, deaths and all that lies in between. I’ve been exhausted, heartbroken and sexually assaulted. I’ve anguished over children who aren’t my own and I have battled an illness that forced me to change places from nurse to patient.But I have also had a blast. I’ve met and learned from extraordinary characters who I can never forget. I’d love you to meet them too and share the crazy, sad, shocking, moving and hilarious experiences that made me Blue Girl.

    When I first got this diary from my mom, I didn't think I'd have all that much to write about - except for the usual stuff about my little brother RJ (who ALWAYS messes up my things, and never gets in trouble!) and my best friend Sheila. But then really strange things started happening. Like this medallion I found when I was seven turned out to have an inscription on it - in a secret language I made up with Sheila just THIS YEAR! Let's just say my life isn't so boring anymore. And that's an understatement. Join me as I explore the hidden mysteries of the medallion, while figuring out how to deal with Marcia the Snob, my little brother RJ, and even my mom - who always looks nice and doesn't understand how hard things can be when you're eleven!!! Books 1-5 of The Diary of Janie RayBook 1: The Impossible Medallion (a FREE introductory preview) Book 2: The Day My Mom Got Grounded! Book 3: A Star is Born Book 4: A Letter to My Fifth Grade Self Book 5: Baking with Frenemies! The Impossible Medallion and The Day My Mom Got Grounded: Eleven year old Janie Ray just got a new diary from her mom. At first, she writes all about the private jokes she shares with her best friend Sheila, and the grief she gets from her little brother RJ. But then, one morning, she realizes that the mysterious inscription on the old medallion she found when she was seven is written in her secret language! Join Janie as she explores the hidden mysteries of the medallion, while figuring out how to deal with Marcia the Snob, RJ, and even her mother - who always looks nice and doesn't understand how hard things can be when you're eleven. A Star is Born: Kellie Allen is the most unpopular girl in Janie's fifth grade class. She doesn't have any friends, and she brings sardine sandwiches for lunch! Janie can't believe her rotten luck when she gets stuck with Kellie as her science project partner. But she soon realizes that Kellie isn't as weird as she seems. And she has the best singing voice Janie has ever heard! How can Janie get the other kids to see Kellie for who she really is? And will she really be able to use the medallion to help save Kellie from the class bullies? A Letter to my Fifth Grade Self: Things are going pretty well for Janie. Between hanging out with Sheila, Kellie and Alexis and trying to get her homework done, she barely has time to think about the medallion. And even MTS seems to be minding her own business. But all that changes one day, when Janie gets a mysterious note from the future. Baking with Frenemies!: Travelling through time is strange enough, but now something even stranger has happened - MTS, otherwise known as Marcia the Snob, wants to be Janie's friend! Or does she? With the fifth grade baking contest coming up, and Kellie's Starbright Showdown just around the corner, Janie barely has time to write in her diary. And as if all that weren't enough, Janie and Sheila realize it's time to find Grandpa Charlie's key and unlock the mysteries it seeks to protect. Join Janie as she tries to figure out how to deal with Marcia, while discovering what it truly means to be Bearer of the Medallion.

    And sometimes, the presence of dogs and cats in our lives can do even more. In these delightful books, Callie Smith Grant collects stories that celebrate the dogs and cats in our lives--stories that touch our hearts, renew our spirit, and show us how God created these creatures for unique purposes.Well-known authors, as well as new voices, share their inspirational true stories of these otherwise ordinary cats and dogs whose presence in the lives of humans make them remarkable. Each book also includes interesting sidebars, memorable quotes, and helpful hints for living with dogs and cats. The stories are warm, captivating, and ideal for a good curl-up-and-read or for a gift to any pet lover.

    On a field trip to a local farm, Tommie meets Bruce, a feisty little chicken with an unusual personality. When Tommie finds out that Bruce is going to be sold, he is so upset that his parents buy Bruce and bring him to live with them. However, once he's under the Mills’ family’s roof, they discover that their feathered friend has the makings of a martial arts master.

    Each story is split into parts of approximately 500 words, so they can be easily read at bedtime. They are suitable for children over 5 years of age as the narratives may be too complex for those younger. The stories usually portray characters facing challenges. One friendly bear wants to learn how to read. A brave sailor leads the way to a magical island. A smart little boy tries to build a flying machine. They each succeed by perseverance, openness and ingenuity. They achieve great things by doing simple, good deeds. An important aspect of the book is that there are no situations where a character has to do wrong in order to gain something. Even when battles take place, as they sometimes do on pirate ships, they have no detail of violent gestures or actions. This is a point that has been attentively pursued throughout the book. There are many classical children's stories that involve a great deal of violence. Hansel and Gretel's own parents leave them in a forest to die, the huntsman in Snow White kills the wolf, Cinderella's sisters are filled with envy. The Wonderful Roundabout was written with the belief that stories can set the foundations for the moral character of children and, therefore, should, in all ways, inspire kids to become caring, generous and motivated individuals. Which is why references to violence or mischief are removed. The obstacles our characters face are more those that appear when one tries to follow a dream that is not readily accessible - such as reaching a magical castle, transforming a bicycle into a mouse or building a bridge in a beautiful place. Simply put, if at least one child becomes a better person after hearing one of the stories, then The Wonderful Roundabout would have fulfilled its purpose.

    On a Lovely Sunny Day a Cute Ginger Cat Suddenly Turns a New Color! Matt is walking down the street and tells his fascinating and breathtaking story.-Our Toddlers Book Teaches kids that Being "unusual" or "different" has a lot of Advantages and that our Friends and Family are very important in our life.-Our Amazing Kids Book encourages Kindness and Empathy towards others.-Wonderful HD pictures Educate and Enhance children's Emotions while reading.

    A behind-the-scenes tour of Ehlert's books and book-making process - encouraging readers to explore their own creativity.

    With gentle humor and quirkiness, this sympathetic book demonstrates how to say goodbye to a beloved pet and give it a proper sendoff.

    Cubs are raised together in a protected setting—dubbed panda kindergarten—where they grow strong and learn skills that will help prepare them to be released into the wild when they are older. With spare text by veteran nonfiction writer Joanne Ryder and irresistible full-color photographs by Katherine Feng, whose work has appeared in National Geographic, Panda Kindergarten will delight young readers as they learn more about these amazing creatures.Supports the Common Core State Standards

    Dogs are more than just a pet; they are trusted companions. They help us hunt, guard our homes, look after our livestock and even our children and, over time, do so many useful and wonderful things that it boggles the mind. This compilation of heart-warming dog stories illustrates the pure love of these amazing creatures, including extraordinary instances and first-hand accounts of bravery, friendship, loyalty, devotion and companionship down to their very last breath. There’s a reason we call them man’s best friend. No matter the situation, your dog is happy to see you. You are greeted with the same enthusiasm each and every time you walk in that door. A dog has the ability to live in the present moment. They don’t regret the past or worry about the future. While we often ask so much of them, they require almost nothing in return. You can ask your dog to chase a Frisbee, take a nap on the couch, herd some sheep, or run around a show ring and he’ll do it, happily, for hours on end. He only wants to be fed, and told he’s good, and most of all loved. If a dog has love, he really needs nothing else. In the presence of a dog, somehow, nothing else matters. A dog is handing out pure love, sparing no expense, and asking absolutely nothing in return. Perhaps American Humorist Josh Billings said it best: “A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.”

    Did you know that hippos can't swim? This hilarious book is full of fun facts about all sorts of animals, from sleepy ants to jellyfish that glow!Did you know that a zebra's stripes are as unique as a human's fingerprints?How about that ants take about 250 naps per day?Or that some jellyfish can glow--and that's called bioluminescence?Colorful, humorous illustrations accompany tons of cool facts about animals of all shapes, sizes, speeds, and species in this lively book that makes nonfiction fun!

    You may have heard of some of them--like the Sioux, Hopi, and Seminole. But where did they live? What did they eat? How did they have fun? And where are they today? From coast to coast, learn all about these very first Americans!

    Harry was a veterinarian. But he was also a soldier in training for World War I. Harry named the bear Winnie, short for Winnipeg, his company’s home town, and he brought her along to the training camp in England. Winnie followed Harry everywhere and slept under his cot every night. Before long, she became the regiment’s much-loved mascot. But who could care for the bear when Harry had to go to the battleground in France? Harry found just the right place for Winnie while he was away — the London Zoo. There a little boy named Christopher Robin came along and played with Winnie — he could care for this bear too! Sally Walker’s heartwarming story, paired with Jonathan Voss’s evocative illustrations, brings to life the story of the real bear who inspired Winnie the Pooh.

    She waits until dark, then emerges from her den to hunt for food. Follow her as she pads through the city streets and learns about sunlight, moonlight, and electric light. Shadows grow along alleys and reflections bounce off store windows as Fox moves through patches of light and dark. Using simple, clear language and beautiful illustrations, this gentle story is the perfect introduction to light and dark for budding scientists.

    Soon the fruit is big, red, and ready to be picked. It's time to make an apple pie! Here is a celebration of apples and how things grow--sure to delight young readers all year long.