Believe it or not–and you better believe it–Josh’s dog Arful can talk! This is very useful to Josh and his pals who want to win the school talent contest. First the boys have to find out what the girls are planning for the contest. That’s when they send Arful to get an earful by spying on the girls. Just wait until show time to see what Arful the spy uncovers.

When Brian's dog, Arful, suddenly begins talking, Brian and his two friends send the dog to find out what their classmates are planning for the school talent show.

It sure is handy having Brian the Brain for a best friend—how else would Josh have a shot at first prize in the science fair and winning tickets to Wonderland Lake? But when Brian plans to hypnotize his dog, Arfie, into thinking he’s a cat, Josh knows he can say goodbye to Wonderland Lake—this scheme will never work. The next thing he knows, Josh is climbing trees and craving raw fish sandwiches. What’s going on? Will the real science project please meow?

On the first day of third grade, Gus worries that his teacher will be a monster, his classmates will call him names, and it will be the worst day of his life, but when it is over he discovers that most of his fears were unfounded.

Nothing can ruin a new school year...except maybe a pesky little brother. This Step 4 reader is the perfect back-to-school story for newly independent readers! Will should be excited to start third grade. But his little brother, Steve, is starting kindergarten. The same laugh-out-loud writing and hilarious illustrations that brought us How Not to Babysit Your Brother now portray the tribulations and embarrassments of starting school with a very troublesome little brother. School will never be the same! Step 4 Readers use challenging vocabulary and short paragraphs to tell exciting stories. For newly independent readers who read simple sentences with confidence.

For fans of The Dork Diaries comes a new and heavily illustrated chapter book series about a fiery third grade mermaid who thinks she wants to be where the shimmery Sirens are! Cora is a small mermaid with a BIG personality. But like so many mermaids in the third grade, she is struggling to truly be herself. She wants to be like the Singing Sirens, the most glamorous swim team in the sea. Unfortunately, an annoying road--er, seablock--keep getting in her way.When Cora fails her spelling test, her coach says she can’t be on the team unless she gets an A on the next one!Can Cora conquer her spelling test, make the swim team, AND stay true to herself at the same time?

In Spy Runner, a noir mystery middle grade novel from Newbery Honor author Eugene Yelchin, a boy stumbles upon a secret that jeopardizes American national security. It's 1953 and the Cold War is on. Communism threatens all that the United States stands for, and America needs every patriot to do their part. So when a Russian boarder moves into the home of twelve-year-old Jake McCauley, he's on high alert. What does the mysterious Mr. Shubin do with all that photography equipment? And why did he choose to live so close to the Air Force base? Jake’s mother says that Mr. Shubin knew Jake’s dad, who went missing in action during World War II. But Jake is skeptical; the facts just don’t add up. And he’s determined to discover the truth—no matter what he risks. Godwin Books