When his diet makes him smell bad, a great horned owl has trouble making friends with the other owls who live in the forest.

“With his distinctive, minimalist prose . . . Bowen’s writing is lean. . . . An unsentimental, galvanizing portrait of life in small-town Montana” (Publishers Weekly). For generations, the Messmers have raised cattle in the rough country of eastern Montana. When the current owners die in a tragic accident, they leave the ranch to their son—an ominous development for everyone in the area. Larry Messmer left Toussaint years ago when he got in trouble for bludgeoning a horse to death. Gabriel Du Pré hoped he would never set eyes on him again. Larry announces his return by having his ranch hands kill every weak cow on the property. Unfortunately, the livestock will not be the last to die. The FBI asks Du Pré, a cattle inspector and occasional lawman, to keep an eye on Larry. What he uncovers is a ranch stricken by criminal greed, lorded over by a pathological son who should never have come home. And when violence erupts again, Du Pré finds himself in the cross hairs. Long Son is the 6th book in The Montana Mysteries Featuring Gabriel Du Pré series, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.

Even Stinky's name is stinky! And he's tired of it. Join the journey of one little skunk who has been given a secret gift from Mother Nature, but doesn't know it yet! When tragedy strikes in the forest, Stinky learns that being unique has its advantages. A fun and engaging story about how being different is actually good, even when it starts off feeling bad. "A wonderfully colourful picture book that teaches kids about diversity and acceptance." - Kate Lobs, teacher. “Serena deserves a constellation of stars for consistently writing picture books that capture children's attention and deliver important messages.” - G. Williams, editor. Stinky Super Skunk is a story that takes the reader from a place of rejection to the acceptance and understanding of a little skunk's unique gift, and the friends who come to welcome and admire it.

A latest collection of nose-wrinkling facts, presented by Judy Moody's encyclopedia-reading little brother, features more stomach-churning scientific trivia that is cross-referenced with related Stink and Judy Moody titles. Original.

The contemporary western mystery series continues in these novels featuring a half Indian cattle inspector and “character of legendary proportions” (Ridley Pearson). Officially, Gabriel Du Pré is the cattle inspector for Toussaint, Montana, responsible for making sure no one tries to sell cattle branded by another ranch. Unofficially, he is responsible for much more than cows’ backsides. The barren country around Toussaint is too vast for the town’s small police force, and so, when needed, this hard-nosed Métis Indian lends a hand. In Gabriel Du Pré, “Bowen has taken the antihero of Hemingway and Hammett and brought him up to date . . . a fresh, memorable character” (The New York Times Book Review). Notches: Working alongside a Blackfoot FBI agent and his feisty female partner, Du Pré tracks a serial killer hunting young women in the Montana wilderness. “A haunting tale, punched out in arresting rhythms of speech powerful as a tribal drumbeat.” —Entertainment Weekly Thunder Horse: After an earthquake exposes an ancient burial site, Native American tribes fight over the remains and a fossilized Tyrannosaurus rex tooth is found in the hands of a murdered anthropologist. Time for Du Pré to start digging. “Strange, seductive . . . The wonder of these voices is that they are . . . blunt, crude, soaked in whiskey and raspy from laughter, but still capable of leaving echoes.” —Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times Book Review Long Son: After greedy, vicious Larry Messmer inherits his parents’ ranch, the FBI asks Du Pré to keep an eye on the pathological prodigal son. When violence inevitably erupts, Du Pré finds himself caught in the crosshairs. “Bowen’s writing is lean and full of mordant observations. His hardy characters . . . come to life, and his wry humor . . . provides relief from the haunting, wind-bitten cattle-ranch landscape.” —Publishers Weekly

Facilitate reading with students in grades 1–2 using Skills for Success: Reading for Understanding. This 128-page book includes fiction and nonfiction selections from across the curriculum. The passages cover essential reading comprehension skills and are presented in a range of formats, such as stories, scientific articles, mini-books, recipes, poetry, graphs, and diagrams.

God knows the tastiest way to serve up truth is with a little story. He knows we learn, think, remember, and communicate through stories. And He knows telling stories is the best way to impact us for eternity. Parables, fables, myths, and fairy tales have always been the most popular and effective way to share a spiritual or moral truth with the next generation because stories connect with both the head and the heart. They fly beneath our radar and move us closer to the place where we can encounter the truth. In Gather 'Round the Dinner Fable, kid-friendly parables and fables told in a witty and heartwarming style make learning biblical truths fun and memorable for the whole family.