Middle-class, middle child, way uncool hair ― these are the true confessions of an aspiring outcast and lackluster altar boy at the crossroads of Hell and junior high. In this riotous memoir, Brandon Christopher reflects on life as an unusually tall, mischief-obsessed altar boy at a private school in Los Angeles. Set in the quirky mid-1980s, The Middle Kid skillfully weaves together the end of Christopher's childhood and the beginning of his journey toward manhood, as told through cringe-worthy yet hilarious stories from the author's irreverent and unabashedly honest perspective.

A story about the wonderfully challenging realities of being a family's middle kid. Readers experience a day in the life of a middle kid, and all the highs and lows of a life in-between. When you're the middle kid, you're never the first nor the last to do anything. You're not the tallest or the smallest; you're babysitting one sibling but teased by the other. Stuck between a bossy older brother and a naive younger sister, Middle Kid feels left out of two worlds. But even if—and maybe especially because—it's always overlooked, this kid's own world is just as big and important as his siblings'. • From author-illustrator Steven Weinberg—a middle kid himself! • Gently funny and richly detailed • Starting in the morning and ending at night, readers experience a full day in Middle Kid's shoes Middle children have classically been sandwiched between the achievements of the older sibling and the needs of the younger one—The Middle Kid gives them a time to shine! • Perfect for beginning readers • A great empathy read • Fans of comical books about family

"Takes readers through a day in the life of a middle kid, and all the challenges and advantages of a life in-between"--

Place of publication transcribed from publisher's web site.

The Middle Ages wasn’t just a time for knights, lords, and castles. Kids lived during this time, too, and this volume introduces readers to all aspects of their daily lives. Fans of historical fiction will delight in exploring the Middle Ages through the eyes of a child who lived during that time. The text covers family life, what kids wore and ate, how they were educated, and what games they played. Beautiful illustrations and modern-day photos aid readers in visualizing this era, while a glossary, index, and reference websites provide opportunities for additional learning.

The Today show expert “tackles 101 issues ranging from sibling rivalry, lying and peer pressure to cell-phone use and TV addiction . . . Indispensable” (Publishers Weekly). A recommended read for moms by Working Mother magazine. In this down-to-earth guide, parenting expert Michele Borba offers advice for dealing with children’s difficult behavior and hot button issues including biting, temper tantrums, cheating, bad friends, inappropriate clothing, sex, drugs, peer pressure, and much more. Written for parents of kids age 3-13, this book offers easy-to-implement advice for the most important challenges parents face with kids from toddlers to tweens. Includes immediate solutions to the most common childhood problems and challenges Written by Today’s resident parenting expert Michele Borba Offers clear step-by-step guidance for solving difficult childhood behaviors and family conflicts Contains a wealth of advice that is easy-to-follow and gets quick results Author has written outstanding parenting books including Building Moral Intelligence, No More Misbehavin’, Don’t Give Me that Attitude, and more Each of the 101 issues includes clear questions, specific step-by-step solutions, and advice that is age appropriate. “Moms and dads have come to rely on Dr. Borba for advice on issues large and small. The Big Book of Parenting Solutions is an indispensable, comprehensive, and authoritative guide to the wonderful and sometimes wacky world of parenthood. You’ll find yourself dipping into it for answers again and again.” —Dana Points, Editor-in-Chief, Parents Magazine “The easy-to-use problem/solution format will have you battling your biggest parenting crises with confidence.” —Working Mother

The best-selling author of Never Unfriended opens up about midlife and what it feels like to have outgrown those teenage jeans—but finally grown into the shape of our souls. “I want to give Lisa-Jo’s book a standing ovation.”—Aarti Sequeira, chef and TV personality Do you ever wonder how you woke up one day with all the responsibilities of a grown-up who secretly enjoys buying groceries in bulk, can no longer recognize the tween celebrities on the magazines at checkout, but is still surprised when a Starbucks barista calls you “ma’am”—because your inside self is frozen in time to about twenty years ago? So does Lisa-Jo Baker. In these intimate reflections on midlife, Lisa-Jo invites us to get a good look at our middles and gives us permission to embrace them—beyond what the media, the mirror, or the magazines say. Through gutsy, beautiful storytelling, she admits out loud what most of us are thinking about marriage, parenting, the bathroom scale, and how badly we all want to buy those matching Magnolia Market mugs. Her delicious stories come from not being afraid of who she is, because Lisa-Jo knows that the middle might be the best part of the love story of life, kids, faith, doubt, marriage, failure, wonder, and the muffin top—and that these are all good things. She’s not asking you to seize the day, just to make sure you actually see it for all its wildly ordinary glory. Welcome to the middle! Praise for The Middle Matters “What a thought-provoking collection of reflections and wisdom! Through personal stories about love, loss, and life in the middle, Lisa-Jo invites us to take a long look inside our own mind’s secret nooks and crannies, which aren’t nearly as dark, scary, or ordinary as we might think.”—Layla Palmer, The Lettered Cottage blog “With captivating wit, hard-won wisdom, and breathtaking honesty, Lisa-Jo has written a love letter to the delicious middle.”—Mandy Arioto, president and CEO of MOPS International and author of Have More Fun “With Lisa-Jo’s guts as our unfettered guide, may we finally learn the sumptuous truth of our years: that a grilled cheese sandwich without the middle is just toast.”—Erin Loechner, founder of OtherGoose and author of Chasing Slow “Thank you, Lisa-Jo, for reminding women everywhere how important it is to find meaning in the midst of the confusing middle.”—Joy Prouty, artist and educator