When a little girl who loves planes is sent to her bedroom for doing a loop-de-loop off the couch, she finds a secret door leading to a room filled with real flying machines and sets off on an exciting adventure.

Whether dashing through the Plains, creeping over the Rockies, hurtling across the Great Basin, or threading the Sierra Nevada, the California Zephyr is an earthbound cruise ship bearing as many as 300 passengers, each with a story to tell over the train's 51-hour run from Chicago to San Francisco Bay. Veteran journalist and novelist Henry Kisor climbs aboard and introduces us to the men and women who ride the rails-some out of restlessness, some as a hobby, some seeking love and friendship. There are also the resourceful train crew, who tell tales of "dog-robbing" supplies in the yards, of coping with medical emergencies en route, and of keeping their good humor. Fans of Henry Kisor's mystery novels and other nonfiction books will find him to be an affable traveling companion. As we head westward with him, Zephyr becomes a personal journey into the heart of America. This new 2015 edition brings up to date the original 1994 hardcover, and includes scores of new photographs. "An indispensable traveler's aid," the New York Times Book Review called it.

Invite young readers to practice counting to twenty while helping a small boy search the city for his pet dragon.

"Thorndike Press Striving Reader Collection."

Tom's life, once steeped in the ordinary, was forever changed when he stumbled upon the mystical power to navigate the fantastical dreamscape, a place where his wildest imaginations took flight. This newfound realm became his canvas for dreams, a sanctuary where he could engage in conversations with talking animals and embark on quests that defied the bounds of reality. Little did he know, this was just the beginning of an epic saga that would intertwine the realms of wakefulness and dream in an intricate dance. Venturing further into this dream realm fantasy, Tom met with extraordinary creatures: winged lions trailing stardust and sprites that danced with a lightness that filled the air with melodic laughter. However, amid the wonder, a shadow loomed. The ethereal Dream Keepers, guardians of this realm, whispered of a menace – The Dream Thief. This entity, a sinister spectre born from the abyss of forgotten nightmares, sought to harness the innocent dreams of children for dark purposes. It was on a day, bathed in the serene light of the afternoon sun, that Tom's adventure took a pivotal turn. Drawn to a secluded corner of the library, he discovered a tome unlike any other, hidden away from the passage of time. This book, The Dreamer's Code, was a key that unlocked the gateway to realms uncharted. The library, once a place of quiet contemplation, became the threshold to a journey beyond imagination, where the line between the real and the fantastical blurred. As Tom delved into the pages of The Dreamer's Code, he uncovered a prophecy woven into the very essence of dreams. This ancient lore revealed a time when dreams were not mere figments of imagination but powerful forces capable of moulding reality itself. According to the prophecy, a chosen Dreamer would arise to venture deep into the heart of the Dream Realm, challenging the darkness that threatened to unbalance the world of dreams and wakefulness. Tom's journey through the dream thieves and keepers, amidst the backdrop of a talking animals fantasy, sets the stage for an epic quest to safeguard the innocence of dreams and uphold the delicate harmony of this enchanting dreamscape.

Take flight with Pippa and her winged horse in this heartfelt two-book series about a young girl who must win the hardest race in ancient Greece in order to stay with her closest friend. This new series from acclaimed author Kallie George is perfect for horse lovers and fans of Greek myths alike! High on the slopes of mighty Mount Olympus, among the sun-splashed meadows and sparkling waters, glide the winged horses of the ancient gods. Here up high is normally no place for a lost, parentless girl like Pippa. But once every hundred years, the gods and goddesses descend to the mortal realm to choose jockeys for their winged horse race—and Pippa is one of the lucky children chosen to ride. With her undersized, impetuous winged steed, Zephyr, by her side, Pippa has to confront the greatest challenge of her life: achieving victory in a race across the sky. No one expects Pippa and Zephyr to win, or even finish, this death-defying race. A poor orphan who’s spent her life working in stables, Pippa doesn’t seem to belong in the world of the gods. And while she loves Zephyr with all her heart, he’s smaller than the other winged horses racing. But if Pippa and Zephyr don’t find a way to win, the gods will separate them—forever. To stay with Zephyr, Pippa will have to work harder, train longer, and dare more bravely than her competition. In a race filled with petty, jealous gods and goddesses and a host of ruthless riders, Pippa must prove that love is greater than might. This stirring adventure series by beloved author Kallie George is perfect for fans of the Percy Jackson books and The War That Saved My Life. “I can’t wait to see what happens in the next one! If you have younger kids (or are even just a fan of middle grader books yourself) I would absolutely recommend this book.” —A Bibliophiles Book Blog