In the first new Stella book in four years — in a series that has sold two million copies in ten languages — Stella introduces little brother Sam to the pleasures of reading. Sam is as busy and worried as ever, and Stella almost always has her nose in a book these days, but she finds time to help him out, while sharing her new pastime with contagious enthusiasm. Sam has gathered a wagonload of branches to build a doghouse for Fred, and he wonders if the book Stella is reading tells you how to make one. It doesn't (although it is very funny), but Stella is more than willing to give Sam a hand. As soon as the doghouse is built though, Sam worries that a wolf might come along and blow it down. Stella breezily banishes his fears, suggesting a picnic at Lily Pond. Stella cools her feet in the water, reading a story, while Sam tries to catch a frog. Are there frogs in Stella's book, he wonders. No, Stella tells him, but there is a toad wearing a velvet jacket... With her characteristically light touch, Marie-Louise Gay imparts the pleasures and importance of reading to her young audience, whether it be humor, fiction, nonfiction or poetry. Her detailed, beautifully rendered and often-amusing watercolor illustrations (spot the tiny bunny reading a book!) show yet again that Marie-Louise Gay is one of the very best artists creating picture books today.

"When Stella does not want to go to bed, she tries all sorts of ways to keep the sun up"--

Students will learn along with Stella as she goes through the writing process of brainstorming, planning, drafting, publishing, and finally sharing her story.

Cara is very sad when she breaks her leg and can't join her best friends on their summer holiday. To cheer her up, Mum takes her to Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, where they meet Stella, the gorgeous and gentle Staffordshire bull terrier puppy. Stella goes everywhere with Cara - including to a birthday party in a park! But one day she bounds onto a bus and is carried away before Cara can join her. Will Cara ever be reunited with her runaway puppy? Contains LOADS of information about Battersea Dogs & Cats Home - including how to adopt your very own dog or cat, dos and don'ts of looking after them, and fun pet-themed puzzles! Featuring a photo and fact-file of a real-life dog from Battersea!

Stella Ciarlantini lives the ordinary life of a ten year old girl. She spends her days talking, laughing, and gossiping with her friends, and her nights studying for tests and exams and doing homework. But when something completely unexpected happens, it turns Stella's world upside-down. Suddenly, her ordinary life seems like something so sacred and special, and she starts to wish she had appreciated it more. Stella has to stay strong in isolation, but she soon realizes that even though she is alone, she really isn't alone. Feel Stella's pain, listen to her cries, but more importantly, see her strength. Stella will soon understand that she really isn't suffering in silence, because she has a whole audience of people rooting for her and cheering her on until the end.

The first lesson I learned: the truth was looking me right in the face. What do you do when you discover your life wasn't real? That the childhood you thought you lived was a lie? And because of that lie, you're thrust into an alternate reality where a whole new world is waiting for you to rule. What does that even mean? Now that I know who I am, am I supposed to pick up where they think I should? I must figure out how to deal with this new reality, but something deeper is hidden away, something waiting to be discovered, and it's not just finding the Sword of Valor. I'm beginning to realize that everything is interconnected. That all species have a purpose. It isn't about finding out who I am anymore, it's much bigger than that, and I'm smack in the middle of it with no other choice but to fight back. Sarmira will not get away, if it takes my last dying breath to bring her down.