Recommendations based on "Mercy Watson Fights Crime"

From His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Mutt’s cartoonist and award-winning author Patrick McDonnell comes a powerful and timely gem of a book on how to heal our relationship with the planet and each other. At the Dalai Lama’s residence in Dharamsala, India, an unusual visitor has arrived. His Holiness interrupts his morning meditation to greet a troubled Giant Panda who has travelled many miles to see him. Welcoming him as a friend, His Holiness invites the Panda on a walk through a cedar forest. There in the shadow of the Himalayas, surrounded by beauty, they discuss matters great and small . . . With a galvanizing message about the future of our planet—text by His Holiness accompanied by McDonnell’s masterful illustrations—Heart to Heart calls for a Compassionate Revolution, reminding us that “we are indeed all members of a single family, sharing one little house.” Told with whimsy, wisdom, and warmth, this beautiful book is deceptively simple in its approach and all the more powerful for it, as it elegantly and decisively conveys a message of joy, hope and change. “There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called Yesterday, and one is called Tomorrow.”

An instant #1 New York Times bestseller!From beloved powerhouse author Katherine Applegate comes The One and Only Ruby, starring the adorable baby elephant from the Newbery Medal-winning modern classic The One and Only Ivan and its bestselling sequel, The One and Only Bob.Ruby’s story picks up a few months after the events of The One and Only Bob. Now living in a wildlife sanctuary, Ruby’s caretaker from the elephant orphanage in Africa where she grew up is visiting. Seeing him again brings back a flood of memories both happy and sad of her life before the circus, and she recounts the time she spent in the African savannah to Ivan and Bob.In the timeless way that only Katherine Applegate could craft, this highly anticipated novel in verse is the perfect mix of heartfelt and humorous, poignant and sweet. Artist Patricia Castelao returns to the world of Ivan and his friends with gorgeous black-and-white interior illustrations to complete the story.The One and Only Ruby features first-person narrative; author's use of literary devices (personification, imagery); and story elements (plot, character development, perspective).This middle grade novel is an excellent choice for tween readers in grades 5 to 8, for independent reading, homeschooling, and sharing in the classroom.Don’t miss the film adaptation of The One and Only Ivan, now streaming on Disney+!

John, Susan, Titty and Roger return to the lake for another summer camping on their island with their old allies, Nancy and Peggy, otherwise known as the Amazon pirates. But immediately disaster strikes when the Swallows find themselves marooned ashore by the shipwreck of their boat. But if they can't have the island, there's always Swallowdale, the secret valley, hidden from the world and containing an extra secret concealed within it.

“A spellbinding, heart-stopping adventure.” —Booklist (starred review) “A dreamily written, slyly educational, rousing maritime adventure.” —New York Times Book Review In the stand-alone companion to the New York Times–bestselling A Wolf Called Wander, a young orca whale must lead her brother on a tumultuous journey to be reunited with their pod. This gorgeously illustrated animal adventure novel explores family bonds, survival, global warming, and a changing seascape. Includes information about orcas and their habitats. For Vega and her family, salmon is life. And Vega is learning to be a salmon finder, preparing for the day when she will be her family’s matriarch. But then she and her brother Deneb are separated from their pod when a devastating earthquake and tsunami render the seascape unrecognizable. Vega must use every skill she has to lead her brother back to their family. The young orcas face a shark attack, hunger, the deep ocean, and polluted waters on their journey. Will Vega become the leader she’s destined to be? A Whale of the Wild weaves a heart-stopping tale of survival with impeccable research on a delicate ecosystem and threats to marine life. New York Times-bestselling author Rosanne Parry’s fluid writing and Lindsay Moore’s stunning artwork bring the Salish Sea and its inhabitants to vivid life. An excellent read-aloud and read-alone, this companion to A Wolf Called Wander will captivate fans of The One and Only Ivan and Pax. Each Voice of the Wilderness novel contains: Spectacular black-and-white illustrations throughout A map of the protagonist's journey Information about the real-life animals who inspired each story Detailed descriptions of the habitats, flora, and fauna mentioned in the book Resources for young readers who want to learn more  Rosanne Parry’s stand-alone Voice of the Wilderness novels include A Wolf Called Wander, A Whale of the Wild, A Horse Named Sky, and A Wolf Called Fire.

Mandy, the first children’s novel ever written by the beloved star of Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music, Julie Andrews, is a modern classic.Mandy, a ten-year-old orphan, dreams of a place to call her own. Escaping over the orphanage wall to explore the outside world, Mandy discovers a tiny deserted cottage in the woods. All through the spring, summer, and fall, Mandy works to make it truly hers. Sometimes she "borrows" things she needs from the orphanage. Sometimes, to guard her secret, she even lies. Then, one stormy night at the cottage, Mandy gets sick, and no one knows how to find her—except a special friend she didn't know she had.This is the perfect book for ten-year-old girls who love tiny houses and stories filled with hope.

Otters are some of the most delightful animals on the planet.These long, lean, furry creatures embody pure joy in so many ways – they live for napping, playing, making friends and eating, and forget about the rest. Pretty inspiring, right?In a world that can often seem divided, lonely, and just plain cruel, the otter reminds us of what’s important in life.What other animal:• Holds hands with their friends whilst napping so they don’t float away?• Communicates in a flurry of whistles, chirps, chuckles, clicks and coos?• Builds a waterslide on a daily basis?• Befriends other species, just because?• Eats food off their tummy while floating peacefully with their pals?These intelligent, adorable, water-dwelling mammals have a lot to teach us about the way we live. So, kick back, grab a pal, dive in and reconnect with your playful side, just like you otter!

Overview: Make way for Marley! When the Grogan family is ready for a dog, they choose Marley, a yellow furball of a puppy who quickly grows into a large, rowdy Labrador retriever. Marley has a zest for life, and as he grows, so does his enthusiasm. He has an appetite for whatever he can get his paws on - from fine jewelry to underwear - and the one thing he always finds is trouble. Marley even gets kicked out of obedience school! Can this rambunctious pup ever learn how to be a good boy?

Three spellbinding Meg and Mog stories - by Helen Nicoll and Jan Pienkowski There are surprises galore for Meg, Mog and Owl in these three classic Meg and Mog stories: Meg's Eggs, Meg at Sea and Mog in the Fog. As ever, Meg casts her spells with the best of intentions but always with hilarious results. Children will love exploring the colours, sounds and shapes in this bumper volume, perfect for sharing or reading alone. Helen Nicoll worked with Jan Pienkowski for over forty years, first at the BBC and then on the Meg and Mog stories. She owned and ran the audio company Cover to Cover for many years. Helen lived in Marlborough, Wiltshire. She died on September 30, 2012. Jan Pienkowski is a celebrated illustrator of children's books. He has won the Greenaway Medal twice - for his illustration of Joan Aiken's The Kingdom Under the Sea and for Haunted House. Jan lives in London. Look out for all the Meg and Mog stories: Meg and Mog; Three Favourite Stories; Meg, Mog and Og; Meg and Mog; Meg and Mog Play Hide and Seek; Three Terrific Tales; Mog's Missing' Mog in the Fog; Mog at the Zoo; Mog Goes to Bed; Meg Comes to School; Meg on the Moon; Meg's Veg; Meg's Castle; Meg up the Creek; Meg on the Moon; Meg's Car; Meg at See; Meg's Eggs

Girl by day. Cat by night. Ready for an adventure.  Meet Kitty, a charming chapter book character with catlike superpowers. In book two in this chapter book series, Kitty must recover the priceless Golden Tiger treasure after it’s been stolen. With dramatic two-color art on every page and an emphasis on friendship, family, and building self-confidence, the Kitty books are the perfect choice for newly independent readers and fans of Rebecca Elliott’s Owl Diaries. When a new exhibition arrives at the local museum, Kitty is excited to see its most prized artifact, the Golden Tiger. Sadly, her cat, Pumpkin, won’t be able to see the Golden Tiger because pets aren’t allowed to visit the galleries. That night, Kitty decides to use her catlike superpowers to sneak Pumpkin into the museum. When they arrive, it’s just in time to see someone stealing the Golden Tiger statue! The museum's security cat, Cleo, is devastated that she let the bandit get away. But never fear! Kitty and Pumpkin are there to help Cleo track down the culprit and recover the statue before morning. Kitty and the Tiger Treasure is the second book in a chapter book series about Kitty and her superhero adventures. With an aspirational main character, a kindle of cats, striking two-color art on every page, and fun facts included at the end of each story, these chapter books are just right for newly independent readers.

Meet Pepper, a feisty but beautiful speckled roan. When Pepper teams up with the young girl Jillian Frouda to help her find her long-lost parents, the two must trust each other in to survive. Will they succeed in their quest?--P. 4] of cover.