Margaret McNamara

When Hannah goes to the beach with her mother, she is shocked to find her first-grade teacher, Mrs. Connor, lying there in a bathing suit as if she were an ordinary person.

As they celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the kids in Mrs. Connor's class share their hopes and dreams and imagine how to make the world a better place to honor the important holiday.

"Charles is excited about his first day of first grade at Robin Hill School. He wants his puppy, Cookie, to come to school too. Then Charles finds out he has to leave Cookie at home. Will school still be fun without his best friend?"--

When Emma learns that her class picture will be taken while she must wear an eye patch, she is sad because she will look different from the other first-graders.

"Goldie Bell competes in Queen Titania's Fancy-Dress Party on the Mainland and needs to overcome various obstacles without the support of her sisters"--

Asked by their teacher to think about the things and people for which they are thankful, the first graders of the Robin Hill School take turns sharing their feelings, challenging young Reza to think of something original.

"Clara Bell needs to use her powers when she and Rowan, a gnome visiting Sheepskerry Island for the Valentine's Games, are faced with very serious trouble"--

"There are only ten days left until Christmas, and the Fairy Bell Sisters couldn't be more excited: this year, their big sister Tinker Bell is coming home to visit! Tink says she's going to treat her sisters to the very best Christmas by bringing presents and decorations from Neverland. Then she makes her sisters promise not to do anything to prepare for the holiday--they work hard enough already! But as Christmas draws nearer--and Tink still has...

When students in Mr. Tiffin's class are invited to solve a riddle during a field trip to an apple orchard, it is Tara's daydreams that may lead to the answer.

Eloise would rather tease her tutor, Philip, than let him teach her math.