May/June 2011
— A young scientist explores a forbidden island where explorers have vanished for centuries, discovering an underground sanctuary where animals and a mysterious woman shelter from nightly supernatural storms.
— An older sister shares a quiet moment with her three-year-old sibling, watching a woolly bear caterpillar uncurl and explore while reflecting on their bond.
— Crunch, by Leslie Connor; HarperCollins: New York, 2010; $16.99 A young boy named Dewey Mariss is running his dad’s bike shop during his parents’ anniversary trip. Unfortunately, the trip is...
— A swimmer experiences the sensory world of competitive racing, from the starting whistle through the underwater silence to the triumphant touch at the wall.
— A reluctant twelve-year-old discovers a beautiful conch shell at the beach with her younger sister, rekindling warm memories of childhood beach visits.
— A child who once wished on stars for fun now wishes for more time with someone dying, then takes back the wish to end their suffering.
— At summer camp, a girl encounters a bully who unexpectedly shares a beautiful poem with her one night on the beach, revealing hidden depths before reverting to cruelty.
— Eight-year-old Suzy discovers a calico kitten at the Humane Society and works doing chores to prove she's responsible enough to adopt it.
— A mountain biker becomes one with the trail, feeling every bump and curve while nature cheers them on through forest and stream.
— A family's annual Jersey Shore tradition of catching, killing, and cooking crabs becomes a multigenerational ritual of teasing, swimming, and feasting on homemade Italian gravy.