For twelve long years, the dread fortress of Azkaban held an infamous prisoner named Sirius Black. Convicted of killing thirteen people with a single curse, he was said to be the heir apparent to the Dark Lord, Voldemort. Now he has escaped, leaving only two clues as to where he might be headed: Harry Potter’s defeat of You-Know-Who was Black’s downfall as well. And the Azkaban guards heard Black muttering in his sleep, "He’s at Hogwarts... he’s at Hogwarts. " Harry Potter isn’t safe, not even within the walls of his magical school, surrounded by his friends. Because on top of it all, there may well be a traitor in their midst.

The Dursleys were so mean and hideous that summer that all Harry Potter wanted was to get back to the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. But just as he’s packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange, impish creature named Dobby who says that if Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike. And strike it does. For in Harry’s second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new professor, Gilderoy Lockhart, a spirit named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girls’ bathroom, and the unwanted attentions of Ron Weasley’s younger sister, Ginny. But each of these seem minor annoyances when the real trouble begins, and someone — or something — starts turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever? Could it possibly be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects... Harry Potter himself!

When Emily Elizabeth brings young Clifford to class, he wants to do everything the students are doing, but eager puppies can’t always do things as well as big kids can, and Clifford makes messes left and right. Still, he has a great time, and the kids love playing with him. The book’s fresh and funny look at a typical classroom scene is sure to make children smile and inspire confidence in new students, who will see that if this little puppy can do well at school, they can too. Series Information: With his larger-than-life stories and his huge heart, Clifford the Big Red Dog has entertained children since 1963. Though he began as a tiny puppy, Clifford grew into the biggest dog around, and he and his owner, Emily Elizabeth, have lots of adventures together. Incorporating simple, colorful illustrations and fun-to-read stories into a range of formats, from board books to beginning readers, the Clifford series appeals to a variety of ages. It’s no wonder Clifford is Scholastic’s reading mascot; he’s so often a child’s very first reading friend.

Babies and toddlers enjoy bright, bold pictures of cookies, candies, toys, and snow as they play a search-and-find game created especially for them!

When Emily Elizabeth brings young Clifford to class, he wants to do everything the students are doing, but eager puppies can’t always do things as well as big kids can, and Clifford makes messes left and right. Still, he has a great time, and the kids love playing with him. The book’s fresh and funny look at a typical classroom scene is sure to make children smile and inspire confidence in new students, who will see that if this little puppy can do well at school, they can too. Series Information: With his larger-than-life stories and his huge heart, Clifford the Big Red Dog has entertained children since 1963. Though he began as a tiny puppy, Clifford grew into the biggest dog around, and he and his owner, Emily Elizabeth, have lots of adventures together. Incorporating simple, colorful illustrations and fun-to-read stories into a range of formats, from board books to beginning readers, the Clifford series appeals to a variety of ages. It’s no wonder Clifford is Scholastic’s reading mascot; he’s so often a child’s very first reading friend.

Watch me. I am water. Home of the fish. Rain of the clouds. Drink for people. Bath for babies. So begins this exploration of water in its many forms. From steam for cooking to ice for cooling, children will marvel at the beauty and usefulness of water. With Judith Moffatt’s colorful cut-paper illustrations and best-selling author Jean Marzollo’s simple yet powerful text, children will discover just how much fun water can be! A delightful discussion of the various forms water takes.

They call him Spaz, because his epilepsy prevents him from using mind probes that are rotting everyone else’s minds. Which is why he still has a memory — something rare in the frightening world he lives in. Civilization has been destroyed, except for the forbidden place called Eden, where a small group of people have discovered genetic improvement. Yet one old man, the one they call Ryter, has a lot of crazy and wonderful ideas. Nobody remembers books, but Ryter is writing one — even though he knows he may be punished by death. Both chilling and inspiring, the story is ultimately about those who have the courage to become conscious in a world that invites us to choose illusion and denial. Here is a powerful tale of love, loss, and the challenges we all face to make thoughtful, moral choices.

She is massive. She is astounding. She is the most complete T. rex skeleton known to man. Her name is SUE, and she is, without a doubt, the archaeological find of this century. Unearthed on a routine dig one hot summer day in 1990, Dinosaur SUE has captured imaginations the world over. Now the complete account of her incredible tale is brought together for young readers — from her discovery in the hills of South Dakota to the information scientists are learning from her today at her new home, the Field Museum of Chicago. Journey through the life and times of this mysterious creature as the Science Team at the Field Museum learn what the world might have been like during SUE’s lifetime. See how today’s technology is bringing SUE «to life» again for future generations to study. Filled with full-color photographs and glorious artistic renderings, this definitive account of the Field Museum’s «colossal fossil» will thrill dinosaur fans of all ages.

See the picture? Now read the clue. Then start looking for everything! A is for apple and airplane and ant. But where are they? Are those balloons on the letter B? See the snow-white ice on the cold letter C? Alright, the D is dotty, the E is a soft pink eraser, the F is on fire, and the G is glittery. But where are these other objects that begin with those letters? Come along for a jolly trip through the alphabet and find a jeweled J, a lacy L, a rough and rocky R, and total pleasure on every page, all the way to the zebra-striped Z. Toddlers and preschoolers can search photos from the original I SPY series for letters to help them learn the alphabet. Simple picture clues and rhyming riddles guide the youngest readers through 14 interactive, fun-filled spreads. First time for this series to be in a kid-friendly, 8x8 paperback format. Learning the ABCs is a matter of searching and identifying in this terrifically entertaining game of I Spy.

Esperanza thought she’d always live with her family on their ranch in Mexico — she’d always have fancy dresses, a beautiful home, and servants. But a sudden tragedy forces Esperanza and Mama to flee to California during the Great Depression, and to settle in a camp for Mexican farm workers. Esperanza isn’t ready for the hard labor, financial struggles, or lack of acceptance she now faces. When their new life is threatened, Esperanza must find a way to rise above her difficult circumstances — Mama’s life, and her own, depend on it. Pam Munoz Ryan eloquently portrays the Mexican workers’ plight in this abundant and passionate novel that gives voice to those who have historically been denied one. "When I was a child, I always assumed my grandmother grew up in poverty because the stories she told were primarily about raising her children in farm labor camps in California in the 1930s. It wasn’t until I was a young woman that she told me about her childhood in Mexico. I was so moved by her riches-to-rags fairytale that I felt compelled to share her story. " — Pam Munoz Ryan.

Harry Potter is midway through his training as a wizard and his coming of age. Harry wants to get away from the pernicious Dursleys and go to the International Quidditch Cup. He wants to find out about the mysterious event that’s supposed to take place at Hogwarts this year, an event involving two other rival schools of magic, and a competition that hasn’t happened for a hundred years. He wants to be a normal, fourteen-year-old wizard. But unfortunately for Harry Potter, he’s not normal — even by wizarding standards. And in his case, different can be deadly.

Simple words and short sentences make these lively books perfect for the newest readers.