Will Hillenbrand

Everyone knows the Declaration of Independence is the beating heart of the United States. But did you know this highly respected piece of parchment has survived a wild, action-packed adventure of its own? Since Thomas Jefferson first put his quill to paper in 1776, this single document has been rolled up, secretly hidden away, and carted across the country. It has bravely traveled by galloping horseback, bouncing mail truck, rattling railroad car, and even a heavy military tank. It escaped two entire British invasions and somehow survived centuries of unpredictable events. This wonderfully illustrated and incredibly witty book reveals the true, little-known story of the invincible document that fought just as hard for its own survival as the nation did for its freedom.

Fourth grade is bringing a lot of surprises for Andy Russell, and not all of them are good. His pet gerbils have just pulled off another great escape, this time right in the middle of the school carnival. While he scrambles to catch his furry runaways, things at home are getting just as chaotic. His good friend Tamika is moving in with his family for a little while, which means sharing his space and his daily routine. On top of that, Andy and his sister Rachel are on a major mission. Their family is expecting a new baby, and the siblings are determined to uncover whether they are getting a new brother or a new sister. Between runaway rodents, a houseguest, and a huge family secret waiting to be solved, Andy has his hands full. Step into a hilarious and heartwarming story about navigating school mishaps and big family changes. You will laugh out loud as Andy tries to keep his wild life under control while figuring out what it means to be a great friend and an even better big brother.