David Parkins

Sophie may only be four years old, but she knows exactly what she wants to be when she grows up. She is going to be a tough, hardworking farmer! Small but incredibly determined, she completely adores creatures of every shape and size. While she waits for a big farm of her own, Sophie stays busy tending to her herds of garden insects and looking after her prized pet snail. Her bustling animal menagerie quickly grows to include a fluffy rabbit, a playful cat, and an energetic dog. Before long, she is making friends with an amazing Vietnamese pot bellied pig and a sweet pony named Bumblebee. Follow along with a fiercely independent little girl who tackles every muddy adventure with total confidence. This charming and funny story is perfect for anyone who loves animals and dreams of living the farm life.

While other children played with standard toys, young Margaret Knight preferred the feel of wood and tools in her hands. Growing up in the 1850s, she built the fastest sleds and the highest-flying kites in her entire town. By the time she was twelve, she was already working long, exhausting shifts in a noisy cotton mill. When she witnessed a dangerous accident caused by the heavy weaving looms, her sharp engineering mind immediately went to work. She invented a clever safety device to protect the workers, sparking a lifelong passion for creating new machines. You will see how her brilliant ideas led to over ninety inventions, including the incredibly clever folding machine that created the flat-bottomed paper bags we still use in grocery stores today. Discover the amazing true story of a trailblazing woman who proved that brilliant engineering knows no boundaries.

Have you ever wondered how skyscrapers became possible? Without Elisha Otis, the towering cities we know today would not exist. In the mid-1800s, buildings were rarely taller than a few stories because climbing endless flights of stairs was simply too exhausting. Elevators existed, but they were incredibly dangerous; if the hoisting rope snapped, the elevator crashed to the ground. Elisha Otis knew there had to be a way to make vertical travel perfectly safe. You will read about his brilliant invention of the safety brake, a clever mechanism that locked the elevator in place if the rope ever failed. Discover the dramatic moment he demonstrated his invention at a major exhibition, standing high in the air and ordering the rope to be cut! Learn how one man's brilliant idea completely changed architecture, allowing humanity to build massive cities that scrape the sky.

Starting school is a big step for any five-year-old, especially for a fiercely independent girl who would much rather be out working in the fields. Sophie has her mind set on becoming a dedicated farmer one day, but right now, she has to navigate the tricky challenges of her brand new classroom. Between learning the rules, dealing with difficult classmates, and making new friends, school life proves to be just as exhausting as farm chores. Thankfully, she finds the perfect distraction when a scruffy, stray black cat wanders into her life. Sophie immediately names him Tom and sets out to convince her parents to let him stay. Caring for her new feline friend gives Sophie the comfort and confidence she needs to tackle her days at school. Join this spirited, determined young girl as she balances her big agricultural dreams with the everyday adventures of growing up, proving that a good pet makes everything better.

Garrett Morgan was never satisfied with just sweeping floors. The son of formerly enslaved parents, Garrett moved to Ohio with a sharp mind and a relentless drive to improve the world around him. Working his way up to a sewing machine repairman, he quickly began inventing helpful new devices. But his most heroic invention came from a desire to save lives. You will discover how Garrett designed an innovative safety hood to protect firefighters from dangerous smoke. When a massive explosion trapped workers in a tunnel deep under Lake Erie, Garrett personally rushed to the scene with his invention to pull survivors from the toxic gas. Read the incredible true story of a brilliant African American inventor who overcame intense prejudice to create life-saving technologies, including a precursor to the gas mask that rescued thousands of soldiers during World War I.

Lillian Gilbreth did not want a quiet, ordinary life. Born into wealth in the late 1800s, she chose a path of adventure, hard work, and brilliant problem-solving. Along with her husband Frank, Lillian became an expert at finding the fastest and easiest ways for factory workers to do their jobs. But her greatest challenges came closer to home. When she suddenly had to raise eleven children all by herself, she used her engineering skills to run her large household with amazing efficiency. You will discover how her brilliant mind led her to redesign the modern kitchen, inventing clever tools like foot-pedal trash cans and perfectly organized workspaces. Read about a trailblazing psychologist and engineer who broke down barriers for women in science, making everyday tasks easier and earning her place as an absolute legend of invention.

Fiercely determined and completely obsessed with animals, young Sophie is taking the next big step toward her dream of becoming a real farmer. Her bustling animal family is already packed with insects, a rabbit, and a cat, but there is always room for more! When an energetic little puppy named Puddle joins her growing menagerie, the farmhouse becomes livelier than ever. But Sophie's adventures really take off when she strikes up a friendship with an adorable Vietnamese pot-bellied pig and an incredibly sweet gray pony named Bumblebee. Now, the brave little girl must learn exactly what it takes to climb into the saddle and ride. Follow along with a tiny farmer who is completely fearless and full of hilarious surprises. This charming story captures the muddy, messy, and wonderful reality of loving animals and living your biggest dreams.

Sophie is officially six years old, and she is busier than ever preparing for her future career as a full-time farmer. Her days are packed with important agricultural duties, and there is never a dull moment when she is around. From inspecting the fields to managing her growing collection of pets, Sophie takes her responsibilities extremely seriously. This year brings exciting new challenges, especially when her beloved cat finally has a litter of adorable kittens. While playing with the babies is wonderful, Sophie must quickly learn the hard reality of farming when the time comes to find them all new homes. Along the way, she deals with messy accidents and hilarious misunderstandings with the adults in her life. With her signature stubbornness and massive heart, this unstoppable six-year-old takes every triumph and tragedy right in stride. Join Sophie on her latest, muddiest adventure as she marches one step closer to her ultimate farming dream.

Sophie may be small, but she has a massive dream. She is absolutely determined to become a farmer when she grows up, and she is already getting plenty of practice. Her busy house is filled with an impressive collection of pets, including a rabbit, a cat, a dog, and even herds of insects. She spends her days caring for her animal friends, like her pony Bumblebee and a very special pot-bellied pig. But her biggest adventure begins when she takes a trip to the Scottish Highlands to visit her Great Aunt Al. This exciting journey away from home brings unexpected surprises and might just bring Sophie one step closer to making her farming dreams a reality. Join this strong-willed, animal-loving girl as she proves that you are never too young to start working toward your biggest goals.

The morning after a massive, violent storm, young Kirstie and her brother Angus are exploring the debris on a quiet Scottish beach when they stumble upon a massive, strange-looking egg. Curious, they drag the heavy object back home, completely unaware of what is growing inside. The very next day, the shell cracks open to reveal an incredibly bizarre creature. With the head of a horse, rough warty skin, four flippers, and the long, powerful tail of a crocodile, it is unlike anything they have ever seen. The children decide to keep the magical beast, naming him Crusoe and treating him like an ordinary family pet. But there is one massive problem: Crusoe simply will not stop growing. As he transforms from a bathtub-sized baby into a gigantic sea monster, keeping him hidden from the rest of the world becomes a hilarious and heartbreaking challenge. Discover the legendary, heartwarming origins of the Loch Ness Monster in this unforgettable tale of magic, loyalty, and letting go.