Christy Mandin

Millie Fleur La Fae does not plant your average garden. When she moves to the perfectly manicured town of Garden Glen, she brings along seeds for plants that are strange, wild, and a little bit dangerous! Instead of neat rows of pink roses, Millie grows snapping flytraps, creeping vines, and bizarre blooms with a mind of their own. But the strict town garden club is not happy about her unusual creations and wants to tear her wonderful poison garden down. You will laugh out loud as Millie stands up for her weird plants and shows the town that being different is a beautiful thing. With quirky illustrations and a whole lot of heart, this delightful story teaches you that the best gardens, and the best people, grow exactly as they are meant to, wild and free!

Lucky is a small pearl who loves her quiet ocean home. But when her cozy shell is unexpectedly crushed by heavy trash falling from the surface, she must set out on a journey across the sea to find a safe new place to live. The ocean is vast and full of surprises, and finding the perfect shiny new shell is much harder than she originally thought. Along the way, Lucky bumps into someone special and learns an important lesson. She discovers that a perfect home is not just about the shell you live in, but the wonderful friends you share it with. This gentle, engaging story introduces readers to the harmful effects of ocean pollution in a way that is easy to understand. It includes helpful information at the end on how everyone can reuse materials, protect marine life, and help keep our oceans clean.

Autumn has arrived in Garden Glen, and all the neighbors are feeling gloomy about the gray months ahead. But the town's most creative resident, Millie Fleur, has a brilliant plan to bring vibrant colors back to her neighborhood. She decides to plant a very unusual pumpkin patch to surprise and delight everyone around her. Things take a wild turn when her growing gourds suddenly take on a life of their own. The pumpkins are sprouting out of control, and Millie Fleur must figure out how to stop her wonderful surprise from becoming a giant, twisting disaster. This charming and funny fall adventure is packed with seasonal fun. It is a wonderful story about creative thinking, helping your neighbors, and figuring out how to fix a huge pumpkin problem before it takes over the whole town.

It is time for the annual Butterbloom Fest, and everyone in Garden Glen is buzzing with excitement for the most perfect day of the year. Everyone except Millie Fleur La Fae. Instead of waking up bright and cheerful, she wakes up with a terrible case of a bad mood and a tangled humbug stuck right in her hair. From there, her day only goes downhill. No matter how hard she tries to fix things, her problems just keep growing bigger and messier as the festival continues. When everything seems ruined, Millie Fleur discovers that she does not have to face a terrible day all by herself. This delightful and relatable story shows how a little help from good friends can turn even the very worst day around. It is a comforting read for anyone who ever wakes up on the wrong side of the bed.

The town of Garden Glen is terrified of the dark. Every evening when the sun goes down, the neighbors turn on every single light they have until the town shines as bright as noon. But Millie Fleur knows that some of the most enchanting things in the world can only be seen in the shadows. Missing her favorite nighttime creatures, she decides it is time to welcome the dark back to town. She bakes delicious moon pies and plants a beautifully fragrant moon garden to show everyone how wonderful the night can be. To bring the magic back, Millie Fleur must convince her neighbors to be brave and finally flip off their light switches. This wonderfully quirky and cozy tale encourages readers to overcome their fears and discover the hidden beauty waiting just outside their windows after bedtime.

Birdie usually has no trouble creating absolute masterpieces. She loves to draw and write, but today is completely different. No matter how hard she tries, her perfect story simply will not come out onto the paper. She is officially stuck with a terrible case of writer's block. Luckily, help arrives from the most unexpected place. Her everyday writing supplies decide to take matters into their own hands. The Storytellers are here to save the day, proving that pens, pencils, and markers are good for much more than just jotting down quick notes. This hilarious and sweet adventure celebrates the magic of imagination and the joy of creating something new. It is the perfect read for young artists and writers who might need a little burst of inspiration to bring their own brilliant ideas to life.

How much of a difference can two simple sticks of chewing gum make to a city in need? During a difficult time in history, Colonel Gail Halvorsen was a pilot delivering essential supplies to the people of West Berlin. One day, he shared his last pieces of gum with the children gathered at the airport fence. Moved by how grateful they were for such a small treat, he hatched a brilliant and brave plan. Using his own rations, he began dropping tiny parachutes made of handkerchiefs loaded with candy from his airplane. Wiggling his wings to signal his arrival, the famous Candy Bomber was born. This tender, true story highlights a remarkable moment in history. It shows young readers how one person's everyday act of kindness can grow into a massive movement that brings hope and joy to thousands.