J.J. Grabenstein

Inspirational, commonsensical, and a whole lot of fun." --James Patterson Everyone deserves to shine in this sparkling new book from the New York Times bestselling author of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library, Chris Grabenstein, and coauthor J.J. Grabenstein--just right for fans of Word of Mouse and The Fourteenth Goldfish. "Who do you want to be?" asks Mr. Van Deusen. "And not when you grow up. Right here, right now." Shine on! might be the catchphrase of twelve-year-old Piper's hero--astronaut, astronomer, and television host Nellie Dumont Frisse--but Piper knows the truth: some people are born to shine, and she's just not one of them. That fact has never been clearer than now, since her dad's new job has landed them both at Chumley Prep, a posh private school where everyone seems to be the best at something and where Piper definitely doesn't fit in. Bursting with humor, heart, science, possibilities, and big questions, Shine! is a story about finding your place in the universe--a story about figuring out who you are and who you want to be.

It is story time at Hickleberry Elementary, and Stinky the stuffed skunk is ready to tell a tale like you have never heard before. Everyone knows the classic story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, but what actually happened after she jumped out the window and ran away? Stinky knows the hilarious truth! In this wildly funny fractured fairy tale, Goldilocks continues her rude streak by barging in on the Three Little Pigs, a group of friendly capybaras, and a family of flamingos who are not happy with her terrible manners. But her bad behavior finally catches up with her, turning her beautiful golden hair into gloppy, green pond scum! Packed with silly jokes and funny illustrations in every chapter, this entertaining adventure teaches a gentle lesson about manners while keeping young readers laughing out loud from beginning to end.

Seventh-grader Piper Milly is used to blending into the background. But when her father gets a new job as the choir director at the prestigious Chumley Prep, Piper is suddenly thrust into a world where everyone is the absolute best at something. From star athletes to brilliant scientists, her new classmates are intensely competitive and obsessed with winning the school's top prize, the Excelsior Award. Piper does not feel like she excels at anything in particular, and she certainly does not fit in with the wealthy, hyper-focused student body. As the race for the award heats up, Piper must figure out how to navigate this high-pressure environment without losing her true self. Along the way, she discovers that there are many different ways to be exceptional, and that kindness, empathy, and simply being a good friend might just be the most important talents of all.