Nancy Farmer

Jump in Seven-year-old Ali is finally old enough to help his father tend the beautiful carrier pigeons for the wicked Sultan of Cairo. To celebrate, Ali is given a pet pigeon of his own, but warned never to feed it too much. The adventure Feeling sorry for his hungry bird, Ali disobeys. The spoiled pigeon grows greedy and ruins a plate of the Sultan's extremely rare, imported cherries. Furious, the Sultan gives Ali an impossible task: he has just three days to find six hundred new cherries from the snowy mountains of Syria. If he fails, his father will be thrown into a dreaded pit where a giant demon waits. Why it pulls you in Filled with dazzling magic and high-stakes danger, this enchanting original fairytale is a thrilling race against time that proves even the smallest boy can outsmart the most powerful ruler.

Mrs. Runnery is very proud of her beautiful farm, but she has a gigantic problem on her hands. Something mysterious is sneaking into her granary and gobbling up all of her stored grain! Could the culprits be tiny weevils? Hungry rats? Sneaky wolves? Or is it something even stranger? Luckily, wise old Granny Runnery knows exactly what kind of creatures are causing the trouble, and she has the perfect, clever plan to send them packing. This charming and delightful folktale combines a playful mystery with a touch of magic. It is a wonderfully cozy story that perfectly captures the lively spirit of farm life and the wisdom of grandmothers.

Jump in Sim Webb was born to work on the railroad. As the best fireman around, his job is to shovel coal into the roaring furnace of the train engine driven by the legendary Casey Jones. The adventure Casey has the biggest, loudest steam whistle on any train, until a mysterious, sinister stranger offers him an unearthly golden whistle. Casey wants it at any cost, but Sim can sense the terrible danger ahead. The heavenly sound of the new whistle is mesmerizing, but Sim knows it does not belong in human hands. Why it pulls you in This thrilling historical folktale reimagines the famous legend of Casey Jones from the perspective of his brave fireman. With vivid illustrations and a spine-tingling mystery, it is a perfect ride for anyone who loves trains, myths, and heroics.