Nolen, Jerdine

When a small farm town is faced with prolonged drought, a newcomer grows a crop of colored balloons and the citizen's spirits are lifted and they become hopeful for better times.

Momma Mary tells stories about a special young man who does wondrous things, especially for the slaves on the Plenty Plantation.

Callie struggles to understand slavery when her stepbrother is sold away at the start of the Civil War, but is determined her whole family will be free one day.

As Christmas approaches, Ellie wishes for snow to come to her town, for her parents to finally see that her friend Billy Lee is real, and that her parents will find joy again. Believing in the magic of Christmas, Ellie finally begins to see miracles occurring and brighten up her season.

"From award-winning author Jerdine Nolen comes a tale of a little girl who wishes for her father to be home more, but she never expects her wish to come true the way it does"--Provided by publisher.

Mr. Perkins has a big surprise for the annual block party, but when the truck carrying it there breaks down, twins Jada and Jamal and their best friends, Josh and Carlita, propose a different form of transportation.

While preparing for a backyard campout, Jada and Jamal Perkins join their friends Josh Cornish and Carlita Garcia in a search for Mrs. Mason's lost cat, Daisy.

A child ventures out in the middle of the night to see how Harvey Potter grows his wonderful balloons.

In a series of letters a boy, his science teacher, and his parents discuss the progress of a very unusual, sometimes frightening, plant that becomes more human as the summer progresses.