Books with author Caroline Leavitt

There's something strange happening in Jackson Park! Wishbone, Joe Talbot, Samantha Kepler, and David Barnes start hanging out with some new kids in a cool clubhouse. Then mysterious things begin to happen. Soon, some of the kids begin to suspect that the clubhouse is haunted. Wishbone and his friends set out to prove that someone is trying to scare them away. The culprit is finally found, but the haunting continues... and the real mystery is just beginning!

Betrayed by her classmates and banished to the principal’s office for doodling an unflattering sketch of their music teacher, Maxzyne fumes over the unfairness of it all. Could anything worse happen on a Friday afternoon right before the Chicago Festival of Lights parade? As she nears her dreaded destination, a glance outside reveals a runaway horse and carriage, one wheel trapped in a school bike rack. She races to help, but is it the horse or a mysterious black top hat that entices her to sit in the carriage? There is no turning back, for she is catapulted straight into a misadventure with Rico, an immigrant boy who rides horses in the nearby historic theater. Together they plan to save the horse, but sharing both ideas and the reins may be difficult when the runaway and the rescue keep shifting in this madcap tale of kids changing hearts, minds, and perhaps even a few grown-up rules along the way.

Who are my ancestors? What nationalities were they? What work did they do? Kids are always bursting with questions about their family history; they want more stories, more details, more facts. With these research ideas and creative projects, young would-be genealogists can get the knowledge they crave. Find out how to interview family members, dig up information from libraries and the Internet, and check the National Archives for passenger lists of newly-arrived immigrants. Uncover clues in old photos or birth, marriage, and death records. Preserve the knowledge you’ve gathered in a crayon batik family tree or a homemade diary that features favorite family stories, recipes, and traditions. Keep the togetherness going by planning a family reunion, starting a family newsletter, and more.

Who are my ancestors? What nationalities were they? What work did they do? Kids are always bursting with questions about their family history; they want more stories, more details, more facts. With these research ideas and creative projects, young would-be genealogists can get the knowledge they crave. Find out how to interview family members, dig up information from libraries and the Internet, and check the National Archives for passenger lists of newly-arrived immigrants. Uncover clues in old photos or birth, marriage, and death records. Preserve the knowledge you've gathered in a crayon batik family tree or a homemade diary that features favorite family stories, recipes, and traditions. Keep the togetherness going by planning a family reunion, starting a family newsletter, and more.

The stakes have never been higher for Maxzyne, who is determined to save her new friends from a tragic fate. Maxzyne always has her head in the clouds, but this time she might be in over her head! When a homeless woman gives the 10-yr-old a painting of a French poodle displayed in a store window, before she knows it, a wayward freight elevator, secret tunnels, and vintage mannequins in distress entice this impulsive heroine straight into a historic Chicago department store, where her rescue mission is beset with challenges. Can Maxzyne convince the ghastly Gigi not to use the mannequins’ heads in her art exhibit by the time the store closes tonight? The clock is ticking as Maxzyne leads her mannequin sidekick, Elise, in a series of adventures throughout the emporium, but is too often sidetracked by her own imagination and desires. Loyalty, bravery, and generosity are tested in this tale of friendship, as Maxzyne learns that actions have very real consequences and facing them is the first step in growing up.

The stakes have never been higher for Maxzyne, who is determined to save her new friends from a tragic fate. Maxzyne always has her head in the clouds, but this time she might be in over her head! When a homeless woman gives ten-year-old Maxzyne a painting of a French poodle displayed in a store window, before she knows it, a wayward freight elevator, secret tunnels, and vintage mannequins in distress entice this impulsive heroine straight into a historic Chicago department store, where her rescue mission is beset with challenges. Can Maxzyne convince the ghastly Gigi not to use the mannequins’ heads in her art exhibit by the time the store closes tonight? The clock is ticking as Maxzyne leads her mannequin sidekick, Elise, in a series of adventures throughout the emporium but is too often sidetracked by her own imagination and desires. Loyalty, bravery, and generosity are tested in this tale of friendship as Maxzyne learns that actions have very real consequences and facing them is the first step in growing up.

David is much like any other boy who loves playing soccer, but when the chance comes up to go and stay at Champions Soccer Camp, David has to face up to his biggest embarrassment, wetting the bed. David stands up bravely to his sister's taunts and a nervous visit to the doctor, but will he be able to control his bed wetting in time for Camp?David's Secret Soccer Goals is a warm and sensitive look inside the mind of a boy with bed wetting problems. It delicately highlights the fears and worries that a child in this position can go through, whilst also giving practical advice on how to deal positively with the situation.

Jay, a young boy with Asperger Syndrome, often feels out of place in the world around him, but doesn t know why. He doesn t understand why people call him names like space cadet and asp-booger. He has looked up asp in the dictionary to help find the answer to his wonderings, but knows he is not a small poisonous snake from Egypt. But what is he then? Caroline Levine s short novel follows Jay at school and home as he ponders these and other questions. In addition to independent reading, the book is great for use by teachers to promote an understanding of differences. Intended for children ages 9 to 14.