Books with author Margaret Willey

From two of our most talented picture-book creators comes this celebration of things that can't be destroyed by bombs or fire. A haunting and beautiful tale of the power of words, the importance of stories and the resilience of the human spirit.When the enemy bombed the library, everything burned.As war rages, Peter and his father flee their home, taking with them a treasure box that holds something more precious than jewels. They journey through mud and rain and long cold nights, and soon their survival becomes more important than any possessions they carry.But as the years go by, Peter never forgets the treasure box, and one day he returns to find it...

Pete Shelton’s life revolves around Riverside, a Michigan nature preserve on the St. Joseph River. The property is dedicated to its founder, the late Paul McMichael, naturalist and moth collector, who died while still a young man. When a runaway named Nora McMichael shows up at Riverside, claiming to be the daughter of Paul McMichael, Pete suspects she is lying. He resents her urgent need to be part of Riverside and to become close, too close, to Paul’s mentor and friend, Abe McMichael, younger brother of Paul. Although enemies at first, Nora and Pete slowly begin to piece together their shadowy pasts . . . and discover that their lives are intertwined in ways neither could have imagined. Filled with loving descriptions of Michigan wilderness, animal lore and a passionate Lepidopterist's journal, Willey weaves an inter-generational tale of healing, reclamation and discovery.

Dog is blind in one eye and cannot see. Magpie has a burned wing and cannot fly. But together the two make a perfect whole. Until Fox comes around and coaxes Magpie away from Dog. This long-awaited paperback edition of a multi-award-wining picture book is both stunning in text and unusually powerful in its illustrations. Short-listed in 2000 for the Kate Greenaway Medal, Fox is an archetypal drama about friendship, loyalty, risk and betrayal and is ideal for study in primary and secondary schools.

People can't always tell everything. Sometimes they have to leave things out so that they can recover. Start over. So that people will still be able to love them. Seventeen-year-old Pete Shelton's life revolves around helping his friend Abe McMichael build Riverside, a nature preserve dedicated to the memory of Abe's brother, Paul. Then one summer a troubled runaway shows up―a girl named Nora who claims to be Paul's daughter. All her life, Nora has lived with secrets and lies, never knowing anything about her father. Although enemies at first, Pete and Nora slowly begin to piece together their shadowy pasts . . . and discover that their lives intertwine in a way they never imagined. "A Summer of Silk Moths gives us the bewilderment and wonderment that real growth always brings, in a setting as fresh and tender as a new green leaf."―Kathe Koja, bestselling author of Buddha Boy "A thoughtful, complex and moving story about loss and discovery of identity, love and the ability to change and the restorative powers of nature."―Kirkus Reviews An Honor Book for the 2010 Green Earth Book Awards in the category of Young Adult Fiction.

An attractive introduction to the curious structure, habits, and activities of bees, in which readers learn how the bees' wondrous body parts equip them to gather nectar and pollen, construct the hive, and nurture the young, and how the different kinds of bees interact in the life of the hive. Over one hundred pen drawings by the author illustrate the features described in the text. Suitable for ages 8 and up.

When he was seven, Charlie Porter never intended to become the world's youngest published author. He just wanted his father to stop crying. So he told him a story about a talking beetle―a dumb little story his mother made up to make him feel better. (That was before she left and feeling "better" became impossible.) But Charlie's story not only made his father stop crying. It made him start planning. The story became a book, and then it became school events and book festivals, and a beetle costume, and a catchphrase―"I was born to write!" Because of the story, Charlie stayed seven until he was ten. And then it all ended. Or it should have. Now Charlie is eighteen, and the beetles still haunt his dreams. The childhood he never really had is about to end . . . but there's still a chance to have a story of his own. Beetle Boy is a novel of a broken family, the long shadow of neglect, and the light of small kindnesses.

These nine beginner-level scarves by Margret Willson are quick and easy to make using the Knook. This specialized crochet hook creates true knitted fabric, while the attached cord completely prevents dropped stitches! It's great for beginners or anyone who would like to learn to knit the easy way. Clear instructions on the basic technique are provided for both right-hand and left-hand stitching, while photos illustrate each step. All the scarves feature medium weight yarn worked with the Knook in classic rib knit patterns: 2 x 2 Rib Scarf, Beaded Rib Scarf, Cartridge Rib Scarf, Mistake Rib Scarf, Textured Rib Scarf, Twin Rib Scarf, Wavy Rib Scarf, Waffle Stitch Scarf, and Knit and Rib Scarf.

As she did in Now I'm Big and Can You Guess?, Margaret Miller again creates a world of fun and learning with her lens. Relative size is a concept the youngest children can enjoy as they view a child's hand and an adult's hand, a large block and a tiny block. Each vibrant, colorful spread explores size in a way that will delight young viewers and make for a happy learning experience wherever there are little hands to turn the pages.