Books published by publisher Holiday House (P)

A heart-wrenching novel in verse about a poor girl surviving the Irish Land Wars, by a two-time Newbery Honor-winning author.For Anna, the family farm has always been home... But now, things are changing. Anna's mother has died, and her older siblings have emigrated, leaving Anna and her father to care for a young sister with special needs. And though their family has worked this land for years, they're in danger of losing it as poor crop yields leave them without money to pay their rent. When a violent encounter with the Lord's rent collector results in Anna and her father's arrest, all seems lost. But Anna sees her chance and bolts from the jailhouse. On the run, Anna must rely on her own inner strength to protect her sister--and try to find a way to save her family. Written in verse, A Slip of a Girl is a poignant story of adversity, resilience, and self-determination by a master of historical fiction, painting a haunting history of the tensions in the Irish countryside of the early 1890s, and the aftermath of the Great Famine.A Junior Library Guild SelectionA Bank Street Best Book of the Year

A dog barks at everything he loves—a cat, a squirrel, and his favorite boy! This Level A book is perfect for new readers. I see a cat. I see a bird. I see a fly. Easy-to-read text and fun pictures follow a dog through his happy day. Sitting inside his house, the dog watches other animals pass by the glass door . . . until his beloved boy comes home, and the two pals dash outside, determined to get up close and personal with all the backyard wildlife! 2018 Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book American Library Association Notable Book Junior Library Guild Selection Level A books, for early kindergarten, have one short sentence that repeats on every page with only one word change per spread. Images help tell the story—leading to faster decoding of sight words. This proven method starts the earliest readers on the path to reading fluency. When Level A is mastered, follow up with Level B. The award-winning I Like to Read® series focuses on guided reading levels A through G, based upon Fountas and Pinnell standards. Acclaimed author-illustrators--including winners of Caldecott, Theodor Seuss Geisel, and Coretta Scott King honors—create original, high-quality illustrations that support comprehension of simple text and are fun for kids to read again and again with their parents, teachers or on their own!

An energetic little dog wants to go on an adventure-- and make new friends along the way. Come along with Pug in this Guided Reading Level C story, perfect for beginning readers to read on their own! Looking out the window, Pug sees Peg taking a walk one snowy morning. He wants to join her! But no matter how much he yap, yap, yaps, no one wants to take him outside. Mom is too comfortable, and Dad is too tired from shoveling. That just leaves Tad, who's still asleep. But Pug knows just how to wake him up-- "Yap, yap, yap!" Tad doesn't want to get up-- but once they're out on their walk, he has to agree it was a very good idea. Theodor Geisel Award-winner Ethan Long uses his trademark wit and energy to make this simple story for the newest readers memorable and hilarious. Very simple text paired with expressive, bright illustrations makes this a perfect book for young children to read on their own. The award-winning I Like to Read® series focuses on guided reading levels A through G, based upon Fountas and Pinnell standards. Acclaimed author-illustrators--including winners of Caldecott, Theodor Seuss Geisel, and Coretta Scott King honors—create original, high quality illustrations that support comprehension of simple text and are fun for kids to read with parents, teachers, or on their own! For readers who've mastered basic sight words, Level C books feature slightly longer sentences and a wider range of high-frequency words than Level B books. Level C books are suitable for mid-to-late kindergarten readers. When Level C is mastered, follow up with Level D

It's tough to be an out-of-work princess. After her royal father decides to retire and become a wood carver, Princess Paulina has no idea what to do with herself. She can't survey the kingdom from her leaky cottage roof, and no one waves back when she proceeds through the town on her father's cart. When she hears that a neighboring queen is seeking a bride for her son, Prince Drupert, Paulina sees her chance to get back to princessing. But it will take all her wit and determination to pass the Queen's tests. . . . and in the end, maybe there are better fates than a royal marriage. Full of tongue-in-cheek references to stories like Rapunzel, Snow White, and the Princess and the Pea, this fractured fairy tale is an hilarious twist on traditional tales in which a young woman's practicality, good humor, and intelligence let her shape her own happy ending— with extra cheese and all the toppings her heart desires.

Can two children escape North Korea on their own?North Korea. December, 1950. Twelve-year-old Sora and her family live under an iron set of rules: No travel without a permit. No criticism of the government. No absences from Communist meetings. Wear red. Hang pictures of the Great Leader. Don't trust your neighbors. Don't speak your mind. You are being watched. But war is coming, war between North and South Korea, between the Soviets and the Americans. War causes chaos--and war is the perfect time to escape. The plan is simple: Sora and her family will walk hundreds of miles to the South Korean city of Busan from their tiny mountain village. They just need to avoid napalm, frostbite, border guards, and enemy soldiers.But they can't. And when an incendiary bombing changes everything, Sora and her little brother Young will have to get to Busan on their own. Can a twelve-year-old girl and her eight-year-old brother survive three hundred miles of warzone in winter? Haunting, timely, and beautiful, this harrowing novel from a searing new talent offers readers a glimpse into a vanished time and a closed nation.A Junior Library Guild Selection

Imprisoned for crimes she didn't commit, sixteen-year-old Orpha accepts an unusual invitation to live in a Victorian home for fallen women-- and finds new hope.Though haunted by nightmarish flashbacks and withering in the miserable conditions of Tothill prison, an infamous Victorian workhouse, Orpha perseveres, doing what she can to befriend and protect the other girls imprisoned alongside her. She doesn't speak about what happened-- no one would listen. No one would believe her. But then a mysterious letter arrives, offering her a place at Urania cottage. This experimental home aims to rehabilitate so-called fallen women-- many of them victims of sexual abuse, suffering not only the trauma of their experiences, but the blame and loss of reputation and livelihood. It sounds too good to be true-- but with nowhere else to go, Orpha decides to take her chance. Soon she discovers her unknown savior is none other than Charles Dickens, whose writing deals extensively with the plight of the lower class, and whose friendship and guidance offers Orpha a new way to express herself. With the support of the other women of Urania and the promise of a real future, Orpha will have to confront the darkest parts of her past-- and let go of her secrets. This atmospheric historical novel, full of heartbreakingly real characters whose lives are all too believable, celebrates the strength and resilience of young women throughout history. Virginia Frances' Schwartz's powerful prose, structured to echo Dickens' serialized style, illuminates an era of startling inequality and extreme poverty. Fans of Laurie Halse Anderson's Fever 1793, Margaret Atwood's Alias Grace, and Katherine Paterson's Lyddie will enjoy this riveting title.Named to the Amelia Bloomer book ListA Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People

A comprehensive overview of one of the most controversial wars in America's history written by masterful children's historian and Newbery Medalist Russell Freedman. With prose that is clear, concise, and enthralling, Russell Freedman presents a detailed overview of the Vietnam war. Beginning with the rise of communism in Vietnam and detailing the increase of American involvement, Freedman then explains why, twenty years later, an exit was so difficult. In addition to explaining the complex beginnings of the conflict through the catastrophic damage the war caused, Freedman concludes with a hopeful epilogue on modern Vietnam. This is a definitive resource for young history readers as well as anyone who wants a concise and authoritative understanding of the Vietnam War, exploring both the American and Vietnamese perspectives. Freedman chronicles the history leading up to the war and the unfolding events in Vietnam and in the US as increasing numbers of young men were sent into the jungles to fight. Coverage includes the French war in Vietnam, the rise of Ho Chi Minh, the fall of President Diem, the Tonkin Gulf, the Tet Offensive, the My Lai massacre, the bombing of Cambodia, and the fall of Saigon, as well as the US anti-war movement. The book includes nearly 100 historic photographs and illustrations, as well as candid photographs showcasing the state of Vietnam today. A glossary, source notes, bibliography and index are included. A Junior Library Guild Selection

This primer on money will change how you see addition and subtraction.What can a handful of coins get you? Well, it depends on how many you've got. . . . and what they are. In this fun introduction to American currency, a variety of past presidents introduce themselves and their denominations. You'll learn who's on each coin and bill, and what they're worth-- and how many of one it takes to add up to another. Dollars, cents, and decimals are explained in accessible, kid-friendly language, with tons of examples and try-it-yourself problems and activities. The mathematical concepts of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division become hands-on in this innovative math book from trusted duo David A. Adler and Edward Miller, whose award-winning collaborations have been helping students tackle complicated problems for years. After reading Money Math, kids will be confident with their pocket change!A Junior Library Guild Selection

Gail Gibbons puts her signature style to work as she looks at rain from a child's perspective: What is rain? Why is it necessary? Where does it come from? She takes the reader through different components of a storm, from the smallest raindrop to the loudest claps of thunder, and includes tips on how to stay safe and dry. With clear facts, simple definitions, and fascinating details, Gibbons's exploration of rain is the perfect choice for curious young readers.

An eye-catching, kid-friendly exploration of marshes, swamps, and the plants and animals that thrive there. With her signature combination of bright, clearly-labeled watercolor illustrations and accessible text, Gail Gibbons introduces wetlands-- what they are, why they're important, and the birds, fish, and wildlife that make their homes in these unique ecosystems. Comparing and contrasting the different types of wetlands, Marshes & Swamps explores the basics of wetland formation, the differences between salt- and freshwater ecosystems, and what types of plants and trees flourish in each. Also included is an introduction to wetland conservation, a map of major swamp and marshlands in the United States, and a page of marsh and swamp facts. Perfect for elementary students, Marshe & Swamps will have you on the lookout for wetlands wherever you travel.