Books in New Begininngs series

Ontario Library Association's Golden Oak Award nominee 2010 OLA's Silver Birch Express nominee 2010 Aram Davidian is one of a group of Armenian refugee orphans who made the trip from Corfu, Greece to a new home in Canada, at a farm in Georgetown, Ontario. And like the others, Aram is delighted with the beauty of his new home and the kindness of the people taking care of them. But adjusting to a new home isn't easy. None of the Canadians speak Armenian, and the boys are left to puzzle out their hosts' bewildering language and customs. While Aram can't really understand why they must eat the steamy mess called porridge every day, he and the other boys are delighted by the strange candies and fruits they have never experienced before. Slowly they must learn that it isn't necessary to horde their food; more comes every day. There is so much to confuse and delight. They cannot understand why their Canadian host wants them to stand under water coming out of a wall when they can just jump in the pond to get clean. But the ice box and stove are wonders of modern life. Despite the many pleasant distractions, Aram misses his young friend, Mgerdich. Injured on the long journey to Canada, Mgerdich is alone in a hospital in France. And what is more disturbing is that Aram and the other boys have been given new names, English names, to go by. If they are forced to discard their Armenian names, how will their extended families find them again one day? Even the final arrival of Mgerdich does not cheer up Aram, who cannot explain to his young friend why he must have a new name. As much as they want to forget the hardships and tragedies of their past lives, the boys can't understand why they must give up their identities. With a little help from an Armenian translator, Aram at last has the chance to thank his kind hosts for all their care and explain why he and the others must always keep their names. Call Me Aram is the sequel to My Name is Aram, which was nominated for the Silver Birch Award and the CLA's Children's Book of the Year Award. New Beginnings is a series of historical chapter books for newly independent readers between the ages of eight and eleven. Each novel concerns a boy or girl facing the challenges of adapting to life in a new culture in North America. Every New Beginnings title is well researched, illustrated in full color throughout, and accompanied by an index and glossary.

Ontario Library Association's Golden Oak Award nominee 2010 OLA's Silver Birch Express nominee 2010 Aram Davidian is one of a group of Armenian refugee orphans who made the trip from Corfu, Greece to a new home in Canada, at a farm in Georgetown, Ontario. And like the others, Aram is delighted with the beauty of his new home and the kindness of the people taking care of them. But adjusting to a new home isn't easy. None of the Canadians speak Armenian, and the boys are left to puzzle out their hosts' bewildering language and customs. While Aram can't really understand why they must eat the steamy mess called porridge every day, he and the other boys are delighted by the strange candies and fruits they have never experienced before. Slowly they must learn that it isn't necessary to horde their food; more comes every day. There is so much to confuse and delight. They cannot understand why their Canadian host wants them to stand under water coming out of a wall when they can just jump in the pond to get clean. But the ice box and stove are wonders of modern life. Despite the many pleasant distractions, Aram misses his young friend, Mgerdich. Injured on the long journey to Canada, Mgerdich is alone in a hospital in France. And what is more disturbing is that Aram and the other boys have been given new names, English names, to go by. If they are forced to discard their Armenian names, how will their extended families find them again one day? Even the final arrival of Mgerdich does not cheer up Aram, who cannot explain to his young friend why he must have a new name. As much as they want to forget the hardships and tragedies of their past lives, the boys can't understand why they must give up their identities. With a little help from an Armenian translator, Aram at last has the chance to thank his kind hosts for all their care and explain why he and the others must always keep their names. Call Me Aram is the sequel to My Name is Aram, which was nominated for the Silver Birch Award and the CLA's Children's Book of the Year Award. New Beginnings is a series of historical chapter books for newly independent readers between the ages of eight and eleven. Each novel concerns a boy or girl facing the challenges of adapting to life in a new culture in North America. Every New Beginnings title is well researched, illustrated in full color throughout, and accompanied by an index and glossary.

When an accident leaves her orphaned, Lizzie's life in the bustling city of London is over forever. And nothing she has ever experienced could prepare the young English girl for her new home a whole continent away on a dusty prairie farm. Although her aunt, uncle and cousins try to be kind, Lizzie can't help but resent her new place as an unimportant member of a family struggling to make do. No one has any time to make a fuss over her. And even though Lizzie is obviously unsuited to manual labor, she is still expected to do chores on the farm. Bitter and despondent, Lizzie knows that she will never - ever - fit in. But one day a dust storm blows up unexpectedly. Alone in the house, Lizzie knows her aunt is out there, somewhere in the storm. Despite her own overwhelming fear, she knows what she must do. Set on the prairies during the Great Depression, Lizzie's Storm will enthrall any young reader ready for chapter books. A 2005-2006 Chocolate Lily Nominee

Poor Sarah. She's afraid of everything - snakes, toads, even bees. And the woods are full of terrors, especially the dreaded "witch" tree, which seems to stretch out long fingers to grab at her cloak whenever she walks past. All Sarah's brothers and sisters tease her and laugh at her fears - even Caroline, the youngest in the family, is as brave as a lion. Sarah loves her snug log house in the woods. But the wilds of Upper Canada in 1836 are nothing like the gentle countryside of her mother's home in England. And sometimes Sarah wonders if she belongs in a world that is still to be tamed by the pioneers, where a new challenge confronts one at every turn. Sarah, however, does love the Ojibwa encampment, which she often visits with her mother. The chief's son, Bright Fire, delights in telling her stories of his bravery; he will be a great warrior when he grows up. One day Bright Fire shows Sarah his medicine bag, which he claims was a present from his shaman grandfather. Full of magic, the pouch protects him and keeps him brave. Is that the answer? Sarah wonders. Even though Bright Fire won't let her touch the medicine bag and insists it is for warriors alone, could it work for her as well? How could it hurt just to "borrow" the pouch one day? Just to see if Scared Sarah becomes Brave Sarah, if only for a little while. Veteran children's author Mary Alice Downie tells a story about overcoming fear that will have young readers identify closely with her young heroine. And artist Muriel Wood's carefully researched illustrations illuminate the details of the past and bring them to life.

Poor Sarah. She's afraid of everything - snakes, toads, even bees. And the woods are full of terrors, especially the dreaded "witch" tree, which seems to stretch out long fingers to grab at her cloak whenever she walks past. All Sarah's brothers and sisters tease her and laugh at her fears - even Caroline, the youngest in the family, is as brave as a lion. Sarah loves her snug log house in the woods. But the wilds of Upper Canada in 1836 are nothing like the gentle countryside of her mother's home in England. And sometimes Sarah wonders if she belongs in a world that is still to be tamed by the pioneers, where a new challenge confronts one at every turn. Sarah, however, does love the Ojibwa encampment, which she often visits with her mother. The chief's son, Bright Fire, delights in telling her stories of his bravery; he will be a great warrior when he grows up. One day Bright Fire shows Sarah his medicine bag, which he claims was a present from his shaman grandfather. Full of magic, the pouch protects him and keeps him brave. Is that the answer? Sarah wonders. Even though Bright Fire won't let her touch the medicine bag and insists it is for warriors alone, could it work for her as well? How could it hurt just to "borrow" the pouch one day? Just to see if Scared Sarah becomes Brave Sarah, if only for a little while. Veteran children's author Mary Alice Downie tells a story about overcoming fear that will have young readers identify closely with her young heroine. And artist Muriel Wood's carefully researched illustrations illuminate the details of the past and bring them to life.

When perfection became flawed… Michaela Matthews--future wife of Connecticut’s most eligible bachelor--lived the perfect life. An upcoming socialite, all she had to do was embrace the good fortune handed to her. But nothing was ever that simple. When she envisioned what her life would entail, she freaked and fled to her brother’s apartment in the city. Straight into the arms of his best friend, Jason Marks. Jason--a hardworking, bar owner--scraped together a life anyone would be proud of. Anyone, but Michaela’s family. Theirs was a match made in desperation. Kindling, just waiting to be set aflame. When the reality of their separate worlds neared, would it be enough to light the blaze?The New Beginnings series:Choices - A Sweet RomancePromises - A Friends to Lovers RomanceDreams - A Sweet Hockey RomanceConfessions - A Second Chance Romance

Kira the Koala is very nervous about starting school. She sits near her house, chewing on a branch. She has never gone to school before, she doesn’t know what to expect. Is going to school be fun? Kira wonders. Will her teacher be nice to her? Will she make friends? Kira has so many questions. She can feel a swarm of butterflies whirling around in her tummy. This school stuff is rather frightening for Kira.