Cari Best

Sara's Russian grandmother has requested that there be no presents at her seventy-eighth birthday party so Sara must think of a gift from her heart.

"In 1961, shy and overprotected eleven-year-old Shirley Alice Burns must begin speaking up if she is to do what she wants, including talking about her beloved, deceased father." --

"Maude hopes her newfound knowledge of fireflies will win her a spot in the neighborhood Bug-of-the-Month Club, but Louise, the club's hard-to-please leader, will not let her join." --

"A boy turns a cardboard box into a car and imagines what it would be like to take his mama for a drive all around town"--

"Zulay is a blind girl who longs to be able to run in the race on field and track day at her school"--

After taking the train downtown, Lizzie spends the day at the public library, helping her mother who is a children's librarian.

Jacob watches his favorite television show, "Baking with Chef Monty," and bakes a beautiful peach pie, which he gives to his parents for their anniversary.

Left behind when his family goes to the beach, Montezuma the dog gets revenge by bringing home a scruffy dog he meets in the park and giving him the run of the house.

In the spring when trees unfreeze and grass grows green and pansies say, "Please plant me!" Nell and her dog, Rusty, can't wait to dig in dirt just right for digging. But Norman, their neighbor, says "Ewww!" to digging and dirt.