Growing Social Media

As Janell Burley Hofmann, mother of five, wrapped her 13-year-old's iPhone on Christmas Eve, she was overwhelmed by questions: "Will my children learn to sit and wonder without Googling? Should I know their passwords for online accounts? Will they experience the value of personal connection without technology?" In iRules, Hofmann provides families with the tools they need to find a balance between technology and human interaction through a philosophy she calls Slow Tech Parenting.

Juniper O. has a baby sibling that she calls a "bad baby." She doesn't like anything about this baby, including the way it smells, the way it looks, and the way it eats. Juniper writes a letter to share her feelings.

One night, Molly meets an unhappy gorilla named Griff who was caught in a blizzard on his way to Florida. Like Molly, Griff’s friends have moved away. Will Molly be able to help Griff on his way to Florida without waking her family?

Rahim loves animals, but he’s forced to help his grandfather poach pangolins. He does not want to hunt these animals, but he also wants to “be a man” like his grandfather. When he comes across a mother pangolin and her baby in the forest, he must make a decision—stay true to his beliefs or make his grandfather proud.

Jessica thinks Sarita is perfect with a capital P. She gets the best grades in the class, is the best at almost every sport, and everyone is always clustered around her. But one afternoon in the park Jessica learns that maybe nobody, and nobody's life, is perfect.

Ryan’s father is on a tour of duty with the National Guard. Everyone else in his family seems to have found ways to cope with his absence, but Ryan hasn’t! When his dad’s deployment is extended, Ryan has to find a way to stay in touch with him. A trip to the library may be just what he needs—both for communication with his dad, and finding his way to cope!

Billy and his mom searched the whole room for the monster, but the thumping isn't coming from the bedroom—it's coming from the roof! But, as Mom says, the monster is likely just as scared of you as you are of him!

Emily Starr is now seventeen years old and a high school graduate. With her newfound freedom, she grows as a writer and waits day in and day out for the return of her friend Teddy Kent, who went on to continue his education away from the town of New Moon. As her life unfurls, Emily is faced with heartache and newfound opportunities.

Little Turtle and his friend, Little Mouse, are watching the sunset and the traveling circus leave town while on the riverbank. Little Mouse wants to share his big secret with Little Turtle. What will Little Turtle say to Little Mouse about his own dream after hearing Little Mouse's secret? Will they still be friends?

Jules' family moves into an old abandoned house. Her parents love it, but she's frightened and feels a sense of foreboding. When she sees a pale face in an upstairs window, she can't stop wondering about the eerie presence on the top floor - in a room with a locked door. Her fear replaced by fascination, Jules becomes determined to make contact with the mysterious figure and to unlock the door. Past and present intersect as she and her ghostly friend discover the fate of the family who lived in the house all those many years ago.

Leon's enthusiasm for art alienates him from his classmates. But he just might be the perfect person to encourage Nimmy, who thinks she lacks imagination.

Have you ever thought, “I could do that!” while listening to your favorite podcasts? Discover practical solutions and expert insights to make your podcast dreams a reality, even if you're a complete newbie! This guide simplifies the podcasting process, empowering you to launch your own captivating show. From content conceptualization to episode monetization, it covers the fundamental skills needed for success.

Between social media, constant connection, and addictive tech and smartphones, the boundaries of privacy are stretched thin. We can track our kids’ every move with apps, see their grades within minutes of being posted, and fixate on their digital footprint, anxious that a misstep could cause them to be “canceled” or even jeopardize their admission to college. All of this adds pressure on kids, particularly Gen Z. Growing Up in Public shows us that by focusing on character, rather than the threat of getting caught or exposed, we can support our kids to be authentically themselves.

Wilson is a worrier. His sister, Katrina, never seems to worry about anything. That is, until they get to the park.

Some people are afraid of public speaking more than others. Learn about some surprising ways to overcome stage fright.

Septimus is not good at being a badger. He adores the sunset. He dreams of going to Venice. And he lives alone in a charming cottage by the sea. He’s not unhappy with his tidy, solitary life, but there are times when being so bad at “badgerdom” makes him wonder if he’s even a badger at all. When a gull of very few words lands on the windowsill, Septimus leaps at the possibility of friendship. However, his new confidant soon goes missing and Septimus is bereft. Determined to find his best—and only—friend, he ventures into new territory and encounters a cast of surprising characters.

All the flights at the Seattle airport are delayed due to the bad weather so Trevor and his family are stranded! While concerned about their flight delay, Trevor's family worries how he will be affected by the crowds of people and noise in the airport. Will Trevor's autism cause him to become agitated and cause a scene? Find out what Trevor uses to entertain and soothe the crowd.

Alex wants his brother Josh to play bugle in a patriotic ceremony at a school, but Alex's brother has Down syndrome. Will he be able to?

It’s picture day at school! While Vivie’s mother wants her to dress nice, Vivie hates all her dress clothes. Instead, she decides to dress in her favorite clothing, including a cat shirt, blue tutu, and purple cowboy boots. Will Vivie stand out in her photo?

Against the ominous backdrop of the influenza epidemic of 1918, Elsie, the class tattletale, liar, and thief, claims the new girl at school, Annie, as her best friend. But Annie soon makes other friends as well and finds herself joining them in teasing and tormenting Elsie, who later succumbs to the epidemic and dies. Elsie is not absent from school long, though. She soon returns there as a ghost, ready to reclaim Annie's friendship and to punish all the girls who bullied her.