NCW Libraries

"Under Grandpa's watchful eye, the kids are thrilled to discover that the craggy rocks, tufted grass, and windswept trees on Giant Island are much more than they seem. Are the children the first to fathom this huge secret, or does Grandpa have a secret of his own?"--

In a desert valley, surrounded by mountains of rock and cactus, is the tiny village the boy calls home. He never wanders far, frightened of coyotes and the dusty wilds beyond. On a visit to Grandpa's ranch, he resists the invitation to explore an area where his grandfather grew up, far from any village. The boy would rather play it safe on his tablet. But one of the creatures he fears has other plans for him, and soon the vast desert "jungle" begins...

An expedition by sea to the Arctic in 1885 to search for the explorer, John Franklin. The protagonists are two men from Philadelphia, the dynamic but foolhardy organizer and his companion, a naturalist who considers himself a loser. The loser lives, the dynamo dies. By the author of Ship Fever.

"Grandpa and Little Bear share a dream to visit Faraway Valley -- a special, hard-to-find place full of wild and wonderful creatures, a place where the air smells of pine needles, a place they've only seen on a postcard. The determined pair study maps, read books and practice camping to prepare for their adventure, then set sail for the long journey. But when they arrive in the north, they find a bustling port full of shops, where everyone seems to...