The Teddy Bear Habit

Twelve-year-old George Stable wants to be a rock star someday, but he gets horrible stage fright—unless he has his old teddy bear with him. Hiding the teddy in his guitar seems like a brilliant idea. Then George discovers that someone has hidden stolen jewels in the stuffing of his beloved bear. George's embarrassing "teddy bear habit" becomes the center of a life-and-death chase through Manhattan. Can George survive long enough to make his first television appearance?

A 12-year-old boy cannot lose his attachment to a teddy bear.

Twelve-year-old George Stable wants to be a rock star someday, but he gets horrible stage fright. Hiding his teddy bear in the guitar is a comforting idea until George discovers that someone has hidden stolen jewels in the stuffing of the beloved bear. Fi

A twelve-year-old boy, whose problems include having to take "Square" music lessons, an attachment to a childhood teddy bear, and a father who earns a living creating comic strips, gets involved with jewel thieves in an attempt to break the dull routine.

A twelve-year-old boy, whose problems include having to take "Square" music lessons, an attachment to a childhood teddy bear, and a father who earns a living creating comic strips, gets involved with jewel thieves in an attempt to break the dull routine.

Scenes especially selected for young thespians -- taken from such major plays as The Effect of Gamma Rays and Member of the Wedding -- are supplemented with acting tips, preparatory exercises, and directions.

The teddy bears' picnic gets a modern twist in this warm and fuzzy picture book about a young teddy bear who learns that small acts of kindness can make a big difference. Ollie is a regular bear with a regular job. He listens to his girl's stories about her days, he snuggles her to sleep and he is there waiting when she gets home from school. Just your typical teddy bear stuff. So when he is whisked away to the annual teddy bears' picnic, he feels insignificant compared to the other bears who do daring and daunting things: sleepovers, hospital stays--even a night in the lost and found! After small talk with a regional stuffing manager, a department of cuddling official and a stitchery inspector; a stop at the snack table; and even some team building activities, it's time for the teddy bear service awards . . . and Ollie feels even more small and unimportant. But he soon learns that it's not just the big things that matter, it's the little things too. While parents will love the tongue-in-cheek office-party details, kids and parents alike will fall in love with Ollie: a sweet bear who discovers that his love for his girl makes him very special indeed.

The teddy bears are back—this time to teach readers all about patterns. Similar to the first three books in the McGrath Math series of concept books, TEDDY BEAR PATTERNS uses rhyming verse to explain the concepts illustrated by the colorful teddies. This simple text helps children to follow along as the teddy bears sort by color, and arrange into patterns of two colors, three colors, and so on. Readers will also discover how they can use patterns to skip count, add, and even multiply, before trying their hand at creating a pattern of their own. TEDDY BEAR PATTERNS is a worthwhile addition to the classroom, especially those that already use bear counters or other manipulatives as learning tools. Back matter provides a summary of the concepts introduced in the book.

Gene Richards is haunted by a voice, and he doesn't like what it's saying. He's trying to ignore it—pretend it's not real—but the voice has plans for Gene. A long time ago, something bad happened in the town of Magnolia—something that Gene's grandfather and his friends want to keep quiet. The voice has started hurting those who were responsible, and it won't give up until Gene uncovers the town's eerie past. Determined to clear his grandfather's name, Gene and his friends start reading old newspapers and digging for the truth. But the voice is running out of patience, and Gene must do something before his grandfather becomes the next victim. James Lincoln Collier has captured the fear and curiosity that come when the past is called into question. The suspense lasts to the final minutes in this ghost story turned mystery.