Carol Brendler: 4 books

Community cooperation turns a traffic jam into an opportunity for fun in this inventive counting book starring a pair of clever canine siblings. In this highly original counting tale, the Pickwicks—Pip and Peach, Mom and Daddy—leave the hot hazy city for a picnic by the shore. Along the...

A playful look at sisterhood and honoring differences when having some things in common doesn’t mean having everything in common. The two Mutch sisters have two of everything, and Violet believes they are as perfectly matched as the objects in their collections. Ruby, however, has...

Melly is a brave little monster who is not afraid of anything. She loves surprises, and when her fun-loving cousin invites her over for a big surprise, Melly excitedly sets out for a visit. On her way, she notices skittish skeletons, a coal-black cat, and even ghoulish goblins following her. But Melly is not scared, no she's not! Well, maybe just a teensy bit . . .

Can a girl from a middle-class Irish Catholic family living in Newark, New Jersey, in 1938 find fame and fortune (or even a job) as a radio star? Tune in to this unforgettable historical novel to find out. Poignant, often hilarious, it's the story of a family in crisis. Just as artful deception, smoke...