These exciting true stories will inspire teens to believe in themselves and the ability of determined young people to make a difference in the world. As fun to read as fiction, the stories are engaging and accessible—a great way to encourage reluctant readers. In Kids with Courage, readers meet 18 remarkable kids with the courage to speak out, fight back, come to the rescue, and stand up for their beliefs. • The student had a loaded gun and a room full of hostages. Police surrounded the school. Then Ruben Ortega got mad... • Norvell Smith knew there would be gang members in the audience. But she looked right at them and gave them a piece of her mind... • It was the middle of winter, and the woman had no shoes. Frank Daily looked down at his Nikes and made a decision... • The house was filled with smoke and flames. And Melinda Clark couldn’t find her little brother... • Mr. Smith threatened to kill her mother and brother. But Mercedes Jones spoke out anyway—and a sexual abuser went to jail... • Andrew Holleman had practically grown up on the wetlands. He loved its plants, creatures, and gooey mud. Then he heard about the developer’s plan... National award-winning author Barbara A. Lewis provides the inspiration to empower young people to make a difference in their communities and in the world.

Encourage kids to find their inner strength with this companion to the New York Times bestsellers I Am Human and I Am Love! I move ahead one breath at a time. I act with bravery. I am courage. When we picture someone brave, we might think they’re fearless; but real courage comes from feeling scared and facing what challenges us anyway. When our minds tell us “I can’t,” we can look inside ourselves and find the strength to say, “Yes, I CAN!” From the New York Times bestselling team behind the I Am series comes a triumphant celebration of everyday courage: believing in ourselves, speaking out, trying new things, asking for help, and getting back up no matter how many times we may fall. Grounded in mindfulness and awareness, I Am Courage is an empowering reminder that we can conquer anything. Inside, you'll also find exercises to inspire confidence.

Inspire to Create a Better You! Series.

What is courage? Certainly it takes courage for a firefighter to rescue someone trapped in a burning building, but there are many other kinds of courage too. Everyday kinds that normal, ordinary people exhibit all the time, like “being the first to make up after an argument,” or “going to bed without a nightlight.” Bernard Waber explores the many varied kinds of courage and celebrates the moments, big and small, that bring out the hero in each of us.

Get the courage to stand up for what you believe in! Stand Up for Yourself: the Kids' Book of Courage will teach kids to try something new, ask for help, show their talents, share their feelings and tell the truth. This book will show kids how to use compassion, respect, responsibility, and honesty with those around them. Simple text and charming pictures will keep kids interested while they learn. It's never too early to help kids stand up for what is right. Aligned to Common Core standards and correlated to state standards. Super Sandcastle is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

Eight-year-old ultra-fabulous Ruby Marigold Booker returns in this reissue of the Ruby and the Booker Boys series by Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott King Honor author Derrick Barnes! Brought to you by Newbery Honor author Derrick Barnes, eight-year-old Ruby Booker is the baby sis of Marcellus (11), Roosevelt (10), and Tyner (9), the most popular boys on Chill Brook Ave. When Ruby isn't hanging with her friend, Theresa Petticoat, she's finding out what kind of mischief her brothers are getting into. She's sweet and sassy and every bit as tough as her older siblings. She sings like nobody's business; she has a pet iguana named Lady Love; her favorite color is grape-jelly purple; and when she grows up, she's going to be the most famous woman animal doctor on the planet. She's the fabulous, oh-so-spectacular Ruby Marigold Booker!

From the author and illustrator of the bestselling In My Heart The life of a toddler can be full of frightening things: the dark, the neighbor's dog, and thunderstorms, just to name a few. As children get older, they begin to feel braver around these everyday events, but how do they build this newfound confidence? In this lyrical, insightful picture book, an older sister explains to her younger sister all the things she used to be afraid of, along with some tricks to help, whether it's a special blanket for bedtime or singing during a storm. Now, big sister assures little sister, the fears that once felt as big as a mountain feel as minuscule as a speck of dust. This playful portrait of fear and bravery empowers young readers to confront once-scary situations and, with charming illustrations and die-cuts throughout, is also beautifully packaged. The Growing Hearts series celebrates the milestones of a toddler's emotional development, from conquering fears and expressing feelings to welcoming a new sibling.