James Burks

"Bird hasn't spoken to his father in years because of a disagreement. So when he reluctantly agrees to fill in for his injured dad to compete in an annual race across dangerous terrain, Bird hopes to mend fences. Soon, tensions and hilarity run high as rivalries heat up, obstacles are overcome, and the finish line is just over the horizon. But with the help of Squirrel -- and his own conscience -- Bird learns that friends and family are the way to...

Crossing the Great Mountains to return home, Bird and Squirrel rescue a baby bear from wolves before Bird suffers a bonk on the head that gives him amnesia, a situation that tests Squirrel's ability to protect his friends.

When best friends Bird and Squirrel find a treasure map, adventure calls once again. Squirrel is worried about the dangers ahead, but this time, Red and Birdie aren't going to miss out on the fun.

Agent 9 is forced to team up with a new partner to take on a seemingly unstoppable new foe: a rogue agent who knows every trick in the S4 book.

"It's been a long, crazy trip around the world. Now the duo is back in their beloved forest, and Bird wants to throw a party! But Squirrel isn't in the mood to celebrate. His house needs a good cleaning, the river has been dammed up by a pesky beaver, and the forest animals are jittery about a growing menace. Will the dam dry out the forest? Will the mysterious new danger ruin the party? Will Bird finally convince Squirrel to let go and just have...

This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line called Branches, which is aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and stamina. Branches books help readers grow! Haggis and Tank's big imaginations take them on a search for real live dinosaurs! They build a nest for dino eggs and play baseball with a triceratops....

Tank is a clumsy, outgoing Great Dane, and Haggis is a bored, curmudgeonly Scottie--so one afternoon Tank suggests they turn the wagon in the backyard into a ship and play pirate.

"Gator has just never seemed to fit in with the other neighborhood pets--probably because he has a nasty hait of eating the other neighborhood pets. Flushed down the toilet as just a little snapper, Gator spends his days alone in the sewers. On the streets above, little Gabby has never seemed to fit in with the other kids in town. She'd rather collect bottles and practice her tuba than gossip with the girls down at the pool, but it does get lonely...

Ava and Itty Bitty Kitty take a trip to the firehouse, where Itty Bitty Kitty's penchant for trouble could make for an interesting visit.

Zack's plan to scare his pesky sister goes awry when he buys defective monsters from the Monstore.