In a series of letters to her new dog, fourth-grader Annie Rossi relates her daily exploits and remembers her mother.

Baby Duck experiences the fear of the first day of school, but with a little help from Grampa, everything turns out okay in the end.

Although she loves her father, their home in New York City, and third-grade teacher Miss Meadows, Annie misses her mother who died recently. Eight-year-old Annie lives in a sunny apartment in Manhattan with her father, Professor Rossi. Life would be pretty good if only Annie didn't so achingly miss her mother. When Mrs. Rossi died suddenly, she left not only Annie but also a class full of students - who pour out their hearts in a scrapbook Annie will...

Despite her mother's reminder that "navy blue is what you always get," Gabby begs her tailor grandfather to make her a beautiful purple fall coat.

Baby Duck is unhappy about the new eyeglasses she has to wear, until Grampa helps her realize that they are not so bad after all.

Harry sits on the porch with Mr. George Baker, an African American ho is one hundred years old but can still dance and play the drums, waiting for the school bus that will take them both to the class where they are learning to read.

When Sam has a cough, Mrs. Bear tends to him all through the cold night.

It's a snowy day, and Grampa is coming by train for a visit. Henry can't wait for him to meet his new puppy, Charley.

The hard-working daughter of two bakers and a perfectly nice stray dog live lonely lives in the same town, until they meet one very stormy day.

"Billy and Rose are back--and prone to serious discussion--in four charming stories about the ups and downs of negotiating friendship. The diligent sheep and the mellow pig who debuted in Billy and Rose: Forever Friends are back--and they have strong opinions! Even best friends can disagree, whether the topic is books (tall blue books versus fat red ones), rain (will it or won't it?), the perils of a bad hair day (should Rose concur that Billy is...