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Frank and Carl have plenty of hats to sell, and their booth is open for business . . . but no one is buying! Everyone is crazy about Blue Monkey's skateboards, Mister Pig's Cup O' Mud and Big Ox's remote-control robot cell phones. So what's their secret? Dave Horowitz's cast of crazy characters is sure to delight young readers. The world of retail has never been more entertaining than in the story of these two friends determined to understand what on earth their customers really need.

After the death of their beloved mentor, Bear, Crispin and Troth are more desperate than ever, wandering the desolate French countryside, where they don't speak the language and know no one. The only hope they cling to is that somehow they can reach Iceland, where Bear had said there were no kings or lords, and where they can live in freedom. Crispin is determined to fulfill this dream, both for himself and to honor Bear's memory. But the road to liberty is filled with danger, betrayal, and loss.

Tía Isa wants a car. A shiny green car the same color as the ocean, with wings like a swooping bird. A car to take the whole family to the beach. But saving is hard when everything goes into two piles, one for here and one for Helping Money, so that family members who live far away might join them someday. While Tía Isa saves, her niece does odd jobs for neighbors so she can add her earnings to the stack. But even with her help, will they ever have enough?

Emma loves her human, George, but he can be so difficult! This time he has a visitor, who won't let go of his hand. Worse, she's brought along her dog, Hankie, and they've taken over Emma's spot next to George on the couch. What's a desperate dog to do? Emma hurries off to the library to write to her favorite canine columnist for advice. But this may be one problem that even Dear Queenie can't solve. Will Emma's happy home ever be the same again?