There’s something appealing about monsters.  I’ve always had an opposite streak. If other children were scared, I was determined to investigate. The only scary thing about Nessie seemed to be her size. She can’t help being big, any more than child… Read full post »

“That rat has no right to laugh at me!” shouted Axel angrily.

Timmy, trapped in the Communicator, found the humor of the situation made him forget his pain. He explained. “She thinks you’re doing a cartwheel. She laughs at me when I do cartwheels.”

Ms. Weber took the c… Read full post »

Timmy looked imploringly at Hildegarde. Her head tilted toward his leg. She was filming his foot. If Grandma was watching her monitor, there was still a chance. Looking at the spreading circle of blood on his pant leg gave him an idea. The spot of blood looked like a chocolate button.… Read full post »

Axel came out from the back room. “Timmy, don’t be rude!”

“He is not being rrrude,” said Mr. Richter. “He is rrrecognizing my abilities.”

“But you didn’t!” said Axel. “You said they were rubes. You said you wanted to shake them up. Bu… Read full post »

At the bus station, the coach herded all the students out through the electric eye door to the curb where several small vans awaited them. Each had a sign on the side that read Upper Dauphin Elementary.

Timmy and Beatrice allowed themselves to be counted. Then they moved to the… Read full post »

The track team bus left promptly at 1 p.m.. Beatrice sat next to Timmy. Timmy felt his shoulder muscles tense, dreading the sound of her giggling. He stood up to move to another bench when Coach Sweet said, “Be seated.”

Timmy sat down.

“We have just enough… Read full post »

When Timmy arrived at school, Coach Sweet greeted him. “Did you sleep well?” Coach Sweet’s muscles bulged from his t-shirt.

Timmy shook his head. Why would Coach Sweet meet him at the bus to ask him that? Was Coach Sweet involved in the bridge collapse? Or the earthquake?… Read full post »

No sooner had Timmy turned the key in the front door lock than the phone

rang. “Is somebody watching us?” asked Timmy. “Just get the phone,” said Grandma.

“You have reached...” said Timmy, as Grandma had taught him.

“I know what number I dialed,”… Read full post »

Beatrice was waiting beside Grandma’s car. “I knew it,” she whispered. “I knew you were up to something. You have to take me with.”

Before Timmy could protest, Grandma said, “Hop in. Both of you. Into the back seat!” Grandma held the door open.

“I w… Read full post »

When Timmy rounded the corner, he smelled ambergris. Ms. Weber stepped out from behind a tree, her red fingernails sparkling under the street lamp. Even though the evening was warm, she wore a brown fur stole. “I did not show you how to talk to Hildegarde so you could send her… Read full post »

After dinner, Hildegarde awoke, and demanded treats. “Later, girl,” said Grandma. “Later, you’ll have a feast.”

Grandma inserted Hildegarde’s speaker into her ear. Then she adorned Hildegarde’s brown hood with her fashionable spy bonnet, complete with

… Read full post »

When Timmy arrived home from school, he called “komm hierher.” There was no response.

Had someone kidnapped Hildegarde again? He followed the wall. Hildy wasn’t under the livingroom cabinet. She wasn’t under his bed.

The kitchen door hole was still covered wit… Read full post »

The next morning, Axel sat down beside Timmy on the bus and yanked Timmy’s shirt out of his waistband.

“Careful,” said Timmy. “You almost dumped my pockets.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small envelope with the FBI man’s radio speaker. “I thi… Read full post »

When the FBI man had gone, Timmy took a piece of paper from the pad by the phone and wrote: There’s another radio speaker wedged in the ladder.

Grandma said, “Great. You can give it to Axel tomorrow.”

Timmy laughed. Of course. Axel would take the speaker to Mr.… Read full post »

The man leaned back in his chair as if getting ready to tell a long story.

“Somebody kidnapped Hildegarde. If that happens again, don’t you want to know who is taking her?”

“Hildy was taken at night,” said Timmy. Again he found himself wondering if everybody in the… Read full post »

The FBI man said something in a low voice.

“Could you speak up, sonny?” said Grandma in her imitation feeble-old-lady voice. Timmy knew Grandma could hear just fine, and she was doing this so he’d be able to hear everything while he was in the garage.

The… Read full post »

My husband’s ears glow

Damp brown tufts glisten above

Lips pursed in delight
Read full post »

As soon as Timmy opened the garage door to park his bicycle, he called, “Komm hierher!”

Hildegarde skittered up to him, twitching her whiskers. “Oh, Hildy! I’m so glad you’re safe.” He picked her up and cuddled her while he walked into the kitchen. Grandma had ha… Read full post »

Ben came in late and passed Timmy a note he’d made with their rat mask. The whole note said :

When Timmy put the rat mask over the message, it read, “I hear your rat had an adventure last night. Is she alright?”

How could Ben know… Read full post »

Timmy caught the bus at his regular stop. There was an empty seat next to Beatrice. Maybe if he pretended to be interested in her, Axel would leave him alone.

“May I sit next to the window?” he asked her.

“No, Cutie. I don’t want you

… Read full post »

Timmy couldn’t pay attention to the movie. He kept thinking about Hildy.

The main character on the movie screen was running somewhere.

Timmy imagined he was racing madly to find Hildy. Did Elizabeth Weber have her? But Ms. Weber had just paid a visit to their home. She… Read full post »

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and vote for it. I've entered it in a contest where the 1st prize is $100 and a year's subscription to Children's Book Insider. Thanks, Lois

 Halloween Spider

by Lois Wickstrom 
(Philadelphia P… Read full post »

Science is a process of experiments and testing.  The best learning happens when students encounter the unexpected.  I like to set up activities in which unexpected events are likely. Rocks change color, objects float, a cut object does not become two pieces, but rather becomes a bigger one… Read full post »

When Timmy arrived home, he opened the door and called, “Komm hierher.”

He listened for the sound of Hildegarde’s little feet. Silence. Had Grandma
clipped her toenails already? He called again, “Komm hierher.” Still, no Hildegarde.

He went to the bathroom. She wasn&rs… Read full post »

Ms. Mulisch stood at the front of the classroom and held up a newspaper clipping with a photo of the crane holding the melted piece of bridge. The headline read: Police Chief Suspects Possible Alien Attack.

“What do you young men and young women think of this?” asked Ms. Mulisch.… Read full post »