Patricia MacLachlan

Barkus is a large and very smart dog who comes to live with seven-year-old Nicky when Nicky's Uncle Everton goes traveling--and soon he is a family and school favorite.

When Little Robot finds a creative solution to his lonliness he gets straight to work on shaping the perfect companion out of metal, and affectionately names him Little Dog.

Patricia MacLachlan has written a lyrical ode to writing, to poetry, and to the celebrated American poet, Mary Oliver. In this mesmerizing picture book, a little girl wants to write, and one summer day she joins the poet who lives nearby to explore a town on Cape Cod. Together, they look. Together, they touch. Together, they find words. All things in the natural world, the girl discovers, bring words to the poet. Can the girl find the words to write...

The stranger lurking on the Witting family's prairie farm turns out to be their long-lost grandfather, whose presence plus prodding from Caleb forces Jacob to deal with his past.

Dedclan O'Brien always had a gentle word to share, odd phrases he liked to repeat, and songs to sing while he played basketball. His favorite song was Dona Nobis Pacem, "Grant Us Peace." His family loved him deeply and always knew they were loved in return. but a terrible accident one day changes their lives forever, and Fiona dn Finn O'Brien are left without a father. Their mother is at a loss. What words are there to guide them through such overwhelming...

Thirteen dogs tell their stories in simple poems.

Nigel the cat and Julia the dog think they will have no use for the new baby in their house, but after awhile they realize that they have come to love her.

When their father invites a mail-order bride to come live with them, Caleb and Anna are captivated by their new mother.

An eleven-year-old cellist learns about life from her eccentric family, her first boyfriend, and Mozart.

Taking care of a baby left with them at the end of the tourist season helps a family come to terms with the death of their own infant son.