That fool of a fairy Lucinda did not intend to lay a curse on me. She meant to bestow a gift. When I cried inconsolably through my first hour of life, my tears were her inspiration. Shaking her head sympathetically at Mother, the fairy touched my nose. 'My gift is obedience. Ella will always be obedient. Now stop crying, child.' I stopped. So begins this richly entertaining story of Ella of Frell, who wants nothing more than to be free of Lucinda's...

Ella lives in a fanciful and magical world where all children are given a "gift" from their fairy Godmother at birth. Ella's gift - and curse - was that of obedience. As a result, Ella cannot refuse any command, and as a result she is often taken advantage of. In a bid to regain control of her life, Ella goes on a quest to free herself from this mysterious "gift". Ella must outwit a kingdom filled with ogres, giants, wicked stepsisters, talking books...

When a new neighbor moves in next door, Ernest's mother, who always insists that he obey all the rules, encourages them to play together every day.

When Aggie the dog does not mind, Ben takes her to obedience school which ends in disaster, but while practicing at home one day Ben realizes what really motivates Aggie to mind.

"Seven-year-old Isabel is an adopted, only child, who lives with her single mom and her nanny, Rosa. Isabel's best friend is Zoë. Zoë adores the shenanigans they get up to together, EXCEPT when it gets them into trouble, which does happen now and then! Getting into trouble is Zoë's idea of CATASTROPHE. Each time it happens, it means the friendship is on the rocks -- freeze-out time. Whenever this happens, it's really tough on Isabel, who desperately...

When his best friend drowns while they are both swimming in a treacherous river that they had promised never to go near, Joel is devastated and terrified at having to tell both sets of parents the terrible consequences of their disobedience.

In the historic town of Norvelt, Pennsylvania, twelve-year-old Jack Gantos spends the summer of 1962 grounded for various offenses until he is assigned to help an elderly neighbor with a most unusual chore involving the newly dead, molten wax, twisted promises, Girl Scout cookies, underage driving, lessons from history, typewriting, and countless bloody noses.

"Cheeky Chick can't help being cheeky--he just wants to explore. But there's a crafty fox about...Can Cheeky Chick make it back to the henhouse safely? A funny, characterful picture book by an award-winning author that children will want to read again and again."--Back cover. 'Five little chicks hear Mother Hen say, "Play near the henhouse. Don't go away." Four little chicks say, "Yes, okay!" But one little chick says, "Phooey!" Cheeky Chick is curious...