Table of Contents
Introduction for Parents and Teachers xi
Introduction for Kids xiii
1 Trying Something New
1 Chair Challenges Gary Graham 1
2 What If Nobody Laughs? Tanya Janke 6
3 The Spelling Bee Mary Elizabeth Laufer 10
4 A New Country, A New Friend Diane Stark 13
5 It's Okay to Fall Pamela Millwood Pettyjohn 16
6 The Color of Success Emily Sheera Cutler 19
7 Sharks and Mermaids Jennifer Azantian 23
8 Running with Heart Stacey Ritz 27
9 How I Became a Musician L.A. Strucke 31
10 On Top of the World David Hull 34
11 The Art of Mistakes Maryanne Higley Hamilton 38
12 The New Kid Debbie Acklin 40
2 Doing the Right Thing
13 Fight for What's Right Marius Forté 47
14 Just Do It Wendy Hobday Haugh 50
15 It Just Takes One Shawnelle Eliasen 53
16 Richmond Girl Amanda Yardley Luzzader 57
17 Help by the Bagful Sioux Roslawski 59
18 Tennis Anyone? Shirley M. Oakes 62
19 The Rescue Debbie Acklin 65
20 The Sweetest Thing Felice Keller Becker 69
21 My Bad Reputation D'ette Corona 73
22 A Puppy of Our Own John Bents 76
3 Accepting Differences
23 My Sister, My Hero Jill Burns 83
24 Lessons from a Nursing Home Caitlin Brown 86
25 Jonny and Me Maddy Curtis 89
26 Alone Carol Elaine Harrison 91
27 A Sweet Lesson Zehra Hussain 95
28 Father's Day Denist Reich 98
29 A Different Sister Richard Brookton 101
30 When Staring Hurts Rosalie Ferrer Kramer 105
31 The Hand of Friendship Dawn Malone 107
4 Developing Self-Esteem
32 Embracing My Uniqueness Jody Fuller 113
33 Learning to Love My Nose Dallas Nicole Woodburn 117
34 Modeling Reflection Michaela Brawn 121
35 Learning How to Kick Amy Newmark 123
36 The Middle Rock Deborah Roberts 125
37 Be Proud, Be Strong, Be You Ruth Anna Mavashev 127
38 You Do It Your Way and I'll Do It Mine Jenny Mason 130
39 My Abilities Ben Jaeger 134
40 By the Seat of My Pants R.K. Krochmal 136
41 Telling My Story Emily Madill 139
42 The Last One Picked for Basketball Neal Levin 141
5 Handling Bullies
43 Don't Pass It On Dani Johnson 145
44 Bullied to a Better Life Mason Carter Harvey 148
45 True to Myself Kristen N. Velasquez 150
46 The Kindness Cure Monica A. Andermann 153
47 The Best Way to Get Even Carina Lamendola 158
48 Bullies on the Bus Valerie D. Benko 160
49 The Rumor Court Christy Box 163
50 Don't Fight It, Just Write It Neesha Hosein 166
51 Monkey Arms Marya Morin 169
6 Appreciating Family
52 Already Mom Jeanne Blandford 177
53 Learning from Mother Nature Emma Blandford 180
54 History in the Making Tucker Blandford 183
55 Easter in Ruins Scott Neumyer 186
56 Three's a Crowd Madelint Clapps 191
57 Me and My Hairy Legs Amanda Romanitllo 194
58 Bare Feet in the Waves Lava Mueller 197
59 Proud to Be Your Sister Kathryn Malnight 200
60 Sharing My Friend Kathryn Lay 203
61 Life After Camp Amy January 205
62 Taking Care of Family Drienie Hattingh 208
7 Making Real Friends
63 True Friendship Cathi LaMarche 215
64 The Pops Jess Forte 218
65 Playing Chicken Trade Skarbo 220
66 The Case of the Vanishing Sunglasses Courtney Conover 223
67 My Annoying Best Friend Susan Sundwall 226
68 A Great School Year Crescent LoMonaco 229
69 Chosen Last Arlene Ledbetter 232
70 The Nice Popular Girl Amy Newmark 236
71 Those Who Mind Don't Matter Gloria Yaxiri Plancarte 238
72 The Real Popular Table Victoria Fedden 240
8 Making Good Choices
73 Badge of Courage Sam Sorbo 247
74 Guilty Nightmares Renee Beauregard Lute 251
75 The Coolest Friend Ever Timothy Martin 253
76 I Pledge Allegiance Beth Cato 256
77 Party Invitation Barbara LoMonaco 260
78 Truth or Dare Madeline Clapps 262
79 The Shirt Off My Back Andrea Candle 265
80 Alice and Snowball B.J. Lee 268
81 Not Such a Good Idea Conny Manero 270
9 Being Responsible
82 A Little Effort Goes a Long Way Bruce Campbell 277
83 I Can't Believe I Did That Pam Depoyan 281
84 Take the Bull by the Horns Michael Damiano 285
85 The Case of the Busted Lunchbox Joe Sottile 288
86 Love, Loss, and a Goldfish L. A. E. Howard 290
87 Cell Phone Madness Zulema Anahy Carlos 296
88 The Visitor's Secret Teresa Bruce 299
89 What I Learned in Gym Class Janeen Lewis 303
90 Better Safe than Sorry Cathy C. Hall 306
10 Being Grateful
91 Reach Out for Perspective Kevin Sorbo 313
92 The Gift Stan Holden 318
93 A Piece of the Puzzle Harriet Cooper 320
94 Is That All? Bill Rouhana 323
95 The Boy Who Had Everything Jackson Jarvis 325
96 Learning to Love My Messy Life Suzanne De Vita 328
97 Make Your Heart Smile Amanda Dodson 331
98 Like a Pendulum Mikaela Rose 334
99 The Color of Gratitude Bailey Corona 336
100 The Kind Police Officer Heather Davis 338
101 My Final Foster Home Amanda Plaxico 341
Meet Our Contributors 344
Meet Our Authors 360
Thank You 362
About A World Fit for Kids! 363
About Chicken Soup for the Soul 365
