Train noises without trains and mysterious explosions baffle the residents of South Wiggot as eleven-year-old Bryan and his friend Spot try to connect the strange happenings with the town's newest industry and its president, Mr. Keen.

Ho, ho, ho! I love Christmas in New Mouse City. But this year, there was just too much work to do at my newspaper, The Rodent's Gazette. I was so busy, I could hardly even squeak! And my friends and family were getting their tails in a twist because I didn't have time to celebrate. Cheese niblets! If only I had my own team of reindeer and could fly far, far away to Santa's Toy Factory . . .

Charlie Bucket's life is going to change forever, thanks to his miraculous mom. Willy Wonka, chocolate maker extraordinaire, has hidden five golden tickets in ordinary bars of chocolate, and the child who finds one will get the chance to visit his incredible factory. And Charlie has found one, but so have Augustus Gloop, a glutton for chocolate; Veruca Salt, a spoiled and selfish brat; Violet Beauregarde, a repulsive gum-chewer; and Mike Teavee, a...

Left-handers are creative. Left-handers are geniuses. Half of all cats are lefties! (Or so says Stink.) But Judy is a righty... and Judy is feeling left out. Tomorrow is Left Handers Day, and Stink and Dad, the southpaws in the Moody family, are celebrating at the pretzel factory. Judy is allowed to come along on one condition: she has to be left-handed the whole entire day. It's on!

After her father's death, Lu Si-Yan's uncle sells her to a rich family who expect her to work as their servant until she is old enough to marry their son, but when she runs away things only get worse.