An owl, puppy, bear, bunny, and pig wait for marvelous things to happen.

On a summer visit to her grandmother's cottage by the ocean, twelve-year-old Martha gains perspective on the death of a classmate, on her relationship with her grandmother, on her feelings for an older boy, and on her plans to be a writer.

Chrysanthemum loves her name, until she starts going to school and the other children make fun of it.

Penny comes home from school eager to share her very own song, but must wait until the time is right to teach it to her parents and the babies.

"When her teacher announces that he is getting married, Lilly the mouse sets her heart on being the flower girl at his wedding"--Provided by publisher.

"Animals and children alike watch as the world transforms from the dark and dead of winter to a full and blooming spring"--

"Introduces concepts and vocabulary of fall--autumn colors, changes in plants and animals . . . and wind, which soon leads to the next season"--

After the death of his grandmother, ten-year old Spoon observes the changes in his grandfather and tries to find the perfect artifact to perserve his memories of her.

Twelve-year-old Mitch and his mother are spending the summer with his grandparents at Bird Lake after his parents separate, and ten-year-old Spencer and his family have returned to the lake where Spencer's little brother drowned long ago, and as the boys become friends and spend time together, each of them begins to heal.

Penny feels guilty after taking a beautiful blue marble that she sees in Mrs. Goodwin's grass, but gets a pleasant surprise when she goes to return it the next day.