Kate McMullan

He's dirty; he's huge; he eats disgusting garbage; and he's gleefully stinky. ('Who am I? The garbage truck, that's who.') What preschool-aged boy could resist the terrific title or the ten-wheeled force behind this anthropomorphized garbage truck narrator from the McMullans (Papa's Song, 2000, etc.), a husband- and-wife team who did their own garbage truck research with the New York City Department of Sanitation. The instantaneously appealing cover...

The story about Pandora opening a box and releasing terrible evils into the world? Totally made up! Pandora couldn't have cared less about what was in that box. The one who was really dying to know was Zeus. Zeus gave Pandora a box alright. A box full of really nasty items. But disease? Pain? Greed? No way. Hades, King of the Underworld, reveals the true story behind the Pandora myth.

You've heard of Hercules, right? Big, strong guy who did tons of amazing, heroic deeds? Well one part of that myth is correct. Hercules was big and strong. But he had an teeny-tiny brain. He couldn't have done any of those heroic deeds if it hadn't been for his friends telling him exactly what to do. Hades sets the record straight on the true story of Hercules.

Zeus's version of the Theseus myth is totally fabricated! Theseus went into the labyrinth all right, but the only thing he did in there was get lost. He never killed the Minotaur. Zeus made the whole thing up so everyone would think the Minotaur was gone for good. Hades, King of the Underworld, sets the record straight on the story of Theseus and the Minotaur.

Think you know the real story behind the Greek myths? Think again. Most people only know what Zeus wants them to. But the truth is, Zeus is a total myth-o-maniac. Hades, King of the Underworld, is here to set the record straight on how he ended up as Ruler of the Underworld and Zeus became King of the Gods.

Can a train pulling half a mile of heavy-duty freight cars make it to Chicago ahead of a speedy little race car? Through the desert . . . Through the mountains . . . Through a blizzard . . . Vvvrrrrrrrrrrrrrrum! Chooka chooka chooka chooka! The race is on!

"When the ice is full of cuts and ruts, only one machine has the GUTS to clean it up. But can this slow-movin' ice fixer smooth the grooves before the next period? Or will he lose his COOL? The timer's ticking! BUZZZZZZ!"--

When Paris and Helen decide to hit the road together, it means more trouble than they can imagine for both themselves and the people of Troy. But who says Helen is entirely at fault? Sure she had a face that launched a thousand ships but she also had a little interference from the meddling god of love and his mother, Aphrodite. Think you know the truth behind the Greek myths? Think again. Hades is here to set you straight once more on the true story...

When Ms. Day's class takes a field trip to an apple orchard, Fluffy the guinea pig goes along, but will he ever get to eat his apple?

Fluffy endures a bath and shampoo at school on Valentine's Day, but when another guinea pig named Kiss is placed in his play yard, his patience snaps.