Books in Progress
 

Goddess Girls #3: Aphrodite the Beauty, Aladdin
ISBN: 978-1416982739, Coming out August 3, 2010

Aphrodite delights in helping mortals in love, but she's pretty annoyed at the constant attention she gets from the godboys at Mount Olympus Academy. When she decides to give Athena a makeover, she's a bit unprepared for the result. She didn't count on all the interest Athena's new look would get. And she certainly never thought she'd find herself jealous of one of her best friends! But when the hottest godboys at school start ignoring Aphrodite, she learns that some boys are nicer and more sensitive than others--including a mortal youth who has requested her help in winning the heart of a young maiden. Can she put her jealousy behind her and help him find true love?

Goddess Girls #4: Artemis the Brave, Aladdin
ISBN: 978-1416982746, Coming out December 7, 2010

All of Artemis's friends and classmates depend on her to be the most courageous goddessgirl in Mount Olympus Academy. Little do they know that despite her expert archery skills, the smelly geryons, ring-nosed Minotaurs, and stinging scorpions in Beast-ology class scare her as much as anyone else! But what's really bothering her now is that funny feeling she has whenever she looks at foreign exchange student Orion. She's never had a crush before--could this be what all the fuss is about? And will she find the courage to talk to her crush, make him see her as more than a pal, and to ace Beast-ology class?

Goddess Girls #2: Persephone the Phony, Aladdin
ISBN: 978-1416982722

Persephone's tired of trying to please everyone but herself...
Persephone has always thought her friends might not like her if they knew the real her. As her mother Demeter encourages her, she often “goes along to get along” instead of doing what she really wants. But when she meets Mount Olympus Academy bad-boy Hades, she finally feels she has found someone with whom she can be herself. He's the first person who actually listens to her, and she finds herself liking him, despite the fact that the other Goddess Girls think he's bad news. But if he makes her feel so special – and so comfortable – can he really be all that bad?

Fairy Blossoms #2: Poppy and the Vanishing Fairy, Harper Collins
ISBN: 978-0061139406

Mistress Lily is gone for the day, and Poppy hopes she'll hurry home. Then Mistress Lily doesn't come back on time—something must be wrong! With the help of their flying ponies, Poppy and her friends set off to find out what's happened to their teacher. They discover a magical creature and a mysterious enchantment!

Fairy Blossoms #3: Rose and the Delicious Secret, Harper Collins
ISBN: 978-0061139390

Everyone is delighted when delicious treats start appearing overnight at Mistress Lily's Fairy School! Everyone except the Cook, that is—he doesn't want someone else to do his job. Can Rose find out what's going on and restore harmony to the Cloverleaf Cottage kitchen?

Fairy Blossoms #4: Marigold and the Missing Firefly, Harper Collins
ISBN:978-0061139413

Marigold's new pet firefly, Flash if the perfect companion. He's sweet and affectionate and just the right size to cuddle with. All the students at Mistress Lily's Fairy School soon grow to love him. But when Flash goes missing, Marigold is heartbroken! Will she ever find him?

Fairy Blossoms #5: Daisy and the First Wish, Harper Collins
ISBN:978-0-06-113942-0

Daisy loves helping humans--it's what she's always wanted to do. Then she
meets a little girl named Nina who makes an impossible wish. Daisy's magic
want can't give Nina what she wants--but maybe Daisy can find another way!

PRINCESS POWER (ages 8 - 12)

"Williams packages some of the favorite conventions of standard fairy tales with spunky heroines and encouraging messages about values."
- Barbara Lloyd McMichael (The Bookmonger, The Olympian Newspaper, Feb. 18, 2007)

Princess Power #3: The Awfully Angry Ogre, Harper Collins
ISBN: 978-0-06-078302-0 pbk

Princess Tansy knows that whenever something terrible occurs in her kingdom, the ogre gets the blame. Yet anyone who challenges him is turned to stone! Tansy's two oldest brothers have been forbidden to fight the ogre, but they're determined to try. Can Tansy and her friends save the boys from a horrible fate?

Princess Power #4: The Mysterious Mournful Maiden, Harper Collins
ISBN: 978-0-06-078304-4 pbk

Princess Elena is delighted to find a treasure on the beach: a beautiful comb that makes her frizzy hair feel soft. However, she soon starts dreaming of a green-haired maiden, who cries that she can't live without her comb. The princesses all want to help. But will they be able to find the maiden before it's too late?

Princess Power#5: The Stubbornly Secretive Servant, Harper Collins
ISBN: 978-0-060-078306-8

The princesses are having a ball visiting Lysandra's sister, Gabriella, and brother-in-law, Jerome. And they can't wait for Jerome's handsome brother, Prince Jonathon, to join them. But when he never arrives, everyone panics. They must find the missing prince—without the help of his stubborn servant, Thomas, who's not saying a word!

Ten Naughty Little Monkeys, illustrated by Suzanne Watts, Harper Collins
Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-059904-1;
PLB $17.89. ISBN 978-0-06-059905-8.

"This version of the classic fingerplay could easily become the new standard."
- Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NY, School Library Journal, March 2007.

"This winning combination of rhythmic text and child-friendly illustrations is rollicking fun. Preschoolers are sure to join in on this refreshing variation on an old favorite." - Kirkus Reviews March 15, 2007.

Library Lil, illustrated by Steven Kellogg, Dial
ISBN: 0-8037-1698-2 trd;
ISBN: 0-14-056837-9 pbk

An original tall tale about a gutsy librarian who turns a town of TV watchers and a motorcycle gang into readers.

"The silliness of both story and pictures are perfectly matched...A winner for storytimes anywhere."
- starred review, School Library Journal

Winner of the 2000 New Mexico Land of Enchantment Book Award (Children's Division), and nominated for children's choice awards in several other states. An ALA Notable Book.

Mommy Doesn't Know My Name, illustrated by Andrew Shachat, Houghton Mifflin
ISBN: 978-0-395-77979-8, pbk

Mommy calls Hannah all sorts of names except her own, leaving Hannah to wonder if Mommy really does know who she is.

"Text and illustrations resonate with the strength of preschoolers' needs to understand and assert their own identities...It's a fun, crazy book that works extremely well."--
- SLJ

Earlier Titles
 

The Witch Casts a Spell, illustrated by Barbara Olsen, Ages 3 - 8, Dial
All the ghoulish folks in town, and one curious little girl, head for the Halloween party at Mummy's house. Text is set to the tune of "Farmer in the Dell."

"...this Halloween story is a winner for sharing with one child or a group...children will easily join in after hearing the first few words of each stanza and the repeated refrain. An enjoyable holiday story that encourages participation." - SLJ

My Dog Never Says Please, illustrated by Tedd Arnold

Tired of having to mind her manners, clean her room, and wear shoes, Ginny Mae wishes she could trade places with the family dog.

"Williams aptly expresses Ginny Mae's frustrations and longings...Arnold's exuberant drawings triumph on every page."
- Publisher's Weekly

An IRA-CBC Children's Choice for 1998
Parent's Choice Awards recommended title for 2000

Secret Pal Surprises, illustrated by Jackie Snider, Ages 7 - 10, A Hyperion Chapters book
When Mrs. Hall's third grade class picks secret pals for Valentine's Day, Tommy ends up with Jake, the new kid. Jake's big, so big he looks like he could be in fifth grade. If Tommy doesn't get Jake something he likes, there's no telling what he might do...

Edwin and Emily, illustrated By Abby Carter, Ages 6 - 8, A Hyperion Chapters Book
Emily loves to play--whether outdoors in the snow, or indoors with her big brother, Edwin. Edwin knows lots of new, exciting games, and is happy to teach them--as long as Emily plays fair. So how does Emily get hold of Edwin's clothes, his toy car, and half of his candy bar? This sibling duo's funny adventures are a delight to read in any season.

Emily At School, illustrated by Abby Carter, Ages 6 - 8, A Hyperion Chapters Book
"Can't you read?" said a boy in a striped T-shirt. He pointed to a name tag on the desk. "Alex," he said. "that's me. I'm new, and you are sitting in my chair." Emily frowned. "I know how to read," she said. "I just didn't look at the name tag." Emily found her desk. It was right in front of Alex's desk and next to Jenny's desk. Last year she and Jenny had been in the same class. Emily smiled at Jenny. Then she looked back at Alex and stuck out her tongue.

THIRD GRADE FRIENDS (series title), illustrated by George Ulrich, Ages 7 - 10, Scholastic Little Apple

BOOK #1: Here's Hilary

Hilary is a total mess. She's the queen of clutter. And you can usually tell what she's eaten because she's wearing it on her shirt! But Hilary doesn't mind. That is, until her teacher gets upset that she's late to school--again.

But how will Hilary ever clean up her act when she can't even clean out her desk? That's where the secret plan comes in. It's the deal that Hilary makes with the class geek, Gordon, to try to get her life in order. It's a weird plan, but it's worth trying. After all, third grade cannot get any messier than it already is!

BOOK #2: Josh Taylor, Mr. Average

Hilary is the wall-ball champion. Gordon is the brainiac who aces every subject. And Josh...well, Josh isn't really the best at anything. In fact, he's pretty average all around. But that's about to change.

Josh is sure he can be great at something, too. And Hilary and Gordon want to help their friend find a special talent. But nothing is working! And with school elections coming up, Josh is really bummed. He wants to be Class Representative more than anything.

But who would ever vote for Mr. Average...?

BOOK #3: Hilary's Super Secret

Hilary Hopkins has a big secret. She found out something about her teacher, Ms. Foster. But she can't tell anyone. Well, except for Josh and Gordon, of course. Her two best friends have to know. They are the only ones who can help with her plan. And the plan must be kept secret, too.

That's a whole lot of secrets! Will Hilary, Josh, and Gordon be able to keep them safe?

The plan depends on it....

BOOK #4: Gordon and the New Girl

There's a new girl visiting class. María is from Mexico, and she is very smart. Maybe even as smart as Gordon! Gordon thinks they could be good friends. Except that strange things happen to him whenever María is around. He falls out of his chair, he drops things--Gordon's become a total klutz!

Hilary and Josh think they know what's wrong--Gordon's got a crush on the new girl. And Josh says that all girls (except for Hilary, of course!) are trouble.

Can Gordon break María's spell? Or will he stay clumsy forever?

THE MARVELOUS MIND OF MATTHEW MCGHEE, Age 8, (series title),
illustrated by Abby Carter, Ages 6 - 9, Aladdin/Simon & Schuster

BOOK #1: Master of Minds?

Meet Matthew. He's your typical third grader. He likes to play baseball, has a hard time remembering to do his homework, and wishes his parents would give him a bigger allowance.

Then one day something very unusual happens to Matthew: He discovers he can control people with his mind. Now it doesn't matter if he does his homework or not, he doesn't get in trouble, and suddenly his parents give him a raise--without him even asking for it!

This is the best superpower any kid could ever ask for--or so Matthew thinks, until his power starts to spin out of control!

BOOK #2: Human or Alien?

Weird things are happening to Matthew McGhee. First, a purple blob follows him home. Then he hears his mom making plans to send him away to a faraway place. When Matthew finds an egg-shaped bruise on his arm, he knows for sure something very strange is going on.

Matthew's always thought he was different from other kids, but he never thought he was from a different planet! Do these weird occurrences mean that aliens are coming to bring him home?

When the phone rings one night, it's for Matthew. It's the call he's been waiting for....

BOOK #3: The Lucky Penny?

On the way home from school one day Matthew finds a penny. Remembering the rhyme his grandfather taught him -- "Find a penny, pick it up, and all day long you'll have good luck"--Matthew slips the penny into his pocket and takes it home.

Suddenly Matthew becomes a very lucky boy. First his parents take him to the pound to pick out a puppy. Then at school he makes an amazing catch during the softball game. Could it be that this penny really is a lucky penny?