Patricia MacLachlan

This beloved Newbery Medal–winning book is the first of five books in Patricia MacLachlan's chapter book series about the Witting family.

Set in the late nineteenth century and told from young Anna's point of view, Sarah, Plain and Tall tells the story of how Sarah Elisabeth Wheaton comes from Maine to the prairie to answer Papa's advertisement for a wife and mother. Before Sarah arrives, Anna and her younger brother

...

Before they were the Boxcar Children, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny Alden lived with their parents on Fair Meadow Farm

Although times are hard, the Aldens are happy—"the best family of all," Mama likes to say. One day, a blizzard hits the countryside, and a traveling family needs shelter. The Aldens take them in, and the strangers soon become friends. But things never stay the same at the farm, and the spring and summer bring events

...

The stranger lurking on the Witting family's prairie farm turns out to be their long-lost grandfather, whose presence plus prodding from Caleb forces Jacob to deal with his past.

Thirteen dogs tell their stories in simple poems.

While spending Christmas at their grandparents' farm, Lily becomes convinced that her younger brother Liam is right about White Cow being lonely and helps him seek a companion for her, leaving little time for Christmas preparations or reading.

Taking care of a baby left with them at the end of the tourist season helps a family come to terms with the death of their own infant son.

The hundred-year barn was built one summer in our meadow with a small stream running through. It was built by townspeople: fathers and daughters, mothers and sons, grandmothers and grandfathers, and friends. I was only five years old, and I held my mother's hand and watched. In this joyful celebration of a hundred-year barn, Newbery Medal-winning Patricia MacLachlan and award-winning artist Kenard Pak spin a tender and timeless story about the...

Newbery Medal-winning author Patricia MacLachlan has written a magical and funny tale about the joy found in using words, sharing stories, and loving a wondrous dog: Rex.

Grace's aunt is a writer. She works with words every day and teaches Grace interesting words like "melancholy" and "delirious."

But Lily is often "flummoxed" by her writing. Her stories don't go anywhere, her desk is a mess, and her writer's group

...

Describes summer days growing up on the prairie.

A visiting author teaches five friends about the power of words and writing.