While spending a bird-watching summer on Fire Island, the Pye family acquires a small black kitten that can use a typewriter.

Told in rhyming text, a young boy learns to swim in a pool with the example and encouragement of his family.

Even though his classmates from first grade on have considered him strange and a loser, Daniel Zinkoff's optimism and exuberance and the support of his loving family do not allow him to feel that way about himself.

A family gathers to celebrate Thanksgiving at Grandma's house.

Feeling neglected, Nora makes more and more noise to attract her parents' attention.

Every year, a boy and his family go camping at Mountain Pond. Usually, they see things like an eagle fishing for his dinner, a salamander with red spots on its back, and chipmunks that come to steal food while the family sits by the campfire. But this year is different. This year, the boy is going into first grade, and his mother is encouraging him to do things on his own, just like his older brother. And the most different thing of all... this year,...

Two sisters, Stella and Marigold, do all the regular things, like go to school, but they also share adventures (both real and imagined) and secret sister things.

Sam is able to help his sister Anastasia with the poem she is writing for their mother's birthday, but his own efforts to create a special perfume are disastrous.

After her mother's death, Julie goes to live with Aunt Cordelia, a spinster schoolteacher, where she experiences many emotions and changes as she grows from seven to eighteen.

When Jules comes to see her after his return from the war, Ella finds it difficult to have some time alone with him.