This poetry collection reflects a range of human experience and diverse poetic responses to timeless subjects: love, death, grief, loss, aging, illness, suicide, divorce, family, racism, war and peace, nature, longing, joy, and just trying to make sense of the world. There are twenty-eight poets (the work of two of the poets is published posthumously-one haiku having been dictated on the evening of the poet's death at age 101). The twenty-six living poets range in age from six years old to ninety. Some are nationally recognized published poets and for others, the poems in this collection are their first efforts. The title, "The Weird World Rolls On" is taken from a line in a poem written in the late 1800's by Rose Hawthorne Lathrop, daughter of Nathaniel Hawthorne.

The mice are miffed... "All creatures are endangered Not just polar bears " Nellie, Henrietta, Irene, Louise, and Emily embark on a quest across Canada to let people know climate change affects everyone...even mice Rebuffed at Parliament, Nellie uses words of her famous namesake Nellie McClung to rally the mice. "We will pester them and pester them until they realize that we are creatures, too " But no one takes them seriously until Nellie leads the mice to Churchill, Manitoba where Winston, a famous polar bear, finds the five mice just can't be ignored.

The mice are miffed... "All creatures are endangered Not just polar bears " Nellie, Henrietta, Irene, Louise, and Emily embark on a quest across Canada to let people know climate change affects everyone...even mice Rebuffed at Parliament, Nellie uses words of her famous namesake Nellie McClung to rally the mice. "We will pester them and pester them until they realize that we are creatures, too " But no one takes them seriously until Nellie leads the mice to Churchill, Manitoba where Winston, a famous polar bear, finds the five mice just can't be ignored.

It's the first summer of her retirement and librarian Maggie Lewis is relishing the unfolding of sweet summer days on Vashon Island: walking on the beach, reading the classics, and kayaking. But in June when a sudden storm hits the island, Maggie's summer becomes about as peaceful as navigating white water. Not only does her wealthy sister arrive uninvited with a startling announcement; but Maggie finds herself entangled with her new Baker's Beach neighbor, Walter Hathaway. A famous children's author and recovering alcoholic, Walter has a history with Maggie they would each like to forget.

It's the first summer of her retirement and librarian Maggie Lewis is relishing the unfolding of sweet summer days on Vashon Island: walking on the beach, reading the classics, and kayaking. But in June when a sudden storm hits the island, Maggie's summer becomes about as peaceful as navigating whitewater. Not only does her wealthy sister arrive uninvited with a startling announcement, but Maggie finds herself entangled with her new Baker's Beach neighbor, Walter Hathaway. A famous children's author and recovering alcoholic, Walter has a history with Maggie they would each like to forget. Delightfully told with humor and insight, Walter's Muse is a page turner for romantics, writers, and the young at heart at any age.

Rodney Suyama has two impossible dreams... to be a rap star and to go out with gorgeous Ivy Ramos. Set in the nineties at the dawn of rap, a witty and determined young man gets in touch with his past while taking control of his future in this romantic, poignant and hilarious novel by Jean Davies Okimoto. "A celebration of diversity."-Signal "A story of ethnic pride, first love and determination to overcome stereotypes. Okimoto's talents give this book the same wide appeal as her earlier titles Jason's Women and Molly By Any Other Name."-School Library Journal ." . . humor and empathy that will engage the reader."-The ALAN Review

Where did she come from? Molly Jane Fletcher was adopted. She's known it for as long as she can remember. It's not something that usually bothers her, but lately, it's all she can think about. Now Molly has a chance to find her birthmother--a chance to understand where she came from, and why she was given away. But the Fletchers aren't happy about her decision to unearth the past. They're afraid that everyone involved may get hurt. That's a chance that Molly may be willing to take. "Skillfully and sensitively written can make you laugh and cry at a single sitting."-Voice of Youth Advocates "Okimoto writes about the elemental search for roots, the fear as well as the great happiness it can bring."-Booklist "A book that goes beyond the adoption topic to encompass family feelings and dynamics."-School Library Journal

Newly arrived from Kazakhstan, twelve-year-old Maya Alazova resents the way her mother babies her brother, but when she leaves her English Language Learner program for mainstream classes and has to deal with a boy, a bully, and conflict at home, she finds her brother can help with their new culture in ways their parents can't.

Celebrating the diversity of baseball, "Dear Ichiro," winner of the Children's Peace Book Award, is a warm, funny story that brings a universal message of healing and hope.

Newly arrived from Kazakhstan, twelve-year-old Maya Alazova resents the way her mother babies her brother, but when she leaves her English Language Learner program for mainstream classes and has to deal with a boy, a bully, and conflict at home, she finds her brother can help with their new culture in ways their parents can't.

After the death of her Japanese American mother, sixty-four-year-old Anne Kuroda Duppstadt finds the courage to confront the toxic legacy of her father, a famous artist and cruel narcissist. When a former art professor invites her to his island art studio, she begins pursuing her lifelong dream to become an artist in her own right. But the needs of her family tug at her heart. Her thirty-two-year-old daughter's love life is falling apart, and Annie's husband, facing retirement, struggles with depression, leading her to conclude, "There is a glass ceiling for women...and it's made out of the people we love." The Love Ceiling draws readers into the soul of a universal theme for women: the pull between family and creative self-expression. It is the story of a daughter, a wife, a mother and grandmother, and a journey into creativity.

Churchill, Manitoba is the polar bear capitol of the world. Every winter, tourists flock to the tiny town to watch the bears hunt and frolic on the frozen waters of the Hudson Bay. This year, though, the tourists are in for a big surprise...Winston A smart, fierce, brave bear, Winston of Churchill has noticed that their icy home is slowly melting away. He explains to the other bears why the ice is melting then, using the stirring words of his famous namesake, rallies the bears to convince humans to save their Arctic home. However, on the way to the protest march, Winston learns an unexpected lesson and realizes that he, too, must change his ways. This timely, funny story draws attention to the polar bears' plight and helps children understand that in the face of global warming, everyone must do their part, no matter how small.