"Despite his sister Ruby's admonitions, Max waits up on Christmas Eve to see Santa Claus coming down the chimney." --

Max and Ruby spend so much on emergencies while shopping for Grandma's birthday presents, that they just barely have enough money left for gifts.

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

Max makes an earthworm cake for Grandma's birthday and help Ruby with her angel surprise cake. At the store, the grocer can't read all of the shopping list, until Max solves the problem by drawing a picture.

When the Depression hits in Cairo, Illinois, and Oscar Ogilvie's father must sell their home and vast model train set-up to look for work in California, eleven-year-old Oscar is left with his dour aunt, where he befriends a mysterious drifter, witnesses a stunning bank robbery, and is suddenly catapulted onto a train that takes him to a different time and place.

Brokenhearted when her best friend departs for the summer, Ivy spends her own summer caring for animals in the mid-century Southwest, sharing her season of discovery with a stubborn pony, a mischievous puppy, and a scarred racehorse.

At bedtime, Grandma tells Max and Ruby three favorite stories about themselves

A very young rabbit's wish of being sung to, talked to, and carried.

Max and his big sister Ruby disagree about which of their toys to invite to Grandma's birthday party.