In this tongue-in-cheek take on classic themes in children's literature, the four Willoughby children set about to become "deserving orphans" after their neglectful parents embark on a treacherous around-the-world adventure, leaving them in the care of an odious nanny.

Follows Hansel and Gretel as they walk out of their own story and into eight more tales, encountering such wicked creatures as witches, along with kindly strangers and other helpful folk. Based in part on the Grimms' fairy tales Faithful Johannes, Hansel and Gretel, The seven ravens, Brother and sister, The robber bridegroom, and The devil and his three golden hairs.

Jack and Annie travel in their magic tree house to the land of the mystical selkies to seek a magical sword for Merlin.

The magic tree house whisks Jack and Annie to India during the Mogul Empire in the 1600s to search for an emerald needed to break a magic spell.

"Though Anders and his friends have delayed a war between ice wolves and scorch dragons, their mission is far from over. With adults on both sides looking for them, they've sought refuge in Cloudhaven, a forbidden stronghold that could hold the key to saving their home. Meanwhile, Holbard has been ravaged, and its citizens are reeling. Many have been forced into bleak camps outside the city, and food is running short. To rebuild Vallen and unite...

On their second adventure through the magic mirror Abby and Jonah find themselves in the Cinderella fairy tale--and that is when things start to go really wrong.

Eleven-year-old Miri Gill feels left out in her family, which has two sets of twins and her, until she travels back in time to 1935 and discovers Molly, her own lost twin, and brings her back to the present day.

The shortest kid in the second grade, James Moody, also known as Stink, learns all about the shortest president of the United States, James Madison, when they celebrate Presidents' Day at school. Every morning, Judy Moody measures Stink and it's always the same: three feet, eight inches tall. Stink feels like even the class newt is growing faster than he is. Then, one day, the ruler reads-can it be?-three feet, seven and three quarters inches! Is...

After their father's research experiment at the British Museum unleashes the Egyptian god Set, Carter and Sadie Kane embark on a dangerous journey across the globe--a quest which brings them ever closer to the truth about their family, and their links to a secret order that has existed since the time of the pharaohs.

"The Kidd children--including twelve-year-old twins Rebecca and Bickford--follow mysterious clues that take them from China to Germany, in the hopes of finding their missing father and the treasure that will finally free their kidnapped mother"-- Provided by publisher.