Brooklyn Bridge

It's the summer of 1903 in Brooklyn and all Joseph Michtom wants is to see the new amusement park at Coney Island. But ever since his parents invented the stuffed teddy bear, Joseph's life has turned upside down. No longer do family and friends gather around the kitchen table to talk. No longer does Joseph play stickball with the guys. Now, all he does is work. And hope. Joseph hopes he'll see Coney Island soon. He hopes that everything will turn right-side up again. He hopes his luck hasn't run out - because you never know. Through all the warmth, the sadness, the frustration, and the laughter of one big, colorful family, Newbery Medalist Karen Hesse reminds us that our lives - all our lives - are fragile, precious, and connected.