Young John Maxwell and his dad live in a Nebraska soddy, two and one-half miles from the railroad crossing. But with a freezing rain storm and only a half hour to intercept the afternoon train, that two and one-half mile ride on their little black mare, Ozark, seems like an eternity to John who has to get help for his dying father.

Young Marci needs the help of her neighbor, Mrs. Gold to plan a surprise Hanukkah party for her recently emigrated family. Since religious practices were banned in her native Soviet Union, Marci and her family never learned the true history of Hanukkah or how to celebrate it.

After Jennie and her mother mixed the batter for the Christmas cake, Jennie took it into her sick father's room so that he could stir in his wish. Then Jennie and her mom both stirred in their wishes. Now, it was up to the Christmas Elf to grant one of the three wishes.

When an old trapper dies, his faithful bloodhound turns wild and fearsome tales grow around his mournful howl. But when the Wild Dog of Caucomgomac saves a young boy lost in the swamps, the townsfolk reassess their fears and give him a loving home for the rest of his days.

Rico has lived and fished alone since being jilted in his youth. But one day, Rico discovers that a pair of beautiful birds have built a nest at the top of his mast. He is ready to destroy the nest so that he can sail, but the local school-teacher convinces Rico of the rarity of the birds and the importance of letting them nest. Begrudgingly, Rico leaves the nest undisturbed and is transformed by the their beauty and the friendship of the villagers.

A gently told story of how small things can bring joy. Alice finds and old, engraved powder horn in Mr. Hall's antique shop. When she brings it home, she and her father decide to build a "rainy-day" room in the attic decorated in the same designs as the powder horn.

During the Great Peshtigo Forest Fire of 1871, Susanna's papa sets off to help his sister-in-law and her baby back to the river and safety. But before he can make it home the smoke becomes so thick he loses all sense of direction. Luckily, Susanna has the presence of mind to climb the bell tower of the old schoolhouse and ring the school bell giving her papa a beacon of sound to follow.

Zachary just can't seem to stay in his seat. But as it turns out, it isn’t entirely his fault. Mr. Leeks, the old janitor, lets on that Zack’s seat is the orneriest bucking chair at W. T. Mellon Elementary School. Well, yahoo! Looks like there’s going to be a chair bustin’ rodeo in the classroom at the end of the hall.

A fresh and lively retelling of a traditional German folk tale in which a piper is not paid his due for ridding the town of Hamelin of its rats. But he forewarned the town that his pipe could play many tunes and they paid the price.

Kate is refused entrance to Miss Perkle's School for Young Witches, that is until one of her spells saves the school from destruction and causes Miss Perkle to reconsider.