Bent Northrop Memorial Library

As spring arrives on Gardam Street, there are surprises in store for each Penderwick, from neighbor Nick Geiger's expected return from the war to Batty's new dog-walking business, but her plans to use her profits to surprise her family on her eleventh birthday go astray.

Convinced whale songs are boring, young humpback whale Soren decides to write his own, catchier tunes, and even when his music is met with less than encouraging feedback, he finds a way to keep composing.

Pete the cat loves the buttons on his shirt so much that he makes up a song about them, and even as the buttons pop off, one by one, he still finds a reason to sing.