2012
BEAR WITH ME
by Max Kornell
Owen’s young life is perfect until his parents come home with asurprise: they’ve adopted a huge BEAR! Owen is less than thrilled about this new addition to the family. Kornell captures a small child’s reaction to change perfectly: “I told my mom and dad that they should have asked me if I wanted a bear. If they had asked, they would have known that I don’t want a bear.” Although Gary the bear initially wreaks havoc, he and the boy come to be friends. Details in the illustrations, like Gary’s facial expressions and family portraits on the walls add depth to the story. This book will help children work through feelings surrounding any life changing event.
Posted: April 2, 2012
BREAKING STALIN'S NOSE
by Eugene Yelchin
Sasha Zaichik lives happily (though crowded in an apartment with 48 people and one toilet) under the watchful eye of Stalin, the political leader and “father” of all good communists in the Soviet Union. When State Security officers suddenly arrest Sasha’s father for Anti-Communist activities, he knows it must be a mistake. His father is a loyal communist who actually works to catch those plotting against the motherland. Even worse, Sasha might be considered a traitor as well. With events that wouldn’t seem out of place in dystopian science fiction, this chilling historical novel will grab readers’ attention.
Posted: March 6 , 2012
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BANJO DESTINY
By Cary Fagan
Jeremy lives in a modern day castle, but his life is an “expensive nightmare.” His parents are quick to remind him that he has all the opportunities they never had... like ballroom dancing lessons and a world-renowned classical piano teacher. Then Jeremy has a chance meeting with old man playing an instrument that he recognizes as a banjo. He is captivated bys its sound. The problem: his parents refuse to let their refined son purchase a folk instrument. Will Jeremy ever be able to follow his destiny? Although the message to pursue your dreams is clear, book’s humor is definitely the highlight.
Posted: January 17, 2012
2011
THOR AND LOKI: IN THE LAND OF THE GIANTS
by Jeff Limke illustrated by Ron Randall
Based on a Norse myth, this graphic novel features brawny Thorand crafty Loki, the most popular Norse gods. The twoquarrel over the superiority of strength vs. cunning. Thor insists that strength alone is always sufficient. The two gods journey into the land of the giants where Thor recklessly extends a challenge that might finally settle the question. Traditional comic book style art tells the story. Faces are drawn especially vividly, underscoring characters’ emotions. If this tale piques your interest, check out the further reading section for more information. Thor and Loki: In the Land of the Giants is part of the Graphic Myths and Legends series.
Posted:December 28, 2011
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WHY DO I HAVE TO MAKE MY BED? OR, A HISTORY OF MESSY ROOMS
By Wade Bradford, Illustrations by Johanna van der Sterre
A little boy asks the question: “Why do I have to make my bed?” He receives a thorough answer from his mother, who tells of his grandmother, then her grandfather, then his great grandmother. Apparently children have been questioning the necessity of bed making as far back as cave times. Coincidentally, the answer hasn’t changed either. The books’ predictability will help listeners guess what might happen next, a first step in predicting more complicated stories. Drawings of each child and setting, especially details like period toys, convey the sense of time travel. The book ends with an author’s note about chores through the ages.
Posted: December 2, 2011
JOE AND SPARKY, SUPERSTARS!
by Jamie Michalak, illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz
After seeing a casting call for What a Pair talent show, Joe, an energetic giraffe, is eager to try out with his friend Sparky, a cautious turtle. First, however, they must discover Sparky’s hidden talent. Is the shy, hesitant turtle capable of becoming a star? At its heart a tale of friendship with comical moments sprinkled throughout, Joe and Sparky, Superstars will amuse young readers who are starting to make the transition to chapter books.
Posted: November 10, 2011
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NO PASSENGERS BEYOND THIS POINT
by Gennifer Choldenko
Finn is the worrier, India is the teenage pretty girl, and Mouse isthe kindergarten genius with an imaginary friend. The Thompkin siblings are not happy about moving to Colorado to live with Uncle Red. When the taxi that meets them at the airport is covered in feathers, the three step into a surreal landscape. Will they ever go home? Do they even have a home to go to? Point of view switches throughout the book, allowing readers inside the heads of three very different characters. Treat the book like an amusement park ride, and don’t expect all the details to make sense. This take on fantasy is more similar to The Wizard of Oz than Harry Potter.
Posted: October 11,2011
CYCLIST BIKELIST: THE BOOK FOR EVERY RIDER
by Laura Robinson, Illustrated by Ramón K. Pérez
This handy handbook about cycling includes all things bicycle, fromhistory to parts to clothing. The last chapter features short biographies of professional bikers. This book would be useful to new cyclists, those about to buy a new bike, and anyone who would like to take their riding up a notch. Note that this book was originally published in Canada and some information about traffic laws does not apply here. Cartoon style pictures throughout demonstrate points in the text.
Posted:September 21, 2011
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THE STORY OF THE LEPRECHAUN
by Katherine Tegen, illustrated by Sally Anne Lambert
This is the story of a leprechaun shoemaker who saves his golden payments in an old pot. A man named Tim sees the pot and can’t resist trying to trick the leprechaun out of his gold. Who do you think is craftier, leprechaun or human? Colorful illustrations take readers into the whimsical world of Irish myth. An author’s note at the beginning explains what leprechauns are for children who have not encountered them before.
Posted: August 21, 2011
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TROPICAL RAINFOREST
by Seymour Simon
Simon takes readers into the absorbing environment of the world’s rainforests. He begins by over viewing rainforests as a whole. Then he spotlights various rainforest inhabitants from bamboo plants that grow over a foot per day to bats with a six-foot wingspan. Majestic photographs on each spread bring the plants and animals to life. The book concludes with a section on the importance of rainforests around the world. This is a good place to begin learning about the topic. Includes glossary and index.
Posted: August 2, 2011
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THE CURSE OF KING TUT'S TOMB
by Michael Burgan illustrated by Barbara Schulz
The scene is Egypt, about three thousand years ago. Priests chant a protective spell over the body of a mummy. Flash forward to 1922 and see Howard Carter open the sealed doorway to KingTut’s Tomb. Did doing so trigger a curse for disturbing the mummy’s rest? This graphic novel gives the sordid details about the people whose deaths were attributed to the curse. It also presents the viewpoint of those who believed the curse was mere myth. Art and text unite to show that sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.
Posted: July 20, 2011
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FRANKIE PICKLE AND THE PINE RUN 300
written and illustrated by Eric Wight
Frankie Pickle the Possum Scout has a problem. Carried away by his imagination, he tangles himself in rope for a Houdini-style escape when he’s only supposed to be creating a sailor’s loop. Even worse, he fails to earn his badge and move up to the next scout level with his friends. The only solution is to build a model car and win the Pine Run 3000 race. Will he pull off a first place finish, or will his race car dreams crash and burn? Part graphic novel, part traditional book, Frankie Pickle and the Pine Run 3000 is a good way to start reading chapter books.
Posted: May 13, 2011
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HAVE YOU SEEN MY DINOSAUR?
by Jon Surgal, illustrated by Joe Mathieu
A young boy searches for his missing dinosaur friend. He asks for help finding the dino, but each grown up that he approaches seems to think that dinosaurs are extinct. Readers see the dinosaur on each page, out of the narrator’s sight, and will be happy when the two are reunited in the end. The rhyming dialogue switches from narrator to adult without quotation marks, but readers will know the speaker by what he or she says. The rhyme and rhythm of the text, which is similar to the style of Dr. Seuss, may help beginning readers decipher new vocabulary words like “barge” and “ocelot.”
Posted: June 1, 2011
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AMELIA BEDELIA'S FIRST APPLE PIE
by Herman Parish, illustrated by Lynne Avril
Amelia Bedelia, the literal-minded character from the early reader series, makes her picture book debut in this tale about her childhood. Her inability to understand figures of speech cause some confusion, but she saves the day through her budding talent for baking.
Posted: April 11, 2011
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THE JUNKYARD WONDERS
by Patricia Polacco
When Trisha switches schools, she hopes to leave the label of “different” behind her. However, she ends up in the Junkyard, a class of misfits who aren’t wanted elsewhere in the school. With the help of Mrs. Peterson, their inspiring teacher, the kids learn to create possibilities from things that other people call junk. Full page drawings add to the lengthy text, making this book appropriate for grades 2-4.
Posted: March 25, 2011
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TRUCKERY RHYMES 
by Jon Scieszka,
illustrated by David Shannon,
Loren Long, and David Gordon
Scieszka adapts classic nursery rhymes into truck related poems such as “Peter Peter Payload Eater” and “The Wheels on the Truck.” Fans of Scieszka’s Trucktown series will be familiar with many of the diesel-powered characters. Cartoon style pictures add to the humorous rhymes.
Posted: March 15, 2011
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PADDYWACK
by Stephanie Spinner, illustrated by Daniel Howarth
This is a classic story of a girl and her pony with the appealing twist that it’s told from the pony’s perspective, and this pony has a sense of humor. Paddywack begins by telling readers about how Jane “fell off me for no good reason” when he first got her. Jane also seems to underestimate the importance of treats until she realizes that they are the only way to get Paddywack to cooperate. The tale culminates with a horse show where the problem of forgotten treats resurfaces. Will Paddywack dump Jane off in rebellion or will his better side come through? Readers may encounter some new horse-related words like canter and stirrup. Children reading on their own will enjoy this engaging story.
Posted: January 11, 2011
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2010
DANIEL AT THE SIEGE OF BOSTON
by Laurie Calkhoven
It is 1775. In the aftermath of the Boston Tea Party, the English army’sRedcoats flow into Boston like waves in a sea. As he serves and observes British officers at his parents’ tavern, twelve-year-old Daniel wants to help the Patriot cause. Does he have the courage to stand up for freedom? This is a historical fiction book (a made-up story set in the past). A section at the end of the book contains historical information including a timeline of the events of the siege and recommendations for nonfiction (factual) books about the American Revolution. Look for the second book in the Boys of Wartime series, Will at the Battle of Gettysburg, next year.
Posted: December 21, 2010
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ALL OF ME! A BOOK OF THANKS
written and illustrated by Molly Bang
A child takes the time to be thankful for feet and hands, senses and heartbeat. Thankfulness expands to include the outside neighborhood and eventually the whole universe. Young children will enjoy familiar concepts presented in poetic sentences. The pictures are a combination of collage, painting, and red crayon drawing, creating an engaging contrast of complex and simple images. Older children can use the suggestions on the last page to maketheir own books from paper bags. A fitting read for the Thanksgiving season and all year round.
Posted: November 18, 2010
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THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO SURVIVAL HANDBOOK: WEIRD JUNIOR EDITION
by David Borgenicht and Justin Heimberg, illustrated by Chuck Gonzales
Do you need to know how to evict a ghost from your bedroom? (Start by asking). Are you unsure what to pack for your next time-traveling adventure? (Think gold and a hidden camera). Yes? Then this is the book for you. Even if you don’t think you’ll experience supernatural events anytime soon, this is an entertaining, fast-paced read. The handbook allows you to flip through and start at any point, so if UFOs don’t interest you, you can turn straight to the Medusa section. Step by step guides, interviews, and fast fact boxes add to the user-friendly format. Read it for fun and learn a few real facts along the way.
Posted: October 18, 2010
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DRACULA MADNESS
by Mary Labatt, illustrated by Jo Rioux
The first book in the graphic novel series A Sam & Friends Mystery, Dracula Madness begins with Samantha, a dog detective, moving into a small town and befriending Jennie, who can hear her thoughts. What Sam really wants is a mystery and she just might have one when Jennie takes her to the town’s spookiest house. Vivid black and white drawings complement and sometimes take the place of the dialogue.
Posted: October 8, 2010
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RUFUS THE SCRUB DOES NOT WEAR A TUTU
by Jamie McEwan, Illustrated by John Margeson
Rufus has always been a scrub, a benchwarmer on the football team. This season is his chance to prove himself, but he seems to be too clumsy to avoid opposing players and make the right tackle. At his mother’s suggestion, he starts ballet lessons to improve his control. Can doing pirouettes with a bunch of eight-year-old girls really help him on the football field? Play-by-play details with small doses of football terminology make for an exciting story.
Posted: September 21, 2010
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ANGEL CAT SUGAR, SWEET SCHOOL DAY
by Ellie O’Ryan, illustrated by Sachiho Hino
Sugar and her friends are excited for the first day of school. They feel nervous too, though. When Parsley loses his new notebook, they search the whole building to find it. Striking pictures portray each room of the school. This book will remind developing readers of their first day.
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THE SEASIDE ADVENTURES OF JACK AND BENNY: THE LEGEND OF OLD SALTY
Written and Illustrated by Matthew Loux
In this graphic novel, Jack Putnam and his brother Benny are in for a long summer in Chowder Bay, Maine. The house where they stay doesn’t even have a TV. It looks like a boring summer until an old sailor named Argus tells the boys about a giant sea monster named Old Salty. Could the monster be real? Why would it stay in Chowder Bay? Jack and Benny set out on an adventure to find and fight the monster. If you enjoy The Legend of Old Salty, the Salt WaterTaffy series continues with A Climb Up Mt. Barnabas.
Posted: August 25, 2010
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THE TAIL OF EMILY WINDSNAP
by Liz Kessler
Emily has never gone swimming even though she lives on a houseboat. That changes one fateful day when she takes a swim lesson and learns that she’s a natural swimmer. So natural, in fact, that her legs join together and form a tail while she’s in the water. She must unravel the mystery of her true identity and parentage. This book is followed by the sequel
Emily Windsnap and the Monster from the Deep.
Posted: August 10, 2010
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HENRY & THE BUCCANEER BUNNIES
by Carolyn Crimi illustrated by John Manders
The skull and crossbones has grown floppy ears and buckteeth. With its crew of buccaneer bunnies, the Salty Carrot is the scariest ship on the seven seas. However, Henry, the captain’s son, spends all his time reading instead of becoming a pirate. None of the other bunnies value his knowledge until a red sunrise changes their view. The illustrations of pirate bunnies add to the comedy of the tale.
Posted: August 1, 2010
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DOLPHINS
by Seymour Simon
Did you know that dolphins swallow their food whole? Or that some dolphins like to play with divers? Dolphins is full of fun facts and colorful photographs about these fascinating animals. The book features different types of dolphins including bottlenose dolphins, Dall’s porpoise, the Amazon River Dolphin, and Orcas. Readers can even learn to help dolphins by following the suggestions in the final section. This book is part of a nonfiction series by the Smithsonian Institution.
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DAISY DAWSON AND THE SECRET POND 
by Steve Voake illustrated by Jessica Meserve
Daisy Dawson needs to do a school project on animal habitats. Luckily she has a special advantage—she can talk to animals! She sets off on an adventure with her friends Boom the dog and Cyril the squirrel. It’s a picture perfect day until the storm clouds roll in. The sequel to Daisy Dawson Is on Her Way continues to develop the character of Daisy, and we meet new friends Hazel and Conker, squirrel youngsters. Black and white drawings propel the story along.
Posted: June 25, 2010
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HOUNDSLEY AND CATINA PLINK AND PLUNK
by James Howe illustrated by Marie-Louise Gay
Houndsley wonders why his friend Catina won’t stop talking every time they canoe. Catina wonders why Houndsley never wants to ride bikes. Each helps the other to face fears. Then, they enjoy new activities as friends. The story takes place over three chapters and is illustrated with watercolor paintings of the dog, cat, and their bird friend Bert.
Posted: June 18, 2010
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SKELETON CREEK
by Patrick Carman
From the cover: “Read the Book …
Watch the Videos … Uncover the Mystery” Ryan and Sarah are trying to solve a mystery in their hometown of Skeleton Creek. While investigating, Ryan has an “accident” and breaks his leg. As he is recuperating, Ryan keeps a journal about the creepy events that happen in his town. Sarah continues to search for answers and keeps in contact with Ryan by sending him videos that he can watch online.
For the reader who likes scary stories, this is an excellent choice. The combination of Ryan’s journal and Sarah’s videos make this book an entertaining read.
Posted: May 5, 2010[Top]
THE REDHEADED PRINCESS: A NOVEL
by Ann Rinaldi
This is a historical fiction book about Elizabeth I as a young girl. She lives much of her young life away from the palace at her country estate. She rarely sees her father, King Henry VIII. We learn of her relationship with her half-siblings, Edward and Mary. Her life is in constant peril. She is taught to trust no one. As we know, Elizabeth perseveres and becomes queen of England. An entertaining, fast paced book.
Posted: March 1, 2010
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