Bookworm Buddies

Princess Recovery

2012-01-27T10:22:00.000-06:00

by Jennifer Hartstein, PsyD

First of all, don't let the title fool you - this book offers advice that is just as applicable to little princes as it is to princesses. Entitlement, selfishness, and materialism are certainly not restricted to girls. Some of the other chapters, such as focusing on appearance, expecting someone to rescue them, and looking for romance over substance in relationships, are problems that may (or may not) be more prevalent in girls, but even those chapters offer valuable advice for raising boys. Dr. Hartstein looks at many different problems that our children face growing up and then gives ideas to combat those problems in age appropriate ways.

Each chapter is divided into two sections - the "Princess symptom" talks about a problem and then the "Heroine value" talks about teaching a healthier attitude. At the end of each chapter, Dr. Hartstein offers specific advice for combating the "Princess symptom" based on the age of the child - 2-3 years, 4-5 years, and 6-8 years. She also talks about how some "symptoms" may be totally age appropriate - two year olds are generally selfish - but gives you ideas for making sure that symptom isn't still a problem when your child is eight.

She does not advocate hiding your child away from TV or friends with different ideas. Instead, she suggests watching shows with your child and discussing what's going on and how that does or doesn't fit your family's values. The same for toys that are given to your child or that your child is exposed to outside your home. If it is something you find inappropriate, you don't have to let her have it. Or maybe you decide to let her have it, but redirect her play to something you find more constructive (helping her decide what Barbie's career is instead of what she'll wear that day).

She also doesn't recommend refusing to let your child play princess, if that really is her thing. She does advocate finding new ways to play princess. Instead of waiting for Prince Charming to rescue her, how about brainstorming ways to defeat the wicked witch herself? Instead of daydreaming about fancy dresses and balls, why not design your own dress or learn some real ballroom dancing? Maybe she could play the witch and you play the princess for a change?

Even if your child isn't a Princess (or Prince), you will still find ideas for raising kids that are strong, healthy, and independent.

reviewed by Jessica

My Name Is Mina

2012-01-26T08:26:00.001-06:00

By David Almond

In this prequel to Skellig, Almond shifts his focus to Michael’s friendly, if odd, neighbor Mina. Mina’s being homeschooled, because, as she is quick to point out, “we feel that schools are cages.” But it isn’t really homeschooling that makes Mina different. Rather, it is her intelligence and creativity. It helps that her mother is a writer herself and very understanding of Mina’s precociousness. It doesn’t help that Mina’s father has died.

While Michael and his family appear in the novel, this story is wholly Mina’s. Written as Mina’s journal, the novel captures the feeling of discovery and connections made that can occur in a creative journal. Although the novel is written in a very different style from Skellig, it perfectly captures the nuances of family life, the importance of friendship, and the splendid wonder of the unknown.

Reviewed by Melendra

A Tale of Two Castles

2012-01-25T10:26:00.001-06:00

by Gail Carson Levine

When Elodie leaves home to find work in the capitol city of Two Castles, her mother has only two rules: become an apprentice to a weaver, and stay away from dragons and ogres. Elodie plans to become an apprentice actor instead, but soon finds herself assistant to a dragon detective, protecting an ogre from assassination. Elodie is in over her head from the beginning, but she is quick on her feet and manages to make friends and a home for herself. The dragon, Meenore, (known as IT because only a dragon can know its own gender) is my favorite character, and is completely different from any other dragon I've ever encountered in literature. This book uses themes from many different fairy tales and twists them around, which will be no surprise to fans of the author's other books, such as Ella Enchanted and the Princess Tales. This is a worthy successor.

Reviewed by Rachel

Look Out, Jeremy Bean!

2012-01-24T15:00:00.000-06:00

by Alice Schertle

There might be dust bunnies lurking under the bed! In this book of three short adventures, Jeremy Bean is trying his best to coax those strange creatures out of their hiding place before they can attack him! He is a boy with a very wild imagination. Another adventure involves his search for the perfect collection: should he make rocks, bugs, or sticks his treasured finds? Jeremy Bean's stories are funny and easy to read. At 55 pages with fun illustrations, this is a great choice for kids just starting to read chapter books.

Reviewed by Laura

Amelia Rules: The Meaning of Life. . .and Other Stuff

2012-01-21T15:39:00.002-06:00

By Jimmy Gownley

Amelia feels like nothing good in her life lasts: her parents’ marriage, Aunt Tanner’s support, even the clubhouse she and her friends built. And, she’s not sure if it all has something to do with her, but some words of advice lead her to an insight that could change everything. This time for the better.

Although this is the 7^th volume of Amelia’s adventures, no prior knowledge of the series is necessary to enjoy the tale. Amelia and her friends have the standard middle school dramas: cheerleading, feeling left out, and dealing with the “in” crowd. But they also have larger worries, like Joan’s father being deployed. They also have their share of fun.

Fans of Babymouse will discover another empathetic protagonist in Amelia.

Reviewed by Melendra

Mouse & Lion

2012-01-20T13:00:00.002-06:00

Mouse & Lion

by Rand Burkert and Nancy Ekholm Burkert

Mouse & Lion is a captivating retelling of the fable of the lion and the mouse. This time, Mouse gets top billing since he really is the hero of the story. Unusual perspectives, richly detailed watercolors, and an ivory background give the artwork a fresh look. The artist studied the four-striped African grass mouse, as well as lions, to give a realistic feel to the illustrations. Rand Burkert has also released a CD of songs inspired by Aesop's Fables, also called Mouse & Lion. If you like this fable, check out Jerry Pinkney's equally stunning The Lion & the Mouse, a Caldecott Medal winner.

Darth Paper Strikes Back

2012-01-20T10:52:00.001-06:00

by Tom Angleberger

In the sequel to The Strange Case of the Origami Yoda, the dark side of the force has surfaced. Harvey comes to school with Darth Paper, and things really start to fall apart. After Yoda answers a girl's question with what she interprets as a threat, Dwight is sent to the principal's office yet again. This time, though, things are more serious. The principal recommends that Dwight be sent to a correctional school because he is disturbing the learning environment. The last bit of advice Yoda is able to give is that Tommy needs to put together a case file to present at the school board meeting to show that Dwight has been trying to help everyone. Will that be enough to save Dwight from the correctional school - where he obviously doesn't belong - or will the dark side prevail?

If you enjoyed The Strange Case of the Origami Yoda and Darth Paper Strikes Again, be sure to come to our Origami Yoda party on Feb. 16 at 2:00! Contact the children's department at (785) 776-4741 x125 for more information.

reviewed by Jessica

Okay for Now

2012-01-16T09:00:00.002-06:00

By Gary Schmidt

Doug doesn’t want to move from New York to Marysville, but he figures it won’t change much. He’ll still have a mean older brother to beat him up. He’ll still have an even meaner father, and his oldest brother will still be in Vietnam. But, something strange happens in Marysville. From the time that Doug discovers Audubon’s Birds of America at the local library, Doug begins to make connections with the citizens of Marysville that bring changes to Doug’s life that he never predicted.

Schmidt, the acclaimed author of The Wednesday Wars and Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, perfectly captures Doug’s teen voice, presenting the discouraging truth of his life as well as the unexpected insights and joys Doug finds. This story delves deep into family troubles and community double standards, but in the end, it affirms both family and community ties. Schmidt highlights the importance of doing what is good in the face of disbelief, whether anyone expects it of you. . .or gives you credit for it.

Reviewed by Melendra

Inkblot

2012-01-11T11:06:00.000-06:00

Inkblot: Drip, Splat, and Squish Your Way to Creativity

by Margaret Peot

Did you know that many famous visual artists and writers have found inspiration in inkblots? This includes author Margaret Peot, who's been using inkblots for inspiration for decades. Peot wants to share her enthusiasm for this technique with step-by- step projects to inspire you too. These techniques could spark ideas for elementary age to adult artists. There are scary creatures, fun animals and insects, and abstract backgrounds. Especially interesting are short bios about famous artists who used this technique-- including Hermann Rorschach, father of the famous Rorschach Test. I didn't know artist Leonardo da Vinci, writer Victor Hugo and poet Justinus Kerner all used inkblots as creative springboards. You don't need much in the way of materials or training to give this method a try, but this technique will take your imagination to new places!
reviewed by Victoria

An Elephant in the Garden

2012-01-10T20:44:00.003-06:00

By Michael Morpurgo

None of the nurses at the nursing home believe Lizzie when she says that she had an elephant in her garden, but it’s true. The elephant, Marlene, belonged to the Dresden zoo, but when the Allies started bombing the city, Lizzie’s zookeeper mother brings the elephant home hoping to protect it. Little does she know that the elephant will help to saver her and her family when they flee Dresden ahead of the Russians.

Lizzie WWII adventures present a unique look at the war while the quickly moving plot keeps readers wondering what will happen next. With a touch of romance and a subtle look at the evils of war, this novel focuses on the strengths of family, love, and kindness.

Reviewed by Melendra

Boom!

2012-01-10T15:07:00.005-06:00

by Mark Haddon

By the author of popular adult book The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, this hilarious sci-fi adventure story is rollicking entertainment. James ("Jimbo") is a typical kid who is having some trouble in school, fights regularly with his annoying older sister, and often feels misunderstood. Luckily, his best friend Charlie is right there with him. When the two of them spy on staff in the teachers' lounge at school, they overhear a mysterious conversation which leads to kidnappings, men in black, wild chases, and a harrowing adventure for Charlie, Jimbo, and even his sister, who turns out to be not quite as bad as he thought. I listened to this fun tale on audiobook, which made it easier to understand Jimbo's British lingo. Kids who have enjoyed The True Meaning of Smekday, Spaceheadz, or the Alien Agent series will get a kick out of Boom!
Reviewed by Jennifer

Inspiration from the Refugee Experience

2012-01-01T08:00:00.001-06:00

Library column printed in The Mercury, Jan. 1, 2012

Several books featuring refugee children have left me in awe of the rebounding spirit of children and their amazing ability to hope, dream and find their place in the world. Though these are all fictional accounts, several authors had personal experiences that led them to write, and their openness adds integrity and genuineness to the characters’ tales.

Betti on the High Wire by Lisa Railsback is an engrossing read told from the point of view of 10-year-old Babo/Betti. Babo is one of the “leftover children” in a worn torn country when two “melons” (as she calls them) from America decide to adopt her and rename her Betti. Betti’s honesty about losing the world she understood, however strange and difficult it was, and her struggle to understand American life is fascinating. Betti clings to what she knows of her past, of being born into a circus camp where her parents were famous, and is sure her parents will one day return for her, which is why she needs to convince Mr. and Mrs. Buckworth that she is so bad they need to send her back. Railsback, who has worked with children in refugee camps, creates a strong character in Betti that readers will love to get to know, and seeing from her perspective might make kids interact with more kindness and understanding when they meet other children who have moved here from different countries.

Similar in some ways, 10-year-old Ha’s refugee story comes alive in Thanhha Lai’s Inside Out and Back Again, which recently won the 2011 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. Ha’s family flees South Vietnam in 1975, leaving behind everything they know and taking with them the unsettled sadness of their father missing in action for nine years. Lai gives the story a unique feel by writing in sparse verse. “Ten-year-olds, especially Vietnamese, think in tight images. I cut out every word I didn’t need,” she said in an interview. The words flow and match the tone of each experience as Ha describes her Saigon landscape, travel by sea, and acclimating to the strangeness of Alabama.

Ha’s story mirrors Lai’s own childhood when she moved with her mother and eight siblings from Saigon to the U. S. in the 70’s. “Life got more complicated, with me not speaking English and never having tasted a hot dog,” Lai recalls in her biography on the publisher’s website. “Add that to my looks. I was the first real-life Asian my classmates had ever seen.” In the story, Ha endures bullying from classmates, mean comments and alienation, but she also finds kindness, friendship and a determination to succeed in her new life.

Linda Sue Park’s A Long Walk to Water is a real gem. It is based on the true story of Salva Dut, one of the “lost boys” of Sudan, starting with the day soldiers burst into his village and burned his school. Young Salva ran into the bush and had to find his way without his family to a refugee camp in Ethiopia, and later to a camp in Kenya. Park says that some aspects have been “fictionalized,” but she interviewed Salva extensively and made the story as true to his experience as possible. Salva’s fear and daily trials are entwined with another story, that of teenage Nya who must walk two long trips every day to a pond to get water for her family. Although Nya’s story takes place years after Salva’s, they intersect with each other in the end.

Salva’s story is both upsetting and inspiring. The realities of war are so harsh and cruel, but Salva learns to take one step and one day at a time to persevere, which he says (in a letter at the end of the book) is the important thing that he would like to pass on to others.

Linda Sue Park flawlessly captures the essence of Salva’s remarkable story. Readers may want to start raising money for Water for South Sudan, a not-for-profit organization created and led by Salva Dut. More than 100 wells have been drilled, allowing children like the fictional Nya to go to school every day instead of walking miles to get water, and keeping families healthier with clean drinking water. It is amazing to read about the many close calls Salva survived in order to be at this point where he is helping hundreds from his country live better lives.

Finally, What You Wish For is a new short story compilation honoring the children of Darfur, with well-known children’s authors contributing like Meg Cabot (Princess Diaries), R. L. Stine (Goosebumps), Cornelia Funke (Inkheart), and Jeanne DePrau (City of Ember). The foreword by Mia Farrow describes one of her many encounters with children in refugee camps. “And this is the amazing thing,” she says. “No matter how dire the circumstances or bleak the prospects, every child I have met in Chad, Sudan, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, or Angola has a dream.” The stories are quite varied, going from an abandoned baby floating down a river in a box to a clique of teenage girls living in a futuristic, overcrowded world. They all contain the themes of wishing and hoping for something better, and often doing something about it. Sprinkled with poetry, photos of refugee children, and even a comic-book-style story, What You Wish For is perfect for short reading breaks or for sharing in a classroom setting.

Review by Jennifer Adams

The Shadow Speaker

2011-12-28T15:18:00.001-06:00

By Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu

In a not-to-distant future in West Africa, fourteen-year-old Ejii possesses strange powers brought on by the environmentalist bombs that were dropped before she was born. With the ability to speak to shadows, Ejii is among the superhumans mistrusted by much of humanity, including her own father. Ejii’s father wants the world to return to the old ways, where men are in power and women are subservient. However, after witnessing her father’s death at the hands of a powerful female Ejii is torn. Should she trust herself and her powers, or should she try to follow her father’s wishes? Soon Ejii sets out on a journey to find her father’s murderer, but in the process she discovers her own purpose and abilities beyond her wildest imagination.

Set in an area of the world that many of us know little about, this teen novel grapples with some big issues: prejudice vs. acceptance, political and social suppression vs. justice, and peaceful vs. violent change. However, it is Ejii’s development and growing friendship with those she meets on her travels that will engage most readers.

Reviewed by Melendra

The Fox Inheritance

2011-12-26T14:57:00.004-06:00

By Mary E. Pearson

In this sequel to the popular teen novel, The Adoration of Jenna Fox, Jenna’s friends Locke and Kara have been reborn after centuries in digital archives. Everything they knew is gone, and everyone they loved is dead. Except Jenna. Now Locke and Kara must escape the scientist who brought them back to life and find Jenna. But so much has changed in the world and even within themselves. Do they dare to hope that Jenna will have remained the same?

Told from Locke’s point of view, this riveting tale delves further into the question of what it means to be human, but it also addresses what one owes one’s friends. Locke and Kara each struggle with guilt, fear, and anger over their original accident, the intervening centuries trapped in a digital nightmare, and what has been done to them now. While Kara seems driven by anger, Locke finds loyalties divided between his best friends, Jenna and Kara.

Reviewed by Melendra

Entwined

2011-12-22T10:05:00.002-06:00

By Heather Dixon

In this compelling retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, Azalea and her sisters are lost and confused when their mother dies. In his grief, their father the king pushes the girls away when they need him most. And their greatest joy, dancing, is forbidden as they are in mourning. Faced with the idea of not dancing for a year, especially the year in which she is supposed to find her future husband, Azalea is angry and scared. So, when she and her sisters discover a secret passage in their room that leads to an enchanted dancing pavilion, they swear on silver never to tell the King. However, as with most magic, all is not as it seems, and there is a high price to pay for their enchanted dancing.

The mystery of Keeper and the magic of the castle blend well with the light romance of the novel. But Azalea’s growing understanding of what her family, especially her father, means to her add depth to her coming-of-age. While this novel is shelved in our young adult area, upper elementary school readers will enjoy it, as well as anyone who loved Princess of the Midnight Ball.

Reviewed by Melendra

Waiting for the Magic

2011-12-20T13:00:00.011-06:00

by Patricia MacLachlan

William's father has left again to 'do some writing.' He's done this before, but this time feels different. This time he left a note for William and his little sister Elinor, which makes it feel more planned, more long-term. His mother seems to think so, too. The first thing she does is announce they are going to the animal shelter to choose a dog. William's father has always said they couldn't have a dog.

What's even more surprising is that when they get to the shelter, they end up with not one dog, but four dogs and a cat! William knows his mother is trying to fill the empty space his father left, and for a while, it works. The family is certainly busy with the new crew, and they provide a good distraction. The reader is in on a secret from the start - the animals can talk. But only those young enough (Elinor), old enough (his grandma), and brave enough (who will that be?) can hear the animals talking.

William's family isn't through with changes, though, and readers will root for them with every surprise. Despite the potentially heavy topic of his father walking out, this is a light-hearted book with a very happy ending.

reviewed by Jessica

Animal Tails

2011-12-13T10:00:00.002-06:00

Animal Tails
by Beth Fielding

This new book is a fun peek into the variety of animal tails. There's so much cool information, like how squirrels use their tails as umbrellas and kangaroos use their tails to balance. Caterpillar tails can even frighten off predators by confusing them. And some lizards can grow brand new tails if their tail is broken off! Bright color photographs accompany brief chapters grouped by scaly tails, balancing tails, talking tails, stinging tails, wagging tails and more. There are additional facts for each category about lots of unusual animals and insects. Find your favorite animal in the index. Recommended for middle elementary students.
Reviewed by Victoria

The Aviary

2011-12-05T19:13:00.000-06:00

by Kathleen O'Dell

Clara has grown up in an old, crumbling mansion where her mother is a housekeeper. The owner, Mrs. Glendoveer, is an elderly woman whose late husband was a magician. The house is in disrepair and large parts of it are shuttered, but it is all Clara has ever known. Her mother refuses to let her play with other kids or go to school because of her 'weak heart.' Clara spends everyday with Mrs. Glendoveer, the cook Ruby, and her mother. And the birds. The creepy, scary birds that scream every time she comes near them. They live in an aviary in the garden, as was the dying wish of Mr. Glendoveer.

Clara avoids the menacing birds, but one day, the mynah speaks to her. He says, "Elliott!" over and over. Clara has no idea what he's talking about, so she asks Mrs. Glendoveer. It's then that she learns that Elliott Glendoveer was Mrs. Glendoveer's son, but he was lost as an infant. It isn't until later that she learns that he was kidnapped with his four siblings - the siblings all drowned, but Elliott was never found. For some reason, the crazy birds in the yard seem insistent that she do something about that - nearly 50 years after it happened!

The mystery intrigues Clara, so she investigates. As she does, though, the story just gets stranger and stranger. What really happened to the Glendoveer children? Can she solve a mystery that went cold years before she was even born?

reviewed by Jessica

Books for Wonderstruck Readers

2011-12-04T07:26:00.005-06:00

Library column printed in The Mercury, December 4, 2011

When kids start reading longer novels, many are captivated by the magical qualities they can experience through the pages of a book. This is not a new phenomenon, considering children’s classics like Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865) and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900), to name just a couple. Luckily for our kids, children’s book authors continue to combine magical adventures and imaginative plots with skillful writing, creating avid young readers who clamor for more. Here are few titles that might top the list this year:

In Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier, Peter is a blind orphan who works for a cruel master. He has enhanced senses to make up for his loss of sight, which have helped him become a stealthy, skilled thief. One day he steals a mysterious box from a charismatic haberdasher, but the contents of the box are puzzling – just six strange little eggs. When he cracks the eggs open, he finds the yolks are inedible, but they feel powerful to Peter. Finally, in a moment of realization, Peter recognizes the yolks as eyes! “Ever so gently, he slipped the two eyes into his sockets. He blinked. And just like that, Peter Nimble vanished into thin air.” Thus his great adventure begins.

Auxier’s debut novel reminds me a bit of Baum’s Wizard of Oz. Peter picks up some eclectic friends along the way (including a part-cat, part-horse knight, Sir Tode), and these characters help him as much as he helps them. Like Dorothy and her cohorts, they encounter a number of extreme environments, going from a vast ocean with giant fish to an endless desert run by ruthless ravens to the inner walls of a clockwork castle. References to age-old nursery rhymes are scattered throughout, as in the name “Nimble” and a rock shaped like a teapot, giving the book a fairytale quality. If originality is what you crave, you will not be disappointed. Watch the enticing book trailer or read the first chapter on Auxier’s website, thescop.com.

Another fantasy that spins off the fairytale world is Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu. The title invites readers to conjure up images of Hansel and Gretel escaping the woods, but the plot is more centered on Hans Christian Andersen’s haunting tale, The Snow Queen. I haven’t finished this novel yet, but I am intrigued by the connections between the stories main character Hazel reads and tells, and the way pieces of these tales come alive in her world that is otherwise grounded in harsh reality. Will Hazel become the heroine needed in her story, like the ones she admires in Narnia and The Golden Compass? Kids who have read a lot will appreciate Hazel’s references throughout to many children’s books, from A Wrinkle in Time to Coraline.

No Passengers Beyond This Point by Gennifer Choldenko is told from alternating viewpoints of three siblings: India, the annoyed fashion-minded teenager; Finn, the responsible worrywart brother; and Mouse, the super intelligent youngest sister. Everything makes sense at the beginning. The children's mother reveals that their house is going to be taken by the bank, and the children must go live with their uncle. After a bout of turbulence on the plane ride, the story takes a surreal turn. The children exit the aircraft to find they have mysteriously landed in “Falling Bird” instead of Denver. Their taxi is “shocking pink with silky white feathers,” the driver turns out to be a kid with a fake mustache, and it feels as though they are flying through clouds instead of traveling on roads. However strange this seems, the ride is warm and comfy, lulling the children to sleep.

When they wake up, they find that Falling Bird is rather well-prepared for their arrival, greeting them with signs of “We love you, India,” and “Mouse is our favorite.” In fact, everything in Falling Bird seems to be a dream come true for each child. But maybe it’s a little too good. Finn is the first to notice that something is off kilter, and staying in Falling Bird might be a detrimental decision. The question is, how do you leave a place if you don’t know how you go there? A surprising twist at the end kept me thinking about this story long after I finished.

Finally, an excellent new novel-picture book by the author of The Invention of Hugo Cabret (soon to be released as a movie) is Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick. It is not a fantasy per se, but certain coincidences in the plot have a magical edge to them. Twelve-year-old Ben’s life has gone a little haywire since his mother was killed in a car accident and a freaky lightning storm causes him to go totally deaf. Meanwhile, Selznick weaves in a story that takes place 50 years earlier, involving another deaf child, Rose, and her desire to explore New York City. Like Hugo Cabret, this 637-page book is filled with more than 450 pages of black and white sketches that tell much of the story through pictures. Ben’s journey leads him to the American Museum of Natural History, where he stumbles upon a new friend and a place to hide out while he discovers the secrets of his past. Rose emerges, too, with her own masterpiece to share.

Enjoy settling in with a cup of hot cocoa and any of these marvelous adventures to add a little magic to your reading this winter.

Review by Jennifer Adams

The Yellow House

2011-11-21T15:35:00.004-06:00

By Blake Morrison
Illustrated by Helen Craig

"Come play with me!" encourages a boy as he mysteriously appears outside an abandoned yellow house. The young girl in the story has an opportunity to explore the intriguing old property (while her mother is momentarily distracted) and encounters all kinds of fantastical nature scenes. The house is described as "old, sad, and rather scary" but the scenes she witnesses do not frighten-- they will surprise.

This brief picture book explores using your imagination to transport yourself to pretend places. Readers who love Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak will enjoy the parallels presented in The Yellow House.

Reviewed by Ami

Nurk: The Strange, Surprising Adventures Of A (Somewhat) Brave Shrew

2011-11-19T14:13:00.000-06:00

Nurk: The Strange, Surprising Adventures Of A (Somewhat) Brave Shrew

by Ursula Vernon

Ursula Vernon has a wonderful talent for creating whimsical creatures, in her artwork and stories. You may know Vernon from her Dragonbreath graphic novel series. Nurk is her first novel, and I hope she writes more about this unlikely little hero.

Nurk is a meek shrew, who lives safely beneath the willow tree by the stream. He's not certain he's up to having adventures like his intrepid grandmother. Still, Nurk would like to see a little bit of the world outside the willow. His chance comes when a splotchy letter addressed to his grandmother is delivered to him by mistake. It's a desperate plea for help! Nurk doesn't know where his grandmother is, so he thinks he should return the letter. But to whom? And where? There are lots of colorful allies and enemies along the way, and it will take all of Nurk's courage and resources to fulfill his quest.
Recommended for younger readers who enjoy animal fantasy stories or as a family read aloud. Reviewed by Victoria.

Animal Eggs: An Amazing Clutch of Mysteries and Marvels

2011-11-15T20:09:00.003-06:00

By Dawn Cusick & Joanne O’Sullivan

With lots of amazing photographs and interesting facts, this book about all things eggs really is amazing. While no specific type of egg or animal gets much focus, each egg fact is demonstrated vividly with animals ranging from insects to mammals. Did you know that the platypus isn’t the only mammal to lay eggs? Spiny Anteaters, found in Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea, also lay eggs. Or do you know what the outer casing of a shark’s egg is called? A“mermaid’s purse.”

Each page offers enough information to capture readers’ interest and could lead to hours of research for the truly engaged.

Reviewed by Melendra

Suddenly in the Depths of the Forest

2011-11-15T16:11:00.000-06:00

by Amos Oz

Imagine a world without animals. It's difficult for me to even think about, yet this is the world Matti and Maya live in. Parents won't tell their children what happened to the animals and scold them for even asking. They also warn their little ones about the mountain demon who snatches up anyone daring to go out at night. This doesn't stop Matti and Maya from wondering and secretly exploring the forest outside their village. The story unfolds mysteriously and challenges readers to show respect to everyone, even if they aren't "normal." It's a wonderful, flowing tale great for ages 9 and up.

-reviewed by Laura

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Have Some Fun in Our Room

2011-11-13T07:39:00.002-06:00

Library Column printed in The Mercury, November 13, 2011

Each year, the State Library of Kansas and the Kansas Center for the Book designate a week in November to focus on the benefits of reading aloud to young children. Kansas Reads to Preschoolers Week begins today, and it’s easy to participate. Grab a book and your favorite toddler or preschooler and have a rollicking good reading time.

The featured book for Kansas Reads to Preschoolers Week is a beloved alphabet book written in 1989 by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. The rhythm and rhyme of the story makes it a wonderful chant, and the little alphabet letters climbing up the coconut tree have personalities all their own with colorful illustrations by Lois Ehlert. The book was chosen to honor Bill Martin, Jr., a Kansan who grew up in Hiawatha and attended college in Emporia, which ties into the yearlong celebration of Kansas’s Sesquicentennial. Martin passed away in 2004, but he left behind a legacy of amazing children’s books, including Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? and Knots on a Counting Rope.

Manhattan Public Library is celebrating Kansas Reads to Preschoolers Week in several special ways. First, the Manhattan Library Association, our friends group, provided funds to purchase paperback copies of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom that were delivered to more than 100 local daycares, preschools and child care centers by Marsha Tannehill and staff at Child Care Aware and Smart Start. We will also give the book to children who attend our storytimes November 14-19. We will read Bill Martin, Jr. books at the November 18 ZOOfari Tails at 10:00, including Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Barn Dance and Brown Bear, Brown Bear. Claflin Books' staff will be on hand with Bill Martin books for sale, so you can start your holiday shopping at the program.

We have also created an “early literacy” station in the Children’s Room that will be set up when we are not using the storytime space for programs. The activities in this area feature Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, and they encourage children to develop early literacy skills. Johnson County Library refers to these skills as “6 by 6” because “researchers have identified 6 important pre-reading skills that children need to know before they learn to read – around the age of 6.” The skills are not really anything new, and most parents and teachers will find they are already doing all of them with their toddlers and preschoolers:

Print motivation, which simply means that children have fun with books. From bedtime stories to visits to the library, parents and other adults can make sure all children have positive experiences with books and reading.
Print awareness, which occurs when children notice print all around them, from street signs to cereal boxes. Pointing out words and letters to children helps them understand that these lines and symbols create words and have meaning.
Vocabulary, which increases greatly if parents talk to their children a lot, read books aloud, and explain what new words mean instead of choosing a more simple word.
Narrative skills are a child’s ability to tell stories. This starts at a very young age when babies babble using the inflection of an adult’s storytelling voice and continues as preschoolers learn how to tell us what they did during the day, retell a story, or even make up a story from their imagination.
Letter knowledge includes recognizing specific letters of the alphabet, but it also starts at a young age when toddlers learn to distinguish and name the different shapes. As they grow older, children can look for the letters in their name or play “Letter Day” games where they look for everything they can find that begins with a certain sound or letter.
Phonological awareness, a fancy word for recognizing rhyming words and hearing the different sounds within words, is a fun skill to work on. Sing songs together, recite nursery rhymes, play word games, and try clapping or drumming the rhythm to songs and chants.

Celebrate reading to preschoolers with us this week. Have some fun at the library using our magnet board, homemade drums, and puzzle rhymes to practice 6 by 6 skills. Then share a great book like Chicka Chicka Boom Boom or one of your own favorites with a preschooler in your life, and know that you have played an important role in that child’s journey to success.

Heartbeat

2011-11-09T18:02:00.001-06:00

by Sharon Creech

Annie loves to run - always barefoot, usually with her best friend Max. Running helps her feel steady during a time in her life when so many things are changing. Her mother is pregnant, which is a big change of course, but for Annie, it is a welcome one. The other major change is not welcome; her grandfather is showing signs of Alzheimer's disease. Max is moody and grumpy lately, so he isn't much help. But Annie has running to help her clear her mind. The track coach at Annie's school is pressuring her to join the team, but Annie doesn't want to race. For her, the only reason to run is the pure pleasure of it.

reviewed by Jessica

Escape By Night: a Civil War Adventure

2011-11-08T09:51:00.000-06:00

Escape By Night: a Civil War Adventure
by Laurie Myers

Young Tom McKnight, son of the Presbyterian minister, lives across the street from his father's church in Augusta, Georgia. The church has become a temporary hospital for hundreds of wounded Confederate soldiers being sent back from the front. Tom sees a injured soldier drop a book in the street, so he has his dog Samson fetch the book. When Tom returns the book to the soldier "Red, " he reads a few lines from it to Tom. Tom begins to pick up clues that "Red" isn't really a Confederate soldier at all, and may even be a Yankee. Tom has the power of life and death over Red, for revealing Red's secret will send him to the prison camp or the gallows. Tom wrestles with his conscience and his loyalties to reach a difficult and dangerous decision. Myers has created a fast-paced story with simple illustrations for reluctant and early chapter book readers.

grades 2-3, reviewed by Victoria

Paintings From The Cave: Three Novellas

2011-11-03T18:02:00.000-05:00

by Gary Paulsen

Paintings From The Cave: Three Novellas is powerful stuff. Paulsen writes about what he knows here, drawing from his own abusive childhood. Paulsen rescued himself by his own strength, the love of reading and the love of many good dogs along the way. The young people in these stories are all on their own, with very little support or resources. Just surviving the neglect and abuse by their families is a heroic act. Wanting to overcome it is a miracle. There are no easy answers or neat resolutions here, but the overall effect is inspiring.

recommended for mature upper elementary students to adult, due to themes.
reviewed by Victoria

Eliza's Freedom Road: An Underground Railroad Diary

2011-11-02T08:00:00.000-05:00

by Jerdine Nolen

Although Eliza’s mistress is kind, and has taught her to read and write, Eliza’s master is cruel. Eliza knows that it is only a matter of time before she will be sold away as her mother was. So, when presented with a chance to follow Harriet Tubman to freedom, Eliza doesn’t hesitate. With her she brings the story quilt her mother made her and an abiding love of those she left behind.

Written as journal entries, this historical novel portrays a young slave’s life during her final year as a slave and follows her journey to freedom. Although Eliza’s journey is dangerous, the novel doesn’t dwell on these dangers, instead it focuses on Eliza’s hope and friends that help her on her way. The stories Eliza shares with her fellow runaways highlight the importance of the strong oral tradition among American slaves. In an author’s note at the end of the novel, Nolen provides information about each of the stories Eliza tells. A bibliography is also included.

Reviewed by Melendra

Junonia

2011-11-01T14:16:00.000-05:00

written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes

Junonia is a poignant book about being a child, at a perfect time, in a perfect place. Alice and her family celebrate her birthday every year at a seaside cottage called Scallop. This year will be her tenth birthday, and Alice has high hopes for the perfect celebration. They'll see old friends, visit familiar places, and look for shell treasures on the beach. This summer Alice must make some adjustments, from missing old friends to making new friends. But it's the search for the elusive Junonia shell that dominates Alice's tenth summer. Will she find one? Will Alice's birthday be perfect? Henkes captures the very essence of being a child of ten: "Suddenly she felt as if she were the center of everything, like the sun. She was thinking: Here I am. I have my parents. We're alone together. I will never be old. I will never die. It's right now. I'm ten."

reviewed by Victoria

Kat, Incorrigible

2011-10-29T07:00:00.001-05:00

by Stephanie Burgis

Kat, or Katherine as her stepmama likes to call her, truly is incorrigible. But what else can she be when she is the only one who can save her eldest sister, Elissa, from marrying the evil Sir Neville? Never mind that Angeline, her second oldest sister, has a plan of her own, nor the fact that Elissa's true love might take a hand in rescuing Elissa. Kat knows that she must act, and when she discovers that she is the heir to her mother's magic, well, a little thing like propriety won't stop Kat.

This tale combines Austen's world of polite society and some not so polite witchcraft to create a delightful adventure. Kat's incorrigibility, both a strength and a weakness, leads to many humorous and dangerous situations but ultimately saves the day. Kat is a mischievous and clever heroine who truly wants what is best for her family, and in the midst of her adventures, she discovers some unexpected things about herself.

Reviewed by Melendra

I'm a Scientist

2011-10-27T12:30:00.002-05:00

From Dorling Kindersley

Geared toward the picture book crowd, this fun nonfiction series presents information related to familiar places, Kitchen and Backyard, as well as of great interest, My Body and Water Fun. With simple experiments that can be performed using household materials, these titles offer parents a fun way to introduce their children to science. A mix of photographs and illustrations make the experiments easy to set up and follow. While a child who has a great interest in a particular topic might want to do all the activities, the books are easy to dip into if parents are hoping to find an experiment to help address a specific topic, such as how muscles help create facial expressions, page 11 of My Body. Lift-the-flap science facts follow each activity and present follow up ideas.

Reviewed by Melendra

Seedfolks

2011-10-22T16:13:00.000-05:00

by Paul Fleischman

I've been listening to a lot of audiobooks lately, and some books change media better than others. I'm glad I listened to this particular book, though. It is told from thirteen different viewpoints, mostly from immigrants. Each chapter is read by a different reader, so the different accents and dialects come through clearly.

The abandoned lot in Cleveland is an eyesore - trash piled high with more added everyday. But when a young Vietnamese girl wants to honor her late father by planting seeds like he used to do, it's the only patch of ground she can find. She clears a small spot and plants a few lima beans. Other neighbors take notice and begin clearing their own patches of ground. The crops vary according to the planter's culture, but soon the garden is flourishing and so is the community of gardeners.

This is a beautiful story of what can happen when somebody decides to see the potential instead of the present situation.

Reviewed by Jessica

The Robe of Skulls

2011-10-21T13:15:00.000-05:00

by Vivian French

Evil sorceress Lady Lamorna decides she needs a new magical gown (a robe of skulls and webs) and employs the Ancient Crowns to make it. Unfortunately, she doesn't have enough gold to pay for it so she comes up with a new scheme, with the help of her troll Gubble, to trick the local Kings and Queens out of some treasure. Could a reluctant prince, a mistreated step child and two little bats put a kink in her plans? You bet, and the Ancient Crones might have a little something to do with it, too.

This is the first in the series "Tales from the Five Kingdoms." Fantasy lovers will eat up this quick-paced plot and be ready to check out the other titles:
The Bag of Bones, The Heart of Glass, and The Flight of Dragons (which just came out this summer).

Reviewed by Jennifer

A Ghostly Good Time

2011-10-20T14:20:00.008-05:00

by Woman's Day Magazine

A Ghostly Good Time: The Family Halloween Handbook is a one-stop resource for Halloween fun. It's full of creative and spooky ideas for decorating, costumes, jack-o-lanterns, and recipes. I remember fondly (and perhaps with a touch of selective amnesia) the fun of putting together homemade costumes for my family. It was always a friendly rivalry to come up with a new jack-o-lantern design. I wish I'd had this book to help!There are lots of easy costume ideas here that kids can help assemble. Each costume design is rated for difficulty, with a materials list (some of the materials are recycled). There are also recipes for treats for special trick-or-treaters, from"Ghoulash Stew" to "Witch's Potion." Try some of the wildly creative ideas for carving jack-o-lanterns. Halloween decorations inside and outside are becoming more popular, and this book has lots of wonderful ideas to make your own. Check it out early and have fun planning and creating a ghostly good time with your kids!

reviewed by Victoria

Sidekicks

2011-10-17T18:40:00.003-05:00

By Dan Santat

This standalone title follows the adventures of Fluffy, the pet hamster of the famous superhero, Captain Amazing. Fluffy is just one of Captain Amazing’s pets. The others, Shifty a chameleon, Roscoe a dog, and Manny a cat each have a superpower and, at various times, have used those powers to earn them more of Captain Amazing’s limited time. Now, Fluffy hopes he too can prove he has what it takes to become Captain Amazing’s sidekick. But, can the rivalry that takes place within their small household prepare Fluffy to be a real superhero?

Santat has great comic timing and a willingness to throw in goofball action as necessary; however, this graphic novel only light reading. Not only do Fluffy and his fellow pets learn what really matters to them when they get caught up in a Super Villain’s plot and have to join forces to save Captain Amazing, they also discover that being a hero is about more than your powers. Full-color illustrations capture the personality and emotions of the animals, as well as the fatigue of an overworked Captain Amazing.

Reviewed by Melendra

Going Batty at the Library

2011-10-16T09:08:00.002-05:00

Library column printed in The Mercury 10-16-11

Another inky evening’s here—
The air is cool and calm and clear.
We’ve feasted, fluttered, swooped and soared,
And yet…we’re still a little bored…
Then word spreads quickly from afar;
A window has been left ajar.
Can it be true? Oh, can it be?
Yes! Bat Night at the library!

Brian Lies’s introduction to his beautifully illustrated picture book, Bats at the Library, is just the invitation kids need to see a library visit from a new perspective. Bats swoop through shelves, looking for books and playing wingtip tag. They hang upside down from lamps and read Goodnight Sun instead of Goodnight Moon. If you enjoy the fantastic night scenes and creative bat antics, you will also need to check out Lies’s Bats at the Beach (with wingboat races and roasted bug-mallows) and Bats at the Ballgame (“buy me some beenuts and Cricket Jack”). At our next ZOOfari Tails program, Sunset Zoo staff will be reading Bats at the Library, as well as Daft Bat by Jeanne Willis.

For longer novels that feature bats, I highly recommend Silverwing by Kenneth Oppel. Young silverwing Shade gets separated from his bat colony as the others are migrating and is left alone and afraid in a storm. Things turn around when Shade befriends Marina, a bat who has been banned from her colony because she is “banded” by humans, which her colony believes is evil. Together, Shade and Marina travel the perilous journey in search of Shade’s family, narrowly escaping many dangers. Kids who enjoy animal fantasies like Brain Jacques’s Redwall or Erin Hunter’s Warriors series may enjoy following Shade’s adventures, which continue in Sunwing and Firewing, or they may want to try the prehistoric prequel, Darkwing.

Bats also play a significant role in the popular fantasy series beginning with Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins (author of The Hunger Games). When 11-year-old Gregor goes after his baby sister down a tunnel from a vent in the laundry room, he lands in an underground world with amazing creatures, including giant cockroaches, rats and bats to name a few, as well as a whole race of violet-eyed people called The Underlanders. To them, Gregor’s fall from above was no coincidence – he may be the prophesied overlander come to save them. But first Gregor must learn to fly on a bat and earn the trust of his new comrades.

If you want to learn more about bats, The Bat Scientists by Mary Kay Carson was recently reviewed by children’s librarian Jessica Long on our blog. Jessica recalls bat-watching with her family when she was young, and she found Bat Scientists to be “absolutely full of interesting tidbits about bats. For instance, only one half of one percent of bats contract rabies, and they very rarely bite humans. But did you know that bats have bellybuttons?” You might not want to get close enough to check that out, but Manhattan does have bats, most commonly the little brown and big brown bat species. Charlie Lee, wildlife specialist at K-State Research and Extension, says that during the summer, you can often find bats at evening ballgames. Just look up at the ball field lights where bats fly around eating insects. Children will be fascinated to learn that bats catch the bugs using echolocation instead of sight.

Other books in the children’s room with facts and incredible photos that capture bats’ night-flying abilities include Amazing Bats by award-winning science author Seymour Simon, and Bats: Hunters of the Night by Elaine Landua. Hello, Bumblebee Bat by Darrin Lunde is an informational picture book that can be shared with preschoolers. Do you think you have bats living in your house? It’s possible. Go to K-State Extension’s bat info page at www.wildlife.ksu.edu to find out what to do.

Join us at the library for bat stories at ZOOfari Tails on October 28 at 10:00. Other fun events coming up include READ with Dogs today from 2-4 and Wii Play Day on October 27 from 2-3:30, featuring Mario Kart and Smarty Pants Trivia. Kids can come dressed in costume to Halloween storytimes on October 31 at 10:00, 11:00 or 4:00, and trick-or-treat throughout the library after storytime. As evenings get darker, remember the library is open so you can flit in like a bat to “flutter off and lose yourselves, among the books lined up on shelves…Every evening, one and all will listen for that late-night call: Can it be true? Oh, can it be? Yes! Bat Night at the library!”

Column by Jennifer Adams

Every Thing On It

2011-10-14T08:14:00.003-05:00

Poems and Drawings by Shel Silverstein

Beloved children's poet Shel Silverstein passed away in 1999, but this new poetry book just came out in September. It includes many wonderful poems and drawings Silverstein did before he died, compiled by his family and friends and publisher. Thank goodness the world did not miss out on these treasures! I savored reading it, reveling in the absurd silliness just as I did when reading Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, and his other books for the first time when I was a kid.

In this 200-page volume with the classic white cover and ink drawing, you never know what the next page will bring -- a 2-line snippet about your hair dryer ("Whoosh") or a long silly poem about what to do with "A Mouse In This House." Silverstein's poems are simple yet amazing, inspiring me to memorize lines and verses so I can pull them out of my memory later when I need a laugh. A few small, serious poems carefully placed amid the inane and hilarious ones take the reader a little off guard. Silverstein is a master at making us both laugh at and think about ourselves and our world.

Please check this one out! You just can't afford to miss it.

Reviewed by Jennifer

Tower of Treasure

2011-10-13T13:18:00.003-05:00

By Scott Chantler

This fast-paced adventure covers a lot of ground, introducing Dessa and her odd friends as well as the evil queen, her equally evil chamberlain, and the captain of her guard. Dessa is an acrobat with a traveling circus, but readers soon learn that Dessa’s fellow performers are more interested in picking pockets than entertaining. Dessa disdains the stealing, but it is forced upon her when she ruins the take by interrupting her act to chase down a man she remembers from a tragic flashback. And thus, she joins with Topper, the circus juggler, and Fisk, the strongman, in an attempt to rob the queen’s treasury.

Chantler’s illustrations capture not only the expressions, but also the personalities of Dessa and her friends. Dessa is a spunky heroine with incredible acrobatic skill, but it will take all of her cunning along with the help of her friends to end this night alive. With quirky characters and a multi-layered plot, this first graphic novel in the Three Thieves series will have readers begging for the second book.

Reviewed by Melendra

Buzz Beaker and the Cave Creatures

2011-10-12T17:01:00.000-05:00

by Cari Meister

Buzz Beaker is a science-loving, invention-creating kid! In this adventure, Buzz explores a mysterious cave with his dad, Dr. Beaker. They encounter some strange creatures in the cave. What in the world could they be? I won't give away the ending, but it is an interesting discovery. There are three other Buzz books in the series, and they are great choices for beginning readers in 1st and 2nd grade.

-reviewed by Laura

Nothing Like a Puffin

2011-10-12T16:49:00.000-05:00

by Sue Soltis, illustrated by Bob Kolar

It is a fact: puffins are unique, beautiful birds. But is there anything else in the world like them? This book dares to answer that question. Puffins are, in fact, similar to newspapers, jeans, and goldfish--who would have suspected? Children can explore the concepts of comparison, colors, and identifying similarities and differences.

-reviewed by Laura

Animal Playtime

2011-10-12T16:43:00.000-05:00

by Caroline Bingham

This book is chock full of cute animals monkeying around! You will encounter playful creatures such as raccoon families, mountain goats, and otters wrestling with their brothers and sisters. Because this is a DK nonfiction book, it contains great information about all the animals presented in an eye-catching way. Preschoolers will enjoy the animal antics, and primary grade students will love reading the info on their own.

-Reviewed by Laura

The 39 Clues

2011-10-12T15:52:00.001-05:00

invented and organized by Rick Riordan

If you like adventure, secrets, history, or kids saving the world, you will love The 39 Clues. There is one family, the Cahills, that has been shaping history for centuries. Almost all famous people are Cahills, and they've been leaving clues to something mysterious and valuable. Amy and Dan Cahill have to compete with other teams from their extended family to gather all the clues in a race that gets more dangerous and difficult every day. There are ten books in the series, each written by a different popular children's author, and a new series with new stakes has just started. Each book is around 200 pages, so they work well for young readers who have moved past early chapter books but aren't ready for something as long as Harry Potter. There is also a website and card game that goes along with the series, so you can join in the clue hunt. It's all very exciting!

--reviewed by Rachel

Aliens on Vacation

2011-10-11T09:27:00.000-05:00

by Clete Barrett Smith

David, aka Scrub, is used to being shipped off to relatives for the summer while his parents go on business trips. This is the first summer he's ever been sent to his grandma's house, though. In fact, he doesn't know her at all. The last time she visited he was only one.

Even before he walks into her house, he knows this summer will be, well, different. First of all, his grandma runs the The Intergalactic Bed and Breakfast. Not exactly the type of place that attracts your average tourist. Second, the first tourist he sees is about seven feet tall, deathly grey, and stops to smell everything in his path. Inside, things only get stranger - the decor is a mix of the '60s and space paraphernalia. The other guests are all very unusual, too. A family of four is walking down the hall on all fours, a little boy has weird lumps all over his head, and other guests are almost perfectly round.

Scrub quickly learns that the reason these 'tourists' are all so strange is because the bed and breakfast really is intergalactic - the visitors come from all over outer space to vacation on our primitive planet. Grandma's job is to attempt to make them look human and hide them in plain sight. Not everyone is thrilled with the unusual guests, though, and Scrub and his grandma need to be careful not to blow their cover.

reviewed by Jessica

The Seer of Shadows

2011-10-06T16:39:00.010-05:00

by Avi

The Seer of Shadows is the perfect eerie read for a chilly Halloween season. Fourteen-year-old Horace Carpentine is making his own way as a photographer's assistant in New York in 1872. He's a principled, rational, observant young adult. Horace doesn't always approve of his employer's methods, but he's dependent on Mr. Middleditch for his job and his board. Mr. Middleditch has an exciting new commission for a portrait of a society lady, to be placed on her late daughter's grave. This seems like the perfect opportunity for Mr. Middleditch to run a con on the wealthy woman. What if the spirit of Mrs. Von Macht's daughter, Eleanora, also "appears" in the portrait? After all, a double negative print can be easily faked in the darkroom.

The trouble is that Eleanora truly does appear in the photos, and she's a very angry ghost. The family was not the happy trio it seemed, and Eleanora is out for revenge. Horace and his new friend Pegg, the Von Macht's servant girl, are caught in the middle of this showdown. The plot fits right in with the spiritualism that was popular at this time period. The conclusion is so exciting I couldn't wait to see if Horace and Pegg would survive the ghost's revenge. Recommended for upper elementary students.

reviewed by Victoria

Anya's Ghost

2011-10-06T13:10:00.004-05:00

by Vera Brosgol

This graphic novel in our Young Adult section is a fantastic read, especially for spooky October. Anya is frustrated by her family members who don't understand her, and at high school where she isn't beautiful or popular. Within the first dozen pages, Anya accidentally falls into an abandoned well and is stuck for two days. A skeleton at the bottom of the well is a bit creepy, but not near as creepy as the lonely ghost who rests atop it. The ghost of Emily Reilly. When the ghost follows her back home, it seems that befriending a ghoul might have some real perks. But there's more to Emily Reilly than first meets the eye. Brosgol is a skillful artist who perfectly captures the emotions of Anya in her ups and downs as a typical teen girl who happens to have a ghost as a best friend. I hope there will be more Anya books to come.
-Reviewed by Jennifer

Snow Play

2011-10-01T09:15:00.007-05:00

Snow Play: how to make forts & slides & winter campfires plus the coolest Loch Ness monster and 23 other brrrilliant projects in the snow is written by international designer Birgitta Ralston. Ralston has designed amazing snow creations that your family will have a great time constructing. Some projects are basic, and only take an hour or so to make. Others, like the snow birthday cake, take a few hours to create. I especially loved the snow ghosts with lighted eyes that make me wish for snow on this Halloween. There are functional projects like snow slides and caves, and decorative projects like ice wreaths with evergreen boughs and fruits. The Loch Ness Monster takes some time, but it's so cool! Each project has step-by step instructions with beautiful photos of the finished project.
Snow Play is shelved in the adult non-fiction section on MPL's second floor, but it's written with family fun in mind.

reviewed by Victoria

The Bat Scientists

2011-09-28T18:39:00.001-05:00

By Mary Kay Carson

I have fond memories of bat-watching with my family as a child, so when the library got a new book about them, I decided to look through it. The Bat Scientists is absolutely full of interesting tidbits about bats. Some are things everyone should know. For instance, only one half of one percent of bats contract rabies, and they very rarely bite humans. Others are just random bits of fun information. Did you know that bats have bellybuttons?

This book is part of a series called Scientists in the Field that introduces kids to scientists that work in nature. The library owns two dozen books in the series. Topics range from scientists studying deep-sea volcanoes to those who study endangered species (tree kangaroos, snow leopards, and wolves to name a few). The photographs never fail to amaze, and the text is full of fascinating information. I also read and highly recommend Kakapo Rescue about huge ground-dwelling parrots in New Zealand, and the scientists who are trying to save the world's last 91 kakapo parrots.

reviewed by Jessica

A Fall of Literacy Fun at the Library

2011-09-19T10:42:00.007-05:00

Library column for the Manhattan Mercury, Sept. 4, 2011
by Jennifer Adams, Children’s Services Manager

September 12 is the beginning of the fall storytime session in the Children’s Room, kicking off with Baby Rhyme Time on Monday at 11:00. Miss Victoria will teach parents fun bounces, songs and rhymes to do with their babies, from birth to 18 months old. Choral reader sets are excellent for this group because each parent-child pair gets a copy of the same board book to read together. The first week features Baby Danced the Polka, a silly rhyming story that includes “lift-the-flap” pages. Parents can plan to have some social time afterwards while babies continue playing with scarves, balls, blocks, instruments…or each other.

Move and Groove meets on Tuesday at 10:00, Wednesday at 11:00 and Thursday at 10:00. Each storytime will incorporate songs, dancing and actions along with entertaining read-alouds, so it is perfect for active three- to five-year-olds. The week of September 20, Miss Laura is reading construction books, including a preschool favorite -- I'm Dirty! by Kate and Jim McMullan. Miss Laura says, “This story is covered with mud and muck with no apologies!” After the story, children will practice their construction abilities using foam blocks. “We will build a colorful tower and, of course, then we will knock it down!” Family storytimes on Saturday mornings at 11:00 will include many of the same books and activities as our weekly Move and Grooves, but tailored for an all-ages audience. Reading Round-Up on Wednesday afternoons will focus on longer storybooks with interactive games, a great choice for four and five-year-olds.

Miss Melendra and Miss Jessica will lead Toddler Times on Tuesday at 11:00, Wednesday at 10:00, and Thursday at 11:00. The third week of storytime will include bath stories like Bubble Bath Pirates by Jarrett J. Krosoczka. With its zany, expressive illustrations, the book is bursting with exuberance. Even the text, which changes in size and placement throughout the book, adds to the effect.

“This title is great for helping children notice that reading books is not just about the pictures, but also the words on each page. This skill, sometimes known as ‘Print Awareness’ or the ability to notice print all around, will eventually help your child learn to read. Plus, Bubble Bath Pirates has lots of silly pirate phrases you and your child will have fun repeating,” says Miss Melendra. The storytellers will be incorporating other tips like this into their Toddler Times. “We consider these ‘early literacy’ skills when we create our storytime programs, and we love to share ideas with parents so they can foster these skills at home, too.”

Older children will want to join Miss Ericka again this fall for fascinating after school clubs. The theme – “So You Want to Break a World Record?” – stems from the popularity of books like Ripley’s Believe It Or Not and Guinness Book of World Records books, as well as novels like Gary Paulsen’s Masters of Disaster. In this title, Paulsen, well-known for his books with boy appeal, introduces three twelve-year old boys on a mission, says Miss Ericka. “They want to do something amazing and make a name for themselves, but with Henry Mosley in the lead, this could spell disaster! With wacky escapades like trying to break a world record with a bike, a roof and a pool cover, or exploring unknown, potentially dangerous and strangely explosive life forms, you never know what the next page might reveal. This is an amusing, adventurous story of three very different friends banding together.”

Like the boys in this novel, kids who come to the library clubs this fall will be exploring wacky world records. Though ours might not be as extreme (or smelly) as Henry Mosley’s, kids are sure to have a blast with minute-to-win-it challenges, games, relays, humorous stories and tons of crazy records. Clubs for kids in K-2nd grade will meet Tuesdays on September 13, September 27 and October 11 at 4:15. Kids in 3rd-6th grade will meet Thursdays on September 22nd, October 6th and October 20th at 4:15.

The R.E.A.D. with Dogs program on the first and third Sunday afternoon each month is a relaxing and pleasant way to practice reading skills. Reading Education Assistance Dogs are trained therapy dogs who visit our storytime room from 2:00-4:00 and listen to kids read aloud to them. Each dog is accompanied by a dog handler, and children can sign up when they arrive for a 10-15 minute session. The dogs that join us range in size from golden retrievers to schipperkes.

Miss Jessica coordinates the programs and says if you want to read to a dog, Dog in Boots by Greg Gormley is a choice that all pups should enjoy. “Dog has just finished reading Puss In Boots, so he decides he needs boots, too, and heads to the local shoe shop. Unfortunately, fancy boots are not good for digging in the mud. He trades them in for rain boots, but they aren't any good for swimming. It’s hard for a dog to find the perfect fit.” Follow up with the bestseller Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes if the dog seems to enjoy this one.

Other exciting events coming up include a talk by award-winning author Susan Campbell Bartoletti on September 22 at 7:00. She will describe her writing process for The Boy Who Dared, which won this year’s William Allen White Award, as well as her other nonfiction and fiction books. The following week, parents and caregivers are invited to our annual Toddler Fair on September 28 from 9:30 to noon. Mercy Regional Health Center co-sponsors the event, and more than a dozen other agencies or businesses will be on hand to give information about the services they provide for young children, child care providers and families.

Check the library’s online events calendar for even more programs for children, including monthly ZOOfari Tails, kids’ movies, game days and more.

Word After Word After Word

2011-09-14T10:33:00.008-05:00

by Patricia MacLachlan

This book follows five friends: Lucy, Henry, Evie, Russell and May. On the surface they appear as "average" fourth graders. They attend school, no matter how repetitive and boring it can be, and enjoy hanging out with friends afterwards. That is until the unique Ms. Mirabel visits their classroom and brings with her the magic of words. Words begin to flow from each of them and the reader soon finds out that these five fourth graders have feelings, issues and emotions deep inside and are slowly learning to let them out in verse. Each one of them is allowed the chance to share a glimmer of their lives – which may not be as simple as they seem. Get inspired Word After Word After Word.

Reviewed by Ericka

The School for the Insanely Gifted

2011-09-09T18:26:00.002-05:00

by Dan Elish

First of all, you'll definitely need to suspend all disbelief for this book. If you're willing to do that, though, you can ride along on a rollicking adventure involving flying cars and gum that lets you surf the internet as you chew. The best part is that the wacky inventions are created by kids. The three main characters are all around twelve years old, and as you have probably guessed from the title, they are *insanely* gifted. They attend the Blatt School for the Insanely Gifted along with classmates whose specialties range from building bridges to teaching rats to tap-dance.

Daphna is musically inclined - she wrote her first sonata at three years old and is currently working on a rhapsody. Thunk invents all sorts of things - including the previously mentioned flying car and gum. Cynthia is amazing on stage - she's been on Broadway since she was six. Unfortunately, being insanely gifted doesn't mean their lives are easy. Daphna's mother disappeared two months ago, and now Daphna and her friends are being chased by strange men in antelope masks asking about something called a "Flex-bed."

Join Daphna and her friends as they try to figure out just what is going on and how they can straighten the whole mess out.

reviewed by Jessica

The Redheaded Princess

2011-09-08T09:29:00.005-05:00

by Ann Rinaldi

So many little girls wish to be a princess--who wouldn't want all those gowns, sparkling jewels, and your own horse? The Redheaded Princess shows readers what the royal life was really like. The story begins when Elizabeth is around 3, and ends when she ascends the throne to become Queen of England. Even as a young child, Elizabeth wanted to be queen and did everything in her power to become the monarch. Her father, Henry VIII, didn't treat Elizabeth as a daughter, but as a possible heir. She spent time at court, then was sent back to Hatfield Estate when she was considered a threat. She was tutored by classical scholars, instructed in court manners, but most of all she studied how her father retained power. Rinaldi gives us plenty of historical fact and royal ambiance, but doesn't skimp on the dangerous intrigue surrounding the royal family. Elizabeth is a sympathetic character; her sister Mary is portrayed as insane. Recommended for upper elementary for mature themes.

reviewed by Victoria

Mr. Popper's Penguins

2011-09-02T14:05:00.008-05:00

by Richard and Florence Atwater
First published in 1938, this humorous classic has made a comeback with the movie starring Jim Carrey that came out earlier this year. I did not make it to the movie theater for it, but decided to reread the book. It still holds up as a silly, quirky story that could be enjoyed as a read-aloud with the whole family.

Mr. Popper is a house painter, but when he gets home from work in the evening he is obsessed with learning about the antarctic. He listens to reports from the Drake Antarctic Expidition on the radio and even wrote them a letter. In return, strangely enough, Admiral Drake sends Mr. Popper a penguin. How that exotic bird turns from one penguin, who Mr. Popper names "Captain Cook," into a whole waddle of penguins is worth picking up the book to find out. Characterization is somewhat shallow without much depth to Mr. Popper or his wife and children, but the penguins' antics carry the story to a satisfying ending that includes a stage number set to music where sliding penguins abound.

I was curious about how the book was written by the husband and wife team and found some interesting short biographies online. Richard Atwater had written "Ork! The Story of Mr. Popper's Penguins" but then suffered a stroke in 1934 and was unable to write anymore. His wife sent the book off but it was rejected, so she did some rewriting and tried again. Their combined effort earned them a Newbery Honor in 1939 and a spot on many lists of children's classics to this day.
-Reviewed by Jennifer

The Summer of May

2011-08-29T20:18:00.000-05:00

by Cecilia Galante

May has been having quite a hard time lately - her mother is gone, her grandmother is depressed, and her father is always at work. May takes out her anger on a teacher, Ms. Movado, by painting a picture "Movado the Avacado" on the classroom walls. Now she's faced with expulsion or an entire summer of summer school with the teacher she hates most. She grudgingly chooses summer school, but it's even worse than she thought. Not only is she the only student there, but she also has to repaint the whole room by herself!

After many days and many surprises, May learns much more than the meaning of personification. Now she just has to learn how to put the pieces of her family back together.

reviewed by Jessica

Dark Waters

2011-08-25T11:14:00.008-05:00

by Catherine MacPhail

Dark Waters has been a popular book at the library lately, so my curiosity was piqued. I picked it up to see what was so appealing that all three copies of the 2003 book were checked out. I could quickly see it's a good coming-of -age story with an unusual setting. Dark Waters is told from the point of view of Col McCann, a Scottish boy whose father and brother are petty thugs. Col loyally hopes to follow in their footsteps until one day fate challenges that legacy. Col sees another boy falling through the ice into the freezing loch. There's no one else around, so it looks as if the boy will quickly drown in the icy water. But without thinking, Col risks his own life to save the boy. Why did he do something so out of character? How will it affect his family--especially his criminal brother? Can individuals overcome their family background if they want to? This is a quick and engrossing read, with a supernatural twist. Recommended for upper elementary students.
reviewed by Victoria

Flat Broke

2011-08-19T09:36:00.006-05:00

by Gary Paulsen

Flat Broke, the theory, practice and destructive properties of greed is the companion book to Paulsen's Liar, Liar. When 14 year old Kevin loses his allowance for a week, he finds all kinds of "business opportunities" around him. Kevin starts up several poker games, a garage cleaning business, and figures out how to cash in on his sister's hairdressing skills. He recruits friends and family to help him with his schemes, which are very successful to begin with. But things get out of hand, and Kevin finds that his get rich quick schemes get him into trouble quick too.
This should appeal to elementary age boys, even reluctant readers. The pace is fast and funny, and Kevin is an appealing con artist--oops, I mean businessman!
reviewed by Victoria

The Hidden Gallery

2011-08-19T08:08:00.006-05:00

by Maryrose Wood

The 2nd installment of The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place does not disappoint! Left with a mysterious howl at the end of book 1 (suitably titled "The Mysterious Howling"), I was anxious to see what would happen next. Miss Penelope Lumley, governess to 3 children raised by wolves and employee of the rather difficult Lord and Lady Ashton, leads readers on an exciting adventure in London. The children, Alexander, Beowulf and Cassiopeia, are learning good manners but still have a bit of wild in them. Between attacking the guards at Buckingham Palace (their hats do resemble bears, you know) and being chased by thespian pirates, they keep up a pretty fast pace.

Miss "Lumawoo," as the children affectionately call her, still has time for a sweet love interest to spark in the kind, helpful gentleman Simon Harley-Dickinson, a struggling playwright who shows up at all the right times to rescue Penelope and her charges. The reviewer who labeled the series as "Jane Eyre meets Lemony Snicket" is right on target. It has all the charm, wit and originality a young reader could ask for. Be prepared for a tantalizing ending that will leave you clamoring for book 3.
Reviewed by Jennifer

Can We Save The Tiger?

2011-08-17T14:59:00.009-05:00

by Martin Jenkins; illustrated by Vicky White

Can We Save the Tiger? is a perfect introduction to the subject of endangered species and conservation. British conservationist Martin Jenkins has teamed up with illustrator Vicky White to create another gorgeous picture-book format nature book. A variety of species, from tigers to tiny partula snails, are presented. Jenkins explores their history, why they are threatened and what could save them. There's also a fact sheet for each featured species. Other species, now extinct or threatened are also included. Jenkins doesn't preach, but he makes clear that saving these species will take a lot of hard work and change. He sets out the primary threats to most species as human encroachment, the introduction of non-native predators, and disease.

Vicky White travels the world to paint wild animals, and her technique is beautiful. She shows her artistic process by developing the subject from sketch to detailed drawing with touches of oil paint. Together, Jenkins and White have produced a sensitive introduction to these species.

reviewed by Victoria

Mistress of the Storm

2011-08-11T20:29:00.004-05:00

By M.L. Welsh

In her home town of Wellow, Verity has never fit in. Unlike her charming younger sister, Poppy, Verity is quiet and a bit clumsy. She has only recently made her first friend, another misfit named Henry. Still, her home has always been a refuge. However, when a grandmother she’s never heard of shows up unannounced, home life becomes anything but an escape. Verity discovers that not only is her family more influential than she ever suspected, but she has an important role to play in protecting herself and everyone she cares about. Now, Verity must discover her hidden strengths, reach out to new friends, and learn what everyone else in Wellow seems to already know, in order to defeat an adversary older than anyone can imagine.

At first glance, Verity’s world seems normal, but as the story progresses, the mystery and magic of the Gentry and their role in Wellow’s history create a fantasy world readers will hate to leave. Welsh’s tale of sailing, storms, and “true stories,” will delight fans of Susan Cooper’s The Dark Is Rising series. This title looks to be the first in a Verity Gallant series.

Reviewed by Melendra

The Other Half of My Heart

2011-08-09T16:22:00.006-05:00

The Other Half of My Heart by Sundee T. Fraizer

Kiera and Minni are your average twins; they love hanging out with one another, sharing jokes, whispering secrets and are always there to support the other. There is one difference, however, between the two…the color of their skin. Kiera has black skin like their mama, and Minni has white skin, like their father. To some people this is no big deal, but to others the color of their skin determines how they are treated and viewed. When the girls get invited from their home state of Washington to North Carolina to stay with their strick, former school teacher Grandmother and compete in the Miss Black Pearl of American Program, things begin to change for Minni. She takes notice of the way people treat her differently from her sister and begins to learn how much impact the color of her skin actually has. Struggling to find her place, overcoming her hesitation of performing in front of others and saving her relationship with her sister all begins to take its toll on Minni. She knows that if she wants people to see her family in the same beautiful and wonderful way that she does, she must first learn to share herself.

Reviewed by Ericka

Inside Out & Back Again

2011-08-07T17:41:00.001-05:00

By Thanhha Lai

In this novel in verse, based in part upon Lai’s own experiences, Há must leave behind the only life she’s ever known, that of a South Vietnamese child during the Vietnam war. In Vietnam, she is a slightly spoiled youngest child, well-educated, loved, and teased by her three older brothers. But when she and her family escape to America, and eventually end up in Alabama, life is unexpectedly harder. In America, Há’s family has little money, and she no longer feels smart. At her school, she hides in the classroom to avoid playground bullies.

But there are good things too. The cowboy who sponsors Há’s family, the neighbor who offers to tutor the children in English, and the new friends that ultimately help Há defeat the class bully.

Lai’s poetry captures the delight of fresh papaya, the silence of fear, and the bond of family loyalty. Presenting the joys and the hardships of Vietnam as well as those of trying to fit in after coming to Alabama, Inside Out & Back Again is beautifully written, and richly evocative of a different time and place.

Reviewed by Melendra

Eggs Over Evie

2011-08-06T09:19:00.003-05:00

By Alison Jackson

Evie is having trouble adjusting to her parents’ divorce, especially now that her father’s new wife is pregnant with twins. Evie misses the time she and her father used to spend cooking together, and she misses her (now her father’s) dog. Evie hopes that her summer cooking class can fill the void she’s feeling as well as make her an excellent cook.

While Evie has to deal with a number of difficult situations in the novel, Jackson maintains an optimistic tone throughout. Evie and her friends and family are well-realized and appealing characters. Even when Evie feels overwhelmed, her family and friends come through for her. Recipes relating to each chapter are included.

Reviewed by Melendra

More True Lies

2011-07-31T14:27:00.000-05:00

Told by George Shannon
Eighteen stories are presented in this book. Each story tells the truth, but leaves out an important fact. Without this fact, the story makes no sense. These stories are often called "Stories with holes." Can you figure out the missing information?

Here's an example: the first story is the tale of a man sentenced to jail for picking up a rope on the ground. Why would he be sent to jail for that? Because the rope was attached to a cow that he was stealing!

reviewed by Jessica

Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock

2011-07-29T15:22:00.006-05:00

Retold by Eric A. Kimmel & Illustrated by Janet Stevens

When Anansi the trickster spider discovers a strange moss-covered rock that knocks him out for an hour when he says the magic phrase, he knows exactly what to do with it. Anansi proceeds to trick all the animals of the forest and steal their food. All of them that is, except for Little Bush Deer. In this clever tale, Anansi gets his comeuppance when he is out-tricked by Little Bush Deer. Kimmel’s tale will have young readers and their parents laughing at the silly antics of Anansi. Stevens perfectly captures the fun in her comic illustrations.

Other Anansi tales told by this pair include: Anansi Goes Fishing, Anansi’s Party, Anansi and the Magic Stick, and Anansi and the Talking Melon.

Reviewed by Melendra

Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves

2011-07-29T15:07:00.004-05:00

Retold by Matthew K. Manning & Illustrated by Ricardo Osnaya

This fast paced retelling of Ali Baba’s tale is a good introduction into the mystery and magic of One Thousand and One Nights, from which it is adapted. With vivid illustrations and lots of action, this short graphic novel is clearly aimed at reluctant readers and will have them asking for more of the Arabian Nights Tales from Stone Arch Books.

Reviewed by Melendra

The Rabbit Problem

2011-07-28T17:54:00.002-05:00

by Emily Gravett

One rabbit is nice, two are in love, baby makes three…now what happens if they keep multiplying over the course of a year? The great mathematician Fibonacci asked this question many many years ago, and in this book, you can see JUST how many that would be! If you like math, great. Rabbits? Even better. Both? You’ll be hooked! Neither? Oh well, but it’s such a fun book anyway! You will want to look at this one over and over exploring the increasing amounts of funny little details (and rabbits, of course.) The book is in a clever calendar format with scribbles of important occasions and happenings and a truly surprising pop-up explosion of rabbits at the end.

-reviewed by Molly

Fractions = Trouble!

2011-07-27T18:00:00.001-05:00

by Claudia Mills

Claudia Mills is becoming my favorite early chapter book author. I loved How Oliver Olson Changed the World, and Fractions = Trouble! is just as great. This book is the sequel to 7 x 9 = Trouble!, in which Wilson Williams has trouble learning multiplication. In this book, the third grade has moved on to fractions, and Wilson just can't seem to understand them, so his parents have hired a math tutor! Wilson is convinced that no one else in his school would ever have a tutor, and he's embarrassed. And to make things worse, the fact that he's obviously keeping a secret is causing problems in Wilson's relationship with his best friend, Josh. Sometimes it seems like his hamster, Pip, is the only one who understands him. Claudia Mills really understands the way kids think and act--this book is a treat.

Reviewed by Rachel

As Easy as Falling Off the Face of the Earth

2011-07-22T08:27:00.008-05:00

by Lynne Rae Perkins
Imagine suddenly finding yourself in the middle of nowhere with no way to contact anyone who knows you. What would you do? When Ry steps off his train on the way to camp and then misses getting back on before it pulls away, he is a bit stunned. Things get worse when he realizes he can't get a hold of anyone on his cell phone, and the battery is almost dead. But this is not a lonesome survival story. Ry treks into a town and happens across a number of very interesting characters, especially Del, the mechanic/handyman/poet who is possibly a little off his rocker, who help him sort through his problem. Del and Ry end up taking a lengthy, roundabout route to try to locate Ry's grandfather, and then his parents on vacation, not to mention Del's sweetheart. Their journey includes various forms of transportation, not excluding homemade airplanes, rickety cars, and a sailboat.

Older readers will appreciate Ry's self-discoveries along the way, as well as his interesting and often humorous observations. (When describing his room at home, Ry notes the "decorating style he preferred was somewhere between Extreme Lived-In and Total Pit. Lair was how thought of it.")

This is basically a survival story, even though the characters are in the midst of civilization most of the time. Teen boys who have read and enjoyed Gary Paulsen's Hatchet or Louis Sachar's Holes may be ready to move on to this more in-depth novel that gives you an unsettling feeling that this is something that really could possibly happen to you, "if one little thing went wrong - or, okay, a half dozen, a dozen, an unusually large number of things went wrong - and everyone went spinning off in all directions." Thanks to my favorite professor, Anne Phillips, for recommending this title to me!
-reviewed by Jennifer

Drawing Stories from Around the World

2011-07-15T09:40:00.004-05:00

by Anne Pellowski

This is a unique book for both parents and children to enjoy. It contains drawing stories from countries all over the world, and they are simple enough for children and teens, too. Many of the stories begin with lines and shapes and end up turning into a dragon, a pig, or even a bulldog! I shared drawing stories with my 2nd and 3rd grade kids club at the library this summer. The book also includes some Australian Aboriginal sand stories and European handkerchief stories. The stories can provide endless entertainment in a fun way.

Reviewed by Laura

Ship Breaker

2011-06-28T11:03:00.001-05:00

By Paolo Bacigalupi

Nailer’s life is hard, but everyone’s lives are hard these days. Since the oil fields have been drained and the rising seas have flooded coastal cities, the only people with any money are the Swanks, and they have more than they need. Nailer works collecting scrap metal as a ship breaker and spends the rest of his time trying to gauge his father’s moods. But all that changes the day he and Pima discover a wrecked hydrofoil ship and a young Swank girl in desperate need of help. Now Nailer has a chance to get out of the ship-breaking yards forever, but only if he’s willing to leave everything behind. Not just his abusive father, but also Pima and her mother Sadna, the only true family he’s ever known.

Bacigalupi’s fast paced plot and multifaceted characters will appeal to fans of The Hunger Games and The Uglies.

Reviewed by Melendra

Nola's World: Changing Moon

2011-06-27T11:41:00.003-05:00

Written by Mathieu Mariolle; Drawn by Minikim; Colored by Pop

Middle schooler Nola is completely bored in her hometown of Alta Donna. Nothing ever happens, until one day she notices something strange about the new kids at school. Just days ago, Damiano didn’t know a thing about baseball, but suddenly he’s the best player on the team, and Ines is so charming that the shopkeepers at the mall give her things for FREE. Then there is the mysterious incident with the school librarian, Nola knows it must be connected to Damiano and Ines, but how? Along with its supernatural elements, Nola’s story deals with the everyday trials of boring classes, divorced parents, and school bullies. Beautiful illustrations in brilliant colors capture Nola’s everyday life, her vivid imaginations, and the truly odd elements of Damiano and Ines’s lives.

Nola's story continues in Nola's World: Ferrets and Ferreting Out and Nola's World: Even for a Dreamer Like Me.

Reviewed by Melendra

The Familiars

2011-06-27T11:29:00.006-05:00

The Familiars by Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson

Aldwyn is not your ordinary cat. He is an orphaned, street savvy, quick thinking feline only concerned with the when, what and where of his next meal. That is until young Jack, a student of wizardry, ends up choosing Aldwyn as his “familiar” (magical animal companion to wizards) by a series of strange events. The problem isn’t that Jack takes Aldwyn away from the city to live in Stone Runlet where he practices magic nor that this is also home to brainiac Skylar and slow-witted Gilbert, the bluejay and tree frog familiars of the other young wizards. The biggest problem is that Aldwyn is not a familiar and has no magical powers. But before he can explain to the others that he is just an ordinary street cat, Jack and the other students are kidnapped and it’s up to their three familiars to rescue them. Does Aldwyn have what it take to save the children with no magical ability and without revealing his secret? This book will take readers on a magical journey filled with fantasy, magic and, of course, adventure.

A movie adaptation of this book is currently in the works and the second in the series, The Familiars: Secrets of the Crown is due to be released this fall.

If you liked this book also try:

Warriors series by Erin Hunter
The Book of Lies by James Maloney
Children of the Red King series by Jenny Nimmo

Reviewed by Ericka

Matched

2011-06-27T10:57:00.005-05:00

Find in library catalog

Matched by Ally Condie

Life appears easy for Cassia; meals are supplied, schedules are outlined and even true love is carefully planned out. The pressure of discovering who her future husband is no big deal because the society will only match her with her true and honest soul mate, right? After the reveal of her match, although initially elated to discover it is her best friend, becomes unsure when the face of another boy appears momentarily when she is reviewing her match microchip card. Through a series of uncovered secrets, threats, and lies, Cassia begins to do something she has never done before…question. Ally Condie has cleverly combined a unique love story with real life questions and concerns of teens in an unsettling dystopian society. Readers will eagerly look forward to the Fall release of the second in this trilogy, Crossed.

This book is located in the Young Adult area.

This book is sure to be a match for JF readers if you liked:

The Giver, Gathering Blue and Messenger by Lowis Lowry

Book of Ember series by Jeanne DuPrau

The Shadow Children series by Margaret Peterson Haddix

This book is sure to be a match for YA readers if you liked:

The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins

Forest of Hands and Teeth trilogy by Carrie Ryan

The Uglies Trilogy by Scott Westerfield

Reviewed by Ericka

Danger & Diamonds: A Mystery at Sea

2011-06-14T17:01:00.001-05:00

by Elizabeth Levy, illustrated by Mordicai Gerstein

Danger & Diamonds is the first book in a new early chapter book mystery series. Phillipa lives on a cruise ship with her parents, the dance and aquatics instructors, and absolutely loves her life. But the new captain has just brought his son on board, and he sometimes acts a little strange. Phillipa is sure he is hiding something, and she is determined to figure out what it is. Meanwhile, a snobby Duchess and her two nephews are making trouble for the crew, and they seem to be a little too interested in the Captain and his family. Could the two things be related? This is a fun book filled with excitement, mystery and danger, but not enough to be scary. I'm looking forward to the next book, Parrots & Pirates, coming out in August.

Reviewed by Rachel

Take Me to the River

2011-06-14T15:01:00.005-05:00

by Will Hobbs

This is a suspenseful page-turner that will especially appeal to kids who like canoeing, rafting, or outdoor adventures. Fourteen-year-old Dylan travels to Terilingua, Texas, so he can go whitewater rafting with his uncle and cousin, but it turns out his uncle has had to leave unexpectedly for work in Alaska. His cousin Rio talks him into taking the river trip anyway, but then everything starts to get weird. Black helicopters circling the river, talk of hostile drug lords, and then a suspect on the loose make Dylan and Rio extra cautious as they float down the Rio Grande, headed for the rapids. I didn't want to put this one down. Fans of Gary Paulsen's "Brian" books will probably like this and other titles by Will Hobbs.

Reviewed by Jennifer

Lost & Found

2011-05-24T14:30:00.003-05:00

by Shaun Tan

Lost & Found compiles three stories, originally published in Australia as separate books, with additional new artwork. Each tale creates a dream world that draws the reader in with just a few words and engrossing images. There's so much detail to explore in the illustrations, even references to other famous paintings like Hopper's streetscapes.These illustrated books don't really fit neatly into a narrow genre or age range. The stories in Lost & Found can be read as fables for children or as allegories for adults. All three stories deal with the experience of loss, but there's great hope in The Red Tree and The Lost Thing. The Rabbits, written by John Marsden, has a much darker and more adult feel.

The Lost Thing has been made into a film, which won an Academy Award for Best Short Animated Film. Visit Shaun Tan's website at www.shauntan.net, where he talks about his philosophy and creative process. If you enjoy Lost & Found, check out Tan's award-winning books Tales From Outer Suburbia and The Arrival.

elementary age to adult, reviewed by Victoria

The Visconti House

2011-05-22T13:41:00.000-05:00

by Elsbeth Edgar

Laura has always been a bit different, but she really stands out in her new town. Her family just moved into a big, fancy house on the edge of small town that all the kids think is haunted. Apparently, a man built that house and moved from Italy, but then lived there alone for the rest of his life. Nobody knows his story, but they are sure it isn't a happy one.

When Leon moves in with his Grandma down the road from Laura's house, they start a tenuous friendship. Leon has his secrets, too, and he's not ready to reveal his past. He is interested in the Visconti story, though, so he and Laura start investigating. Why did he move halfway across the world just to be alone?

If you are a fan of the Blue Balliett books (Chasing Vermeer, The Wright Three, The Calder Game, The Danger Box), you should pick up The Visconti House.

reviewed by Jessica

Zora and Me

2011-05-19T11:37:00.003-05:00

Zora and Me by Victoria Bond and T.R. Simon

Find in Catalog

This story will captivate you and leave you wanting to know more about the childhood adventures of writer Zora Neal Hurston and her best friend Carrie. Told from the point of view of ten-year-old Carrie, the story is set in Eatonville, FL. where girls get caught up in a story they didn’t know they were part of until after it was over. When Zora witness a local man with a gator snout where his face should be, she is quick to retell the story to her classmates with the vibrancy and details that only she is known for. However, not everyone believes the stories that Zora weaves, so it is up to the girls and their friend Teddy to investigate the mystery of the gator themselves. But when someone is found murdered in Eatonville, the kids discover they may be part of a mystery bigger than even Zora could have ever dreamed up! A clever plot line and rich narrative makes this book a must read for lovers of mysteries, history and a little adventure.

Reviewed by Ericka

The Trouble with Chickens

2011-05-18T13:04:00.004-05:00

by Doreen Cronin
J. J. Tully is a farm dog with attitude. He is recently retired from the "search and rescue" business, but country life is not all rest and relaxation. When Millicent the chicken (whom he immediately nicknames Moosh) approaches him with her beady little eyes and nervous twitches, J. J. is drawn into a mystery, including a new kind of search and rescue. Two of Moosh's chicks have been abducted, and the other two, Sugar and Dirt, are J. J.'s only helpers on the case. Find out what's up with Vince "the Tunnel," the indoor dog, and the truth about the missing chicks in this tongue-and-cheek humorous new mystery written by the author of the popular "Click, Clack, Moo" books. This is a must-read for Hank the Cowdog fans, too!
-revieiwed by Jennifer

Arthur Turns Green

2011-05-17T11:16:00.004-05:00

by Marc Brown
A new "classic" Arthur book focuses on ways to be more Earth-friendly. Mr. Ratburn, Arthur's teacher, challenges his students to come up with ways "to make our planet a better place to live." Several of Arthur's friends try out typical recycling ideas, but Arthur focuses on saving energy and water in little ways all through his house. Meanwhile, little sister D. W. starts to worry that the "green machine" Arthur is always talking about is actually turning him green! This is a great picture book to read to kids if you want to talk about remembering to turn off the lights when they leave a room, help in the garden, etc. I am sure it will become a favorite for Earth Day, too.
-reviewed by Jennifer

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda

2011-05-13T16:37:00.005-05:00

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda
By Tom Angleberger

Tommy, like many sixth graders at his school, believes in the force of the Origami Yoda. This would be cool if Origami Yoda wasn’t a crumpled-looking green wad of paper on the tip of an oddball’s finger. How can you take advice from someone as wise as Origami Yoda when he is practically attached to someone as embarrassing and strange as “Call me Captain Dwight,” Dwight? Well, it’s easy when all of Origami Yoda’s predictions start becoming true. Tommy has investigated multiple cases involving Yoda’s powers with his classmates and compiled them in this casebook. Can he figure out the mystery of Yoda’s foresight, prove his skeptical friend Harvey wrong and get the attention of the girl he likes or will he find out that maybe Origami Yoda works for everyone but him? Pick up this book and tap into the force! Regret not, you will….

Reviewed by Ericka

Zita the Spacegirl

2011-05-13T12:43:00.008-05:00

by Ben Hatke

When Zita accidentally opens a space portal, her friend Joseph is snatched by a bunch of furry tentacles. Now, she has to rescue him by going through that same portal. On the other side, Zita is faced with monters, robots, and some strange new friends. Now all she needs to do is find Joseph, rescue him, and find a way home. . .well, after she figures out exactly where she is.

This quirky tale is an action packed read. Hatke's cartoony illustrations capture Zita's courage and doubts, but especially her adventuresome spirit. Zita is a strong heroine who is willing to risk everything to get her friend home safely and to befriend all of the creatures she encounters along the way.

Reviewed by Melendra

Because of Mr. Terupt

2011-05-12T08:22:00.000-05:00

by Rob Buyea

Because of Mr. Terupt isn't my usual type of book - it has multiple viewpoints, which usually annoys me, and it tackles a lot of issues, which can be overwhelming to a reader. That said, I read it in one sitting.

The reader is introduced to seven different kids who are all in Mr. Terupt's class. It's his first year teaching, and he certainly has his hands full. Jessica has just moved to town and isn't sure where she fits in. Alexia is the mean girl that manipulates everyone around her. Peter is the class clown and troublemaker. Luke is book smart, but socially awkward. Danielle has weight issues and tends to get pushed around. Anna does her best to be invisible. Jeffrey hates school and everything that goes with it.

I often joke about books where one poor kid seems to get every type of issue piled on them - divorce, bullying, weight problems, death of a family member. This book tackles all those, plus more. What makes it work is that each kid really only has to tackle one or two problems. That makes it more realistic and more manageable for the characters and the reader.

Every school year has it's ups and downs, but this school year is one they will remember forever. Mr. Terupt does his best to pull together a diverse class, but an accident in the middle of the school year threatens to tear them all apart. They need all the lessons Mr. Terupt has taught them to pull through this disaster.

reviewed by Jessica

My Vicksburg

2011-05-11T17:24:00.012-05:00

by Ann Rinaldi

Ann Rinaldi has such a gift for creating characters and settings in an immediate way. Her historical novels bring complex events down to a human level, while still being accurate. I find myself caring about her characters--even those whose lives and beliefs are radically different from my own. My Vicksburg (and Rinaldi's earlier book, Juliet's Moon) is told by a young girl caught up in the Confederate cause. Leigh Ann's family is truly separated by the Civil War conflict. Her father is a doctor with Lee's army; her brother is a doctor with the Yankees. Leigh Ann must help her family survive during the siege of Vicksburg, when the white civilian population hid in caves to avoid the Union shelling. The family's trusted slaves are still guarding the family home, with no thought given of their safety.

The Siege of Vicksburg has been overshadowed by the Battle of Gettysburg, where the Confederates were also defeated on July 4. It was interesting to learn of the hardships suffered by both soldiers and civilians. It was also interesting that soldiers of both sides mingled when truce was called, since many communities had soldiers in both armies. My only criticism would be that the book ended before I was ready to say goodbye to the characters.

reviewed by Victoria

GUYKU: A Year of Haiku for Boys

2011-05-09T13:57:00.009-05:00

by Bob Raczka, Illustrations by Peter H. Reynolds
This fun book will take you through the seasons of the year through the eyes of a boy. Better yet, it will do it through Haiku (a poem that begins and ends with a line of 5 syllables and has one line of 7 in between)! Distracted and in awe of all the things the season might bring, the boys in this book will let us in on some of their inner-most thoughts. For instance (in Spring):

If this puddle could
talk, I think it would tell me
to splash my sister.

or in Fall:

Hey, who turned off all
the crickets? I'm not ready
for summer to end.

This is a truely delightful book that captures the essence of outdoor exploration and the wonder of childhood adventure. The accompanying pictures are a wonderful addition that will only help to illustrate all the fun each season will bring!

Reviewed by Ericka

Sixty-Eight Rooms

2011-05-09T13:38:00.004-05:00

Sixty Eight Rooms by Marianne Malone

Sixth grader Ruthie feels that it is about time that something exciting happens, but never in her wildest dreams would she be prepared what comes her way . On a class trip to the Art Institute of Chicago, Ruthie and her best friend Jack find a key in the Thorne Rooms- a display of 68 miniature rooms that are infamously known for their amazing realistic details. They soon discover that the key will allow them to shrink down and enter the rooms. What’s more -they begin to suspect that there are things- real things- happening outside the walls of the rooms. When Ruthie and Jack discover strange items that seem out of place in this world, they know it’s up to them to discover the true magic behind the Thorne Rooms. Join in the adventure as Ruthie and Jack uncover art, history and magic hidden inside the Sixty-Eight Rooms.

Reviewed by Ericka

Small as an Elephant

2011-05-07T10:21:00.003-05:00

By Jennifer Richard Jacobson

When eleven-year-old Jack wakes up at the campground and discovers that his mom has left, he knows he has to find her and fast. But he doesn't want to draw attention to himself. Since Jack's mom doesn't always act like other moms, Jack knows that bad things could happen if someone discovers that she's left him. . .again. Jack's search for his mother turns into a journey toward home, while Jack learns some painful and some joyous lessons along the way.

Jacobson brilliantly weaves Jack's obsession with elephants into the tale, allowing his knowledge of elephants to illuminate aspects of his character, as well as those of his mother and grandmother. The challenges Jack faces are realistic and the choices he makes are not always the best, but Jack is not as alone as he feels. Like elephants, humans can band together to help someone in need.

Reviewed by Melendra

Hooray for Amanda and Her Alligator

2011-05-04T18:05:00.000-05:00

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by Mo Willems
Hooray for a new Mo Willems! The author of Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, Knuffle Bunny, and the Elephant and Piggie series is back with new characters. Amanda and her alligator have six and a half adventures in this new picture book. All of them involve surprises, including an un-surprising surprise.

I don't want to give anything away, so I won't go into details. If you like his other work, you'll like Amanda and Her Alligator. If you don't like his other work, well, I don't actually know anybody who doesn't like his other work.

reviewed by Jessica

Mr. Croc's Silly Sock

2011-04-29T17:49:00.000-05:00

by Frank Rodgers

Mr. Croc is very silly. He took his clean laundry outside to hang it on the clothesline, but he forgot to use clothespins! A windy day blew all of his clothes away and now he has to chase them down. Mr. Croc is easily distracted on his clothing pursuit and his search goes on...and on...and on!

This book is very fun to read and a very good length for kids starting on chapter books: only 52 pages with nice illustrations. The entire Read It Chapter Books series offers 67 more selections like this one, including more Mr. Croc stories.
-Reviewed by Laura

Amazing Cows

2011-04-29T17:29:00.002-05:00

by Sandra Boynton

Laugh and giggle at the amazing cow stories in this book! You'll discover an ancient Greek cow myth (who knew?), udderly absurd cow jokes, and even a cow comic book. Sandra Boynton is at her best in this fun celebration of all things bovine.
I would recommend this book as a fun read-aloud for families with preschoolers and for children ages 6-10 to read alone.

-Reviewed by Laura

Liar, Liar

2011-04-22T18:37:00.002-05:00

by Gary Paulsen

Kevin likes to stretch the truth, and most of the time, it's been fine. Lies help smooth over uncomfortable moments...dinner was wonderful, school was fine, etc, etc. When he stretches the truth too far, though, Kevin finds out that lying can come back to haunt you.

In one eventful week, Kevin manages to lie to his parents, his siblings, his aunt, his friends, and his teachers. When he does finally tell someone the truth, it's to tell the little boy he babysits what "divorce" means. Not a happy topic, but amazingly, the little boy thanks him for being honest - no one else has been. It makes Kevin think about turning over a new leaf. Can he undo all the lies of the past week?

reviewed by Jessica

Cloaked In Red

2011-04-22T15:07:00.009-05:00

by Vivian Vande Velde

Cloaked In Red is a playful collection of eight Little Red Riding Hood tales. But the star of these stories isn't always Little Red, and the Wolf isn't always bad! Each tale spins off a traditional character in a new direction. Kids and grown-ups alike will enjoy these "fractured fairy tales" with a contemporary feel. My favorite story was "Granny and the Wolf," which gives the elderly grandmother a lot more spunk than her traditional role as a helpless victim. Indeed, Granny doesn't need to be rescued from the wolf by the woodcutter at all. Granny decides that the wolf is a better friend than the woodcutter who wants to marry her for her money. Another story stars the cloak itself in an adventure with a surprise ending. Cloaked In Red would be an excellent choice for a family read-aloud.

reviewed by Victoria

The Dead Boys

2011-04-15T15:54:00.008-05:00

by Royce Buckingham

The Dead Boys pits a sentient sycamore tree against a 12 year old boy named Teddy in a life or death struggle. Imagine a gigantic tree that can reach its limbs out to grab you! Teddy and his mom have moved to Richland so she can take a job at a nuclear power plant. Teddy is left to shift for himself most days while his mom works. It doesn't take long for Teddy to run across some boys that seem to be his age, but they don't seem to be from the modern age. Before long, Teddy learns that the sycamore tree next door has been mutated by the nuclear waste in the groundwater. But the tree needs energy to keep growing--energy it saps from some missing 12 year old boys. Teddy seems to be next on the tree's menu, unless he can outwit the deadly sycamore. This is an especially good read for elementary age boys. Even reluctant readers will get sucked into the action. Incidentally, the government really did dump nuclear waste into the water of Richland, Washington, the author's real hometown, until 1971.

reviewed by Victoria

Dora & Diego Let's Cook

2011-04-11T14:11:00.008-05:00

Dora & Diego Let's Cook is a colorful collection of fun recipes to cook as a family. These recipes use ingredients that are easy to find. Every recipe is illustrated with a large bright photograph of the dish. The directions are clear, and there are steps that kids can do themselves to help out. Tips are included for presenting the food in ways that appeal to kids. My favorite was Diego's Meatball Mountain Range, a casserole with yummy meatballs and broccoli arranged like an edible mountain range over spaghetti. Cooking simple meals together helps kids learn about nutrition and making healthy food choices. The addition of Dora and Diego favorite characters will appeal to the youngest chefs. I've noticed that this cookbook is rarely checked in, so that's a good indication its recipes are easy and tasty. reviewed by Victoria

What in the Wild?

2011-04-08T19:58:00.001-05:00

by David Schwartz

Nature is full of curiosities, and this book points out some very interesting phenomenon. Each spread features a beautiful (or not, depending on the subject) photograph of something in nature. The opposite page offers hints about what is in the photograph. Open the flap to learn all about it. Some are a little gross, like owl pellets and hundreds of praying mantises breaking free from their egg case. Others are just fascinating, like frost rings forming around vole holes from the moisture of their breath.

What in the Wild? is great for browsing and for sharing. Kids will definitely learn some facts to gross out their friends and parents in this one! It is actually third in a series. The others are Where in the Wild? and Where Else in the Wild? also by David Schwartz.

Reviewed by Jessica

Almost Zero

2011-04-07T11:48:00.001-05:00

by Nikki Grimes

Dyamonde NEEDS those fancy new sneakers. Right now. Her classmate tells her that it's her mom's job to give her what she needs. Amazingly, Dyamonde's mom agrees that it is her job to give Dyamonde exactly what she needs.

When Dyamonde comes home from school, though, she doesn't find new sneakers - she finds an empty closet. Dyamonde's mom said she really only NEEDS one set of clothes (the ones she's wearing) and one set of pajamas. Uh-oh. The next day, Dyamonde has to wear the same clothes she wore the day before - complete with mustard stain, and her mom is not giving in.

At school, Dyamonde learns that a classmate's home has burned down, and she truly only has the clothes she has on. Dyamonde decides to share some of her clothes until she remembers that she doesn't have any right now either. How can she help her classmate and get herself out of this mess?

This book is part of the Dyamonde Daniel series. Each book shows Dyamonde and her friends tackling real-world problems and coming up with creative solutions. Almost Zero is the longest in the series so far at 112 pages, so these books are great for kids that are moving into chapter books.

Reviewed by Jessica

Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword

2011-04-06T08:52:00.005-05:00

By Barry Deutsch

Mirka has always wanted to fight monsters, but there don't seem to be any in her enclosed Orthodox Jewish community, Hereville. Instead she leads a fairly ordinary life: learning to knit and debate from her stepmother, fighting the bullies that pick on her younger brother, and hanging out with her many sisters. All that changes when she discovers the witch's house and steals a grape from her vine. Soon a talking pig is harassing Mirka, but instead of being unhappy about this change, Mirka is now more determined to find a sword and start her dragon slaying adventures.

Deutsch's illustration vividly capture the everyday aspects of Mirka's community, with an attention to detail that brings both the community and Mirka's family vividly to life. Mirka is a spunky heroine who faces challenges and learns from her mistakes, as well as from her family. This coming-of-age adventure is a fun, moving read.

Reviewed by Melendra

Grimm Legacy

2011-04-05T18:48:00.005-05:00

By Polly Shulman

When Elizabeth’s history teacher recommends her for a job at the New York Circulating Material Repository, she assumes she’ll be working with books. Soon, she discovers the things she’ll be taking care of are more likely to be dishes, gadgets, and clothing. Best of all, some of them are magic. In fact, they are the stuff of fairytales from the Grimm Collection. However, some of them have gone missing, and stranger still, some of them seem to be losing their magic. Like Elizabeth, readers will quickly find themselves caught up in the mystery, as Elizabeth wonders who to trust and how to find the thieves without breaking the rules or betraying the people who trust her. This mix of fantasy, mystery, and reality will be a hit with fairytale aficionados.

Reviewed by Melendra

Monsters Eat Whiny Children

2011-04-04T14:21:00.009-05:00

by Bruce Eric Kaplan

This humorous picture book will amuse the adults reading it aloud, as much as the children who listen. Kaplan is known for his illustrations in The New Yorker magazine, but he has also written scripts for Seinfield, Six Feet Under, and other productions, which comes through in his writing style. If you and your kids have a slightly wacky sense of humor, you will love the precarious situation of little Henry and Eve, two whiny children who are abducted by monsters who eat whiny children. Fortunately, it takes the monsters too long to figure out what recipe to use, allowing Henry and Eve enough time to calm down and eventually escape out the window. Not sure if this is a good choice for you? Read the scanned page to the right for a sample of the story.

Kids who enjoy Monsters Eat Whiny Children may also like The Spider and the Fly illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi, and Cautionary Tales for Children by Hilaire Belloc with illustrations by Edward Gorey.

Reviewed by Jennifer

Girl's Best Friend

2011-03-29T14:36:00.003-05:00

by Leslie Margolis This first book in a new series, Maggie Brooklyn mysteries, is an excellent choice for girls looking for something more current than Nancy Drew. References to cool indie bands and tweeting will help kids feel at home. Maggie Brooklyn Sinclair works as a dog-walker after school, so she is right in the midst of a mystery when dogs begin disappearing in her Brooklyn neighborhood. As she pieces her own clues together, Maggie also deals with mean girls in her seventh grade class, her first crush on the fascinating Milo, running a business, and the very realistic ongoing family quibbles with her parents and twin brother, Finn. Through it all, Maggie’s witty, sarcastic sense of humor will have readers cracking up and wishing they were friends with this endearing new sleuth. Reviewed by Jennifer

What Happened on Fox Street

2011-03-28T12:58:00.006-05:00

By Tricia Springstubb

Mo Wren can't imagine living anywhere but Fox Street. Everything she knows is there, including the only memories she has of her mother. It is her favorite place and the only place she wants to call home. But in just one summer, everything starts to change. Her best friend Mercedes seems totally different. Her cranky and moody neighbor Mrs. Starchbutt, erm, Steinbott starts taking interest in Merecedes and Mo. Even Mo's dad, the one person she can always count on, starts acting funny. It may be up to Mo to bring order back to Fox Street before it's too late.

Readers will love Mo's strength. There is no distance she will not go to save the people and places she holds dearest. A great story about friendship, family and the power of determination.

Reviewed by Ericka