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13,200 | 0 | Gr 6-9-Levi has been left behind all of his life, first by his mother when he was an infant, then by his father for a job and later the Army, and now by his aunt for relief from the responsibility of raising him. Toward the end of World War II, Aunt Odella puts the 13-year-old on a train by himself from Chicago to North Carolina to join his father who is stationed there, without telling her brother. Upon reaching the base, Levi learns that his father's unit, an all-black paratrooper unit, has just shipped out for Oregon. One of the men is still on base recuperating from an injury. He and his family take Levi into their home until they can rejoin the unit. Slowly Levi and his father begin to learn about each other after their three-year separation, and Levi also learns the meaning of sticking up for who and what you believe in. Although the title leads one to think the book is about the paratroopers, the primary focus is on Levi and the wartime home front as the color lines were beginning to change. While Levi rails against the segregation in the South and the "invisibility" he finds in the West, the African American paratroopers are frustrated that although they are well trained, they are not allowed to fight for their country. This fine historical novel is well written and Levi is a fully developed character. However, readers looking for action and adventure should look elsewhere.-Nancy Reeder, Heathwood Hall Episcopal School, Columbia, SC(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.*Starred Review* Odella believes war is so close to ending that she sends her nephew Levi from Chicago to his father at Camp Mackall, in North Carolina. But she overlooks the treacherous journey the boy will face in the Jim Crow South of 1945, and the fact that her brother, on active duty, has no clue Levi is arriving. The train adventure is traumatic for the innocent Levi, and he almost loses his life to a gun-toting store owner in Fayetteville: All Id asked for was a soda pop. . . . But the look in that mans eyes had been pure straight evil. Then it gets worse: Dads unit, an elite African American paratrooper battalion, has just shipped out to Oregon. Levi meets and stays with a soldier from his dads unit until they join up with the battalion. Pearsall captures the soul and bravery of gentle Levi, who, along with the adults in his life, is never safe from the humiliations of bigotry. This poignant, powerful tale of father and son getting to know each other in small, delicate steps is suffused with Levis yearning for approval. Strong characterizations on all sides support the weighty story line. Best of all is the fascinating tale of the Triple Nickel 555th Paratrooper Infantry Battalion. Grades 5-8. --Anne OMalley; Title: Jump into the Sky | [
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13,201 | 2 | Starred Review. Bloor (Tangerine) shows top form with a gripping novel, set 30 years in the future, that works as both a thriller and a commentary on the dangerously growing gap between America's rich and poor. Thirteen-year-old Charity Meyers lives with her father, a dermatologist whose wealth has survived the World Credit Crash, and her stepmother, a noxious vidscreen personality. Despite all the precautions within the Meyers' high-security housing development, Charity is kidnapped on New Year's Day 2036the taken of the title, also a chess allusion to a didn't-see-it-coming plot twist. Because child-snatching is a major growth industry in South Florida, Charity has been trained to handle the stress and she knows what should happen. Within 24 hours, her parents will empty their home vault of its currency, and she will be freed. Pacing the narrative so readers can feel the clock ticking, the author fills in Charity's back storythe ironic death of her mother to skin cancer, her days at satschool, where education comes beamed in from an elite Manhattan academy, her home run by Albert and Victoria, the butler and maid whose very names are regulated by Royal Domestic Services. Bloor, whose gimlet-eyed view of modern society has occasionally pushed his narratives to extremes, reigns in the satire to concoct a plausible-enough scenario of the not-too-distant future, adding just the right measure of consciousness-raising in the dialogue between Charity and a teenage abductor. Deftly constructed, this is as riveting as it is thought-provoking. Ages 12-up. (Oct.) Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Bloor sets his latest novel in Florida, 2035, in a world sharply divided by wealth and race. Kidnapping has become a "major growth industry," and everyone knows the rules: pay up within 24 hours, and the child is returned. Thirteen-year-old Charity's rich family lives in the Highlands, a tightly secured gated community; they have a butler who doubles as a heavily armed security guard. Even so, Charity is "taken." But for some reason, the payoff goes tragically wrong, and Charity is forced to step outside the rule book and fight for her life. Although many of the secondary characters are flat, Charity is an appealing observer who looks beyond class and begins to think for herself. Her calm recounting of the kidnapping scenario increases the tension, while interspersed flashbacks provide believable details of her disturbing world. This page-turner will grab readers at the outset, and its unexpected twist at the close will send them back through events to look for embedded clues. Pair this with Caroline Cooney's Code Orange (2005). Rutan, Lynn; Title: Taken | [
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13,202 | 0 | Kindergarten-Grade 2Imogene is a feisty child who loves history and spouts quotes from famous people on all occasions. When she discovers the now-abandoned Historical Society building in her New Hampshire town, she cleans it up and opens it as a museum. No one comes. Then one morning she finds a sign posted outside the building stating that it will be torn down to make room for a shoelace factory. Imogene tries to enlist the aid of the mayor and other influential people, but they all say that the factory will put them on the map. At the last minute, she finds a letter in the museum that was written by George Washington to indicate that he had slept there. She notifies a historian and then puts herself in a stockade on the porch as the wrecking crew approaches. Soon the whole town turns out to watch the spectacle, and people tell her to move. "'In the immortal words of the Vietnam War protesters,' she shouted, 'Heck no, I won't go!'" (There is no mention of the fact that the quote has been changed.) The President of the United States (an African-American woman) appears and declares the museum a national landmark. Illustrations done in pen-and-ink and digital media provide a lot of historical details and humor, featuring a determined child who rides in a sidecar on her father's motorcycle. This title could serve as a jumping-off place for some early elementary history lessons.Ieva Bates, Ann Arbor District Library, MI ENDStarred Review, The Horn Book Magazine, November/December 2009: "With a light touch, complemented by Carpenters breezy illustrations, Fleming introduces rather than stresses these issues, making room for more thoughtful discussion but never requiring it"Publishers Weekly, October 5, 2009: "Imogenes passion and comedic perseverance inspire"Kirkus Reviews, September 1, 2009: "Fleming peppers the text with famous quotes that add a layer of historical depth to the story"Booklist, July 1, 2009: "Flemings sense of small-town space is impeccable; Carpenters pen-and-ink art enjoyably scribbly; and the historical facts and quotes that bookend the story are just the thing to get new Imogenes fired up."; Title: Imogene's Last Stand | [
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13,203 | 2 | Despite Raschka's (The Hello, Goodbye Window) action-filled illustrations, this collection of sports poems lacks pizzazz. The untitled verses brim with fairly obvious sports commentator clichs. A basketball player hopes to "soar above the rim," and a runner "put[s] a burst of speed on." Conversely, one pair of poems humorously contrasts the highs and lows of life on the field: a football player scores a touchdown and says, "I love football. Football's fun," but on the opposite page, Raschka pictures the same player fumbling the ball under a heap of opponents: "I don't like this game,/ Not a bit, not at all." The quick-dash brushstrokes imitate the athletes' movements. A gymnast's elongated leg stretches over her body on the balance beam and emulates the girl moving from one position to another. A baseball heading for a determined hitter trails a streak of color like a comet in the sky. Simulating the stop-animation film seen in television coverage of the Olympics, eight progressive versions of a basketball player depict his eventual delight at dunking the ball. Poems about the same sport are not grouped together but sprinkled throughout the book, and the effect is akin to clicking a TV remote through the sports channels. Although the first-person poems narrated by young athletes may disappoint readers, Raschka's high-speed artwork offers a whirl of color and breathless activity. Ages 8-up (Mar.) Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Kindergarten-Grade 5Prelutsky's gleeful verses team up with Raschka's economic, energetic, and humorous illustrations to create a winning book. Seventeen brief, untitled poems, mostly presented across eye-catching spreads, describe the experiences and emotions of young athletes as they participate in a variety of physical pursuits, including soccer, football, ice skating, and gymnastics. The narrators display varying levels of expertise, and although they may not excel at their endeavors, they are all at heart "good sports," dedicated to trying their best. A swimmer daydreams about being an orca and then good-naturedly admits, "I swim like a fish/That's been sick for a spell./I flop in the pool,/And I flounder around./My friends laugh and say/I should stay on the ground," before vowing to stick with the activity. The short, accessible verses are easy to memorize ("I'll swing at that ball,/And I'll smack it so hard,/I'll send that ball sailing/Clean out of the yard") and are perfect for classroom poem-a-day programs. They can also be used to introduce rhythm, rhyme scheme, punning, and alliteration. The expressive watercolors-with pen-and-ink lines adding a hint of definition-affectionately capture each character, depicting one youngster's chubby cheeks, another's curlicued hair, and another's hopeful eyes as he swings a bat at a ball. Readers will relate to and root for these children at play.Teresa Pfeifer, Alfred Zanetti Montessori Magnet School, Springfield, MA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.; Title: Good Sports: Rhymes about Running, Jumping, Throwing, and More | [
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13,204 | 22 | Grade 46Nobleman portrays teenaged Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster as outcasts who found solace in the world of pulp magazines and comics. Their peers did not understand their fascination with tales of musclemen and detectives with gadgets, and their teachers deemed the stories that they loved to write and illustrate "trash." Despite these obstacles, the two friends continued writing and illustrating, and in 1934, Siegel had an avalanche of ideas about a new type of hero that he then shared with Shuster, who drew the first concept illustrations of Superman. It took another four years, however, before the superhero would make his public debut in Action Comics #1. MacDonald's illustrations are a tribute to 1930s pulp art, from the lines of the characters outlined in brown to the washes of yellow in the background. While the layout remains primarily in picture-book format, comic-book elements appear sporadically, such as with phrases separated from the rest of the text and placed in oval bubbles. One spread also uses panels to depict Siegel's thoughts as he conceptualized Superman. The story ends with the young men successfully landing a publisher. The afterword fills in more of the details, including Siegel and Shuster's long-running battle with DC Comics for a greater share of the profits, how their Jewish background affected Superman during World War II, and their final years. Boys of Steel is a solid introduction to the history of Superman's creation, especially for children who find an outlet in storytelling and art.Kim T. Ha, Elkridge Branch Library, MD Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.*Starred Review* Though rich in thrilling big breaks and cultural touchstones, comic-book historyappears most often inbooks for adults, such as Michael Chabons Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay (2000), inspired by the story of Supermans creators. This bookbrings theyoung menbehindthe Man of Steel to a picture-book audience. Along with a compressedaccount of the partnership between nerdy high-school outcastsJoe Shuster and Jerry Siegel, Noblemanincludes insightsabout superheroes cultural significance and thechord struck by Supermana hero who would always come home even as World War II loomed on the horizon.Its hard to imagine abetter sidekick for the textthan MacDonalds illustrations, which capture the look of 1930s comics with their sepia-toned,stylized imagery, although somechildren may wish for more distinctionsbetween Shuster and Siegelsbespectacled faces. The narrative ends on an upbeat note, but thedetailed, candid afterword cluesyoungsters into the creators bitter compensation battle with DC Comics.A bibliography andassurances that all dialogue was excerpted from interviewsputs factual muscle on the narrative. Any kid who has scribbled caped crusaders in the margins of homework will find Shuster and Siegelsaccomplishment of interest; thisrobust treatment doestheir storyjustice. Grades 1-3. --Jennifer Mattson; Title: Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman | [
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13,205 | 0 | "Penny and her world are clearly drawn and eminently believable."--School Library Journal"Holm impressively wraps pathos with comedy in this coming-of-age story, populated by a cast of vivid characters."--Booklist"Penny's present-tense narration is both earthy and observant, and her commentary on her families' eccentricities sparkles."--Kirkus ReviewsJennifer L. Holm is the New York Times bestselling children’s author of The Fourteenth Goldfish and, with her brother Matthew Holm, Sunny Side Up. She is the recipient of three Newbery Honors for her novels Our Only May Amelia, Penny from Heaven, and Turtle in Paradise. Her latest novel, Full of Beans, is a companion to Turtle in Paradise and stars Turtle’s cousin Beans. Jennifer also collaborates with Matthew on three graphic novel series—the Eisner Award–winning Babymouse series, the bestselling Squish series, and My First Comics. Jenni lives in California. You can visit her on the Web at jenniferholm.com or follow her on twitter at @jenniholm.; Title: Penny from Heaven | [
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13,206 | 7 | Nate Quarter and his friends are on an epic quest that leads them to ghosts of heroes past and through a storm that threatens to end the world as they know it. The extensive saga of the Edge Chronicles concludes in this exciting yet weighty tome that ties past plots to the present and still leaves the door ajar for future outings. Multiple story lines eventually join, enriched (again) by Riddells line drawings; species and character names remain feats of linguistic acrobatics; and the never-ending action will satisfy returning fans and adventurous new readers. Starting with earlier volumes is helpful but not essential. Grades 5-8. --Cindy WelchPaul Stewart is a highly regarded author of books for young readers, most notably the bestselling Edge Chronicles and the Far-Flung Adventures. He lives in Bristol, England.Chris Riddell, co-creator of the Edge Chronicles and the Far-Flung Adventures, is an award-winning illustrator and political cartoonist. He lives with his family in Bristol, England.; Title: The Immortals: The final book in Edge Chronicles (The Edge Chronicles No. 10) | [
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13,207 | 2 | Grade 58In this novel set in 1980, Madison is an awkward 12-year-old who is taller than most of the boys in her class. As summer begins, she finds herself on the outs with her friend Sara and thrust into the role of reluctant trailblazer as the first girl to play league baseball in her area of Southern Michigan. Madison's a gifted athlete, but she doesn't like being called a tomboy and she's not sure how she feels about baseball. She loves to pitch, but is uncomfortable with the pressure and the crowds and is self-conscious about her changing body. She struggles to fit in with her teammates, developing a crush on one boy and finding an unexpected ally in another. Also, she finds herself bristling at her mother's attempts to be supportive. The coming-of-age theme is familiar, but Madison's voice and perceptions ring true. At times, Day's plot feels a bit overcrowded and a few of the supporting characters seem one-dimensional, but these are small missteps in an otherwise engaging novel. Recommend this book to readers who enjoyed Kristi Roberts's My Thirteenth Season (Holt, 2005) and Dori Hillestad Butler's Sliding into Home (Peachtree, 2003).Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Baseball has been 12-year-old Madisons passion for years, in contrast to the makeup, clothes, and hairstyles that her best friend, Sara, cant live without. In fact, Madison is such a good pitcher that her older brother, David, who has coached her for years, finds a boys team for her to join, making hers the first team to accept a girl in southern Michigan. As a media storm gradually brews around her, Madison hunkers down to become a valuable team player, pitching and hitting her way to the championship. Set in 1980, Days novel explores both the mixed emotions many teenage girls encounter as they move between the rough-and-tumble life of childhood sports and more ladylike pursuits as well as the additional pressure Madison feels by being the first girl to play on a boys baseball team. History is full of sport stories about first females, but YA fiction is not, making this perceptive, enjoyable title, packed with exciting baseball, particularly welcome. Grades 6-9. --Frances Bradburn; Title: No Cream Puffs | [
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13,208 | 2 | BARBARA PARK is best known as the author of the wildly popular New York Times bestselling Junie B. Jones series, which has kept kids (and their grown-ups) laughingand readingfor over two decades. Beloved by millions, the Junie B. Jones books have been translated into multiple languages and are a time-honored staple in elementary school classrooms around the world. Barbara once said, Ive never been sure whether Junie B.s fans love her in spite of her imperfectionsor because of them. But either way, shes gone out into the world and made more friends than I ever dreamed possible.Barbara Park is also the author of award-winning middle grade novels and bestselling picture books, including Skinnybones, Mick Harte Was Here, and Ma! Theres Nothing to Do Here!Barbara Park was born in New Jersey in 1947 and spent most of her adult life in Arizona, where she and her husband, Richard, raised two sons. Barbara died in 2013, but her legacy lives on in the laughter her books give to readers all over the world.; Title: Junie B.'s Essential Survival Guide to School (Junie B. Jones) | [
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13,209 | 2 | Grade 6–8—Josh Greenwood, 13, lives with his mom in Boston, but he is shipped off to his dad in Chicago when she has to go to Florida to care for her mother. Once there, he discovers that his shoe-salesman father has lost his job and is now an Elvis impersonator. Dad's new girlfriend owns a vintage clothing shop and her daughter, Ivory, wears outfits that are wacky mismatched blasts from the past, and she has a boyfriend who wears a dog collar. "Hard" does not even begin to cover Josh's feelings about his new life. Of course, in true middle schooler fashion, he is unable to see anything except how this situation affects him. His potential for humiliation and embarrassment are central to his character and lead to an explosive division between him and his father. Through a wonderful and believable process of discovery orchestrated partially by Ivory and her mom, father and son come to understand one another. Pearsall has given Josh an authentic voice, and his first-person narrative is engaging throughout.—Genevieve Gallagher, Murray Elementary School, Charlottesville, VA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.A child of divorce, 13-year-old Josh wryly calls himself a shared kid, meaning he spends a lot of time shuttling between his parents, who live half a continent apart. Arriving in Chicago to spend more than the usual amount of time with his dad (its complicated), he finds that his free-spirited father hasbecome an Elvis impersonator. Worse, Dads new girlfriend has a hippie daughter, Ivory, who is Joshs age and (a) knows the awful truth about Dad and (b) takes a likin toJosh. Terrified that the kids at his new school will learn about Dad, Josh tries to distance himself from Ivoryand from his well-meaning father. Pearsalls premise is clever, but the execution is more than a tad predictable. Nevertheless, some funny moments, some offbeat characters, andsome elements of suspense (Will Dads identity be revealed? Will Elvis leave the building?)will keep most readers engaged. Grades 5-8. --Michael Cart; Title: All Shook Up | [
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13,210 | 6 | Jon Stone was the first head writer for Sesame Street and was one of the shows principal directors and producers for over 24 years.From the Hardcover edition.; Title: Please Do Not Open this Book! (Bright & Early Playtime Books) | [
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13,211 | 2 | Kindergarten-Grade 3Mary enjoys a comfortable, affluent childhood in the 1940s/'50s in her family's impressive brick home. One evening, after dropping a fork on the floor, she spies a mouse. From that day forward, Mary and the mouse each drop a utensil after dinner so they can peek at one another. As they grow up, they lead remarkably similar lives. The girl dons hippie attire and goes to college. She lives in a dorm, sleeps under a green blanket, and misses the mouse, who, in nearly identical, rodent-sized trappings, misses Mary. When Mary starts a family, she moves into an impressive home of her own. As luck would have it, the mouse moves her family under the very same roof, and it is there that the next generation of daughters discover one another. McClintock's beautiful watercolors have a great deal of charm and are fun to pore over, but they can't save the slight story. Consider it a supplemental purchase for larger collections.Catherine Threadgill, Charleston County Public Library, SC Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Little Mary lives in a big house with her mother, father, brother, and sister. And behind the dining-room wall, a little mouse lives with her mother, father,brother, and sister.Though the little mouse has been warned about people, and Mary has been warned about mice, they secretly wave to each other after dinner. Years later, Mary is grown, has a daughter named Maria and lives in a new house. Coincidentally, the little mouse lives in the same house with her daughter, Mouse Mouse. In its little girllittle mouse concept, the story is reminiscent of Jim Aylesworth's Two Terrible Frights (1987), butthis develops differently. Since it takes two generations before a girl and a mouse actually speak to each other, the time frame is unusually long for a picture book, which makes this a bit static. Still, the telling is clean, the parallel structure of the tale is pleasing, and McClintock's warm, precisely drawn ink, gouache, and watercolor artwork will fascinate children and adults alike. Phelan, Carolyn; Title: Mary and the Mouse, The Mouse and Mary | [
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13,212 | 2 | Starred Review. Stevens, author of a novel for adults (Angel, Angel), endows her imaginative debut picture book with well-developed characters, plenty of noise and enough humor to keep readers wanting more. Beginning with the ta-ta-ta tweeeeeet! of a small bird, sounds travel from one house to the next, awakening the porcine denizens of Fish Street in a domino effect. The bird rouses Mr. Krudwig at #2 Fish Street, his dog Leopold disturbs Mrs. Musky at #3 Fish Street, and her whistling teapot flusters the tardy kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Depolo at #4 Fish Street, and so on. Hills's (Duck & Goose) witty watercolors depict action and facial expressions with equal ease, and they target both children's and adults' sensibilities. For the seven Darjeelings, who sleep together in a huge bed and whose cat wakes them by repeatedly slamming the screen door, he offers a frontal view of the glassy-eyed family, all with identical helpless stares; their nightstand contains the books Whose Bed Is It Anyway? and Train Your Cat. Especially delicious is his characterization of Mrs. Depolo as she literally throws on her clothes, races down her stairs, and dives out the door. The story could easily do double-duty as a counting book, and with its punchy prose, unexpected plot turns and surprisingly sweet ending, it's a cinch for a read-aloud treat. Ages 4-8. (Sept.) Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PreSchool-Grade 2It's morning on Fish Street. A bird that lives outside #1 wakes up the occupant of #2 with its "tweeet-ta-ta-ta-tweeeeet." Then the dog from #2 barks and wakes up Mrs. Musky at #3. At each home there is a unique sound until finally little Wendell in his crib at #10 wakes up"weeeeeee!" The onomatopoeia is delightful. The screen door goes "wack-slam" and the sewing machine goes "wug-a-ta." The sound words are typeset to sweep across the pages and lead readers on to the next scene. All of the "people" on Fish Street are pigs, and each one has a unique personality and an often humorous morning routine. Children will chuckle at Mrs. Musky, who "heads into her bathroom to get her hair under control," and Mr. Wink, who "moves slowly, like honey pouring from a jar." Hills's bright oil paint and colored pencil illustrations, done with simple lines and contrasting colors, enliven the text and add extra humor. This picture book is both a clever and original counting book and a great read-aloud.Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.; Title: Waking Up Wendell | [
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13,213 | 0 | KATHLEEN WEIDNER ZOEHFELD is the award-winning author of more than seventy books for young readers, including several Stepping Stones nonfiction titles. Her book Dinosaur Parents, Dinosaur Young was voted an Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K12 by the CBC and the NSTA and was an ALA Notable Book. When Kathleen is not at her desk writing, youll find her volunteering at her local natural history museum or dreaming of the stars.JIM NELSON lives in Chicago, Illinois. He has been represented in the juried annual "Spectrum: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art." He's fond of animals, cartoons, books, chocolate, robots, movies, monsters, music and, of course, drawing. He is not fond of lima beans. Jim has a lifelong interest in ancient civilizations, but he has never discovered a tomb nor, to his knowledge, has he been cursed.; Title: The Curse of King Tut's Mummy (Totally True Adventures): How a Lost Tomb Was Found | [
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13,214 | 2 | Grade 47Meg Summers is once again entering school as the new kid, and sixth grade in Lake Haven, IN, makes her feel just as lonely as she did on the previous moves. She wants a friend so badly that she begins fabricating stories to sound exciting and interesting. When she does make friends with Grace Bennett, one of the "peppy blond girls," her stories continue, this time to cover up her family's secret. Meg's father is an alcoholic and his binges are becoming more frequent and violent, especially since her older brother is fighting back. When Grace's stepmom drives Meg home after one of her many visits, they witness an altercation between Mr. Summers and Teddy in the driveway. Day uses the friendship between the girls and the strong adult support of Grace's family and a favorite aunt to pave the path Meg follows to trust others enough to finally tell the truth about her dad. "I've been telling the biggest tall tale of my life to myself." The author's portrayal of a family in crisis is convincingly tragic: "it's not until mom hands him coffee that I see in his eyes how it will be today and how I should feel." Although there is no fairy-tale ending, the story is realistic and hopeful with discussable issues appropriate for a wide audience.D. Maria LaRocco, Cuyahoga Public Library, Strongsville, OH Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved."Here we go again. New town. New school." When classmates ask Meg, 12, where she is from, she makes up wild stories ("from Australia. . . . My dad is a doctor."). She desperately wants to be friends with classmate Grace, whose family is "perfect," but she can't help wondering what will happen if Grace finds out that Dad is a drunk and that he abuses Meg's older brother. What if she finds out who Meg really is? Honest about what it is like to live with an alcoholic parent--the cover-ups, the fear of violence, the denial--Day's debut delivers much more than a standard problem novel; Meg's lies and secrets are funny and anguished, and readers will respond to the intense family drama and the quick, wild fantasies that Meg spins to cover up her shame. Hazel RochmanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Tall Tales | [
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13,215 | 2 | Kindergarten-Grade 3"When you're a baby, you are in a crib and not in school," according to a worldly wise big sister, who reads from a book she has written for her new sibling. She itemizes a long list of things that babies cannot do, including play with her toys, sit in a car "like a normal person," or "have ANY pillows on your bed." Although she tends to focus on the negatives, in the end the unnamed protagonist admits that babies have some uses. She tells her brother that babies are "good at hugging" and "people smile at you because you're so small." She also describes what life will be like when he gets bigger, looking forward to the day when they will "laugh and point at pictures of you in the olden days when you were a baby." The comical cartoons subtly convey the love that the rosy-cheeked girl feels for her round, placid sibling despite his limited abilities. The text and illustrations are scattered across each page in varying patterns. Heap uses acrylic paint, crayon, and felt-tip pen in a pleasing palette of pinks, blues, and yellows to enhance the story with childlike charm. This amusing title could be paired with Amy Schwartz's humorous Annabelle Swift, Kindergartner (Scholastic, 1991). For a more poignant look at sibling relationships, young readers might prefer Shirley Hughes's Annie Rose Is My Little Sister (Candlewick, 2003).Linda L. Walkins, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Brighton, MA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.*Starred Review* There are lots of books about kids and the babies they must endure, teach, and love, but few get the interaction down as perfectly as this marvelous melding of knowing observations and funny, sunny, on-the-money art. The narrator, a little blonde girl, has a long list of things that babies can't do. Go to school? No--stuck in a crib. Eat normal food? No--yucky baby food. Thinking of things that are inappropriate for babies reminds the girl of the many ways in which she's superior: babies don't have any real friends, but she has lots. The tall format offers plenty of room for the sweet, saucy, child-appealing watercolors, some looking as though they were created by the child herself; certainly the lines and squiggles on a few of the pages enhance that feel. Lists also cleverly adorn many of the pages, with headings such as "Things Babies Do That Are Illegal" (poop on the carpet). But in a heartwarming ending, Sister lists things that are nice about being a baby (people don't tell you to stop being a baby because you are one) and envisions the happy day when her brother gets big enough to follow her around, learn from her, and play with her friends (sometimes). With lots to look at, think about, and giggle at, this book will get many readings. Ilene CooperCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: How to Be a Baby . . . by Me, the Big Sister | [
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13,216 | 2 | Following her mother's emergency knee surgery, 12-year-old Ronnie Sparks becomes her brother's keeper. The task is daunting because 7-year-old Gee suffers from severe ADHD. In an effort to speed up her recovery, Mom arranges for her father to take the kids on a road trip. Pop reluctantly agrees, and they all set out for Kansas, helping Pop search for wind-power-generating sites. Ronnie quickly becomes a buffer between Pop and Gee, stuck in the impossible position of trying to contain her brother's outrageous behaviors so that Pop won't throw a tantrum and drive everyone home. Amusing chapter-heading quotations, taken from a self-help book Ronnie has just read, lighten the mood of the story, even as Ronnie's outlook on her personal situation continues to deteriorate. The main characters are particularly well drawn and believable, and readers will root for both children as they attempt to overcome the obstacles placed in front of them. Fans of Jack Gantos' Joey Pigza series are sure to appreciate Ronnie and Gee's excellent adventure. Kay WeismanCopyright American Library Association. All rights reservedFans of Jack Gantos Joey Pigza series are sure to appreciate Ronnie and Gees excellent adventure.BooklistFrom the Trade Paperback edition.; Title: The Middle of Somewhere | [
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13,217 | 2 | Starred Review, Booklist, September 15, 2007:"Parents looking for books on sharing will find this an appealing exploration of the subject, teachers seeking picture books set during the Depression will find many details that bring the period to life. A gentle lesson that plays into the spirit of the holiday."-Carolyn PhelanStarred Review, Kirkus Reviews, November 1, 2007:Full of humorous dialogue and scenes of realistic family life showing the close bonds within the family. Pinkneys watercolor illustrations are masterful, as always - Kirkus ReviewReview, The New York Times Book Review, December 2, 2007:"An evocative book with a universal message."Patricia C. McKissack is the author of The Dark-Thirty: Southern Tales of the Supernatural, a Newbery Honor Book and Coretta Scott King Award Winner, and its companion, Porch Lies: Tales of Slicksters, Tricksters, and other Wily Characters, an ALA-ALSC Notable Childrens Book. Ms. McKissack has collaborated with Jerry Pinkney on two previous picture books: Goin Someplace Special, a Coretta Scott King Award Winner, and Mirandy and Brother Wind, a Caldecott Honor Book and a Coretta Scott King Award Winner. Her most recent book, Never Forgotten, was a Coretta Scott King Honor Book and received five starred reviews. She lives in St. Louis, Missouri.Jerry Pinkney received the Caldecott Medal for his wordless retelling of The Lion and the Mouse. He has illustrated more than one hundred books, among them five Caldecott Honor books, including Mirandy and Brother Wind, written by Patricia C. McKissack; five New York Times Best Illustrated Books; and five Coretta Scott King Award winners. Some of his most beloved titles are The Talking Eggs, John Henry, The Ugly Duckling, Goin Someplace Special, and The Tortoise and the Hare. Mr. Pinkney lives in Croton-on-Hudson, New York, with his wife, author Gloria Jean Pinkney.; Title: The All-I'll-Ever-Want Christmas Doll | [
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13,218 | 2 | Grade 8 UpTeachers dont recognize his smarts, he struggles with his mothers unsuccessful romantic relationships, and he is unsure of himself around girls, but when senior football star Hampton Green is on the field, everything clicks. His Oklahoma team, the Kennisaw Knights, has a five-year winning streak they are trying to take to the record books by securing the state championship one more time. Hamptons best friend, Blaine, has a shallow relationship with the prettiest girl in school and tries to drag Hampton into a similar stereotypical dating scene. Hampton, however, finds himself attracted to self-assured, intelligent Sara, whom Blaine says is not good for his image. As the championship unfolds, things get tense, and Blaine drags Hampton into a confrontation with an enemy from the opposing team, during which Blaine pulls a gun and Hampton must finally assert himself. The teens voice comes in loud and clear, revealing a sensitive, likable character. Hamptons budding romance with Sara is touching and adds an interesting dimension. The conquering of insecurities and gradual self-realization Hampton experiences are reminiscent of Bert Bowden in Terry Daviss If Rock and Roll Were a Machine (Delacorte, 1992), and readers will root as much for his team as for Hampton to be true to himself. The dynamic football scenes will draw readers who enjoyed H. G. Bissingers Friday Night Lights (Da Capo, 2000). The covers hazy silhouette of a football player reflects the strong character inside who will eventually bring his own hazy life into focus.Diane P. Tuccillo, City of Mesa Library, AZ Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.In the hill country of Oklahoma, where high-school football ranks "next to God and country, and truth be known, sometimes came in first," Hampton Green is a star linebacker of the Kennisaw Knights, and he feels the weight of carrying on his team's fifth undefeated season like "one hell of a big sack of rocks." Things are heavy at home, too, where he often finds his single mother with a new guy. Blaine is Hamp's teammate and best friend, but he doesn't understand Hamp's interest in Sara, whose wild hair and baggy clothes separate her from the football players' girlfriends. Tharp's debut novel is a sensitive portrait of small-town life and a young athlete's growing awareness that he is more than just the sport he plays so well. Taut scenes on the football field and the dilemmas about choosing what feels right over what's expected are all made memorable by Hamp's unforgettable, colloquial voice, which speaks about feelings and football with the same unwavering, fully realized personality. A moving, sensitive debut from a writer to watch. Gillian EngbergCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Knights of the Hill Country | [
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13,219 | 7 | MARY POPE OSBORNE is the author of the New York Times number one bestselling Magic Tree House series. She and her husband, writer Will Osborne (author of Magic Tree House: The Musical), live in northwestern Connecticut with their three dogs. Ms. Osborne is also the coauthor of the companion Magic Tree House Fact Trackers series with Will, and with her sister, Natalie Pope Boyce. SAL MURDOCCA has illustrated more than 200 children's trade and text books. He is also a librettist for children's opera, a video artist, an avid runner, hiker, and bicyclist, and a teacher of children's illustration at the Parsons School of Design. Sal lives and works in New York with his wife, Nancy.; Title: Monday with a Mad Genius | [
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13,220 | 2 | Starred Review. PreSchool-Grade 3After school each afternoon, Luisas bus drops her at the door to the World. Walters World of Beauty that is, where her mother is a stylist, saving tips so she can give her daughter the world in the form of college funds. While the woman works, Luisa cuts and colors and curls delightful mixed-media portraits of the customers and plans a surprise birthday party for her beloved parent. A photo at mamas station, taken in the past, reveals a joyful, dancing couple in a place mama calls Roseland. It is this mood and setting that Luisa yearns to re-create as she exchanges secret messages with the clientele. Schotters nimble use of alliteration and words with multiple meanings adds depth and richness to the text. The characters are quirky and distinctive, captured in all their glory by Gallaghers dynamic oils. Mama, a life-giving force, is clad in a warm green dress, framed by plants. The cool twilight hues bathing the city streets contrast with the golden glow of the after-hours salon party, where hopeful anticipation yields to an appreciative maternal claspand dancing ensues. Matter-of-fact about the realities of life with and as a single parent, while mindful of the benefits of participating in a larger community, this tale of a hardworking mother and a thoughtful daughter brings to mind the family in Vera B. Williamss A Chair for My Mother (HarperCollins, 1982). These are scenes to savor, snuggled closely one-on-one, or shared with a group.Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gr. 1-3. Gallagher's bright-eyed, smiling, subtly modeled faces light up this loving mother-daughter tale. Dropped off at Walter's World of Beauty every day after school, Luisa does her homework and draws pictures of the multicultural clientele until her hairdresser mother comes off shift. Recalling that her mother used to dance "when Dad was around," Luisa colludes with those same regulars to throw Mom a rug-cutting birthday surprise that leaves everyone teary and laughing. Against soft-edged, often golden-tinged backgrounds, Luisa herself dances in graceful, unstudied poses through nearly every frame, and the intimacy shared between child and single parent is evident (without becoming soppy) throughout. John PetersCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Mama, I'll Give You the World | [
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13,221 | 1 | In his Retrospective, Cohen tells us that 'when the top-selling children's books of all time were compiled in 2001, Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories had sold more copies than either Curious George or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.' ...I was fascinated to learn that Yertle was 'actually a caricature of Adolf Hitler - 'a little domineering guy who pushes people around.'' Cohen also includes two lost stories - The Ruckus and The Kindly Snather - which both teach a lesson and both made me smile. If you're a Dr. Seuss fan (and who isn't?) then you really should have this anniversary edition...in your collection - to read and chortle over with young children, or simply to enjoy, and think about, on your own. [Rated with 3 books, highest rating] --BookLoons.com, Hilary Williamson (founder), 11/17/2008THEODOR SEUSS GEISELaka Dr. Seussis one of the most beloved childrens book authors of all time. From The Cat in the Hat to Oh, the Places Youll Go!, his iconic characters, stories, and art style have been a lasting influence on generations of children and adults. The books he wrote and illustrated under the name Dr. Seuss (and others that he wrote but did not illustrate, including some under the pseudonyms Theo. LeSieg and Rosetta Stone) have been translated into thirty languages. Hundreds of millions of copies have found their way into homes and hearts around the world. Dr. Seusss long list of awards includes Caldecott Honors for McElligots Pool, If I Ran the Zoo, and Bartholomew and the Oobleck, the Pulitzer Prize, and eight honorary doctorates. Works based on his original stories have won three Oscars, three Emmys, three Grammys, and a Peabody.; Title: Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories Anniversary Edition (Classic Seuss) | [
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13,222 | 2 | Grade 58In this dense and worthy sequel to 100 Cupboards (Random, 2007), Henry York, having discovered that he, like his uncle Frank, actually comes from a world beyond the magic cupboards in his attic room, decides to enter it again. This is a last-ditch attempt to learn more about his origins and about the strange dandelion magic that has recently seared its way into his body. Henry, his cousin Henrietta, and the rest of his Kansas family end up scattered in different parts of the world from which both Henry and his uncle came, struggling against an evil witch and her powerful minion. The plot is complicated, and readers not familiar with the first book will be hopelessly confused. The shifting locations and the many characters and factions are bewildering, but most of the characters have such deliciously flawed and fascinating personalities that fans of that book will go with the flow, waiting to see what the next bend of plot might bring. A quiet and quirky humor warms up the proceedings as well, leavening even the most intense scenes. The ending is satisfying enough to serve as a series closer, but luckily for fans of this challenging but rewarding trilogy, there is still one more installment to come.Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.N. D. Wilson is the bestselling author of the Ashtown Burials series and Leepike Ridge. When he was a kid, he spent nearly a year living in his grandparents attic. If there were cupboards in those walls, he never found them. He and his wife live in Idaho, along with their five young explorers.From the Trade Paperback edition.; Title: Dandelion Fire: Book 2 of the 100 Cupboards | [
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13,223 | 1 | Louise Fatio was the author of 10 books about the Happy Lion, all illustrated by her artist husband. She was born in 1904 in Switzerland and died in 1993 in New Jersey.; Title: The Happy Lion Roars | [
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13,224 | 2 | The title may be rather unwieldy but its certainly accurate. Inside a large snow globe, inside a toy museum, isa castle, and children who press their faces against the glass can spot atiny girl in the tower. The castle is lovely, and the girl has her own toys inside, but shes lonely when the children leave. Her dreams take her to visit a boy in the deep woods orin search ofa friend waiting to play:Sometimes she even dreams about you. The story, which on its own seems thin and even odd, is elevated by the breathtaking illustrations executed in acrylic, featuring clay models that give the artwork depth and weight. Digital nhancementsprovidethe pictures with an airbrushed smoothness that is expecially effectivein the close-ups of the children, and the use of unusual perspectives adds to the feelings of mystery andlonging in the book. Enticedby the art to enter this dreamy world, children will contemplate the nature of reality evoked by the girls life. Preschool-Grade 1. --Ilene CooperStarred Review, Publishers Weekly, February 4, 2008:"Young fans of fantasy will be spell-bound."; Title: The Girl in the Castle Inside the Museum | [
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13,225 | 2 | From USA TODAY: "Junie B. is the darling of the young-reader set." From Publisher' Weekly: "Park convinces beginning readers that Junie B.and readingare lots of fun." From Kirkus Reviews: "Junie's swarms of young fans will continue to delight in her unique take on the world....A hilarious, first-rate read- aloud." From Booklist: "Park, one of the funniest writers around . . . brings her refreshing humor to the beginning chapter-book set." From Time magazine: "Junie B. Jones is a feisty six-year-old with an endearing penchant for honesty." From School Library Journal: "Readers will relate instantly to the trials and tribulations of this first grader....She is always endearing and wonderfully funny."BARBARA PARK is best known as the author of the wildly popular New York Times bestselling Junie B. Jones series, which has kept kids (and their grown-ups) laughingand readingfor over two decades. Beloved by millions, the Junie B. Jones books have been translated into multiple languages and are a time-honored staple in elementary school classrooms around the world. Barbara once said, Ive never been sure whether Junie B.s fans love her in spite of her imperfectionsor because of them. But either way, shes gone out into the world and made more friends than I ever dreamed possible.Barbara Park is also the author of award-winning middle grade novels and bestselling picture books, including Skinnybones, Mick Harte Was Here, and Ma! Theres Nothing to Do Here!Barbara Park was born in New Jersey in 1947 and spent most of her adult life in Arizona, where she and her husband, Richard, raised two sons. Barbara died in 2013, but her legacy lives on in the laughter her books give to readers all over the world.Denise Brunkus's entertaining illustrations have appeared in over 50 books, including each Junie B. title. She lives in Massachussetts with her husband and daughter.; Title: Junie B., First Grader: Dumb Bunny (Junie B. Jones, No. 27) | [
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13,226 | 1 | Grade 46Twelve-year-old Lidie must leave her beloved home in Brazil for a new life in New York. She reunites with Pai and her older brother, who left shortly after Mame died five years earlier. Lidie's father and Rafael train racehorses for a wealthy benefactor. When she meets the filly Pai has dubbed Wild Girl, Lidie remembers her mother calling her by that name. The horse's story parallels hers, as they are both plunked down into an unfamiliar, sometimes harsh environment. But when at last Lidie rides Wild Girl, it is as if their spunky, spirited souls gloriously merge. This brief tale of the sense of powerlessness that accompanies childhood is magnified by the perspective of an immigrant girl. It also addresses the pain of separation from loved ones, and animal cruelty. These issues are dealt with in an evenhanded, never too sorrowful or desperate way. Readers will find hope and resiliency in this coming-of-age story.Tracy Weiskind, Chicago Public Library Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews, July 15, 2009:Giffs characters are beautifully nuanced and entirely real, her prose is as streamlined and efficient as a galloping Thoroughbred.; Title: Wild Girl | [
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13,227 | 15 | Even the smallest heroine can make a difference.School Library JournalFrom the Trade Paperback edition.Isobelle Carmody is among the biggest names in Australian fantasy writing. She lives in Apollo Bay, Australia, and Prague, Czech Republic.; Title: Little Fur #3: A Mystery of Wolves | [
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13,228 | 15 | Isobelle Carmody is among the biggest names in Australian fantasy writing. She lives in Apollo Bay, Australia, and Prague, Czech Republic.; Title: Little Fur #4: Riddle of Green | [
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13,229 | 0 | Starred Review. Kindergarten-Grade 3Hopkinson has created a lively, participatory tale that will surely stand out among the many titles published to honor the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth. With a conspiratorial wink at the audience, an omniscient narrator invites readers to watch seven-year-old Abe and his real-life friend Austin Gollaher succumb to the "dare you" lure of a roaring creek and a perilous crossing on a fallen log (an author's note details the genesis of the story). Imagine where we as a nation might be if unsung-hero Austin hadn't been there to rescue impetuous Abraham from his tumble into those tumultuous waters. In dialogic asides and exclamations, the author addresses the illustrator and brings him (or, rather, his pencil-wielding hand) onstage to collaborate and correct, and also speaks to readers, inviting involvement and evoking response. Hendrix's illustrations have a naive and rustic flavor that's in perfect harmony with the gravelly, homespun narrator's voice (keen-eyed readers will find a rendering of the storyteller in the endpaper art). Energetic spreads give a big, broad, horizontal view of the green Kentucky valley setting with its rambling curves, rolling mountains, and rushing waters, and a very effective impression of how long that creek-crossing must have seemedmaybe. "For that's the thing about history," Hopkinson says, "if you weren't there, you can't know for sure." What you can know for sure is that this is a book you should add to your shelves.Kathy Krasniewicz, Perrot Library, Old Greenwich, CT Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.*Starred Review* In 1816, seven-year-old Abe and his friend Austin go down to see Knob Creek, swollen and turbulent after heavy rains, and decide to use a log to cross it. When Abe falls into the water, Austin saves his life and Abe promises that hell never forget it. Even when hes the president of a war-torn country, Abe fondly remembers his old friend. Thats the short version of the story, but this unusual and often amusing picture book offers much more than an illustrated reminiscence. Hopkinson sets a folksy tone at the beginning, saying that she liked this old tale somuch that shes asked her friend John to help out by drawing some pictures. The accompanying maplikeink-and-watercolorartwork shows the landscapeof the Kentucky setting along with several elements of the narrative, even as the hand and brush of the illustrator getcaught in the act of creating the scene. Hopkinsons comments to herself, her audience, and her friend (the artist)will increase childrens awareness of thechoices that go into telling a tale, even a supposedly true tale,and illustrating it. On the closing pages, the restatement of the moral is funny as well as thought provoking. Rewarding on many levels, this high-spiritedpicture book is an engaging example of metafiction for the younger set. Preschool-Grade 3. --Carolyn Phelan; Title: Abe Lincoln Crosses a Creek: A Tall, Thin Tale (Introducing His Forgotten Frontier Friend) | [
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13,230 | 11 | Award winner Charles Santore has taken an ancient Chinese legend andspun it into an original tale with an adventurous little main character forkids to identify with. His stunning paintings capture all the magic andmajesty of China five thousand years ago. Charles Santore has received numerous awards. His A Stowaway on Noahs Ark was an Original Art 2000 Gold Medalist from the Society of Illustrators. His illustrations are part of the permanent collections of the Brandywine River Museum, the Free Library of Philadelphia, and the Museum of Modern Art. He makes his home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.; Title: The Silk Princess (Picture Book) | [
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13,231 | 2 | Kindergarten-Grade 2Bald-headed Max and his porcine pal, Pinky, are back in another funny escapade. Determined to give the barn a new look, they paint the building and, unwittingly, their clothing, brick red, while various animals offer snide remarks ("You missed a spot"). The next morning, the friends are shocked to discover that the barn is pink, and spend the day repainting. They try to remain awake that night to catch the perpetrator, but end up snoozing, and the next day, the barn has black stripes. When a search fails to turn up anything, the pair concocts an elaborate (and hilarious) alarm scheme involving a duck, string, a bowling ball, and more. That night, the warning system awakens Max, but Pinky is nowhere to be seen. Max's trip to the barn reveals his friend's whereabouts as well as the identity of the clandestine culprit. The pen-and-ink cartoons digitally painted in saturated colors are filled with visual jokes and pair well with the brief text. Readers will enjoy watching this duo solve their mystery, and those familiar with Best Buds (Knopf, 2007) will understand the inspiration for the barn's final design (marshmallows). A fun read.Marianne Saccardi, formerly at Norwalk Community College, CT Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Maxwell Eaton IIIs offbeat, irreverent, and affectionate tales of friendship and adventure began with the smart, yet silly and accessible, acording to a Bulletin starred review, Best Buds and continued in the sublimely funny Superheroes. Maxwell lives in Saranac Lake, New York, but hes moving soon. Hes not sure where yetits a mystery! But you can visit him anytime at www.maxandpinky.com.; Title: The Adventures of Max and Pinky: The Mystery | [
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13,232 | 15 | Isobelle Carmody is among the biggest names in Australian fantasy writing. She lives in Apollo Bay, Australia, and Prague, Czech Republic.; Title: A Fox Called Sorrow (Little Fur, No. 2) | [
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13,233 | 7 | ISBN:9780375938962Grade 58Fans of The Hound of Rowan (Random, 2007) will love this sequel. Those who haven't read the first book will simply be puzzled. In their second year at Rowan Academy, Max McDaniels and his roommate David Menlo, a mystic, discover that they must live with the Witches to fulfill a pact made years before they were born. To keep them and the Book of Thoth safe from the demon Astaroth and in the hands of Rowan agents, they are "kidnapped" by an ally. While on the run, the Red Branch offers to activate Max to be its newest agent. Initially, Max demurs but after dodging danger in Europe, finding his mother in the land of the Sidh, discovering his real father's identity, and having several harrowing encounters with Astaroth, he embraces his identity as the reincarnation of Cuchulain and joins as a full-fledged agent. The Second Siege is chock-full of magic, myth, and adventure, and has some fun and interesting characters and an intense, engaging plot. That said, without the background information from the first book, it will be hard for readers to follow.Lisa Prolman, Greenfield Public Library, MAIts Max McDaniels second year at Rowan Academy, a contemporary American boarding school where students are trained to fight against supernatural foes. He and his sorcerer roommate, David, along with several others, human and non, are embroiled in a quest to stop the demon Astaroth from finding the Book of Thoth, which holds the key to all creation. As governments fall to Astaroth, Max and David travel across Europe and beyond in search of the books location. Proud, emotional Max and frail, calculating David suffer realistic setbacks and humbling experiences that change them, while Astaroth is delightful in his sly, polite wickedness. Neffs writing is infused with history and myth, and a sense of adventure: add well-rounded characters, and this makes fora captivating read. New readers should start with the first book, The Hound of Rowan (2007) as this one doesnt look back, but the dark conclusion and its potential consequences will ensure an eager readership for the third. Although Neff will not escape Harry Potter comparisons, in this volume he moves into his own distinctive voice. Grades 6-9. --Krista Hutley; Title: The Second Siege: Book Two of The Tapestry | [
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13,234 | 2 | In a hidden alcove within Chicago's Art Institute, Max McDaniels discovers a faded tapestry. As he watches, the tapestry begins to glow; soon after, he receives an invitation to attend a private boarding school in New England. When he arrives at Rowan Academy, where young people with Potential are trained to fight an unnamed enemy, he and the other apprentices are housed in magically morphing rooms and assigned animal charges. Max is paired with the last lymrill in the world, a nocturnal creature with metallic quills. They train on the Course, where they experience different scenarios as they try to achieve a goal and move up levels as they progress. Meanwhile, apprentices and even some full-fledged agents are disappearing all over the world. This novel's sprawling, quirky boarding school has obvious parallels to Hogwarts, but Neff's storytelling boasts charms of its own, and U.S. readers may appreciate that this magical adventure, the first installment in the planned Tapestry series, takes place here rather than abroad. Tixier Herald, DianaMaxs intelligence and goodhearted nature give the story a solid emotional core even as the surprising twists and turns keep the pages turning. Neffs first novel is sure to draw many new fans eager to see what happens next.VOYA; Title: The Hound of Rowan: Book One of The Tapestry | [
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13,235 | 2 | Mary Man-Kong is a children’s book editor and author living in New York City. When she's not editing or writing, she loves traveling with her amazing family on awesome adventures.; Title: Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses | [
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13,236 | 0 | Toward the end of World War II, orphaned Jayna lives with her older brother, Rob, a cook in the navy. He ships out for the Pacific, leaving her in their landladys care. When his ship is sunk and he is listed as missing, Jayna fears that Rob will never return. Hoping to find a grandmother she has never known, she runs away to nearby Brooklyn, where she is taken in by a kind lady who runs a bakery. Throughout the novel, a ghost resembling Jayna sometimes speaks to her, appears to her, or acts on her behalf. As in the Newbery Honor Book Lilys Crossing (1997) and its companion book Willow Run (2005), Giff offers an accessible chapter book with highly individual characters and a convincing picture of life on the home front. Jayna often makes soup, and related recipes appear between chapters. Though parts of the story seem as improbable as daydreams, readers will be swept along by Jaynas first-person narrative and moved by the novels ending. Grades 4-6. --Carolyn PhelanStarred Review, Kirkus Reviews, November 15, 2012:Jaynas journey is a memorable one.; Title: Gingersnap | [
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13,237 | 0 | PreSchool-Grade 2In the isolated town of Sunshine, Sheriff John keeps everything clean and "civ'lized." He believes that he owes his success to his special partner-a lucky ten-gallon hat. His wife has a penchant for hats, too, fancy ones. One night, in his rush to get to the scene of a saloon fight and to "a range war a-brewin'," the lawman grabs her new, ornate chapeau. He looks quite silly in it, but his crime-fighting abilities are unaffected. In the end, Sheriff John realizes that his hat has little to do with his achievements. The simple text written in Western dialect makes this a fun story to use with a group. The color cartoon illustrations add punch lines and, according to the book, draw inspiration from artist Leonetto Cappiello and old Western movie posters. Clever endpapers feature newspaper clippings that provide extra humorous details about John's life before and after the story.Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.A ten-gallon hat is mighty important in defining a cowboy's persona. When Sheriff John wears his hat, he can round up rustlers and robbers. Without it, however, he is not sure he can do anything. "Don't touch my hat!" he cautions everyone. John's wife also loves hats: feathered, veiled, straw, velvet--she has them all. One wild night when rustlers, robbers, and a saloon fight call for the law, John jumps into his boots and grabs his hat. Rumford's artwork shows him catching the robbers, rounding up the rustlers, and stopping the fight--wearing his wife's fanciest plumed chapeau. The upshot? John learns, "It's your heart, not your hat." Saturated blues, reds, and yellows backlight the action, and the cowboy bravado is cleverly and humorously countered by frilly, feminine details. Early-twentieth-century movie posters inspired the art, and endpapers that resemble newspaper clippings enhance the tale--and the fun. Julie CumminsCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Don't Touch My Hat | [
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13,238 | 7 | Grade 7 UpIn this sequel to The Navigator (Random, 2007), earthquakes, tidal waves, and general environmental turmoil are on the rise, and Owen is called into action again. The moon's orbit has altered, and the very fabric of time is running out. Owen teams up with his friends from the first book and embarks on a quest to Hadima, the City of Time, to seek out a tempod and try to reestablish stability of time. Faced with deceptions, double-crossings, and the icy power of the Harsh, Owen and his friends are challenged physically and mentally at every step of their adventure. Pacing and story details are excellent with just the right amount of suspense and withheld information to keep readers wanting more. Characters are unique and suitably delineated with an appropriate balance of protagonist and antagonist attention. City of Time reads like a stand-alone novel; all pertinent details are explained. However, it would help more astute readers to be familiar with the first book. Naturally, situations are set up for the final book in the trilogy. City of Time will certainly enjoy as much reader attention as the first book.Dylan Thomarie, Johnstown High School, NY Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.In this second book of a planned trilogy that began with The Navigator: Chosen to Save the World (2007), it has been a peaceful year since the crisis that drew Owen into the battle between the Resistors and the evil Harsh. Owens friend Cati serves in the lonely role of invisible Watcher. Cati realizes that something is wrong, but she fails to wake the Resistors and calls once more on Owen. Together, they find themselves in a new battle against the Harsh, this time journeying to Hadima, the City of Time. Aided again by Dr. Diamond and his intriguing gadgets, they encounter unusual allies, including a one-handed Yeati. The story alternates between Hadima and Owen and Catis home world, which is about to collide with the moon. As in the previous book, the swift action sweeps the reader along without any niggling questions about world structure. The first chapter nicely catches readers up with the back-story, and by the satisfying conclusion, many secrets are revealed along with enticing hints of more adventures to come. Grades 5-8. --Lynn Rutan; Title: City of Time (The Navigator Trilogy) | [
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13,239 | 2 | PreSchool-Grade 1In this goofy story, a duck and goose mistake a big spotted ball for an egg. Each one claims it and they fight over taking care of it. In the end, they realize their foolishness and become friends, enjoying their ball together. The themes of getting along, sharing, and settling one's differences come across loud and clear, and the author does a good job with the subject without becoming too didactic. While the narrative is fairly straightforward and has touches of childlike humor throughout, it's the bright and colorful artwork that will attract youngsters' attention. The cartoon-style oil paintings set against soft-focus, almost impressionistic backgrounds keep Duck and Goose center stage, and their expressions are priceless. A sweet addition.Lisa S. Schindler, Bethpage Public Library, NY Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PreS-Gr. 2. A poultry odd couple stars in this story about a friendship forged through a finders keepers dispute. Duck and Goose simultaneously discover a giant polka-dotted sphere, which they take to be a very large egg: "I saw it first," says Duck; "I touched it first," says Goose. They spend hours sharing space on the egg's summit to keep it warm, first grudgingly, then companionably as they bond over their shared purpose. When a passerby points out that their prized egg is actually a child's toy ball, Duck and Goose decide the ball is lovely, too--just right for playing with together. Hills might have found ways to introduce more variety into his compositions, even given the somewhat limited situation, but the fresh, vivid colors draw the eye, and his whimsically rendered Duck and Goose (think bath toys with expressive eyebrows) will instantly endear themselves to children. Choose this for springtime and Easter story hours, paired with Dr. Seuss' classic Horton Hatches the Egg (1940) and Mem Fox's Hunwick's Egg (2005). Jennifer MattsonCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Duck & Goose | [
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13,240 | 0 | Kindergarten-Grade 3This version of the Clement Moore poem takes place on a U.S. Army base in the desert. The narrator wakes up when he hears a crash, and sees a Blackhawk helicopter giving the all clear to nine Humvees and a jeep, all loaded with gifts. Sergeant McClaus calls the drivers by name: Now, Cohen! Mendoza! Woslowski! McCord! Now, Li! Watts! Donetti! And Specialist Ford! When the caravan leaves, the sergeant calls out, HAPPY CHRISTMAS, BRAVE SOLDIERS! MAY PEACE COME TO ALL! Cartoon illustrations help to make this a lighthearted, even humorous, retelling that will probably be most appreciated by military families who already know the original version.Virginia Walter, University of California, Los Angeles Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Trish Holland, originally from Jackson, MI, wrote LASSO THE MOON, a Little Golden Book that pubbed in May, 2005.This is Christine Ford's third book. Her picture book, SNOW, was published in 1999 by HarperCollins. Her novel, SCOUT, will be published by Delacorte in Spring, 2006. Ms. Ford grew up in Pittsfield, MA. The author lives in Arlington, TX.; Title: The Soldiers' Night Before Christmas (Big Little Golden Book) | [
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13,241 | 17 | Starred Review. The huge lenticular cover image of pitcher Sandy Koufax in action makes this book hard to ignore; Winter's fan-in-the-stands-style prose and Carrilho's high-impact, editorial-style images make it hard to forget. Neither author nor artist explain the famously self-contained 1960s Dodgers pitcher (Just when you were startin' to understand him, he'd haul off and throw you a curve, says the anonymous former teammate who serves as narrator). Instead, they capture what it feels like to be in the presence of an exemplary athlete. The obstacles that Sandy Koufax faced—physical limitations; anti-Semitism (Some of the guys said some pretty lousy things behind his back—things I can't repeat)—are portrayed with zero sentiment; readers will root for Koufax because he is an engine of pure action. Debut artist Carrilho, offering texturally complex, digitally manipulated pencil drawings, has a bold, arresting aesthetic: while his harsh shadows, distorted perspectives and angular faces speak of a hardboiled reality, the baseball field itself is a storied place, rendered not in green but gold. Koufax becomes a figure of totemic strength, his eyes narrowing to black slits underneath bushy eyebrows, his body twisting as he delivers the perfect pitch. Not just a home run, this book is a grand slam. Ages 4–9. (Feb.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Starred Review. Grade 1–5—This picture-book biography of a pitching ace is a real treat. Much about this private man has been a mystery, so Winter focuses on how the gifted young athlete went from unpredictable to otherworldly in such a short time. Koufax spent his early years with the Brooklyn Dodgers, where he was either warming the bench or walking batters. The team moved to Los Angeles in 1957, and it wasn't until 1961 that he learned to control his pitch. He then proceeded to flummox opposing hitters until 1966, when he unexpectedly retired. The unnamed narrator, a teammate who speaks in the vernacular of an old-timer, greatly influences the voice of the book: readers can hear the spit of sunflower seeds between the lines. That Koufax was a Jew playing baseball at a time when the game was still deeply segregated is mentioned and honored, particularly with the anecdote of how he gave up his spot in the World Series rotation to observe a High Holy Day. Carrilho's caricature style is reminiscent of Al Hirschfeld's work, exaggerating everything that is beautiful and unknown about Koufax, from his extraordinarily athletic body to his private mystique. The graphite illustrations, enhanced via Photoshop, are dominated by golds, grays, and, of course, Dodger blue. While the author never offers an explanation for his subject's metamorphosis, that it should be hailed and remembered is never in doubt. This striking book deserves a wide audience.—Kara Schaff Dean, Walpole Public Library, MA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.; Title: You Never Heard of Sandy Koufax?! | [
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13,242 | 2 | A wish comes true for the principal of Aesop Elementary School when Mr. Jupiter arrives to take over a class with a reputation. With his vast experience and beautiful brown eyes, he charms everyone, including the librarian. Each of the short chapters, good for reluctant readers, describes familiar scenarios: lunchroom antics, name-calling, learning the Dewey Decimal system, and the all-important standardized-testing month. The premise is intriguing even as pieces of the action seems forced; the Aesop-like morals are a curious mix of aphorisms, some in familiar form and others recast to fit the plot. There is plenty of humor here; some of it, however, comes from stereotypical characters, both students and staff. Mr. Jupiter's first appearance promises a fantasy, but except for one other episode of wish fulfillment, this is, rather, exaggeration for the sake of humor. Fun for some, but other readers may play hooky before the year is over. Isaacs, KathleenCandace Fleming is the prolific author of many critically acclaimed, bestselling books for children, including the picture books Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! (an ALA Notable Book and four starred reviews), and Boxes for Katie (a Junior Library Guild Selection and a Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2003); the nonfiction titles Our Eleanor (an ALA Notable Book, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and three starred reviews) and Ben Franklin's Almanac (an ALA Notable Book, ALA Best Book for Young Adults, James Madison Honor Book, and three starred reviews). She lives in Mt. Prospect, Illinois.; Title: The Fabled Fourth Graders of Aesop Elementary School | [
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13,243 | 0 | MARY POPE OSBORNE is the author of the New York Times number one bestselling Magic Tree House series. She and her husband, writer Will Osborne (author of Magic Tree House: The Musical), live in northwestern Connecticut with their three dogs. Ms. Osborne is also the coauthor of the companion Magic Tree House Fact Trackers series with Will, and with her sister, Natalie Pope Boyce. SAL MURDOCCA has illustrated more than 200 children's trade and text books. He is also a librettist for children's opera, a video artist, an avid runner, hiker, and bicyclist, and a teacher of children's illustration at the Parsons School of Design. Sal lives and works in New York with his wife, Nancy.; Title: Dragon of the Red Dawn (Magic Tree House # 37, A Merlin Mission) | [
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13,244 | 0 | Lucille Recht Penner is the author of many books for children, including Dragons and Unicorns, two other titles in the series.; Title: Mermaids (A Stepping Stone Book(TM)) | [
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13,245 | 2 | Erica Verrillo is a world traveler who has worked and studied in a variety of fields. She lives in Williamsburg, Massachusetts, with her two children.From the Hardcover edition.; Title: Phoenix Rising #3: World's End (Phoenix Rising Trilogy) | [
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13,246 | 2 | From the time he was a small puff, the cloud protagonist of Christoph Niemann's The Police Cloud has dreamed of becoming a police officer. With some pull from a helicopter friend, the cloud gets his wish and dons the coveted big blue hat. He starts his first day of work with great enthusiasm. Unfortunately, some folks just aren't cut out to be defenders of the law. The well-meaning clouds blunders one assignment after another, obscuring the vision and light of everyone he tries to help. Alas! Is there no profession just right for this good-hearted cloud? In his first picture book, New Yorker, Atlantic Monthly, and New York Times illustrator Christoph Niemann captures the oh-so-ardent wish power of childhood, and sweetly demonstrates the fact that although everyone can't do everything, everyone can do something. Niemann's bold, striking illustrations will appeal to readers of all ages, especially the very youngest. --Emilie CoulterPreSchool-Grade 1—Ever since he was a small puff, the cloud had wanted to be a police officer. Sound familiar? Children with similar aspirations will find a somewhat fluffy hero to which they can relate as they witness his adventures and misadventures while on patrol. When the cloud tries to stop a bank robber, for instance, the bad guy walks right through him and escapes. He tries to direct traffic, but the drivers can't see—too foggy. And nobody wants him to patrol the park: he blocks the sun. These droll situations evoke sympathy and smiles. Realizing that he's a flop as a cop, the cloud floats into despair. When he begins to cry, he unwittingly puts out a blazing building with his tears, suggesting an eminently suitable new line of work and resulting in a happy ending. Niemann hits the ground running with his first picture book. His situations are easy to understand, his narrative logical. The main character is so very likable, partly a result of the gentle dialogue and the enticing computer-generated artwork. The artist has a genius for design, combining sweetly old-fashioned cartoon images with contemporary bold colors and shapes. The book's layout couldn't be more arresting. This endearing offering is sure to rise swiftly on the storytime hit parade.—Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NY Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.; Title: The Police Cloud | [
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13,247 | 13 | Kindergarten-Grade 2When Emma insults her younger sister's cat drawing by calling it a scribble, Lucie retaliates by drawing all over the older girl's picture of a sleeping princess. So begins the tale as Lucie follows Scribble Cat into Emma's drawing in search of the beautiful princess who is now obscured behind a tangled bramble of scribbles. After much difficulty, the lines are rolled into a ball and Scribble Cat awakens the sleeping princess with a kiss. Despite Emma's protestations that a kitty and a princess can't get married, they do anyway and live happily ever after. This fresh and imaginative story-within-a-story perfectly captures the logic and tone of children's dialogue, especially two arguing siblings. But the text is only half of the story. Freedman combines two wildly different drawing styles to great effect as she takes readers between reality and her characters' artwork. Her "real world" illustrations are reminiscent of Maurice Sendak's work complete with speech bubbles. The artist's attention to detail is excellent, making it easy to see that Lucie is sorry about ruining Emma's picture without a word being uttered. The amusing antics of Scribble Cat, who looks as though he's been drawn by a preschooler, come alive for readers. Having Lucie's real-world kitty join her in drawings adds another layer of entertainment. A fun and imaginative romp.Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved."... Freedman's willingness to color outside the lines pays off - she's created a clever gem of a book." -- Publishers Weekly"... liable to spark young imaginations." -- Kirkus"... will enchant the very youngest of readers, while also enthralling older readers who are savvy enough to appreciate and ponder its many dimensions." -- Bookpage"A fun and imaginative romp." -- School Library Journal; Title: Scribble | [
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13,248 | 0 | Gr 5-7Giff juxtaposes two stories to highlight a little-known piece of Revolutionary War history. Present-day Elizabeth has been sent to stay with her deceased mother's sister while her father travels to Australia. Resistant at first, she gradually becomes comfortable with her Aunt Libby and is fascinated by a drawing of an ancestor, a girl who lived through the War for Independence. Zee narrates her dramatic story: living on a farm in upstate New York, her Patriot family is pitted against Loyalist neighbors. When her father and brother leave for battle, her house is attacked and burned and her mother is killed. Handicapped by hands burned in the fire, she sets off to find her father and brother and is caught up in what has come to be known as the Battle of Oriskany. While Elizabeth knows nothing of Zee's story, she is helped by her reclusive Uncle Harry, a history buff, to piece together events by visiting the site of the battle and of Zee's home. Another discovery is made in an antiques shop where Harry has found other drawings, presumably of Zee, by the same artist who did Libby's drawing. Through this experience, Elizabeth acknowledges her own storytelling ability, an implied connection between the two girls. Zee's story is compelling, and, by embedding many historical details, including the role of the Iroquois in the conflict, into the vehicle of Elizabeth's trip with her uncle, the novel barely escapes didacticism. The fast-paced narrative, toggling back and forth between the 18th and 21st centuries, will keep readers interested.Marie Orlando, North Shore Public Library, Shoreham, NY(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.What determination they had to build this country, marvels a character in this moving novel, set partly during the Revolutionary War. Giff shows young readers the truth in that sentiment through the perspectives of two young girls: Elizabeth, a contemporary kid who is staying with her aunt, and her ancestor, Zee, an eighteenth-century farm girl. Intrigued by a picture of Zee in her aunts house, Elizabeth researches the tragic events that led to the burning of Zees home, the death of her mother, and the battle at Oriskany. Giffs use of everyday, period details brings immediacy to Zees story, while the well-integrated themes, including the loss of a parent and the girls struggles to feel useful, further unite the two stories, both told in compelling voices. The horror of war is clearly conveyed without graphic specifics, and the historical framework makes this a strong classroom choice. It is the intertwined, personal stories of the two girls, though, that will win hearts, and the characters growing maturity and discovery of their strengths will resonate strongly with young readers. Grades 4-7. --Lynn Rutan; Title: Storyteller | [
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13,249 | 2 | Grade 13Jenkins continues the adventures of Lumphy, Stingray, and Plastic, which began in Toys Go Out (Random, 2006). This charming fantasy about friendship explores their feelings and fears. The Girl who owns them is growing up and they are worried that she is leaving them behind. Telling the story from the point of view of the toys helps children to view these concerns in a nonthreatening light. In six new escapades, the toys learn to stick together and help solve their predicaments. Each new adventure builds anticipation and apprehension as the toys struggle for a satisfactory conclusion. Humor-laced language creates visual images as well as unusual sounds (e.g., "rumpa, lumpa"). Zelinsky's cleverly detailed black-and-white illustrations are amusing and add to the overall pleasure in the book. Beginning chapter-book readers will enjoy the pace of each episode. Toy Dance Party also makes a great read-aloud.Margaret R. Tassia, Millersville University, PA Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Lumphy, StingRay,and Plastic, the toyswhose secret lives were introduced in Toys Go Out (2006), are troubled. Their girl, Honey, has developed more grown-up interests; she is no longer very observant andspends less special time with them. In six interconnected adventures, the toys survive being left alone; make friends with Spark, a garbage-eating shark; rescue Bonkers the mouse from the vacuum cleaner; go on a sleepover; and join Washer and Dryer in the basement for lively parties. Finally, with purposeful naughtiness, they solve the problem of Honeys new interest in the silent Barbies. These toys have distinct, well-developed characters and behave as children do, sometimes squabbling with each other but also taking pride in their accomplishments and ability to cooperate. StingRay even develops empathy. Dialogue and song help to move the narrative along. Each chapter will include a black-and-white illustration (unavailable in galley). Whether or not they are familiar withthe toys first round of adventures, chapter-book readers will welcome these gently humorous tales, just right for hearing aloud or reading alone. Grades 1-3. --Kathleen Isaacs; Title: Toy Dance Party (Toys Go Out) | [
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13,250 | 0 | Thomas is taking the judge to the train show! He speeds up a hill, across a ridge, through a tunnel, and over a bridge. But as soon as Thomas starts to go fast--"screech!--he has to slow down. A goat is in the way, the wind is pushing him back, the tunnel is very dark, and logs are on the track! As soon as Thomas gets past each delay, he gets to go fast--at last! But will they reach the show on time? Go, Thomas, go!In the early 1940s, a loving father crafted a small blue wooden engine for his son, Christopher. The stories that this father, Reverend W. Awdry, made up to accompany this wonderful toy were first published in 1945. He continued to create new adventures and characters until 1972, when he retired from writing. Reverend Awdry died in 1997 at the age of 85.Richard Courtneyis a published illustrator known for his colorful work in the childrens book seriesThomas & Friends.; Title: Thomas and Friends: Henry and the Elephant (Thomas & Friends) (Step into Reading) | [
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13,251 | 0 | Gale Wiersum was a Golden Books staffer during the 1970s.Alex Steele-Morgan lives in England.; Title: The Animals' Christmas Eve (Little Golden Book) | [
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13,252 | 2 | Mary Man-Kong is achildrens bookeditor and author living in New York City. When she's notediting orwriting, she loves travelingwith her amazing family on awesomeadventures.; Title: Barbie Fairytopia: Magic of the Rainbow | [
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13,253 | 13 | *Starred Review* Parker, who illustrated Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordans Sibert Honor Book Action Jackson (2002), contributes both words and pictures in this heartfelt portrait of jazz great Tatum. Parker pushes the limits of the books nonfiction cataloguing by speaking in the pianistsfirst-person voice, but an authors note and a solid bibliography set the episodes in a framework of established facts. The vibrant scenes, in Parkers familiar style of scratched ink lines and watercolor washes, show young Tatum playing at home for his dancing parents, at church for a full choir, and at local clubs, where he is discovered and his international career begins. In some images, crowds of dancers and musicians create a swirl of animated motion; in others, Parker sets Tatum, who was nearly blind, against a deep, moody, abstract background of shifting colors. Throughout, the simple, direct language shows the power of the music for both Tatum and his listeners. When I am at the piano . . . I play clouds of notes, rivers of notes . . . I forget that my eyes arent good. I have everything I need. Cue up the music; children will best appreciate this beautiful tribute with an earful of Tatum at the keyboard. Grades 2-4. --Gillian EngbergStarred review, Kirkus Reviews, December 15, 2007:Fusing Parkers artistic talent and passion for jazz (hes a musician, too), this sensitively embellished biography is totally on time.Starred review, Booklist, February 2, 2008:The simple, direct language shows the power of the music for both Tatum and his listeners.Starred review, School Library Journal, February 2008:Breathing life into words about music for young children is never easy, but Parker makes it appear effortless.Review, The San Francisco Chronicle, February 24, 2008:"It's a joyful portrait of an innovative artist who was peerless in music ... A jazz musician himself, Parker brings a deep love and understanding to his subject."; Title: Piano Starts Here: The Young Art Tatum | [
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13,254 | 2 | "Well crafted and gratifying." School Library Journal "A highly imaginative tale." Kirkus Reviews "This is my favorite kind of fantasy, combining the secret and the ordinary." Tamora Pierce, New York Times bestselling author "One of the most fascinating new fantasy worlds grown on American soil since Oz." MuggleNet.com "Highly appealing characters whom readers will want to encounter again." The Horn Book Magazine "Henry becomes a stronger and more resourceful kid as he tests his mettle against the creatures in the cupboards." The Bulletin"The story is chilling, but the creepy quotient never exceeds the books target audience." BooklistN. D. WILSON lives and writes in the top of a tall, skinny house only one block from where he was born. But his bestselling novels, including the highly acclaimed 100 Cupboards series, have traveled far and wide and have been translated into dozens of languages. He and his wife have five young storytellers of their own, along with an unreasonable number of pets. You can visit him online at ndwilson.com.; Title: 100 Cupboards: Book 1 of the 100 Cupboards | [
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13,255 | 2 | Moxy Maxwell is a procrastinator. She was assigned Stuart Little for summer reading, but it is still unread on the last day before the first day of school. Moxy's mother is well aware of this lapse. Moxy won't be allowed to play the eighth daisy petal in the water ballet at the local pool if she hasn't finished the book by the time Mom returns home. Intentions are good, but events keep getting in the way. Moxy's room must be cleaned, and the dog has to be trained. She also takes time to ponder the idea of inventing a hammock that automatically stops swinging when the inhabitor gets off. She decides to plant a peach orchard (with bad results). All of this is documented with funny black-and-white photographs taken by Moxy's brother. The short, sassy chapters have an immediacy that may have readers wringing their hands as the clock ticks down. The scenerio will ring true for readers who may have put off a few homework assignments of their own. Cooper, IleneWITH ITS BRILLIANTLY accessible application of a usually complex narrative technique, this work represents a significant raising of the bar for writers of chapter books. Technique or no technique, kids will recognize Moxyand they will love her.Kirkus Reviews, StarredGiffords depiction of an overly exuberant nine-year-old may remind some readers of Lois Lowrys Gooney Bird Greene.School Library JournalThe short, sassy chapters have an immediacy that may have readers wringing their hands as the clock ticks down.BooklistFrom the Trade Paperback edition.; Title: Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little | [
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13,256 | 15 | When she learns of an evil plot to destroy the world's trees, Little Fur, half-elf, half-troll girl, vows to save her own magical forest, but soon is embroiled on a quest to save the earth spirit itself. This tiny healer does not set out to be a heroine, but her steadfast determination and loyal heart sets her on that path in spite of her quiet, almost timid ways. Along with her crow and cat companions, red-headed Little Fur wends her way from comforting greenspaces to alarming city streets. Since her feet must never leave the ground (otherwise she would lose touch with the flow of earth magic), Little Furs route is meandering, long, and fraught with the danger of humans, trolls, and other nefarious creatures. In spite of it all, she finally approaches the chasm where earths Old Ones supposedly dwell. Can this tiny Halfling do what no others have been able to do and save the earth spirit?Isobelle Carmody's enchanting though moralistic eco-fantasy will delight those who love to lose themselves in tales of elves, brownies, and Hobbits. Although Little Fur is somewhat lacking in humor, the elf-troll-eye view of humans is entertaining and astute, and the adventure in is in the classic, satisfying, good versus evil vein. --Emilie CoulterGrade 3-6Nestled deep within a secret wilderness carefully concealed from human eyes lives a small half-elf, half-troll girl. Little Fur is sworn to protect the seven ancient trees that connect directly to the earth-spirit, but learns that fire-loving humans may soon harm her precious enclave. Uncertain of what to do, Little Fur seeks advice from a wise owl, setting her on a quest to awaken the one creature that might bring humanity back to its senses. Accompanied by two cats and a wisecracking crow, the little creature faces her fears and proves that even the smallest heroine can make a difference. This benign eco-fantasy treads familiar territory with its tale of respecting the world around us. It's enjoyable, if occasionally more didactic than necessary. The simple pen-and-ink illustrations are pleasant but don't always pair up well with the action. Also, the book leaves questions regarding Little Fur's ancestry unanswered, setting the stage for future titles in the series. A story best enjoyed by children looking for a low-key fantasy series akin to Patrick Carman's The Land of Elyon books (Scholastic).Elizabeth Bird, New York Public Library Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.; Title: Little Fur: The Legend Begins | [
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13,257 | 2 | In 1942, the launch ofLittle Golden Booksrevolutionized childrens book publishing by making high-quality picture books available at affordable prices. More than 60 years later, many of the original Golden Book titles are still wildly popular, with The Poky Little Puppy topping the list of ten bestselling childrens books of all time.Golden Books backlist is teeming with classics such as Dorothy Kunhardts Pat the Bunny, and features the stories and artwork of childrens book legends Mary Blair, Margaret Wise Brown, Richard Scarry, Eloise Wilkins, Garth Williams, and many more.Today, the Golden Books imprint includes an array of storybooks, novelty books, and coloring and activity books featuring all of the most popular licenses, including Disney, Nickelodeon, Barbie, Thomas & Friends, The Cat in the Hat, Sesame Street, Marvel Super Heroes, and DC Super Friends. Golden Bookscontinues to reissue the best of its backlist in a variety of formats, including ebooks and apps, as well as bringing out brand-new books in these evolving new formats.; Title: Hooray for Best Friends! (Dora the Explorer) (Deluxe Coloring Book) | [
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13,258 | 7 | Grade 5–8—This fantasy by Irish author McNamee introduces Owen, whose father has died mysteriously, and whose mother has sunk into a depression. Out in his wilderness hideaway, he catapults into a time vortex where he meets a girl named Cati and her fellow Wakeful. Their eternal task is to fight the Harsh, a powerful ice people who upend time, running it backward so that humans no longer exist. Owen, Cati, and other Wakeful set out to find the Puissance, the place where it is foretold that the Navigator, a legendary figure, can defeat the Harsh and restore proper time. Readers who head for D. J. MacHale's "Pendragon" (S & S) and Garth Nix's "The Keys to the Kingdom" (Scholastic) series may like this one as well, but it sometimes strains credibility. The idea that time is moving backward (from modern to medieval times by novel's end), but that all humanity immediately disappears (even though there were humans back then) is hard to accept. And while Owen and Cati are plucky adventurers, the descriptions sometimes fall flat, and the transitions are occasionally abrupt. Consider this title an additional purchase; acquire where Kenneth Oppel's Airborn (HarperCollins, 2004) and similar titles are popular.—Caitlin Augusta, The Darien Library, CT Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Owen often escapes his widowed mother's house for his den, a cozy hideout along the banks of the river. One day he spots a strange man in a faded uniform staring across the river. As Owen creeps up on him, the world plunges into total darkness. When the darkness lifts, the man tells Owen, "It has begun." It appears that Owen has an important role to play in an eons-long battle between the Resistors and a group of villains called the Harsh, who freeze everything they touch. The struggle is at a crisis point; the Harsh have managed to start the Great Time Machine running backward. The concept is somewhat sketchy, but McNamee, who wrote the adult book Resurrection Man (1994), keeps the action vivid and exciting, giving readers little time to worry about details. An editor's note indicates that the interesting cast of characters will return for more adventures. Lynn RutanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: The Navigator | [
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13,259 | 13 | Eric Kimmel grew up in Brooklyn, New York, loving the music of Louis Armstrong, who lived a few miles away in Queens. He is the award-winningauthor of the Caldecott Honor Book Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins. He lives in Portland, Oregon.; Title: A Horn for Louis: Louis Armstrong--as a kid! (A Stepping Stone Book(TM)) | [
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13,260 | 6 | In 1942, the launch ofLittle Golden Booksrevolutionized childrens book publishing by making high-quality picture books available at affordable prices. More than 60 years later, many of the original Golden Book titles are still wildly popular, with The Poky Little Puppy topping the list of ten bestselling childrens books of all time.Golden Books backlist is teeming with classics such as Dorothy Kunhardts Pat the Bunny, and features the stories and artwork of childrens book legends Mary Blair, Margaret Wise Brown, Richard Scarry, Eloise Wilkins, Garth Williams, and many more.Today, the Golden Books imprint includes an array of storybooks, novelty books, and coloring and activity books featuring all of the most popular licenses, including Disney, Nickelodeon, Barbie, Thomas & Friends, The Cat in the Hat, Sesame Street, Marvel Super Heroes, and DC Super Friends. Golden Bookscontinues to reissue the best of its backlist in a variety of formats, including ebooks and apps, as well as bringing out brand-new books in these evolving new formats.; Title: PRIN STORIES: COLLEC | [
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13,261 | 0 | RON ROY has been writing books for children since 1974. He is the author of dozens of books, including the popular A to Z Mysteries, Capital Mysteries, and Calendar Mysteries. When not working on a new book in his Connecticut home, Ron likes to teach tricks to his dog Pal, play poker with friends, travel, and read thrilling mystery books. Visit him online at RonRoy.com.TIMOTHY BUSH is a writer-illustrator with many children's projects to his credit, including the elaborate visual extravaganza James in the House of Aunt Prudence. He lives in New York, New York.; Title: Capital Mysteries #7: Trouble at the Treasury | [
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13,262 | 7 | Stunningly original. GuardianEntertaining fantasy at its finest. Times Literary SupplementChris Riddell is the co-creator of the bestselling Edge Chronicles series, with Paul Stewart. He has illustrated many childrens books including the award-winning Pirate Diary. He is also the political cartoonist for the Guardian and Observer newspapers.Paul Stewart is the co-creator of the bestselling Edge Chronicles series, with Chris Riddell. He is also the author of a number of previous titles for children including The Wakening.; Title: Edge Chronicles 9: Clash of the Sky Galleons (The Edge Chronicles) | [
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13,263 | 2 | Cathy Hapka has written more than 100 books for children and young adults. At home on her small farm in Chester County, Pennsylvania, she enjoys reading and writing, horseback riding, animals of all kinds, gardening, and music.Ellen Titlebaum is the author of numerous books for young readers. Her titles include How Not to Babysit Your Brother andHow to Start Third Grade, among others.Debbie Palen's illustrations have appeared in a range of media, including the app market, advertising, young adult books, and childrens publishing. She is currently focusing her talents on picture books.; Title: How Not to Start Third Grade (Step into Reading 4) | [
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13,264 | 1 | Lori Haskins is the author of some of our most successful Step into Reading titles, including Ducks in Muck and Too Many Dogs.Valeria Petrone has illustrated many books for children around the world. She lives in Italy.; Title: Ducks in Muck (For Baby Board Books) | [
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13,265 | 2 | Grade 24Second-grader Alvin Ho is determined to make friends, even though he is afraid of any number of things and can't talkat allin school. Episodic chapters feature events at home, at school, and in his Concord, MA, neighborhood. Everyday adventures include being left stranded by his siblings during stretching exercises that leave him upside down in a tree, being sent alone to the scary piano teacher's house, and deciding whether or not to hang out with the classroom bully. Although Look resists providing a tidy ending, readers will be sure that Alvin is on the right road when he surprises even himself by suddenly speaking to his psychotherapist. And they won't have to understand the Shakespearean curses that come out of his mouth to know that this time he has a good reason to be afraid. Whether they are fearful or brave, kids will smile at Alvin's scrapes and empathize with his concerns. Aspects of his Chinese-American background are seamlessly integrated into the story and add richness. The book is chock-full of well-placed illustrations. Martin Bridge, make room for Alvin Ho.Faith Brautigam, Gail Borden Public Library, Elgin, IL Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.In the chapter-book universe of Judy Moody and Junie B. Jones its hard to know whats moresurprising about Alvin Ho: his Y chromosome, or his Chinese American heritage. In this book, Look,who hasmade a career of portraying Chinese American family life in picture books andchapter books,focuses less on culturalcommonalities than on the idiosyncracies of Alvins family (a dad fond of Shakespearean insults, a grandfather who sews),filling in theChinese Americanbackdropexclusively throughasmall amount ofCantonese vocabulary and some food references. The books lighthearted treatment ofAlvins unusual problem (mutism that kicks in only at school) doesntseem entirely apt. Still, many children will sympathize withfearful Alvin,whohates his therapist and marvels at his descent from farmer-warriors who havent had a scaredy bone in their bodies since 714 AD. Theyll also hope thatthe books concluding, unexpected friendship willreappsychological benefitsin a sequel. Phams thickly brushedartwork matches the quirky characterizations stroke for stroke. Grades 2-4. --Jennifer Mattson; Title: Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things | [
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13,266 | 0 | RON ROY has been writing books for children since 1974. He is the author of dozens of books, including the popular A to Z Mysteries®, Calendar Mysteries, and Capital Mysteries. When not working on a new book, Ron likes to teach tricks to his dog Pal, play poker with friends, travel, and read thrilling mystery books.   STEPHEN GILPIN is the award-winning illustrator of dozens of children’s books, including the popular and very funny Pirate Mom. He brings his fresh, kid-friendly style to all the covers of the A to Z Mysteries® series.; Title: Mayflower Treasure Hunt (A to Z Mysteries Super Edition, No. 2) | [
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13,267 | 1 | Here's what people are saying about Babymouse! The Chicago Sun-Times: "Move over, Superman, here comes Babymouse!" Starred Review, The Horn Book: "Nobody puts Babymouse in the corner!" Booklist: "Cute, smart, sassy Babymouse is fun and funny, and this book, like its predecessors, will draw reluctant readers as well as Babymouse fans."The Bulletin: "An almost absurdly likeable heroine."Today, Jennifer is the New York Times bestselling author of several highly acclaimed novels, including three Newbery Honor-winners, Our Only May Amelia, Penny from Heaven, and Turtle in Paradise. ; Title: Babymouse #7: Skater Girl | [
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13,268 | 6 | In 1942, the launch ofLittle Golden Booksrevolutionized childrens book publishing by making high-quality picture books available at affordable prices. More than 60 years later, many of the original Golden Book titles are still wildly popular, with The Poky Little Puppy topping the list of ten bestselling childrens books of all time.Golden Books backlist is teeming with classics such as Dorothy Kunhardts Pat the Bunny, and features the stories and artwork of childrens book legends Mary Blair, Margaret Wise Brown, Richard Scarry, Eloise Wilkins, Garth Williams, and many more.Today, the Golden Books imprint includes an array of storybooks, novelty books, and coloring and activity books featuring all of the most popular licenses, including Disney, Nickelodeon, Barbie, Thomas & Friends, The Cat in the Hat, Sesame Street, Marvel Super Heroes, and DC Super Friends. Golden Bookscontinues to reissue the best of its backlist in a variety of formats, including ebooks and apps, as well as bringing out brand-new books in these evolving new formats.; Title: TRAVEL WITH THOMAS | [
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13,269 | 0 | The audience for this title will not know the term tallyman, but this story cleverly sums it up. Who will outsmart whomPhineas Bump, the 1790 U.S. census taker who rides into Tunbridge, Vermont, heartsick, saddle-sore, and down on his luck but determined to count the people for his job, or the townsfolk who dont want to be counted because they think theyll have to pay more taxes? When young rascal Boston Pepper gets an idea, it switches their thinking: more people would mean more government representation and more votes to get things done! Overnight, Phineas goes from knocking on doors of empty houses to being welcomed by Mrs. Pepper, whose family has suddenly multiplied (thanks to numerous animals dressed as humans), and its a win-win situation. The detailed illustrations underscore the humor while the colloquial dialogue adds flavor; Cheese and chowder! exclaimed Mrs. Pepper. Count on teachers zeroing in on this nifty number. Grades 1-3. --Julie CumminsStarred Review, School Library Journal, March 2009:"Charming and humorous, this book is certain to appeal to childrenand to educators."; Title: Tricking the Tallyman | [
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13,270 | 1 | Walter Farley wrote 21 books in the famous Black Stallion series. He died in 1989.; Title: Big Black Horse (Picture Book) | [
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13,271 | 1 | Here's what people are saying about Babymouse! The Chicago Sun-Times: "Move over, Superman, here comes Babymouse!" Starred Review, The Horn Book: "Nobody puts Babymouse in the corner!" Booklist: "Cute, smart, sassy Babymouse is fun and funny, and this book, like its predecessors, will draw reluctant readers as well as Babymouse fans."The Bulletin: "An almost absurdly likeable heroine."Growing up, brother-sister team Matthew and Jennifer Holm had numerous beloved pets, including the creatively named Ruffybest known for once sporting a pink mohawk and eating an entire chocolate birthday cake. Today, Jennifer is the New York Times bestselling author of several highly acclaimed novels, including three Newbery Honor-winners, Our Only May Amelia, Penny from Heaven, and Turtle in Paradise. Matthew Holm is a graphic designer and freelance writer. They wish to make it clear that no animals were harmed in the making of this book.; Title: Babymouse #8: Puppy Love | [
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13,272 | 2 | This versatile and sincere story will teach math and science concepts while modeling kind behavior. When Mr. Tiffin brings three pumpkins into class for a math and science lesson, all the children guess how many seeds are inside. Charlie, the smallest kid in class, feels frustrated: "All the best guesses are taken." Then the class opens the pumpkins and counts the seeds. McNamara introduces the concepts of counting by twos, fives, and tens, and she includes pumpkin facts (the more lines on the pumpkin, the more seeds it will have). Charlie ends up with the correct guess and discovers that "small things can have a lot going on inside them." Karas' simple, effective illustrations, in the autumnal colors of a fall landscape, capture the multicultural students' feelings, especially Charlie's quiet confusion and eventual flush of pride and confidence. Carton, DebbieReview, San Francisco Chronicle (circ: 329,989), September 30, 2007:"There's quite a lot to learn about pumpkins in this book, which even a math-phobe can love, plus there's kids working together and having their minds opened once their assumptions are trounced. Karas' stylized illustrations capture the fun of an engaging, hands-on classroom project."Regan McMahon; Title: How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? (Mr. Tiffin's Classroom Series) | [
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13,273 | 2 | Erica Verrillo is a world traveler who has worked and studied in a variety of fields. She has worked primarily as a teacher of languages, public speaking, linguistics, and music. She lives in Massachusetts with her two children.The Ancient One sat before her hearth, waiting. It had been eight months since she had sent the Seeker into the world. The Ancient One threw another log on the fire, measuring with her eyes the length of time it took to turn the brown tree flesh into white bone. As she watched the flames devour the wood, she counted silently: One, two, three, four, five. She did not know, or care, what she was countingminutes, months, miles. What did measurements matter if one was cold? What is taking her so long? she wondered. I havent got all millennium.She jabbed her crooked stick impatiently into the fire.Here! she said, dredging the stick through the tiny mountains and valleys of glowing cinders. Go here, and here!But even as she mapped the long, meandering routesouthward and then eastwardit was covered under a desert of shifting ash.The Ancient One shook her head. Youll go where I tell you to go, she muttered. And with a patience born of desperation, she traced the Seekers path again . . . and again, and again.***Some say the world is flat, like a plate, while others insist the world is round, like a bean pot. However, as all properly educated people know, the world is actually shaped like a bowl, gently sloping downward and inward, cupping the land and sea securely within its edges. At the far northern rim of this bowl lies a ring of mountains so high that no human being has ever scaled them. These mountains hold up the sky, preventing it from falling down and crushing the earth. All the lands in which people dwell are beautiful, from the tiniest forest glade to the loftiest mountain, for any land that provides a home is lovely to the eyewith the possible exception of the Great Desert.Those who have never lived among its shifting sands say that the Great Desert has a face only a mother could love. Pocked, pitted, strewn with boulders, creased with barren gullies and ravines, bruised by the hot sun, and scarred by fierce sandstorms, the desert is a land loved by few and feared by many. But those who do love the ugliest of Natures faces do so with all their hearts. They are known as the Blue People, a people whose spirits are as vast and unyielding as the desert they defend, for, like the desert, they cannot be conquered.Anyone choosing to cross the desert may do so only with the permission, and usually in the company, of the Blue People. To attempt such a journey alone is to risk a slow, agonizing death, as the desert likes to hide its life-giving waters from strangers. The other risksbeing captured by slave traders or bitten by poisonous snakespale in comparison to death by thirst. The Blue men are unsurpassed as guides and invincible as warriors, for life in the desert is harsh and a knowledge of where and how to strike is as useful for a Blue man as it is for a cobra. Most people prefer to avoid both.Elissa was not in a position to avoid either.The Blue People were leading her and Maya to safety, and the snakes liked to cuddle up with her at night. Being chased across the desert, bombarded by sandstorms, nearly dying of thirst, and having to confront the Khan single-handedlynot to mention his armywas far more trying than this relatively dull journey to Alhamazar. Nevertheless, after weeks of eating sand, shaking affectionate reptiles out of her boots, and being jostled around on top of Ralphs swaying hump, Maya and Elissa were both ready for a change. Even more so Gertrude, who, in the absence of fresh pasture, had lapsed into a determined, sullen silence. The miserable donkey hardly gave Ralph a twitch of her tail in spite of the camels many hopeful, but completely futile, attempts to lure her into conversation.How much farther? Elissa had not meant to ask the question aloud, but Ralph, with his sharp ears, had heard her. The camel craned his neck around and turned his gorgeous eyes to Elissa.We are not far from our destination, he said. Are you ladies sufficiently comfortable? Would you like me to halt?Elissa answered quickly, before Ralph could offer them a picnic, a brisk walk, a game of cards, some tea. No, dont stop. Please. Were fine. Really.Ralph continued on, but the truth was that they were not fine. Maya had not looked well since they had left the oasis. As Maya leaned her cheek against the pommel, Elissa could see that her eyes were closed. But Elissa knew she was not sleeping. Looking at her little companion, Elissa could plainly see the toll the dry desert heat had taken on Maya over the last few weeks. Her eyes had sunken into dark little pockets, and they had lost their shine. For Mayas sake, she hoped that Ralph had an accurate sense of distance.From the Hardcover edition.; Title: Phoenix Rising #2: Elissa's Odyssey (Phoenix Rising Trilogy) | [
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13,274 | 0 | Grade 8 UpThrough a series of skillfully crafted poems, Hemphill has pieced together a collage of the life and work of the American writer. Arranged chronologically from Plath's birth to the month of her suicide, the poems are written from the points of view of people involved in her life. The voices of Plath's mother; her poet husband, Ted Hughes; and other intimates are interspersed with those of more fleeting acquaintances, each chosen to underscore a unique aspect of the subject's fiery life and tumultuous literary career. Hemphill rises to the challenge of capturing the life of a poet through poetry itself; the end result is a collection of verse worthy of the artist whom it portrays. Form is of paramount importance, just as it was to Plath herself. Many of the selections were created "in the style of" specific Plath poems, while others are scattered with Plath's imagery and language. While the book will prove an apt curriculum companion to Plath's literary works as touted on the jacket, it will also pull the next generation of readers into the myth of Sylvia Plath.Jill Heritage Maza, Greenwich High School, CT Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.*Starred Review* As in Margarita Engle's The Poet Slave of Cuba (2006), this ambitious portrait uses poetry to illuminate the facts of a famous life, in this case, Sylvia Plath's. Although classified as fiction, the book draws from numerous nonfiction sources, including biographies and Plath's journals and letters, and each poem is accompanied by footnotes grounding Hemphill's imagined scenes within the facts. Rather than write in Plath's voice, Hemphill channels the voices of those who knew the poet in chronologically arranged poems, written from the perspective of family members, friends, colleagus, even Plath's doctor. Plath's own voice is evident in the poetic forms, though, with many of the poems written "in the style of" specific works. The result is an intimate, comprehensive, imaginative view of a life that also probes the relationships between poetry and creativity, mental fragility, love, marriage, and betrayal. Some readers may be slowed by the many poems that chronicle the bitter dissolution of Plath's marriage, and readers who know the Plath poems Hemphill references will have an advantage. But Plath's dramatic genius and personal struggles, particularly the difficulties of reconciling the writing life with the roles of wife and mother, have long attracted teen interest, and this accomplished, creative story may ignite new interest in Plath's original works. A bibliography of sources is appended. Gillian EngbergCopyright American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Your Own, Sylvia: A Verse Portrait of Sylvia Plath | [
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13,275 | 2 | This is a ripping good adventure yarn. . . . Heres the perfect remedy for any summer thats been disappointingly short on thrills.The Bulletin, StarredWilsons rich imagination and his quirky characters are a true delight.School Library Journal[Children] will appreciate both the fast-paced adventure and Toms determination to make the impossible journey back home.The Horn Book MagazineN. D. Wilson is a Fellow of Literature at New Saint Andrews College, where he teaches classical rhetoric to freshmen. He married a girl stolen from the ocean, and the two of them now live in Idaho with their four children.; Title: Leepike Ridge | [
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13,276 | 0 | Theodor Geisel (a.k.a. Dr. Seuss) is quite simply the most beloved children's book author in the United States. Long considered a national treasure, he died at the age of 87 in 1991 at his home in La Jolla, California.; Title: Up, Up, Up with the Cat (Dr. Seuss Nursery Collection) | [
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13,277 | 7 | Henry H. Neff is a full-time author and illustrator. Previously he has been a business consultant in Chicago and a high-school teacher in San Francisco. He now lives in Brooklyn with his fiance.You can visit the author at www.henryhneff.com.; Title: The Fiend and the Forge: Book Three of The Tapestry | [
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13,278 | 16 | Mary Serfozo is the author of several books for children. She has two children and three grandchildren, and lives with her husband in Paso Robles, California.Jeffrey Scherer has illustrated many books for children. He also works as an online producer for the Times Union advertising art department. He lives in Voorheesville, New York, with his wife and two children.; Title: Whooo's There? (Picture Book) | [
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13,279 | 11 | Kindergarten-Grade 2Traffic always moves at a frantic pace on Rushmore Boulevard. Two older women who are friends live on opposite sides of the street. Agatha Walker, frustrated with its pace, takes her easy chair and a batch of freshly baked gingersnaps and parks herself in the middle of the streaming vehicles. Her friend Eulalie Scruggs soon joins her with a card table and a Parcheesi set. Traffic starts to slow down and people stop by for a chat and cookies. Soon children come out to play in the street. People plant flowers by the curb. The once-busy thoroughfare has been changed into a neighborhood gathering place and no one is in a hurry to leave. The cheerful mixed-media illustrations are of varying sizes and encased in white. In the text, the sound words are bigger and bolder than the others, and fonts vary throughout. While the slow-down-your-life sentiment is sweet, it's not a pressing one for children.Ieva Bates, Ann Arbor District Library, MI END"Rockliffs gentle and sweet-spirited story of urban transformation is nicely complemented by McMenemys brightly colored and energetic mixed-media pictures."- Booklist Reviews"Genuinely inspiring"- Publishers Weekly"Simple and bright" - The New York Times Book Review; Title: The Busiest Street in Town | [
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13,280 | 16 | Which letter of the alphabet does Elmo like best? Elmo likes A, because juicy "apples begin with A. But the word "baby begins with the letter B, and Elmo loves babies. Oh, no! Can you help Elmo decide?Deborah November is a freelance author and editor who has written scores of Sesame Street books over the years.; Title: Elmo's ABC Book (Sesame Street) (Big Bird's Favorites Board Books) | [
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13,281 | 0 | Karen Schwabach has been voting since 1984. She lived in Alaska for many years, but did not find it necessary to change her name. A Pickpockets Tale was her fiction debut, and The Hope Chest is her second novel. She lives in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.; Title: The Hope Chest | [
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13,282 | 6 | With SpongeBob every day is a great day! So set a course for silliness with this supersized coloring book with a boatload of puzzles mazes and games! Format: Trade Paperback 224 pages; Title: SpongeBob's Best Days! | [
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13,283 | 2 | Besides illustrating many classic, bestselling Golden Books, the late Garth Williams brought to life some of the most beloved books in children'sliterature, including Charlotte's Web, Stuart Little, and the Little House series. He died in 1996.; Title: Baby's First Book (Little Golden Book) | [
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13,284 | 2 | Grade 13Max, a bald, Charlie Brown look-alike, and Pinky, a pig, are best friends, so when Pinky disappears, his pal is worried. However, with a little thinking and common sense, Max figures out just where to find his porcine pal. With minimal bold lines and bright colors, Eaton has created a humorous story of an unusual friendship. Max is fun, creative, and adventurous, while Pinky's one-track mind keeps him focused on consuming as many marshmallows as possible. Children will laugh at the silly conversations and at the funny art. The cartoon pictures offer an explanation of the simple text while the dialogue is a little more advanced. Max and Pinky will delight both readers and listeners.Delia Carruthers, Sunset Ridge Middle School, West Jordan, UT Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Initial inspiration for this story came from a little book Maxwell Eaton III created for an elementary school Spanish class. Denied a pet goat in hischildhood, Maxwell intends to incorporate one into future Max and Pinky adventures. Look for Superheroes, soaring into bookstores this fall.Maxwell Eaton III lives in Saranac Lake, New York.; Title: The Adventures of Max and Pinky: Best Buds | [
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13,285 | 0 | The facts are "awesome," the action is "cool," and the breathless exclamatory text in this Step into Reading title is illustrated with big color photos on every double-page spread. Starting with stunt jumpers and racing bikes, the short chapters show motorcyclists at work as police, soldiers, and rescue workers. The authors also cover the special gear that riders wear to stay safe, and, finally, the popular motocross races on rough ground ("Kids can do it, too"). A central spread shows a motorcycle close up, with all the parts labeled. There is no mention of noise pollution and high injury rates associated with motorcycles, but this is a fun readaloud for preschoolers to add to their vrooming play, and it is sure to grab some new readers who think books are heavy and dull. Rochman, HazelSusan E. Goodman and Michael J. Doolittle have collaborated on the Step into Reading title Choppers! and the Ultimate Field Trip series, among other nonfiction titles.; Title: Motorcycles! (Step into Reading) | [
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13,286 | 2 | Grade 36When 11-year-old Riley Liston arrives at Camp Olympia, he quickly realizes that it's going to be a long two weeks. As one of the youngest and smallest campers, he lacks the skills at basketball and softball that the older guys have. Normally, he wouldn't mindhe knows he's a good swimmer and runnerbut the cabins are all competing for the coveted Big Joe Trophy (named after the legendary snapping turtle that inhabits the lake), and Riley doesn't want to be the person who takes the Cabin 3 Threshers out of the running. His concerns seem well-founded: during the games, loud Barry berates Riley for his playing, and none of the guys goes out of his way to make the boy feel like part of the gang. But he perseveres, and friendships slowly develop as a few cabin mates begin swimming laps each day in preparation for the marathon swimming race that occurs the last night of camp. Despite bumps along the way, the boys in Cabin 3 hold their own, and the question of which cabin will claim the Big Joe Trophy is anybody's call. Wallace has a talent for capturing adolescent boys' behavior, and while the plot is formulaic and some of the plot requires suspending belief, the story has appeal. Each chapter ends with a Camp Olympia Bulletin, the daily newsletter that keeps everyone apprised of upcoming activities and team standings. Purchase where sports stories by Matt Christopher and Dan Gutman are popular.Kim Dare, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.During the bus trip to sports camp, Riley Liston hears about a giant snapping turtle in the lake and other alarming tales. Upon arrival, he starts his busy schedule of basketball games, water polo matches, and a relay race. Interspersed among the descriptions of the games are incidents involving other camp elementspranks, unappealing food, and strange, unexplained occurrences that may owe something to overactive imaginations. Wallace starts each chapter with the days Camp Bulletin, which helps the reader keep up with Rileys busy schedule. Occasionally, Rileys insecurity as a smaller, younger kid in the rough-and-tumble camp environment comes through, but on the whole, the novel is mostly a series of descriptive episodes, and readers may feel that they don't know Riley as well as theyd like to. Still, the exciting, tightly written sports passages drive the story and will keep kids turning the pages. Grades 4-6. --Todd Morning; Title: Sports Camp | [
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13,287 | 16 | Dawn Bentley worked as a childrens book editor for more than a decade before becoming a freelance writer. She has written over a hundred books for children and lives in Washington, D.C., with her husband and son. Ten Rubber Duckies is the ninth book Heather Cahoon has illustrated; her first book was published while she was a junior at the Cooper Union in New York City. She lives in upstate New York with her husband and two daughters and went to her very first rubber ducky race last summer.; Title: Ten Rubber Duckies (Wacky Quacky Counting Adventures) | [
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13,288 | 0 | This sequel to Birdsall's National Book Award winner, The Penderwicks, has even more charm than the original. The prologue hits the only maudlin note, flashing back to Mrs. Penderwick on her deathbed as she instructs her husband's sister, Claire, to make sure he finds love again after sufficient mourning. The Penderwick sisters--Rosalind, Jane, Skye and Batty--learn of this valediction four years later when Aunt Claire begins arranging blind dates. An emergency MOPS (Meeting of Penderwick Sisters) hatches the Save Daddy plan, in which the girls orchestrate dates so dreadful their father will see widowed life is best. Neighbors on Gardam Street include football-playing brothers Nick and Tommy (the latter plays Tracy to Rosalind's Hepburn), and two newcomers: a widowed professor and her toddler baby. Middle sisters Jane and Skye, who share a room but nothing else, steal the show by swapping homework assignments with hilariously catastrophic results. It's sheer pleasure to spend time with these exquisitely drawn characters, girls so real that readers will feel the wind through their hair as they power down the soccer field. Ages 8-12. Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.Gr 4-8-The Penderwick sisters are back. Their Aunt Claire has come for a visit, bringing with her a letter from their late mother that encourages their father to date, and an immediate crisis ensues, as the girls assume that this is the first step on the treacherous road to having a stepmother. After frantic consultation, they implement the "Save Daddy" plan, designed to set him up with perfectly dreadful women so that he will not want to date again. Numerous subplots add to the domestic drama. Skye struggles with her temper on the soccer field. Rosalind and neighbor Tommy experience a frustrated romance. Skye and Jane switch homework assignments, leading to a school performance of Jane's Aztec drama, with everyone thinking that it was penned by Skye. While the solution to the dating dilemma can be seen from the beginning, the sisters are so caught up in their drama that they can't see who's right next door. Laugh-out-loud moments abound and the humor comes naturally from the characters and situations. Especially funny is the scene in which the youngest Penderwick hides in the car hoping to spy on one of her father's dates. Like much of the book itself, this scene resolves itself in a tender moment between father and daughter. This is a book to cherish and to hold close like a warm, cuddly blanket that you draw around yourself to keep out the cold.-Tim Wadham, Maricopa County Library District, Phoenix, AZ Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.; Title: The Penderwicks on Gardam Street | [
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13,289 | 2 | Dale E. Basye has written stories, screenplays, essays, reviews, and lies for many publications and organizations. He was a film critic, winning several national journalism awards, and published an arts and entertainment newspaper called Tonic. He was also the driving musical force behind a series of bands, very few of which sported names suitable for a respectable Web site. To be perfectly frank (or whoever), if any of those bands had been any good, you would probably be reading this biography on the back of a CD instead.Here's what Dale has to say about his second book: "There is a time where you don't fully know what you have, though there is no lack of models, celebrities, and the inexplicably famous rubbing your face in what you don't have. You'd give anything to have what they have, and that yearning gnaws at you from the inside as if you had swallowed a small, vicious shrewwhich, to the best of your knowledge, you haven't. Heck is like that. And no matter what anyone tells you, Heck is real. This story is real. Or as real as anything like this can be."Dale E. Basye lives in Portland, Oregon, where he must, on a daily basis, wage life-or-death struggles with grizzly bears, nettled beavers, and inconsistent Wi-Fi signals.Oww . . . you flippin maniac! Marlo Fauster shrieked. The demon driver, after untying Marlos hands, had jabbed his pitchspork in a place just south of cordial. Marlo fell to her knees outside the stagecoach and fumbled to remove her blindfold.The driver, his shape smudged and cloaked in the murky darkness, stood atop the stagecoach and struck a match across his fangs. The bright flare of light felt like an explosion in Marlos eye sockets.The drivers nightmarish features burned themselves into the back of Marlos retinas. Like most of the demons she had met in Heck, he was a creature turned inside out. But this one was even more inside out somehow: a lanky, walking pizza with everything on it held together by a network of pulsating veins and arteries.On second thoughtMarlo gulpedmaybe the blindfold wasnt so bad.A pale horse with shiny pink eyes clomped nervously in place in front of the stagecoach. The demon driver pompously puffed out his disgusting chest.Snatched away in beautys bloom, on thee shall press no ponderous tomb, he recited in a wet, snooty tone, like a butler with a bronchial infection.As if things werent bad enough, Marlo reflected, now I have to hear his poetry.Her eyes adjusted to the light, and she saw she was in some kind of subterranean tunnel. She stood up, brushing gravel off her baggy, sequined #1 grandma sweatshirt and sagging turquoise stirrup pants.After her brother Miltons unprecedented escape at the Gates of Heck, Marlo had been forced at spork-point into this ugly Rapacia uniform, blindfolded, and shoved into the stagecoach of some poetic cadaver.The next thing Marlo knew, she was herewherever here was. You are so not getting a tip, she said.The demon folded his arms together smugly. The mesh of winding red and blue capillaries made him appear as if he were a living, throbbing road map. Watching the creatures pulse made Marlos own pulse quicken.My, arent we a brave little girl? the demon mocked before suddenly leaping to the ground.Startled, Marlo jumped back, hitting something with a clang. Dang! she cursed, rubbing the back of her skull. The demon laughed.She turned to glare at what had connected with her head so painfully.unwelcome to rapacia, read a sign atop an ornate metal gate. Twin wrought-iron fleurs-de-lis were welded against a gleaming brass serpent, double curved into a shiny letter s. At the side of the gate, attached to a crisscross of iron bars, was a large metal box, with a message etched across it: please leave all valuables and expensive personal effects here so that they can be, um, stored and given back to you at the end of eternity.Marlo peered down the tunnel past the open gate. The passage grew darker in progressively blacker rings that formed a big, black, fathomless eye. She shivered.Youd better pick up the pace, the demon jeered. The Grabbit doesnt like to be kept waiting.Marlo turned back toward the exploded, over-microwaved Hot-Pocket-of-a-man.The Grabbit? she asked. Whats a Grabbit?The demon laughed. The Grabbit is your new vice principal. Its what makes Rapacia such an . . . interesting place of torment for greedy, grasping little moppets such as yourself.The demon turned toward his stagecoach. The creepy white horse nayed with a deranged titter.A wave of panic washed over Marlo.What am I supposed to do, you . . . you . . . freaky carcass thing? Marlo shouted into the dark, her chest tight with fear.The demon sneered over his sinewy shoulder.The name is Byron . . . Lord Byron, he replied haughtily, his inside-outside body flushed with indignation. I once wore my heart on my sleeve and now must wear it draped outside my chest, a palpitating medallion for all to see.The demon chuckled.But at least Im not a naughty little girlalonein the dark.Marlo could practically hear Lord Byrons uncaring shrug as the demon stalked back to the stagecoach, muttering another depressing poem.After a few long seconds of complete silence, Marlos ears were suddenly assaulted with the sounds of hooves clacking, wheels squeaking, and monstrous snorts. Slowly, the noises flattened into fading echoes, leaving behind nothing but Marlos frantic panting. The darkness and silence seemed to grip her around the midsection, squeezing out every ounce of her usual bravado.This sucks! Marlo shouted to herself, kicking the wall.This sucks! Her words echoed back at her, whiny and afraid. Marlo tried in vain to hold back the twin gushes of hot, salty tears streaking down her cheeks.At least there was no one around to see what a total chicken nugget she was, Marlo thoughtdown here, submerged in darkness, alone, en route from one terrible place to another.She sighed and tugged straight her sweatshirtan acrylic travesty the color of old denturesand hiked up her stirrup pants.Might as well get this over with, Marlo reasoned as she felt along the tunnel with her hands, reading the walls like braille.After Marlos brother, Milton, had escaped from Limbousing the buoyant power of freed souls to lift him up, up, and away back to the Surface, the Stage, the land of the living, whatever you wanted to call itthings had gotten a little tense down in the Netherworld.Bea Elsa Bubb, Hecks hideous Principal of Darkness, had gone ballistic. She had been so angry that she couldnt so much as look at Marlo due to her sheer Fausternessthose hereditary bits of Milton the principal saw mocking her in Marlos face.Now, here she was, told to scurry in the darkness to meet her new vice principal.After groping her way along for several minutes, Marlo felt a prickly wave of electricity creep under her skin. She stopped. There was a shimmer of . . . something . . . in the distance. A glint of garish green. A flash of cruel metal. A beguiling glimmer that drew Marlo closer like a moth to a lightbulb. She drifted toward the beckoning twinkle.Marlo moved forward, the burrow narrowing steadily until, after a few hundred yards, it constricted into a dark, open portal. She sniffed the air. It smelled like ozone, like dust and electricity, like the smell just before lightning strikes.Closing her eyes, Marlo breathed deeply to calm her frazzled nerves and then crossed the threshold into a humming chamber. Deep rumbling waves rattled her bones. Although she still couldnt see, Marlo sensed the presence of something even darker than the darkness, a shadow in a nest of shadows waiting patiently for her to come one fatal step too close. Her heart galloped like a rabid, three-legged racehorse.Dim neon bathed a shape that towered before her at the core of the chamber. A gorgeous spectrum of faraway light leaked faintly from a grate in the ceiling beyond the shadow, daring Marlo to come closer. Its color danced along the edges of the dark shape, making the shadow seem even more sinister in contrast.What the bloody heck is this place? a voice boomed in the blackness.From the Hardcover edition.; Title: Rapacia: The Second Circle of Heck | [
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13,290 | 22 | Babymouse is convinced she'll have a great time at summer camp, never mind that she doesn't like the great outdoors. Despite her daydreams of derring-do, she succeeds only in getting into trouble, racking up an impressive number of demerits for her team, the Buttercups. What is she to do? This charming series entry, illustrated as in the familiar black, white, and pink, continues to put Babymouse into situations that most children will immediately recognize. The book's small, square sizewill fitperfectly into young hands, and the story promises great fun for both new comics readers and avid ones. Kan, KatHere's what people are saying about Babymouse! The Chicago Sun-Times: "Move over, Superman, here comes Babymouse!" Starred Review, The Horn Book: "Nobody puts Babymouse in the corner!" Booklist: "Cute, smart, sassy Babymouse is fun and funny, and this book, like its predecessors, will draw reluctant readers as well as Babymouse fans."The Bulletin: "An almost absurdly likeable heroine."; Title: Babymouse #6: Camp Babymouse | [
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13,291 | 2 | Naomi Kleinberg is a childrens book editor and the author of many childrens books. She lives in New York City in an apartment so filled with books that theres barely enough room for her family. By odd coincidence, her favorite foodsapples, avocados, and arugulaall begin with the letter A.Louis Womble is an illustrator of several Sesame Street books, including Elmos Mommy, Monsters Munch Lunch!, and My Fuzzy Valentine.; Title: Have Yourself a Furry Little Christmas (Sesame Street) | [
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13,292 | 2 | Starred Review, The Horn Book Magazine, July & August 2009:Using humor perfectly tuned for the two- to five-year-old audience, Sierra and Sweets alphabet book will capture the attention of the younger end . . . as well as the older.Judy Sierras knack at telling stories in rhyme is impressively demonstrated in her E. B.White Read-Aloud Award winner, Wild About Books; in Born to Read; and in Thelonius Monsters Sky-High Fly Pie. She lives in Eugene, Oregon. Melissa Sweet is the illustrator of many acclaimed childrens books, including her collaboration with Judy Sierra on Schoolyard Rhymes. She is also the author and illustrator of Carmine: A Little More Red. She lives in Rockport, Maine.; Title: The Sleepy Little Alphabet: A Bedtime Story from Alphabet Town | [
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13,293 | 2 | Jill Davis lives in New York City and is a childrens book writer and editor. Growing up, she was the youngest sibling in her family and is now the mother of two young sons.Sarah McMenemy grew up with both a big and little brother. She made her Knopf debut with the trs charmante Everybody Bonjours!, by Leslie Kimmelman. Sarah and her family live in London, England.; Title: The First Rule of Little Brothers | [
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13,294 | 15 | The father of 12-year-old Peter is a glaciologist, his mother, a genetic scientist. Peter is thrilled when his father decides to take the family on his latest excursion to Greenland to study the effects of global warming. Fourteen-year-old Thea lives in a secret society called Gracehope under the Greenland ice. After finding a map that leads her to the surface, she becomes obsessed with seeing the sun and bringing her people back above ground. Peter and Thea accidentally meet on the surface and discover, through a secret kept by Peter's mother, that their destinies are unexpectedly joined. This debut novel is slow to start, and Stead's world building isn't quite convincing. There are some gaps in Gracehope's invented mythology, and the motivations behind the creation of the underground utopia are vague and simplistic. But the icy setting and global-warming theme are well realized, and middle-school fans of Neil Shusterman's Downsiders (2000) and Jeanne DuPrau's Books of Ember will also enjoy this solid, well-meaning fantasy. Jennifer HubertCopyright American Library Association. All rights reservedPeter and Thea are vividly realized. . . . Gracehope itself is sketched with sure strokes, its icy setting and its matriarchal social structure fresh and believable.The Horn Book MagazineSteads debut novel rests on an intriguing premise. . . . It is a testament to the storytelling that the existence of this parallel world and the convergence of Peter and Theas stories, told in separate chapters, are both credible and absorbing. Young readers will find this a journey worth taking.Publishers WeeklyFrom the Trade Paperback edition.; Title: First Light | [
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13,295 | 2 | Originally by the Rev. W. Awdry, this classic story has been adapted to appeal to the readers who are just about ready for an independent and satisfying reading experience.; Title: Thomas and Friends: Gordon's New View (Thomas & Friends) (Step into Reading) | [
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13,296 | 2 | Grade 68Quintessential good-kid Milton Fauster knows all about his sister Marlo's life of petty crime. So, when they are both killed in a freak marshmallow explosion, he isn't surprised that she doesn't qualify for Heaven, but he's shocked to find that he isn't going there either. They end up in Heck, an unearthly reform school that isn't quite Hell, but certainly not a place anyone would want to stay in "for all eternityor until they turn 18, whichever comes first." Principal Bea "Elsa" Bubb figures that there is something irregular about Milton's soul contract and keeps a close eye on him. Milton, meanwhile, plans to escape. During a dreary class, he meets Virgil, who has a map of the Nine Circles of Heck. Unfortunately, the only way out is through the sewer pipes, literally "down the toilet." The torments of the darned are described in vivid and often grotesque detail. Errant toddlers nap in gingerbread coffins while Boogeypeople read them Edgar Allan Poe. Milton and company make two graphically described voyages through the underworld plumbing. There are numerous classical and historical allusions, many of which will sail over the heads of the intended audience. ("I have an ax to grind with you," snarls home-economics teacher Lizzie Borden, after giving the celery 40 whacks.) In the end, the clever, if somewhat disturbing premise is overwhelmed by slow pacing and relentless descriptions of garbage, sewage, and other heckishly unpleasant things.Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Welcome to Grizzly Mall: Home of the States Second-Largest Bear-Themed Marshmallow Statue! Such is the Kansas-fed, white-bread suburb 13-year-old Marlo Faustus longs to escape. And escape she does, with her unwitting, innocent younger brother, Milton, when said sculpture explodes, and they arrive, newly deceased, in Heckwhere the bad kids go. Puns and allusions abound, enough to sate the corniest appetite, even if many will slide right by thereader: the kids limbo is ruled by one Bea Elsa Bubb, Principal of Darkness, and faculty include Mr. Nixon (ethics), Lizzie Borden (home ec), and Mr. Dior (fashion, though his sole offense appears to be that he is effete). Beneath the jocular surface, though, Marlo and Milton work through a complex sibling relationship on their quest for escape. Can they put aside their differences to elude the Boogeypeople and hall demonitors free the jarred blobs of lost souls, hatch a getaway, and stay together? Heck if I know. Grades 3-6. --Thom Barthelmess; Title: Heck: Where the Bad Kids Go | [
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13,297 | 2 | From USA TODAY: "Junie B. is the darling of the young-reader set." From Publisher' Weekly: "Park convinces beginning readers that Junie B.and readingare lots of fun." From Kirkus Reviews: "Junie's swarms of young fans will continue to delight in her unique take on the world....A hilarious, first-rate read-aloud." From Booklist: "Park, one of the funniest writers around . . . brings her refreshing humor to the beginning chapter-book set." From Time magazine: "Junie B. Jones is a feisty six-year-old with an endearing penchant for honesty." From School Library Journal: "Park is truly a funny writer. Although Junie B. is a kindergartner, she's sure to make middle graders laugh out loud."From the Trade Paperback edition.BARBARA PARK (19472013) is beloved by millions as the author of the wildly popular Junie B. Jones series. She is also the author of award-winning middle-grade novels and picture books, including Skinnybones and Mick Harte Was Here. We are thankful for the laughter shes given us and to millions of children.; Title: Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business (Book & CD) | [
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13,298 | 2 | Grade 4-6–Eleven-year-old Sophie can't wait for her family's annual vacation at the summerhouse on the beach. But this year, her favorite cousin isn't talking to her and won't come out of her room, her dad is mysteriously aloof, and her cat runs away. Writing in short free verse chapters entirely from Sophie's perspective, Spinelli has nonetheless created well-developed characters. The family dynamics are believable, even if a large extended family whose members all more or less get along and vacation together every year might seem idyllic to today's children. Readers will enjoy Sophie's first crush and her wise handling of her cousin's crisis. Spinelli even throws in a smattering of Italian (Sophie is learning the language because the object of her affections has an Italian name), and some arcane information about American history that will keep readers amused and allow them to impress their friends with their knowledge. This is a fun breezy read, perfect for a preteen summer.–Nancy Brown, Fox Lane High School, Bedford, NY Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Eleven-year-old Sophie loves Summerhouse Time. That's when she, her parents, and their extended family meet at a beach house to spend the month of August, made up of "morning trips to the donut shop, fish fry dinners, swapping stories." Sophie is a bit reluctant to leave home this year because of her crush on a neighbor boy, and once she gets to the summer cottage, things aren't as much fun as she remembered. For one thing, her older cousin, Colleen, is going through the terrible teens and isn't speaking to her. Then her aunt loses her job. Using simple free verse, Spinelli is still able to pack a lot of story into short sentences. Most of the characters are efficiently realized, and the book makes clear that though reality is never quite as perfect as memory, even hard moments can be rich. The ease of reading makes this a solid choice for children starting to feel comfortable with longer books. Ilene CooperCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved; Title: Summerhouse Time | [
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13,299 | 0 | PATRICIA REILLY GIFF is the author of many beloved books for children, including the Kids of the Polk Street School books, the Friends and Amigos books, and the Polka Dot Private Eye books. Several of her novels for older readers have been chosen as ALA-ALSC Notable Books and ALA-YALSA Best Books for Young Adults. They include The Gift of the Pirate Queen; All the Way Home; Water Street; Nory Ryan's Song, a Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Golden Kite Honor Book for Fiction; and the Newbery Honor Books Lily's Crossing and Pictures of Hollis Woods. Lily's Crossing was also chosen as a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book. Her most recent books are Number One Kid, Big Whopper, Flying Feet, Eleven, Wild Girl, and Storyteller.; Title: R My Name Is Rachel | [
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