Friendship and middle school can be challenging enough but so can repeating the same day over and over again until the "enchantment" can be undone. Great story about working through problems together and having fun at the same time and celebrating the same 11th birthday 11 times over! (Amy 1/19)
SoHo, 1981. Twelve-year-old Olympia is an artist -- and in her neighborhood, that's normal. Her dad and his business partner Apollo bring antique paintings back to life, while her mother makes intricate sculptures in a corner of their loft, leaving Ollie to roam the streets of New York with her best friends Richard and Alex, drawing everything that catches her eye. Then everything falls apart. Ollie's dad disappears in the middle of the night, leaving her only a cryptic note and instructions to destroy it. Her mom has gone to bed, and she's not getting up. Apollo is hiding something, Alex is acting strange, and Richard has questions about the mysterious stranger he saw outside. And someone keeps calling, looking for a missing piece of art.... Olympia knows her dad is the key -- but first, she has to find him, and time is running out. (Erin S. 9/19)
Ages 8-12 - Ok, there just can't be a cuter, braver, more adventurous mouse than Celeste, except for maybe Ralph S. Mouse (by Beverly Cleary). Who wouldn't want to live in Abe Lincoln's pocket and learn to read and write with your tail? (Amy 4/21)
A precious coming of age story about family, friendship, acceptance of self and others, curiosity, and being brave. Reynolds writing and character development is phenomenal! A great young adult novel and family read together title as well. (Amy 3/20)
Baby Monkey, private eye, will investigate stolen jewels, missing pizzas, and other mysteries--if he can manage to figure out how to put his pants on. (Jennifer 12/18)
"P.T. and Gloria try to save the Wonderland again by getting a teen singing sensation to shoot a movie at the motel"-- (Jennifer 3/18)
Darkus Cuttle has taken care of his father ever since his mother died, but one day his father vanished from a locked vault at the Natural History Museum, and now he lives with his eccentric uncle--but one day he finds a large and unusually intelligent and self-aware beetle, and soon he and his two friends are caught up in a struggle to protect an intelligent super species of beetles. (Amy 2/20)
A must for those who love elephants and orca whales and know that animals communicate in very complicated ways. A great read about the very strong family structures of these amazing animals! Read it as a family to inspire your own communication channels. (Amy 5/19)
Omakayas, a seven-year-old Native American girl of the Ojibwa tribe, lives through the joys of summer and the perils of winter on an island in Lake Superior in 1847. For as long as Omakayas can remember, she and her family have lived on the land her people call the Island of the Golden-Breasted Woodpecker. Although the chimookoman, white people, encroach more and more on their land, life continues much as it always has. Every summer the family builds a new birchbark house; every fall they go to ricing camp to harvest and feast; they move to the cedar log house before the first snows arrive, and celebrate the end of the long, cold winters at maple-sugaring camp. In between, Omakayas fights with her annoying little brother, Pinch, plays with the adorable baby, Neewo, and tries to be grown-up like her beautiful older sister, Angeline. But the satisfying rhythms of their lives are shattered when a visitor comes to their lodge one winter night, bringing with him an invisible enemy that will change things forever. Set on an island in Lake Superior in 1847, and filled with fascinating details of traditional Ojibwa life, The Birchbark House is a breathtaking novel by one of America's most gifted and original writers. (CUrrie 4/19)
In 1350, a boy with a large hump on his back becomes the servant of a shadowy pilgrim on his way to Rome, who pulls the boy into a dangerous expedition across Europe to gather the seven precious relics of Saint Peter. (Ashley 4/19)
A boy and a bear go to sea, equipped with a suitcase, a comic book and a ukulele, for a short trip but soon their boat encounters "unforeseeable anomalies," strange storms, a terrifying sea monster, and the rank remains of The Very Last Sandwich.
"Stanley Potts's uncle Ernie has developed an over-the-top fascination with canning fish in the house, and life at 69 Fish Quay Lane has turned balmy. But there's darkness in the madness, and when Uncle Ernie's obsession takes an unexpectedly cruel turn, Stan has no choice but to leave. As he journeys away from the life he's always known, he mingles with a carnival full of eccentric characters and meets the legendary Pancho Pirelli, the man who swims in a tank full of perilous piranhas. Will Stan be bold enough to dive in the churning waters himself and choose his own destiny?"--Description from Amazon.com, viewed July 31, 2013. (Currie 4/19)
On a mission to rescue Empress Justina's son from his pirate kidnappers, Hal and the brotherband crew set sail amid stormy seas to the island of Santorillos where they encounter a formidable obstacle, a caldera.
Charlotte the rabbit takes readers through a wonderful story of the scientific method and a pursuit of a cure. She also consults the "Comprehensive Compendium of Carrot Conditions". A fun scientific story! (Amy 6/20)
Multiple awards winning book! Other students laugh when Rigoberto, an immigrant from Venezuela, introduces himself but later, he meets Angelina and discovers that he is not the only one who feels like an outsider. (Amy 6/20)
Two cousins, one in Mexico and one in New York City, write to each other and learn that even though their daily lives differ, at heart the boys are very similar.
From the Stories of Immigration booklist from the Association of Library Services to Children.
Recommended by Amy (1/18)
A great intro for kids on germs and health. The book strikes a balance between silly and serious and gives kids a close-up view of microbes in the world. Good for elementary ages. (Erin 4/19)
Provides a fictionalized account of how local children took it upon themselves to save three dolphins trapped in the ice in Newfoundland. Based on actual events and beautiful illustrations.
Recommended by Amy (1/18)
Lost in the Black Forest, Otto meets three mysterious sisters and finds himself entwined in a prophecy, a promise, and a harmonica--and decades later three children, Friedrich in Germany, Mike in Pennsylvania, and Ivy in California find themselves caught up in the same thread of destiny in the darkest days of the twentieth century, struggling to keep their families intact, and tied together by the music of the same harmonica.
Jennifer (5/18)
When young pickpocket Danny accidentally buys an elephant at an auction, he finds himself swept up on an unforgettable adventure. Offered a job by a zookeeper, all he has to do is ride Maharajah from Edinburgh to Manchester in one week.
Everyone in the country is watching, even the Queen, but the journey soon proves to be filled with drama and danger. A rival zookeeper will stop at nothing to make sure they fail, and soon Danny's shady connections from his past threaten to overturn the mission... Can Danny win the trust and friendship of the elephant and guide him home? Can the two of them stick together through the odds and win the day? (Erin S. 11/18)
Discovering a book of Langston Hughes' poetry in the library helps Langston cope with the loss of his mother, relocating from Alabama to Chicago as part of the Great Migration, and being bullied. (Publisher)
An invaluable author and another excellent book by her is "Before She Was Harriet" - a children's biography about Harriet Tubman. (Amy 7/21))
When Chico starts the third grade after his migrant worker family moves to begin harvesting California grapes, he finds that self confidence and math skills help him cope with the first day of school.
From the Stories of Immigration booklist from the Association of Library Services to Children.
Recommended by Amy (1/18)
A quarrel between the first man and the first woman is reconciled when the Sun causes strawberries to grow out of the earth. (Amy 1/18)
Every year, a child is left on the edge of the swamp to appease the evil witch who lives there. No one has ever seen her-at least, no one from the Protectorate. They have no idea what becomes of the children.
Meanwhile, every year the witch rescues the child left at the edge of the waste. She doesn't know where they come from, only that they need help. And this year, to sate the hungry baby, the witch feeds her moonlight...more moonlight, accidentally, than anyone has had in a very long time. And so the girl gets caught up in an old story, and in time must pave her own path to the answers she seeks- to save the people she loves, and to find the people who love her. (Erin W. 10/19)
A beautiful story loosely based on two important people in the author's life and their immigrant story. Illustrations are warm and invite empathy! (Amy 3/19)
Grades 3-5. Blueberries were known by the Wampanoag people as "star berries". Did you know there are 6 points on the top of a blueberry? Friendship abounds in this lovely story of change and understanding. (Amy 7/18)
2018 Newbery winner - Lives of four misfits are intertwined when a bully's prank lands shy Virgil at the bottom of a well and Valencia, Kaori, and Gen band together in an epic quest to find and rescue him. (From publisher). (Amy 11/18)
Explores the previously uncelebrated but pivotal contributions of NASA's African American women mathematicians to America's space program, describing how Jim Crow laws segregated them despite their groundbreaking successes. (June 2019)
A great read for a first biography! This beautifully illustrated book invites the reader into the need for a good hug and inventive thought process that Temple went through as a child. Lovely. (Amy 11/18)
Caroline Murphy is a Hurricane Child. Being born during a hurricane is unlucky, and twelve-year-old Caroline has had her share of bad luck lately. She's hated and bullied by everyone in her small school on St. Thomas of the US Virgin Islands, a spirit only she can see won't stop following her, and-worst of all-Caroline's mother left home one day and never came back.
But when a new student named Kalinda arrives, Caroline's luck begins to turn around. Kalinda, a solemn girl from Barbados with a special smile for everyone, becomes Caroline's first and only friend-and the person for whom Caroline has begun to develop a crush.
Now, Caroline must find the strength to confront her feelings for Kalinda, brave the spirit stalking her through the islands, and face the reason her mother abandoned her. Together, Caroline and Kalinda must set out in a hurricane to find Caroline's missing mother-before Caroline loses her forever. (Kristen 8/19)
"A picture book based on a true story about a young First Nations girl who was sent to a residential school. When eight-year-old Irene is removed from her First Nations family to live in a residential school she is confused, frightened, and terribly homesick. She tries to remember who she is and where she came from despite the efforts of the nuns to force her to do otherwise. Based on the life of Jenny Kay Dupuis' own grandmother, I Am Not a Number brings a terrible part of Canada's history to light in a way that children can learn from and relate to"--
Recommended by Amy 1/18)
Through a series of poems, a young girl chronicles the life-changing year of 1975, when she, her mother, and her brothers leave Vietnam and resettle in Alabama. (Currie 4/19)
Ages 4-8. Imagine yourself as a beautiful mermaid. Follow Julián and his Abuela as they dream of mermaids. (Amy 7/18)
While waiting to leave Mars before it burns up just like the Earth before it, Liam and his friend Phoebe discover some facts about time and space and realize that the human race is just one of the races trying to survive in space. (Jennifer 6/19)
Evan and his younger sister, Jesse, react very differently to the news that they will be in the same class for fourth grade and as the end of summer approaches, they battle it out through lemonade stands, each trying to be the first to earn 100 dollars. Includes mathematical calculations and tips for running a successful lemonade stand. (Amy 3/21)
Oh my! What a brave kitty...wait, Leonard is an alien that wanted to arrive on Earth to be a Yellowstone National Park Ranger. Thank goodness he is rescued by courageous Olive! What a wonderful adventure. I also suggest reading "I, Cosmo" by the same author about a dog...just to be fair. (Amy 7/21)
"With her parents off traveling the globe, Lenora is bored, bored, bored-- until she discovers a secret doorway into the ultimate library. Mazelike and reality-bending, the library contains all the universe's wisdom. Every book ever written, and every fact ever known, can be found within its walls. And Lenora becomes its newly appointed Fourth Assistant Apprentice Librarian. She rockets to the stars, travels to a future filled with robots, and faces down a dark nothingness that wants to destroy all knowledge. To save the library, Lenora will have to test her limits and uncover secrets hidden among its shelves"--
Can't go wrong with a Margi Preus title! This cute adventure story sees our little red squirrel, Jean Pierre Petite Le Rouge (little red squirrel) stowing away in one of the canoes traveling from Montreal to a faraway trading post in 1792. Adventure and friendship abound in this brave little book. (Amy 4/21)
After a fight at school leaves Marcus facing suspension, Marcus's mother takes him and his younger brother, who has Down syndrome, to Puerto Rico to visit relatives they do not remember or have never met, and while there Marcus starts searching for his father, who left their family ten years ago and is somewhere on the island.
(Jennifer 11/18)
Looking forward to more of Erin Entrada Kelly's books about Marisol! A brave, curious, and creative kid with a super love for cats, her family and her best friend Jada. Love this! (Amy 7/21)
"Paloma Marquez is traveling to Mexico City, birthplace of her deceased father, for the very first time. She's hoping that spending time in Mexico will help her unlock memories of the too-brief time they spent together. While in Mexico, Paloma meets Lizzie and Gael, who present her with an irresistible challenge: the siblings want her to help them find a valuable ring that once belonged to beloved Mexican artist Frida Kahlo"--Amazon.com. (Jennifer 4/18)
Merci Suárez begins the sixth grade and knows things will change, but she did not count on her grandfather acting strangely, not fitting in at her private school, and dealing with Edna Santos' jealousy.
Merci Suárez begins the sixth grade and knows things will change, but she did not count on her grandfather acting strangely, not fitting in at her private school, and dealing with Edna Santos' jealousy. (Ashley 3/19)
Ages 8 and up. Fairytales go hilariously off course as Princess Pink meets wacky characters in the land of Fake-Believe. (from Publisher)
(Amy 10/18)
Fans of the Lemoncello series will enjoy the next adventure! "Mr. Lemoncello is at it again, this time with an escape-room-style TV game show, and the kids from Alexandriaville return to compete. Kyle and his friends enter the competition to break out of the Lemoncello library, now using the Fictionasium, a 3-D augmented reality game that makes stories come to life." (Booklist Reviews) - (Jennifer 4/21)
Soooo sweet! PreK-2nd grade - What is it like to work at night, while the rest of the city is asleep? Newbery Medalist Karen Hesse's quietly powerful story of a boy and his father is tenderly brought to life by G. Brian Karas in this luminous tribute to an enduring, everyday sort of love. (Amy 3/19)
Have you ever gotten tripped up trying to say a silly succession of similar syllables? Try out these hilarious tongue twisters for lots of fun! (Amy 5/18)
Ages 8-12 - Newbery Honor book in 2020 -
Sent with her mother to the safety of a relative's home in Cincinnati when her Syrian hometown is overshadowed by violence, Jude worries for the family members who were left behind as she adjusts to a new life with unexpected surprises. (Publisher) (Amy 3/21)
"A nonfiction picture book history of Monopoly, one of the world's most famous games" -- (Jennifer 8/19)
A long-tailed rabbit who wants a nibble of the highest, tastiest leaves uses his special snow song in the summertime, despite the protests of the other animals. (Amy 1/18)
Elementary school detective Moxie McCoy looks for a missing school mascot and a new best friend, with the help of her annoying little brother.
Grades 4-6 - gotta' love a book about quadruplets who are 11 and find a baby pig and try to care for it inside their house! A book about caring, friendship, family, and cute a cute little piglet named Saucy...until she's 100 pounds cute! (Amy 3/21)
"Louie doesn't have the best luck when it comes to nurturing small creatures. So when his father brings home a sickly newborn mini donkey, he's determined to save him. He names him Winslow. Taking care of him helps Louie feel closer to his brother, Gus, who is far, far away in the army. Everyone worries that Winslow won't survive, especially Louie’s quirky new friend, Nora, who has experienced loss of her own. But as Louie's bond with Winslow grows, surprising and life-altering events prove that this fragile donkey is stronger than anyone could have imagined."--Dust jacket.
(Jennifer 3/19)
"Years before the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling Brown v. Board of Education, Sylvia Mendez, an eight-year-old girl of Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage, played an instrumental role in Mendez v. Westminster, the landmark desegregation case of 1946 in California"--
From the Stories of Immigration booklist from the Association of Library Services to Children.
Recommended by Amy (1/18)
Newbery award winner and an amazing story of courage, hope, compassion, humor and strength of character. An historical fiction based around the beautiful celadon pottery of Korea. Great for a classroom or family read together! (Amy 11/18)
When Miata leaves on the school bus the skirt that she is to wear in a dance performance, she needs all her wits to get it back without her parents' finding out that she has lost something yet again.
August DuPont has spent his whole life inside a dilapidated house with his aunt Hydrangea. His lonely existence ends abruptly with the arrival of an invitation to meet an aunt--and cousins--he didn't even know existed. When Aunt Orchid suggests that August attend school with his cousins, it's a dream come true. But August has scarcely begun to celebrate his reversal of fortune when he is confronted by a small problem on his way home. So begins an adventure filled with a wild child, a zombie, a fabled white alligator, and an unimaginable family secret. (Erin S. 9/19)
"Because kindness ins stronger than fear." This is a beautiful book for exploring the immigrant story with young children. Animal friends help each other in welcoming a new friend into their community and they all had come from somewhere else as well. (Amy 6/20)
Allie's theatrical hopes are crushed when, instead of being cast as the princess, she is given the role of the evil queen in the fourth-grade class play.
Zane has always enjoyed exploring the dormant volcano near his home in New Mexico, even though hiking it is challenging. He'd much rather hang out there with his dog, Rosie, than go to middle school, where kids call him Sir Limps a Lot, McGimpster, or Uno--for his one good leg. What Zane doesn't know is that the volcano is a gateway to another world and he is at the center of a powerful prophecy. A new girl at school, Brooks, informs him that he's destined to release an evil god from the ancient Maya relic he is imprisoned in--unless she can find and remove it first. Together they return to the volcano, where all kinds of crazy happens. Brooks turns into a hawk, a demon attacks them in a cave, and Rosie gives her all while trying to protect Zane. When Zane decides to save his dog no matter the cost, he is thrust into an adventure full of surprising discoveries, dangerous secrets, and an all-out war between the gods, one of whom happens to be his father. (Kristen 8/19)
Told from separate viewpoints, Chess, Emma, and Finn Greystone, ages twelve, ten, and eight, investigate why their mother went missing and uncover their ties to an alternate world. (Jennifer 8/19)
The story of a young girl living in the 17th century who took the time to observe the life cycle of butteflies--and in so doing disproved a theory that went all the way back to ancient Greece. (Amy 3/19)
Did you know President Lincoln put notes to himself inside of his top hat? There's a fun poem just about that in this creative book of poems all about Abraham Lincoln. (Amy 7/21)
Best-selling author Jacqueline Davies tells the story of two unlikely friends: Sydney and Taylor, a skunk and a hedgehog who strike out to discover the great unknown, despite how afraid they are of it. (Publisher) (Amy 3/21)
A suggestion from a young customer and I so enjoyed this first in a series about a young girl (really a mermaid!) and her journey about the sea, with friendship, and a mystery surrounding her father. A fun ride on the waves! (Amy 11/18)
A collection of scary traditional tales from all over the world, including "Apparitions" from Germany, "The Hundredth Skull" from Ohio, and "The Ogre's Arm" from Japan.
2019 Caldecott Honor! When the aroma of Omu's homemade stew fills the air, her neighbors arrive, one by one, for a taste until all is gone except for her generous spirit. Author-illustrator Oge Mora brings to life a heartwarming story of sharing and community in colorful cut-paper designs as luscious as Omu's stew, with an extra serving of love. (Amy 3/19)
Three billy goats must outwit the big, ugly troll that lives under the bridge they have to cross on their way up the mountain. Has a twist at the end!
Recommended by Amy (1/18)
A great upper elementary grade mystery about a small town and the adventures and sleuthing that happen in order to solve a local murder! (Amy 3/21)
"Prepare for a journey into a world filled with what so many crave -- the sweet savoring of a chocolate drop. A drop that can melt even the most troubled realities. But in this nuanced, heartrending story, before good can emerge, there is destruction, the bombarding of a people, their culture, heritage, sacred beliefs, and the very soul that drives their traditions. " -Amazon (Jennifer 3/19)
When Beaver challenges Turtle to a swimming race for ownership of the pond, Turtle outsmarts Beaver, and Beaver learns to share. (Amy 1/18)
Ages 8 and up. Fun series with craft ideas at the end of each book. Creative and caring, this series touches on building confidence, taking risks, value of supportive friends, and ingenuity. Enjoy! (Amy 10/18)
"The Newbery Award-winning author of The Crossover pens an ode to black American triumph and tribulation, with art from a two-time Caldecott Honoree". (Amy 6/19)
As a young girl observes that each of six women in her life wears her hijab and hair in a different way, she considers how to express her own style one day.
"When a young boy is discovered in Washington, DC's National Gallery of Art without any recollection of who he is, he must piece together the disjointed clues of his origins while using his limited knowledge to stop one of the greatest art frauds ever attempted"-- (Jennifer 2/18)
When the class pet bites the finger of Penelope, a tyrannosaurus rex, she finally understands why she should not eat her classmates, no matter how tasty they are. (Melissa 12/18)
Zoo poo shared through rhyme and scientific explanation. What do they do? It's more interesting then you might think! (Amy 7/18)
Grades 4 and up - super sweet book about friendship, super magnetic power, and dealing with fear and a creative and loving family. (Amy 1/19)
Sensitive, funny, heartfelt, challenging, and a truly powerful display of word crafting and storytelling. MAGICAL! No wonder it won the 2021 Newbery Award. Please enjoy this precious story and read it together as a family. (Amy 2/21)
Grades 4-8. A dragon with a giant pearl on his head, a talking goldfish, a girl on a journey to find the "Old Man of the Moon" and all kinds of fantastical stories makes this a wonderful and adventurous read. A Newbery Honor book. (Amy 4/18)
So fun! A retelling of twenty-two Middle Eastern folktales about Mulla Nasreddin Hoca, a wise man remembered for his insightful and humorous stories. (Amy 7/20)
A tree, a tree! The voice of a tree! Can "Red" the oak tree bring a neighborhood together just by being there? Make a wish after reading this wonderful story from the author of "The One and Only Ivan" and "Crenshaw" and "Never Glue Your Friends to Chairs". (Amy 10/19)
From the wolf's voice we follow "Swift" on an amazing and dangerous journey. He later names himself "Wander" and you'll have to find out why. Enjoy a story from his point of view! (Amy 10/19)
In the midst of a series of unexplained accidents and mysterious coincidences, sixth-graders Calder, Petra, and Tommy lead their classmates in an attempt to keep Frank Lloyd Wright's famous Robie House from being demolished. (Jennifer 7/18)
Second grader Billy Miller learns his strengths during a fun and challenging year of change. Through the love of his family, support of his teacher, and school friendships (and not so friendly friends) he decides this is the Year of Billy Miller. Wonderful read for all ages! (Amy 9/19)
3rd - 5th grade - Frustrated at her seeming lack of talent for anything, a young Taiwanese American girl sets out to apply the lessons of the Chinese Year of the Dog, those of making best friends and finding oneself, to her own life. (Amy 10/18)
Middle school can be rough and sometimes moreso when you are see the world much differently than others. Ben and Charlotte have never met except through an online Scrabble game. They learn to help each other see their strengths amidst both personal and school challenges. Strength lies within and amongst good friends who understand! (Amy 5/18)
"In her second novel, Z is thrilled to be going on the road to help her mom film a documentary. She might even get to interview her vlogging idol, Winter Costello, at VidCon! Eager to share her summer adventure with her friends and vlog fans, Z keeps her phone and camera at the ready. But she finds that working on a real film set takes more focus than she expected. When her love of connecting online threatens to ruin her chances of connecting in real life with her idol and fans, Z faces the ultimate test: Can she survive off-line and learn to #liveinthemoment?"--Amazon.com.
Jennifer (6/18)
