Book suggestions from past weeks
Picture the Sky' - Barbara Reid
There is more than one way to picture the sky. The sky tells many stories: in the clouds, in the stars, in the imagination. In lyrical text and brilliantly coloured illustations, renowned artist Barbara Reid brings her unique vision to the sky above us and around us, in all its moods. A companion to the bestselling Picture a Tree! (http://www.scholastic.ca) |
'The Only Fish in the Sea' - Phillip C. Stead, Matthew Cordell
Sadie has an arrow-straight sense of justice that sends her in search of a birthday goldfish that Little Amy Scott has thrown into the sea. Sadie’s friend Sherman and a hilarious gang of monkeys sprint to keep up as Sadie borrows a boat, plots a route, and sets off; her supreme confidence delivers them to precisely the right spot in the ocean, and Ellsworth - the fish - is rescued in the nick of time. The monkeys’ mayhem is beautifully choreographed, Sherman is promoted to a full-fledged character, and Sadie’s obliviousness to nautical danger provides a keen sense of fun. (https://www.publishersweekly.com) |
'The Nameless City' - Faith Erin Hicks
Built on an ancient mountain pass, the City is forever being invaded by one nation or another, and every new master gives it a new name. But for the natives, their home is the Nameless City, and those who try to name it are forever outsiders. Dreamy Kaidu is one such outsider. He's a Dao born and bred--a son of the latest nation to occupy the Nameless City. Rat is a native, and at first she hates Kai. But Kai's love of his new home may be the one thing that can unite these two unlikely friends. And they will need to stand together.(https://www.goodreads.com) |
'Fish Girl' - David Wiesner, Donna Jo Napoli
Who is Fish Girl? What is Fish Girl? She lives in a tank in a boardwalk aquarium. She is the main attraction, though visitors never get more than a glimpse of her. She has a tail. She can't walk. She can't speak. But she can make friends with Livia, an ordinary girl, and yearn for a life that includes yoga and pizza. She can grow stronger and braver. With determination, a touch of magic, and the help of a loyal octopus, she can do anything. (https://www.goodreads.com) |
'Snow White' - Matt Phelan
New York City, the Roaring Twenties. Enter the characters: Samantha White, her cruel stepmother, the Queen of the Follies, her father, the King of Wall Street, seven street urchins, brave protectors for a girl as pure as snow; and a mysterious stock ticker that holds the stepmother in its thrall, churning out ticker tape imprinted with the wicked words "Another . . . More Beautiful . . . KILL." In a moody, cinematic new telling of a beloved fairy tale, extraordinary graphic novelist Matt Phelan captures the essence of classic film noir on the page—and draws a striking distinction between good and evil. (http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com) |
'Out' - Angela May George, Owen Swan
A little girl flees her homeland, making a long and treacherous boat journey with her mother to seek asylum in Australia. Starting a new life is challenging, but they work hard to create a new home. Told from the little girl's point of view, the story is both heartbreaking and triumphant, allowing timely and sensitive discussion of what drives people to become refugees and the challenges they face. (http://www.goodreads.com) |
'The Girl Who Drank The Moon' - Kelly Barnhill
An epic fantasy about a young girl raised by a witch, a swamp monster, and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon who must unlock the powerful magic buried deep inside her. Every year, the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch who lives in the forest. They hope this sacrifice will keep her from terrorizing their town. But the witch in the forest, Xan, is kind and gentle. Xan rescues the abandoned children and deliver them to welcoming families on the other side of the forest, nourishing the babies with starlight on the journey. (http://algonquinyoungreaders.com) |
'Before Morning' - Joyce Sidman, Beth Krommes
In a book-length poem, Sidman expresses a heartfelt wish for a blizzard so big that it brings everything to a halt; Krommes imagines a child for whom a snow day matters more than most. The child’s mother is an airline pilot, and the first spreads show the girl and her father preparing to say good-bye to her. As the snow starts the mother sets off for the airport, but when she realizes no flights are leaving, she turns back. Krommes’s sturdy, rounded figures and quiltlike compositions convey the family’s joy as the mother returns. (http://www.publishersweekly.com/) |
'The Good Little Book' - Kyo Maclear, Marion Arbona
When a boy heads to the study, ordered to “think things over,” he begins a relationship with a book that becomes special to him, even if it has no “proper jacket.” When the boy first opens the good little book, Arbona presents a compelling, aerial view of a sullen child who becomes fascinated by reading. Vivid artwork augments the ensuing sentences about book-induced trips to faraway places. As the seasons pass, the book “didn’t turn him into a bookish boy, or improve his naughty behavior, but it did become a loyal companion.”. https://www.kirkusreviews.com |
'Moo' - Sharon Creech
This uplifting tale reminds us that if we’re open to new experiences, life is full of surprises. Following one family’s momentous move from the city to rural Maine, an unexpected bond develops between twelve-year-old Reena and one very ornery cow. This heartwarming story, told in a blend of poetry and prose, reveals the bonds that emerge when we let others into our lives. (http://www.harpercollins.ca/) 'The Dragonsitter's Castle' - Josh Lacey
When Eddie has to take Uncle Morton’s dragons away with him in the Christmas holidays – it’s not long before they’re causing all sorts of mischief again! Dragonsitting isn't getting any easier for Eddie. A castle, a sneezing dragon and a big box of fireworks. Looks like the new year is going to start with a bang! (http://www.andersenpress.co.uk/) |
'Nimona' - Noelle Stevenson
Nimona is an impulsive young shapeshifter with a knack for villainy. Lord Ballister Blackheart is a villain with a vendetta. As sidekick and supervillain, Nimona and Lord Blackheart are about to wreak some serious havoc. Their mission: prove to the kingdom that Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and his buddies at the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics aren't the heroes everyone thinks they are. (http://www.goodreads.com/) |
'The Story of Diva and Flea' - Mo Willems and Tony DiTerlizzi
Diva, a small yet brave dog, and Flea, a curious streetwise cat, develop an unexpected friendship in this unforgettable tale of discovery. For as long as she could remember, Diva lived at 11 avenue Le Play in Paris, France. For as long as he could remember, Flea also lived in Paris, France-but at no fixed address. When Flea flaneurs past Diva’s courtyard one day, their lives are forever changed. Together, Diva and Flea explore and share their very different worlds, as only true friends can do. (http://diterlizzi.com/) |
'The Case of the Missing Moonsgtone' - Jordan Stratford
Lady Ada Byron, age eleven, is a genius. Isolated, awkward and a bit rude. Mary Godwin, age fourteen, is a romantic. Adventurous, astute, and kind, Mary is to become Ada’s first true friend. And together, the girls conspire to form the Wollstonecraft Detective Agency—a secret constabulary for the apprehension of clever criminals. Their first case involves a stolen heirloom, a false confession, and an array of fishy suspects. But it’s no match for the deductive powers and bold hearts of Ada and Mary. (http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/) |
'The Marvels' - Brian Selznick
Caldecott Award winner B. Selznick again plays with the form he invented: two seemingly unrelated stories--one in words, the other in pictures--come together. The illustrated story begins in 1766 with Billy Marvel, the survivor of a shipwreck, and charts the adventures of his family of actors five generations. The prose story opens in 1990 and follows Joseph, who has run away from school to an estranged uncle's puzzling house in London, where he, along with the reader, must piece together many characters. (http://www.goodreads.com/. |
'Once Upon an Alphabet' - Oliver Jeffers
From an Astronaut who’s afraid of heights, to a Bridge that ends up burned between friends, to a Cup stuck in a cupboard and longing for freedom, Once Upon an Alphabet is a creative tour de force from A through Z. Slyly funny in a way kids can’t resist, and gorgeously illustrated in a way readers of all ages will pour over, this series of interconnected stories and characters explores the alphabet in a way that will forever raise the bar. (http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/) |
'Inside out and Back Again' - Tranhha Lai
For all the ten years of her life, Hà has only known Saigon: the thrills of its markets, the joy of its traditions, and the warmth of her friends close by. But now the Vietnam War has reached her home. Hà and her family are forced to flee as Saigon falls, and they board a ship headed toward hope. In America, Hà discovers the foreign world of Alabama: the coldness of its strangers, the dullness of its food, and the strength of her very own family. (http://www.harpercollins.com/) |
'WIlly's Stories' - Anthony Browne
Once a week, Willy walks through an ordinary-looking set of doors and straight into an adventure. Where will those doors take him today: to a mysterious desert island with footprints in the sand; down a deep, dark rabbit hole full of curious objects; or perhaps on board a pirate ship, face to face with Captain Hook? (http://www.amazon.com/) |
'Dragons at Crumbling Castle' - Terry Pratchett
This is a book of short stories. The title is from the first story in the book. It was the first book of short stories I have read and I really enjoyed it. It was very humourous and made me laugh out loud. Throughout the book are little illustrations that help tell the stories. Some of the pictures are quite funny and make you laugh. (www.theguardian.com) |
'Draw' - Raul Colon
A wordless picture book -a little boy reads about Africa and then creates his own adventures with his pencils and paints. As he draws, he falls deeply into the rich world of his imaginary Africa. First he draws an elephant, and then he rides away on it. He paints zebras, has a sandwich for lunch, records a giraffe stampede and shares one of his many other sandwiches with the gorillas. (http://www.amazon.ca) |
'21 Proms' - by 21 American Authors
From an amazing array of authors including John Green, David Levithan, E. Lockhart, Libba Bray, Ned Vizzini, and Holly Black... Prom. It's supposed to be one of the best nights of your life. Or, at least, you're supposed to have a good time. But what if you'd rather be going with your best friend's date than your own? What if a sinister underground society of students has spiked the punch? What if your date turns out to be more of a frog than a prince? (http://www.goodreads.com/) |
'The Battle of Darcy Lane' - Tara Altebrando
It is summertime, and 12 year-old Julia cannot stand the anticipation. Everyone on Darcy Lane seems to be waiting for the cicadas to emerge, but what Julia and her best friend want is some real excitement. Which arrives in the form of a new neighbor. Suddenly nothing stands unchallenged—not Julia's friendships, her crush, or her independence. But while Julia realizes that she cannot control all the changes in her life, she hangs onto the hope that everything will go in her favor if she can just win one magnificent showdown. (http://www.goodreads.com/) |
'Starring Jules (As Herself) - Beth Ain
Jules doesn't want to ruin THE OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME, and she's willing to turn to anyone for help--even her know-it-all ex-best friend! If only that lovely new girl in class would turn out to be the new best friend of her dreams, maybe, just maybe, Jules will be ready for her close-up.... (http://www.scholastic.com) |
'Fly Away' - Patricia Maclahlan
From the award–winning author of Sarah, Plain and Tall comes a story about one brave girl who saves her family from losing everything. Everyone in Lucy’s family sings. Everyone, except Lucy. Lucy can’t sing; her voice just won’t come out. Just like singing, helping her aunt prepare for flooding season is a family tradition—even if Frankie doesn’t want the help. And this year, when the flood arrives, danger finds its way into the heart of Lucy’s family, and Lucy will need to find her voice to save her brother. (http://books.simonandschuster.ca) |
'The Further Adventures of the Owl and the Pussy-cat' - Julia Donladson and Charlotte Voake
When their golden ring is stolen, the Owl and the Pussycat must once again travel together as they search for the thief. This journey will lead them across the sea and over to the Chankly Bore and beyond. Julia Donaldson revisits Edward Lear's famous rhyme and adds her own distinct style to the story. With rhythmic text and stunning illustrations from Charlotte Voake, this is a wonderful update to a much-loved poem that will delight all ages with its gentle humour and captivating story. (http://www.thebookpeople.co.uk/) |
'The Little Women Christmas' - Heather Vogel Frederick and Bargam Ibatoulline
A cherished holiday scene from a beloved classic comes to life in this festive, cozy picture book homage to Little Women. It’s almost Christmas, and Jo March is determined that this year, unlike the last, there will be presents. It is in this spirit that she and her dear friend Laurie build a snow maiden for poor, sick Beth. The next day, Beth is thrilled with her present, and each of the girls, in turn, receives a little something from the others. (http://books.simonandschuster.com) |
'The Midnight Library' - Kazuno Kohara
There is a little library that only opens at night. In the library there is a little librarian—and her three assistant owls—who helps everyone find the perfect book. The library is always peaceful and quiet . . . until one night when some of the animals stir up a little trouble (and a little fun!) in the Midnight Library. From Kazuno Kohara, creator of the New York Times Best Illustrated book Ghosts in the House! comes a beautiful book brimming with cozy charm. (http://us.macmillan.com/) |
'The Snatchabook' - Helen Docherty and Thomas Docherty
It's bedtime in the woods of Burrow Down, and all the animals are ready for their bedtime story. But books are mysteriously disappearing. Eliza Brown decides to stay awake and catch the book thief. It turns out to be a little creature called the Snatchabook who has no one to read him a bedtime story. All turns out well when the books are returned and the animals take turns reading bedtime stories to the Snatchabook. (http://www.barnesandnoble.com/) |
'Unspoken' - Henry Cole
When a farm girl discovers a runaway slave hiding in the barn, she is at once startled and frightened. But the stranger's fearful eyes weigh upon her conscience, and she must make a difficult choice. Will she have the courage to help him? Unspoken gifts of humanity unite the girl and the runaway as they each face a journey: one following the North Star, the other following her heart. Henry Cole's unusual and original rendering of the Underground Railroad speaks directly to our deepest sense of compassion. (http://www.henrycole.net/) |
'The 9 Lives of Alexander Baddenfield' - John Barciano
Alexander Baddenfield is a horrible boy who is the last in a long line of lying, thieving scoundrels. One day, Alexander has an astonishing idea. Why not transplant the nine lives from his cat into himself? Suddenly, Alexander has lives to spare, and goes about using them up, attempting the most outrageous feats he can imagine. Only when his lives start running out, and he is left with only one just like everyone else, does he realize how reckless he has been. With its wickedly funny story and equally clever illustrations, this is dark humor at its most delicious. (http://www.goodreads.com/) |
'The Show Must Go On' - Kate and Sarah Klise
Sir Sidney owns Sir Sidney's Circus, which happens to be theBEST circus in the whole wide world. But Sir Sidney thinks he's getting too old to manage his circus, so he hires a man named Barnabas Brambles to help. Problem is, Barnabas Brambles has only one thing on his mind: m-o-n-e-y. And he'll stop at nothing to get it, even if it means selling the circus animals to a zoo! If you like talking mice, an elephant who writes letters, a lion who loves pizza, and (drum roll, please) the Famous Flying Banana Brothers, you won't want to miss this one! (http://www.kateandsarahklise.com) |
'Lulu Walks the Dogs' - Judith Viorst and Lane Smith
The stubbornly hilarious Lulu has decided it’s time to buckle down and earn some cash. How else can she save up enough money to buy the very special thing that she is ALWAYS and FOREVER going to want? After some failed attempts at lucrative gigs, dog walking seems like a sensible choice. With three wild dogs at the other end, Lulu’s patience is severely tested. Will she ever make a friend—or the money she needs? In this standalone sequel to Lulu and the Brontosaurus, children’s book legends J. Viorst and L. Smith once again prove that even the loudest, rudest, and most obstinate of girls can win us over. (http://books.simonandschuster.ca/) |
'Sisters' - Raina Telgemeier
Raina can’t wait to be a big sister. But once Amara is born, things aren’t quite how she expected them to be. Amara is cute, but she’s also a cranky, grouchy baby, and mostly prefers to play by herself. Their relationship doesn’t improve much over the years, but when a baby brother enters the picture and later, when something doesn’t seem right between their parents, they realize they must figure out how to get along. They are sisters, after all. (http://www.goraina.com/) |
'Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library' - Chris Grabenstein
In a nod to Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, this fast-paced new novel features an eccentric billionaire who welcomes a group of children into a fantasy setting full of weird, wondrous touches. The book is more than a rib-tickling novel full of humor and suspense. It's a game in itself, in which readers can have fun solving clues and answering riddles while learning how to navigate the Dewey Decimal system. Kids, parents, teachers, and librarians can also hunt for the names of authors and classic books sprinkled throughout the fast-moving story. (http://www.chrisgrabenstein.com/) |
Mrs. Noodlekugel and FourBlind Mouse' - Daniel Pinkwater
When Mrs. Noodlekugel’s four mice make a terrible mess with cookie crumbs at tea, she decides to take them on the bus to visit the eye doctor! The mice ride on Mrs. Noodlekugel’s hat, while Mr. Fuzzface, her talking cat, has the indignity of riding in a carrier. Afterward, the hungry crew head to Dirty Sally’s Lunchroom, but the mice overdo their cheesecake and run out the door. It’s all a day in the life of D. Pinkwater’s whimsical characters, in a chapter-book series whose comical tone and cozy illustrations are sure to keep young readers coming back for more. (http://www.randomhouse.com/) |
'Judy Moody and Stink: The Big Bad Blackout' - Megan McDonald and Peter H. Reynolds
Judy and Stink and the whole Moody family hunker down with beans and batteries, ready to wait out the storm. But along with massive rain and strong winds, Hurricane Elmer throws down ghosts, squirrels, and aliens. The Moodys are smack-dab in the middle of a big bad blackout! Grandma Lou proposes musical board games and some good old-fashioned storytelling. Will Hurricane Elmer go down in Moody family history as bad news, a happy memory? (http://www.barnesandnoble.com/) |
'She's Not Invisible' - Marcus Sedgwick
Laureth's father has taught her to look for recurring events, patterns, and numbers - a skill at which she's remarkably talented. Her secret: she is blind. But when her father goes missing, Laureth and her 7-year-old brother are thrust into a mystery that takes them to New York City where surviving will take all her skill at spotting the amazing and sometimes dangerous connections in a world full of darkness. She Is Not Invisible is an intricate puzzle of a novel that sheds a light on the delicate ties that bind people to each other. (http://www.goodreads.com/) |
'The Pilot and the Little Prince' - Peter Sis
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry was born in France in 1900, when airplanes were just being invented. He found a job delivering mail by plane, which had never been done before. He and his fellow pilots traveled to faraway places. Antoine flew over mountains and deserts. From his plane, he looked down on the earth and was inspired to write about his life and his pilot-hero friends in memoirs and in fiction. Peter Sís’s remarkable biography celebrates the author of THE LITTLE PRINCE, one of the most beloved books in the world. (http://www.kidsreads.com/) |
'The Year of the Book' - Andrea Cheng, ill. Abigail Halpin
In Chinese, peng you means friend. But in any language, all Anna knows for certain is that friendship is complicated. When Anna needs company, she turns to her books. Whether traveling through A Wrinkle in Time, or peering over My Side of the Mountain, books provide what real life cannot—constant companionship and insight into her changing world. Books, however, can’t tell Anna how to find a true friend. She’ll have to discover that on her own. (http://www.goodreads.com/) |
'Rules of Summer' - Shaun Tan
This is a deceptively simple story about two boys and the kind of ‘rules’ that might govern any relationship between close friends or siblings. Yet through each exquisite illustration of this nearly wordless narrative, we can enjoy wandering around an emotional landscape that is oddly familiar to us all. Shaun Tan draws upon his own personal experiences with a surreal snapshot of fishing adventures with his older brother, leaving a sock on the clothes line, and buildings inspired by Brunswick and greater Melbourne. (http://www.rulesofsummer.com.au/) |
'Squirrel's Fun Day' - Lisa Moser
Squirrel is and determined to have a fun day! Mouse has cleaning to do, but it’s nothing that Squirrel’s frenetically helpful sweeping won’t take care of. Turtle may be too slow to run around the pond, but Squirrel has a rocky plan to help Turtle get across. Welcome back the funny, exhausting Squirrel and his ever-patient friends in a medley of stories perfectly suited for reading alone or reading aloud. (http://www.randomhouse.com/) |
'Ava and Pip' - Carol Weston
Outgoing Ava loves her older sister, Pip, but can't understand why Pip is so reserved and never seems to make friends with others. When Ava uses her writing talents to help her sister overcome her shyness, both girls learn the impact their words and stories can have on the world around them. (http://www.goodreads.com/) |
'This One Summer' - Mariko Tamaki
Every summer, Rose goes with her parents to a lake house, where she meets her friend Windy. But this summer is different. Rose's mom and dad won't stop fighting, and when Rose and Windy seek a distraction from the drama, they find themselves with a whole new set of problems. It's a summer of secrets and sorrow and growing up. In this book the authors redefine the teen graphic novel and have created this heartbreaking and ultimately hopeful story about a girl on the cusp of her teen age—a story of renewal and revelation. (http://www.goodreads.com/) |
'Outside In' - Sarah Ellis
Lynn’s life of choir practice, school, shopping changes one day when she encounters a mysterious girl named Blossom, who introduces Lynn to her own world and family — a small band of outcasts and eccentrics who live secretly in a bunker beneath a city reservoir. They forage and trade for the things they need, living off the things “Citizens” throw away. Lynn is enchanted but when she inadvertently reveals their secret, she is forced to take measure of her own motives and lifestyle, as she figures out what it really means to be a family and a friend. (http://www.goodreads.com/) |
'Odessa Again' - Dana Reinhardt
Odessa lives with her mom and her little brother. Her dad is getting remarried, which makes no sense according to Odessa. Meanwhile, Odessa moves into the attic room of their new house. One day she gets mad and stomps across the attic floor. Then she feels as if she is falling and lands . . . on the attic floor. Turns out that Odessa has gone back in time a whole day! With this new power she can fix all sorts of things--embarrassing moments, big mistakes, and even help Oliver be less of a toad. Her biggest goal: reunite Mom and Dad. (http://www.goodreads.com/) |
'The Miniature World of Marvin and James' - Elise Broach and Kelly Murphy
In this Masterpiece Adventure, the first in a companion series for younger readers from bestselling author Elise Broach, James is going on vacation for a week. His best friend, Marvin the beetle, has to stay at home. Without James, Marvin has to play with his annoying cousin, Elaine. Marvin and Elaine quickly find themselves getting into all sorts of trouble! Marvin misses James and starts to worry about their friendship. Will James still be Marvin's friend when he gets home or will James have found a new best friend? (http://us.macmillan.com/) |
'Hold Fast' - Blue Balliett
The mystery begins with a bizarre accident on a deserted, wintery street in Chicago. Now stir in an old Langston Hughes book on rhythms, the Chicago Public Library's huge downtown building, a family of four that find themselves in the midst of a spiraling nightmare, and the 2003 Antwerp Diamond Heist, the biggest in history. You will meet Dash, Sum, Early and Jubi and many others living in a large city shelter. As dreams chase reality in a fearless search, 11-year-old Early Pearl will take you on a ride not easily forgotten. (http://www.blueballiettbooks.com/) |
'The Boundless' - Kenneth Oppel
'The Boundless' is the most glamorous locomotive in the world, with an astounding 987 cars: passenger cars, shooting galleries, gardens, an on-board swimming pool, cinema and much more. But its maiden voyage won't be a smooth ride for Will. After witnessing a murder during a station stop, he barely makes it back onto the train with the murderer and his cronies on his tail. Luckily, a clever and nimble friend is perfecting her act in The Boundless's circus car, and there the real thrill ride begins. Sasquatches and illusions abound in this adventure aboard the Titanic of trains! (http://www.kennethoppel.ca/) |
'Mister Max - The Book of Lost Things' - Cynthia Void
When Max Starling's theatrical parents disappear, what can sort-of-theatrical Max and his not-at-all theatrical grandmother do? They have to wait to find out something, anything, and to worry, and, in Max's case, to figure out how to earn a living at the same time as he maintains his independence. This is the first of three books, all featuring the mysterious Mister Max. (http://www.goodreads.com/) |
'Death Benefits' - Sarah N. Harvey
Royce and his mother have to move close to her aged father Arthur, a celebrated cellist. Royce convinces his mother to let him finish the school year by correspondence, but he's plotting ways to get back to his friends in Nova Scotia. Before his plans can be implemented, his grandfather suddenly needs more care than Royce's mother can provide and Royce is pressed into service. Looking after a 95 year-old, especially one as cantankerous and stubborn as Arthur, is a challenge. But as Royce gets to know the eccentric old man he gradually comes to appreciate that his grandfather's life still has meaning. (http://www.goodreads.com/) |
'Meeting Cézanne' - Michael Morpurgo and François Place
Yannick has to stay with his aunt Mathilde in the South of France. So begins an idyllic month for the young city boy: roaming the gentle hills and rolling valleys and daydreaming about his beautiful cousin Amandine; helping at his aunt and uncle’s bustling village inn; feeling that he has come to the most wonderful place in the world. One evening, an important local comes for dinner and Yannick accidentally destroys a precious drawing the man leaves behind. How can the devastated Yannick make things right again — and what surprising discoveries might come of it? (http://www.goodreads.com/) |
'The Boy Who Swam with Piranhas' - David Almond
Stanley’s uncle Ernie has developed a fascination with canning fish in the house, and life at home has turned barmy. 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? (http://www.goodreads.com/) |
'Counting by 7s' - Holly Goldberg Sloan
This is a novel about being an outsider, coping with loss, and discovering the true meaning of family. Willow Chance is a twelve-year-old genius, obsessed with nature and diagnosing medical conditions. It has never been easy for her to connect with anyone other than her adoptive parents, but that hasn't kept her from leading a quietly happy life until her world is changed when her parents both die in a car crash. The triumph of this book is that it is not a tragedy. This extraordinarily endearing girl manages to push through her grief. Her journey to find a fascinatingly diverse and fully believable surrogate family is a joy and a revelation to read. (http://www.us.penguingroup.com) |
'Treasure Hunters' - James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein
The Kidd siblings have grown up diving down to shipwrecks and traveling the world, helping their famous parents recover everything from swords to gold doubloons from the bottom of the ocean. But after their parents disappear on the job, the kids are suddenly thrust into the biggest treasure hunt of their lives. They'll have to work together to defeat dangerous pirates and dodge the hot pursuit of an evil treasure hunting rival, all while following cryptic clues to unravel the mystery of what really happened to their parents–and find out if they're still alive. (www.jamespatterson.com) |
'Moomin and the Sea' - Tove Jansson
Moominpappa has committed to writing a Great Novel About the Sea, and so the whole family moves to a desolate island where Moominpappa becomes the lighthouse keeper. In the end, though, is a bleak lighthouse any place for a Moomin? Tove Jansson’s flawless cartooning is brought to life in a whole new way within these pages. A delight for the whole family! (www.goodreads.com) |
'Galaxy Zack - Hello, Nebulon!'- Ray O'Ryan and Colin Jack
Zack makes the big move from Earth. Fortunately, when Zack arrives at Sprockets Academy for his first day of school, he meets and befriends Drake Tucker, a Nebulite boy who also loves to explore and learn about the planets. Nebulon isn’t as awful as Zack’s dream, but there are a lot of differences between Nebulon and Earth, and they make Zack miss his home. He receives a mysterious surprise. What could it possibly be? (www.barnesandnoble.com) |
'The Land of Stories - The Wishing Spell' - Chris Colfer
The Land of Stories tells the tale of twins Alex and Conner. Through the mysterious powers of a cherished book of stories, they leave their world behind and find themselves in a foreign land full of wonder and magic where they come face-to-face with the fairy tale characters they grew up reading about.But after a series of encounters with witches, wolves, goblins, and trolls alike, getting back home is going to be harder than they thought. (www.barnesandnoble.com) |
'The Plain Janes' - Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg
The Plain Janes is a story about four girls named Jane. When transfer student Jane is forced to move from the confines of Metro City to Suburbia, she thinks her life is over. But there is the lunch room at the reject table she finds her tribe: three other girls named Jane. Main Jane encourages them to form a secret art gang and paint the town P.L.A.I.N. - People Loving Art In Neighborhoods. But can art attacks really save the hell that is high school? (www.books.google.ca) |
'The Stamp Collector' - Jannifer Lanthier, François Thisdale
A city boy finds a stamp that unlocks his imagination; a country boy is captivated by stories. When they grow up, the two boys take different paths – one becomes a prison guard, the other works in a factory – but their early childhood passions remain. When the country boy’s stories of hope land him in prison, the letters and stamps sent to him from faraway places intrigue the prison guard – and a unique friendship begins. (www.barnesandnoble,com) |
'The Killer Cat Runs Away' - Anne Fine
Tuffy doesn't feel wanted at home any more. His owners just don't appreciate him. So what if he broke the new TV? Got fur on all Dad's clean clothes? Ate Tinkerbell the kitten's special kitten-food? All accidents! But they're making such a fuss! So Tuffy decides to make a break for it. He bids farewell to the gang - Snowball, Tiger and Bella - and runs away. But starting a new life isn't easy, and soon Tuffy starts to wonder if he's made a terrible mistake ... (http://www.annefine.co.uk/) |
'The Sports Pages' - edited by Jon Scieszka
A lineman with something to prove. A vendetta against a baseball legend. The rise of a real-life NHL all-star. Open up The Sports Pages, the third volume in the Guys Read Library of Great Reading, and you're in for all of this and more. From fiction to nonfiction, from baseball to mixed martial arts and everything in between, these are ten stories about the rush of victory and the crush of defeat on and off the field. The Sports Pages is a thrilling collection of brand-new short stories from some of your favorite authors and athletes. (http://harpercollinschildrens.com/) |
'Queen of The Falls' - Chris Van Allsburgh
At the turn of the nineteenth century, a retired sixty-two-year-old charm school instructor named Annie Edson Taylor, seeking fame and fortune, decided to do something that no one in the world had ever done before—she would go over Niagara Falls in a wooden barrel. Come meet the Queen of the Falls and witness with your own eyes her daring ride! (www.amazon.ca) |
'The Man With the Violin' - Kathy Stinson
This picture book is based on the true story of Joshua Bell, the renowned American violinist who famously took his instrument down into the Washington D.C. subway for a free concert. More than a thousand commuters rushed by him, but only seven stopped to listen for more than a minute. This is a heart-warming story that reminds us all to stop and appreciate the beauty that surrounds us. With a postscript explaining Joshua Bell’s story, and afterword by Bell himself. (www.annickpress.com) |
'Gangsta Granny' - David Williams
Ben is bored beyond belief after he is made to stay at his grandma's house. All she wants to do is to play Scrabble, and eat cabbage soup. But there are two things Ben doesn't know about his grandma: she was once an international jewel thief and she has been plotting to steal the crown jewels. Now she needs Ben's help. (www.goodreads.com) |
'The Painting That Wasn't There' - Steve Brezenoff
James "Gum" Shoo's art class heads to the museum. They've been learning about forged art, but they never expected to find a fake in the gallery! Only Gum and his gumshoe friends will be able to solve this museum caper. A 'Filed Trip Mysteries' adventure. (www.goodreads.com) |
'The Ghost Prison' - Joseph Delaney
Night falls, the portcullis rises in the moonlight, and young Billy starts his first night as a prison guard. But this is no ordinary prison. There are haunted cells that can’t be used, whispers and cries in the night... and the dreaded Witch Well. Billy is warned to stay away from the prisoner down in the Witch Well. But who could it be? What prisoner could be so frightening? Billy is about to find out... (www.goodreads.com) |
'Danny's Doodles' - David A. Adler
Danny and Calvin are two very different kids. Danny likes playing baseball; Calvin enjoys strange experiments. Danny follows the rules at school; Calvin tries to drive his teacher crazy. Danny and Calvin decide to team up for the big jelly bean experiment. Will it lead to trouble? Maybe. Will they have fun trying? Adler again displays his versatility with this emphatic first book in the Danny’s Doodles illustrated chapter book series. (Barnes and Noble) |
'The Smallest Gift of Christmas' - Peter H. Reynolds
Roland can’t wait for Christmas Day, and when the morning finally arrives he races downstairs to see what is waiting for him. What he sees stops him in his tracks. Could that tiny present really be what he had waited all year for? It has to be the smallest gift he had ever seen! So Roland wishes for something bigger. But he’s still convinced there must be a bigger gift somewhere in the universe. Will he know it when he sees it? (Barnesandnoble.com) |
'Odd Duck' - Cecil Castellucci, Sara Varon
Theodora is a perfectly normal duck. She may swim with a teacup balanced on her head and stay north when the rest of the ducks fly south for the winter, but there's nothing so odd about that. Chad, on the other hand, is one strange bird. Theodora quite likes him, but she can't overlook his odd habits. It's a good thing Chad has a normal friend like Theodora to set a good example for him. But who exactly is the odd duck here? Theodora may not like the answer. Here is a gorgeous, funny, and heartwarming examination of the perils and pleasures of friendship.(goodreads.com) |
'Fortunately, The Milk' - Neil Gaiman
This is quite possibly the most exciting adventure ever to be written about milk since Tolstoy's epic novel War and Milk. Also it has aliens, pirates, dinosaurs and wumpires in it (but not the handsome, misunderstood kind), also a never-adequately-explained-bowl-of-piranhas, not to mention a Volcano God. (neilgaiman.com) |
'Madame Pamplemousse and Her Incredible Edibles' - Rupert Kingfisher
This is the story of Madeleine, forced to work in her unpleasant uncle's restaurant. By chance she comes across the most marvelous shop, run by Madame Pamplemousse, which is discreet, yet full of delicious and otherworldly ‘edibles'. A quiet comradeship develops between Madeleine and Mme Pamplemousse. Together they create some wonderful culinary magic. Exquisite, beautifully formed prose that has echoes of Angela Carter belies a narrative that is full of pace. A wonderful fairy tale that will appeal to both adults and children. (Bloomsbury.com) |
'Dodsworth In Tokyo' - Tim Egan
With trips to New York, Paris, London, and Rome under their belts, Dodsworth and the duck head for Japan. Dodsworth has good reason to be nervous—the duck bumps into a rickshaw, falls into a koi pond (he can’t swim), and knocks over a tray of wagashi! Readers will love the slapstick humor and the odd-couple friendship between Dodsworth and the duck. Four engaging chapters of short sentences, clean design, and gem-like little paintings of the Land of the Rising Sun make it easy for early readers to enjoy the journey. (Goodreads.com) |
'Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse' - Chris Riddell
Ada Goth is the only child of Lord Goth. The two live together in the enormous Ghastly-Gorm Hall. Then one day William and Emily Cabbage come to stay at the house, and together with a ghostly mouse called Ishmael they and Ada begin to unravel a dastardly plot that Maltravers, the mysterious indoor gamekeeper, is hatching. Ada and her friends must work together to foil Maltravers before it's too late! (panmacmillan.com) |
'Flora and Ulysses' - Kate DiCamillo, ill. K.G. Campbell
It begins with a tragic accident that has unexpected consequences. The squirrel never saw the vacuum cleaner coming, but self-described cynic Flora Belle Buckman is the just the right person to step in and save him. What neither can predict is that Ulysses (the squirrel) has been born anew, with powers of strength, flight, and misspelled poetry—and that Flora will be changed too, as she discovers the possibility of hope and the promise of a capacious heart. From best-selling author Kate DiCamillo comes a laugh-out-loud story, a novel interspersed with comic-style graphic sequences and full-page illustrations. (katedicamillo.com) |
'Heidi Heckelbeck Goes to Camp' - Wanda Coven, ill. Priscilla Burris
Heidi can’t wait to go to camp with her friend Lucy, but when they get there, Lucy’s camp friends from last year make Heidi feel unwelcome. At first Heidi uses her Book of Spells to help her win their friendship, but in the end she decides to be brave and ask the girls why they don’t like her. With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, the Heidi Heckelbeck chapter books are perfect for beginning readers. (Simon & Schuster) |
'43 Old Cemetery Road - Dying To Meet You' - Kate Klise and M. Sarah Klise
Ignatius B. Grumply moves into a Victorian mansion hoping to find some peace and quiet so he can crack a wicked case of writer's block. But the mansion is already occupied by eleven-year-old Seymour, his cat , and an irritable ghost named Olive. A grumpy old ghost just might inspire this grumpy old man; and the abandoned kid? Sisters Klise offer up this debut volume in a clever epistolary series told in letters, drawings, newspaper articles, a work-in-progress manuscript, and even an occasional tombstone engraving. (Barnes & Noble) |
'Binky - License to Scratch' - Ashley Spiers
Binky the space cat and his team of space pets are left at the vet's office while their humans are away. Binky plans an escape, only to stumble on a secret experiment that could give vicious aliens the upper hand! It's up to Binky and his friends to save the humans ... and themselves! (Kids Can Press) |
'Penny and Her Marble' - Kevin Henkes
One day Penny finds a marble. It’s pretty and blue, and she loves it right away. So Penny takes the marble home. But does the marble really belong to Penny? (kevin.henkes.com) |
'The Life of Ty -Penguin Problems ' - Lauren Myracle
Ty is full of awesome ideas and wacky plans that only a seven-year-old boy could hatch. Whether it’s battling the family cat with a Dustbuster or smuggling a baby penguin out of the aquarium, Ty is always in the middle of a well-intended, kind hearted scheme! In the spirit of the Judy Moody spinoff Stink series, Ty will work his way into the hearts and funny bones of a whole new generation of Myracle fans. (Barnes&Noble) |
'Otis Dooda - Strange but True' - Ellen Potter
This is the story of Otis and the Dooda family (including their rat named Smoochie) moving to New York City, and the incredibly strange, but true, things that happened to them. It all started with Otis getting cursed by a guy in a potted plant in their apartment building lobby, and then meeting a bunch of their neighbors, including a farting pony named Peaches who was disguised as a dog. And that was just the first day. (Macmillan.com) |
'The Dark' - Lemony Snicket and Jon Klassen
Laszlo is afraid of the dark. The dark lives in the same house as Laszlo. Mostly, though, the dark stays in the basement and doesn't come into Lazslo's room. But one night, it does. This is the story of how Laszlo stops being afraid of the dark. With emotional insight and poetic economy, two award-winning talents team up to conquer a universal childhood fear. (hachettebookgroup.com) |
'Timmy Failure - Mistakes Were Made' - Stephan Pastis
Eleven-year-old Timmy Failure is a confident CEO of the best detective agency in town. Add his business partner, a very large polar bear named Total. Throw in the Failuremobile — Timmy’s mom’s Segway — and what you have is Total Failure, Inc., a global enterprise destined to make Timmy so rich his mother won’t have to stress out about the bills anymore. From the offbeat creator of Pearls Before Swine comes an endearingly bumbling hero in a caper whose peerless hilarity is accompanied by a whodunit twist. With perfectly paced visual humor, Stephan Pastis gets you snorting with laughter, then slyly carries the joke a beat further — or sweetens it with an unexpected poignant moment — making this a comics-inspired story (the first in a new series) that truly stands apart from the pack. (Goodreads.com) |
"My Life As A Book' - Janet Tashjian
Summer’s finally here, and Derek Fallon is looking forward to pelting the UPS truck with water balloons, climbing onto the garage roof, and conducting silly investigations. But when his parents decide to send him to Learning Camp, Derek’s dreams of fun come to an end. Ever since he’s been labeled a “reluctant reader,” his mom has pushed him to read “real” books—something other than his beloved Calvin & Hobbes. As Derek forges unexpected friendships and uncovers a family secret involving himself (in diapers! no less), he realizes that adventures and surprises are around the corner, complete with curve balls. (Goodreads.com) |
'Cartboy and The Time Capsule' - L. A. Campbell
In the tradition of Diary of a Wimpy Kid comes this laugh-out-loud debut novel about sixth-grader Hal Rifkind— nicknamed “Cartboy”—and his horribly historic, hilarious year. Hal hates history class, but unless Hal gets a good grade this year, he’ll never get his own room. Sixth grade gets off to a horrible start when the history teacher gives the class an assignment to write journals that will be buried in a time capsule at the end of the year. Things get even worse when his dad makes him take his neighbor’s old shopping cart to school, earning him the nickname “Cartboy.” What else could possibly go wrong? Read Hal’s journal to find out! (Barnes&Noble) |
'Exclamation Mark!' - Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld
From the bestselling creators of Duck! Rabbit!, an exciting tale of self-discovery! He stood out here.He stood out there.He tried everything to be more like them.It's not easy being seen. Especially when you're NOT like everyone else. Especially when what sets you apart is YOU. Sometimes we squish ourselves to fit in. We shrink. Twist. Bend. Until — ! — a friend shows the way to endless possibilities. (Scholastic.com) |
'The 13-Storey Treehouse' - Andy Griffiths
Who wouldn't want to live in a treehouse? Especially a 13-storey treehouse that has a bowling alley, a see-through swimming pool, a tank full of sharks, a library full of comics, a secret underground laboratory, a games room, self-making beds, vines you can swing on, a vegetable vaporiser and a marshmallow machine that follows you around and automatically shoots your favourite flavoured marshmallows into your mouth whenever it discerns you're hungry. (Goodreads.com) |
'Liar & Spy' - Rebecca Stead
When seventh grader Georges (the S is silent) moves into a Brooklyn apartment building, he meets Safer, a twelve-year-old coffee-drinking loner and self-appointed spy. Georges becomes Safer's first spy recruit. His assignment? Tracking the mysterious Mr. X, who lives in the apartment upstairs. But as Safer becomes more demanding, Georges starts to wonder: how far is too far to go for your only friend? (Goodreads.com) |
'The Secret of The Fortune Wookiee' - (An Origami Yoda Book) - Tom Angleberger
With Dwight attending Tippett Academy this semester, the kids of McQuarrie Middle School are on their own, with no Origami Yoda to give advice and help them navigate the treacherous waters of middle school. Then Sara gets a gift she says is from Dwight: a paper fortune-teller in the form of Chewbacca. It's a Fortune Wookiee, and it seems to give advice that's just as good as Yoda's, even if, in the hands of the girls, it seems too preoccupied with romance. (Scholastic.com) |
'Lost Cause' -
John Wilson Steve is off to Spain, armed with only a letter from his grandfather that sends him to a specific address in Barcelona. There he meets a girl named Laia and finds a trunk containing some of his grandfather's possessions, including a journal he kept during the time he fought with the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War. Steve decides to trace his grandfather's footsteps through Spain, and begins to understand the power of history and the transformative nature of passion for a righteous cause. (Goodreads.com) |
'Aristotle and Dante Discover The Secrets of The Universe' - Benjamin Alire Saenz
Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be. (Goodreads.com) |
'Bink and Gollie - Best Friends Forever' - Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGee
In their third chapter book, Bink and Gollie remain as thick as thieves and just as prone to squabbling. Readers may recognize some aspects of their own close friendships in Bink and Gollie's odd-couple relationship, but these two remain true originals. As in the previous books, the fresh, wry dialogue and Fucile's witty cartooning are as dynamic a pairing as Bink and Gollie themselves. (Publishers Weekly) |
'Vile Visitors' - Diana Wynne Jones
In VILE VISITORS, we meet Angus Flint and Chair Person – the worst guests in the world. In Who Got Rid of Angus Flint? We meet a man so mean, he even insults the furniture! Despite the children’s best pranks, he just won’t leave. But when the furniture has had enough, it’s time to rise up and get rid of this most vile of visitors… In Chair Person, that old armchair with the broken crystal ball spilled on it has been locked in the shed. But then the children find a mysterious visitor… |
'Drama' - Raina Telgemeier
Callie loves theater. And while she would totally try out for her middle school’s production of Moon Over Mississippi, she’s a terrible singer. Instead she’s the set designer for the stage crew, and this year she’s determined to create a set worthy of Broadway on a middle-school budget. But how can she, when she doesn’t know much about carpentry, ticket sales are down, and the crew members are having trouble working together? Not to mention the onstage AND offstage drama that occurs once the actors are chosen, and when two cute brothers enter the picture, things get even crazier! (GoRaina.com) |
'Jake and Lily' - Jerry Spinelli
Jake and Lily are twins. They can communicate without words. And mysteriously, every year on their birthday, they sleepwalk to a train station in the middle of the night. But the year they turn eleven, everything changes. And as she struggles to make friends and get a life apart from her twin, Jake finds himself dealing with a neighborhood bully and has to decide what kind of person he really is. Beloved author Jerry Spinelli has written another perfectly on-target, humorous, and brilliant story about the struggles of growing up and discovering who you are. |
'The Odd Squad' - Michael Fry
Nick is the shortest seventh-grader in the history of the world (he's pretty sure), doesn't fit in with any groups or clubs (who needs 'em?), and spends more time inside than outside his locker (they're roomier than you'd think). Things only get worse when a well-intentioned guidance counselor forces Nick to join the school's lamest club-along with fellow misfits Molly and Karl-in her quest to cure all three of their "peer allergies." |
'The One and Only Ivan'-
Katherine Applegate Ivan is an easygoing gorilla. Living at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade, he has grown accustomed to humans watching him through the glass walls of his domain. He rarely misses his life in the jungle. In fact, he hardly ever thinks about it at all. |
The Encyclopedia of Me'-
Karen Rivers Tink Aaron-Martin has been grounded AGAIN after an adventure with her best friend Freddie Blue Anderson. To make the time pass, she decides to write an encyclopedia of her life from "Aa" (a kind of lava--okay, she cribbed that from the real encyclopedia) to "Zoo" (she's never been to one, but her brothers belong there). As the alphabet unfolds, so does the story of Tink's summer. |
'A Wrinkle in Time' - Madeleine L'Engle; adapted and illustrated by Hope Larson.
A graphic novel adaptation of the classic tale in which Meg Murry and her friends become involved with unearthly strangers and a search for Meg's father, who has disappeared while engaged in secret work for the government. |
'The Great Unexpected' - Sharon Creech
In the little town of Blackbird Tree live two orphan girls. One of them, Naomi knows all the peculiar people in town. One day, a boy drops out of a tree. Soon Naomi and Lizzie find themselves zooming toward a future neither could ever have imagined. Meanwhile, on a grand estate across the ocean, an old lady whose heart has been deceived concocts a plan. |