Friday, May 31, 2013

Summer Series

The start of summer means long days to fill.  It's a great time to start a series of books.  Here are some great series to read over the summer.

Calvin Coconut by Graham Salisbury
Fourth-grader Calvin lives near the beach in Oahu with his mom and little sister. Mom likes to call Calvin her “Man of the house.” But Calvin’s not great at being the man of the house, or taking care of his responsibilities. He’s too busy bouncing around with his friends and trying to avoid Tito, the tough kid.
1 - Trouble Magnet
2 - The Zippy Fix
3 - Dog Heaven
4 - Zoo Breath
5 - Hero of Hawaii
6 - Kung Fooey
7 - Man Trip
8 - Rocket Ride

Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson

Soon after Peter, an orphan, sets sail from England on the ship Never Land, he befriends and assists Molly, a young Starcatcher, whose mission is to guard a trunk of magical stardust from a greedy pirate and the native inhabitants of a remote island.  This series is the story of  Peter as he becomes the famous Peter Pan of legend.
1 - Peter and the Starcatchers
2 - Peter and the Shadow Thieves
3 - Peter and the Secret of Rundoon
4 - Peter and the Sword of Mercy


The Lady Grace Mysteries by Patricia Finney
Lady Grace is a maid of honour to Queen Elizabeth I.  Through her diary, we learn of her escapades solving mysteries in the royal court of England.
1 - Assassin
2 - Betrayal
3 - Conspiracy
4 - Deception
5 - Exile
6 - Feud



Septimus Heap by Angie Sage
Pronounced dead by the midwife and stolen at birth, Septimus Heap is the seventh son of a seventh son and has the capability of becoming poweful magician -- if he can survive his adventures as he studies with the ExtraOrdinary Wizard for seven years and one day.
1 - Magyk
2 - Flyte
3 - Physik
4 - Queste
5 - Syren
6 - Darke
7 - Fyre

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs

Dinosaur books are some of the most popular books for young children.  Here are some of my favorites --

Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs by Mo Willems
When three hungry dinosaurs lay a trap hoping to catch something to eat, Goldilocks who never listens to warnings, walks into their house and springs the trap.

Brontorina by James Howe
Despite her size and not having the proper footwear, a determined dinosaur pursues her dream of becoming a ballerina.

Dinosaur vs. Bedtime by Bob Shea
Little Dinosaur roars his way through a number of daily challenges, but he cannot seem to defeat bedtime.

Tadpole Rex by Kurt Cyrus
A tiny primordial tadpole grows into a frog, feeling just as strong and powerful as the huge Tyrannosaurus rex that stomps through the mud.

T Is for Terrible by Peter McCarty
A tyrannosaurus rex explains that he cannot help it that he is enormous and hungry and is not a vegetarian.

Alphasaurs and Other Prehistoric Types by Sharon Werner
The dinosaurs in this stylish book are ingeniously engineered out of letters. A different typeface comprises each animal. Factual information about each dinosaur appears in multiple entries and fonts, making for an eye-catching and witty way to look at the ABC-DINO's.

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Picture It! for Teens

Some of my favorite books to read are graphic novels -- stories told in a comic book format.  I find it interesting how they can convey a story with mainly pictures and little text.  Try some of the these great graphic novels for teens.



Friends with Boys by Faith Erin Hicks
After an idyllic childhood of homeschooling with her mother and three older brothers, Maggie enrolls in public high school, where interacting with her peers is complicated by the melancholy ghost that has followed her throughout her entire life.

Library Wars: Love & War by Kiiro Yumi
Iku Kasahara has dreamed of joining the Library Defense Force ever since one of its soldiers stepped in to protect her favorite book from being confiscated in a bookstore, but now that she's a recruit, her dream job is more like a nightmare.

Black Butler by Yana Toboso
Earl Phantomhive is a giant in the world of commerce, Queen Victoria's faithful servant ... and a slip of a twelve-year-old boy. Fortunately, his loyal butler, Sebastian, is ever at his side, ready to carry out the young master's wishes.

Pinocchio, Vampire Slayer by Van Jensen
A graphic novel depicting Pinocchio as a monster-slaying warrior on a quest to protect the town of Nasolungo and avenge Geppetto, who was killed by vampires.

Miki Falls by Mark Crilley
Miki Yoshida has decided that her final year of high school is going to be her best. Then, Hiroo Sakurai shows up with a secret that Miki desperately wants to know.  She starts to fall for him and nothing, even Hiro himself, can stop her.

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Happy Birthday to You!

Cake!  Balloons!  Presents!  In celebration of my birthday, check out these great birthday books for kids.

The Birthday Box by Leslie Patricelli
An imaginative young child has a wonderful time playing with his birthday present and the box in which it came.

How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Birthday? by Jane Yolen - Board Book
Illustrations and rhyming text present some of the different ways a dinosaur can make her birthday party special, from thanking guests for their gifts to sharing large pieces of cake.

Bear's Birthday by Stella Blackstone - Book Book
Bear celebrates his birthday with a party, games, and ten balloons.

A Birthday for Bear by Bonny Becker
Despite Bear's efforts to ignore his birthday, Mouse will not rest until his friend celebrates.

A Birthday for Cow by Jan Thomas
Pig and Mouse work together to make Cow the best birthday cake ever, despite Duck's unconventional cooking methods.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Once Upon a Time . . .

I love to read fairy tales -- whether a classic version or an updated retelling.  One of my favorite series of humorous fairy tale retellings is Gail Carson Levine's "The Princess Tales".


For Biddle's Sake by Gail Carson Levine
A young maiden who has been transformed into a toad by a jealous fairy relies on her newly honed magical abilities to charm a prince into marriage.

The Fairy's Return by Gail Carson Levine
The good-natured son of a baker wins the heart of a princess, with the help of a fairy and a magic goose.

Cinderellis and the Glass Hill by Gail Carson Levine
A lonely young farm lad uses his unusual inventive ability to pass a nearly impossible test and win the hand of the neighboring princess.

The Princess Test by Gail Carson Levine
Lorelei must pass many difficult tests in order to prove that she is a true princess and win the hand of Prince Nicholas.

Princess Sonora and the Long Sleep by Gail Carson Levine
Princess Sonora, who is ten times smarter than anyone else, vows to choose for herself the best time to be pricked by the spindle.

The Fairy's Mistake by Gail Carson Levine
The fairy Ethelinda rewards one twin sister for good behavior and punishes the other for bad, only to discover that her punishment is more pleasing than her reward.


Thursday, May 9, 2013

Can You Keep a Secret?

Ever had to keep a secret?  Yours?  A friends?  A family members?
These books all have some major secrets that need to be kept.

What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell
In 1947, with her jovial stepfather Joe back from the war and family life returning to normal, teenage Evie, smitten by the handsome young ex-GI who seems to have a secret hold on Joe, finds herself caught in a complicated web of lies whose devastating outcome change her life and that of her family forever.

Nothing to Lose by Alex Flinn
A year after running away with a traveling carnival to escape his unbearable home life, sixteen-year-old Michael returns to Miami, Florida, to find that his mother is going on trial for the murder of his abusive stepfather.

The Miles Between by Mary Pearson
Seventeen-year-old Destiny keeps a painful childhood secret all to herself until she and three classmates from her exclusive boarding school take off on an unauthorized road trip in search of "one fair day."

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
In a world where dragons and humans coexist in an uneasy truce and dragons can assume human form, Seraphina, whose mother died giving birth to her, grapples with her own identity amid magical secrets and royal scandals, while she struggles to accept and develop her extraordinary musical talents.

Dark Angel by David Klass
When his older brother is released from prison, seventeen-year-old Jeff's family secret is revealed, causing upheaval in his home, school and love life.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Celebrating Moms

In honor of Mother's Day (May 12), read a book celebrating the various women in your family -- mom, grandma, and aunts!

My Mom by Anthony Browne
A child describes the many wonderful things about "my mom," who can make anything grow, roar like a lion, and be as comfy as an armchair.

Grandma Lena's Big Ol' Turnip by Denia Hester
Grandma Lena grows a turnip so big that it takes her entire family to pull it up and half of the town to eat it.

Aunt Lucy Went to Buy a Hat by Alice Low
Rhyming tale of a woman who sets out to replace her lost hat, but winds up with a cat and a succession of other items instead.

The Soccer Mom From Outer Space by Barry Saltzberg
The night before Lena's first soccer game, her father tells her a story about how his mother used to act bizarre at his soccer games and embarrass him.

Off We Go! by Jane Yolen
One by one, baby woodland creatures leave home and sing their way to visit grandma.

Aunt Minnie McGranahan by Mary Skillings Prigger
The townspeople in St. Clere, Kansas, are sure it will never work out when the neat and orderly spinster, Minnie McGranahan, takes her nine orphaned nieces and nephews into her home in 1920.

Just Me and My Mom by Mercer Mayer
When Little Critter and his mother spend the day together in the city, they visit museums, go shopping, and eat out.