Shivers! The Pirate Who's Afraid of EVERYTHING by Annabeth Bondor-Stone and Connor White

Shivers is the most scaredy-cat pirate you have ever seen.  He's scared of the ocean, other pirates, squids, snails, and pretty much everything else.  He lives on a pirate ship permanently settled on the beach while his brave pirate parents and older brother go on adventures.

But Shivers is going to have to face his fears!  His parents and brothers have been captured and it is up to Shivers and his new friend Margo to rescue them.


Check out this fun pirate adventure for grade schoolers.  It's also available as an audio performed by co-author Connor White.

Take a Trip . . . with a Picture Book

The great thing about books is that they can take you to other places.  This week, I'm sharing some great picture books that will allow you to take an armchair vacation -- simply by reading a book.

The Day We Danced in Underpants by Sarah Wilson
When Papa's pants--worn thin from dancing on his visit to France--split as he sits down to picnic with the king, the embarrassing moment provides both cooling and comic relief for the guests, prompting them to take off their hot clothes and dance.

Gumption by Elise Broach
When Peter goes on an African adventure with his beloved Uncle Nigel, who hopes to spot a rare gorilla, the oblivious Nigel urges Peter on by telling him to have gumption, while Peter keeps his eyes open and uses his ingenuity.

Possum Magic by Mem Fox
When Grandma Poss's magic turns Hush invisible, the two possums take a culinary tour of Australia to find the food that will make her visible once more.

Tulip Sees America by Cynthia Rylant
A young man and his dog drive west from Ohio and marvel at the farms of Iowa, the skies of Nebraska, the wind in Wyoming, the mountains of Colorado, the desert in Nevada, and the ocean in Oregon.


More Great Books --
Adele & Simon in America by Barbara McClintock
Aloha Is -- by Tammi Paikai
Babushka by Sandra Ann Horn
Big Anthony: His Story by Tomie DePaola
Big Rain Coming by Katrina Germein
Bintou's Braids by Penda Diakite
Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain by Verna Aardema
Cactus Soup by Eric Kimmel
The Cows Are Going to Paris by David Kirby
Crow Boy by Taro Yashima
Doctor DeSoto Goes to Africa by William Steig
Erandi's Braids by Antonio Hernandez Madrigal
The Firebird by Jane Yolen
Gabriella's Song by Candace Fleming
Hula Lullaby by Eric Kono
I, Crocodile by Fred Marcellino
I Lost My Tooth in Africa by Penda Diakite
Kamishibai Man by Allen Say
Eloise in Paris by Kay Thompson
Kumak's Fish by Michael Bania
Lila and the Secret of Rain by David Conway
Madeline in London by Ludwig Bemelmans
Mirror by  Jeannie Baker
Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe
No Year of the Cat by Mary Dodson Wade
Old Mikamba Had a Farm by Rachel Isadora
Papa Do you Love Me? by Barbara Joosse
Tacky in Trouble by Helen Lester
Take Me Out to the Yakyu by Aaron Meshon
Togo by Robert Blake
The Wolfhound by Kristine Franklin
Yoshi's Feast by Kimiko Kajikawa


Check these and other books about other places out on display at the Arnold Branch through August 14, 2015.

My Little Monster series by Robico

Shizuku isn't happy when a teacher requires her to deliver homework to a student who hasn't attended all year.  She's even less thrilled when that student Haru attacks her before declaring he loves her.  Now Haru has decided to attend school once more to be near his only friend Shizuku,  And Shizuku must deal with the distractions from her studying.

This manga series is an interesting story of several students who have a hard time making friends.  Studious Shizuku doesn't see the need for friends.  Haru scares everybody off with his glaring.  Natsume's beauty causes all the boys to fawn over her while the girls are all extremely jealous.  Will they be able to make their friendships last?

Do You Believe in Magic?

Fantasy novels are some of the most popular books for teens.  This week, I'm highlighting some great fantasy stories involving magic . . .

Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken
Sixteen-year-old Sydelle Mirabil, an unusually talented weaver, must master her mysterious power and join a young wizard in stopping an imminent war in her land.

White Cat by Holly Black
When Cassel Sharpe discovers that his older brothers have used him to carry out their criminal schemes and then stolen his memories, he figures out a way to turn their evil machinations against them.

An Exchange of Gifts by Anne McCaffrey
A runaway princess and a poor young boy try to make a new life for themselves without revealing their pasts or the magical powers they possess.

Impossible: A Novel by Nancy Werlin
When seventeen-year-old Lucy discovers her family is under an ancient curse by an evil Elfin Knight, she realizes to break the curse she must perform three impossible tasks before her daughter is born in order to save them both.

Reckless by Cornelia Funke
Jacob and Will Reckless have looked out for each other ever since their father disappeared, but when Jacob discovers a magical mirror that transports him to a warring world populated by witches, giants, and ogres, he keeps it to himself until Will follows him one day, with dire consequences.


More Magical Books --
Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu
The Alchemyst by Michael Scotgt
The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud
The Art of Wishing by Lindsay Ribar
The Book of Dead Days by Marcus Sedgwick
Breath by Donna Jo Napoli
Firebug by Lish McBride
Garden Princess by Kristin Kladstrup
Girl of Fire and Thorn by Rae Carson
Magic Can Be Murder by Vivian Van Velde
Mistwood by Leah Cypess
Plain Kate by Erin Bow
Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins
Shadows by Robin McKinley
Wishing Moon by Michael O. Tunnell
A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula LeGuin


Check out these books on display at the Arnold Branch through August 7, 2015.

My Summer Vacation . . .

It's summer!  So let's read some books about kids and their summer vacations . . .

Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos
In the historic town of Norvelt, Pennsylvania, twelve-year-old Jack Gantos spends the summer of 1962 grounded for various offenses until he is assigned to help an elderly neighbor with a most unusual chore involving the newly dead, molten wax, twisted promises, Girl Scout cookies, underage driving, lessons from history, typewriting, and countless bloody noses.

Aliens on Vacation by Clete Barrett Smith
Unhappy at being sent to stay with his grandmother at the inn she operates, The Intergalactic Bed & Breakfast, Scrub discovers that each room is actually a portal to space and the inn's visitors are aliens who are vacationing on Earth.

The Mostly True Story of Jack by Kelly Barnhill
Jack is practically invisible at home, but when his parents send him to Hazelwood, Iowa, to spend a summer with his odd aunt and uncle, he suddenly makes friends, is beaten up by the town bully, and is plotted against by the richest man in town.

Dreamer, Wisher, Liar by Charise Mericle Harper
Ashley's summer is filled with babysitting, letters to her best friend at camp, and a wish jar filled with secret revelations that help her understand her mother in a whole new way.


More Books About Summer Vacation --
Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Summer Vacation by Tom Greenwald
The Cottonmouth Club by Lance Marcum
Crow by Barbara Wright
The Get Rich Quick Club by Dan Gutman
Hunter Moran Hangs Out by Patricia Reilly Giff
Justin Case: Shells, Smells and the Horrible Flip-Flops of Doom by Rachel Vail
Notes from a Dog by Gary Paulsen
The Sasquatch Escape by Suzanne Selfors
Sparrow Road by Sheila O'Connor
Spitting Image by Shutta Crum
Sports Camp by Rich Wallace
Summer of the War by Gloria Whelan


Check out these books on display at the Arnold Branch through July 31, 2015.

Dragons at Crumbling Castle and Other Tales by Terry Pratchett

This wonderful collection of short stories includes several stories written by Terry Pratchett when he was a teenager working for a local newspaper in England.  Only a few changes were made to the story to update them a little.  Some of the stories included are . . .

"Dragons of Crumbling Castle"
Ralph is sent by King Arthur to deal with the problem of dragons at Crumbling Castle.

"Hercules the Tortoise"
Hercules decides to become an explorer and leaves the garden for the unknown.

"Dok the Caveman"
Dok comes up with several wonderful inventions including the wheel and fire.

"Father Christmas Goes to Work"
Father Christmas is encouraged by his wife to find a job to give him something to do during the rest of the year.

These and the ten other stories in the collection will be a wonderful read for anybody -- whether they are familiar with Terry Pratchett's books or not.  Also, try listening to the book on audio.

Every Hero Has a Story: Picture Book Edition

This summer's reading theme is "Every Hero Has a Story".  So we came up with a display of picture books featuring heroic characters . . . .

Magnus at the Fire by Jennifer Armstrong
When the Broadway Fire House acquires a motorized fire engine, Magnus the fire horse is not ready to retire.

Rescue Bunnies by Doreen Cronin
Newbie struggles to pass her field test to become a full-fledged Rescue Bunny.

The Whispering Town by Jennifer Elvgren
In Denmark during World War II, young Annet, her parents, and their neighbors help a Jewish family hide from Nazi soldiers until it is safe for them to leave Annet's basement.

Police Cat by Enid Hinkes
Noodles the cat takes his responsibilities very seriously, keeping the police station and neighborhood safe and free from rats, but he is not an official member of the police department until after he performs a heroic rescue.

Tsunami by Kimiko Kajikawa
A wealthy man in a Japanese village, who everyone calls Ojiisan, which means grandfather, sets fire to his rice fields to warn the innocent people of an approaching tsunami.

Blizzard by John Rocco
After a massive blizzard, a boy becomes a hero when he manages to walk to the local store and bring supplies back to his neighborhood which has been snowed in for days. Based on the author's childhood experiencer.


More Stories --
The Astonishing Secret of Awesome Man by Michael Chabon
The Babe & I by David A. Adler
The Black Rabbit by Philippa Leathers
Brief Thief by Michael Escoffier
The Curious Garden by Peter Brown
Dinosaur Rescue by Penny Dale
Elecopter by Michael Slack
Epossamondas Saves the Day by Coleen Salley
Henry and the Buccaneer Bunnies by Carolyn Crimi
Here Comes Firefighter Hippo by Jonathan London
Hero Cat by Eileen Spinelli
I'm Brave! by Kate McMullan
Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton
Kid Sheriff and the Terrible Toads by Bob Shea
Little Tug by Stephen Savage
Madeline's Rescue by Ludwig Bemelmans
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton
Olivia Saves the Circus by Ian Falconer
Pigs to the Rescue by John Himmelman
Police Officers on  Patrol by K.R. Hamilton
Quest by Aaron Becker
Red Truck by K.R. Hamilton
Rosa by Nikki Giovanni
Souperchicken by Mary Jane Auch
Swift by Robert J. Blake
Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester
This is the Firefighter by Laura Godwin


Check out these and other heroic stories on display at the Arnold Branch through July 24, 2015.

Princess of the Silver Woods by Jessica Day George

Princess Petunia has been kidnapped!  Sort of . . .by accident.

Oliver, the leader of the Wolves of Westfalian Woods didn't mean to take her prisoner.  But she had seen his face.  He determines to make it right by delivering her safely to the estate of the Grand Duchess.

But is she really safe there?

It's been ten years since Princess Petunia and her sisters were cursed to dance away the night at the underground balls of the King Under the Stone.  Ten years of peace and tranquility.  But now the sisters are having horrible dreams of the "princes" and the ball once more.

Oliver will have to work together with the princesses, their husbands, and some powerful magicians to save the princesses from the King Under the Stone forever.


This was a great ending to the Princess Trilogy by Jessica Day George.  While it it not necessary to read the previous books before starting this one, it will greatly enhance the reading of the story.  The first book Princess of the Midnight Ball, a retelling of "The Twelve Dancing Princesses", tells the story of the oldest princess Rose.  The second book Princess of Glass, a retelling of "Cinderella", tells of the story of the middle princess Poppy.  The third book Princess of the Silver Woods, a retelling of "Little Red Riding Hood", tells the story of the youngest princess Petunia.  Together, they are a wonderfully interwoven story with each book building upon the previous book.  These books would be great for teens who love fairy tales and romance with a touch of creepy evil.