Have a Happy New Year!

New Year's is only a few days away.  To celebrate, read one of these great New Year's books . . . .

The Night Before New Year's by Natasha Wing
In this version of Clement Moores' classic poem, a brother and sister struggle to stay awake until midnight to ring in the new year.

Angelina Ice Skates by Katharine Holabird
Angelina has an idea that might keep the hockey players from interfering with her rehearsals for the New Year's Eve ice skating show.

We Wish You a Merry Christmas!

There are only a few more days until Christmas -- only a few more days for some of our favorite Christmas stories . . .

Samurai Santa: A Very Ninja Christmas by Rubin Pingk
Yukio wants to have a snowball fight but all the other ninjas want to stay good for Santa. So Yukio decides to sabotage Santa.

Christmas in the Barn by Margaret Wise Brown
A simple retelling of the Nativity story.

Have You Been Naughty or Nice? by Ethan Long
The duck is sure he has been nice, not naughty, and to prove it he makes a plate of home-made cookies for Santa, only to end up eating them all himself, and he must come up with a way to get himself off of Santa's naughty list.

Uncles and Antlers by Lisa Wheeler
Each year, all seven of Octavia's unique uncles gather from far and near to join their favorite niece in a very special job.

Babushka by Sandra Ann Horn
While traveling, Babushka gives her gifts for the Christ child away and thinks she has nothing left to give the baby, only to discover that everything she gave away, she also gave to him.

Princess Decomposia and Count Spatula by Andi Watson

Princess Decomposia is overwhelmed with all the responsibilities of running her father's underground kingdom while he is too ill to rule.

Then the cook quits . . . and she hires Count Spatula.

Count Spatula is a chef who loves to bake delicious treats.  He also becomes Decomposia's first friend . . . changing his world, her world, and the entire kingdom.


This was a quick, fun graphic novel.  It's a simple story that was told very well.  While the book was marketed towards teens, I think that older children would also really enjoy this graphic novel.

'Tis the Season: Books for the Holidays

The holidays are quickly approaching.  And while I couldn't find a chapter book focusing on the Kwanzaa holiday, we do have several books for both Christmas and Hanukkah.  Here are some of my favorites . . . .

The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper
On his eleventh birthday Will Stanton discovers that he is the last of the Old Ones, destined to seek the six magical Signs that will enable the Old Ones to triumph over the evil forces of the Dark as they battle during the twelve days of Christmas.

Sam I Am by Ilene Cooper
Twelve-year-old Sam, the son of a Jewish father and Christian mother, struggles to understand religion and its role in his family's life during the Hanukkah and Christmas holidays.

The Angel Tree by Daphne Benedis-Grab
Every Christmas in the small town of Pine River, a tree appears in the town square and people tie wishes to it, but nobody knows where the tree comes from--but this year four children are determined to solve the mystery of the Angel Tree.

The Very Best Hanukkah Gift by Joanne Rocklin
During his family's eight-day celebration of Hanukkah, eight-year-old Henry learns the pleasure of giving and overcomes his fear of dogs.

Winterfrost by Michelle Houts
Left in charge of her home and infant sibling when her parents are called away at Christmastime, Bettina disregards a family custom about leaving out rice pudding for the nisse, who make their magic known when the baby disappears.


More Holiday Reads --
Certain Poor Shepherds: A Christmas Tale by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas
The Christmas Barn by D.L. Davis
Clementine for Christmas by Daphne Benedis-Grab
How I Saved Hanukkah by Amy Goldman Koss
Jake by Audrey Couloumbis
Kringle by Tony Abbott
On Christmas Eve by Ann M. Martin
Rover Saves Christmas by Roddy Doyle
A Shiloh Christmas by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
The True Story of Christmas by Anne Fine
Who Is Stealing the 12 Days of Christmas? by Martha Freeman


Check out these book on display at the Arnold Branch through December 30, 2015.

The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan

Magnus Chase has been living on the streets of Boston ever since the night two years ago when his mother told him to run -- the night his mother was killed by wolves with glowing eyes.

Now his Uncle Randolph has finally decided to search for Magnus.  He wants Magnus to find the Sword of Summer -- a summer lost by the Norse god Frey.

But finding the sword is just the beginning of Magnus' adventures.  Now he is on a quest going through the Nine Worlds trying to save the world from the Wolf of Fenris.


This is the first book in Rick Riordan's new Norse mythology trilogy -- Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard.  It is a great introduction to the series.  It is immediately engrossing and catches you up in the thrill ride that becomes Magnus' life.  The Norse mythology is explained along the way to Magnus and the reader in a way that is completely  natural.  This is a wonderful first book of a series.

I Just Want to Laugh

While emotional books are great at times, often we just want a book that will make us laugh.  So here are some of my favorite funny picture books . . .

Crankee Doodle by Tom Angleberger
A pony tries to convince his cranky owner to take a ride into town. Includes notes about the song, "Yankee Doodle."

Cats Are Cats by Valeri Gorbachev
Miss Bell loves her cat Tiger, despite his tendency to act like a tiger.

Mustache Baby by Bridget Heos
A picture book about baby Billy, who is born with a mustache, and his parents, who must figure our if it's a Good-Guy mustache, or a Bad-Guy mustache.

Sylvie by Jennifer Sattler
When Sylvie the pink flamingo learns her color comes from the little pink shrimp she eats, she decides to expand her choices, trying everything under the sun and, unfortunately, overdoing it.

Falling for Rapunzel by Leah Wilcox
A prince tries to get Rapunzel to throw down her hair so he can rescue her, but she mishears him and throws down random objects from her room instead.


More Funny Picture Books --
Bark, George by Jules Feiffer
Beware of Tigers by Peter Horacek
The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak
Brief Thief by Michael Escoffier
Chickens to the Rescue by John Himmelman
Count the Monkeys by Mac Barnett
Cowlick! by Christin Ditchfield
Don't Squish the Sasquatch! by Kent Redeker
Ducks Don't Wear Socks by Jon Nedwidek
The Entertainer by Emma Dodd
Farmer Brown Goes Round and Round by Teri Sloat
Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs by Mo Willems
I'm a Shark! by Bob Shea
Is Everyone Ready for Fun? by Jan Thomas
Let's Sing a Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy by Jan Thomas
Little Nelly's Big Book by Pippa Goodhart
Little Pea by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Mail Harry to the Moon! by Robie H. Harris
Moo! by David LaRochelle
A Pet for Petunia by Paul Schmid
Put It on the List! by Kristen Darbyshire
This Is a Moose by Richard T. Morris
This Is Not My Hat! by Jon Klassen
This Little Piggy by Tim Harrington
The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli
Who Needs a Hug? by Jeff Mack


Check out these books on display at the Arnold Branch through December 23, 2015.

Beetle Boy by Margaret Willey

Charlie never intended to become the world's youngest published author at the age of seven.

He just wanted to cheer up his dad.  So he told him one of the bedtime stories his mother used to tell him.

But his dad thinks he made up the story.  Now Charlie has two books and is on the author circuit -- selling books at local author fairs and dressed in a beetle costume for school appearances.  Charlie hates it.

Twelve years later, Charlie is trying to recover his life . . .


This was a very interesting look at what we do for family.  Also how our choices made in the past lead to effects many years later.  This would be a great story for teen boys.