Who Was Dr. Seuss? by Janet B. Pascal

Who Was Dr. Seuss? by Janet B. Pascal - 112 pages

Who was Dr. Seuss?

- A boy who loved zoos and drawing silly animals
- A college student voted "least likely to succeed"
- An author and illustrator who changed children's books forever
- All of the above

This entry in the popular Who Was biography series for children was entertaining and informative.  The audiobook version was narrated quite well by Danny Campbell.  This would be a great book to listen to on a car trip or to read for fun or a school report.

Stories for the Holidays

The holidays are quickly approaching.  So this week, I'm sharing some of my favorite Christmas chapter books for children . . . .

The Best Christrmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson

The six mean Herdman kids lie, steal, smoke cigars (even the girls) and then become involved in the community Christmas pageant.

The Birds' Christmas Carol by Kate Douglas Wiggin

Although she is a sickly child, Carol Bird manages to make a decent Christmas for a poor family.

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.

More Christmas Books --

A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig

Certain Poor Shepherds: A Christmas Tale by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas

The Christmas Barn by C.L. Davis

The Christmas Doll by Elvira Woodruff

The Christmas Genie by Dan Gutman

Clementine for Christmas by Daphne Benedis-Grab

Mama Had to Work on Christmas by Carolyn Marsden

On Christmas Eve by Ann M. Martin

Rover Saves Christmas by Roddy Doyle

The True Story of Christmas by Anne Fine

Who is Stealing the Twelve Days of Christmas? by Martha Freeman

Have a Happy Holidays!

The Unlucky Lottery Winners of Classroom 13 by Honest Lee & Matthew J. Gilbert

Unlucky Ms. Linda is the teacher of Classroom 13.  She is possibly the most unlucky person in the world . . . until the day she wins $28,000,000,000 in the lottery.

She splits the money equally with the students in her class.  They proceed to buy what they've always wanted . . .

Emma buys cats.
Ximena buys monuments.
Jacob buys a new family.
Chloe donates everything to charity.

But do these purchases make their lives better . . . or worse?


This book would be great for children who enjoyed the Sideways Stories from Wayside School.  The book is set up in a very similar fashion with each short chapter focusing on one student.  It's also slightly humorous in its stories.

A Winter Wonderland of Reading

Winter has definitely set in.  The temperatures have dropped and kids are eagerly anticipating the first snowfall.  This week I'm sharing some of my favorite picture books for the winter season . . . .

Snowball Fight! by Jimmy Fallon
On a snow day off from school, a young boy cannot wait to have a snowball fight.


Winter Woes by Marty Kelley
Rhyming lament of a young worrywart who wants to go outside and play in the snow but fears what could happen if he does, from slipping on steps to freezing his brain.


Grandmother Winter by Phyllis Root
When Grandmother Winter shakes out her feather quilt, birds, bats, bears, and other creatures prepare themselves for the cold.


A Little Bit of Winter by Paul Stewart
Rabbit tries to save a little bit of winter for his friend Hedgehog, who sleeps all winter and wants to know what he is missing.

When Winter Comes by Nancy Van Laan
Rhyming text asks what happens to different animals and plants "when winter comes and the cold wind blows".


More Winter Books --
Axle Annie by Robin Pulver
Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson
Before Morning by Joyce Sidman
Blizzard by John Rocco
The First Day of Winter by Denise Fleming
First Snow by Peter McCarty
A Hat for Minerva Louise by Janet Morgan Stoeke
If It's Snowy and You Know It, Clap Your Paws! by Kim Norman
Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton
A Kitten Tale by Eric Rohmann
The Little Match Girl by Jerry Pinkney
Little Penguins by Cynthia Rylant
Lucia and the Light by Phyllis Root
No Two Alike by Keith Baker
On a Wintry Morning by Dori Chacona
The Reader by Amy Hest
Samson in the Snow by Philip T. Stead
Snow Happy! by Patricia Hubbell
The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen
Snowbots by Aaron Reynolds
The Snowflake Sisters by J. Patrick Lewis
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
Straight to the Pole by Kevin O'Malley
The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett
Toys Meet Snow by Emily Jenkins
Walking in a Winter Wonderland by Richard B. Smith
White Snow, Bright Snow by Alvin Tresselt

Check these and more winter books out on display at the Arnold Branch through December 29, 2017.

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

Henry "Monty" Montague is heading out on his Grand Tour of Europe with his best friend Percy.  It's meant to be one last hurrah for Monty and Percy before he settles down to estate management with his father.  However, his father is using it to punish Monty for being a little too interested in boys.  So Monty sets out for Paris with Percy, his sister and their leader.  But Monty can't seem to keep out of trouble.  He gets caught naked at Versailles, steals a locked box, is chased by an angry baron, set on by highwaymen, poisoned, and attacked by pirates -- all while bringing everything he knew about life and love into question.

I would recommend this book to teens who enjoy romance, adventure, or historical fiction as it combines all three genres seamlessly together.  The main character of Monty goes on a literal and emotional journey throughout the book as he discovers what love means to him.  He also learns what is most important to him.  The author also includes several notes at the end of the book on the grand tour, politics of the time, epilepsy, and queer culture through history.

Gobble Up a Good Book!

It is officially the holiday season -- a time when we enjoy feasts of food.  But how about enjoying a feast of food stories?  Here are a few of my favorite books featuring stories about food . . .

Mouse Noses on Toast by Daren King
Paul Mouse gathers a group of mouse activists to uncover the mystery behind the delicacy known as "Mouse noses on toast" which is served in a fancy human restaurant.

Pish Posh by Ellen Potter
Eleven-year-old Clara Frankofile sits in her parents' elegant New York City restaurant, Pish Posh, and passes judgement on each customer as a Somebody or a Nobody, but her all-seeing eyes fail to observe the mysterious events occurring right under her nose.

Cosmoe's Weiner Getaway by Max Brallier
Meet Cosmoe, the Earth-Boy. He’s captain of the Neon Weiner, the finest flying food truck in the galaxy. Along with his bud, Big Humphree, he spends his days cruising the cosmos and staying crazy busy

Benny Bensky and the Perogy Palace by Mary Brosky
Benny Bensky, a dog, investigates the mystery of why the Perogy Palace restaurant is losing cutomers.


More Food Stories --
The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora by Pablo Cartaya
I Am Not Joey Pigza by Jack Gantos
Lab Coat Girl in My Triple-Decker Hero by Margie Palatini
Madame Pamplemousse and Her Incredible Edibles by Rupert Kingfisher
Mallory Makes a Difference by Laurie Friedman
The Perfect Hamburger and Other Delicious Stories by Alexander McCall Smith
The Pizza Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner
Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage
The Transmogrification of Roscoe Wizzle by David Elliott

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through December 13, 2017.

Stories from the Forest

This week, I am sharing picture books featuring a forest setting . . .

Animals in the Outhouse by Anja Frohlich
A new forest ranger, eager to prove himself, installs an outhouse for animals so that the forest will be tidier but although the animals enter, one after another, and claim success, none can figure out a way to actually make use of the unnatural device.

Tidy by Emily Gravett
Pete the badger likes everything to be neat and tidy at all times, but what starts as the collecting of one fallen leaf escalates quickly and ends with the complete destruction of the forest. 

This Is Moose by Richard T. Morris
Director Billy Waddler is trying to film a documentary about moose, but the moose in question has no intention of spending his life in the woods and his animal friends, who have dreams of their own, help him prove his point.

Flashlight by Liz Boyd
In this story without words, a boy explores the woods after dark with a flashlight.

Where's My Teddy? by Jez Alborough
When a small boy named Eddie goes searching for his lost teddy in the dark woods, he comes across a gigantic bear with a similar problem.


More Books--
Alone in the Forest by Gita Wolf
Antler, Bear, Canoe: A Northwoods Alphabet Year by Betsy Bowen
Baby Bear by Kadir Nelson
Bear and Bunny by Daniel Pinkwater
Bear's New Friend by Karma Wilson
Big, Bad Bunny by Franny Billingsley
The Busy Beaver by Nicholas Oldland
Come Back, Moon by David Kherdian
Counting on Woods: A Poem by George Ella Lyon
Crickwing by Janell Cannon
Flossie and the Fox by Patricia McKissack
The Forest by Claire A. NIvola
Hunters of the Great Forest by Dennis Nolan
I Am Cow, Hear Me Moo! by Jill Esbaum
It's the Bear! by Jez Alborough
Let's Go Home, Little Bear by Martin Waddell
Lost Found by Marsha Diane Arnold
Oh So Brave Dragon by David Kirk
One Dark Night by Lisa Wheeler
Peek-A-Book Bunny by Holly Surplice
Redwoods by Jason Chen
Shh! We Have a Plan by Chris Haughton
The Very Cranky Bear by Nick Bland
Way Up High in a Tall Green Tree by Jan Peck
Where Once There Was a Wood by Denise Fleming
The Wild Boy by Mordecai Gerstein
The Wolf Who Cried Boy by Bob Hartman
The Wonderful Book by Leonid Gore

Check out these and more forest books on display at the Arnold Branch through December 15, 2017.

When Humans Are Scarier Than Monsters

We are frequently asked for recommendations of horror books for teens -- books with monsters.  However, I often find books with human monsters much  more terrifying.  Here are some recommendations for teens of books with terrifying human monsters . . . .

(Warning - These Books May be Disturbing to Read)

Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott
The story follows a girl called "Alice" who has been kidnapped by a pedophile named Ray. This book takes place five years after "Alice's" abduction.

The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
A high school freshman discovers the devastating consequences of refusing to join in the school's annual fund raising drive and arousing the wrath of the school bullies.

This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp
Minutes after the principal of Opportunity High School in Alabama finishes her speech welcoming the student body to a new semester, they discover that the auditorium doors will not open and someone starts shooting as four teens, each with a personal reason to fear the shooter, tell the tale from separate perspectives.

The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin
Seventeen-year-old Matthew recounts his attempts, starting at a young age, to free himself and his sisters from the grip of their emotionally and physically abusive mother.


More Books --
After the Woods by Kim Savage
Afterward by Jennifer Mathieu
All the Rage by Courtney Summers
Amy Chelsea Stacie Dee by Mary G. Thompson
Because I Am Furniture by Thalia Chaltas
Bitter End by  Jennifer Brown
Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick
Desert Angel by Charlie Price
The Devil You Know by Trish Doller
Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick
If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch
The Killer's Cousin by Nancy Werlin
The Missing Girl by Norma Fox Mazer
My Sister Rosa by Justine Larbalstier
The Pain Eater by Beth Goobie
Pretty Girl-13 by Liz Coley
The Special Ones by Em Bailey
Tenderness: A Novel by Robert Cormier

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through December 1, 2017.

The Ship of the Dead by Rick Riordan (Magnus Chase #3)

Magnus Chase has gone on two epic quests since first dying and finding out he is the son of Frey, Norse god of summer and health.  Now it's time for one final quest to stop Loki from starting Ragnarok -- the end of the world.

Magnus must set sail with his friends to Jotunheim to brave the giants and the Ship of the Dead with its zombie sailors.  He also must find a way to defeat Loki and return him to his prison so the world is safe once again.


This is the final book in the Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgaard trilogy.  It's been a great series and this is a wonderful end to it.  It was great to see how all the various characters come together in the final book.  (It was also wonderful to have a cameo appearance by Percy Jackson and Annabelle.)  This is a must read for all Rick Riordan fans.

Zombies, Werewolves, and Vampires -- Oh My!

Children love scary stories -- just look at the popularity of the Goosebumps series.  Here are some of my favorite monster books for kids . . . .

Dinkin Dings and the Frightening Things by Guy Bass
Young Dinkin Dings, who is afraid of literally everything, is certain that his new next-door neighbors are flesh-eating alien space zombies.

ParaNorman by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel

Misunderstood eleven-year-old Norman Babcock must take on witches, zombies, and the school bully to save his town from a witch that cursed his town.

Vampire Island by Adele Griffin

Siblings Maddy, Lexie, and Hudson Livingstone, who are vampire-fruit bat hybrids, struggle to adjust to living as humans in New York City while maintaining their individual vampire strengths.

Mosnterland by James Crowley

Chased into the woods by neighborhood bullies who are after his Halloween candy, fifth grader Charlie Cooper quickly gets lost and finds his way into Vampyreishtat--or Monsterland, an uncharted land where werewolves, mummies, and vampires live freely--and with the help of the Monster of all Monsters, Charlie hopes he will find his cousin Billy who disappeared a year ago.

Zombie Baseball Beatdown by Paulo Bacigalupi

While practicing for their next baseball game, thirteen-year-old friends Rabi, Miguel, and Joe discover that the nefarious activities of the Delbe, Iowa, meatpacking plant have caused cows to turn into zombies.

More Monster Books --

100% Wolf by Jayne Lyons

The City of Ink Drinkers by Eric Sanvoisin

Case File 13: Zombie Kid by J. Scott Savage

Dr. Critchlore's School for Minions by Sheila Grau

Literally Disturbed: Tales to Keep You Up at Night by Ben H. Winters

My Zombie Hamster by Havelock McCreely

Notes from a Hairy-Not-Scary Werewolf by Tim Collins

Notes from a Totally Lame Vampire by Tim Collins

The One Safe Place by Tania Unsworth

A Taste for Red by Lewis Harris
Vampire State Building by Elizabeth Levy
The Wavering Werewolf by David Lubar

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through November 24, 2017.

Our Favorite Picture Books

This week, I'm sharing some of our favorite picture books . . . .

Bunnies!!! by Kevan Atteberry
A monster searches everywhere to find the things he loves: bunnies!!!

I'm Bored by Michael Ian Black
There is nothing boring about being a kid... but try explaining that to a potato.

Cupcake by Charise Mericle Harper
Vanilla cupcake feels plain next to his fancy siblings until he gets help from his new pal Candle to try to boost his image.

Moo! by David LaRochelle
When Cow gets her hooves on the farmer's car, she takes it for a wild ride through the country.

Snow by Uri Shulevitz
As snowflakes slowly come down, one by one, people in the city ignore them, and only a boy and his dog think that the snowfall will amount to anything.


More Favorite Picture Books -- 
Bark, George by Jules Feiffer
Blueberry Mouse by Alice Low
A Boy and His Bunny by Sean Bryan
Chengdu Could Not, Would Not, Fall Asleep by Barry Saltzberg
The Cow Loves Cookies by Karma Wilson
The Croaky Pokey by Ethan Long
Dinosaur Kisses by David Ezra Stein
Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Farmer Brown Shears His Sheep by Teri Sloat
Farmyard Beat by Lindsey Craig
Go! Go! Go! Stop! by Charise Mericle Harper
The Happy Day by Ruth Krauss
I Ain't Gonna Paint No More! by Karen Beaumont
If You're Hoppy by Apil Pulley Sayre
It's a Tiger! by David LaRochelle
Leonardo the Terrible Monster by Mo Willems
Let's Sing a Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy by Jan Thomas
Little Pea by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Mail Harry to the Moon by Robie Harris
Mitchell's License by Hallie Durand
My Father the Dog by Elizabeth Bluemle
My Little Sister Ate One Hare by Bill Grossman
Naked! by Michael Ian Black
The Nuts: Sing and Dance in Your Polka Dot Pants by Eric Litwin
Oh No, George! by Chris Haughton
Old Mikamba Had a Farm by Rachel Isadora
A Penguin Story by Antoinette Portis
Press Here by Herve Tullet
Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas
Snip! Snap! What's That? by Mara Bergman
Snowball Fight by Jimmy Fallon
A Splendid Friend, Indeed by Suzanne Bloom
Squids Will be Squids by Jon Sceiszka
Swim! Swim! by James Proimos
Thelonius Monster's Sky-High Fly Pie by Judy Sierra
The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli
Wolf's Coming by Joe Kulka

Check these and more favorites out at the Arnold Branch on display through November 17, 2017.

The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness

Once again the indie kids are battling an apocalyptic event.  The Immortals are trying to enter and take over our world.  They're fighting to save not just their lives, but the entire world.

But that isn't this story.

This is the story of the regular kids -- the kids just hoping to make it to graduation before the high school is blown up  . . . again.




This is a great book for a reader of almost any genre.  While it is mainly a story of friendship and family, it also includes elements of the supernatural, romance, and mystery.  It's the story of the apocalypse told through those are not the "Chosen One".

I would also highly recommend listening to the audio version of the book.

Dare to Be Scared!

With Halloween fast approaching, this week I thought I would share some horror books for teens.  Here are a few of my favorites . . . .

The Accident Season by Moira Fowley-Doyle
Every October Cara and her family become mysteriously and dangerously accident-prone, but this year, the year Cara, her ex-stepbrother, and her best friend are 17, is when Cara will begin to unravel the accident season's dark origins.

Lord Loss by Darren Shan
Presumably the only witness to the horrific and bloody murder of his entire family, a teenage boy must outwit not only the mental health professionals determined to cure his delusion, but also the demonic forces only he can see.

Anna Dressed In Blood by Kendare Blake
For three years, seventeen-year-old Cas Lowood has carried on his father's work of dispatching the murderous dead, traveling with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat, but everything changes when he meets Anna, a girl unlike any ghost he has faced before.

On the Day I Died: Stories from the Grave by Candace Fleming
In a lonely Illinois cemetery one cold October night, teen ghosts recount the stories of their deaths in different time periods, from 1870 to the present, to sixteen-year-old Mike, who unknowingly picked up a phantom hitchhiker.


More Teen Horror Novels --
Bonchiller by Graham McNamee
The Death Collector by Justin Richards
The Devil's Engine: Hellraisers by Alexander Gordon Smith
Dr. Frankenstein's Daughters by Suzanne Weyn
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
The Hand of the Devil by Dean Vincent Carter
The House of Dead Maids by Clare Dunkle
In the After by Demitria Lunetta
Long Lankin by Lindsey Barraclough
Pretty Monsters: Stories by Kelly Link
Runied by Paula Morris
The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff
Samurai Awakening by Benjamin Martin
Slasher Girls & Monsters Boys by April Tucholke
This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers
The Waking: Dreams of the Dead by Thomas Randall

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through November 10, 2017.

Time for a Field Trip!

School has been back in session for a couple months now.  Kids are starting to look forward to field trips.  So this week I'm sharing some great chapter books about school field trips . . . .

The Sixty-Eight Rooms by Marianne Malone
Ruthie thinks nothing exciting will ever happen to her until her sixth-grade class visits the Art Institute of Chicago, where she and her best friend Jack discover a magic key that shrinks them to the size of gerbils and allows them to explore the Thorne Rooms--the collection of sixty-eight miniature rooms from various time periods and places--and discover their secrets.

Keena Ford and the Field Trip Mix-Up by Melissa Thomson
Keena and her second-grade class go on a field trip to the United States Capitol where they meet a congressman and Keena makes a big impression, which she documents in her new journal.

Willy Maykit in Space by Greg Trin
When Willy Maykit gets stranded on Planet Ed during a class trip to outer space, he's in for an adventure. But will he be able to outwit the monsters inhabiting Ed and find his way back home?

The Night I Flunked My Field Trip by Henry Winkler
Fourth-grader Hank, while on a field trip aboard "The Pilgrim Spirit," tries to learn knot tying in his own unique way, which causes unforeseen problems.


More Books --
Amelia's Most Unforgettable Embarrassing Moments by Marissa Moss
Bearwalker by Joseph Bruchac
Carlos Is Gonna Get It by Kevin Emerson
Clementine and the Spring Trip by Sara Pennypacker
Emperor Pickletine Rides the Bus by Tom Angleberger
Field Trip by Gary Paulsen
Magic Pickle and the Creature from the Black Legume by Scott Morse
Martin Bridge On the Lookout! by Jessica Scott Kerrin
Medusa Jones by Ross Collins
Saving Lilly by Peg Kehret
Skeleton Island by Angie Sage
Triple Take by Kenny Abdo 


Check these books out on display at the library at the Arnold Branch through November 3, 2017.

A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck

Mary Alice and her brother have spent summers with her Grandma Dowdel in the past.  Now, however, she's spending a whole year by herself with Grandma while her father looks for work and her brother is out west working on a WPA job.  She doesn't know what to expect from the hick town or her outspoken grandma.  All she knows is that is going to be an unusual year like nothing she's ever known before.

This sequel to the Newbery Medal book A Long Way From Chicago shares a year in the life of sixteen year old Mary Alice in a small southern Illinois town.  The stories are full of hometown characters and humor.  Grandma Dowdel is a woman unlike anybody else and one that you definitely want to get to know.  The audio version would be great for a family car trip.

Colorful Stories for Preschoolers

One thing that every child needs to know before starting school is their colors.  So this week I'm sharing some of my favorite pictures books about colors . . . .

Bear Sees Colors by Karma Wilson
While taking a walk with Mouse, Bear meets many other friends and sees colors everywhere.

The Black Book of Colors by Merena Cottin
 This title invites readers to imagine living without sight through remarkable illustrations done with raised lines and descriptions of colors based on imagery. Braille letters accompany the illustrations and a full Braille alphabet offers sighted readers help reading along with their fingers.

Warthogs Paint: A Messy Color Book by Pamela Duncan Edwards
As some warthogs spend a rainy day painting their kitchen, they make a mess and learn about mixing colors.

Press Here by Herve Tullet
Instructs the reader on how to interact with the illustrations to manipulate yellow, blue, and red dots.

Vincent Paints His House by Tedd Arnold
In this playful picture book homage to artist Vincent van Gogh, a house gets a brilliantly colorful paint job.


More Books --
April Wilson's Magpie Magic: A Tale of Colorful Mischief by April Wilson
Baby Shoes by Dashka Slater
The Black and White Factory by Eric Telchin
Blue Chameleon by Emily Gravett
Blue Goose by Nancy Tafuri
The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt
Dog's Colorful Day by Emma Dodd
Elmer by David McKee
Freight Train by Donald Crews
Hello, Red Fox by Eric Carle
I Like Black and White by Barbara Jean Hicks
I Know a Wee Piggy by Kim Norman
I Spy on the Farm by Edward Gibbs
It's an Orange Aardvark! by Michael Hall
Kitten Red, Yellow, Blue by Peter Catalanotto
Lemons Are Not Red by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Magic Colors by Patrick George
Mis Colores, I Mundo = My Colors, My World by Maya Christina Gonzalez
Ned's New Home by KEvin Tseng
Nighty-Night, Little Green Monster by Ed Emberley
A Penguin Story by Antoinette Portis
Pirate Nap: A Book of Colors by Danna Smith
Red: A Crayon's Story by Michael Hall
Red, Red, Red by Valeri Gorbachev
Red Sings from the Treetops: A Year in Colors by Joyce Sidman
The Wonders of the Color Wheel by Charles Ghigna

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through October 27, 2017.

Rebel Mechanics by Shanna Swendson

It's 1888, and British magisters have always ruled the colonies of hte New World.  But now an underground society of mechanics, scientists, and engineers are developing non-magical sources of power.  With these steam engines and dynamos they hope to gain their freedom.

When Verity Newton arrives in New York and lands a job as a governess for a leading magister family, she quickly learns they have some big secrets.  Why does it seem that the children's young uncle is sympathetic to the Rebel Mechanics cause?  And why does he come home battered and bloody so often?

As Charity falls for a Rebel inventor and agrees to become a spy against the magisters, she also becomes more enmeshed in the magister family's life.  She soon realizes she's in a unique position to help the rebellion -- but to do so she'll have to reveal her dangerous secret . . .


This is the first book in the Rebel Mechanics series by Shanna Swendson.  It is a great alternate history story that incorporates both magic and steampunk.  The characters are interesting and draw you into the story.  I would highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys historical fiction, romance, fantasy, or steampunk.

Laugh Out Loud

Sometimes we just need a good laugh.  So this week, I'm sharing some of my favorite funny teen books . . . .

Dealing With Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede
Bored with traditional palace life, a princess goes off to live with a group of dragons and soon becomes involved with fighting against some disreputable wizards who want to steal away the dragons' kingdom.

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
When a plane crash strands thirteen teen beauty contestants on a mysterious island, they struggle to survive, to get along with one another, to combat the island's other diabolical occupants, and to learn their dance numbers in case they are rescued in time for the competition.

Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick by Joe Schrieber
Perry's parents insist that he take Gobi, their Lithuanian exchange student, to senior prom but after an incident at the dance he learns that Gobi is actually an assassin who needs him as a henchman on a mission in Manhattan.

There Is No Dog by Meg Rosoff
When the beautiful Lucy prays to fall in love, God, an irresponsible youth named Bob, chooses to answer her prayer personally, to the dismay of this assistant, Mr. B who must try to clean up the resulting catastrophes.

My Most Excellent Year: A Novel of Love, Mary Poppins & Fenway Park by Steve Kluger
Three teenagers in Boston narrate their experiences of a year of new friendships, first loves, and coming into their own.


More Funny Books --
An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway
The Boy Recession by Flynn Meaney
Boys Don't Knit (In Public) by T.S. Easton
Evil Librarian by Michelle Knudsen
Fat Kid Rules the World by K.L. Going
Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith
I Woke Up Dead at the Mall by Judy Sheehan
Noggin by John Corey Whaley
Openly Straight by Bill Konigsberg
Seriously Wicked by Tina Connolly
Soul Enchilada by David Gill
Thieving Weasels by Billy Taylor
Three Clams and an Oyster by Randy Powell
The Vigilante Poets of Selwyn Academy by Kate Hattemer
We Are All Made of Molecules by Susin Nielsen

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through October 13, 2017.

Go on an Adventure . . . with a Book

This week, I'm sharing some of my favorite adventure chapter books with you . . . .

Jack the Castaway by Lisa Doan
Upon the death of his Aunt Julia, twelve-year-old Jack is whisked by his scheming and dreaming parents from Pennsylvania to a small Caribbean island, Compano, and soon finds himself alone on a deserted island.

Thomas and the Dragon Queen by Shutta Crum
When the princess is kidnapped by a dragon queen, thirteen-year-old Thomas, a new--and very small--squire-in-training boldly sets out on a quest to rescue her.

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
Gen flaunts his ingenuity as a thief and relishes the adventure which takes him to a remote temple of the gods where he will attempt to steal a precious stone.

Ms. Rapscott's Girls by Elisa Primavera
At Great Rapscott School for Girls of Busy Parents, Ms. Rapscott teaches her students How to Get Lost on Purpose, resulting in a series of fantastical adventures that makes each learn a little something about courage, strength, bravery, and teamwork.


More Adventure Tales --
The Adventures of Henry Whiskers by Gigi Priebe
Finding Serendipity by Angelica Banks
Holly Farb and the Princess of the Galaxy by Gareth Wronski
The Inquisitor's Tale by Adam Gidwith
The Jolly Regina by Kara LqaReau
The Magic Mirror by Susan Hill
The Magical Misadventures of Prunella Bogthistle by Deva Fagan
My Near-Death Adventures (99% True) by Alison DeCamp
Nuts to You by Lynne Rae Perkins
Sweet Home Alaska by Carole Etsby Dagg
The Unexpected Life of Oliver Cromwell Pitts by Avi
The Voyage to Magical North by Claire Fayers
Walking with the Dead by L.M. Falcone

Check these books out of display at the Arnold Branch through October 6, 2017.

The Teacher's Funeral: A Comedy in Three Parts by Richard Peck

Russell Culver, 15 years old, is raring to light out for the Dakotas to join one of the team of harvesters working the new 1904 all-steel Case Special threshing machine.  The only thing standing in his way is school.

Lucky for him, his teacher just dropped dead weeks before the start of school.  Hopefully, the school board will decide there aren't enough students to hire another teacher and keep the school open.

No such luck.  Russell and his schoolmates are about to get the teacher of their nightmares -- Russell's sister Tansy.

Despite stolen supplies, vandalism, privy fires, and snakes, Russell discovers the new school year isn't as bad as he first thought.  In fact, it might just give him a new dream.



This is another great historical book from Richard Peck looking at rural Indiana in 1904.  Readers will enjoy hearing how people thought differently about education years ago.  This would be a great book for boys to read.

What Shall I Wear Today?

Kids love to pick out their outfit to wear for day -- whether fancy clothes, play clothes, or a costume.  Here are some of my favorite picture books about clothes and getting dressed . . . .

Dog in Boots by Greg Gormley
After reading "Puss in Boots," an adventurous dog sets out to find the perfect pair of shoes to suit his every need.

Cat Knit by Jacob Grant
Cat struggles to adjust and find a way to overcome his disappointment when his best friend, Yarn, is transformed into an itchy, stuffy sweater that Cat initially despises.

This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen
A little fish thinks he can get away with stealing a hat.

Chamelia by Ethan Long
Chamelia loves to stand out and often wears outrageous outfits, but eventually she learns to shine in other ways.

Farmer Brown Shears His Sheep by Teri Sloat
Farmer Brown shears his sheep and has their wool made into yarn, but after they beg to have it back he knits the yarn into sweaters for them.


More Books --
Aliens Love Dinopants by Claire Freedman
Bear in Underwear by Todd Doodler
Bing, Get Dressed by Ted Dewan
Bridget's Beret by Tom Lichtenheld
Buy My Hats by Dave Horowitz
Centipede's 100 Shoes by Tony Ross
Clothesline Clues to Jobs People Do by Kathryn Heling
The Day We Danced in Underpants by Sarah Wilson
Duck Sock Hop by Jane Kohuth
Ducks Don't Wear Socks by John Nedwedik
The Emperor's New Clothes by Demi
Finders Keepers by Keiko Kasza
Flip Flop Bop by Matt Novak
Fruits in Suits by Jared Chapman
Grandpa's Overalls by Tony Crunk
Have You Seen My New Blue Socks? by Eve Bunting
Hello, Sun! by Dayle Ann Dodds
Hooray for Hat by Brian Won
I Love My Hat by Douglas Florian
I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback
King Bob's New Clothes by Dom DeLuise
Lamby Lamb by Chris Raschka
Lucille's Snowsuit by Kathryn Lasky
Maggie and Michael Get Dressed by Denise Fleming
The Magic Hat by Mem Fox
The Missing Mitten Mystery by Steven Kellogg
My Grandfather's Coat by Jim Aylesworth
Naked! by Michael Ian Black
Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Wilems
The Orange Shoes by Trinka Hakes Noble
The Skeleton in the Closet by Alice Schertle
Which Hat Is That? by Anna Grossnickle Hines

Check these and more books out on display at the Arnold Branch through September 29, 2017.

When the Past Is Missing . . .

This week I'm sharing teen books featuring characters who have lost their memories.  Here are a few of my favorites . . . .

As I Wait by Elizabeth Scott
Seventeen-year-old Ava awakens with amnesia and a feeling that something is wrong with her life, her mother, and her friends but when the mysterious Morgan appears, her flashbacks of life as a spy for a shady government agency begin to make sense.

Survival Colony 9 by Joshua David Bellin
Querry Genn, a member of one of the last human survivor groups following global war, is targeted by the monstrous Skaldi, although Querry has no memory of why.

Being Henry David by Cal Armistead
Seventeen-year-old 'Hank,' who can't remember his identity, finds himself in Penn Station with a copy of Thoreau's Walden as his only possession and must figure out where he's from and why he ran away.

Stolen by Vivian Vande Velde
A girl finds herself running through the forest at the edge of a village with no memory of anything, even her own name, and later learns that she might be twelve-year-old Isabelle, believed to be stolen by a witch six years before.


More Books --
The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary PEarson
Asking for It by Louise O'Neill
Black River Falls by Jeff Hirsch
Complicit by Stephanie Kuehn
The Cuckoo Song by Frances Hardinge
The Dead I Know by Scott Gardner
Don't Look Back by Jennifer Armentrout
Don't Turn Around by Michelle Gagnon
Forgotten: A Novel by Cat Patrick
The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die by April Henry
I Am the Cheese by Robert Cormer
The Inventor's Secret by Andrea Cremer
The Last Thing I Remember by Andrew Klavan
Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin
The Program by Suzanne Young
Purple Heart by Patricia McCormick
White Cat by Holly Black


Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through September 22, 2017.

The Whole Thing Together by Ann Brashares

Sasha and Ray have shared many things in their lives -- a job, a bedroom, and their family.  The one thing they's never shared is a meeting between the two of them.

Ray's mother and Sasha's father were married for years before going through a very acrimonious divorce.  They can't even bring themselves to be in the same room for the sake of their three daughters.

So Sasha and Ray have never met . . . although they feel as if they know each other.  They share a bedroom at their vacation house that neither parent would give up.  Instead they share the house with each family taking it every other week.

But this summer, everything changes.  This summer, they'll have to meet and try to get along . . . .


Ann Brashares has written another great novel for teens.  I was reminded of her popular Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series by how the book quickly grabbed the reader and drew them into the characters' lives.  I would definitely recommend this to anyone who has enjoyed Ann Brashares' previous books as well as fans of Sarah Dessen and Jennifer E. Smith.

Show Me Missouri

This week, I'm sharing some great children's chapter books set in Missouri . . . .

Grounded by Kate Klise
After her father, brother, and sister are killed in a plane crash, twelve-year-old Daralynn's life in tiny Digginsville, Missouri, proceeds as her mother turns angry and embittered, her grandmother becomes senile, and her flamboyant aunt continues to run the Summer Sunset Retirement Home for Distinguished Gentlemen, while being courted by the owner of the town's new crematorium.

A Friendship for Today by Patricia McKissack
In 1954, when desegregation comes to Kirkland, Missouri, ten-year-old Rosemary faces many changes and challenges at school and at home as her parents separate.

The Boneshaker by Kate Milford
When Jake Limberleg brings his traveling medicine show to a small Missouri town in 1913, thirteen-year-old Natalie senses that something is wrong and, after investigating, learns that her love of automata and other machines make her the only one who can set things right.


More Missouri Fiction --
The Actual & Truthful Adventures of Becky Thatcher by Jessica Lawson
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
Crows & Cards: A Novel by Joseph Helgerson
Homesick by Kate Klise
I Tell a Lie Every So Often by Bruce Clements
Keeping Secrets by Joan Lowery Nixon
Little House on Rocky Ridge by Robert MacBride
The Man Who Loved Clowns by June Rae Wood
The Song of the Molimo by Jane Cutler
Tackling Tires by Joe Lawson
The Year We Sailed the Sun by Theresa Nelson

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through September 15, 2017.

Missing!

This week, I'm sharing some teen books featuring missing kids.  Here's some of my favorites . . . .

Emily's Dress and Other Missing Things by Kate Burak
A new girl in Amherst, Massachusetts, comes to terms with her mother's suicide and her best friend's disappearance with the help of Emily Dickinson's poetry--and her dress.

Far Far Away by Tom McNeal
When Jeremy Johnson Johnson's strange ability to speak to the ghost of Jacob Grimm draws the interest of his classmate Ginger Boltinghouse, the two find themselves at the center of a series of disappearances in their hometown.

Shift by Jennifer Bradbury
When best friends Chris and Win go on a cross country bicycle trek the summer after graduating and only one returns, the FBI wants to know what happened.

Last Seen Leaving by Caleb Roehrig
Flynn's girlfriend is missing, and people are suspecting him of knowing something, so he struggles to uncover her secrets as he must also face the truth about himself.


More Stories of the Missing --
At the Edge of the Universe by Shaun David Hutchinson
The Apple Tart of Hope by Sarah Moore Fitzgerald
The Body of Christopher Creed by Carol Plum-Ucci
Crossing Montana by Laura Torres
The Leaf Reader by Emily Arsenault
The May Queen Murders by Sarah Jude
The Missing Girl by Norma Fox Mazer
The Mystery of Hollow Places by Rebecca Podos
The Night She Disappeared by April Henry
Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr
Panic by Sharon Draper
Period 8 by Chris Crutcher
Pretending to Be Erica by Michelle Painchaud
She Is Not Invisible by Marcus Sedgwick
Skink No Surrender by Carl Hiaasen
Wherever Nina Lies by Lynn Weingarten

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through September 1, 2017.

The Best Kind of Magic by Crystal Cestari

Amber Sands comes from a long line of hereditary witches.  Unfortunately, she didn't inherit her mother's powers.  Instead she got the power of matchmaking.

Any time she looks into someone's eyes for a few seconds she gets a picture of their true love.

Then the mayor's son Charlie Blitzman asks for her help.  His father's girlfriend has gone missing and Charlie thinks there is something wrong with her.

Charlie is great and Amber finds herself falling for him.  It's the first time she's fallen in love.  The only problem is that she's seen his true love . . . and it isn't her!


This is a fun supernatural romance tied up with a mystery.  The characters quickly draw you into their lives and stories.  The best part is that this is the first book of a planned series so there are more adventures coming for Amber.

School Tales

Summer is nearly over.  Students are starting to head to school - either for the first time or returning to next grade.  This is the perfect time to share some great school stories with your child --

My Teacher Is a Monster! (No I'm Not) by Peter Brown
Bobby thinks his teacher, Ms. Kirby, is horrible, but when he sees her outside of school and they spend a day in the park together, he discovers she might not be so bad after all.

Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
Chrysanthemum loves her name, until she starts going to school and the other children make fun of it.

I'm Smart! by Kate McMullan
Depicts a super-smart school bus that uses its savvy to navigate the roads in super-safe ways while transporting kids to and from school.

Moses Goes to School by Isaac Millman
Moses and his friends enjoy the first day of school at their special school for the deaf and hard of hearing, where they use sign language to talk to each other.

Snow Day! by Lester Laminack
Someone is very, very excited about the possibility of missing school due to snow, and plans a whole day of sledding, building forts, reading, and sipping hot chocolate rather than going to school for that test on chapter ten.


More School Stories --
Ally-Saurus and the First Day of School by Richard Torrey
A Fine, Fine School by Sharon Creech
Hands Off, Harry! by Rosemary Wells
Hooway for Wodnay Wat by Helen Lester
I Am Not Going to School Today by Robie Harris
I'm Not Ready! by Jonathan Allen
If an Elephant Went to School by Ellen Fischer
Jack's Talent by Maryann Cocca-Leffler
Little Rabbit Goes to School by Harry  Horse
The Little School Bus by Margery Cuyler
Llama Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney
Miss Malarkey Leaves No Reader Behind by Judy Finchler
Miss Nelson Is Missing! by Harry Allard
Mr. President Goes to School by Rick Walton
Mrs. Watson Wants Your Teeth by Alison McGhee
My Creature Teacher by Laura Leuck
My First Day at a New School by Charlotte Guillain
Once Upon an Ordinary School Day by Colin McNaughton
Peanut Butter & Homework Sandwiches by Lisa Cook
A Very Full Morning by Eva Montanari
We Share Everything! by Robert Munsch
Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes
When You Go to Kindergarten by James Howe
You Can't Go to School Naked! by Dianne Billstrom


Check these and more school stories out at the Arnold Branch on display through September 8, 2017.