My Life With the Walter Boys by Ali Novak

After her family is killed in a car accident, Jackie moves from New York City to rural Colorado to live with her mother's best friend and family.  It's complete culture shock made worse by the fact that there are 12 children in the Walter family -- all boys.


This is basically a love triangle story.  While there is a lot of grief over the loss of her family, most of Jackie's time is consumed with how to deal with the two brothers that want to date her. 

This was a novel written by a 15-year-old on Wattpad that eventually was published.

Best Books of 2018 - Picture Books

This week, I am sharing some of what we consider the best picture books of 2018.  Here are a few of my favorites from this past year . . .

The Wall in the Middle of the Book by Jon Agee
A knight who feels secure on his side of the wall that divides his book discovers that his side is not as safe as he thought, and the other side is not as threatening.

I'm Sad by Michael Ian Black
Flamingo learns that it is okay to be sad sometimes and that her friends, the little girl and Potato, will stand by her no matter how she feels.

Do You Believe in Unicorns? by Bethanie Murguia
Is it a unicorn or a horse in a hat? It's up to readers to decide!

Honey by David Ezra Stein
A young bear wakes from hibernation craving honey, but soon recalls the many things he can enjoy while waiting for his favorite food to be ready.


More Best Picture Books --
And There Was Evening and There Was Morning by Harriet Cohen Helfrand
Dog on a Digger by Kate Prendergast
Grow Up, David! by David Shannon
Hello Hello by Brendan Wenzel
How to Code a Sandcastle by Josh Funk
I Really Want to See You Grandma by Taro Gomi
Let the Children March by Monica Clark-Robinson
Love by Matt de la Pena
Misunderstood Shark by Ame Dyckman
Niblet and Ralph by Zacharia Ohora
Night Train, Night Train by Robert Burleigh
People Don't Bite People by Lisa Wheeler
Sloth at the Zoom by Helaine Becker
Twig by Aura Parker
The Visitor by Antje Damm
When Sophie Thinks She Can't . . . by Molly Bang

Winter Is Here by Kevin Henkes

Check these and more books out on display at the Arnold Branch through January 11, 2019.

Devils Within by S.F. Henson

Nate was 8 years old the first time he stabbed someone.  

He was 11 years old when he earned his red laces for spilling blood for his father's "cause".  

He was 14 years old when he murdered his father, the leader of the white supremacist group The Fort.  

Nearly two years later, he's being sent to live with his uncle who hates him in a town that ignores him.  

Then he meets Brandon, a person The Fort taught Nate to hate on sight.  

Brandon can never know Nate's past . . .

While this is a difficult book to read it is also a very well written book that draws you into the story and into caring for Nate.  This is a book that looks at hate and how it is indoctrinated into people without their even realizing it.  I would recommend this to teens looking for a realistic and gritty book that is also about redemption.

Suffer Love by Ashley Herring Blake

Hadley's life has been in turmoil ever since it was discovered that her father had been having an affair.  

They moved to a new town.  

Her mother has withdrawn.  

Her father is constantly trying to reconnect with Hadley.  

Then she meets Sam.  

He seems to get her -- her grief, her sorrow, and her anger.  

Hadley begins to fall in love with Sam.  

However, Sam has a secret that he hasn't told her . . .

This is a great story about how a single incident can change the lives of many people.  It's also a great story of forgiveness and hope.  I would recommend this to teens who enjoy Sarah Dessen, Jennifer E. Smith, or Morgan Matson.

Old MacDonald Had a Farm

This week, I'm sharing some of my favorite farm picture book stories for kids . . . .

I Spy on the Farm by Edward Gibbs
An interactive introduction to farm animals invites youngsters to make animal noises and practice color and letter recognition while peeping through a spy hole on every page and observing clues to guess which animal will be revealed next in the story.

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

Aunt Minnie and the Twister by Mary Skillings Prigger
After a tornado rearranges their Kansas house, Aunt Minnie and the nine nieces and nephews living with her add on a much-needed new room.

Chicken, Chicken, Duck by Nadia Krilanovich
Easy-to-read, rhythmic text about a group of farm animals, led by a tenacious duck, who play a noisy game together.

Farmer Duck by Martin Waddell
When a kind and hardworking duck nearly collapses from overwork, while taking care of a farm because the owner is too lazy to do so, the rest of the animals get together and chase the farmer out of town.


More Farm Stories --
Click, Clack, Moo! Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin
Cock-A-Doodle-Bop! by Michael Ian Black
Cow Loves Cookies by Karma Wilson
Cows to the Rescue by John Himmelman
Desert Rose and Her Highfalutin' Hog by Alison Jackson
Down by the Barn by Will Hillenbrand
Duck on a Tractor by David Shannon
Farm Flu by Teresa Bateman
A Farmer Boy Birthday by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Farmer Brown Goes Round and Round by Teri Sloat
Grandpa's Tractor by Michael Garland
Henry's Stars by David Elliott
The House That Zach Built by Alison Murray
Old MacDonald Had a Farm by Gus Grimly
Peep and Egg: I'm Not Hatching by Laura Gehl
The Pickle Patch Bathtub by Frances Kennedy
Princess Pig by Eileen Spinelli
Ragweed's Farm Dog Handbook by Anne Kennedy
Serious Farm by Tim Egan
The Sheep Who Hatched an Egg by Gemma Merino
Stanley the Farmer by William Bee
Three Hens and a Peacock by Lester Laminack
Wake Up, Big Barn! by Suzanne Chitwood
Who Will Tuck Me In? by Carol Roth

Check these and more farm books out at the Arnold Branch!

Read If You Dare: Teen Horror Stories

Last week, I shared chapter book ghost stories.  This week, I think I'll share some of my favorite teen horror books . . . .

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.

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.

Prom Dates from Hell by Rosemary Clement-Moore
High school senior and yearbook photographer Maggie thought she would rather die than go to prom, but when a classmate summons a revenge-seeking demon, she has no choice but to buy herself a dress and prepare to face jocks, cheerleaders, and Evil Incarnate.


More Teen Horror Books --
Alone by Cyn Balog
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke
The Cemetery Boys by Heather Brewer
City of the Dead by Sharon Stewart
Dr. Frankenstein's Daughters by Suzanne Weyn
Eat, Brains, Love by Jeff Hirsch
The End Games by T. Michael Martin
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
The Girl from the Well by Rin Chupeco
The House by Christina Lauren
Long Lankin by Lindsey Barraclough
The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd
A Midsummer Night's Scream by R.L. Stine
The Sacrifice Box by Martin Stewart
Slasher Girls & Monster Boys by April Genevieve Tucholke
This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers
The Waking: Dreams of the Dead by Thomas Randall
The Wrong Train by Jeremy de Quidt

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through December 7, 2018.

Windfall by Jennifer E. Smith

Alice has been best friends with Teddy and Leo for the past nine years -- ever since she came to live in Chicago after her parents' deaths.  For the past four years, she's been in love with Teddy.  She's been too scared to let anyone know about this -- not even Teddy. 

Then for Teddy's 18th birthday, Alice buys him a lottery ticket that changes all of their lives.





This is a great rags to riches story that focuses more on the effects of the lottery win to the people in the winner's life than to the winner itself.  I would highly recommend this book to fans of Jennifer E. Smith, Sarah Dessen, and Morgan Matson.

Ghost Stories

The Great Ghost Rescue by Eva Ibbotson
A young English boy decides to establish a sanctuary for an assortment of ghosts when the homes they have haunted are replaced by highways and other modern "improvements."

Ghost Knight by Cornelia Funke
Eleven-year-old Jon Whitcroft and new friend Ella summon the ghost of Sir William Longspee, who may be able to protect Jon from a group of ghosts that threatens him harm from the day he arrives at Salisbury Cathedral's boarding school.

The Dollhouse Murders by Betty Ren Wright
A dollhouse filled with a ghostly light in the middle of the night and dolls that have moved from where she last left them lead Amy and her sister to unravel the mystery surrounding grisly murders that took place years ago.


More Ghost Stories --
Constable & Toop by Gareth P. Jones
The Ghost by the Sea by Eileen Dunlop
Ghost Town: Seen Ghostly Stories by Joan Lower Nixon
The Ghost's Grave by Peg Kehret
The Hanging Hill by Chris Grabenstein
Haunted Houses by Robert San Souci
A Properly Unhaunted Place by William Alexander
School of the Dead by Avi
Seven Dead Pirates by Linda Bailey
Sweet Miss Honeywell's Revenge by Kathryn Reiss
Thornhill by Pam Smy

 Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through November 30, 2018.

Royals by Rachel Hawkins

Daisy has never wanted to be in the spotlight.  She leaves that to her older sister Ellie.

However, when Ellie becomes engaged to the prince of Scotland, Daisy's life turns upside down.

When Daisy's ex-boyfriend gives an interview about Daisy to the tabloids, she is summoned to Scotland for the summer so the palace can control her image.

The only problem is that the prince's brother and his friends keep getting her thrust into the spotlight over and over and over.

This was a fun, light-hearted story that was quick and easy to read.  It's perfect for those who enjoy learning about the British royals.  I would recommend this to fans of romance, gossip, and all things Scottish.

Not If I Save You First by Ally Carter

Maddie thought she would be best friends with Logan forever.  That is until her decides to move her to Alaska with no warning. 

It's been six years without one word from Logan -- even though she wrote him every day for two years. 

She accepted that he no longer wanted to be friends. 
She accepted that her life only includes two people -- herself and her dad.
She accepted that she'll always be alone.

Then Logan shows up on her front step and he's brought trouble with him. 

Now they're trying to survive kidnappers and a wild Alaskan blizzard in the woods.  Will they make it through alive or will Maddie end up killing Logan?

This is a great stand-alone book by the author of the Gallagher Girls, Heist Society, and Embassy Row series.  I would highly recommend it to those who enjoy survival stories as well as those who like romances.

It's Written in the Stars: A Teen Read Week Booklist

This year's Teen Read Week theme is "It's Written in the Stars" focusing on science fiction.  Here are a few of my favorite space-themed science fiction stories for teens . . . .

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.

Stitching Snow by R.C. Lewis

A futuristic retelling of Snow White in which seventeen-year-old Essie, a master at repairing robots and drones on the frozen mining planet Thanda, is pulled into a war by handsome and mysterious Dane after his shuttle crash-lands near her home.

Tin Star by Cecil Castelluci

Beaten and left for dead, fourteen-year-old Tula Bane finds herself abandoned on a space station called Yertina Feray after traveling with the colonist group, Children of the Earth.

More Books --Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Avalon by Mindee Arnett

The Cage by Megan Shepherd

A Confusion of Princes by Garth  Nix

Contagion by Erin Bowman

Dangerous by Shannon Hale

Defy the Stars by Claudia Gray

Dove Arising by Karen Bao

Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston

Honor Among Thieves by Rachel Caine & Ann Aguirre

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

Mars One by Jonathan Maberry

Nyxia by Scott Reintgen

Railhead by Philip Reeve

Satellite by Nick Lake

Spacer & Rat by Margaret Bechard

These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner

Vanguard by Ann Aguirre

What Goes Up by Katie Kennedy

 Zero Boxer by Fonda Lee

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through October 26, 2018.

Sweetness & Lightning series by Gido Amagakure

Teach Kouhei Inuzuka is doing the best he can since his wife died trying to raise his young daughter Tsumugi as a single father.  Unfortunately, he's a failure at cooking.  Then a chance encounter with one of his students Kotori brings him the opportunity to learn how to cook.  Now they're working together to figure out how to make delicious food for Tsumugi and themselves.

This is a slice-of-life manga series that would be enjoyed by those with an interest in cooking.  Each chapter includes a recipe of one of the dishes they attempted to cook in that chapter.

Dear Diary . . .

This week, I am sharing chapter books for children that feature a diary format.  Here are a few of my favorites . . . .

Little Wolf's Diary of Daring Deeds by Ian Whybrow
In letters home to Mom and Dad, Little Wolf describes his journey to rescue his little brother, Smellybreff, from a crafty cubnapper, Mister Twister the Fox.

This Would Make a Good Story Someday by Dana Alison Levy
Sara's summer plans are upended by a surprise cross-country train trip with her moms, her sisters, and her sister's boyfriend, an adventure shaped by a group of Texans, the diverse landscape, and her mom's book about the journey.

Diary of a Fairy Godmother by Esme Raji Codell
Hunky Dory is an unconventional witch who would rather grant wishes than cast spells which gets her kicked out of charm school; so Hunky sets out to become the best fairy godmother she can be.


More Books --
After Iris by Natasha Farrant
The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips by Michael Morpurgo
Cat Diaries by Betsy Byars
Diary of a Mad Brownie by Bruce Coville
Diary of a Monster's Son by Ellen Conford
Eliza's Freedom Road by Jerdine Nolan
My Diary From the Edge of the World by Jodi Lynn Anderson
My Explosive Diary by Emily Gale
North by Night by Katherine Ayres
Notes from a Totally Lame Vampire by Tim Collins
Stowaway by Karen Hesse
This Journal Belongs to Ratchet by Nancy J. Cavanaugh

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through October 19, 2018.

Rhyme Time

Children love rhyming books.  They love the word play and guessing what word will come next. 
This week, I'm sharing some of my favorite rhyming picture books . . . . .

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.

Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas
As three dust bunnies, Ed, Ned, and Ted, are demonstrating how much they love to rhyme, a fourth, Bob, is trying to warn them of approaching danger.

Chicken in the Kitchen by Tony Johnston
When a crazy chicken wreaks havoc in the kitchen there is just one thing to do--prepare a nest so that she will settle down.

If You're Hoppy by April Pulley Sayre
In rhyming text reminiscent of the traditional song, "If you're happy and you know it," presents various animals that are hoppy, sloppy, growly, flappy, or slimy, scaly and mean.

A Boy and His Bunny by Sean Bryan
One morning, a boy wakes up with a rabbit on his head and, although his mother is skeptical, he soon discovers that he can be fed, ride a bobsled, and even look cool with a rabbit on his head.


More Rhyming Books --
All in a Day by Cynthia Rylant
Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain by Verna Aardema
Clap Your Hands by Lorina Bryan Cauley
The Completed Hickory Dickory Dock by Jim Aylesworth
The Curious Cares of Bears by Douglas Florian
Do You Know Which Ones Will Grow? by Susan A. Shea
A Dog Needs a Bone by Audrey Wood
Duddle Puck: The Puddle Duck by Karma Wilson
Falling for Rapunzel by Leah Wilcox
The Farmer's Away! Baa! Neigh! by Anne Vittur Kennedy
Flip Flop Bop by Matt Novak
Go, Go, Grapes! A Fruit Chant by April Pulley Sayre
Good Night Pillow Fight by Sally Cook
The Great Dog Wash by Shellie Braeuner
Happy Bees by Arthur Yorinks
Hop, Hop, Jump! by Lauren Thompson
Leaf Jumpers by Carole Gerber
Mice by Rose Fyleman
Nanette's Baguette by Mo Willems
One Big Pair of Underwear by Laura Gehl
One Two That's My Shoe! by Alison Murray
Pigs Aplenty, Pigs Galore by David McPhail
A Plane Goes Ka-Zoom by Jonathan London
Roadwork by Sally Sutton
Snowbots by Aaron Reynolds
Some Bugs by Angela DeTerlizzi
Toys Galore by Peter Stein
Two at the Zoo by Danna Smith
Very Boring Alligator by Jean Gralley
What the Baby Hears by Laura Godwin
When Cows Come Home by David L. Harrison
Wiggle by Doreen Cronin
Wombat Walkabout by Carol Diggory Shields

Check these and more rhyming books out on display at the Arnold Branch through October 12, 2018.

Barakamon series by Satsuki Yoshino

Seishuu Handa is a young calligrapher who moves himself to an isolated, rural island to focus on his work.  Unfortunately, the local residents are not letting him do that.  The head chief constantly interrupts him to talk as does the school headmaster.  But the worst is the young girl Naru who believes his house is her base of play.

While the main character Handa is 23 years old, he comes across as a teenager in his awkwardness in dealing with other people.  He wants to be alone to focus on his work and yet keeps getting involved in the his neighbors.  I would recommend this manga series for older teens in interest.

Diversity in Teen Fiction

This week, I'm highlighting teen fiction that features diverse characters . . . .

Iron Cast by Destiny Soria
In 1919 Boston, best friends Corinne and Ada perform illegally as illusionists in an infamous gangster's nightclub, using their "afflicted" blood to con Boston's elite, until the law closes in.

Saints and Misfits by S.K. Ali
Fifteen-year-old Janna Yusuf, a Flannery O'Connor-obsessed book nerd and the daughter of the only divorced mother at their mosque, tries to make sense of the events that follow when her best friend's cousin--a holy star in the Muslim community--attempts to assault her at the end of sophomore year.

Little & Lion by Brandy Colbert
Suzette returns home to Los Angeles from boarding school and grapples with her bisexual identity when she and her brother Lionel fall in love with the same girl, pushing Lionel's bipolar disorder to spin out of control and forcing Suzette to confront her own demons

You're Welcome, Universe by Whitney Gardner
When Julia finds a slur about her best friend scrawled across the back of the Kingston School for the Deaf, she covers it up with a beautiful (albeit illegal) graffiti mural.


More Diverse Teen Fiction --
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
American Panda by Gloria Chao
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Saenz
The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan
The Belles by Dhonielle J. Clayton
Down and Across: A Novel by Arvin Ahmadi
Dumplin' by Julie Murphy
Forged by Fire by Sharon M. Draper
The Game of Love and Death by Martha Brockenbrough
A Girl Like That by Tanaz Bhathena
Gobi, A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova
Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork
Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany Jackson
More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera
Shadowshaper by Daniel Jose Older
A Thousand Beginnings and Endings by Ellen Oh
When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through October 5, 2018.

Spend Some Time in Nature

This week, I am sharing some children's chapter books featuring stories about nature.  Here are a few of my favorites . . . .

Night of the Howling Dogs by Graham Salisbury
In 1975, eleven Boy Scouts, their leaders, and some new friends camping at Halape, Hawaii, find their survival skills put to the test when a massive earthquake strikes, followed by a tsunami.

Gone Fishing: A Novel in Verse by Tamera Will Wissinger
In this novel told through poems, nine-year-old Sam loves fishing with his dad, so when his pesky little sister horns in on their fishing trip, he is none too pleased. Includes primer on rhyme, poetry techniques, rhythm, stanzas, and poetic forms.

The Terrible Two Go Wild by Mac Barnett
School's out, and Miles and Niles are running wild in the woods outside town: climbing trees, exploring caves, and, yes, pranking. But these leafy, lazy days of mischief darken when bully Josh Barkin and his cadets from a nearby kids' boot camp discover the merrymakers--and vow to destroy them.

A Week in the Woods by Andrew Clements
The fifth grade's annual camping trip in the woods tests Mark's survival skills and his ability to relate to a teacher who seems out to get him.


More Books --
Alvin Ho: Allergic to Camping, Hiking and Other Natural Disasters by Lenore Look
Bartleby of the Mighty Mississippi by Phyllis Shalant
Bongo Fishing by Thacher Hurd
Brian's Hunt by Gary Paulson
Emma Dilemma and the Camping Nanny by Patricia Hermes
Gone Camping: A Novel in Verse by Tamera Will Wissinger
The Green Dog: A Mostly True Story by Suzanne Fisher Staples
Henry and Ribsy by Beverly Cleary
The Island by Gary Paulsen
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
Sammy Keyes and the Wild Things by Wendelin VanDraanen
Tree Castle Island by Jean Craighead George
The Wild Bunch by Jan Gangsei

Check out these books on display at the Arnold Branch through September 28, 2018.

Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Five year old Laura Ingalls lives in the big woods of Minnesota with her Pa, Ma, older sister Mary, and baby Carrie.  Over the course of a year, we learn about her traditional farm life.  Laura and Mary spend their time helping Ma with the chores, listening to Pa tell them stories, and playing. 

This is the first book in the Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder.  Considered a classic, this audiobook version narrated by Cherry Jones is a great listen for children of all ages.

Learning Concepts for Young Children

This month during story time, we have been reviewing various learning concepts (alphabet, counting, colors, opposites, etc.) in preparation for the start of school.  So this week, I am sharing some great picture books that teach various learning concepts.  Here are a few of my favorites . . . .

Bear in a Square by Stella Blackstone
With a big friendly bear as a guide, you can find shapes hidden on each page.

Fish Eyes: A Book You Can Count On by Lois Ehlert
A counting book depicting the colorful fish a child might see if he turned into a fish himself.

Dog's Colorful Day by Emma Dodds
A colorful story of a sloppy dog with one black spot on his ear at the beginning of the day, and 10 spots of various colors by the end of the day.

Old Black Fly by Jim Aylesworth
Rhyming text and illustrations follow a mischievous old black fly through the alphabet as he has a very busy bad day landing where he should not be.

Shout! Shout It Out! by Denise Fleming
Mouse invites the reader to shout out what he or she knows as they review numbers, letters, and easy words.


More Learning Concept Books --
1 Zany Zoo by Lori Degman
10 Hungry Rabbits by Anita Lobel
26 Letters and 99 Cents by Tana Hoban
ABC Dreams by Kim Krans
Big Bear, Small Mouse by Karma Wilson
Black Book of Colors by Menena Cottin
Can You Count to Ten? Count to 10 in 10 Different Languages by Lezlie Evans
Circle, Square, Moose by Kelly Bingham
Counting Crows by Kathi Appelt
Friendshape by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Goodnight, Numbers! by Danica McKellar
The Handmade Alphabet by Laura Rankin
I Like Black and White by Barbara Jean Hicks
Jeepers Creepers: A Monstrous ABC by Laura Leuck
Lemons Are Not Red by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Magic Opposites by Patrick George
Monkey Colors by Darrin Lunde
Mother Goose Numbers on the Loose by Leo & Diane Dillon
Mouse Shapes by Ellen Stoll Walsh
One Gorilla: A Counting Book by Anthony Browne
Pignic: An Alphabet Book in Rhyme by Anne Miranda
Pirate Nap: A Book of Colors by Danna Smith
Pomolo's Opposites by Ramona Badescu
Red Sings From the Treetops: A Year in Colors by Joyce Sidman
A Second Is a Hiccup: A Child's Book of Time by Hazel Hutchins
Shapes That Roll by Karen Nagel
Soup for One by Ethan Long
Sun Above, Blooms Below: A Springtime of Opposites by Relicia Chernesky
Telling Time by Jules Older
Vincent Paints His House by Tedd Arnold

Check these and more learning concept books out on display at the Arnold Branch through September 10, 2018.

Stink: The Incredible Shrinking Boy by Megan McDonald

Stink is the shortest person in his family.  He's the shortest kid in the second grade.  He's probably the shortest person in the whole world.  Then one day when he's measured, he's a quarter inch shorter.  Could he actually be shrinking?

This book is the first in a series about Judy Moody's younger brother Stink.  It is a great series of books for boys (and girls) ready for chapter books.  

As an added bonus, it is also available in an audiobook version narrated by Nancy Cartwright, voice of TV's Bart Simpson.

Go On an Adventure (With a Book)

This week, I'm sharing some great teen fiction adventure stories . . . .

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

Let's Get Lost by Adi Alsaid
A love-seeking mechanic, a dramatic petty thief, a disappointed planner, and a broken-hearted teen all find their lives transformed as each shares whirlwind adventures with a girl in an insanely red car.

Newt's Emerald by Garth Nix
After the Newington Emerald is stolen at the height of a conjured storm, eighteen-year-old Lady Truthful Newington goes to London, disguised as a man, to search for the magical heirloom of her house, and is soon caught up in a dangerous adventure where she must risk her life, her reputation, and her heart.

The Murderer's Ape by Jackob Wegelius
When her best friend, the sailor Henry Koskela, is falsely accused of murder, a gorilla named Sally Jones visits the run-down docks of Lisbon, embarks on a dizzying journey across the seven seas, and calls on the Maharaja of Bhapur's magnificent court--all in an attempt to clear Henry's name.


More Adventurous Books --
After the Snow by S.D. Crockett
Burning Midngiht by Will McIntosh
Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson
Heaven Eyes by David Almond
Hunted by Megan Spooner
The Lioness & Her Knight by Gerald Morris
Palace of Spies by Sarah Zettel
Paper Towns by John Green
The Prom Goer's Interstellar Excursion by Chris McCoy
The Reader by Traci Chee
Soundless by Richelle Mead
Starflight by Melissa Landers
Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee
Vango: Between the Sky and Earth by Timothee de Fombelle
Waste of Space by Gina Damico
Wild Blues by Beth Kephart

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through September 7, 2018.

This week, I'm sharing chapter books featuring pirates.  Here a few of my favorites . . .

Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry

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.

Shivers! The Pirate Who's Afraid of Everything! by Annabeth Bondor-Stone

Shivers, the pirate who's afraid of everything, battles a giant squid, discovers hidden treasures, and gets pooped on by a pigeon to save his parents from the clutches of evil.

Little Wolf: Terror of the Shivery Seas by Ian Whybrow

In a series of letters to his parents, Little Wolf tells of setting sail to find the lost treasure of his legendary ancestor, Blackfur the Pirate.

More Books --

Fish by Gregory Mone

The High-Skies Adventures of Blue Jay the Pirate by Scott Nash

Hook's Revenge by Heidi Schulz

The Lost Treasure of Little Snoring by Lyn Gardner

Magic Marks the Spot by Caroline Carlson

Misty Gordon and the Mystery of the Ghost Pirates by Kim Kennedy

Pirate Curse by Kai Meyer

The Pirate Pig by Cornelia Funke

The Pirates of Turtle Rock by Richard Jennings

Race to the Bottom of the Sea by Lindsay Eagar

Seven Dead Pirates: A Ghost Story by Linda Bailey

Tales of Pirates and Buccaneers by Howard Pyle

Uncle Pirate by Douglas Rees

The Unlikely Adventures of Mabel Jones by Will Mabbitt

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through August 31, 2018.

Fruits Basket Another by Natsuki Takaya

Sawa Mitoma keeps her head down and doesn't interact with anyone . . . until her first day of high school when she meets Mutsuki and Hajime of the Sohma family.  Now they're doing their best to open her up and include her in their crazy family activities.


This is the first book in a sequel series to the popular Fruits Basket manga.  It is great fun revisiting the high school from Fruits Basket and figuring out how the new Sohma characters are related to the original Fruits Basket characters.  A definite must read for those who liked the first series.

I Don't Want to Grow Up! Books About Childhood

This week, I'm sharing picture books about being a kid.  Here's a few of my favorites . . . .

I'm Bored by Michael Ian Black
When a bored girl meets a potato who finds children tedious, she tries to prove him wrong by demonstrating all of the things they can do, from turning cartwheels to using their imagination.

Not a Stick by Antoinette Portis
An imaginative young pig shows some of the many things that a stick can be.

Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein
Little Red Chicken wants Papa to read her a bedtime story, but interrupts him almost as soon as he begins each tale.

Me Want Pet! by Tammi Sauer
When Cave Boy wants a pet, he tries a woolly mammoth, a saber-toothed tiger, and a dodo bird, but none seems suitable.

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 the snowfall will amount to anything.


More Books --
Alligator Boy by Cynthia Rylant
Bigger! Bigger! by Leslie Patricelli
A Boy and His Bunny by Sean Bryan
The Boy Who Wouldn't Share by Mike Reiss
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems
Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Froggy Eats Out by Jonathan London
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
Horrible Bear by Ame Dyckman
I Can Do It Myself by Diane Adams
I Don't Want to Be Big by Dav Petty
I Lost My Bear by Jules Feiffer
If I Were a Jungle Animal by Amanda Ellery
Just a Mess by Mercer Mayer
Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems
Let's Do Nothing by Tony Fucile
Little Hoot by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Mustache Baby by Bridget Heos
My Cousin Momo by Zachariah Ohora
My Garden by Kevin Henkes
No, David! by David Shannon
Parts by Tedd Arnold
Peep and Egg: I'm Not Hatching by Laura Gehl
Puddles by Jonathan London
Rory the Dinosaur: Me and My Dad by Liz Climo
Snowball Fight by Jimmy Fallon
Templeton Makes a Wish by Greg Pizzoli
That's (Not) Mine! by Anna Kang
There's a Bear on My Chair by Ross Collins
Where's My T-R-U-C-K? by Karen Beaumont

Check these and more books about childhood out on display at the Arnold Branch through August 24, 2018.

The Leaving by Tara Altebrando

Eleven years ago, six kindergartners disappeared on the first day of school.
No one knows what happened to them.  The only clues were a man carrying wrapping paper and a comment one of the kids made that she was "going to the leaving".

Now, five of the kids have come back. 
They still don't know what happened as none of the kids have memories of their time away.  They were simply dropped off at a playground with maps to their homes.

Who took them?  Where have them been?  And where is the sixth kid?



This book's unusual incorporation of spacial blocking, imagery, and highlighted text add to the heightened sense of strangeness and mystery.  It's told from the point of view of two of the victims as well as the sister of the kids who never returned.  It's a great mystery for teens to read.

Summer Reading List for Teens

This week, I'm sharing some of my recommended teen books to read this summer . . .

The Whole Thing Together by Ann Brashares
On alternating weeks, Sasha and Ray vacation in the beach house their parents refused to give up after their divorce, but they never meet until one summer when their lives and those of their siblings intersect in ways none of them could have imagined.

Spontaneous by Aaron Starmer
When a number of Mara Carlyle's fellow high school students spontaneously combust, the FBI and a swarm of journalists descend upon her suburban New Jersey town in the search for answers.

The Button War by Avi
When World War I descends upon a tiny Polish village, seven boys launch their own deadly battle for the right to be crowned king of the land.

Away We Go by Emil Ostovski
Youths infected with the fatal Peter Pan Virus are sent to Westing Academy where Noah Falls pins his affections on a boy who does not reciprocate, and soon tarnishes his other relationships and increases his feelings of self-loathing.

Ship It by Britta Lundin
Told from two viewpoints, Forest, a television actor who needs more fans, and Claire, a teen fan fiction blogger, are teamed to raise his profile despite their disagreement over whether his character is gay.


More Books --
Bound by Blood and Sand by Becky Allen
Brightwood by Tania Unsworth
Bull by David Elliott
Down and Across: A Novel by Arvin Ahmadi
Hotel for the Lost by Suzanne Young
If You Don't Have Anything Nice to Say by Leila Sales
Julia Vanishes by Catherine Egan
Mapping the Bones by Jane Yolen
The May Queen Murders by Sarah Jude
The Names They Give Us by Emery Lord
Neanderthal Opens the Door to the Universe by Preston Norton
Revenge and the Wild by Michelle Modesto
Rocks Fall Everyone Dies by Lindsay Ribar
A Season of Greatly Daring by Ellen Emerson White
Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
The Unlikelies by Carrie Firestone
Velocity by Chris Wooding
What Goes Up by Katie Kennedy
White Road of the Moon by Rachel Neumeier
Who Killed Christopher Goodman? by Allan Wolf

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through August 10, 2018.

Time for a Summer Vacation

This week, I'm sharing chapter books about going on vacation . . .

The Vacation by Polly Horvath

When his parents go to Africa to work as missionaries, twelve-year-old Henry's eccentric aunts, Pigg and Mag, take him on a cross-country car trip, allowing him to gain insight into his family and himself.

The Merman by Dick King-Smith

While on vacation in Scotland on her tenth birthday, Zeta meets a wise, kindly old merman who teaches her not only to swim, but also many, many more fascinating things.

This Would Make a Good Story Someday by Dana Alison Levy

Although not thrilled when her summer plans are upended for a surprise cross-country train trip with her family and embarrassed because one of her moms is writing a tell-all book about the trip, twelve-year-old Sara Johnston-Fischer finds herself changing along with the landscape outside the train windows.

Secret Sisters of the Salty Sea by Lynne Rae Perkins

When her parents take the family to the beach for a vacation, Alix is nervous about leaving home.

More Books --

Abigail Iris: The One and Only by Lisa Glatt

Aliens on Vacation by Clete Barrett Smith

Calvin Coconut: Man Trip by Graham Salisbury

Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Summer Vacation by Tommy Greenwald

Escaping the Giant Wave by Peg Kehret

Lexie by Audrey Couloumbis

A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck

Mission Unstoppable by Dan Gutman

Paddington Abroad by Michael Bond

Roxie and the Hooligans at Buzzard's Point by Phyllis Naylor Reynolds

The Savage Fortress by Sarwat Chadda

Summer with Elisa by Joanna Hurwitz

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through August 3, 2018.

Release by Patrick Ness

Adam Thorn is having a bad day . . . .

He has to hide his relationship with his boyfriend from his religious family.
He's dealing with sexual harassment at work.
His best friend is moving away in a few weeks.
He's trying to figure out his love life and his feelings for his former boyfriend.

And then the spirit of a murdered girl emerges from the local lake looking for retribution.

It all just might lead to the end of the world.



This book tells two different stories.  The main story is about Adam and how he will get through his day.  The second story is about the ghost and the supernatural spirit it ensnares in its pursuit of answers.  While it takes a while to merge the stories together, it does come to a satisfying and marged conclusion.  This would be a great book for teens looking for LGBT+ stories.

Sun, Sand, Surf & Stories

For most people, summer brings images of the beach -- sun, sand, and surf.  This week, I'm sharing stories about the beach and ocean.  Here's a few of my favorites . . .

Six Sandy Sheep by Judith Ross Enderle
Six sheep can't seem to stay out of trouble when they go to the beach.

This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen
A tiny fish wearing a blue hat hopes not to wake up the trouble that might be following close behind.

Sea Monkey & Bob by Aaron Reynolds
A sea monkey who is afraid of sinking and a pufferfish afraid of floating to the surface conquer their fears by sticking together.

Turtle Island by Kevin Sherry
A giant turtle's loneliness ends when a boatload of animals is shipwrecked and makes a temporary home on his shell. But when they decide to sail for home, will the turtle be alone once more?

Surfer Chick by Kristy Dempsey
The story of a little chick and her dad who take to the beach where he teaches her how to surf.


More Books --
Ahoy There, Little Polar Bear by Hans DeBeer
At the Boardwalk by Kelly Ramsdell Fineman
Beach by Elisha Cooper
Beach Feet by Kiyoi Konagaya
A Beach Tail by Karen Lynn Williams
The Blobfish Book by Jessica Olien
Blue Boat by Kersten Hamilton
Chu's Day at the Beach by Neil Gaiman
Clark the Shark by Bruce Hale
The Fantastic Undersea Life of Jacques Cousteau by Dan Yaccarino
The Friend by Sarah Stewart
A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle
How to Spy on a Shark by Lori Haskins Houran
I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry
Ladybug Girl at the Beach by David Soman
Little Tug by Stephen Savage
Nugget & Fang by Tammi Sauer
Ocean Counting by Janet Lawlor
One Lonely Seahorse by Saxton Freymann
Pigs Ahoy! by David McPhail
Pirate Girl by Cornelia Funke
The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen
Rescue Squad No. 9 by Mike Austin
Scuba Bunnies by Christine Loomis
Sea Rex by Molly Idle
Three By Sea by Mini Grey
To the Beach! by Linda Ashman
Turtle Tug to the Rescue by Michael Slack
The Uncorker of Bottles by Michelle Cuevas
The Voyage of Turtle Rex by Kurt Cyrus
Wave by Suzy Lee
Way Down Deep in the Deep Blue Sea by Jan Peck

Check these and more books out on display at the Arnold Branch through July 27, 2018.

Good Vs. Evil: Who Will Win?

This week, I'm sharing teen books featuring battles between good and evil.  Here are a few of my favorites . . .

Legacies by Mercedes Lackey & Rosemary Edghill
After her family is killed, Spirit White is taken to Oakhurst Academy, a combination orphanage and school for those with magical powers, where she and her new friends investigate when students start mysteriously disappearing.

Dark Lord, the Early Years by Jamie Thomson
Evil Dark Lord tries to recover his dignity, his power, and his lands when an arch-foe transports him to a small town, into the body of a thirteen-year-old boy.

Od Magic by Patricia McKillip
Brenden Vetch's gift for connecting with the agricultural world helps him land a job as the gardener for the wizard Od at her school in the city of Kelior, where Od uncovers Brenden's true powers and helps him save the school from evil rulers.

Prom Dates from Hell by Rosemary Clement-Moore
High school senior and yearbook photographer Maggie thought she would rather die than go to prom, but when a classmate summons a revenge-seeking demon, she has no choice but to buy herself a dress and prepare to face jocks, cheerleaders, and Evil Incarnate.

A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula LeGuin
A boy grows to manhood while attempting to subdue the evil he unleashed on the world as an apprentice to the Master Wizard.


More Books --
Abarat by Clive Barker
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Tucholke
Defy by Sara B. Larson
Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige
Earthbound by Aprilynne Pike
Frogkisser! by Garth Nix
Geek: A Fantasy Novel by E. Archer
The Glass Casket by McCormick Templeman
Half Bad by Sally Green
Itch by Simon Mayo
Long Lankin by Lindsey Barraclough
The Nethergrim by Matthew Jobin
Playing in Traffic by Gail Giles
Raven's Gate by Anthony Horowitz
Seriously Wicked by Tina Connolly
Shadowshaper by Daniel Jose Older
A Thousand Nights by E.K. Johnston
Towering by Alex Flinn
The Vindico by Wesley King
Wax by Gina Damico
William Shakespeare's Star Wars: Verily, A New Hope by Ian Doescher

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through July 20, 2018.

The Royal Tutor series by Higasa Akai

Heine Wittgenstein has just accepted the prestigious position of royal tutor to the young princes of Granzreich.  Meet the four princes as Heine attempts to get them to accept him as their tutor.


This manga series is beautifully drawn.  The characters are all distinct in their personalities.  This is a great series for those who enjoy history or tales of royalty.

Royal Readings

This week, I'm sharing chapter books for kids featuring royalty.  Here are a few of my favorites . . .

Up and Down Scratchy Mountains by Laurel
Lucy, a milkmaid, and her best friend Wynston, a reluctant prince, go in search of information about Lucy's missing mother--even though Wynston is supposed to be searching for a proper princess to marry.

Prince Puggly of Spud: and Kingdom of Spiff by Robert Paul Weston
When Prince Puggly attends a ball in the Kingdom of Spiff, he is laughed at by all the Spiffs, except for the Princess of Spiff who helps him teach her fellow Spiffian citizens a lesson.

The Birthday Ball by Lois Lowry
When a bored Princess Patricia Priscilla makes her chambermaid switch identities with her so she can attend the village school, her attitude changes and she plans a new way to celebrate her sixteenth birthday.

The Ugly Princess and the Wise Fool by Margaret Gray
When plain-looking Princess Rose longs for the beauty to snare handsome Prince Parsley, and the wise fool Jasper longs to restore wisdom to the kingdom, they end up working together and find they must face the magical Godmother Board of Trustees.


More Royal Stories --
Castle of Shadows by Ellen Renner
Crown Me! by Kathryn Lay
Girl in a Cage by Jane Yolen
Handbook for Dragon Slayers by Merrie Haskell
The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy
Lady Lollipop by Dick King-Smith
The Little Lame Prince by Dinah Maria Mulock Craik
Pennyroyal Academy by M.A. Larson
The Player King by Avi
Princess Academy by Shannon Hale
Princess Cora and the Crocodile by Laura Amy Schlitz
The Princess Imposter by Vivian Vande Velde



Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through July 13, 2018.

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star: Books for Night Time

This week, I'm sharing some of my favorite night-time stories for kids.  Here are a few of my favorite picture books . . . .

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star by Jane Cabrera
A version of the well-known song featuring animals from around the world as they wonder about the twinkling star.

Slow Loris by Alexis Deacon
All the animals at the zoo think Slow Loris is very slow, until one night when they see something a little unusual.

Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner
Snowmen play games at night when no one is watching.

Bears in Beds by Shirley Parenteau
Big Brown Bear gets his four fellow bears into their cozy, warm beds without much trouble, but in the middle of the night a strange sound frightens them awake.

Nighttime Ninja by Barbara DaCosta
Late at night, when all is quiet and everyone is asleep, a ninja creeps silently through the house in search of treasure.


More Books --
10 Little Ninjas by Miranda Paul
All Through the Night by John Hughes
At Night by Jonathan Bean
Baby Bedtime by Mem Fox
Beautiful Moon: A Child's Prayer by Tonya Bolden
Dusk by Uri Shulevitz
Flashlight by Liz Boyd
Good Night Owl by Greg Pizzoli
Good Night, Pillow Fight by Sally Cook
Henry's Night by D.B. Johnson
How to Catch a Star by Olivier Jeffers
I Am Not Sleepy and I Will Not Go to Bed by Lauren Child
Imagine a Night by Rob Gonzales
Let's Sing a Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy by Jan Thomas
Little Hoot by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
The Midnight Library by Kazuno Kohara
Musical Beds by Mara Bergman
Naamah and the Ark at Night: A Lullaby by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
The Night Pirates by Peter Harris
The Night World by Mordecai Gerstein
No Go Sleep! by Kate Feiffer
The Nuts: Bedtime at the Nut House by Eric Litwin
Peekaboo Bedtime by Rachel Isadora
Sleep Train by Jonathan London
Sleepy, Oh So Sleepy by Denise Fleming
Touch the Brightest Star by Christie Matheson
Who Will Tuck Me In Tonight? by Carol Roth
Wynken, Blynken & Nod by Eugene Field

Check these and more night-time books out at the Arnold Branch on display through July 6, 2018.

The Witch's Guide to Cooking with Children by Keith McGowan

Sol and his sister Connie have just moved to town with their father and new stepmother.

What they don't know is why they moved.

There is a witch in town -- the witch of Hansel and Gretel fame -- who is willing to take children from parents who no longer want them.

This with has her sights on Sol and Connie . . . .



This is a great modern update to the Hansel and Gretel story.  All of the characters are interesting with secrets that form who they are.  It was interesting to see the mesh of science and fantasy throughout the story.  I would recommend this to those who like fairy tale retellings or family stories.

Top Secret! Stories of Espionage

This week, I am sharing stories of spies and espionage for teens.  Here are a few of my favorites . . . 

Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz

After the death of the uncle who had been his guardian, fourteen-year-old Alex Rider is coerced to continue his uncle's dangerous work for Britain's intelligence agency, MI6.

Sleeper Code by Tom Sniegoski

Just when he has met a beautiful girl and his outlook is improving, sixteen-year-old narcoleptic Tom Lovett begins to suspect that his dreams and hallucinations of killing people may be something more real and terrifying.

Girl in Blue by Ann Rinaldi

To escape an abusive father and an arranged marriage, fourteen-year-old Sarah, dressed as a boy, leaves her Michigan home to enlist in the Union Army, and becomes a soldier on the battlefields of Virginia as well as a Union spy working in the house of Confederate sympathizer Rose O'Neal Greenhow in Washington, D.C.

Palace of Spies by Sarah Zettel

In 1716 London, an orphaned sixteen-year-old girl from a good family impersonates a lady-in-waiting only to discover that the real girl was murdered, the court harbors a nest of spies, and the handsome young artist who is helping her solve the mystery might be a spy himself.

More Books --

Across a Star-Swept Sea by Diana Peterfreund

Also Known As by Robin Benway

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

Code Name: Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger

Even the Darkest Stars by Heather Fawcett

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter

Love by Morning Star by Laura L. Sullivan

The Love Interest by Cale Dietrich

Mind Games by Kiersten White

The Princess Spy by Melanie Dickerson

Streams of Babel by Carol Plum-Ucci

Tempest by Julie Cross

Traitor's Kiss by Erin Beaty

Zero Day by Jan Gangsei

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through June 29, 2018.