It's Spring!

Warmer temperatures are finally here!  Spring has arrived! 
This week, I'm sharing some of my favorite spring picture books . . .

When Spring Comes by Kevin Henkes
Animals and children alike watch as the world transforms from the dark and dead of winter to a full and blooming spring.

The Happy Day by Ruth Krauss
The animals share their happiness at the coming of spring.

Puddles!!! by Kevan Atteberry
While out for a walk with his friends, a monster becomes excited at the chance to jump in some puddles when it begins to rain.

Bloom by Deborah Diesen
A mother and child plant flower bulbs in the fall, wait through the winter, and see them bloom in the spring.

Finding Spring by Carin Berger
Too excited to hibernate through his first winter, a bear cub tries to find spring.


More Spring Books --
Are You Spring? by Caroline Pitcher
Baby Bear by Kadir Nelson
Birds by Kevin Henkes
A Butterfly in Patient by Dianna Aston
Cloudette by Tom Lichtenheld
Counting in the Garden by Emily Hruby
Duck and Hippo in the Rainstorm by Jonathan London
Eat Like a Bear by April Pulley Sayre
Egg by Kevin Henkes
Flip, Flap, Fly! by Phyllis Root
The Green Line by Polly Farquharson
Have You Heard the Nesting Bird? by Rita Gray
Hello Baby! by Mem Fox
How Groundhog's Garden Grew by Lynne Cherry
The Imaginary Garden by Andrew Larsen
Little Cloud by Eric Carle
Little Cub by Olivier Dunrea
Miss Jaster's Garden by N.M. Bodecker
Moonbear's Sunrise by Frank Asch
Mud Flat Spring by James Stevenson
My Garden by Kevin Henkes
North, South, East, West by Margaret Wise Brown
One Rainy Day by Valeri Gorbachev
Puddles by Jonathan London
A Seed is Sleepy by Dianna Aston
Seven Hungry Babies by Candace Fleming
Song of the Swallows by Leo Politi
Sun Above, Blooms Below: A Springtime of Opposites by Felicia Chernesky
Tap Tap Boom Boom by Elizabeth Bluemle
Ten Little Caterpillars by Bill Martin Jr.
Up, Down & Around by Katherine Ayres
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Whose Garden Is It? by Mary Ann Hoberman


Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through May 18, 2018.

Classics Retold

This week, I'm sharing teen books that are retellings of classics.  Here's a few of my favorites . . .

Abandon by Meg Cabot
A near-death experience, a horrible incident at school, and a move from Connecticut to Florida have turned seventeen-year-old Pierce's life upside-down, but when she needs him most John Hayden is always there, helping but reminding her of her visit to the Underworld.

Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey
As seventeen-year-old Jill Jekel and classmate Tristen Hyde work together on a chemistry project, hoping to win a scholarship for her and a cure for his curse, they also uncover family secrets and a chemistry of their own.

Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George
In the midst of maneuverings to create political alliances through marriage, sixteen-year-old Poppy, one of the infamous twelve dancing princesses, becomes the target of a vengeful witch while Prince Christian tries to save her.

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson
Fifteen-year-old Tiger Lily receives special protections from the spiritual forces of Neverland, but then she meets her tribe's most dangerous enemy--Peter Pan--and falls in love with him.


More Classics --
Avalon High by Meg Cabot
Beast by Donna Jo Napoli
Black Spring by Alison Croggon
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Dark of the Moon by Tracy Barrett
Enter Three Witches by Caroline Cooney
The Fall by Bethany Griffin
Hunted by Megan Spooner
A Little in Love by Susan E. Fletcher
The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepard
Marly's Ghost by David Levithan
Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin
Psyche in a Dress by Francesca Lia Block
Railsea by China Mieville
Ronit & Jamil by Pamela L. Laskin
Rook by Sharon Cameron
Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen
The Steep and Thorny Way by Cat Winters
Stitching Snow by R.C. Lewis
Still Star-Crossed by Melinda Taub
This Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel
This Monstrous Thing by Mackenzi Lee
When You Were Mine by Rebecca Serle

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through May 11, 2018.

Dreamin' Sun series by Ichigo Takano

When Shimura Kameko runs away, she stumbles upon a strange man in the park.  He offers her a place to live on three conditions.

1.  Tell him the reason she ran away.
2.  Find his house key.
3.  Have a dream and fall in love.

Kameko quickly agrees to these terms and moves into a house that immediately feels like home.



This is a great manga series for those who enjoy plucky heroines who find their own way.  It reminded me of Kamisama Kiss or Fruits Baskets without the supernatural elements.  It's a fun, quick read great for teen girls.

Feast on a Good Book

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

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.

Encyclopedia Brown Takes the Cake by Donald J. Sobol
The ten-year-old detective solves "The Case of the Missing Garlic Bread" and other food-related mysteries. Includes menus and recipes for a Fourth-of-July party, a birthday brunch, and other occasions.

Bliss by Kathryn Littlewood
Twelve-year-old Rose Bliss wants to work magic in her family's bakery as her parents do, but when they are called away and Rose and her siblings are left in charge, the magic goes awry and a beautiful stranger tries to talk Rose into giving her the BlissCookery Booke.


More Books --
Alida's Song by Gary Paulsen
All Four Stars by Tara Dairman
Benny Bensky and the Perogy Palace by Mary Borsky
Cupcake Cousins by Kate Hannigan
Eggs Over Evie by Alison Jackson
Jasmine Toguchi, Mochi Queen by Debbi Michiko Florence
Just Grace and the Trouble with Cupcakes by Charise Mericle Harper
Lights, Camera, Cook! by Charise  Mericle Harper
The Perfect Hamburger and Other Delicious Stories by Alexander McCall Smith
The Witch's Guide to Cooking with Children by Keith McGowan


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

Bungo Stray Dogs series by Kafka Asagiri

Atsushi Nakajima's existence has been bleak since being kicked out of the orphanage that's been his only home.  He's homeless, hungry and being chased by a supernatural tiger when he saves the life of a man trying to commit suicide. 

In thanks, he is given a job at the Armed Detective Agency.  The agency is staffed by individuals with supernatural powers that solve mysteries for the police and the government.  However, it seems that they're also in a fight against the Port Mafia . . .



This is a very interesting manga series.  The characters are based upon literary authors from around the world.  The powers the various characters possess are derived from those authors' works.  The characters are interesting and the mysteries intriguing.  Definitely a series worth checking out!