It's a Mystery . . .

Check out some of these great mysteries for kids . . .

Mr. and Mrs. Bunny -- Detectives Extraordinaire by Polly Horvath
Middle-schooler Madeline's hippie parents have been kidnapped from Hornby Island, Canada, by foxes, and Madeline, upon discovering that she can understand animal languages, hires two rabbit detectives to find them.

Who Could That Be at This Hour? by Lemony Snicket
Thirteen-year-old Lemony Snicket begins his apprenticeship with S. Theodora Markson of the secretive V.F.D. in the tiny dot of a town called Stain'd By The Sea, where he helps investigate the theft of a statue.

Floors by Patrick Carman
Ten-year-old Leo's future and the fate of the extraordinary Whippet Hotel, where his father is the maintenance man, are at stake when a series of cryptic boxes leads Leo to hidden floors, strange puzzles, and unexpected alliances.

The Trouble with Chickens: A J.J. Tully Mystery by Doreen Cronin
A hard-bitten former search-and-rescue dog helps solve a complicated missing chicken case. 

Walls Within Walls by Maureen Sherry
When the Smithfork family moves into a lavish Manhattan apartment building, they discover clues to a decades-old mystery hidden behind the walls of their new home.

Your First Job

Most people get their first job during the teens years.  While the typical job is in a store, restaurant or amusement park -- these teens had some very unusual first jobs.

Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz - SPY
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.

The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman - FAIRY TALE LIBRARIAN
New York high school student Elizabeth gets an after-school job as a page at the "New-York Circulating Material Repository," and when she gains coveted access to its Grimm Collection of magical objects, she and the other pages are drawn into a series of frightening adventures involving mythical creatures and stolen goods. 

Soul Eater by Atsushi Okubo - GRIM REAPER
Maka, the scythe meister, has created the Soul Eater, a scythe that can change into the form of a human boy, but there is still work to be done before the Soul Eater will be good enough to become the weapon of Death.

The Morgue and Me by John C. Ford - MORGUE ASSISTANT
Eighteen-year-old Christopher, who plans to be a spy, learns of a murder cover-up through his summer job as a morgue assistant and teams up with Tina, a gorgeous newspaper reporter, to investigate, despite great danger.

Crankee Doodle by Tom Angleberger

Have you wondered what the real story was behind the song "Yankee Doodle"?

Why did he ride to town?
Why did he put a feather in his hat?
And why did he call the cat "macaroni"?

Well this book answers those questions!

His horse desperately wants to go to town.  He is cranky and does not want to go. 

How will the horse eventually get him to go to town?

Check out this book and find out!

A hilarious "history" that everyone will love.

More Than Just Comics

Graphic novels are becoming more and more popular with kids. 

What are they?
Entire stories told in the comic strip format.

Here are some great graphic novels for kids.



The Lightning Thief: the Graphic Novel by Robert Venditti
After learning that he is the son of a mortal woman and Poseidon, god of the sea, twelve-year-old Percy is sent to a summer camp for demigods like himself, and joins his new friends on a quest to prevent a war between the gods. Adapted from the popular The Lightning Thief book by Rick Riordan.

Legends of Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke
Zita is determined to find her way home to Earth, but her exploits have made her an intergallactic megastar, and as her true self is eclipsed by her public persona, she faces a robot doppelganger, unsure of who she can trust.

A Wrinkle in Time: the Graphic Novel by Hope Larson
A graphic novel adaptation of the classic tale in which Meg Murry and her friends become involved with unearthly strangers and a search for Meg's father, who has disappeared while engaged in secret work for the government.

Squish by Jennifer L. Holm
Squish, a meek amoeba who loves the comic book exploits of his favorite hero, "Super Amoeba," tries to emulate him when his best friend is threatened by a bully.

Smile by Raina Telgemeier
The author relates, in graphic form, her experiences after she injured her two front teeth and had to have surgeries and wear embarrassing braces and headgear, all while also dealing with the trials and tribulations of middle school.

F.Y.I. for Teens

I love to read fiction.  However, sometimes there is an information book that just screams for you to read it.  Try one of these great non-fiction books for teens.

Dear Teen Me by E. Kristin Anderson
Seventy authors including Lauren Oliver, Ellen Hopkins write letters to their teen selves.

Yokai Attack: the Japanese Monster Survival Guide by Hiroko Yoda
Provides information and history on Japanese monsters, including the kappa, kitsune, and Onibaba.

The End: 50 Apocalyptic  Visions from Pop Culture that You Should Know About -- Before It's Too Late by Laura Barcella
Examines fifty films, books, songs, artworks, and plays that have been created about the apocalypse, and includes information about each apocalyptic theory and an explanation about why each work is important in popular culture.

Hot X: Algebra Exposed by Danica McKellar
Advises teen girls how to tackle algebra with confidence, sharing accessible step-by-step coverage of everything from square roots and polynomials to quadratic equations and word problems.

The Omnivore's Dilemna: The Secrets Behind What You Eat by Richie Chevat
Delves into facts about food, life expectancy as it relates to consumption, and global health implications resulting from food choices made by people around the world, encouraging readers to consider their food choices and eating habits.

Count the Monkeys by Mac Barnett

Hey kids! Time to count the monkeys!

It's fun.  It's easy.  All you have to do is turn the page . . .

and

COUNT THE MONKEYS!

And so starts a counting adventure.  And one of my new favorite counting books. 
Each turn of the page introduces an ever-increasing number of animals or people who have chased away the monkeys.  Children are asked to participate in the reading by scaring away the animals, closing their eyes, or humming a happy tune.

A definite must-read for any child learning, or reviewing, their numbers!

Take a Trip with a Book

One of the great things about books is that you can visit anywhere in the world just by reading.  Here are some great books that take in settings around the world.

Bringing the Boy Home by N.A. Nelson
As two Takunami youths approach their thirteenth birthdays, Luka reaches the culmination of his mother's training for the tribe's manhood test while Tirio, raised in Miami, Florida, by his adoptive mother, feels called to begin preparations to prove himself during his upcoming visit to the Amazon rain forest where he was born.

Calvin Coconut: Hero of Hawaii by Graham Salisbury
When a hurricane causes the river near his Hawaiian home to flood, a boy named Calvin Coconut makes a daring rescue.

Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson
Sent with her governess to live with the dreadful Carter family in exotic Brazil in 1910, Maia endures many hardships before fulfilling her dream of exploring the Amazon River.

Sword of the Samurai: Adventure Stories from Japan by Eric Kimmel
Seven short stories about samurai warriors, their way of life, courage, wit, and foolishness.

The White Giraffe by Lauren St. John
After a fire kills her parents, eleven-year-old Martine must leave England to live with her grandmother on a wildlife game reserve in South Africa, where she befriends a mythical white giraffe.

School Days, School Days

Here are some more great school stories to celebrate the first day of school!

Can I Bring My Pterodactyl to School, Ms. Johnson? by Lois G. Grambling
A child offers many creative reasons for why it would be a good idea to bring a pterodactyl to school.

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

Grace for President by Kelly DiPucchio
When Grace discovers that there has never been a female U.S. president, she decides to run for school president.

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.

Mr. Tanen's Ties by Maryann Cocca-Leffler
Mr. Tanen, the principal at Lynnhurst Elementary School, is well known for his colorful and unusual ties, but he and his students are saddened when his boss orders him to stop wearing them.

Off to School

School is starting within the next week.  So here are some great school stories for your kids . . .

Amelia Bedelia's First Day of School by Herman Parish
A literal-minded first-grader's first day of school is filled with confusing adventures, much to her delight.

How Do Dinosaurs Go to School? by Jane Yolen
Illustrations and rhyming text depict dinosaurs as they ride the bus to school, jump on top of their desks, read their favorite books, and have fun on the playground with all of their friends.

I'm Not Ready! by Jonathan Allen
When Baby Owl doesn't feel ready to start school, he delays by picking up his toys, brushing his feathers, and taking care of Owly, his stuffed animal.

Mom, It's My First Day of Kindergarten! by Hyewon Yum
A five-year-old boy, ready and eager on his first day at "the big kids' school," must calm his very worried mother.

The Night Before Preschool by Natasha Wing
In rhyming text based on "The Night Before Christmas," Billy is too nervous to sleep the night before he begins preschool, but a kind teacher and new friends fill the day with fun.

Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes by Eric Litwin
Pete the cat wears his school shoes when visiting the library, the lunchroom, the playground, and more while singing his special song.

You Can't Go to School Naked by Dianne Billstrom
A little boy's parents warn him of the dangers of going to school naked, and he eventually agrees to wear clothes, but only if he can pick his outfits.

Have You Read . . .

How many of these classic picture books have you read?

Bedtime for Frances by Russell Hoban
Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin
Doctor DeSoto by William Steig
Five Little Moneys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow
George and Martha by James Marshall
Goodnight, Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
The Hat by Jan Brett
Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton
The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper
The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton
Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
Mike Mulligan and the Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton
Mouse Count by Ellen Stoll Walsh
No, David! by David Shannon
Rotten Ralph by Jack Gantos
The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

The Story of Babar the Little Elephant by Jean de Brunhoff

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig

The Velveteen Rabbit by Margarey Williams Bianco