Thursday, May 31, 2018

The Raucous Royals by Carlyn Beccia

Was the vampire Dracula based on a real-life king of Transylvania?

Did King George go crazy after losing the American colonies?

Was Napoleon Bonaparte short?



This book looks at the rumors and myths surrounding various royals throughout history.  It asks the reader to determine whether the stories are true or false.


This book is a lot of fun to read.  While some of the rumors and myths are familiar, there are several new stories to discover.  I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys history, biographies, or royalty.

Monday, May 21, 2018

Adventures with Toys

This week, I am sharing picture book stories featuring toys . . .

Corduroy by Don Freeman
A teddy bear spends his days waiting in a store for someone to buy him.

Stop Thief! by Adam Lane
Randall McCoy declares to his parents that he is a big boy and no longer needs his stuffed pig, but creeps downstairs later and finds a robber taking Mr. Pigglesworth, which sets off a wild chase through the night to stop the thief.

Bath Time by Eileen Spinelli
A child fills up his bathtub with so many toys that there is no room for him in it.

Found by Salina Yoon
Upon finding a toy rabbit in the forest, Bear tries his very best to return it to its home but by the time its owner appears, Bear has become attached to Bunny.

Ducky by Eve Bunting
A yellow plastic duck makes a long perilous journey when he is washed overboard with a crate full of bathtub toys during a storm.


More Stories --
A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka
The Birthday Box: Happy Birthday to Me! by LEslie Patricelli
Come Fly with Me by Satomi Ichikawa
Crybaby by Karen Beaumont
The Doghouse by Jan Thomas
Elizabeti's Doll by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen
A Fire Engine for Ruthie by Leslea Newman
Help! by Christopher Inns
I Lost My Bear by Jules Feiffer
I Love You, Blue Kangaroo! by Emma Chichester Clark
Leo Cockroach . . . Toy Tester by Kevin O'Malley
Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems
Little Whistle by Cynthia Rylant
The Marvelous Thing That Came from a Spring by Gilbert Ford
Mine! by Shutta Crum
Monkey and Me by Emily Gravett
My Friend Rabbit by Eric Rohmann
Not a Stick by Antoinette Portis
Penny and Her Doll by Kevin Henkes
Sasha's Matroishka Dolls by Jana Dillon
Share by Sally Anne Garland
Toys Galore by Peter Stein
Toys in Space by Mini Grey
Toys Meet Snow by Emily Jenkins
Traction Man is Here! by Mini Grey
The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams Bianco
What the Dinosaurs Did Last Night by Refe Tuma
Where's My Teddy? by Jez Alborough
Where's My T-R-U-C-K? by Karen Beaumont



Check these and more books about toys out on display at the Arnold Branch through June 8, 2018.

Thursday, May 17, 2018

The Wizards of Once by Cressida Cowell


Once there was Magic, and the Magic lived in the dark forests.
Until the warriors came . . .

Xar is a Wizard boy who has no Magic and would do anything to get it.

Wish is a Warrior princess who owns a forbidden magical object and will do anything to hide it.

When stars collide, Xar and Wish will meet.  They must forget their differences if they are to save not only themselves but both their worlds from the returning evil Magic that has been sleeping for hundreds of years.


This is the first book in Cressida Cowell's new series.  (She previously wrote the extremely popular How to Train Your Dragon series.)  This is a great start to the new series.  I especially  enjoyed the audio version of the book narrated by David Tennant.

Monday, May 14, 2018

In the Land of Faerie

This week I am sharing stories of faeries, trolls, elves, and other supernatural creatures for teens . . .

The Changeling Sea by Patricia McKillip
A floor scrubber and a magician try to help a prince return to his home beneath the sea and help his half brother, a human trapped in the body of a sea monster, return to the land.

Impossible by Nancy Werlin
When seventeen-year old Lucy discovers her family is under an ancient curse by an evil Elfin Knight, she realizes to break the curse she must perform three impossible tasks before her daughter is born in order to save them both.

Enchanted by Alethea Kontis
When Sunday Woodcutter, the youngest sibling to sisters named for the other six days of the week, kisses an enchanted frog, he transforms back into Rumbold, the crown prince of Arilland--a man Sunday's family despises.

Stardust by Neil Gaiman
Young Tristran Thorn will do anything to win the cold heart of beautiful Victoria--even fetch her the star they watch fall from the night sky. But to do so, he must enter the unexplored lands on the other side of the ancient wall that gives their tiny village its name. But beyond that old stone wall, Tristran learns, lies Faerie--where nothing, not even a fallen star, is what he imagined.


More Tales of Faeries --
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Close Kin by Clare B. Dunkle
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Mass
Dust Girl by Sarah Zettel
The Faerie Path by Frewin Jones
Faerie Wars by Herbie Brennan
The Falconer by Elizabeth May
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
A History of Glitter and Blood by Hannah Moskowitz
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
The Moorchild by Eloise McGraw
Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
Princess of Thorns by Stacey Jay
The Queen's Choice by Cayla Kluver
Reckless by Cornelia Funke
The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff
Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvey
Tithe: A Modern Tale of Faerie by Holly Black
Venturess by Besty Cornwell

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through June 1, 2018.

Monday, May 7, 2018

Tales with Tails

This week, I'm sharing chapter books featuring dogs . . .

Road Trip by Gary Paulsen
A father and son embark on a road trip to a distant animal shelter to save a homeless border collie puppy.

Just a Dog by Michael Gerard Butler
Corey recounts the adventures and misadventures of his Dalmatian, Mister Mosely.

Dog Trouble! by Galia Oz
Julie has only had her dog for two weeks, and the pup is already causing trouble. For starters, she is missing! And Julie suspects the school bully Danny must be behind it. It will take some detective work and the help of Julie's friends to bring her new pet home. But the missing puppy is not the end of Julie's dog trouble. This is only the beginning of the escapades of Julie and Shakshuka.

One Dog and His Boy by Eva Ibbotson
When lonely Hal learns that his wealthy but neglectful parents only rented Fleck, the dog he always wanted, he and new friend Pippa take Fleck and four other dogs from the rental agency on a trek from London to Scotland, where Hal's grandparents live.


More Dog Stories --
A Dog's Way Home by Bobbie Pyron
Lara's Gift by Annemarie O'Brien
Lulu Walks the Dog by Judith Viorst
The Misadventures of the Magician's Dog by Frances Sackett
Mountain Dog by Margarita Engle
Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin
A Simple Case of Angels by Caroline Adderson
Sputnik's Guide to Life on Earth by Frank Cottrell Boyce
Stick Dog by Tom Wilson
The Story of Diva and Flea by Mo Willems
Strongheart: Wonder Dog of the Silver Screen by Candace Fleming
The Tale of Rescue by Michael Rosen

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through May 25, 2018.

Thursday, May 3, 2018

Real Friends by Shannon Hale

Shannon and Adrienne have been best friends since the start of school.  But one day, Adrienne becomes friends with Jen.  Now, they are all part of The Group, a circle of girls that are friends.  Everyone wants to be next to leader Jen and some of girls will even bully the others to get to that coveted position.

Now every day is a roller coaster for Shannon.  Will she and Adrienne stay friends?  Can she stand up for herself?  And is she part of The Group -- or not?



This graphic novel memoir by author Shannon Hale is really well done.  It accurately portrays how it feels when your friends start to abandon you and when a former friend becomes an enemy.  It also incorporates OCD in children without forcing the issue.  The symptoms are merely mentioned at times without any commentary.  I would highly recommend this to grade school girls to read.