Reading Is (NOT) for the Birds!

This week, I'm sharing chapter books featuring stories about birds.  Here are a few of my favorites . . . .

Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard Atwater
The unexpected delivery of a large crate containing an Antarctic penguin changes the life and fortunes of Mr. Popper, a house painter obsessed by dreams of the Polar regions.

Thundercluck! by Paul Tillery
Thundercluck is a powerful chicken favored by the gods and, with the help of the goddess Brunhilde, undertakes a dangerous mission to defeat the evil Cook and other villains who are threatening the kingdom of Asgard.

Funny Frank by Dick King-Smith
Gertie the hen is appalled when her son Frank wants to swim with the ducks, but Jemima and her mother, the farmer's wife, make him a special outfit so that his dream can come true.

Frightful's Mountain by Jean Craighead George
As she grows through the first years of her life in the Catskill Mountains of New York, a peregrine falcon called Frightful interacts with various humans, including the boy who raised her, a falconer who rescues her, and several unscrupulous poachers.


More Books --
The Aviary by Kathleen O'Dell
Benny Bensky and the Parrot Napper by Mary Borsky
Captain Tweakerbeak's Revenge by Charles Haddad
The Capture by Kathryn Lasky
Gay-Neck by Dhan Gopal Mukerji
Pablo and Birdy by Alison McGhee
Poppy by Avi
Sam the Man and the Chicken Plan by Frances O'Roark Dowell
Scarlet Ibis by Gill Lewis
The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp by Kathi Appelt
The Wheel on the School by Meindert de Jong
Zack and the Turkey Attack! by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor


Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through September 13, 2019.

Half Bad by Sally Green

Nathan lives in a cage. 

Everyday he is beaten, shackled, and trained to kill. 

He is the weapon that the White Witches want to send against the Black Witch Marcus.

But Nathan doesn't want to kill Marcus.  He simply wants to meet the witch who is his father and receive his gifts from him.



This is the first book in a trilogy by fantasy author Sally Green.  The book keeps you guessing as to who the truly evil are.  It is a great book for those who enjoy stories of survival and magic.

School Time!

The school year has started (or is about to) for most kids.  So this week, I'm sharing some of my favorite picture books about school . . . .

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.

Dinosaur vs. School by Bob Shea
Fearless Dinosaur takes on new challenges as he starts preschool, from meeting new friends to pasting glitter and googly eyes, but one task requires assistance from everyone.

Here Comes Teacher Cat by Deborah Underwood
Cat is not so keen on stepping in as substitute teacher at Kitty School, but he's surprised by how much he's able to teach the kittens--and how much he learns from them.


More School Stories --
ABC School's for Me! by Susan B. Katz
Baloney (Henry P.) by Jon Scieszka
Carmen Learns English by Judy Cox
A Day at School by Severine Cordier
A Fine, Fine School by Sharon Creech
Fiona's Little Accident by Rosemary Wells
Flight School by Lita Judge
Hands Off, Harry! by Rosemary Wells
I Am Absolutely Too Small for School by Lauren Child
If an Elephant Went to School by Ellen Fischer
If You Take a Mouse to School by Laura Numeroff
The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig
Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat, Are You Going to School? by Bill Martin Jr.
The Miss Nelson Collection by Harry Allard
Mission: Back to School by Susan Hood
Not This Bear by Alyssa Capucilli
On the First Day of First Grade by Tish Rabe
One Happy Classroom by Charnan Simon
The Pigeon Has to Go to School by Mo Willems
Shrinking Violet by Cari Best
The Smushy Bus by Leslie Helakoski
Teacher! Sharing, Caring, Helping by Patricia Hubbell
Too Shy for Show-and-Tell by Beth Bracken
Turtle's Penguin Day by Valeri Gorbachev
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 on display at the Arnold Branch through September 6, 2019.

New Fantasy for Teens

Fantasy is one of my favorite genres to read.  This week, I'm sharing some new fantasy novels that have been published in the past year for teens . . . .

Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert
When the scary, magical world in her grandmother's book of dark feminist fairy tales becomes real, seventeen-year-old Alice, partnered with Ellery, an obsessed fan of the fairy tales, must enter the world to rescue Alice's kidnapped mother.

Blood Leaf by Crystal Smith
Aurelia, the first princess born in Renalt in 200 years, is destined to marry the mysterious prince of Achelva, Valentin, but her treacherous lady-in-waiting, Lisette, plots to take her crown.

The Afterward by E.K. Johnston
In the aftermath of a successful quest, Apprentice Kalanthe and Olsa-the-thief-of-the-realm must cope with their newfound fame and find a way to overcome the forces that would drive them apart.

Beneath the Citadel by Destiny Soria
Cassa, the orphaned daughter of rebels, and friends Alys, Evander, and Newt, fight back against the high council of Eldra, which has ruled for centuries based solely on ancient prophesies.

Mirage by Somaiya Daud
Amani is kidnapped by the regime and taken in secret to the royal palace, where she discovers that she is nearly identical to the cruel half-Vathek Princess Maram. The princess is so hated by her conquered people that she requires a body double, someone to appear in public as Maram, ready to die in her place


More New Teen Fantasy --
Amber & Dusk by Lyra Selene
The Assassination of Braingwain Spurge by M.T. Anderson
The Beast Player by Nahoko Uehashi
Blanca & Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore
The Boneless Mercies by April Geneviewve Tucholke
The Cerulean by Amy Ewing
The Crescent Stone by Matt Mikalatos
Fire & Heist by Sarah Beth Durst
Give the Dark My Love by Beth Revis
Half-Witch by John Schoffstall
Heart of Thorns by Bree Barton
Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix by Julie C. Dao
Onyx & Ivory by Mindee Arnett
The Price Guide to the Occult by Leslye Walton
Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young
Sweet Black Waves by Kristina Perez
Tarot by Marissa Kennerson
The Tiger at Midnight by Swati Teerdhala
To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through August 30, 2019.

Plain Kate by Erin Bow

The story goes that her father told the butcher, "This is my beloved Katarina . . . but I just call her plain Kate."  So Plain Kate she is called by the town.

Plain Kate is a woodcarver with exceptional talent.  She carves charms to protect people from evil.  But now, the people are looking for someone to blame for all that is going wrong.  Plain Kate is in danger as they have decided she must be a witch.

The only escape Plain Kate can see is to make a deal with the mysterious Linaywho just came to town.  In exchange for her shadow, he will gift her the secret desire of her heart.

But Plain Kate soon discovers that being without a shadow is nearly as dangerous as being considered a witch.  Then she finds out what Linay is planning with her shadow . . . .


This book was suspenseful.  You couldn't help but feel for Plain Kate as her situation keeps growing worse and worse.  I would highly recommend this book to teens who enjoy fantasy or stories of witches.

Go On One Last Summer Adventure . . . With a Book

School will soon be starting.  There's still time to take one last adventure by reading a book.  Here are a few of my favorite adventure chapter books . . . .

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

Masters of Disaster by Gary Paulsen
Twelve-year-old Henry's grand adventures spell disaster for best chums Riley and Reed, who always seems to land in a pile of "smelly goo."

Baker's Magic by Diane Zahler
Bee is an orphan in the poor kingdom of Aradyn, and when she is caught stealing a bun from a bakery, the lonely baker offers to take her on as an apprentice--but when she meets Princess Anika, and the evil mage Joris who is her "guardian" she embarks on a journey to save Anika, and restore the kingdom its rightful ruler.

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.


More Adventure Stories --
The Adventurer's Guide to Successful Escapes by Wade Albert White
The Adventurers Guild by Zack Loren Clark
The Adventures of Henry Whiskers by Gigi Priebe
Adventures with Waffles by Maria Parr
The Big Book of Adventure by Alissa Heyman
Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly
My Near-Death Adventures: 99% True by Alison DeCamp
Raven Quest by Sharon Stewart
The Several Lives of Orphan Jack by Sarah Ellis
Trundle's Quest by Allan Jones
The Unlikely Adventures of Mabel Jones by Will Mabbitt
Where the Mountain  Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
The Wrinkled Crown by Anne Nesbet

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through August 23, 2019.