Turtle Walk by Matt Phelan

 

Turtle family is going for a walk -- nice and slow.  Where are they going?  When will they get there?  And what's their plan once they arrive?

This was a very cute picture book.  I absolutely loved it.  The illustrations bring the story to life.  I would recommend this book to anyone!

Emmy & Oliver by Robin Benway

 Emmy and Oliver were best friends.  They did everything together.  Until the day that Oliver disappeared -- his father had kidnapped him.  Oliver was greatly missed . . . until the day he comes home.  Now Emmy and Oliver try to reconnect and be friends once again.

Emmy and Oliver are great characters.  They continually reveal new sides to themselves throughout the story.  The secondary characters are also sympathetic and entertaining.  I would recommend this teen novel to those who enjoy character studies and those who like romances.  

Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell

Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell

Deja and Josiah have worked at the Pumpkin Patch for the past three falls.  Now it's their last night and they are on a mission.  Josiah needs to talk to the cute girl he's had a crush on since orientation three years ago.  Deja wants to experience all the attractions and treats the Pumpkin Patch has to offer.

This is a fun graphic novel written by Rainbow Rowell and illustrated by Faith Erin Hicks.  The characters are relatable and the story is cute.  Even though you know how the story will end, you will still want to read and continue their quest with them.

 

Love, Creekwood: A Simonverse Novella by Becky Albertalli

Ever wonder what happened to Simon and Bram or Leah and Abby?  In this book, we see their emails from their first year of college.  Simon and Bram are dealing with a long distance relationship as they attend college apart.  Meanwhile, Leah and Abby are at the same college and navigating being in a relationship.  

I really enjoyed catching up with these characters from Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and its sequels.  It was fun to revisit their world and relationships.  The book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger so it will be interesting to see if the author gives us another book in the future.

Rot: The Bravest in the World! by Ben Clanton

 

This book is about mutant potatoes -- mutant potatos that love mud!

And Rot loves mud more than any other mutant potato.

Until, his brother Snot tells him about the Squirm that lives in the mud.  

Now Rot must become brave to face the Squirm!

This book is a lot of fun.  The illustrations are hilarious showing off how the potatoes look just a little weird and the mud is everywhere.  The story of two brothers trying to one up each other is also great.  I would definitely recommend this book.

A Few of Miss Amy's Favorite Chapter Books

 This week I'm sharing a few of my favorite chapter books for kids . . .

Bo at Ballard Creek by Kirkpatrick Hill

It's the 1920s, and Bo was headed for an Alaska orphanage when she won the hearts of two tough gold miners who set out to raise her, enthusiastically helped by all the kind people of the nearby Eskimo village.

The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper

On his eleventh birthday, Will Stanton discovers that he is the last of the Old Ones, destined to seek the six magical Signs that will enable the Old Ones to triumph over the evil forces of the Dark.

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.

Magic Below Stairs by Caroline Stevermer

Ten-year-old Frederick, who is surreptitiously watched over by a household elf, is plucked from a London orphanage to be a servant to a wealthy wizard, and eventually his uncanny abilities lead him to become the wizard's apprentice.

Naked Bunyip Dancing by Steven Herrick

This novel in verse follows the school year of Australian students in classroom 6C, as their unconventional teacher encourages them to discover their own strengths and talents and perform in a memorable concert.

More Favorites --

Dragon Slippers by Jessica Day George

The Floods: Good Neighbors by Colin Thompson

Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman

Horton Halfpot by Tom Anglberger

A Long Line of Cakes by Deborah Wiles

The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher by Dana Alison Levy

Ms. Rapscott's Girls by Elise Primavera

A Season of Gifts by Richard Peck

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

The Spoon in the Bathroom Wall by Tony Johnston

The Unlucky Lottery Winners of Classroom 13 by Honest Lee

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through December 11, 2020.

Missing the Movies? Read One of These Teen Books Made Into a Movie

If you're anything like me, you've missed going to the movies these past months.  To help fill the void, read one of these teen books made into a movie (and check out the movie while you're at it).  Here are a few of my favorites . . . .

Stardust by Neil Gaiman

In the quiet English hamlet of Wall, Tristran Thorn embarks on a remarkable journey through the world of Faerie to recover a fallen star for his lover, the hauntingly beautiful Victoria Forester.

The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

Fourteen-year-old Mia, who is trying to lead a normal life as a teenage girl in New York City, is shocked to learn that her father is the Prince of Genovia, a small European principality, and that she is a princess and the heir to the throne.

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Sixteen-year-old, not-so-openly-gay Simon Spier is blackmailed into playing wingman for his classmate or else his sexual identity--and that of his pen pal--will be revealed.

Movie Title -- Love, Simon

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.

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

While in a coma following an automobile accident that killed her parents and younger brother, seventeen-year-old Mia, a gifted cellist, weights whether to live with her grief or join her family in death.

More Books Turned Into Movies --

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff

I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

The Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve
Paper Towns by John Green

The Spectacular Now by Tim Tharp

The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through December 4, 2020.

Hello, Arnie! An Arnie the Doughnut Story by Laurie Keller

 

Arnie knows every doughnut in the bakery . . . every doughnut except one. 

He's never seen a doughnut like this one before. 
It's big!  It's giant!
It's not a long john.  It doesn't have a hole.  
It doesn't even have sprinkles!

Arnie is determined to figure out what kind of doughnut it is!



I love the Arnie the Doughnut stories.  They are some of my favorites.  This is a great addition to the series.  It's funny!  It also includes the reader in on the joke.  I would definitely recommend this book -- to those who already love Arnie and those meeting him for the first time.

The State of Us by Shaun David Hutchinson

 

They thought they were enemies.  They thought they could never be friends.

After all their parents are running for president against each other.  

But that was before they were forced to spend time together and discovered they had more in common than anyone thought.  

Slowly their friendship turns into something more.  But their relationship must remain a secret.  It could ruin both of their parents' campaigns.  

Then someone discovers the truth and threatens to tell everyone . . . 

This is a teen book is a great book to read during the election year.  While it focuses on the main characters of Dean and Dre it also includes a lot of politics in the book.  It's also a great book for exploring relationships -- family, friends, and romantic.

Horror Stories for Teens

 Halloween is quickly approaching.  So to get us in the mood, this week I'm share some horror novels for teens . . . .

Alone by Cyn Balog
Seda, sixteen, feels her invisible childhood nemesis, Sawyer, growing stronger just as a group of stranded teens takes shelter from a blizzard in the dilapidated mansion Seda's mother inherited.

Dreaming Darkly by Caitlin Kittredge

After her mother's death, Ivy is sent to live on an island with a rich uncle where she experiences nightmares and learns about her family's murderous past.

Fiendish by Brenna Yovanoff

Clementine DeVore, seventeen, is determined to learn what happened ten years ago that led to her magical imprisonment and problems in her town, but a dangerous attraction to Fisher, the boy who freed her, town politics, and the terrifying Hollow get in the way.

His Hideous Heart: Thirteen of Edgar Allan Poe's Most Unsettling Tales Reimagined

Offers a collection of authors' reimaginings of Edgar Allan Poe's work, as well as the original Poe stories.

The Sacrifice Box by Martin J. Stewart

Five former friends must discover which of them broke the rules when objects they sealed in an ancient stone box come to life in twisted forms and dead things reanimate.

More Horror Stories --

As I Descended by Robin Talley

Asylum by Madeline Roux

Between the Devil and the Dark Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke

Bonechiller by Graham McNamee
Burning by Danielle Rollins

The End Games by T. Michael Martin

The Fall by Bethany Griffin

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

The Girl from the Well by Rin Chupeco

The Glare by Margot Harrison

Haunted by Danielle Vega

The House by Christina Legrand

Lockdown: Escape from the Furnace by Alexander Gordon Smith

The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry

Teeth in the Mist by Dawn Kurtagich

There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins

The Wrong Train by Jeremy de Quidt

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through October 31, 2020.

Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott

Stella is back in the hospital for yet more treatment for her cystic fibrosis.  She has been in and out of the hospital for the past twelve years in the hopes of making it to the top of the lung transplant list.

On her first day she meets Will and immediately dislikes him.  He doesn't see the purpose of treatment.  Instead he just wants to live what life he has left.

Soon however the dislike turns into friendship and then more.  

But can two people be in love when being closer than six feet apart can kill them both?

 

This is a tearjerker of a book.  You need to be prepared to have tissues on hand to read it.  Yet I definitely recommend this book to teens who enjoy romance.  

Dino-Mite Reads!

 This week, I'm sharing one of top requests -- dinosaur stories for kids.  So here are some of my favorite picture book dinosaur stories . . . .

T Is For Terrible by Peter McCarty

A tyrannosaurus rex explains that he cannot help it that he is enormous and hungry and is not a vegetarian.

Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs by Mo Willems

The wacky story of three dinosaurs, including a visitor from Norway, who insist that they have not tidied up their home and prepared yummy pudding in order to trap a tasty little girl.

Brontorina by James Howe

Despite her size and not having the proper footwear, a determined dinosaur pursues her dream of becoming a ballerina.

Dinosaurumpus! by Tony Mitton

A rhyming tale of Triceratops, Brontosaurus, and even Tyrannosaurus gathering at the swamp to dance.

Dinosaur Kisses by David Ezra Stein

An energetic young dinosaur figures out her own way to give a kiss.

More Dinosaur Stories --

Can I Have a Stegosaurus, Mom? Can I? Please!? by Lois Grambling

Crunch, the Shy Dinosaur by Cirocco Dunlap

Dinosaur vs. the Library by Bob Shea

Dinosaurs in Diguise by Stephen Krensky

Duck, Duck, Dinosaur by Kallie George

Edwina, the Dinosaur Who Didn't Know She Was Extinct by Mo Willems

How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food? by Jane Yolen

I Am a Tyrannosaurus by Tatsuya Miyanishi

I'm Big! by Kate McMullan

The Littlest Dinosaur by Michael Foreman

Lizard from the Park by Mark Pett

Pterydactyl Show and Tell by Thad Krasnesky

Rex Wrecks It! by Ben Clanton

Rory the Dinosaur: Me and My Dad by Liz Climo

Sea Rex by Molly Idle

The Somethingosaur by Tony Mitton

Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug by Jonathan Stutzman

Tyrannosaurs Wrecks! by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen

What the Dinosaurs Did at School by Refe Tuma

When Dinosaurs Came With Everything by Elise Broach

Check out these books on display at the Arnold Branch through October 23, 2020.

Chapter Book Mysteries

 This week I'm sharing some chapter books featuring detectives.  Here are some of my favorite mysteries . . . .

Little Wolf, Forest Detective by Ian Whybrow

Through a series of letters to his parents, Little Wolf relates his adventures as a member of Yelloweyes Forest Detective Agency, crime solvers of the Frettnin Forest, as they investigate a series of mysterious disappearances.

The Fairy Tale Detectives by Michael Buckley

Orphans Sabrina and Daphne Grimm are sent to live with an eccentric grandmother that they have always believed to be dead.

The Real McCoys by Matthew Swanson

After officially forming their detective agency, Moxie McCoy and her little brother Milton are on the case to find the mysterious Squiggler at Tiddlywhump Elementary.

The Detective's Assistant by Kate Hannigan

In 1859, eleven-year-old Nell goes to live with her aunt, Kate Warne, the first female detective for Pinkerton's National Detective Agency. Nell helps her aunt solve cases, including a mystery surrounding Abraham Lincoln, and the mystery of what happened to Nell's own father. 

More Mysteries --
Big, Bad Detective Agency by Bruce Hale

Bug Muldoon: The Garden of Fear by Paul Shipton

Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective by Donald Sobol

Framed! by James Ponti

Friday Barnes, Girl Detective by R.A. Spratt

The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing by Sheila Turnage

Judy Moody, Girl Detective by Megan McDonald

Marty Frye, Private Eye by Janet Tashjian

Rex Tabby: Cat Detective by Daniel Kirk

Sam the Man & the Secret Detective Club Plan by Frances O'Roark Dowell
Snowise and Snitch: Highly Effective Defective Detectives by K.H. Briner

Under Locker and Key by Allison K. Hymas

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through October 30, 2020.

What Is the Story of Scooby-Doo? by M.D. Payne

What is your favorite cartoon?  Mine was Scooby Doo!  

This book tells the story of Scooby Doo -- from a Saturday morning cartoon in the 1960s to the his big screen movie adapations.  It includes information on all the members of Mystery, Inc. as well as Scooby Doo's family.

I highly recommend this book in the What Is . . . series for all kids -- both those who already love Scooby Doo and those who are learning about him for the first time.

Twice Upon a Time . . . . Fairy Tale Retellings for Teens

 This week, I'm sharing fairy tale retellings for teens.  Here are a few of my favorites . . . .

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.

Snow in Summer by Jane Yolen

Recasts the tale of Snow White, setting it in West Virginia in the 1940s with a stepmother who is a snake-handler.

Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George

A retelling of the tale of twelve princesses who wear out their shoes dancing every night, and of Galen, a former soldier now working in the king's gardens, who follows them in hopes of breaking the curse.

The Rumpelstiltskin Problem by Vivian Vande Velde

The author presents six alternative versions of the familiar story of a boastful miller and the daughter he claims can spin straw into gold.

More Fairy Tale Retellings --

Beast by Donna Jo Napoli

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

A Curse So Dark and Lovely by Brigid Kemmerer

Dark and Deepest Red by Anna-Marie McLemore

Dead Upon a Time by Elizabeth Poulson

East by Edith Pattou

Mechanica by Betsy Cornwell

Once Upon a Dream by Lisa Braswell

The Princess and the Fangirl: A Geekerella Novel by Ashley Poston

Princess of Thorns by Stacy Jay

Rose & Thorn by Sarah Prineas

Rose Daughter by Robin McKinley

Sea Witch by Sarah Henning

Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim

Spindle by E.K. Johnston

Stitching Snow by R.C. Lewis

Towering by Alex Flinn

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through October 9, 2020.

Witchtown by Cory Putman Oakes

Macie and her mother travel from town to town stealing money from them before leaving.  They're never caught as Macie's mother casts a spell that erases them from everyone's memories.  But now they've arrived at Witchtown -- the last town they'll ever steal from as Macie's mother promises.  But can Macie really trust her mother?

The characters in the book are interesting due to their many secrets that are revealed slowly throughout the story.  Teens will enjoy this book of power, friendship, and family.

The Dog Days of Summer

 This week, I am sharing chapter book stories about dogs.  Here are a few of my favorites . . . .

Waggit's Tale by Peter Howe
When Waggit is abandoned by his owner as a puppy, he meets a pack of wild dogs who become his friends and teach him to survive in the city park, but when he has a chance to go home with a kind woman who wants to adopt him, he takes it.

Guinea Dog by Patrick Jennings
When his mother brings home a guinea pig instead of the dog he has always wanted, fifth-grader Rufus is not happy--until the rodent starts acting exactly like a dog.

Smart Dog by Vivian Vande Velde
Fifth grader Amy finds her life growing complicated when she meets and tries to hide an intelligent, talking dog who has escaped from a university lab.

More Dog Stories --
Awesome Dog 5000 by Justin Dean
Dog Diaries: Secret Writings of the Woof Society by Betsy Byars
Dog Driven by Terry Lynn Johnson
A Dog Like Daisy by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb
Dog Trouble by Galia Oz
A Dog's Life by Ann M. Martin
A Dog's Way Home by Bonnie Pyron
Good Dog by Dan Gemeinhart
Just a Dog by Michael Gerard Bauer
Mounatain Dog by Margarita Engle
One Dog and His Boy by Eva Ibbotson
Strongheart: Wonder Dog of the Silver Screen by Candace Fleming
Voyage of the Dogs by Greg Van Eekhout

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through October 3, 2020.

Reading = Learning: Informational Picture Books

There are a lot of great informational picture books that children can learn a lot from.  So this week, I'm sharing some of my favorite informational picture books . . . .

Rah, Rah, Radishes! A Vegetable Chant by April Pulley Sayre
Photographs of vegetables and rhyming text celebrate vegetables in all their colorful and tasty variety.

A Nest Is Noisy by Dianna Aston
Introduces the world of nests, revealing the variety created by the world's birds, animals, and insects.

John, Paul, George & Ben by Lane Smith
A humorous look at five of our country's founding fathers.

We March by Shane Evans
Illustrations and brief text portray the events of the 1963 march in Washington, D.C., where the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. delivered a historic speech.

More Books --
A Beetle Is Shy by Dianna Aston
Big and Small, Room for All by Jo Ellen Bogart
The Cloud Book by Tomie de Paola
Cold, Crunchy, Colorful: Using Our Senses by Jane Brocket
Hippos Can't Swim and Other Fun Facts by Laura Lyn DiSiena
How Tall, How Short, How Far Away by David Adler
I Don't Like Snakes by Nicola Davies
If You Decide to Go to the Moon by Faith McNulty
Magnets Push, Magnets Pull by David Adler
Masterpiece Mix by Roxie Munro
Older Than the Stars by Karen C. Fox
One Giant Leap by Robert Burleigh
Pluto Gets the Call by Adam Rex
A Second Is a Hiccup: A Child's Book of Time by Hazel Hutchins
Soar High, Dragonfly! by Sheri Mabry Bestor
Telling Time by Jules Older
What Is Science? by Rebecca Kai Dotlich
The Whole Story of the Doughnut by Pat Miller

Check these and more informational picture books out on display at the Arnold Branch through September 25, 2020.

Wayside School Beneath the Cloud of Doom by Louis Sachar

Wayside School is back!  

The students of the class on the 30th floor along with their teacher Mrs. Jewl and Louis the gym yard teacher are back along with some new staff including psychiatrist Mr. Pickell and school libarian Mrs. Surlaw.

They are preparing for the Ultimate Test -- the test over everything they've ever learned.  If they fail they will have to return to kindergarten.  

There's only one problem . . . the cloud of doom that is parked over the school.

After 40 years, Louis Sachar has written the final book in the Wayside School series.  If you haven't read the previous books, you need to now!  They are filled with hilarious stories of the class on the 30th floor.  This is a great series for all kids.

Can You Solve the Mystery? Teen Mysteries

This week I'm sharing mysteries for teens.  Here are a few of my favorites . . . .

The Golden Day by Ursula Dubosarsky

Eleven schoolgirls embrace their own chilling history when their teacher abruptly goes missing on a field trip. Who was the mysterious poet they met in the garden? What actually happened that day? and most importantly, Who can they tell about it?

Paper Towns by John Green

One month before graduating from his Central Florida high school, Quentin "Q" Jacobsen basks in the predictable boredom of his life until the beautiful and exciting Margo Roth Spiegelman, Q's neighbor and classmate, takes him on a midnight adventure and then mysteriously disappears.

Period 8 by Chris Crutcher

Period 8 has always been a safe haven and high school senior Paulie "The Bomb" Baum a constant attendee, but as Paulie, Hannah, their friends, and a sympathetic teacher try to unravel the mystery of a missing classmate, the ultimate bully takes aim at the school.

Blink by Sasha Dawn

Sixteen-year-old Josh falls in love with newcomer Chatham Claiborne, who has come to town to find her missing sister, but when Chatham suddenly disappears Josh unearths a web of lies and secrecy surrounding her life, and in doing so unwittingly discovers vital clues to the town's longest unsolved mystery.

More Teen Mysteries --

The Breathless by Tara Goedjen

The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas

Daughter of Deep Silence by Carrie Ryan

The Dead and Buried by Kim Harrington

The Diviners by Libba Bray

Dreamland Burning by Jennifer Latham

Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte

I Am Princess X by Cherie Priest

Last Seen Leaving by Caleb Roehrig

The Lost Causes by Jessica Koosed Etting

A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis

The Mystery of Hollow Places by Rebecca Podos

The Opposite of Here by Tara Altebrando

Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

People Like Us by Dana Mele

Pretty Girl-13 by Liz Coly

Sadie by Courtney Summers

Spin by L.R. Giles

A Spy in the House by Y.S. Lee

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Wink Poppy Midnight by April Genevieve Tucholke

With Malice by Eileen Cook

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through September 11, 2020.

Maybe This Time by Kasie West

Name an event and Sophie will be there.  Well she has to be there.  

Sophie works for the local florist who does not only does all the flowers but also organizes most of the events throughout the year in their small town.  

Then at the annual Valentine's Party at the local nursing home she runs into Andrew, the son of a famous chef working with the local caterer.  

Now they are both required to be at all of the same events for the next year.  Too bad they hate each other.  

Hopefully the year will pass quickly.

This book takes place over one year at nine different events.  It chronicles the evolving relationship Sophie has with her mom, best friend, and Andrew.  This would be a great book for those who like authors Deb Caletti, Jennifer E. Smith or Morgan Matson.

Books So Funny You Have to Laugh Out Loud

We can all use a good laugh every now and then.  So this week, I'm share funny chapter books.  Here are a few of my favorites . . . .

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."

The Misadventures of the Family Fletcher by Dana Alison Levy
Relates the adventures of a family with two fathers, four adopted boys, and a variety of pets as they make their way through a school year and deal with a grumpy new neighbor.

Zoo School by Laurie Miller Hornik
The students at the strange new Zoo School have never seen a school like it before, but when inspectors try to close it down because of irregularities, the students are surprised to find out how much they have learned.

Jimmy Dabble by Frans Vischer
An imaginative little boy named Jimmy Dabble, who brings a creative touch to his farm chores, strikes his traditional parents as a bit too eccentric, but the understanding and encouragement he receives from his visiting grandmother and an unusual creature may be what he needs to resolve an impending crisis.


More Funny Books --
A Book of Coupons by Susie Morgenstern
Crown Me! by Kathryn Lay
Dr. Proctor's Fart Powder by Jo Nesbo
Funny Girl: Funnies. Stories. Ever. by Betsy Bird
Goldilocks, Go Home! by Martha Freeman
Hamstersaurus Rex by Tom O'Donnell
The Mummy's Mother by Tony Johnston
The Pepins and Their Problems by Polly Horvath
The Prizewinners of Piedmont Place by Bill Doyle
The Quigleys by Simon Mason
Squirrel in the House by Vivian Vande Velde
Stinkbomb & Ketchup-Face and the Badness of Badgers by John Dougherty


Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through September 6, 2020.

Take a Trip . . . By Reading a Good Book

Many of us are not able to go on a vacation this summer.  We'll have to settle for travelling through the stories we read.  So this week, I'm sharing some of my favorite picture books about trips . . .

A Good Knight's Rest by Shelley Moore Thomas

The Good Knight's hard work has earned him a vacation, but his three little dragon friends come along and make the trip anything but relaxing.

Are We There Yet? by Dandi Daley Mackall

A brother and sister can't wait to hit the road, but they soon find themselves bored with riding in the car and try to make the trip more fun.

Duck's Vacation by Gilad Soffer

Duck is trying to enjoy a relaxing vacation, but with each turn of the page, the reader causes some calamity.

The House Takes a Vacation by Jacqueline Davies

While the Petersons are away, their house decides to take a trip to the sea to watch the "Dance of the Sunlight," despite some groaning from the chimney and the basement's refusal to rise to the occasion.

Duck Tents by Lynne Berry

While on a camping trip, five little ducks pitch tents, go fishing, toast marshmallows around a campfire, and face frightening night noises.

More Books --

Astro Bunnies by Christine Loomis

Bear & Hare Go Fishing by Emily Gravett

The Big Bad Wolf Goes on Vacation by Delphine Perret

The Camping Trip That Changed America by Barba Rosenstock

City Cat by Kate Banks

A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever by Marla Frazee

The Dad with 10 Children by Benedicte Guettier

How to Code a Sandcastle by Josh Funk

The Journey of Oliver K. Woodman by Darcy Pattison

Liberty's Journey by Kelly DiPucchio

No Dogs Allowed! by Sonia Manzano

Pictures from Our Vacation by Lynne Rae Perkins

A Pork in New York by Catherine Stock

Strega Nona Takes a Vacation by Tomie de Paola

Tacky in Trouble by Helen Lester

Tiny Little Rocket by Richard Collingridge

Toot & Puddle: Top of the World by Holly Hobbie

Whiteblack the Penguin Sees the World by Margaret Rey

Wow! City! by Robert Neubecker

Check out the display of vacation picture books at the Arnold Branch through August 28, 2020.

2020 Teen Summer Reading List

Here it is . . . the annual summer reading list for teens.  Try one of our favorites on the list . . .

The Accident Season by Moira Fowley-Doyle
Every October, Cara and her family inexplicably suffer bruises, broken bones, and worse. Is it coincidence? Or a curse? As Cara begins to look closer, the mysteries only multiply and deepen.

Dig by A.S. King
Five white teenage cousins who are struggling with the failures and racial ignorance of their dysfunctional parents and their wealthy grandparents, reunite for Easter.

How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff
To get away from her pregnant stepmother in New York City, fifteen-year-old Daisy goes to England to stay with her aunt and cousins, with whom she instantly bonds, but soon war breaks out and rips apart the family while devastating the land.


More Books --
19 Love Songs by David Levithan
All Eyes on Us by Kit Frick
Angel Thieves by Kathi Appelt
Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones
Dear Evan Hansen by Val Emmich
The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee
Her Royal Highness by Rachel Hawkins
Infinity Son by Adam Silvera
The Kingdom by Jess Rothenberg
The Light at the Bottom of the World by London Shah
The Lovely War by Julie Berry
The Raft by S.A. Bodeen
Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
Serious Moonlight by Jenn Bennett
The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner
The Similars by Rebecca Hanover
Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly
Stronger, Faster, More Beautiful by Arwen Dayton
We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia
When You Were Everything by Ashley Woodfolk


Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through August 21, 2020.

Over the Moon by James Proimos

A baby drifts down a river.  She doesn't think -- she just drifts.

Two wolves find the baby.  One wolf wants to take her home and teach her everything.  The other wolf wants to take her home and eat her.



This book is all about going with the flow.  I love this book as that is my personal mantra -- I go where the river takes me and takes things as they come.  This book shares this philosophy while making you laugh.

I Wish . . .

This week, I'm sharing chapter book stories about wishes.  Here are a few of my favorite . . . .

Half Magic by Edward Eager
Faced with a dull summer in the city, Jane, Mark, Katharine, and Martha suddenly find themselves involved in a series of extraordinary adventures after Jane discovers an ordinary-looking coin that seems to grant wishes.

The Wish Giver by Bill Brittain
When a strange little man comes to the Coven Tree Church Social promising he can give people exactly what they ask for, three young believers-in-magic each make a wish that comes true in the most unexpected way.

The Angel Tree by Daphne Benedis-Grab
Every Christmas in the small town of Pine River, a tree appears in the town square and people tie wishes to it, but nobody knows where the tree comes from--but this year four children are determined to solve the mystery of the Angel Tree.


More Books --
The Bottle Imp of Bright House by Tom Llewellyn
A Drop of Hope by Keith Calabrese
Genuine Sweet by Faith Harkey
Granted by John David Anderson
Joplin, Wishing by Diane Stanley
One Wish by Michelle Harrison
Scare Scape by Sam Fisher
The Kazillion Wish by Nick Place
The Seventh Wish by Kate Messner
The Whispers by Greg Howard
Wishing Day by Lauren Myracle
Witch's Wishes by Vivian Vande Velde

5 Centimeters per Second by Makoto Shinkai

Tohno and Araki become friends in middle school.  They are inseparable until Araki has to move away just before high school.  Both harbor feelings for each other and promise they will stay in touch.  Then Tohno moves to a small island where fellow classmate Sumida falls in love with him.  But Tohno is unable to move on from his feelings from Araki even though they have long lost touch.  Will any of them ever find their place in the world and who they belong with?

This manga is based upon the award winning manga film.  The characters draw you into the story so that you root for them to find their ways.

Imagine A Story: A Summer Reading Picture Book List

An imagination is a great thing!  These books all tells about characters with good imaginations.  Here are a few of my favorites . . .

For Just One Day by Laura Leuck

After guessing the identity of each animal before turning the page, the reader pretends to be a porcupine, bear, crocodile, and bumblebee.

My Garden by Kevin Henkes

After helping her mother weed, water, and chase the rabbits from their garden, a young girl imagines her dream garden complete with jellybean bushes, chocolate rabbits, and tomatoes the size of beach balls.

Not a Box by Antoinette Portis

To an imaginative little bunny, a box is not always just a box.

Can You Make a Scary Face? by Jan Thomas

A ladybug invites the reader to play a game of "let's pretend."

Snowman All Year by Caralyn Buehner

A child imagines what it would be like if a snowman, made of magical snow, could be a companion throughout the year.

More Stories --

The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat

The Birthday Box by Leslie Patricelli

Chicken in Space by Adam Lehrhaupt

Claymates by Dav Petty

Happy Dreamer by Peter H. Reynolds

If I Were a Jungle Animal by Amanda Ellery

If Waffles Were Boys by Charise Mericle Harper

The Imaginary Garden by Andrew Larsen

A Long Way by Katherine Ayres

Maybe a Bear Ate It by Robie H. Harris

Old Bear by Kevin Henkes

On My Way to the Bath by Sarah Maizes

Still a Gorilla by Kim Norman

That's How! by Christoph Niemann

Vroom! by Barbara McClintock

A Wild Cowboy by Danna Smith

You Are a Lion! and Other Fun Yoga Poses by Taeeun Yoo

Check out the Imagine a Story picture book display at the Arnold Branch through August 10, 2020.

You Are Here by Jennifer E. Smith

Emma has always felt like something is missing -- that she doesn't fit into her family.  Then she finds out she had a twin brother who died right after birth.

Peter has always wanted to travel the world -- see new places.  He's never gotten the chance as his father is determined to keep them both in their small town forever.

Now they're on a road trip together.  Emma wants to find the brother she never knew and convinces Peter to go with her to find his grave.

I really enjoyed this book.  I liked the relationships between the various characters and how they change throughout the story.  I would recommend this to fans of Sarah Dessen or Morgan Matson.

I Want to Eat Your Pancreas by Yoru Sumino

An introverted high school boy discovers the secret of his popular classmate Sakura --  she is dying of pancreatic cancer.  He is the only one outside of her family who knows the truth.  The last thing he wants is to become her friend but Sakura's cheerful attitude draws him in . . .



This is a great manga series.  The relationship between the two friends is interesting.  The boy's character growth is believable.  I would recommend this to fans of realistic manga stories.

Technically, You Started It by Lana Wood Johnson

Haley is surprised to get a text from an unknown number one night after school.  It's from Martin Nathaniel Munro II in her history class.  The problem is that there are two Martin Nathaniel Munro II's in her history class -- cousins.  He says it's the good Martin.  This starts an ongoing text conversation where they become friends and then maybe something more.  The problem is that it isn't the Martin that Haley thinks it is . . .

I really enjoyed this book. It was fun to read.  Even though the book is told completely through texts, you get a complete story.  I would definitely recommend this to teens who enjoy romances.

Nameless Asterism series by Kina Kobayashi

Tsukasa, Washio, and Kotooka are best friends in middle school.  They do everything together.

But they all have secrets.

Tsukasa has a crush on Washio.
Washio is in love with Kotooka.
And neither of them know that Kotooka knows both of their secrets.

Will their friendship overcome all these secrets and feelings?



This is a great manga series by Kina Kobayashi.  The characters are all interesting -- including the side characters of Tsukasa's twin Subaru and her possible love interest Asakura.  With only five volumes the series is short and sweet.  I would recommend this series to those who enjoy friendship stories or romances.

The Garden of Words by Makoto Shinkai

Akizuki plays hooky every first period of a rainy school day.  He goes to the park and draws possible designs for shoes.  That is how he meets the mysterious woman who also plays hooky from work on rainy days to drink beer and chocolate in the park. 

A connection is made between the two when she quotes a poem to him as she leaves the first day. 

A clap of thunder . . . ?
. . . clouded
bringing rain
Will you stay beside me?

Will Akuzuki figure out the meaning before it's too late?



This is the manga retelling of an anime.  It's a fascinating look at ambition and relationships.  This would be a great read for those looking for a quick, slice of life manga to read.

What Remains by Helene Dunbar

It was always the three of them -- Cal, Spencer, and Lizzie -- ever since first grade.  They were best friends so tight they were almost one person.  Cal and Spencer devoted themselves to keeping Lizzie safe -- from her mother, depression, and life.

Then in an instant everything changes in one car accident.

Lizzie is dead.
Cal required a heart transplant that takes away his life plan of playing baseball.

Now Cal is trying to deal with his grief and guilt from the accident.

He also must deal with Lizzie's heart (now inside him).  It's talking to him and influencing him in ways he can't control.

Cal always thought he and his friends could overcome anything.  Now he's now sure if just him and Spencer will be okay without Lizzie.



While this is obviously not a "happy" story, it is engrossing to read.  Cal immediately grabs your attention so that you want to know if and how he heals.  I found this book ultimately to be very optimistic.  I would definitely recommend this book to all teens.

A Season of Gifts by Richard Peck

It's 1958 and there is a new family living next door to Mrs. Dowdel . . . a family that desperately needs her help whether they know it or not.

There's 12 year old Bob who is shy and being picked on by bullies.
There's 14 year old Phyllis who is obsessed with Elvis Presley.
There's 6 year old Ruth Ann who is looking for a larger than life role model.
And there are their parents, a young minister and his wife, who are adjusting to small town life.

As they go through the fall season from the start of school to Christmas, they'll realize just how special Mrs. Dowdel is and all the gifts she's given them.


This is a companion novel to A Long Way from Chicago and A Year Down Yonder.  It continues the exploits of Mrs. Dowdel and the small town she lives in.  This is an excellent story for children, especially during the holiday season.  It's also available in audiobook for those who would prefer to listen to the story.

Girl Power! Teen Books Featuring Strong Females

As this is Women's History Month, I thought I would share some teen books featuring strong female characters.  Here are a few of my favorites . . . .

The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley
Aerin, with the guidance of the wizard Luthe and the help of the Blue Sword, wins the birthright due her as the daughter of the Damarian king and a witchwoman of the mysterious, demon-haunted North.

Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins
Seventeen-year-old Harper Price's charmed life is turned upside down when she discovers she's been given magical powers in order to protect her school nemesis David Stark, who's an Oracle.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore
In a world where some people are born with a unique and sometimes uncanny gift, Katsa was certainly no exception. At an early age, she demonstrated an uncomfortable gift for killing. This makes her the perfect tool for her uncle, King Randa. Katsa detests being used and decides to stand against the injustice surrounding her.

Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith
During World War II, a light-skinned African American girl "passes" for white in order to join the Women Airforce Service Pilots.

The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton
In a world where Beauty is a commodity only a few control, one Belle will learn the dark secrets behind her powers, and rise up to change the world.


More Books --
The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
All the Rage by Courtney Summers
The Diabolic by S.J. Kincaid
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa tahir
Empress of a Thousand Skies by Rhoda Belleza
Furyborn by Claire Legrand
Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan
Girls With Sharp Sticks by Suzanne Young
Heartless by Marissa Meyer
The Hired Girl by Laura Amy Schlitz
The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge
Outrun the Moon by Stacey Lee
Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton
Scythe by Neal Shusterman
Sky Without Stars by Jessica Brody
Slayer by Kiersten White
Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin
The Young Elites by Marie Lu

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through April 3, 2020.

A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck

Joey and his sister Mary Alice are sent every summer for one week to their Grandma Dowdel's small southern Illinois town.  They are not happy about this.  Nothing ever happens there . . . or does it.

August 1929 -- They see their first corpse . . . and it isn't resting peacefully.

August 1930 -- Grandma gets payback on the teen boys terrorizing the town.

August 1931 -- They trespass, pinch property, poach, and catch the sheriff in his underwear . . . all in the same day.

And there's much more as Joey and Mary Alice make seven summer trips to stay with Grandma Dowdel.


This is a fun historical novel for kids.  It focuses on the ornery character of Grandma Dowdel and her interactions with the town.  I would recommend this for kids looking for humorous or historical fiction. 

Enter If You Dare . . . . Stories of Odd and Unusual Houses

This week, I'm sharing chapter books that feature unusual houses.  Here are a few of my favorites . . .

The House With a Clock in Its Walls by John Bellairs
A boy goes to live with his magician uncle in a mansion that has a clock hidden in the walls which is ticking off the minutes until doomsday.

Castle Hangnail by Ursula Vernon
When little, twelve-year-old Molly arrives at Castle Hangnail to fill the vacancy for a wicked witch, the minions who dwell there have no choice but to give her the job and at first it seems she will be able to keep the castle open, but Molly has quite a few secrets that could cause trouble.

Larklight by Philip Reeve
In an alternate Victorian England, young Arthur and his sister Myrtle, residents of Larklight, a floating house in one of Her Majesty's outer space territories, uncover a spidery plot to destroy the solar system.

Enchanted Glass by Diana Wynne Jones
After his grandfather dies, Andrew Hope inherits a house and surrounding land in an English village, but things become very complicated when young orphan Aidan shows up and suddenly a host of variously magical townsfolk and interlopers start intruding on their lives.


More Books --
The 13-Story Treehouse by Andy Griffiths
Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko
The Beastly Arms by Patrick Jennings
Club Earth by Gail Gauthier
Front Desk by Kelly Yang
The Ghost in the Glass House by Carey Wallace
Gone Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright
The House With Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson
Nine Open Arms by Benny Lindelauf
Olivia Kidney by Ellen Potter
The Phantom Tower by Keir Graff
The Secret of Nightingale Wood by Lucy Strange
Watch Hollow by Gregory Funaro

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through March 27, 2020.

Pinch Proof Picture Books for St. Patrick's Day

With St. Patrick's Day quickly approaching, I'm sharing picture books featuring green objects.  Here are a few of my favorites . . . .

Good Luck Bear by Greg Foley
When Bear's friend Mouse tells him that finding a four-leaf clover means one is lucky, the little bear searches for one, despite the discouraging words of other animals.

The Croaky Pokey by Ethan Long
Frogs sing and do their own version of the Hokey Pokey.

My Snake Blake by Randy Siegel
The extremely long, bright green snake a boy receives from his father as an early birthday present proves to be incredibly smart and talented.

Little Pea by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Little Pea hates eating candy for dinner, but his parents will not let him have his spinach dessert until he cleans his plate.

Go! Go! Go! Stop! by Charise Mericle Harper
Little Green only knows one word: 'Go!' It's the perfect thing to get the construction site moving, but how will they stop?


More Books --
Ah Ha! by Jeff Mack
Alligator Boy by Cynthia Rylant
Carrot & Pea by Morag Hood
The Dinosaur Tooth Fairy by Martha Brockenbrough
The Frog Principal by Stephanie Calmenson
Gator Gumbo by Candace Fleming
A Girl and Her Gator by Sean Bryan
Go, Little Green Truck! by Roni Schotter
The Good Ship Crocodile by J. Patrick Lewis
Grandpa Green by Lane Smith
Green as a Bean by Karla Kuskin
The Green Bath by Margaret Mahy
I Don't Want to Be a Frog by Dav Petty
The Little Green Goose by Adele Sanson
The Little Pea by Eric Battus
Lizette's Green Sock by Catharina Valckz
The Mysterious Tadpole by Steven Kellogg
The Pea Blossom by Amy  Lowry
Pedro and George by Delphine Perret
Red Light, Green Lion by Candace Ryan
Rory and the Dinosaur: Me and My Dad by Liz Climo
Three Little Peas by Marine Rivoal
Too Many Frogs by Sandy Asher
Turtle Island by Kevin Sherry
Verdi by Janell Cannon
The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli

Check these and more books out on display at the Arnold Branch through March 20, 2020.

Strange Grace by Tessa Gratton

Long ago, the town of Three Graces made a deal.  Every seven years during the Slaughter Moon they must sacrifice a young man of the town to the devil in the forest.  In exchange, the town suffers no ill -- illness, famine, premature death.

But something has changed. 

It's only been three years since the last Slaughter Moon. 

Now sacrifice Rhun, witch Mair, and outcast Arthur will learn the secrets behind the deal and what must be done to restore balance.



This is a fascinating fantasy novel for teens.  You find yourself pulled into the story and connecting with the characters -- their relationships, their beliefs, and their feelings when betrayed.  I would highly recommend this to teens who enjoy fantasy or even dystopian fiction.

Romances for Teens

Even though Valentine's Day has passed, it's still a great time to read a romance.  Here are a few of my favorite teen romances . . . .

Top Ten by Katie Cotugno
Ryan McCullough and Gabby Hart are the unlikeliest of best friends. But somehow their relationship just worksAs they try to figure out what they mean to each other and where to go from here, they make a top ten list counting down the top ten moments of their friendship.

That Inevitable Victorian Thing by E.K. Johnston
In a near-future Toronto where the British Empire never fell, Helena, August, and Margaret are caught off-guard by the discovery of a love so intense they are willing to change the course of the monarchy to keep it.

Summer Days and Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories by Stephanie Perkins
Maybe it's the long, lazy days, or maybe it's the heat making everyone a little bit crazy. Whatever the reason, summer is the perfect time for love to bloom. Featuring stories by Leigh Bardugo, Cassandra Clare, Tim Federle, Stephanie Perkins, Veronica Roth, Jon Skovron, Jennifer E. Smith and more.

Night Music by Jenn Marie Thorne
Ruby and Oscar are caught up in a romance despite very different backgrounds and her having given up on music, while he is the protégé of her father, a renowned composer.


More Teen Romances --
Extraordinary Means by Robyn Schneider
Fan Art by Sarah Tregay
The Game of Love and Death by Martha Brockenbrough
The Geek's Guide to Unrequited Love by Sarvenaz Tash
Hot Dog Girl by Jennifer Dugan
If I'm Being Honest by Emily Wibberley
The Impossibility of Us by Katy Upperman
The Love Letters of Abelard and Lily by Laura Creedle
Love Scene, Take Two by Alex Evansley
Meant to Be by Julie Halpern
P.S. I Like You by Kasie West
A Quiet Kind of Thunder by Sara Barnard
Rebel Seoul by Axie Oh
The Romantics by Leah Konen
Something Like Gravity by Amber Smith
Somewhere Only We Know by Maurene Goo
The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
Unlovely by Celeste Conway
We Contain Multitudes by Sarah Henstra
The Weight of Feathers by Anna-Marie McLemore

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through March 6, 2020.

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

Gen can steal anything -- at least that's the boast he's made in every winehouse in the capital city.  It's this bragging that has landed him in the king's prison.  He even bragged at his trial that he could steal his freedom.

So when the king's Magus comes with a proposition that he will be released if he steals an item of legend, Gen can't refuse. 

What he doesn't know is that this won't just change his life, but will change the course of several countries.



This is the first book in the Queen's Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner.  This is a wonderful fantasy quest story with lots of intrigue.  It is a great introduction to the world of Eugenides that just gets more detailed with each book in the series.  I would recommend this to those who like fantasy or political intrigue.