Any Way the Wind Blows by Rainbow Rowell

Simon, Baz, Penelope, and Agatha have returned to England after their adventures in America.  Each of them has to decide what they're going to do next.  Simon has to decide whether to leave the magic world or not.  Baz is bouncing between two family crises.  Penelope is searching for a way to save a Normal from a demon's curse.  And Agatha is just done with it all.

This is the third and final book in the Simon Snow series.  I have loved this series since the first book.  It was a great read with its turning of a "Chosen One" prophecy on its head.  This book is a great ending to the series.  The story is interesting and the character development is well done.  I would definitely recommend this book to those who enjoyed the first book in the series and I would recommend the whole series to those who enjoy fantasy stories and relationships.

Road Trip by Gary Paulsen

 

Ben has just been informed he's going on a road trip with his father -- a road trip he's not sure he wants to go on.  

He wants to rescue the dog there travelling to save.  But he doesn't want to spend any time with his dad.  

So invites along his thuggish friend Theo.  

Then they're joined by a cranky mechanic who lends them his school bus for the trip.  

Next they're joined by a waitress who reads aura.  

This is going to be one memorable road trip.

This is a fun and interesting book to read (or listen to on audio).  The characters draw you into the story -- especially Atticus, their current dog, who narrates his observations at the end of each chapter.  I would definitely recommend this book to all readers.

Boo! Ghost Stories for Kids

 This week, I'm sharing chapter book ghost stories.  Here a few of my favorites . . . .

Christina's Ghost by Betty Ren Wright

Christina's summer in a spooky, isolated Victorian house with her grumpy uncle turns into a ghostly adventure.

Ghost Knight by Cornelia Funke

Eleven-year-old Jon Whitcroft and new friend Ella summon the ghost of Sir William Longspee, who may be able to protect Jon from a group of ghosts that threatens him harm from the day he arrives at Salisbury Cathedral's boarding school. 

The Time of the Ghost by Diana Wynne Jones

A ghost, uncertain of her identity, watches the four Melford sisters hatch a plan to get their parents' attention and slowly becomes aware of the danger from a supernatural power unleashed by the girls and their friends from the boys boarding school run by the Melfords.

Dial-A-Ghost by Eva Ibbotson

A family of nice ghosts protects a British orphan from the diabolical plans of his evil guardians. 

More Ghost Stories --

A Festival of Ghosts by William Alexander

Ghost and Bone by Andrew Prentice

The Ghost Collector by Allison Mills

Ghost Dog Secrets by Peg Kehret

The Ghost in the Glass House by Carey Wallace

The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall by Mary Downing Hahn

Ghost Squad by Claribel A. Ortega

Ghost: Thirteen Haunting Tales to Tell by various authors
Ghosted by Michael Fry
Ghosthunters and the Incredibly Revolting Ghost by Cornelia Funke

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through November 5, 2021.

Dare to Be Scared: Horror Stories for Teens

This week, we're getting in the Halloween mood with some great horror novels for teens . . . .

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
For three years, seventeen-year-old Cas Lowood has carried on his father's work of dispatching the murderous dead, traveling with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat, but everything changes when he meets Anna, a girl unlike any ghost he has faced before.

Lord Loss by Darren Shan

Presumably the only witness to the horrific and bloody murder of his entire family, a teenage boy must outwit not only the mental health professionals determined to cure his delusion, but also the demonic forces only he can see.

Harrow Lake by Kat Ellis

Lola Nox is sent to live with her estranged maternal grandmother in the mining town where her horror movie director father's most iconic film was set, when paranormal incidents and whispers of a century-old monster make her question if she'll make it out alive.

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 --

#MurderTrending by Gretchen McNeil

As I Descended by Robin Talley

Blood Countess by Lana Popovic

Burn Our Bodies Down by Rory Power

Burning by Danielle Rollins

Daemon Hall by Andrew Nance

The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White

Dreaming Darkly by Caitlin Kittredge

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

The Girl from the Well by Rin Chupeco

The Haunted by Danielle Vega

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

The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

The Mary Shelley Club by Goldy Moldavsky

Messenger of Fear by Michael Grant

Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry

Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand

There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins

What Big Teeth by Rose Szabo

The Wrong Train by Jeremy de Quidt

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through October 30, 2021.

Can You Solve the Mystery?

 This week, I'm sharing chapter book mysteries.  Here are a few of my favorites . . . .

Charlie & Frog: A Mystery by Karen Kane
While staying with his grandparents in Castle-on-the-Hudson, Charlie stumbles upon a mystery but must learn American Sign Language to keep up with Frog, a deaf girl who wants to help solve it.

The Haunted Serpent by Dora M. Mitchell
New kid in school Spaulding Meriwether teams with cool kid Marietta, her euphonium-playing sister Lucy, and popular jock Kenny to investigate a mysterious boa constrictor that lives next door to Spaulding that may have eaten its owner.

The Uncanny Express by Kara LaReau
When their Aunt Shallot, aka Magique, Queen of Magic, goes missing on the Uncanny Express, Jaundice, Kale, and the famous detective Hugo Frommage seek to solve the mystery and rescue the magician.

The Real McCoys by Matthew Swanson

Elementary school detective Moxie McCoy looks for a missing school mascot and a new best friend, with the help of her annoying little brother.

More Mysteries --
Ernestine, Catastrophe Queen by Merrill Wyatt

The Guggenheim Mystery by Robin Stevens

The Harlem Charade by Natasha Tarpley

Kazu Jones and the Denver Dognappers by Shauna M. Holyoak

Mystery in the Mansion by Lauren Magaziner

Premeditated Myrtle by Elizabeth C. Bunce

Room One: A Mystery or Two by Andrew Clements

Strike Three, You're Dead by Josh Berk

Under Locker and Key by Allison K. Hymas

The Unforgettable Guinevere St. Clair by Amy Makechnie

The Unknowns: A Mystery by Benedict Carey

Who Killed Darius Drake? by Rodman Philbrick

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through October 1, 2021.

I Don't Remember: Stories of Memory Loss & Amnesia for Teens

It's always fun to read a book and try to discover the hidden secrets.  And there is nothing more secretive than lost memories.  So this week, I'm sharing teen stories about amnesia and memory loss.  Here are a few of my favorites . . . .

The Leaving by Tara Altebrando
Years after six kindergarteners go missing, five return as teens and struggle to reacclimate to life with their families in spite of trauma and an inability to remember about their experiences. None of them remember the sixth victim, Max, the only one who hasn't come back. Which leaves Max's sister, Avery, wanting answers and is determined to find her brother.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Sixteen-year-old Thomas wakes up with no memory in the middle of a maze and realizes he must work with the community in which he finds himself if he is to escape.

The Forgetting by Sharon Cameron
Canaan is a quiet city on an idyllic world, hemmed in by high walls, but every twelve years the town breaks out in a chaos of bloody violence, after which all the people undergo the Forgetting, in which they are left without any trace of memory of themselves, their families, or their lives--but somehow seventeen-year-old Nadia has never forgotten, and she is determined to find out what causes it and how to put a stop to the Forgetting forever.

Stolen by Vivian Vande Velde
A girl finds herself running through the forest at the edge of a village with no memory of anything, even her own name, and later learns that she might be twelve-year-old Isabelle, believed to be stolen by a witch six years before.


More Stories --
The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson
Breaking Beautiful by Jennifer Shaw Wolf
Damsel by Elana K. Arnold
The Dead I Know by Scot Gardner
Destroy All Monsters by Sam J. Miller
Forgotten: A Novel by Cat Patrick
Grown: A Novel by Tiffany D. Jackson
House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland
The Last Thing I Remember by Andrew Klavan
Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin
Mind Games by Shana Silver
The One Memory of Flora Banks by Emily Barr
Pretty Girl-13 by Liz Coley
Reverie by Ryan La Sala
Remember Me Always by Renee Collins
The Ruinous Sweep by Tim Wynne-Jones
Shadow State by Elyse Brayden
Surface Tension by Mike Mullin
With Malice by Eileen Cook

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through September 24, 2021.

Horse Tales

 This week, I'm sharing chapter book stories about horses . . . .

Astra by Chris Platt
Forbidden to ride after her mother's death in a riding accident, thirteen-year-old Lily nurses her mother's beloved horse, Astra, back to health, hoping that someday Astra will win the Tevis Cup endurance race.

Rescue by Jessie Haas

When Chess moves near Joni, their differing opinions have Joni defending her family's farm, and she must find the courage to stand up to Chess when she decides to "rescue" the minature horses from a nearby farm.

Libby of High Hopes by Elisa Primavera

When ten-year-old Libby Thump stumbles upon High Hopes Horse Farm and finds her dream horse, Princess, a prize-winning jumping horse that has been put out to pasture, Libby tries to convince her parents to give her riding lessons.

Dream of Night by Heather Henson

Told from their different points of view, twelve-year-old Shiloh, a troubled foster child, Dream of Night, an abused former racehorse, and Jess, a woman who cares for both, find healing by helping one another through their pain.

More Horse Stories --

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
The Blue Roan Child by Jamieson Findlay
Chauncy of the Maury River by Gigi Amateau

The Devil in Ol' Rosie by Louise Moeri
A Horse Called Hero by Sam Angus

A Hundred Horses by Sarah Lean

The Island Horse by Susan Hughes

King of the Wind by Marguerite Henry

Mary Margaret Meets Her Match by Christine Kole MacLean

Mending Horses by M.P. Barker

My Friend Flicka by Mary O'Hara

No Small Thing by Natale Ghent

Paint the Wind by Pam Munoz Ryan

Wild Girl by Patricia Reilly Giff

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through September 10, 2021.

The Five Faces of Grief: A Teen Fiction Booklist

Everybody reacts to grief in a different way.  This week, I'm sharing fiction stories for teens about the grieving process.  Here are a few of my favorites . . . .

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen
The summer following her father's death, Macy plans to work at the library and wait for her brainy boyfriend to return from camp, but instead she goes to work at a catering business where she makes new friends and finally faces her grief.

Goodbye Days: A Novel by Jeff Zentner
Looks at a teen's life after the death of his best friend and how he navigates through the guilt and pain by celebrating their lives--and ultimately learning to forgive himself.

Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

After the death of her father, Amy, a high school student and Roger, a college freshman, set out on a carefully planned road trip from California to Connecticut, but wind up taking many detours, forcing Amy to face her worst fears and come to terms with her grief and guilt.

More Books --

All That Was by Karen Rivers

Bang: A Novel by Barry Lyga

Breakaway by Katarina M. Spears

The Chaos of Standing Still by Jessica Brody

The Color of the Sun by David Almond

Fadeaway by Maura Ellen Stokes

The Half-Orphan's Handbook by Joan F. Smith

The History of Jane Doe by Michael Belander

I Felt a Funeral, In My Brain by Will Walton

The Last Forever by Deb Caletti

The Last Wish of Sasha Cade by Cheyanne Young

Legacy by Jessica Blank

Maybe by Brent Runyon

Pretend She's Here by Luanne Rice

Ready to Fall by Marcella Fleischman Pixley

Road Tripped by Pete Hautman

The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

Sorry for Your Loss by Jessie Ann Foley

Start Here by Trish Doller

The Stepping Off Place by Cameron Kelly Rosenblum
Summer Bird Blue by Akemi Dawn Bowman
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Waiting by Carol Lynch Williams
Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch September 3, 2021.

Tails & Tales: Reading Safari

 This week, I'm sharing picture books featuring animals you might find on a safari.  Here are a few of my favorites . . . .

Lion Lessons by Jon Agee
Learning to be a lion takes some serious lessons, but luckily, this kid has a teacher who is a real pro.

Hooray for Hat! by Brian Won

Elephant wakes up in a grumpy mood, but a present on his doorstep--a hat--cheers him and he sets out to greet his neighbors who all, it seems, need hats of their own!

Count the Monkeys by Mac Barnett
The reader is invited to count the animals that have frightened the monkeys off the pages.

Hippos Are Huge! by Jonathan London

Presents an introduction to the hippopotamus that describes its less well-known characteristics, including its strength, speed, and deadly nature.

Tiny Little Fly by Michael Rosen

With a tramp and a roll and a swat, Great Big Elephant, Great Big Hippo, and Great Big Tiger try to capture Tiny Little Fly as he teases each one in turn.

More Books --

Alan's Big Scary Teeth by Jarvis

Cecily G. and the Nine Monkeys by H.A. Rey

Elmer by David McKee

Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae

The Good Ship Crocodile by J. Patrick Lewis

Hello, Hippo! Goodbye, Bird! by Kristyn Crow

It's a Tiger! by David LaRochelle

Mouse & Lion by Rand Burkert

Old Mikamba Had a Farm by Rachel Isadora

On Safari by Emma Lynch

One Day in the Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus Tree by Daniel Bergstrom

One Gorilla: A Counting Book by Anthony Browne

The President of the Jungle by Andre Rodrigues
Rhino Romp by Jean Craighead George

Row, Row, Row Your Boat by Jane Cabrera

The Short Giraffe by Neil Flory

Sloth Went by Adam Lehrhaupt

Snappsy the Alligator Did NOT Ask to Be in This Book! by Julie Falatko

Snuggle Up, Sleepy Ones by Claire Freeman

Tales from the Waterhole by Bob Graham

Tiptoe Tapirs by Han-Min Kim
The Travels of Babar by Jean de Brunhoff

Verdi by Janell Cannon

Wally Wants to Hug by Barbara M. Joosse

What Does an Anteater Eat? by Ross Collins

Check these and more safari animal books out on display at the Arnold Branch through August 27, 2021.

Horse Tales

This week, I'm sharing chapter books stories about horses . . . .

Libby of High Hopes by Elise Primavera
When ten-year-old Libby Thump stumbles upon High Hopes Horse Farm and finds her dream horse, Princess, a prize-winning jumping horse that has been put out to pasture, Libby tries to convince her parents to give her riding lessons.

Chancey of the Maury River by Gigi Amateau
After being abandoned, Chancey, an albino Appaloosa horse, finds a new home with Claire who needs him as much as he needs her, but as his eyesight deteriorates, he and Claire start anew as a therapeutic team.

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
A horse in nineteenth-century England recounts his experiences with both good and bad masters.


More Horse Stories --
Astra by Chris Platt
The Blue Roan Child by Jamieson Findlay
The Devil in Ol' Rosie by Louise Moeri
Dream of Night by Heather Henson
A Horse Called Hero by Sam Angus
A Hundred Horses by Sarah Lean
The Island Horse by Susan Hughes
King of the Wind by Marguerite Henry
Mary Margaret Meets Her Match by Christine Kole MacLean
Mending Horses by M.P. Baker
My Friend Flicka by Mary O'Hara
No Small Thing by Natale Ghent
Paint the Wind by Pam Munoz Ryan
Rescue by Jessie Haas
Wild Girl by Patricia Reilly Giff


Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through August 20, 2021.

Outside In by LeUyen Pham

Outside In by LeUyen Pham

One day all the people outside . . . went inside.
What were they doing?
Why did they go inside?

This book explains in a simple manner the effects of covid-19 and quarantine to young children.  The words are simple -- highlighting  the ways people coped and felt.  The illustrations offer more depth to the words.  This is a great book to share with children who might be upset and confused as to the events of the past year.

Classics of Teen Fantasy

 This week, I'm sharing some of the classics in teen fantasy.  Here are a few of my favorites . . . .

Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

Bored with traditional palace life, a princess goes off to live with a group of dragons and soon becomes involved with fighting against some disreputable wizards who want to steal away the dragons' kingdom.

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.

Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce

Eleven-year-old Alanna, who aspires to be a knight even though she is a girl, disguises herself as a boy to become a royal page, learning many hard lessons along her path to high adventure.

The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia McKillip

Raised on Eld mountain with only her father's magical menagerie for company, a young wizard is drawn irrevocably into the human world with all its sorrows and delights when a baby comes into her care.

Howl's Moving Castle by Diane Wynne Jones

Eldest of three sisters in a land where it is considered to be a misfortune, Sophie is resigned to her fate as a hat shop apprentice until a witch turns her into an old woman and she finds herself in the castle of the greatly feared wizard Howl .

More Classics of Teen Fantasy --

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

The Girl of Fire and Thorn by Rae Carson

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through August 13, 2021.

I Want a Pet!

 This week, I am sharing picture books about pets.  Here are a few of my favorites . . . .

Memoirs of a Tortoise by Devin Scillian
Oliver the tortoise looks back on his happy life as he wonders why his pet human, Ike, who he has had for eighty years, has stopped visiting the garden.

Me Want Pet by Tammi Sauer

When Cave Boy wants a pet, he tries a woolly mammoth, a saber-toothed tiger, and a dodo bird, but none seems suitable.

My Rhinoceros by Jon Agee

A rhinoceros does only two things: pop balloons and poke holes in kites. But rhinoceroses can really do more--so much more--than that!

Oh No, George! by Chris Haughton

George finds it hard to be a good dog when there are cats to chase, flowers to dig up, and a delicious cake sitting on the kitchen table.

Cats are Cats by Valeri Gorbachev

Miss Bell loves her cat Tiger, despite his tendency to act like a tiger.


More Pet Stories --

The Birthday Pet by Ellen Javernick

Can I Be Your Dog? by Troy Cummings

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

A Cat Is Better by Linda Joy Singleton

Cat Napped by Leeza Hernandez

C'Mere, Boy! by Sharon Jennings

Dino by Diego Vaisberg

Dogosaurus Rex by Anna Staniszewski

Gilbert Goldfish Wants a Pet by Kelly DiPucchio

Hondo & Fabian by Peter McCarty

If I Had a Raptor by George O'Connor

The Kindhearted Crocodile by Lucia Panzieri

Lizard from the Park by Mark Pett

Me and My Big Mouse by Ethan Long

My Cat, the Silliest Cat in the World by Gilles Bachelet

My Crocodile Does Not Bite by Joe Kulka

A Pet for Miss Wright by Judy Young

Playtime? by Jeff Mack

Poor Louie by Tony Fucile

Rrralph by Lois Ehlert

Sterling, Best Dog Ever by Aidan Cassie
Take Your Pet to School Day by Linda Ashman

That's My Dog! by Rick Walton

Trouper by Meg Kearney

Who Wants a Tortoise? by David Keane
You Don't Want a Unicorn by Ame Dyckman


Check these and more pet picture books out on display at the Arnold Branch through August 6, 2021.

The Way of the House Husband by Kousuke Oono

He was the fiercest Yakuza member that was feared by all other Yakuza.  They called him the Immortal Dragon. 

Then he disappeared. 

Now he is a simple house husband -- preparing meals, cleaning the house, and shopping for bargains.


This is the first volume in the manga series.  The stories are episodic and self-contained.  The first volume also contains several bonus stories about side characters from the series.

 

Summer Stories

 This week, I'm sharing chapter book stories of summer . . . .

Morgy's Musical Summer by Maggie Lewis
To encourage his talent for playing the trumpet, Morgy is sent to a music camp over the summer, where he has the displeasure of meeting Damian, an advanced student who likes to tease "promising beginners."

Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to Summer Vacation by Tom Greenwald

Charlie Joe Jackson is at academic summer camp trying to convert all the other kids to non-academics.

My One Hundred Adventures by Polly Horvath

Twelve-year-old Jane, who lives at the beach in a run-down old house with her mother, two brothers, and sister, has an eventful summer accompanying her pastor on bible deliveries, meeting former boyfriends of her mother;s, and being coerced into babysitting for a family of ill-mannered children.

The Summer Experiment by Cathie Pelletier

A boring summer vacation turns unexpectedly interesting when mysterious lights appear over Roberta's hometown in northern Maine. 

More Summer Stories --

The Forget-Me-Not Summer by Leila Howland

Fort by Cynthia DeFelice

The Great Good Summer by Elizabeth Garton Scanlon

The Green Dog: a Mostly True Story by Suzanne Fisher Staples

Melonhead and the Big Stink by Katy Kelly

Notes from the Dog by Gary Paulsen

Rules of the Ruff by Heidi Lang

Sparrow Road by Sheila O'Connor

Summer According to Humphrey by Betty Birney

Summer at Meadow Wood by Amy Tan

The Summer I Saved the World -- in 64 Days by Michele Weber Hurwitz

Summer of a Thousand Pies by Margaret Dilloway

Summer Science by Katie Coppens

Summer with Elisa by Johanna Hurwitz

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through July 30, 2021.

2021 Teen Summer Reading List

This week, I'm sharing my annual summer reading list for teens.  It includes books of all genres -- mystery, science fiction, romance, fantasy, etc.  Here are a few of my favorites . . . .

Far Far Away by Tom McNeal

When Jeremy Johnson Johnson's strange ability to speak to the ghost of Jacob Grimm draws the interest of his classmate, Ginger Boltinghouse, the two find themselves at the center of a series of disappearances in their hometown.

Rebel Mechanics by Shanna Swendson

In 1888 New York City, sixteen-year-old governess Verity Newton agrees to become a spy, whatever the risk, after learning that the man for whom she has feelings sympathizes with rebels developing non-magical sources of power, via steam engines, in hopes of gaining freedom from British rule.

Hiding by Henry Turner

When a teen boy who excels at being unseen finds himself hiding in his ex-girlfriend's house, he uncovers carefully concealed truths about her, her family, and himself.

Twin Daggers by MarcyKate Connolly

Before she can rescue her twin sister, sixteen-year-old magic-wielding spy Aissa must choose between pursuing revenge against the ruling Technocrats or abandoning her mission and trusting her sworn enemies.

We'll Fly Away by Bryan Bliss 

Toby and Luke are best friends, bound by a goal of leaving their hometown for Luke's wrestling scholarship, but a series of events during their senior year will test their resolve.

More Books --

36 Questions That Changed My Mind About You by Vicki Grant

The Afterward by E.K. Johnson

All Is Fair by Dee Garretson

The Companion by Kate Alender

Crier's War by Nina Varela

Divided Fire by Jennifer San Filippo
Frankly in Love by David Yoon

The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig
Jo & Laurie by Margaret Stohl & Melissa de la Cruz
Last Bus to Everland by Sophie Cameron

The Liar's Daughter by Megan Cooley Peterson
Lifestyles of Gods & Monsters by Emily Roberson

Nice Try, Jane Sinner by Lianne Oelke

Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt

The Secret Life of Kitty Granger by G.D. Falksen

Tweet Cute by Emma Lord

Verona Comics by Jennifer Dugan

We Speak in Storms by Natalie Lund
We'll Fly Away by Bryan Bliss

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through July 23, 2021.

The Big Bad Wolf in My House by Valerie Fontaine

 

When the Big Bad Wolf came to my house, he didn't sneak in or huff and puff down the walls.  He just walked in the front door after being invited in by my mother.

It didn't take long for the Big Bad Wolf to show his true side.  He yelled.  He threw things.  And he left bruises . . . . 


This book covers the serious topic of abuse in a simple way for children to understand.  The metaphor of the Big Bad Wolf, while scary, is a little less frightening than if it was a human character.  I would highly recommend this book.

Tails & Tales: Pig Stories (Picture Books)

 This week, I'm sharing picture books featuring . . . PIGS!  Here are a few of my favorites . . . .

Ten Hungry Pigs by Derek Anderson

In this rhyming, counting book, ten pigs build a very strange sandwich--until a wolf comes along and sends them running.

Wolf Won't Bite by Emily Gravett

Three little circus pigs capture a wild wolf and make him do outrageous tricks, safe in the belief that he would never bite them.

Is That Wise, Pig? by Jan Thomas

Mouse and Cow are making soup but Pig keeps trying to add strange ingredients.

Pug Meets Pig by Sue Gallion

Pug is happy at home until Pig arrives, when he must share his bowl, his yard, and even his bed, but just as Pug is packing his belongings to leave things change for the better.

Ribbit! by Rodrigo Folguiera

When a pig visits a frog pond, sits on a rock, and says only "Ribbit!", news spreads fast but only the wise old beetle has an explanation.

More Pig Stories --

All for Me and None for All by Helen Lester

Bed Hogs by Kelly DiPucchio

Day by Day by Susan Gal

Do Not Open This Book by Michaela Muntean

Dumpy La Rue by Elizabeth Winthrop

Ginger and Petunia by Patricia Polacco

Go Sleep in Your Own Bed! by Candace Fleming

I Know a Wee Piggy by Kim Norman

If You Give a Pig a Pancake by Laura Numeroff

Little Oink by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

My Lucky Day by Keiko Kasza

A Normal Pig by K-Fai Steele

Nursery Crimes by Arthur Geisert

Olivia by Ian Falconer

One Rainy Day by Valeri Gorbachev
A Pig Parade is a Terrible Idea by Michael Ian Black

Pignic by Matt Phelan

Pigs Aplenty, Pigs Galore by David McPhail

Pigs to the Rescue by John Himmelman
The Princess and the Pig by Jonathan Emmett

The Three Ninja Pigs by Corey Rosen Schwartz

Toot & Puddle: Top of the World by Holly Hobbie

Wait! No Paint! by Bruce Whatley

Yum! by Colin McNaughton

Check these and more pig stories out on display at the Arnold Branch through July 16, 2021.

Gone to the Woods: Surviving a Lost Childhood by Gary Paulsen

Author Gary Paulsen is known for his tales of survival in the woods and wilderness.  This book is a different sort of survival story -- the true story of how he survived his childhood.

He escaped his neglectful mother in Chicago when he travelled to spend a summer with his aunt and uncle in the North Woods.  It was this experience that inspired his most famous book -- Hatchet.

He then spent the remainder of this childhood in post-WWII Philippines and his teen years back in the states with two drunk parents who continued to neglect him.  His saving graces at that time were the woods that he still loved and the public library.  The library handed him the first book he ever read at 13 years.  It started a lifelong love of reading and then writing when she gave him a notebook to write his own stories in.

The book ends with his time in the army when he discovered his true calling as a storyteller.

This is a sad, yet hopeful, story of a neglected child becoming who he was meant to be.  It is inspiring to hear how he turned his life experiences into stories that have thrilled children for decades.  I would recommend this to older children and teens who are fans of Gary Paulsen's stories.  (It might be a little rough for younger children.)  I would also recommend the audio version as the narrator did a great job of sharing Gary Paulsen's story.
 

Animals Stories for Children (Chapter Books)

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

Whales on Stilts by M.T. Anderson

Racing against the clock, shy middle-school student Lily and her best friends, Katie and Jasper, must foil the plot of her father's conniving boss to conquer the world using an army of whales.

Squirrel in the House by Vivian Vande Velde

A Squirrel narrates this story of a family get-together turned upside down when he climbs down the chimney to join the festivities.

Spy Penguins by Sam Hay

Young penguins Jackson, also known as Secret Agent 00Zero, and his inventor-friend, Quigley, investigate who is stealing rare fish from the Rookeryville aquarium, hoping to prove themselves to the Frosty Bureau of Investigation.

A Wolf Called Wander by Rosanne Parry

A young wolf cub, separated from his pack, journeys 1000 miles across the Pacific Northwest, dealing with forest fires, hunters, highways, and hunger before finding a new home.

Quack by Anna Humphrey

A young wolf cub, separated from his pack, journeys 1000 miles across the Pacific Northwest, dealing with forest fires, hunters, highways, and hunger before finding a new home.

More Animal Stories --

Akimbo and the Lions by Alexander McCall Smith

The Elephant Thief by Jane Kerr

Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl

Isabel of the Whales by Hester Velmans

The Last Polar Bears by Harry Horse

Llama in the Library by Johanna Hurwitz

Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard Atwater

Mr. Tiger, Betsy, and the Blue Moon by Sally Gardner

Mystery on the Ostrich Express by Laura James

Paddington Here and Now by Michael Bond

Toaff's Way by Cynthia Voigt

The White Giraffe by Lauren St. John

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through July 9, 2021.

Dystopian Stories for Teens

 This week, I'm sharing books for teens featuring dystopian societies . . . . 

Shards & Ashes by Mellisa Marr, Kelley Armstrong & more authors

Gripping and powerful original stories of dystopian worlds from New York Times bestselling authors

All Rights Reserved by Gregory Scott Katsoulis

In a world where every word and gesture is copyrighted, patented or trademarked, one girl elects to remain silent rather than pay to speak, and her defiant and unexpected silence threatens to unravel the very fabric of society.

How We Became Wicked by Alex Yates

When an insect-borne plague begins to envelop the world, three sixteen-year-olds struggle to survive amongst the healthy "trues" and the infected "wickeds". 

Incarceron by Catheine Fisher

To free herself from an upcoming arranged marriage, Caludia, the daughter of the Warden of Incarceron, a futuristic prison with a mind of its own, decides to help a young prisoner escape.

Sanctuary by Paola Mendoza

In 2032, when sixteen-year-old Vali's mother is detained by the Deportation Forces, Vali must flee Vermont with her little brother, Ernie, hoping to reach their Tía Luna in the sanctuary state of California.

More Dystopian Fiction --

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

Beware the Night by Jessika Fleck

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Dry by Neal Shusterman

Enclave by Ann Aguirre

The Future Will Be BS Free by Will McIntosh

The Hive by Barry Lyga

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

The Loop by Ben Oliver

Matched by Ally Condie

Nine by Zach Hines

Pirate Cinema by Cory Doctorow

Scythe by Neal Shusterman
The Tomb by S.A. Bodeen

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia
Wilder Girls by Rory Power


Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through July 2, 2021.

Narwhal and Jelly: Books 1-5 by Ben Clanton

This audio contains the first five books of the series Narwhal and Jelly by Ben Clanton:
Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea 
Super Narwhal and Jelly Jolt 
Peanut Butter and Jelly 
Narwhal's Otter Friend 
Happy Narwhalidays 

When they first meet, Jelly thinks Narwhal isn't real and Narwhal thinks Jelly is her new imaginary friend.  Both of them discover a best friend.

Over the course of five books, Narwhal and Jelly go through the same things many best friends experience -- jealousy of new friends, finding the perfect gift for the other, and pretending to be superheroes.


This audiobook retelling of the first five books in the graphic novel series for children was really done.  It translated well to the spoken format.  The stories were interesting and the cast did a great job of incorporating sound effects to enhance the story.  I would definitely recommend this series.

 

Farm Yard Tales: Picture Books for Kids

 This week, I'm sharing stories of farm animals.  Here a few of my favorite farm picture books . . . .

Farmyard Beat by Lindsey Craig

The sounds of the farm animals create a lively beat that keep Farmer Sue, the chicks, sheep, and other farm animals awake.

Leon and Albertine by Christine Davenier

Leon the pig follows the advice of the other barnyard animals in trying to get the attention of Albertine the chicken, with whom he has fallen in love.

Farmer Duck by Martin Waddell

When a kind and hardworking duck nearly collapses from overwork, while taking care of a farm because the owner is too lazy to do so, the rest of the animals get together and chase the farmer out of town.

Down by the Barn by Will Hillenbrand

Adapts a familiar children's song with a barnyard theme and pairs verses with illustrations of a puppy tractor driver who picks up his farm animal friends early in the morning.

Chickens to the Rescue by Jon Himmelman

Six days a week the chickens help the Greenstalk family and their animals recover from mishaps that occur on the farm, but they need one day to rest.

More Farm Picture Books --

Beauty and the Beaks by Mary Jane Auch

Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown

Chicken, Chicken, Duck! by Nadia Krilanovich

Chicken Chuck by Bill Martin

Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronni

Cock-A-Doodle-Doo-Bop! by Michael Ian Black

Cow Boy Is Not a Cowboy by Gregory Barrington

The Cow Loves Cookies by Karma Wilson

Cows in the Kitchen by June Crebbin

Duck! by Megan McKinlay

Duck on a Bike by David Shannon

Farm Flu by Teresa Bateman

Farmer Brown Goes Round and Round by Teri Sloat

Go Sleep in Your Own Bed! by Candace Fleming

Lazy Daisy, Cranky Frankie by Mary Ellen Jordan

The Mystery of the Haunted Farm by Elys Dolan

The Noisy Way to Bed by Ian Whybrown

Oink by David Elliot

Old Mikamba Had a Farm by Rachel Isadora

Punk Farm by Jarrett Krosoczka

Ragweed's Farm Dog Handbook by Anne Kennedy
Serious Farm by Tim Egan

Sheep Go to Sleep by Nancy Shaw

The Sheep Who Hatched an Egg by Julie Paschkis

Soggy Saturday by Phyllis Root

Three Hens and a Peacock by Lester Laminack

Wake Up, Big Barn! by Suzanne Tanner Chitwood

Who Will Tuck Me In Tonight? by Carol Roth

Check out these and more farm picture books on display at the Arnold Branch through June 25, 2021.

Bear Can't Wait by Karma Wilson

Bear is back in another great picture book from Karma Wilson.

This time, Bear has planned a surprise birthday party for his good friend Hare and just can't wait for it to start.

This is another solid entry in the Bear series by Karma Wilson.  It perfectly captures the excitement and impatience of waiting for an anticipated event.  

Tales of Courage During World War II: Fiction Chapter Books for Kids

 This week, I am sharing fiction chapter books about World War II . . . .

Island War by Patricia Reilly Giff

In 1942 13-year-olds Izzy and Matt become trapped on an Japanese-occupied Aleutian island when the rest of the American population is evacuated and must survive on their own for the duration of World War II.

Soldier Bear by Bibi Dumon Tak

An orphaned Syrian brown bear cub is adopted by Polish soldiers during World War II and serves for five years as their mischievous mascot in Iran and Italy. 

It Rained Warm Bread by Gloria Moskowitz-Sweet

A fictionalized account of the experiences of a Polish Jew, Moishe, who with his parents, brother, and sister, struggles to survive the Nazi invasion and Holocaust.

Under the Broken Sky by Mariko Nagai

When Soviet troops invade Japanese-occupied Manchuria during the last days of World War II, twelve-year-old Natsu Kimura must care for her younger sister as they struggle to survive and return to Japan.

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

In 1943, during the German occupation of Denmark, ten-year-old Annemarie learns how to be brave and courageous when she helps shelter her Jewish friend from the Nazis.

More Books --

Allies by Alan Gratz

Don't Tell the Nazis by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch

A Horse Called Hero by Sam Angus

How I Became a Spy by Deborah Hopkinson

In a Flash by Donna Jo Napoli

Into the Killing Season by Michael P. Spradlin

Louder Than Words by Kathy Kacer

Masters of Silence by Kathy Kacer

Village of Scoudrels by Margi Preus

The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

A Whale in Paris by Daniel Presley & Claire Polders

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through June 18, 2021.

After Graduation: A Teen Fiction Booklist

 It's graduation season!  Seniors are planning their futures and cramming in one last summer of fun before adulthood.  This week, I'm sharing stories about what happens after graduation.  Here are a few of my favorites . . . .

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

When Auden impulsively goes to stay with her father, stepmother, and new baby sister the summer before she starts college, she gets a chance to recapture the carefree teen life she missed while her parents were going through a divorce.

Shift by Jennifer Bradbury

When best friends Chris and Win go on a cross country bicycle trek the summer after graduating and only one returns, the FBI wants to know what happened.

Hello, Goodbye, and Everything In Between by Jennifer E. Smith

High school sweethearts Clare and Aidan spend the night before they leave for college reminiscing about their relationship and deciding whether they should stay together or break up.

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

Having been recently dumped for the nineteenth time by a girl named Katherine, recent high school graduate and former child prodigy Colin sets off on a road trip with his best friend to try to find some new direction in life while also trying to create a mathematical formula to explain his relationships.

More Books --

A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow by Laura Taylor Namey

Every Moment After by Joseph Moldover

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

The Foreseeable Future by Emily Adrian

Freshmen by Tom Ellen
Gap Life by John Coy

Girls Like Us by Gail Giles

Inexcusable by Chris Lynch

Keep This to Yourself by Tom Ryan

Kill All Happies by Rachel Cohn

Me Myself & Him by Christopher Tebbetts

Say Yes Summer by Lindsey Roth Culli

Start Here by Trish Doller

Stay Sweet by Siobhan Vivian

Summer of '69 by Todd Strasser

The Summer of Us by Cecilia Vinesse

Watch Over Me by Nina LaCour

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through June 11, 2021.

The Bookstore Cat by Cylin Busby

The bookstore cat is an adorable cat.  

The bookstore cat is a bossy (very bossy) by cuddly cat.

And so we learn about the the bookstore cat.  As we go through the alphabet, we learn about another characteristic of the bookstore cat.

This is a cute book for preschoolers wanting to learn their abc's as well as those who love cats.
 

Mother Goose's Songs & Rhymes

 This week, I'm sharing some nursery rhyme picture books.  This includes traditional Mother Goose rhymes and songs along with newer rhymes.  Here are a few of my favorites . . . .

This Little Piggy by Tim Harrington

Expands on the traditional counting rhyme, revealing exciting things the second set of toes does which inspire the first set to try more "fun stuff" too.

After the Fall by Dan Santat

After falling off the wall, Humpty Dumpty is very afraid of climbing up again, but is determined not to let fear stop him from being close to the birds.

Crankee Doodle by Tom Angleberger

Find out just why this Yankee was so cranky in this hilarious take on a traditional nonsense song every child learns in school but doesn't understand.

Mary Had a Little Lamp by Tim Harrington

Mary takes her "bendy," gooseneck lamp wherever she goes, much to the dismay of her parents and classmates, but after leaving it at home during summer camp, Mary finds that she has outgrown her need for her odd companion.

If You're Hoppy by April Pulley Sayre

In rhyming text reminiscent of the traditional song, "If you're happy and you know it," presents various animals that are hoppy, sloppy, growly, flappy, or slimy, scaly and mean.

More Books --

5 Little Ducks by Denise Fleming

The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon by Mini Grey

The Completed Hickory Dickory Dock by Jim Aylesworth

A Dog Needs a Bone by Audrey Wood

Eeny, Meeny, Miney, Mo and Flo! by Laurel Molk

The Farmer in the Dell by John O'Brien

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow
Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush by Jane Cabrera

If You're a Monster and You Know It by Ed Emberley

The Itsy Bitsy Spider by Iza Trapani

Jack and Jill by Daniel Kirk

Little Miss Muffet by Iza Trapani

Mary Had a Little Lamb by Mary Ann Hoberman

The Neat Line: Scribbling Through Mother Goose by Pamela Duncan Edwards

Old MacDonald Had a Farm by Gus Grimly

Over the Moon by Rachel Vail

A Pocketful of Posies: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes by Salley Mayor

Row, Row, Row Your Boat by Jane Cabrera

The Seals on the Bus by Lenny Hort

Three Little Kittens by Barbara McClintock

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Car by Kate Dopirak

Check these and more nursery rhyme and song books out on display at the Arnold Branch through June 5, 2021.

Once Upon a Time . . . Fairy Tales Retold

 I love to read fairy tales -- especially if it is a new twist on an old favorite.  This week, I'm sharing some fairy tale retellings.  Here are a few of my favorites . . . .

The Thirteenth Princess by Diane Zahler
Zita, cast aside by her father and raised as a kitchen maid, learns when she is nearly twelve that she is a princess and that her twelve sisters love her, and so when she discovers they are victims of an evil enchantment, she desperately tries to save them. Inspired by the Grimm fairy tale "The Twelve Dancing Princesses."

The Cottage in the Woods by Katherine Coville

Presents the story of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" from the perspective of governess bear Ursula Brown, who worries about the mysterious sounds she hears at the Vaughn estate while falling for the imperious Mr. Bentley.

The Wide-Awake Princess by E.D. Baker

Annie, younger sister of the princess who would be known as Sleeping Beauty, is immune to magic and stays awake when the rest of the castle falls into an enchanted sleep, then sets out to find a way to break the spell.

More Fairy Tale Retellings --
Big Bad Detective Agency by Bruce Hale

Cinderellis and the Glass Hill by Gail Carson Levine

Flight of the Swans by Sarah McGuire

Goose Chase by Patrice Kindl

Grounded: The Adventures of Rapunzel by Megan Morrison

Jack: The True Story of Jack and the Beanstalk by Lisel Shurtliff

Leaping Beauty and Other Animal Fairy Tales by Gregory Maguire
Little Red Hoodie by Martha Freeman
Princess of the Wild Swans by Diane Zahler
Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff

Spinners by Donna Jo Napoli

Straw Into Gold: Fairy Tales Respun by Hilary McKay
A Tale Dark & Grimm by Adam Gitwitz

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through May 29, 2021.

I'll Read Anything . . . Except Romance

Sometimes you want a story with action.  Sometimes you want a story with magic.  And sometimes you will read anything . . . as long as it doesn't have romance in it.  Here are some of my favorite teen books that don't have any romance in them . . . .

Plain Kate by Erin Bow
Plain Kate's odd appearance and expertise as a woodcarver cause some to think her a witch, but friendship with a talking cat and, later, with humans help her to survive and even thrive in a world of magic, charms, and fear.

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.

Deadline by Chris Crutcher
Given the medical diagnosis of one year to live, high school senior Ben Wolf decides to fulfill his greatest fantasies, ponders his life's purpose and legacy, and converses through dreams with a spiritual guide known as "Hey-Soos."

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Through journal entries sixteen-year-old Miranda describes her family's struggle to survive after a meteor hits the moon, causing worldwide tsunamis, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions.

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
When a plane crash strands thirteen teen beauty contestants on a mysterious island, they struggle to survive, to get along with one another, to combat the island's other diabolical occupants, and to learn their dance numbers in case they are rescued in time for the competition.


More Teen Books Without Romance --
Bamboo People by Mitali Perkins
Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman
Cuckoo Song by Frances Hardinger
Dangerous by Shannon Hale
Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
The Eye of Minds by James Dashner
The Gardener by S.A. Bodeen
The Golden Day by Ursula Dubosarsky
Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride
How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon
I Am Princess X by Cherie Priest
Jackaby by William Ritter
Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis
Monster by Walter Dean Myers
The Monstrumologist by Richard Yancey
Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi
Terrier by Tamora Pierce


Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through May 28, 2021.

Picture Books on the Go!

 Transportation books are always a big hit with kids.  Here are a few of my favorites to read . . . .

Sakes Alive! A Cattle Drive by Karma Wilson

Two cows, Mabel and Molly, take the farmer's truck and go for an eventful joyride into town.

And the Train Goes -- by William Bee

As assorted passengers comment on their train ride, and the train itself goes "Clickerty click, clickerty clack, " the station parrot is carefully listening to every sound.

Truck Full of Ducks by Ross Burach

Did you call for a truck full of ducks? Join the flock on this wacky call-and-response ride to find out just WHO did--and why.

Freight Train by Donald Crews

Brief text and illustrations trace the journey of a colorful train as it goes through tunnels, by cities, and over trestles.

Zoom, Rocket, Zoom by Margaret Mayo

Rhythmic text depicts astronauts exploring outer space.

More Transportation Picture Books --

Away We Go by Migy

Boats: Speeding! Sailing! Cruising! by Patricia Hubbell

The Bus Is for Us by Michael Rosen

Choo-Choo School by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Flight 1-2-3 by Maria Van Lieshout

From Ed's to Ned's by Gideon Sterer

How to Track a Truck by Jason Carter Eaton

I'm Smart! by Kate McMullan

Let's Go: The Story of Getting from There to Here by Lizann Flatt

Maxi the Taxi by Elizabeth Upton

Motor Mouse by Cynthia Rylant

My Bike by Byron Barton

Old MacDonald's Things That Go by Jane Clarke

The Princess and the Pit Stop by Tom Angleberger

Red Truck by Kersten Hamilton

The Runaway No-Wheeler by Peter Stein

Sebastian and the Balloon by Philip Christian Stead

Speed by Nathan Clement

Subway Story by Julia Sarcone-Roach

The Thunderbolt Express by Matthew Porter

Tiny Little Rocket by Richard Collingridge

Trucker and Train by Hannah Stork

Two Dogs on a Trike by Gabrielle Snyder

Two Little Trains by Margaret Wise Brown

We're All in the Same Boat by Zachary Shapiro

Check out these and more transportation picture books on display at the Arnold Branch through May 21, 2021.

Read! Laugh! Repeat! Funny Chapter Books

Sometimes we all need a good laugh!  So today, I'm sharing some funny chapter books for kids.  Here a few of my favorites . . . .

Not Just a Witch by Eva Ibbotson
Determined to be more than just an ordinary witch, Heckie, whose speciality is changing people into animals, settles in a small town determined to use her powers for good purposes.

Superfudge by Judy Blume

Not only must Peter Hatcher cope with the mischievous antics of his younger brother Fudge, but also with the arrival of a new baby and his family's impending move to New Jersey.

Flat Broke by Gary Paulsen

Fourteen-year-old Kevin is a hard worker, so when his income is cut off he begins a series of businesses, from poker games to selling snacks, earning money to take a girl to a dance, but his partners soon tire of his methods.

Petlandia by Peter Hannan

Feline Madame Wigglesworth is outraged when her privileged position in the house is usurped by a mere dog, Grub, so she comes up with a plan to expel the humans and put the pets, namely herself, in charge.

The Crims by Kate Davies

When her notoriously inept family of criminals is wrongly accused, Imogen, the only truly skilled criminal, uses her skills to clear their names

More Funny Books --

The Day the Mustache Took Over by Alan Katz

Camp Shady Crook by Lee Gjertsen Malone

Guys Read: Funny Business edited by Jon Sciescka

Hunter Moran Saves the Universe by Patricia Reilly Giff

Jake the Fake Keeps It Real by Craig Robinson

Kid Normal by Greg James

The League of Unexceptional Children by Gitty Daneshvari

Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds

The Magicians of Elephant County by Adam Perry

My Zombie Hamster by Havelock McCreely

Olivia Kidney by Ellen Potter

The Wild Bunch by Jan Gangsei

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through May 14, 2021.

Novels in Verse for Teens

 April is National Poetry Month.  Celebrate this year by reading a novel in verse.  Here are a few of my favorites for teens . . . .

Keesha's House by Helen Frost

Seven teens facing such problems as pregnancy, closeted homosexuality, and abuse each describe in poetic forms what caused them to leave home and where they found home again.

Kissing Annabel by Steven Herrick

Sixteen-year-old Jack woos beautiful Annabel, and, through their relationship, he copes with his mother's death.

Vanilla by Billy Merrell

Told in a series of blank verse poems, two boys Van (called Vanilla) and Hunter tell of their relationship which began before they were teenagers, but foundered in high school, mostly because Hunter thinks they should be having sex and Vanilla is not so sure.

One by Sarah Crossan

Despite problems at home, sixteen-year-old conjoined twins Tippi and Grace are loving going to school for the first time and making real friends when they learn that a cardiac problem will force them to have separation surgery, which they have never before considered.

White Rose by Kip Wilson

Tells the story of Sophie Scholl, a young German college student who challenges the Nazi regime during World War II as part of the White Rose, a non-violent resistance group.

More Novels in Verse for Teens --

500 Words of Less by Juleah Del Rosario

And We Stay by Jenny Hubbard

Ask Me How I Got Here by Christine Heppermann

Being Toffee by Sarah Crossan

Every Body Looking by Candice Iloh

Exposed by Kimberly Marcus

Freakboy by Kristen Elizabeth Clark

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

Perfect by Ellen Hopkins

Punching the Air by Ibi Aanu Zoboi

Saving Red by Sonia Sones

The Snow Fell Three Graves Deep: Voices from the Donner Party by Allan Wolf

Sold by Patricia McCormick
Three Things I Know Are True by Betty Culley

Voices: The Final Hours of Joan of Arc by David Elliott

The Way the Light Bends by Cordelia Jensen

Wicked Girls: A Novel of the Salem Witch Trials by Stephanie Hemphill

Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through April 30, 2021.

Picture Books for Spring

 Enjoy these great picture books celebrating Spring!

Wake Up, It's Spring! by Lisa Campbell Ernst
Word of the arrival of spring spreads from earth to worm to seed to lady bug and on through the natural world to a sleeping family, until everyone is dancing in celebration.

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.

Who Likes Rain? by Wong Herbert Yee
As a young girl splashes in the rain, she plays a guessing game with the reader about other living things that enjoy a cloudburst.

The Happy Day by Ruth Krauss

In the middle of winter, different forest animals awake and run sniffing through the trees, to discover a single flower growing in the snow.

Kite Day by Will Hillenbrand

It's the perfect day to make and fly a kite. But a surprise is waiting for Bear and Mole on their windy-day adventure.

More Spring Stories --
And Then It's Spring by Julie Fogliano
Bear Wants More by Karma Wilson
Bears and Blossoms by Shirley Parenteau
Bloom by Deborah Diesen
The Curious Garden by Peter Brown
Early Bird by Toni Yuly
Finding Spring by Carin Berger
The Hidden Rainbow by Christie Matheson
Listen to the Rain by Bill Martin
Miss Jaster's Garden by N.M. Bodecker
Plant a Kiss by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Pond Babies by Cathryn Falwell

Puddles!!! by Kevan Atteberry
A Rainbow of My Own by Don Freeman
Seven Hungry Babies by Candace Fleming
Shake a Leg, Egg! by Kurt Cyrus
Singing in the Rain by Arthur Freed
Sun Above and Blooms Below: A Springtime of Opposites by Felicia Sanzari Chernesky
Telephone by Mac Barnett
The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle
What the Baby Hears by Laura Godwin
When Spring Comes by Kevin Henkes


Check these and more spring books out on display at the Arnold Branch through April 24, 2021.

Don't Hug Doug (He Doesn't Like It) by Carrie Finison

Want to give someone a hug?  Just ask them.  Many people love hugs -- but not Doug!  Doug does not like hugs.  He thinks they're too squishy and smushy.  

This is a great book to remind us that not everyone wants a hug.  Sometimes it is better to say hello, shake hands, or give a high five instead.

 

Bunny Tales: A Book List of Chapter Books

The Great Rabbit Rescue by Katie Davies

When Joe goes to live with his father across town and must leave behind his beloved pet rabbit, his friends Anna and Suzanne try to take care of it for him, but when the rabbit becomes ill and then Joe follows suit, the girls are certain that both will die unless they are reunited.

Emmaline and the Bunny by Kate Hannigan

Everyone and everything in the town of Neatasapin is tidy, except Emmaline who likes to dig dirt and jump in puddles, and wants to adopt an untidy bunny.

Attack of the Fluffy Bunnies by Andrea Beaty

At Camp Whatsitooya, twins Joules and Kevin and new friend Nelson face off against large, rabbit-like creatures from the Mallow Galaxy who thrive on sugar, but are not above hypnotizing and eating human campers.

Kenny & the Dragon by Tony DiTerlizzi
Kenny Rabbit tries to save his friend, the dragon, after he is labeled a community nuisance by the simple people of Roundbrook village, who arrange for the creature to be fought by St. George.

More Bunny Stories:
Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Because of the Rabbit by Cynthia Lord
Father Christmas and Me by Matt Haig
It Came from Beneath the Bed by James Howe
Jeremy: The Tale of an Honest Bunny by Jan Karon
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
Mutant Bunny Island by Obert Skye
Podkin One-Ear by Kieran Larwood
The Royal Rabbits of London by Santa Montefiore
Sensible Hare and the Case of Carrots by Daren King


Check these books out on display at the Arnold Branch through April 10, 2021.

The Daily Lives of High School Boys, v. 1 by Yasunobu Yamauchi

 

Tadakuni, Yoshitake, and Hidenori are three friends that attend an all boys school.  These are their adventures -- talking about girls, telling scary stories, going to the beach, and more.

This is a great slice-of-life manga series featuring boys and their friendship.  This would be a great series for both teen boys and girls.

Celebrating Women's History Month: Historical Fiction for Teens

 

Fever, 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
In 1793 Philadelphia, sixteen-year-old Matilda Cook, separated from her sick mother, learns about perseverance and self-reliance when she is forced to cope with the horrors of a yellow fever epidemic.

A Mad, Wicked Folly by Sharon Biggs Waller
In 1909 London, as the world of debutante balls and high society obligations closes in around her, seventeen-year-old Victoria must figure out just how much is she willing to sacrifice to pursue her dream of becoming an artist.

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.

Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson
After inheriting her uncle's homesteading claim in Montana, sixteen-year-old orphan Hattie Brooks travels from Iowa in 1917 to make a home for herself and encounters some unexpected problems related to the war being fought in Europe.


More Books --
And I Darken by Kiersten White
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys
Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough
Butterfly Yellow by Thanhha Lai
The Carnival at Bray by Jessie Ann Foley
Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
Copper Sun by Sharon Draper
The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman
Fatal Throne: The Wives of Henry VIII Tell All by M.T. Anderson
Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse
The Hired Girl by Laura Amy Schlitz
Lies We Tells Ourselves by Robin Talley
The Luxe by Anna Godbersen
My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand
Orphan Monster Spy by Matt Killeen
The Passion of Dolssa by Julie Berry
Those Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi
Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee
What the Night Sings by Vesper Stamper


Check out these books on display at the Arnold Branch through April 3, 2021.