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.