Holiday Stories for Kids

Christmas is quickly approaching!  Get in the holiday spirits by reading one of these Christmas chapter books . . . .

Rover Saves Christmas by Roddy Doyle

When Rudolph comes down with the flu, it's up to Rover the dog and the Mack children to help Santa complete his Christmas deliveries.

Certain Poor Shepherds by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas

A white goat and a short-haired sheepdog, keeping watch over a flock of young sheep on the first night of winter, are compelled to follow a dazzling star on a dangerous journey to a humble manger in Bethlehem.

The Naughty List by Michael Fry

Twelve-year-old Bobbie travels to the North Pole to remove her brother from Santa's unimpeachable Naughty List in this Christmas adventure.

Father Christmas and Me by Matt Haig

It isn't always easy growing up as the only human in Elfhelm, even if your parents are Father and Mary Christmas and now it's up to Amelia to save Christmas from the jealous Easter Bunny and his rabbit army!

The Christmas Genie by Dan Gutman

When a meteorite crashes into a fifth-grade classroom at Lincoln School in Oak Park, Illinois, the genie inside agrees to grant the class a Christmas wish--if they can agree on one within an hour.

More Books --

The 12 Screams of Christmas by R.L. Stine

The 156-Story Treehouse by Andy Griffiths

Bah! Humbug! by Michael Rosen

The Christmas Pig by J.K. Rowling

The Christmas Tree by Julia Salamon

Clarice Bean: Think Like an Elf by Lauren Child

Jingle by Gordon Korman

Judy Moody & Stink: The Holly Joliday by Megan McDonald

Kirsten's Surprise by Janet Beeler Shaw

Mama Had to Work on Christmas by Carolyn Marsden

Young Scrooge: A Very Scary Christmas Story by R.L. Stine

Let's Read About Trees

This week, we're sharing picture books about trees.  Here are a few of our favorites . . . .

Stuck by Oliver Jeffers

When Floyd's kite gets stuck in a tree, he tries to knock it down with increasingly larger and more outrageous things.

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

A young boy grows to manhood and old age experiencing the love and generosity of a tree which gives to him without thought of return.

A Tree for Mr. Fish by Peter Stein

Bird and Cat meet in a tree. But someone already lives in this tree-Mr. Fish. And he does not want to share.

Fall Is Not Easy by Marty Kelley

A tree tells why, out of all four seasons, autumn is the hardest.

Maple by Lori Nichols

A nature-loving little girl's favorite playmate is her maple tree, until the day she's surprised with a baby sister.

More Books --

The Alphabet Tree by Leo Lionni

As an Oak Tree Grows by Brian Karas

Bears and Blossoms by Shirley Parenteau

The Belonging Tree by Maryann Cocca-Leffler

Chicka, Chicka, Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.

The City Tree by Shira Boss

The Cow Who Climbed a Tree by Gemma Merino

Five Little Monkeys Sitting in a Tree by Eileen Christelow

It Starts With a Seed by Laura Knowles

Leaf Jumpers by Carole Gerber

Little Tree by Loren Long

Our Tree Named Steve by Alan Zweibel

Shake the Tree! by Chiara Vignocchi

Sugar Snow by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson

This Is the Tree We Planted by Kate McMullan

The Tree House That Jack Built by Bonnie Verburg

Trillions of Trees and Counting by Kurt Cyrus

Under a Pig Tree by Margie Palatini

Under My Tree by Muriel Tallandier

The Very Oldest Pear Tree by Nancy I. Sanders

Wangari's Trees of Peace by Jeanette Winter 

Way Up High in a Tall Green Tree by Jan Peck

If You Like Diary of a Wimpy Kid . . .

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series is one of the most popular children's series for kids right now.  The latest book just came out last month.  But what to read once you've gone through the whole series?  Here are a few of our favorite Wimpy Kid read-alikes . . . .

The 13-Story Treehouse by Andy Griffiths
Who wouldn't want to live in a treehouse? Especially a 13-story treehouse that has a bowling alley, a see-through swimming pool, a tank full of sharks, a library full of comics, a secret underground laboratory, a games room, self-making beds, vines you can swing on, a vegetable vaporizer and a marshmallow machine that follows you around and automatically shoots your favorite flavored marshmallows into your mouth whenever it discerns you're hungry.

Babymouse: Lights, Camera, Middle School! by Jennifer Holm

Babymouse joins the school Film Club and writes the greatest cinematic masterpiece of all time! But when the movie gets shown to the entire school, will it be a box office hit or a flop?

Waylon: One Awesome Thing by Sara Pennypacker

Waylon, a boy with the mind of a scientific genius and the vulnerable heart of an eight year old, is trying to understand his older sister and deal with changes among the kids at school.

Hamstersaurus Rex by Tom O'Donnell

Eleven-year old Sam befriends a hungry class hamster that undergoes a freaky transformation.

More Books --

The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey

Am I the Princess or the Frog by Jim Benton

Big Nate Strikes Again by Lincoln Peirce

Clementine's Letters by Sara Pennypacker

Judy Moody by Megan McDonald

Lights, Camera, Cook! by Charise Mericle Harper

My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish by Mo O'Hara

Pie in the Sky by Remy Lai

Schooled by Gordon Korman

Stick Cat: Cats in the City by Tom Watson

Tales from a Not-So-Smart Miss Know-It-All by Rachel Russell

Timmy Failure: Now Look What You've Done by Stephan Pastis

pARTy! Celebrate the Arts -- Part 2

We are continuing our spotlight on the arts with some nonfiction books teaching us how to draw, craft, etc.

Trash to Treasure Crafts by Rebecca Sabelko

Information accompanies step-by-step instructions on how to upcycle various materials into fun crafts.

10-Minute No-Sew Projects by Elsie Olson

From stuffed animals and superhero masks to flowers and finger puppets, these amazing 10-minute fabric projects will have kids making in no time!

Super Simple Jewelry by Karen Latchana Kenney

Contains directions to make jewelry ranging from button and safety pin bracelets to paper beads and metal washer necklaces.

Ed Emberley's Fingerprint Drawing Book by Ed Emberley

Shows how to make pictures by using one's fingerprints and a few dots and lines.

More Books --

American Folk Art for Kids: with 21 Activities by Richard Panchyk

Art Sparks: Draw, Make, Paint and Get Creative by Marion Abrams

Crochet Projects That Will Hook You by Karen Whooley

Discovering Great Artists: Hands-On Art for Children by MaryAnn F. Kohl

Draw Your Own Fairy Tale Zendoodles by Abby Huff

How to Draw Dinosaurs by Rob Court

The Kids Book of Hand Lettering by Nicole Miyuki Santo

Knitting Projects You'll Purl Over by Kelly McClure

Mini Gifts That Surprise and Delight by Lauren Kulka

Recycled Paper Projects by Marcy Morin

pARTy! Celebrate the Arts

The arts are an integral part of our lives -- whether it is poetry, music, literature, dance, theater, etc.  Here are a few of our favorite teen books with story lines focusing on the arts . . .

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.

Bobby Sky: Boy Band or Die by Joe Shine

After two grueling years of training to be a Shadow, a top-secret guardian, sixteen-year-old Robert "Hutch" Hutchinson's first assignment is to join a boy band and protect its world-famous front-man.

Long Story Short by Serena Kaylor

A sixteen-year-old homeschooled math genius finds herself out of her element at a theater summer camp and learns that life--and love--can't be lived by the (text)book.

The Heartbreakers by Ali Novak

When her triplet sister Cara is diagnosed with leukemia, eighteen-year-old Stella puts her dreams on hold to move home and be with her family, but when she starts spending time with the lead singer of Cara's favorite band, will Stella resent him for taking her attention away from her sister--or will he help Stella find the courage to live her own life?

More Books --

Battle of the Bands by various authors

Beneath the Wide Silk Sky by Emily Inouye Huey

Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough

Echo After Echo by A.R. Capetta

Hopepunk by Preston Norton

Impossible Music by Sean Williams

Last Things by Jacqueline West

The Love Curse of Melody McIntyre by Robin Talley

Love, Jacaranda by Alex Flinn

Night Music by Jenn Marie Thorne

On the Come Up by Angie Thomas

Pirate Cinema by Cory Doctorow

Punching the Air by Ibi Aanu Zoboi

Somewhere Only We Know by Maureen Goo

This Book Is Not Yet Rated by Peter Bognanni

The Way the Light Bends by Cordelia Jenson

This Is What It Feels Like by Rebecca Barrow

When We Were Strangers by Alex Richards

We Are Family

This week, we're sharing family stories.  Here are a few of our favorite chapter books featuring families . . .

The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry

The four Willoughby children set about to become "deserving orphans" after their neglectful parents embark on a treacherous adventure, leaving them in the care of an odious nanny.

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.

Dancing Shoes by Noel Streatfield
After her mother's death, Rachel and her adopted sister Hilary are taken in by Aunt Cora, who runs a dancing school where Rachel's spoiled cousin Dulcie is the star pupil.

The Elevator Family by Douglas Evans

The four members of the Wilson family decide to spend their holiday in one of the elevators at the San Francisco Hotel.

More Books --

All-of-a-Kind Family by Sidney Taylor

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

The Boxcar Children series by Gertrude Chandler Warner

The Boy Who Grew Dragons by Andy Shepherd

Chester and Gus by Cammie McGovern

Greenglass House by Kate Milford

A Long Line of Cakes by Deborah Wiles

The Moffats by Eleanor Estes

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall

Rewind by Lisa Graff

Secondhand Dogs by Carolyn Crimi

Soar by Joan Bauer

The Star That Always Stays by Anna Rose Johnson

Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss

Take Me With You by Carolyn Marsden

The Tale of Angelino Brown by David Almond

The War with Grandpa by Robert Kimmel Smith

Happy Belated Birthday Cookie Monster

One of our favorite monsters at JCL-Arnold Branch is Cookie Monster.  Who doesn't love a monster who eats cookies?  While we missed his birthday on November 2, we're celebrating a little late with some of our favorite monster and cookie books.

Cookies: Bite-Size Life Lessons by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Uses stories about cookies to impart lessons about life and behavior.

Bedtime for Monsters by Ed Vere

A hungry monster seeks a different type of bedtime snack.

Cookiesaurus Rex by Amy Fellner Dominy

Not satisfied with his green frosting and little hat, a cookie shaped like a dinosaur demands to be redecorated.

Beware the Monster! by Michael Escoffier

In this book, young children are introduced to a ravenous monster that eats everything in its path.

More Books --

Catch That Cookie! by Hallie Durand

The Cow Loves Cookies by Karma Wilson

Eat Pete! by Michael Rex

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff

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

Jitterbug Jam by Barbara Ann Hicks

Leonardo the Terrible Monster by Mo Willems

The Little Shop of Monsters by R.L. Stine

Marilyn's Monster by Michelle Knudsen

Monsters Love School by Mike Austin

Tough Cookie by David Wisniewski

Travel Guide for Monsters by Lori Degman

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Who Ate All the Cookie Dough? by Karen Beaumont

Who Took the Cookie From the Cookie Jar? by Bonnie Lass

Worst in Show by William Bee

In Honor of Those Who Have Served: Books About Soldiers and War

Veterans Day is a time to honor those who have served in our country's armed forces.  This week, in honor of the upcoming Veterans Day, we are sharing chapter books about soldiers and wars . . . .

Skyward by Sally Deng
Follows three young girls in the United States, England, and Russia as they grow up wanting to be pilots and end up flying for their respective countries during World War II.

Soldier Bear by Bib 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.

Allies by Alan Gratz

It is June 6, 1944, D-Day, and Dee Carpenter , an underage private in the United States Army, is headed for Omaha Beach, seeking revenge for his uncle, who was arrested by Nazis when Dee was a little boy.

More Books --

Cracker! The Best Dog in Vietnam by Cynthia Kadohata

Duke by Kirby Larson

How I Became a Spy by Deborah Hopkinson

Island War by Patricia Reilly Giff

Lost Boys by Darcey Rosenblatt

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

Salt: A Story of Friendship in a Time of War by Helen Frost

The Skylark's War by Hilary McKay

Sophia's War by Avi

Under the Broken Sky by Mariko Nagai

Village of Scoundrels by Margi Preus

War Is Over by David Almond

War Stories by Gordon Korman

The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

The Witching Hour Is Upon Us

This week, enjoy some teen stories of magic and witches.  Here are a few of our favorites . . . .

The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco

When Tea accidentally resurrects her brother from the dead, she learns she is different from the other witches in her family. Her gift for necromancy means that she's a bone witch.

Enter Three Witches by Caroline Cooney

When her father betrays the Scottish king and is hung as a traitor, Lady Mary's future is bleak after she loses her only true protector and ends up locked away in the tower by the powerful and deadly Lord and Lady Macbeth.

Black Spring by Alison Croggon

Lina is enchanting, vibrant but wilful. And her eyes betray her for what she truly is - a witch. With her childhood companion, Damek, she has grown up privileged and spoiled and the pair are devoted to each other to the point of obsession. But times are changing. Vendetta is coming. And tragedy is stalking the halls of the Red House.

Three Kisses, One Midnight by Roshani Chokshi

Told in interconnected stories, three witchy best friends brew a love potion on Halloween that is said to produce a love that will last forever as long as it is sealed by true love's kiss before the stroke of midnight.

More Books --

A Break with Charity by Ann Rinaldi

Bring Me Their Hearts by Sara Wolf

Ever Cursed by Corey Ann Haydu

Extasia by Claire Legrand

Heart of Thorns by Bree Barton

Improbable Magic of Cynical Witches by Kate Scelsa

Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova

Mark of the Wicked by Georgia Bowers

Our Crooked Hearts by Melissa Albert

Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin

Teeth in the Mist by Dawn Kurtagich

Witch Child by Celia Rees

The Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker

Witches Steeped in Gold by Ciannon Smart

The Quest (for a Good Book)

This week, I'm sharing chapter book stories about going on a quest.  Here are a few of our favorites . . . .

Wizard at Work by Vivian Vande Velde

A young wizard, who runs a school to teach wizards, looks forward to a quiet summer off but is drawn into adventures with princesses, unicorns, and ghosts instead.

So B. It by Sarah Weeks

After spending her life with her mentally retarded mother and agoraphobic neighbor, Heidi sets out from Reno, Nevada, to New York to find out who she is.

The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander

Taran sets out on a mission to save Prydian from the forces of evil.

The Inquisitor's Tale by Adam Gidwitz

Crossing paths at an inn, thirteenth-century travelers impart the tales of a monastery oblate, a Jewish refugee, and a psychic peasant girl with a loyal greyhound, the three of whom join forces on a chase through France to escape persecution.

More Books --

Abeni's Song by P. Djeli Clark

Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk

Cleo Porter and the Body Electric by Jake Burt

Con Quest! by Sam Maggs

Dragon Rider by Cornelia Caroline Funke

Ever by Gail Carson Levine

Have Sword, Will Travel by Garth Nix

Hollow Dolls by MarcyKate Connolly

Mananaland by Pam Munoz Ryan

Nessie Quest by Melissa Savage

The Not-So-Chosen One by Andrew Auseon

Once Upon Another Time by James Riley

The Quest of the Cubs by Kathryn Lasky

A Royal Guide to Monster Slaying by Kelley Armstrong

The Runaway Twin by Peg Kehret

Trundle's Quest by Allan Frewin Jones

Wed Wabbit by Lissa Evans

October = Velocirapter Awareness Month

Did you know that October is Velociraptor Awareness Month?  So we're sharing books are velociraptors and other dinosaurs . . . .

Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs by Mo Willems

A spin on the traditional tale with dinosaurs who visit Norway as the main characters.

Crunch the Shy Dinosaurs by Cirocco Dunlap

Advises the reader on how to interact with a very shy dinosaur.

T Is for Terrible by Peter McCarthy

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

More Books --

All Aboard the Dino Train by Deb Lund

Bop Bop Dinosaur by Jim Cosgrove

Dig Those Dinosaurs by Lori Haskins Houran

Dinosaur Kisses by David Ezra Stein

Dinosaur Rescue by Penny Dale

Dinosaurs on Kitty Island by Michael Slack

Duck, Duck, Dinosaur by K. George

How Dinosaurs Went Extinct by Ame Dyckman

If I Had a Raptor by George O'Connor

I'm Big by Kate McMullan

One-osaurus, Two-saurus by Kim Norman

Pterodactyl Show and Tell by Thad Krasnesky

Some Dinosaurs Are Small by Charlotte Voake

The Somethingosaur by Tony Mitton

Tea Rex by Molly Idle

Tiny Dino by Deborah Freedman

What the Dinosaurs Did Last Night by Refe Tuma

When Dinosaurs Came With Everything by Elise Broach

Then, Now, Forever: Classic Books for Kids

 We often get asked where to find the classic books.  Unfortunately, they are spread throughout the library.  So here is a handy list of just some classic books for kids . . . .

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving
After moving to the small village of Sleepy Hollow, superstitious schoolmaster Ichabod Crane hears the tall tale of The Headless Horseman, a ghost haunting the nearby woods.

Hans Brinker by Mary Mapes Dodge

A Dutch brother and sister work toward two goals--finding the doctor who can restore their father's memory and winning the competition for the silver skates.

The Time Machine by H.G. Wells

A scientist invents a machine that transports him far into the future where he discovers a changed world inhabited by two unusual races, the Eloi and the Morlocks.

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell

Black Beauty spends his youth in a loving home, surrounded by friends and cared for by his owners. But when circumstances change, he learns that not all humans are so kind.

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

The three Darling children, Wendy, John, and Michael, travel to Neverland where they share great adventures with Peter Pan, the boy who refused to grow up.

More Classics --

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

The Call of the Wild by Jack London

A Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne

The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle

The Mysterious Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

And They Lived Happily Ever After . . . .

This week, we're sharing classic fairy tales, folk tales, and fables.  Here are a few of our favorites . . .

Golem by David Wisniewski
A saintly rabbi miraculously brings to life a clay giant who helps him watch over the Jews of sixteenth-century Prague.

Stone Soup by Jon J. Muth

Three hungry men charm a poor village into making enough soup to feed them all.

The Rabbit and the Turtle: Aesop's Fables by Eric Carle

Eleven fables from Aesop retold and illustrated by Eric Carle.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs by Joan Aiken

Retells the story of a princess who escapes her wicked stepmother by hiding out in the home of seven hospitable dwarfs.

More Books --

The Adventures of Robin Hood by Marcia Williams

Aesop's Fables by Beverley Naidoo

Cinderella by K.Y. Craft

Jack and the Beanstalk by Ann Keay Beneduce

Jump! The Adventures of Brer Rabbit by Van Dyke Parks

Little Book of Fables by Veronica Uribe

The Mitten by Jan Brett

Old Mother Hubbard by David Johnson

Puss in Boots by Charles Perrault

Sleeping Beauty by Mahlon F. Craft

Soap! Soap! Don't Forget the Soap! by Tom Birdseye

The Talking Eggs by Robert San Souci

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears by Verna Aardema

Prepped? Are You Ready for These Disasters?

This week, we're sharing teen survival stories.  Whether they're surviving a natural disaster, evil creature, alien invasion, or apocalypse, these teen stories are definitely worth checking out.

In Darkness by Nick Lake

In the aftermath of the Haitian earthquake, fifteen-year-old Shorty, a poor gang member from the slums of Site Soleil, is trapped in the rubble of a ruined hospital, and as he grows weaker he has visions and memories of his life of violence, his lost twin sister, and of Toussaint L'Ouverture, who liberated Haiti from French rule in the 1804.

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.

Bleeding Earth by Kaitlin Ward

Wishing she could just spend time with her new girlfriend, Lea struggles with the decline in humanity as an environmental disaster strikes.

Above All Else by Dana Alison Levy

Rose and Tate are best friends and climbing buddies, and now they are embarking on the greatest climb of all--Mount Everest; but as the climbers encounter physical and emotional challenges the higher they go, the expedition starts to slide toward disaster, testing the teens' courage, determination, and their feelings for each other.

More Books --

All We Can Do It Wait by Richard Lawson

The Boy and Girl Who Broke the World by Amy Reed

Dustborn by Erin Bowman

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

Fractured Tide by Leslie Karen Lutz

Girls at the Edge of the World by Laura Brooke Robson

The Great Big One by J.C. Geiger

The Living by Matt de la Pena

The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin

Rabbit & Robot by Andrew Smith

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

Storm by Donna Jo Napoli
The Wild Lands by Paul Greci

School Stories

It's time for school!  This week, I'm sharing stories to read about school . . . .

Wayside Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar
Humorous episodes from the classroom on the thirtieth floor of Wayside School, which was accidentally built sideways with one classroom on each story.

The School Mouse by Dick King-Smith

Flora the mouse learns how to read, a skill not even her parents appreciate. When she finds a bag marked, "poison," she must convince them that reading is very important.

School of the Dead by Avi

Starting at the Penda School after his uncle's death, Tony Gilbert starts seeing his uncle's ghost everywhere.

Operation Frog Effect by Sarah Lynn Scheerger

Ms. Graham's fifth-grade class wants to promote change in the world; but when eight of them take an assignment too far, they must take responsibility for their actions and unite for a cause they all believe in.

More School Stories --

Amber Brown Is Not a Crayon by Paula Danziger

Archimancy: Shadow School by J.A. White

From the Notebooks of a Middle School Princess by Meg Cabot

The Landry News by Andrew Clements

The Only Girl in School by Natalie Standiford

Pennybaker School Is Headed for Disaster by Jennifer Brown

The School for the Insanely Gifted by Dan Elish

School for Sidekicks by Kelly McCullough

Spy School by Stuart Gibbs

The Unlucky Lottery Winners of Classroom 13 by Honest Lee

The World According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney

Zoo School by Laurie Miller Hornik

Award Winning Picture Books

We are often asked for award-winning books when patrons don't have a specific topic they want to read.  It is a common enough request that we label the winners of three picture book awards -- Caldecott Medal (best picture book awarded by ALA), Missouri Building Block Picture Book Award (favorite picture book chosen by children awarded by MLA), and Show Me Readers Award (favorite picture book chosen by children awarded by MASL).  Here are some of our favorites of these award-winning picture books . . . .

The Adventures of Beekle: An Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat

An imaginary friend waits a long time to be imagined by a child and given a special name, and finally does the unimaginable--he sets out on a quest to find his perfect match in the real world. (2015 Caldecott Award)

Bunnies!!! by Kevan Atteberry

A monster searches everywhere to find the things he loves: bunnies!!! (2016 Building Block Award)

This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen

A little fish thinks he can get away with stealing a hat. (2013 Caldecott Medal)

Strongheart: The World's First Movie Star Dog by Emily Arnold McCully

When silent movie director Larry Trimble decides to put Strongheart, a police dog, into his movies as the lead actor, he must first train him to play with toys and walk like a regular dog, but Strongheart becomes a sensation until his military training leads to trouble, and possibly the end of his career. (2017 Show Me Readers Award)

I Ain't Gonna Paint No More! by Karen Beaumont

In the rhythm of a familiar folk song, a child cannot resist adding one more dab of paint in surprising places. (2006 Building Block Award)

More Award-Winning Picture Books --

Bad Dog by Mike Boldt

Bark, George by Jules Feiffer

The Blue House Dog by Debrorah Blumenthal

Dandy by Ame Dyckman

Flotsam by David Wiesner

Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg

Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes

Last Stop of Market Street by Matt de la Pena

The Little Island by Margaret Wise Brown

Mirette on the High Wire by Emily Arnold McCully

Mustache Baby by Bridget Heos

My Friend Rabbit by Eric Rohmann

Pug Meets Pig by Sue Gallion

Scaredy Snacks by Terry Border

Smoky Night by Eve Bunting

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

Some Dog by Mary Casanova

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig

The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Wolfboy by Andy Harkness

Aaarrggh! You Read to Talk (And Read) Like a Pirate?

September 19th is Talk Like a Pirate Day.  In honor of the upcoming holiday, here are a few of our favorite pirate stories for kids . . . .

Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

Soon after Peter, an orphan, sets sail from England on the ship Never Land, he befriends and assists Molly, a young Starcatcher, whose mission is to guard a trunk of magical stardust from a greedy pirate and the native inhabitants of a remote island.

Dragon's Plunder by Brad Strickland

Having been kidnapped by former pirates because of his ability to whistle up the wind, fifteen-year-old Jamie agrees to help their leader, a living corpse, find the dragon of Windrose Island.

The Unlikely Adventures of Mabel Jones by Will Mabbitt

Mabel Jones finds herself aboard the Feroshus Maggot--a ship crewed by the strangest bunch of pirates you'd (never) want to meet. She then has to find pieces of an X-shaped puzzle that in her hands could be her ticket home, but in the hands of Captain Split, they'd give him the power to assemble a pirate militia to take over London!

The Jolly Regina by Kara LeReau

Meet Jaundice and Kale Bland, two sisters who avoid excitement at any cost. One day, the Bland sisters are kidnapped by an all-female band of pirates. They're unwillingly swept into a high-seas romp that might just lead to solving the mystery of what happened to their missing parents.

More Pirate Stories --

The Dark Frigate by Charles Boardman Hawes

Judy Moody & Stink: The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt by Megan McDonald

Lintang and the Pirate Queen by Tamara Moss

Misty Gordon and the Mystery of the Ghost Pirates by Kim Kennedy

The Mona Lisa Key by Liesl Shurtliff

Of Salt and Shore by Annet Schaap

Race to the Bottom of the Sea by Lindsay Eagar

Seven Deadly Pirates by Linda Bailey

The Story Pirates Present: Digging Up Danger by Jacqueline West

Stowaway by John David Anderson

The Twisted Claw by Franklin W. Dixon

Let's Learn About Animals

 Animal stories are always a popular request.  Who doesn't like to read a story about animals.  However, it is also fun to read and learn true information about animals.  Try one of these informational animal books . . . .

Animal Awards by Martin Jenkins

Fifty animals from across the globe are given awards for their most unique qualities, including the fabulous display award, the deep sea diver award, and the terrific teeth award.

Courageous Creatures by Lauren Tarshis

The author of the New York Times bestselling I SURVIVED series shares four thrilling true stories of animals who have faced disaster - and come through. You'll meet courageous animals and also inspiring humans who show how we can help protect the creatures who share our precious Earth.

More Books --
125 True Stories of Amazing Animal Friendships by National Geographic Kids
African Elephants by Gail Terp
Animal Showdown by Stephanie Warren Drimmer
Animals That Fly by Angela Royston
Baby Giraffes by Deanna Caswell
Caterpillar to Butterfly by Laura Marsh
Chimpanzees by Katie Marsico
Eagles by Gail Terp
Eyewitness: Animal by Tom Jackson
Kangaroos: Amazing Jumpers by Lisa M. Herrington
Miniature Horses by Elizabeth Noll
My Pet Bird by Lynn Hamilton
Octopuses: Clever Ocean Creatures by Mara Grunbaum
Red-Eyed Tree Frogs by Nicki Clausen-Grace
Sloths by Josh Gregory
Snakes by James Buckley, Jr.
Teaming Up: Animal Partners by Cassidy St. James

Step Into a Fairy Tale World

 Fairy Tales and fairy tale reimaginings are a popular genre of teen books.  Here are some of our favorites . . .

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George
A girl travels east of the sun and west of the moon to free her beloved prince from a magic spell.

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.

Dealing with Dragons by Patricia Wrede
Bored with her proper, circumscribed life as a princess, Cimorene runs away to join a powerful, fascinating dragon named Kazul and encounters a host of adventures along the way.

More Books --

Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult

Cinder & Glass by Melissa de la Cruz

A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer

Dark and Deepest Red by Anna-Marie McLemore

Dragon Castle by Joseph Bruchac

The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman

The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert

Hunted by Meagan Spooner

Mechanica by Betsy Cornwell

Princess of Thorns by Stacey Jay

The Rumpelstiltskin Problem by Vivian Vande Velde

Rebel Rose by Emma Theriault

Sea Witch by Sarah Henning

The Seventh Raven by David Elliott

Spindle's End by Robin McKinley
Tithe by Holly Black

The Wrath & the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

The Poet-Tree: Read a Novel in Verse

Check out these books written in verse . . . .

Inside Out and Back Again Thanhha Lai

Through a series of poems, a young girl chronicles the life-changing year of 1975, when she, her mother, and her brothers leave Vietnam and resettle in Alabama.

T4 by Ann Clare LeZotte

When the Nazi party takes control of Germany, thirteen-year-old Paula, who is deaf, finds her world-as-she-knows-it turned upside down, as she is taken into hiding to protect her from the new law nicknamed T4.

Rhyme Schemer by K.A. Holt

A novel in verse about Kevin's journey from bully to being bullied, as he learns about friendship, family, and his talent for poetry.

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

Fourteen-year-old twin basketball stars Josh and Jordan wrestle with highs and lows on and off the court as their father ignores his declining health.

Reaching for the Sun by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer

Josie, who lives with her mother and grandmother and has cerebral palsy, befriends a boy who moves into one of the rich houses behind her old farmhouse.

More Books --

Amber & Clay by Laura Amy Schlitz

Applesauce Weather by Helen Frost

The Deepest Breath by Meg Grehan

Gone Fishing by Tamera Will Wissinger

Heartbeat by Sharon Creech

Lifeboat 12 by Susan Hood

Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga

Turn the Tide by Elaine Dimopoulos

Unbound by Ann E. Burg

What About Will by Ellen Hopkins

But Have You Read the Book? Books That Have Been Made Into Movies

Which is better -- the book or the movie?  Check out one of the books (and movies) and see which one you think is better.

Nim's Island by Wendy Orr

Nim loves her island home and the animals she shares it with even while her scientist father is away doing research, but trouble is on the way and a new e-mail friend could be the only one who can help.

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

The adventures of Despereaux Tilling, a small mouse of unusual talents, the princess that he loves, the servant girl who longs to be a princess, and a devious rat determined to bring them all to ruin

How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell

Chronicles the adventures and misadventures of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third as he tries to pass the important initiation test of his Viking clan, the Tribe of the Hairy Hooligans, by catching and training a dragon.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

When twelve-year-old Hugo, an orphan living and repairing clocks within the walls of a Paris train station in 1931, meets a mysterious toyseller and his goddaughter, his undercover life and his biggest secret are jeopardized.

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

Thirteen-year-old Meg Murry, her little brother Charles Wallace, and their friend Calvin are guided by unearthly strangers as they go on a journey through space and time to search for Meg's and Charles' scientist father who disappeared while experimenting with a new form of space travel.

More Books --

Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

Holes by Louis Sachar

Hoot by Carl Hiaasen

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Stuart Little by E.B. White

Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne

WHAT!? We're Moving? -- Books About Moving

Check out the following teen books featuring stories about moving . . . .

Abandon by Meg Cabot

A near-death experience, a horrible incident at school, and a move from Connecticut to Florida have turned seventeen-year-old Pierce's life upside-down, but when she needs him most John Hayden is always there, helping but reminding her of her visit to the Underworld.

My Life with the Walter Boys by Ali Novak

Devastated when her parents are killed in a car accident, sixteen-year old Jackie moves from New York City to Colorado to live with her mother's best friend, who has twelve children, including two boys who start to show an interest in Jackie that goes beyond brotherly.

One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies by Sonya Sones

Fifteen-year-old Ruby Milliken leaves her best friend, her boyfriend, her aunt, and her mother's grave in Boston and reluctantly flies to Los Angeles to live with her father, a famous movie star who divorced her mother before Ruby was born.

Revived by Cat Patrick

Having been brought back from the dead repeatedly by a top-secret government super drug called Revive, and forced to move so the public does not learn the truth, fifteen-year-old Daisy meets people worth living for and begins to question the heavy-handedgovernment controls she has dealt with for eleven years.

More Books --

The Cemetery Boys by Aidan Thomas

The Field Guide to the North American Teenager by Ben Philippe

The Fixer by Jennifer Lynn Barnes 

Hello Now by Jenny Valentine

The Missing Season by Gillian French

There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins

Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee
We Are All Made of Molecules by Susin Nielsen-Fernlund

All Together Now: Books to Read Together

 Looking for some good picture books to read together as a group?  Here's a few choices . . .

Duck & Goose Go to the Beach by Tad Hills
Duck wants to go on an adventure. Goose doesn't. He doesn't see the point. After all, why would they go anywhere when they're happy right where they are? But then Goose sees the ocean and loves it. Who doesn't? Well, Duck, for one.

A Visitor for Bear by Bonny Becker

Bear's efforts to keep out visitors to his house are undermined by a very persistent mouse.

Some Dinosaurs Are Small by Charlotte Voake

This book presents the story of three big, fast, thieving dinosaurs hungrily encountering a slower dino who uses his smaller teeth to eat fruit and leaves.

He Came with the Coach by David Slonim

When a family acquires a new couch, they discover that something else comes along with it, and they gain a new friend in the process.

A Pizza with Everything on It by Kyle Scheele

It's a tale as old as time: a kid wants to make a pizza with his dad, but not just any pizza . . . he wants a pizza with everything on it. That's right, everything. But as the toppings pile on, this father-son duo accidentally create a pizza so delicious, so extravagant, so over-the-top, that it destroys the universe-and the cosmos go as dark as burnt crust.

More Picture Books to Read Together --

Alone Together by Suzanne Bloom

A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon

Bears on Chairs by Shirley Parenteau

Dooby Dooby Moo by Doreen Cronin

Duck Soup by Jackie Urbanovic

Everybunny Dance! by Ellie Sandell

Everyone Loves Cupcake by Kelly DiPucchio

How Martha Saved Her Parents from Green Beans by David LaRochelle

I Just Ate My Best Friend by Heidi McKinnon

I Like This, You Like That by Linda Ashman

If You Plant a Seed by Kadir Nelson

King Jack and the Dragon by Peter Bently

Love, Z by Jessie Sima

People Don't Bite People by Lisa Wheeler

Pokko and the Drum by Matthew Forsythe

Raisin and Grape by Tom Amico

Saturday by Oge Mora

Teach Your Buffalo to Play Drums by Audrey Vernick

When Mommy Was Mad by Lynne Jonell

Who's Who? by Ken Geist

Check out these and more books to read together on display at the Arnold Branch through July 2023.