Short Stories for Winter Nights

 The Winter Solstice is fast approaching on December 21st.  As it is the shortest day of the year, it's a great time to read a short story.  Try one of these . . . .

Dragons at Crumbling Castle and other Tales by Terry Pratchett

An illustrated collection of fourteen short stories featuring "dragons and wizards, councilors and mayors, an adventurous tortoise and a monster in a lake, along with plenty of pointy hats and a few magic spells" written when the author was a teenaged newspaper reporter.

You Are Here: Connecting Flights by Ellen Oh

Twelve young Asians Americans cross paths, meeting challenges and victories, in a busy airport.

Super Puzzletastic Mysteries by Chris Grabenstein and the Mystery Writers of America

Author Chris Grabenstein and his all-star cast of contributing authors team up for Super Puzzletastic Mysteries, a group of interactive short stories that invite the reader to solve the mystery themselves.

More Short Story Collections --

1-2-3 Scream! by R.U. Ginns

The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities by Rick Riordan

The Foundling and Other Stories of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander

Graven Images by Paul Fleischman

Guys Read: The Sports Pages by Jon Scieszka

Guys Read: Terrifying Tales by Jon Scieszka

The Hero Next Door by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich

Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling

Really Stupid Stories for Really Smart Kids by Alan Katz

The Spook's Story and Other Horrors by Joseph Delaney

Sword of the Samurai: Adventure Stories from Japan by Eric A. Kimmel

That's Ghosts for You: 13 Scary Stories by Mariane Carus

Celebrating Schools & Teachers

 This week, we are sharing picture books stories about schools and teachers.  Here's a few of our favorites . . . .

School's First Day of School by Adam Rex

It's the first day of school at Frederick Douglass Elementary and everyone's just a little bit nervous, especially the school itself.

Dinosaur vs. School by Bob Shea

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

Miss Nelson Is Missing! by Harry Allard

The kids in Room 207 take advantage of their teacher's good nature until she disappears and they are faced with a vile substitute.

Mr. S by Monica Arnaldo

It was the first day of school. But even the kindergarteners of room 2B could tell something was seriously wrong . . . Where was the teacher? Who left this sandwich on the desk? The only clue, written neatly on the chalkboard, was the name: Mr. S.

Moses Goes to School by Isaac Millman

Moses and his friends enjoy the first day of school at their special school for the deaf and hard of hearing, where they use sign language to talk to each other.

More Books --

Author Day for Room 3T by Robin Pulver

Back to School, Backpack! by Simon Rich

Bear's School Day by Stella Blackstone

Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes

Dad's First Day by Mike Wohnoutka

Field Trip to the Moon by John Hare

First Day Critter Jitters by Jory John

I Am Absolutely Too Small for School by Lauren Child

If I Built a School by Chris Van Dusen

The King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes

Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat, Are You Going to School? by Bill Martin

Little Rabbit Goes to School by Harry Horse

Miss Fox's Class Gets It Wrong by Eileen Spinelli

Mission: Back to School: Top Secret Info by Morag Hood

Monsters Love School by Mike Austen

My Teacher Is a Monster! (No, I Am Not) by Peter Brown

Ninja Boy Goes to School by Nathan D. Wilson

Once Upon an Ordinary School Day by Colin McNaughton

Our Classroom Rules! by Kallie George

Picture Day Perfection by Deborah Diesen

The Pigeon Has to Go to School! by Mo Willems

School Is Wherever I Am by Ellie Peterson

Stanley's School by William Bee

Superhero vs. School by Ethan Long

Take Your Octopus to School Day by Audrey Vernick

The Teachers from the Black Lagoon and Other Stories by Mike Thaler

This Is a School by John Schu

We Don't Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins

Holiday Baking & Crafts for Kids

The holidays are quickly approaching.  Check out one of these books for your holiday baking and crafting preparations . . . .

Super Good Cookies for Kids by Duff Goldman

The book teaches budding young bakers how to make dozens of crazy delicious concoctions--from confetti snickerdoodles to unicorn cupcakes to amazing dessert pizzas.

Easy Origami Decorations by Christopher L. Harbo

Handcrafted decorations are just a few folds away! Learn how to turn origami butterflies, swans, and tulips into locker magnets, table decorations, and more.

Kids Can Bake: Recipes for Budding Bakers by Laura Paton

A collection of 30 beautifully illustrated step-by-step recipes which show children how to bake delicious cakes, biscuits, pies, puddings and tarts.

More Books --

Christmas Crafts by Fay Robinson

Creative Christmas Crafts by Karin Andersson

David Atherton's Baking Book of Kids by David Atherton

Delectable Cupcakes with a Side of Science by M.M. Eboch

Disney Princess Tea Parties by Sarah W. Caron

Kids Bake! 100+ Savory and Sweet Recipes by Good Housekeeping

Paper Crafts for Christmas by Randel McGee

Paper Crafts for Thanksgiving by Randel McGee

Super Good: Baking for Kids by Duff Goldman

National Adoption Month: A Teen Fiction Booklist

The month of November is celebrated as National Adoption Month.  So we're sharing books for teens featuring adopted characters.  Here's a few of our favorites . . . .

Yotsuba&! series by Kiyohiko Azuma

The curious and curiouser Yotsuba moves to a new town with her dad. In the process of moving in, Yotsuba encounters things like swingsets and broken door handles, which all bring about a never-ending torrent of questions and shrieks of amazement.

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

Jessica, adopted and raised in Pennsylvania, learns that she is descended from a royal line of Romanian vampires and that she is betrothed to a vampire prince, who poses as a foreign exchange student while courting her.

The Possible by Tara Altebrando

A podcaster stirs up seventeen-year-old Kaylee's memories of her birth mother, who is infamous for alleged telekinetic ability and for murdering her own son.

More Books --

The Blood Between Us by Z. Brewer

Chaos and Flame by Tessa Gratton
The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White

The Dysasters by P.C. Cast

Forward Me Back to You by Mitali Perkins

The Girl I Am, Was, and Never Will Be by Shannon Gibney

The How and Why by Cynthia Hand

The Last Wish of Sasha Cade by Cheyanne Young

The Lovely and the Lost by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

More Than We Can Tell by Brigid Kemmerer

The Name She Gave Me by Betty Culley

Nameless by Lili St. Crow

Seriously Wicked by Tiny Connolly

Spy Family series by Tatsuya Enyo

Haunted Stories for Teens

Would you dare to stay the night in a haunted house?  This week, we're sharing some haunted house stories for teens.  Here's a few of our favorites . . . .

Agony House by Cheri Priest

Denise Farber, her mom, and her stepfather are moving back to New Orleans, into the Argonne house, which her mother plans to turn into a bed-and-breakfast--but old houses have histories, and sometimes ghosts, and a mysterious old comic book that Denise finds in the attic may hold the answer to a crime and the terrifying things that keep happening in what she thinks of as the "Agony" house.

Creepy Cat by Valent Cotton

Flora moves into a mysterious mansion and finds it inhabited by a strange creature -Creepy Cat! Thus begins her strange and sometimes dangerous life with a feline roommate.

Summer's Edge by Dana Mele

When five estranged friends return to a summer lake house on the anniversary of their friend's death, unexplainable events begin happening, old betrayals rise to the surface, and the group suspects a killer among them is intent on revenge.

More Books --

The Dead and Buried by Kim Harrington

Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury

Gallant by Victoria Schwab

Harvest House by Cynthia Leitich Smith

She Is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran

The Tenth Girl by Sara Faring

There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins

These Fleeting Shadows by Kate Alice Marshall

Thirteen Chairs by Dave Shelton

Tigers Not Daughters by Samantha Mabry

White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson

Let's Get Spooky

As Halloween approaches, we often get asked for spooky stories for kids.  Here's a few of our favorite spooky picture books . . . .

Beware the Monster by Michael Escoffier

Advises the reader to avoid reading the book that contains a monster that is eating up everything in sight, until the monster spots the reader looking at it and it is too late.

The Monsters' Monster by Patrick McDonnell

Grouch, Grump, and little Gloom 'n' Doom spend much of their time arguing over who is the "biggest and baddest" until they build a monster together that turns out to be very different than what they expect.

When a Monster Is Born by Sean Taylor

Explores the options available to a monster from the time it is born, such as becoming the scary monster under someone's bed or playing on the school basketball team.

Bedtime for Monsters by Ed Vere

A hungry monster seeks a different type of bedtime snack.

More Books --

Are You a Monster? by Guilherme Karsten

Does Frankenstein Get Hungry? by John Solimine

Even Monsters Need Haircuts by Matthew McElligott

Fright Club by Ethan Long

I Want to Be in a Scary Book by Sean Taylor

It's Not Easy Being a Ghost by Marilyn Sadler

Jeepers Creepers by Laura Leuck

Jeremy Draws a Monster by Peter McCarty

Leonardo the Terrible Monster by Mo Willems

Looking for a Jumbie by Tracey Baptiste

Love Monster by Rachel Bright

Monster Boogie by Laurie Berkner

Monsters Love Cupcakes by Mike Austin

My Monster and Me by Nadiya Hussain

My Monster Mama Loves Me So by Laura Leuck

Sally and the Something by George O'Connor

Skeleton for Dinner by Margery Cuyler

Skeleton Hiccups by Margery Cuyler

Travel Guide for Monsters by Lori Degman

The Ugliest Monster in the World by Luis Amavisca

Why Did the Monster Cross the Road? by R.L. Stine

Zombelina by Kristyn Crow

Award Winning Books for Teens

This week, I'm sharing some award winning books for teens.  Here's a few of my favorites . . . .

Not If I Save You First by Ally Carter

Maddie thought she and Logan would be friends forever. But when her dad is a Secret Service agent, and Logan's dad is the president, sometimes life has other plans. Before she knows it, Maddie's dad is dragging her to a cabin in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness. Maddie tells herself it's okay. Until Logan shows up six years later, and she wants to kill him. But before that can happen, an assailant appears out of nowhere, knocking Maddie off a cliff and dragging Logan to some unknown fate.

Dig by A.S. King

Only a generation removed from being Pennsylvania potato farmers, Gottfried and Marla Hemmings managed to trade digging spuds for developing subdivisions and now sit atop a seven-figure bank account, wealth they've declined to pass on to their adult children or their teenage grandchildren. As the rot just beneath the surface of the Hemmings' precious suburban respectability begins to spread, the far-flung grandchildren gradually find their ways back to one another, just in time to uncover the terrible cost of maintaining the family name.

The Unfortunates by Kim Liggett

After a fatal accident, 17-year-old Grant Tavish escapes punishment due to his senator father's connections. Grant plans to give himself justice by staging an accident during a caving trip and never returning. But the cave collapses, trapping him miles beneath the surface with four other teens. As they struggle to survive, they realize something else is with them.

More Books --

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

Bone Gap by Laura Ruby

Eighth Grade Bites by Z. Brewer

Everything, Everything, Nicola Yoon

Famous Last Words by Katie Alender

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Heroine by Mindy McGinnis

The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman

Postcards from No Man's Land by Aidan Chambers

The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

To Catch a Killer by Sheryl Scarborough

We Are Okay by Nina Lacour

You'd Be Home by Kathleen Glasgow

Are You Prepared? Survival Stories

September is Disaster Preparedness Month.  So this week, we are sharing survival chapter books.  Here's a few of our favorites . . . .

The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder

After an October blizzard, Laura's family moves from the claim shanty into town for the winter, a winter that has been predicted will be seven months of bad weather.

Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse

In a series of poems, fifteen-year-old Billie Jo relates the hardships of living on her family's wheat farm in Oklahoma during the dust bowl years of the Depression.

Storm Blown by Nick Courage

In San Juan, Puerto Rico, Alejandro worries about his great-uncle while helping guests at a resort, and in New Orleans, Emily worries about her sick brother, as a major hurricane rages, changing both their lives forever.

More Books --

Denali Storm by Michael Spradlin

Hurricane by Terry Trueman

Hurricane Child by Kacen Callender

Hurricane Katrina Rescue by Kate Messenger

Lacey's Story by W. Bruce Cameron

Me and Sam-Sam Handle the Apocalypse by Susan Vaught

Racing Storm Mountain by Trent Reedy

Skylark and Wallcreeper by Anne Carelli

The Storm Before Atlanta by Karen Schwabach

The Storm in the Barn by Matt Phelan

Survival in the Storm by Katelan Jenke

Tornado Hits by Hilde Lysiak

It's Boarding School -- Not Boring School!

With the start of the school year, we thought we would share some teen books set in boarding schools.  Here's a few of our favorites . . . .

Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster
A seventeen-year-old orphan is sent to an exclusive northeastern college for women by an anonymous benefactor in exchange for writing him regularly on her progress.

Carry On: The Rise and Fall of Simon Snow by Rainbow Rowell

Simon Snow just wants to relax and savor his last year at the Watford School of Magicks, but no one will let him. His girlfriend broke up with him, his best friend is a pest, and there are ghosts. And vampires. 

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

After the suspicious death of her mother in 1895, sixteen-year-old Gemma returns to England, after many years in India, to attend a finishing school where she becomes aware of her magical powers and ability to see into the spirit world.

More Books --

Again Again by E. Lockhart

Breaking by Danielle Rollins

The Castle School (for Troubled Girls) by Alyssa B. Sheinmel

Don't Breathe a Word by Jordyn Taylor

Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger

Even in Paradise by Chelsey Philpot

The Forgotten Book by Mechthild Glaser

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter
The Ivies by Alex Donne

Killing November by Adriana Mather

A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee

Looking for Alaska by John Green

My Dearest Darkest by Kayla Cottingham

The Similars by Rebecca Hanover

This May End Badly by Samantha Markum

Wilder Girls by Rory Power

Youngblood by Sasha Laurens

A Few of My Favorite Things (Books)

 This week, I'm sharing some of my favorite chapter books for kids . . . .

Bo at Ballard Creek by Kirkpatrick Hill

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

The Spoon in the Bathroom Wall by Tony Johnston

Living in the boiler room of the school where her father is janitor seems normal to fourth grader Martha Snapdragon, until she has experiences reminiscent of the Arthurian legends.

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.

The Dollhouse Murders by Betty Ren Wright

A mysterious dollhouse and dolls that move on their own lead Amy, twelve, and her mentally-disabled sister Louann, eleven, to investigate the mystery surrounding grisly murders that occured years before.

More Books --

Below by Meg McKinlay

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

Can of Worms by Kathy Mackel

Dial-A-Ghost by Eva Ibbotson

Fairy Tale Comics by Chris Duffy

The Floods: Good Neighbors by Colin Thompson

Mr. and Mrs. Bunny: Detectives Extraordinaire by Polly Horvath

The Snow Spider by Jenny Nimmo

This Would Make a Good Story Some Day by Dana Alison Levy

Up and Down Scratchy Mountain by Laurel Snyder

Don't BUG Me! I'm Reading!

 This week, we're sharing picture books about insects and spiders.  Here's a few of our favorites . . . .

The Itsy Bitsy Spider by Iza Trapani

The itsy-bitsy spider encounters a fan, a mouse, a cat, and a rocking chair as she makes her way to the top of a tree to spin her web.

Twig by Aura Parker

Heidi, a tall, twig-like stick insect, does everything she can to make friends on her first day at Bug School, but even her teacher, Miss Orb, fails to notice her.

Yoo-Hoo, Ladybug! by Mem Fox

This book invites the reader to search for Ladybug, who loves to hide.

Hank's Big Day: The Story of a Bug by Evan Kuhlman

Hank is a pill bug whose daily routine involves nibbling a dead leaf, climbing up a long stick, avoiding a skateboarder, and playing pretend with his best friend, a human girl named Amelia.

Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert

Illustrates the life cycle of four common butterflies by featuring butterfly and flower facts, butterfly identification tips, and a guide to creating a butterfly garden.

More Books --

A Beetle Is Shy by Dianna Hutts Aston

Bug in a Vacuum by Melanie Watt

Bugs Galore by Peter Stein

Bugs in My Hair by David Shannon

Bye-Bye Big Bad Bullybug by Ed Emberley

Can You Make a Scary Face? by Jan Thomas

Caterpillar Dreams by Clive McFarland

The Diary of a Spider by Doreen Cronin

Dreamweaver by Jonathan London

Fly! by Karl Edwards

Goodnight Butterfly by Ross Burach

How to Ride a Dragonfly by Kitty Donohoe

I'm Trying to Love Spiders by Bethany Barton

Kaia and the Bees by Maribeth Boelts

Luigi, the Spider Who Wanted to Be a Kitten by Michelle Knudsen

Miss Spider's Tea Party by David Kirk

Old Cricket by Lisa Wheeler

One Hundred Hungry Ants by Elinor Pinczes

The Perfect Pet by Margie Palatini 

Summer Birds: The Butterflies of Maria Merian by Margarita Engle

Swarm of Bees by Lemony Snicket

Sylvie by Jean Reidy

Ten Little Caterpillars by Bill Martin 

The Very Quiet Cricket by Eric Carle

Hi! My Name Is Sara.

 This week's booklist features teen books with characters named Sara (or Sarah, or Serah, etc).  Here's a few of our favorites . . . .

I Woke Up Dead at the Mall by Judy Sheehan

Sixteen-year-old Sarah wakes up dead at the Mall of America only to find she was murdered, and she must work with a group of dead teenagers to finish up the unresolved business of their former lives while preventing her murderer from killing again.

Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly

Uncovering an ancient evil, Serafina, a mermaid of the Mediterranean Sea, searches for five other mermaid heroines who are scattered across the six seas, to save their hidden world.

Girl in Blue by Ann Rinaldi

To escape an abusive father and an arranged marriage, Sarah, dressed as a boy, leaves her Michigan home to enlist in the Union Army, and becomes a soldier on the battlefields of Virginia as well as a Union spy working in the house of Confederate sympathizer Rose O'Neal Greenhow in Washington, D.C.

More Books --

Belly Up by Eva Darrows

Burn by Patrick Ness

The Cerulean by Amy Ewing

The Chandler Legacies by Abdi Nazemian

Darkwater by Catherine Fisher

Devil, Darling, Spy by Matt Killeen

The Eye of Minds by James Dashner

Illegal by Francisco X. Stork

Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley

A Secret Princess by Margaret Stohl

That's Not What Happened by Kody Keplinger

Violet Ghosts by Leah Thomas

It's Better With Two! Stories Featuring Twins

All of these books feature twins in the stories.  Here's a few of our favorites . . . .

The Magic Half by Annie Barrows

Eleven-year-old Miri Gill feels left out in her family, which has two sets of twins and her, until she travels back in time to 1935 and discovers Molly, her own lost twin, and brings her back to the present day.

The Tapper Twins Go to War (With Each Other) by Geoff Rodkey

An oral history that reports, through transcribed recordings, text messages, photographs, illustrations, screenshots, and more, an epic prank war between twelve-year-old twins Reese and Claudia Tapper of New York City.

Denis Ever After by Tony Abbott

This bittersweet middle grade novel follows the ghost of Denis Egan as he teams up with his living twin brother to solve the mystery of his death.

Witch Twins by Adele Griffin

Troubled about being separated at school and preoccupied with sabotaging their father's marriage, ten-year-old witches, Claire and Luna, have little time to think of something good, smart and tricky to do that will finally make them one-star witches.

More Books --

Bhai for Now by Maleeha Siddiqui

Capitol Chase by Matthew Landis

Cosmic Commandos by Chris Eliopoulos

Double, Double, Twins and Trouble by Luna Graves

Double Vision by Tia Mowry

The Fowl Twins by Eoin Colfer

The Hunt for the Hollower by Callie C. Miller

Jake and Lilly by Jerry Spinelli

Journey Across the Hidden Islands by Sarah Beth Durst

Shira & Esther's Double Dream Debut by Anna E. Jordan 

The Templeton Twins Have an Idea by Ellis Weiner

The Two and Only Kelly Twins by Johanna Hurwitz

Laugh Out Loud

Sometimes you are just done with all the drama and you want to laugh out loud.  Check out one of these humorous teen books.  Here are a few of our favorites . . . .

Princess Decomposia and Count Spatula by Andi Watson

Stuck with doing most of her father's work, Decomposia struggles to keep up with her responsibilities to her mummy, werewolf, and ghost subjects, until charming chef Count Spatula steps in to help.

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.

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.

Struck by Lightning by Chris Colfer

Outcast high school senior Carson Phillips blackmails the most popular students in his school into contributing to his literary journal to bolster his college application.

More Humorous Teen Fiction --

The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge by M.T. Anderson

Chloe and the Kaishao Boys by Mae Coyiuto

Dark Lord: The Early Years by Jamie Thomson

Evil Librarian by Michelle Knudsen

Girls Save the World in This One by Ash Parsons

Halo and Sprocket by Kerry Callen

Herding Cats by Sarah Andersen

It's All Your Fault by Paul Rudnick

Just Our Luck by Julia Walton

Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews 

My Neighbor Seki series by Takuma Morishige

Neanderthal Opens the Door to the Universe by Preston Norton

Nichijou series by Keiichi Arawi

Rabbit & Robot by Andrew Smith

There Goes the Neighborhood by Jade Adia

Wicked Things by John Allison

Yotsuba&! series by Kiyohiko Azuma

Your Own Worst Enemy by Gordon Jack

June = World Ocean Month

Did you know that June is World Ocean Month?  Celebrate by reading one of the following chapter books with an ocean setting.  Here are a few of our favorites . . . .

Odder by Katherine Applegate

Odder spends her days off the coast of central California, practicing her underwater acrobatics and spinning the quirky stories for which she's known. She's a fearless daredevil, curious to a fault. But when Odder comes face-to-face with a hungry great white shark, her life takes a dramatic turn, one that will challenge everything she believes about herself -- and about the humans who hope to save her.

Northwind by Gary Paulsen

When a deadly plague reaches the small fish camp where he lives, an orphan named Leif is forced to take to the water in a cedar canoe. He flees northward, following a wild, fjord-riven shore, navigating from one danger to the next, unsure of his destination. Yet the deeper into his journey he paddles, the closer he comes to his truest self as he connects to ٢the heartbeat of the ocean . . . the pulse of the sea.

A Whale in Paris by Daniel Presley

During the German occupation of Paris, Chantal, twelve, spies a whale while fishing with her father in the Seine and is determined to return it to the ocean before the Nazis or starving Parisians can destroy it.

More Books --

Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk

Compass South by Hope Larson

Consider the Octopus by Nora Raleigh Baskin

Forbidden Sea by Sheila A. Nielson

Global by Eoin Colfer

Into the Killing Seas by Michael Spradlin

The Neptune Project by Polly Holyoke

Olive's Ocean by Kevin Henkes

Race to the Bottom of the Sea by Lindsay Eagar

Scary Sea Stories by Mark Kehl

Sea Sirens by Amy Chu

Secret Sisters of the Salty Sea by Lynne Rae Perkins

Secrets We Tell the Sea by Martha Riva Palacio Obon

Celebrate World Music Day!

Did you know that June 21st is World Music Day?  This year, celebrate by reading one of these music-themed picture books.

Salsa Lullaby by Jen Arena

Parents put their young daughter to sleep with the help of some music and dancing.

Seven Golden Rings by Rajani LaRocca

In ancient India, a boy named Bhagat travels to the rajah's city, hoping to ensure his family's prosperity by winning a place at court as a singer.

The First Music by Dylan Pritchett

A series of accidents in the jungle proves that everyone has something special to add when it comes to making music.

Gabriella's Song by Candace Fleming

A young girl finds music all around her as she walks about the city of Venice, Italy, and she shares her song with everyone she meets.

Music Is by Lloyd Moss

A rhyming salute to the many ways in which people enjoy music.

More Books --

Acoustic Rooster's Barnyard Boogie by Kwame Alexander

Animal Albums from A to Z by Cece Bell

The Bear and the Piano by David Litchfield

Bring On That Beat! by Rachel Isadora

Double Bass Blues by Rudy Gutierrez

Drum Dream Girl by Margarita Engle

Farmyard Beat by Lindsey Craig

How to Be a Rock Star by Lisa Tolin

I Know a Shy Fellow Who Swallowed a Cello by Barbara Garriel

Music Over Manhattan by Mark Karlins

Music for Mister Moon by Philip Christian Stead

The Nuts: Sing and Dance in Your Polka Dot Pants by Eric Litwin

The Oboe Goes Boom Boom Boom by Colleen Venable

Roar-chestra! by Robert Heidbreder

Rock 'n' Roll Mole by Carolyn Crimi

Ruby Sings the Blues by Niki Daly

Singing in the Rain by Arthur Freed

This Jazz Man by Karen Ehrhardt

Violet's Music by Angela Johnson

Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin by Lloyd Moss

Book vs. Big Screen

It's great that so many teen books have been made into movies.  It's always fun to see the differences between the print and movie versions.  Check out some of these teen books and see if you prefer the book or the movie.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Thirteen-year-old Conor awakens one night to find a monster outside his bedroom window, but not the one from the recurring nightmare that began when his mother became ill--an ancient, wild creature that wants him to face truth and loss.

The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak

Trying to make sense of the horrors of World War II, Death relates the story of Liesel -- a young German girl whose book-stealing and story-telling talents help sustain her family and the Jewish man they are hiding, as well as their neighbors.

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Sixteen-year-old Miles' first year at Culver Creek Preparatory School in Alabama includes good friends and great pranks, but is defined by the search for answers about life and death after a fatal car crash.

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

Confined to her home because she is allergic to the outside world, a teenage girl's life changes when she begins a romance with the new boy next door that challenges everything she's ever known.

More Books --

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Dear Evan Hansen by Val Emmich

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

The Fifth Wave by Rick Yancey

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

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

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Maximum Ride by James Patterson

Maze Runner by James Dashner

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

Mrs. Heather's Favorite Books from Childhood

 This week, we are sharing some of Mrs. Heather's favorite chapter books from her childhood.  Read them and see if they're a favorite of yours too.

Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech

Twins Dallas and Florida have grown up in a terrible orphanage but their lives change forever when an eccentric but sweet older couple invites them each on an adventure, beginning in an almost magical place called Ruby Holler.

Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy

Stephanie's uncle Gordon is a writer of horror fiction. But when he dies and leaves her his estate, Stephanie learns that while he may have written horror it certainly wasn't fiction. Pursued by evil forces, Stephanie finds help from an unusual source - the wisecracking skeleton of a dead sorcerer.

The Girl With the Silver Eyes by Willo Davis Roberts

Katie can make things move with her mind and understand what animals are thinking and one day, suspecting that there are three others with her powers, she runs away to find them.

Ellen Tebbits by Beverly Cleary

The part of third grade Ellen Tebbits likes most is having Austine Allen for her best friend.

More Books --

Artemis Fowl by Eion Colfer

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson

The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer

Earwig and the Witch by Diana Wynne Jones

The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder

How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

The Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Mary Ann Saves the Day by Ann M. Martin

Matilda by Roald Dahl

Scooby Doo and the Case of the Carnival Clown by Laurie S. Sutton

Stuart Little by E.B. White

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

Award Winning Books

This week, we're sharing the Missouri Building Block Picture Book Award Books and the Show Me Readers Award Books.  Both awards are chosen by the children each year.  

Bunnies!!! by Kevan Atteberry
A monster searches everywhere to find the things he loves: bunnies!!!

The Magic Word by Mac Barnett

Paxton discovers that by saying the word "alakazoomba," he can magically get whatever he pleases.

Ketzel, the Cat Who Composed by Leslea Newman

Composer Moshe Cotel adopts a six-toed, black-and-white kitten whom he calls Ketzel, and when he needs a piece to enter in a contest for music less than a minute long, it is Ketzel who provides the solution.

Naked! by Michael Ian Black

A child discovers that the only thing more fun than being naked is wearing nothing but a cape.

More Award Winning Books --

10 Little Ninjas by Miranda Paul

Arrowhawk by Lola Schaefer

Bad Dog by Mike Boldt

Bubble Bath Pirates by Jarrett Krosoczka

Bye-Bye, Big Bad Bullybug! by Ed Emberley

Can I Be Your Dog? by Troy Cummings

Dandy by Ame Dyckman

The Epic Adventures of Huggie and Stick by Drew Daywalt

Epossumondas by Colleen Salley

The Frog Principal by Stephanie Calmenson

Hero Cat by Eileen Spinelli

I Ain't Gonna Paint No More by Karen Beaumont

The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors by Drew Daywalt

Llama Llama Mad at Mama by Anna Dewdney

Move Over Rover! by Karen Beaumont

Mustache Baby by Bridget Heos

Painter and Ugly by Robert Blake

Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin

Press Here by Herve Tullet

Scaredy Snacks by Terry Border

Snack Attack by Terry Border

Some Dog! by Mary Casanova

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

Two Bobbies by Kirby Larson

Verdi by Janell Cannon

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

Wolfboy by Andy Harkness

National Pet Week

This year, May 6-11 is National Pet Week.  So this week, we are sharing some of our favorite chapter book stories about pets.

Bunnicula by Deborah & James Howe

Though scoffed at by Harold the dog, Chester the cat tries to warn his human family that their foundling baby bunny must be a vampire.

Wedgie & Gizmo by Suzanne Selfors

While his human Elliot adjusts to his new home and stepfamily, Gizmo, an evil genius guinea pig, searches for a new evil lair where he can plot to take over the world, but Gizmo is constantly thwarted by Wedgie (a Corgi superhero and Gizmo's nemesis).

The Great Pet Escape by Victoria Jamieson

A young graphic novel chapter book about the escape escapades of class pets at Daisy P. Flugelhorn Elementary School.

Quack by Anna Humphrey

After a duck helps ten-year-old Shady Cook, who has selective mutism, to gain confidence, he and his best friend, Pouya, bring the emotional support duck to school to help the many underdogs there.

More Books --

Bad Kitty series by Nick Bruel

The Great Pet Heist by Emily Ecton

The Incredibly Dead Pets of Rex Dexter by Aaron Reynolds

Jinxed by Amy McCulloch

Lio: There's a Monster in My Socks by Mark Tatulli

Maxi's Secrets by Lynn Plourde

Pax by Sara Pennypacker

Raising Rufus by David Fulk

Return of the Hungry Hamster by Sam Hay

The Simple Art of Flying by Cory Leonardo

Stubby by Kate Klimo

Switched by Bruce Hale

The World According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney

Mysteries in the Stacks -- True Life Mysteries

This month, JCL is celebrating mysteries as it is the 165th birthday of Sherlock Holmes author Arthur Conan Doyle.  However, mysteries aren't just fiction.  Some of the most intriguing mysteries are from real life.  Check out one of these nonfiction books about real-life mysteries.

Top 10 Unsolved Mysteries by Kathryn Clay

Describes various unsolved mysteries throughout history in a top-ten format.

History's Mysteries by Kitson Jazynka

Curious kids itching for real-life Indiana Jones-like intrigue will get swept away with the next book in this spine-tingling series about solving puzzles of the past--from whole civilizations that have vanished to mystifying monuments and urban legends.

Vanished: True Tales of Mysterious Disappearances by Elizabeth MacLeod

Examines some of the most famous unsolved disappearances in history, including the lost colony of Roanoke, the Mary Celeste, and the Alcatraz prison break.

More Books --

65 More Short Mysteries You Solve with Science! by Eric Yoder

Blood, Bullets, and Bones: The Story of Forensic Science by Bridget Heos

Forensics: Uncover the Science and Technology of Crime Scene Investigation by Carla Mooney

History's Mysteries: Legend and Lore by Anna Claybourne

I Spy: A Book of Picture Riddles by Walter Wick

Solve This! Forensics by Kate Messner

Where's Waldo? A Wonder Book by Martin Handford

All the World's a Stage

 Many dream of being up on stage or their names in lights.  This week, we're sharing teen books featuring stories about theater, movies, and television.  Here's a few of our favorites . . . .

It Only Happens in the Movies by Holly Bourne

Audrey gave up on romance before meeting aspiring filmmaker Harry at the cinema where they work, but soon they are deeply in love--and not like it is portrayed in movies.

The Most Dazzling Girl in Berlin by Kip Wilson

On her eighteenth birthday, Hilde leaves her orphanage in 1930s Berlin, and heads out into the world to discover her place in it. But finding a job is hard, at least until she stumbles into Café Lila, a vibrant cabaret full of expressive customers.

Waste of Space by Gina Damico

Cram ten hormonal teens into a spaceship and blast off: that's the premise for the ill-conceived reality show Waste of Space. The kids who are cast know everything about drama--and nothing about the fact that the production is fake.

More Books --

Always Never Yours by Emily Wibberley

Behind the Scenes series by Bisco Hatori

Better Together by Christine Riccio

Echo After Echo by A.R. Capetta

Flip the Script by Lyla Lee

Gunslinger Girl by Lyndsay Ely

I Loved You in Another Life by David Arnold

I'll Be the One by Lyla Lee

In Search of Us by Ava Dellaira

The Love Curse of Melody McIntyre by Robin Talley

Love, Jacaranda by Alex Flinn

Secrets So Deep by Ginny Myers Sain

Take Me Home Tonight by Morgan Matson

This Book Is Not Yet Rated by Peter Bognanni

Super(Hero) Books for Kids

Superhero are always a popular topic with kids.  Here are a few of our favorite superhero chapter books ...

Almost Super by Marion Jensen

Two brothers in a family of superheroes are forced to reexamine everything they knew about being super when the powers they receive are total duds and their enemy is revealed to be just like they are.

Zodiac Legacy: Tiger Island by Stuart Moore

When six teenagers gain strange, magical superpowers, the vanguard launches a surprise attack in hopes of stopping the young heroes before they fully understand their abilities.

Ikenga by Nnedi Okorafor

In southeastern Nigeria, twelve-year-old Mnamdi is determined to avenge his police chief father, who was murdered while triyng to rid the town of criminals, but Nnamdi feels powerless until he receives a magical object which gives him superpowers.

Cape by Kate Hannigan

Soon after being recruited by the mysterious Mrs. Boudica to join a secret military intelligence operation, Josie, Mae, and Akiko discover their superhero abilities and use them to thwart a Nazi plot to steal the ENIAC computer.

More Superhero Stories --

Battling Boy by Paul Pope

Black Panther: The Young Prince by Ronald L. Smith

DC Superhero Girls: Final Crisis by Shea Fontana

Dear DC Supervillains by Michael Northrop

The Flash: Johnny Quick by Barry Lyga

Geeks, Girls, and Secret Identities by Mike Jung

Jack Blank and the Imagine Nation by Matt Myklusch

The Mighty Odds by Amy Ignatow

My Brother Is a Superhero by David Solomons

Public School Superhero by James Patterson

Sidekicked by John David Anderson

Super Schnoz and the Gates of Smell by Gary Urey

Wonder Woman at Superhero High by Lisa Yee

It's a Hard Knock Life: Stories of Orphans

It seems a common theme in children's books -- the plucky orphan going on an adventure.  Here are a few of our favorites . . . .

The Onts by Dan Greenburg

Ten-year-old orphan twins Wally and Cheyenne Shluffmuffin have had it bad at Cincinnati's Jolly Days Orphanage, but things get much worse when the Mandible sisters offer to share their home in the Dripping Fang Forest.

The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo

When ten-year-old orphan Peter Augustus Duchene encounters a fortune teller in the marketplace one day and she tells him that his sister, who is presumed dead, is in fact alive, he embarks on a remarkable series of adventures as he desperately tries to find her.

The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry

In this tongue-in-cheek take on classic themes in children's literature, the four Willoughby children set about to become "deserving orphans" after their neglectful parents embark on a treacherous around-the-world adventure, leaving them in the care of an odious nanny.

Escape to Witch Mountain by Alexander Key

When an evil man claiming to be their uncle removes them from an orphanage, Tony and Tia, siblings with unusual powers, run away and try to find other people like themselves in hopes of learning something of their mysterious past.

More Books --

At the Bottom of the World by Bill Nye

The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket

The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Clem Hetherington and the Ironwood Race by Jen Breach

Dactyll Hill Squad by Daniel Jose Older

Henry & Eva and the Castle on the Cliff by Andrea Portes

Loot by Jude Watson

The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan

The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier

Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech

Someplace to Call Home by Sandra Dallas

Wave Riders by Lauren St. John

We Own the Sky by W.R. Philbrick

April is Punny! Jokes, Riddles, and Wordplay Fun for April

Get ready for a month full of fun with these joke and riddle books.

Riddle Me This! Riddles and Stories to Challenge Your Mind by Hugh Lupton

A whimsical collection of riddles and riddling stories from all over the world. The playful illustrations offer clues that will help children to solve the riddles.

Just Joking LOL! by Rosie Gowsell Pattison

This collectible little book is packed with 300 silly kid-friendly jokes paired with photos of laughing animals and funny people.

Knock! Knock! Where is There? by Brian Elling

Collects over three hundred jokes featuring such famous locations as Stonehenge, Easter Island, the Bermuda Triangle, and Mount Rushmore.

More Books --

101 Hilarious Pranks and Practical Jokes by Theresa Julian

1001 Jokes for Kids: Laughs for All Ages

Belly Laugh Funniest, Grossest Jokes for Kids: 350 Hilarious Jokes

The Challenging Riddle Book for Kids by Danielle Hall

Dinosaur Jokes by Pam Rosenberg

The Jokiest Joking Puns Book Ever Written . . . No Joke! by Brian Boone

Silly Joke Books series by Michael Dahl

Tales, Legends, and Myths Retold

Retellings of fairy tales, myths, and classic stories are always popular.  It's always fun to see a new twist on an old story.  This week, I'm sharing story retellings for teens.  Here are a few of our favorites . . . .

Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George

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

Nameless: A Tale of Beauty and Madness by Lili St. Crow

Raised in luxury as the pampered, adopted heiress of Enrico Vultusino, godfather of the Seven -- the powerful Families that rule magic-ridden New Haven -- Camille knows that she is not really Family. Unlike them, she is a mortal with a past that lies buried in trauma. Then she meets the mysterious Tor and begins to uncover the secrets of her birth.

William Shakespeare's The Phantom of Menace: Star Wars Part the First by Ian Doescher

A retelling of The Phantom menace in the style of Shakespeare, featuring a disguised queen, a young hero, and two fearless knights facing a hidden, vengeful enemy.

More Retellings --

96 Words for Love by Rachel Roy

Briarheart by Mercedes Lackey

Debating Darcy by Sayantani DasGupta

The Fairest Beauty by Melanie Dickerson

The Forest Queen by Betsy Cornwell

Frogkisser! by Garth Nix

Gilded by Marissa Meyer

Little Thieves by Margaret Owen

Mechanica by Betsy Cornwell

Never Look Back by Lilliam Rivera

Pride and Premeditation by Tirzah Price

Rapunzel Untangled by Cindy C. Bennett

Reflection: A Twisted Tale by Elizabeth Lim

Sea Witch by Sarah Henning

Splintered by A.G. Howard

Stitching Snow by R.C. Lewis

These Violent Deaths by Chloe Gong

Thorn by Intisar Khanani

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Mad About Hoops

 It's March!  Which means it is time for March Madness.  This week, we're sharing some basketball stories for kids.

Double Scribble: A Jake Maddox Graphic Novel by Brandon Terrell

Diego "Clutch" Rivera was the hero of his school's basketball team last year, but this season things have not started well, and Diego is losing his confidence--but with some help from his dad and a friend he starts to rediscover the fun in basketball.

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.

Center Court Sting by Matt Christopher

Daren's tendency to blame everyone but himself when anything goes wrong causes problems with his best friend, with a young neighbor who idolizes him, and with one of his basketball teammates.

No Slam Dunk by Mike Lupica

In Annapolis, Maryland, seventh-grader Wes is a good teammate but this basketball season has been challenging because of his ball hog teammate Dinero, who is determined to steal the spotlight, and Wes's army veteran father who is suffering from PTSD.

More Books --

Big Shot by Jeff Kinney

Camp Average by Craig Battle

Fieldhouse by Scott Novosel

Meet Julie by Megan McDonald

My Life as a Potato by Arianne Costner

One for the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Prince by Bruce Brooks

Rebound by Kwame Alexander

The Turnover by Mike Lupica

We Are Family by LeBron James

Wheel Wizards by Matt Christopher

A Whole New Ball Game by Phil Bildner

All About Water

 This March, the Jefferson County Library is focusing on water and aquatic animals with our Dive In! promotion.  So this week I'm sharing picture books featuring water and the animals that live in it.  Here are a few of our favorites . . . .

Rain, Drop, Splash by Alvin Tresselt

Follows the raindrops as they grow from a puddle through a flood and on down the river to the ocean.

I Am Shark by Joan Holub

Humorously illustrated sharks introduce themselves and the characteristics that make them special, in a child-friendly, fish-out-of-water tale that includes profiles of species ranging from the Great White and Greenland to the Mako and Hammerhead.

The Water Princess by Susan Verde

The story of one young girl's quest to bring clean drinking water to her African village.

Plankton Is Pushy by Jonathan Fenske

Plankton tries hard to get Mister Mussel to return a friendly greeting, but when Mussel finally opens his mouth the results are unfortunate for Plankton.

Pigs Ahoy by David McPhail

A young man joins an ocean cruise on which some bad-mannered pigs create disaster while on board.

More Books --

At the Pond by David Elliott

A Bad Day for Fishing by Paige Hulsey

Barnacle Is Bored by Jonathan Fenske

The Deep End by Drew Sheneman

Don't Worry Little Crab by Chris Haughton

Duck and Goose Go to the Beach by Tad Hills

The Fantastic Undersea Life of Jacques Cousteau by Dan Yaccarino

Field Trip to the Ocean Deep by John Hare

Fish Eyes by Lois Ehlert

Hey, Water! by Antoinette Portis

How to Spy on a Shark by Lori Haskins Houran

I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry

Ladybug Girl at the Beach by David Sonam

Little Penguin Gets the Hiccups by Peter Bentley

Little Polar Bear by Hans de Beer

Misunderstood Shark by Ame Dyckman

Ocean Counting by Janet Lawler

The Ocean Story by John Seven

Oona by Kelly DiPucchio

Pierre the Penguin by Jean Marzollo

Poor Doreen by Sally Lloyd-Jones

The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen

River by Elisha Cooper

Swimmy by Leo Lionni

Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester

Trapped! by Robert Burleigh

Water Day by Margarita Engle

Way Down Deep in the Deep Blue Sea by Jan Peck

Winners from the Past -- The Mark Twain Award

This week, we're sharing some of our favorite winners from past years of the Mark Twain Award.

The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann

In a society that purges thirteen-year-olds who are creative, identical twins Aaron and Alex are separated, one to attend University while the other, supposedly Eliminated, finds himself in a wondrous place where youths hone their abilities and learn magic.

The Girl with the Silver Eyes by Willo Davis Roberts

Katie can make things move with her mind and understand what animals are thinking and one day, suspecting that there are three others with her powers, she runs away to find them.

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein

Kyle Keeley is the class clown, popular with most kids (if not the teachers), and an ardent fan of all games: board games, word games, and particularly video games. His hero, Luigi Lemoncello, the most notorious and creative gamemaker in the world, just so happens to be the genius behind the building of the new town library. Lucky Kyle wins a coveted spot to be one of the first 12 kids in the library for an overnight of fun, food, and lots and lots of games.

More Mark Twain Award Winners --

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

Blended by Sharon Draper

Deep and Dark and Dangerous: A Ghost Story by Mary Downing Hahn

Dork in Disguise by Carol Gorman

Framed: A TOAST Mystery by James Ponti

Manic Magee by Jerry Spinelli

A Million Ways Home by Dianna Dorisi-Winget

Millionaires for the Month by Stacey McAnulty

The Pinballs by Betsy Byars

Runaway Twin by Peg Kehret

Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Stolen Children by Peg Kehret

Titanic Crossing by Barbara Williams

The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Wenny Has Wings by Janet Lee Carey

White Bird by R.J. Palacio

Zach's Lie by Roland Smith

Got Game?

This week, I'm sharing sports stories for teens.  Here are a few of our favorites . . . .

Rez Ball by Byron Graves

These days, Tre Brun is happiest when he is playing basketball on the Red Lake Reservation high school team, even though he can't help but be constantly gut-punched with memories of his big brother, Jaxon, who died in an accident. When Jaxon's former teammates on the varsity team offer to take Tre under their wing, he sees this as his shot to represent his Ojibwe rez all the way to their first state championship. 

Winger by Andrew Smith

Two years younger than his classmates at a prestigious boarding school, fourteen-year-old Ryan Dean West grapples with living in the dorm for troublemakers, falling for his female best friend who thinks of him as just a kid, and playing wing on the Varsity rugby team with some of his frightening new dorm-mates.

Finding Her Edge by Jennifer Iacopelli

With gold-medalist parents and her older sister headed to the Olympics, all she wants is to live up to the family name and stand atop the ice dance podium at the Junior World Championships. As the biggest competition of her life draws closer and her family's legacy hangs in the balance, Adriana is caught between her past and present, between the golden future she's worked so hard for, and the one she gave up long ago.

More Books --

Brawler by Neil O. Connelly

Break the Fall by Jennifer Iacopelli

Buzz Kill by Beth Fantaskey

Call Me By My Name by John Ed Bradley

Cracking the Bell by Geoff Herbach

Curveball by Jordan Sonnenblick

Game Changer by Neal Shusterman

Gut Check by Eric Kester

Gutless by Carl Deuker

Hit Count by Chris Lynch

Home Field Advantage by Dahlia Adler

The Justice Project by Michael Betcherman

Like Other Girls by Britta Lundin

Michigan vs. the Boys by Carrie S. Allen

They'll Never Catch Us by Jessica Goodman

So You Like Video Games . . . .

This week, I'm sharing stories about video games.  Here's a few of our favorites . . . .

Slacker by Gordon Korman

Cameron Boxer is very happy to spend his life avoiding homework, hanging out with his friends, and gaming for hours in his basement. It's not too hard for him to get away with it . . . until he gets so caught up in one game that he almost lets his house burn down around him. Oops. It's time for some serious damage control.

Unbelievably Boring Bart by James Patterson

Brainy twelve-year-old Bart attracts little attention at his new middle school near Hollywood, California, but whenever he can get around his gym-coach father, he secretly hunts electricity-guzzling aliens.

Click'd by Tamara Ireland Stone

Allie Navarro can't wait to show her best friends the app she built at summer camp. CLICK'D pairs users based on common interests and sends them on a fun (and occasionally rule-breaking) scavenger hunt to find each other. And it's a hit. But when Allie discovers a glitch that threatens to expose everyone's secrets, she has to figure out how to make things right.

More Books --

Crack in the Code! by Nick Eliopulos

Cyberspace Warrior by Edward Packard

The Double Life of Danny Day by Mike Thayer

Dragon Ops by Mari Mancusi

Gamer Army by Trent Reedy

The Good War by Todd Strasser

Mac Cracks the Code by Mac Barnett

The Nerdy Dozen by Jeff Miller

The Ruby Code by Jessica Khoury

Saving Thanehaven by Catherine Jinks

Tournament Trouble by Sylv Chiang

Ultimate Gaming Showdown by M.K. England

Water Habitats and the Life in Them

The focus for March at the library is Dive In!  A promotion all about water and water animals.  This week, we're sharing some informational books are water habitats and the life in them.  Here are a few of our favorites . . . .

Ocean Atlas: A Journey Across the Wave and Into the Deep by Tom Jackson

A comprehensive exploration of our oceans, covering geography, ecosystems, and animals through a mix of illustrations, photographs, maps, and diagrams. Map out the oceans' layers, from the sunlight zone to the abyss, exploring the conditions within each zone and the different creatures that live there, as well as exploring features of the ocean floor such as underwater volcanoes, thermal vents, and the mid-Atlantic ridge.

From Shore to Ocean Floor: The Human Journey to the Deep by Gill Arbuthnott

The story of how humans went from building the first boats to discovering the secrets of the deep. Marvel at incredible scientific discoveries, be dazzled by some of the most exciting new species, and admire the incredible people who took the very first steps below the surface.

Life in Hot Water: Wildlife at the Bottom of the Ocean by Mary Batten

The scalding-hot water gushing from vents at the bottom of the ocean is one of the most extreme environments on Earth. Yet over millions of years, many organisms have evolved in amazing ways that enable them to thrive in this unlikely habitat. Scientists are hard at work to learn more about the complex ecosystems of the ocean depths.

More Books --

Amazing Rivers: 100+ Waterways That Will Boggle Your Mind by Julie Vosburgh Agnone

Coral Reefs by Seymour Simon

Freshwater Biomes by Louise Spilsbury

Marine Ecosystems by Tammy Gagne

Neighborhood Sharks by Katherine Roy

Ocean by Miranda MacQuitty

Ocean Animals From Head to Tail by Stacey Roderick

Pond & River by Steve Parker

Weird But True: Ocean by National Geographic Kids

Wetland Life Connections by Raymond Bergin

Here There Be Dragons . . .

This week, we're sharing picture books featuring one of our favorite creatures --- Dragons!  Here's a few of our favorites . . . .

Waking Dragons by Jane Yolen

In the morning, dragons wake up, tumble out of bed, and get ready to fly into the sky.

Dragon Was Terrible by Kelly DiPucchio

We all know dragons are terrible, but this one is especially terrible. He scribbles in books. He steals candy from baby unicorns. He even burps in church. Seriously, who does that? Dragon, that's who. The king, the knights, and the villagers are desperate to take down this beast once and for all. But sometimes it's up to the unlikeliest of heroes to tame a dragon this terrible.

How to Dress a Dragon by Thelma Lynne Godin

A small child helps his reluctant, toddler-like dragon get dressed.

Oh So Brave Dragon by David Kirk

Dragon knows he is supposed to be brave, because that's what dragons do. He's so brave and valiant, he's ready to try out his fearsome roar! But when he hears something that scares him, he turns to his forest friends to find the noise, and to help him be brave.

More Books --

Ace Dragon Ltd. by Russell Hoban

Again! by Emily Gravett

Attack of the Underwear Dragon by Scott Rothman

Being Friends With Dragons by Katherine Locke

Dear Dragon by Josh Funk

Dragon's Extraordinary Egg by Debi Gliori

The Dragons Are Singing Tonight by Jack Prelutsky

Dragons Are the Worst! by Alex Willan

Dragons Eat Noodles on Tuesdays by Jon Stahl

Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin

Fergal and the Bad Temper by Robert Starling

I Will Not Eat You! by Adam Lehrhaupt

King Arthur's Very Great Grandson by Kenneth Kraegel

King Jack and the Dragon by Peter Bently

The Loathsome Dragon by David Wiesner

Loveabye Dragon by Barbara Joosse

Old MacDonald Had a Dragon by Ken Baker

The Paperbag Princess by Robert Munsch

The Pet Dragon by Christoph Niemann

The Sons of the Dragon King by Ed Young

There's a Dragon in Your Book by Tom Fletcher

The Truth About Dragons by Jaime Zollars

Where Is the Dragon? by Leo Timmers

Birds of the World

In January, the focus at the JCL-Arnold Branch was Birds.  It was the focus of much of our programming.  So, this week, I am sharing some great nonfiction, informational books about birds.

What It's Like to Be a Bird by David Allen Sibley
This book shows how birds and humans are intrinsically connected, sometimes helping and sometimes hindering each other. Adapted for young readers from the bestselling work written and illustrated by David Allen Sibley, this unique book is perfect for dedicated bird-watchers--or for anyone who simply delights in noticing birds in their neighborhood.

A Bird Is a Bird by Lizzy Rockwell

Describes the unique features that birds have, including beaks, wings, and feathers, and how they are used by different varieties of birds.

Winter Moon by Jean Craighead George

A song sparrow, a mole, a bear, and an owl must struggle through the cold, harsh months of winter.

More Books --

12 Birds Back From the Brink by Nancy Furstinger

About Parrots: A Guide for Children by Cathryn P. Sill

Bald Eagles: Prey-Snatching Birds by Laura Hamilton Waxman

Bird Guide of North America by Jonathan K. Alderfer

Birds of Paradise: Winged Wonders by Cynthia Unwin

Can You Find These Birds? by Carmen Bredeson

Chickenology: The Ultimate Encyclopedia by Barbara Sandri

Magnificent Birds by Narisa Togo

My Pet Bird by Lynn Hamilton

Ostriches: Fast Flightless Birds by Laura Hamilton Waxman

The Puffin Plan: Restoring Seabirds to Egg Rock and Beyond by Stephen W. Kress

Snowy Owls: Stealthy Hunting Birds by Rebecca E. Hirsch

Vultures and Other Birds by Tracie Santos