WHAT DO YOU KEEP SECRET?

Nyssa has just been roused from her home in the dark of night, only to find out she is one of the last members of a secret tribe. She must unravel the mystery of her life, one dangerous journey at a time. She leaves her home to escape an evil band of "Shadow Keepers", seeing visions of her past last. It's not easy deciphering what it all means, but Nyssa, her uncle and an old friend traipse across many islands to save themselves and a lost culture which turns out to not be so lost after all... THE KEEPER'S TATTOO by Gill Arbuthnott is a pretty thick read, and would be best for advanced readers in 6th grade and up.

LIBRARIES CLOSED

All of the Glendale Libraries will be closed in observance of the the holiday on Saturday, May 28 through Monday, May 30. Regular hours will resume on Tuesday, May 31.

Happy holiday to all.

ANNIE, SLEEPING BEAUTY'S NON-MAGICAL SISTER

On her sister's sixteenth birthday, Annie helped the palace guards search for illegal spindles, but before the day ends her sister falls under the bad fairy's spell and falls asleep for who knows how long. It's up to Annie, the sister with no magical fairy gifts whatsoever to bring her family and the rest of castle back awake and break the 100 years spell, otherwise she might never see her family again.

First, she must go and recruit Gwendolyn's betrothed to kiss her awake and just in case, as many other princes as possible. But when any royal beings go near Annie they lose their magical luster. The princes don't look as handsome and lose some of their charms. Everyone looks a little older, and not as perfect, but she will do whatever it takes to bring her sister and the rest of the castle out of the wicked spell before the whole kingdom falls into ruins or... the wrong hands.

The Wide-Awake Princess by E.D. Baker writes another fun fairy tale adventure for readers in 4th - 8th grade.

THE WONDERFUL BOOK

The story of a red book found in the woods and what each animal large and small thinks it is as they come upon it. Either a hat, a bed, or a table, each animal finds a creative way to use it.
Kids would love finding out what each animal did with the book. Perfect for story time, especially for toddlers and preschoolers. Kindergarten. Written by Leonid Gore.

A FAMILY REUNION THEY DIDN'T WANT

Cecile is her mother's name, but she calls herself Nzila now that she is an artist/poet in Oakland, California. Her father insisted that Delphine and her sisters will have to spend a month of their summer with their mother. All Delphine wants is to know the truth behind why her mother abandoned the family.

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia is a beautiful historical novel of a non- typical family reunion. Set in the 1960s during the Black Panther movement, three girls set off for what they think will be a sunny, Disneyland, movie star filled summer of fun, but what they get is something else.

For readers in 6th-8th grade.

I AM JACK'S WORRY

Bullies are not nice. They do mean things like make up names to call you and make up lies about you and sometimes they even spit on you! Poor Jack has a bully. But he is so afraid to tell anyone. His Mom is very busy and doesn't like to be bothered, his sister is annoying, his Mom's boyfriend Rob is really nice, but Jack doesn't want to scare him off. Jack comes up with as many ways as possible to avoid the bully, but finally things just get to be too much! I AM JACK by Susanne Gervay is really great, especially if you are being bullied or you know someone who is being bullied. Check it out if you are in 3rd - 6th grades.

LULU AND THE BIRTHDAY PARTY

Lulu`s brother Billy is having a birthday. As cards arrive for Billy and not for her, and her parents plan Billy's birthday party, Lulu becomes more and more jealous.
To spoil the fun, Lulu hides the ball that Billy’s best friend has given him.
Billy is very upset when he can't find it, and everyone tries to comfort him except Lulu. He and his friends has to fly his kite instead. But then Lulu can't find her favorite yo-yo and suddenly she realizes how Billy must feel.
This book provides excellent examples of childhood jealousy and sibling rivalry for parents to share with children. Ages 5-7.
Written by Belinda Hollyer and illustrated by Emma Damon.

RUTH AND THE GREEN BOOK

Ruth and her parents buy a brand new car, to take them in a road trip from Chicago to visit her grandmother in Alabama.
During the 1950's, Ruth finds pretty soon that black travelers weren’t treated very well in some towns. Ruth and her parents are turned down at gas stations and motels, who serve whites only. Fortunately an attendant at an Esso service sold them a copy of "The Negro Motorist Green Book" that lists businesses that help black who were traveling and where they would be welcome to sleep, eat, shop, etc. Although the story is fictional, the book provides an explanation of some of the humiliations and hardships that blacks had to endure as a result of Jim Crow laws in the South……..Interesting book to discuss issues with children about discrimination. Grades 3-4. Ages 7-8.

CRAZY ADVENTURES OF DODSWORTH

Dodsworth gets the travel bug and decides to chuck it all and head for New York. Unbeknownst to him, Crazy Duck decides to stowaway in his suitcase, and every attempt to get rid of him is unsuccessful. So begins the frustrating but hilarious adventure around the New York City. Don't miss the continuing travels of Dodsworth and Duck in London and Paris.

Perfect travel logs by Tim Egan for beginning readers who want something a little quirky. For readers in 1st-2nd grade.

OUR WORLD OF WATER

We drink water everyday and most likely take granted since we don't know how difficult it is for some other countries to have pure drinking water on a daily basis. OUR WORLD OF WATER: CHILDREN AND WATER AROUND THE WORLD by BEATRICE HOLLYER is a small book that depicts different children from all parts of the world and how they get their water. The pictures in the book give a better sense of the culture/country that is being depicted. For example, in some parts of Peru, people scrub clothes in lakes and rivers and lay them on rocks to dry. Something that I am sure we have only seen in movies here in the States.

For grades 2nd and up.

FATTY LEGS: A TRUE STORY

Sometimes its hard to go to school. So learns Olemaun Pokiak, an Alaskan Inuit girl who really wants to learn to read. Her sister is allowed to go to school, but didn't like it at all, saying they take everything away from you, including your name and your hair. Even her father is against Olemaun leaving the family to go to school. But Olemaun SO wants to read, she begs and pleads. Finally, her father agrees to send her to the school. When Olemaun gets there, school is NOTHING like what she had hoped it would be. The first thing they do is change her name to Olemaun and cut off her long braids! This is a true story that took place about 60 years ago and its good for 4th grade and up.