AN UNFORGETTABLE SUMMER FRIENDSHIP

Two-time Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo has done it again and given us another gem in her beautifully written and profoundly heartfelt middle grade novel, Raymie Nightingale. Things aren't going so well for Raymie, but she has a foolproof plan to get everything back to normal: if she learns how to twirl a baton, she can win the Little Miss Central Florida Tire 1975 competition--and when her father sees her picture in the paper, he'll have to forget about the dental hygienist he ran off with and come back home. Simple as that. 

But when she shows up at baton-twirling class instructed by former world champion Ida Nee, she meets a couple of other girls with alternate plans of their own--guileless Louisiana Elefante with her pink bunny barrettes needs to win the pageant to help save her long lost cat, Archie, while tough-talking Beverly Tapinski, whose father is a cop, wants to sabotage the competition altogether. But despite their plans being directly at odds with one another, the unlikely threesome soon form a strong bond that leads them through some unforgettable summer adventures and changes them all more than they ever thought possible.

The wealth of quirky characters and simple but deeply evocative writing will appeal to kids in fourth grade and up. 

HISTORY THAT PACKS A PUNCH

The phrase "Remember the Alamo!" is about the extent of what many people remember about the Alamo. But what else are we supposed to remember? There's so much more to the historical incident, packed full of exciting, treacherous, and gory details, all laid out to uproarious effect in Alamo All-Stars, the most recent entry in the Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales graphic novel series from author-illustrator Nathan Hale. 

Like the other books in the series, this historical tale is told through the perspective of the spy (not the author!) Nathan Hale delaying his impending execution in 1776 by telling thrilling stories from American history to his eager hangmen. In this installment, they are joined by Hale's Mexican counterpoint, Vincente Guerrero, and his firing squad, and together they explore the events surrounding and key players involved in this piece of American and Mexican History: the state of Texas's fight for independence from the Mexican government. How did the small, ragtag bunch of frontiersmen end up blocked in a fort and fighting against a whole army? Why did Mexico mess with Texas? How exactly did Texas become a part of the United States? And what did Davy Crockett have to do with it? These answers and much, much more are found in this latest installment of the highly entertaining and informative graphic series that shows how it all went down. And don't skip the endpapers, title page, and other backmatter: every page is chock full of fascinating--and hilarious--information.

Other recent illuminating entries in the series include The Underground Abductor and Donner Dinner Party. Perfect for graphic novel fans, history buffs, and anyone else in grades 4 and up.  

ROLLER GIRL COMING AT YOU!

Fans of Raina Telgemeier will cheer for Roller Girl, a fun and poignant graphic novel by Victoria Jamieson. When twelve-year-old Astrid discovers roller derby, she is instantly enamored. What's not to love about powerful women with cool names playing a tough and exciting sport? Especially the star of the Rose City Rollers, Rainbow Bite. Astrid can't wait to sign up for the summer Junior Derby Camp and assumes her best friend will too, but is in for a rude awakening when Nicole decides she'd rather be at dance camp with Astrid's longtime sworn enemy, Rachel. Roller Derby is a lot harder than she'd ever thought, especially without her best friend there for support. But rather than quit when things get hard, Astrid buckles down and focuses on her dream of becoming a real roller girl, like her idol Rainbow Bite. She faces more than a few embarrassing falls, bumps, bruises, and other assorted humiliations along the way, but she also finds out just how tough she really is. 

Readers will root for Astrid as she learns to skate, experiences her first real bout, picks her roller derby name, and discovers who she really is on her own. This entertaining graphic novel, which boasts relatable characters, exciting action, coming-of-age drama, and plenty of heart, will make a perfect read for fourth graders and up. 

JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT YOU'D OUTGROWN YOUR IMAGINARY FRIEND...

Jackson is big on facts. And these are the pertinent facts in his life at the moment: His family has fallen on hard times; there's barely enough money for rent; and they've had to get pretty creative about finding ways to procure free food. And, if something drastic doesn't change soon, Jackson, his little sister, and his parents, might have to go back to living in their minivan. 

So when Crenshaw, a giant cat who was Jackson's imaginary friend way back in first grade, suddenly reappears in his life, Jackson is sure he must be making things up, or just plain losing his mind. Fifth grade is way too old for an imaginary friend, especially when you know better. There's no way Crenshaw can be real, is there? 

Newbery-Medal winner Katherine Applegate's newest novel, Crenshaw, is a funny and poignant novel best for readers in 4th grade and up. This off-beat and original tribute to the power of friendship and family is certainly not to be missed. 

WHAT'S OLD IS NEW AGAIN!

Greg Heffley is back and he's as hilarious as ever in Old School, the newest installment of the Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. All the fun--and of course the trouble--begin when Greg's mom lobbies for a weekend of unplugging so everyone can get back to how things were in the "good old days." And so Greg is forced not to rely on his electronics--or even electricity--and get outside for some good old fashioned "fun" in the form of community service and making a lemonade stand. With his signature knack for turning the simple and straightforward into a slapstick comedy of errors, things go uproariously awry. 

And just when you think things can't get any more outrageous, Greg embarks on a field trip to Hardscrabble Farms, where he and his classmates must survive in the woods for an entire week without modern conveniences or junk food, not to mention the rumors of Silas Scratch, a creepy farmer who went crazy in the woods. Armed with just an old book of his grandpa's, a few packs of baby wipes, and his flair for the dramatically ridiculous, is there any way Greg will make it the whole week? 

Fans of the Wimpy Kid series won't be disappointed with this latest book in the series--the crazy antics and the laughs just keep on coming. Recommended for 4th grade and up. 

And don't forget: the Children's Room is having a Wimpy Kid Party this Saturday, December 5th from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm, and a library hunt all week. Come join us for all the Wimpy fun! 

THE FOURTEENTH GOLDFISH

Ellie's goldfish has lived for seven years, since her day as a preschooler or so she thought.  Her mother tells her that the fish was really goldfish number 14.  Her life is about to change even more when a 13 year old "distant cousin" comes to live with them. There's something very familiar yet odd about him, but she can't quite put her finger on what it is.  This isn't really a story about goldfishes or even pets, but a great coming of age tale, using humor and a bit of science fiction to force us to deal with the cycle of life - birth, growth, death - in a gentle and thoughtful way.   

Jennifer Holm, author of the Babymouse series, creates a story filled with adventure, humor, suspense, and love.  Best for readers from 4th - 8th.

Note: This will be our One Book One Glendale... for Young Readers in November.  We're very excited to have Ms. Holm come to Glendale to talk about her book.  Please check in for a date and time as we get closer to the event. 

MORE THAN JUST ANOTHER SAD COUNTRY SONG

The year is 1948 and Tate P. Ellerbee is captivated by rising country star Hank Williams, tuning into his Louisiana Hayride radio program every week from Rippling Creek, Louisiana. So when her teacher assigns the class to choose a pen pal, she decides on Hank Williams without hesitation. Despite his lack of response (other than a few autographed photos), she writes him constantly and tells him all about her life and family, including her Aunt Patty Cake, Uncle Jolly, brother Frog, movie-star mama and world-travelling father, just for starters. Tate P. is also practicing her singing in secret for the upcoming May Festival Talent Contest, and wants to make her family, and the country star, proud. But the more letters she writes, the more secrets come to light, and it's clear that her picture perfect life isn't so perfect at all. Tate P. must come to terms with her family's truth and find enough grit to push forward and become more than just another sad country song. 

This poignant epistolary novel by National-Book-Award winner Kimberly Willis Holt features multi-layered characters, rich historical details of post World War II life in the rural South, some smiles and tears, and more than a few twists and turns.  

Dear Hank Williams makes a moving read for 4th grade and up. 

A PRANKSTER'S PARADISE

Yawnee Valley: where a cow was once elected as Mayor due to a balloting error, and then reelected to a second term following record-high approval ratings. This bovine-enthusiast’s paradise, notable for counting moos as a popular pastime, is hardly Miles Murphy’s idea of a great place to live. 

Miles doesn’t know much about cows, nor does he care to. After being forced to abandon his familiar friends and home, all he wants is to reestablish his reputation at his new school as biggest prankster. There’s just one fly in the ointment: another prankster has already taken up residence, and truly masterful one at that. Miles isn't about to be cowed by some amateur, but when he finds his first big prank foiled, he’s given a proposition: he’ll  have to choose to beat ‘em at their craft or join ‘em. So let the pranking war begin…

With dry wit, quirky characters, comical illustrations, and some serious pranking Mac Barnett and Jory John’s The Terrible Two is a natural next read for for fans of Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. A humorous read for grades 4 and up that will have kids cracking up until the cows come home.

LATEST eBOOKS- THE EARTH KINGDOM CHRONICLES SERIES

Earth, Fire, Water, and Air are the four nations that live in Aang's world.  When Aang was twelve years old, the leader of the Fire Nation became power hungry and wanted to take control of all four nations.  Aang was the last known survivor of the Air Nation, so he had to encapsulate himself and his trusted pet Apa in ice in order to survive.  For one hundred years, no one knew he had survived until two people form the Water Nation discovered his ice tomb and rescued him.  Now that he's free, it is up to him to learn the ancient fighting techniques from all four nations.  Who will teach him?

Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko are the creators of this incredibly exciting adventure filled with humor, suspense, love, and friendship.  Readers in the 4th grade and up can now enjoy The Earth Kingdom Chronicles as an eBook in OverDrive.  Other books in the Avatar: the Last Airbender series are also available to checkout or reserve a copy today.

THE GRAPHIC NOVELS

Two hilarious graphic novels (comic books) which somehow got missed: Sidekicks by Dan Santat  and Mr. Pants: It's Go Time! by Scott McCormick and R. H. Lazzell.  

Mr. Pants and his siblings are cats but his mom is human and once you can suspend that belief, the can story begin. Mr. Pants is not very nice and he always wants things his way. He tries to manipulate his family members to go along with his way of thinking.  Hmmm... sound like any family members you know?

For readers in 2nd and up.

Sidekicks is Dan Santat's  full color graphic novel about a human superhero who is the town superhero but he's off his game due to a bad allergic reaction during a capture and decides maybe he needs a sidekick to help him out. His house pets go into overdrive to come up with ways to get ready for the audition but they soon discover his old sidekick, the cat, is still alive and secretly working his own form of vigilante justice in the dark alleys. This is graphic novel is colorful, action packed and a whole lot of wacky fun.  

For readers in 4th and up.

CANDY HEARTS & SECRET CRUSHES

It is close to Valentine's Day, and the students in class 4-O are in for a surprise. Someone has left candy hearts in each of their desks.  But what makes these hearts particularly sweet are the special messages on each of them.  Why, though, do the messages seem directly related to the student?  This is the mystery that Jessie Treski, the school's editor for the 4-O Forum, is trying to uncover.

Jessie's discovery of candy hearts,  poems of love, and the idea of crushes have piqued her interest, so she must find out if other students currently have a crush, had a crush, or never had a crush on someone before.   A class survey is soon published, but what kind of results will Jessie get?  Is Jessie, herself, able to truly understand what the survey results mean?

Jacqueline Davies skillfully captures the voice of young and energetic Jessie, a fun-loving girl  who finds herself in the middle of a classroom where boys and girls are starting to think about each other in different ways.  Ms. Davies' addition of poetry is the perfect touch to this sweet coming-of-age story.  It has the power to make readers of all ages reflect upon their first crush. 

Read Candy Smash and other books from the Lemonade Wars series, available in three formats- print, eBook, and audio CD.  Reserve one or all today!  

For 4th grade and up.

POOP FOUNTAIN!

Lyle is a middle- schooler who lives in a trailer park with his loving parents.  His days are predictable and somewhat boring.  When one of the middle-schoolers, Miranda, moves into the trailer park community and when his friend Dave comes to visits them, things change for the better.  Lyle and his new friends quickly become inseparable and decide to name their trio The Qwikpick Adventure Society.  What could their first adventure be? 

When school resumes, the trio learns that the waste water treatment facility in their area is about to undergo a major sewage upgrade: the dated "sludge fountain" is scheduled to be replaced with new equipment.  Eager to see the fountain in action, the kids make plans to check it out on Christmas Day, while Lyle's parents are working.  With a new camera in hand, they journey to the treatment facility.  Along the way they become increasingly aware of the happenings in their community and they realize what a larger treatment facility truly means; those with less means will need to make way for the coming developments. 

The Qwikpick Paper Poop Fountain was mountains of fun and is a quick read.  The trio learn to have fun without handheld, electronic devices as part of their time together- a lesson that many parents will appreciate.  Tom Angleberger's inclusion of visiting a sewage treatment facility is unique, and including the economic effects of land development gives the book more depth than expected.  The colorful descriptions of the treatment facility are not for the faint of heart.

For 4th grade and up.

GHOSTLY HAPPENINGS

Mo, Dale, Miss Lana, The Colonel, and the whole wacky southern town of Tupelo Landing are back in this follow up to 2012 Newbery Honor book Three Times Lucky. Rising sixth graders, Mo and Dale, fresh off their last case with the Desperado Detective Agency, have a new mystery to solve and this one has a paranormal twist. When Mo’s guardian, Miss Lana, accidently buys an inn that is home to a ghostly presence Mo and Dale take it upon themselves to uncover the mystery behind the haunting and hopefully interview the ghost for their history project.

Ghost hunting isn’t as easy as Mo and Dale hope it will be and they soon discover that the ghost isn’t the only mystery at the inn. Long-buried pasts are uncovered and secrets are revealed as Mo and Dale investigate the inn’s tragic history. Who is the ghost and what is she trying to tell them? What’s the connection between the new kid in town and the mysterious happenings? The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing by Sheila Turnage is a fun and slightly spooky read.  

For grades 4 and up

SHINE BRIGHT LIKE A DIAMOND

World War II home front and magical realism seem like an unlikely pairing, but they work together beautifully in Beholding Bee by Kimberly Newton Fusco.

 While World War II is waging overseas, eleven-year-old Bee is fighting a war of her own. Orphaned at a young age, Bee works at the hot dog stand of a traveling carnival. She lives in the back of a hauling truck with Pauline, a young woman who works at the carnival and is the only person looking out for Bee. But, what makes Bee stand out is the “diamond” on her cheek. Born with a large birthmark covering one side of her face, Bee tries her best to be happy despite the cruel stares and taunts she endures on a daily basis. But, at least she has Pauline, who Bee knows will always protect her from the world. There is also the strange, yet comforting presence of the lady in the orange flappy hat, who it seems only Bee can see and who only shows up on days that have been particularly difficult.

When Pauline is sent to work for another carnival, Bee is left truly alone and must face the harsh realities of the world.  Accompanied by her dog, Peabody, and the baby pig she smuggles out of the carnival, Bee digs deep within herself to summon strength and courage she didn’t know she possessed. Her journey of self-discovery and renewal is inspiring as Bee carves out a new life for herself and learns that she is not the only one who has faced hardship in their life.

Beholding Bee is an unusual and unexpected story. The cover art looks like a contemporary novel, but after a few chapters it’s clear that this is historical fiction that reads like a fairy tale. The stark realities of this country during the 1940s are apparent; polio, rationing, families broken apart by the war, and the treatment of children with special needs are all woven into the story. But, like any good fairy tale, there are bright points and moments of whimsy. Throughout it all, the character of Bee sparkles as she learns who she is and what she is capable of.

Recommended for 4th grade and up.

DROWNING MEMORIES

Old Lower Grange was buried under water 12 years ago, the same day that Cassie's family rushed to the hospital because she came 2 months early.  Everyone in town says that New Lower Grange is better.  Cassie's not sure she agrees.  There is something about Old Lower Grange that she obsesses over.  As a child, she learned all about Atlantis, wondering if her town would become a lost world.  Her mother told her to stop obsessing.  That time moves on and progress calls.  The past was drowned and now it's time to look towards the future.  Cassie knows, though, that even though you drown things, not everything stays underwater where you want it to.

Join Cassie and her friend Liam as they solve the mystery of Lower Grange that no one knew even existed until the water started drying up and Old Lower Grange tried to meet New Lower Grange.  Below by Meg McKinlay is for kids in grades 4 and up.

LAST YEAR'S 2013 NEWBERRY WINNER - A TALE TO REMEMBER

A circus owner adopts a young gorilla named Ivan as his house pet.  The owner dresses him, takes him shopping, and talks to him like one would talk to any member of the family.  Ivan grows up to be mellow, taking life as it comes.  Unfortunately, when Ivan becomes a large adolescent gorilla, he must move from his warm and cozy home into a cold and isolated glass cage at the circus.  Over the years, he gets to know other circus animals and finds comfort in their company.  All the animals, however, agree that there must be a better life outside of the circus.  When one of the main attraction animals falls fatally ill, Ivan masterfully thinks of a way to protect the animals, especially, the youngest one. 

Katherine Applegate, author of Home of the Brave, Animorphs, and Roscoe Riley series, writes a poignant and endearing tale about a gorilla whose heart matches its size.  Inspired by the real Ivan, this story is narrated in first person and will speak to any reader who values friendship, questions purpose, or loves animals. THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN is the 2013 Newbery Award Winner.  Available in book and audio CD format.



TOTAL FAILURE, INC.

Just because your last name is Failure doesn’t mean that you can’t be destined for great things. Just ask Timmy Failure, founder, president, and CEO of perhaps the nation’s greatest detective agency, Total Failure, Inc. Even though Timmy has his hands full cracking cases all over town (well, on his street, at least) he still has to deal with life’s little annoyances, like the fact that his corporate headquarters is located in his mom’s closet and his Segway (the Failuremobile) has been stolen by none other than his arch-nemesis. There’s also the fact that his business partner is useless (what else would you expect from a 1500 lb polar bear who is easily distracted by garbage cans and Rice Crispy treats?).

Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made by Stephan Pastis is the first book is what promises to be a hilarious series. Equal parts Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Calvin and Hobbes, Timmy Failure is more than just another entry in the “illustrated diary” genre that has become so popular lately. Readers will cheer Timmy’s successes just as much as they roll their eyes at his failures because, after all, nobody is perfect.

Grades 4 and up

READING IS SO DELICIOUS...ESPECIALLY WITH SOUP

Jayna, or Gingersnap as her mother liked to call her, is an excellent soup maker.  She knows just the soup for every occasion and can make a soup with whatever happens to be in the fridge - even if its just a carrot and some soup stock.  Which is a good thing, since it's 1945 and food is being rationed due to World War II.  Some days, it feels like there isn't ever enough to eat - and there is never enough sugar or butter to make cakes and cookies.  Cooking and baking remind Jayna of her brother, Rob, who shipped out with the Navy as a cook and is her only family.  Jayna and Rob's parents both died in a car accident, leaving the kids to bounce from foster home to foster home until Rob was old enough to adopt Jayna.  Now that Rob is somewhere in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Jayna has to live with their landlady, Celia, who is too concerned with Jayna's manners and safety.

Jayna feels all alone in the great big world - that is until she starts hearing a ghost speak to her.  The ghost comes and goes, but tells Jayna she's there to help her find a family.  She encourages Jayna to go into Rob's closet where she finds a cookbook that Jayna believes belonged to her mother and there the adventure to find her family begins.

Kids in 4th grade and up can follow Jayna as she leaves upstate New York in search of a grandmother she never knew but desperately wants to find in Gingersnap by Patricia Reilly Giff.

DRAGON SPEAR

After a battle between good and evil, a vast number of dragons find a new and peaceful life in an area far from Feravel.  When Creel, Heroine of the Dragon Wars and her beloved Luca visits her dragon family, they are overwhelmed with joy; the dragons are content and the queen dragon is due to have her own baby dragons!  Unfortunately, a misguided dragon kidnaps the queen with the hope that there will be a new leader.  Will Creel find her in time?  An exciting battle ensues.  This is an exciting end to Jessica Day George's beloved dragon trilogy.  

For 4th grade and up.

THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES IN... DRAGON FLIGHT

All is calm in Feravel until a scorned brother devises a plan to become the King of the Dragons.  When his plan is unveiled, the Heroine of the Dragon Wars makes a desperate plea to friends and strangers to help her in the fight.  Will she have to fight alone against evil?  Another fantasy adventure by Jessica Day George.  

For 4th grade and up.