GOODBYE STRANGER

Bridge’s eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. How could Emily do this? Emily had promised Bridge she would consult her before sending selfies to Patrick, a boy she is crushing on. Bridge, Emily, and Tabitha had a pact since elementary school that they’d be friends forever without fighting, but now that they're in junior high this pact will be tested. Can they overcome the challenges of boys and bullying and still remain friends? 

Rebecca Stead is a Newbery Award-winning author who depicts each character carefully in Goodbye Stranger in such a way that readers can't help but to relate. Stead writes from multiple points of view about the ordinary lives of junior high schoolers living in New York City. The novel acknowledges the realities of the coming of age experience in a rapidly changing world, as these 12-year-olds learn what it's like to be true to themselves.

Ages 11 and up.

THE WITCH'S CURSE

The Kingdom of Wrenly blamed the weather as the possible reason for the kingdom's destruction. If only they had known it was something more powerful than that. After days of gloomy skies and wet land, Prince Lucas was becoming bored . The more time Prince Lucas spent in his room the more he was becoming suspicious that the heavy rain was caused by a wizard and King Caleb was becoming increasingly frustrated very desperate. But was the king desperate enough to seal a deal with the witch of Bogburp?

Read The Kingdom of Wrenly: The Witch’s Curse by Jordan Quinn to find out if the Kingdom of Wrenly survived the extreme weather in this fourth book in the series. Don’t miss out on other exciting adventures with Prince Lucas.  The moral of the book is not to judge someone without knowing them.

For readers in grades 2 - 4

A DOG LIKE THAT!

 A Dog Like That! by Janene Cooper is a simple picture book about a girl who loves her unusual dog.  She’s always been told by those around her that a normal dog behaves and looks a certain way, and her dog is everything but normal according to their standards.  While certain dogs follow commands and look well groomed, her scruffy looking dog does as he pleases.   

This book is illustrated by Evie Kemp covered with basic sentences that define the illustrations. While one side page spread describes how dogs should behave the other page describes how this little girl’s dog does the exact opposite.  A fun book for ages 2-5.

AMELIA BEDELIA: BY THE YARD

Young Amelia Bedelia’s parents love to hold yard sales to clear out their clutter. At first Amelia is hesitant to sell their belongings but as potential buyers browse around, she becomes intrigued with the whole idea of garage sales. Amelia puts her good customer service skills to use as she agrees to dig up the flowers in their yard to sell to a neighbor; even though, the yard itself is not for sale!

By the Yard is part of the young Amelia Bedelia series by Herman Parish, great for beginning readers.  This book concentrates on family, community and helpfulness, while enhancing readers' vocabulary. 

Ages Preschool- Grade 3

BEE DANCE

What will it take to make honey? The bee dance! Honeybees do what they do best—follow the sweet scent and sip away at the nectar. The honeybees do the waggle dance movement in a figure eight pattern.  Bee Dance by Rick Chrustowski is a non-fiction book with simple text and colorful illustrations for a great read aloud. Don’t miss out. Read about these small insects found everywhere. 

For preschool through third grade.

LION & TIGER & BEAR: TAG! YOU’RE IT!

Tag you’re it! AAAAAHHH, leave me alone!!! This is Lion, he is so caught up in his painting that he doesn’t want anyone or anything to interrupt him, even his best friends.  When Bear and Tiger come out to play a game of tag, they ask Lion to join in on the fun, but Lion had other plans. Read and find out how far Lion goes to get some peace and quiet.

Ethan Long's story is about the friendship between Lion, Tiger and Bear. The story also teaches about respecting your friend’s wishes.  

This is a fun picture book for ages 5-7.   

LET'S GO TO THE HARDWARE STORE

Need a handyman? Not Flora’s family.  When the family moves into a new house there are endless small projects that need fixing. So Flora, her brother and their father visit the new town’s hardware store to purchase all the necessary tools to repair the new house.  The family dives right in and selects a hammer, ladder, tape measure, screwdriver and other essentials.

Let’s Go to the Hardware Store by Anne Rockwell is the perfect book for young children to read before exploring their town’s hardware store. Children who are captivated with building projects will find this book as the perfect reference source.  Rockwell describes their journey in simply sentences and provides the names of the tools at the bottom of the page which introduces a sophisticated vocabulary.  Melissa Iwai, the illustrator, uses pastel colors and fine details for the images.

Ages 4-7

TEN PIGS: AN EPIC BATH ADVENTURE

What will it take for one little pig to have a fun bath time alone? In the Ten Pigs: An Epic Bath Adventure by Derek Anderson, one pig decides to take a bath but soon he is joined by another pig, then another, until there are ten pigs stuffed in the tub.

Read to find out how this little pig’s clever idea allowed him to have the tub to himself again.  The book has colorful illustrations across two page layouts with large text. 

Ages 3-5

A NEARER MOON

A Nearer Moon written by Melanie Crowder is a story about a young girl, Luna, who is determined to save her little sister.  The story takes place in a village where over the years the swap water, as the elders say, has been cursed.  Luna’s mother had three rules never to be broken:  don’t go past the bend in the river;  don’t go below the dam; and steer far away from the slick.

The book touches on important topics such as sisterhood, environment and determination with Luna’s character portraying bravery and wholesomeness and amazing sisterly love.  

This book is for ages 8-12 but it is slow-paced and a little complex in the beginning.

I REALLY LIKE SLOP!

Slop anyone? Piggie’s latest is making slop that’s part of “pig culture.” Gerald, the elephant, can’t stand the smell or the look of Piggie’s treat; partly because it has flies buzzing around it but as Piggie says, “that’s how you know it’s ripe.” Although the slop isn’t appealing to Gerald, he tries it because Piggie is his friend.

I Really Like Slop! by Mo Willems is the 24th book in the Elephant and Piggie series. This particular book teaches that it’s okay to try something and not like it. The illustrations are simple and the text is short and funny.

For ages 6-8

THE MALONEYS' MAGICAL WEATHERBOX

The Maloney siblings Neil, Liz and Owen have a secret: their father is the Weatherbox keeper.  Right outside of the family's house is an old telephone booth.  Now this isn’t just any old telephone booth….this one is MAGICAL!  Mr. Maloney has a tough job.  Four times a year the phone rings and he must answer it to change the season, but when autumn comes and the phone doesn’t ring the Maloneys become anxious.

Will there still be a chance for the Maloneys to save the seasons? Maybe they should turn their attention to their new tourists.  After all, the chaos started after they showed up.  Or, maybe it’s the most mysterious character of all, Mrs. Fitzgerald, their neighbor.  Will the Maloneys and the rest of Midland Ireland be doomed forever?

The Maloneys’ Magical Weatherbox by Nigel Quinlan takes place in Ireland in this engaging tale full of unique characters all tangled up.  The book touches on gender bias, the climate and team work.

For ages 9-12

ALL YEAR ROUND

Shapes, colors, months and more…turn to All Year Round by Susan B. Katz.  This book is filled with wonderful information concentrating on two concepts shapes and months.  Each page describes what each month is like and how connects with each month. For example, oval is March’s shape. It is the shape of an egg.

The pages are also filled with bold and colorful illustrations by Eiko Ojala that complement the rhyming words. 

For ages 4-6

SPLAT THE CAT: I SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM

ICE CREAM! ICE CREAM! Who doesn't love ice cream? It was an ideal class field trip for Splat, Plank, Spike, and Seymour. When the class arrived at the ice cream factory they were taken to the back room where Mr. Jellybean lectured about freezers. This isn't what the friends anticipated and splat became so bored that he dozed off and accidentally hit the emergency button. After that the ice cream factory was a scene of destruction. 

Splat the Cat: I Scream for Ice Cream by Laura Driscoll is another hilarious story from the Splat the Cat Series. This book is for beginning readers and is part of the Level One I Can Read Books. This series allows the reader to learn to sound out words and sentences. 

Ages 5-8

PINKALICIOUS AND THE SICK DAY

Pinkalicous is honored to be the principal of the day for her perfect attendance. With much excitement, she practices her role as the principal all day long. When she wakes up on the big day with a fever she must stay home. Although she enjoys being taken care of by her mother, drinking a pink tea called elderberry tea, she was sad to learn she had to miss the big day.  

Read and find out whether Pinkalicuous will get a second chance to be the principal for the day.  Pinkalicous and the Sick Day by Victoria Kann is part of an early reader series. This is a great book for children who are learning how to sound out words and read simple sentences.

For ages 4-7. 

THE MAGNIFICENT LIZZIE BROWN AND THE DEVIL'S HOUND

Lizzie Brown and the Penny Gaff Gang’s latest adventure takes place in Kensal Green, England.  After the traveling circus halts in rural England, it isn't long before the magnificent Lizzie Brown finds herself at the graves of the local cemetery. 

When one of the Sullivan twins get hurt during practice they meet Dr. Gladwell’s elderly housekeeper. Soon, strange activities begin occurring. As the performers practice for their upcoming shows, Lizzie’s premonitions get stronger.  Lizzie’s curiosity compels her to sneak around the cemetery to catch the grave-robbers and the devil’s hound.

Don’t be left out! Read The Magnificent Lizzie Brown and the Devil’s Hound by Vicki Lockwood and find out who’s behind the sinister robberies. Will Lizzie’s premonitions help save her life this time?

Ages 10-12