A SURPRISE FOR EUGENIA

Eugenia Lincoln and the Unexpected Package by Kate DiCamillo and Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen another story in the Tales From Deckawoo Drive series.

Eugenia Lincoln, the older of two sisters living on 52 Deckawoo Drive, does not like surprises and does not indulge in frivolity.  She's practical and has no time for fun, silly things like an accordion.  One day a little man shows up at her door trying to get her to find that little bit of music in her heart.  Everyone has a bit, he claims.  

After a night of music and merrymaking by everyone but Eugenia, she bumps into little Stella on her way to the trash, who asks to try the accordion.  Before Stella could play anything, Eugenia accidentally squeezes out a bit of music on the keys and Stella excitedly claims that she just made music and should keep on playing.  

Maybe there is a place for some frivolity in Eugenia's life after all.  Will she ever find out who sent her the accordion?  Maybe it doesn't matter anymore.  

A beginning chapter book perfect for 2nd-4th grade readers. 

LOVE THAT MONSTER

Leo is terrified of the monster under his bed--and Under-The-Bed Fred really is under the bed. One night, when Leo can't hold it (you know what "it" is of course) in any longer and just has to go! He asks the monster to give him safe passage to the bathroom and when he's safely back in bed, seeing how easy it all was, he strikes up a friendly conversation with the monster, who now calls himself Fred.  

Desperate to bring something to class for show and tell, Leo decides to bring Fred to school. It all starts out well enough until his entire class runs out of the room terrified of Fred's many scary monster impressions. 

Pick up this fun beginning chapter book by Linda Bailey, illustrated by Colin Jack, to meet the not-so-scary Fred.   

For readers in 2nd- 3rd grades. 

A NECESSARY JOURNEY

Kate Di Camillo and Chris Van Dusen have partnered up once again for a third Tale From Deckawoo Drive: Where Are You Going, Baby Lincoln? Baby Lincoln, whose real name is Lucille, strikes out on a necessary journey after an inspirational dream.   She packs her suitcase with a few necessary items and sets off to the train station to go as far as she can with the money in her pocket.  With the help of Stella, Baby Lincoln sets off for the town of Fluxom, on her own without her bossy older sister.  During the train ride she meets new people and makes her own discoveries about life, herself, family and friends.  

The creative duo has created another sweet and touching offshoot for the people connected to Deckawoo Drive  and fans of the Mercy Watson series.  

For readers in grades 1st to 3rd.  

A JOB FOR FRANCINE

In this new Mercy Watson series spin off, Francine, fearless animal control officer, runs into an animal that even she may have difficulty with. When Francine is called to catch a raccoon from Mrs. Bissinger's roof, not only does she fail to catch it, but falls off the roof and ends up in the hospital with major injuries. While recuperating, she reevaluates her job and dedication to animal control and wonders if she's cut out for it at all.  

A fun adventure in The Deckawoo Drive series by Kate DiCamilo. Catch her previous one, Leroy Ninkler Saddles Up while waiting for the next book. 

For beginning chapter book readers in 2nd-3rd grades. 

RE: THE DRAGON

Petsitting a temperamental creature is no easy task―especially when that pet happens to be a full grown, fire breathing dragon. When Eddie’s family agrees to care for his Uncle Morton’s unusual pet, they have no idea what to expect. They certainly aren’t prepared for burnt curtains, noxious poop, ravaged refrigerators, crisped petunias, and singed mailmen.
Eddie narrates the dragon’s escapades through, largely unanswered, emails to his Uncle Morton. The dragon’s bad behavior continues to escalate with each frantic message, and if you think dog poop on your bedroom carpet is bad, just imagine cleaning up after a vindictive dragon! Soon Eddie’s irate mother is appealing to local zoos, animal shelters, and even the fire department for help. Problematically, when you’re dealing with mythical creatures people tend not to believe you... or they think you’re crazy.
Josh Lacey’s The Dragonsitter is a humorous epistolary chapter book, told through fraught email exchanges and picture attachments.
The first in series for grades 2-4.

WANTED: PET HUMAN

Living out on the streets is never easy for a stray cat, but the nameless feline narrator of My Pet Human considers himself lucky to live such a carefree life. With an insider’s knowledge of the best hiding spots and food joints as well as plenty of domesticated, neighborhood critter friends, there’s little incentive for the tuxedo cat to find a pet human of his own. This is particularly the case when he’s already sure the perfect pet human doesn’t exist!

But when a new family moves into town, this street-wise cat is forced to reconsider his roaming ways. Suddenly he’s found someone to feed him lots of treats, give him back rubs, have boxes for him to play in, treat him gently, let him sleep in her lap, and possibly be a faithful companion. Could this little human girl be his perfect pet human?

Author-illustrator Yasmine Surovec is the creator of the Cat versus Human cartoon blog, and her first chapter book for younger readers features appealing comic style illustrations on every page. A cozy new series for pet lovers.

Grades 3+

THE CASE OF SQUIRREL'S STOLEN NUTS

Frog is a detective who lives at the police station deep in the forest. He is wise and patient but Squirrel is the opposite right now because someone has stolen his nuts.  When Mouse is caught and admits to stealing just one nut because she was very hungry, Frog realizes there is still another nut thief still out there.  

The First Case by Ulf Nilsson is a very sweet and gentle detective story set in a wintery forest that's great for beginning chapter book readers. For readers in grades 2-4.  

A FELINE RAMPAGE

All Hissy Fitz wants is a nap. Food, fresh water, and gentle scratches between his ears and cheeks are also appreciated, but secondary to the all-important nap. Tormented by a boisterous toddler, and kept frustratingly awake by his own clueless human girl, this snarky, sleep-deprived British Shorthair cat is on a feline rampage as he furiously stalks from home to town, searching for a coveted quiet spot. But humans, as Hissy notes, are a noisy bunch with their roaring cars, pounding hammers, slamming doors, rambling voices, and piercing shouts. No sooner does Hissy settle in for a snooze than another (noisy) interruption jolts him awake. 

As the day drags on, there is no respite for the increasingly frazzled Hissy, who lapses into humorous melodrama and begins courting trouble. No hungry raccoon, straggling cat, cooing child, or stinky shoe is safe from his rage. All this culminates in a curious, and frankly ridiculous, nighttime neighborhood kitty soccer match coordinated by Hissy’s friend, a long-haired cat named Igloo. Will Hissy never have his sleep? 

If you’ve ever wondered what goes on in the mind of a temperamental pet, Hissy Fitz by Patrick Jennings, offers snarky insight. It’s an amusing beginning chapter book read for fans of Nick Bruel’s Bad Kitty series and the Internet sensation Grumpy Cat. 

For grades  2- 4.

THE BIG BAD DETECTIVE AGENCY

The Big Bad Wolf (BBW), a.ka. Wolfgang and a fourth little pig, Ferkel combine forces in order to solve a crime the BBW has been accused of committing.  Does this sound like a big whopping tall tale to you?  Well, it's not. It's the plot of a new series by Bruce Hale, author of the Chet Gecko series.

Wrongly accused, the Big Bad Wolf has no choice but to become a detective in order to find the real vandal who trashed the Three Little (really ginormous) Pigs' house.  The two detectives follow clues, talk to suspects and try to figure out what motive the criminal would have for doing this.  Their list of suspects grow as they delve deeper into the crime.  

Was it H&G (Hansel & Gretel)? 
Was it Mama Pig? 
Was it Cinderella?  
Was it Goldilocks?  
Can they find the culprit before Wolfgang's time is up and he's thrown in jail?  

Find the Big Bad Detective Agency in the beginning chapter books area.  Perfect for readers in 3rd-4th grades who enjoy humor and twists on the fairytale classics.  

THE BIG ZUCCHINI HEIST

Who would steal a 200 pound zucchini?  The person who has never won first prize for the biggest zucchini that's who. Zeeta and Zelda want Max to find out who stole their giant vegetable.  With the help of his uncle Larry, a ghost and former detective, Max set out to gather clues and suspects in order to solve this most unusual case.  

A typical but silly beginning chapter book with lots of people to suspect.  Join them in this new mystery series The Ghost and Max Monroe: The Case of the Missing Zucchini by T. L.M. Falcone.  

For beginning chapter book readers in 2nd -4th. 

TWO DOGS GO DRIVING

Digby and Percy are great friends. They enjoy spending time together, especially out driving in Digby's car - his prize possession. His neighbor Lou Ella gets a new car every year, but Digby loves his car even if it's not perfect. When a big race is announced, from Didsworth to Dodsworth, Digby and Percy cannot wait to sign up - but will Digby's car survive the race? DIGBY O'DAY IN THE FAST LANE by Shirley Hughes and Clara Vullaimy is the first book in what is shaping up to be a delightful series for readers just graduating into beginning chapter books.  

For 2nd - 4th grades.  

SEPTEMBER 2014

NEVER GIRLS AUTHOR IS COMING

Author Kiki Thorpe will be visiting the Children's Room next Wednesday to talk about her new Never Girls book.  Come meet the Author have some tea and sweets and find out what those fairies are up to in her new book.  For children reading beginning chapter books, grades 3rd-4th.

No reservations needed.  

Central Library

Wednesday, October 29 at 4pm

For more information - 818-548-2035

RICKY RICOTTA AND MIGHTY ROBOT ARE BACK!

These new republished versions pairing Dav Pilkey and illustrator Dan Santat are amazing!  I really like them both separately, but together, they are a mighty force of fun.  I am in love with Ricky Ricotta and his Mighty Robot again.

In the first installment,  Ricky and Mighty Robot find each other after some bullying action by Ricky's schoolmates and a fight against the evil Dr. Stinky, who built Mighty Robot!  

In the fight against the Voodoo Vultures from Venus, Ricky and his Mighty Robot beat them off with some spicy chocolate chip cookies and send them back to Venus!   

More hilarious and updated adventures are coming our way soon.

For readers in 2nd-4th grades. 

SOME RAINBOW FAIRIES

Two book reviews by Lilian our 4th grade library patron: 

Sky the Blue Fairy by Daisy Meadows

This story is about one fairy, two girls, some goblins, and their leader.  The names of the characters are Sky, Rachel and Kirsty, and Jack Frost.  The two girls are having a vacation on Rainspell Island.  The fairy got lost because Jack Frost cast a spell.  The two are trying to find a fairy named Sky, but they find a crab.  The crab leads the two girls to a tide pool, and dips its claw into the tide pool then takes it out, then goes away.  The two girls then try to find the fairy when they find the fairy it was in a bubble, in the tide pool.  Then there came some ice and froze the tide pool.  Since the fairy king and queen gave them packetful of magic they used it to un-freeze the ice.  Then they took out the fairy and popped the bubble.  At the end the fairy is found by the two girls.

Danielle the Daisy Fairy by Daisy Meadows

This story is about three girls, a fairy, a lot of goblins, and a magic petal. The names of the girls are Rachel, Kirsty, and Rebecca (they are best friends), the name of the fairy is Danielle, and the name of the goblins' leader is Jack Frost.  The goblins stole the petal from Fairyland.  The two girls and the fairy need to get it back from the goblin when they meet another girl and she helps them get the petal back.  When they get the petal back the fairy uses her wand to make a rope with daisies on it to tie a knot with all the goblins in it.  The petal was stuck on the goblin’s foot.  When the other goblins saw that one of the goblins was sitting down they got mad.  He was making something .The goblin that was sitting down was singing very noisily. I like this story because I like how the girls were making good choices.

LOOK FOR THESE AND MORE IN OUR PAPERBACK SECTIONS.  For readers in 2nd-4th grades.  

NEVER GIVE UP NED

Ned Mouse Breaks Away by Tim Wynn-Jones: A review by Lilian a 4th grade library patron: 

This is a story about Ned the mouse, the warden, the keeper and Morty.  Ned is in jail and he is very desperate to get out.  He went to the cafeteria and got a spoon to dig himself out and ended up in the warden’s dessert.  The warden called for his guards and they took him back to his cell.  Ned became more anxious to get out of jail.  

One day Ned’s friend Morty sent a note.  After that, Ned sent his different body parts to Morty’s place.  Then when Ned was sending his last body part he made a replica and a recording of himself to trick the warden.  

 I like this story, especially the part where Ned sent his body parts to Morty.

For readers in 2nd-4th grades.

GUM CHEWING IS A SUPER POWER

Gabby Gomez loves chewing gum and when she gets gum in stuck in her hair her mom put her foot down and said no more!  Gabby can't help herself and breaks her promise when she finds a piece of stray gum t in her room.  This gum turns out to be a special gum, turning her into a superhero.  With her new sticky super power, she saves a woman's purse from a purse snatcher, cat in a tree and even a plane by using her gum to hold the wings together. However, on the other side of town, little does she know that there's a villain lurking in a spatula factory keeping an eye on her.  

The Gumazing Gum Girl!: Chews Your Destiny by Rhode Montijo gives us a new female superhero who sprinkles her speech with Spanish words and exciting gum popping adventures.  

For beginning chapter book readers in 3rd-4th grades. 

JUNE BOOK CLUB TITLE

A BOOK CLUB FOR BEGINNING CHAPTER BOOK READERS.  

• Read For Fun
• Snack
• Discuss
• Only ½ hour
• 2 times per month
• Join us at either locations below:

AT CENTRAL

MONDAYS, 5PM

6/9 & 6/23

AT CASA VERDUGO

WEDNESDAYS, 5PM

6/11 & 6/25

YOUR NEW SUPERHERO IS A GIRL

The Adventures of Jo Schmo by Greg Trine is the latest series by the author of the Melvin Beederman series. 

In Dinos Are Forever, Jo Schmo is the latest caped crusader in a family of caped crusaders living in San Francsico.  Along with her sidekick dog, whose weapon is creating a puddle of slobber, Jo tackles villains of all sorts after receiving a red cape in the mail from her newly retired uncle.  

After some training from her grandfather, 4th grader, Jo goes after an evil scientist who tries to resurrect dinosaurs in order to rob banks.  Greg Trine gives us another fun action-packed series with a cast of outrageous characters, but in a believable setting.  

This new superhero series is perfect for beginning chapter book readers 2nd-4th graders. 

BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION TODAY

Join other beginning chapter book readers and Children's Librarian, Vivian, at Casa Verdugo this afternoon at 4 p.m. for a discussion of the book I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1913.  if you didn't get a chance to read it, check out a paperback copy of this popular new series, I Survived.  

Ask the reference desk about April's book club title.   

BOOK GROUP MEETS TODAY

Our book group for beginning chapter book readers meet today at Casa Verdugo to read I Survived: The Sinking of the Titanic, 1912. 
Casa Verdugo, 3/12 at 4 p.m.  

If you can't come, pick up the book and meet us in two weeks for the book discussion.  
Central, 3/24 and Casa, 3/26 both are at 4 p.m.