AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!

Have you ever heard of any famous female magicians? Anything But Ordinary Addie: The True Story of Adelaide Herrmann Queen of Magic is a fascinating book about a currently little-known but certainly extraordinary woman. Mara Rockliff's fast-paced and engaging text and Iacopo Bruno's vibrant and larger-than-life illustrations pull young readers into Addie's exciting world of adventure, intrigue, and magic. 

Growing up, Addie was not content to fade into the background. She joined a dancing troupe and dazzled audiences at a time it was a bit shocking for women to appear onstage. When she met and fell in love with magician Alexander Hermann, it was Addie who proposed marriage to him. First, she became his assistant, helping him perform such illusions as setting her on fire and making her vanish. But when his resident acrobat goes missing, she volunteers to have him shoot her from the cannon, even though she has no training. The only trick she won't let her husband perform? The bullet-catching trick--definitely way too dangerous. 

But when the the unthinkable happens and Alexander unexpectedly passes away, the show must go on. And what better way to convince audiences to come see (gasp!) a woman perform magic than by performing the death-defying bullet-catching trick? 

This captivating picture book biography makes readers feel like a part of the action--as if they have front-row seats for the dazzling show that is Addie's life. It might even inspire some extra research to find out more about the Queen of Magic, who was famous in her own time but almost unheard of today. 

Recommended especially for readers in first through fourth grades. 

THE NEXT LAST DRAGONSLAYER

In case you were fascinated-and a little horrified-by the creature that is "one tenth Labrador, six-tenths velociraptor and three-tenths kitchen food blender," from the Last Dragonslayer, you can find out more in the second book, The Song of the Quarkbeast. With the Great Zambini still missing, Jennifer Strange continues to be the acting manager of Kazam Mystical Arts Management, and it is not the easiest of jobs. With the rise of Big Magic, Jennifer, Tiger Prawns, and the accompanying cast of strange but generally well-meaning magicians are the only ones who can prevent King Snodd and iMagic from using magic for personal gain, rather than the common good. The troubles start when a mysterious client recruits Kazam's talents to find a ring that does not want to be found, and only escalate when King Snodd appoints Blix from iMagic to Court Sorcerer, requiring Kazam to obey all of iMagic's wishes. Will Jennifer and Kazam be able to resist Blix and King Snodd against all odds? And most importantly, why is there a mysterious Quarkbeast roaming in the streets of Hereford?
 

The Song of the Quarkbeast  by Jasper FForde is as lough-out-loud witty as its prequel. In fact, it is possible that it might be even better. If you like a good deal of laughs with your fantasy and science fiction, you might have just met your favorite new series.

For readers in 4th-8th. 

MAGICIANS AVAILABLE WHILE SUPPLIES LAST

Jennifer Strange - eh, what's in a name - is responsible for finding jobs for all the magicians and wizards of the world. Oh, and she's also the last dragonslayer in the history of the world. Also, there is only one more dragon and he's going to die. Rumor has it that once this dragon dies, "BIG MAGIC" will return. Because magic lately has been pretty hard to come by. So it is up to Jennifer to determine the fate of magic whether she wants to or not. Luckily, this story is very funny because if it wasn't it would be very sad. But you will laugh a lot. Especially if you liked Adam Rex's True Meaning of Smek Day or anything in Brian Sanderson's Alcatraz series. 

THE LAST DRAGONSLAYER by Jasper Fforde is sure to delight the fantasy/science fiction fan who like a little comedy here and there to lighten things up. For grades 5 and up.

AUGUST 2013