JACOB'S NEW DRESS

Jacob loves to swing on the monkey bars, race toy cars, and play with dinosaurs. One of his favorite areas in the room is the dress-up corner, where he tries on different outfits.  He enjoys it so much that he requests to wear a similar outfit the next day. Although he is teased and bullied, his parents and teacher offer much support, love, and honor his curiosity and creativity. 

Sarah and Ian Hoffman offer a gentle story about a boy who wants to wear clothes outside the norm.  By doing so they thoughtfully address the topic of gender non-conformity in this picture book story. 

For families and educators to share with children Pre-K to 2nd grade.

WHAT LIFE LESSONS CAN A PERSON LEARN FROM BULLYING?

After a brief suspension, Julian Twerski is exempt from writing a Julius Caesar report.  Instead, his English teacher and father ask him to journal the events of his middle school life.  Since academic success comes so easily to Julian, he thinks this project will be a breeze.  When he starts, he focuses on journal basics: who, what, when, where, why and how.  He documents his time with his best buddies and his best friend's feelings towards a girl at school.  As the days pass, his writing starts to change when he journals about his discovery of first love, or his experiences with the neighborhood loner, Stanley Stimmel.   Julian reflects more frequently and more intensely about his interactions with his best buddies, Stanley, and the irresistible Jillian, and he learns a great deal about empathy, remorse, and heartbreak.  

The reader cannot help but get drawn in to his reflections, regrets, and growth.

From first time junior novelist, Mark Goldblatt, Twerp sheds light on how a group of middle schoolers can be friendly towards some and be troublesome for others.  Twerp is best for 7^th grade and up.

READING IS NEVER EASY

Travis is new to the middle school, new to the area and not happy at all.  When he meets outspoken, Velveeta, a classmate, things begin to look up until he has to read out loud in class.  He feels like a Bluefish all over again.  

Bluefish by Pat Schmatz is a hopeful story of new friendships and hidden secrets.  A realistic look at how middle schoolers deal with death, alcoholism, parents, neglect, bullying, and school.  For mature readers in 6 grade and up.  

STUEY LEWIS WANTS TO READ

Stuey is worried. He's been in second grade for two whole days, yet he still can't read! It seems that even hanging out with his very best friend makes him feel stressed about reading. It's a good thing he has a very understanding teacher and his favorite holiday, Halloween, just around the corner to help him cope.

The One and Only Stuey Lewis by Jane Schoenberg is light-hearted beginning chapter book for readers in 2nd-3rd grades about a boy learning to read, his friends and family.

LEAVE NO READER BEHIND!

Your school principle will dye his hair purple and spend the entire night on the school’s roof if the students end up reading 1000 books by the end of the school year! Do you think this will be possible? But what if there are some people who do not like to read at all?

Here is the story of a boy and his friends who like to spend all their free time playing with video games. Miss Malarkey, the very patient and kind teacher, tries her best to offer just the right bait – books containing jokes, poetry, fantasy, explorers, and even scary stories. One by one, the boy’s friends fall prey to Miss Malarkey’s suggestions, but not to the one boy whose stubbornness might cause the entire class to lose the bet... MISS MALARKEY LEAVES NO READERS BEHIND by JUDY FINCHLER and KEVIN O'MALLEY.

For grades k-up.

SPIES IN THE LIBRARY

Steve loves the Bailey Brothers stories, detectives extraordinaire, and has read all their books. He studied everything there is to know about being a detective and hopes to become one just like them. His hopes are realized when he is mistaken a "bad guy" while doing research for a homework assignment at the library! Now he must figure out who the real spy selling government secrets is in order to save himself. Who knew that the library could be such a dangerous place and that librarians are really secret agents?

The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity: A Brixton Brothers Series by Mac Barnett is for readers in 4th through 6th grade looking for some action.

NERDS OF THE WORLD UNITE!

It's amazing these kids get along! In THE VIEW FROM SATURDAY by E.L. Konigsburg, Noah, Ethan, Nadia, and Julian have nothing in common, except that they are all loners for one reason or another. They are as different as North, South, East, and West. Things change one Saturday when Julian, a small boy originally from India, invites them all to tea. It's not long before the four form firm friendships, which only become stronger when their teacher Ms. Olsinki, who's in a wheelchair, chooses them to compete in the Academic Bowl. This story isn't like other stories, because it jumps from one person's point of view to another, and each one sees the things happening in their lives differently. Great for 5th - 8th graders.

MAGIC TEACHER

THE MAGICAL MS. PLUM by Bonny Becker is about an elementary school teacher that seems to be magic. Every year, students know there is something special about Ms. Plum, but no one from the year before will tell them what it is. Every student in Ms. Plum's class has something they need to overcome, and she is just the teacher to help! Perfect beginning chapter book for 2nd-4th grades.

ARE YOU A MYSTERY AND PUZZLE FREAK?

Winston is a puzzle freak and the king of puzzles. thought he was being such a sensitive brother by getting Katie a wooden box for her birthday, but instead he got a lot of grief from his family because everyone couldn't figure out the words on the sticks left inside a secret compartment. The two decide to team up with other treasure seekers when they realized that the puzzle might lead to a million dollar treasure left by the librarian's father when he passed away. A fantastic scavenger hunt for those of you who like to watch "The Greatest Race". The Puzzling World of Winston Breen by Eric Berlin

A puzzling call sets Winston and his two friends off on another whirlwind adventure looking for clues and cracking codes so their school can win the big prize, $50,000! Can they beat the other schools and find the person who is cheating? the second installment is full of the same fun and excitement. The Potato Chip Puzzles by Eric Berlin