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.



A DEAD HIPPO MYSTERY

The meanest and most hated hippo is floating feet up in his habitat. Shocked by Henry the Hippo's death, Teddy is determined to find out how this could have happened in the best animal research facility in the country. When he discovers that the hippo might have been murdered, the only person willing to help find the hippo killer is Summer, the owner's daughter. Something stinks at Fun Jungle, and it isn't just the dead hippo.

Belly Up by Stuart Gibbs is a fast pace mystery set in a Texas where the kids seem to know more than the adults. For readers in 6th - 8th grade.

THE BABY BEEBEE BIRD

The zoo is a noisy place - during the day that is. But when this nocturnal bird becomes the zoo's latest edition, he must conform to their night-napping ways or be kept awake all day! Will any animals get any sleep ever again? THE BABY BEEBEE BIRD by Diane Redfield Massie is a hilarious NOISY story to read aloud to big groups or small, and definitely loved by kids from age 2-10.

ANIMAL RESCUE

Griffin and Ben are back in another Gordon Korman adventure. Luthor, the guard dog from Swindle is now in the care of Savannah, animal lover and whisperer extraordinaire. Luthor and his best friend Cleo, a capuccin monkey, are inseparable until Cleo goes missing. All attempts to find her turn up empty handed until a class field trip to a miserable floating zoo finds Savannah and her classmates face to face with the missing pet. Mr. Nastase, the owner of the zoo refuses to acknowledge Cleo as Savannah's pet so what's a girl and her friends to do but to hatch an escape plan.

Operation Zoobreak doesn't go as planned when Savannah wants to rescue ALL the zoo animals. When her place to shelter the animals falls through, everyone has to hide them anywhere they can. Griffin, Ben and their friends are once again involved in a hilarious adventure to free not just one but forty animals.

Zoobreak by Gordon Korman is animal lovers in 4th -6th grade.