THE WATCHER

"In this uncertain life, of these two things we are certain: the holiness of the heart's affections, the truth of the imagination" and so begins the story of THE WATCHER by JAMES HOWE...

The watcher is a thirteen-year-old girl who observes others without a smile, or a word. But nothing in life is what it seems... So we start seeing what is inside of the mind of the watcher and the watched. Perceptions, imaginations and the human need together intervene in this great story that ultimately is about survival. You will not want to put down this book until the very last word is finished.

For grades 4th and up.

THE IMAGINARY PRAGUE

THE CABINET OF WONDERS by Marie Rutkoski begins a new series called The Kronos Chronicles. Set in Prague in an undetermined point in time, Petra lives with her father who has the amazing ability to move and shape metal just by thinking! Unfortunately, when her father's eyes are removed after he builds an astronomical clock of magical proportion for the local prince, Petra sets out to retrieve them. She experiences some great adventures along the way, and learns quite a bit about who she is and her own special powers. Hopefully the rest of the series will be as entertaining and enjoyable as this book. For 6th grade and up.

A SPECIAL GRANDPARENT HOLIDAY

This is a spooky traditional winter holiday that comes from Northern New Mexico. Men from the village camouflage themselves as scary old men, then they come down on the children teasing them to make sure they are behaving. Raymundo and Amelia have moved recently to the village and they don't know what to expect from this holiday. When an "Abuelo," who turns out to be their Uncle shows up at the door, they are very surprised. The abuelos encourage the little ones to dance and sing. Afterwards, they enjoy cookies and empanadas.

Written by Pat Mora, illustrated by Amelia Lau Carling.

Ages 5-8.

SPLISH SPLASH YOU'RE IT

Sopranos and the Maltese Falcon for the younger set. A complex and absolutely entertaining farce about how middle school is really played out. In the world of middle school everyone has their defined roles: Mr. Biggs, boss of The Organization wants his good luck Charm back; Matt, the independent private investigator hired to get the said charm; Nikki Fingers, former water gun for hire of Mr. Biggs who has the good luck charm. Dead on black comedy of social pecking order of middle school.

Big Splash by Jack D. Ferraiolo is one book that should not be judged by its cover but by the contents. A fast read for mature readers 6th & up.

THE DAWN OF EQUALITY?

It's the late 1950s, and Rob Garrett is off to a boarding school in Connecticut. But he's leaving his home in Virginia behind, right at an important time in history - the supposed end of segregation in the South. in NEW BOY by Julian Houston, Rob is torn between advancing himself through his educational opportunities, or furthering the role of all African Americans by participating in demonstrations going on in his home town. This year in Rob Garrett's life is an eye-opening, life-changing time, and provides a little window into a very significant era in history. The book has some pretty advanced ideas, so probably best for those reading at an 8th grade level.

AND JUST HOW WAS THE BOOK....

The Snacktime Readers group met last night at the Central Library to talk about this month's book, Rules by Cynthia Lord. Here's what some of the participants thought ( we always rate a book 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest):

Crystal: It was a wonderful book. I loved it. (Rating: 10)

Celina: I thought it was funny. (Rating: 10)

Allisyn: I really liked this book. It gives you a different perspective on how hard it can be for people with disabilities and for their family members. (Rating: 10)

Join the group next month on Wednesday, May 27. We will be reading The Year of the Dog by Grace Lin. Copies of this are available in the Children's Room at the Central Library, 222 East Harvard Street, Glendale, CA 91204. For more information, please call (818) 548-2035. See you there!

GONE FROM HOME...

GONE FROM HOME: SHORT TAKES by ANGELA JOHNSON has some pretty cool stories that will keep you so focused that you won't want them to end. If you are a girl, imagine dressing up like a boy to survive the tough streets of your neighborhood, if you are a boy, imagine stealing animals from a pet shop, so that the new owners of these animals won't cage them, or saving a baby from an abandonment but can not really do much to save your self. You will meet some really couragious kids that might at first seem to be asking for trouble, however if you look a bit deeper into their hearts, you will see that they all are striving to make things better not only for themselves but the community that they live in. Their selfless acts take them to different paths and the reader won't miss home much since their journies are so inviting...

For grades 4th and older.

LUCK IS WHAT YOU MAKE OF IT

Living in a small town means that the friendship pool is not large and in the case of Harry "Dit" Sims it meant that there was almost no one his age in his small Alabama town. But that is going to change, coming to town is a new postmaster and his family. Set in 1917 The Best Bad Luck I Ever had by Kristin Levine tells the story of the somewhat unusual friendship that forms between Dit and Emma who end up teaching each other a lot and making a difference in their community.

For grades 5 through 8.

FOR YOUNG DRAGON LOVERS

Kenny has found a friend, a dragon friend. Everyone knows that dragons are ferocious fire breathing monsters who must be slayed knights of the kingdom. And wouldn't you know it, Kenny's other good friend turns out to be the knight chosen to kill his new friend.

Kenny and the Dragon by Tony DeTerlizzi is a revised, modern version of the classic tale The Reluctant Dragon with lovely new black and white illustrations. Perfect for bedtime read-a-loud or for independent readers in 4th - 6th grade.

Read the classic tale also and compare the two.

BARACK OBAMA

He represents hope, change, unity and greatness. History has been made, dreams have become reality and now countless people united can dream bigger than ever.

Barack Obama is our new president. However, before he became the president, he dedicated his time and energy in community work and in making a difference in peoples lives. His passion is contagious and his intellect is inspiring. Read this very short biography about our president and you too will feel the energy and the inspiration to dream big and follow where your passions lead you. The book is by NIKKI GRIMES and the illustrations are by BRYAN COLLIER.

For grades 1st to 3rd.

APRIL SNACKTIME READERS

This month's book is Rules by Cynthia Lord the story of twelve-year-old Catherine and her brother David. This is not your usual family story that revolves around the typical squabbles between an older sister and her amusing younger brother. David is autistic and that takes him way out of typical. This is a family who focuses all of their attention around this disability. Their story is told by Cynthia and happens one summer when everything turns out not as expected and causes her to question just what normal is.

For grades 5-8

Snacktime Readers meets at the Central Library, 222 East Harvard Street, Glendale, CA 91205. A book discussion group for readers in fourth grade and above along with their parents, this group will get together on Wednesday, April 22 at 7:00 p.m. in the Children's Room. Come and join the discussion and share our snacks. For more information, please call (818) 548-2035.

A TREE WORTH READING

THE DRAGON TREE by Jane Langton is not about dragons. This is the story about a family of free-thinkers, an evil tree inspector, and a girl kept captive in an attic. You would think that these things would have absolutely nothing to do with each other. But they are all brought together by a magical tree that grows foot by foot in a matter of minutes, with leaves that tell stories and fruit that feeds body and mind. It's a quick read for a chapter book, with a lot of excitement and some political activism thrown in for your reading pleasure. Plus, you get to learn a little bit about Henry David Thoreau. A great read for 4th grade and up.

HERE, KITTY, KITTY! = VEN, GATITA, VEN!

A young girl gets a shy new kitten that hides and makes trouble. She hides under the table, under the sofa, under sister's bed, inside a flower pot, behind grandma's shoes. This is the third book in Pat Mora's bilingual My family/ Mi familia series.This story will delight children with its mischievous playful watercolor illustrations and charming story.

Written by Pat Mora, illustrated by Maribel Suarez. Kindergarten ages 5-6.

THESE ARE THE DAYS OF OUR TOYS LIVES...

Lumphy, Stingray and Plastic are back again with their toy friends for new adventures. They meet a shark friend, made of rubber, that they stuff with garbage before they realize he's a nice shark. They escape out the window into a big drift of snow as they try to hunt for the little girl that loves them. But the best story yet is when they go to the basement for a dance party to celebrate the repair of their friend the dryer! TOY DANCE PARTY by Emily Jenkins is the sequel to Toys Go Out, and is just as entertaining. The hilarious actions of these toys bring them to life and give each one some very human characteristics. Good for 2nd - 5th grade readers.

NOT JUST A SPELLING BEE

It's a tale told in from the points of view of kids who enter the annual school spelling bee. It's about parents and adults who have ulterior motives. It's about desire, corruption and competition.

Jennifer: Could care less about the bee, but her parents won't allow her to lose.

Mutual: Only going to regular school because his parents want him to win the bee.

Chrissie: Determined to get to the truth no matter how much it hurts.

Harlan: Class clown who wants to be a legend. All he needs is one perfect prank.

Jake: He wants the prize. The money will go to a good cause... his future.

I Put a Spell on You: From the Files of Chrissie Woodward, Spelling Bee Detective by Adam Selzer is a book of stories within a story of kids who are determined to do what is right rather than what is expected. For 6th -8th grade readers.

LIKE WORDS?

He loves words and lives to play scrabble, has a serious allergy to peanuts, and doesn't have a clue when it comes to making friends. Doesn't sound too attractive, does it? But twelve-year-old Ambrose is a really great kid who just needs to find his spot in the world and when he becomes friends with the adult son of the landlord, that just might happen. Susin Nielson tells this sometimes sad and at other times laugh out loud funny in her book WORD NERD.

For grades 5-8

HOW TO BECOME A STAR

Striking bilingual English/Spanish Yoruba myth in which the author explains the origins of comets and stars. Oloyou, the cat, the very first creature that the God-child creates, is also the very first friend. God-child and Oloyou play together for hours on end, until one day the cat falls into the kingdom of ferocious Okun Aro, the Sea. Oloyou is terribly lonely until he meets Aro's mermaid daughter Kandili and falls madly in love with her. Infuriated by the disertion of his friend, Okun Aro throws the lovers up into the heavens where they turn into stars in the night sky.


A good humoured read-aloud tale in both English and Spanish languages, written by Teresa Cardenas and illustrated by Margarita Sada. Ages 4-10.

JON SCIESZKA IS A KNUCKLEHEAD!

If you were ever curious about where authors get funny stories from or how they were as a kid, browse through a copy of this autobiography by Jon Scieszka. You know his books, The Stinky Cheese Man, The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, and many others. With five brothers, it's a wonder they all survived the rambunctious early years. Yep! There were six boys in the Scieszka family. No girls (except their mom, of course). After reading this, don't try any of their stunts, they're only funny because they survived to tell the tales.

Funny observations from the mind of Jon Scieszka in Knucklehead: Tall Tales and Mostly True Stories of Growing Up Scieszka. For readers in 6th & up.

JUST WHERE IS AWAY?

The island she was born on seemed like a paradise and life with her mother and friends was ideal until one day when everything suddenly changed. Milagros was forced by circumstances to start off on an incredible adventure that took her to the place where magic and reality meet.

Best for grades five through eight.

TRAVELS WITH GULLY THE DOG!

Gully is one smart, sophisticated dog who gets to spend his summers on the Seine River in France and the rest of the year in New York's Manhattan Island. He eats gourmet food and is exposed to art and culture all the time. He is very picky with his friends and prefers to hang out with french poodles instead of mutts and other breeds.

However, things are about to change beyond believe for him because his owner has fallen in love with a French professor and she unfortunately is allergic to dogs and Gully has no idea what is going to happen to him.

You need to read the book to find out, I promise you will not want to put it down once you start...

For grades 4th and up.

ADVENTURE, FANTASY AND ROMANCE ALL ROLLED TOGETHER

Julie, grandaughter of a witch, sister to Puss in Boots, and child of Rapunzel and the Prince. Wow! What a load to carry around, especially in this modern world where everyone thinks fairy tales are just that... tales. But Julie just grits her teeth and bear the burden along with her mother to keep The Wild from expanding and taking all the storybook characters back into its fold. But somehow, someone made a magic wish in the wishing well and unleashed The Wild. Her family, friends, and even the townsfolk have been pulled into repeating old tales over and over again and are trapped within the Wild. Julie has no choice but to battle the Wild for control of everyone she loves.

In this second installment, Julie's father, The Prince, suddenly appears at her grandmother's motel. She had not seen him since she had to reluctantly leave him behind at the magic castle. What is the Wild up to? It has never willingly released a fairytale character before. Now it has taken over her town and captured her mother. No matter what she tries, it seems that the Wild is always one step ahead of her. Along the way, crossing the country, she enlists the help of other fairytale characters and a boy like herself until everything converges at the happiest place on earth, Disneyland. And it is anything but a happy ending.

Both books by Sarah Beth Durst are a fantastic and complex adventure woven into a world of fantasy and the modern headed by a spunky heroine who just won't give up. A great, fast, fun read for 6th grade readers and older.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU FOUND CRAZY GLUE OR SUPER MEGA GONZO GLUE?

The junk drawer is one of Roscoe Riley's favorite off-limit places. With his mother's permission, Roscoe goes through the drawer and tries to find supplies that he could bring to school for his teacher, Ms. Diz. First grader, Roscoe Riley is a lovable character. He is charming, and he tries to help out whenever he can. But even helpful kids make bad decisions. Inside the bag of supplies for Ms. Diz lies the Super Mega Gonzo Glue. Unfortunately, when Roscoe uses the glue in the class program, his plan to help Ms. Diz backfires and the program ends with fingers pointing at Roscoe Riley.

A fun new read by Katherine Applegate, author of the Animorphs series. Readers in the third grade and older will cheer or giggle, knowing that there's a Roscoe Riley in every classroom.

MARCH SNACKTIME READERS

Like a good mystery story? Room One by Andrew Clements fits the bill and is this month's selection for Snacktime Readers. Join us for snacks and discussion at the Central Library, Wednesday, March 25 at 7:00 p.m. It's always a good time.

For grades 4 and older.

THE GIRL BEHIND THE SMILE?

Only twelve when the reader first meets Betta in THE SMILE by Donna Jo Napoli, the next dozen years of her life are shared along with some of the history of Italy in this title. Not only does she meet and become friends with many famous people from the Medicis to Leonardo di Vinci, the main character becomes involved in the history of her country as the author tells her version of the story behind the very famous painting.

For grades 6 and older.

THE VOICE THAT CHALLENGED A NATION!

Black History Month is coming to an end, and you probably have done few book reports on the African-Americans who have changed the course of our history. However, in THE VOICE THAT CHALLENGED A NATION: MARIAN ANDERSON AND THE STRUGGLE FOR EQUAL RIGHTS by Russell Freedman you will find a great story not only about the struggles of the African-Americans but also about Marian Anderson who was an incredibly talented singer who fought for the equal rights of blacks just so she could sing and enhance her music career. Her encounter with Mrs. Roosevelt led her to do many great things to contribute to this great cause and be one of the pioneers of the civil rights movement.

For grades 4th and up.

ROSCOE RILEY RULES #3

Roscoe wishes he had a trophy. He is the only member of his family to not win one. His sister, Hazel, has many trophies, and Roscoe is quite envious of her. How far will Roscoe go to win a trophy? Will he tell a fib to his parents, or swap a hand-made sweater that his grandmother made with love? From the author of Animorphs, Katherine Applegate writes Don't Swap Your Sweater For A Dog from the Roscoe Riley Rules series. This is another fun read, with lessons for Roscoe Riley to learn- hopefully his third grade readers will too!

NAKED BUNYIP DANCING

Yes, that is the title. NAKED BUNYIP DANCING by Steven Herrick with pictures by Beth Norling is a new twist on the novel in poetry format. The teacher is a blissed-out hippy teaching math to the students while singing and playing guitar. There's girls who like boys, boys who think girls are gross, kids with family problems, kids with behavior problems. It's all here. Only it's written as a series of poems. Sometimes the poem is the student. Sometimes the poem is about a student. Here is a sample from the book:

"Sophie and poetry ~

I waited until the end of class
and I went to Mr. Carey's desk

and asked him

in a really quiet voice,

in case anyone was outside listening,

if I could read a poem

in the school concert

instead of singing.

A poem of my own

on any topic I like.
He smiled so wide

I thought his face would split!

Simple.

And I've got months to write it!"

This book would probably be best for kids 6th grade and up.

ARMIG & SAYAT NOVA

Armig is a shy boy who longs to sing with the great singer Sayat Nova who happened to be one of the best Armenian musicians of all time. Ever since his father's passing, he has become more of a recluse and while his friends are out playing and having a good time, he is looking after sheep and doing chorus that are suitable for older people. He has put aside his dreams of singing at all, let alone the great Sayat Nova.

Things do change due to an accidental encounter with the great musician who finds out what Armig's father has done in the village and vows to make the boy's life better. ARMIG & SAYAT NOVA by KATIE ATIKIAN and the illustrations by ALISON ATIKIAN.

For grades 4th and older.

THINK ALIKE?

There are times that many of us have wondered what it would be like to have a twin, someone who not only looked just like us but thought like us as well. In THE MIDNIGHT TWINS by Jacquelyn Mitchard this was the case for twelve-year-old twins Meredith and Mallory. They had always been so close that they shared thoughts. That was about to change as their thirteenth birthday party suddenly goes awry and the two are hurt in the fire that ruins the party. While recovering in the hospital they each discover a new gift; Meredith can see way into the past and Mallory can see into the future. What they don't know is if these are gifts or curses.

For grades 5-8.

MISTAKES

Three boys all in trouble with the law and serving time in either jail or a juvenile detention facility are offered a second chance and a new start in a halfway house program. None of them is very trusting of their new situation that requires them to go to school daily and spend their after school time working on volunteer projects. When a major lack of judgement on their part causes the adult in charge of the house to become seriously injured the three have some big decisions to make. THE JUVIE THREE BY GORDON KORMAN is the story of Arjay, Terrance and Gecko, a murder, a thief and a gangster trying to make some sense of their lives.

For seventh grade and older.

SNACKTIME READERS

Like reading, eating and are in grades 4-8? Come and join the Snacktime Readers at the Central Library, 222 East Harvard Street, Glendale CA 91205 at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 25th.

This month's book AGNES PARKER.. Girl in Progress by Kathleen O'Dell is about being in Agnes' sixth grade year where having friends, trying to keep up with school working and dealing with all the issues that come her way, including a bully, keep her more than busy.

Check this group out. We talk about the book we have read in a friendly and fun way. Though since this is not school, you don't have to talk if you are not in the mood. Come enjoy the popcorn and listen to what other kids are saying.

TAROT CARDS AND THE FUTURE

IN THE CARDS OF LIFE by Mariah Fredericks is the third book that follows the lives three friends, Syd, Anna and Eva. It's Syd's turn to have her tarot cards read by her friends and unfortunately nothing turns out well. The girls friendship is seriously tested over some petty disagreements.When Syd draws the death card she is scared by more than losing her friends.

Do you believe in fortunes, fate and the occult? Should Syd, Anna and Eva put their trust in a deck of cards? What would you do?

For grades 5 and older.

JOURNALIST AT RISK

I am sure that you have already wrote countless of book reports in your studies, However, as you already know, writing a book report is totally different from writing a report on a war. JOURNALISTS AT RISK: REPORTING AMERICA'S WARS by GEORGE SULLIVAN is an informative and historical account of how technology, way of war operation and way of reporting has changed since the beginning of journalism.

Nowadays war journalists are required to participate in boot camps to prepare for chemical or biological attacks, they have become as much part of the war as the soldiers who are fighting. You will get a sense of what they go though to report the news from a war zone.

For grades 4 and up.

AWARD WINNER--THE DOOR IN THE WALL

Ever since Robin was a young boy, his father, Sir John de Bureford, has expected him to learn the ways of the medieval knight. But Robin's future changes when he becomes extremely ill and loses his ability to use his legs. During this time, the plague sweeps across the land and his devoted servants abandon Robin. With the help of two unsuspecting people, they help bring him back to better health; and Robin inevitably learns about his strengths, his courage, friendship and how he can still serve his King.
Students who are interested in the medieval period may enjoy this Newbery winner. A Door In the Wall by Marguerite De Angeli is best for students in the 6th grade and older. Another title that takes place in the medieval period is the Newbery winner, The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman. Check Them Out!

ALL ABOUT THE DANCERS

This is a book for those interested in dance and those who may want to pursue a career in dance or those who are dance fans. There are in depth interviews with dancers of all type: ballet, tap, modern, etc. The readers gain insight into what drives them and the deep commitment they have to dance and where dance have taken them in their lives. There are also side tips and little interesting bits of info for the readers.

Meet the Dancers by Amy Nathan, a fascinating collection of chats with dancers from around the country that's hard to put down.

For 6th & up.

CAT OF THE THEATER

One cannot imagine the world behind the scenes of the theatre - at least not in the 18th century! Mystery, intrigue, and spectacular performance fill the pages and Cat Royal's life, a young orphan girl left on the steps of the Drury Lane Theater in London. What lurks behind the curtain isn't what you would expect, and Cat leads you through the exciting city life of old England. THE DIAMOND OF DRURY LANE by Julia Golding spins a tale of dangerous adventure and paints a picture of what life was like more than 200 years ago. For 6th grade and up.

ODDEST OF ALL

Imagine you are sitting down with your mom for a nice morning breakfast and suddenly the television screen goes blank and a woman with blue skin and green hair appears and tells you things that are so odd that is better for me not to even write about. You change the channel and its still the same thing, you leave your house and see that the sky is not its usual color and people are fighting and screaming at each other in no apparent reason...

You wake up in the morning and see a blue chip in the back of your arm and that will give you the option to vote on your way of life....

ODDEST OF ALL : Nine Odd Stories by BRUCE COVILLE will be one of those books that you will not want to put down until its very last page, the stories are thought provoking, light, fun and really good.

For grades 5th and up.

CREEPY, AND CREEPIER

Courtney has just moved into her uncle's mansion with her clueless and self absorbed parents when she realizes there's something strange about her uncle's mansion. The kids in the new school are weird but the mansion and her uncle are seriously creepy. Curiosity gets the better of Courtney and all is not as it seems in the Crumrin mansion or the 'burbs. her uncle catches her going through his things and she sees that he's not the creepy one but he's just private and trying to protect her from a cast of creepier characters living in another world alongside the human world. She discovers the talking cat, a wolf, and other magical and dark beings whom she must conquer in order to survive.

Courtney Crumrin and the Night Things by Ted Naifeh is truly creepy graphic novel for those who like Cirque Du Freak or those too old for Goosebumps. Just looking at the blank eyes of the characters in the book are enough to give you the shivers.

For 6th & up.

SHORT STORIES OF LOSS, DANGER ... HUMANITY

Highway robbers, weird diseased trees, aftermath of bombings. All are told in this haunting (not scary or creepy) collection of short stories. Hauntings And Other Tales of Danger, Love, and Sometimes Loss by Betsy Hearne is a well written set of stories about humanity and how we as humans deal with loss and tragedy.

For readers in 6th and older.

^@^@^ BOOKMARK CONTEST 2009 ^@^@^

BE CREATIVE @ YOUR LIBRARY!!!

January 26 - February 8, 2009

Each January the Library holds a contest to design new bookmarks to be used during the year. This competition is open to any one who wishes to participate from infants through adults. The only restriction is that the actual drawing must be done in the Library, Central or one of the Branches, with the materials supplied by the Library. The submissions are then judged by outside judges and the winners are chosen according to age groups. The winners are given a certificate and copies of their winning bookmark at a ceremony which is held at the Central Library. Winning bookmarks are duplicated and distributed throughout the Glendale Library System. This year's theme is Be Creative @ Your Library.

A HORSE TO LOVE

Chancey is an albino Appaloosa horse that's getting old. His vision is clouded with tumors and he's having trouble seeing. Now, his owner has to sell her farm and Chancey may end up at the glue factory! But luck is on his side when he ends up with a loving farm owner and discovers a girl who needs him as much as he needs her. CHANCEY OF THE MAURY RIVER by Gigi Amateau Together they beat many odds and excel in the little things while learning how to love with their whole heart. For 5th grade and up.

DANGER IN ART

While in a small London town, Calder becomes intrigued by a piece of art work created by the artist he was named after, Alexander Calder. The sculpture mysteriously disappears one day and so does Calder. His father and the police are clueless as to how to find Calder so they must enlist the help of his two closest friends to search for clues. His friends must set aside their personal dislikes of each other to find him before it is too late.

In this third art mystery novel, The Calder Game by Blue Balliett, the puzzle lover finds himself within a life size maze that has somehow swallowed him up without leaving a trace.

For readers in 4th - 6th.

FLIGHTS OF FANTASY

Who knew birds had their own Arthurian legend to speak of? At least that is what SWORD QUEST by Nancy Yi Fan seems to be. Wind-Voice leaves slavery through a number of miraculous escapes in search of a magical sword, one that can only be wielded by a great hero. He meets many good friends along the way, and narrowly evades capture and death at the "wing" of his enemies. Encrypted jewels throughout the world lead Wind-Voice and his companions to the island where the sword is kept. Hopefully, he will make it in time to save the sword before the evil Maldeor gets to it first! This is a prequel to Swordbird, and great for 4th grade and up.

I HATE TO READ!

Victor Dickens is a regular kid who likes to watch television and do whatever he feels like. However, he is suffering from a major symptom, and that is the "I hate reading symptom." At school he gets A's and B's on all subjects except reading. All of his family members try to help him by feeding him alphabet soup and investing in volumes of books. However, all fail do to his almost incurable problem.

And than...really unbelievable events start happening and even if you too hate reading, you must read this book to see what happens and if you too can also be cured as well.

I HATE TO READ is written by RITA MARSHALL and the illustrations are bye ETIENNE DELESSERT.

For grades 2nd and up.

TO BE IMMORTAL...

Kezi accidentally sentences herself to death, right as she begins to fall in love with the immortal god of wind, Olus. Being mortal herself, Kezi only wants her mother to become healthy when she sacrifices her own life. Olus, who has watched her from afar for many months, wonders if he can thwart this from happening by making Kezi immortal herself. An adventure that travels through many mythological worlds is Gail Carson Levine's latest attempt at fairy tale greatness, in this book entitled EVER. For grades 5 and up.

A NEW AND IMPROVED MAGICAL ORPHAN!

He lives in an orphanage. He doesn't have a scar, but he does have a strange spiral birthmark on the bottom of his foot. He thinks his name is Ernie Banks, but it's not. He doesn't have a magic wand, but he does have a mysterious crystal acorn that's hung on his neck ever since the mean orphanage mother found him on the doorstep. There's a history to his life that he doesn't even know about. Not until he happens to get sent to a farm for a few weeks in summer, and strange coincidences intermix with crazy monsters, small elf-like creatures, and the first humans to ever show Ernie what it feels like to be loved. PUDDLEJUMPERS by Mark Jean & Christopher C. Carlson is a great story about what one boy does to save an entire species without even knowing it. For 6th grade and up.

GET SET, GO!

The year is coming to an end, and everyone has probably planned what they want to accomplish next year. I bet that one of the first things on your list is to become physically more active in your daily life.

Now... How do we all try to stay motivated and have the drive to make this happen? Real Fitness: 101 Games and Activities to Get Girls Going! from the American Girl series is the perfect pocket book that gives so many fun ideas, from miniature golf to playing mazes to swinklering ( setting up a sprinkle in front of a swing). The book has tons of unique ideas that will definitely inspire you to get going.

For grades 2nd and older.

PEG LEG GIRL PIRATE

Descended from a notorious female pirate? That what Polly is told one night when she is mysteriously transported in her bed in the middle of the night to meet some of her mother's former pirate mates. All they want from her is to take up where her mother left off... her rightful place as The Pirate Queen. Polly never thought adventure and the improper life of piracy was not for her. That kind of life is not for her, but soon she must choose when her life is in jeopardy.

Polly and the Pirates by Ted Naifeh - an unlikely adventure for an unlikely heroine. Fast paced action for a graphic novel readers grades 4th & up.

WATCH OUT FOR METEORITES!!

Something BIG crashed into Brady Steele's home-- a meteorite from outer space. Instead of calling the police, Brady and his dear cousin, Quinn, decide to see Dr. Rip Ripley, an astrobiologist from the museum. Brady's neighbors, Cal, Buzz, and Matt Carver are onto Brady and Quinn and realize that their discovery is something special. They eventually gain possession of the space rock, but little do they know that it has given Brady super agility and speed. Instead of a friendly exchange of hands, the Carver boys pose an ultimate challenge by using their homemade "Destructo" catapult machine. Now it's a race against time for Brady and Quinn to regain possession of the space rock. Will Brady and Quinn succeed in getting the space rock back?

Will Hobb's fiction novel for 5th graders and older is a good novel for those who are seeking a story that includes adventure, humor, and a touch of science fiction. Go Big or Go Home was a fun read. The parts I most loved to read were about Brady and Quinn's love for South Dakota and extreme sports--what awesome cousins!