For readers in 5th grade and up. 
One day, a stranger comes to town and asks the cobbler to make a shoe using the most beautiful blue gems anyone has ever seen. Displayed in the cobbler's window, the shoe brings nothing but trouble for the cobbler, his young apprentice and the people of the village. This fantasy adventure brings together the worlds of human and trolls working along side each other to take down evil and greed to bring about a new world of harmony. 
Meet a boy named Russel, now imagine that he lives in the year 1904 in the state of Indiana. All day long he dreams about everything except going to school. Actually, he dreams the most about not going to school completely and becoming part of any wheat threshing crew. However, all his dreams must come to an abrupt end since his teacher dies. His fantasies of taking over the school and destroying all school related things also don’t look as promising because his own sister has taken over the classroom and is in charge now. This is a fun book to read to compare the mischievous acts of kids then and now. Russel knows that when it comes to his sister, there is not much that he can get away with. THE TEACHER’S FUNERAL: A COMEDY IN THREE PARTS is by the well know author RICHARD PECK. 
Jennifer, Children's Librarian at Montrose likes:What would you choose, your freedom or your home? In the “Museum of Thieves,” Lian Tanner writes about a world where children are protected from every danger, even cuts and bruises. In the city of Jewel, they are chained to their parents and forced to obey the Blessed Guardians. When the age of “separation” is lowered, parents worry about the implications. Jewel is a safe place now but wasn’t always. Goldie, who’s only 12, learns this after running away. She discovers terrible secrets in the city’s museum. Jewel is in danger and Goldie must grow up, fast, in order to save it. The first book in a new trilogy.
A fast-paced, richly imagined fantasy. For grades 5-8.
This is a modernized and funny retelling in Spanglish of “Goldilocks and the Three Bears”. It is very much like the old story with the big difference that many words have been translated into Spanish. Goldilocks is now named Rubia. She presents herself at home while the three osos go out for a stroll. Ending of the story concludes when Rubia/Goldilocks compensate her bad behavior made in the house by taking a homemade sopa to the Oso family along with a sincere "I'm sorry"/"Lo siento". The content is told in rhyming verse and makes a fun way for 4 to 8 years old children to learn common English words in Spanish.
Ever hear of a Berkshire Galloway? Chances are not likely. How about a German Shepherd? Sure, everyone knows that's a dog! Ever hear of a German Shepherd that herds cows? Well, Hoss sure does, and he is not a dumb dog. For the most part, life stays calm on the farm with Hoss at the helm, but when Cookie the Berkshire Galloway calf shows up, Hoss has met his match! Cookie got his name because he looks like an Oreo cookie, but boy is he stubborn! THAT DOGGONE CALF by Bill and Carol Wallace is a cute story about a rambunctious group of animals and people living and working on a farm perfect for 3rd-5th grade readers.
All of the Glendale Libraries will be closed to observe the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday January 15-17, 2011. We will reopen for regular hours on Tuesday, January 18.
Why not read a summer book in the winter time…And not just any kind of a book. This is a spooky story that a warm blanket might actually be of usage. Cici is the main character in the book and how she spends her summer vacation at a lake called Crystal. Of course like every person, she is imagining and hoping to have the best summer of her life. Reading, playing and hanging out with her friends. However, when she and her family find out that a young girl was killed in the lake, the mood and the attitude of everyone in her family changes. So Cici’s investigative mind starts to work and she tries to put the puzzle of who’s done what. However, once she continues on her ever evolving investigation, her life will be in great danger...TWISTED SUMMER by WILLO DAVIS ROBERTS is a suspenseful and full of mysterious twists.
If I were a fairy godmother, I wonder who would be my responsibility? Would it be some poor child who can't afford proper dental care (or is that the tooth fairy's department)? Would I be Barack Obama's fairy godmother? That would be neat. In BIRDIE'S BOOK by Jan Bozarth (Fairy Godmother Academy Book 1), Birdie doesn't even know she is a fairy godmother-in-training until she arrives at her Granny Mo's house. There she learns she is the only person that can save her Arbor Fairy family lineage from complete extinction, and sets out on a dream quest to save the great Glimmer Tree and the line of fairy godmothers throughout the world. For grades 4 and up.
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? 
Mr. B at Grandview likes:
Hide and Seek by Kathy Grant
The action starts slowly in this realistic first person narrative set in Arizona’s snow country. The tension mounts as Chase discovers two hungry and frightened boys at the site of his geocache. While he takes treats pilfered from his parent’s general store to the boys and quietly visits their campsite while their father is sleeping, the mystery unravels to the reader first; who will want to shout the obvious to the trusting and generous Chase. When Chase eventually figures it out, he gets hurt trying to do the right thing. Great humor, confronting and resolving a moral dilemma, and the tragedy of children kidnapped by their father make this an exciting adventure and a timely read.
From Vivian at the Casa Verdugo Branch Library:
Pout-Pout Fish has one goal and that is to recover Ms. Clam’s precious pearl. Along the way, he realizes that he is REALLY afraid of the dark, so with the help of his sea creature friends Pout-Pout overcomes his fear by focusing on his strengths and listening to his friends words of encouragement!!
It’s that time of the year where people are supposed to be all jolly and merry, full of holiday songs and such. However, if you want to rebel and sing songs that are not holiday related than this book is for you. Alan Kats has written a very cool book of poems that rhyme with very familiar songs such as Take Me Out to the Ballgame and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. These are simple, cute and charming poems that have the perfect complimentary illustrations to go with each poem. Additionally, you will also find yourself laughing when reading some of the poems. TAKE ME OUT OF THE BATHTUB AND OTHER SILLY DILLY SONGS is by ALAN KATS. For grades 3 and up.
There are two sides to every story. That's what you've always heard, well now we get to hear from our famous villains and how they got the short end of the stick. 
Emily is an eight years old girl that lives with her mother Constance who works for a wealthy lady Miss Nuella Nash. Emily is a well behaved and a good child. One day in a terrible accident her mother died leaving Emily alone.
San Francisco has quite a homeless population. Of animals, apparently. They live in Golden Gate Park, which is kind of the same thing as Central Park in New York. So there are wild cats and dogs, raccoons, rabbits, owls and foxes. But this story is all about how the lives of the park animals are threatened when the coyotes come to live in the park. Based on a true story, DARK'S TALE by Deborah Grabien tells the story of Dark the cat, abandoned by his owners in the park, and how the world around him begins to change all because the balance of life is thrown off by the coyotes. It's a sad story, somewhat scary in parts, and definitely for middle school kids. 
Sharon is surprised when her mother tells her and her sister Mary that his brother Di Di will be sent to China to live with their grandparents and other members of the family for one entire year.Her mother explains to them that is the best for Di Di for he shall be with the grandparents, uncles and cousins to take care of him.At first Sharon and Mary are missing their brother terribly, but gradually they return to their normal activities. They're embarrassed to tell friends what their parents have done.Sharon's girlfriend Isabelle, does not understand the decision of the family, especially when she learns that her mom is expecting a baby, and that baby will remain with the family forever. When Di Di returns home with Grandma, he doesn't remember his siblings nor a word of English. Readjustment of Di Di with his parents and siblings takes time and patience but gradually the family is fully restored.The author offers a note in back of the book about why immigrant parents sometimes decide for a long-term separation from their children when they determine to immigrate outside of their countries. Ages 7-10. Written by Andrea Cheng, illustrated by Nicole Wong.
The only people that know Reggie from his school are his two best friends, other than that he is pretty much an unknown individual. However, when he volunteers at a local homeless shelter, his sense of responsibilities 'wake him up' and he realizes that better things need to be done in his life... He decides to become the president of his class. Even though his classmates don’t even know that he exists. However, Reggie knows that because of a major incident, his classmates have labeled him as a ‘nobody’ and he needs to redeem himself and show that his nickname “Pukey” is something from the past and that he is a much better person than people think. This is a very good story that deals with middle school students and the everyday struggle that they go through, it has the elements of family issues, friends, and the importance of community work. 8TH GRADE SUPERZERO is written by OLUGBEMISOLA RHUDAY-PERKOVICH.
Who could have sent Freddie the awesome purple shoes with silver wings? With them he could run faster than a train! He's got ZAPATO POWER! They make him feel like a superhero able to help anyone. Was it his fabulous uncle? Or his hard working mom?
Funny books about dogs. There are a few of those in the library. But this is one of the funniest dog books ever written. Take one lazy human (Kevin), and one lazy dog (Cromwell), that one day suddenly decides it wants to be an obstacle course-running dog-lympian! It's not just about the dog getting his fat, furry body into shape, but teaches his owner a few lessons about sticking something out and enjoying what you do. THE FAST AND THE FURRIEST by Andy Behrens will be a hit with most boys and some girls, and will definitely resonate with quite a few. For grades 4 and up. 
Imagine a grub, two worms, a beetle and a caterpillar all gathered together underground during the cold winter days. Now imagine them again, but this time they are playing cards, talking about everyday things and also gossiping. The caterpillar says “I don't need food. All I need are dreams” The grub says that in his dreams he can fly and so continues their conversations days in and days out. Until one day… no one can find the caterpillar and a new discovery is made at the end of the winter. This is a beautiful illustrated book that will be enjoyed by everyone, including adults. IN MY DREAMS I CAN FLY by EVELINE HASLER and KATHI BHEND. 
All libraries in the Glendale Public Library system will be closed at 5:00 p.m. today and remain closed until Monday, November 22.
Julian is still (pretending to be) stuck on Earth and has to endure the earth festival of Thanksgiving. This second book is just as hilarious as the first and a bit longer so we can savor all the funny stuff. If you like your science fiction(ish) with a bit of humor then this is the book for you. 
This is the story of a child that from morning until bedtime, give thanks for everything. Told in English and Spanish, from the beginning of the day, the child makes a count of all the simple things in your life to be grateful. From ladybugs, his little brother, his best friend, his parents, his grandmother, his favorite pajamas, the chocolate syrup that his daddy melts and that looks like a thick mud up to the crickets singing a serenade at night.. Gracias -Thanks is a perfect book to read to any child between 4 and 7 years old around Thanksgiving Day or any other holiday. Great illustrations. Written by Pat Mora, illustrated by John Parra.
