From Mr. B at the Grandview Branch:

Little White Rabbit
Written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes

As naturally curious Rabbit explores the world around him, he wonders what it would be like to be green, or as tall as a tree, to fly like a butterfly, to be a rock. With each question, there is a two-page spread, wordlessly demonstrating how Rabbit thoughtfully imagines the answer. Large images, bold lines, and friendly pastels make this seemingly simple story a lasting experience. Oh, and it’s a perfect bed-time book.

CINDERELLA SKELETON

I am sure that you have read and re-read the story of Cinderella. However, I bet that this story of Cinderella is definitely not the usual story that you have read. Imagine the sweet and innocent Cinderella…But instead of her cooking and cleaning and taking care of her family, she is hanging cobwebs and putting wilted and ugly flowers in vases for the admiration of people.
The story gets even more spooky when she, in order to attend the annual festive Ball, has to ask permission from the good witch to turn her bats and cats into a funeral wagon in order to have the proper transportation for the event…This is a really funny story that I am sure will be enjoyed by everyone! CINDERELLA SKELETON is by ROBERT D. SAN SOUCI.

For grades 1st-3rd.

FEARLESS HEROINE OR FOOL HARDY CHILD?

In Alison Dare and the Arabian Knights, she joins her mother on an archeological dig somewhere in an Arabian dessert. Alison sneaks off to rub a magic lamp that was dug up but ends up regretting making the wishes the genie granted her. In the second adventure, Alison Dare and the Mummy Child, she foils an attempt to steal a mummy at her mother's latest museum exhibition. Alison Dare and the Secret of the Blue Scarab her superhero/librarian father prevents a town from being iced forever by Auntie Freeze.

Three fun adventures of the intrepid school girl in Alison Dare: Little Miss Adventures by J. Torres and . For readers 4th-6th grades and can be found in the graphic novel section of the Children's Room.

WHEN YOU CAN'T GO HOME

From Children's Librarian Jennifer at the Montrose-Crescenta Branch

Where The Streets Had A Name by Randa Abdel-Fattah

Hayaat’s grandmother, Sitti, likes to tell stories about her home in Jerusalem. Mostly, her eyes brighten when she talks. But when she describes the day – that awful day – her family was forced to move, her expression changes. Hayaat is Palestinian and lives with her grandmother behind the Israeli-built Separation Wall, in the West Bank City of Bethlehem. When Sitti falls ill, Hayaat believes it’s her heart, not her body, that’s suffering. It’s this realization that compels Hayaat to make the short but dangerous trip to Jerusalem. With a friend’s help, she vows to bring her grandmother soil from her native land.

In this book, Abdel-Fattah creates a portrait of everyday life in occupied Palestine. But without taking sides. Instead, she shows the strength of the human spirit, even in the most difficult of times. Abdel-Fattah balances the seriousness of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with what people naturally use to handle hard things – humor.

An engaging, must-read novel. Grades 5-8

ONE WAY, TWO WAY...THIRTEEN WAY!

Want a fun and relatable book about the crazy things that happen in a usual classroom? Now imagine that all those fun and relatable things are happening without your teacher. The regular teacher is out and a new substitute teacher has taken over the class. Imagine all the pranks and all the endless possibilities of great mishaps that the class can come up with the hope that the substitute teacher will not be as harsh as their regular teacher? Sounds fun ha? THIRTEEN WAYS TO SINK A SUB is by JAMIE GILSON and one you finish reading this book, I am sure that you will be able to come up with more than thirteen ways to "sink a sub."

Warning: Don't try the pranks that you read in this book in your classroom!

For grades 5th and up.

ABRACADABRA!

This is a story of two boys, Darren Jackson and Jamie Jenks, who are looking for the quickest way up the millionaire ladder. Darren works as a giraffe at a nearby pizza joint, miserably dealing with rude, abusive children. Jamie works at a nearby deli, annoying patrons with his great puns and catchy rhymes. When one of the boys' inventions goes crazy, it looks like a pretty dim future. One day, when things are at their worst, the boys stumble upon something that sends their magician careers soaring into fame and fortune! JACKSON & JENKS: MASTER MAGICIANS by actor Dan Frischman is a hilarious book for grades 4 and up.

READING + DEATH = PERFECT SUMMER?

Derek's perfect summer was ruined. His mother did not want to have fun. She wants him to READ! His best friend goes away for a great vacation back East, and he gets to go to a learning camp so he can learn to enjoy reading "real" books. Then he finds out that he almost died when he was a baby and he may have caused the death of the babysitter. He's obsessed with finding out what happened, but his mom is also determined not to let him.

A funny look at one boy's wreck of a summer with stick figure commentaries on the side. My Life as a Book by Janet Tashijian is great read for 5th-8th grade.

THE TRIPLE BANANA SPLIT BOY/EL NIÑO GOLOSO

Enrique’s insatiable sweet tooth is getting out of control and his dad has forbidden him to eat anything sweet. His birthday is coming and Enrique won’t be allowed to help his grandmother with her baking. Since his father has forbidden to eat anything sweet, Enrique comes up with a plan to trick his father’s. Soon his mother catches him up and prepare a plan of her own . Enrique is allow to have desserts only on Mondays and Fridays after school.
Following Monday when they visited the ice cream parlor, Enrique orders a huge triple banana split, with strawberry, chocolate and vanilla scoops of ice cream, nuts, sprinkles and chocolate syrup.Later that night, Enrique is having terrible stomach aches and El Coco , a frightening creature with a huge mouth and sticky hair, haunts his dreams. Vibrant colors, and great facial expressions. Ages 4-9. Written by Lucha Corpi, illustrated by Lisa Fields.

YOU!

For Kyle Chase, things just don't seem to go the way he plans. He is confused whether his actions are being sabotaged or if he is just making the wrong choices in life and hanging out with the wrong people. Because every time that he wants things to go smoothly in his life, they go in the exact opposite directions.

He is not sure if it's because he chooses to hang out with the wrong people or it's because his destiny is set and that there is not much that he can do. There are a lot of unanswered questions in his life and his brain is working too fast to try to figure out what he is not doing accordingly. YOU by CHARLES BENOIT is an excellent, fast paced read that will take you on a cool journey with Kyle while he investigates the things that should have or should have not happened to him.

For grades 7th and up.

IS ORIGAMI YODA MAGIC?

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger.

First of all, this author is an absolute geek or an absolute genius. It's hilarious. Each character's story had me laughing out loud. One day, Dwight, the class weirdo starts giving his friends advice via a paper origami Yoda puppet on his finger. He would spout in a Yoda like voice some bit of wisdom. For example, Tommy wasn't sure if he should ask this girl to dance> Well, Origami Yoda said "Rush in fools do". Basically, no don't do it! Everyone else was saying go ahead. And before he can embarrass himself with the girl AND her BOYFRIEND in front of the entire school, he gets saved by Yoda, cause he stopped to think about it. AND that was what Yoda did for Tommy.

So is the advice of Origami real or not? It seems like a lot of things kids have asked Origami Yoda really came true and the only way to find out for sure is to investigate it scientifically and document it.

A truly funny read about boys and coming of age - falling for girls, standing up for yourself and your friends and what you believe in. Basically, the mystery of growing up but done in a hilarious way- a cross between Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Gary Paulsen's writing. A short read for readers in 6th - 8th grade.

FINALLY

Rory finally is turning 12 years old, which means she’ll be able to participate in many activities previously forbidden by his parents always so overprotective, like getting a cellular phone, shaving her legs, being alone at home, drinking coffee, putting on makeup, piercing her ears, go to parties and many other things. Rory cannot wait for her birthday!. When the big day finally arrives, she makes a list of all her wishes and proudly shows it to everyone. What she doesn’t know is that those experiences will bring disconcerting surprises when she realizes that most things she desires in her list mean more work and responsibilities than she really expected. Funny story perfect for teenagers that are eager to grow up too fast. Grades 4-7. Written by Wendy Mass.

YOUR VOTE COUNTS!!!

City Managers across California recently launched an aggressive petition drive and advertising campaign to tell California Legislators and the Governor to listen to the will of the voters and reject budget proposals that would steal local redevelopment funds.

In just three days, more than 3,000 Californians have signed our petition urging Sacramento politicians to listen to the voters. Legislators have taken notice and a budget vote that had been scheduled for today was delayed.

We're making great progress, but we need to do more!

Please help us reach our goal of 5,000 signatures by Friday by signing the petition at http://www.myvotecountsca.org/ and encouraging all of your contacts to do the same.

Please tell as many Californians as you can.


Sign the petition NOW!



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HOW TO BE A VAMPIRE!

If you ever wanted to become a vampire or wanted to know how their world works but were afraid to do so, now is your time. HOW TO BE A VAMPIRE by AMY GRAY is the book for you. This illustrated and colorful book might be too tempting to close so once you open it, than be cautious that you might get hooked.
The book is divided into different sections, such as: vampire etiquette, choosing your vampire name, how to form your own coven and much more. The book also has a chapter on the famous vampires that were in movies and and television shows as well. Additionally, if you like to know how to dress like a vampire, there is a big chapter on that as well.

For grades 7th and up.

DOG WALKER EXTRAORDINAIRE

Since Maggie's twin brother is allergic to dogs, it seemed like a perfect plan when her parents suggested she help out her landlord by walking her dog after she hurt her ankle. One thing led to another and instead of walking just one dog for fun she now walks three dogs and has her own bustling small business and all the troubles that come with a business; jealous competition, more business than she could handle, and mysterious dog disappearances. On top of all this, she must keep it a secret from her parents, help out her ex-best friend and keep her blooming crush on "Milo" under wraps.

Girl's Best Friend: A Maggie Brooklyn Mystery by Leslie Margolis is a fabulous new mystery series for girls who are seriously into dogs. For readers in 5th-8th grade.

EMMA'S RIVER

Ten year-old Emma Wright, her sick mama and her beloved pony Licorice Twist, have boarded the Sally May for a journey that will take them up the Mississippi River to the Missouri River and finally to St. Joseph to meet her dad so they can move to California. They are being escorted by Dr. Burton who is taking care her mother's fragile health. But Emma doesn't like Dr. Burton because he treats her like a bothersome child and always bosses her round. While on the boat, Emma becomes friend with Patrick, an eleven-year-old runaway who recently emigrated from Ireland. Anxious over her pony, Emma is making frequent trips to this place below the main deck that it is forbidden to visit. She is horrified when she discovers that livestock and poor immigrants are crowd together, starving, unclean and exhausted. When the boiler explodes and the steamboat starts sinking, Emma tries to escape from the smoke to find her friend and family. This story is based on a true river disaster in 1854.

Ages 4-6. Written by Alison Hart.

A PAULSEN OLDIE BUT STILL A GOODIE

Harris and Me by Gary Paulsen

This summer, he'll be living with the Larsons, distant relatives of his, on their farm. Every so often, he packs up and get sent off to live with some relative or other due to the fact that his parents are drunks or "puke drunks" as his cousin Harris puts it. living on the farm with foul mouth, mischievous cousin who gets him into all kinds of hilarious scrapes - playing cowboys and Indians with the farm animals, being charged by the farm's bull, kicked unconscious in the head while milking the cow.

A funny and unforgettable summer for Harris and any reader in 4th grade and up.

HOW TO HUG A PORCUPINE

In our lives, there are always some people that are just really hard to get along with. But somehow, these difficult people are perhaps important and we don't really want to let them go from our lives. If this is the case, than HOW TO HUG A PORCUPINE by Dr. DEBBIE JOFFE ELLIS is the book for you. This small and useful book offers a lot of insightful and clever ways in which we can avoid conflict and allow the "quills" not to hurt us as much as they usually do. The tips are easy to follow and offer a very mediating and calming approach in dealing with people that usually would not be as easy. After reading this book, I think that most people would not be bothered or challenged by the not so easy people in our lives.

For grades 4th and up.

WHAT'S YOUR TALENT

From Jennifer, Children's Librarian, at the Montrose-Cresenta Branch:
In “Justin Fisher Declares War!” by James Preller, Justin starts third grade with a spectacular fall. Thrown into the spotlight, he must choose—school nerd or class clown. Brushing himself off, he makes a joke. But it doesn’t stop there. Justin constantly needs attention to stroke his fragile ego. At first, kids welcome the distraction from school monotony. By fifth grade, though, it’s no longer funny. Justin’s relentless teasing has cost him friends and hurt his popularity. Even worse, his fifth grade teacher has no sense of humor.

What if your talent was making people laugh? And one day, people stopped laughing? Justin must save his image. When given the chance to MC the school’s talent show, he jumps. Can he do it, without making fun of other kids?

A funny, crowd-pleaser for reluctant readers. Grades 3-5.

A DANCING STAR

From Kristine at Adams Square and Pacific Park:

Miss Tutu’s star by Leslea Newman is an encouraging story about a girl who loves dancing. Regardless of her clumsy ways, she is determined to learn to dance. Will her hard work and determinations pays off? The rhyming text and delightful illustrations makes it a great book for storytime as well as one-on-one read aloud.

FROM MR. B AT GRANDVIEW

Brixton Brothers 2: The Ghostwriter Secret
Mac Barnett
Illus. Adam Rex

“It’s hard to run right after throwing up,” is the lesson 12 year old detective Steve Brixton learns as he runs from his would-be kidnapper. Just another skill to add to what he’s already learned from “The Bailey Brothers Handbook” in this warm but intense Hardy Boys tribute/send-up. An exciting read, “The Ghostwriter Secret” is as appropriate for parents who remember the Hardy Brothers (and Nancy Drew) as it is for youngsters who have yet to discover them.

For grades 5 and older.

90 MILES TO HAVANA

This is a historical novel based on real life of the author Enrique Flores-Galbis. The author was one of the 14,000 children who left Cuba in a mass exodus known as Operation Pedro Pan.

Shortly after Castro’s takeover, Julian, the main character and his two brothers, are sent to Miami to a Cuban-exile camp. The refugee camp where they stay is nothing compare with the summer camp they expected to find. It is overcrowded with not enough adults to supervise. Being the youngest of the family, his brothers and parents constantly are assuming that he is too young to accept responsibility or to be able to understand anything, which makes him feel undervalued. Unfortunately, he is separated from his brothers and sent alone to another orphanage in Miami, and it is when he had to learn to deal with bullies, and loneliness. He wants to prove to his family and everyone that he could do anything to which he sets his mind. He meets Tomas. Tomas is a Cuban guy who is fixing up a boat to use with the intention to illegally transport people from Cuba. Julian was so desperate to be reunited with his parents again, that he gets involved in the project and sails to Cuba with his friend. Written by Enrique Flores-Galbis. Historical fiction for grades 4-6, ages 8-9.

DANGER IN A BOX

Zoomy wears very thick glasses. He likes to make lists. Some things make him very nervous. But he helps his grandparents and does lots of research at the local library (a really great place to find out about stuff). One day his wayward pop comes along and leaves a big box of junk. Inside there's a mysterious notebook, so Zoomy starts to do research on it. Somehow his investigating ends up in a robbery, a fire and some very scary changes! THE DANGER BOX by Blue Balliett will captivate any reader grades 5 & up.

FINDING YOURSELF IS MORE DIFFICULT THAN IT LOOKS

Rissa Bartholomew couldn't believe that she just told off all of her friends during her birthday party and right before starting middle school. Well, she did want to be an independent person, to think for herself rather than be one of the herd. Little did she realize how lonely and difficult it would be to find new friends and establish a new persona, especially if all she had to keep her company were her gnomes.

Rissa Bartholomew's Declaration of Independence by Lynda B. Comerford is a fun read for those who are coming of age and want to break out of the collective mold and begin their own self exploration as well as their world.

For readers in 6th - 8th grade.

MEDIO POLLITO: A SPANISH TALE

This is the story of a very special and remarkable chicken that is born on a ranch. When his mom was hatching a clutch of eggs, all the chicken were exactly alike except for the last one. This one has only one wing, one eye, one leg and half a beak and everybody calls him Half Chicken/Medio Pollito.
His mother tucks him under her wings to protect him cause she thought he was helpless, but he wasn’t. Medio Pollito yearns for adventure, and one time he told his mom he wanted to travel to Madrid to meet the king.
All the barnyard animals didn’t think he could make it, but this time his mom encourages him to do it! -“You can do anything you want if you put your mind in it” – she said, and Medio Pollito set out for Madrid. It was obvious that Medio Pollito was a very self-sufficient and independent chick.
A very old spanish legend adapted by Eric. A. Kimmel, illustrated by Valeria Docampo. Illustrations are very colorful. Wonderful read aloud for children all ages.

FROM WILD WILLIE

Vivian, Children's Librarian at Casa likes:

The Losers Fight Back: A Wild Willie Mystery by Barbara Joosse

Wild Willie and Lucky Lucy are eager to win a soccer game, but they’ll need someone who has the right height and build in order to beat the other team! Chuckie is a great candidate but will it really be worth paying him or doing his chores to get him to play in the game?

For grades 3 and 4.

BOYS, NOT A PROBLEM.

Everything in Annabelle's life is new this year.

New house.
New puppy.
New family (mom's boyfriend).
New school.
New classmates.

And what's new about that is having to deal with boys. You see, Annabelle was use to going to an all girl school, where there were no boys at all. But this year she got more boy trouble than she knows what to do with. She's done nothing but they always seem to be bothering her; kicking her chair, calling her names, and so on. She was miserable until she came up with a surefire method to make them behave better. Boys=Puppies. Training puppies=Happy home life therefore Training boys=Happy school life.


Boys Are Dogs by Leslie Margolis is a fun look at how one middle schooler deals with life's obstacles and discovers her voice. For readers in 5th grade and up.

A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME...

FOREVER ROSE by Hilary McKay is not your typical family, not your typical little girl and NOT your typical book. Is your Dad an artist living far away from home? Does your mom hide away in a shed pretending to paint pictures? Do your brother's friends come to live with you? Even if none of these things happen in your life, Rose might be someone you can relate to because Rose feels very alone. The youngest of five or so siblings, it's almost as if everyone forgets she even exists. Nothing a little hiding out with a tiger at the zoo wouldn't help... For grades 5 and up.

CARMEN LEARNS ENGLISH

In this story, Carmen, a girl newly-arrived in the United States from Mexico, feels very apprehensive about going to school and learning English.She knows she has to be strong to face her classmates who tease her all the time for her Spanish funny accent.Her teacher’s Spanish is terrible, but gradually the kind Señora Cosky helps Carmen to learn many new English words and expressions.
Señora Cosky encourages the whole class to learn Spanish counting words, while Carmen learns the English number words.On her way home, Carmen is excited thinking about teaching her little sister what to expect when she begins kindergarten.

Colorful illustrations showing great facial expressions used in the content of the book. Excellent resource to help adjustment to the immigrant children. Spanish-English glossary at the end of the book. Ages 4-8. Written by Judy Cox, illustrated by Angela, Dominguez.