DEADLY WATERS

Want to read something adventures but at the same time mysterious?
Get ready to solve one situational problem after another and find yourself deeply lost in the story that you might even forget you’re reading a book.Going on a vacation with parents and friends is usually fun ; however going into the wild without your parents and without a map can become a challenge, especially in a huge forest. Now imagine all the things that can go wrong and multiply that by hundred... Than the unexpected happens, and not only now your need to find your way back, you also need to solve few great mysteries...DEADLY WATERS by GLORIA SKURZYNSKI.

For grades 5th and up.

IRENA SENDLER AND THE CHILDREN OF THE WARSAW GHETTO

This is an inspiring story of courage of Irena Sendler, a young Polish Catholic social worker that smuggled hundreds of children out of the Warsaw Ghetto.

When the Nazis invaded Poland during World War II, Irena joined the resistance movement to fight the German occupation and worked tirelessly to save the lives of hundreds of Jews, mostly children. She joined Zegota, the code name for the Council for Aid to Jews in Occupied Poland. Working undercover as a nurse, she used a medical pass to enter the Warsaw Ghetto to bring Jewish children to safety. She constantly moved the children from one home to another or placed them into Roman Catholic convents and orphanages, hiding the little ones in trunks, suitcases, or sacks under the ambulance back-seat. Sendler also arranged for babies and children to be sedated and smuggled out with merchants in potato sacks, under their loads of goods. Sometimes, she even sneaked sedated children out in body bags, telling the guards that they were dead.
She buried jars containing the children’s real names in a friend’s garden, so that they could one day, learn the names of their biological families after the war.

Called the female Oskar Schindler for her courage and daring in smuggling over 2,500 children from the Holocaust, This is an amazing story of bravery and compassion. Ages 8-9. Written by Susan Goldman Rubin, illustrated by Bill Farnsworth.

A NEW SPY ADVENTURE

Q, short for Quest, and his newly minted stepsister are quickly thrown into a world of spies and lies when their parents' honeymoon/music tour turn into an adventure in dodging agents from the Mossad, the Israeli spy agency. Angela has been led to believe that her mother, a secret Service agent, died protecting the United States. All that is being questioned now as foreign spies follow them in order to track down her mother, believed to be still alive and one of the world's most deadly terrorist.

I.Q.: Book One: Independence Hall by Roland Smith is a fast pace thrilling spy adventure for readers in 7th-9th grade. A new spy series.

NOT JUST FOR CRAZY PEOPLE

If you hear the word "asylum" it's most often preceded with the word "insane." But in the early 20th century, asylums were not just for the insane, but were also there for depressed or out-of-sorts people. Verna and Carlie, and their widowed father come to live upon the grounds of an asylum, where he serves as a resident psychiatrist. Also in tow is their dead mother's sister, Aunt Maude, who is strict and unpleasant. When one of the depressed patients, Eleanor, comes to work as their maid, the girls are whisked into the world of mental health and experience all sorts of factors contributing to what might make a person end up in an asylum. THE LOCKED GARDEN by Gloria Whelan tells a beautifully sad story about different kinds of loss and how people recover from such sadness. For 5th-8th grades.

DANCING HOME

Margie is the only child living with her Mexican-Americans parents in California. Mexico is the country of their parents, but not for Margie. She was born in Texas, feels proud to be an American and tries to convince the other kids at school that she is one hundred percent American, just like them. But all of that changes when Lupe her Mexican cousin arrives from Mexico to live with Margie’s family. Margie thinks that it would be fun to have her cousin there as she doesn’t have any brother and sisters, but she finds herself embarrassed by Lupe in school and jealous of her at home. Even though Margie’s parents were born in Mexico and speak Spanish at home, Margie has been speaking mainly English since preschool. At school the Principal insists that Lupe should join Margie in her 5th grade class. Margie tries to tell her teacher that she doesn’t really know much Spanish and will not be able to translate for Lupe, but the teacher doesn’t seem to understand the situation. From that moment the image that Margie has created for herself starts falling apart. On the other hand, Lupe situation is not easy either. She feels her home is in Mexico and learning a new language in a new school represents a great challenge for her. Lupe realizes the dilemma that Margie is living and try to find ways to help her rediscovery her heritage. Nice story about family values and friendship and the experience that the immigrant has to go through to retain its own identity. Ages 8-9.

Dancing Home by Alma Flor Ada and Gabriel Zubizarreta.

THIS TIME IT'S OKAY TO SPY!

Did you know that squirrels can deliver some very top-secret messages?

Or that way back when there were no phones, birds were used to carry important messages?

From THE BIG BOOK OF SPY STUFF by BART KING, you are going to learn how to write in codes, how to tie your shoelaces in codes and also how to break codes...

Additionally, the book has tons of information on spies, secret agents and such.

For example, did you know of the confusion agents? They are spies who do not spy. Instead, they spread misinformation to confuse enemy agents.

For grades 5th and up.

WHO DOESN'T LOVE TO READ?

From Mr. B at the Grandview:

Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide To Not Reading, written by Tommy Greenwald / Illustrated by J.P. Coovert

Middle-schooler Charlie Joe Jackson does not read books. He is so good at not reading books, he is now sharing his techniques in this great self-help send-up. Along with his techniques, Charlie Joe shares his background and experience in not reading books (which seem to stem from the year he got only books for Christmas, including the dreaded Complete Mark Twain). The intentionally short chaptered narrative (who wants to read long chapters?) includes details of his grandest scheme to avoid reading books: the successful all-school research project that he completed without reading a single book, but that cost him his girl-friend and his summer vacation. I’d reveal more, but Charlie Joe insists you read the book in order to learn how not to have to read any more books in the future. For grades 5 through 8.

FICTION SET IN THE FIFTIES

From Mr. B at the Grandview Branch: LUNCH-BOX DREAM Tony Abbott.

A prejudiced White Northern family touring Southern Civil War sites and a prejudiced Southern Black family traveling north looking for a lost child converge in the Black section at the back of a Greyhound bus. Set in 1959, the chapters use alternate voices to illustrate Jim Crow with cinematic intensity; but too many alternating voices may confuse and discourage middle school readers. It might be best read with an adult willing to discuss the nuances of Jim Crow and discrimination on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line in 20th Century America. For grades 6-8.

THIS IS JUST TO SAY...

In life, we all have probably apologized to our loved once after hurting them with words or actions. However, how cool would it be if next time, we apologize with poems? I know this might sound too boring or too weird. But you know, after reading this great book about forgiveness and apology. I am starting to think that since evidently we all find ourselves asking for forgiveness, than why not do it in a unique way which will hopefully increase the chances of you being forgiven. The book is divided into two parts, one part is the apologetic poems, and the second part is the responses to these poems. It also has has tons of cute and hilarious illustrations. THIS IS JUST TO SAY: POEMS OF APOLOGY AND FORGIVENESS is by JOYCE SIDMAN and the illustrations are by PAMELA ZAGARENSKI.

For grades 3rd and up.

FAIRIES AND FIGHTING IN ENGLAND

A plague is threatening North America, and the Morgans ship their children off to England so they won't be exposed. It is here that Rowan, Meg, Silly (short for Priscilla), and James, along with friend Dickie Rhys and foe Finn Fachan (other plague-threatened children) learn all about the wonderful world of fairies. Only it's not so wonderful. The Morgan's Aunt Phyllida Ash turns out to be the ancestral protector of the fairy kingdom, and does everything in her power to prevent the children from encountering fairy life. But it doesn't take long for the Morgan children to be sucked into the Midsummer War between good and bad fairies. UNDER THE GREEN HILL by Laura L. Sullivan is a good tale of heroic gestures, a glimpse at fairy-dom, contains some moral undertones, and includes a lot of great vocabulary words! For grades 6 and up.

MYSTERY, SUSPENSE, GHOST PIRATES, MAYONNAISE !

Misty discovers that her new old glasses allows ghosts. You see her dad owns an antique store and with these special glasses, she now sees them in every item in the shop. The more she and her best friend dig into the history of the glasses' previous owner, more mysterious and frigtening things begin to happen. She discovers that the descendants of the town's founders are after three gold statues believe to hold the ultimate power and will bring their dead ancestors back to life and rule forever.

Misty Gordon and the Mystery of the Ghost Pirates by Kim Kennedy is a fun and slightly spooky ghost story for readers in 4th-6th grade.

LIBRARY LILY

Lily loves to read. when Lily learns to read, her mother takes her to the library and since then all Lily wants to do is read, read.... up to the point she forgets to do anything else. She is fascinated by the stories in her books and read wherever she goes, that's why everybody calls her "Library Lily".

Her mother keeps insisting she should be involved in other interests but Lily doesn't see this as a problem.

One day at the park, Lily meets Milly. Milly is a girl who loves climbing the trees and doesn't like to read. Milly shows Lily how to enjoy life beyond a book and Lily shows Milly how to discover adventure through reading. The girls form a friendship that creates a perfect balance between reading and playing.

Great book for the kids taht don't enjoy reading. Written by Gillian Shields, illustrated by Francesca Chessa. Ages 4-8.

ONE BOOK / ONE GLENDALE...for younger readers

Twelve-year-old Derek has his entire summer planned out. He plans to devote the entire time to water balloon wars, tennis ball tosses and other boyish pursuits. But suddenly when his mother tells him that he is going to Learning Camp instead, the summer looks bleak as the last thing he wants to do is to spend the summer improving his vocabulary and reading skills. Lucky for him though he makes some new friends, has some adventures, solves a mystery and even learns a few things during the summer in MY LIFE AS A BOOK by Janet Tashjian chosen for this year's community-wide reading book for younger readers. Copies of the book are available at all of the Glendale Libraries except the Brand Library to check out this enjoyable read and be sure to look at the illustrations drawn by the author's fourteen-year-old son Jake. For grades 4 and older.

The author will be speaking about this book and others that she has written, answering questions as well as signing books on Thursday, November 10, 2011 at the Central Library, 222 East Harvard Street, Glendale, CA 91205. For more information, please call (818) 548-2035.

A WEALLY WEALLY CUTE WABBIT BOOK

The Rabbit Problem by Emily Gravett is an adorable book full of rabbit fun and mayhem. It is perfect for those who love to pore over the tiniest detail.

In January, one rabbit is feeling lonely n Fibonacci's Field until a friend comes and stays. Next month, as a result of the "friendship" between the two rabbits, two baby bunnies show up in the field and with each consecutive month the rabbits multiply until so many rabbits are in the field that it is bursting with...the rabbit problem!

For preschoolers to adults.

A BOOK FOR BLACK-EYED SUSAN

This is a touching story about a 10-year old girl named Cora and her family leaving from Missouri to head west on the Oregon Trail. Cora's mom dies in childbirth on the wagon trip, and the baby sister is given to aunt Alma to take care of. Cora name her baby sister Susan because of her black eyes and blonde hair that reminds Cora of a yellow daisy like wildflower and were also her mother’s favorite flowers.

During the long wagon trip, on a stormy night going thru her mother’s sewing box, Cora finds pieces of fabric in different colors and she starts sewing quilt squares creating images of her home back in Missouri. Eventually the wagon trains split up with some families heading towards California and some heading towards Oregon. Cora, knowing that she will never see her sister again, rushes to the wagon to finish the little gift she has for the baby. It would be her baby sister first book. Cora and her father move into Oregon Territory where in time Cora becomes a teacher. Cora is offered a position in a new school. Since the school could not provide books to the children, they’re asked to bring their own. As Cora register her new students’ names, eventually she comes to a dark-eyed blonde girl holding a fabric book who tells her, "My name is Susan and I have a book."
Beautifully written by Judy Young, illustrated by Doris Ettlinger. Ages 6-7.

LITTLE CROC'S PURSE

One day Little Croc playing kid and seek with his friends finds a large pink and white purse. Little Croc opens the purse and he finds that is full of money. His friends try to persuade him to keep it but Little Croc is determined to do the right thing by bringing the lost purse to the police station. When Little Croc found the owner, she is not concerned about the money in the purse, but is relieved to find a locket with a picture of her husband inside. She rewards Little Croc for his honesty by giving him money. He then divides the money into three envelopes: Spend, Share and Save and with it he gets a treat for himself, make a charity donation, buys lemonade for all his friends and starts saving up for a cowboy hat!

Great story to teach the value of honesty. Perfect bedtime story. Bright and cheerful illustrations. Written and illustrated by Lizzie Finlay.Ages 3-7.

THREE STRIKES, YOU ARE OUT!

Gregory and his mother, little sister Jeanine, and imaginary friend Joey USED to live on a Navajo reservation. Now they live in a motel. Only his new friend Matt, in his new school, tells him its really a shelter, not a motel, and if they're not careful, Mr. Hass will give them three strikes and they're out! Not in the baseball way! The only saving grace for Gregory and his new set of circumstances is art class, where he can escape from all the problems and worries he has to deal with. BIRD SPRINGS by Carolyn Marsden is a quick read for a reluctant reader that's complex and adventurous enough for any reading level. For grades 4 and up.

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AT BOARDING SCHOOL

Another fun Pride and Prejudice redux set in a boarding school in New England. The usual misunderstandings, prejudices and snobby attitudes are had by everyone at the Longbourn and Pemberley until each romantic lead realizes that they have been at fault and have made monumental errors in judgement.

A fun and fast read for teens who wants romance, fashion, spunk and piano music. Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg is for 6th graders -high schoolers .

WEIRD, WEIRD AND MORE WEIRD!

There are some really crazy and weird things that are happening all around us, however, things such as a baby -jumping event, where men are dressed as the devil, carrying whips, leaping over them is something that I never thought would be possible. Well...I guess it is possible and in fact, there is a festival just for that and it's called El Colacho.

How about this one...in the month of September, their is a festival for air guitar players, where the competitors are given a classic guitar tune to follow by the judges...Cool ha?
If you could have a festival of any type of an event, what would it be?

Perhaps, you can start one after reading this really weird book...

WORLD OF THE WEIRD by TRACEY TURNER.

For grades 4th and up.

WORLD OF THE WEIRD by TRACEY TURNER

HUDSON HATES SCHOOL

Hudson cannot stand school especially on Fridays because that is spelling test day and Hudson has not learned his spellings. All his classmates laugh at him when he gets his spelling wrong and that makes him hates school even more. Fortunately, Hudson’s teacher recognizes signs of Dyslexia and Mr. Shapland is called in to help Hudson. He takes Hudson to the study room to give him some special tests. Mr. Shapland explains him that he has a learning difficulty called dyslexia. Soon Hudson begins taking lessons with children who also have dyslexia, and he starts to like school.Dyslexia is a learning disability in children affecting reading, writing and spelling. The last page of the book contains a short list of dyslexia disorders.Written by Ella Hudson. Beautiful ink and watercolor illustrations. Ages 4-8.

READING CENTRAL (TUESDAY, OCT. 4TH)

Have you ever told a lie in your life? What if you have never, and I mean never told a lie. You won’t tell a lie even to save your life. Your philosophy in life is to tell the truth and nothing but the truth. Wallace Wallace is that person. He has never told a lie in his entire life. For better or for worse, Wallace is learning that being too honest actually might hurt some people.

Read NO MORE DEAD DOGS by GORDON KORMAN to find out what it is that finally causes such a big change of mind that he has to lie, why he lie and the many outcomes of his lies. While a book that mentions death in the title may not sound like a fun book, this one is. It will keep you reading with its elements of family drama, school drama, boy and girl drama and even book drama! You have to read to find out the very poignant observation of books about dogs!

For grades 4th and up!

IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY TO GET IN THE MOOD...

Today is "Talk Like A Pirate Day" and here are some of your favorite authors to get you started. Also celebrate by reading a pirate story in your best pirate voice. My favorite is Mem Fox's Tough Boris a story about a very fierce brigand with a very soft spot for his pet parrot.

You can check this out along with other great pirate tales at any of the Glendale Libraries.

SILLHOUETTED BY THE BLUE

Since the death of her mother in a car accident, Serena finds herself trying to hold the family together. Her father falls into a severe depression and Serena just want to spend time with her friends and lives a normal life, but instead she has to take care of her little brother and maintain the household, cooking, cleaning, laundry, finding time for homework, does grocery shopping and all of it. Serena tries to respond to her challenges with strength and determination until they begin to overwhelm her.

Chosen for the lead in the middle school production “The Wiz” and Serena's happy because she loves to act and sing. However, things at home are getting worse. Her father spends weeks not showering or eating. He cries and sleeps all the time and she has to force him to drive her to the bank so they can buy groceries. Serena recognizes her father illness so she must find a way to get help before it’s too late. She calls the family, but her grandma has Alzheimer’s and her uncle is away on business in another country. Powerful, moving and realistic story recommended for middle school students ages 10-14. Written by Traci L. Jones.