Favorite Songs for LDS Children is a large spiral bound book the size of a large hymnal that contains 58 songs found in the Children’s Primary Song Book.  In this beautifully packaged book there are also colorful illustrations that go along with each song. Most of these pictures are full size. The book is rich with interesting background information behind each song making this not only a gorgeous gift, but a meaningful one as well.

Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Complete Set, by Rick Riordan, is one of my favorite sets of books written in recent years. Now that Mr. Riordan has just finished writing this incredible series, this is the set to obtain for children ages 9 and above and to read aloud for ages 7 and above. The stories are about Percy, and his struggles to overpower mythical beasts, along with his magical abilities to overcome evil. The entire series is so good kids will not be able to put them down. And – the set has a cool container that resembles a chest.

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Numbers Discovery Box, published by Disney, is a smallish sized box with individual small board books that refer to numbers 1 to 25. The short text on each page provides great thinking skills that deal with sequence and inference.

The Eric Carle Mini Library:  A Storybook Gift Set, has four miniature sized books that include “Pancakes, Pancakes” and “A House for Hermit Crab” and each book has the entire story in a reduced version.

Maisy’s Book Tower, by Lucy Cousins, has four tiny board books with few words, the author’s typical bright colors and that are fun to stack.  All books are good for ages up to 5.

The Big Green Book of Beginner Books, by Dr. Seuss, has six great stories geared for early readers that have mastered more than a few words on each page. But the stories are so good that even emergent readers will enjoy learning how to read them.

An Amelia Bedelia Celebration: Four Stories Tall, by Peggy & Herman Parish, and illustrated by Lynn Sweat & Fritz Siebel, is geared for the reader who has mastered chapter books. The four stories included are the typical funny stories that kids love to read about Amelia Bedelia. A CD is included.

Paula Deen’s Cookbook for the Lunch-Box Set, showcases the yummiest recipes geared for the youngest chiefs. The easy to follow recipes, along with the rebus pictured ingredients, help to  make this cook book safe and fun!

Worldwide Ward Christmas Cookbook, by Deanna Buxton, is packed with delicious recipes that you’ll want to bake, cook and eat!  But, it’s the stories and pictures about each recipe that will enthrall and enlighten you!  Here is one cookbook we should not be without!

The next five books are activity books. Dr. Seuss has two new books that are great for ages 3 and up: How The Grinch Stole Christmas: Lacing Cards that includes 5 cards and laces and Puzzle Story: One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish that has 4 easy puzzles. Klutz has published three new activity books for ages 8 and above: My Perfect Life: a Fill-in-the-Blanks Journal, by Karen Phillips, The Natural Beauty Book: Create Your Own Natural Spa Experience, by Anne Akers Johnson and Super Simple Sewing: Easy to Stitch Projects.

I complete this review with a favorite type of book that all members of the family will enjoy: pop-up books. Big Frog Can’t Fit In, by Mo Willems, is so big and jumps out so far, you’ll be amazed! White Noise, by one of my favorite paper engineers – David A. Carter – is the fifth book in his color series and it’s filled with an architectural amazement as paper explodes and shifts in intricate ways!  Nursery Rhymes, by another favorite – Matthew Reinhart – brings traditional nursery rhymes to life with his extraordinary abilities through pop-ups. Fairies and Magical Creatures, by two favorite authors – Matthew Reinhart and Robert Sabuda – brings out intricate magical detail as these creatures pop-out. And lastly, The Sound of Music, illustrated by Dan Andreasen, and engineered by Bruce Foster, takes you through the story of the Van Trapp’s as the pop-outs keep readers enthralled.

Christmas Jars Reunion, by Jason F. Wright, continues where the “Christmas Jars” left off with Hope, and her life after being reunited with her biological mother two years before. As she becomes intertwined with love interests, her life seems complicated and she’s at odds of which path to take. The opening chapters place you in Chuck’s old-fashioned “Chicken-n-Biscuits” diner where Chuck’s passing is not mourned, but celebrated. The author has an uncanny ability to portray humor even in such difficult situations. But his greatest talent is placing on the written page the emotions of the heart, and the cherished moments felt, when giving a year’s collection of change away in a glass jar. This wonderful book has characters that come alive and through their acts of kindness, you’ll likely find yourself immersed with the same attitude! Give this book, along with a jar, this Christmas!

Penny’s Christmas Jar Miracle, by Jason F. Wright, and illustrated by Ben Sowards, is a picture book that continues the story of saving money throughout the year and then unexpectedly placing a jar at someone’s door at Christmas. Young Penny decides to have her family save for the entire neighborhood instead of just one person. But there is a twist of fate waiting when an elderly neighbor, who supported Penny throughout the year by buying many hot chocolates from her, becomes very ill. This tender story will pull at your heart and tear-ducts as the lesson taught is very powerful!

The Christmas Sweater, by Glenn Beck, and illustrated by Brandon Dorman, is the picture book adapted from the longer version of the book. The essence of receiving and giving gifts is culminated succinctly in this simple portrayal at Christmas. A young boy departs on a dream-like journey one night with his grandpa and discovers that the gift of a homemade sweater turns from disappointment to desire because of who made it. Children will quickly and easily understand what Christmas is all about from this beautiful book!

Christmas for a Dollar, by Gale Sears, and illustrated by Ben Sowards, is based on a true account of a family during the Great Depression as the Christmas season draws near. The difficulties of the times, as well as the passing of mother, and father’s meager wages going to pay doctor’s bills for one of his children’s polio, sets the tone of the story.  When dad comes up with a plan to bring cheer, happiness and love into the Christmas spirit, his children are thrilled. He places a dollar in change in a tin can and tells the children to pick out a name from the family in his hat. He tells them that they are to do something, or make something, special for that member and the change is to help “if you need a little money.” The acts of kindness, sacrifice and love prevail throughout this story and will surely make a lasting impression of the Christmas Spirit!

Christmas on Mill Street, by Joseph Walker, is a fiction book about fourth grader, Sam, who has recently moved from Arizona to Utah and has no experience with snow. He wants to be part of the “boys” in the neighborhood by attempting the harrowing feat of sledding down the very steep and twisting Mill Street – and surviving. This hilarious historical fiction takes place in 1962 and would be a perfect read aloud for the entire family (with only 133 pages).

The concluding books are fun Christmas stories that will be great reading during this season and all but the first and last books are picture books.  Disney has recently published Christmas Storybook Collection, which has 18 Christmas tales that originate from their movies such as “Mickey’s Christmas Carol” and “Monsters, Inc. Christmas Laughs”.  Merry Christmas, Splat, by Rob Scotton, is a delightful book about a nonsensical cat who doesn’t think he’s been good enough to receive a visit from Santa.  I Love Christmas, by Anna Walker, is a simple rhyming tale of why a young child loves this special holiday. Auntie Claus: Home for the Holidays, by Elise Primavera, is an adventure whenever magical Auntie Claus is involved. Young Sophie is in the nutcracker in New York City so Auntie decides to bring the North Pole to the big city and excitement and trouble ensue. The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, based on E. T. A. Hoffmann’s story, and brilliantly illustrated by Gail deMarcken, will whisk you away to a land of toy soldiers, mice and kings. A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, and illustrated by Brett Helquist, retells this classic tale with power and simplicity. The new movie by the same title, has a movie storybook that is also very well done. The Christmas Magic, by Lauren Thompson, and beautifully illustrated by Jon J. Muth, tells of all that Santa prepares prior to leaving his home in order to visit youngsters that night, making it a perfect book to read before little ones go to bed on Christmas Eve.  Four Friends at Christmas, by Tomie dePaola, is a wonderful celebration of the season as the best friends of Mister Frog wake him up out of hibernation in order to celebrate. And for ages nine and up, The Christmas Genie, by Dan Gutman, and illustrated by Dan Santat, has a meteor slamming into a fifth grade classroom and a genie appears who grants them any wish for Christmas as long as they can all decide on the wish within an hour. This book is highly entertaining and hilarious!

Let’s begin with a most amazing story that demonstrates the human spirit during the worst of times: war. Truce, by one of my favorite non-fiction authors – Jim Murphy – is a true account about a miracle that occurred one Christmas eve during World War I. Murphy begins this fascinating event with a quote from Sir Winston Churchill, given to his wife, which embodies the essence of why not to have war. “What would happen, I wonder, if the armies suddenly and simultaneously went on strike and said some other method must be found of settling the dispute?” The book begins by giving an interesting summary of Europe and the mounting distrust of several powers, especially Germany.  Germany is becoming a threat to not only their bordering countries, but also to the United Kingdom. The tensions build as the leading countries begin to defame their enemies by giving their people false or exaggerated negative information which helped to bring about the war. The world war that ultimately followed, became an intense and bloody war. It was a war that blended fighting from the trenches as well as current 20^th century weaponry. But throughout all the loss of lives and bloodshed leading up to Christmas Eve, it was all about to stop for a short time as soldiers from both sides took neutrality and came together on “No Man’s Land” between the trenches and exchanged gifts, sang Christmas carols and peacefully shook hands to form a truce. This wonderful miracle is beautifully highlighted as Murphy builds the history leading to the conflict, as well as this event two thirds into the story. There are actual photographs of this special event, along with drawings and maps found throughout.  History shows that this war could and should have been avoided, and Murphy’s book demonstrates this extremely well. You’ll also find a time-line located at the back of the book. This book is perfect for educating ages 11 through adult.

The True Gift: A Christmas Story, by Patricia MacLachlan, conveys the simple joy of Christmas.  A girl, the first person protagonist in the story, is heading to her grandparents’ house in a rural town. She, along with her younger brother Liam, enjoys everything about their grandparents’ house and the small town nearby, especially the walks to the country store and the library.  But there is a lone and lonely cow in their grandparents’ pasture and Liam senses that she needs a companion. It’s Christmas and both siblings have been saving money to buy gifts for their family. But Liam is concerned for “White Cow” and takes matters into his own hands to help her. The story, as the author tells so well, has the wonderful descriptions, similes and anecdotes that mirror snowy scenes and crisp cold mornings. The pencil drawings sprinkled throughout, by Brian Floca, convey the icy winter atmosphere perfectly. The true gift here is quite simply this book that begs to be read aloud for all ages.

Now for some meaningful picture books for ages three to eight. The Christmas Baby, by Marion Dane Bauer, and illustrated by Richard Cowdrey, is a beautifully painted book about the Christ Child being born amongst barn animals and ending with the celebration of a newborn baby. On This Special Night, by Claire Freedman, and illustrated by Simon Mendez, carries a similar theme with barn animals, only this time these sweet young animals follow a star to the manger where it illuminates the sky above the barn. The vivid watercolors of the kitten and lamb almost seem alive.  The Little Fir Tree, by Margaret Wise Brown, and illustrated by Jim LaMarche, brings love and life to a disabled young boy who cannot walk during the Christmas season when a father digs up a forlorn small pine tree growing all alone in a meadow. After the season is over, the father takes the tree back to the meadow only to dig it up again the next Christmas. But a miracle is about to happen in this sweet story of miracles. But, my favorite of the bunch is I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, by Lloyd and Karmel Newell, and illustrated by Dan Burr. This beautiful story tells how Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was inspired to write his famous poem. You begin to understand his inspiration behind the poem after reading the background to his suffering by losing his wife and then almost losing his son to severe wounds from the Civil War. The story, the pictures and the CD included with the narration by Edward K. Herrmann and music by the Tabernacle Choir, is inspirational and brings out the poignant reason for this holiday: “God is not dead, nor doth he sleep; The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, With peace on earth, good will to men.”

Zoobreak, by Gordon Korman, has all of the elements of a great book that will keep you reading to the very end! Griffin is known by his peers as “The Man with the Plan” and that’s just what he has when his friend, Savannah, pleads for him to help her find her lost monkey. They soon discover that the monkey is aboard a ship that’s been made into a zoo and the conditions for the animals are horrible. He comes up with a plan to rescue her monkey, but the story becomes much more complicated when Savannah insists they rescue all 40 animals. This story is exciting, unpredictable, delightful and funny.

Also Known as Harper, by Ann Haywood Leal, is an eloquent story about Harper who loves the written word. She loves to write poetry and is excited to enter a poem in a school contest. But it all turns upside down when her daddy leaves the family and her mama is trying to find work. Meanwhile Harper has to stay home and tend her little brother. This inspiring story showcases the difficulties of life and how the positive spirit and belief in one’s self and family prevails even against all odds.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, by debut author Jacqueline Kelly, describes life in a rural Texas town in 1899 where 11-year-old Calpurnia loves learning and reading about everything outdoors. The book begins when she is studying the big yellow grasshoppers and believes she’s discovered a new species. Her naturalist grandfather, even though he’s irritable and difficult to be around, begins to warm up to Calpurnia because of her love of insects and plants. As she navigates through 6 brothers and the preconceived idea of the time that her place in the world is to learn how to cook, but not read and explore, the tangible layers of life back then seem to jump off the page and you become a part of “Callie’s” life.
The Voyage of the Frog, by Gary Paulsen, challenges the very thought of survival as 14-year-old David, while sailing in his small sailboat, is swept far off course in a terrible storm. He has just inherited this vessel from his favorite uncle who has just passed away and his intention was not to go out to sea very far.  The storm changes everything because after he barely keeps his boat afloat and the wind has died down, he discovers there’s no radio, little food and water and he has no idea where he is. This page-turner will likely keep you going to the end.

The Extra-Ordinary Princess, by Carolyn Q. Ebbitt, has a very ordinary princess very happy about her position in her family. She’s the last of four sisters and she’s sure that she’ll never have to be queen.  However, when an evil uncle tries to usurp the kingdom by turning her sisters into a tree and 2 swans, she is forced to save her family and the kingdom. Along with her friend, Henry, she is about to test her magical powers against the evil one and her attempts prove to make the story compelling and exciting. The love of family and friends is especially effective here.

Dragon Spear, by Jessica Day George, is the third installment in the series that began with “Dragon Slippers”. This story picks up with Creel preparing for her marriage to Luka. But they first visit their dragon friends on the Far Islands. Trouble enters when an outlying group of dragons kidnap Velika, the dragon queen. Other problems ensue with Luka’s father, the king, as he plans on taking back the islands where the dragons live.

Now for a trilogy of books that are lengthy, involved, intriguing, full of mystery – and exciting. The first book, The Alchemist, by Michael Scott, starts out with twins who work across the street from each other. The boy, Josh, is working at a bookstore when two goons blast into the store, kidnap one of the owners and steal a valuable book but not before Josh rips out 2 pages. These pages turn out to be very important as he finds that both his name and his twin sister’s name is in this manuscript. He also discovers that the owner is actually nearly 700 years old and has discovered the secret to eternal life and now he’s been kidnapped!  And so the adventure begins. The second and third books, The Magician and The Sorceress, continue where the previous book leaves off and all three are rich in intricate plotlines, twists and language.

George’s Cosmic Treasure Hunt, by Lucy and Stephen Hawking, continues the adventures with George, only this time he and his friends end up visiting Mars as they attempt to get a robot to work. There are many adventures in this book that are related to science, making it a celebrated subject but don’t be put off by the slow beginning. There are actual interplanetary photos as well as drawings by Garry Parsons.

And lastly, The Dunderheads, by a favorite author of mine – Paul Fleischman, and illustrated by David Roberts, is more of a picture book than a fiction book which also makes it a good quick read. Miss Breakbone just made a very big mistake by calling her students “dunderheads”. The class has had it with this out-of-it teacher when she takes away one of the student’s special cat figurines he was saving to give to his mother. They gather their talents and help retrieve the valuable item as well as teaching their teacher a good lesson! This story, along with the perfectly matched pictures, is hilarious and begs to be read aloud.

The Postcard, by Tony Abbott, is a great mystery involving an old yellowed postcard that 13-year-old Jason finds in the house where his grandmother lived until she recently passed away. He, along with father, has just gone down to Florida to help remove her belongings and put the house up for sale. But this is when he finds this old postcard and notices that the picture of the hotel on the card is the same featured in an old magazine he found lying around the house. The stories featured in the magazine refer to a protagonist by the name of Marnie, whom he discovers was his grandmother’s name. And so the mystery to unravel who his grandmother really was begins.

Dexter The Tough, by Margaret Haddox, starts his first day at a new school with a writing assignment. It begins with “I’m the new kid. I am tuff. This morning I beat up a kid.” When his teacher reads this beginning, she is quite surprised and tells him he needs more to this story and sends him in search of finding more. He finds the boy he hit in the bathroom. But the reader will discover more and learn much more about Dexter and why he enters school with so much anger and aggression. There is also a surprising friendship that Dexter makes with the boy he hit in the bathroom as this other boy is also very unhappy. One important element in the story that should help give kids empathy with these types of situations is that Dexter has been left with his grandmother as his parents have gone to a hospital far away to treat his father’s cancer. There are many elements to address and learn from in this quick read.

The Calder Game, by Blue Balliett, and illustrated by Helquist, is another very sophisticated mystery full of art, math and suspense. Calder Pillay is thrilled to go to England with his dad and he soon discovers that his namesake, Alexander Calder, built the fantastic sculpture that’s on display in the small English village’s town square. But without warning, both he and the sculpture go missing. The police are searching for him but his father recruits his two best friends to fly over from America to try to help locate him. There are many red herrings and hidden clues along the way, even in some of the illustrations.

Ragtag, by Karl Wolf-Morganlander, has small and non-aggressive birds, living in the heart of Boston, finding that their docile and peaceful life is about to end. The raptures in the woods nearby have lost their habitat and are coming to live in the city and dominate these small birds. There is one very small swallow, Ragtag, who is about to become the unsung hero and this fast read would be a great read-aloud.

The Return of the Homework, by Dan Gutman, is a continuation of the first book, “The Homework Machine” but you do not have to read the first book to enjoy this installment. When the four students push this powerful homework machine over the Grand Canyon in order to destroy it, they find that the main component wasn’t disabled. So they must get to it first before someone else gets to it and uses it for evil. But they, along with their teacher, stumble upon an explorer’s report and wonder if it could be true: that there is an ancient Egyptian treasure deep in the canyon. There is much humor, suspense and intrigue, as well as outstanding character portrayals, in this story.

Tentacles, by Roland Smith, is a fast-paced adventure that is full of intrigue, suspense, adventure and a mythical beast, (hence the title of the book.) The race is on to attempt to catch a giant squid deep in the waters of New Zealand before a very evil Dr. Blackwood does, to hatch special Amazon eggs and also protect Grace from her grandfather – Dr. Blackwood. I especially like the way the author always involves the moral codes of right verses wrong and love of family. All of these elements make this exciting even for the most reluctant reader.

And for you Percy Jackson fans, your waiting is over. The final adventure in the Olympian series has just been published. The Last Olympian, by Rick Riordan, is just as good as the four predecessors. Percy is about to turn age 16 and at the same time a huge battle is about to take place against the Titans. Percy is part human and part Greek God and must stand against these terrible rivals along with other “half-bloods”. While in the midst of this terrible event, Percy suddenly realizes that he may be facing something worse than anything he can imagine, his own fate. I recommend that you read all 5 books in sequential order, but you can pick each one up alone and get swept up in the adventure without knowing all that has gone on previous to that book. And for the few of you who have never picked up any books within this series of books, what are you waiting for?

Let’s start with The Three Little Fish and the Big Bad Shark by Ken Geist, and illustrated by Julia Gorton. This take-off tale from “The Three Little Pigs” takes place under water only each little fish builds their home a bit differently. One builds a “weedy little house”, another builds a “sandy” one and the last one ends up residing in a sunken ship. The villain in this tale isn’t a wolf but a big bad shark. Youngsters will easily catch onto the familiar storyline and they will also enjoy the bright pictures that fill the pages.

Here’s another comparison story to “The Three Little Pigs”.  Three Little Cajun Pigs, by Mike Artell, and delightfully illustrated by Jim Harris, would be a hilarious read-aloud with the Cajun dialect written in the text. The mom has just kicked the pigs out and tells them it’s time to leave their home. But as they begin to build with different materials, they begin to realize their choices may not be the best. And the villain here is Ol’ Claude, the alligator. There’s a helpful glossary and the rhyming text is fun and a riot to read!

The Three Swingin’ Pigs, by Vicky Rubin, and illustrated by Rhode Montijo, are really cool pigs that feel the groove as they play and sing the jazziest songs in town. When Wolfie gets on the scene, he wants to wolf them all down. But fortunately for the pigs, instead of eating them, he ends up singing as well as playing the saxophone on stage. He’s found his true love: performing. So next time you’re in town, look for “The Three Singin’ Pigs and Wolfie”.

Goldilocks and the Three Bears, by Lauren Child, and photographed by Polly Borland and set creations by Emily L. Jenkins, has scenes of real tiny bowls, chairs and beds as Goldilocks, a tiny doll, tries out the different sizes of furniture before falling asleep. The sets are meticulously assembled and the story is enjoyable to read.

Dusty Locks and The Three Bears, by Susan Lowell, and illustrated by Randy Cecil, is set in the West where the bears wear cowboy boots and handkerchiefs.  After they cook their beans, they leave for a walk and that’s when Dusty Locks breaks into their nice and clean cabin. Dusty Locks is a dusty mess and leaves the house a mess as well. This is a funny parable, but one where little ones can learn about being nice and tidy.

Mary Had A Little Lamp, by Jack Lechner, and illustrated by Bob Staake, has a twist with the lamp instead of a lamb. She loves it so much that she takes it everywhere. “She took the lamp to school one day / To teach it how to spell – but when she tried to plug it in / The teacher tripped and fell”. This tale has a happy ending when Mary goes to summer camp and leaves her lamp behind.

The Fish Who Cried Wolf, by Julia Donaldson, and brightly illustrated by Axel Scheffler, is similar to “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” except it’s about a fish. A tiny fish liked to tell tall tales. But when he gets scooped up in a fisherman’s net, how will he get loose? This tale will keep you afloat.

Peter and the Wolf, by Sergei Prokofiev, and retold by Chris Raschka, is the same exciting tale about a boy who captures a hungry and mean wolf with the help of some animals. The original story was orchestrated with music, but in Raschka’s retelling, he uses heavy swipes of paint to invoke emotions and linear sentences to provoke the wolf. This highly inventive retelling is masterly told through both the mediums of word and art. The Russian influence is on display throughout in clothing and even grandfather has the look of a famous Russian author. And you can almost hear the music as you read the story!

Pretty Salma: A Little Red Riding Hood Story From Africa, by Niki Daly, feels like taking a trip through this country. As Pretty Salma goes to market, she knows she’s not to talk to strangers. But she’s tricked into giving away all of her native clothes down to her sandals. Now, the stranger’s on his way wearing her clothes to see granny. Fortunately, it all works out, but along the way, you will see many indignant people sporting large bowls on their heads and small cars crammed with people.

Dimity Dumpty: The Story of Humpty’s Little Sister, by Bob Graham, tells how it was Humpty Dumpty’s little sister who helped save him after he fell. Dimity is very shy and it’s eggstremely difficult for her to move in front of the large gathering of people at a circus and tell them that her brother needs help. The soft hues of watercolor seem to splash across the page and Mr. Graham has once again mastered a story that all will enjoy.

Leaf Trouble, by Jonathan Emmett, and illustrated by Caroline Jayne Church, is a simple, yet colorful, book explaining how leaves fall. A small squirrel is quite scared to see all his precious leaves falling off his favorite tree.  But his mama helps him understand the process and how new leaves will begin to grow in Spring.

Little Red’s Autumn Adventure, by Sarah Ferguson, and illustrated by Sam Williams, has the author’s familiar characters that she used in her other books as they head to the “Great Harvest Festival”. Little Red and her friends have much fun as they kick the bright leaves and even leaf-board down the hill. The story is more about helping out and caring for those in need as Little Red discovers some little mice who have lost their mommy.

Have you ever realized what a ruckus can take place when a small leaf blows in?  That’s exactly what happens in When the Leaf Blew In by Steve Metzger, and illustrated by Kellie Lewis. This clever story has a repetitive text that repeats the last of the two lines that are on each page and begins the next page with that last line.  Many humorous situations happen because of this bright orange leaf.

The Scarecrow’s Dance, by Jane Yolen, and beautifully illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline, is a story written in poetic rhyme about a scarecrow who leaves his post and leaps free and jogs and trots across the cornfield. But, he soon realizes that his duty is to protect his field and he discovers this fact when he spies a young boy saying his night prayers and asks that the scarecrow please guard the corn.  The flight of the crows from behind and above the scarecrow, as well as the angle of the hues of orange, fill each page and illuminate the pictures as if you’re dancing alongside of the prancing scarecrow.

Here’s another newly published book that has the same illustrator as the last book.  Crow Call, by Louis Lowry, and illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline, has the same glowing pictures of washout hues only this time more browns and grays.  The story takes place in late fall following the end of World War II.  Lizzie is excited to have her father back after the long war he was fighting. They go off in their car to hunt the crows that are eating their crops. But during the experience of walking out in hilly fields where the trees are bare, Lizzie befriends the crows and her father seems to know this is neither the time nor place to use his gun. The feeling of quietude, peace and a time long ago resonates throughout the story. But most of all, the relationship with daughter and father and the strong bond of love and understanding, spreads like the wings of the crows.

Waiting For Winter, by Sebastian Meschenmoser, is a cleverly drawn picture book that incorporates pictures with text – and just pictures.  His line drawings take place alone when Squirrel awaits snow and waits and waits.  He wakes up Hedehog and even Bear.  Most of the waiting is told through these pencil drawings. When it finally snows, the pages turn to shades and hues of blues in contrast to the snowy white. The many antics and motions of Squirrel capture the anticipation of this next season.

Another sign that it’s fall is football season.  Family Huddle, by NFL superstars Peyton, Eli and Archie Manning, and illustrated by Jim Madsen, is the telling about a family dynasty when Peyton and Eli were young.  Along with their older brother, Cooper, the story takes place as they travel with their mom Olivia and father Archie as they travel to visit their grandparents. It’s obvious throughout the book that these boys and their dad lived football all of the time.

The last five books have to do with weather and how both Fall and Spring bring about the most diverse weather of the year.  Like a Windy Day, by Frank and Devin Asch, demonstrate in picture and simply in text, what happens when the wind blows. What’s the Weather?, illustrated by Jo Moon, is full of interactive pages that teach what it is and what causes it to continually change. Youngsters will surely enjoy this board book. Ask Dr. K. Fisher About Weather, by Claire Llewellyn, and illustrated by Kate Sheppard, will most likely answer your questions about weather from all corners of the world. Clouds, by Anne Rockwell, and illustrated by Frane lessac, is a “Let’s-Read-About-And-Find-Out Science” book which informs in a simplistic approach about what a cloud is made of, the different types of clouds and information surrounding clouds. Here’s a fact – more that half of the earth is covered with clouds most of the time. And my last book is also about clouds.  What Are Clouds Made of?, by Geraldine Taylor and the illustrator is Amy Schimler, addresses similar information, only this book has tabs and flaps to inform.

The Hanging Hill, by Chris Grabenstein, is a sequel to “The Crossroads”. Eleven-year-old Zack has just come to stay temporarily in a town in Connecticut while his step-mom is helping with a production that she wrote. Zack soon realizes that the location of “The Hanging Hill Playhouse” has a past that’s related to the name of the theater.  What makes this story so inventive and exciting is that Zack can see ghosts and they seem to be everywhere.  The reader is in on the fact that the director is attempting to bring these not-so-nice ghosts about with his play.  Zack soon discovers this fact and the race is on to stop this from happening.  The action is non-stop and the anticipation of what might be around the corner is around every page and humor abounds helping alleviate tense moments.

The Sherlock Files: The Beast of Blackslope, by Tracy Barrett, is book 2 in this series and many readers are glad there will be more to come. Sister and brother, Xena and Xander, are directly related to the famous Sherlock Holmes and delight in solving mysteries. This story takes them to a small village where they hear strange howlings. When they ask the townspeople about it none of them want to talk. The mysterious developments will become hard to solve as there are many red herrings which actually make this page turner perfect for the younger Sherlock Holmes’ enthusiast.

Ghost in the Machine: Ryan’s Journal, by Patrick Carman, is a very innovative book with the text in the form of a journal written by one of two main protagonists. There is also a video you can view online throughout the book that is part of the other protagonist, Sarah, as she uses her video cam. There are hidden clues to be solved and the story is the second in the “Skeleton Creek” series. Warning – this book is chilling and should be not be read alone.

Alec Flint, Super Sleuth: The Nina, The Pinta, and the Vanishing Treasure, by Jill Santopolo, is a new series that will have budding mystery enthusiasts excited for the next book. Alec, with the help of Gina, discovers that the Christopher Columbus exhibit is missing from the local museum. The mystery that unfolds will have readers turning the pages to the very end to discover what happened and why. This book is as good as the “Encyclopedia Brown” series which are great chapter mystery books.

Now for some lighter books on this subject: The Bag of Bones, by Vivian French, is the second book in “The Five Kingdoms” series.  I reviewed the first book, “The Robe of Sculls”, and loved it. There’s a witch who wants to become the queen and is magically shrinking all of the good witches to the size of rats. But a willful and sassy orphan, Gracie Gillypot, a prince, a troll and two talking bats cleverly, with humor throughout, beat the witch at her own game.

The next three books are good for ages 7 to 9. Rumblewick’s Diary: My Unwilling Witch Sleeps Over, by Hiawyn Oram, will certainly bring you some laughs.  Rumblewick is Haggy Aggy’s cat and he is continually trying to get his owner to be more “witchy” and mean. But Haggy just wants to be human and tries to use her magic to become normal. What is Rumblewick going to do now that she’s going to two normal girl’s house for a sleepover? There are delightful black and white illustrations, by Sarah Warburton, throughout and some are full page. This is #2 in the series with #3 coming out next month.

43 Old Cemetery Road: Dying to Meet You, by Kate Klise, and illustrated by M. Sarah Klise, is a haunting romp when a crotchety author, who seems to have writer’s block, moves into an old mansion where an eleven-year-old boy and a ghost live. But through some inventive twists by ghost and child, the author discovers some surprising things about himself and his writings. The text is told through correspondence, newspaper clippings and documents. The line drawings found throughout are a perfect fit and help move the story along to the culminating end.

Nighttime:  Too Afraid to Scream, by Todd Strasser, and illustrated by Doug Cushman, is the third book in this series that has 7 short stories with endings that will surprise the young reader and possibly leave them hanging. Some include “The Phantom Text Messager” and “The Black Cat”.

This last book is for the newest reader: Jon Scieszka’s Trucktown: The Spooky Tire, illustrated by David Shannon, Loren Long and David Gordon. This easy-to-read story takes the classic tale of the “Teeny Tiny Woman” with a twist. Melvin, the cement truck, needs a new tire and goes to a spooky junkyard. But when he takes a tire, a ghost truck asks, “Who took my golden tire?” Kids will enjoy this easy read with few words on each page.

And Then Comes Halloween, by Tom Brenner, and illustrated by Holly Meade, is simply a wonderful depiction of this delightful holiday. From decorating the front door at home to carving pumpkins, the entire family takes part in helping get ready for the last day of the month.  What I like best about this nicely illustrated book with watercolors and collages is this: the kids are making their own costumes from nick-nacks found around the house. This is the best way to get ready for Halloween!

Spells, by Emily Gravett, is a clever story about a frog who happens upon an old spell book and makes a wish to kiss a princess.  He comes upon a page that reads:  “Spell to become a handsome Prince.” As the frog attempts to make this happen split pages result in hilarious combinations.  The final result will have you smiling.  The torn and shredded paper along with the possibilities of the spell book will lure the reader to the very end. But don’t forget to read the endpaper which subtly explains the “spell.”

There Was An Old Monster!, by Rebecca, Adrian & Ed Emberly, is a takeoff from the song, “There Was An Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly.” The vibrant colors explode off the dominating black pages as the wild-eyed monster devours all sorts of slithery critters that gradually get larger. It all comes to a cumulative ending when the monster meets something larger than the monster that scares the living daylight and critters all out of him.  Ed painted the bright pictures, his daughter Rebecca wrote the text and the granddaughter, Adrian, did the music which is available on-line.  This book is great fun.

Boo To You!, by Lois Ehlert, is a great story full of what this author / illustrator does best:  collages on bright backgrounds. In this case, she uses vibrant shades of oranges as well as black. The last page has photos of the many fall items used throughout this inventive picture book which includes seeds, pods, squash and more.  A cat wants to be a part of a mouse party but wants the mice to be the edible part of the party.  The mice devise a foldout solution which will surprise you.  This is clever in rhyme and color!

Dark Night, by Dorothee de Monfreid, is about a young boy who is afraid of the dark as he walks through a dark forest.  He’s scared when he sees a wolf, then a tiger, then a crocodile.  The adventure continues until he finally makes it home by meeting a small rabbit and both dress up in a scary costume that ultimately scares these animals away. The pen-and-ink drawings are in a cartoon mode and move the story along to a nice sunrise at the end.  No more dark nights now.

Tucker’s Spooky Halloween, by Leslie McGuirk, has a little dog not wanting to be dressed up in a cute costume like he was last year. This year he wants to be something scary. This storybook includes a DVD, poster and stickers.

Mystery Vine, by Cathryn Falwell, shows what happens to a plant as it grows throughout the season and pumpkins appear.  The care and watering of the garden are demonstrated  as 2 children begin preparing vegetables as they grow to their maturity. The text is written in rhyme and there’s a pumpkin seed recipe found at the back of the book.

It’s Halloween Night, by Maryann Cocca-Leffler, is a short little paperback about two little kittens who go trick-or-treating.  The bright colors and the special cut-outs and window peeks make this book a nice and inexpensive addition.

Hush, Baby Ghostling, by Andrea Beaty, and illustrated by Pascal Lemaitre, is a reverse story about a momma ghost tucking her baby ghost into bed as she says not to be afraid of the daylight.  The digitally colored pictures are covered in blues, purples and pinks and the poetic text makes for a charming read.

Dirk Bones:  And the Mystery of the Haunted House and Dirk Bones and the Mystery of the Missing Books, both by Doug Cushman and at beginning reading level 1, are delightful, silly and funny mysteries that young readers will thoroughly enjoy. Let’s hope Mr. Cushman writes more!

Peter Peter Picks a Pumpkin House, by Christine Graham, and illustrated by Susan Boase, is a beginning chapter book that is a take on “Jack and the Beanstalk”.  Peter needs money to fix his roof and trades his goat for a bag of treasure. But the treasure ends up being nothing but seeds.  But the seeds help him in a big way.

The last two books are small sized board books for small-sized hands.  Boo Who?, by Lola Schaefer, and photographed by Michael Frost, is an innovative book that opens up and over to reveal a picture twice the size of the book. The picture reveals a Halloween costume.  Trick or Treat?, by Melanie Walsh, is a simple demonstration of the events on Halloween night. There are flaps to open on every page

Summertime is finally here and so are the lazy hazy days of reading great books to help celebrate this sunny and growing season.  Here are some great books that deal with this subject:

The first two books are geared for ages 9 through adult and the rest are picture books.  Little Klein, by Anne Ylvisaker, takes you back to the 1940’s, where 9-year-old Harold Klein is dubbed “Little Klein” because he’s unusually small for his age.  His three older brothers are a rowdy crew and he tries to be included in their fun.  But everything changes for Little Klein when he finds a stray dog who brings much joy to him.  When a catastrophe nearly drowns his brothers on the raft they’d recently built, he and his dog become heroes.  The author writes with the even flow of yesteryear and the yearnings of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn.   This book is a delightful read-aloud for all ages and is perfect for ages 9 through adult.

Sand Dollar Summer, by Kimberly K. Jones, is a beautifully written story from the perspective of twelve-year-old Lise, as she is suddenly uprooted from her city home to live by the beach with her little brother and mom for the summer.  Her mother has just had a near-death car accident and decides to recoup back where she lived as a child – in Maine. The experiences that Lise has there will undoubtedly change her life.  This is a wonderful read for the summer!

Tales from the Waterhole, written and illustrated by Bob Graham, is a delightful collection of summer stories as Morris the crocodile and his friends spend time by the waterhole.  This is an early chapter reader, filled with colorful pictures of the adventures of summer.  Here are 3 other chapter books befitting summer reading:  Annie and Simon, written and illustrated by Catharine O’Neill, is a brother and sister friendship that takes them on adventures looking for loons, gardening and dealing with bee stings; Mr. Putter & Tabby Run the Race, by Cynthia Rylant, and illustrated by Arthur Howard, is all about getting ready to run in a marathon and Fly High, Fly Guy!, by Tedd Arnold, has the smart little fly helping Buzz and his parents find their way while on a road trip.

Picnic!  A Day in the Park, by Joan Holub, and illustrated by Will Terry, is a beginning reader about some smart ants at a yummy looking picnic.  The story has bright pictures and only a few words on each page

Sergio Makes a Splash!, written and illustrated by Edel Rodriguez, is a penguin who is afraid to swim in deep water.  But he soon learns that he can take the plunge, even if he’s wearing floaties, snorkel and an innertube.  The pictures are hilarious and Sergio is endearing. This book is perfect for that child who seems tepid about attempting new situations.

Mermaids on Parade, written and illustrated by Merlanie Hop Greenberg, celebrates summer with a Coney Island parade.  One little mermaid hopes to win the annual Mermaid contest.  A note at the back gives more history to this parade.

On The Farm, by David Elliott, and illustrated with color wood blocks by Holly Meade, is a commemoration of farm animals in the warming season.  Every farm animal is delightfully represented in this colorful and oversized book.

The Earth and I, written and illustrated by Frank Asch, is a sweet story about a young boy who values the earth and all its beauty.  One is left with a greater appreciation for nature after reading this colorful book.

Planting a Rainbow, written and illustrated by Louis Ehlert, is a clever large board book that displays the planting of seeds and then discovering the fruits of the labors at summer’s end.  Also, a very clever presentation of shorter pages is near the end.

Beach Bugs, by the pop-up engineer artist-David A. Carter, is full of beach bugs having great fun while on the beach.  This is an eye—catcher of a book appealing to all!

Utterly Otterly Day, by Mary Casanova, and illustrated by Ard Hoyt, is about a little otter going outside on a beautiful sunny day and encountering cougars, fish, eagles, turtles and even a falling tree.  Does he need his family anymore now that he’s bigger?  This is a cute story to snuggle up with at bedtime.