It was hard to decide which books I should include without making the list too long. But every book listed is a great read – as well as a read aloud – and best for ages 9 and up.
Wishing for Tomorrow:  The Sequel to A Little Princess, by Hilary McKay, and with illustrations sprinkled [...]

Christmas time is the greatest time of year to give: a gift of love, a gift of thoughtfulness – and how about a gift to read?  Here are some wonderful new books that are perfect gift giving ideas and great for all ages.
Let’s start with some outstanding and enlightening new pop-up books. Wild Oceans: A [...]

These wonderful books will surely help satisfy the great anticipation of this best season of the year!
The First Christmas: A Changing-Picture Book, by Sophy Williams, is the retelling of Baby Jesus with clever flaps that open and change the pictures in an over-sized book. The illustrations are beautifully painted in soft pastels.
Christmas in the Time [...]

Are you looking for great books to read alone – or out-loud? Here are some of the best of the year and that are good for ages nine and up.

Count Down, by Deborah Wiles, is an historical fiction about the 1960’s. This riveting story includes all of the major facets that evoked, involved and [...]

If you’re looking for an interesting chapter book geared for ages nine and up, I’ve listed some new outstanding historical fictions, books about relationships with animals and even a wonderful sequel to a classic story.

See Saw Girl, by Linda Sue Park, is an eye-opening historical fiction about a young nobility-born Korean girl in the 17th [...]

If you’re looking for an interesting chapter book geared for ages nine and up, I’ve listed some new outstanding historical fictions, books about relationships with animals and even a wonderful sequel to a classic story.

See Saw Girl, by Linda Sue Park, is an eye-opening historical fiction about a young nobility-born Korean girl in the 17th [...]

Books can teach young and old.  And these picture books are also most enjoyable.

The Day Ray Got Away, by Angela Johnson, and illustrated by Luke LaMarca, is a creatively picturesque book about a bright, yellow balloon as he and other large balloons get ready for a balloon parade.  But he states at the beginning [...]

Tricks and treats are most abundant in these chapter books for ages nine and older, making it my last installment for Halloween books for 2010.
Ghoul Strike!, by Andrew Newbound, finds twelve-year-old Alannah in the midst of searching for her parents who went missing over 3 years ago while searching for ghosts. Now, it seems that [...]

Halloween is the time of year for creepy, crawly, spooky – and fun picture books.    Here are some perfect books full of pumpkins, skeletons and ghosts.
Alpha Oops! H is for Halloween, by Alethea Kontis, and illustrated by Bob Kolar, is the hilarious sequel to “AlphaOops! The Day Z Went First” by the same author and [...]

Halloween’s coming and so are some magical, mysterious or somewhat spooky books. So let’s begin with chapter books geared for ages nine and older.
The Red Pyramid, by Rick Riordan, is a brand new series, much like his fantastic “Lightening Thief” series, but this book is set in Brooklyn, New York. This page-turner begins with [...]