Jake, by Audrey Couloumbis, has ten-year-old Jake going to live with his grandfather while his widowed mom recuperates from a broken leg. This ex-military man (who was his father’s dad) doesn’t know how to relate to Jake and neither does Jake know how to reciprocate. But through the kindness of a neighbor, this relationship begins to grow.  The story is well written with much heart, but is never too sappy.  And the joys and love of family abound.  The entire family will gather around to hear this novel!

The Flint Heart, by Katherine and John Paterson, and magically painted by John Rocco and adapted from Eden Phillpott’s 1910 story, is an exciting foray into magic, fairies and adventure.  A very old relic that possesses powers of control and greed is suddenly unearthed after being hidden deep in the ground for thousands of years.  A farmer, and loving family man, is completely changed for the worse when this talisman is found, and so the adventures into the realm of magic begin. The colorful pictures sprinkled throughout are a perfect match to the story. This book would be a perfect bedtime story by reading a chapter every night.

Pie, by Sarah Weeks, is a story rich in language, family and – pies. It’s 1955 and ten-year-old Alice is saddened from the death of her beloved Aunt Polly, the “Pie Queen of Ipswich”.  Her aunt has mysteriously bequeathed her piecrust recipe to her cat, Lardo, and has left her cat for Alice.  And so begins the story of Alice and her family and the tale of her friendships, family relationships and what happens with her labored relationship with her own mother. The fourteen recipes found throughout are mouthwatering yummy pie concoctions.

The Dagger Quick, by Brian Eames, will have you on the edge of your seat. The year is 1678 and Kitto is living a life on land with a daily schedule of helping his family make ends meet even with his disability – a clubfoot.  When his seafaring uncle visits him, life changes for Kitto.  His father dies and his stepmother and brother are kidnapped by a ruthless pirate who is in search of a treasure that he believes Kitto’s Uncle William Quick has knowledge of the whereabouts. Hold on tight as this page-turner will keep you adrift to the end!

The Dragon’s Tooth, by N. D. Wilson, has siblings Cyrus and Antigone getting ready to leave their home, an old motel that has just burned to the ground, in search for their older brother (and guardian) who has just been kidnapped.  A peculiar little man will help them find their brother – but they must leave at once.  Evil is lurking all around their now burned home and they need to escape.  But where they are taken, and the many exciting events that occur, will have you turning the pages as fast as you’re able.

Okay For Now, by Gary D. Schmidt, is told through the eyes of young Doug during the 1960’s. Doug has just moved to a new town and feels alone with no friends. His father is somewhat abusive due to his temper and his drinking problems. His older brother is mean to him and his oldest brother is serving in Viet Nam. The only person whom he truly looks forward to being with is his mom.  But he befriends a patient librarian and a girl, who both help open his world to hope and happiness. There are many subtle nuances and symbolism that bring Doug’s life into the reader’s emotional ties.  This is a definite Newbery candidate.

The Romeo and Juliet Code, by Phoebe Stone, is a look into disrupted British children as parents sent them to safety and away from the bombing in London during World War II.  Felicity has been sent to live with her father’s family while her parents go to Portugal on secret business. She soon discovers that her uncle and other relatives seem very mysterious and she’s about to set out to solve these mysteries, as well as discover why her parents are in Portugal.  She also becomes friends with an eccentric cousin who’s recovering from polio. There are lessons to learn about the value of family, as well as mysteries to solve.

Wonderstruck, by Brian Selznick, has two stories running simultaneously throughout.  One story is written about a young boy in 1977 who has to live with his aunt after losing his mom in a car accident. He’s unhappy with his aunt and decides to go search for his dad he’s never known and who lives in New York City.  The other story takes place in 1927.  This wordless story is shown completely through black and white drawings of a girl sneaking out of her house to also go to New York City.  Another similarity with these two children is that they both are deaf.  These stories brilliantly converge at the American Museum of Natural History. This book’s sure to be a Newbery winner!

Young Fredle, by Cynthia Voigt, and illustrated with pencil etchings sprinkled throughout by Louise Yates, has a young mouse, Fredle, dealing with many dangers after he is thrown out into the world after leaving his house. This wonderfully written story deals with lessons of friendship, freedom and home.

Shooting Kabul, by N. A. Senzai, begins with a family’s flight from Afghanistan. As they board a truck that’s about to flee the area, with the Taliban close behind, they somehow leave six-year-old Mariam behind. This book is a fascinating look at how this family begins their adjustments in America as well as locating Mariam and bringing her to back to their family.

The Clockwork Three, by Matthew L. Kirby, is a story rich with suspense, mystery and adventure. It begins with Giuseppe, an orphan, who has to play his violin for a tyrant of a master. But he soon discovers a wonderful violin. Hannah is a hard working maid as she is trying to help her family due to her father’s recent stroke.  She learns about a hidden treasure in the hotel where she works. Now if she can just locate it.  Frederick works as a clockmaker’s apprentice. If he can get his automation to work, it will change his life. These three characters finally meet midway through the story, turning their adventures into one as they strive to achieve their goals and ultimately discover the magic and importance of friendship.

Into The Unknown: How Great Explorers Found Their Way by Land, Sea, and Air, by Stewart Ross, and illustrated by the ingenious Stephen Biesty, is my only non-fiction on this list.  It takes fourteen of history’s greatest explorers and covers the events that led up to their discoveries. The text is kid-friendly and each expedition has an incredible unfolding map signifying the route to their destination.

Creepy Monsters, Sleepy Monsters:  A Lullaby, by Jane Yolen, and brilliantly painted from top to bottom of every page by Kelly Murphy, is a most creative story about the most unique-looking monsters waiting for school to end so they can rush home and begin their nightly routine of eating, bathing and finally getting ready for bed. The hilarious antics they display as they go through their evening’s events are great fun and just might make your little monsters better ready for bedtime. These unusual creatures are akin to the bizarre and fun characters in the movie “Monster’s, Inc”.

The 13 Nights of Halloween, by Guy Vasilovich, is a take-off from the holiday version: “The 13 Days of Christmas”. This version has an eclectic slant and a bit of the aura of Tim Burton’s art from “The Nightmare Before Christmas”. But don’t be dissuaded; it’s fun and clever, if a bit dark. A little girl, with over-size eyes and bats wrapped around her pigtails, says “On the first night of Halloween my mummy gave to me: a bright, shiny Skeleton Key.” Her mummy appears to be a skeleton wrapped in a mummy’s sheath. And on it goes. On the third night, the little girl is given 3 baseball bats which are actually bats flying with baseball caps on their heads.

Frangoline and the Midnight Dream, by Clemency Pearce, and painted with mixed media by Rebecca Elliott, is a rhyming story about nice young Frangoline by day, but when nighttime comes she don’s her black cape and leaves her bed and scares animal and the moon alike. The texturized pictures fill the pages and reflect the going’s-on for a spooky nighty adventure.

The Sleepless Little Vampire, by Richard Eglielski, has a young vampire attempting to figure out why he can’t go to sleep. Throughout the story, the climax builds as the water colored scene begin to extend to both pages. Upon further investigation, and by returning to the story and gleaning more clues, the answer will become obvious.  Onomatopoeias and alliterations make this a perfect read-aloud for bedtime.

Gibbus Moony Wants to Bite You!, by Leslie Muir, and delightfully painted with watercolors and acrylic by Jen Corace, has young Gibbus losing his baby fangs and finally getting his real ones. He’s ready to bite something. But his grandpa reminds him that his family members are fruit suckers “and proud of it.” But when he meets his new “normal” neighbor, he’s about to discover why his bite will never be the same again.  This story’s de-bite-ful!

Pumpkin Cat, by Anne Mortimer, is a sweet and simple story about mouse showing cat how to grow a pumpkin and then what he does with the pumpkin once it grows to maturity. The painted pictures are bright and perfectly matched to the story.

Here are two level two books for early readers perfect for this holiday. Inside a House That is Haunted, by Alyssa Satin Capucilli, and brightly painted by Tedd Arnold, is a story that’s been refurbished with Arnold’s delightful trade-mark: oversized eyes. This accumulative tale begins with a house that is haunted, a hand that knocks on the door that is haunted, a spider that falls to the floor in the house that is haunted and so on. This is an easy read, but frightfully fun to read and enjoy the hauntingly funny pictures throughout.

Never Kick A Ghost and Other Silly Chillers, from the I Can Read! series, by Judy Sierra, and painted by Pascale Constantin, encompasses five different quick tales that are a blend of surprise and humor. The title tale is about a man who comes across something small and possibly a ghost-like animal and he kicks it. Each time he kicks it, it morphs into something bigger and more frightening.

The last three books are unique with flaps that lift and with designs to build. What’s in the Witch’s Kitchen?, by Nick Sharratt, is a very clever and inventive flap display of two rhyming choices by either opening to the left or to the right. One will show a nice choice and the other – not so good. For instance, one choice is “biscuits and cakes”. Or the other choice is “spiders and snakes”.

The Monstrous Book of Monsters, by Dr. Thomas Jelly (alias Libby Hamilton with illustrations by Aleksei Bitsko and Jonny Duddle) is an inventive over-sized book full of spritely-looking creatures and information of how to avoid or capture each one. The pages are filled with monster friendly (or not-so-friendly) pictures along with pup-ups, flaps and smaller pages. But, beware, not of the werewolf, but of the werefish, for they do exist…or subsist!

Make a Mummy, Shrink a Head and Other Useful Skills, by Pat Murphy, begins with a warning. Don’t go any further in this book for you “could find yourself up the Nile without a paddler outing the jungle surrounded by hungry mosquitoes”. Be ready for learning how to understand hieroglyphs, Mayan caverns and building a sarcophagus.  This book is great fun!

Mouse and Mole:  A Perfect Halloween, by Wong Herbert Yee, is a new story for ages six to eight to add to the “Mouse and Mole” series. This early reader has all of the elements to keep new readers engaged: an interesting story line with 4 chapters dealing with this holiday, wonderfully colorful pictures that move the story along and effective language with lots of fun onomatopoeias throughout.

Half-Minute Horrors, edited by Susan Rich, is a compilation of quick stories from celebrated kid’s authors that will surprise and possibly scare ages nine through teens.  Some tales are only a few sentences while more are about a page and a half long.

The Thirteen Ghosts, (Creepella Von Cacklefur series #1) by Geronimo Stilton, will pull in readers ages six to nine with a mystery that involves Booey the Poltergeist, Grandma Crypt and Chompers the meat-eating plant. Creepella is hunting for thirteen ghosts and readers will smile and enjoy all of her predicaments that she becomes entangled in. Number 2 in this new series has just been published: “Meet Me in Horrorwood”.

Scary Science: 24 Creepy Experiments, by Shar Levine and Leslie Johnstone, with hilarious illustrations by Ashley Spires, is packed with fun and enlivening experiments that will teach your young scientist, ages nine through teens, the foundations of basic science. Some experiments include making rubber bones, bouncing eyes, a goblin lamp and spooky writing. Facts about the basis of the experiments are found throughout, as well as easy step-by-step instructions. But beware: you might turn your youngster into a mad scientist.

A Zombie’s Guide to the Human Body: Tasty Tidbits From Head to Toe, by Paul Beck, is filled with all kinds of information about our human body and how it works. The format is extremely kid-friendly with the zombie theme and pictures, and the lay-out will entice kids, ages eight through adult, to want to pick this book up and completely read it from cover to cover!

Some Things are Scary, by Florence Parry Heide, and illustrated by renowned Jules Feiffer, is an updated picture book good for ages four to ten. The book was first published back in 1969 but Feiffer has made this a gem. What scares kids the most is the theme of the book and includes some humorous fears such as “Being with your mother when she can’t remember where she parked the car.” And some scary moments like “being on a swing when someone is pushing you too high.”

Pumpkin Trouble, by Jan Thomas, is a hilarious picture book that begs to be read aloud. Duck decides to cut out a jack-o-lantern with his pumpkin but falls inside and can’t get out. With the jack-o-lantern on his head, he wanders over to his friends, mouse and pig who immediately get scared thinking it’s a pumpkin monster. The story gets funnier on every page, making this book, for ages four to eight, a great read-aloud.

The Haunted Hamburger and Other Ghostly Stories, by David LaRochelle, and painted by Paul Meisel, is actually a very clever and funny picture book that all ages will enjoy. A ghostly father tells his two ghostly children three bedtime stories to help them go to sleep. Where the stories scare his children, to human ears they are just plain funny! The book title is one of the stories and scares cousin Nell beyond words but will have youngsters laughing out loud.

For the last two books, how about some laugh out loud books of jokes. Halloween Howlers: Frightfully Funny Knock-Knock Jokes, by Michale Teitelbaum, and illustrated by Jannie Ho, features lift-the-flaps giving punny and funny answers that kids of all ages will love to tell or guess. “Knock, knock! Who’s there? Witch! Witch who? Witch costume should I wear this Halloween?”

Sidesplitters: Boo!, by the Kingfisher editors, is packed with jokes with a Halloween theme. Some include: “Why did the vampires cancel their baseball game? They couldn’t find their bats.” “What dies a skeleton order in a restaurant? Spareribs.” And “What does a ghost get when he falls and scrapes his Knee? A boo-boo”. These are just a few of these fun jokes. Try them at your next Halloween party.

43 Old Cemetery Road: Over My Dead Body, by Kate Klise, and cleverly illustrated by M. Sarah Klise, is Book Two in the Cemetery Road Series, but there’s no need to read the first book to enjoy this delightful and clever story.  An agency has just removed eleven-year-old Seymour from the Spence Mansion at Old Cemetery Road and puts him in the Ghastly Orphanage.  He has to wait there until his parents return from Europe, but meanwhile he meets a most unusual friend: a ghost.  And the story goes from interesting to exhilarating and page-turning as you can hardly wait to see what will happen at this unusual orphanage and surrounding town.  The entire story is told through newspaper clippings, letters and much more.  This is a very ingenious and enjoyable read!

The Joy of Spooking:  Unearthly Asylum, by P. J. Bracegirdle, is the second book in a series with number three and the final book, “Sinister Scenes”, synonymously published. Joy Wells is curious about unusual sounds coming from an old asylum. She’s heard many strange tales and legends concerning this old building.  But she doesn’t realize that she’s about to discover more about it when she loses her pet frog, Fizz. As she explores the sewers in search of Fizz, she comes up from underneath right inside the gates of this haunted building. And so begins her adventures of fright and discovery about what holds this place together. The final book, “Sinister Scenes”, recreates a movie as the residents of this small town help by becoming part of the extras. But Joy becomes involved in helping solve the mystery when the lead actress suddenly vanishes.

School of Fear Series, by Gitty Daneshvari, has just published the last of the planned trilogy and it won’t disappoint. But I recommend starting with the first book and then following with book two, “Class is not Dismissed” and ending with “The Final Exam”.  The premise is about twelve and thirteen year old kids who suffer greatly from fears that terrify them.  Madeline is frightfully scared of bugs and sprays herself incessantly with bug spray. And then there’s Garrison, who’s frightened beyond belief of water. So parents send their phobic children to the School of Fear. There is much humor found throughout each book, along with each child learning to overcome their various fears.

The Mysterious Four, by Dan Poblocki, is a series of three mystery paperbacks with more planned in the future. In the first book, “Hauntings and Heists”, you meet the four friends who organize a mystery-solving club called The Question Marks and they meet at the four corners where their yards meet. Viola has just discovered a tunnel leading to a haunted house across the street. In the second book, “Clocks and Robbers”, the four friends solve a mystery concerning three broken clocks. But in solving this mystery, they bring attention to themselves and some other devious characters who are looking for a forgotten treasure that The Question Marks may have just discovered. In book three, “Monsters and Mischief”, the four friends have seen something very peculiar skulking in the woods. Could it be some kind of a monster? In all three of the mysteries, the reader is invited to help solve each case.

Ghost Hunt 2:  More Chilling Tales of the Unknown, by Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson, with Cameron Dokey, is a collection of stories that contain mysteries of possible ghost sightings and other mysterious occurrences observed at various locations throughout the country.  Each tale is told with gripping anticipation so readers beware.

Witch Catcher, by Mary Downing Hahn, has an exciting adventure and mystery waiting for Jen when she and her widowed father move to a recently acquired castle.  What she finds in a remote tower is so extraordinary and magical, others come to attempt to retrieve it. The story starts out slow, but don’t let this stop you from reading further because patience will pay off.  By one quarter of the way into the story, you’ll be hooked. (And if you’re not familiar with this author, she is one of the best at spinning shivery mysteries!)

3:15:  Things That Go Bump In the Night, by Patrick Carman, encompasses ten tales that you can easily read in 15 minutes or less. Each story contains a chilling ending but also features a video introduction that sets the stage. The time in the title of the book deals with the possible time in the night when things might “go bump in the night”. The author also wrote the popular “The Skeleton Creek”.

100 Scariest Things on the Planet, by Anna Claybourne, features real creatures and events that will surprise you. Some included are UFO’s, the Loch Ness Monster, sharks, spiders, black holes and giant wave surfing. Each colorful subject is photographed and described on one page making this a quick, interesting and kid-friendly read.

My Father Knows the Names of Things, by Jane Yolen, and illustrated by Stephane Jorisch, is a tribute to the author’s late husband.  While a youngster is on some fun adventures with her dad, he makes these experiences learning adventures by pointing out many points of interest, noticing habitats and the astrological parts of the sky. The freely drawn illustrations with pen and watercolor are a perfect fit.

Hush Little Beach Comber, by Dianne Moritz, and illustrated by Holly McGee, is a delightful take on the children’s rhyming song titled “Hush Little Baby, Don’t Say a Word.” This little tyke is going to the beach where the sandcastles, waves, picnics and much more are waiting.  So what are you waiting for? The wonderful blended chalk and paint seem to ebb and flow with the surrounding water. This book captures all that waits at the beach!

If you’re feeling hot and muggy, here’s a book to put the chill back in your day: Zoomer’s Summer Snowstorm, by Ned Young.  Zoomer is a cute and inventive little spotted puppy who asks his mom if he can make a snow cone in the kitchen on this hot summer day. She tells him that he can as long as he cleans up after. As he proceeds to make the snow cone, the machine goes out of control so he decides to open the window. It continues spraying snow all over his yard where he decides to make snow sculptures. The color contrasts of the bluish white snow and the blooming flowers and cobalt sky creates a vivid scene. If only this were true, we could all cool off in this unique way!

A favorite author and illustrator, Alan Katz and David Catrow, respectively, have recently published another book in their series of fun and funny singing, rhyming books. Mosquitoes are Ruining my Summer!, follows the similar format of using familiar songs with themed situations, in this case – summer camp. There is “Trying Out for the Camp Show” to the tune of “Take me Out to the Ballgame” and “Mosquitoes are Ruining my Summer” to the tune of “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean.” Catrow uses his trademark illustrations with humor as the kid’s experiences jump off the pages in hues of pastels.

Seashore:  Flip the Flaps, by Hannah Wilson, is a non-fiction book that’s full of information about the beach and all that inhabit it. It covers many different kinds of shorelines which include salty shores, snowy seashores, rocky islands and salty swamps. The flaps make the facts fun and interesting for young children and the pictures are actual photographs.

I Love Vacations, by Anna Walker, is a simple account of a trip to the beach and why we love it there. The young zebra, Ollie, heads to the beach with Fred, his friend. The day at the beach and all that they do there would be a great way to relive your trip to the beach again and again. The simple ink and watercolor illustrations have white surrounding each page helping create a simple story.  Also, the text is short making this a quick, yet relaxing read.  The author has several other books in this series that begin with “I Love” as well.

Jam & Honey, by Melita Morales, and illustrated by Laura J. Bryant, is a sweet story from two points of view – a little girl gathering berries to make jam and a bee on its way to gather nectar to make honey for her honeycomb. The combined activities help shed light on the importance of nature. The soft hues of watercolor and pencil make for a sugary garden gathering.

And summer isn’t official without the county fairs. Hurry Down to Derry Fair, by Dori Chaconas, and illustrated by Gillian Tyler, is the perfect celebration of all that goes into the preparation of exhibiting and competing at the fair.  Mama has made some yummy lemon pies and Lucy is about to show her animals. Be sure to check out the full page fold-out that shows many facets of the goings on at a fair. The colors of pastels and green grass everywhere surely shows summer at its best.

Around the World on Eighty Legs, by Amy Gibson, and illustrated by Daniel Salmieri, is an informative book about  a huge variety of animals told in poetic form. The Hyena will have you “smirk as we lurk in the grass by the stream but we’re not the bad fellows that some make it seem.” And the Kangaroo questions “Why hug the ground, when you can bound?” The illustrations of each animal imparts the poem to perfection.

La Rue Across America:  Postcards from the Vacation, by Mark Teague, will take you from Bubbletub, Ohio to Mount LuLu, Colorado as Ike LaRue writes to his neighbor while she’s in the hospital and informs her about her cats that have accompanied him and his owner on a trip across the country. This hilarious story is a continuation of a successful series.  Be sure to check out the front and back endpapers that show the route across the states. Teague uses bright colors throughout that fill each page.

And if you haven’t discovered this series of entertaining books for travel, you’re missing out. I Spy Spectacular: A book of Picture Riddles, photographed by Walter Wick, with riddles by Jean Marzollo, has great fun on every page as you search for the answer to the riddles posed.

And lastly, here’s a way to let your loved ones in on your trips: Where’s Waldo: The Phenomenal Postcard Book, by Martin Handford. This collection of pull-out postcards features the famous Waldo on every postcard and what better way to inform others of your travels?

The first five books are part of a wonderfully engaging historical fiction series, “Dear America”, that helps brings history to life for ages eight to twelve. The Winter of Red Snow (The Diary of Abigail Jane Stewart), by Kristiana Gregory, is a captivating story that takes place at Valley Forge in 1777 during the height of the Revolutionary War.  A Journey to the New World, 1620 (The Diary of Remember Patience Whipple), by Kathryn Lasky, showcases a twelve-year-old pilgrim girl traveling across the Atlantic on the Mayflower and of all the difficulties and triumphs she experiences on sea and land. Like the Willow Tree:  Portland, Maine 1918, (The Diary of Lydia Amelia Pierce), by Lois Lowry, tells about a very different kind of life back in the early 20^th century. Young Lydia and her brother are recently orphaned from an epidemic that prevailed over the eastern coast during 1918 and they go to live with their uncle. His way of life is completely different from theirs as he is a Shaker. They must deal with their grief as well as this unusually simple way of life. Voyage on the Great Titanic (The Diary of Margaret Ann Brady), by Ellen Emerson White, takes young Margaret on this most adventurous and life-threatening trip where she nearly loses her life. The Fences Between Us, Seattle, Washington, 1941 (The Diary of Piper Davis), by Kirby Larson, contains many complicated difficulties that Americans dealt with during World War II. Piper’s brother is stationed at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attack. Her father is a Baptist minister to many Japanese living in the community and now they are being shipped to an internment camp. And this is just the beginning of the story. All of the “Dear America” books contain fascinating historical notes, photographs and maps found at the back of each book.

Alexander Hamilton:  The Outsider, by Jean Fritz, gives an amazing account of this brilliant, loyal citizen who was actually born in the West Indies. This biography covers the young Alexander, his move to America, his assignment to be Washington’s Aid-de-Camp, his time as the Secretary of the Treasury, and finally his tragic and sudden demise. There are linocut drawings sprinkled throughout by Ian Schoenherr as well as interesting notes found at the back of the book.

The Ride:  The Legend of Betsy Dowdy, by Kitty Griffin, and illustrated by Margorie Pricemen, is an oral fable that has been passed on since America became a nation. When young Betsy first heard that the redcoats were coming to her area in North Carolina she knew she had to alert the freedom fighters. And that’s when her treacherous horse ride began. The brilliant illustrations seem to fly along with the text reverberating the spirit and speed of the ride.

George Washington’s Spy, by Elvira Woodruff, is a time-travel adventure featuring the same protagonist kids as they travel back to the Revolutionary War where they become involved with patriot spies. This sequel to “George Washington’s Socks” is a great introduction to many of the events that surrounded this war and will keep kids engaged to the end!

Lincoln Tells a Joke:  How Laughter Saved the President (and the Country), by Kathleen Krull and Paul Brewer, and illustrated by Stacy Innerst, is a picture book that demonstrates how this great president dealt with great adversity through humor. His love of words and jokes often times turned into some hilarious and diffusing storytelling. The amber and earth tone hues strike a hometown chord which enlivens the man into reality.

Lincoln’s Flying Spies:  Thaddeus Low and the Civil War Balloon Corps, by Gail Jarrow, is a non-fiction that highlights a little know fact about how Mr. Low flew hydrogen-filled balloons over battles and sent word to Lincoln. The photos, maps and illustrations sprinkled throughout enhance this fascinating piece of history.

Just in Time, Abraham Lincoln, by Patricia Polacco, is a picture book with two boys travelling back in time where they find themselves at Antietam Battlefield. What they witness there, as well as their experiences with Lincoln, brings about an awareness and greater appreciation for their current-day lives. This award-winning author continues her tremendous storytelling style that will surely touch many lives.  And her delicate portrayal of death is appropriate for a child’s grasp.

Profiles: The Civil War, by Aaron Rosenberg, is a non-fiction that focuses on the six main people that affected and changed the events of this devastating war:  Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, Clara Barton, George McClellan, Robert E. Lee and Mathew Brady. This kid-friendly account is filled with photos, maps and more.

The Battle of Nashville, by Benson Bobrick, is another non-fiction that takes you through the most decisive battle of the Civil War and will surely help with understanding the attitudes and decisions that the major players made. Original documents, photos and more are found throughout this amazing book.

Stacking Shapes, by Salina Yoon, cleverly incorporates four stackable board books to teach basic concepts such as shapes and colors.  Each book fits into a peg, helping teach placement. The first book is a brightly shaped red heart that will surely entice, entertain and teach your little one.

Kisses, by Barney Saltzberg, is a touch-and-feel rhyming book with animals kissing their counterparts’ noses, heads and more. The cover features a soft, glittery red heart and as well as pull-tabs, flaps and miniature letter flaps of the alphabet located at the end. That’s where you’ll find more surprises inside – including a hidden squeak.

My Valentine, by Brandy Cooke, and illustrated by Annie Wilkinson, is a smallish board book in the shape of a heart with red, glossy pages. The story is about a fox choosing to whom he should give his valentine treats. This short story is sweet, with many vocabulary words to teach synonyms of what kinds of friends he has.

Peek-A-Love, also by Salina Yoon, features page-sized flaps with die-cut hearts to showcase the objects of an animal’s affection. But guess who’s behind the last page? The colors and simple illustrations are a perfect match to hold your baby’s attention!

Guess How Much I Love You?, by Sam McBratney, and illustrated by Anita Jeram, extends four stories from the classic tale. These small board books are packaged in a slipcase and features “When I’m Big”, “Let’s Play in the Snow”, “A Surprise for the Nutbrown Hares” and Colors Everywhere”.

A String of Hearts, by Laura Malone Elliott, and illustrated by Lynn Munsinger, is a simple story of friendship and appreciation. Sam wants to make a valentine for someone special but he doesn’t know how. Mary Ann helps him even though she’d like to be the recipient.  When it comes time for Sam to deliver his special valentine during school, it doesn’t work out as he’d hoped.  But he reaches into his pocket to find Mary Ann’s sweet and thoughtful card procuring his deep gratitude for someone who cares.  The brightly painted anthropomorphic animals that make up all of the characters are a nice variety of different types and sizes which conveys a nice portrayal of human characteristics.

Gifts from the Heart, by Victoria Osteen, and illustrated by Diane Palmisciano, showcases the rare and unique gifts we all have within us.  A medieval town is preparing a party for their king and is looking for gifts to buy him. But the young protagonists remind all that their God-given talents are the most precious gifts of all.  The detail and imagery of the watercolors keep this rhyming tale engaging.

And I Love You, by Ruth Krauss, and illustrated by Steven Kellogg, is a most creative and imaginative picture book full of glorious illusions that will surely propel your little one to far off places. Kellogg has recreated a story that was first written in 1987 with another illustrator. But this story is filled with the imagery that begins with a dazzling sunrise on the inside covers and the journey begins.  A cat and her kitten begin through a double page forest that seems to come alive with every wisp of each branch and grassy mulch. Every page is covered from top to bottom with the illustration. The pictures are breathtaking and will likely take you back to revisit this again and again.

The Ring Went Zing! A Story That Ends With a Kiss, by Sean Taylor, and illustrated by Jill Barton, is a lively, exhilarating cumulative tale about a frog who falls in love with a chicken and buys her a golden ring. But this catchy, fun story moves swiftly along when he drops the ring and begins to chase it. Along the way, others join in the fray to catch the ring. The pencil and watercolor details to the many different animals are hilarious and the rhyming text just joins in the fun. The surprise ending will only lead to many more reads of this story –which begs to be read aloud!

Count My Kisses, Little One, by Ruthie May, and illustrated by Tamsin Ainslie, is a counting book as an adorable little girl plays with her toy animals. The illustrations are simply painted with a white background making it easy for a youngster to count the objects portrayed by the number as you count up from 1 to 10.

Tucker’s Valentine, by Leslie McGuirk, is a cute board book about Tucker, the dog, who loves what all dogs love: his food, his Frisbee and his spot on the couch. But Cupid has other ideas when he wants Tucker to fall in love with another dog. But will that happen? This is a nice way to explain to youngsters about this wonderful holiday.

Let’s start with some outstanding and enlightening new pop-up books. Wild Oceans: A Pop-Up Book with Revolutionary Technology, by Lucio and Meera Santoro, is a book that makes learning fun. This extraordinary pop-up book features pull down flaps and smaller corner pop-ups that are loaded with information about our deepest frontier. Each page has a large pop-out that includes deep water fish and blue whales.

How about a pop-up that you can create yourself? Pop-Up:  Everything You Need to Know to Create Your Own Pop-Up Book, by Ruth Wicking, and illustrated by Frances Castle, helps teach the major components of making parts pop-out. The engineering incorporated in making the pop-ups to work are all included here. You will learn how to make a dragon, a castle and a jungle pop-up. This is the perfect family book to work together to create these projects!

Robert Sabuda is one of my favorite paper engineers and he continues to produce better and better pop-ups. Beauty & the Beast is his latest endeavor. The classic tale is told through Sabuda’s signature style with large, glorious pop-ups along with the small corner pop-ups that include several mini pages. He stays true to the classic story by demonstrating the importance of inner beauty.

My other favorite paper engineer, Matthew Reinhart, often collaborates with Sabuda and when they get together: magic happens. Gods & Heroes is their most recent joint effort and once again this is another great pop-up masterpiece!  These two engineers continue to surprise, instruct and entertain. The subjects include mythological gods from Greece, Egypt and China. It’s just as amazing to see these extraordinary pop-ups fold back into the book!

Big Frog Can’t Fit In, by Mo Willems, is a pop-up book about attempting to fit in. Frog is so big that he sticks out of the book. All attempts seem to fail until good friendship steps in. This is delightful and defrogful.

How the World Works:  A Hands-on Guide to Our Amazing Planet, by Christiane Dorian, and illustrated by Beverley Young, includes lively facts about the lifelines to living on earth. By popping out, twisting, opening or pulling tabs, you are about to learn about sunlight, water and air and how it affects us all.

Amazing Pop-Up Big Machines, by Robert Crowther, is the perfect book for that truck enthusiast! Each giant pop-up includes a pouch with interactive activities or flaps to open. This book is great fun!

And for the little lady in the family, My Little Pink Princess Purse, by Stephen T. Johnson, is the extra thick book for her. Included in this cherry and cheery book are interactive cardboard shapes, sweet smelling items, and items only meant for the little princess in your home.

The following books are interactive with the activity packaged on the cover of each book. These are all made by Klutz. The Hand Book: Explore the Handiest Part of Your Body, by Pat Murphy, is the perfect book for the scientist / doctor in your family. There is a life size plastic skeletal hand that you can assemble along with 18 activities that motivate kids to learn about their bones and hands. Doctor Frankensketch’s Monster Drawing Machine, by the editors of Klutz, is a drawing book where you can pick and choose parts of monsters to draw with the two colored pencils included. And another drawing book, Doodle Journal:  My Life in Scribbles, by Karen Phillips, and illustrated by Elise Gravel, is just waiting for you to fill the cleverly decorated spaces with your scribbles. The Truth About My Name:  and What it Reveals About Me!, by Karen Phillips, is packaged with five charms for you to personalize and includes information about how you sign your name and if your parents picked the right name for you. Doodlewire, by the Klutz editors, includes bendable spiral wires waiting to take shape. The book includes easy-to-follow instructions for the possible animal to shape. Headbands & Hairstyles, by Eva Steele-Saccio, includes three hair bands, ribbon, sequin and glue. Also included is advice on hair brushing and hairstyles.  Glossy Bands: Stretchy Bracelets to Share with your Friends, by the Klutz editors, includes enough materials to make 14 different bracelets.

And lastly, here are two books to make movies. Make Your Own Music Video, by Kaitlyn Nichols, is filled with ideas and unique ways to display your music. It includes a giant green screen and links to download backgrounds. This is also by Klutz. And Movie Maker, by Surridh Hassan, Tim Grabham and Dan Reeve, and illustrated by Garry Parsons, includes a director’s handbook, a CD full of interesting sound effects and various animation aids.

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 of Billy Lee, by Jerdine Nolen, and illustrated by Barry Moser, is a sweet story about Ellie and her three wishes for her struggling family. Her wishes, along with the beautiful paintings, evoke the magical aura of this well done story.

Great Joy, by Kate DiCamillo, and beautifully painted by Bagram Ibatoulline, is a simple but powerfully told story with pictures that evoke the emotions of compassion and charity. A young girl is about to perform in her church Christmas play but she’s been watching the organ grinder and his monkey outside her window through the many cold nights – and her concern grows. The atmospheric paintings induce this feeling of love and kindness.

The Christmas Giant, by Steve Light, is a bright little story about a giant and his little elf friend who make wrapping paper for Santa. When they are asked to grow a tree for Santa, problems ensue and they must work together to figure out how to solve their dilemma. A few of the pages have several pages with wordless pictures that cleverly move the story along. The ink, pen and pastel drawings give an old fashioned effect.

It’s Christmas, David!, by David Shannon, continues with the “David” picture books where David makes wrong choices by peeking at up-opened gifts and sneaking cookies and much more. The anticipation of all the trappings of Christmas has David getting caught making bad decisions. The Kindergarten-like drawings by the author add to the atmosphere of a young child and his decisions.

Little Tree, by E. E. Cummings, and illustrated by Deborah Kogan Ray, is a reissue by the celebrated author about young siblings who find a small, bare tree in a tree lot and take it home to decorate. This beautifully painted story fills the reader with the true message of Christmas.

Christmas is Here, illustrated by Lauren Castillo, with words from the King James Bible, begins with a family coming upon a large crèche while walking down a street. Then only text begins by quoting from the Book of Matthew and illustrating the events of what happened when Baby Jesus was born. The watercolors and ink pictures fill each page.

Fletcher and the Snowflake Christmas, by Julia Rawlinson, and brightly illustrated with pastels by Tiphanie Beeke, is a cute little story about Fletcher, a fox, who is worried about how Santa will find his new home. His little family just moved and he doesn’t think Santa knows where he now lives. But Christmas morning he discovers a nice surprise.

The next two books are geared for ages nine and up. The Christmas Genie, by Dan Gutman, tells of a meteorite crashing into a 5^th grade classroom and a real genie appearing. But problems begin when the genie gives the class just one wish together and they can’t decide what that will be. This hilarious story is also very entertaining and great fun to read.

The Adventures of Santa Paws, by Nicholas Edwards, includes two stories in one. “Santa Paws” has this homeless puppy becoming a hero when he rescues a family from a burning building and also a child from drowning. “The Return of Santa Paws” has the puppy and his new owners flying to New England when the plane crashes in a remote wilderness. Both stories are definitely page-turners.

White Christmas, from the song written by Irving Berlin, and beautifully illustrated by Michael Hague, is a great celebration of this classic song. The attention to detail on the full page paintings are glorious and with the complete score located at the back.

Ivy Loves to Give, by Freya Blackwood, is the perfect book depicting the joy of giving. Young Ivy loves giving but must learn to give correctly and also learn how to receive honorably. The simple watercolors parallel the simple text giving a strong message of giving and receiving.

The Christmas Eve Ghost, by Shirley Hughes, teaches tolerance and acceptance. A widowed mother must work on Christmas Eve and tells her children not to go next door as they don’t belong to the same church. But the children get frightened and end up going to their neighbor’s house where they discover that the neighbor is kind and trusting. The ink and watercolors are a nice fit with the story.

And for baby, here are two small board books about Christmas.  It’s Christmas Time!, by Salina Yoon, is a clever book with six interchangeable disks that you can take out of each page and slide into the next. The brightly colored, foil-covered disks help each page become an interactive and entertaining page.

Christmas Shapes, by Nancy Davis, has press-out pieces that toddlers can take out and put back as they turn the pages and see new basic shapes. The final pages fold out to double the size.

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 Alannah has similar psychic powers passed on to her as she can see these ghostly encounters. She is about to go head-first into a discovery that will almost throw her off course. The humor and banter between her and the other characters throughout this book make this mystery lighter and funny.

Among the Ghosts, by Amber Benson with delightful illustrations sprinkled throughout by Sina Grace, embroils Noleen in a conflict unknown to anyone else while staying at an old boarding school. She befriends ghosts in an area near a burned-out dormitory and soon discovers that these ghosts are unwillingly disappearing and she must find out why in order to put a stop to it.

Modern Fairies, Dwarves, Goblins & Other Nasties: A Practical Guide by Miss Edythe McFate, by Lesley M. M. Blume, and wonderful pen and ink drawings by David Foote, is most likely going to be one of my favorite books of the year! Ms. Blume has captured the magical essence of these smallish sprites as she delves deep into their many adventures and mischievous behaviors. There are prequel warnings and explanations prior to each tale with follow-up notes and further help in order to better understand their actions or reactions.

The Wish Stealers, by Tracy Triva, involves sixth grader, Griffin, the moment she accepts a box of what she thinks are lucky pennies given to her by a mysterious old woman. She is now officially a “wish stealer” as these pennies were stolen from a wishing fountain and bad wishes are going to come from them. Griffin sets out to change this predicament and break the curse.

Fablehaven: Keys to the Demon Prison, by Brandon Mull, is the last installment of the popular Fablehaven series and it won’t disappoint you as it’s every bit as exciting and nailbiting as the prior books. The same brother and sister duo, Seth and Kendra, must travel a great distance where they are in search of the keys to the demon prison before the evil Sphinx recovers the five artifacts.

The Search for Wondla, by Tony DiTerlizzi, is the beginning of a new series that will thrill the reader. The author of the Spiderwick series has created a new story set in the future about twelve-year-old Eva Nine who has been raised by a robot. Now, she is forced for the first time to go aboveground where she has never been before. She has never seen another human but believes there must be more like her. Her most treasured item is a piece of cardboard with a young girl, an adult, a robot and the words “Wondla” on it. She is about to encounter many unusual friends and foes as she treks across this new horizon. The author has masterly illustrated two toned pictures as well as incorporated some new elements in this book. With the use of a webcam, there are several augmented reality pictures that add to Eva’s dimension.

The Heart of Glass, by Vivian French, is the third installment to the “Five Kingdoms” series following “The Bag of Bones”. Ms. French continues the story of Gracie Gillypott and Prince Marcus, but this day they are going to watch dwarves. Princess Marigold has different ideas for Prince Marcus as she has her heart set on his. Throw in some trolls, a goblin and some noisy bats along with a powerful heart of glass and you’ve got a hilarious and thrilling adventure!

Oracles of Delphi Keep: The Curse of Deadman’s Forest, by Victoria Laurie, is the second in this series and suffice it to say that you will love this series. The first book begins along the coast of England where a castle houses orphans. When a brother and sister find a treasure box, their exciting adventure unfolds with monsters, mythical creatures and even a portal to another country. This second book continues the sibling’s quests and is compared to the Chronicles of Narnia.

Enchanted Glass, by Diana Wynne Jones, begins when Andrew inherits his grandfather’s large house and property. The property houses ghosts, and even a giant, but it’s about to receive an orphan who has problems of his own with the supernatural. Andrew takes this young boy in and the ghostly presence heightens immediately.