See Saw Girl, by Linda Sue Park, is an eye-opening historical fiction about a young nobility-born Korean girl in the 17th century. Her life is restricted to living behind the walls of her residence until her arranged marriage when she grows a little older.  At that point it’s then restricted to the confines of her husband’s house. Twelve-year-old Jade wants desperately to see the outside world and finds a rare opportunity when a ship near her village runs aground. The author expertly weaves this historical tale to keep the reader interested, while informed. There’s also historical background and a bibliography located in the back of the book.

Roland Wright:  Future Knight, by Tony Davis, and with illustrations sprinkled throughout by Gregory Rogers, is a delightful beginning chapter book and the first in a planned series featuring young Roland who desires to become a knight. The year is 1409 and he’s born into a life of his father’s livelihood, but he is able to overcome the odds with honesty, resilience, courage and perseverance, as well as some humorous attempts as he strives for knighthood. This delightful new series has winsome pen and ink drawings throughout

A Faraway Island, by Annika Thor, is a story of struggle, separation and ultimately overcoming difficult challenges. It’s 1939 and two Jewish sisters from Austria have been sent to Sweden as an asylum from the Nazis. Their parents are detained while obtaining visas and this detainment takes much longer than imagined so the story is about how the sisters manage life in a foreign country. The twelve-year-old sister has a very strict and cold foster parent while the younger sister finds life in Sweden much easier. The author’s note in the back is a must read.

Chancey of the Maury River, by Gigi Amateau, is a horse story about Chancey who has recently been moved to live at the Maury River Stables. Upon his arrival, he was bone thin, old and weary and in great need for someone to care and love him. When Claire finds him at the stables, she is also in great need for love as her parents are divorcing. This story is rich in the healing of hearts and souls through the love of an animal.

Wishing for Tomorrow:  The Sequel to A Little Princess, by Hilary McKay, and with illustrations sprinkled throughout by Nick Maland, continues where the original classic left off. It begins with a quick summary of the original story, but quickly sets the tone of the story to come. The events that happen when the heroine, Sara, leaves Miss Minchin’s Seminary and the remaining girls take on a completely invigorating and amazing new story, but containing the classic feel of the original story. This book is full of nuances, emotional content and breathtaking passages. It’s quite remarkable that a sequel to a book such as “A Little Princess” can be as great, but it truly is!  And the pictures help set the old fashioned ambiance.

The Fast and the Furriest, by Andy Behrens, is a hilarious story about twelve-year-old Kevin and his dog. Kevin’s football pro dad wants him to play football but Kevin would rather watch TV with his dog. But interesting and unique events are about to spur both dog and master into amazing feats that will confound even Kevin’s dad.

Julia Gillian (and the Dream of the Dog), by Alison McGhee, and with illustrations sprinkled throughout by Drazen Kozjan, is the third book in this wonderful series. Julia is in sixth grade and is experiencing the challenges of friendship, school and her beloved dog. Her tremendous support of family, friends and school help her through the hardest of times. You don’t need to read the previous two books to keep abreast of this delightful story. However, after reading this book, chances are you will want to read “Julia Gillian (and the Art of Knowing)” and “Julia Gillian (and the Quest for Joy)”.

My Brother Abe: Sally Lincoln’s Story, by Harry Mazer, is an enlightening story about Lincoln’s older sister and her relationship with Lincoln as they grew up. The facts that are portrayed through this moving story take place in both Kentucky and Indiana as the family moves from their farm to a much more isolated location. The author takes liberties with Abe’s sister as there is little known about her, but you learn much about his upbringing and family life in this interesting historical fiction.

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 that “This is the day”. He is ready to break free of his ropes as the parade gets underway. The brilliant acrylic paintings fill the pages and Ray’s gleaming smile will likely become the reader’s smile as well.

Animal House, by Candace Ryan, and brightly painted by Nathan Hale, is a fun word play about a boy who is told by his teacher, Mrs. Nuddles, that he belongs in a zoo due to his wild imagination.  He states that he lives in a “gorvilla” and that he has a “vulchair” “drooling ever since Mrs. Nuddles came into the room.” The pictures, ingenious illustrations and word usage may spark some ingenuity on your own – which continues on both inside covers.

The Gentleman Bug, by Julian Hector, celebrates the love of reading as Hector, a bookworm,  enjoys reading everywhere he goes. He’s about to meet another bug, the librarian, who also loves reading. The wonderful detailed pictures give the ambiance of yesteryear.

Mr. Elephanter, by Lark Pien, is elephant-chanting and a most delightful and wistful story about a smiling Mr. Elephanter who goes to the “elephantery” where he takes care of the cutest tiny elephants. He makes, bakes and plays with these adorable little critters and when they need discipline, he does so with a gentle hand. The pencil and watercolors are a perfect fit, and don’t forget to check out the inside covers where the story begins and ends.

Disappearing Desmond, by Anna Alter, has young Desmond, a cat, who doesn’t like to be noticed ever:  not in school, not at recess, not even while on a field trip. But it’s all about to change when an insightful rabbit notices him reading her favorite book and asks to join him.  Now he likes being noticed and he sets out to find other disappearing students. The message is clear here with the importance of helping others feel part of a group. The vibrant acrylic pictures fill each page.

A Pig Parade is a Terrible Idea, by Michael Ian Black, and illustrated by Kevin Hawkes, will have you pondering how these paltry pigs parade when in reality they eat their uniforms, stomp on their horns and much, much more. Hawkes’ hilarious renderings of these pinkish pigs doing all sorts of unwilling things will have you pontificate what would be better. I especially like the cover showing a large drum with a pig’s snout breaking through!

Clever Jack Takes the Cake, by Candace Fleming, and illustrated by G. Brian Kars, will surely inspire a tale or two of your own after reading this invigorating story.  Jack is too poor to take the young princess a present so he decides to bake her a cake.  He cleverly trades ingredients that he needs to make a most succulent cake.  But as he travels along the way, animals and a troll eat it almost completely.  He sadly tells the princess what became of her cake and how she responds will have all who read or listen adoring this story. The gouache and pencil drawings adeptly add imagination to each page.

Don’t Slam the Door!, by Dori Chaconas, and illustrated by Will Hillenbrand, has a puppy running through a door setting off pandemonium. This action sets off a cumulative reaction as it wakes up the cat that unravels Ma’s knitting yarn and on and on. Will the house ever be the same? This fun rhyming tale begs to be read aloud. The expressions of each person or animal affected are most comical.

Too Pickley!, by Jean Reidy, and illustrated by Genevieve LeLoup, is a simple story about simply being too picky. The fun rhyming text has a variety of two word phrases that describes how a fussy little boy feels about his food. “Too crunchy, too licky, too stringy, too sticky!” Each vibrantly colored page has a different background color making items discussed pop-out at you.

Little Gorilla, by Ruth Bornstein, is a reissue that was first published back in 1976.  Young Gorilla is loved by all, but as he grows and changes he wonders if he’ll still be loved. This cherished classic is loved by all, especially the colored pencil drawings of the animals in the jungle.

And lastly, Speckle the Spider, by Emma Dodson, is filled with maps, flaps and pull-outs for tiny hands to enjoy while reading about a spider who is ready for an adventure.  The more he travels, the more he receives attention, but is this what he wants?  The acrylic and ink illustrations, along with the interactive flaps, make Speckle’s adventure a great one.

The Silence of God, by Gale Sears, is an historical fiction book that is well researched and documented. But more than the tremendous research Ms. Sears delved into, it’s a fascinating story about two friends and their families.  It details how their friendships and lives are challenged when the over-throw of their Imperial Russia is changing the lives of all who live there. One of the friends, Agnes, is a member of the Church, but Natasha isn’t. The events of their lives are based on a true account, but readers beware: once begun, you won’t be able to put this book down.  This book is best for ages 12 through adult.

The Fourth Nephite, by Jeffrey S. Savage, is a teen novel about a high school football star, Kaleo, who is cutting his seminary classes and beginning to get in with the wrong crowd. His seminary teacher decides it’s time to take matters into his own hands and sends Kaleo to meet with someone who has him open a door which alters his live forever. What’s behind that door? You’ll have to read the book to find out!

Eliza’s Field of Faith, by Rachelle Pace Castor, and illustrated by Dixon Leavitt, is a picture book based on an actual account of a late planting of wheat and the miracle that occurred in the area now known as the City of Lehi. The oil paintings are glorious and set the scene of pioneer life and the devastation that besets this community.

Far World:  Land Keep (book 1) and Far World:  Water Keep (book 2), both by J. Scott Savage, is an exciting fantasy series with book 3 on the way about Marcus, who is from Earth, and Kyja, who is from Farworld.  They work together, with their magical gifts, to deal with great difficulties and then triumphs in these thrilling reads.  These books are best for ages 9 through adult.

The Last Waltz:  A Novel of Love and War, by G. G. Vandagriff, is the intriguing story of Amalia living in Vienna and the year is 1913 and her country and the world is about to go to war. It tells of her struggles and love of family and the men who fall in love with her. This gripping novel sets the tone of one of the worst wars of our time. It is best for ages 12 through adult.

The Hourglass Door (book 1) and The Golden Spiral (book 2), both by Lisa Mangum, is a time travel series with four friends who go back in time with characters so real that you’ll feel a part of the book. Both of these books should have a disclaimer: give yourself time to read them because once you begin, you won’t be able to stop! These are best for ages 11 through adult.

Imprints, by Rachel Ann Nunes, is another great mystery by this brilliant author and readers will not be disappointed. When a young woman ends up missing, a uniquely talented Autumn can help. She can read imprints off of objects and detect emotions. But can she help this family? This book is best for teens through adult.

Life of Jesus:  Seek and Ye Shall Find, by Val Chadwick Bagley, is a fun search and find book with a scripture theme that youngsters ages four to eight will enjoy and use to learn. Each page includes brightly painted pictures that completely fill the page.

Do What is Right:  52 Fun Motivators for LDS Families, by Douglas J. and Laurie H. Wilcox, is filled with fun activities, outlines, ideas and even checklists that will give families thought-provoking family home evening lesson plans. There is so much packed into this 200 plus page book that you will surely be inspired to come up with even more ideas emanating from this outstanding book. (Sunday school and Primary teachers: there are some great ideas here for innovative lessons.)

52 More Weeks of Family Night: Scripture Study Edition, by Diane Kirkpatrick, is another book packed with ideas to do together as a family – only this book emphasizes the scriptures. There’s even a CD-ROM included to allow printing activities to mix or match. Families will love this book!

Let’s begin with three books with longer stories. Fairies and the Quest for Never Land, by Gail Carson Levine, and illustrated by David Christiana, is filled with magic, adventure and the land of Peter Pan as Ms. Levine whisks the reader away to the land of make-believe.  Gwendolyn is taken to Never Land, a place she’s always wanted to see, and more than anything, she wants to meet the fairies. But she’s about to discover something about these fairies, as they are on the cusp of something very dangerous that’s headed their way. There are 32 exciting chapters with colorful pictures sprinkled throughout.

Tollins:  Explosive Tales for Children, by Conn Iggulden, and illustrated by Lizzy Duncan, is actually three stories about the Tollins rolled into one book.  Each story has short chapters which make this a perfect book for bed-time reading. Tollins are similar to fairies who have wings and live at the bottom of gardens, but they’re larger and seemingly tougher. Each story is light, humorous and ingenious, catching the imaginations of all who read or hear these delightful stories.

A Field Guide to Aliens, by Johan Olander, will surely get your creative juices going after reading through just a few of the aliens described here. The book is written like a scrapbook with sketches of amazingly out-of-this-world beings. And if the descriptions and illustrations aren’t enough, wait until you read the names of all 27 aliens.

The Boy Who Climbed into the Moon, by David Almond, and illustrated by Polly Dunbar, is a longer fable about an unimaginative boy who decides to go to the top of his apartment to touch the sky. What he discovers when he reaches the top floor, and who he meets along the way, will expand his horizon well beyond the sky.

Bink & Gollie, by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee, and illustrated by Tony Fucile, is a new chapter book series about two unlikely friends who appear to be opposite, yet are the best of friends. The cartoon-like pictures are a perfect match for a book that’s light, fun and funny.

The rest of the books are picture books with short stories.  The Clever Stick, by John Lechner, knows that it’s very smart and knows mathematical equations, along with an appreciation of literature, but it can’t speak to all of the forest animals. Then it discovers that it can communicate by making designs and letters in the sand. This book is an inspiration to those silent geniuses in all of us!

Oh No! (Or How My Science Project Destroyed the World), by Mac Barnett, and illustrated by Dan Santa, is almost a wordless book with a powerful statement: “I should have done it another way”. When the heroine creates a robot who has now escaped, the digitally colorful illustrations stretch to the corners of every page. And don’t forget to check out the front and back inside covers!  I love this book!

Not All Animals Are Blue:  A Big Book of Little Differences, by Beatice Boutignon, is an outstanding book helping youngsters decipher small or unusual differences on each page.

Princess Hyacinth and the Surprising Tale of a Girl who Floated, by Florence Parry Heide, and illustrated by Lane Smith, is an unusual story with an unusual storyline: a girl who has anti-gravity as part of her make-up. She has to stay inside with her extra heavy crown that enables her to stay on the ground. But does she escape to the great outdoors? Read the book and find out.

The last of these picture books celebrate reading.  Miss Brooks Loves Books! (and I Don’t), by Barbara Bottner, and illustrated by Michael Emberly, highlights the importance of the librarian and how her knowledge of the books in her library can help excite even the most reluctant reader.

Dewey:  There’s a Cat in the Library, by Vicki Myron and Bret Witter, has Dewey, a small kitten, becoming the library pet who not only loves books but loves children also. The watercolors are breathtaking and go perfectly with the story.

Dog Loves Books, by Louise Yates, is a wonderful celebration of the magic of books. A small dog opens a bookstore, but no one comes. So he begins to read through his vast number of books and his imagination takes hold. The simple pencil and watercolor pictures seemingly take hold of the reader as well!

How Rocket Learned to Read, by Tad Hills, illustrates through oil paintings and words, how a

small dog and his teacher, a small bird, work together to capture the essence of stories and reading.

The Birthday Ball, by Lois Lowry, and illustrated by Jules Feiffer, is the perfect book for humor and good storytelling. But it’s also great fun to read out loud because this favorite author embellishes words, plays with words and uses alliteration throughout with her broad stroke of genius. Princess Patricia Priscilla is excited for her upcoming sixteenth birthday, but her parents have invited the most boring and foolish suitors. But – she has thought of another brilliant idea to break the strict rules and make this the ball beyond belief!

Jasper Dash and the Flame-Pits of Delaware, by M. T. Anderson, and illustrated by Kurt Cyrus, is an exciting page turner that’s full of excitement and adventure. The hero, Jasper, along with his two side-kicks, are about to head to a land far away only to discover unknown enemies that are completely surprising to all three of the main characters. And now they have to figure out a way to escape!

The Night Fairy, by Laura Amy Schlitz, and illustrated by Angela Barrett, is a magical story with wonderful undertones of perseverance and of overcoming great difficulties. This beautifully written story encompasses a realm of fairies who live and fly by night. But one fairy has to deal with the daytime and the dangers that come with day now that her wings have been damaged by a bat. The colorful pictures add to the enchantment of this story.

Tentacles, by Roland Smith, has cousins, Marty and Grace, traveling with their scientist uncle in search of a giant squid. But they are about to find much more that they bargained for! You’d better make time for this fantasy adventure because chances are your listeners will not want you to stop reading! Reader beware: this is a book that’s very hard to put down!

Philippa Fisher and the Dream-Maker’s Daughter, by Liz Kessler, and illustrated by Katie May, is the second book in this outstanding series but you need not read the first to enjoy this story.  Philippa has a fairy for her friend and she is about to go on a family vacation but soon discovers that the small town she chooses to vacation in is actually in great trouble and in need of her help. Can she help? This magical mystery will captivate the reader from beginning to end.

Ring of Fire: Century Quartet Book 1, by P. D. Baccalario, is the first book of what looks like an exciting new series. It is said that every 100 years, “four kids from four cities must save the world.” When a mix-up in reservations happen at a hotel in Rome, the parents arrange for each of their children to sleep in one room. The kids, who had never met before this, begin to realize there is a reason for this situation and begin to see events unfold.  They are about to go on a quest through closed libraries, catacombs and much more before discovering the mystery that leads them.

Secret of the Night Ponies, by Joan Hiatt Harlow, is set back in 1965 in Newfoundland where Jessie discovers three shipwreck survivors. As she and her family help them, she also figures out a way to save the wild ponies living on the island. From the beginning of the story, you will find yourself immediately pulled into Jessie’s remote life.

The Dreamer, by Pam Munoz Ryan, and illustrated by Peter Sis, is extraordinary and should be on the short list for the Newbery Award for this year. This enthralling tale of the childhood of poet, Pablo Neruda, jumps off the page with both word and art. This celebration of language, and the collaboration of the illustrations, will surly linger long after putting down the book.

Happy Reading,

Holly

Let’s begin with some unique ways that publishers are creating cool and interesting ways to entice babies and keep them engaged in looking at the book. Sound can help keep young babies interested in a book. I Am An Ice Cream Truck, by Ace Landers, and illustrated by Paolo Miglian, is shaped into an ice cream truck which includes wheels at the bottom of the book. When pushing one of the wheels, the musical song of “Do Your Ears Hang Low” starts to play, with a similar sound of an ice cream truck. The simple story is about what you might find inside a vehicle little ones are magically drawn to when hearing a similar song in the neighborhood.

Little Duck Says Quack! and Little Puppy Says Woof!, by Judy Dunn, and photographed by Phoebe Dunn, are similar with photos of the subjects as they grow, and also with buttons to push in the corner of the book that makes the sound of the animal highlighted.

Disney’s Baby Einstein series has a new package, Fun With Animals Friendship Box, with 3 small books and the typical wonderful simple photos of animals. There’s also a small plush animal that’s included in this carrying box. There’s also Disney’s Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Mickey’s 1,2,3s which has 5 small books that are each shaped in a number with the content all about that number.

Flip-Up Counting and Flip-Up Shapes, both by Chuck Murphy, are cleverly packaged with a side bar that when pushed shows the concept taught. Youngsters will enjoy pushing the tab and likely learn the concept.

Salina Yoon continues to package unique books with bright, vivid pictures that seem to entice youngsters. Find My Feet! and Wings are her latest editions which have movable parts at the bottom of the books.

Marget and H.A. Rey’s “Curious George” series has 3 new books.  Seasons has teachable spin-the-wheels that effectively show the different seasons. My First Words At The Zoo has a simple book with few words on each page as well as a cute t-shirt for babies. And Travel Activity Kit incudes the original story, stickers and card game in this box with a handle.

Gossie Plays Hide and Seek, by Olivier Dunrea, is actually one of my favorites of this bunch because it’s full of movable parts, pull tabs and even a game to play at the end. Little tikes will surely enjoy this book!

I love it when the publishers repackage a successful book or ever popular author for the younger set. Such is the case with Eric Carle’s Have You Seen My Cat? This fun read had a slide-and-peek on every page. And, finally, The Grasshopper Hopped!, by Elizabeth Alexander, and illustrated by Joung Un Kim, is a story about a grasshopper with each page allowing the reader to move a tab making the grasshopper hop.

The “Little” series from Scholastic has a great shadow book, What Am I? that allows the very young child to guess the shape by pulling out the tabs.

Looking for books with texture, here are some nice touch-n-feel books: Karen Katz’s Baby at the Farm, Lorena Siminovich’s I Like Bugs and I Like Fruit and Rachael Hale’s Bedtime Buddies and Baby Animals. Here’s a very colorful lift-the-flap book with baby covering the entire page: Where Is Baby’s Belly Button?, also by Karen Katz.

Now for some stories with great content. Move! by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page, is another repackaged book that tiny hands can hold. The lenticular cover has a rabbit that  “moves” over the title and each animal inside has the award winner Jenkins’ trademark collage shapes. The text flows along with the animal, teaching the essence of each critter.

Art for Baby, by various famous artists, has an assembly of simple black and white pictures for the new born with the premise suggesting that babies focus on high contrasts. There is also a fold-out frieze of the same pictures to hang in baby’s room.

Hide and Seek in the Jungle, by Sean Callery, and illustrated by Rebecca Robinson, is a Kingfisher publication which makes it very educational. The lay-out of this interesting book is very youngster-oriented with peepholes and lift-the-flaps.

My Circus, by Xavier Deneux, is a jovial contrasting book full of die-cuts with a familiar circus theme. This book is brilliant!

The Very Best Mother Goose Book Tower, is published by Candlewick and has four tiny books for easy carrying.

Blue Goose, by Nancy Tafuri, is an excellent book to teach colors.

And for humor, Wow It’s a Cow!, by Trudy and Jay Harris, and illustrated by Paige Keiser, is fun, funny and rhymes. Great fun!

Leo and the Lesser Lion, by Sandra Forrester, is a story set during the Great Depression era about the relationships and life and death experiences among the members of a family. Leo rebuilds a boat for his sister, Bayliss, when she turns 12. However, on their maiden voyage, they experience a terrible accident and Leo drowns. Bayliss now goes through life with guilt and a desire to do something good in her life. Her life is about to change for the better when her father brings in two orphans to temporarily help their church and community. The lessons that Bayliss and her family learn will shed new light on the importance of families and love.

Seven Keys of Balabin, by Paul Haven, takes place in a country similar to Afghanistan and is full of adventure and mystery. Twelve-year-old Oliver has just moved to this dusty country where he befriends two natives and a store-owner. But all 3 are about to set out on a mystifying adventure as they try to discover what happened to the store owner who apparently has been kidnapped. Along the way, they find that a valuable carpet has been stolen and they are about to discover much more as a 500-year-old mystery begins to unravel. Hold on to your seats, and this book, because you’ll not want to put this exciting adventure down!

Also Known as Harper, by Ann Haywood Leal, captures the essence of beautiful words through the injustices of life as 5th grader, Harper, discovers. She loves to write, especially poetry, and loves to hear her mom read “To Kill a Mockingbird” which was written by the author she was named after. Her father has left and now her mom, brother and herself have to leave their apartment because of being behind on the rent and they have no where to go. They find an old motel and two new friends who seem to also be down on their luck. These new friends live in a nearby tent encampment with their mother and are also struggling with homelessness. The story is truly a celebration of the love and strong bond of family and the importance of how standing by with support can make many good things happen. Reading about the lives of these two families will bring a deep appreciation to kids of the important blessings in their lives.

Touch Blue, by Cynthia Lord, is a beautifully written story about a smart, spunky girl, Tess, who lives off the coast of Maine. The State is threatening to close the island’s only one-room school due to the drop in enrollment, but Tess’s town has an idea to keep the school open thereby preventing the children having to move to a landlocked school: they host foster-children which brings up the enrollment. However, this approach also brings about a whole new set of problems.

Spider Boy, by Ralph Fletcher, will take you into Bobby’s world where he loves spiders. In fact, he has a pet tarantula but his pet hasn’t eaten since his family moved into this new state. Bobby isn’t doing so well either since some of the kids at school make fun of him and one actually bullies him. Bobby learns much about himself and how to face his problems, including the bully, with courage and intelligence and this story will teach us all a lesson or two. There are also many interesting facts about spiders interspersed throughout.

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, by Grace Lin, incorporates Chinese-folklore with fairy tales to create an adventure of mystical magic. Young Minli lives with her parents in a poor dwelling but her life is never dull because her father enchants her continually with stories of the Jade Dragon and the Old Man on the Moon who knows all things. So she decides to set off and find the Old Man on the Moon to ask him how she can change the fortune of her family. And so this exciting adventure begins. This page-turner will have you spellbound as you become a part of her sojourn up the mountain as she seeks to get closer to the moon. This won last year’s Newbery Honor award.

Here’s another Newbery Honor book from last year: The Mostly True Adventures of Homor P. Figg, by Rodman Philbrick.  This book is a packed adventure around the time of the Civil War and has such fun and vibrant phrases, and crisp characterizations, that make it great fun to read aloud!  Homor has just found out that his older brother, who is underage to legally be involved in the war, has been sold by his mean old uncle to go to the front lines to fight. He immediately sets off to save his brother and so begins the mishaps and mighty adventures that befall him.

Regarding the Bees: a Lesson, in Letters, on Honey, Dating and Other Sticky Subjects, by Kate Klise, and illustrated by M. Sarah Klise, is a most entertaining and involved story with many underlying stories going on at the same time. But what really makes this an unusual read is the format. It’s written entirely in letters as correspondence between students to friends and teachers to students and principals to students.  These letters contain all the dialogue, storyline and predicaments. The visual illustrations propel the story right along with perfect intonations. This fifth book in the series stands alone, but the other four books are just as fun.

Noodle Pie, by Ruth Starke, is full of ambiguities as eleven-year-old Andy accompanies his father on his first trip back to his homeland, Vietnam. He now lives in Australia, but his father is taking him back to meet his relatives, visit their famous restaurant and see the sites of Hanoi. But what Andy is about to experience is that the restaurant is little more than a storefront with the family living in a very tight space behind the restaurant. There are many lessons learned in this inviting and invigorating story. But there are also some great tendrils of food descriptions. So warning: don’t read while hungry. (Don’t forget to try some of the yummy sounding recipes located at the back of the book.)

Crows & Cards, by Joseph Helgerson, is written in the style of Mark Twain with life aboard a riverboat and all the trappings during the mid 1800’s. Zebulon is supposed to be heading to a tanner’s workplace to learn his trade. But he gets sidetracked when he meets a smooth-talking gambler who talks him into changing his trade to become an apprentice to cards. But Zeb soon realizes this trade isn’t for him as he has a conscience and can’t learn the cheating ways. Life portrayed in this book will surely sweep you back to a time long forgotten, but the adventures Zeb finds himself immersed in will keep you reading to the very end.

Let’s begin with six fiction books that are geared for ages nine and older. The Fabled Fifth Graders of Aesop Elementary School, by Candace Fleming, is a hilarious story with moral lessons hailing back to the classic Aesop Fables. Even though there is continuity of a story throughout the book that starts with the beginning of the school year in Mr. Jupiter’s class, each chapter ends with a simple moral learned by all in the class. The story, characters and situations are rich and funny making this a fun read-aloud.

Count Down to Summer:  A Poem For Every Day of the School Year, by J. Patrick Lewis, and illustrated by Ethan Long, begins with number 180 and a poem about the beginning of school. From there, each poem is numbered one less than the previous and the poems go along with the seasons and holidays as the school year progresses. The poems are clever and fun and kids will surely get a kick out of reading them day by day. And chances are they’ll be motivated to make up a few of their own.

100 Words Every Middle Schooler Should Know, from the editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries, is a compacted paper-back with words nicely defined. But what makes this book stand out is the way the word is placed into a quoted paragraph from a well-known book. Kids will really “get” the use and usage of these more difficult and frequently used words.

Zombies!  Evacuate the School!, with poems by Sara Holbrook, and illustrated by Karen Sandstrom, is a nice assortment of poems relating to school work and activities in upper elementary. The cartoon-like illustrations add to the humor but what makes this book unusual and a good learning tool is the way the author gives tips and advice on writing your own poetry.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Strange School Stories, published by Scholastic, is filled with bizarre, interesting and unbelievable quick reads that kids, especially the reluctant reader, will enjoy reading and attempting to believe – or not.

Ultimate Guide to Surviving Middle School, from the creators of Girls’ Life Magazine, and published by Scholastic, is a paper-back book that’s an easy and informative read, as well as a discussion oriented guide to help girls as they enter junior high with the changes in their feelings, looks and attitudes. Parents of pre-teen girls should opt for this book!

The next two books are beginning and early chapter books beginning with the early reader. I Love School!, by Hans Wilhelm, is a book in a series about Noodles the dog and how much he adores school. Amazing Monty, by Johanna Hurwitz, and illustrated by Anik McGrory, is a great series for easy chapter book readers and has the 6-year-old finding that there are some parakeets that need a new home and they end up at his school for classroom pets. There are many adventures packed in this simple and fun book!

The rest of the books are picture books geared for ages four to eight. Kindergarten Diary, by Antoinette Portis, has Annalina writing in her diary as her days begin in her new school. But she writes that she doesn’t want to go. However, she soon discovers that it’s an exciting and fun place to be and her diary reflects this. The colorful and bright illustrations magnify a Kindergarten feeling throughout.

Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten?, by Audrey Vernick, and illustrated by Daniel Jennewein, is a great book to help your youngster prepare for Kindergarten. Instead of using children for the main theme, buffaloes are used which adds humor into every situation. It’s okay for buffaloes to get their hooves messy and they can learn how to use their horns to get along. This book begs for discussions helping those tepid little ones adjust to a regular school environment.

Feeling good about yourself, and getting along with others, are key components for school. I’m the Best, by Lucy Cousins, has Dog thinking he can do everything when really he just needs friends to feel good about himself. Emily’s New Friend, by Cindy Post Senning, Ed. D. and Peggy Post, and illustrated by Steve Bjorkman, shows how Emily uses courage, kindness and nice manners when meeting and making friends. The watercolors used make good use for teachable moments. Forever Friends, by Carin Berger, demonstrates how a strong friendship can last through the seasons. The illustrations are depicted on graph and different forms of paper and the color seems to bounce off the pages as the shapes of these two friends, a bird and a rabbit. Smile!, by Leigh Hodgkinson, shows how an adorable little girl with a name that depicts how she normally is, “Sunny”, has become gloomy when she loses her smile. The brightly illustrated pictures completely cover each page and are rendered as if youngsters drew them. This book will surely bring a smile to all who read it.

Let’s begin with baseball books. My favorite kid’s sports author is John Feinstein.  John has written some of the best sports mysteries which includes the sports of the NFL, the U.S. Open and basketball. His newest book for kids is Change-Up:  Mystery at the World Series and it has, once again, surpassed my high expectations. Returning protagonists and teen reporters, Stevie and Susan Carol get yet another opportunity to cover a series of games, but this time it’s The World Series. They interview a new pitcher for the series and discover some unusual information about his background. They begin to do some investigative reporting on his background and the more they explore, the larger the mystery becomes. There is much to learn about this mystery as these two are about to discover. What I like best about Feinstein’s mysteries is the way he develops his characters; they come alive and you become part of the whole experience as you read through to the end. And you will want to read this to the very end!

Roy Morelli Steps Up to the Plate, by Thatcher Heldring, will grab you at the beginning and keep you reading until the end. Eighth grader Roy thinks of himself as an elite, cool baseball player who is about to play on the All-Star team. However, his parents have other ideas since he’s let his studies go and now he’s flunking history. So now there’s no All-Star team for the summer, just a tutor and the mediocre recreation league. But, he’s about to learn some very important life skills this summer that will shape his life!

Roberto & Me, by Dan Gutman, is another book in a series by another favorite kid’s author. Young Joe Stoshack goes back in time in an attempt to warn famous Roberto Clemente not to board the humanitarian plane that crashed and killed him back in 1972. Gutman is able to hold the reader with anticipation and excitement, as well as provide teachable moments about donating time and supplies to help the disadvantaged.

Free Baseball, by Sue Corbett, is a look inside the rise of baseball players through the ranks of minor-league baseball. But it’s more a story about a young Cuban boy who comes to America with his mother and hopes to find his major-league baseball father. The sacrifices for love of family come through very strongly. And the Spanish words that are woven nicely in the story can be found in the glossary in the back, along with various baseball terms.

Henry Aaron’s Dream, by Matt Tavares, is an incredible picture book highlighting the life of one of baseball’s best: Hank Aaron. Taveres begins the book with a picture of a chain-link fence and a sign that states “Whites Only”. And so begins the challenges of Aaron to succeed in spite of the bigotry in Alabama. The sepia tones of watercolor, and the wisp of words throughout, might make this book a Caldecott nominee.

After-School Sports Club:  Time for T-Ball, by Alyson Heller, and illustrated by Steve Bjorkman, is the perfect beginning reader on a subject of high interest.

Now for some football books, Wild Card, by Riki & Ronde Barber, along with Paul Mantell, is a story about overcoming difficult challenges (like balancing school work and athletics) and succeeding. These two well known NFL twins know how to write a story to keep ages 8 to 11 interested.

Eddie and the Jets, by John Attanas, is about 6th grader Eddie, and how he deals with his buddies on his football team, The Jets, and life in general. It’s about learning how to get along and the storyline is most interesting and enjoyable.

There are some thinnish poster-type magazine books published by Scholastic and backed by the NFL about the players.  All are quick yet informative reads: Super Bowl Super Teams, Super Bowl Fireworks, Perfect Passers, Rising Stars, 2010 Playmakers and Game Breakers.

For the basketball lovers, Long Shot, by Chris Paul, and illustrated by Frank Morrison, is one of those picture books that all ages can learn from and enjoy! The author is an NBA All-Star, but is  short for professional basketball. In fact, he was told that he was too short for high school ball. Here is a book that teaches persistence, goal-setting, not giving up and the importance of family.  I love it!

Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time, by Lisa Yee, is a fiction book about a boy with big expectations on the basketball court. However, problems ensue with school and family that he finds resolution with humorous connotations.

And finally, here is a book for soccer lovers. Goal, by Min Javaherbin, and illustrated by A. G. Ford, takes place in a poor area of South Africa. The boys gathered to play this universal game of soccer play with excitement and joy until some unexpected bullies attempt to take over. This book begs for discussions on bullying, team-work and poverty. But it also opens the conversation of team sports and the joy of games. The oil paintings are magnificent and capture the essence of expression on each face portrayed.

Let’s begin with animals. Kingfisher Publishers have extraordinary photography and interesting ways to display and portray information that kids seem to just gravitate to and enjoy. If you’ve not purchased, or checked out any of their books, you’re in for a real treat. These types of books make perfect coffee table furniture. Kingfisher Knowledge:  Sharks, by Miranda Smith, is the newest edition to this outstanding series that features “Natural Disasters”, “Mummies” and “Dangerous Creatures”, to name just a few. The photos and illustrations found on every page will surely make all who open the book desire to learn more about these interesting fish. The Explorers Series has a new book, Oceans and Seas by Steven Savage, and brightly illustrated by Peter Bull, that is geared for a slightly younger reader (ages 4 to 8), however all ages would truly enjoy this book. The font is larger so there is less information on each page and the pictures are a nice blend of photos and drawings. Animals Around the World, by Deborah Chancellor, and cleverly illustrated by Anthony Lewis, is another book geared for ages 4 to 8. Both of these books make for a perfect introduction to non-fiction for younger readers. This book has interactive lift-the-flap pages as readers learn about animals in different habitats. Houghton Mifflin has a most interesting book about one of the most important animals on earth as far as our survival is concerned: The Hive Detectives: Chronicle of a Honey Bee Catastrophe by Loree Griffin Burns, and with photographs by Ellen Harasimowicz. This incredibly well documented and researched book will likely spark some new scientists in your family as you read through to find out why honey bees began to die at huge rates back in 2006.

Scholastic has a variety of outstanding non-fiction books about animals. Here are just a few: Planet Earth Up Close! focuses on 34 unusual animals and the font is larger, as well as the pictures of the animals take up the entire page. There’s an interesting “Did you know?” fact on the picture that will surely draw the reader into this entire book. There are two amazing books just out with a holograph cover featuring 3 different animals as you move the book. Fangs and Poison are both smallish sized books that feature some of the most poisonous and dangerous animals known to man. The font is large and each animal discussed is pictured with its photo on the opposite page. 3-D Thrillers! Sharks and the World’s Scariest Sea Monsters and 3-D Thrillers!  T. Rex and other Dangerous Dinosaurs, are both filled with amazing pictures that seem to jump out at you due to the 3-D glasses provided on the inside cover. “Ripley’s Believe It or Not!” series has two new books: Creepy Stuff and World’s Weirdest Critters. Both of these books are perfect for the reluctant reader as the photos alone will draw them into a desire to read about these strange items. Each page is not packed with detailed information which, many times, turns readers off. There’s just enough information to describe the animal along with a multiple choice “Who Am I?” question which will surely draw the reader into reading both books.

Now for informational books about our world. Once again, Kingfisher Publishers have some of the best non-fiction books available. Planet Earth, by Dr. Mike Goldsmith, and illustrated by Nicki Palin, is a simple, yet instructional, look inside our earth. The book is constructed with questions on small flapped pages and answered by lifting each flap. Weather, also by Dr. Goldsmith, and illustrated by John Butler, is constructed in the same manner with flaps that you can turn to find the answers. Planet Earth:  What Planet Are You On?, created by Simon Basher, and written by Dan Gilpin, has to be one of the best non-fiction books on this subject. The information is simplified but not too much, the text is larger and each illustration describes the subject so kids can better understand the concept. This is a series of books by Basher on science matters and all are outstanding. The Kingfisher Atlas of World History: A Pictorial Guide to the World’s People and Events, 10,000 B.C – Present, by Simon Adams, covers the major achievements of human civilization over the ages and will surely have your youngsters appreciate that they live in present time. And in this same vein, Peter Kent’s City Across Time:  From the Stone Age to the Distant Future will take the reader through time with a full spread illustration of a village as time progresses to a big city. This book, portrayed in a picture-book fashion, is fascinating. Two books, The Book of Why, and The Book of How, both have 50 simple questions and easy to understand answers that many will find both fascinating and interesting. The complete layout of both books is definitely kid-friendly.

This last book is perhaps one of my all-time favorite non-fiction books about the sky at night. The Sky:  A New Way to See Them – Second Edition, by H. A. Rey, is magnificent in showcasing the constellations during different seasons of the year. This book was first published back in 1952 and continues to be one of the best, if not the best, guides to locating different star patterns.