BookHog -- Feast on These

2011-12-23T18:14:00.000-08:00

Liesl is locked in the attic by her mean stepmother when the ghost Po appears. Po brings news from the Other World of Liesl's dead father and Liesl knows she must escape and take her father's ashes to their old home. Will watches Liesl in her attic window and dreams of becoming her friend. When Will messes up a delivery for his boss, the magician he has to run. At the train station, Will sees the girl from the attic and decides it's a sign. He should go where ever she's headed. Magic, adventure, suspense and friendship, it's all in Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver.
Recommended for grades 4 - 6.
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2011-12-23T17:56:00.000-08:00

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick. Ben needs to find his father so with a name and an address he travels from Minnesota to New York City. Once in the city, Ben finds a friend and some familiar wolves at the Museum of Natural History. Along with this story is another told entirely in pictures. Recommended for grades 3 - 6.
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2011-12-01T19:03:00.000-08:00

Join the newsies on the streets of New York City for adventure, mystery and murder in City of Orphans by Avi.

The year is 1893 and Maks is helping his family survive by selling newspapers. If he sells them all, he makes eight cents. And while selling the papers, he needs to stay away from Bruno and the Plug Uglies who beat him to a pulp and steal his money and get his sister out of jail where she is being held after she's accused of stealing a watch at the Waldorf. Recommended for grades 4 - 6.
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2011-10-30T15:01:00.000-07:00

Young Fredle by Cynthia Voigt
Fredle, a kitchen mouse finds himself outside and no mouse ever returns from outside. Should he just wait for the cat to come get him, should he try to find his way back to the kitchen or should he forget what he's been told and explore the new world before him.
Recommended for grades 3 - 6
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2011-10-30T14:50:00.000-07:00

Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George
King and Queen Glower have been ambushed and the surrounding kingdoms are wondering if they should invade. Surely they could take the kingdom away from three kids. What they don't know is that they have to conquer the castle too which adds rooms, staircases and even wings on Tuesday and seems to have a mind of it's own.
Recommended for grades 3 - 6.
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2011-10-02T15:19:00.000-07:00

The Adventures of Sir Gawain the True by Gerald Morris.
What's the most important trait if you are a knight of King Arthur's Round Table? courage? bravery? strength? Find at as Sir Gawain tries to stay undefeated and keep his head attached to his shoulders. (This is the third in the series so you might want to check out the first two. Recommended for Grades 2 - 4.
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2011-09-25T18:49:00.000-07:00

Floors by Patrick Carman
Think Charlie and the Chocolate Factory but in a crazy hotel. Each floor is different, one's full of cupcakes, another is a giant pinball game and one's a cave and you don't travel in normal elevators. Leo, the janitor's son has to solve the four puzzles and save the hotel after his friend, the owner and designer of the hotel disappears. And, yeah, always take a duck... Recommended for grades 4 - 6.
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2011-09-02T13:02:00.000-07:00

The Dragon of Cripple Creek by Troy Howell
On the way to San Francisco, where her Dad has a new job, Kat convinces him to stop in Cripple Creek so they can visit the Molly Kathleen Gold Mine. Kat loves all things gold - she even has a gold tooth. Kat turns the world upside down, when she wanders off the marked tour and steals a large gold nugget from a dragon.
Recommended for grades 4 - 6
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2011-08-29T12:15:00.000-07:00

Emmy and the Rats in the Belfry by Lynne Jonell
This is book 3 about Emmy and her rat friend Raston who can change a person into a rat and his sister Cecelia who can make them human again. Of course the evil Miss Barny is back and wants revenge, and to be a beautiful human again. Emmy, her rat friends, her human friends and even her elderly aunts are all in trouble if Miss Barny and her patsy Cheswick Vole aren't stopped.
Recommended for grades 4 - 6 (but you should really start with Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat)
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2011-08-29T11:48:00.000-07:00

The Ogre of Oglefort by Eva Ibbotson
A hag, a troll, a wizard and a boy are sent on a quest to save a princess from an ogre, but when they get to the castle, they discover that it's the ogre who needs to be saved.
Recommended for grades 3 - 5, younger for reading aloud
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2011-08-29T11:35:00.000-07:00

The One and Only Stuey Lewis by Jane Schoenberg
Stuey Lewis is starting second grade with his best friend Will and major pain in the neck Lilly. In these four stories, Stuey shares a secret, has an awesome Halloween plan, joins a soccer team and decides second grade is great.
Recommended for first - third graders ready for a short chapter book and to be read aloud to ages 5 and up.
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2011-08-22T06:15:00.000-07:00

The Notorius Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism and Treachery by Steve Sheinkin
When the American Revolution started Benedict Arnold was ready to fight for his new country. He led the fight on Lake Champlin and turned away the powerful British Navy. He led the charge in the Battle of Saratoga and sent the British back to Canada. He spent most of his money on the war effort and was crippled by a bullet in the leg. So what happened that made him offer his services to the British as a spy and become hated by the Americans and the British? Recommended for grades 5 - 8.
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2011-08-10T09:22:00.000-07:00

The Fires Beneath the Sea by Lydia Millet
Cara's mother has disappeared. The police haven't been called. Her father won't talk about it. But, when an otter appears off the coast of a Cape and a watery man shows up at their house, Cara and her genius brother Jackson realize they are the ones who must find their mother. Recommended for grades 4 - 6.
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2011-07-22T12:19:00.000-07:00

Vincent Shadow: Toy Inventor by Tim Kehoe
Vincent has invented toys most of his life. He and his mom built a secret lab behind his closet door and created (or tried to create) all kinds of cool stuff. But, now his mother is dead and his Dad has married an evil stepmother he met on the Internet. His life as toy inventor seems to be over since they've moved from New York City Minneapolis. But, maybe not, when his teacher encourages them all to enter a toy contest. Recommended for grades 3 - 6

2011-07-21T06:39:00.000-07:00

Missing On Superstition Mountain by Elise Broach. The Barkers have just moved to Arizona and their parents have told them not to go into the mountains behind their home. The desert is too dangerous. But, when their cat runs into the mountains, they have to follow him to protect him from mountain lions. And when they find three human skulls, they know they will have to go back.
Recommended for grades 4 and up.
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2011-06-15T09:09:00.000-07:00

The Penderwicks are back, but not together. Mr. Penderwick and his new wife Iantha are off to London. Rosalind, the oldest of the four girls, is going to the beach with a friend. Leaving the 3 remaining Penderwicks and their friend Jeffrey, in the care of Aunt Claire at a beach house in Maine. Skye as the OAP (oldest available Penderwick) is charged with keeping the girls safe and together. It should be easy, but when Aunt Claire is injured and Jeffrey doesn't come, Skye starts having doubts. And what was it Rosalind told her about Batty blowing up? Read this one as a family.

2011-06-15T06:26:00.000-07:00

Doug's dad lost his job, so he's moving the family to a small town called Marysville, so he can start a new one. This means Doug has to start 8th grade in a new town with no friends. They move into "THE DUMP", a lousy little house that is filled with his dad's anger and the family's fear of what dad might do. This is why Doug has developed a bit of a wise guy attitude. The first person he meets, Lil Spicer, fortunately sees through his act, and she becomes his first friend.
The only place to go in stupid Marysville is the library. Here, Doug was looking for cool relief from the sweltering sun; what he found was a kind librarian and the biggest, most amazing drawing of a bird. It's a painting from John James Audubon's book, Birds of America. The discovery of this book, with help from the patient, yet persistent librarian, Doug finds a talent for drawing and composition. He also begins to find his place in the community when he discovers the value in himself. Other members in the community discover it too. Doug's straight forward narration takes you into the heart and mind of this memorable character.
Recommended for grades 5-8

2011-05-20T11:09:00.000-07:00

Emma Freke is almost 12 years old, almost 6 feet tall, and almost the smartest person in her school. Obviously, her mother didn't say her name outloud before she choose it. But, it appears to Emma that her mother doesn't think about many things beyond who she's going out with and what she should wear. When her mother decides Emma should attend the Freke Family Reunion in Wisconsin and meet the other half of her family, Emma learns that appearances can be misleading. I, Emma Freke by Elizabeth Atkinson is a recommended for students in grades 4 - 6 who like self-discovery in their realistic fiction.
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2011-05-11T09:32:00.000-07:00

Calli is the third Gold child and her brother Alex who is the star on his high school basketball team and her sister Becca who is on a synchronized skating team, Calli is not good at anything. She's tried violin, gymnastics, soccer, baton twirling, but didn't like any of them. She may never live up to the family motto of "Be Gold!" Calli Be Gold by Michele Weber Hurwitz is recommended for grades 4 - 6.
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2011-04-30T08:09:00.000-07:00

Bird in a Box by Andrea Davis Pinkney
Hibernia, Willie, and Otis -- are about to meet. Hibernia dreams of becoming a famous singer and performing at Harlem's swanky Savoy Ballroom. Willie is recovering from a tragedy that prevents him from becoming a junior boxing champ. Otis spends every night glued to the radio, listening to the voices that remind him of Daddy and Ma.

Each of them is looking for hope, and they all find it in the thrilling boxing matches of young Joe Louis. They know Joe has a good chance of becoming the country's next heavyweight champion. What they don't know is that during this unforgettable year, the three of them will become friends.

Thoughtful historical fiction for grades 5 - 7.

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2011-04-30T08:00:00.001-07:00

Cheesie Mack is an ordinary fifth grader, with a best friend who has "good" ideas (like realizing a dozen mice during fifth grade graduation), a pain in the neck sister (who loves to get him in trouble), a granpa who likes to tell stories about when he was a boy, and there was no fifth grade graduation, and a couple of normal parents. Cheesie Mack is Not A Genius or Anything by Steve Cotler will appeal to Wimpy Kid fans. Recommended for grades 3 - 6.
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2011-04-15T08:47:00.000-07:00

Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie by Julie Sternberg
Eleanor is having a bad August. Her very first babysitter she had since she was a baby is moving. Now she has a new babysitter who seems nice, but Eleanor just can't help being a grump. Without really noticing, Eleanor starts to enjoy her new sitter. August turns to September, and Eleanor heads to third grade feeling happy.
Recommended for grades 2-4.

2011-04-15T06:31:00.000-07:00

Midnight Tunnel by Angie Frazier
Suzanna Snow's parents run an inn on the coast that caters to wealthy families from Boston and they are trying to train Suzanna to run the business. Suzanna however wants to be a detective like her famous uncle. When a young girl disappears from the inn, Suzanna starts to investigate. She is excited to share her thoughts with her uncle, but he won't listen to the ramblings of a child. Suzanna won't give up. She is determined to find out what happened the night Maddie disappeared.
Recommended for grades 3 - 6.
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2011-04-11T08:15:00.000-07:00

Amelia Earhart attempted to fly around the world in 1937. She was scheduled to land on tiny Howland Island in the Pacific Ocean, but never got there. The Itasca, a coast guard cutter was waiting nearby to help her find the airfield. They and people as far away as Montana claimed to hear Amelia asking for help, but no one found her, her navigator, or her plane. This is the story of America's most famous female aviator from her childhood to her disappearance. Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart by Candace Fleming is recommended for students in grades 4 - 8.
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2011-04-11T07:52:00.000-07:00

The Trouble with Chickens by Doreen Cronin
J.J. Tully is a former search and rescue dog who has retired to a farm. So when the resident hen complains that two of her chicks are missing, J.J. is not impressed and not inclined to help until she offers a cheeseburger.
Recommended for Grades 2 - 4
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2011-03-11T11:16:00.000-08:00

If you've read A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett and wondered what happened next, you'll want to read Wishing for Tomorrow by Hilary McKay. Sara (rich girl, poor maid, rich girl) has left the boarding school. Her friend Eremengarde has no one to confide in and little Lottie has no one to keep her out of trouble. Then there's Miss Minchin the head mistress who has always ruled the school with an iron fist spending days in her room and Alice, the new maid refusing to keep the school clean and talking about them needing fresh air.

Of course it's all Sara's fault, but she's not there to make it right. Recommended for grades 3 - 6.

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2011-03-10T06:47:00.000-08:00

The Romeo and Juliet Code by Phoebe Stone

As the bombs continue to fall in London during WW II, Felicity's parents bring her to Maine to live with her father's mother, brother and sister. She knows it will be strange, but doesn't understand why her uncle brushes off her father's embrace and neither he or her grandmother will talk to her mother.

When her uncle receives letters from her father in Portugal and insists they are from someone else, Felicity knows she must find a way to see those letters and try to figure out where her parents are and what they are doing. Recommended for grades 4 - 7.

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2011-02-26T08:20:00.000-08:00

When Manjiro was 14 the small fishing boat he was working on was swept away from Japan and onto an island in the open sea. In 1841, Japan was extremely isolated. The people feared the world so much that anyone who left the island was not allowed to return, even from a rocky island in the middle of the ocean. So when Manjiro first sees the blue eyed New England whaler he is filled with fear. These are barbarians who will surely kill them.

The Heart of a Samurai by Margi Preus is based on the true story of Manjiro and his friends. The barbarains did not kill them, but they had some very strange habits. Recommended for grades 4 and up.

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2011-02-18T06:38:00.000-08:00

Close to Famous by Joan Bauer
Foster loves to bake. Cupcakes and muffins are or specialty. Her dream is to have her own show on the Food Network. When she and her mother arrive in Culpepper, West Virginia, Foster is afraid there is no where to pursue her dream. But, Culpepper, like every other place in America is fully of people pursuing dreams. Recommended for grades 5 - 8.

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2011-02-16T12:56:00.000-08:00

Abby is going to have to repeat 6th grade if she doesn't do something fast. She agrees to do a special project on Afghanistan because she likes mountains as opposed to her flat home in Illinois. Writing letters to a kid in Afghanistan is just a pain in the neck for her, answering the letters is dangerous for the writer in Bahar-Lan.
Recommended for grades 4 - 6

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2011-02-16T12:32:00.000-08:00

Words in the Dust by Trent Reedy is set in Afghanistan in 2005 and 2006. Zulaikha, the main character, is based on the girls the author met while he was serving in Afghanistan. Being a girl in Afghanistan is not easy and Zulaikha's life is complicated by a cleft lip. This is a condition that in the United States is corrected in infancy, but there are no doctors in her smile village. The military hopes they can convince Zulaikha's father that they can help her.
Recommended for grades 5 - 8

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2011-02-15T13:48:00.000-08:00

Turtle's mom has always been a housekeeper and Turtle has moved with her from job to job, rich lady to rich lady. But her mom's latest employer doesn't like kids so Turtle is sent to Key West to live with her mother's sister. The house is tiny. Her aunt has three boys who don't like girls and it's unbelievably hot. (This story is set before air conditioning.) How long will her mom make her stay in "paradise"?
Recommended for students in grades 4 - 6.

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2011-02-04T12:55:00.000-08:00

Nancy and Plum by Betty MacDonald is for all readers who like orphans who are mistreated by the woman who runs the boarding house where they have been placed and forgotten. But, like all good orphans, Nancy and Plum are brave, kind, honest and able to outsmart the mean person who cares for them and end up in a place where they are loved for being the great kids they are.
A good read aloud for grades K - 3. Can be read by kids in grades 3 and up.

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2011-02-02T08:53:00.000-08:00

Small Persons with Wings by Ellen Booraem

When Mellie was little she had a friend who was small and had wings. When Mellie was in kindergarten, she offered to bring him in for show and tell. He disappeared and Mellie suffered at the hands of her classmates. When Mellie was in junior high, her grandfather died and her parents inherited his inn. Mellie was hoping the move would let her start over in a new place. Unfortunately, in the new places there were lots of little persons with wings. Recommended for Grades 4 - 6
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2011-01-23T11:39:00.000-08:00

The Death-Defying Pepper Roux by Geraldine McCaughrean
When Pepper was just a baby his aunt had a vision from St. Constance that he would die before he turned 14. But, Pepper doesn't want to die so on his 14th birthday, he runs away. First he becomes the Captain of his father's ship, but when it sinks, he works at a deli. When he gets in trouble there, he becomes a journalist. Pepper finds a new adventure around every corner, and death always seems to be just one step behind. Grades 5 - 8
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2011-01-23T11:07:00.000-08:00

The Other Half of My Heart by Sundee t. Frazier
Minnie and Keira are twins. Their mom is black and their dad is white. Keira looks like her mom and Minnie looks like her dad. Keira is outgoing and popular. Minnie is shy and clumsy. Minnie wishes she was more like her sister. When they spend a week with Grandma Johnson it North Carolina and compete in the Miss Black Pearl Preteen of America, Minnie realizes that being Keira isn't always easy. Grades 5 - 8

2011-01-19T07:34:00.000-08:00

Everyone knows the story of Hansel and Gretel, but few know the whole story. In A Tale Dark & Grimm, Adam Gidwitz tells everything: fathers, cutting off heads, servants turning to stone, sons turning to birds, a trip to the Devil and more. Read it if you dare. Grades 4 - 6.
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2011-01-18T09:35:00.000-08:00

Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool is the 2011 Newbery Winner. Abilene Tucker has been raised by her father since her mother took off when she was young. She knows how to get on and off moving trains, how to get free food, and how to make do - all things her father has taught her. When Abilene turned 12, her father seemed different and now he's sent her off to Manifest to live with a preacher.

Abilene hopes the preacher will take her in, they only did church when there was a free meal. She hopes Manifest can teach her about her father. She hopes that he will come pick her up at the end of the summer like he said. Grades 4 and up
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2011-01-13T12:10:00.000-08:00

Penny Dreadful by Laurel Snyder is the story of a girl who is bored. She has nice parents, a good chef, a nice tutor and two friends who her mom arranges playdates with, but none of it is interesting or adventuresome like the books she reads.

So Penny writes a wish on a piece of paper and throws it in a well, just like she read in a book. She doesn't really believe in magic, but things are definitely becoming more interesting and she's not sure that's a good thing. For grades 3 - 5.
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2010-10-19T06:33:00.000-07:00

Sophie is a very smart third grader. In her spare time she studies calculus and reads fat text books. Her parents want her to spend less time reading and more time making friends and watching TV.

Daisy is extremely clumsy. She falls out of her desk, she trips over her shoes. Her parents make her take ballet.

Owen wants normal things, a book on robots, a pair of boots, a two layer cake for his birthday, but his mom thinks big and he gets a robot that attacks him, anti-gravity boots and an eight layer cake.

Maybe if they work together, they can solve all their parenting problems.
Grades 2 - 4
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2010-10-08T08:37:00.000-07:00

The Wonder of Charlie Anne by Kimberly Newton Fusco

Charlie Anne's life is not going so good. Her mother recently died in childbirth, her father and older brother have gone north to build roads and cousin Mirabel who is looking after them, knows a lot about chores and proper behavior and nothing about picnics, swinging and listening to the wind, the cows and the river. Can Charlie Anne learn to be quiet and polite? Should she even try? Grades 4 - 6

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2010-09-28T10:18:00.000-07:00

My Fake Boyfriend is Better Than Yours
by Kristina Springer
How would you feel if your best friend spent the summer in Florida, promised to keep in touch, then didn’t? Always picked out first day of school outfits with you, but not this year? This is what happens to Tori. She sees her best friend Sienna for the first time since summer vacation on the first day of school along with everybody else. She’s looking glamorous and talking about her new BOYFRIEND! This is a very different Sienna. Tori suspects Sienna is making him up. Tori, feeling insecure and left out, makes up her own fabulous fake boyfriend without really even meaning to. Well, this brings Tori unexpected attention and popularity; things are going great… except the whole lying to her best friend thing.
A fun, don’t want to put it down, kind of book!
Recommended for Grades 5-8

2010-09-21T09:34:00.000-07:00

Daniel discovers a secret when he moves to Noble Green. There is a group of kids in town with special powers. Some can fly, some are very strong, one can disappear. Unfortunately when they turn 13 their powers disappear and they don't remember anything about their childhood.

Mollie doesn't want to lose Eric as a friend when his birthday arrives in a few weeks so she convinces Daniel to solve the mystery of their disappearing powers. Grades 4 and up

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2010-09-20T16:23:00.000-07:00

The Ninth Ward is the area where Lanesha lives in the city of New Orleans. Everyone in the neighborhood is talking about the storm that’s coming, Hurricane Katrina. Some are leaving the city, others stay because they can’t leave, and hope they can weather it. Lanesha stays. She has to use her brains, her strength, and her courage to survive it. An incredible journey!
For grades 5-8

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2010-09-15T07:28:00.001-07:00

Uncle said the dead did not return. He was wrong. Sophia is back and she wants revenge in The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall, Mary Downing Hahn's newest ghost story.

Grades 3 and up (not as scary as some of her novels)

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2010-08-16T07:06:00.000-07:00

The Bamboo People by Mitali Perkins is the story of two young people and choices. Chiko wants to be a teacher, but at the age 0f 15 is forced into the Burmese Army. Tu Reh is 17 and just wants a house, a rice field and a family, but since the Burmese Army burned his village he wants revenge. The two boys learn about themselves and each other when they meet in the jungle. Recommended for grades 5 - 8.
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2010-08-04T08:24:00.000-07:00

My Life as a Book by Janet Tashjian is a summer reading story with a main character who hates to read. Actually he does like to read Garfield and Calvin and Hobbes, but he doesn't believe school assignments should interfere with his summer. He has big plans, like using avacadoes as hand gernades with his best friend and riding his skateboard. For readers and nonreaders in grades 4 and up.
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2010-07-07T06:58:00.000-07:00

The Dancing Pancake by Eileen Spinelli

Bindi is moving to a new apartment. Her mom and aunt are opening a restaurant. Life is good. NOT! But with the help of her friends, Bindi will make her way through the good and bad times. Grades 3 - 6.

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2010-07-06T06:45:00.001-07:00

Crunch by Leslie Connor

Dewey's parents have headed north for their annual anniversary weekend leaving Dewey in charge of the bike shop and his older sister in charge of the family. Unfortunately, his parents can't get home because of a fuel shortage and the bike shop is busier than ever. Can Dewey and his brother Vince keep all the customers happy? Can they figure out who stole the twins bikes? Can they keep food in the house? And the biggest question of all, when will their parents get home? For grades 4 and up (younger for reading aloud.)

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2010-05-18T09:43:00.000-07:00

Think Cinderella, but instead of a nasty stepmother, Gracie has a mean stepfather and instead of a fairy godmother, she has a talking bat to help her on her journey. But, she's not going to a ball, she's going to the castle of the Ancient Crones and there are no mice turned into horses, it's her own two feet that will have to take her there. Oh, yeah, and the bat isn't very trustworthy or dependable. If you like adventure stories with a little magic, a few twists and turns and a touch of traditional fairy tale try The Robe of Skulls by Vivian French. You might want to try the sequel, The Bag of Bones too.

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2010-02-05T13:24:00.000-08:00

Tumtum & Nutmeg: Adventures Beyond Nutmouse Hall by Emily Bearn is for everyone who loves The Borrowers, The Littles or even Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh. Tumtum and Nutmeg are two mice who must take care of their human children because their father is a bit scatterbrained and their mother is dead. They leave treats, mend clothing, clean and even convince their mean Aunt Ivy to go home so the children can live in peace. Look past the cover and read this book if you are in grades 4 and up or read it to your younger chidren.

2010-02-02T09:38:00.000-08:00

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken

Lady Green is sick, and Sir Willoughby is taking her to find help. Bonnie and her cousin, Sylvia, are left under the care of Mrs. Slighcarp, who plunders their once cozy home, selling their things and stealing Sir Willoughby’s riches. She sends them off to a prinson like orphan school, and now they escape. But how? Join Bonnie and Sylvia in this great page-turner. Check availability

This title was reviewed by 6th grader Samantha. View her other recommendations.

2010-02-02T09:30:00.000-08:00

Fortune's Magic Farm by Suzanne Selfors

Isabelle lives in a town where it always rains. She has never seen the sun. She checks for slugs every time she comes in the house. Since she is an orphan she works long days at the local factory putting labels on umbrellas. When her adopted grandmother dies, her landlady throws her out for having slugs and moss in her room and she is threatened with arrest for stealing an empty pickle jar, Isabelle decides it's time to move on. Should she run off alone, or should she take the offer of a stranger who claims he wants to help. Recommended for grades 4 and up. Check availability

2009-11-12T06:27:00.000-08:00

Finn plans to spend the summer reading and talking to as few people as possible. He plans to speak to no more than 12 people all summer. Then Johanna moves in next door and after three days he's spoken to 6 people - 3 of them people he didn't even know when summer began. This summer is going all wrong, but it seems right. Read this book for a laugh and a cry. Grades 4 - 7 check availablity of Notes from the Dog by Gary Paulsen.

2009-11-08T09:45:00.000-08:00

Owen is out running on a trail with his best and only friend Josie, his dog. Josie chases down and picks up a bloody rag, gross. They follow the trail which leads them to an injured girl with sparkling green eyes. She asks Owen for help to get back to her planet before it's too late. Find out if Owen can help by reading Signal by Cynthia DeFelice. For grades 4 and up.

2009-11-07T06:23:00.000-08:00

I just finished reading the The Blue Shoe by Roderick Townley. I was intrigued within the first five pages to find out more about the beautiful blue shoe created by the town cobbler Grel, for a very mysterious stranger. This is a tale of thievery, villainy, sorcery, friendship and of course one magical blue shoe.
Great read for grades 4 and up.

2009-11-03T12:53:00.000-08:00

The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis
by Barbara O'Connor
Ignore the cover art, open the book, and read!
Popeye, so named because his Uncle Dooley shot him in the eye with a BB gun, has resigned himself to a long boring summer. But things in his boring town get awfully interesting when the big, silver motor home gets stuck in the mud, and therefore stuck in town, for who knows how long. Popeye meets Elvis, and the two boys go looking for adventure. They find it.
Grades 4-6

2009-10-26T07:33:00.000-07:00

Did you know that librarians are a group of people that not only help you find the information you need, but help the government keep the world safe from international spies and other mean people. Steve Brixton learned this the hard way, when a group of librarians suspect that he's one of the bad guys. Read all about it in The Case of the Case of the Mistaken Identity by Mac Barnett. Grades 3 - 5. Check availability.

2009-10-26T07:23:00.000-07:00

A Taste for Red by Lewis Harris, tells the story of a girl who thinks she's a vampire. She's not. Unfortunately her teacher is, and somebody has to stop her before she sucks the life out of every student in the school. Grades 4 and up. Check availability.

2009-10-01T12:46:00.000-07:00

The Witch's Guide to Cooking with Children by Keith McGowan

Did you ever wonder if that child eating witch in Hansel and Gretel had relatives who were still out there? Well she does. And, with the destruction of forests, they've moved to the suburbs. One could live next door to you. Sol and Connie discovered that one lived next door to them and she still loved a roasted child. Grades 4 and up.
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2009-09-29T08:17:00.000-07:00

The Unknowns
by Benedict Carey

Adjacent is a place where nothing happens. It's an island with a bunch of delapidated trailers between a nuclear power plant and a dump. Then three people disappear. The first two nobody really noticed, but when Mrs Clarke disappears Diaphanta (Lady Di) and Tamir al-Khwarizmi (Tom Jones)decide they have to do something. In her trailer they find a clue 3 + 4 = 5. Mrs Clarke tutored them in math so they know it's not what it seems. Recommended for grades 5 and up.
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2009-08-27T17:30:00.000-07:00

Forget Me Not
by Coleen Murtagh Paratore

This book is a perfect mix of friends, family, and romance. It's part of a series, the first book is The Wedding Planner's Daughter , but I jumped in at this book, no problem. I'm looking forward to reading the first three I missed!
Recommended for grades 5 and up.

2009-07-20T09:47:00.001-07:00

The realtor didn't tell them that the former owner had been accused of embezzling a large sum of money and had been murdered in the home, or that the case was still unsolved, or that the kid living next door was a total loser. So, Logan and his family move in and now the summer is one mystery after another. For mystery fans ages 9 and up. Check availability

2009-04-07T15:55:00.000-07:00

Calling all comic book superhero fans! Here is a book for you. Sixth grader Josh has one cool secret, but it soon could be his demise. You see everything that happens to Mascot, superhero sidekick to Captain Major in the comic book happens to Josh. Will he be able to save Mascot and in turn save himself? Find out by reading Mascot to the Rescue by Peter David with illustrations by famed comic book artist Collen Doran. For superhero fans ages 8 and up. Check availability

2009-04-02T08:59:00.000-07:00

The Amaranth Enchantment by Julie Berry

Orphaned Lucinda has toiled her life away in her Uncle's jewelry shop, with nothing extraordinary happening. Then one day a mysterious women enters the shop with a unusual gem and her whole life changes forever. Definitely a great read for fans of fairy tales and magical moments. Grades 5 and up.Check availability

2009-03-27T11:54:00.000-07:00

How to Scratch a Wombat: Where to Find It . . . What to Feed It . . . Why It Sleeps All Day by Jackie French, illustrated by Bruce Whatley

The author and illustrator of the charming Diary of a Wombat return with this fascinating and hilarious non-fiction account of living with wombats. Jackie French has been a wombat rehabilitator in her native Australia for many years and has included countless anecdotes about her charges, from the wombat that could count to the wombat who learned how to make a lever. You'll start dreaming of a trip to Australia just to observe these fascinating marsupials! Recommended for Grades 2-6.
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2009-03-27T11:52:00.000-07:00

Even an Ostrich Needs a Nest: Where Birds Begin by Irene Kelly

Did you know that after a Gila Woodpecker pecks a hole in a saguaro cactus for her nest, she sometimes takes in roommates--an elf owl and a Western Blind Snake?! Or how about that a tailorbird sews up a leaf with spider silk to create her nest? No? Well, get ready for some real surprises. From super simple to suprisingly complex, bird homes are just about as varied as human homes. Recommended for grades 1-4.
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2009-03-17T12:37:00.000-07:00

Always in Trouble by Corinne Demas.

Emma's dog Toby, was always in trouble. Emma tried giving him more attention. Emma tried dog school. Can Toby learn to behave? A fun read for everyone who's ever had a dog who misbehaved. Ages 3 and up. Check availability

2009-02-21T09:41:00.000-08:00

Living Sunlight: How Plants Bring the Earth to Life by Molly Bang and Penny Chisholm

Conveying how a complex system works in simple language is no mean feat, but the authors have done it. The luminous artwork doesn't hurt, either! The story describes how plants transform sunlight into food and how that in turn powers all life on this planet--including us! Cool science. Recommended for Grades 2 and up. Check availability

2009-02-21T09:24:00.001-08:00

Who's Haunting the White House? The President's Mansion and the Ghosts Who Live There by Jeff Belanger, illustrated by Rick Powell

It's no suprise that a building as storied as the White House has been the site of many, many ghostly encounters through the centuries. This straightforward reporting of spectres and eerie, time-twisting occurrences uses real testimony--from presidents to butlers. Are there really ghosts in the White House? You'll have to read and decide for yourself! Recommended for Grades 3 and up. Check availability

2009-02-09T07:19:00.000-08:00

Home on the Range: John A. Lomax and His Cowboy Songs by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by S.D. Schindler

When John Lomax was growing up in Texas back in the 1800s, he loved to listen to the songs sung by local cowboys. He loved them so much, he started collecting them. Little did he know that his boyhood collection would turn into his life's work! This picture book biography of America's premiere folklorist is both one man's story about persevering over the naysayers and an engaging introduction to the history of history--specifically the idea that telling the stories of everyday people is just as important as telling about kings and battles. Recommended for grades 3-6. Check availability

2009-02-04T16:41:00.000-08:00

11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass
Amanda and Leo are best friends no longer. Born on the same day, they've celebrated their birthdays together every year until Leo said something unforgivable at their 10th. Now their 11th birthday has come and it's the worst night of Amanda's life. Only something curious happens, when she wakes up it's her 11th birthday AGAIN. And AGAIN. What do all these re-dos mean? And can she figure out how to re-do things right? A funny and magical read for kids in grades 4-6. Check availability

2009-01-28T15:27:00.000-08:00

Little Beauty by Anthony Browne

A warm story of a gentle giant who knew he needed a friend.

Family read for ages 2-6.

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2009-01-12T09:43:00.000-08:00

Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas
Picture book author Jan Thomas has done it again (A Birthday for Cow!). Simple, adorable humor. Three dust bunnies are trying to show us their rhyming abilities, while a fourth is trying to show us his survival instincts. What are the dust bunnies in your house up to? Fun family read ages 2-8.
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2009-01-12T07:09:00.000-08:00

Sammy Keyes and the Cold Hard Cash by Wendelin Van Draanen.

As Sammy is sneaking into our grandmother's apartment in the senior's only building where she lives, a stranger is on his way out. Really out, but before his last breath he gives Sammy a bundle of money and tells her to throw it away. But, how can Sammy throw away money, but then how is she going to explain her sudden wealth? And who is this guy and where did the money come from? For mystery lovers in grades 4 and up. Check availability

2009-01-09T07:45:00.000-08:00

The Leanin' Dog by K.A. Nuzum

This story is about the power of friendship. An unlikely friendship between a young girl who is afraid to step off her porch into the wintery Colorado world, and an injured dog who is not ready to trust, or to come in out of the cold. Together they figure out a way to take care of each other. This story will tug at your heart and leave you wanting to pass it on to another lucky reader.
Grades 4-6

2009-01-08T14:04:00.000-08:00

The Kids Have Spoken . . .

On January 26 the winner of the 2009 Caldecott Medal will be announced. The Caldecott Medal is awarded annually "to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children".

Now the committee that decides who gets the award is generally made up of librarians, and they usually pick well, but we at the WPL also like to see who the children would have picked. To that end, our Stories and More crew, all in kindergarten through third grade, took a look at some 30 or so of the potential nominees. Looking carefully at the pictures, the kids selected their favorites and voted. Here are this year's picks:

Winners (it was a tie!):
Tadpole Rex by Kurt Cyrus
Night of the Veggie Monster by George McClements

Honor Books (aka the runners up):
Swing! by Rufus Butler Seder
We Are the Ship: the Story of Negro League Baseball by Kadir Nelson

2009-01-07T10:20:00.000-08:00

I'll Pass For Your Comrade: Women Soldiers in the Civil War by Anita Silvey

Long before women were officially allowed to serve in the armed forces of this country, they did anyway! During the Civil War, there were dozens of examples of girls and women who donned soldier's gear to join the fight--on both the Union and Confederate sides. This short history looks at the female soldiers we know about: why they did it, their battle experience, and how they managed to conceal their gender from their comrades in arms. Recommended for grades 5 and up. Check availability

2009-01-06T13:50:00.000-08:00

We the Kids: The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States; illustrations and foreward by David Catrow

David Catrow, who specializes in illustration of the hilarious variety, makes the Preamble of the Constitution accessible to everyone, except perhaps people with no appreciation for freedom, happiness or humor. He has plenty and it shows in the riotous depiction of a backyard camping trip that also underscores the deeper meaning of the words. Recommended for all ages! Check availability

2009-01-06T12:09:00.000-08:00

The Pencil by Allan Ahlberg, illustrated by Bruce Ingman

A lonely Pencil creates some friends--a whole world, in fact. Everything goes swimmingly until the complaints start rolling in, someone wants different ears, someone else wants better sneakers. So Pencil creates ERASER. Then things really start to wipe out! Recommended for grades K-3.Check availability

2008-12-10T14:12:00.000-08:00

Bodies from the Ice: Melting Glaciers and the Recovery of the Past
by James M. Deen

All around the world glaciers are beginning to melt. Under the melting ice their have been many gruesome discoveries. As frozen and preserved bodies are being revealed, scientists are studying them and learning valuable information about glaciers and ancient cultures. Great read for anyone who loves anthropology and forensics in grades 4-6.

2008-11-21T09:36:00.000-08:00

Rapunzel’s Revenge by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale; illustrated by Nathan Hale

In this graphic novel, Rapunzel is relocated to a fantastical version of the Old West. But this Rapunzel is no helpless damsel. Upon discovering that the woman she knows as her mother is really her kidnapper, Rapunzel finds the strength to stand up against cruel Mother Gothel. She gets locked in a tower for her troubles, but ultimately uses her remarkable hair to escape. That hair turns out to be handy for a lot of other purposes, too, like fightin' off villains and wild animals. Rapunzel must then rally the oppressed people to throw off Gothel’s tyrannical yoke. And, okay, maybe she does meet a cute boy along the way, too. :^) Grades 5-8.

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2008-11-04T12:03:00.000-08:00

Up and Down the Scratchy Mountains
by Laurel Snyder
Lucy, who always has a song on her lips and a skip in her step, is forgotten one day by her best friend Wynston, who just happens to be a prince. Lucy’s not sure whether to be angry or sad; she’s confused, and she doesn’t like it at all. Feeling all mixed up inside, and longing more than ever for her missing mother, Lucy decides that she must head off on an adventure. She will solve the mystery of her mother by going to the mountains where her mother was born, and she will do it all by herself- who needs a rule following prince as a friend anyway? Well, it turns out that there are many surprises in store up the Scratchy Mountains, for Lucy, her animal companions, and a certain prince too. For as the book says, when you are trying to have an adventure, the adventure is also trying to have you!
Recommended for grades 3 and up

2008-10-12T09:48:00.000-07:00

Palace of Mirrors by Margaret Peterson Haddix

After secretly living as the true princess disguised as a peasant, Cecilia finds that it is time to return to her rightful place at the Palace of Mirors. Especially after realizing her beloved Nanny and her own knight Sir Stephen are in grave danger. She flees in the night along with her best friend Harper to the Capital, only to arrive to find themselves in even more peril. Will they be able to find the decoy princess in time? If you want to find out read this new adventure and return to the world of Just Ella. Great for readers in 4th-6th grade.

2008-10-10T08:36:00.000-07:00

The Crossroads by Chris Grabenstein

Zack Jennings has just moved into an old house with his father and new stepmother, but there’s something odd going on. Could it be the creepy old woman who slavishly tends a memorial to her fiancé at the big tree? Could it be the way Zack’s new best friend just seems to appear from nowhere? Or perhaps it’s the plumber who seems to be, well, possessed? And underneath all these eerie mysteries lurks the question he’s really been too scared to ask himself: will his stepmom love him even if he isn’t perfect? Chills with a heart.
Recommended for grades 5 and up.

2008-10-10T08:33:00.001-07:00

Knucklehead: Tall Tales and Mostly True Stories About Growing Up Scieszka by Jon Scieszka

Author Jon Scieszka reveals the secrets of his childhood in this hilarious book about growing up in a family of six brothers. From the horror of hand-me-downs, melting army men in the toaster, throwing up in the car together and accidentally breaking a brother’s collarbone-three times-be prepared to laugh both with them and at them!
Recommended for grades 4-6.

2008-10-10T08:26:00.000-07:00

Thing-Thing by Cary Fagan, illustrated by Nicolas Debon

Spoiled brat Archibald Crimp has everything but he wants MORE. When his father offers him a stuffed animal of indeterminate genus, however, Archibald tosses the toy right out the window. Thing-thing has a long and interesting fall from the sixth floor. All’s well that ends well when Thing-thing finds someone who will appreciate it and Archibald gets his comeuppance.
Recommended for ages 4-7.

2008-10-07T08:57:00.000-07:00

Hate That Cat by Sharon Creech

Miss Stretchberry and Jack are back! This is good. We were first introduced to Jack and his English teacher in Love That Dog. Miss Stretchberry teaches her class poetry by sharing the works of famous poets with her students. Jack writes poems in his journal using the format of the poems he hears in class. We come to understand what’s going on with Jack through his poems. Little by little we learn why Jack hates that cat, and why so much depends on it. If you haven’t read Love That Dog you will still enjoy Hate That Cat, but you will want to get your hands on a copy of Love That Dog… don’t worry, we have several.
Recommended for grades 3-6

2008-10-07T08:21:00.000-07:00

Savvy by Ingrid Law

Mibs is turning 13. Becoming a teenager is a big deal for most kids, but for a Beaumont it's really special. At 13 they receive their savvy. Mibs mother is perfect, her grandmother can catch music in jars and play it back later, her brother creates major storms and her grandfather can move mountains. That's why on their 13th birthday, they have quiet family parties. But Mibs father was in a terrible accident and her mother is at the hospital so the minister's wife decides to throw a big party for Mibs. Not a good idea. Grades 4 - 7

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2008-04-09T13:52:00.000-07:00

Sarah Simpson’s Rules for Living by Rebecca Rupp
Sarah Simpson makes lists; it’s her way of putting her thoughts in order.
I picked up this book planning to read a few pages to get a feel for it, but I ended up reading it all the way through. I liked Sarah, I felt for her because her parents had recently divorced and she is having a really hard time. I liked reading her lists, and I liked seeing her figure it all out. This little book turned out to be a really good read.
Recommended for Grades 4-6
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2008-03-28T09:16:00.000-07:00

Simon Bloom, the Gravity Keeper by Michael Reisman

Imagine that you can control gravity. You can make yourself float over rooftops, jump high enough to dunk the ball, or make it impossible for people to get up off the ground. And you can control friction, too. Take away all friction and people fall on their butts. Add a little, and the dodge ball stops just short of your nose. Simon is having a great time with his new skills. Unfortunately, people who are bigger, stronger, and more skillful want them back. The action just keeps coming in this science fiction for students in grades 5 - 8

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2008-03-24T07:34:00.000-07:00

The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd

Salim went up in the London Eye, but he didn't come down. Ted and Kat watched their cousin get on the ride. They watched them close the door. They tracked his car, and when it came down. Salim was not there. Were they watching the wrong car? Maybe, but he wasn't in the next ones either. Was he kidnapped? Was it spontaneous combustion? Did he come out in disguise? None of the options seem likely, but Ted's determined to solve the mystery. Grades 5 - 8

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2008-03-24T06:43:00.000-07:00

The True Meaning of SmekDay by Adam Rex

The aliens have come. Tip's mom was one of the first to be taken. The aliens are sending all humans to Florida. Tip decides she'll drive herself. She may only be in 8th grade, but she's a very good driver. So Tip and her cat Pig head south. Along the way she picks up an alien who has named himself J-Lo. Of course the drive is not easy. The Boov have destroyed most of the roads, food is hard to find, and bigger meaner aliens are on the way. Grades 5 - 8

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2008-02-16T06:42:00.000-08:00

Waiting For Normal by Leslie Connor

Addie just wants a normal life. She wants a Mom who is there for her, but how can she when she is always going on overnights somewhere. She wants to be good at school, but how can she with a learning problem. She wants to play the flute in the school band, but how can she with a stolen flute. Addie has moved again and now lives with her Mom in a trailer, but not in a cool trailer park. She lives under the train tracks in a asphalt lot on the corner in the city. It seems as if all Addie is ever doing is waiting for her life to be normal. For grades 5 and 6.

2008-02-11T12:39:00.000-08:00

The Bearskinner: a Tale of the Brothers Grimm, retold by Laura Amy Schlitz, illustrated by Max Grafe

A destitute soldier makes a dreadful bargain with the devil. Riches will be his--if he wears a bearskin for seven years. It's not so terrible at first, but then it grows rotten and heavy and all humans despise his company. Will the soldier have to surrender his soul, or will he discover that what he does with his riches can make all things bearable? A wonderful retelling by this year's Newbery Award winner. (Grades 2-5)

2008-02-11T12:20:00.000-08:00

Where's My Hug? by James Mayhew, illustrated by Sue Hellard

Jake's too cool to get a hug from his mother before school, so she gives it to his Dad instead. Dad in turn passes it on to the cat and off it goes. At bedtime when Jake wants his hug, he discovers that it's now in the arms of a dragon! Good thing Mom's got another one at the ready. (Grades PreK-2)

2007-10-16T05:52:00.000-07:00

Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat by Lynne Jonell

Emmy was once the child of poor, but loving parents. Now her family has money and her parents are always away. In her old school, she had lots of friends. In her new school kids don't even see her. Emmy doesn't understand what's going on until the day she is bitten by the classroom rat and consequently has the power to communicate with him. This story starts a little slow and the cover is only so-so, but don't give up. You will be rewarded. Grades 4-6

2007-10-14T12:45:00.000-07:00

A Crooked Kind of Perfect written by Linda Urban.
Carniegie Hall is all 10-year-old Zoe dreams about. When her father returns home after a trip to the mall with an Perfectone-60 Organ her paino concert is out the door. Is perfect what you really need or can imperfection be appreciated and make you a stronger person. Great read for grades 4-6.

2007-10-01T09:42:00.000-07:00

Me and the Pumpkin Queen written by Marlane Kennedy.
Will this be the year, for Mildred to finally grow a GIANT pumpkin? 3oo pounds of orange flesh is not even worth bringing to the town pumpkin festival. It must be over a thousand pounds for Mildred to even make top three. Can her hard work and dedication pay off? Will her mother be proud? Grades 3-5.

2007-09-24T15:37:00.000-07:00

The Aurora County All-Stars by Deborah Wiles

House Jackson lives in Aurora County, Mississippi. A town so small, they only have one real baseball game a year, every Fourth of July. House is the pitcher for the team. His arm was broken last year (by a girl) so he didn’t get to pitch. This year’s game is really important to him and his teammates, so that’s why he has to figure out a way to get his team out of the July 4th Aurora County Anniversary Pageant and back into the game!

This book has it all: suspense, betrayal, a dead guy, a dog, and baseball! Plus it’s loaded with southern charm that makes you want to spend more time in Aurora County. Luckily we can. This is Deborah Wiles third book about the fictional town in Mississippi, the others are Love, Ruby Lavender, and Each Little Bird That Sings.
For Kids in grades 4-6