The Underneath

The Underneath by Kathi Appelt J APP -Appelt tells three separate stories that eventually entwine in this southern tale about a pregnant calico cat who finds friendship with an abused dog named Ranger. Ranger’s owner, Gar Face, long ago escaped an abusive father, but has been unable to escape his past. The third story involves a shape-shifting water snake buried deep under a pine tree that is awakening from a long dormant sleep. When one of the pregnant cat’s kittens, Puck, strays from the Underneath, a hiding place for the family, and seeks to find his missing mother, the three stories begin to come together. Beautifully written!

The Pirate of Kindergarten

The Pirate of Kindergarten by George Ella Lyon E LYO—This is a nice book for a child who has just been diagnosed with vision problems.

Mercy Watson Series

Mercy Watson Series by Kate DiCamillo J DIC—Mercy Watson is a pig that sleeps in a bed and loves to eat hot buttered toast. But, though she is treated like a person, she is a pig and gets into all sorts of trouble that only a pig can.

Olivia Goes to Venice

Olivia Goes to Venice by Ian Valconer E FAL—This book is cute, funny and educational as well. You will learn about Venice and many new words as well, such as gelato and gondola.

The Purple Kangaroo

The Purple Kangaroo by Michael Ian Black E BLA—The monkey on the cover can read your mind. No, really. And I bet you’re thinking of a purple kangaroo. No? Well you will be when you finish this silly story.

The Phantom Tollbooth

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster J JUS—When Milo drives through a phantom tollbooth that mysteriously appears in his room, he finds himself on a magical, boredom-busting journey.

Toys Go Out

Toys Go Out by Emily Jenkins J JEN—A delightful story about toys that are best friends and the series of adventures they have from exploring the basement to overcoming the terrifying bigness of the washing machine. Lumphy, StingRay and Plastic – best friends forever!

Murder Afloat

Murder Afloat by Jane Leslie Conly J CON - While running an errand for his mother, fourteen year old Ben is kidnapped off the streets of Baltimore in 1883 and forced to live and work under harsh winter conditions for many months on an oystering vessel. Based on true accounts, this historical fiction can enlighten the middle school reader to the very harsh and dangerous conditions aboard the fishing vessels of the late eighteen hundreds.

Wacky Wednesday

Wacky Wednesday by Theo LeSieg ER SEU –What’s the wackiest thing you’ve ever seen? Check out this book to see if you can find all the things that go wrong on Wacky Wednesday.

On Top of Spaghetti

On Top of Spaghetti by Paul Brett Johnson E JOH—You can’t just read this story, you have to sing it!

The Genius Files: Mission Unstoppable

The Genius Files by Dan Gutman J GUT—Gutman scores again with the first book in a new series. Here we meet Coke and Pepsi, twin brother and sister, who are about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime.

It’s a Book

It’s a Book by Lane Smith E SMI—A very cute and funny picture book! The two characters compare a book to a computer and learn that books are still very valuable!

The Best of the Laurie Berkner Band

The Best of the Laurie Berkner Band by The Laurie Berkner Band J CD COLL JBM—Now all of your favorite tunes from all five albums are on one album! Their catchy tunes and cool beats will have you dancing around with your favorite little person.

Out of the Dust

Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse J HES—Through short, free-verse poems, teenager Billy Jo discusses the impact of the Dust Bowl on her family and their Oklahoma farm in the 1930s.

Toad Rage

Toad Rage by Morris Gleitzman J GLE -Limpy, an Australian cane toad, is determined to understand why humans hate his kind and so he embarks on a very dangerous journey from his swamp to the Summer Olympics in Sydney. He wants to improve relations between the species and believes becoming the mascot for the Olympics will help. And therein lies the problem.

Chicks and Salsa

Chicks and Salsa by Aaron Reynolds E REY -What happens when the farm animals get tired of their “everyday” food? They discover and prepare southwestern cuisine and plan a FIESTA!

Schooled

Schooled by Gordon Korman JP KOR -Cap Anderson’s short lived stint in middle school was suddenly taken away when his grandmother gets well enough to take him back to the only home he’s known which is the exact moment everything goes wrong for him at school leaving his classmates to believe he’s dead!

Miss Brooks Loves Books! (and I don’t)

Miss Brooks Loves Books! (and I don’t) by Barbara Bottner E BOT—This is a great book for a reluctant reader! It is about a little girl who doesn’t like to read stories because they are either “too kissy” “too pink” or “too furry”. Find out what the little girl finally decides to read!

How to Train Your Dragon

How to Train Your Dragon J DVD HOW Hiccup is not what you would call a typical Viking that enjoys fighting dragons. He’s skinny, awkward and likes to invent things. But, when one of his inventions actually works and catches a young dragon, Hiccup befriends the creature that he’s been taught to fear and hate. Together, the mismatched friends join forces to save both of their worlds in this heart-warming epic adventure. Rated PG

My Many Colored Days

My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss E SEU—In this interesting rhyming take on emotions, Dr. Seuss relates colors to moods.

Six Innings

Six Innings by James Preller J PRE—A great sports story that captures the love, excitement and fear players, coaches and parents face when participating in Little League baseball.

Wild About Books

Wild About Books by Judy Sierra E SIE -Beautiful illustrations and rollicking rhyme tell of zoo animals who learn the joy of reading. Pandas demand Chinese books, otters want waterproof books, and geckos read stick-to-the-wall books!

Sarah Plain and Tall

Sarah Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan – This is a heartwarming frontier story (and a quick read) about a family that really needs a mom and Sarah, plain and tall, becomes just that for Anna and Caleb.

Hero Dad

Hero Dad by Melinda Hardin E HAR—I just loved this book! A child tells about how his Dad who is an American soldier is a real life superhero!

Fancy Nancy

Fancy Nancy by Jane O’Connor E OCO—Nancy loves being fancy, but her family doesn’t. Nancy decides to give lessons on being fancy, but things don’t go as planned and Nancy ends up feeling, for a little bit, not very fancy herself.

The Library Pages

The Library Pages by Carlene Morton E MOR—A very cute and funny book that teaches us what NOT to do to books and in libraries.

Smitten

Smitten by David Gordon E GOR—Sock and Mitten have both lost their other halves. On their adventure to find their other half, they find something that neither of them expected—each other.

The Great Fire

The Great Fire by Jim Murphy J 977.311 MUR -Non-fiction writer Murphy takes on the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Using historic photos and newspaper clippings, Murphy maps out the 31-hour spread of the fire that destroyed Chicago. Did Mrs. O’Leary and her cow really start the fire? He answers that question too.

I Love You Through and Through

I Love You Through and Through by Bernadette Rossetti-Shustak BOARDBOOK ROS—Share this sweet boardbook with your little one.