Tollins: Explosive Tales For Children

Tollins: Explosive Tales For Children by Conn Iggulden J IGG—Tollins, not fairies because they are not fragile, but with wings and the ability to fly, can do many other things as well.  This book has three stories in one where Tollins in the village of Charleywood find themselves learning human science in order to save their world.

A Porcupine Named Fluffy

 A Porcupine Named Fluffy by Helen Lester E LES –Meet two unlikely, but likeable friends.  A porcupine named Fluffy and a rhinoceros named . . . What??  After Fluffy found his friend with the equally unusual name, Fluffy didn’t mind being called Fluffy, even though he wasn’t.

Tales of the Cryptids: Mysterious Creatures that May or May Not Exist

Tales of the Cryptids: Mysterious Creatures that May or May Not Exist by Kelly Milner Halls J 001.944 HAL—Do Nessie, Big Foot and the Jersey Devil  really exist? Learn about the scientific monster study known as cryptozoology, uncover new monsters like the Yowie and see if you believe that these creatures really do exist. Fans of cryptids will make this their new favorite book.

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger J ANG—Tommy and his fellow sixth-grade friends keep a log of stories dealing with their odd classmate Dwight and the paper origami Yoda finger puppet he wears, which seems able to give somewhat useful advice and predict the future. While some students seem to believe Yoda’s talents, Tommy’s friend Harvey doesn’t buy into the future-predicting Yoda stuff, referring to Dwight’s finger puppet as no more than a “paper wad.” Funny fiction suitable for fans of Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.

The Great and Only Barnum

The Great and Only Barnum by Candace Fleming  J B BAR—In this biography of P.T. Barnum, showman and founder of the Barnum & Bailey Circus,  readers can visit Barnum's American Museum, meet Tom Thumb, the miniature man , and experience the thrill Barnum must have felt when, at age 60, he joined the circus!

The Captain Contest

The Captain Contest by Matt Christopher J CHR—This is the first book in the soccer cats series and a good choice for a reader beginning to embark on chapter books.  Dewey London finds himself in a predicament when he signs up for a new soccer league that is offering a contest to come up with the team name and t-shirt logo.  The winner gets to be the captain of the team.  Here’s the problem, while Dewey can draw, he has a hard time making decisions and is terrified to be the captain.  What should he do?

A Children’s Zoo

A Children’s Zoo by Tana Hoban E HOB—This book has wonderful pictures of animals at the zoo.  Little ones will love the descriptive words about each animal.

Leo the Snow Leopard: The True Story of an Amazing Adventure

Leo the Snow Leopard: The True Story of an Amazing Adventure by Juliana Hatkoff, Isabella Hatkoff and Craig Hatkoff J 599.7555 HAT –An interesting true story of an endangered snow leopard and his journey to the Bronx Zoo.  Cutest pictures ever!

Jade Green: A Ghost Story

Jade Green: A Ghost Story by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor JP NAY—Newly orphaned Judith barely settles into her uncle’s eerie house when she begins hearing rumors about the mysterious death of a young girl, Jade Green, who had died there. Could disobeying her uncle’s strange request not to bring anything green into the house be the reason why frightening things keep happening to her? Who was Jade Green?

Monsters Eat Whiny Children

Monsters Eat Whiny Children by Bruce Kaplan E KAP—Henry and Eve can’t stop arguing – even when their dad warns them threateningly that “monsters eat whiny children.” When they’re kidnapped by monsters, the two realize that maybe Dad was on to something, but it doesn’t keep them from bickering! Soon the monsters start arguing over the best way to prepare the kids for a meal – will Henry and Eve be able to put their whining aside in order to escape?

Red Blazer Girls: the Ring of Rocamadour

Red Blazer Girls: the Ring of Rocamadour by Michael Beil  J M BEI—Catholic-schooled seventh-graders Sophie, Margaret, Rebecca, and Leigh Ann help an elderly neighbor solve a puzzle her father left for her estranged daughter twenty years ago.  The reader is provided with clues and puzzles along the way that they can attempt to solve too!

Spooky America: Four Real Ghost Stories

Spooky America: Four Real Ghost Stories by Lori Haskins E 133.1 HAS—Give your younger reader a book of four ghost stories, fact-based tales of hauntings, such as a white ghost horse seen by sailors off the coast of Cape Cod, and a mysterious picture of “Aunt Pratt” that emits a tapping sound whenever it is moved from her favorite place in the old house on the Shirley Plantation in Virginia. SPOOKY!

Ramona Quimby, Age 8

Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary JP CLE—Ramona finds herself miserable when her father leaves his job in a grocery store to go to college to become a teacher.  Everything in her family changes and it’s her job in this family to “get along.”  She finds this job difficult with a teacher who calls her a nuisance, little Willa Jean who always wants to play with her, and an attempt at cracking a hard boiled egg on her forehead leaves a goopy egg mess on her head.  Things do turn around for Ramona and there is a happy ending in sight.

Family Reading Night Pajama Party

Grab your parents & your pajamas for a night

of family fun with stations full of activities

 to help you share the joy of reading together.

Thursday, November 17th

6:30-7:30 p.m.

For all Ages!

In the Meeting Room

Call 815-485-2605 to Register

Where’s my Teddy

Where’s my Teddy by Jez Alborough E ALB—Eddie’s teddy is lost and he sets out to find him in the woods.  When he finally finds his teddy, Eddie is surprised to discover that his teddy bear has grown and is too big to huddle and cuddle!  Find out what happens when Eddie comes across a real bear with a similar problem!

The Sister’s Grimm: The Fairy Tale Detectives

The Sister’s Grimm: The Fairy Tale Detectives by Michael Buckley JM BUC (2012 BLUESTEM NOMINEE) -Two sisters go to live with an old woman claiming to be their grandmother and discover they live in a world where fairy tales are all based on real events.  After a bit of a rocky start, it is up to the girls to save Everafter and their grandmother.  Friends are not always so and enemies are sometimes allies in the first book in this series.  A great book and I definitely plan to read the rest in the series.

Bad Kitty Gets a Bath

Bad Kitty Gets a Bath by Nick Bruel J BRU—Bad Kitty needs a bath.  And she’s not getting in the tub without a fight.  A very funny chapter book with lots of illustrations.

Fashion Kitty

Fashion Kitty by Charise Mericle Harper J GN HAR—After a stack of fashion magazines falls on Kiki Kitty's head while she is blowing out the candles on her birthday cake, Kiki turns into Fashion Kitty, a feline superhero who saves other kitties from fashion disaster.

Mr. Peek and the Misunderstanding at the Zoo

Mr. Peek and the Misunderstanding at the Zoo by Kevin Waldron E WAL—Uh oh! Mr. Peek has popped a button on his coat; is he gaining weight? Feeling sorry for himself, he heads off to his job at the zoo. When the animals overhear his mutterings, they think he’s talking about them! Is the hippo getting fat? Are the elephants really too wrinkly? Doesn’t anyone like the giraffes? Can Mr. Peek’s son turn his mood around? And will the animals start feeling better about themselves, too?

Skulduggery Pleasant

Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landry J LAN—When twelve-year-old Stephanie inherits her weird uncle's estate, she must join forces with Skulduggery Pleasant, a skeleton mage, to save the world from ancient evil creatures. The dynamic duo of Skulduggery & Stephanie is the real magic in this novel.

I Pledge Allegiance

I Pledge Allegiance by Bill Martin E 323.65 BEL—Is your child saying the Pledge of Allegiance at school every day?  This book should bring a greater understanding of the words and phrases of the pledge, the symbolism of the flag, and some commentary about life for Americans.

Poppy the Piano Fairy

Poppy the Piano Fairy by Daisy Meadows JP MEA—This book is part of the Rainbow Magic Collection; the Music Fairies take Rachel Walker and Kirsty Tate on an adventure to Fairyland to help save the Music Fairies when Jack Frost and his goblins invade Fairyland’s Royal School of Music.

An Island Far from Home

An Island Far from Home by John Donahue J DON—Joshua’s uncle, Major Robert Pennington is in charge of POWs on George’s Island.  Robert has asked Joshua to write to 14 year old Confederate soldier John who is quite young, scared and alone.  After much thought Joshua decides it wouldn’t hurt to write just one letter.  This starts a friendship through letters and leads Joshua on the greatest adventure of his life. When the war ends, Joshua sneaks off to the prison camp to meet John.

Gregor the Overlander

Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Williams J COL—When Gregor’s sisters, Boots, falls down a tunnel in their dryer, he, of course, follows.  He and Boots find a world under New York City inhabited by pale faced people, giant roaches, rats and bats.  Gregor finds out that he is part of a prophecy and must journey with other Underlanders to fulfill the prophecy.  This one is excellent on audio. 

Annie Glover is not a Tree Lover

Annie Glover is not a Tree Lover by Darleen Bailey Beard J BEA –Annie’s protesting Grandma chains herself to a century-old tree and names it Elmer. Elmer is scheduled to be cut down and Grandma is trying to save him.  As Annie considers what Elmer means to her town, she begins to think that maybe Grandma isn’t so crazy after all.

My Daddy is a Pretzel

My Daddy is a Pretzel  by Baron Baptiste E 613.7046—Some kids have daddies who are builders, but sometimes daddies are trees. That is, daddies do the tree pose—the yoga “tree” pose. Explore different yoga poses from “airplane” to “pretzel” as you discover how yoga relates to everyday life.

Locomotion

Locomotion by Jaqueline Woodson J WOO—Eleven-year-old Lonnie needs a way to express his feelings, so his teacher opens his eyes to poetry. Through a series of poems, Lonnie writes about the death of his parents, his life with foster mother Miss Edna and his emotions over missing his little sister Lili, who lives with another foster family. For more of Lonnie’s story, check out the sequel Peace, Locomotion.