Indoor S’Mores and Other Tasty Treats for Special Occasions

Indoor S’Mores and Other Tasty Treats for Special Occasions by Nick Fauchald J 641.5 FAU—This book is full of fun and yummy recipes for kids! From lemonade to rocky road fudge to campout banana boats you are sure to find a recipe that will be a hit!

Granny Torrelli Makes Soup

Granny Torrelli Makes Soup by Sharon Creech J CRE—With the help of her wise old grandmother, Rosie manages to work out some of her problems in her relationship with her best friend, Bailey, the boy next door.  Granny Torrelli likes to use her stories and her family recipes when helping Rosie.

Cam Jansen and the Chocolate Fudge Mystery

Cam Jansen and the Chocolate Fudge Mystery by David Adler J M ADL—Cam (Jennifer) Jsnsen is at it again with her partner Eric Shelton.  While the two are trying to raise money for the “Ride and Read”  program Cam notices an unusual woman wearing both sunglasses and a long raincoat when it is neither sunny nor raining. As she follows the clues Cam uncovers the keys to solving a mystery involving a bank robbery.

Arthur and the Crunch Cereal Contest

Arthur and the Crunch Cereal Contest by Marc Brown JP BRO—Arthur enters a jingle contest for Crunch Cereal. As he is struggling to find the perfect jingle he hears D.W. singing a catchy tune. Arthur and his “band” use the tune for the entry. Does Arthur win the Crunch Cereal Contest?

Bread and Jam for Frances

Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban E HOB—A classic story of a child who only wants to eat one thing.  But when that is all her mother starts serving her, she soon realizes that there are lots of other yummy things to eat.  A funny, engaging picture book. 

Chew, Chew, Gulp!

Chew, Chew, Gulp! by Lauren Thompson E THO—  Eating isn’t hard to do!  Follow these adorable pictures and rhyming text to learn about lots of ways to do it.

Andrew Zimmern’s Bizarre World of Food: Brains, Bugs & Blood Sausage

Andrew Zimmern’s Bizarre World of Food: Brains, Bugs & Blood Sausage by Andrew Zimmern J 394.12 ZIM—Fans of the TV show Andrew Zimmern’s Bizarre World of Food know exactly what kinds of truly “strange” foods Andrew has dined on. He has sampled local cuisine from around the globe and introduced children and adults of all ages to cultural traditions that vary ever so slightly from our own. In this book you’ll delve deeper inside some of his favorite places that he has traveled and get a behind the scenes look into his world of unique dining experiences. Warning: This is not light reading for those that are easily queasy!

Summer Reading 2012 Update

The Youth Services Department has been really busy with our first week of the Summer Reading Program.  So far by the third day of registration we surpassed the number of children registering for the program by 71% as compared to last summer!

• Summer Reading Program Youth Registrations 2011 Day 3 = 579
• Summer Reading Program Youth Registrations 2012 Day 3 = 988

As an extra incentive this summer we have partnered with the New Lenox School District #122. The school that has the most students complete our summer reading program will win a trophy and the opportunity to decorate one of our display cases. Show your school spirit and complete the New Lenox Public Library's Summer Reading Program, "Reading is So Delicious!"

Bake Sale

Bake Sale by Sarah Varon J GN VAR—Bandmates and best friends, Cupcake (a cupcake) and Eggplant (an…eggplant) will do anything for each other. Cupcake is a bakery owner who decides to raise money for a plane ticket to join Eggplant on a trip to Turkey to visit Eggplant’s aunt and meet his own idol Turkish Delight. But to do this, Cupcake’s going to need the help of Eggplant to man the bakery while he’s out selling his baked goods. When the vacation plans don’t go quite as anticipated, Cupcake is there to help out Eggplant, realizing that friendship is way more important than anything else. This fun, colorful graphic novel includes all the recipes for the fun treats Cupcake makes and sells. What a sweet treat!

The Case of the Doughy Creature

The Case of the Doughy Creature by Jenny Markas J M SCO—Scooby-Doo and his friends have a new case and they need your help to solve it. Velma’s friend makes the best pastries anyone has ever tried but he cannot get the customers to come into his pastry shop. There is a rumor that the bakery is haunted by a doughy creature. It is up to you and Scooby-Doo to get to the bottom of this mystery.

The Cheese

The Cheese by Margie Palatini E PAL—Palatini takes the nursery rhyme “The Farmer in the Dell” and retells the rhyme. But this time, the rat decides that there is no reason that the cheese should stand alone especially when it’s such a delicious treat. But will the other characters let him reach The Cheese?

A Backyard Vegetable Garden for Kids

A Backyard Vegetable Garden for Kids by Amie Jane Leavitt J 635 LEA—Kids love to plant seeds and watch things grow.  This book has  everything you will need to start your own backyard vegetable garden and establish healthy eating habits that could last a lifetime!

Runaway Twin

Runaway Twin by Peg Kehret J KEH—Twins Sunny and Starr are separated just before they turn 13.  At thirteen, Sunny finds a canvas bag containing $800, with no claimant.  An experienced runaway, she decides to go cross-country to be reunited with her twin.  Find out how her journey goes and if she gets her happy reunion.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard

The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling J ROW—These tales are absolutely delightful.  Short and quick, Beedle the Bard is a perfect introduction to fairy tales from the world of witches and wizards.  Rowling does an introduction that explains the tales a bit including letting muggle children know that in these tales, magic is not strange and wonderful as it is in their tales, but is instead standard fare.  This would be a great book for those not yet old enough to delve into the world of Harry Potter, but who still want to read something similar to it. 

Mysterious Edge of the Heroic World

Mysterious Edge of the Heroic World by E.L. Konigsburg J KON—Amedeo Kaplan seems just like any other new kid who has moved into the town of St. Malo, Florida, a navy town where new faces are the norm. But Amedeo has a secret, a dream: more than anything in the world, he wants to discover something  a place, a process, even a fossil some treasure that no one realizes is there until he finds it. And he would also like to discover a true friend to share these things with.

Hiccup Snickup

Hiccup Snickup by Melinda Long E LON—Did you ever get the hiccups and have everyone offering advice on how to get rid of them? That is exactly what happens in this story with some very funny results. The characters in this book are just as silly as their suggestions to cure this poor girl of those pesky hiccups! Read it to find out the best cure, and if the hiccups really stay away!

Where’s Tumpty?

Where’s Tumpty? by Polly Dunbar E DUN—Tilly and her friends all live together in a yellow house. Tilly’s friend Tumpty the elephant decides he wants to play hide and seek. It’s not the easiest thing to hide an elephant in a little yellow house. Hiding upside down with his eyes closed doesn’t make him disappear. When his friends laugh at his silliness, they discover that suddenly their friend is missing. Where is Tumpty? Simple, adorable illustrations make this book a treat for young readers and their grownups.

A Visitor for Bear

A Visitor for Bear by Bonny Becker E BEC—Bear’s efforts to keep out visitors to his house are undermined by a very persistent mouse. Will they ever be true friends or will Mouse remain as annoying as Bear thinks he is?

Too Many Toys

Too Many Toys by David Shannon E SHA—What does a mom do when her child has too many toys? Negotiate and haggle. And then, if lucky, all well be resolved.  But what if there is that one toy that absolutely cannot be parted with?

The Prince of Mist

The Prince of Mist by Carlos Ruis Zafón J ZAF—The Carver family moves to a small coastal village.  The minute they arrive, strange things begin to happen.  Lurking inside their new home is the spirit of Jacob, the previous owner’s son.  This story has all the perfect elements of a ghost story.

Over at the Castle

Over at the Castle by Boni Ashburn E ASH—This cute counting story is set to the classic folk melody “Over in the Meadow,” and I can’t help but sing the story. 

No Passengers Beyond This Point

No Passengers Beyond This Point by Gennifer Choldenko J CHO—India, Finn, and Mouse must move to Colorado to live with their uncle after their mom loses their house to foreclosure. Their trip to Colorado goes all wrong when they land in a strange place called Falling Bird. Falling Bird seems too good to be true when they arrive and everyone, and I mean everyone, is cheering and so happy that the three kids have arrived. After staying one day in their “dream house,” they find that their house is literally breaking apart and they are thrust into homelessness. Falling Bird isn’t what it seems.  Find out if they can escape Falling Bird and make it to their uncle’s place in Colorado.

Mercy Watson Fights Crime

Mercy Watson Fights Crime by Kate DiCamillo J DIC—Mercy Watson is just your average pig except for a few things: she lives inside and sleeps in a bed, and she loves hot buttered toast.  One evening after Mercy has been tucked into bed, she hears a noise down in the kitchen that turns out to be a thief.  Mercy ends up as a hero, and her reward…..hot buttered toast.

The Lemonade War

The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies J DAV—Evan Treski is people-smart. He is good at talking with people, even grownups. His younger sister, Jessie, on the other hand, is math-smart but not especially good at understanding people. She knows that feelings are her weakest subject. So when their lemonade war begins, there really is no telling who will win and even more important, if their fight will ever end. Here is a clever blend of humor and math fun. As it captures the one-of-a-kind bond between brother and sister, this poignant novel subtly explores how arguments can escalate beyond anyone’s intent.

Winter’s Tail: How One Little Dolphin Learned to Swim Again

Winter’s Tail: How One Little Dolphin Learned to Swim Again by Juliana Hatkoff J 599.53 HAT—When Winter, an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, was three months old she was rescued from a crab trap with her tail seriously damaged. A group of experts helped Winter by making her a prosthetic tail. Amazingly, she is doing great and has learned to swim very well with her new tail! This is the true story on which the movie Dolphin Tale is based.

Someday

Someday by Eileen Spinelli E SPI—Someday she is going to make friends with a dolphin, but right now she is feeding her pet goldfish. The possibilities are endless and she can be anyone or anything she dreams of. This is the perfect book for a young girl who dreams big and believes that one day she’ll spend the night in Egypt, but still loves being tucked in by Mom and Dad for tonight. Filled with beautiful, bright colored illustrations.

Sylvie

Sylvie by Jennifer Sattler E SAT—A flamingo who is tired of being pink decides to eat other things to turn her feathers different colors. But what happens when she overdoes it?

Toot & Puddle: Charming Opal by Holly Hobbie

Toot & Puddle: Charming Opal by Holly Hobbie E HOB—Puddle’s cousin Opal comes to visit Woodcock Pocket. When she arrives, Toot and Puddle notice that she has a loose tooth! Find out what happens to Opal on her visit to Woodcock Pocket!

Robot Zot

Robot Zot by Jon Scieszka E SCI—Arriving in a suburban kitchen, tiny but brave Robot Zot and his mechanical sidekick, Bot, battle fearsome kitchen applicances.  And Robot Zot finds his one true love, the most amazing Earth person…a play telephone.

Vincent van Gogh and the Colors of the Wind

Vincent van Gogh and the Colors of the Wind by Chiara Lossani J B VAN—This beautiful book captures with words and art the painful and short life of the great Vincent van Gogh. Using van Gogh’s own art to tell the story, page after colorful page is filled with vibrant pictures and a story that captures the essence of this amazing artist. As a young boy, Losssani describes “Vincent gestures wildly, like a windmill.” The ending captures the pain and suffering Vincent endured as he took his own life.

The One and Only Stuey Lewis: Stories From the Second Grade

The One and Only Stuey Lewis: Stories From the Second Grade by Jane Schoenberg J SCH— This funny chapter book includes four stories about Stuey, a second grader who worries way too much. He fakes a stomachache, hoping he won’t have to go to school because he isn’t the best reader. He puts off signing up for soccer because he’s afraid he won’t play as well as his older brother, and he even thinks about skipping the last day of school because he doesn’t want the year to end. He gets through all of these situations with the help of his best friend Will, his teacher, and even the class know-it-all Lilly.

The Real Spy’s Guide To Becoming a Spy

The Real Spy’s Guide To Becoming a Spy by Peter Earnest J 327.12 EAR—This super spy handbook, written by the founding director of the International Spy Museum offers anything and everything you could ever want to know about the world of spies. Have you ever wondered what a spy really does? Did you know spies have been around since ancient times? Take a spy quiz and see if you’ve got what it takes to be a real spy.