Oh, Rats!: The Story of Rats and People

Oh, Rats!: The Story of Rats and People by Albert Marrin J 599.352 MAR—Revolting! Revealing! Riveting!  as the back of the book says. Marrin looks at the science, history, culture and folklore of rats giving us a fascinating account of these creatures of survival.

Steve Jobs: The Brilliant Mind Behind Apple

Steve Jobs: The Brilliant Mind Behind Apple by Anthony Imbimbo J B JOB—Written before Steve Jobs passed away, this biography gives good information about Jobs early career, the co-creation of Apple computers with Steve Wozniak,  a “little” project with Disney Pixar and the driving force that led Steve Jobs to invent, create and peruse his dreams with stubbornness and tenacity.

Sophie Peterman tells the Truth!

Sophie Peterman tells the Truth! By Sarah Weeks E WEE—This hilarious book is about Sophie telling the truth about babies and what to say if  your parents ever ask you “would you like to have a little brother or sister someday?” You should definitely say NO!  

When You Reach Me

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead J STE—The book is set in the 1970′s and is about a young girl, Miranda, and her life.  She is trying to figure out life and why her bff suddenly doesn’t want to be friends with her anymore.  Meanwhile, she and her mom’s boyfriend are getting her mom ready to be on a game show all while she must walk in front of the crazy homeless man on her way home from school every day.  While at first this might seem like a very typical coming of age story, it is anything but.

Shoe-La-La!

Shoe-La-La! by Karen Beaumont E BEA—A very cute book written in rhyme about four girls who go looking for the perfect pair of party shoes!

Hugless Douglas

Hugless Douglas by David Melling E MEL—Everyone needs hugs, but Douglas really, really needs a hug. He tries hugging a rock, a tree, a bush and some furry woodland creatures that really have no desire to be hugged by a giant bear. Poor Hugless Douglas! Will rabbit help him end his comical search for the perfect hug?

Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie

Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick AUDIO CD JF SON—He’s a good student, an all-city drummer, obsessed with music and girls, and constantly bothered by his five-year-old brother Jeffrey. Steven Alper leads the life of a typical eighth-grade boy, until the day Jeffrey is diagnosed with leukemia, and Steven’s world turns upside down.

Night of the Twisters

Night of the Twisters by Ivy Ruckman JP RUC—You never know when your day can turn into the worst day of your life. For Dan and his best friend Arthur, it happens all too quickly. The day started out like any other and the boys didn’t think too much of the tornado warning that was issued. However, when the winds start howling, the sirens start blaring, and an awful sucking begins in all the drains, Dan and Arthur know that this isn’t an average warning.

Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!

 

Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! by Candace Fleming E FLE—Some very persistent bunnies go after Mr. McGreely’s garden with Mr. McGreely persistently building bigger and better ways to keep them out.

Snow? Let’s Go!

Snow? Let’s Go! By Karen Berman Nagel ER NAG – This cute easy reader is perfect for winter time. It is packed with simple sight words for the new reader.

Saving Zasha

Saving Zasha by Randi Barrow J BAR—13 year old Mikhail and his family are struggling to survive the devastation by Germany’s conflict with the Soviet Union at the end of WWII.  Mikhail finds a dying man and his German shepherd dog, Zasha.  After the man dies Mikhail keeps Zasha,  but it has to be a secret because it is still dangerous, some say traitorous, to own a German dog.  Find out how they keep Zasha safe from others in their town and from spies!

The Trouble with Mark Hopper

The Trouble with Mark Hopper by Elissa Brent Weissman J WEI—This is a funny story reminiscent of Andrew Clements stories.  There are two Mark Hoppers and each keeps getting confused with the other one.  But soon they are forced together and realize that they each might have something to offer the other one.  This book was very funny and a good read about friendship and mistaken identities.

The Ransom of Mercy Carter

The Ransom of Mercy Carter by Caroline B. Cooney J COO—It is 1704, during the French and Indian War, when Mohawk Indians attack the village of Deerfield, Massachusetts. They take 11 year old Mercy Carter and over one hundred other settlers and force them to walk 300 miles to Canada.   Mercy is then sent to live with a Mohawk family and her new life begins as an adopted Indian daughter. This is a very good and suspenseful historical fiction book for older readers

How Loud Can You Burp?

How Loud Can You Burp? by Glenn Murphy J 502 MUR—Do cow farts cause climate change? Will we ever ride in floating trains and buses? In this even wackier follow-up to Why is Snot Green? life’s most important, hilarious science questions are answered.

Dizzy

 

Dizzy by Lunch Money J CD LUNC DIZ—Tunes so catchy, Mom & Dad will be singing along with you!

Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Writing Thank You Notes

Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Writing Thank You Notes by Peggy Gifford J GIF—This is a hysterical book about how much Moxy procrastinates in order to not write her thank you notes. With many comedic antics and several pictures showing the outcome, this book keeps you wanting more. It reminds me of myself when it comes to cleaning my room (my mom agreed)!

Gossie

Gossie by Olivier Dunrea E DUN—Gossie loves her red boots. She wears them everywhere, every day.  And then one day, they disappear.

Ivy & Bean and the Ghost that Had to Go

Ivy & Bean and the Ghost that Had to Go by Annie Barrows J BAR – This is the second book in the Ivy & Bean series.  When Ivy & Bean discover a ghost in the girls bathroom at school every second grader in school now watches the bathroom intently.  But then Ms. Aruba-Tate talks to the class about using imaginations responsibly and Ivy & Bean get an idea.  It is time to expel the ghost. 

The Red Pyramid

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan J RIO—Carter, 14, and Sadie, 12, are brother and sister who were raised separately after the mysterious death of their mother.  Carter has spent his life traveling the world with his father who is an Egyptologist.  They lived out of a suitcase and never stayed in one place for very long.  Sadie grew up in London with her grandparents.  She is loud, wears combat boots and has colored streaks in her hair.  They only see each other twice a year so they are more strangers than family.  During one of their visits their father takes them to a British museum and unleashes the Egyptian god Set.  Now the children embark on a dangerous journey across the globe.  They learn the truth about their family and their link to a secret order that has existed since the time of pharaohs.

The Graveyard Book

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman J GAI—This book is about a boy named Nobody Owens who is adopted by a very nice ghost couple after his family has been murdered.  He is raised in the graveyard and learns everything from reading to fading.  But he cannot leave the graveyard because someone is out there waiting for him and he will not be safe until he is grown.  His guardian, Silas, is a strong, silent type who answers Bod’s questions and helps educate him.  There are friends and enemies along the way, and though it is unconventional, this is a story about growing up. 

How To Be A Good Dog

How To Be A Good Dog by Gail Page E PAG—Dogs don’t want to be bad, but sometimes being good is really hard. Homework is delicious, barking is amusing and muddy paw prints just happen. Sometimes in the dog house is where you land when you’re being bad. What dog needs to teach him how to be good is cat. Sometimes you just need a cat to teach an old dog new tricks and show a dog how to be good.

Punished!

Punished! By David Lubar J LUB—Logan and his friend Benedict are playing in the library when he runs into a mysterious man in the reference section. This man punishes him by causing him to speak in puns. He is getting on everyone’s nerves and must find a way to end this craziness!

The Day-Glo Brothers

The Day-Glo Brothers by Chris Barton J 535.352 BAR—Do you love highlighters and other bright, fluorescent things? Read this book to learn about one bright idea – the Switzer brothers’ creation of fluorescent colors in the 1930s.

The Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch

The Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch by Joseph Delaney J DEL—Tom is the seventh son of a seventh son and he is at the age where he needs to go out into the world and become an apprentice. His mam convinces Mr. Gregory, the spook, to take him on as an apprentice. Now Tom must learn all that he can about witches, boggarts, and ghosts before he makes a big mistake that can cost him his life.

Dreamquest: Tales of Slumberia

Dreamquest: Tales of Slumberia by Brent Hartinger J HAR—Julie’s life is a nightmare; her parents fight all the time and constantly put her in the middle. Then Julie’s dreams become nightmares as well where her parents are pulling her into different directions. In the middle of one of her nightmares, Julie falls into a world called Slumberia where all of her dreams are filmed. Julie goes on an adventure in order to get the dream producers to stop making nightmares. Faced with a deadline to get back to her world, being chased by security, and obstacles with every step she takes, it seems that Julie will never make it to the dream producers.

The Nightmarys

The Nightmarys by Dan Poblocki J POB—If you like scary books, this one is for you!  It has nightmares, curses, mysteries and secret codes!  7th graders, Timothy and Abigail team up on a school project.  During a fieldtrip to a museum, they find themselves in the basement and encounter a tall creepy man in an overcoat. Soon their lives spin out of control as a curse causes them and others to be tormented by their greatest fears brought to life.