The Locket

The Locket: Surviving the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire by Suzanne Lieurance J LIE—Galena is 11-years-old and works in the Triangle Shirtwaist factory. Working conditions are very poor because they are not unionized, but she and her sister work to help their family. When a terrible fire breaks out, Galena survives, but her older sister does not. Galena then feels she must begin fighting for improved working conditions in New York City factories.

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! Mo Willems J DVD DON—What could be better than Mo Willems’ award-winning pigeon books? The Pigeon, Knuffle Bunny and Leonardo, the Terrible Monster coming to life on the television screen. Children can read along on the screen with their favorite stories in this hilarious interactive series of short films. You even get the chance to yell “No!” to the pigeon as he attempts to drive the bus.

The Harmonica

The Harmonica by Tony Johnston J JOH—This emotional story of a young Polish boy in a WWII concentration camp shows both the internal struggle of the boy as he plays his harmonica for one of the camp’s commanders and the soothing power of music over the boy and his fellow prisoners.

Pie

Pie by Sarah Weeks J WEE—Polly is the pie queen of Ipswitch and when she dies, she leaves the top secret recipe to her pie crust to her fat cat Lardo and leaves Lardo to her niece Alice. The whole town now is in pie frenzy; everyone wants to try to win the pie contest and find Polly’s recipe. It is up to Alice and her friend Charlie to sort everything out.

Frindle

Frindle by Andrew Clements J CLE —When he decides to turn his fifth grade teacher's love of the dictionary around on her, clever Nick Allen invents a new word and begins a chain of events that quickly move beyond his control.

Critter Jokes and Riddles

Critter Jokes and Riddles by Janet Nuzum Myers J 793.735 MYE— Kids love telling jokes and they love telling jokes on April Fool’s Day.  This book is filled with jokes about animals and insects such as, “How do bees stay warm?  —They wear yellow jackets.”

Good Night Pillow Fight

Good Night Pillow Fight by Sally Cook E COO—In this fun story, you find yourself peeking into a block of city apartments.  It’s time for bed when someone shouts, “pillow fight!” You will enjoy this story as families are trying to get their little ones to sleep any way they can.

The Boy Who Ate Stars

The Boy Who Ate Stars by Kochka J KOC—There have been some truly great books published in the past few years about children with special needs; this one I found to be especially good.  Originally published in France, The Boy Who Ate Stars tells the tale of Lucy, a young French girl who has just moved into a new apartment with her parents. When Lucy movies downstairs from a loud family, at first she is angry, but after meeting Matthew, an autistic boy, her life begins to change as she tries to see life from his point of view.

The Aviary

The Aviary by Kathleen O’Dell J ODE—If you love The Secret Garden then you will instantly fall in love with The Aviary. Eleven-year-old Clara is a lonely girl who is shut off from the outside world and never given a chance to leave the decrepit mansion she lives in because of a heart condition.  Her mother takes care of the very frail woman who owns the mansion, named Mrs. Glendoveer, who has lost her entire family. The only outdoor space that Clara is allowed to enter is the mansion’s rose garden, but she doesn’t like going there because it is also home to an aviary with loud, squawking exotic birds. At first the birds terrify Clara until something happens that leads her into trying to unravel a mystery, making a wonderful friend and freedom.

Day of Tears

Day of Tears by Julius Lester J LES—When Georgia plantation owner Pierce Butler finds that he desperately needs to pay off his gambling debts, he raises money by selling off over 400 slaves from his plantation, resulting in the largest slave auction on US soil. Told from the viewpoint of many people -- slaves and owners, young and old, before, during and after slavery – and based on real plantation owner Pierce Butler and his huge 1859 historic slave auction, this novel is an emotional account of a dark time in American history.

Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark

Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark by Ridley Pearson J PEA—Disney World took five teenagers and turned them into digital hologram hosts of the park. Soon the kids find themselves being transported into the park as their DHI selves at night when they go to sleep. They find out that they must save the park from Maleficent and the Overtakers. Can these kids save Disney World before Maleficent takes over? This is a perfect book for the Disney adventure fan!

Elephants Can Paint Too!

Elephants Can Paint Too! by Katya Arnold E 599.67 ARN—In this true story, Arnold shares how she teaches painting to kids in Brooklyn and to Asian elephants in Thailand.

Before There Was Mozart

Before There Was Mozart : The Story of Joseph Boulogne, Chevalier de Saint-George by Lesa Cline-Ransome J B SAI—This is a deeply inspiring story about Joseph Boulogne, son of a white plantation owner and a black slave.  On the day of his birth the mid-wife declared, “One day this bow will meet the king and queen of France.” After enduring many years of taunting because of his mulatto background, he proves the mid-wife correct and does more than just play his violin for the king and queen of France; he was eventually appointed as the queen’s personal music instructor.

B is for Buckaroo: A Cowboy Alphabet

B is for Buckaroo: A Cowboy Alphabet by Louise Doak Whitney & Gleaves Whitney E 978 WHI—Did you know that most cowboy terms are Spanish in origin?  Or that ranching and herding originated in Spain?  This wonderfully—illustrated alphabet book includes facts, feats and folks of the cowboy way of life.

Attack of the Fluffy Bunnies

Attack of the Fluffy Bunnies by Andrea Beaty J BEA—This book is hysterically funny.  It tells the tale of three fluffy bunny aliens who come to take over and eat everyone on Earth.  Kevin and Joules are twins whose parents drop them at camp while they go to a SPAM cooking competition.  Yep, SPAM.  Camp is not what they expect, especially when the adults all get eaten by 7 foot tall bunnies who force the kids to eat sugar.  The twins and their friend Nelson must save the day.  Much hilarity ensues and then the world is safe once more.  A great book that is perfect for reluctant readers.

Dogs

Dogs by Emily Gravett E GRA—A fun book about all kinds of dogs. Big dogs, small dogs, fast dogs, slow dogs, and on and on. How can anyone choose their favorite? This book has great, colorful pictures of dogs and a very clever ending!

April Fool! Watch Out at School!

April Fool! Watch Out at School! by Diane deGroat E DEG—It’s April Fool’s Day and Gilbert is anxious to pull some practical jokes on his friends. What Gilbert didn’t predict was that all of his tricks would backfire and everyone would end of tricking him. You’ve been warned! This book contains possible ideas of tricks for your kids to pull on you including whoopee cushions, spicy gum, spiders and X-ray vision.

Acoustic Dreamland

Acoustic Dreamland by Putumayo Kids J CD COLL PKP—This collection of sleepy-time songs is sure to help you unwind and maybe even catch a few Zzz’s.

Cosmic

Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce J BOY—Liam is a twelve year old boy who looks like he is 30. This is his journal written from space about how he end up into the trouble he is in now namely, being up in space. A very comical book that takes you through Liam’s adventures as told by himself.

Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa

Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa by Erica Silverman J SIL—In this beginning reader, Cowgirl Kate and her cowhorse Cocoa, who is always hungry, count cows, share a story and help each other fall asleep.

Are You My Mother?

Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman ER EAS or SPANISH ER EAS— “Are you my mother?” asks the newly hatched baby bird when he emerges from the nest.  Although his mother is not the first, second or even third creature he sees, all ends well in this classic story designed for the new reader.