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Staff Recommends for Kids

Recommendation for the Week of December 26, 2011

My Life as a Book
by: Janet Tashjian
jFIC TAS

Derek, 12, a reluctant reader who loves mischievous antics, wants to spend his summer vacation anywhere but Learning Camp. But learning to visualize a book like a movie in your head and solving a mystery about his past make it easy for Derek to see that life itself is a story. Larger print and stick figures illustrating vocabulary words make this book appealing to those who like Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Big Nate.

- recommended by Donna Neblett - Warren Library

Recommendation for the Week of December 12, 2011

Amelia and the Other Side of Yuletide
by: Jimmy Gownley
j741.5 GOW

At Christmas, Amelia and her friends are determined to discover the truth behind Santa Claus. Why is it that some kids get everything they ask for, some kids get socks and deodorant, and some kids get nothing...even though they have ALL been exceedingly good?! As Amelia says, "I can't believe Santa would stiff someone like that!" The kids make a plan to find out the truth, a plan that eventually involves mall security and coming perilously close to being on the naughty list waaaay too close to Christmas. Amelia and her friends get to the heart of the matter and discover a truth that we all suspected all along anyway.

- recommended by Carrie Waterson - Information Technology

Recommendation for the Week of December 5, 2011

Dead End in Norvelt
by: Jack Gantos
jFIC

The first time Jack Gantos met Miss Volker, she was cooking her hands. He fainted dead away and when he came to, she had a job for him to do: helping her write obituaries for Norvelt’s newspaper. Before long, Jack’s not sure that she won’t soon be writing his obituary. Between his nosebleeds, the Hell’s Angels revenge visits to town, old Mr. Spizz’s incessant wooing of Miss Volker, and Jack’s best friend Bunny torturing him with gory stories garnered from her father’s funeral business, he’s pretty sure he’s not going to survive the summer. 

- recommended by Cheryl Holtsclaw - West Indianapolis Library

Recommendation for the Week of November 28, 2011

Lizards
by: Nic Bishop
j597.95 BIS

Have you ever wondered what a lizard looks like close up? Nic Bishop’s newest book Lizards may just be for you. Every page is filled with a different lizard, sometimes up to 6 times the actual size! See lizards eat, glide, run, hatch and more—all in amazing detail. The incredible photography in this book will have you fascinated for hours. If you like this one, check out Nic Bishop’s other books: Spiders, Frogs, Butterflies and Moths, and Marsupials.

- recommended by Erin M. Webster - The Learning Curve

Recommendation for the Week of November 21, 2011

Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer
by: John Grisham
jFIC

What would you do if you knew there was a witness to a murder but you couldn’t tell anyone? That is what happens to Theo Boone. Theo realizes he has to convince the witness, who doesn’t trust the police, to come forward and tell the truth before the murderer goes free. Will the witness tell the police and will Theo see justice served? Find out the answers when you read Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer.

- recommended by Georgia Ellars - Eagle Library

Recommendation for the Week of November 14, 2011

Lost and Found
by: Andrew Clements
jFIC

On the first day of sixth grade, in a brand new school, Jay Grayson makes a fascinating discovery -- the school has no record of his identical twin Ray. Jay makes the decision not to tell the school that Ray is home sick and enjoys a day of not being "one of the Grayson twins." At home, Jay convinces his brother to take turns with him at school for a few days so they can both experience not having a twin. How long can the boys successfully carry out their crazy plan?

- recommended by Fiona Duke - East Washington Library

Recommendation for the Week of October 31, 2011

The Hive Detectives: Chronicle of a Honey Bee Catastrophe
by: Loree Griffin Burns
j638.13 BUR

Being near a bee strikes fear into many people. That will change after reading The Hive Detectives: Chronicle of a Honey Bee Catastrophe by Loree Griffin Burns. Bees produce honey which we all enjoy. But bees also are an integral part of our food production. By enlightening readers to the ultimate disaster of Colony Collapse Disorder, readers will better understand how the over-use of insecticides has imperiled fruit and vegetable pollination. This is a beautiful book that opens a window ecologically, socially and inspirationally.

- recommended by Roberta Ash - Wayne Branch Library

Recommendation for the Week of October 24, 2011

Lunch Box Dream
by: Tony Abbott
jFIC ABB

Bobby and Jacob are both on a journey during the summer of 1959. The boys live in a segregated America and do not have contact with other races. As a result they have misconceptions about race. On their journey they discover that blacks and whites are not that different from each other. Lunch-Box Dream also reflects on causes and consequences of the Civil War. The two main characters learn lessons and encounter new experiences that reflect on the past and influence their future.

- recommended by Lindsay Haddix - Pike Branch Library

Recommendation for the Week of October 17, 2011

The Garden of Empress Cassia
by: Gabrielle Wang
jFIC WAN

Mimi is given a wooden box with a beautiful oriental garden inlaid on the lid and Chinese characters carved around the sides that read:  Empress Cassia  Supreme Ruler of all China  80 Sticks of the finest China Pastels  A Treasure for Some  A Curse for Others.  Inside are rows and rows of colors “so delicate they looked as though they had been made from the gossamer wings of fairies”.  In Mimi’s hands the pastels reflect what lies in her good heart.  Her drawings are so beautiful they change peoples’ lives.  But, when Gemma steals the pastels it’s a different story.  Only Mimi can prevent a tragedy. 

- recommended by Barbara Obergfell - Outreach

Recommendation for the Week of October 10, 2011

Alanna : the first adventure
by: Tamora Pierce
jFIC PIE

This coming of age fantasy is for every child that ever felt like they were less than others because they weren’t the biggest or the strongest. Ten year old Allana of Trebond swaps places with her twin brother so she can become a valiant knight of the realm. Along the way she befriends a king of thieves and a royal prince. She also makes some powerful enemies while trying to master her unique magic. Alanna manages all of this while being disguised… as a boy! This is the first book in a tetralogy*, The Song of the Lioness series. *A series with four books is called a tetralogy. Neat, right?

- recommended by Mary J. Earle - Southport Branch Library

Recommendation for the Week of October 3, 2011

The Marvelous Toy
by: Tom Paxton
jP PAX

Based on a song made popular by the group Peter, Paul, and Mary, songwriter Paxton and illustrator Steve Cox create a colorful and imaginative picture book about a toy that creates a joyful moment between a parent and a child.  A CD is also included with the book which includes not only the song with the words but also an instrumental version of the song that allows the reader to sing along while reading.   

- recommended by Emily Chandler - Lawrence Library

Recommendation for the Week of September 26, 2011

The Mysteries of Beethoven’s Hair
by: Russell Martin
jB

What mysteries are connected to Beethoven’s hair? A lock cut by Ferdinand Hiller in 1827 in Austria reappeared in Denmark in 1995. Purchased by two Americans, they had Beethoven’s hair tested for DNA and content. Where has the hair been all these years? What do they find in the hair? Read and find out.

- recommended by Cindy Childers - Shelby Branch Library

Recommendation for the Week of September 19, 2011

The Mostly True Story of Jack
by: Kelly Barnhill
jFIC BAR

Barnhill has created a knock-out for her first novel. No one has ever paid attention to Jack; he has always felt practically invisible. He isn’t included in family pictures; people forget that he is there. When his parents divorce, Jack is suddenly shuffled off to Iowa to live with his Aunt and Uncle – who pay a lot of attention to him. In fact, several people in the town have been waiting for him – some need his help and one wants to kill him. With perfect timing, Barnhill slowly uncovers the mysterious magic and legends surrounding the town, with creepy houses, haunted schools, missing children, an impossible history book, a bully who should not exist, a neighbor with a gruesomely scarred face, and friends who will not give up. This is a fantasy with edges of horror, somewhat reminiscent of Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book.

- recommended by Steve Bridge - Irvington

Recommendation for the Week of September 12, 2011

Aliens on Vacation
by: Clete Barrett Smith
jFIC

13-year-old Scrub has never met his grandmother who runs a bed and breakfast in Washington State. When he is unexpectedly sent to stay with her for summer vacation, he expects to be miserable. Grandmother turns out to be a 60’s flower child and her B&B is for friendly aliens vacationing on Earth. The sheriff wants to close the place down because of all of the visiting “weirdos”; but Scrub and a local girl band together to protect them. The plot seems ready-made for a movie, with special effects by the “Men in Black” team; but the characters and writing are lively and funny. 1st of a series.

- recommended by Steve Bridge - Irvington

Recommendation for the Week of September 5, 2011

My Heart Glow
by: McCully, Emily Arnold
jB

Have you ever thought you would like to learn American Sign Language (ASL)? If that sounds interesting you will want to read the true story of a brave and curious American girl – Alice Cogswell. Because of an illness Alice became deaf when she was two. She really wanted to learn but there were no schools for deaf children in 19th century America. Alice’s neighbor, Thomas Gallaudet, knew that he wanted to help Alice. He crossed the ocean to find a teacher in France who could help him open America’s first school for the deaf. Alice Cogswell became the first student.

- recommended by Catherine Lutholtz Bridge - The Learning Curve

Recommendation for the Week of August 29, 2011

Everything I Know About Monsters
by: Tom Lichtenheld
jE LIC

This silly book is filled with diagrams, lists, and pictures that tell you all about monsters and the crazy things they do. Lichtenheld writes non-fiction-like accounts that boarder on the ridiculous. Be ready to learn the difference between under-the-bed monsters and closet monsters, and the four things you need to do to keep monsters away (hint: it might have something to do with a night light.)

- recommended by Laura Avery - Glendale

Recommendation for the Week of August 22, 2011

Pig Kahuna
by: Jennifer Sattler
jP SAT

Fergus and his little brother, Dink, love the beach. They love to collect the treasures that wash up on the shore. But Fergus does NOT love the ocean. He knows that there is a lurking, murky ickiness in the water. Then one day the brothers find their best treasure ever…a surfboard. They name it Dave. Fergus and Dink love playing with Dave, until Fergus decides to set Dave free. The story has a wonderful ending, and the illustrations are full of life. If you like pigs, or summer, or the ocean, then you will love Pig Kahuna.

- recommended by Brenda Whitmore - Spades Park

Recommendation for the Week of June 19, 2006

The True Story of Stellina
by: Matteo Pericoli
jP PER

An absolutely lovely volume! Written and illustrated by a husband about his wife and the finch she rescues from a busy NYC street corner. This story is all about presence, patience, and kindness both in the story, how it is told, and illustrated. This is the first juvenile work by Matteo Pericoli, and what a beginning. Highly recommended.

- recommended by Barbara Obergfell, Outreach

Recommendation for the Week of June 5, 2006

My Very First Mother Goose
by: Edited by Iona Opie Illustrated by Rosemary Wells
j398.8 

Iona Opie edits My Very First Mother Goose, an oversized, colorful nursery ryhme collection. Mother Goose nursery rhymes are most often babies' first introduction to literature. As we read these rhymes with our children, we tell stories, sing songs, and play games. We act out the rhymes, moving our hands, feet and sometimes our entire bodies.

- recommended by Karen Perry, Franklin Road Branch Library

Recommendation for the Week of May 15, 2006

The Amulet of Samarkand
by: Stroud, Jonathon
jFIC STR

Do you like dragons, magic, plots and intrigue? Power, struggles, battles and spells? Enter a whole new world as Nathanial learns to live as a magician, keeps his own skills a secret, controls beings from the "other place" and fights to save the government from an evil adversary. This is the first book in the Bartimaeus trilogy, so when you're nearing the end, never fear! You've got 2 more to read! Available on CD, cassette and in Spanish.  Nathaniel is a magician's apprentice, taking his first lessons in the arts of magic. But when a devious hot-shot wizard named Simon Lovelace ruthlessly humiliates Nathaniel in front of his elders, Nathaniel decides to kick up his education a few notches and show Lovelace who's boss. With revenge on his mind, he summons the powerful djinni, Bartimaeus. But summoning Bartimaeus and controlling him are two different things entirely, and when Nathaniel sends the djinni out to steal Lovelace's greatest treasure, the Amulet of Samarkand, he finds himself caught up in a whirlwind of magical espionage, murder, and rebellion.

- recommended by Raylene Jordan, Glendale Branch Library

Recommendation for the Week of May 1, 2006

I Could Do That! Esther Morris gets Women the Vote
by: Linda Arms White
jB Morris, E.H. WHI

Esther McQuigg Morris' biography is full of facts and read aloud enjoyment for the whole family.   In 1869, Esther's "can-do" attitude was instrumental in making Wyoming the first state to allow women to vote, and then Esther herself became the first woman to hold public office in the United States.

- recommended by Martha LaBounty, East 38th Street Branch Library

Recommendation for the Week of April 24, 2006

Magic Beach
by: Crockett Johnson
jE JOH

Like Harold, this book is a testament to the power and wonder of imagination.  Though written at the chapter book level, this book can be enjoyed by all ages.  Written by Johnson in the early 1960s, the story of why his original version of Magic Beach was never published is fascinating in itself. 

- recommended by Nicole James, Fountain Square Branch Library

Recommendation for the Week of April 17, 2006

Frindle
by: Andrew Clements
jFIC CLE

Mrs. Granger runs a strict class.  No funny stuff!  She loves the dictionary more than anything else in the whole world. When she begins discussing the origin of words, Nicholas’ smart mouth earns him an extra assignment on the subject.  It also gives him a great idea.  Mrs. Granger had said, “Who says ‘dog’ means ’dog’?”  So he picks up a pen and starts calling it a “Frindle”, with totally unexpected results.

- recommended by Karen Perry, Franklin Road Branch Library

Recommendation for the Week of April 10, 2006

Whirligig
by: Fleischman, Paul
jFIC FLE

Consumed by guilt and remorse he is devastated and wants no contact with the outside world.  Ironically, it is Lea’s mother who gives him a reason to live.  She gives Brent a picture of Lea and asks him to make four whirligigs with her likeness and set them at the four corners of the United States – Washington, California, Florida, and Maine.  This way Lea’s spirit would live on when others experienced the joy of her whirligigs.  Mrs. Zamora gives Brent a forty-five day Greyhound bus pass that will take him anywhere he wants to travel during that time.  Despite the objections of his parents, Brent takes up the quest.  Along the way he meets interesting travelers and learns how to live.  He comes to realize that peoples’ lives intertwine and interact like the moving parts in his whirligigs.

- recommended by Linda Tegmeyer, East Washington Branch Library