Imagine that the sky is the limit and you could build your own car that could do nearly everything. Jack imagines a fantastical car that has a pool, fireplace, fish tank and can fly. Don’t even mention the instant snack bar and the many more cool and amazing things. Read If I Built a Car to rediscover the breadth of children’s imaginations. Sky K.
Igraine twelfth birthday was coming soon. Her magician parents, Fair Melisnade and Sir Lamorak the Wily, were busy making her birthday present in their workshop. They used the Singing Books of Magic to cast many of their spells. These magic books had caused her family many problems. Many powerful people wished to own them. Betram the next door neighbor, Master of Horse, came to visit from Darkrock the castle next door. Betram thinks Osmond the Greedy has plans to attack Pimernel, Igraine’s castle, and steal the Singing Magic Books for himself. Read this compelling adventure fantasy to find out more. Irene S.
Ginny Davis documents her life in middle school through notes, report cards, comic strips and newspaper clippings. With collage illustrations on each page giving a glimpse into Ginny's life at home or at school, this book offers an interesting break from your typical chapter book. Claudia O.
No Talking
by Andrew Clements; illustrations by Mark Elliot
The fifth-graders of Laketon Elementary haven’t stopped talking since kindergarten. They are so out of control that the principal uses a bullhorn in the cafeteria. Then one day the boys challenge the girls to a two-day no talking contest. The principal hates it. The teachers don’t know what to do. Can the boys stop talking? Can the girls? Read this book and see what difference a little silence can make. Jennifer S.
A young girl goes to the zoo and receives very strange requests from a very smart group of residents. Everywhere she goes, they call Pssst! Pssst! and they all have something quite unusual to ask for. Find out what’s really up at the zoo! Bonina G.
The beautiful Martina, who lives in a "cozy street lamp in Old Havana", is 21 years old and ready to get married. Following her grandmother's advice, "spill coffee in his shoes and see how he reacts," she interviews a number of suitors, all of them failing the coffee test. After many failed attempts, seeing the unpleasant reactions of her suitors, she finally finds the gardener Perez, a sweet little brown mouse, who successfully passes the test. This witty and humorous retelling of the traditional story will delight children and adults, who will fall in love with the beautiful Martina Josefina Catalina Cucaracha. Martina the Beautiful Cockroach is the winner of the 2008 Pura Belpre Award. Ana B.
Your mission should you decide to accept it is to read this awesome book on making top secret codes and breaking them. Have fun and see if you can stump your friends with these codes. Sky K.
Humphrey the hamster enjoys his life as the class pet of Room 26—until rodent-hater Mrs. Brisbane becomes the new teacher. She sends Humphrey home each weekend with a different student so she won’t have to take care of him. Finally, the worst happens. He must go home with Mrs. Brisbane. Will he survive the weekend? Will she? Read this humorous story to find out what a visit from a hamster can do for both kids and grownups. Jennifer S.
Join Sunny Meerkat as he takes an adventure around the world and check out his flip-up postcards that he sends his family from his different daring destinations. Share with Sunny as he discovers that there's no place like home. Sky K.
A little boy promises not to be afraid when his grandmother tucks him to bed at night. Every night she asks him “Tonight, when I turn off the light and it’s dark and I close the squeaky door to your room, are you going to get scared and jump under the bed and start to cry?” The little boy always replies, “No, not me.” But every night when she turns off the light he cries. Grandma starts allowing live animals to sleep with him. To see if he ever sleeps through the night, read The Squeaky Door. Irene S.
A young boy named Thomas leaves his poor family to find a job to help them out. He is told by a fellow traveler about an abandoned house that no one is able to spend the night in. It is supposed to be haunted by a ghost. The person who stays in the house will get the house and a treasure. Does Thomas have the courage to stay in the house the entire night? To find out if he stays in the house and finds the treasure read “The Boy and the Ghost.” Irene S.
For Trixie and her parents today will be a special day, one they will remember for a long time. On her way home from a fun outing with Dad something very important happens and Trixie becomes terribly upset because she cannot quite explain what is wrong. Total chaos ensues. What is happening? Will everything be all right? Find out by reading this wonderfully illustrated story by Mo Willems. Bonina G.
Meet Skippyjon Jones, a playful kitten who has been sent to his room. This funny, partially bilingual English-Spanish story follows this imaginative kitten, "El Skippito," on an adventure to rescue a pack of puppies from a bean-eating bee. Sky K.
Winning the school science fair for two best friends, Matt and Eddie, means getting a $50 prize, but a mishap causes tension between the two boys. Can they mend their friendship in time to complete their project and enter it in the contest to compete for the $50 prize, or will they lose the science fair competition, and their friendship? Clearly, an easy read and believable characters makes this an enjoyable story about friendship and working together. Essie R.
A boy named Eddie has lost his teddy. He has to go back into the forest to find it. He finds his teddy but something is wrong: the teddy is too big. You will be surprised at what else he finds. Read this large story about Eddie's teddy. Irene S.
by Pete Seeger; illustrations by Michael Hays
A boy who plays a clink clonk ukulele, and his father who does magic, annoy the town’s people with their antics. There are legends about giants in the land. Will giants come and bother the people? Will the town people ever accept the boy and his father and their annoying habits? Irene S.
Lily B. and her classmates from Mulgrew Middle School go on a summer trip to Paris. Lily expected Paris to be like the Madeline books that she read as a child. She believes that the French eat frank and beans. Lily keeps a diary about all that happens. Her friends are determined that Lily, with her limited knowledge of France, never becomes separated from her fellow classmates. Lily accidentally takes the wrong train and cannot remember what stop she boarded the train at or the name of her hotel. Does Lily ever return back to the United States? Irene S.
Danny is a loyal Sluggers fan who believes that his superstitious acts will help his team come out of their losing slump. In fact before each game Danny devours two hot dogs to improve the team’s odds. However, the Sluggers have only won one championship in the last 108 years. Danny and his friends make a trip to the mysterious team founder’s home to try to figure out how to break the curse. A little bit of magic is found and the season picks up. Will the Sluggers win? Does Danny somehow affect the outcome with his rituals? Two Hot Dogs with Everything is a home-run of a book! Sky K.
Patricia, Winston and Stewart are determined to surprise Miss Eula with the beautiful Easter bonnet she has always wanted from Mr. Kodinski’s hat shop. Their plans get off to a difficult start after they are mistakenly accused of throwing eggs at the shop’s window. Will they be able to prove their innocence and still surprise Ms. Eula? Find out if they do in this beautifully illustrated book by Patricia Polacco. Bonina G.
Join brothers Danny and Walter for a thrilling adventure as their house travels through outer space towards planet Zathura and they battle with meteors, robots and space pirates. They thought they were only going to play some silly board game. If you like this book, you'll love the DVD of the same name. Sky K.
Santa’s Stuck
by Rhonda Gowler Green; illustrated by Henry Cole.
After stuffing the stockings and putting the presents under a tree, Santa finds a treat, “One more cookie? Couldn’t hurt,” but instead his belly bulges and even pops a button from his suit, but worst of all he gets stuck in the chimney! Read this rhyming adventure and you will find out who saves Santa’s day! Monica M.
Imagine learning that you can look at a picture and hear conversations of the people in the photograph at the time the photograph was taken. That's what Charlie Bone discovers about himself while attending a special school for magically enhanced kids. Charlie uses this special ability with the help of talented friends to survive the evil plans of school administrators and to discover what happened to his missing father. “Harry Potter” fans will really dig this exciting series. Sky K.
Anya is a ten year old girl with alopecia. While the disease is not life threatening, it does cause you to lose your hair. Throughout the book, Anya must deal with her own feelings, as well as those of her parents and friends. While she is scared of what will happen when everyone finds out, she is pleasantly surprised at the understanding and support she receives. Susan C.
Snowmen at Night
by Caralyn Buehner; illustrated by Mark Buehner.
Have you ever wonder why a snowman looks droopy the morning after it was made? This rhyming story will describe the secret life of snowmen, from going out to the park and sipping some cold cocoa, to snowman races and snowmen sledding. And to add more fun to this story, illustrator Mark Buehner has even hidden some pictures of a rabbit and Santa, see if you can find them! Monica M.
Read the exciting start of the series "The Dark is Rising" (the explosive movie version premiered this fall). Will Stanton discovers he is the last of the Old Ones, destined as the Seeker to find six magical symbols to enable their triumph over the Dark's evil forces. This is a great story to read or listen to on audiobook. Sky K.
Clementine
by Sara Pennypacker; illustrated by Marla Frazee.
Clementine looks like she's not paying attention, though it so happens she is closely observing everything around her (except what the teacher is saying). She spends so much time in the principal's office that she can anticipate when she needs to go again. She tries to be friends with her neighbor, Margaret, but they always end up in trouble. It's not her fault: she just has a unique perspective on life. Fans of Beverly Clearly's Ramona series will love this charming heroine. Lina C.
Winner of the Eisner Award for best children's book, this is a sweet story. It's an almost completely wordless graphic novel, which conveys a truly amazing amount of ideas with its expressive artwork alone. A lonely Owl befriends a little worm in the first of many sweet stories. It manages not to be cloying. The wordless book allows the reader to make up their own story and is suitable for all ages. Nancy M.
When an evil toy store owner brings crime to Tokyo, Sumo Mouse saves the day. Share in the exciting illustrated adventures of this unlikely super hero. Sky K.
Tale of Despereaux
by Kate DiCamillo; illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering.
Watch how a tiny little mouse by the name of Despereaux, who is despised by all the mice in the castle because of his love for the Princess Pea, becomes a hero to all as he saves Princess Pea from a horrible rat who tries to steal her from everyone. See how love can make the tinniest weak mouse into a brave knight. Cynthia S.
Having a hard time falling asleep? Well, here is a book that will help with long, funny, rhyming lyrics. This is a book that is both great for children and adults and one that you will never grow tired of but will make you tired when reading. Cynthia S.
