New Books for the New Year!
Get a jump start on the new year with these great book selections.
Picture Books
Creatures ABC by Andrew Zuckerman
Zuckerman's striking animal photographs are put to excellent use in this book - part abecedarian, part guessing game. Each letter is given two spreads. The first shows the letter in upper and lower case next to an animal; the second reveals the animals name and offers a different view of the creature. Some touches are especially clever; a kangaroo and a lion seem to stare at each other during an interlude between K and L, and while the rest of the book features stark white backgrounds, the letter N is shown against black-page turn uncovers a group of nocturnal animals. (From Publisher's Weekly)
Day is Done by Peter Yarrow
As night falls, animal and human parents everywhere tenderly tuck their children into bed. In the darkness, each child-raccoon, doe, rabbit, field mouse, and a little boy-wonders: Will I be Safe? Will you be there for me? And every mommy and daddy responds with the comforting words of Yarrow's refrain: "I am here." (From the publisher)
How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You? by Jane Yolen
Parents and children can never have enough ways to say "I love you" --and now, America's favorite dinosaurs are giving families a funny book, perfect for bedtime, storytime, anytime. Even when little dinosaurs are naughty, it's important to remind them that no matter what they do, they are always loved. In this books, readers will laugh aloud as parents cope with the typical antics of childhood, but in the end, hugs and kisses show your little one how much you care. (From the publisher)
The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney
In award-winning artist Jerry Pinkney's wordless adaptation of one of Aesop's most beloved fables, an unlikely pair learn that no act of kindness is ever wasted. After a ferocious lion spares a cowering mouse that he'd planned to eat, the mouse later comes to his rescue, freeing him from a poachers trap. With vivid depictions of the landscape of the African Serengeti and expressively-drawn characters, Pinkney makes this a truly special retelling, and his stunning pictures speak volumes. (From the publisher)
Otis by Loren Long
Otis is a fun-loving tractor who roams the fields after a hard day's work and plays in the haystacks. In the barn one night, his engine provides a gentle purr that helps a frightened young calf fall into a peaceful sleep. The two become inseparable. That is, until the farmer decides to upgrade and brings home a brand-new, shiny yellow tractor and relegates Otis to the weeks behind the building. Having outlived his usefulness, Otis just sits there, impervious to the calf's call to play. But when his friend gets stuck in Mud Pond and no one - not even the fire department - can pull her out, the feisty tractor revs his engine and saves the day. (From School Library Journal)
Princess Hyacinth (The Surprising Tale of a Girl Who Floated) by Florence Parry Heide
Hyacinth has a problem: she floats. And so the king and queen have pebbles sewn into the tops of her socks, and force her to wear a crown encrusted with the heaviest jewels in the kingdom to keep her earthbound. But one day, Hyacinth comes across a balloon man and decides to take off all her princes clothes, grab a balloon, and float free. Hooray! Alas, when the balloon man lets go of the string...off she goes. Luckily, there is a kite and boy names Boy to save her. (From the publisher)
Skippyjon Jones, Lost in Spice by Judy Schachner
Buckle up, amigos - everyone's favorite kitty boy is about to lift off. You'll want to be there when the brave Skippito gets lost in spice! That's right, spice. Skippy knows- from his big ears to his toes-that hte planet Mars is red because it's covered in spicy red pepper. To prove it, he's off on a space jaunt replete with craters, crazies, and creatures from Mars. His new adventure is packed with witty wordplay, Spanish phrases, and Judy Schachner's trademark hilarity. This rollicking romp is simply out of this world.
Chapter Books
Al Capone Shines My Shoes by Gennifer Choldenko
Moose and the cons are about to get a lot closer in this much-anticipated sequel. It's 1935. Moose Flanagan lives on Alcatraz with his family, the other families of the guards, and few hundred no-name hit men, con men, mad dog murderers and a handful of bank robbers too. and one of those cons had just done him a big favor. You see, Moose has never met Al Capone, but a few weeks ago Moose wrote a letter to him asking him to use his influence to get his sister, Natalie, into a school she desperately needs in San Francisco. After Natalie got accepted, a note appeared in Moose's freshly laundered shirt that said: Done. As this book begins, Moose discovers a new note. This one says: Your turn. Is it really from Capone? What does it mean? Moose can't risk anything that might get his dad fired. But how can he ignore Al Capone? (From the publisher)
Dandelion Fire by N.D. Wilson
Henry York never dreamed his time in Kansas would open a door to adventure - much less a hundred doors. But a visit to his aunt and uncle's farm took an amazing turn when cupboard doors, hidden behind Henry's bedroom wall, revealed themselves to be portals to other worlds. now, with his time at the farm drawing to a close, Henry makes a bold decision - he must go through the cupboards to find the truth about where he's from and who his parents are. Following that trail will take him from one world to another, and ultimately into direct conflict with the evil of Endor. (From the publisher)
Dr. Brad Has Gone Mad! by Dan Gutman
The weirdness never stops! Ella Mentry School's counselor wants everybody to stop arguing and get along with one another. He wants everybody to be polite! He wants everybody to live in peace and harmony! What is his problem? Now the boys have to play with dolls! The girls have to play with action figures! And that's only the start of Dr. Brad's weird methods.... (From the publisher)
Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo
What if? Why not? Could it be? When a fortuneteller's tent appears in the market square of the city of Baltese, orphan Peter Augustus Duchene knows the questions that he needs to ask: Does his sister still live? And if so, how can he find her? The fortuneteller's mysterious answer (an elephant! And elephant will lead him there!) sets off a chain of events so remarkable, so impossible, that you will hardly dare to believe it's true. (From the publisher)
Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma by Trenton Lee Stewart
Join the Mysterious Benedict Society as Reynie, Kate, Sticky, and Constance embark on a daring new adventure that threatens to force them apart from their families, friends, and even each other. When an unexplained blackout engulfs Stonetown, the foursome must unravel clues relating to a nefarious new plot, while their search for answers brings them closer to danger than ever before. (From the publisher)
Return of the Homework Machine by Dan Gutman
Snik, Brenton, Judy, and Kelsey haven't stayed in the best touch since last year's big homework-machine scandal. But they are all pulled back together again when Brenton realizes that the most powerful part of the machine -- the one that lets you cheat on homework -- was never really destroyed. And there is someone out there who wants to use it for a lot more than cheating. So the group bands together again to stop the culprit. But first they have to solve the mystery of a hidden treasure. (From the publisher)
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
Four mysterious letters change Miranda's world forever. By sixth grade, Miranda and her best friend, Sal, know how to navigate their New York city neighborhood. They know where it's safe to go, like the local grocery store, and they know whom to avoid, like the crazy guy on the corner. But things start to unravel. Sal gets punched by a new kid for what seems like no reason, and he shuts Miranda out of his life. The apartment key Miranda's mom keeps hidden for emergencies is stolen. And then Miranda find a mysterious note scrawled on a tiny slip of paper: I am coming to save your friend's life, and my own. I must ask two favors. First, you must write me a letter. The notes keep coming, and Miranda slowly realizes that whoever is leaving them knows all about her, including things that have not even happened yet. Each message brings her closer to believing that only she can prevent a tragic death. Until the final note makes her think she's too late. (From the publisher)